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the biggest hurdle to certification. It is not a lack of desire, but a last of
time. If a Marina Manager started to fill out the BMP guide, but got
distracted with a phone call, they never finished. The “Minnesota Clean
Marina Fast Track” program allocated 3 hours in a “one-stop-shop”
environment WITH FOOD!
On that one day in March 2017 we received 10 completed applications for
the Minnesota Clean Marina Program. I just received word that as of
th
Thursday, September 14, 2017, we achieved our 18 Certified Minnesota
Clean Marina. Our goal for December is 20 Certified Marinas so we’re
almost there. We started the season with 10 Certified Minnesota Clean Marinas.
WE ARE THRILLED.
As the first Certified Clean Marina on Lake Minnetonka, we are excited to welcome our
colleagues to the program. We are a leader of this initiative, but it’s also one where we enjoy
company in our cause.
Our next goal with the Minnesota Clean Marina
program is to acquire permanent funding with the
Minnesota Legislature. We currently have a bill
sponsored by our State Senator, Dave Osmeck, for
$100,000. The ultimate goal is to target the state
gas tax. Currently all gasoline sold on the water at
a marina has the taxes allocated to Minnesota
roads. We think if the gas is sold on the water for
boats, the tax should go for clean waters and we
feel the Minnesota Clean Marina Program is the
perfect guardian.
This has been a long journey with many
hours of volunteer time. There is no way to
express how thrilling it is to have your
vision become a reality. The collective
passion of all task force members is at a
level that is out of this world!
We are proud of the Minnesota Clean
Marina program and have the logo on all of
our uniforms, brochures and websites. In
addition, we have designed a 2 minute video that is emailed to every person that enters our
email system. It highlights the history of the Minnesota Clean Marina Program and our role it’s
foundation. Finally, we fly our flag with pride on both flag poles.
Another way we participate in green practices by having 4-stroke fuel efficient motors on our
pontoon boats, wonderful green buffer zones for water run off, and of course we are a quarterly
participant in the state water run off testing program.
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