Where's the "heat" here Patch? Seems like a misleading headline. Watch the emotionally-laden descriptors, just report and we'll decide.

Phyllis - from all that I've seen over the last several months, this has been a heated debate in Oakland. Perhaps this particular article didn't have the time and space to give a more descriptive background as to the history of the issue with residents. But I don't think Patch is offering a blown up headline here, or anywhere else I've read.

Since the OT and Orion Patch merged there has been very little OT news. No reports on Goodison Good Tymes. or much else either!

I completely agree! I joined the Patch because of the local OT and Goodison news. We have missed it.

Marc Edwards also claimed that the private property that the mill race goes through could not covered by public funds to correct the problem that was created when the dam was removed. Anne Vaara of the CRWC agreed to finding grants for the mill race when she asked for access to the dam. If he thought there would not be grants to fix the situation why did he defend the CRWC's plan? This is not just about the property owners portion of the mill race not having water it is also the township's property in the park and the mill. It would have been great if Marc Edwards had asked some of these questions prior to voting to remove the dam. The dam should not have been removed. If those stocked European Brown Trout, which are not native to Michigan, could not have moved over the dam, a compromise should have been brought forth instead of just destroying the dam. The Goodison community and the residents of Oakland Township were not considered. I still don't understand why this was allowed to happen. I view the mill race every day in my yard that is now an empty ditch and still don't understand how this happened.

I would like to hear some other opinions from citizens that were at the Oakland Township Board of Trustees meeting on September 11.

The residents were not considered? I disagree, in that we were considered, then summarily dismissed as ignorant, irrelevant, and immaterial. The historic dam should NOT have been removed, and contrary to MANY citizens voicing their concerns, the BOT went ahead with dam removal – and, shamefully, Joan Fogler, Marc Edwards and Jim Creech went to a PARTY with the CRWC to celebrate the dam removal. What a slap in the face to the entire township. NOTE: Mike Bailey and Judy Workings voted against the dam being removed. The CRWC took in $704,000 for the project, and, it turns out, that all of the very vocal support that Marc Edwards gave the project was biased, since he has been, “not just friends, but good friends with Anne Vaara for more than 20 years.” From everything I saw at the 9/11 BOT meeting, it looks like the CRWC will renege on the contract to make sure there is water in the historic Mill Race. Marc Edwards owes Mr. Mancour an apology for insinuating that he was lying about the flume – but don’t hold your breathe. It looks like it will cost the TAXPAYERS in the township some $300,000 to restore the Mill Race. Should we, as a community, restore the historic Mill Race – YES! Should we have to pay for the complete incompetence of the Board members who voted for this – I think it should come out of the $704,000 since CRWC said all along that there WOULD BE water in the Mill Race when the project was complete. When in doubt, follow the money.

This all sounds pretty expensive. I am not sure why the township could not just power the mill wheel, recycle water from the wheel pond, and turn the rest of the mill race into a historical artifact from earlier years. By that I mean stabilizing the banks, planting the mill race with native plants and so forth and providing plenty of signage to highlight the mill race's historical aspects. Much of the Erie Canal no longer supports running water, but passersby can certainly learn about the Canal's former glory through supporting interpretive materials at various spots along its path. The board's only mistake in removing the dam was not receiving absolute assurances from the Clinton River Watershed that water would still move through the mill race. I can't speak for the whole Parks Commission regarding this matter, but I was certainly under the impression from Watershed presentations that water would indeed be directed through the millrace in the future. At this point I would hope the board and residents would consider some aspects of the above proposal.

Joseph Peruzzi
Parks Commissioner

Just an odd idea but the sediment in the bottom of the now dry race might make fertile dark soil for flower beds. What if the private residents along the dry race bed had a bunch of volunteers come with "implements of destruction" and fill a few dozen pick up trucks? The race gets deeper by about a foot and the soil goes away for free. With no water there nothing to run off into Paint Creek.

Jan...Sorry for my confusion. I thought you might be open to a host of ideas. Guess not by the tone of your note. I would suggest to you that maybe the "heated debate" portion of the story's headline is more than accurate. Good luck in all your future endeavors.

To Patch Staff:

I just "stumbled" over your web newspaper a few weeks ago. I think there is a real need for reporting on local issues and I commend your efforts. Perhaps focusing on local issues only would give you more resources for a more complete review of the mill race issue so we can understand it better.

Hi Jan..I am open to touring your property, though I suspect I know what I’ll see. But at least we can meet. This weekend is out since I help organize Clinton Township’s annual Festival of the Senses art fair. If any of you other readers are in the area you should stop by. It’s at 40700 Romeo Plank Road, Clinton Township, Saturday and Sunday 9-5. We have about 110 artists, 5 food vendors and an entertainment venue that includes 11 acts over both days.

Joe

Ann Vera, and the Clinton River Watershed Council, Should be getting sued by the Township for Breech of Contract, and Fraud, for being deceitful and lying about the results from removing our Historic Dam. Goodison is now missing a Tangable Asset from its past, Marc Edwards is a Dumb Dumb.