URGENT ACTION NEEDED: DEMAND GREEN OAK & HAMBURG TOWNSHIPS RESCIND THE ORE LAKE SWAN RESOLUTION
This beautiful mute swan family lives on Ore Lake. The parents are doing nothing more than raising and protecting their babies, yet their lives are threatened under a resolution authorizing lethal control. Please do not allow this family—or any healthy swan family—to be killed. Demand humane, nonlethal management and protection for these birds.
IN MICHIGAN, The Green Oak Township and Hamburg Township boards have passed resolutions supporting the destruction of mute-swan nests and eggs and the removal—which means KILLING - NOT RELOCATION—of mute swans on Ore Lake.
These resolutions were approved after ONE Ore Lake resident, Mark Ten Brink, complained about the swans and reported that he had been attacked twice while riding his Jet Ski.
During a subsequent discussion, Hamburg Township Supervisor Jason Negri acknowledged that the decision was based on this one man’s account. He said that no one had spoken for the other side—the problem is the public and local wildlife advocates did not know there was an issue or that the townships were considering lethal action.
The boards have admitted that they had no reports, incident records, environmental studies, population studies, photographs, police reports, or other supporting documentation—only Mr. Ten Brink’s personal account and complaint.
These Boards basically gave Mr. Ten Brink a pass to not have to do his due diligence by having to retrieve 70% of lakefront homeowners signatures on Ore Lake. No residents were notified, there was no public hearing, and no documentation presented for the two swan attacks Mr. Ten Brink claims had occurred. All it took was Mr. Ten Brinks claims and him reciting the DNR claims that the mute swans are an invasive, non native, aggressive species. The Boards never asked for pictures or documentation and never asked the DNR for their science or environmental impact the swans have on our lakes. Just one man's comments was all it took to have a resolution by the Green Oaks Township and Hamburg Township boards to have mute swans killed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE5fWQixMbo
A government board should not endorse the destruction of wildlife based on one individual’s unsupported complaint without:
• Informing the affected community and neighboring residents
• Providing meaningful notice and an opportunity for public comment
• Hearing from wildlife advocates and other lake residents
• Requiring documented evidence of an actual public-safety problem
• Consulting qualified wildlife professionals
• Considering humane, nonlethal alternatives
• Requiring an accurate swan count and environmental assessment
Please contact every member of both township boards. Respectfully but firmly demand that they:
Immediately rescind their Ore Lake mute-swan resolutions.
Oppose any killing or lethal removal while this matter is reconsidered.
Suspend any application or authorization involving nest destruction, egg destruction, or killing.
Hold a properly noticed public meeting where all sides can present evidence.
Release every complaint, report, communication, photograph, population count, and other record relied upon.
Require documented evidence and a review of humane, nonlethal alternatives before considering any future action.
Suggested message:
“I am asking you to immediately rescind your resolution supporting the destruction of mute-swan nests and eggs and the killing of swans on Ore Lake. This decision was reportedly based on one relatively new resident’s personal complaint, without supporting documentation and without adequate notice to the public or an opportunity for other residents and wildlife advocates and others to respond. Saying that no one spoke for the other side is not justification when the other side did not know the issue was being considered. Please stop all action under this resolution, release the records relied upon, and hold a properly noticed public meeting to consider documented evidence and humane, nonlethal alternatives.”
GREEN OAK CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD
Main office: 810-231-1333
Address: 10001 Silver Lake Road, Brighton, MI 48116
Mark St. Charles, Supervisor
supervisor@greenoaktwp.com
810-231-1333, extension 2
Debra McKenzie, Clerk
clerk@greenoaktwp.com
810-231-1333, extension 4
Tricia Wiggle-Bazzy, Treasurer
treasurer@greenoaktwp.com
810-231-1333, extension 3
Dan Rainko, Trustee
dan.rainko@greenoaktwp.com
810-231-1333, extension 121
Randall Brake, Trustee
randall.brake@greenoaktwp.com
810-231-1333
Tracey Edry, Trustee
tracey.edry@greenoaktwp.com
586-524-8982
James Tuthill, Trustee
james.tuthill@greenoaktwp.com
248-756-5270
HAMBURG TOWNSHIP BOARD
Main office: 810-231-1000
Address: 10405 Merrill Road, P.O. Box 157, Hamburg, MI 48139
Jason Negri, Supervisor
jnegri@hamburg.mi.us
810-231-1000, extension 202
Mike Dolan, Clerk
mdolan@hamburg.mi.us
810-231-1000, extension 206
Jennifer Daniels, Treasurer
jdaniels@hamburg.mi.us
810-231-1000, extension 205
Chuck Menzies, Trustee
cmenzies@hamburg.mi.us
Patricia Hughes, Trustee
phughes@hamburg.mi.us
Joanna Hardesty, Trustee
jhardesty@hamburg.mi.us
Nick Miller, Trustee
nmiller@hamburg.mi.us
Please email both boards and follow up with a telephone call. Ask each official to state clearly whether they will vote to rescind the resolution.
The swans had no public voice when these decisions were made. Now they have us. Please speak up before irreversible harm occurs. We have been successful in the past, let's join together once again and get these resolutions to kill swans stopped. Hamburg residents, please speak up for sure, this Township has approved other resolutions to have swans killed on other lakes as well. Whether you live in these Townships or not, speak up and let them know this is unacceptable and if this is how they govern, than they should be replaced come next election. If you do not live in Michigan or the USA, that's ok, please speak up as well.
Thank You!!!! LET'S DO THIS!
Karen