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By the time the Syracuse Lake Property Owners Association began their meeting Monday, it was standing room only.
The SLA members were all there for the same thing, to show opposition against Brad Jackson's proposed project.
Jackson, a county commissioner, wants to change some of the wetlands near Syracuse Lake to drylands and place a home on the new drylands. At the meeting, Jackson said he wanted access to the lake like everyone else. He also said that he will be changing a nearby drylands into a wetlands to compensate for the change.
"I see a lot of friends out here and I don't want to make enemies of them," Jackson said.
The wetlands that Jackson will be filling in is 200 feet wide by 50 feet.
SLA President Jack Arnott said that the group needed to respond to the Army Corps of Engineers about Jackson's proposed project by Thursday. The association met with Jackson last Thursday night to discuss options, but not all members had visited the site. A decision then was tabled until everyone could visit the grounds. The Wawasee Property Owners Association met Saturday and decided to oppose Jackson's construction.
At Monday's meeting, Arnott said the SLA had a few options. He said they could go on record as opposing the project or supporting it. The SLA could ask for a public hearing or do nothing at all, Arnott said.
"Our decision is only what the Syracuse Conservancy feels it should do about the permit," Arnott said.
He said they did not have a final say as to whether or not the project would go through.
"We have a tremendous lake and it's important that we keep it that way," Arnott said.
SLA board member Gus Duehmig made a motion, "that SLA president send a letter to DNR water management and Army Corps of Engineers opposing Brad Jackson's project and ask for a public hearing."
That motion was seconded and then opened up for discussion.
Duehmig said, "I feel that the alteration of our wetlands is not a good thing."
He said that this project was different than when a farmer would fill in wetlands. He said it would decrease the water quality and that it was nothing personal against Jackson.
Board member Dean Schwalm said, "If Brad doesn't get this permit, it doesn't stop him from getting to the lake.
"If we open this up in one area, it could start in other areas."
Arnott pointed out to the crowd that Jackson stipulated in his deed that there would only be one residence in that area. Jackson would also never seek any more permits nor would a concrete seawall ever be built.
"The only way to make sure it stays the way it is, is if you own it yourself," Arnott said.
He also said that Jackson offered to sell the property to the group if it was really that important to them. Jackson said that the conservancy group had to come up with a realistic amount.
Arnott said, "As long as that property is there, somebody could possibly get a permit and do something with it."
Bob Knudsen, SLA member, said, "There are 101 lakes in Kosciusko County. We've made some mistakes and we see them. Information in the DNR booklet told us not to fool with our shorelines."
Ken and Tina Leatherman have been trained and qualified to conduct water quality tests in conjunction with Indiana University with the Secchi tests. They have voluntarily been testing the water in Syracuse Lake since 1996. They presented their findings to the meeting.
Tina said, based on the results, "I'm greatly opposed to altering the wetlands in any way based on what I've seen."
She said that in the first week in July this year, the lake lost a foot. They lost 2 feet in August, she said. She also said that the average July and August maximum depth was 10 feet 4 inches in 1996 and lost a foot and 4 inches in 1997. It remained at 9 feet in 1998, she said.
Knudsen said that the area was also important to wildlife.
"This is known as a breeding zone," he said.
Jackson said that he wanted to make it clear that this project would not have to go in front of the county commissioners.
"I try to be honest with all my dealings," he said.
Richard Pawlicki said that 261.4 feet will be degraded with the project and another 200 feet of shoreline would be degraded. He said he has lived in the area since 1974 and the project was just unacceptable. He said it was unacceptable because there was an environment there that would be greatly disturbed.
"I'd like to see those jellyfish (in the lake) around for my son to discover and for his son to discover," Pawlicki said.
"I see those railroad accidents and I get afraid of what may happen. Every bit of buffer zone we have to protect our lakes from the railroad is important."
After the meeting ended, Jackson said his project would generate a net loss of zero wetlands and that government cannot put undue restrictions on property as long as it meets zoning ordinances. He said he chose to personally relocate wetlands and that the area would always remain zoned residential. Jackson said he went through all the proper legal channels and said that the wetlands were man-made anyhow. At one time, it was dry ground until the dam was built.
"It was never my intention to anger anyone," Jackson said.
"Thankfully, we're still in a country where you can do what you want with your property unless you violate zoning laws," he said.
The group voted unanimously to send a letter remonstrating against Jackson's project to the Corps of Engineers and Department of Natural Resources and to ask for a public hearing.
