Category: Village of Bear Lake Public Hearing

Village Of Bear Lake March 28th 7pm Public Hearing re Kayak Launch and Fishing Pier

A reminder that if you are unable to attend the Village has a telephone conference service.

Conference Call-In to  1.302.202.1107, Conference code 149002.  Note:  a charge from your phone carrier could apply – we suggest using Google or Skype.

A number of subscribers sent in questions which we have forwarded this afternoon to the Village President Jeff Bair – jeffbair4@gmail.com

Good afternoon Jeff,

we have received a query wondering where the Kayak/Fishing Pier information is on the Village web site?  The current page only lists last year’s meeting notice and the prior conceptual plan?
Although there is no advance information about the project, the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous at this stage, asks for the following questions to be raised at the Public Hearing.
1. Have the current seasonal renters been surveyed for their acceptance/disapproval? As the Park is the only source of additional revenue to support Village programs, the reader worries we may be gaining a pier but losing campers.
2. How will this impact the safety of small children being so close to the parking activity.?
3. IS there sufficient parking for all these uses and those currently parking there to use the boat launch?
4. How does the design plan to accommodate the wastewater from the new bathroom facilities?
5. How will the plan accommodate fish cleaning?
6. Is there still a 50/50 agreement with the Township on facility maintenance – does this include upkeep on the main drive through the park which is laid on floating slabs?
7. How will the fishing pier conflict with those who currently fish from the Point onto the slabs? How will this affect fish habitat there?
8. Will the pier be removable in winter? If not how will it be protected from ice damage?
9. Will the pier be lit? If so what inspection protocols will be put in place, and who will be responsible for that, to avoid electrocution? How will a lit pier impact fishing at night?
And one comment – previous proposals had this located on South Shore Drive or at the property previously occupied by the Cook Station – both are considered by this reader to be a better location with better access of US31 and able to be served by seasonal portable sanitation at much less cost. Why was the location changed?
If you have a copy of the application and the new schematic please forward to Cindi so she can put it on your web site and send to us for publication so people have an opportunity to comment prior to the Village making a decision?
Kind regards,
Bear Lake News.

Village of Bear Lake: March 28, 2018 7 PM Meeting Information

The following was received: [see prior posting here]

AGENDA PUBLIC MEETING

Village of Bear Lake Public Hearing Natural Resources Trust Fund Application for Proposed Kayak/Canoe Launch and Fishing Pier site

March 28, 2018 7:00 p.m. – Bear Lake Village Hall

CALL TO ORDER – Bear Lake Village President, Jeff Bair

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INTRODUCTIONS

PRESENTER:  Pat Bentley, Spicer Group

PUBLIC COMMENT

ADJOURNMENT

The posted notice is as follows:

Bear Lake News has requested copies of documents to be presented in order that residents may submit questions.

Also: [NOTE: No Agenda supporting documentation was received but has been requested]

PROPOSED AGENDA

Village of Bear Lake Council Meeting March 28, 2018

7 p.m. – Village Office

(following the Kayak/Canoe Launch Public Hearing)

CALL TO ORDER and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL ADOPTION of AGENDA

  • Additions

PUBLIC COMMENT: Any agenda item ONLY (two (2)-minute maximum) 

Note: Members of the public will speak only when recognized by the chair person.

CORRESPONDENCE: 

REPORTS/DISCUSSION

MINUTES APPROVAL: 

  • Budget Public Hearing 2018-2019 February 21, 2018
  • Regular Monthly Meeting February 21, 2018
  • Special Meeting Water System Improvement February 7, 2018 

VILLAGE MAINTENANCE REPORT:

TREASURER’S REPORT:

  • Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report
  • Amendments:

BILLS to be PAID:

REIMBURSEMENTS to the GENERAL FUND:

COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS:

PARK: 

  • Park Manager Report 

STREETS, TREES, SIGNS, LIGHTS, SIDEWALKS:   

WATER: 

  • Water Well update
    • Grant of Easement
  • Water Ordinance update     
  • Maintenance Building update

BLIGHT/CABA:

  • CABA :
  • Blight Enforcement Officer report:

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT:

MANISTEE COUNTY TRAIL COMMITTEE REPORT: 

BEAR LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD REPORT:

TWO LAKES SEWER REPORT: No report

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT: Annual report

AD HOC COMMITTEE: Policy, Resolution & Ordinance Committee – Clerk McPherson: student volunteer

OLD BUSINESS: 

  • Clerk & Treasurer appointment – August
  • Community Clean-Up Day

NEW BUSINESS:

PUBLIC COMMENT: General Time – Any Village-related item (two (2)-minute maximum) Note: Members of the public will speak only when recognized by the chair person.

