As Berrien County officials seek a permit to dredge the St. Joseph River ahead of the summer boating season, the Berrien County Board of Commissioners has heard from those most affected.
Several boat owners addressed the board this week after it got a presentation on plans for dredging.
Kevin Ivers told commissioners he moved to the area partly because of the boating opportunities it offered.
“I hope you will give consideration to my family and the thousands of other families who come here every summer to Berrien County to enjoy the St. Joe River and Lake Michigan,” Ivers said. “I highly recommend it. And who knows? Maybe someday we’ll attract more families who will want to relocate and live and work here.”
Pier 1,000 owner Kathy Myers said the issue is about more than just allowing people who love to boat do so.
“I hate to think that I think the dredging is still a hundred percent on the people who use the river because boaters bring so much more money into the Twin Cities,” Myers said. “I mean, we eat at restaurants — Silver Beach Pizza — they live here on the weekends, they do their grocery shopping here.”
That thought was echoed by charter boat operator Russ Clark, who said he has around 1,000 clients and they all benefit the region’s economy when they visit.
Board Chair Mac Elliott said he certainly wants to help, but any action taken by the county commission would have to be with one voice.
