VBT Environmental Commission learns of algae testing on lake

David Brownlee told the Van Buren Township Environmental Commission at its regular meeting May 17 that a group of university professors is planning to test for blue green (toxic) algae in 30 lakes in Michigan and he has offered his dock on Belleville Lake as a testing site.
Commission chairman Brownlee said Matthew Best, deputy director of planning and economic development, put him in touch with the consortium that includes professors from Oakland University, Wayne State University, Lake Superior State University, and the University of Kentucky.
Brownlee said his dock is at his home on Ryzner Drive and away from the fast-flowing Huron River that goes through the lake. He said he was told that was exactly what they wanted.
Best said the consortium has no name and won’t have anything to report until after the studies are done.
Brownlee said they may look for another place on the lake to monitor and he suggested maybe Commissioner Jeff Jahr, Jr., could offer his dock.
“Last summer the whole lake bloomed,” Best said of the algae present.
“It looked like paint,” Commissioner Jahr agreed.
The commission’s May 17 meeting had no pressing business to consider, so Jahr sent a list of seven topics he would like to discuss with the group.
Jahr stressed he is the newest member and doesn’t have the background of the others and needed information to understand the topics.
Solar Farms
Jahr said he read of questions on solar farms in Sumpter Township and a letter in the paper on solar farms and it got him wondering about VBT’s stance on solar farms.
Best said it falls under the new zoning ordinance that goes into effect June 2. He said ground-mounted solar panels are allowed in AG, MI, and MT zoning and a permit is needed. Solar panels on houses are allowed and wind energy systems are now allowed.
Commissioner Norm DeBuck said solar panels are on roofs and look like roof tiles.
John Delaney said from the audience that there is spinning wind equipment at the entry to Metro airport that looks like artwork. He said they are at the first traffic light, in the road medium.
Environmental Fund
Jahr said the host community landfill agreement with Waste Management has environmental funding and Best agreed WM grants $50,000 to the general fund for environmental projects.
Best said it is used for grant match money. He said the township has applied for a grant for Van Buren Park and if they get it they will use the matching money.
Best said the building and planning department is an enterprise fund and he gets paid through building and planning fees.
“We had paid Huron River Watershed Council fees out of it, which was a stretch,” said Brownlee, who said he was part of the negotiating team, with former Trustee Phil Hart, that negotiated the $50,000. He said the Environmental Committee never had a report of how that money is being spent.
He said they just need an awareness.
Also, he said there is money the township gets from US Ecology and the commission has never had a report on that money, either.
VBT Trustee Paul White, the board’s liaison to the commission, said the township received $326,000 from US Ecology last year.
White, who was supervisor when the US Ecology agreement was negotiated, said the WM money had been put into the planning and economic development department to pay salaries.
Best read the US Ecology contract on his computer tablet and said the township gets a certain amount of money based on cubic yards of waste and there is a surcharge on public safety and the environment. He said it is called a royalty fee, but it’s actually a tipping fee.
“Are we actually using it every year for environmental uses?” Jahr asked.
Best said his office spends $60,000 to $70,000 on environmental efforts.
Delaney said there was a $25,000 grant from US Ecology that was used for the Little League diamonds and the parking, used like a CDBG fund. He said that was put together by the treasurer’s office.
“I’d like to see a little more transparency,” said Brownlee. “… It’s not that we are necessarily the gatekeepers … But I haven’t a clue what it’s being used for … Isn’t it appropriate to have a report on what this is being used for?” He said from this point forward he would like reports.
Best replied, “Your role is to advise and consent on environmental matters.”
“Can this commission be shown a report on what the money is used for?” Brownlee asked.
“I can ask,” Best said.
“I’d like to know,” Trustee White said.
“We can at least look at it and say you guys are doing a good job,” Jahr said, pointing out he is new on the commission and this is only his third meeting.
Environmental Commission Recommendations
Jahr said recently the commission discussed environmental aspects of new ordinances. He asked if the township board got their conversation and if the commission did a good job.
Brownlee said the commission had a list of recommendations on the lake ordinance that was considered. The commission is either on the cutting edge or supplementing the projects.
Spill Response
Jahr said the incident at Sandy’s Marina was shown on television and he saw a rainbow, showing an oil slick, which led to his question: Do we have first responder teams with booms to contain the oil?
Best said police officers carry booms for small spills in their response kit. He said Sandy’s would have needed a large boom. He said he set up a meeting with Police Chief Jason Wright and they are thinking of adding one on the fire truck.
