Below is an update on various lake association topics.

Please respond if you have any questions.

Internet Operations - There is a link to the sewer project on our website, which has a schedule of the construction.

Fundraising - The fundraising committee will meet after our next board meeting on May 15th to decide events for this summer. We will hold the bowling outing in late July and the social in early August. There has also been discussion about several new activities which will be
announced as events are finalized. We also have can Koozie's for sale for $3. These can be purchased at the General Membership meeting, or by contacting Suzanne Reed at (269) 808-0327 or Redrazor25@yahoo.com.

Sewer - Things are going well on the sewer project, as can be told from walking or driving around the lake. Construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-June, with the treatment facility being completed by the end of the summer. Once the treatment facility is completed,
you will have 90 days to hook-up. Please find further information at our website.

Weed Treatment - A second public hearing is set for Wednesday, April 14th at 7PM. Everyone should have received notification in the mail.

Public Access - we will be contacting the DNR regarding the downed tree from the storm and replacing the bulletin board information.

Strawberry Lake Drain - work was completed by local residents and Wightman & Associates. The association paid the final bill of $781.00. The water is receding. A grate will be placed over the culvert pipe to prevent items from collecting or being discarded there. Local residents are trying to get Van Buren County to assume control of this drain.

Fish Stocking - In October, walleye were again stocked (thanks to Ken Hochsprung for managing this process). Those stocked three years ago are up to legal size, and there are reports that many were caught during ice fishing season and this spring.

Channel - We purchased two buoys last year to slow boat traffic in the channel. The association will also purchase signs for the channel entrance.

Phone Book - We are planning an updated phone book this year. This will be free to Gravel Lake Association members. We will also be including emergency contact information so neighbors can contact you if there is an emergency. We need help with advertising solicitation for the phone book too! Please volunteer by contacting Craig DeSimone (information above).

FEMA Flood Zone - In November, FEMA designated Gravel Lake as a Level A flood zone. This change now requires residents with a mortgage to carry flood insurance. The township does not participate in the FEMA program, so insurance is costly. Members of the board plan to meet with the FEMA representatives and Wightman & Associates to determine how to proceed. We would like to have the designation eliminated, changed to a lower risk level, or have the township participate with FEMA to get a lower insurance rate. If you do not want to wait, and feel that you are above the flood level, you can have a survey completed by an engineer for $500-$750, and have your property exempt from requiring insurance. There will be more information on this topic, as we get it, posted to the website.

FEMA UPDATE - 4/16/10

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Here's an update regarding the FEMA situation.  Below is a resolution from the Van Buren County Commissioners.  I'm not completely certain if this will keep you from having to get flood insurance in the short term.

RESOLUTION REGARDING FEMA FLOOD PLAIN MAPS

A resolution to set forth the request of the Van Buren County Michigan Board of Commissioners to the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") to take every available action to rectify errors in flood plain maps that may impose undue burden and expense upon County property owners to rectify on their own.

WHEARAS, FEMA, contracting with a private firm in the State of Kentucky, recently updated the Flood Plain Maps for Van Buren County, MI;

WEAREAS, those maps are incorrect.

WHEREAS, the Flood Insurance Program allows properties in the flood zones to obtain insurance through FEMA programs, presumably at a lesser rate than traditional insurance companies;

WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that the interpretation of the maps by mortgage lenders or FEMA have frequently been incorrect thereby requiring those property owners to acquire flood insurance when their property is not,in fact located with a flood zone;

WHEREAS, property owners facing this situation must rectify the problem at great expense by seeking to have their property exempted from the flood plain insurance requirement by having elevation survey performed and requests to be excluded, typically at a cost of ~ $1,000.00;

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners is of the opinion that it is wrong that the burden of correcting this problem upon the owners of the properties incorrectly designated as lying within flood zones, when it was the error of FEMA or its subcontractor in not completing accurate flood plain maps; and,

WHEREAS, this failure on the part of FEMA to ensure the accuracy of the flood plain maps demonstrates just another of what has been a long list of failures on the part of FEMA to demonstrate accountability to the people it is designed to protect.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Van Buren County Michigan Board of Commissioners encourages the FEMA to take every available action to revise and rectify ann and all errors in flood plain maps at no expense to the subject property owners thereby relieving the property owners of the undue burden and expense of having to correct a situation for which they have no responsibility.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this request is made in the interest of holding FEMA accountable to the property owners that the flood insurance programs is designed to protect, as well as those owners whose properties fall outside of flood zones who rely upon the maps created by FEMA to demonstrate that they have no obligation to carry such coverage.

Dated: April 13, 2010               VAN BUREN COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Motion by Hanson, Second by Toth.                             Tina
Leary COUNTY CLERK

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Storm - There has been significant damage from the hail and wind storm that swept through Lawton. Many homes had windows broken and siding damaged. There were also a lot of trees downed. Contractors are circling the lake. Be aware though, some are asking for claim numbers and they will take care of everything. Speak with your insurance companies and have construction completed before giving out claim numbers. Otherwise, they can take your money, and not do the work.

The Gravel Lake Association