Aug, 2008

In the next few days, not only the riparians on the millpond, but, all of us will be able to navigate the millpond with ease thanks to years of work by John Lescelius. John spent many hours talking with agents of the DNR/DEQ, finally finding the key to unlock the stalemate. The millpond was treated with copper sulphate August 26 to kill the starry stonewort and not only this year but for many years to come. Thanks, John!!!!!!!!!!

Blue Gil Island Fishing Derby

Ovid Blue Gill Island 8th Annual Harry Seaman Fishing Tournament was held at Lobdell Lake on Sunday, June 6. Thirty-five kids participated in the event, which was coordinated by Bill Wineland. The winners in the teenage category were Don Youngs, first place and John Wineland, second. For the kiddies, Walker Alchin took first and William Burge, second. The sportsmanship awards went to Allisha Fodera and John Wineland. Sponsors of the tournament were: Argentine Auto, Double Take Salon, West Wind Milling, Beloved Books, Terry Van Kuren, K&S Video, LaDolce Vita, Love That Tan, Smith-Peabody-Stiles Ins., Aqua Sports, Kembalaya Coffee Shop, Silver Spray Sports, Jim Mecum, TCI, Quick Stop, Bennett Lake Party Store, Wal-mart, Alpine, Linden Marine, Freeway Sports, Down the Hatch, Waters Edge, Twin Gardens, Little Caesars of Linden, VG's Food Center, Linden Family Pharmacy, Lighthouse Restaurant, Hungry Howie's, Cornwalls and Bandits.

Wolcott Mill Disposition

The court meeting scheduled for April 19th did not occur. The attorney representing the Mill contacted Argentine Township Attorney Lattie and agreed to request a permit from the MDEQ to refill and restore the land below the dam to its original condition. (Legally a permit is required ,although the Mill owners didn't obtain one when they dug the diversion.)

Members of the Lake Association Board believe that this decision will maintain the conditions and restrictions contained in the Mill deed. The Lake Association will continue to regulate and monitor any encroachment of the water and water rights in Lobdell and Bennett Lakes for which we worked and paid. Noting recently in the news regarding Bush Lake in Holly and Lake Ponemah in Genesee County, our concerns regarding our waters are real and legitimate. 

You may voice your opinion at our monthly meetings or via our web site. 

Annual Lake Cleanup

The 2004 Lake Cleanup Day is May 22. Meet Chairman Tony Minatel at the public launch in your boat or pontoon at 9:00.
Each year a substantial pile of empty cans, bait boxes and other debris are collected. Also noticeable in the debris piles are some recently emptied cans.  Chairman Minatel suggests each clean up team bring their own nourishment to sustain them during this arduous task.
Have fun while providing a service on May 22.

Annual Meeting - 2004

Our annual meeting will be held on April 28,  7pm at Argentine Township Hall.  Roger Kelley will review important Association issues---past and present.  Dr. Pullman will review the weed treatment and environmental challenges for 2004.  District Representatives will be elected.  All association members are invited to attend.

Wolcott Mill Update - April 10, 2004

As most Lake Association members are aware, when we formed an assessment district to purchase the Wolcott Mill, our major goal was to obtain the water rights and sell the Mill property.  In order to protect our water rights, explicit restrictions were included in the Mill deed.  Included in these deed restrictions were the following:
16.  "Nor shall the property or any owner there of have any right in or to the small pond located north of the dam,...or any flowage, riparian flooding or related rights thereto."
19.  "No canals, channels or similar waterways shall be dug or created on the Property or any proportion thereof without written consent of Argentine Township."
10.  "Any owner of the property...whose actions precipitate court action and who shall, after such court proceedings, be deemed to be in violation...imposed by this Declaration of Deed Restrictions shall pay the actual costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney fees of persons...defending this Declaration of Deed Restrictions."
In total there are 24 items in the Deed Restrictions.  No doubt these stringent restrictions discouraged several potential buyers and lowered the selling price of the Mill.  However the Mill was purchased and the Deed was signed by its owner, Mr. Purdy.
About two years ago, the Mill owners dug a  ditch which diverted water from the pond below the dam.  Your Association Board believed this clearly violated Deed Restrictions #16 and#19.  Since Argentine Township has fiduciary responsibility for the Mill Assessment District  and the Mill deed, we asked the Township Board to enforce the deed restrictions.  The Mill owners refused the  Township request to restore the property.    Therefore, the next recourse is a court proceeding which is scheduled before Judge Hayman, on April 19, 3:30 p.m.  The public is welcome. The court house is located at 900 S. Saginaw in Flint.

