We're back from our summer hiatus (see "Seasonal Notes," below) - many thanks for your patience, and thanks for reading! --Eds.LOWER TAXES DUE TO MILFOIL SUCCESSWhile the summer may have departed, Don Brisbin is still beaming. Brisbin, Chair of the Lake Improvement Board, is thrilled that a June study of Bear Lake revealed less than a dozen acres of milfoil remaining. When milfoil treatment began last year, about 330 acres had been discovered.
Now, Brisbin expects taxes to decrease for Bear Lake landowners who paid for the treatment. The special assessment decrease could happen this winter. "The board voted and we have all the paperwork in," said Brisbin. "The Manistee County Assessor’s office is supposed to lower it down to $60 [per unit] for this winter’s tax bill."
Brisbin says the success of the milfoil treatment is due to former LIB Chair Jack Sawka. "One-hundred percent of it," said Brisbin. "If he hadn’t been the chairman, we’d not have the success that we got. It’s in our minutes. We owe our success to Mr. Sawka."
In a controversial decision, Pleasanton Township removed Sawka as its representative to the LIB in April, after he’d served as Chair of the LIB since its inception in 2007. Pleasanton Township Supervisor Tony Merrill, who proposed Sawka’s removal, has offered varying statements for the action. One of them, made at the Pleasanton Board’s May 11 meeting, suggested that one factor was a difference over the most recent sewer proposal. The sewer proposal was not a project of the LIB, but Merrill and Sawka saw the issue differently.
Months after the decision, Sawka still expresses puzzlement over Pleasanton’s rationale and method of his removal. "I don’t understand why they’d have a meeting to talk about me, and not invite me to be there," he said. However, Sawka is congratulatory to the members of the LIB and plans to stay involved. "I feel very good about what we accomplished and the teamwork that we showed," he said. "I attend LIB meetings, and if asked to help or give history, I’m happy to do that."
LIB Chair Brisbin said that assessment taxes, at the lower rate, will fund regular spring and fall checkups on the milfoil. "That will let us know how bad or good it will be," he said. Brisbin warns that continuous monitoring is necessary, to avoid a re-infestation of milfoil, which he said happened at Paradise Lake, north of Pellston. "They’re being overrun by it," he said. "They even let their lake board lapse."
Brisbin says the next LIB meeting will be on Thursday, December 17 at 7pm (Bear Lake Township Hall). Paying bills will be the main item of business, and the LIB will take a hiatus until March or April.
CorrectionsIn our July story about Bear Lake’s new rescue rig, the vehicle was described as one that transports the injured. While such a vehicle can be used for ambulance service, and is, in other locations, Bear Lake only uses the vehicle for temporary shelter of the injured and for transporting supplies. In Manistee County, West Shore Medical Center provides ambulance service.
PLEASANTON ROLLS OUT WEBSITE, SHUFFLEBOARD PLANS
Front page of Pleasanton's websiteContact information and zoning law is now available on Pleasanton Township’s revamped website. During the Pleasanton board’s October 12 meeting, the board discussed consulting with computer technician Kris Kranz, and accessibility of the website using different browsers. The site can be viewed using either Internet Explorer and Foxfire. The website address is
http://www.pleasantontownship.org/.
In the spring, Pleasanton will also debut its new shuffleboard court, which has been poured, but awaits warmer weather before a top coat and stenciling is applied. Trustee Bob Babcock said that the game installation is a response to community interest. "It came back as a desire on questionnaires that the Parks Commission sent out," said Babcock. During his Parks Commission report, Babcock said that shuffleboard equipment has been ordered, costing approximately $188. The board plans to keep the equipment secured within the township hall.
While the game was originally intended for renters of the township hall, who could use and return the equipment during their events on the premises, the board confirmed that accommodations could be made for other Pleasanton residents. "If somebody wants to contact the supervisor, we can probably work something out," said Clerk Connie Ledford.To date, about $3,300 has been reported in expenses for the shuffleboard court. In other business, Supervisor Tony Merrill added that Kris Kranz had expressed interest in being on the Planning Commission. Board members said that an official letter of resignation from Dave McNeilly would be necessary before his seat could be filled. McNeilly had notified the board of his intent by telephone.
The board discussed bids for snow removal at the transfer station, and if bids could be restricted to companies within the township. "It would give some warm fuzzy feelings to the constituents if they could see us opening it up. But it doesn’t mean we have to take the lowest bid." Ledford said that bid requests could be posted on the township’s website.
Discussion was held about reimbursement for volunteer work on township property. Supervisor Merrill said that resident Herb Buckner recently did back-blading at the transfer station, in order to keep the terrain level. Merrill said garbage truck wheels can put grooves in the terrain, which could pose a problem when the ground freezes. Treasurer Judy Girven made a motion to send Buckner a check for $10 for future work, to reimburse for gas.
