Update on GLSWA Water Advisory Committee
You may have heard that there are some discussions going on at the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority concerning PFAS contamination in the area and possible contingency plans in case the underground plumes spread. There was recently a meeting of the Authority’s newly-formed Water Advisory Committee, and we wished to pass along an update to Idlewild residents.
It should be noted that the underground PFAS plumes originating at the site of the former Production Plated Plastics plant on D Ave have not yet (as of the last round of testing) crossed into Ross Township from the West. As such, this Committee is likely being proactive in advance of any further movement of the underground contamination.
This is is an email from a resident of E. Gull Lake Drive who attended the January open meeting of the Water Advisory Committee and summarized the proceedings:
Hi Neighbors and Friends:
I attended the Water Advisory Committee meeting on January 12, 2022, along with about 30+ residents of Ross Township who live around or near Gull Lake. This is a summary of what I took away from that meeting and suggestions for actions that you or your neighbors might want to take.
In 2018, the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority appointed a Water Advisory Committee to look into the water situation around Gull Lake and vicinity, due to the PFAS found in the ground water in Richland on the site of a plastic fabrication plant. The PFAS issue has been dealt with by withdrawing ground water from that area and removing the contaminants. And most of those residents in whose wells PFAS was found have been getting their water from the Kalamazoo water system under an emergency action. The underlying concern is about the PFAS movement toward Ross Township and Gull Lake. While none has been found in Ross Township, as of this date, John Crumb, Executive Director of the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority decided that it would be prudent to look at the water situation and have a plan in place to be implemented in the event of water contamination. Projects such as water lines are long in planning and implementing.
1. The Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority is comprised of the four townships surrounding the lake: Richland and Ross Townships (Kalamazoo County); and Barry and Prairieville Townships (Barry County).
2. The Water Advisory Committee is only “advisory” to the Board of the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority (GLSWA), with volunteer representatives from each of the townships, appointed by their respective supervisors. Also on the Committee are staff from the GLSWA who have expertise in water hydrology, engineering and fiscal planning
3. While the Water Advisory Committee was established in 2018, it has not met since early 2020 because of COVID. However, in meetings BEFORE 2020, there had been established a timeline for tasks to have been completed, including breaking ground for the water lines by June 2021. Obviously that target date was not met. After more than a year and a half in recess, the Committee held its first meetings in October and November, 2021.
4. The people who attended the meeting from Ross Township expressed their strong objections to the possibility of being hooked up to the Kalamazoo water system. Some who have lived and worked in Kalamazoo don’t like the quality of the water and prefer their own wells here around Gull Lake. They also were angry about the lack of transparency and openness about the process and about not having been consulted. And there was great concern about the cost and assessment to homeowners around the lake, especially if it wasn’t an item that would be placed on a ballot.
5. Most of the questions asked were answered by John Crumb or by staff or other committee members, but some not in full or not until pressed. When asked about whether the proposed water system would be voted on, the answer was that the Water Advisory Committee’s recommendations will go to the four township boards to vote on. If three of the four wanted the project to go forward, that decision would override the fourth township that didn’t want it. However, for instance, if Ross Township didn’t want the water system and wanted it to be voted on, it would take a petition signed by 10% of ALL eligible voters in Ross Township, whether they lived on the lake or not.
6. One of the questions asked was “How much will it cost?” John Crumb’s answer was that the total cost would not be known until the full extent of the project is determined, and that amount would be assessed to the homeowners. Jim Corstange who was appointed to the Water Advisory Committee by ChristinaHutchings, Ross Township Supervisor, said that he was told at one of the first meetings he attended last Fall, that the cost for the system around the entire lake was estimated to be about $12,000 per home. An additional cost for the homeowner would then be to install the pipes to carry the water from the water main to their property and could be up to $30,000 additional. If a homeowner chose NOT to hook up, when their home was sold, either they or the new owner would then be required to hook up to the water system.
7. It is my understanding that some businesses — NED’s? Others? — and the Bible Conference are interested in a water system, as well as some homes on very small properties where it would be difficult to get equipment in to dig new wells should their old one give out. (My personal suggestion for the Bible Conference is to use some of the money they don’t pay in property taxes to our township and put in a central well system that would serve all their properties — big and small.)
8. There is nothing wrong with the water in this area, and Kalamazoo city water is not needed now nor in the near future.
9. When I spoke with a supervisor from another township, she said that a lot of misinformation has been going around about the issue. It is incumbent on each of us to become informed and for information to be forthcoming from our local governing bodies so that we are all getting correct information in a timely manner.
10. ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:
A. I strongly encourage you to contact your township Supervisor, attend Township Board meetings, read meeting agendas and minutes posted on websites:
Ross Township Supervisor: Christina Hutchings
TEL: (269) 731-4888
FAX: (269) 731-5551
12086 M-89, Richland, Mi 49083
Supervisor email: Supervisor@rosstown.comcastbiz.net
Clerk email: Clerk@rosstown.comcastbiz.net
Treasurer email: Syndee@rosstown.comcastbiz.net
Website: https://www.ross-township.us/
Richland Township Supervisor: Lysanne Harma
Supervisor: harma@richlandtwp.net
Website: http://www.richlandtwp.net
7401 N. 32nd Street, Richland, MI 49083
TEL: (269) 629-4921
FAX: (269) 629-5993
Barry Township Supervisor: Barry Bower
Supervisor email: barry@mei.net
Clerk email: barrytownship@mei.net
Website: https://barrytownshipmi.com
Supervisor TEL: (269) 623-8938
11300 S. M-43 Hwy, Delton, MI 49046
Clerk TEL: (269) 623-5171
P.O. Box 705, Delton, MI 49046
Prairieville Township Supervisor: Jim Stoneburner
Supervisor email: jstoneburner@prairievilletwp-mi.gov
Website: http://www.prairievilletwp-mi.org
Supervisor TEL: (269) 623-5175
Office TEL: (269) 623-2664
10115 S. Norris Road, Delton, MI 49046
B. Contact John Crumb, Executive Director, Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority; visit GLSWA website; attend meetings — schedules are posted on website:
Gull Lake Sewer & Water Authority (GLSWA)
John Crumb, Executive Director
Ex. Dir. email: crumbj@glswa.org
TEL: (269) 731-4595, x108
FAX: (269) 731-2596
CELL: (616) 648-3935
Website: https://glswa.org
Gull Lake Sewer & Water Authority
7722 N. 37th Street
Richland, MI 49083
C. Ask John Crumb if a short, one-page newsletter could be sent out with each sewer service invoice to keep us all informed about what is in discussion and being proposed.
D. Please inform your neighbors and forward this communication to anyone whose email is not listed on this message.
If you find that I have misstated anything discussed at this meeting, please let me know. Wishing you all the best in 2022,
Valli Thayer McDougle
Contemporary Watermedia and Collage Artist
660 E. Gull Lake Drive
Augusta, MI 49012-8828
Ph: 269/457-0195
Cell: 858/442-2699
valli@mcdougle.com
