Patricia Bogumil
Interim editor
At last count, the number was nearing 100 signatures on a petition to oppose a state purchase of 57 acres of land adjoining the Tichigan Wildlife Area, located four miles north of the Village of Waterford.
The DNR is considering paying $350,000 for the property owned by George and Laura Bronenkant at 28940 Fir Lane.
It would be used for additional public hunting and trapping grounds, as well as hiking and cross-country skiing.
The land purchase would also protect the habitat of wetland and grassland species that live in the area.
No boating access is planned, the DNR has emphasized. Ice fishing access will only take place if Waterford township accepts the idea and also is willing to plow a new 10-car parking area the DNR would build.
“We’re not going to do that plowing,” said Town Chairman Robert Langmesser on Tuesday afternoon.
Because Fir Lane is private and unpaved, the township will not plow or maintain that road, added Langmesser.
Many homeowners in the area have expressed concern about what the land buy really means for their own homes and neighborhoods, he said.
There is no guarantee that the DNR won’t ever want to install a boat launch on the property, explained resident Joe Hartung, who lives on Tichigan Road.
And adding more public access to the wildlife area means more traffic and more police patrols needed throughout the area, he said.
At least 10 homes are on the east side of the property, leading to hunting concerns, Hartung added. And since the DNR wants to keep management costs down, the state does not plan to maintain a system of walking trails on the site, leading to trash problems.
Concerns have also been raised about state plans for developing a second two-car parking lot on the property, which would be popular with hikers.
A special meeting at the Town Hall was held April 18, at which time the Town Board discussed the DNR’s proposal and then voted to recommend against the DNR’s plans for the property.
Originally, the state Natural Resource Board was scheduled to consider the Bronenkant purchase on March 28. The issue was pulled from the March 28 agenda and is now rescheduled for Wednesday, April 25.
The April 15 vote is just the first stage in a three-stage process of review and recommendations, said Langmesser. A final decision will eventually be made by Gov. Scott Walker.
Copies of the petition are available for signature by phoning Hartung at (262) 825-7897 or Tim Snodgrass at (262) 880-6129.
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