Garbage service may not be quite ready for a move. The issue returned for discussion during the Pleasanton Township Board’s July 13 meeting. In response to concern that a deadline had been set for Bear Lake Township to find another transfer site, Supervisor Tony Merrill said there was still time.
"We’ll extend it," said Merrill. "Let’s just get it done. I’ve not given them an ultimatum and I’m not about to." Merrill stated several reasons for ending the shared site with Bear Lake Township. "We’ve been taking care of them for eight years," he said. "We’ve been doing them a favor. Sixty-five percent of the trash is theirs. Frankly, even though we share the cost, we’ve never been paid by them for maintenance." In the past, Bear Lake Township had its own transfer site, and the townships took turns hosting the garbage trucks.
Merrill said that criticism from some residents was also taking its toll. "Sixty-five percent of my headache is from Bear Lake Township. As soon as we run out of room, everyone in line is going to chew on me." Merrill also said that staffing was an issue. "I said, who do you [Bear Lake Township] have to help with this? It’s a huge piece of business out there."
In an interview, Supervisor Corky Best later recounted that the idea of ending the shared transfer site was a surprise to him. "Everything was going along fine, and then suddenly it was like, ‘you’re out of here’. There was no blow up or confrontation." When asked about maintenance of the site, Best said that he’s personally helped to clean up debris, but that it hadn’t come up as an issue. "If there’s been a problem, let’s discuss it and find out how it can be done."
Best also said that township officials didn’t normally staff the transfer site personally. "Tony decided that he wanted to be there all the time. I’ve hired two people to be there now. It was originally set up so we each had one person there." Best says that he has several locations in mind, if Bear Lake Township is required to find a different site. "But I would rather cooperate, because [each township] will save money," he said.
The Pleasanton Township Board
Discussion continued at the board meeting about potential wind energy projects. Trustee Ertel suggested that clarification was needed to determine who would oversee regional projects. "I’ve got three different letters from three different people saying they’re in charge of the [wind energy] board," he said. Babcock questioned whether Manistee County Commissioner Allan O’Shea should be promoting wind energy. "Isn’t he also the installer," asked Babcock. "To me, it’s a conflict of interest. He’s putting them up without any land permit or anything."
When contacted for comment, O’Shea said that wind energy has been a pursuit of his since 1972. "I installed wind electric systems before I was ever a commissioner," said O’Shea. "I did it when I was the Marilla Township Supervisor, I do it now as a County Commissioner and I’ll do it when I’m not. If you don’t have promoters of energy products, then how does it ever get done? It doesn’t become a reality." O’Shea also said his company, Contractors Building Supply, requires that clients obtain all necessary permits. "We have an excavating or engineering permit, electrical permit and inter-connect agreement. If required, we get a land-use permit, too."
The board also passed a "Red Flag Rules" resolution. The resolution requires that the township adopt an iden-tity theft prevention program to counter fraudulent activity connected with utility billing accounts, or other accounts permitting multiple payments. Similar resolutions passed by other cities and townships suggest that identity theft has sometimes occurred when a local government routinely provides services, such as water, electric, gas and trash service, before receiving payment from customers. Federal Trade Commission staff has stated that this kind of service is essentially extending credit, thereby placing some local governments in the same category as financial institutions and creditors. In order to comply with an August 1 deadline, the Pleasanton Township Board adopted the resolution and agreed to come up with the actual rules at a later date.
There was discussion about township hall rentals and management. Treasurer Girven cautioned the Supervisor about keeping track of all payment receipts. Pleasanton residents typically receive a refund of their payment if the hall is cleaned after the event. The refund isn’t immediate because the board has to approve it first.
Don Raiff, from the Bear Lake Property Owners Association, presented the board with recent water quality test results. "We appreciate the two townships continuing to pay for these tests," said Raiff, who added that the group is looking for professional assistance to interpret the data. Ertel said that earlier water quality data from the state Department of Natural Resources might exist.
Discussion continued about whether the township should establish a mailing address at the township hall or simply an exterior comment box. The board also moved to check on the cost of a software upgrade that would be used by the township assessor. Girven estimated the price to be $1,500 but said she would get a written quote and determine if the upgrade was necessary. Bills were paid for the month. Clerk Ledford reported that a second check was sent to the attorney, Richard Figura, to replace one that had gone missing.
Trustee Babcock said the Parks Commission is continuing to look over estimates for ballpark and fencing work. He also said that sand would be put down in the playground to cover footings. He asked the board for approval of about $2,000 for a shuffleboard court and related equipment. Ledford said the equipment would be kept in a locked closet and that the shuffleboard court would mainly be for renters of Pleasanton Township Hall. The board approved the request. Ertel said that the legality of playground equipment, such as merry-go-rounds, needs to be investigated. "I’d hate to see it go," he said.
