The Tri-County Lake Administration Commission will soon be accepting bids for contracts to maintain all navigational aids on the lake.

The Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire and Rescue has been maintaining the aids under a three-year contract that expires June 30. Because no more renewals remain on the original proposal, TLAC must reopen the bidding process.

The commission decided at its Feb. 7 meeting to choose applicants through competitive negotiation instead of competitive sealed bidding.

Also approved at the meeting:

n To run an advertisement to educate lake residents about proper fertilization practices. The ad encourages fall fertilization and offers free soil testing kits to the first 100 lake residents.

And the following board appointments were made:

n Kathleen Guzi, Chuck Neudorfer and Luis Sanchez of Bedford County.

n Bob Camicia, Rick Huff and Charles Poindexter of Franklin County.

n Kate Berger, John Lindsey and Dan Sleeper of Pittsylvania County.

n Gary Garst of the SML Chamber of Commerce/Partnership.

n Stan Smith of Smith Mountain Lake Association.

n Liz Parcell of American Electric Power.

The three elected officers were re-elected: Poindexter, chairman; Smith, co-chairman and chairman of the navigation committee; and Neudorfer, secretary/treasurer.

Two chairmen and 14 committee members were reappointed to serve an additional term. New members Ken Stump and Mel Schutte were appointed to the navigation and environmental committees, respectively.

TLAC's next meeting will be held at 4 p.m. March 7. TLAC Office, 400 Scruggs Road, Suite 200, Moneta. (540) 721-4400.