ASK THE MAYOR
El Campo 'national leader' in keeping creeks clear
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

As heavy rain showers fell across our community this past week, thoughts of flooding and the need for adequate drainage continue to be reoccurring concerns for many of our citizens who have undergone evacuations and experienced property loss in recent years.

Regardless if you live in one of El Campo's lower lying areas, or are positioned higher and farther away from our local creeks and tributaries, all El Campo citizens understand the importance of and need for the best drainage systems possible.

Your City Council and staff were recently presented with the 2007 Quality Vegetative Management "Project Habitat" Award for implementing a threeyear vegetation spraying project along our Tres Palacios Creek, and other area tributaries, in an attempt to keep these drainage channels clear so that El Campo continues to provide and maintain an effective drainage system throughout our city.

The QVM news release stated that the City of El Campo received the award "… for its efforts to control willow, ragweed and Johnson grass in the Tres Palacios Creek. By controlling these weed species, the city has increased drainage capabilities so that we can move more water out of the city."

The QVM further noted that this was a significant accomplishment for a city that sits in a flood-prone area.

Your City Council and staff shared the award honors with our local QVM certified applicator, El Campo Spraying. El Campo Spraying was initially started in 1966 by Ed Strnadel and Lawrence Socha. After a few years, Strnadel bought out Socha and entered into a partnership with his two sons, Jared and Keith.

Known for their hard work and integrity, El Campo Spraying has continued to serve El Campo and surrounding communities for the past 42 years. Due to their incredible insight and knowledge of chemical applications, our locally owned El Campo Spraying maintains 15 employees and is successfully implementing similar vegetation management programs throughout the South Texas region.

BASF is the parent company that sponsors the QVM Project Habitat awards.

BASF is one of the world's leading chemical companies whose portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas.

BASF is known for developing new technologies and then using them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities.

"So many land managers and owners are doing incredible work in vegetation management," said Tim Knight, business manager for the BASF ProVM group. "We want to help these people and organizations share their vegetation management projects and successes with each other, and reward those projects that showcase the very best in Quality Vegetation Management practices."

By planning for the future, through the use of innovative weed control strategies, and other forms of innovative technology, your City Council and staff are striving to keep El Campo on its successful path of providing economic growth and development for all of our local businesses and residents.

Among the many great people, attractions and opportunities that our city has to boast about, the QVM Project Habitat Committee has provided another by concluding that "the team from the City of El Campo has earned its reputation as a national leader in vegetation management practices."

We are truly living in a great community that is on the move in many diverse and advanced areas.

- Contact Mayor Spenrath at askthemayor@sbcglobal.net.