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October 1, 2021
By Mike Kruzman / [email protected]
A group of citizens concerned about their community in the Canton of Genoa met to discuss a strategy against a potential gravel mine.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources owns two parcels off Brighton Road and Cunningham Road. MNR has expressed interest in leasing the property so that it can be mined for minerals and in the flattened process, and eventually turned into a seed orchard and park.
A dozen residents of the canton of Genoa met Thursday evening to discuss the best way to alert their neighbors to this operation and the negative effects that will result. They spoke of the “very serious consequences” that mining can have, who said that “surface gravel mines decrease property values for miles, damaged property values severely affect tax revenue, this would create well-known fatal health problems, groundwater disturbances, and road safety.
The potential for silica dust in the air was a repeated concern, with residents not wanting it in their or their children’s lungs, and not wanting to have to live with their windows closed all the time because of its condition. threatens.
Joined them, Sue Kelly of the Sierra Club, who shared her ideas on how to tactfully express their views to decision makers to get a favorable response. She advised against taking an adversarial approach to the DNR and local authorities and instead expressing respectfully a love for the community and how it would affect it negatively.
Geologist Mike Wilczynski, who gave his expert opinion on the situation, spoke by phone. He said the proposed lease was for 10 years, but warned that sometimes these things were extended to 30 years, as some participants had previously feared. He said the lease seems ill-conceived and that he thinks they might be able to meet the goal of stopping the lease. Wilczynski said the lease will allow mining to be within 3 feet of the water table. The water there, however, is contaminated with chloride, with Wilczynski warning that mining so close to it could cause the plume to move, which could affect more people.
Residents are also unhappy with the way the land was left after a recent logging operation left the area devastated. Still, residents preferred it to be left as it is as opposed to a mine.
The DNR is hosting a public information meeting on October 12 at the Brighton High School Performing Arts Auditorium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Canton of Genoa group invites people to come out and respectfully let MNR know that this proposed project is detrimental to the community.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.StopTheGravelPit.com.
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