State Rep. Mary Whiteford of Casco Township this week participated in a roundtable discussion with several colleagues, coordinating ideas to address the shoreline soil erosion disaster along Lake Michigan, which has been experiencing record high water levels for the past year.

Whiteford said she is committed to finding a solution for this crisis and was one of several lawmakers to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency along the entire Lake Michigan shoreline in a letter sent in December 2019.

“People’s homes and businesses have been damaged and they want answers for what’s going to happen next,” Whiteford said. “I don’t blame them. They deserve to know their properties are going to be taken care of and that we as lawmakers are doing all we can moving forward.”

Whiteford is considering plan that would allow people to immediately begin the process of protecting their property without having to obtain an individual permit, which could happen if the governor declares a state of emergency along the shoreline. The plan also could include ensuring a homeowner’s property taxes would not increase based on those improvements, as the work would be considered maintenance and not an improvement.

Along with making the permitting process easier, Whiteford is considering a resolution written by a colleague calling on Canada to stop redirecting water into the Great Lakes.

“We must work together for the people of Michigan and do whatever we can to let them know we are in this with them,” Whiteford said.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Mary Whiteford this week participates in a roundtable discussion about soil erosion permits and plans to prevent future damage for families along Lake Michigan’s shoreline.