Dear Members,
The Charlevoix County Commissioners recently sent a letter to lakefront property owners in Southarm Twp informing you about a possible SAD to fund repairs at the Bellaire Dam and to fund a new culvert in Ellsworth. The Antrim County Operator of Dams, Leslie Meyers, has approached the commissioners in four counties (Antrim, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse and Charlevoix) requesting permission for her to proceed as the lead to seek funding so this project can move forward. For those of us on Six Mile Lake and St. Clair Lake we have been battling flooding issues since 2008 with no remedy in sight unless these improvements are made. The other lakes all along the Chain flood also but not like us. The restrictions have been identified and the Ellsworth Culvert is one of them. The Bellaire Dam, during high rain events, cannot move the water fast enough to make a difference on Six Mile Lake. In short, we need help to save our shorelines and homes.
As to why the Charlevoix County Commissioners sent out this survey has me puzzled. There are thousands of lakefront property owners all along the Chain not just the couple hundred in Southarm Twp. that the survey was sent to. Leslie is seeking a Special Assessment District that will be paid for by ALL of us in the four counties including businesses, those living in subdivisions that have lake access, villages and townships that own lakefront property, etc. She is working to be as fair as she can about this SAD. No one likes any additional taxes. We are taxed enough but this is our chance to FINALLY be able to do something besides wring our hands about the flooding here. I would encourage you to return the survey and urge these commissioners to allow Leslie to proceed. We finally have an Operator of Dams willing to work on our behalf!
Thank you,
Cherie Hogan
Communications/Membership