Our Neighborhood

Neighbors can determine the quality of a  neighborhood.  Our neighbors with properties on Blue Gill Island  need our help.  The Blue Gill Island residents are particularly vulnerable because they are not fulltime residents.  Last summer their cars were vandalized while parked and the owners were staying on the island.  Again this winter, vandals broke into dwellings, breaking windows, doors, TVs  causing general havoc.

Since most of the vandalism was destruction and not theft, young people are suspected.   Please help our Blue Gill Island neighbors.  If you see or hear anything suspicious. contact the Argentine police.  Good neighbors make a good neighborhood.

Island Court Docks No More

For the past several years, the Lake Association Board has petitioned the Argentine Board to remove several docks along Island Court, placed there illegally by non-riparians.  This past year these docks were declared illegal by the Township enforcement officer.  His decision was appealed to the Argentine ZBA, but the appeal was denied.  In February, the Argentine Township had these illegal docks removed.
Your Lake Association Board believes this is and excellent start to remove all illegal docks and boat moorings on our lakes.  Many non-riparians have accused the Lake Association of wanting to deny people the right to use the lakes.  This accusation is not true  We only ask that non-riparians access the waters legally via the public launch or the marina.

Wolcott Mill Deed Restrictions

Approximately twelve years ago, your Lake Association began a petition drive to establish an assessment district to purchase the the Wolcott Mill, along with the water rights. The rest is history.

In order to assure our water rights would forever remain untouchable, expert riparian lawyers were hired to write deed restrictions for the properties that were sold.  Among these restrictions was a  denial to use, divert, or channel any of the water released from the dam. 

In 2002, the Mill owners dug a channel diverting water behind the Mill.  The Association Board believes this diversion violates the Mill deed. At the January Board meeting, the topic of whether to waive the deed restrictions was discussed, and your Board voted unanimously to deny any change in the deed.

The Argentine Board requested that Trustee Joseph Graves meet with the Lake Association representatives and the Mill owners to see if a compromise could be reached.  On February16, Mr. Graves met with the Township attorney, Association representatives and the Mill owners and their attorney.  The Mill owner's contention was that  the Association was letting more water flow through the dam;  we were letting the water out faster; and the new dam had changed the flow  of the water;  all of which was causing more flooding of the land below the dam.  Therefore, they should be able to divert the flow  of water.   Obviously, none of these accusations are accurate.  The  amount  of water flow hasn't changed, and the release of water, as we all know, has never been so consistent...16 inch level in the winter, 20 inch level in the summer.  Mother Nature determines the amount of water released.  At the end of the meeting, the Lake representatives did not agree to amend the deed restrictions.

At our February meeting,  a Mill owner attended and was allowed to speak to the Board, which she believed had not been fully informed.  After her presentation and a lengthy question and answer period, the Board  voted on whether to change the deed restrictions.  The vote was a unanimous, NO.

This issue will be addressed at the Argentine Township March  board meeting. The Township has fiduciary responsibility over the Mill deed. The township will vote on whether to legally pursue this  violation. Your Lake Board believes that if the Mill owners do not rectify this violation, a court action should be pursued.

We encourage lake riparians to attend this meeting on March 29 at 7:30 p.m.  If you wish more information on this subject, feel free to contact your Board members listed on the website.

Argentine vs. Wenzlick Case Dismissed.

On September 10th, 2003, the defendant, Ms. Wenzlick, agreed to dismiss her third-party complaint against the Association. The dismissal of the complaint officially ends the lawsuit against Argentine and our Association., and reinforces the right of Argentine to enforce Ordinance #46, commonly referred to as the "Dock Ordinance".

Keyholing Ordinance Submitted to Deerfield Township

The Lake Shannon Association presented a keyholing proposal to the Deerfield Planning Commission meeting on October 18th. The same ordinance was enacted by Tyrone Township earlier this year. Representatives from Ryan Lake, Hidden Lake and Lobdell - Bennett Lake Associations attended the meeting and endorsed the enactment of the proposed ordinance.

