Membership

There are a few ways to join the Miller-Van Winkle Chapter of TU:

• Come to our next meeting.
• Call TU at 1-800-834-2419 to sign up over the phone.
• Go to the TU website to apply online

There are different membership levels offered. You can view these at the TU website. If applying online or on the phone, please specify that you would like to join Chapter 170.

City of Boyne City Loses first round in Sewage Discharge Case
The Friends of The Boyne River (FoBR) are suing the City of Boyne City over plans to discharge sewage effluent into the Boyne River. A federal judge rejected a request by the City of Boyne City and booted the suit back to Charlevoix County Circuit court. In a ruling by US District Court judge Gordon Quist the City’s request to change the suit from State to Federal court was rejected.

Judge Quist went further in scolding the City of Boyne City officials for bringing the case to federal court. Quist rejected city attorney Phillip Erickson’s argument that the case belonged in federal court. The judge said the case is centered on Michigan Environmental Protection Act, not Federal law or the US Constitution. The judge also ordered the City to pay the attorney fees for FoBR.

FoBR waste water spokesman, Larry Maltby, stated, "Our point is Lake Charlevoix has had discharge in it for 30 years; the Boyne river has never had discharge into it." The FoBR preferred discharge site is a land-based discharge.

Recent scientific studies have revealed that wastewater discharge has been blamed for sterility and sex organ changes in male trout. While the water may be pure by legislative standards, female estrogen is not being removed, causing the change in the male fish.

If you are interested in helping the FoBR in their fight to change the wastewater discharge site, contact Larry Maltby at 231-549-3305 or any FoBR officer or director.