Letter to Colonel Courtney W. Paul - Long Urges Corps Grant 90 Day Extension for Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation to Comply with Deadline

Letter

Dear Colonel Paul:

This letter comes in regard to the current situation regarding the Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation (ORHF) and the United States Corps of Engineers (Corps).

As you are well aware, I believe the Corps has dramatically mismanaged its handling of its relationship with the ORHF. This was a mutually beneficial partnership which had a very bright future, that served Table Rock Lake and the surrounding area exceedingly well, and had been approved by the highest levels of the Corps leadership. The puzzling and frankly, wrongheaded, decision by unknown parties within the Corps to determine that this previously approved partnership was somehow illegal remains a great frustration to all.

However, setting aside the general lack of merit in shuttering this partnership, it has now come to my attention that the Corps has established a deadline of January 5, 2015 for the ORHF to determine repayment of funds to the Corps. Despite the treatment that the ORHF has received in the past year from the Corps, they remain committed to resolving this matter in a fashion that is acceptable to all involved. This timeframe will be exceedingly difficult to allow for them to give the matter due diligence for multiple reasons, least of which is that many board members are busy with holiday travel and activities.

I understand that the ORHF board has requested an extension of ninety (90) days from the January 5 deadline in order to fully give this issue the attention it deserves. This strikes me as a very simple and fair request, and I cannot stress how strongly I urge the Corps to grant this extension and work in a transparent and equitable manner with the ORHF moving forward.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this request by the ORHF. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.

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