By Louie Stout
If you have hopes of the new DNR boat launch on Eagle Lake to be developed anytime soon, forget about it.
Darrin Schaap of Clear H20 Tackle and I had a conference call last week with DNR officials who are overseeing the project.
For those unfamiliar with the project, the DNR purchased land to install a new and safer boat launch on the east side of Eagle Lake in August, 2014.
That’s right 11 years ago.
Since then, the Eagle Lake Improvement Association has filed multiple lawsuits – which they lost – yet continue to throw roadblocks at the DNR to prevent the development.
To make matters worse, the DNR’s previously approved permit by the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has expired and another had to be submitted.
Jordan Byelick, Waterways Development Program Manager for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said such a plan was submitted two months ago and could take another two months or more to get EGLE approval.
When pressed as to why the DNR couldn’t pressure EGLE to expedite a permit that has already been approved, Byelich said EGLE is not part of the DNR and that the permit application must fall in order behind other requests.
EGLE, coincidentally, is the same state government organization that rubber stamps weed kill permits for lake associations despite objections from anglers, and in many cases, DNR fish and wildlife officials.
The development permit may be the easy part. Once EGLE gives the OK, the DNR must go back to the Ontwa Township Board for its blessing to proceed.
That board is made up of some influential Eagle Lake Improvement Association residents, many of whom oppose the site development.
Furthermore, the township has added additional demands for water and sewage to be run to the site for restrooms and a boat wash be installed on the site – at the DNR’s expense.
That’s not going to happen.
When questioned as to why the DNR’s vacant lot couldn’t at least be re-opened as a parking lot for ice fishermen, Byelich said that would require site development approval from the Township – the same group that demanded the DNR lot be blocked from anyone parking there.
It’s obvious that the Eagle Lake Improvement Association is doing everything it can to prevent the access construction. There also is reason to believe that group is building another war chest to return to litigation to slow the development further.
We understand bureaucracy moves slowly, that a process must be followed and the importance of working with local governments.
Those requirements have been met.
Yet, after all it’s been through and the expense the Michigan DNR has incurred, it’s baffling that no one in state government seemingly doesn’t have the power – or give a damn - to move this faster on behalf of the public it represents.