Kevin Elsenheimer (R - Bellaire) addresses a crowd of more than 150 people gathered for a community forum on the injection well planned for Alba. Photo by Chris Tredway

ALBA - A sea of cars filled the parking lot of Alba High School and overflowed onto the street as concerned citizens of Star Township, officials, and members of the press congregated inside the school's gymnasium to address CMS Land Company's plans to drill an injection well near Alba.

Possibly the future disposal site of Bay Harbor Resort's cement kiln dust (CKD), the legal responsibility of CMS Land Company (CMS), Star Township is poised to appeal the permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Ê The township and Friends of the Jordan sponsored the community forum, meant to inform the public of the appeal, raise funds for legal defense, and provide certain individuals an opportunity to speak out.

Star Township supervisor Richard Steele faced the bleachers and addressed the crowd of more than 150, explaining the township's concerns and listing the reasons for taking legal steps to prevent the injection well. Their next step is the appeal, which Star Township lawyer Susan Hlywa Topp has until March 12 to file. The forum was not part of the appeals process, and Topp did not attend.

State Representative Kevin Elsenheimer declared support for the appeal, moving on to pledge legislative action to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

Elsenheimer began, "I see people here who usually agree with me on issues, and I see people who disagree with me, and that's an important point. The Jordan Valley is not partisan. Water is not democrat or republican."

Elsenheimer was challenged by members of the audience who pointed out that any bills passed to prevent this type of situation will be too late. "Even if my bill won't work for this well, it would protect others in the future," he responded.

State Representative Candidate Connie Saltonstall and other officials currently in the running for respective offices briefly addressed the crowd, stating what action they intend to take if elected.

"People and water are Michigan's two most valuable resources," Saltonstall said.

Charlevoix resident and environmentalist JoAnne Beemon was applauded by listeners when she compared the relationship between Bay Harbor Resort and Alba in light of the CMS well by quoting Jerry Reed's song title, "She got the gold mine, I got the shaft."

Referring to CKD leachate as "toxic soup," Beemon claimed that "50 percent of the waste could be removed today, but it would cost somebody a golf course."

As percentages stand according to MDEQ, only 0.75 percent of the total waste, which is currently entering Little Traverse Bay in contaminated groundwater at a rate of one million gallons per day, would be brought to the injection well in Star Township.

One source employed by the state spoke, but wished to remain nameless, "They're just trying to save money, and there's nothing wrong with that, but you have to consider all the issues," he said. "This is a very complicated process. The other two options are taking the stuff to the plant in Grand Traverse County, or building a treatment plant on-site. The well is their cheapest option."

A public hearing is scheduled for the end of March to keep the public updated on legal action. Invitations to attend may be extended to the MDEQ, EPA and government officials.

Chris Tredway can be reached at ctredway@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.