Some other big stories

The Keewatin was adorned with holiday lights in its new home of Port McNicoll, Ontario. Photo courtesy of Eric Conroy/drone-on.com

 

 

I hope you got a chance to catch The Sentinel’s Top 10 stories of 2012 at http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1233663266/Top-10-Local-News-Stories-of-2012. There were a couple of big Saugatuck-Douglas stories that didn’t make the list:

Keewatin gets a new home

2:46 p.m. Thursday, May 31. The 105-year-old steamship Keewatin was pulled free of the mud of the Kalamazoo Lake where it had been for more than 40 years and towed to the channel to Lake Michigan.

R.J. Peterson, front, owner of Tower Marina, participates in a farewell ceremony for the Keewatin passenger ship Monday, May 28. Peterson brought the ship to Douglas in 1967. Holding the flag is Douglas City Manager Bill LeFevere

 On June 4, it was eased through the channel into Lake Michigan and on June 23, it arrived in Port McNicoll, Ontario, to be the center of a redeveloped waterfront park. The vessel will be transformed into a social center with a movie theater, 122-seat dining area and museums of Georgian Bay maritime history.

June 23 was chosen for the homecoming because it is the 100th anniversary of the when the ship first arrived in the Canadian port and the 45th anniversary of the year R.J. Peterson had it towed to West Michigan.

A boy fishes off the south pier in Saugatuck after the Keewatin was pulled from the channel from the Kalamazoo River into Lake Michigan on its trip to Canada on Monday, June 4. Jim Hayden/Sentinel staff

 The ship was purchased last year by Gil Blutrich, chairman and president of Skyline International Development Inc., a private Canadian investment and management company.

Eric Conroy, who once worked aboard the vessel, coordinated the move and maintains a blog about the Keewatin — drone-on.com.

The vessel has been secured for the winter and was draped in holiday lights. Conroy reports the group Friends of the Keewatin is busy collecting historic artifacts for display in the ship and preparing the pistons in the engine room to turn for tourists next season.

The Keewatin opens for public tours on May 11.

Travis Randolph, left, chairman of the Consolidated Government Committee, waits for the State Boundary Commission to negin discussion Wednesday,Oct. 10, in Okemos. Also photographed are Douglas City Manager Bill LeFever, Saugatuck City Manager Kirk Harrier, Saugatuck Mayor Jane Verplank and Saugatuck City Councilman Bill Hess.

State approves consolidation

On Dec. 12, the State Boundary Commission approved the recommendation that Saugatuck and Douglas consolidate into one city.

The recommendation is now waiting at the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office where the director makes the final decision. If the consolidation is approved, which is expected, a referendum could be held if petitions for a vote are signed in the cities. Both sides of the issue said they will circulate petitions.

In October, the boundary commission decided the two cities should combine, mainly to save the Kalamazoo Harbor.

The state got involved in the consolidation movement after a petition was submitted to Lansing in 2011 by the Consolidated Government Committee asking for a merger to save the communities money.

The group Citizens for Independent and Cooperative Communities has been leading the opposition to consolidation saying the towns already share services and should maintain their identity.

Work continues on Saugatuck holiday star

The new star is made of aluminum. Here, it is displayed at Saugatuck High School. Photo courtesy of Brent Birkholz

Work continues on the new holiday star for Saugatuck.

The current wooden star remains attached to the radar tower on Mount Baldhead until the new all-aluminum star is ready to be placed on the tower. That star, welded together by Saugatuck High School industrial arts students, is complete except for the lights.

Organizers are waiting for the LED supplier, said Brent Birkholz who has been coordinating the work on the star.

The wooden star on Thanksgiving Day.

The wooden star has been in place for almost 60 years. It was recently vandalized and is falling apart.

The costs to replace what some council members have called a community icon is being covered by donations and money from the city’s general fund.

The wooden star, once removed, will go the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society to be restored for possible display at the museum.

For background on the project, visit:

• http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1665832775/Saugatuck-community-making-new-holiday-star-shine

• http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x346783614/Saugatucks-holiday-star-vandalized-needs-to-be-replaced

A closer look at the wooden star on Mount Baldhead.

More on McClendon, planning commission

The Saugatuck Township Planning Commission discusses a proposed development by Aubrey McClendon on Monday, Nov. 19.

Saugatuck Township Planning Commission members decided on Monday that they needed more time to consider the site condominium proposal from Aubrey McClendon’s Singapore Dunes LLC to build 25 homes in duneland north of the Kalamazoo River, saying the development is one of the most complex proposed in the township.

