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Residents praise responders after flooding; board hears dam, billing and Furtaw Field concerns
Summary
Residents and officials described a multi-agency flood response in Oscoda — the police department reported filling roughly 3,500 sandbags and assisting residents — and several commenters asked the board to revisit Van Etten Dam protocols, raised an $11,000 water-billing dispute, and urged review of Furtaw Field matters after a failed motion to add that review to a future agenda.
Residents and officials at the April 27 Oscoda Township Board meeting described the township’s recent flood response and pressed the board for additional action on dam operations and billing practices. The Police Department reported helping to fill about 3,500 sandbags, of which roughly 3,200 were delivered or picked up by residents, and staff described monitoring roadways, bridges and Van Etten Dam during the flooding.
Multiple public commenters thanked first responders and volunteers for their work. Greg Cole, Diane Banks and others urged changes to Van Etten Dam protocols and discussed dredging and operations; the minutes record community requests for additional protocols and involvement from county and state partners. Resident Michelle Snyder reported receiving an $11,000 water bill for 106 Morton Street and asked the board for clarification of billing calculations.
Board action and debate: A separate motion by Mr. Linderman to place a review of a 2020 closed-session matter related to Furtaw Field on a future agenda failed after a 2-5 vote (yeas: Linderman, Tregear). Mr. Linderman later read a portion of the December 2020 board minutes during board comments.
What officials said: Police officials also reported progress on a radio encryption project and a multi-jurisdiction investigation that recovered copper and linked alleged thefts to more than 30 towers statewide; Chief McNichol summarized the department’s operational and mutual-aid activities during the flooding.
Next steps: The minutes do not record an explicit board directive to reopen the closed-session review; residents asking for billing clarification and dam-protocol changes may expect follow-up through town staff or relevant subcommittees. The board and staff thanked community members and partner agencies for assistance during the flooding response.
