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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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I was idly flipping through the channels last Friday night when I came across the Goodrich Village council meeting with Genesee Country Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright. Wright is normally very good at controlling his temper, but he was clearly upset with members of the council. A good indication was when he loudly told one member of the council that he was not going to allow them (council) to pollute the Kearsley Creek.
It seems that after 90 minutes of discussion with the residents and council, residents followed Wright outside for more discussion. It was then that a resident approached Wright and told him a councilman has announced that Wright was wrong on everything he said. Wright returned to the meeting and there was no denying that he was angry, or at least upset.
Wright advised the council that under the appropriate act they were required to do their due diligence and they had not. They forwarded complaints to the wrong office and when they were sent to the correct office, the inspectors determined the problem lie with the potion of the drain that belonged to the village and there were issues with the dam. Although these problems have been ongoing, council members cried they did not know the proper procedure. Nor did they call the Drain Commissioner before filing the complaints.
Here is a May account from Yahoo Voices detailing the length of issues with the Millpond.
Goodrich, Michigan, Millpond Water Level Remains Low Amid Continuing Controversy
i
Joe Poniatowski, Yahoo Contributor Network
May 14, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here.".
Factors such as the amount of rainfall affect the water level, but it is control of the dam stemming the flow of water from Kearsley Creek that has the most influence over the pond's depth. Several angry pond-front property owners have long complained that the village council has not properly maintained the water level.
When the village bought the millpond from the city of Flint in 1970, there was a provision in the terms of the sale allowing the village to drain the pond for maintenance purposes. The village, working through its Department of Public Works, frequently exercised this provision for a variety of reasons, including flood control, dam inspection, and to maintain the flow of water downstream in Kearsley Creek for the trout habitat. At the time of the sale, the pond was 2/3 drained so that engineers could inspect the dam, which had suffered from deterioration since 1913 when it was built.
In 1994, Michigan passed the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), including prohibitions against enlarging or diminishing a lake without a permit. It also prohibits the drainage of surface water from wetlands without a permit. Either unaware of the implications of NREPA, or possibly believing that the millpond does not qualify as a lake, the Village of Goodrich council continued to open and close the gates of the dam to adjust water levels as they saw fit. Local citizens contend that this arbitrary opening and closing weakens the gates of the nearly 100-year-old dam, and the fluctuating water level has a deleterious effect on wildlife, not to mention property values.
In October of 2005, and again in 2006, the DEQ sent letters to Village Manager Jakki Sidge, notifying the village that it was in violation of parts 301 and 304 of the NREPA for lowering the water level without the proper permits. "Elevated enforcement action" was indicated in case of failure to comply. The DEQ received complaints from Goodrich residents regarding the water levels and unauthorized dam operation again in 2007.
More recently, the water level in the pond continues to be a source of frustration for the surrounding residents. Shallow water has resulted in higher algae levels in the south end of the pond. This is partly because the water is so low and the flow so slow that treatment there would be ineffective, according to Derek Brookshire, president of Aquatic Nuisance Plant Control.
During the council meeting last Monday (May 12), the council discussed the reasons for the low water levels, particularly the fact that the dam is leaking. The council plans to work with engineers from the DEQ to inspect the dam and consider repair options. During the meeting, a previous statement made by council member Pete Morey and printed in another publication, was retracted. Mr. Morey had implied that the state might consider draining the pond completely and returning it to its natural condition.
Quoting long-time area resident Ida Saroli, "The council and the people of the village should understand that the millpond belongs to everyone, not just the residents. It's time for a permanent solution (to the water level problem), one that maintains the pond."
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:02 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Elizabeth Tune did an excellent job of producing this video for Comcast 17. It was so long she had to split it into two parts in order to air the meeting in it's entirety. I missed part one so I was pleased to find this story written by David Fleet for the local news Sherman Publications, Inc. He knows the players better than I do.
Drain Commissioner eyes village- owned culvert as flooding culprit
Wheelock & Watkins Drain project addressed at meeting
August 14, 2013 - Goodrich-
A 6-inch culvert has been identified as a possible factor in flooding some village homes and businesses.
