Coupons galore! Bargains begin inside on page eight EAST JO-rlD&H PUBLIC EAST JORDAN, MI. 49727 J&Rarlmoix (Bounty YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER C/ Vol. 13 No. 22 Thursday, March 29, 1979 25 cen/s Wet lands: Hot Lansing issue. BY DIANNE MURRAY wetlands which border on lakes, rivers state property is wetland, then let it go . Capital correspondent or streams. at that," he said. LANSING - After several weeks of The Senate version also covers State Sen. Mitch Irwiii's legislative debate and feuding between House and "perched wetlands" which are marshes assistant said the Saulte Ste. Marie Senate committees on proposed or bogs not directly adjacent to Democrat was still reading the bills and wetlands legislation, the sponsor of the waterways. had no comment on them. House version has decided to help the The Senate bill has broad exemptions, "We are still trying to get the in- passage of the Senate version. one of which allows farmers to drain formation (about the bills) from the Doug Reese, aide to Rep. Thomas land for use of agricultural purposes. different people in our district and how Anderspn (D-Southgate), the sponsor of Because of this, the Michigan Farm it will effect them personally," Irwin's the House bill, said "thq House will hold Bureau, the Michigan Cattlemen's aide said. off any further action to; give the Senate Association and the Department of Floor debate on the Senate bill will the ability to pass the (wetland) bill Natural Resources support the bill. not start again until April 2. Sen. Kerry first." /."' The House version does not have Kammer (D-Pontiac), sponsor of the exemptions for agriculture but does Senate bill, said the time between will be Wetland legislation would prohibit contain some exemptions for mining used to round up votes for the passage owners of swamps, bogs and marshes companies which would allow them to of the bill. from dredjpng, draining, filling in or dump waste materials into wetlands In the past, the Senate has been more cons^Mlcting on their land without without a state permit. opposed to the wetlands legislation than special state permission. The Senate version calls for an in- the House. The legislation was often /"Wetlands are a form of flood control, ventory of state wetlands, but it does blocked in the old Conservation wildlife habitat and pollution control. not say to what extent. This is one thing Committee by its former chairman, Rep. Ralph Ostling said the wetland that legislators believe will have to be Senator Joe Mack of Ironwood. legislations, as they stand now, are not spelled out in amendments to the bill. The rivalry between the two Houses good pieces of legislation. In either version of the bill, Ostling was caused by the Senate panel on The Roscommon Republican, whose said he would like to see an inventory to wetlands passing the bill on almost the district includes the west half of determine how much wetlands should be same day as the House panel passed the Charlevoix County, said wetlands set aside. legislation. legislation will have an "adverse effect Ostling would like to see a second "We feel possessive of the (wetlands) on northern private landowners." amendment added providing com- issue because we've worked on it for The two versions differ in coverage of pensation in the way of a tax break for seven years in the House," Anderson's what wetlands would be under state those landowners who would be unable aide said. "But, paramount in our minds jurisdiction and in the exemptions to build or fill in Iheir wetland property. is a good wetlands law and if somebody Proposed legislation defines wetlands as any piece of land that is under water either all or part of granted to special interest groups. "Let's determine how much (northern has to give to get it through, it will be the time, such as this property near M-75 in Boyne Falls. The County Commission is against the The House version covers only property) is wetlands and if enough us." bill, which would regulate wetland development. (Press photo by Joe McElroy.] » County residents join debate BY JOE McELROY legislation. uplands." county's resolution against the bill The county commission's "When we ask counties or Bill Grimm of the U.S. Soil and This sponge-like effect soaks up says that it would allow the DNR to resolution also objected to the townships to develop plans for the Proposed wetlands legislation is a Conservation office in Boyne City pollution before it can get into lakes form land management plans proposed $25 fee which would be Wild Rivers Act, they refused to do controversial issue in Lansing, estimates there are 25,000 acres of and rivers, Grimm said. without owners' permission. imposed on landowners seeking so and let it fall back to the state," where lawmakers are waging an wetlands in the county, of which The state's agriculture depart- "That tells you that the land- state permission to develop Mittig said. intense, sometimes personal battle 23,360 are inland lakes such as ment has lobbied against the bill, owner doesn't have a doggone wetlands. The Jordan River was the first to in both the Senate and House of Walloon and Lake Charlevoix. The but Grimm, who works mostly with thing to say about what happens to DNR Forester Bill Mittig says the be named under the Wild River Act, Representatives. remaining acres include a wide private landowners, says area his land," said Commissioner Larry proposed law is "badly needed. which limits development on certain variety of marshes, bogs, farmers don't appear to be up in Matthew of Walloon Lake. We've seen cases where they've rivers. "The first option was given ThosB disagreements continue up shorelands, swamps and other arms against it. Matthew also objects to the built in floodplains and the to the townships and counties," in Charlevoix County, where wetlands whose development would various changes the bill has un- homeowners don't even know it Mittig said; JJepartment of Natural Resources be regulated by the bill. "Farmers realize they have to dergone in both the Senate and the until their house floods." But that foot-dragging might be and other government officials say "Wetlands are just like a take care of their land," he said. House. "They're playing games Mittig said wetlands provide changing on the local level. Wilson the law is a good idea. But the sponge," Grimm said. "They are "It's their livelihood." with it down there," he said. habitat for birds and other animals, Township is considering a new County Commission disagrees, and filter areas of Mother Nature for the But many lawmakers see the "Until we get some direction, I'm and said local units of government zoning ordinance which would in- recently unanimously passed a environment. It's nature's way of proposal as state infringement on not going to be a part of their haven't been aggressive enough in clude some provisions to protect resolution against wetlands cleaning that which comes from the private property rights. The game." protecting natural resources. wetlands. Senior citizens worried Bus service threatened The government-sponsored bus senior center. "It will have a very department, which pays for the program service for Charlevoix County Senior serious effect if they take away the through gasoline taxes. A similar Citizens may end this fall because of busses." program is already underway in Antrim lack of funds, according to Art Saworski "We have many seniors who couldn't County. of the county's Charlevoix County get to any of our programs if it weren't The money is available," Saworski Commission on Aging. for the bus service." Saworski said says. "That's why the tax was put on At present there are two buses used approximately 450 different people used gasoline. Why not go after it?" for senior citizens. One is funded by the the bus service in 1978. But many state and federal programs federal Older Americans, Act, while Pearl Ikens, 87, of Boyne City is one are, designed to provide funding just in money for the other comes from the of the seniors who uses the bus service. the, initial stages. The county wouldn't Michigan Department of Trans- "I think it's wonderful," she says. "A have to pay anything for the program portation through gasoline taxes. lot of people wouldn't be able to get out the first two years, Saworski said, but Other funding comes from fares paid by otherwise." would then be expected to pay 25 the riders. Saworski hopes another state percent a year and eventually pick up Saworski said the Older Americans program can be implemented to retain half the tab. The program costs Antrim Act bus, which coats $6,630 a year, transportation for seniors, who have County $40,000 a year, Saworski said, expires September 30. The program that become increasingly dependent on the although CETA and other federal funds the other bus ends November 5, busses since they started running in funding might lessen the burden. he said. February of 1975. Saworski said the county commission In addition, both bus drivers are paid He said the county could get up to will discuss the issue at its Thursday, Bos driver Ken Provoust helps Stella Hallman make her way to lunch at Boyne City Hall. At through the Comprehensive Em- $317,000 for three years for as many as March 28 evening meeting which begins right is William Haddix and next to him is Maria Spohn of Boyne Falls.