Volume 1, Issue 5 JUNE 30, 2023
Pentwater Service Club names Joe Primozich 2023 Citizen of The Year
Decision announced during club’s annual meeting, making Primozich the 50th Citizen of the Year By Mark Trierweiler The Oceana Echo Volunteer Correspondent
PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
The Pentwater Service Club (PSC) today announced that Joe Primozich has been named the 2023 Pentwater Citizen of the Year. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this community service award. “It will be a privilege to recognize Joe’s passionate work in ensuring the health of Pentwater Lake, as he is well deserving of this award, particularly in its 50th year,” said PSC Vice President Steve Russell. As incoming president, Russell will preside over the Oct. 12 Pentwater Yacht Club dinner honoring Primozich for his expertise and dedication to maintaining Pentwater Lake, the community’s “greatest asset” according to the most recent community-wide survey. Primozich taught biology and ecology at Walkerville and Hart Schools for 37 years before retiring with his wife, Judy, to Pentwater in 2005. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. “Pentwater is fortunate to have had so many dedicated volunteers over the last 50 years, all of whom have shaped this community we all call home,” said Gigi Mitchell, co-chair of
Joe Primozich the Citizen of the Year program for the PSC. “Joe Primozich won this award because the selection committee felt his interest, background and dedication to Pentwater Lake set him apart from other candidates in 2023.” Primozich is a former president of the Pentwater Lake Association (PLA) and is currently chairperson of the Pentwater
Lake Improvement Board. An avid fisherman, Primozich is well known at many levels for his devotion to keeping Pentwater Lake healthy and full of fish. Mild-mannered by nature, Joe credits his mentors, Ron Steiner, Milt Pugsley and Dave Roseman, for getting him involved with the PLA. “When they learned of my background and interest in Pentwater Lake, Milt asked me, …‘Where are the bluegills?’,” Primozich said. “Pentwater Lake has become a growing part of a very satisfying chapter in my life since I first moved here.” According to Primozich, harmful aquatic life can come in on boats and even waterfowl. Once here, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to completely eradicate them. Instead, the PLA alternates between mechanical harvesting and chemical treatments to control aquatic plants like milfoil and starry stonewort. Most recently, the PLA oversaw the mechanical harvesting of more than 140 tons of starry stonewort, reducing the need for chemicals, which also kill the natural habitat fish require for spawning. The goal of both methods is to reduce the formation of oxygen-depleting muck on the bottom of the lake.
The real Shaquille Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal made a stop in Rothbury June 24 to perform at Electric Forest under his stage name, DJ Diesel. This photo was posted on the Michigan State Police Sixth District’s Twitter page @mspwestmi with the following information “Troopers had a tall detail last evening at the Electric Forest Festival - “DJ Diesel”. For those of us that are a little seasoned, recognize this fine gentleman as the one and only Shaquille O’Neal! “
Planning Commission approves PUD and site plan for Shelby Acres By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent SHELBY - Tuesday, June 20, the Village of Shelby Planning Commission gave its approval to PF Landholdings for the site plan and PUD (Planned Unit Development) of the proposed Shelby Acres subdivision. PF Landholdings is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded by Earl and Linda Peterson, with the goal of building more affordable housing for area residents. The proposed development is located on Oceana Drive, just north of the Shelby village limits. The proposed project will be executed in three phases. Phase I is complete with the construction of two 6-unit apartment buildings to be used as workforce housing by Peterson Farms. Phase II will include the construction of 22 single-family homes. Phases III, IV and V will construct additional single-family homes per the plan’s phasing schedule. Richard Raffaelli, a representative for the Petersons, was on hand Tuesday night to go over site plans and answer questions regarding lot size and layout, street names, entrances and exits, street lighting, HOA bylaws, permits and school bus stops. Also included in the site plans were three different home designs. The “Elm” design has a 1,446 squarefoot floor plan, the “Tamarack” has a 1,330-squarefoot floor plan; and the “Aspen,” with four bedrooms, would encompass 1,706 square feet. “Twenty-six different siding colors would be used by the builder and arranged in a visually pleasing manner, according to Raffaelli. Each home will have two full baths and include a finished basement. Raffaelli also relayed information to the planning commission about postal service, landscaping, garbage pick-up and snow removal. Two items of discussion centered around sidewalks and traffic flow. No sidewalks have been planned in order to keep the cost of each home within an affordable range, Raffaelli said. Commission members were concerned with safety, knowing that some children will end up playing in the street. Ross Field, planning commission chairman, anticipates older kids walking across Oceana Drive to school rather than waiting for a school bus. Instead of sidewalks, Raffaelli said developers could add a riding track somewhere on the property to provide a safe place to ride. As far as older kids crossing Oceana Drive to go to school, that issue would have to be taken up with the school. Eleven conditions of the PUD and site plan approval were considered by the commission. Numbers one through eight were standard and easily agreed upon. Conditions 9–11 were modified as follows: number 9, “Before Phase 3 of the proposed development commences, a traffic study may be required;” number 10, “Require 13 percent of open space to be deed restricted to ensure open space remains undeveloped in perpetuity at the completion of the development and to include a children’s tricycle/bicycle riding center,” and number 11, “Applicant shall apply for approval of a speed limit change on Oceana Drive.” The approved site plan and PUD are tentatively scheduled to go before the Shelby Village Council Monday, July 24. A public hearing will take place, and more than likely, the village will vote to approve or deny the request. If approved, the project would move through the annexation process. Those with further questions should contact the village offices at 231-861-4400.