Despite several heated exchanges during the Goodrich Village Council meeting on Monday night, Jeff Wright, Genesee County Drain Commissioner, expressed his opinion of the causes of numerous flooded basements in the village and the prognosis for future drainage demands
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Wright identified nine drains under the jurisdiction of the village and emphasized a 6-inch diameter culvert under Ridge Road that connects the Goodrich Country Club Golf Course pond to the Mill Pond, which allegedly has prompted flooding over the last few years.
"I believe the culvert is a major factor in the flooding—there's no sense in rebuilding the Wheelock & Watkins Drain until that issue is addressed first," he said. "The Mill Pond is contributing to the flooding when the water flows the wrong way at a certain level."
The Wheelock & Watkins Drain is an agricultural drain, built in 1897 and which encompasses a large section of the village, impacting about 100 residents. The old drain under the jurisdiction of Genesee County has been one possible cause of flooding of several residents' homes.
Last year petitions were signed and in a special meeting on April 9 at the village offices, a board of determination voted 3-0 to move forward an upgrade to the Wheelock and Watkins drain.
Since then, a study and extensive survey of the impacted drain area to provide possible solutions is ongoing, say county officials. The engineering firm of Fleis and Vandenbrink is currently conducting the study. The engineering process will also allow for feedback from the public and input from the Genesee County Drain Commissioner. Wright addressed questions regarding the project.
"The drain commission has no other source of revenue other than from a special assessment," he said. "The percentage of how much is owned by the residents on the project will be determined. There will be bids on the project and the costs will be mailed out to the residents. At that point they can come to the office and discuss the costs. There will be one more hearing on the drain."
As the Wheelock & Watkins Drain project moves forward, Wright encouraged the village to work on their drains, too, including blocking the Ridge Road culvert altogether or installing a valve to not allow the water to flow back to the golf course from the Mill Pond.
Wright also suggested that development in the Ortonville area, up stream on the Kearsley Creek from Goodrich, has also contributed to the flooding.
"There's a lack of retention and detention of water between Ortonville and Goodrich," he said.
A detention pond is dry until a storm or heavy rain occurs then fills up, compared to a detention pond that is full even in the dry seasons.
"But, there's more than water coming from Ortonville," he added. "They (Ortonville) have a consent order for sewers—it may take an injunction on Ortonville. It impacts everyone all the way up to the Holly Reservoir in the Flint area where Kearsley Creek ends."
John Lyons, Ortonville village manager, was contacted after the village meeting regarding the consent order. He was not aware of the document regarding a sewer system.
"We are currently pursuing construction of sewers in the village, project plans should be completed by mid-October and ready for public hearing and comment in February 2014. The sewer project has a preliminary discharge permit from the MDEQ and currently Rowe Engineering Inc. is working on the project. However, I am not aware of any orders for the MDEQ or any other government agency. "
Lyons added that he will seek more information on the consent order and did contact Wright regarding the comment.
Wright also was questioned on further investigation of the village drains by other authorities.
"The State of Michigan is never going to say they have jurisdiction over any of the drains in the village," he said. "Only the Kearsley Creek. If you push the state on the issue they are going to have the dam and mill pond out."
"I'm not going to improve the system when there are factors that are outside of our (Genesee County) control," he concluded.
"On June 28 (the day after the 5-inch rain) there was current running back to the west (from the Mill Pond to the golf course)," he said.
Wright encouraged village officials to resolve the culvert issue.
Pete Morey, village council member and DPW director said after the meeting repairs to the Ridge Road culvert will be done in combination with the state mandated dam gates work set for later this month.
The village DPW proposed to the MDEQ drawing down the level of the mill pond over a three to four day period in early September during the dry season. DPW will then cut about three feet off the top of the two eight foot stationary watergates, which will allow the necessary flow over the dam in the event of a major water event. Those top sections of the watergates can then be put back in place and removed if necessary. The need, say MDEQ officials, is to allow sufficient water to pass through if heavy rains were to occur.
"Once the water is down in the mill pond we can address the tube to the golf course under Ridge Road," said Morey. "At that point we can have WadeTrim take a look at the gate that should be covering the 6-inch tube that's leaking and determine the best way to stop the back flow. But, that's only gong to take care of 10 percent of the problem. We just get more water sent to us at times than we can handle and the storm on June 27 was too overwhelming."
Morey said consider 1-inch of water over 1 acre is equal to 28,500 gallons. On June 27 about 6 inches fell, which totals 171,000 gallons of water per acre.
