During their May meeting, the Clearwater Twp. Board of Supervisors discussed the SPRA state funding grant that had been applied for earlier in the year.

The township was awarded the grant, however, in order to accept the funding there are a number of conditions that must be met, including that the road must be tarred, not seal coated like the township had planned. 

As the township is unable to fund the conditions required, Bill Langenbacher indicated he would apply for a variance, but said it was unlikely it would be approved. He recommended the grant be returned and reapplied for on a smaller scale next year; a motion carried to follow his recommendations.

There were no updates on the LRIP funding the township has also applied for.

Nixon Lake

Resident Bill Lee approached the board to discuss his complaints concerning Nixon Lake Public Access. He indicated he first brought his concerns to the township 23 years ago and then again eight years ago; no action was taken either time.

Although he has multiple complaints, the biggest area of concern is that the township needs to fix the parking lot so that it stops the runoff into the lake, instead draining into the grass or swamp area on the opposite side of the lot. Other issues include moving the signage off the easements and onto the township’s property and fixing the parking barriers that have become half buried over the years. 

Engineers from the watershed district and soil and water have indicated they would send people out to the site to provide recommendations. 

Miller suggested a list be put together of concerns from residents so all of the issues can be addressed.

Other Business

Clerk Jean Just informed the board the township had received a new draft of the orderly annexation agreement from the City of Clearwater. After reviewing the document, the township attorney is requesting a meeting with the board as substantial changes had been made, many of which had been negotiated and agreed to previously.

During the public forum, resident Nancy Fisk approached the board concerning loud, obscene music being played by young people on Fish Lake, which she indicated had first started occurring last summer. Although Wright Co. has a noise ordinance, it’s only after 10 p.m., and it’s difficult for the sheriff to police when it’s on a lake. 

Supervisor Scott Miller asked if anyone had spoken to the offenders or their parents, saying it’s best if they try to take care of issues like this before getting authorities involved. He suggested sending out a letter to residents asking everyone to be respectful of others on the lake.

Supervisor John Notch said people have tried to talk to them in the past, and suggested Fisk speak with the lake association or Co. Commissioner Darek Vetch. 

The fire study group presented their findings to Clearwater and Lynden Twps. at a recent meeting. It was determined that financially it doesn’t make sense for the townships to move forward with creating their own fire department at this time.

Although progress has been made to clean up a property on Hendrix Ave. after a junk complaint, there is still a lot of work to be done. A decision was made to send the property owner a letter giving him 60 days to finish the clean up before the township steps in and starts the process.

The next Clearwater Twp. meeting will be June 7 at 7:30 p.m.