▪ See AWARD on

Mark Constance Publisher

mconstance@ UpNorthVoice.com

Tracy Constance Marketing

tracy@UpNorthVoice.com

Warren Stutesman Reporter

warren@upnorthvoice.com

William Broadnax Distribution Manager

williambroadnax2015@ gmail.com

Axel Jacobs Roscommon Distribution

Matthew Barnes Grayling Distribution

Letter to the editor policy:

AuSable Media Group encourages all readers with a connection to the community to submit letters to the editor for possible publication.

Please limit letters to 300 words. Author must include a daytime contact number.

Letters are the individual opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the staff, advertisers or contributors to the Voice.

The Voice reserves the right to accept or reject any letter.

To submit a letter email it to: mconstance@upnorthvoice. com, mail to P.O. Box 113, Roscommon, MI 48653, or stop by the office at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.

To the editor:

In the March 13, 2019, commissioners meeting Chairman Schneider said, “Other counties have done this” and. Then Controller Jodi Valentino stated: “Lots of other counties have done this and I actually have a couple of variations that they have done” in regard to a resolution they passed March 27, 2019. Valentino never produced any variations from other counties when I filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request because they don’t exist.

In the June 9, 2021, commissioners meeting I commented about those false statements.

In most cases, when a public official lies to the public they resign, or they are terminated. Schneider either intentionally lied or it is a coverup to protect Valentino. This coverup is a big problem.

The commissioners need to respond.

The resolution was passed under false pretenses. That is called willful neglect and dereliction of duty.

The statutes describe exactly what the commissioners are supposed to do. Once a legal level is established the statutes say, “The County Board must acquire the necessary permits … from the DEQ … Maintain the lake at the level, or levels, established by order of the circuit court.” The commissioners have done neither.

The commissioners are compelled to ask EGLE for a dam modification as it is undisputed that Higgins is not maintained at the legal level. The county paid the Spicer Group $30,000 back in 2010 for recommendations and the commissioners did nothing. They have the discretion to maintain the legal levels any way they want. They do not have the discretion to do nothing.

The commissioners conflated what they needed to do with establishing and maintaining the legal level. They turned the process on its head. Their resolution is willful neglect and a dereliction of duty.

Join the Citizens for Higgins Lake Legal Levels Facebook page. Compel the Commissioners to do their job.

Harrison

Continued from page 1

Environmental Leadership by the Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of nearly 80 organizations that drives the state's environmental agenda.

Harrison will accept the Petoskey Prize at the Environmental Council’s 23rd Annual Environmental Awards Celebration, hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 at Gordon Hall in Dexter. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased at environmentalcouncil.org.

The Petoskey Prize is the state’s premiere recognition of an environmental, grassroots volunteer. It comes with a $5,000 gift to the Environmental Council member organization that nominates the winner.

Harrison was nominated by Grayling’s Mason-Griffith Chapter of Michigan Trout Unlimited, the founding chapter of the national Trout Unlimited organization, composed of 387 local groups. She'll join Bob Andrus and Rusty Gates, past regional recipients.

Bryan Burroughs, executive director of Michigan Trout Unlimited, noted the Mason-Griffith Chapter is among the organization’s most active and impactful groups, and that is largely due to Harrison’s eight years (and counting) as president.

In this role, she revitalized the chapter; led and took part in river restoration projects; raised $1 million in support of conservation; and helped people of all ages fall in love with the Au Sable and Upper Manistee rivers by teaching them fly fishing.

Harrison’s success in preserving her hometown rivers is also seen through her partnership with other local organizations. She served in leadership positions on Anglers of the Au Sable, Fly Fishers International’s Great Lakes Council and the Frederic Township Planning Commission. "Karen doesn’t draw attention to herself, avoids and never places herself in the limelight, and never even allows her team to fully understand just how much she does to make things work," said Burroughs. "She just keeps all focus on the work at hand and how our natural resources will be better if we keep doing more and more. It’s all about the work, the benefits to our watersheds, our fish and the people who take part in it."

Letter to the Editor

Eric Ostergren Higgins Lake

Karen Harrison, nominated by Mason-Griffith chapter of Trout Unlimited.

AuSable Printing and Publishing ‘Your concept, our expertise’

Whether its business cards, brochures, clothing, or dozens of other unique marketing items, we are Northern Michigan’s source for quality commercial printing and marketing services. For a quote please call 989-275-1170 or email mconstance@UpNorthVoice.com