EDITOR:

This letter is in response to the July 25 letter to the editor entitled, "Resident asks 'What happened to Sac Bay?'" by Carrie Farley.

Her frustration is shared not only by the residents of the Garden Peninsula, but by Delta County Parks Authority members, Delta County Board of Commissioners and the Delta County Conservation District. I can assure Ms. Farley that she has not been forgotten by the above folks. The problem is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

She is right that the Parks Authority agreed with the township folks to help fix up the Sac Bay beach at a meeting last year. As soon as the meeting was over, the Parks Authority requested assistance from the Conservation District on this matter. Representing the District, I met with Kelly Smith, assisting manager, and we sent an application, appropriate design and drawings and the required fee ($500) to the DEQ. This was done in October.

The request was simple, a minor category permit for a 10-foot sand walkway from the ordinary high-water mark to the water's edge. In addition, a small sand area of 50 feet by 20 feet was requested for park visitors to recreate on. Total clean sand fill requested was under 25 cubic yards. The permit information was sent by certified/registered mail (postcard returned of delivery and acceptance).

After five months (basically this spring) with no process movement, we attempted to contact the DEQ by letter to find out where we were on the priority list. After another month of no reply, we again sent another letter of inquiry and a copy of the original application and county check (this time certified/registered).

We finally received a phone call from the DEQ in Lansing on June 10, stating they would be sending us a letter in response to our inquiry but had never received the initial application packet or the first inquiry letter, therefore would have to start the process again.

Upon stating that we had a signed return postcard showing they got it, they still denied receiving the request. While we were waiting for the letter to arrive, Kelly and myself began a search of the signature on the return card. It took us approximately one full-day of phone calls to prove this individual was a state employee in the Lansing area. Half the day was devoted to proving he really existed.

The application correction request letter was written on June 16 and delivered to us on June 24. The letter stated that a "new fee of $500 was required and whereas the path meets the general permit category for shoreline management under parts 325 and 303, the proposed small beach area does not."

Upon review of this letter, I called Wendy Fitzner, chief - permit consolidation unit, and requested an explanation. I explained that two years ago the county did a similar project at Fuller Park and asked why would this request was any different. She explained that the rules had changed on Nove. 7, 2007. I explained that our original application was sent to them in October and was signed that they received it.

She explained that their records didn't indicate that, so the process was considered new. I explained that the county would probably not proceed with the application because the cost of $500 would be lost with no permit issued. She did then reply that the beach area request was very small and sometimes exceptions are made. I suggested contacting the local DEQ representative for an on-site review before sending in the permit application and fee. She said that was a good idea and the decision would be up to the local representative because of the size of the project.

I attempted to contact Mike Smolinski by phone on numerous occasions with no luck, but left a voice message each time. I will continue this process until successful.

In closing, at least now Ms. Farley and other Delta County residents know what we have been doing to assist them with this requested project. They have not been forgotten (really), and this project isn't the only one having difficulty. This is normal operating procedure by the MDEQ.

Rory Mattson, Ford River