Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Muskegon gets $103K under new federal community environmental improvement program

The Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council, a nonprofit, will receive a $103K federal grant to address local eco-issues identified by Muskegon County residents. Results of a 2-year local study showed that Muskegon residents are most concerned about exposure to lead-based paint, contaminated drinking water and septic systems, air quality, contaminated fisheries and recycling.

So, the first question that pops into my head is "Why the hell did it take you 2 years to figure that out?" The second question, "Have you fired the idiot who took 2 years to get the answers to simple questions?"

The money is to be used to: Inform residents and visitors of health risks/benefits of eating locally caught fish; improve understanding of self-contamination issues at households that rely on private wells for drinking water; get more children in Muskegon tested for lead poisoning; raise local awareness of the health effects from airborne pollutants from local industries; and expand local recycling efforts. Apparently all you can do with $100K is make brochures and sit around and talk... hmmm, anyone want to give me a hundred grand?

Also the feds are giving $50,000 worth of "contract services" to MCECC to help it analyze opportunities to redevelop brownfields in Muskegon. That's basically a free consultant. Consultant for what, to teach you how to get a group of people in a circle and talk?

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