Residents continue push for Lake Fremont improvements

Zimmerman City Council expresses support but says but collaboration will take time

by Cordelia Frykman

Contributing Writer

During open forum on June 17, the Zimmerman Council heard from residents Sandy Dank and Steve Dank about Lake Fremont and their interest in a lake association district, also known as a lake improvement district.

There is currently a Fremont Lake Association, but a lake improvement district is a local governmental unit with statutory responsibilities to the lake and to locals established by resolution of a county board, city council. A LID is a local governmental unit, a political subdivision, established by resolution of a county board, city council or by the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Lake Fremont, however, spans city, township and county land. A lake improve district allows for greater local involvement in lake management activities, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Lake Fremont has issues with an overpopulation of carp and weeds.

“Right now, you can not get through the lake,” Sandy Dank said. “It is not navigable.”

The Danks reported that in the past, people who did not want to see growth in Zimmerman put a halt to plans for a lake association district, but they would like to see movement now.

“The township has more lakeshore than us, so it’s multi-jurisdictional,” said Mayor Stay. “Most of what we’re going to do is defer to the county.”

The DNR, Sherburne County, the city of Zimmerman, and Livonia Township will all have to be involved, according to Stay. While the City Council supports action for a lake district, they can not take action until they have information and approval from the DNR.

Meanwhile, Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District Water Resource Specialist Dan Cibulka is on leave, so it will be some time before everyone can move forward with discussions about this matter.