Ertel said the Planning Commission agreed that a wind ordinance was a top priority for the township. He said that Zoning Administrator Rochelle Rollenhagen is working on it. He said that the commission will look at the Joint Planning Commission’s Comprehensive Plan. "We can adopt that as our Master Plan. Our previous one dates back to 1999."
A report from Bryan Harris, Lake Improvement Board (LIB) representative, said that a study of Bear Lake, in June, revealed that only 8 acres of milfoil remain, much less than expected. A February LIB report said about 126 acres remained, out of 330 total acres. The Gander will have an update in August.
New Rescue Rig
A new rescue unit will join the rest of Bear Lake’s Fire Department fleet, and it’s arriving just in time. Early in July, the department’s old rig developed problems. "They went on a run and there was a loud bang," said Corky Best, Bear Lake Township Supervisor. "When they got back to the fire hall, three of the bolts that held the ‘box’ on the rescue rig were gone." The ‘box’ is the part of the vehicle that carries injured persons.
The old rig (retired)
By the end of the month, a replacement had been located outside Indianapolis, Indiana and ordered for purchase. "We were approved to spend up to $50,000," said Mike Ludwig, Bear Lake Fire Department Chief. "The unit itself was just under $44,000. It’s ten years old but it’s been very well taken care of." A brand new unit, said Ludwig, can cost up to $175,000 - over three times as much.
Until the new rescue unit arrives, the Fire Department is borrowing the services of neighboring departments. "They use their rig to come to our scene and essentially back us up," said Ludwig. Bear Lake personnel still arrive at the scene, but rely on the supplies and transport service of the other departments’ rigs.
Bear Lake has several response vehicles, including a water tender, which transports water to the scene of a fire, and two fire engines.
A brush unit would be the fifth vehicle for the fleet, but additional funding is needed to make it operational. "The radio and the manufactured tank/pump unit run about $12,000," said Ludwig. "We have the lights and siren lined up from donations." The truck would be used for off-road brush fires that can’t be reached by the department’s other vehicles. "Right now we’re working under the good graces of neighboring departments," said Ludwig. Once in service, the brush unit could be used year-round. "We’d also use it to pull a boat in the winter [for cold water/ice rescues] and for traffic control, too."
Unlike the rescue rig assistance, which has lasted for several weeks, Ludwig is concerned that after six years, the brush unit assistance might run out. "I don’t know how much longer [neighboring townships’] boards will allow them to continue doing that," he said. "It’s been quite expensive for those departments to continue to support us. We need to pull our own weight."
NORTH SHORE
by Jeanne Crampton
It has been quite a summer so far! Coldest July on record – Kaye (daughter from La Crosse) brought her long underwear. I broke or cracked a rib – not serious, but painful. Breathing is something one is required to do. I haven’t gone swimming and the kayak is still shore-bound.
I don’t know if it has anything to do with global warming, but I seem to recall that August and September last year were more like a normal July and August. By the way, does it seem to anyone else that there are fewer zebra mussels in the lake? Or is it my imagination? The big schools of silver, flashing minnows seem to be a thing of the past. I hope they aren’t gone forever. I was happy to hear that Eurasian milfoil was reduced, but I hope at some point we can go to the weevils to keep it in check.
The tree-cutting to clear electric lines goes on apace, and I realize it has to be done, but some spots look absolutely shorn. We will lose two lovely spruce trees that my father planted long before anyone thought about electricity. Anybody want an early Christmas tree? I can hardly believe it has been 70 years or so since he dug white pine seedlings in Lemon Lake swamp and replanted them here, on then-bare north shore lots.
Last week we went to the huckleberry plains out east of Mesick. Sad to say, there were few berries. I recall going in the 1930s or 40s with my mother, father, and grandparents and picking all day. Grampa always called it "the slashings". We’d come home with 3 or 4 10-quart pails full. As the trees have gown up , the berries have diminished. They liked that dry, stump-ridden, sandy soil--and sun. Unfortunately, we also saw a lot of damage to the roads (and off the roads) by off-road vehicles. We were not able to go to our favorite site (a high bank above the Manistee River) because the road had degraded, from recent showers, into an impassable mud-hole. Let’s hope it warms up!
Upcoming Meetings
Pleasanton Twp. Board
2nd Monday at 7pm
(Aug. 10)
Bear Lake Twp. Board
3rd Tuesday at 7:30pm
(Aug. 18)
Village of Bear Lake Council
3rd Wednesday at 7:30pm
(Aug. 19)
Dump Dates
(Aug. 8 & 22)
Bear Lake Watershed
4th Tuesday at 7pm
at BL Twp Hall (Aug. 25)
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