December 15, 2003 League of Woman Voters Forum Saugatuck Dunes State Park Water Treatment Plant Proposals The League of Women Voters sponsored a well attended forum at Holland's Herrick District Library the evening of Monday, December 15. The topic was Laketown Township's and Holland BPW's continued focus on Saugatuck Dunes State Park as the preferred site for construction of a water treatment facility. Guest panelists were representatives from the city of Holland, Laketown Township, Michigan Environmental Council, and Concerned Citizens. Marilyn Schmidt, President of the Holland Area League of Women Voters, opened the forum explaining the League's non-partisan commitment to informed and active participation of citizens in government. She reiterated the League's opposition to a water treatment plant in the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, citing its protected status and deep concerns regarding preservation of the unique and fragile ecosystems found there. She stated the League recognizes population growth mandates new sources of good water but feels there must be an open invitation for citizens to be involved in every aspect of the process, particularly where it concerns the park. Holland's Mayor, Al McGeehan, the first panel member to speak, began by expressing his dismay regarding the League's stated position on the water treatment plant proposals, portraying it as premature. "There is no Saugatuck Dunes State Park water treatment plant proposal pending," he said, introducing the theme promoted by the two municipalities throughout the evening. In addition to escalating local water use approaching current capacity, McGeehan advanced the need for water in Allegan county communities beyond the immediate Holland area as an underlying impetus in seeking new water sources. Mr. McGeehan has apparently forgotten that no proposals are pending strictly because Holland withdrew theirs shortly after Laketown Township's nearly identical version was soundly rejected by the DNR's Rodney Stokes, then Chief of the Parks and Recreation Bureau, in his memorable letter of April 11, 2002. Further, far from premature, the League's opposition to the project was stated in their letter of December 5, 2001 to all the area press at the height of the initial onslaught against the park. Succinct as it was, the DNR's dismissal of Laketown's application left the door to further consideration open just a crack. Both Laketown and Holland have their foot in it and have announced their enduring interest on several occasions. Dave Dempsey of the Michigan Environmental Council was the next panelist selected to speak. He reviewed some of the history of the struggle to keep a water treatment plant out of the park, including MEC's recognition of Alison and David Swan's devotion to the park by honoring them with the 2002 Petosky Award for citizen's advocacy. He said this issue is not merely of regional but of statewide importance and that it is ongoing. "There are no permanent victories in conservation," Dempsey said, "just permanent defeats." Once you trash a pristine place like Saugatuck Dunes State Park it's gone forever. Dempsey stressed the growing economic importance of Michigan's tourist industry and the park's significance, characterizing it as a destination for the ardent nature lover. "The walk to the shore weeds out the casual lake consumer." Dempsey also underscored the increasing need to conserve. "We in this generation have the challenge of coming to grips with water shortage. We must be water stewards, conservators." In conclusion he asked if local government has in place policy to conserve water rather than endlessly seeking ever larger quantities of a diminishing resource. Next to speak, Tim Morawski, manager of Holland BPW, said that his comments were largely those of the mayor. He repeated that there is no current proposal to develop a water plant in the park, rather it is just one of three options being investigated. He said numerous other possibilities had been rejected as too expensive. Among the remaining viable alternatives is the enlargement of Holland's Park Township water treatment facility according to Morawski. Costs would be similar to building a plant in the park and would result in a similar increase in capacity. This would appear to be one of the feasible alternatives the DNR's Parks and Recreation Bureau so strongly urged Laketown Township, and by association Holland, to pursue instead of a plant in the middle of our park. David Swan, Co-chair CCSDSP     David Swan, Co-chair of Concerned Citizens, was next to speak. "The passion for the park is deep and active and is not going away," he said, to audience applause. He thanked some of the many people and organizations that have put so much of their time and effort into the parks protection, cartographer Mark Cook, WMEAC, Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Action, and Robert Vanderkamp of the Holland Audubon Club among many others. "The people will not allow the park to be despoiled," he intoned. Swan's comments then turned to the park itself. "The size, location, and amount of space and depth needed to construct a water intake system in a fragile area will have significant and permanent negative resource impacts to this dune system," he quoted from the DNR's letter informing Laketown of the rejection of their proposal. He cited the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan's report titled Michigan's Natural Heritage At Risk. In it PIRGIM advances the need for well designed growth management policies to preserve the ecological integrity of pristine coastal treasures like Saugatuck Dunes State Park. David also referred to the West Michigan Strategic Alliance's report, West Michigan - A Region In Transition in which the alliance stresses we must protect Michigan's natural assets, including natural areas and water resources, before they are permanently lost to development. He stated conservation can work and cited the city of Seattle which has rolled back its water consumption to 1960 levels despite an increase in population of more than 400,000. The comments of Laketown Township's manager Al Meshkin were brief. He reasserted Holland's claim there are no current proposals involving the park. He denied there was any intent to profit from accelerated development resulting from an increase in reliable clean water supply and emphasized the water needs of other inland communities as a driving consideration. At the conclusion of the panelist's presentations the audience was invited to ask questions. With but one exception, comments were exclusively against any activity in the park that threatened its status as a nature reserve. One audience member asked Morawski of the BPW what impact post 9/11 security concerns would have on the park. He wondered about fencing, lighting, and access restrictions. Morawski agreed security is a much more compelling issue than prior to 9/11, but apologetically declined further comment, citing those very concerns. Many questions focused on conservation and alternatives. Have patterns of use been analyzed? Can we promote voluntary conservation by heightening awareness? A common theme emerged from the audience. You, as our leaders, need to consider conservation as well as new sources of water. Attendees referred again to Seattle's success, one woman saying "we like our green lawns a little too much." The audience asked if there had ever been a comprehensive inventory of water sources. A Douglas woman responded to recurrent claims regarding the water needs of distant communities. She had attended many of these meetings and repeatedly heard about the people who needed water from officials promoting a new facility, but she had never actually seen one of these people at any meeting or forum. Where are they? A man asked if Allegan county's needs are so compelling why have their representatives never attended a meeting? Why aren't they here tonight? Swan agreed that a factual study of water usage had been absent in previous discussion and requested that community leaders quantify needs so they could be discussed more intelligently. David Dempsey offered one last comment. "Those with contaminated wells should bear the cost of alternatives, not shift it to our park." Both the Lakeshore Press and The Holland Sentinel covered the forum in their Tuesday, December 16, 2004 editions. The Sentinel's article is available in their archives. Return to Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Resources & Reference page. www.SaugatuckDunes.org