8/1/14 - Dust, noise, and damage to local roads were the main concerns Green Oak Township residents brought up last night regarding a plan to lease mineral rights in Island Lake Recreation Area. The project was hatched by the Department of Natural Resources, which wants to hire an aggregate company to remove millions of tons of sand left over from when a portion of the park was a gravel mine. In return for keeping the sand, the DNR wants the company to get rid of the steep slopes the old sand piles have left behind and haul away the remnants of the mining operation, including a railroad line, pipes, and concrete slabs. They say the end result would be a natural grassland that would provide habitat for threatened species and recreation opportunities for residents. However, the project itself would take an estimated 5 to 15 years to complete. Last nightâs meeting drew about three dozen residents and was led by Ray Fahlsing, the stewardship unit manager for the DNRâs Parks and Rec division. He tells WHMI the gathering was meant to help the residents understand the project and give them a voice as the DNR puts together the agreements. Fahlsing says without the deal, it would cost an estimated $6 million to reclaim the land. While some residents brought up the issues of noise, construction, and funding, the biggest concern was damage to roads caused by mining trucks entering and leaving the site. Residents of Green Oak recently approved a road millage, and they wanted assurances from the DNR that the mining company would use the most direct route to the freeway and pay for the damage done to local roads. DNR officials will take the feedback into consideration and try to address the residentsâ concerns as it drafts the project contract. (TD)
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