This is an email that was just sent out to members who have given us their email addresses:
Our property owners' association (LMPOA) has over 50 years of experience representing the interests of property owners and friends of Lake Margrethe. It has helped maintain water quality, managed the Portage Creek dam and its impact on water levels, promoted safe boating, liaised with the military and governmental offices regarding the lake and its environs, and in the last few years, mounted a major effort to counteract the effects of invasive species (mainly Eurasian Water Milfoil) with the annual approval of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Has Something Changed?
Yes. The DEQ now requires all waterfront property owners to provide written approval for any group, association, or individual to add chemicals, of any kind, to lakes and streams in Michigan. This new rule may be long overdue given our recent experience with fire retardants and the like. However, your property owners' association is faced with the mostly impossible task of securing the written approval of more than 300 lakefront owners as well as those with deeded access to the lake each time it is necessary to treat a new patch of milfoil. Then too, there are other projects undertaken by the association involving the upkeep of the dam and water levels, so important to all of us.
What Options Do We Have?
What Should I Do?
Below is a document provided to LMPOA by PLM (the lake management company we have worked with for years). It outlines the steps that we are following. All questions/ concerns will be addressed during the process.
Our property owners' association (LMPOA) has over 50 years of experience representing the interests of property owners and friends of Lake Margrethe. It has helped maintain water quality, managed the Portage Creek dam and its impact on water levels, promoted safe boating, liaised with the military and governmental offices regarding the lake and its environs, and in the last few years, mounted a major effort to counteract the effects of invasive species (mainly Eurasian Water Milfoil) with the annual approval of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Has Something Changed?
Yes. The DEQ now requires all waterfront property owners to provide written approval for any group, association, or individual to add chemicals, of any kind, to lakes and streams in Michigan. This new rule may be long overdue given our recent experience with fire retardants and the like. However, your property owners' association is faced with the mostly impossible task of securing the written approval of more than 300 lakefront owners as well as those with deeded access to the lake each time it is necessary to treat a new patch of milfoil. Then too, there are other projects undertaken by the association involving the upkeep of the dam and water levels, so important to all of us.
What Options Do We Have?
- Secure written approval of all lakefront owners each time we need to treat the lake with approved milfoil management chemicals. Probably not feasible.
- Establish a Special Assessment District (SAD) within Grayling Township for the ongoing maintenance and benefit of one of the area's most important assets, Lake Margrethe. The LMPOA board has discussed this option with the Township and Camp Grayling officials as well as other lake property associations and found it to be a worthwhile undertaking for all concerned.
- First, we have to have all names and addresses of individual lake-front owners (which we have) and groups or individuals with deeded lakefront property (which we do not have).
- A formal hearing will be scheduled with the township. Everyone in the proposed special assessment district (SAD) will receive prior notice of the hearing. At the hearing, everyone can express his or her opinion about the proposed special assessment district, both “pro” and “con.” After the hearing, the municipality has the option of either turning down or adopting the SAD.
- If the SAD is adopted, a second hearing will be scheduled to confirm the SAD roll- that is, to verify which properties will be located within the SAD and the cost per property/ unit.
What Should I Do?
- Send any info. you have regarding group owners & deeded access property owners to Sandra Michalik ([email protected])
- AND PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Below is a document provided to LMPOA by PLM (the lake management company we have worked with for years). It outlines the steps that we are following. All questions/ concerns will be addressed during the process.
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