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Screening lead fragments out of the soil added to the cost of Elk Rapids Township's effort to convert the former Elk Rapids Sportsmen's Club into a public park, Township Supervisor William White said. Costs could reach as high as $200,000 after quarantining toxic materials and screening lead out of the soil, White said at the March 11 township board meeting.

White described the $200,000 figure as a "worst case scenario" and did say the township could have the opportunity to sell some of the lead found onsite to offset the cost, by perhaps as much as $20,000. White submitted a contract for the lead screening for review by a Grand Rapids law firm this week.

The board also discussed passing a resolution in opposition to a planned injection well in Star Township near Alba. The well would be used to inject contaminants from Emmet County's Bay Harbor.

"I do believe this is a county wide problem," White said. "They are taking it from one area and putting it in an area where they don't think they can fight it."

The Antrim County Board of Commissioners has already passed a resolution opposing the well. The Elk Rapids Township Board was asked by Star Township to do the same. White and the rest of the board agreed to bring the issue back up when the wording of the resolution had been determined. -- Compiled by Brian KeilenÊ