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 [email protected] as soon as practicable.
Respectfully,
Lake Margrethe Property Owners Association, Board of Directors
From Jonathan Edgerly
Michigan Army National Guard
Environmental Manager
Dear Sandra-
We received your email regarding updated PFAS information and the current concerns of LMPOA members. Thank you for sharing your impressions and those of the LMPOA. We have passed your thoughts onto Randy Rothe (at Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), formerly DEQ), also to make sure the communication channels are full open.
Please be assured that the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG), DMVA, EGLE, DHHS, and the Local Health Department continue to be in close communication. Regular conference calls occur with representatives from all of the State partners and MIARNG which exclusively discuss the PFAS investigation status in Grayling. MIARNG is in almost daily 2-way communications with Randy Rothe (EGLE) specifically to discuss various aspects of the on-going investigation on and around CGMTC, and to plan future Community Events to share status updates. Randy/EGLE has never been denied when they have requested access to the CGMTC property. Please feel free to reach out to Randy for his feedback on that topic.
It is true, that the State of Michigan is currently studying the possibility of establishing new/additional standards related to PFAS. MIARNG does not have any new information other than that in regards to promulgating a new standard, there may be information on the MPART website to expand upon this initiative.
MIARNG is in the process of forming a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to solicit for public involvement in the PFAS efforts at CGMTC. You should have recently received an email with a copy of the Public Notice and additional RAB-related information. If you did not get that email, please let me know and I will be resend to you. Please feel free to forward that email to other members of the LMPOA. The RAB Public Notice is also being posted on community bulletin boards in and around Grayling.
Upcoming Community outreach events that are currently planned for this summer include (some dates have not been finalized):
• RAB Informational Meeting (to solicit RAB members) -June 5th
• First Meeting of the RAB group (these are open to the public) - late June
• A meeting to discuss long-term options for addressing residential well contamination near the airfield - mid to late July
• Town Hall Meeting to give status updates, and discuss Final TCRA plan following 30-day comment period- mid August
Recent investigation on CGMTC conducted by MIARNG include:
• Quarterly sampling of all the on-post potable water wells
• Site Inspection field work (soil and groundwater sampling) was completed in April in the Cantonment Area
Randy/EGLE has been/will be doing additional investigations in and around Lake Margrethe this spring. He would be the best one to update you on those activities.
It is our goal to have fully open communications with our State Government partners, the LMPOA members, and members of the general public. We continue to work hand in hand with EGLE to further understand the scope of the PFAS contamination in the Grayling area with human health in the forefront of our efforts. We appreciate you reaching out with your concerns and those of the LMPOA, it is important for MIARNG and EGLE to be aware of people’s perceptions, so that we can address misunderstanding when they occur.
As always, never hesitate to contact me via phone or email as I am more the willing to provide an update to whomever/wherever/however on the latest happenings as it relates to this ongoing effort.
Respectfully,
Jonathan W. Edgerly
Michigan Army National Guard
Environmental Manager
3423 N MLK Jr BLVD
Lansing, Mi 48906
517-481-7630 / 517-599-5644 (c)
[email protected]
FROM Randall L. Rothe
District Supervisor, Gaylord District Office
Remediation and Redevelopment Division,
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Good morning Sandy,
Carla Lang forwarded me your email to her and Jonathan Edgerly.
I am sorry that some of your members/board feel that communication has broken down. We try and keep the MPART website up to date with any data, findings, etc. so folks can look up the latest as they desire. I don’t recall any recent conversations between myself or my staff with any of the LMPOA Board Members. I have had some discussions with a couple of people who live on or around Lake Margrethe as far as updates, and I send them to the MPART website (www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse).
Please be aware that it takes time for us (EGLE, DMVA, etc.) to get the data back from the lab, as well as updating maps and providing validated and accurate data/information. BTW – DEQ is now called EGLE; Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (pronounced eagle).
We (EGLE) have never been denied access to Camp Grayling or any other areas they control. DMVA and Camp Grayling have been great to work with and continue to share info with us as we do with them. I recall a year or so back, there was that same issue brought up about denying us access. If my memory serves, that was a statement by someone living on the lake and misinterpreted what I said. EGLE will do the off-base work while DMVA and Army National Guard Bureau (ANGB) do the on-base investigation.
