On Monday, the Four Lakes Task Force said they're putting a delay on the reconstruction of the Secord, Smallwood, Edenville and Sanford dams.
The Task Force says its a result of the appeal filed by the Heron Cove Association late last month in protest of the special assessment rolls being assigned to property owners along the lakes. Property owners have told WCMU that the special assessment will force them out of their homes and will increase their taxes over $3,000 a year.
According to the Task Force, the remaining funds from the state will not cover the costs to reconstruct the dams and need the special assessment fund to complete the project.
"This appeal has impacted FLTF's plan to acquire financing in June, and it is uncertain when or if we can issue bonds required to proceed with the construction to complete the project," said Dave Kepler, president of the Four Lakes Task Force.
"While we respect peoples' right to appeal, it is a setback and disappointing considering the progress we have made as a community to restore our lakes. The appeal puts us in a position where we are limited to use only State of Michigan grant funds and must ration the work that can take place," Kepler explained.
Current construction will be completed to ensure safety requirements then will be placed on pause until funding can be secured. The Task Force says that a three-month delay to the project will increase costs by a minimum of $1.5 million.
