In a telephone conversation today, Bill White, attorney and spokesman for Wilderness Development, gave assurances that Elmwood Township would be paid for expenses it incurred in its review of applications made for the giant water park. "I think a check will be cut this week," White said in response to questions asked by The Post in regard to escrow account shortfalls reported by Elmwood Township officials. "I know 'The check is in the mail' is a classic," said White, "But it was always our intention to honor these invoices."

"Thats great." was Elmwood Clerk Connie Preston's response to news of White's statement.

Township officials grew concerned when the escrow account established to pay for analysis of the Glacier Bay application, and funded by the applicants, was found to be $22,323.74 in arrears at the time review of the project was terminated early in May.

Although several notices for payment had been forwarded to White, Elmwood officials had not spoken with him directly regarding the matter.

Under terms set forth by the township and agreed to by Michael Best and Friedrich, the escrow account balance was to be maintained at all times at a minimum of $10,000. Records obtained from Elmwood Clerk Connie Preston indicate that the account balance dipped as low as -$18,508.90 in the months prior to the withdrawal of the Wilderness Development applications. On at least one occasion during the planning commission review process work was stopped on Township Attorney Jim Young's advice that the escrow account was underfunded.

Clerk Preston acknowledged that monitoring of the status of the account was "Up to me." and that unless other township officials were to look expressly for the information, the status of the account would not have been accessible in one statement. Preston had stated previously that "This is the first account of this kind that we've set up…The next time around we'll ask for more money to be held".

Posted by Austen at 11:02 AM | Permalink

When attorney Bill White of the Michael Best and Friedrich LLP law firm wrote to Elmwood officials early in May to withdraw permit applications for a proposed massive Glacier Bay water park to be built by Wilderness Development Inc., many officials and observers expressed surprise. The real surprise for Elmwood Township officials at this point however is the fact that the letter of withdrawal is the last communication received from Michael Best, while the escrow account established to pay for analysis of the application, and to be funded by the applicants, is (according to Elmwood officials) $22,323.74 in arrears.

Bill Swanson, township Planner acknowledged that, "To be honest, it looks like we're going to have to eat some of this." in addressing the fund shortfall. Swanson explained that the account was established to hold funds provided by the applicants to be used to pay bills incurred by the township in consulting with various experts in review of the Glacier Bay project. Attorneys for Wilderness Development had made several payments during the review process to the account to cover invoices submitted by Elmwood's attorney and a consulting planning firm, LSL Associates of Grand Rapids.

Under terms set forth by the township and agreed to by Michael Best and Friedrich, the escrow account balance was to be maintained at all times at a minimum of $10,000. Records obtained from Elmwood Clerk Connie Preston indicate that the account balance dipped as low as -$18,508.90 in the months prior to the withdrawal of the Wilderness Development applications. On at least one occasion during the planning commission review process work was stopped on Township Attorney Jim Young's advice that the escrow account was underfunded.

Clerk Preston acknowledged that monitoring of the status of the account was "Up to me." and that unless other township officials were to look expressly for the information, the status of the account would not have been accessible. Preston noted that information regarding payments being made by the township to consultants would have been included in regular expense reports submitted to the Elmwood Board of Trustees.

Preston notes that the final communication submitted by attorney White ending the review process included statements indicating the applicant's intention to settle all accounts.

Applicant's attorney White did not return a call requesting comment before the publication of this story.

Posted by Publius at 09:50 PM | Permalink

Because of their beautiful plumage, gentle song, and propensity to seek out man-made habitats, bluebirds are among our most popular songbirds.

Breeding male bluebirds sport a strikingly blue cap and back, a reddish-orange breast, and faded white belly and underbody. The female bluebird’s plumage appears as a pronouncedly faded or weathered version of the male’s.

At one time, a bluebird’s natural inclination was to seek out natural tree cavities and old woodpecker holes for nesting sites. However, as such places have become scarce, bluebirds have increasingly come to utilize man-made nesting boxes.

An important concern is that these man-made bluebird sites are often used or taken over by House Sparrows or European Starlings. A serious decline in bluebird numbers in eastern sections of the United States can be attributed to the encroachment and depredations of these introduced species.

Another cause for periodic decline in the population of this species has been very severe winters.

Modern agricultural practices have also adversely impacted bluebirds by reducing nesting sites and foraging opportunities as well as by the use of pesticides.

Bluebirds tend to seek out rather open, though not totally treeless, areas for nesting and foraging sites such as suburban lawns, golf courses, pastures, old fields, farm yards, and forest edges.

Though some bluebirds do remain in northern Michigan in winter, most spend winters in more southerly areas. They usually return to Leelanau nesting spots from March through early June. Bluebirds usually raise at least one, if not two, broods. The literature makes note of occasional assistance with the second brood by the first. Nesting season often continues into August. Most bluebirds have usually left the area by late October.

~ bob c.

Posted by Publius at 05:25 AM | Permalink

The Cherry Marketing Institute has hired the creator of the famous "Got milk?" campaign to help market tart cherries. Jeff Manning's four-month contract will be worth about $30,000 and is ultimately funded by a surcharge on cherry growers.

According to this Freep article, Manning will help set goals of the marketing program, test methods, and develop the actual marketing plan.

Posted by Publius at 01:52 PM | Permalink

Leelanau wines are coming of age. Michigan's wine production is soaring, and Leelanau is leading the way--not just in quantity, but in quality as well.

This Detroit News article has a good survey of Leelanau's best wineries with lots of fascinating detail.

Posted by Publius at 10:08 PM | Permalink

The Leelanau Township Community Foundation will help lower-income households connect the new Northport sewer system. The grants may help to bridge some of the divisions opened by the recent recall campaign in the village.

The recall campaign, which failed, was directed against village officials who had supported the new sewer project. Among the arguments against the project were the costs imposed on residents forced to hook up to the new line. The Leelanau Township group will use $150,000 to make grants to help families make the hookup, according to this Record-Eagle article.

Posted by Publius at 09:51 AM | Permalink