You don't? That's because there were none. Here is some information gathered under the Freedom Of Information Act showing closed-door meetings and insider communications as the Mullett Township Board allowed a small group to develop plans for what is now known as the TDA Park.
Some of the TDA Officers, Board, and Committee members listed at that time on the left margin of this letter includes: Mary O'Hare, Dawn Bodnar, Connie Ogg, David Ogg, Julie Gariepy, Bud Garlick, Tom O'Hare, Marcy Rowan, Kim Wilkins, Brian Callaghan, Paul Chapoton, Al Ellis, Dee Ellis, Lori Hoehu, Claudia Holland, Pat Singel, Graham Tillotson, and more. Yes, it does includes numerous spouses, neighbors, and closely associated friends, and no, it is not in any way representative of the community at large.
Page 1 of this letter from Mary O'Hare, President of the Topinabee Development Association addressed to Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund "supports and endorses the efforts being made by Mullett Township....".
Play a little drinking game. Every time you read "Mullett Township" or "Township" as in a "plan envisioned by Mullett Township", just insert Topinabee Development Association and reward yourself with a shot. That is closer to the truth.
Now, to borrow a phrase often used by Tom O'Hare of the TDA, let's "clarify some facts".
The 3rd paragraph says individual with disabilities will have "improved access via the newly developed path" in the TDA Park. The path in the TDA Park is ADA compliant simply because it has a slope that does not require an ADA approved design. In fact, it requires people to walk, roll, push a wheelchair or somehow navigate several hundred feet north on the crushed rock DNR Trail to enter the TDA Park and then travel back over 300 feet south to reach the beach. All without the benefit of handrails or flat "rest areas".
We are all familiar with those parking spaces reserved for the handicapped and although a range of medical criteria determines who may use those spaces, the most easily understood is: An inability to walk more than 200 feet without having to stop and rest. The path in the TDA Park has no handrails and no flat rest areas that an ADA compliant ramp design would include. It does require people unable to physically navigate the "Grand Staircase" to somehow travel over 700 feet to go from the restrooms to the beach. Improved access??
Quoting the same paragraph, "it will result in a non-motorized path system to connect the various recreational and school facilities together...". What? Really Mary O'Hare. What on earth was Tom talking about here? Connect Inland Lakes School to the TDA Park via a non-motorized path?
The Inland Lakes School is about 7 miles south of the TDA Park. To reach the TDA Park on a "non-motorized trail" and avoid using M68 to reach the DNR Trail, the students at Inland Lakes School would have to strike out cross-country in an easterly direction and then swim the Little Sturgeon to reach the Trail. As usual, Tom O'Hare, oh..sorry, Mary O'Hare has chosen to offer a complete fabrication of benefits knowing those are the buttons the DNR is asking applicants to push.
"Unique recreational activities"? The TDA must mean devoid of trees with a faux rock wall and ledges for children to climb on.
"Winter....activities"? We've already identified the one and the only winter activity: snow-fence viewing.
This letter from David Ogg to the Superintendent of Inland Lakes Schools demonstrates how the TDA gathered "input" in private meetings. He met with individuals the TDA had chosen, and groups including the Indian River Chamber of Commerce (Dawn Bodnar), the Lakeshore Owner's Association (Tom O'Hare and others) and Giauque Beach Association (David Ogg and others), and then regurgitates his interpretation of what he heard.
David Ogg doesn't say this is input gathered from the meeting, he instead says "Following are notes I took during our conversation". How accurately his notes reflect this person's input and why her opinion was more important than yours is unclear.
It is interesting to note that ideas and concerns that David Ogg did not like, regardless of the source, were ignored and not included in the TDA Park.
Ms Mary Jo Desmang suggested or said:
Crushed limestone or porous walkways to reduce run-off. We got a faux textured, dyed concrete walk.
Swings including a "tire swing under a tree branch". That would require leaving a tree.
Something for middle and high school students to do with a basketball hoop suggested. The TDA instead provided a faux stone wall to climb or jump off.
A drinking fountain and place to wash feet. Instead we got a stone monument with bronze plaque honoring the TDA and pretending to be an artesian well. Well-water running 24/7 for months every year at taxpayer expense.
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What about lighting? The TDA design included no lights. We all know lights in a public area are the most effective deterrent to crime. Supervisor MaryAnne Gale prefers instead to publicly bitch about vandals, trying to justify her version of the NSA, monitoring your TDA Park activities on a surveillance system using her private iphone.
Provide snowmobile access from the lake to the trail and the market. If we don't provide a pathway, they will find their own way. Those of us who also suggested a path were not so politely told by David Ogg to "go _ _ _ _ ourselves".
I heard that privately from David Ogg after I, and others, suggested a simple solution to allow winter sports enthusiasts to directly access the lake at the south end of the park.
Next, Part 2: Mullett Township ignores its own 5 year recreation plan.
