Letter to the Editor: 'The Dam and Mill Race was an Asset to Goodison'

Dear Editor:

Oh, the Irony!

Recently, we received a letter from "The Goodison Sub Area Plan Committee." This is a committee to redraw a 1980 plan in Oakland Township of the historical area of Goodison.

In 1980, the original Goodison Plan focused on the historical qualities and promotion of those qualities to maintain Goodison’s significance as a unique place. It was this plan that encouraged us to buy a home with historical character.

We found a small old home on three acres in Goodison, with the Paint Creek and the Paint Creek Mill Race flowing through the property. Over the last 31 years, we have renovated and expanded that house. We have seen new neighbors move in and new homes be built, and we have seen the community expand.

The Goodison 2011 plan letter states, "as one of the earliest settlements in Oakland County, Goodison is a significant asset to Oakland Township residents." The committee wants our opinion in a survey, to come to workshops, give our opinion, meet with consultants, etc. Sounds great doesn’t it?

For the last 21 months, with my Goodison neighbors, we have fought against the removal of the 175-year-old historic presence of the Paint Creek dam and mill race. The dam forced water down the mill race to the onto the wheel.

We have attended meetings, voiced our opinions on the importance of the dam and the mill race for us and the community. The mill race added historical character, helped with flood abatement, connected the mill to the dam, and ran through Oakland Township’s Mill Race Park.

Still, the Oakland Township to allow the Clinton River Watershed Council to remove this part of Goodison history. It seems that the best cold water trout stream in the Clinton River Watershed was not good enough.

On Oct. 3, with a $704,00.00 grant that the Clinton River Watershed Council received from the EPA, the and a small pipe was put in its place that does not even feed a trickle of water back into the mill race. We wonder how much federal government money it took to engineer a pipe to funnel no water into the mill race.

Heavy-duty equipment was used to remove this well-built dam from the 1950s. Loads of fill dirt closed down the headrace. Our opinion was not taken in account, nor were the other residents who had Paint Creek Mill Race water frontage. We have a giant ditch filled with stagnant water now. The by Gallagher Road has no water – it is a dry ditch.

The dam and mill race was an asset to Goodison, a true example of pioneer living and local energy generation. This area was an inspiration for the future by looking at the past.

Greg & Jan Olson
Oakland Township

Send letters to the editor to Oakland Township Patch editor Jen Anesi at jen.anesi@patch.com. Please include a phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity.