AUBURN -- The city may take the lead in getting a steward to help improve water quality on Owasco Lake.

Councilor David Dempsey offered a proposal Thursday that would split up a year's salary for the steward between the city, Cayuga County and town of Owasco. The city and county would each pay $25,000 with Owasco chipping in $10,000.

A resolution will appear on the agenda for next week's council meeting.

"I would like to push this forward tonight," Dempsey said after hearing from lake advocate Al Kozlowski for the second time this month.

The idea for a steward to enforce regulations and monitor water quality on Owasco Lake has been around for some time. Last year, State Sen. Mike Nozzolio got $425,000 in state money to fund a study on the weed-laden lake and a steward's salary on the condition that the city, county and towns come up with an agreement to fund the position long-term.

"This is an opportunity to work with the county and town of Owasco to address the issue," Dempsey said after the meeting. "I think it's time for action and the city's on the forefront of this."

The city and several other communities use the lake as a source of drinking water. A cooperative of towns approached the council this month about getting an agreement.

Mayor Tim Lattimore said he would prefer a special taxing district to fund the position.

"I think people would be willing to contribute," said Kozlowski, who is president of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association. "We need to get somebody on the ground,"