The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance has elected Candy Adams, director of Keep Greene Beautiful, as its president for the coming year.

Before the election on Wednesday, Adams teasingly said she had agreed to serve only if Greeneville Alderman Ginny Kidwell would serve as vice president. Kidwell had held that post in the past and agreed to do so again.

The current vice president is Denise Ashworth, who has been unable to attend many meetings because she returned to college.

The officers will be installed at the group's annual meeting, which is to be held in the Lions' pavilion at Hardin Park on July 14. The organization's fiscal year is the same as the county's, beginning July 1.

Fred Kaufmann, the current president, agreed to serve as the Alliance's treasurer next year. Mark Benko, the current treasurer, had said he would be unable to continue due to his job responsibilities.

Wilhelmina Williams, who represents the Friends of the Nolichuckey River Valley, agreed to serve as secretary, succeeding Adams.

The slate of officers was elected unanimously.

Kaufmann thanked Benko for doing "a great job for two years." He said Benko has completed this year despite heavy demands on his time, and "he did it out of good sportsmanship."

Kaufmann and Benko are officers of the Greene County Fishing & Hunting Club.
Adams said the picnic meeting at Hardin Park on July 14 will include a catered meal, with local elected officials being invited.

She said the free picnic also would be a good time for interested members of the public to attend and find out more about the organization.

The Alliance is a loose confederation of individuals and organizations interested in preserving and improving the quality of local creeks, streams and the Nolichucky River. Since its beginning several years ago, the organization has received grants from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and from the Greene County government, in addition to some state grants.

Adams said the Hardin Park meeting will include "a recap of 2004" projects, as well as discussion of plans for 2005.

The Alliance's board also voted to hold its annual river float again on Aug. 11, and to again use the Cedar Creek Learning Center's environmental interpretation center at the Crockett Lake dam as the starting and ending point.

Adams said the organization received numerous requests about the next trip after an article and pictures appeared in The Greeneville Sun last summer.
Last year, about 20 people took part, Adams said, but as many as 60 people can be
accommodated.

The board also voted to again help sponsor the Conservation Camp for city and county fifth-graders at Davy Crockett State Park. The day-long event takes three days because there is such heavy participation by local schools, she said.

After discussion, the Alliance agreed to again provide $850. Adams said the camp costs about $4,000 to put on, with the major expenses being lunch for the presenters and T-shirts for the students.

She said there had been some discussion about discontinuing the T-shirts as a cost-cutting measure, but the decision was made to keep them, because they are a reminder of what the children learn on that day.

Working With Developer

The board also agreed to explore the possibility of assisting Greeneville developer Bob Biddle on a project he is working on now.

Kidwell reminded the board that it has been seeking for two years to find a developer willing to provide a demonstration project for various things that protect water quality, such as environmentally friendly plantings and drainage treatments.

Kidwell said she had mentioned this to Biddle, who was willing to discuss it, and Adams had visited his project.

Adams said it was her personal opinion that Biddle's project will work well to show other developers some of the things that the Alliance is trying to promote.

Biddle said his project is called Regency Parke, and is located off Mt. Bethel Road.
Because of three or four earlier developments that are uphill from it, Biddle said, twice this year the site has experienced considerable water runoff from storms. The water eventually finds its way into Holley Creek after leaving his property, Biddle said.

The developer said he has scaled back his plans in terms of the number of units in the project, and had the Vaughn & Melton engineering firm develop a drainage plan that includes a rip-rap trench 4 feet wide and 2,000 feet long to carry storm water through the property.

"The original concept was for 49 units," he said, though he said the land is adequate for 100 units. In an effort to "be a good neighbor" he said, he has further reduced the number of units to 44.

Adams said she would like for the organization to consider helping Biddle with the project in some way.

Clint Jones, representing the Tennessee Valley Authority, said he could look into the possibility of having a TVA engineer provide some design modifications and help with choosing appropriate plantings and other features.

Biddle said the Regency Parke project is in a highly visible area and said he also had given thought to it being a demonstration project.

Biddle noted that he, as a member of the Greeneville Planning Commission, is aware that storm water management is getting increasing emphasis at the state level.
"It's hitting everybody," Jones said.

The board was unanimous in passing Adams' motion "to continue to look at opportunities" to work with Biddle.