Isabella County Hazard Mitigation Planning Effort Seeks Public Input

Isabella County has experienced several local emergencies and disasters in recent years including floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. Every five years, the County updates its Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify the greatest threats and hazards facing our community, and determines how we can best mitigate the impacts.

Hazard Mitigation is any effort to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property. Although floods and other events cannot be prevented from occurring, long-term solutions can be implemented to reduce devastating impacts on residents, families, homes, infrastructure, and natural resources.

The goal of a Hazard Mitigation Plan is to save lives, property, and natural resources by reducing the community’s vulnerability to emergency disasters. Residents and other community stakeholders are invited to engage in this vital planning process by completing a brief survey. Results will inform planners what specific hazards cause the most concern, and ultimately identify community assets to protect.

The survey, open to all individuals who live, work and play in Isabella County, will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and is available at https://tinyurl.com/IsabellaHMP . Survey deadline is March 28, 2022.

Municipal Water Supplies within Isabella County Scheduled for Michigan Department of Environmental Quality PFAS Water Test

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has begun a statewide initiative to test drinking water from all community water supplies. The test is looking for a group of manmade chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). MDEQ is taking this precautionary step of testing these drinking water sources to determine if public health actions are needed. Below is information provided by the MDEQ.

What is PFAS?
It is not uncommon to find low levels of PFAS in drinking water supplies, as PFAS can be found in firefightingfoams, stain repellants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food wrappers, and many other household products. They do not break down in the environment and move easily into water.

Who is paying for this initial testing?
Funding for initial testing is provided by legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder as a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year.

Who is conducting the initial testing?
The MDEQ has contracted with AECOM, a private environmental firm to conduct the statewide sampling.

Municipal Samples
The City of Mt. Pleasant, Union Township and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will be tested separately. These three entities are coordinating efforts in both the testing and communication processes. If you are unsure of who your water system/provider is, please refer to your water bill.

Testing Date and Results
Currently, Isabella County is scheduled for testing during the week of October 15, 2018. According to the MDEQ, it is anticipated sample results will be received four to six weeks following sample collection. Individual entity test results, when received, will be provided in parts per trillion (ppt) which is the equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.

What if I have my own well?
If you have your own private well you should contact the MDEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

Can I drink the water?
With the information available at this time, there is no reason to believe the water is unsafe to drink. If you have individual concerns, bottled water may be an option for you prior to the receipt of test results.

Updated Water Information
Updated water information can be found on the Central Michigan Health Department website at https://www.cmdhd.org/ or by calling the MDEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

Second breaking and entering suspect arrested

Additional investigation by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department (MPPD) led to a second breaking and entering suspect being identified and arrested.

On July 23, 2018 MPPD received a call of breaking and entering at Movement Vehicles on 210 W. Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant. This was in addition to two separate breaking and entering incidents which MPPD responded to on July 20, 2018 at Freddie’s Tavern and a July 24, 2018 at The Cabin, both in the City of Mount Pleasant.

Evidence collected from all crime scenes was gathered by the MPPD and shared with the Isabella County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police. Further investigation by the MPPD determined Kyle Wilson, identified as a suspect for the July 20 and July 24 breaking and entering incidents was not the suspect responsible for the July 23 incident.

On August 1, 2018 a search warrant was obtained for a residence in the Rosebush area. The search warrant was executed by MPPD detectives and members of the Bay Area Narcotics Team. Property stolen from the July 23 incident which included a welder and other high value tools were recovered. As a result of this search warrant, 25-year-old Michael Spanne was arrested and is currently lodged at the Isabella County Jail on a four count warrant: Breaking and Entering – a building with Intent, Larceny – $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, Stolen Property – Receiving and Concealing- $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, and Larceny in a Building.

Officer David VanDyke of the Mount Pleasant Police Department explained, “Through additional investigative work, the MPPD was able to identify the incident at the Movement Vehicles business was not related to the other breaking and entering’s.” He continued, “MPPD was able to pinpoint a new suspect, recover property stolen from Movement Vehicles, and take the suspect into custody.”

Mount Pleasant Police were assisted by the Bay Area Narcotics Team, Central Michigan Drug Enforcement Team, and the Michigan State Police K-9 Unit.

FLOOD RECOVERY UPDATE: Disaster assistance and loans available for residents and businesses

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER
A Disaster Recovery Center is now open in Isabella County to help residents and businesses through the assistance process after damages and losses suffered during the severe storms and flooding that occurred from June 22 – 27, 2017.

Isabella County Disaster Recovery Center:
4855 E. Bluegrass Road
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday

ASSISTANCE AND LOANS AVAILABLE
Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses. They can also help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance.

REGISTER TODAY
Residents must register with FEMA before being considered for assistance or a loan.

Residents and those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register for assistance. People who are hearing impaired can call 800-462-7585.

It is recommended that residents register before visiting the recovery center.

LEARN MORE
To learn more about individual disaster assistance from FEMA, click here.

To learn more about SBA’s low-interest disaster loans offered to homeowners, renters and businesses, click here or click on the flyers below. (Image on left is for residents; image on right is for businesses.)