"Combine the area of the golf course and other property in the area of Ridge Road and Hegel Road there's about 110 acres of water or 18,810,000 gallons of water in a very short period of time. There's no drain that can handle that—it's just a wet summer. The nine village drains mentioned by Wright are all working, but they were just overwhelmed in that storm. Many drains were overfilled."
Wright did agree that no drain would handle the 5 inches of rain the community received in about an hour and a half on June 27. |
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Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:23 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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I admire David Fleet of Sherman Publications for his detailed writing style.
Goodrich Dam repairs to begin this week
August 28, 2013 - Goodrich- The level of the mill pond will be lowered over the next two weeks for repairs to the dam and a culvert opening.
"After Labor Day the water should be low enough to get down in the dam," said Pete Morey, village council member and street administrator. "The project should take a day or two to complete at the dam. Also, we're going to add a valve to the tube that runs east and west to the golf course. Hopefully, that will help with at least a part of the flooding that's been going on."
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued the permit to lower the water in the pond after an inspection in the spring of 2012 when the MDEQ evaluated the century-old village dam and required some significant repairs to the structure. Currently, only three of the five wooden flood or watergates, which move up and down to regulate the amount of water and the level of the mill pond, are operational. Two of the gates remain stationary. The state inspector required the village to remove the two stationary gates and replace with moveable gates.
However, Morey proposed an alternative to the moveable gates.
Morey's concern is that if all five gates are opened, the downriver areas north of the dam could be flooded. Therefore, he suggested to alter the two gates so they can be removed only if necessary.
"The three moveable gates are enough to contend with future rain events," said Morey. "We've had seven-and-a-half and nine inches of rain in two storms. The three gates worked just fine."
Following the approval of the MDEQ, the village DPW will cut about three feet off the top of the two eight foot stationary watergates, which will allow the necessary flow over the dam in the event of a major water event. Those top sections of the watergates can then be put back in place and removed if necessary.
The need, say MDEQ officials, is to allow sufficient water to pass through if heavy rains were to occur. If the dam can be modified to meet the requirement for water flow is the MDEQ concern.
It is essential to be able to remove the stoplogs and lift gates from all five spillway bays in order to safely pass the flood design, MDEQ engineers added.
In addition, within the next five years the village should develop a long-term plan for the future of the dam including a structural analysis for the long-term stability as well as a feasibility study for repair, replacement, or removal of the spillway.
"This summer's repair simply allows more time for a more permanent upgrade to the dam," added Morey. "It will save the the village money and meet the requirements of the MDEQ."
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Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:40 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Ok so the MDEQ inspected in May 2012 and issued permits to fix the problem. Only now after the confrontation with Wright is the Village of Goodrich ready to move forward with even a temporary repair.
I was fortunate that I had access to the historical records of the Drain Commission. Tony Ragnone had the foresight to oversee major water and sewer construction projects years ago when there was plenty of grants and funding. He and others envisioned growth in the county.
However there was one plan he could never complete. Ragnone envisioned two sewer plants in the county but he was never able to get the local governments to agree with him in the eastern part of the county. Goodrich and Atlas both saw that the development of sewers would promote development and they discouraged this development.
When a housing project was built near the Millpond, they went with a communal sewer system that failed. They were forced to develop sewers to stop the pollution of the Millpond. The residents first paid for the septic system and then had to pay for sewers. Over sixty families were added to the system.
If I remember correctly, the community lacked enough sewer permits to accomadate their high school when it was built. |
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Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:52 pm |
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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
Wright also suggested that development in the Ortonville area, up stream on the Kearsley Creek from Goodrich, has also contributed to the flooding.
"There's a lack of retention and detention of water between Ortonville and Goodrich," he said.
A detention pond is dry until a storm or heavy rain occurs then fills up, compared to a detention pond that is full even in the dry seasons.
"A detention pond is dry until a storm or heavy rain occurs then fills up, compared to a detention pond that is full even in the dry seasons."
Comparison can't be both. If you're that interested, try reading this.
Wet Ponds
Minimum Measure: Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
Subcategory: Retention/Detention
Source: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=68 |
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Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:27 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Jeff Wrigt worked for over 23 years in the division dealing with storm water and drainage. Add his years as Drain Commissioner and I am sure he knows the difference between detention and retention ponds.
