Third in a series on the Millage Proposal for Open Space, Recreation and Protection of Waters and Wetlands, up for a vote Nov. 4

If voters approve a 10-year, 0.45 millage “open-space” proposal, the township would have final say over how it’s spent.
But Independence Township officials would work closely with North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy to work out the details, said Mike Turk, Parks and Recreation director.
“I think it’s something that we’ll have to do between the conservancy and the township board, to come up with land,? said Turk.
Park and Rec would oversee land acquisition. Maintenance of the property would depend on the kind of land purchased, he said.
“If it’s just easements or wetlands, there probably isn’t a whole lot of maintenance involved in that,? he said. ‘I am sure that we would recommend buying properties that consisted of very little or no maintenance.?
A conservation easement is a contract in which property owners maintain ownership, but agree not to build, fill in, or otherwise develop their land.
Turk said he was in favor of the millage.
“I think it’s a good idea to purchase property and keep it as wetlands or as easements to protect our water source,? he said.
Supervisor Dave Wagner also endorses the proposal.
“I don’t know how anybody can’t endorse it,? Wagner said. “I can’t fathom anybody who says they’re against green space.?
However, Wagner told Independence Goes Green, a group formed to support the proposal, the biggest issue will be ‘convincing people in these times to go along with the millage.?
“Times are so bad and with the government wanting more money from us, we just don’t know how we’re going to handle that. That is difficult,? said Wagner.
‘I told Jim Reid and Tom Pytel (Independencee Goes Green members) that it’s a difficult time to be asking for money from the citizens, but when you’re talking principle, I think nobody could disagree with wanting green space.?
Local environmentalists estimate Clinton River Watershed at 17-20 percent impervious, paved over ? at about 25 percent impervious, the watershed can no longer recharge and it becomes “non-sustaining.”
Township officials could not confirm those statistics, however.
“I don’t know where they got the statistics. I have never heard that, but that’s not to say there isn’t a statistic out there,? said Linda
Richardson, director of Independence Township water and sewer. ‘It’s not anything that has ever been brought to our attention as part of the upper Clinton Watershed Group. It’s a statistic I have not heard and I don’t believe anyone in the upper watershed group has either.?
The township meets federal mandates concerning storm water runoff, Richardson said.