County offers to buy "island" for $1

BELLAIRE — During an evening meeting last week, the Antrim County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment that will allow the Emergency Management Director to purchase a new command center RV used in emergencies such as last year's fire at Kitchen Farms, approved the costs of both the county's annual Household Hazardous Waste pick-ups and lake level gauge on Intermediate Lake, and offered to buy an "island" from the Michigan DNR for the price of $1. 

The 20 acres of land in the Intermediate River, which is adjacent to the county's airport property, is called an "island," according to BOC Chair Terry VanAlstine, as it "comes and goes according to the water levels." One of several small parcels of land the state offered to sell the county, the "island," which is underwater most of the time, came to the fore because, VanAlstine said, "We wouldn't want somebody buying it and putting up a billboard with something like "Eat At Joe's" on it."

Although Commissioners Marcus, Rubingh, and Watrous voted against it, a motion was approved to send a letter to the DNR offering to buy the property for the price of $1, bypassing the normal purchasing process requiring a $300 fee and an appraisal. 

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