Work being completed/initiated this summer:
DMVA/ANGB is setting up the RAB (Restoration Advisory Board) for Grayling. You may recall this was mentioned at the December Town Hall and a signup sheet was available by ANGB. Public Meeting to explain RAB and process is on June 5 at Kirtland (DMVA Patti Lyman is setting this up. See attached)
Also, ANGB completed sampling in cantonment area at Lake Margrethe and is waiting on data/reporting. Sampling was done last part of April/first part of May.
EGLE staff in June, is going to resample the seeps/springs and surface water on Lake M that we sampled last year. In addition, we will be collecting sediment samples in those same locations.
EGLE staff in July, will be sampling surface water and springs/seeps on the AuSable south of the airfield and downstream; exact locations yet to be determined. We may take sediment samples from those areas as well.
EGLE working on a contract to use an underwater IR camera this summer on Lake M to find any deep springs. This will aid in sampling springs feeding the lake.
I say all this to let you know that we, EGLE, DMVA, ANGB, DHHS, DHD-10, MPART is planning on a Town Hall in August 2019, preferably before schools start, so that hopefully more people will attend including those who live downstate/out-ot-state. The reasons for holding this later this summer are:
NGB/DMVA would like to establish the RAB and have an initial meeting so that info along with meeting schedules can be shared in August.
NGB/DMVA are working on reports for work conducted at the Airfield, MATES, and Main Camp Grayling.
AECOM is developing the RI report for the Airfield area and finalizing the Lake M report.
EGLE will have more info, reports, updates to share – including some of the data from the sampling events mentioned above.
MPART will have the recommendations from the Advisory Board by then on what they suggest as the Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water and we hopefully get Steve Sliver to attend to provide updates.
That’s the latest/plans for now. Please be aware that any time you want EGLE staff to attend any of your meetings, we would be happy to do so, just give us enough time so we can plan and schedule.
I hope this helps Sandy. Please forward as you desire. I was not able to send to all the people on your original email as some of the email addresses did not show up on the forwarded email.
Thanks for all your help and please do not hesitate to contact any of us with any questions or if you need any further info.
Best regards to all
Randy
Randall L. Rothe
District Supervisor, Gaylord District Office
Remediation and Redevelopment Division,
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
2100 West M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735
989-217-0083 (Cell) 989-731-4920 (Office) 989-731-6181 (FAX)
[email protected]
FOLLOW US www.michigan.gov/EGLE www.Michigan.gov/EGLEConnect
Michigan Army National Guard
Environmental Manager
Dear Sandra-
We received your email regarding updated PFAS information and the current concerns of LMPOA members. Thank you for sharing your impressions and those of the LMPOA. We have passed your thoughts onto Randy Rothe (at Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), formerly DEQ), also to make sure the communication channels are full open.
Please be assured that the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG), DMVA, EGLE, DHHS, and the Local Health Department continue to be in close communication. Regular conference calls occur with representatives from all of the State partners and MIARNG which exclusively discuss the PFAS investigation status in Grayling. MIARNG is in almost daily 2-way communications with Randy Rothe (EGLE) specifically to discuss various aspects of the on-going investigation on and around CGMTC, and to plan future Community Events to share status updates. Randy/EGLE has never been denied when they have requested access to the CGMTC property. Please feel free to reach out to Randy for his feedback on that topic.
It is true, that the State of Michigan is currently studying the possibility of establishing new/additional standards related to PFAS. MIARNG does not have any new information other than that in regards to promulgating a new standard, there may be information on the MPART website to expand upon this initiative.
MIARNG is in the process of forming a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to solicit for public involvement in the PFAS efforts at CGMTC. You should have recently received an email with a copy of the Public Notice and additional RAB-related information. If you did not get that email, please let me know and I will be resend to you. Please feel free to forward that email to other members of the LMPOA. The RAB Public Notice is also being posted on community bulletin boards in and around Grayling.
Upcoming Community outreach events that are currently planned for this summer include (some dates have not been finalized):
• RAB Informational Meeting (to solicit RAB members) -June 5th
• First Meeting of the RAB group (these are open to the public) - late June
• A meeting to discuss long-term options for addressing residential well contamination near the airfield - mid to late July
• Town Hall Meeting to give status updates, and discuss Final TCRA plan following 30-day comment period- mid August
Recent investigation on CGMTC conducted by MIARNG include:
• Quarterly sampling of all the on-post potable water wells
• Site Inspection field work (soil and groundwater sampling) was completed in April in the Cantonment Area
Randy/EGLE has been/will be doing additional investigations in and around Lake Margrethe this spring. He would be the best one to update you on those activities.
