Legislation to approve Lehigh Portland State Park is still in the works, said Rep. Fred Gardner, R-Garnett.
Gardner introduced the measure to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 16. The 16-member committee unanimously approved the proposal on Monday.
From there, the measure faced three options, according to Gardner.
House leadership could have let the measure die; members could have voted on it earlier this week, or it could have been moved to one of three committees — tax, appropriations or state and federal affairs — which do not face immediate deadlines.
Leadership opted for the appropriations committee.
“I think we’re in a safe place,” with the appropriations committee, said Gardner Thursday evening. “We’re still alive.”
Thursday was the last day House members could consider bills originating in the House. Typically, voting on the bills is conducted the following day, but, Gardner said, “it was the will of the body to suspend that rule,” and go ahead and vote on measures that evening so members could go home for the long “turn-around weekend.”
Any measures that were not “brought above the line,” that is, scheduled to be heard, will not be considered this legislative session, he said.
When legislators return Wednesday, they will begin to consider measures approved by the other legislative body.
“We had quite a basket of bills,” estimating 450 were introduced over the last six weeks. On Thursday, members of the House conducted about 70 votes.
“It was a mental marathon,” he said.
Gardner said he remains optimistic the Lehigh Portland State Park legislation will pass muster.
“Sending it to the Appropriations Committee indicates leadership doesn’t want to get rid of it.” That in itself is a strong show of support, he said.
If the House eventually passes the legislation it will then head to the Senate.
The legislation would convert the 138-acre lake and 200-plus surrounding acres of trails into a state park. The area was once the site of the Lehigh Portland Cement Plant that was abandoned in 1971, and has since become a popular recreation site.
