9 & 10 News
February 16, 2021
A judge issues his ruling on the fate of the FishPass project in Traverse City, and it’s just come down late in the day Tuesday.
Construction of the $20 million FishPass was supposed to start last month – but it’s been tied up in court. Traverse City resident Rick Buckhalter filed a lawsuit, suing the city. He’s arguing that the area around the Union Street Dam is City parkland and making changes to it should require a public vote.
The city argued FishPass will remain a public park, and compares it to improvements made at the Clinch Park marina and other city parks.
DETROIT – A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor is set to commence construction on the FishPass Project in Traverse City, Michigan the week of January 18. The contractor will begin by installing fencing, removing trees and preparing the site.“This,
9 & 10 News
January 16, 2021
13th Circuit Court Judge Thomas Power issued an injunction against the project on Friday.
FishPass is designed to replace the Union Street Dam and would help native fish pass through while blocking invasive species.
But Traverse City resident Rick Buckhalter filed suit. He’s arguing the project cuts more than 60 trees and is on City Park land and therefore should require a vote of city residents.
Friday, Judge Power acknowledged that two large trees that were not supposed to be cut now appear to be marked for removal. While that may not be enough to stop the project entirely, he says it does raise questions of misrepresentations about the project.