Most of us know where Randall’s Point is, but what other name did it have?

GREEN LIGHT SOLUTION

at US 131 - M 75 INTERSECTION Submitted by Mary Pat Goldich, WLAC Trustee Government Affairs Committee Chairperson State officials recommended installation of a traffic signal and other measures to address safety concerns at the US 131 - M 75 intersection in Melrose Township. Six months after a public meeting, a road safety audit, and a federal study, the state formulated their plan. Given the volume of traffic, the poor sight lines, the chorus of safety concerns stated at the public meeting and in writing, the state recommended the installation of a traffic signal, and “signal ahead” signs with flashing beacons on US 131. The traffic signal will use traffic sensing technology allowing the signal to remain green longer for US 131 traffic when there is no traffic on M 75. While the timeline for implementation is 1 to 2 years, the state is considering placement of signs with flashing beacons on US 131 in the interim. Long term, better, and more costly solutions proposed by the state include cutting down the terrain and installing a round about. THANK YOU to everyone that sent letters, made calls and attended the public meeting.

Submitted by Ralph Miesel, WLAC Trustee, as told by Alan West T he basis of installation and removal of docks hasn’t changed much. They still need to get from the shore to the water and be installed as straight and level as possible. The biggest changes came over time with the increase of a dock system’s overall size. I can recall about 25 years ago many docks were only 3 ft wide and 8 sections long with one 3600# rated hoist. As families have grown so have their needs and boating interests. Now my average dock system’s are compiled of 24 sections and 3 hoists. Some of these hoists are rated up to 7000#. The first hoist I moved and stored off site required the use of 2 guys, an oar boat, chains and a hand come along. It was a long push down the shoreline from Fox Run to the storage location near Reycraft Rd. Fortunately we had a tail wind to push us, and it took us a mere 4 hours round trip. Thankfully those tools have been ungraded over the years from an oar boat to a simple pontoon with a cleared deck. And now we have a Fork Barge that I’ve named “Big Al” in honor of my dad the guy who first introduced me to working on this beautiful lake. Dock Installation Man vs. Machine

The number 1 challenge is finding and keeping help because the task is very physically demanding work. Long days and weeks typically all 7 of them is what is required to take care of the customer’s needs. It’s easy for me to think ahead to a warm summer day on Walloon, but my reality is we are in the water from the day the ice comes off until all the docks are in. Memorial Day weekend being our benchmark. We are back at it after Labor Day until mid November. “Big Al” the Fork Barge was not an easy purchase. I looked into purchasing one for a few years. We could never make sense of the numbers and they still don’t make sense. That said, mechanical parts and equipment can be found and replaced a lot easier than good workers. Of course the less wear and tear on one’s body is a favorite point for all of us workers. It makes no difference to the Barge if it’s a PWC hoist or a 7000# hoist. Sure it groans more under the weight of the larger hoist but parts are replaceable. Over the years one of my biggest concerns and challenges of hoist installation and removal has been the disruption of rock shorelines. The Fork Barge simply picks the hoist up and removes or places the hoist on shore. No more dragging rocks into the water then placing back into the wall. I feel the use of the Barge will aid with less shoreline disruption that leads to erosion.