Items on agenda or not listed

UPCOMING EVENTS and ANNOUCEMENTS:

  • Community dinner at Bear Lake United Methodist Church

ADJOURNMENT 

REIMBURSEMENTS to the GENERAL FUND:

February 2018

Village of Bear Lake Public Hearing Wednesday March 28, 2018 7pm.

At 9.04 am on Wednesday March 21, 2018, Bear Lake News received the following:

“The Village of Bear Lake has postponed their regular council meeting scheduled for today, March 21 at 7pm to Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

There will be a Public Hearing on the Kayak/Canoe Launch at 7pm, the regular March 2018 monthly meeting will follow.

Cindi McPherson, Clerk”

Bear Lake News elected to wait for the notice to appear on bearlakemichigan.org, the Village web site to publish here. It did so at 4pm. The Notice was placed at the Hall and Post Office the following day.

On March 23, 2018 a corrected notice was posted at all locations:

There is no information at http://www.bearlakemichigan.org/kayakcanoe-launch–fish-pier.html other than the prior notice from 2017.

Bear Lake News has received no further information about how the new proposal may have changed. Here is the schematic from March 2017.

Kayak Canoe Fishing Pier Grant Agreement March 2017 revised

The relevant sections for Village residents from the 2017 agreement are as follows:

[The Village is the applicant for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant
(the “Trust Fund Grant”) (Grant No. TF17-0168), entitled “Hopkins Park
Development” in the amount of $295,100 for the purpose of developing the
following amenities within Hopkins Park: (1) a universally accessible
canoe/kayak launch, (2) a fishing pier, (3) restrooms, (4) parking facilities in
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and (5) other amenities (the “Park Project”).

Matching Funds. Each party shall be responsible for paying FIFTY PERCENT
(50%) of the Trust Fund Grant matching funds requirement. Currently, the
matching funds requirement is $98,366.00, with each party contributing
$49,200.00. Each party may contribute its matching funds requirement by cash
and/or in-kind contributions that comply with all requirements of the Trust Fund Grant regulations. In the event third parties make contributions toward the matching funds requirement, then all such contributions shall be allocated
equally between the parties.

Park Project Construction and Oversight.
The Village in conjunction with its engineering consultants shall be responsible for the development of the bid specifications for the Park Project. Once construction bids are opened the Village shall send the Township a copy of all the bids. The parties hereby agree that they will negotiate in good faith to approve the best construction bid and costs for the Park Project. Any such agreement shall be in writing and approved by the legislative body of each party. Following the approval of the construction bid and costs by the parties, the Village shall formally the award the construction contract for the Park Project to the successful bidder. The Village shall be responsible for the oversight and administration of the Park Project construction in compliance with the terms of the Trust Fund Grant funding requirements.

  1. Excess Park Project Costs. In the event that the total costs for the Park Project exceed the sum of (1) the amount of money actually covered by the Trust Fund Grant, (2) any matching funds, and (3) any financial contributions to the Park Project from third parties, then the parties hereby agree that they shall contribute equally to pay any such excess costs.

  2. Park Project Maintenance. After construction of the Park Project the Village shall be responsible for the actual maintenance and repair of the Park Project. The Village shall be financially responsible for ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) of the maintenance and repair costs for the fishing pier. The Township shall pay to the Village ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) of the maintenance and repair costs for the canoe/kayak launch and shall pay to the Village FIFTY PERCENT (50%) of the maintenance and repair costs for the restrooms and parking facilities. The Village shall annually, on the date mutually agreeable to the parties, send the Township a written, itemized statement of the actual costs incurred by the Village in the preceding year for the maintenance and repair costs for the canoe/kayak launch, restrooms and parking facilities. The Township shall pay the Village for its share of these costs within forty-five (45) days of the date of the written statement.]

IF an updated project narrative is received we will publish here.

It should be noted that as of December 2017 the stated Park Income was:

Written comments may be submitted at the public hearing or may be sent before the public hearing to the Bear Lake Village Clerk at the above address (P.O. Box 175) or to the Bear Lake Township Clerk at 7771 Lake Street, P.O. Box 187, Bear Lake, MI 49614. and The village clerk can be emailed at bearlakeclerk@gmail.com