Everyone who lives or owns property around Higgins Lake should understand that the region has its financial challenges. We don’t have the luxury of devoting resources to expensive, poorly planned infrastructure projects, while ignoring key community needs, such as police, fire protection and social safety net programs for less fortunate citizens.
As things have been going in county government here, special millages and ala carte special assessment fees are becoming the norm for operating essential services. The county has run out of money. Donations are now being begged for to deal with lake problems like speed and noise on the water. There isn’t a lot of money to waste and put unjustified sewer costs on property owners, but that’s what a STEP sewer would do.
A STEP sewer would be a property value booster for real estate speculators, contractors, land developers and lakefront owners who want to increase the size of their lake homes. The idea is to drag a bunch of non-lakefronters along to help pay for their “plan.”
Getting rid of private septic systems opens the flood gates for driveways, big additions and increased population density. Go to Florida and see how that has worked out for some resort areas – developers own local government. I don’t see any serious motive involving the water quality of Higgins Lake, but that’s their pitch. Make no mistake, much of that ‘love the lake’ talk is a cover for loosening zoning ordinances and construction permits.
There is more to the lake than clear water, and their polluted lake claims don’t add up when you look at the facts. We risk losing the ambiance of the area, control of overcrowding and a sense of community. We don’t need to become a VRBO wasteland, churning through peaceful neighborhoods with short term rentals. It shouldn’t become a Cony Island or Jersey Shore mecca for seasonal party animals.
This leaves us all with the fundamental question, “Why don’t the sewer movers and shakers come clean about their list of undisclosed motives for wanting a public sewer?”
Gail Johnson
Roscommon
