Water Authority Pledges Funds Toward Leaf Vac

The Effingham Water Authority has earmarked funds that would help pay for a leaf vac for use at Lake Sara.

The Water Authority voted earlier this year to ban leaf burning at the lake on Sundays. Complaints from some lake residents led to a subsequent vote to lift the Sunday ban for 30 days and to review the matter at their November meeting.

In the meantime, a clean air initiative group opposed to burning has been working to generate funds for the purchase of a leaf vac. The leaf vac could be used to collect leaves in lieu of burning. 

The Water Authority heard a presentation at a special meeting this week from Stan Bahrns of Bahrns Equipment in Effingham about the various models of leaf vacs available. After the presentation, Water Authority trustees voted to contribute $6,000 towards the $28,768 cost of a leaf vac, provided the clean air initiative group can raise the balance of the purchase price.