The Deerfield Planning Commission will hold a special meeting at the Township Hall on October 2nd, 7:30PM to consider the keyholing proposal. If the Planning Commission accepts the proposed ordinance, a date for a public hearing will be set.

Labor Day Weekend on Bluegill Island - 2003

It sure seems like the Summer wasn't as warm as most of us Lake people would like. With Labor Day being a week early we missed out on one more great weekend at Lobdell Lake. This year for our party we had a Halloween theme. The kids on the Island went Trick or Treating and played games and did crafts on Saturday. That night we had an adults party with 50/50 raffle and great food. Our pig roast picnic on Sunday was attended by 150 people. The afternoon was full of water balloons for the kids and horseshoes for the adults. Our day was topped off by the wonderful parade of lights. Thanks to the Lake Association for a super job this Summer. Hope to see everyone again next year.
 

Dock Ordinance Committee

Argentine Township has requested the establishment of a committee to fine-tune the existing dock ordinance. The committee will be comprised of representatives from surrounding lakes, and someone from Argentine Township. The next meeting is June 11 @ 7:00PM at the Argentine Township Hall. Please contact us with your desire to volunteer for this committee.

New Watershed Quality Group

Roger Kelley announced that representatives from the surrounding lakes, and townships have formed a committee to track the area's water quality, and to create awareness on items that could negatively affect it. The group, which at this time has not been  formally named, will meet at the Deerfield Township Hall on Center Rd. every 2 weeks. They are also in need of volunteers in their two areas of concentration, fact-finding and technical. Please let us know if you would like to serve on this committee.

Dam Operator Leaving

Our  Dam Operator, Ray Dagenais is retiring soon. In anticipation of this milestone event, he has been training his replacement, John Harwood. The board recently assigned John as Dam Operator, and Ray will assume the role of Assistant Dam Operator. Let's thank Ray for a job well done, and wish him all the best in his retirement. At the same time, let's welcome John Harwood to the Association.

On The Lighter Side - May 24th, 2002

Take a look at what was running around our neighborhood May 23, 2002.

Kelley and Jagos Reelected - April Board Meeting

Roger Kelley and Beth Jagos were both reelected to new 2-year term as the Association's President and Secretary respectively. Thank you, Roger and Beth for all you've done, and all you will do in the future.

Tyrone Township's Proposed Sewer Treatment Plant May Get Flushed

"Plans to build a new sewage treatment plant in Tyrone Township are causing anger and controversy in neighboring communities", according to Dan Gilbert, Contributing Reporter for the Tri-County Times. A large crowd filed into the Argentine Township hall to hear Tyrone's proposal, as presented by Township Supervisor, Phil Price.

Price stated at one point that the quality of water flowing out of the treatment facility would be several times better than what current conditions present. The Lake Association's President, Roger Kelley then asked why, if the discharge quality is so great, aren't they considering discharging into their own lakes, instead of ours. Kelley concluded, "we will fight you tooth and nail, so be prepared."

See the May 1, 2002 edition of the Tri-County Times for the full story.

Zoning Board Rules on Fence, Dock Feud

Monday, April 1st, 2002, the Argentine Township Zoning Board of Appeals met to help settle the question of whether a fence and dock can be erected on a non-buildable lot on Lobdell Lake. The township's Building Inspector had interpreted the ordinances in a manner that allowed the owners of a 24 foot wide lot to erect the fence and dock, and they did so. The lot's neighbor  believed differently, however, and filed suit against the lot owner and Argentine Township to have the structures removed.

At the request of the 7th Circuit Court, the ZBA reviewed the case, and ultimately passed two motions, admitting that the Building Inspector's interpretation of the township's ordinances was incorrect, and that the fence and dock were illegal.  (This story ran in the April 3, 2002 issue of the Tri-County Times, but for some reason, is not available on their web site.)

Assessment District Accounting Question Remains

March 28, 2002 - Roger Kelley, president of the Lobdell Bennett Lake Association, told the Argentine Township Board of Trustees Monday night that the township should stop levying a special assessment on lakefront property owners. Tri-County Times' story

Flood Plan Sought

March 26, 2002 - Downstream neighbors of Lobdell Lake complain about river-flooding. Flint Journal story.

Mill Owners Asking for Water

February 4, 2002 - The mill owners appeared before the Association Board and asked for some amount of water flow onto their property. The Association's stance was clear, sighting the deed clearly disallowed that from happening. Click here to read the Tri-County Times' story.