Lake Margrethe was treated for Eurasian milfoil and other invasive plants on Thursday, August
13th by the Professional Lake Management Company of Howard City, Michigan.  Our lake has not been fully treated since 2016 and milfoil growth has spread dramatically in the last 4 years.  This year’s treatment included a GPS survey to identify and locate as many milfoil beds as possible.  Professional Lake Management located 51 acres which required treatment this year.  The total bill for the 2020 invasive treatment was $35,433.63 and that bill is divided between the Lake Margrethe Special Assessment District (SAD), the Lake Margrethe Foundation, and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  Each of those sponsors will pay $11,811.21 to the Charter Township of Grayling, the supporting agency of the Lake Margrethe SAD.  The treatment area of 51 acres, which included the Harbor Beach canal, is the largest area we have ever treated.  Unfortunately, we will never totally eliminate Eurasian 
milfoil and Lake Margrethe will require continuing treatments to control the growth and spread of this invasive plant.  It is impossible to know what Lake Margrethe would look like now if we had failed to begin treatments in 2003.
 
Chuck Spencer
President, LMPOA

The lake management company (PLM) is on the lake today treating for milfoil.  Signs have been posted around the lake.  The notice states you can not swim until the 14th.   This is only if you are within 100 feet of a treatment area.  Please refer to the treatment areas near you and avoid them.  We selected this date based on the science.  This is the best window for successful treatment to kill the milfoil.

The Roscommon County Gypsy Moth Program is hiring its seasonal survey crew to count egg masses to determine spray areas for next spring. Training is provided, and there are several full-time, seasonal positions available.

Attached are PDF and JPG versions of the job posting. We are asking you to please help us share this opportunity with the people in our community, as I am certain there are folks in need of a job at this point, and we want to get a full crew to get a good count so we can try to get a handle on the gypsy moth population next spring!

Thank you for your help!


Rebecca Sova
MSU Extension, Roscommon County
500 Lake St.
Roscommon, MI 48653

989-275-5043

Pronouns:  she, her, hers


My Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30-4:30



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Thank you to everyone who was involved in gathering the information necessary to create the new riparian and deeded access owner lists.  They are now available under the Lake Margrethe tab (Owner Lists).  

If there are any changes to be made, please contact Grayling Twp. officials. 

Hey Chuck,
 
Sorry for the delayed response, I was out of the office the end of last week and yesterday.  This is the first chance I have had to look into your questions and get an email sent back out to you.
 
Our prime contractor Rieth-Riley is currently undergoing a labor dispute.  This has resulted in some of their labors/operators going on strike as of the evening of Tuesday, July 30th.  These labors/operators are generally the ones on the paving crews, so companywide limited paving is happening on projects currently that they are the contractor on statewide.  MDOT and Rieth-Riley are continuing to work with the sub-contractors on this project on various other contract items to keep the project moving along to keep the project on schedule.  Some of the work that has been ongoing is grading the ditches and front slopes, restoration (topsoil, seed, fertilizer, mulch, mulch blanket, etc.), and signs replacements.  The final project completion date is Oct. 4, 2019, and MDOT is hopeful that this labor dispute will be resolved to still meet this completion date.  MDOT is neutral on this labor dispute as it really is between the contractor and their union labor workforce, we are hopeful that is will be resolved as soon as possible.  
 
As you are aware, the project is not complete and so it is difficult in this stage to see where the actual widenings are planned as some of them are not constructed yet.  So, I can understand that it may be difficult for you to see where these widenings will take place or what the future pavement layout will look like when the project is finished.
 
The following is a list of the locations you referenced and what is planned at each intersection you referred to in your email:
 

• Arrowhead Rd – No Center-Left Turn Lane is planned at this location
• McIntyre's Landing  Rd – A passing flare lane will allow for WB left turns is planned at this location
• Eagle Point Rd – A passing flare lane will allow for WB left turns is planned at this location
• Danish Landing Rd – A center left turn lane will allow for WB and EB left turns is planned at this location (this will start west of Danish Landing Rd and will go easterly to just east of the Snap Fitness Driveways)

 
I hope this answers and addresses all of your questions/concerns.  If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.
 
Thanks,
-Brad
 
Bradley G. Swanson, P.E.
Construction Engineer
MDOT – Gaylord TSC
Office Phone:  (989) 731-5090
Cell Phone: (989) 370-3792
SwansonB@michigan.gov

To All Lake Margrethe Property Owners
What you should know about the Special Assessment District proposal to preserve and protect Lake Margrethe:

• After months of consultation with Grayling Township, Camp Grayling, legal experts, as well LMPOA members, the association board of directors has concluded that a Special Assessment District(SAD) is the best option for lake property owners.
• The proposed SAD will provide a total of about $20,000 per year to Grayling Township for the purpose of continued treatment of our lake for invasive species like Eurasian Water Milfoil.
  • The annual assessment for lake-front property owners would less than $30 per year.
  • Property owners with deeded access to the lake would be one-half of the lake-front owner’s assessment.
  • The SAD would be in effect for five years.
• Recent changes in state law prohibits association, like LMPOA, from treating lakes and streams for invasive species without the 100% of property owner’s approval for each such treatment.  Conversely, local government is allowed to do so within state-issued guidelines.
• Without our continued efforts to control the spread of milfoil we are convinced that navigation, and water sports on Lake Margrethe would become significantly changed.
• We understand those LMPOA members unable to attend our May meeting and many non-members have questions for LMPOA and the township, so:
  • Board members and association volunteers will be knocking on your door in the next two weeks to explain this proposal, answer your questions and request each owner’s signature on a petition in support of the proposed SAD.
  • If we get enough “yes” signatures on the petition, the Grayling Township will schedule two public information meetings to gather public input and respond to questions.
  • A copy of the petition and other details will be posted to our web site https://www.lakemargrethe.com/news.  Property owners who wish to sign the petition by email also may do so (see attached petition). 
• What Should I/We Do? 
  • Take a few minutes AND meet with the volunteer in your lake area and support your association’s efforts to keep our beautiful pristine lake that way.
  • If you are unable to meet with a volunteer petitioner PLEASE complete the attached email version of the petition and return it to mcroe@aol.com as soon as practicable.

We appreciate everyone's support of this important effort, never-the-less, you must be a lake-front or deeded access property owner to complete the SAD petition.

Respectfully,
Lake Margrethe Property Owners Association, Board of Directors
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