By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
The Ortonville Wildlife Preservation Park survey has been performed and temporary stakes are out to mark the property lines.
“Twenty-five years ago when my wife and I first moved in, we bought the home from a couple who had a play structure, swing set, right in the same spot our is,” said councilman Dan Eschmann. “Well come to find out after the survey half of the structure is on the property line. So my wife and I, we staked it out and we’re going to move that.”
The park came into the public eye back in January of this year when it was discovered that structures had been built on the property and visible tire tracks were found from motorized vehicles, both of which are not allowed on that property.
“We did the walk-through with 12 people, and he went back and put up interim stakes,” said village manager Bill Sprague.
Though most of the park is surrounded by residences, there is a small part that gives public access to enter the preservation park, which can be used for walking and hiking the 47 acres. The village will be putting some permanent stakes in with signs around the property line.
“There are some places where you do not know where the property lines are,” said village president Wayne Wills. “It’s very, very rugged. I fell into a mudhole up to my waist.”