|
|||||
| |
The Blade (Toledo, OH)
by Karen MacPherson, Blade National Bureau
10-28-00
WASHINGTON - Congress gave final approval yesterday to $2.5 million in federal funds for land acquisition at the newly minted Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site.
The approval of the funds normally would be the second - and final step - in the two-step congressional budget process. Congress took the first step of establishing the national historic site in December.
But the final chapter for the Fallen Timbers site hasn’t been written because of a glitch in the legislation establishing it. Several weeks ago, it was discovered that the bill didn’t allow for land acquisition, jeopardizing the effort to target $2.5 million for that purpose.
To save the funding, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) recently inserted a provision into a separate bill earmarking federal funds for agricultural programs for fiscal 2001. Congress has approved the agriculture spending measure and President Clinton is expected to sign it into law.
"I am thrilled that we have put in place the critical federal share to secure and designate the Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site,’’ Miss Kaptur said.
"This is a giant step forward toward preserving our nation’s early heritage, whose deep roots originated right here in Northwest Ohio."
In addition to the money for the Fallen Timbers site, Congress has earmarked $1 million for the expansion of the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge. The money will be used to acquire "environmentally sensitive’’ lands, Miss Kaptur said.
Sen. Mike DeWine (R., O.), the Senate sponsor of the Fallen Timbers legislation, said: "This is a spectacular area of Ohio, and I’m pleased that we have obtained the additional funding. We will continue to work in the future on securing more money for this project."
The federal funds for the Fallen Timbers site is only part of the $7.5 million cost of the project. The state of Ohio has pledged $2 million and the city of Maumee will contribute $500,000.
Like the legislation setting up the Fallen Timbers site, the effort to secure funding for land acquisition there has taken a somewhat circuitous legislative route. Mr. Clinton signed the legislation targeting federal funds for such projects two weeks ago.
But the measure didn’t specify where all of the money would be spent. Instead, lawmakers promised Mr. Clinton that they would soon send a list showing where the money should flow.
That list was completed yesterday, marking the final congressional approval for the $2.5 million for the Fallen Timbers site and $1 million for the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge.
The Fallen Timbers battlefield is in Maumee, but it is owned by the city of Toledo. The Fort Miamis site is owned by the city of Maumee. Although the battlefield and Fort Miamis aren’t contiguous, National Park Service officials say the link between them is important and should be preserved.
Supporters of the site want to buy the battlefield from Toledo and commemorate the battle in which American troops, commanded by General Anthony Wayne, defeated an alliance of American Indian troops.
The battlefield site is an empty field near I-475 and U.S. 24. The site will be managed by the Metropark District of the Toledo Area with assistance from the National Park Service.
Toledo area officials said the money will allow work on the project to progress.
"That’s great news," Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said. "I greatly appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Kaptur, and I am pleased to see that due to the cooperative effort of all parties, the funding to complete the purchase of the entire Fallen Timbers Battlefield has now been secured. Sen. Mike DeWine has also been very helpful in this process. Now on with the project."
Jack E. Gallon, president emeritus and vice president of the board of commissioners of Toledo metroparks, said he is pleased with the announcement by Miss Kaptur.
"The Metroparks are thrilled at this development which helps them to complete the purchase price owed to the city of Toledo in 2001," he said.
NOTICE: This article, which may be copyrighted, is reprinted with specific permission granted to Heidelberg College. Further reprint rights must be secured from the publisher.
Heidelberg College / Office of College
Relations / webmaster@heidelberg.edu