There has never been a “do nothing" alternative. It is not permitted to leave the dams in the rivers as they are.
Dams with normal (legal) lake levels that existed before 2020 with a lake level special assessment district are the best path forward. Four Lakes Task Force and Gladwin and Midland counties filed a motion in Midland Circuit Court to expedite the administrative appeal and shorten the time for filing briefs and scheduling oral arguments. FLTF filed the motion and obtained the date for the hearing (March 21) from the court, or soon thereafter. The hearing is to review the motion to expedite the appeal process.
The motion and brief can be found in the FLTF document library here. While we respect the right of a property owner to appeal the assessment rolls, the counties followed the laws and regulations of the State. Appeal attorney, Michael Homier’s comments to the Midland Daily News that the counties “jumped the gun" reflects a profound misunderstanding of four years of community work requiring over 40 state permits to comply with state regulatory requirements and get to the final construction phase of the project. Standing still and doing nothing was not an option and not in the best interest of the Four Lakes community.
An updated suspension schedule was posted May 17, 2024. Please view it here.
Today Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF), the Delegated Authority for restoring the four lakes and dams in Midland and Gladwin counties, announced the Schedule for suspending restoration construction work in the coming months on Secord, Smallwood, Edenville and Sanford dams, and that the start of Edenville Dam’s final phase of construction will be delayed. Since Four Lakes Task Force shared its draft assessment rolls in December 2023 for the restoration project costs and 2025-2029 Operations & Maintenance costs, we have made over 1,400 updates to the assessment roll including parcel combinations and splits and benefit factor updates. A summary of the changes will be presented to the Gladwin and Midland county commissioners and can be found here.
Representatives Mike Hoadley and Bill G. Schuette enrolled House Bills 5419 and 5420 to amend Act 225 of 1976 which permits the State of Michigan to cover the cost of special assessments for low-income seniors. This would reinstate a previously expired program to provide important financial relief for seniors paying special assessments - a bill that would apply to the Four Lakes.
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May 2024
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