To read the story, visit http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1665837070/Duneland-development-in-Saugatuck-Township-on-hold-another-month.

Here are some more points from the almost 4-hour meeting:

Spokesmen for the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance made it clear why they believe the proposal should be denied by planners.

“The plan as submitted is deficient, simply put,” said Shawn Seymour of LSL Planning, Inc., of Grand Rapids.

• It lacks enough open space: Development in the R-3B zone where the homes are using private wells and septic systems requires 35 percent open space and the plan allots 5 percent;

• Mooring boats on the seawall is, in fact, a marina. Such a use would require a separate application and a special approval use from the commission;

• The development has one access point from 135th Street. An “internal loop road or other means” should be incorporated into the plan;

• The plan needs state and regulatory agency input on wetlands, critical dunes and endangered species.

“This is the one and only chance to look at the entirety of the development,” said Scott Howard, attorney from Olson, Bzdok & Howard of Traverse City. “You don’t get a second shot at it.”

For more on the dunes group, visit http://www.saugatuckdunescoastalalliance.com

Saugatuck Township planning consultant Mark Sisson, left, and township attorney Ron Bultje listen to discussion on Monday, Nov. 19, at a Saugatuck Township Planning Commission meeting at Laketown Township Hall.

 Attorney James Bruinsma of Myers Nelson Dillon & Shierk of Grand Rapids, who represents Singapore Dunes LLC, responded to the issues:

• There is no open space requirement in the R-3B zone because it is in the critical dunes overlay district. Township attorney Ron Bultje of Scholten Fant of Grand Haven agreed, saying the open space rules do not apply in a critical dune area because of the large lot sizes.

• The mooring of boats along the seawall has been going on for years. “We’re just continuing what’s been done there,” said Hank Byma, landscape architect for the project.

• The consent agreement that ended the 2-year-old lawsuit in federal court allows a single access road for the development. There is a well and pump station for fire suppression. The Saugatuck Township Fire District is looking over the road plans, according to Al Ellingsen, township zoning administrator.

• The issues of wetlands, critical dunes and endangered species are handled at the state level, outside the township’s authority. “There is a process — and it happens at the state level,” said Bruinsma. The developer needs the preliminary plans approved before going to the state to get the environmental issues addressed, he said.

The planning commission would be giving preliminary approval to the application, not a final OK, Bruinsma said. Changes to the plan would have to come back to planners for approval.

For more on the development, visit singaporedunes.com.

Other anecdotes:

• One resident asked the planners about street lights and the impact of them on the view around the development. No street lights are planned for the area, Byma said.

Dayle Harrison talks to the planning commission Nov. 19.

• You know it’s going to be along meeting when it takes the planning commission almost 40 minutes to approve its minutes from a previous meeting.

Commissioner Dayle Harrison wanted to make sure his objections to being recused from discussion on McClendon’s proposals was reflected in the minutes. He read a letter to his fellow commissioners then moved it be added into the minutes. No one seconded the motion, so it went nowhere. After more discussion, Harrison’s letter was made an addendum to the minutes.

For more on the recusal, visit http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x2053808930/Lawsuit-fears-lead-to-recusal-of-Saugatuck-Township-planner

New Saugatuck Township board brought on board

Clerk Jane Wright, right, swears in new Saugatuck Township Clerk Brad Rudich on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the township hall.

The new Saugatuck Township board was sworn in Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the township hall.

Only one incumbent — Supervisor Bill Wester — ran for re-election. The remaining four members did not run again.





New Clerk Brad Rudich was first to become official, sworn in by Clerk Jane Wright. Rudich then read the oath to the other members:

• Wester, a Republican, who remains supervisor. He defeated Democratic challenger Jon Helmrich 872-830 in the Nov. 6 election.

• Lori Babinski, Republican, new treasurer.

• Republicans Roy McIlwaine and Jonathan Phillips, new trustees. McIlwaine received 875 votes and Phillips with 809 defeated Democrats Laurie D. Goshorn and Virginia McGinn received 779 and 689 votes respectively.

• Pat Knikelbine, former treasurer, was sworn in a deputy treasurer.

• Aaron Sheridan was sworn in as deputy clerk.

The new board’s first meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the township hall, 3461 Blue Star Highway.

Saugatuck Township Supervisor Bill Wester, left, takes the oath of office from Clerk Brad Rudich on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the township hall.

Saugatuck Township Clerk Brad Rudich, right, administers the oath of office to new Trustee Jonathan Phillips on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the township hall.

