The Orion Township Board of Trustees has voted to go ahead and prepare the roll for the special assessment district for the Lake Orion canals.
The SAD will pay for chemical treatment of aquatic weeds in the canals. The board held a public hearing on the SAD cost estimate and work plan on Aug. 1, prior to voting to prepare the SAD roll.
The cost estimate for the SAD, which would appear on taxpayer’s 2005 winter tax bills so the treatment can be done in spring of 2006, is $14,565.
The SAD would run through 2015, increasing up to $15,979. Set-up fees are $1,024, as well as $240 to hire an expert witness.
Dr. Douglas Pullman spoke as the township’s expert witness at the meeting, stating the case for treating the weeds.
Pullman said he has studied at DePaul University, and earned his PhD from Michigan State, with a speciality in aquatic eco-system management. He said he has also done research at the University of Michigan.
‘Our root cause (of aquatic weeds) really is us,? he said. ‘And one of the greatest things we deal with are the invasion of invasive species.?
Pullman said he would classify the Lake Orion canals, of which he has some familiarity, as ‘fairly disturbed from an ecological perspective.?
‘There has been the hybridization of native species to new ones, ones that are extremely (bothersome),? he said.
Pullman said the growth of such weeds can interfere with recreation and also the eco-system.
‘The application of herbicide helps eliminate the species that disturbs native species,? he added. ‘Those species can also degrade water quality.?
Pullman believes the increased production of mosquitoes is also a factor.
‘That’s one reason it’s a public health concern,? he said.
From an economic standpoint, Pullman said ‘weedy water? also does not support good property values.
‘I see that there’s little other choice (than to do a chemical application),? he said.
A couple of residents want to be excluded from the SAD because the weed problem wasn’t affecting them.
‘I’m not saying there’s not a weed problem,? said Scott Hazelton of Arbroak Way. ‘But I don’t believe at my residence I have a problem.?
The board will hear comments on the proposed SAD roll at the next public hearing on Aug. 15. Residents were told they should also submit their requests to be excluded in writing.
Dave Barnes, a Leidich resident, said less than 20 percent of the homes were in opposition to the SAD, out of about 120 homeowners.
‘It improves our property values,? he said. ‘Which adds to the tax base of the township.?
Other residents said they were concerned about people taking chemical applications into their own hands, and wanted the township’s help to collect funds to make sure it was done safely.
James Jabczenski of Arbroak Way said his concern was that he has a private well on the lake.
‘We should be notified of all chemical applications,? he said. ‘I’m worried about my well being contaminated.?
Jabczenski suggested the township could find another way to deal with the weeds other than chemicals.
‘There are some physical strategies for controlling weeds,? said Pullman. ‘But to dredge a resource like a canal is alot like using a rototiller…It’s not a very good method for weed control to begin with.?
Pullman said there is also weed harvesting, but said it was not a very selective method.
‘Harvesting cuts everything,? he said. ‘In more disturbed areas, it’s not something I would recommend.?
Pullman said that leaves aquatic herbicide.
‘They are used in a manner much the way we use antibiotics,? he said. ‘The idea is to select out the bad plants and leave the good ones behind.?
Pullman said all of the herbicide’s active ingredients stay on site.
‘They have to do that, or they wouldn’t work,? he added. The ingredients are heavier than water. They are designed to stay there.?
According to Pullman, there are only two kinds of chemicals used in aquatic applications that are suspect in getting into drinking water, and there is a 75-foot setback requirement from drinking water when using those.
‘On the federal label, as determined by the EPA, there is no swimming restriction on any aquatic herbicide currently,? he said, adding that in the state of Michigan a one-day restriction on swimming is used.
‘The reason for that is, they wanted people out of the way so they can be effective. It has not been imposed because of a public health concern,? said Pullman.
‘Tonight it’s really not a question of treating the lake…it’s on the SAD,? said trustee John Steimel. ‘Residents can have the lake treated regardless.
‘I didn’t really hear any comments on the cost estimate,? he said.
Township attorney Kristin Bricker-Kolb said the resolution does deal with the necessity of whether or not to treat the canals, which is why the expert witness was brought.
Trustee Matthew Gibb said more people around the lake than just those being assessed should receive notice of the chemical applications.
‘Maybe it might be appropriate to just close the canals area,? he said.
According to Christine Tucker, president of the Marina Pointe Homeowner’s Association, most of the treatments are done during the day when most people are at work.
‘It’s a no wake zone,? she said. ‘There’s not a lot of sediment being stirred up.?
Bricker-Kolb said that this resolution would only approve a tentative district and a tentative roll.
‘It explains the township’s intent to go forward,? she said.
The Aug. 15 public hearing on the id scheduled at 8 p.m. Residents who protested at the Aug. 1 hearing must reappear, the board said. Appeals can also be made in writing.