After being tabled between regular meetings of the Augusta City Council, the governing body voted 5-2 Monday night to sign the annual Operations and Maintenance Assurance Statement (OMAS) with the state parks and wildlife agency.
Council members Michael Huddleston and Mike Wallace were on the “nay” side of the vote.
Under terms of the OMAS, the City cannot change, by addition or deletion, any structural features at either Garvin Park or Santa Fe Lake without a review and approval from the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks and the National Parks Service.
Augusta City Lake abuts Garvin Park. Woodland and park areas surround Santa Fe Lake.
Also, the City cannot install any overhead electric or telephone lines in the project areas.
Thirdly, the City cannot convert any portion of the park/lake areas to other outdoor recreation use through sale, lease, easement, construction or by other means without approval and replacement of the converted property.
These are three of nine OMAS conditions.
Other terms call upon the City to maintain the areas and sanitation facilities and to keep the parks open during reasonable hours throughout the year.
The O/M statement began when the City received some money years ago from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Councilman Wallace sad the document should be nullified because it makes the City a “perpetual” servant to the state for a few thousand dollars received long ago.
Huddleston said the statement merely keeps Augusta in a national data base.
A state spokesman said project sponsors are not required to return the O/M Statement and failure to do so will not result in any negative impact. It is a reminder to sponsors of their obligations.
Augusta, Kan. —
