10-19-2017 Watervliet Middle School students show off websites; Keeler Township seeking recreation p

WHERE THE WATERS MEET, INDEED… Saturday’s deluge sent Mill Creek spilling over its banks and throughout Flaherty Park. The boardwalks buckled and the entire park was swamped. To the left is the creek, with the boardwalk to the right of the stand of trees. An estimated 7-9 inches of rain fell Saturday and Sunday in the region, flooding low lying areas and roads. Periodic high winds sent tree limbs and debris flying. Numerous power outages were reported, including Coloma, cutting power for several hours. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

Watervliet Middle School students show off websites

By Annette Christie

At the October 9 Watervliet School Board, middle school students in Mr. Grob’s class were able to show off their newly created websites. The students were given a selection of topics to choose from in the 21st Century Learning/ Projects Based Class and then were to create a website on that subject. In addition to school board members and school staff, many parents and family members were on hand to witness the website reveal.

Reegan McConnell and Lilly Lefor showed off their website on “Lyme Disease and the Fox.”  Throughout the website creation, the two were able to learn more about Lyme disease, the symptoms, statistics, and how the fox is actually helping to slow down the transmission of the disease. McConnell said that it took them about a week to create the website once they were given a topic.   Following the presentation, the work of the students was commended by the school board.

In other business, the board approved working guidelines with the food service employees and the transportation employees.  Superintendent Kevin Schooley explained that both of the employee groups were previously under a collective bargaining unit agreement between the district and SEIU. Schooley said that SEIU dissolved leaving these groups without an employee agreement.

Schooley said the agreement was mutually beneficial to both parties and contained much of the same criteria that were listed in their bargaining unit agreement.  There is no loss in wages or benefits and this document provides parameters and direction to the employees much like what was included in their bargaining unit agreement.  Schooley said that he worked with the group of employees to arrive at the guidelines that were presented.   “We have a good working relationship with them,” Schooley said.  “It is great that we could have group dialogue and come to a common agreement,” School Board President Bill Spaulding added. Schooley said that at the end of the school year, they will sit down again and talk about it to make sure that what they have is working.

Additionally, Schooley announced that the preliminary enrollment number for this year’s school year was 1,449 students. “This is close to our budgetary target so that is positive,” Schooley said.

SUNDAY MORNING CONCERT… Popular local musicians Pam Chap-pell, Mary Czarnecki, Joe Foster, and Ron VanLente will be sharing their wonderful harmonies for a Sunday Morning Concert, October 22, 11:14 a.m. at Coloma United Methodist Church. They have performed at the Box Factory, the Riverfront Concert Series, and at the Flywheeler’s Festival as “Silver Songs.” They will warm your heart, engage your mind, and stir your soul. Coffee and conversation at 11:00 a.m., music begins at 11:14.

Keeler Township seeking recreation plan input; holds hearings for lake weed control assessments

By Annette Christie

The Keeler Township Board is having their recreation plan reviewed and updated and will be seeking public input. Supervisor Bill Kays said at the October 3 board meeting that Wightman & Associates has reviewed the plan, the Planning Commission has reviewed it and to follow is the public input. Kays said that Wightman will be offering some suggestions for ways to get the public to provide input. He noted that the last time they did this the township spent $2,000 in postage sending it out to every resident of Keeler Township, only to get about 40 responses. He noted this is clearly not a complete representation of what the township residents want.

Some discussion was held and the board spoke to various lake association representatives that were present about getting it emailed out to the members. They also discussed putting it in newsletters, on the township website, and in stores and restaurants.

Kays told the board that the township’s deputy through the Van Buren Sheriff’s Office was injured and would be out through February. He said that he and Clerk Carl Davis would be meeting with the Sheriff tomorrow to figure out how to fill the shifts in the township until Deputy Ray Hochsprung can return.

In other business, the Keeler Fire Department responded to eight EMS calls and three fire calls for the month of September. They assisted Sister Lakes, assisted Hartford and had a vehicle fire.

Pride Care reported that they had 12 calls in August. Of those calls there were six priority one calls with an average response time of 4.15 minutes. For the month of September they responded to 10 calls in the township of which nine calls were priority one with an average response time of 5.02 minutes.

The township board set the Halloween trick-or-treating hours for Tuesday, October 31 from 5-7 p.m.

Public hearings for weed districts

The Keeler Township Board held three public hearings for lake weed control special assessment districts for Round Lake, Big and Little Crooked Lake, and Keeler Lake.

The Round Lake Association asked for a 10% increase for additional treatments and some muck control. The assessment is still not as high as it was a few years ago. The new rate is up to $107.84 per parcel. For the muck treatment the association will be talking to members of the Keeler Lake Association for direction because they are doing the same thing. One of the things they are looking at trying is enzyme pellets or enzyme solution. The enzyme is a natural enzyme and goes into the muck and eats it resulting in lake water that will clean up and clear up but will not be harmed. They will raise approximately $16,000 for the assessment.

The Big and Little Crooked Lake assessment is a part of their 5-year plan and a renewal of the $47.58 per parcel. While no one spoke for or against the assessment itself, someone did question the notification or the postings on the day of the treatments. While lake residents did get a schedule they did not see the individual postings that are supposed to be done. Kays said he would talk to the leadership of the lake association about the postings.

The Keeler Lake Weed Control District No. 3 is done with aeration and treatment with herbicides. Lake association leadership said they are happy with the aeration and they use enzymes as well which has made a big difference in the lake clarity. Their goal is to go away from herbicides and to do just the aeration but that is more expensive. The rate this year is a 10% increase in the previous assessment. This lake has different rates based on the position of the property; $186.09 per lake front parcel, $279.14 for multiple lake front parcels, $93.05 per vacant lake parcel, $42.99 for a single back lot, and $64.49 for multiple back lot parcels.

All of the assessments were approved by the Keeler Township Board.