We have gotten more notifications of thefts in the area.  Information on it can be found Here.

Wow, what a light show last nigh. How wonderful to live in an area where we have plentiful rain and our grass and trees look wonderfully green.With this comes sometimes storms that cause problems as those in the midwest can attest with the recent tornados and high wind damage.Today we have high water on Georgetown shores. Remember we live on a 140 acre lake that is actually a large retention pond for the area. We are open to Rush Creek and our lake flows in that direction. We are also open to the drain that takes runoff water from south of VanBuren and holds it until it can flow into Rush Creek. If Rush Creek is to overflow, it could potentially backfill into our lake area. We have never seen this but it is possible.All lakes fluctuate in levels and ours is no exception. If you want to go visit a few that have a large fluctuation go look at Rushmore Lake just a stones throw away or visit Dunken Lake over by Caledonia. Both of these lakes hold run off and after major storms rise significantly.Many other lakes have moratoriums on large wake boat traffic during high water times because the wakes can further damage shorelines and docks that are underwater. We have not seen this type of increase before and so no rules have been put in place here but I think it would be a good practice. When out in the next few days, be considerate of what your boat wake is doing and please keep it to a minimum.  More discussion of this topic can be found at the GS Forum http://www.georgetownshores.org/private/forum under Water Level.

The GS Forum is available for discussion purposes of the residents.  Just simply go to http://www.georgetownshores.org/private/forumto view and/or post comments there.  The site has many sections for discussion and it is as easy as creating an account and then posting your ideas or concerns.  Residents have been posting items that have floated to shore at their property and are looking for the owners as well as those who have lost items.  If you have something for sale, or just want to talk, we encourage your ideas.

-rap

As you already know, a number of mailboxes have been damaged/destroyed by the Ottawa County Road Commission plows this winter and I have been contacted by the homeowner for repair or replacement.  I decided to contact the Road commission to see if there is a reimbursement program for this damage.  This is what I was told:

The Road Commission will reimburse the homeowner $15 for a busted post and $15 for a damaged mailbox if, when they inspect the damage, they can determine that the plow caused the damage by seeing orange or black paint on the damaged piece.  The orange or black paint would come from the plow blade itself.

I have closely inspected several boxes and found no paint left by the snowplow which doesn’t surprise me because, by now, the paint has been worn off the plow blades due to heavy use this winter.  Therefore, unless there is obvious orange/black paint left on the damaged mailbox, it would not be worthwhile to file a claim by the homeowner.

If, however, the homeowner decides to pursue a reimbursement, he/she can file a claim with the Road Commission by calling  1-616-842-5400 (Grand Haven).

Submitted by Jim Frieswyk