TAMPEEL Panel to consider proposals from 2 wetlands sites

The environmental education lab will change its name to reflect its new location.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Two sites are being considered to house Trumbull County Educational Service Center's new environmental education lab.
An advisory committee of educators and environmentalists has set a tentative meeting for Jan. 29 to hear proposals from interests in Howland and Cortland.
The current 40-acre site on Bailey-Ellsworth Road in Lordstown is called TAMPEEL, or Trumbull Area Multi-Purpose Environmental Education Laboratory. The site, owned by Lordstown schools and run by volunteers, has served elementary pupils since 1973 and closed in August because of concerns over contamination.
The service center governing board agreed in May to seek a new location for the hands-on environmental program, based on ground tests that reveal small amounts of heavy metals in the area near the parking lot.
TCESC officials have said they need at least 50 acres to accommodate programs, trails, a nature center and parking and picnic areas. The hope is that a property is offered as a gift or at a low cost, with the owner agreeing to be a partner and collaborator.
Some TAMPEEL volunteers are upset with the situation, saying they believe TCESC is abandoning the site where contamination is of no threat to human health.
Mosquito Lake site: Cortland Mayor Melissa Long said she and other city officials met about two weeks ago with TCESC officials and Trumbull County Planning Commission to talk options.
The city is hoping to obtain a lease for 140 acres of land controlled by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, right on Mosquito Lake.
The idea for a municipal park has been in the works for a few years, but Long said a previous council opted against pursuing funding.
The park would be able to accommodate public areas for recreation, as well as facilities for the environmental lab, the mayor said.
The portion of land that's considered wetlands would be used for the lab, Long said, and the other part would be used for the municipal park.
If the city gets the lease, grants and a parks levy would be needed to help with funding, and land would then be sublet to TCESC for a nominal fee, like $1 a year. TCESC would have to fund any buildings or construction used by the center, she added.
North River Road: Howland trustees are offering a 200-300-acre tract of undeveloped wetlands between Howland Township Park and the township road department garage on North River Road, behind the Foxcroft housing community.
Trustee Richard Orwig said details of a proposal have not been worked out, but that he thinks the township would just let TCESC use part of the land or lease it for $1 a year.
Regardless of whether the site is chosen, Howland plans to use some money it has socked away to cut walking paths and build raised observation landings and a parking area for the wetlands area. Trustee Richard Clark said he would like to see the lab in Howland because it would enhance the township and county.
Carlotta Raymond Sheets, TCESC spokeswoman, said officials hope to select the site soon after the January meeting so limited programming can begin in the spring.
The lab will no longer be known as TAMPEEL when it moves to its new location, Raymond Sheets said, and while a new name has not been decided, officials believe it should reflect the new site.
Programs may be enhanced and expanded if it's determined that space will allow that, she said.
davis@vindy.com