Discussion continued about dump passes, dump dates and how to schedule them around holidays. The board also voted to accept trash from improved parcels only, rather than from any landowner. "If somebody asks, we can explain that we’re losing revenue sharing," said Merrill. "We could issue a one-time pass." The board expressed concern that trash generated at homes in other townships could be transported to Pleasanton for disposal.
Sandy Ertel reported to the board that the Keddie-Norconk Library will have a new parking lot, along with a gazebo equipped with a handicapped ramp.
The board briefly discussed inviting a Great Lakes Water representative, in order to learn more about the data collected from water quality testing. Ledford reported that a representative couldn’t attend that evening’s meeting. The board discussed the possibility of scheduling a representative visit for spring, when more residents are in town. Bills were paid for the month.
SEPTEMBER SUMMARYDuring the September 14 Pleasanton Township Board meeting, Road Commission manager Jerry Peterson reported that drainage problems on Hopkins Forest Drive could be solved with a leaching basin, which accepts excess water and releases it into the soil. As the work would be an improvement, rather than maintenance, Peterson said the Road Commission would need a 50-percent match of funds and recommended action before winter.
Mary Pitcher, from the Alliance for Economic Success, presented a proposal for county-wide recycling. In addition to the cardboard, glass and plastic currently accepted in Pleasanton, Pitcher said that her proposal would double Pleasanton’s capacity and be similar to Benzie County’s program, which also accepts Styrofoam, electronics and hazardous waste. Ledford estimated that Pleasanton currently spends $2,000 per year for recycling services and said that Pitcher’s proposal would cost about $7,872 annually. Manistee County residents, including those in Pleasanton, also are allowed to drop off household hazardous waste, free of charge, under a program offered by the Manistee County Conservation District.
PitcherRich Russell presented an overview of the Bear Lake Watershed Alliance (
see our June issue). "We’re not trying to take any authority from the township. We’re just trying to improve what we have," said Russell.
RussellDon Raiff asked the board for information about a water quality test in July, and offered to assist the board with interpreting test results. Supervisor Tony Merrill declined the offer, saying "What we have shows that the lake is getting cleaner. I’d rather stick with what we have. You could take [the data] out of context." Raiff denied the suggestion and said he sought to quantify, in writing, the test results of the Great Lakes Water company. Trustee Dave Ertel said the company could provide that. Ledford said she would inquire if a representative could come to the next meeting.
In other business, the board approved the payment of mileage for township representatives, for business over 10 miles away. The board discussed township hall rental, for which partial refunds are given for resident landowners. The board discussed garbage disposal as a service intended for landowners who live in the township, and voted to move recycling to the new location. Merrill reported positive feedback and suggestions about the new transfer station. There was discussion of general upkeep and possible carpet replacement at the township hall.
There was also discussion of complaints made about abuse of public access points. Babcock reported that shuffleboard courts were poured. Ertel reported that the Zoming Administrator is compiling a list of zoning violations. Planning Commission member Jeanne Crampton reported that wind energy projects within Michigan will probably begin in the thumb area and Mason county. Bryan Harris reported that milfoil chemical was applied to three locations in July and that the board voted to decrease assessment to $60 per taxable unit. Mary Manning reported that Ladies of the Lake and private donations helped Blarney Castle pay for removal of phragmites, an invasive weed. Board agreed to pay the cemetery sexton for work on a tractor.
AUGUST SUMMARYDuring its August 9 meeting, the Pleasanton Township Board discussed acquiring property that used to be part of the M-11 road. September 12 was cited as the date for switching to the new transfer station, and the board approved $200 towards a 4x4-foot sign at the location. There was discussion about an Off-Road Vehicle ordinance and the difficulty of enforcing it. The board accepted a bid of $700 to cut down two dying maple trees in the cemetery. The board agreed to issue a letter to a family that was parking personal property at Pleasanton Park.
A bid for $300 was accepted to repair stonework around the foundation of the township hall. The board settled on a date for taking former Supervisor Fred Alkire to dinner. The board approved an estimate of $3,100 for the pouring of a double shuffleboard court. LIB representative Bryan Harris reported the discovery of phragmites on Blarney Castle property near the lakeshore. There was discussion of how to address the problem. Harris reported that the LIB voted to accept an audit, and also said the LIB may reduce assessment amounts.
Upcoming MeetingsPleasanton Twp. Board
2nd Monday at 7pm
(Nov. 9)
Bear Lake Twp. Board
3rd Tuesday at 7:30pm
(Nov. 17)
Village of Bear Lake Council
3rd Wednesday at 7:30pm
(Nov. 18)
Dump Dates (Pleasanton & Bear Lake Twps.)
(Nov. 21, Dec. 5)
Bear Lake Watershed
4th Tuesday at 7pm
at BL Twp Hall (Nov. 24)
Bear Lake Township’s new garbage transfer station is located at Devere Randall & Son, 13 Mile Rd. east of US-31. Paper, glass and plastic recycling bins are located outside the Bear Lake Township Hall. Questions may be directed to the Township by calling 864-3620, or by visiting
http://www.bearlakemichigan.com/recycle09.pdf. Pleasanton residents should visit the transfer station at the Norconk Rd. location for both trash and recycling service.
