Politics & Government

Weed Harvester Will Not Be Shared With Local Lake

Two votes stopped the Lake Hopatcong Commission from loaning Lake Musconetcong Regional Planning Board small harvester, report says.

Weed harvesting machinery will not be shared between the Lake Hopatcong Commission and Lake Musconetcong Regional Planning Board after the Lake Hopatcong Commission voted 5 to 2 Monday on loaning the neighboring board the equipment, according to a news report. Six affirmative votes were needed for the lease agreement to be approved.

As the Commission discussed loaning the equipment to Lake Musconetcong in June, members took a straw poll, the majority agreeing to lease the harvester to the Lake Musconetcong Regional Planning Board. But only five commission members voted in favor of the lease when a decision was to be made at the Lake Hopatcong Commission's meeting on July 15, according to AIM Jefferson.

Weed harvesters are used to remove floating and submerged weeds that attract water pests. Lake Musconetcong is in the Hopatcong State Park and borders parts of Morris County and Sussex County.

The Lake Musconetcong board sought to use a harvester that was not scheduled to be in use on Lake Hopatcong, which borders Hopatcong and Jefferson, this year. But Vice Chairman Dan McCarthy, of Hopatcong, voted against the lease because he felt the equipment could be used in other places on Lake Hopatcong, the newspaper reported. The other dissenting vote was made by David Jarvis.

 Larger harvesters are already at work on the lake.


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