BY ELAINE STIEB
Lake Orion Review Editor
If the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issues a permit for dredging an area near Bellevue Island, village members will allow some of the material to be placed in the island’s parking area.
Some homeowners in a channel between Detroit Avenue and Longpointe are seeking permission from the state to remove up to 300 cubic feet of silt, debris.
Residents say the bay is being filled in because of erosion and runoff and are worried they won’t be able to launch boats at some future time.
The channel was last cleaned up in 1982 and the material was dumped in the parking lot, which is village property.
Council members agreed on June 9 to help the homeowners get rid of the material as long as they paid to have the material tested for any contamination. They are also paying to have the channel dredged.
According to Cathy Comparoni, much of the material will be placed in her yard and another neighbor’s. The parking lot will be filled with only the excess.
The village’s DPW will determine where the material should go and will cover it with dirt and seed the area.
Alex Comparoni said he expects the dredging to be done in November if the permit is issued.
Councilman Douglas Dendel suggested a new catch basin be installed at the same time. Lake Orion Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said there is some information coming from village engineers that a catch basin might not work in that area.
It will be discussed at a future council meeting.