It is our goal to have fully open communications with our State Government partners, the LMPOA members, and members of the general public. We continue to work hand in hand with EGLE to further understand the scope of the PFAS contamination in the Grayling area with human health in the forefront of our efforts. We appreciate you reaching out with your concerns and those of the LMPOA, it is important for MIARNG and EGLE to be aware of people’s perceptions, so that we can address misunderstanding when they occur.
As always, never hesitate to contact me via phone or email as I am more the willing to provide an update to whomever/wherever/however on the latest happenings as it relates to this ongoing effort.
Respectfully,
Jonathan W. Edgerly
Michigan Army National Guard
Environmental Manager
3423 N MLK Jr BLVD
Lansing, Mi 48906
517-481-7630 / 517-599-5644 (c)
[email protected]
FROM Randall L. Rothe
District Supervisor, Gaylord District Office
Remediation and Redevelopment Division,
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Good morning Sandy,
Carla Lang forwarded me your email to her and Jonathan Edgerly.
I am sorry that some of your members/board feel that communication has broken down. We try and keep the MPART website up to date with any data, findings, etc. so folks can look up the latest as they desire. I don’t recall any recent conversations between myself or my staff with any of the LMPOA Board Members. I have had some discussions with a couple of people who live on or around Lake Margrethe as far as updates, and I send them to the MPART website (www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse).
Please be aware that it takes time for us (EGLE, DMVA, etc.) to get the data back from the lab, as well as updating maps and providing validated and accurate data/information. BTW – DEQ is now called EGLE; Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (pronounced eagle).
We (EGLE) have never been denied access to Camp Grayling or any other areas they control. DMVA and Camp Grayling have been great to work with and continue to share info with us as we do with them. I recall a year or so back, there was that same issue brought up about denying us access. If my memory serves, that was a statement by someone living on the lake and misinterpreted what I said. EGLE will do the off-base work while DMVA and Army National Guard Bureau (ANGB) do the on-base investigation.
Work being completed/initiated this summer:
DMVA/ANGB is setting up the RAB (Restoration Advisory Board) for Grayling. You may recall this was mentioned at the December Town Hall and a signup sheet was available by ANGB. Public Meeting to explain RAB and process is on June 5 at Kirtland (DMVA Patti Lyman is setting this up. See attached)
Also, ANGB completed sampling in cantonment area at Lake Margrethe and is waiting on data/reporting. Sampling was done last part of April/first part of May.
EGLE staff in June, is going to resample the seeps/springs and surface water on Lake M that we sampled last year. In addition, we will be collecting sediment samples in those same locations.
EGLE staff in July, will be sampling surface water and springs/seeps on the AuSable south of the airfield and downstream; exact locations yet to be determined. We may take sediment samples from those areas as well.
EGLE working on a contract to use an underwater IR camera this summer on Lake M to find any deep springs. This will aid in sampling springs feeding the lake.
I say all this to let you know that we, EGLE, DMVA, ANGB, DHHS, DHD-10, MPART is planning on a Town Hall in August 2019, preferably before schools start, so that hopefully more people will attend including those who live downstate/out-ot-state. The reasons for holding this later this summer are:
NGB/DMVA would like to establish the RAB and have an initial meeting so that info along with meeting schedules can be shared in August.
NGB/DMVA are working on reports for work conducted at the Airfield, MATES, and Main Camp Grayling.
AECOM is developing the RI report for the Airfield area and finalizing the Lake M report.
EGLE will have more info, reports, updates to share – including some of the data from the sampling events mentioned above.
MPART will have the recommendations from the Advisory Board by then on what they suggest as the Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water and we hopefully get Steve Sliver to attend to provide updates.
That’s the latest/plans for now. Please be aware that any time you want EGLE staff to attend any of your meetings, we would be happy to do so, just give us enough time so we can plan and schedule.
I hope this helps Sandy. Please forward as you desire. I was not able to send to all the people on your original email as some of the email addresses did not show up on the forwarded email.
Thanks for all your help and please do not hesitate to contact any of us with any questions or if you need any further info.
Best regards to all
Randy
Randall L. Rothe
District Supervisor, Gaylord District Office
Remediation and Redevelopment Division,
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
2100 West M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735
989-217-0083 (Cell) 989-731-4920 (Office) 989-731-6181 (FAX)
[email protected]
FOLLOW US www.michigan.gov/EGLE www.Michigan.gov/EGLEConnect
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