August 4, 2003 Concerned Citizens Forum The Concerned Citizens informational forum July 29th was quite a success. We had a large turnout and excellent TV and newspaper coverage. Alison and David Swan, co-founders and co-chairs of Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park, presented an update on Holland BPW’s and Laketown Township’s ongoing pursuit of park land for the construction of a water pumping and treatment facility. They also outlined some of Concerned Citizens' current plan of action. Alison briefly related the history of Concerned Citizens. She spoke of the Swan’s alarm upon initially learning of proposals for a treatment plant, their founding of Concerned Citizens in the Fall of 2001 and its growth to more than 1000 individuals supported by twelve other organizations. She described how the steering committee spent many hours refining the group’s focus, only to arrive where they had started. Keep it Wild - Keep it Whole - Make it Grow! Early in 2002 the DNR denied Laketown’s land swap application, in no small part due to the efforts of Concerned Citizens. Holland subsequently withdrew a similar proposal. In response to DNR objections Laketown and Holland BPW are now preparing a joint proposal using "bore technology", or directional drilling, to bring the water from the lake beneath the dunes to a pump house they would locate at Shore Acres park, site of the Felt Mansion. The treatment plant would be built over the park's current entrance, obtained by trading for Holland's Rosenberg property. David explained bore technology is not as environmentally friendly as presented, requiring large pits at each end of the bore containing a quantity of drilling slurry up to three times the volume of the soil to be removed. Not a neat operation and not appropriate on the park’s pristine shoreline or in its peaceful interior. He stated he feels Holland bought the Rosenberg property, adjacent to the park’s north boundary, as a "bargaining chip". Due to its topography and likely status as critical dune he feels this property was never a practical candidate for construction, particularly on the scale of a water treatment plant. Alison added her fears regarding the required supporting services - electrical substations, water storage tanks, lighting and security fences - none of which have any place in or near a wilderness area. Also contributing to the presentation were Karla Kauffmann of West Michigan Environmental Action Council and Kym Spring of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund. They offered praise for Concerned Citizens and shared their experience and suggestions for additional action. Their assistance continues to be indispensable to Concerned Citizens. The second half of the meeting was a question and answer period. Al Meshkin, Laketown Township supervisor, was present and the target of many of the questions, often rather heated. One audience member asked Mr. Meshkin why the township had not purchased a 38 acre tract of land recently offered for sale near Laketown’s park on Lake Michigan. Mr. Meshkin responded that it was less attractive than the land at the state park, which prompted a fiery response from the group. Another asked what communities with no handy large body of water or river nearby do for their water needs. He asked why in all the discussion on the topic he hadn’t heard about the feasibility of wells being investigated. One person offered the observation that while the primary focus has been what happens inside the park no one has mentioned what will happen outside of it. Water pumped and treated in the park would have to be distributed outside and the impact to surrounding areas would be substantial. Others questioned the use of their tax money and asked if township residents where going to be offered a say in the ongoing process, something they pointed out as totally lacking thus far. One young woman in the audience asked what she could do as an activist for the park. Familiarize yourself with the issue on our website, Alison responded. Then, most importantly, write your elected government officials and let them know you feel they should protect the park. Letters have been instrumental in derailing these proposals, perhaps the single most effective means. As the meeting drew to an end, the Swans stressed that Concerned Citizens vision for Saugatuck Dunes State Park is not merely to preserve it as a premier coastal duneland, but to acquire additional land to add to the current park. Alison expressed her concern the park needs a buffer zone between it and potential development at its boundaries. "Keep it Wild - Keep it Whole - Make it Grow", she intoned to spirited applause. Return to Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Resources & Reference page. www.SaugatuckDunes.org