NORTH SHORE
by Jeanne Crampton
"A good duck day," is what my father would have said. He would have meant that it was a good day for duck hunting—blustery wind, rain and icy droplets that make most folks wish for the warmth of a beech wood fire and an engrossing book. I’m no hunter—much more the book and fire type, but I recall the duck hunting trips when I was 7, 8 or 9 with a good bit of nostalgia. Today, with the wind roaring overhead in the pine trees and the rain beating on the windows, I could hear the shots going off down at Big Bay and I remember my father.
I now realize that while he had hunted squirrels and rabbits and partridge and vary occasionally deear when he was growing up over near Kaleva, I don’t think duck hunting was something with which he had much experience. The winter of 1936 he built a tiny rowboat, working evenings in the garage in Detroit, with only a handsaw, screwdriver, hammer and brace and bit. It was, he said, a boat for me to learn to row at Bear Lake in the summer. He carved a pair of oars to fit the boat, and I was thrilled. True, the next summer I was tied up to the shore with 100 feet of clothesline, but I did learn to row.
In the fall, however, he announced we would all go to Bear Lake for two weeks, a combined duck and deer hunting trip. He also explained that my little rowboat would make a perfect duck boat, allowing him to retrieve downed ducks from Big Bay. After an unhappy experience with a water spaniel (he bit the kid next door) my mother had vetoed any more dogs, so there was no hope of a canine retriever.
The first snag in the plans was that we were freezing to death in the cottage. It was a bare boards, one room, primitive shelter, with only a cook stove for heat. So my father roared of to Mr. Shreve’s hardware in the village and bought a sheet-iron heater (for those who don’t know, it resembled a blue metal, oval, garbage can with a round door in front) that took large chunks of wood. He also bought red-orange building paper, nails, and little round tin caps through which the nails were nailed to hold the paper to the two-by-fours. As you can imagine, he was working at top speed, since it was cutting into his hunting time. For years we lived with that building paper held to the walls with those brilliant tin caps. It was quite a psychedelic décor. As I recall, it took him about two days to get things to a point where the temperature was livable inside the cottage.
The next morning he was established in his brushy blind at daylight at the bay, the weather cooperated, and he was back by normal breakfast time with his limit of ducks, which must have been fairly magnanimous in those days, since my recollection was that my mother plucked ducks all day. I went off to school at the Myers School House down the road, and father went deer hunting. I can’t recall if he got a deer that first year, but he certainly did get ducks. Mother saved enough duck feathers for six pillows. We ate duck for dinner every night, and I had duck sandwiches in my syrup pail for lunch. I began to yearn for meatloaf.
The tide turned the morning father turned up with 8 or 10 slightly different ducks. I guess that ducks were ducks to him. Mother plucked and cooked, and I think was beginning to have misgivings as the cooking progressed and the fairly strong smell of fish began to permeate the cottage. One bite was enough. Mother simply got up, swept the ducks off our plates, got the uncooked ones and dumped them all across the road for the raccoons and skunks. She said, "I don’t know what kind of ducks those were, but don’t ever bring any more home for me to cook." They were Mergansers, or Fish Ducks, of course. My father allowed as how he didn’t think they were all that bad, but mother simply glared. Maybe it was that Finnish heritage. They’re fish eaters, too.
The Gander’s Seasonal NotesDuring our summer hiatus, we took time to reorganize office furniture, restock ink and paper supplies, and peek outside for any sign of the sun. We apologize for the interruption of service and we expect to publish (mostly) regularly from now on. Subscribers can be assured that a full 12 issues will be delivered for each year ordered. Regular readers should note that past government meetings are summarized following the report on the October meeting.
Engine Warmth Kills!
As we move into winter, start keeping an eye (and an ear) open for animals seeking shelter. When approaching your vehicle, for instance, make a bit of a ruckus in order to warn small animals camped out on your engine block. Listen for a moment after starting the vehicle, and be prepared to open the hood if you hear signs of distress. You’ll save a life and yourself a headache (if not a heartache, too), all before your day starts, and likely the life of a small creature, too.
Do you have an out-building that could serve as a shelter? Use this time to barricade inner doors, set up a cardboard box (facing away from any open doors or windows) and supply fresh water at the very least. Often, lost or feral pets need a refuge during the winter months. Watch this space for information on why not to shoot or poison. Need help right away? Call your shelter, the vet or the sheriff.
Finally, take a look around your house, both inside and out. Are there items you want to clear out before the snow flies? Take a few measurements, make a note of how heavy the items are, and join the Manistee County Freecycle group, a service available through Yahoo. It’s free to join, and once you post descriptions of your unwanted goods, other people can contact you to arrange pickup. Recent items posted and taken include mattresses, dressers, TVs and more.