Roy McIlwaine, new Saugatuck Township trustee, takes his oath of office from Clerk Brad Rudich at Saugatuck Township Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Saugatuck Township Clerk Brad Rudich swears in Treasurer Lori Babinski on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the township hall.

Putting the sparkle in the holiday season

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire at last year's event in Glenn.

Glenn, Saugatuck celebrate season with lighting ceremonies:

Glenn: The Circle of Lights holiday celebration starts at 5 p.m. Friday at the Glenn Square, the corner of Blue Star Highway and 114th Avenue. The tree lighting and community sing-a-long starts at 5 p.m. with Santa arriving in a horse drawn surrey at the at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in Glenn last season.

Following the tree-lighting, St. Nicholas will lead the procession through Candy Cane Lane to the Glenn United Methodist Church where home-baked cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Children will also have the opportunity to visit with Santa. Other events include free family photos in an old-fashioned sleigh from 5-8 p.m., a Holiday Walk of local businesses and a Bake Sale at the Glenn School.

The Glenn Community Center will be hosting a Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the community center, 6953 114th Ave. More than 18 vendors bringing local, handcrafted and homemade products to the event.


Saugatuck: The tree-lighting ceremony is 5-7 p.m. Friday at Wicks Park on Water Street. The city’s lights will be turned on. The event includes music, refreshments, crafts and a visit from Santa Claus. Carriage rides will also be available from 4-6 p.m. throughout downtown.

Coming up:

• Saugatuck’s Christmas parade is 1 p.m. Dec. 1 through downtown.

• Fennville’s holiday events are Dec. 1 and include a holiday parade at 5 p.m. and tree-lighting ceremony.

Saugatuck’s ash trees ‘to be no more’

An emerald ash borer. Image courtesy of emeraldashborer.info.

Saugatuck city — a Tree City USA — just can’t catch a break when it comes to the timber.

More than 50 ash trees on city property and along roads will have to be cutdown after staff members discovered the trees have been decimated by the emerald ash borer, according to Councilwoman Jane Verplank, a member of the city’s tree board. The group oversees the protection, removal and planting of trees in the public right-of-way and on public property.

“I planted them all, but now we’re going to lose them,” said Bruce Simonson, head of the  department of public works who has worked for the city for 47 years. “It’s pretty devastating to have this.”

The insect — Agrilus planipennis — is a native of eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and Korea and was found in Michigan in 2002, according to emeraldashborer.info, a website maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Michigan State University, Purdue University and Ohio State University. The ash borer is about a half-inch long and is bright metallic green. It infests a tree from the top down and destroys the water and nutrient tissues under the bark, the website said. The larvae make serpentine tracks under the bark.

The trees will be replaced, Verplank said.

Ash trees haven’t been planted in the city for years, Simonson said. He has been planting a variety of trees throughout the years so the city won’t be deforested by the infestation.

“The ash are destined to be no more,” he said.

The city is still dealing with dying trees in a public park between the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan.

Earlier this year, residents began to notice stressed and dying trees on the Park Street side of Mount Baldhead. The spraying of an herbicide in an attempt to rid the sand dune of oriental bittersweet, a vine that strangles and covers trees up to 70 feet tall, led to the problems.

A mild winter, warm March, freezes in April and a summer drought have contributed to the problem.

Officials from the Land Conservancy of West Michigan are still investigating if the herbicide is seeping down the dune, possibly destroying more trees.


For more on the story, visit http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x764810900/Soil-testing-will-determine-extent-of-herbicide-damage-in-Saugatuck

And a large maple tree along Perryman Street is also destined to be removed. In its quest for sunlight over the years, the tree has grown at an angle over the eastbound lane of the road to Oval Beach. Now, though, its low enough that trucks can hit it.

Saugatuck council members sworn in

New Saugatuck City Council member Bill Lint, left, and returning members Barry Johnson, center, and Jane Verplank, right, take their oaths of office on Monday, Nov. 12. Sitting are Council members Jeff Spangler and Bill Hess. Below, Clerk Monica Looman, right, swears in Mark Bekken. Sitting are City Manager Kirk Harrier, far left, and Councilman Henry VanSingel.

 Before electing Bill Hess the new mayor and Jeff Spangler the new mayor pro tem, four members the Saugatuck City Council had to be sworn in. Clerk Monica Looman had the members raise their hands to take the oath.

Bill Lint was elected for the first time on Tuesday. Barry Johnson, Jane Verplank and Mark Bekken were all re-elected.

All ran unopposed Nov. 6. Bekken received 314 votes, Johnson received 306, Verplank 284 and Lint 272. The city had an 80 percent voter turnout.