Chapter 5 - Stormwater: Dry and Wet Ponds
www.davey.com/hoa/Chapter5.html
Chapter 5. Stormwater: Dry and Wet Ponds Description of the Resource. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, stormwater is rain or snow melt that ...
Chapter 5. Stormwater: Dry and Wet Ponds
Description of the Resource
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, stormwater is rain or snow melt that flows over land or impermeable surfaces and does not drain or infiltrate into the ground. Examples of impermeable surfaces are concrete surfaces, asphalt, and building rooftops. The amount of stormwater generated from an impervious surface depends on the amount of precipitation or snow melt present. Naturalized stormwater dry ponds and wet ponds, bioswales and rain gardens retain or detain surface water runoff. This prevents the water from causing erosion or other damage on adjacent properties, helps to prevent flooding and the discharge of sweage by overwhelmed combined storm sewer systems, and retains pollutants such as sediment that are often carried with the runoff, preventing them entering surface waters such as streams and wetlands.
Dry Ponds
Stormwater dry ponds are built to temporarily store excess stormwater and allow some pollutants to settle to the bottom of the basin. These ponds are not meant to store stormwater for long periods of time. The water from dry ponds will slowly drain back onto adjacent land features including wetlands and streams. The purpose of the dry pond is to allow sediment to settle out of the stormwater runoff and to discharge the water gradually, replicating the conditions of naturally vegetated areas. These types of ponds are normally dry and may have natural old field or even woody vegetation. More detailed information on dry ponds can be found here: http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Tool6_Stormwater_Practices/Pond/Dry%20ED%20Pond.htm
Wet ponds
A wet pond is similar to a dry pond except that wet ponds are meant to store a specific volume of stormwater for a long period of time. They are also usually larger than dry ponds since they are meant to hold more water. Wet ponds look like small ponds or wetlands and may have a landscaped look around the edges in some communities. More information on wet ponds can be found here: http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Tool6_Stormwater_Practices/Pond/Wet%20Pond.htm
The size of both dry and wet ponds is dependent on the size of the drainage area as well as the amount of impervious surfaces. Both types of stormwater basins are typically designed for a specific storm event, e.g., a 2-, 5-, or 10-year storm. For more information on detention basins, see Appendices 5-1: Detention Ponds, 5-2: Detention Basin, and 5-3: Retention and Detention Basins.
Bioswales
Bioswales are referred to as any type of ditch, depression, or vegetative area that can convey stormwater and are similar to dry ponds. Typically, bioswales are linear and function similarly to small streams. The bottom, which should be wide and flat, is often vegetated and may consist of riprap stone. Bioswales are designed to maximize water retention time but also allow for water flow, similar to a stream channel. Bioswales are often constructed adjacent to parking lots to treat runoff from pavement. Bioswales are effective in removing sediment and some pollutants from runoff. For more information on bioswales, see Appendix 5-4: Bioswale Fact Sheet and http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/lid/swales.htm
Wet Ponds |
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Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:31 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Two Flint dams in need of repairs -- yesterday
Jeff Johnston | Flint Journal By Jeff Johnston | Flint Journal
on October 13, 2007 at 3:44 PM, updated October 13, 2007 at 5:46 PM
FLINT -- Someday, a brand new kind of Hamilton Dam could cross the Flint River, one that lets spawning walleye journey upstream and kayakers shoot down man-made rapids through the University of Michigan-Flint campus.
Or it might be a historic re-creation of Flint's colorful Carriage Town-era past, with scrolled stone arches and wrought iron streetlights.
Or a majestic, two-story walkway where people can stroll from the river's south bank to the north, gazing down at the water below. Heck, it could even become a first-class fishing hole.
But if "someday" doesn't happen soon, engineers have a different vision: of the crumbling, 87-year-old structure failing, sending torrents of contaminated floodwaters through downtown Flint, draining the city's emergency water supply and threatening businesses, homes and lives.
Hamilton is among thousands of dangerously aging dams across the country living on borrowed time -- waiting years for long-stalled federal funding to repair or replace them before they fail.
In Michigan, it is among the top five.
That's why for more than a year, the Hamilton Dam Committee -- a group of wildlife biologists, environmentalists, engineers and city, state and university officials -- has been working hard to make sure the right "someday" happens.
"Everybody's known it's a problem for a long time. Butthis is the first time everybody is at the table and very focused on a collaborative way to solve this problem," said committee chair Renee Zientek of UM-Flint Outreach.