“I will continue my effort to work with Mr. Wright,” Best said.
Delaney said there is a Western Wayne County Hazmat team that should have been toned out. He said because of the Huron River in the lake and the nearby dam, the water was gone in six hours.
“It’s a shame they weren’t toned,” Delaney said.
Belleville Road Bridge
Jahr said it is boating season and it’s raining under the bridge. He said he has seen boats veer away from the leaks and this is dangerous to boaters.
White said it comes from the conduit that carries cables.
Best said it was from a row of conduit and now it’s drainage pipes. He said they are owned by the city of Belleville, Wayne County or a utility company.
“It’s not ours,” Best said. “They all were notified.” He said it could be storm water.
“I hope it’s not contamination,” Jahr said. “It’s been leaking there for over a year.”
“We got the same information last year and notified the same people,” Best said.
“Now it’s leaking on all three sections of the bridge and boaters are dodging under the bridge to keep water off passengers,” Jahr said, noting he has a rain slicker so he doesn’t get wet. “It’s potentially hazardous. All three sections are leaking. It’s pretty constant.
“We should really, really, really put effort into this,” Jahr said.
“I’ll see what the township can do on this,” Best said.
UM Rowing Buoy System
Commissioner DeBuck said the University of Michigan rowing team takes their buoys out of the lake in November.
“They’re like softballs and a lot of them,” Jahr said, noting they have a 2K race course with three lanes with permanent buoys.
Jahr asked if there is something the township can do to make it safer. “It’s potentially hazardous,” he said.
Best said there will be some reevaluation following the accident earlier that day. He read a report from Chief Wright about a yellow speed boat hitting a UM craft with nine passengers knocked into the water.
He said maybe they could do something for safety.
Jahr said maybe they could put a notice to mariners at the boat launches concerning the rowing crafts practicing in the lake. Delaney suggested the notice could be printed on boat launch tickets.
French Landing Dam Fishing
Jahr said French Landing Park is very a nice park, but more people are fishing behind the dam in the river because of the trout there. He asked if there was something they could do to enhance the property below the dam.
Delaney said there are no-trespassing signs there and VBT police issue tickets.
Best said if they put anything up it would interfere with the emergency spillway for the dam that would obstruct the overflow. He said fishing is better downstream.
“But, safety comes before the big trophy fish,” Best said. He said they are looking at different canoe portage options for that area, but the railroad track is a limiting factor.
He said the Metropark owns the property on both sides of Haggerty north of the park.
In comments from the audience, Delaney told the commission about how two days earlier he reported two driveways being sealed with blacktop on Ecorse Road by a truck with no placards or MDOT number on it.
He said he called Best and Lt. Charles Bazzy sent someone over. He said no ticket was written to this contractor for violating the township’s coal tar ordinance. The man was only made to come in and register. Delaney said the lady on Ecorse doesn’t know what he used on her drive.
Brownlee said there is a simple test that can be done that can tell if PAH is in there. If it is, there is no good solution other than to cover it up with a reseal.
“We knew when we went into it we’d have problems like this,” Brownlee said, noting there was no penalty at first and wanted to just educate the public. Now there are penalties.
The brochure that was to explain this to the public still hasn’t arrived, he said.
“We are in constant communication with public safety,” Best said, adding Lt. Bazzy calls him at home. “Nobody has contacted us on what follow up was done.”
Best said enforcement of this law becomes difficult and could lead to the ordinance officer going out and writing tickets to homeowners.
“Education will solve the problem,” Best said. “Legally, the property owner is responsible if he is duped.” He said in the District of Columbia, they go out and paint driveways pink or orange and the contractor has to cover it up.
Best said there are 10-12 contractors registered with the township, but this case is something he can follow up on.
He said the Huron River Watershed Council is printing the brochures and they are still not ready.
“I think what John Delaney did … was what the public should do,” Best said, noting he came in to check on the contractor and the contractor was not on the list and within ten minutes the ordinance officer was there.
Marcella Henderson told the commission about the trees that were cut down on commercial property next to her house. They cut down the dead tree that was threatening her garage, but they also cut down live trees without a permit and left debris on the site.
“I will send out code enforcement in the morning,” Best said.
Best produced some of the VBT bumper stickers that are available for people to pick up free at the township to promote VBT pride and the lake community. Best said the sticker shows VBT is a tourist community, like Myrtle Beach and Traverse City who have similar stickers.