Saturday’s IHCC community meeting was one of our most energizing yet. A strong turnout of engaged neighbors came ready to share ideas, ask sharp questions, and roll up their sleeves — and that enthusiasm is exactly what keeps this effort moving forward.
What We Covered
We shared updates on several important fronts. The Norvell Township Board has seen recent changes, and we reported on how our public comments to the Board and Planning Commission were received last month. On the expert front, initial reports are currently in draft form and are expected to be ready for public release in August — a significant milestone in building our evidentiary case.
We also updated the group on our ongoing advocacy with the Michigan DNR, and celebrated two recent outreach wins: a segment on WXYZ Channel 7 that brought the story of Watkins Lake and the proposed gravel mine to a broader audience, and our participation in the Brooklyn Fourth of July Parade, where we connected with community members who are just learning about the issue.
Getting Organized
After the full group updates, we broke into small working groups to advance organizing efforts across several key areas:
- Public Comments: Preparing testimony for upcoming Norvell Township Board and Planning Commission meetings
- Letters to the Editor: Drafting and coordinating community op-eds and letters to local publications
- Community Outreach & Tabling (Material Sharing): Planning events where we can meet neighbors and share information
- Community Picnic: Organizing a community gathering to bring people together around this cause
- Township Resolutions: Reaching out to neighboring townships about passing resolutions in support of our effort
- Clark Lake Boat Parade: Coordinating IHCC visibility at this summer community event
- Park Visitor Outreach: Connecting directly with Watkins Lake State Park visitors about the proposed mine
The energy in those small groups was real — and the work happening in each one matters.
Get Involved
If you’d like to plug into any of these efforts but weren’t able to sign up at the meeting, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out at ProtectPark@ihccinfo.org and we’ll connect you with the right group.