It's a chance to get creative, but there are constraints, said Jason Kenyon of civil engineering firm Wade Trim. Any solution has to:
• Keep the water high enough upstream for the city's emergency backup water plant to pump.
• Maintain enough flow downstream to run the city's wastewater treatment plant on Linden Road.
• Prevent long-buried industrial contaminants from washing downstream.
The city hasn't given up on the option of rebuilding a traditional dam on the existing base, which would save millions if the base is structurally sound, said city Utilities Director Bob Misekow.
Others say a nontraditional dam might actually end up cheaper through lower construction costs and grants available for environmental and recreational improvements.
"The question is, when will the money get here? That's what it's always been," said Bob Carlyon, the city's former chief water expert and now of Rowe Inc.
It's a good question.
Even if President Bush signs the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 this month -- and he's threatened to veto it -- it would be 2009 at the earliest before any actual funds are available.
"WRDA is the authorization to spend money, but it's useless without an appropriations bill. It's like giving someone a checkbook without any funds in the checking account," said Tiffany Flynn, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint, who has been pushing for dam funding for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, staffers at U.S. Sen. Carl Levin's office say they're talking with the Army Corps of Engineers to see if any kind of emergency funding might be possible.
Will the Hamilton Dam hold until that happens?
Back in 1989, when concrete borings revealed critical deterioration at every key point, engineers first warned the dam could fail.
The city scraped together enough money for a Band-Aid fix, but little has happened since.
And when it comes to dams, Flint has other fish to fry, too.
The city's Thread Lake Dam, built in the 1880s on Thread Creek southeast of downtown Flint, is in such poor shape that the state Department of Environmental Quality could order the water drawn down if it's not repaired or replaced, said DEQ inspector Paul Wessel.
Repairs likely would cost more than $1 million. Removing the dam would be cheaper, but doing so would expose contaminated sediments from historic industrial pollution and leave nearby residents with acres of mudflats.
Still, there's far more focus today on the much larger Hamilton Dam, an eyesore with its concrete cracked and broken and its rusted metal skeleton exposed like urban roadkill. Three of its six gates no longer work. Engineers fear opening a fourth "instead of lifting the gate could pull the whole dam down," said Carlyon.
In 2005, the DEQ ordered that if steps aren't taken by 2008, the Flint River must be lowered to avoid a catastrophic dam failure.
Loss of life isn't as big a worry as it once was -- most homes in the floodplain were removed in the 1970s. But the dam holds back long-buried pollutants from a turn-of-the-century coal plant.
"If the dam were to fail, whatever is in that contaminated sediment would go downstream," said Paul Wessel of the DEQ.
The Catch-22 if the dam isn't fixed: Lowering the river would expose those same sediments -- plus render the water plant inoperable.
On Oct. 5, Flint Mayor Don Williamson publicly committed the city -- which owns the dam -- to the project. But it's all empty words without funding. Seven years ago, replacement was tagged at more than $5 million and likely would be much higher now.
An engineering study to plan the new dam could cost from $30,000 to more than $300,000. The city has held off until now in hopes of applying the cost toward its share of a WRDA matching grant.
"There is a certain feeling of urgency that we can't wait for federal funding to get this pre-engineering completed," said Zientek. "We're now trying to identify other sources in partnership with the city."
Meanwhile, the Hamilton Dam keeps holding on, by a metal-and-concrete thread.
Lakefront resident Jack Hinterman has seen hints of what could happen if the dam ever fails at Holloway Reservoir.
"Whenever the city draws it down for work, just a swing of a couple feet and all of a sudden the boat ramps don't work and public enjoyment of the water is disrupted," said Hinterman, vice president of the Holloway Lake Association. "We've all seen photos from the 1970s when they took the water way down. It looked like a disaster scene.
"But that's just talking (about) those of us who live on the reservoir. The real problem would be where all the water ends up downstream."
Hinterman isn't worried the dam will actually break -- state inspectors report it is in good shape -- but he'd like to see more public attention to dam safety issues.
"It's our whole life, that's why we're out here. Losing the dam would certainly change our way of life and everybody's property values," said Hinterman. "But it's the kind of thing when there hasn't been problems for awhile, it slips to the back of everybody's mind. And that's when things start to happen, especially with things as old as most of this country's dams."
