Springfield News-Leader

Burlison debuts legislatio­n to help property owners at Table Rock Lake

- Kelly Dereuck BRUCE STIDHAM SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-LEADER

Congressma­n Eric Burlison aims to address the concerns of property owners at Table Rock Lake whose septic tanks extend undergroun­d onto the property of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

There are 23 septic tanks that currently cross into Corps property. Up until now these property owners had been paying a lease to the Corps for the land their tanks occupy.

“We want to ensure that the property owners on Table Rock Lake that currently have septic systems that were once approved by the Army Corps of Engineers are not required to remove them by the deadline that the Corps has establishe­d,” Burlison said.

The tanks were shown to have no environmen­tal risk to the land when the Corps last evaluated them. But recently, Burlison said that the Corps changed their position on allowing property owners to lease the land occupied by their septic tanks, saying that the leases will not be renewed as they expire.

“As of 2011, the Corps determined that these septic tanks were not causing ecological harm,” Burlison said. “I'm advocating on behalf of my constituen­ts.”

Property owners have been given until 2030 to uproot and relocate these septic tanks, which could cost upwards of $250,000. Burlison's bill, the Table Rock Lake Property Protection Act, would add a grandfathe­r clause to allow

Bacon to attend prom at school where ‘Footloose’ was filmed

Kevin Bacon is returning to the old stomping grounds to mark the 40th anniversar­y of “Footloose.”

Students at Payson High School in Utah, where the cult classic movie was filmed, made a large social media push to have Bacon attend this year's prom before the school relocates to another building. On Friday, the actor, who played Ren McCormack in the musical drama, confirmed he would be in attendance.

On Friday's episode of “Today,” the these septic tanks to remain where they are.

“Imagine your dream home is now a nightmare because you now have a liability that you've got to pay for,” Burlison said. “It would be financiall­y ruinous to a lot of people.”

Burlison said that one area proposed as a new site to install the septic tanks is currently a community space housing a children's playground.

This issue could have a detrimenta­l 65-year-old actor appeared virtually before the students who gathered in the school's gym. “I have been so impressed with everything that's been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” he began. “I've been amazed at the work that all of you have been putting into this, with the musical and the flash mobs and the re-creations.”

Students at Payson launched a social media campaign with #bacontopay­son to get Bacon to attend their final prom in the building. They also tied in his SixDegrees.org charity by holding benefits to donate to the organizati­on.

“It hasn't gone unnoticed by me, not to mention the fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org, our foundation, and are impact on property value for these homes, because homeowners looking to sell their house would also be selling the new owner the burden of digging up their septic tank.

Homeowners would be required to disclose this to potential buyers, although Burlison said that not all of the current property owners were aware that this would be an issue when they first purchased their home and were able to lease the land from the Corps. trying to figure out ways to give back to your community. It's really inspiratio­nal, so thank you. Thank you. And I'm gonna come. I gotta come,” he announced as the students came to a roar.

He added: “Let's dance.”

Brown’s ‘Stranger Things’ co-star will officiate her wedding

Millie Bobby Brown's upcoming wedding will have some additional star power at the altar. One of her “Stranger Things” co-stars has signed on to officiate.

On a Thursday episode of entertainm­ent show “Access Daily,” Brown's onscreen dad Matthew Modine announced

“The current landowners were not given that indication when they purchased it, because up until 2011, everything was okay,” Burlison said.

There are some discrepanc­ies between the maps kept at the local county courthouse that detail property lines and what surveyors have plotted. Many property owners relied on the county maps when adding onto their houses or decks, or when constructi­ng small sheds in their backyards, only to later discover that some or all of their constructi­on touched Corps property.

For one property owner that Burlison met with, the septic tank was only three feet from his property line. Another homeowner found that the awning of his roof extended into the air space of Corps property, although the actual foundation of his home did not.

This legislatio­n is the first in a series of bills that Burlison will unveil in hopes of finding a remedy that satisfies both the property owners and the Corps.

“The Corps has been very willing to meet with me and hear me out and talk about some of these issues,” Burlison said. “While we may not agree completely at the end of the day, they fall under the direction of the legislatur­e and the bills that we pass, and so I'm trying to provide them with the direction that I believe represents our districts.”

Burlison will officially file his legislatio­n on Tuesday, and he hopes to see it swiftly progress through the necessary committees it must pass before coming before the full U.S. House of Representa­tives.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

he will carry out the duties for the nuptials to Jake Bongiovi, the son of legendary rocker Jon Bon Jovi.

“I have one of those licenses to get people married and Millie thought it'd be great and then Jake said it would be a great idea, so I wrote the wedding vows, and they loved what I wrote for them to join hands and to become husband and wife,” the “Oppenheime­r” star told “Access” co-hosts Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover.

Even as Modine, who played Dr. Martin Brenner and “Papa” to Brown's character Eleven in the hit Netflix sci-fi series, is slated as the officiant for the ceremony, it's unclear when Brown, 20, and Bongiovi, 21, plan to wed.

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 ?? ?? Congressma­n Eric Burlison is seen here during the GOP Lincoln Day event at the Oasis Convention Center on March 9, 2024.
Congressma­n Eric Burlison is seen here during the GOP Lincoln Day event at the Oasis Convention Center on March 9, 2024.

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