The Holloway Reservoir dam -- built in 1953-54 -- is one of 10 out of 16 Genesee County dams rated by the state Department of Environmental Quality as either a "high" or "significant" hazard to life, property or the environment if they were to fail.
Most are in fair to good condition despite their age, needing only minor repairs and general maintenance.
Here's a look at some of the latest DEQ status report for the county's top 10 dams:
Atlas Dam
Location: Atlas Mill Pond, Atlas Township.
Built: 1835.
Owner: Genesee County Road Commission.
Condition: Good.
Details: Overgrown trees and brush on embankment. Additional spillway capacity recommended to increase flood safety margin. Major improvements to road, guardrail and spillway were done about seven years ago and tree and brush removal is being done this year, said Genesee County Road Commission engineering director Fred Peivandi.
Argentine Dam
Location: North Ore Creek, Argentine Township.
Built: Mid-1800s.
Owner: Argentine Township.
Condition: Fair.
Details: Downstream sluice gates partly functional. Erosion next to left overflow spillway wall. Overgrown trees and brush on downstream embankment. Deteriorated fish ladder wall. Slope of left embankment needs to be flattened. The county Road Commission is responsible for maintaining the dam. Tree and brush clearing and some erosion control work is being done this fall, said Peivandi.
Fenton Dam
Location: Fenton Mill Pond, Fenton.
Built: 1834.
Owner: City of Fenton.
Condition: Fair.
Details: In 2006, the city spent $225,000 to replace broken sluice gates and do other repairs first recommended by the DEQ in 1997. The dam's condition should be upgraded in the next DEQ report. "We'd applied for help through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for years but they kept turning us down," said city DPW Director Les Bland.
Goodrich Dam
Location: Goodrich Millpond, Goodrich.
Built: 1913.
Owner: Village of Goodrich.
Condition: Fair.
Details: In September, the village spent $20,000 to repair leaking gates, patch concrete and fill a large void under the structure. The dam's condition should be upgraded in the next DEQ report. "It's a priority for us. The millpond is the focal point of the entire area," said village administrator Jakki Sidge. "If it failed, there's not that many homes upriver, but the school bus garage and the Reid Elementary playground would be affected. We're staying on top of it so that doesn't happen."
Hamilton Dam
Location: Flint River on the University of Michigan-Flint campus, Flint.
Built: 1920.
Owner: City of Flint.
Condition: Poor.
Details: Concrete severely deteriorated throughout. At least three of six gates are inoperable, with serious concerns about a fourth. Trees and debris blocking gates and fish ladder. The DEQ has ordered the river be lowered if steps aren't taken by 2008. The Hamilton Dam Committee is working on solutions with the city, with hopes to apply for federal funding as soon as it becomes available.
Holloway Dam
Location: Holloway Reservoir, Richfield Township.
Built: 1953-54.
Owner: City of Flint.
Condition: Good.
Details: No substantial problems, according to DEQ inspector Paul Wessel.
Kearsley Dam
Location: Kearsley Reservoir.
Built: 1928-29.
Owner: City of Flint.
Condition: Good.
Details: Significant repairs were done in 1999 with no serious current concerns, said Wessel.
Linden Mill Dam
Location: Linden Mill Pond, Linden.
Built: Mid-1800s, rebuilt in 1967.
Owner: Genesee County Drain Commission.
Condition: Good.
Details: Routine maintenance each year includes re-seeding grassy areas around the dam walls to prevent erosion.
Mott Dam (Stepping Stone Falls)
Location: Mott Lake in Genesee Recreation Area, Genesee Township.
Built: 1971.
Owner: Genesee County Parks.
Condition: Good.
Details: Eroded west embankment. Overgrown trees, brush and cattails on west bank. Fire-damaged portions of the west spillway abutment wall. Deteriorated concrete on the upper spillway. The issues are mainly cosmetic and most are being addressed this fall, said parks facilities director Ron Walker.
Thread Lake Dam
Location: Thread Lake, Flint.
Built: 1880s.
Owner: City of Flint.
Condition: Poor.
Details: Inoperable gate. Significant deterioration of wing walls and central pier. Insufficient spillway capacity. The dam is in poor enough shape that the DEQ could order the water drawn down if it's not repaired or replaced, Wessel said. Repair costs would likely be more than $1 million. Removal would be cheaper but would expose contaminated sediments from historic industrial pollution and leave residents with acres of mudflats.
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Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:48 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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This six year old article shows the issues of uncontrolled pollution on the Flint River and it's tributaries. The 142 mile long Flint River and it's tributaries have a river basin that flows into Genesee, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawasee, Lapeer, Tuscola and Saginaw Counties.
The pollutants noted in this 2007 article detail the historical significance of poor water quality because governments in our past failed at regulating industrial and municipal discharges into our waterways. Chrome plating companies and other factories have contributed to the heavy metals and other pollutants at the bottom of the Hamilton Dam and the Thread lake Dam.
Years before, probably around 2002, residents were advised not to eat the fish in Thread Lake by the Genesee County Health Department. There were signs up that swimming was not allowed in the lake.
Goodrich needs to be reminded that their decisions reflect on the well being of others in the watershed. |
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Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:57 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:30 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The Grand Blanc View
August 15, 2013 Edition
Dissension rules at village council meeting
BY PAULA BARBEE
810-452-2647 • pbarbee@mihomepaper.com
GOODRICH – A long simmering pot of accusations and finger-pointing boiled over at the Goodrich Village Council meeting on Aug. 12 when tension between the council, residents and Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright dissolved mid-meeting in a shouting match
Wright, who was there to address concerns about flooding problems in at least one village home, said he was “very, very disappointed” in the council’s actions.
“We are looking into a lot of what was said last night,” Wright told the View Tuesday, following the meeting.
Wright was invited to the meeting, as well as the one before, although the previous meeting had the council cancelling his appearance a few short hours before, according to resident Terese Allen in a letter to the editor July 17.
The commissioner offered to stay for the whole meeting as late as needed and the council members joked that might be a long time.
The crux of the conflict came after a great deal of comment by council members, residents and Wright after which the council said the matter was closed and moved on to other business.
However a few minutes later, Councilman Richard Saroli was given the floor and pulled out one of two large poster boards and placed it on an easel, sayng he was going to speak regarding information that was gathered from council members and administration which would refute at least part of what Wright had told them earlier.
Saroli’s main point was multiple work orders in which the Wright’s office performed work on or related to the drain, he said implied ownership of, and responsibility for, the Wheelock-Watkins drain and the flooding attributed to its lack of capacity.
At that point, Wright came back into the meeting as he had been speaking outside with residents. It wasn't long after the meeting began to deteriorate into a shouting match.
Wright spoke to the council and its attorney, who was present for this particular meeting and tried to explain what he believed their culpability was, at least in regard to what he called “inadequate building practices” at least partly to blame for not only flooding, and also a suspected rash of residential hookups to the storm drains versus the sanitary sewer system; which can also exacerbate flooding issues.
Wright had stated in the earlier portion of the meeting that although under Public Act 40 of 1986, the county manages issues with the drain as the district representative, but doesn't technically own the drain.
The Wheelock-Watkins drain is actually an agricultural drain created approximately 100 years ago, and as Wright said, never intended to take the load of run-off from city streets, and residential downspouts.
Above and beyond the drain itself, Wright says following the five inch significant rain event which flooded Allen and other residents on June 27, his office discovered a culvert running under Ridge Road between Allen’s residence and the golf course is probably a critical contributing factor to the flooding.
Stories differed as to how the culvert got there, but it could be attributed to either the Goodrich Country Club or the village council, who is responsible for the roads.
In fact, Wright said emphatically his office would absolutely not make any improvement to the Wheelock-Watkins drain without the culvert being fixed so as to not cause water to cross over from the golf course to the other side of Ridge Road.
Furthermore, Wright ‘s staff took elevation measurements to help determine what effect the Goodrich mill pond level may be having on flooding issues. There were severely drawn lines between those who believed the pond had at one time a DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) determined level and those who stated it does not and never did, including Wright.
Residents on the pond said during this meeting and others that it is common for the south end of the pond to be low, when the north end of the pond is at the level preferred by residents there. Wright indicated this is likely due to silt from the incoming Kearsley Creek being deposited at the south end, giving it a higher bottom than the north end.
As he stated, regardless of what level the village chooses to keep it at, approximately 50 percent of the people are going to unhappy with it. Another complication in the morass of issues surrounding the flooding is water incoming from Oakland county, specifically the Ortonville area, which Wright claims does not have water runoff retention or detention ponds required as part of its’ building code.
After Wright interrupted the latter portion of the meeting, the Goodrich Attorney Thomas McKenney said the village would like to enter into a “collaborative” relationship with Wright’s office and Wright in turn stated he was looking forward to working with them.
2013-08-15 / News |
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Sun Sep 29, 2013 5:52 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Unruly meetings have Goodrich looking at dusting off rarely used sergeant-at-arms job
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Roberto Acosta | racosta1@mlive.com By Roberto Acosta | racosta1@mlive.com
on September 28, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated September 28, 2013 at 7:04 AM
GOODRICH, MI – An August meeting that one village councilman said became unruly at times now has the council looking at the idea of using a sergeant-at-arms to try and maintain the peace.
“At that point, we had the drain commissioner there, and it became a little unruly,” said village Councilman Richard Saroli, adding there was “finger pointing and accusing one another, different people in the audience and who was right and wrong.”
Such a move would be rarity in the state where sergeant-at-arms positions are no longer a common feature at public board meetings.
Video footage of the Sept. 9 council meeting shows Council President pro tem Mark Baldwin asking the board to consider the Sergeant-at-Arms measure “to help us follow protocol and parliamentary procedure.”
A Sergeant-at-Arms could issue two warnings before having people removed from the property for not following procedure.
Baldwin added that during public comments those in the crowd are not allowed to address council members directly, while no council members are to reply to anything said to them at that time.
“We’re all neighbors. There’s nothing productive that can come out of an unruly meeting,” he said. “All it does is tempers flare; it goes nowhere.”
Saroli said during the August meeting there was “nothing on the border of physical” altercation, but there were some verbal altercations that took place which did not arise during the September meeting.
“At this point and time, my own personal belief is unless it happens again and gets to that level. I don’t see the need for it,” he said. “I guess we have to be a little more forceful in enforcing more decorum as it were.”
Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright was in attendance during the council meeting, noting he’d answered questions from the board about various water issues and stepped outside where he was speaking with some residents when informed he should come back inside the meeting because answers he had given were being refuted by the board.
“You wouldn’t believe the expressions on their faces when I came back in the door,” said Wright, who recalled telling the board “I think this is very unprofessional when I leave, you keep talking when I said I would answer any questions you have.”
“The audience exploded,” he said. “In my 39 years (in public service), I’ve never had a community do that ever.”
Village Administrator Jakki Sidge said “Jeff came back in and it went downhill from there,” with council members not using the proper procedure in requesting time to speak, residents and members talking directly with each other and residents discussing things amongst themselves during the meeting.
Catherine Mullhaupt, director of member services with the Michigan Township Association, said while Sergeant-at-Arms positions have been used in the past, it’s not a common practice nowadays.
“In the 80s and early 90s, when we had militia issues in certain parts of the state, people would try to block business,” she said, especially in northern sections of the state. “Usually them would have a sheriff’s deputy available.”
Mullhaupt questioned the practicality of any such move, adding “I don’t know what the value would be if the issue is the board’s behavior.”
She said during meetings it’s the job of the head of the board -- be it a supervisor, mayor or other dedicated official -- to act as moderator for the meeting.
“Sometimes having a sergeant-at-arms helps if there’s been a heated discussion may be needed, just to make sure people remember ‘hey, we should be behaving ourselves. But it’s not a magic bullet,” said Mullhaupt, noting residents have their opportunity to share their piece during public comments but they must also allow regular business to take place.
“There is a real public purpose in having an agenda, sticking to an agenda,” she said, adding board members have to make final decisions in a public meeting.
Village residents found that the conversation was taking place a little embarrassing for the area, but one was not surprised at the talk.
“It makes the council look really bad. It’s not something new,” said resident April Kleindl of the disturbance. “It has happened at meeting s in the past.
“These men should be ashamed of what they’re doing and how they’re portraying our community,” she said.
Resident Tamra Gamble said “I think it’s ridiculous to go to these lengths” for a meeting.
She hasn’t had any issue with the council, but she wondered about the potential perception the move toward a sergeant-at-arms would have on people contemplating moving into the area.
“Not that I’ve seen, but I don’t know how it would reflect on people moving in if they saw it,” Gamble said.
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Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:02 am |
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