Scarey Clowns!
EGLE’s customer service training program
In September of 2019 no one at EGLE would return our phone calls so we drove over to their Grand Rapids district office in an attempt to gain some information as to what works best and what they recommend so we could advise our clients. When we stated the purpose of our visit the receptionist advised we needed to submit a permit application to get any answers to our questions, we indicated that we were unwilling to submit a permit application for every location that may have a different site characteristics, such as critical dune, and ask for her supervisor who gives up the same answer, we believe this is that district office manager that took months to figure out the of voice mail. We ask for the next higher supervisor and she gave us the name and phone number Field Operations Section Manager Luis A. Saldivia who is paid $102,235.74 annually according to https://openpayrolls.com/luis-a-saldivia-85451082 and is responsible for the operation of several district offices. We did call Luis and he advised if we sent him an e mail he will answer our questions in approximately a week. We send an e mail after 10 days inquiring about a reply and Luis says next week, 10 days later we send another e mail and Luis says next week again. Logically you would believe that someone in such a position would be responsible enough to answer e mails as promised, that is not how EGLE employees work, why answer e mails? So we called called a tv station inquiring if they can help with getting Luis to do his job and answer e mail questions as many clients situation was rapidly getting dangerous, what did EGLE recommend? Very bad move, Luis has full authority from his supervisor to block any review of permit application indefinitely in any of the 5? district offices he overseer’s until his supervisor, Director Jerrod Sanders becomes aware of it, and then they collude with USAC to come up with a plan to illegally? deny the permit while Director Arron Keatley helps cover up their criminal? behavior. They are accountable to no one and are perfectly willing to spend $100,000 of tax payer money in attorney fee’s rather then fairly review a very client transparent and evolutionary erosion control system that offers vast environmental benefits compared to any other solution. Its not their money!
Hmmm, I wonder why they need a budget increase??? These are some very scary clowns!
So you and your wife are 78 years old and fortunately healthy and can still drive, you have a second home on Lake Michigan that you have scrimped and saved for to own for 48 years, each year spending time building memories enjoying the beautiful scenery and natural wonder of Lake Michigan with sons and daughters and holding hands with many grand children while exploring the beach and dunes saving pictures of their smiles of delight and wonder in a huge scrap book. As a couple you decide to retire to that delightful spot, although not wealthy the cottage is paid for and you do have some investment and a social security income. Suddenly over a brief period of 2 years Lake Michigan water levels rise 5’, your 200’ beach of dune grass slowly disappears as you watch in horror, who do you contact? You don’t want to interrupt your children’s busy lives although your plan is to leave the family cottage to them all in trust, you can figure out the best option and ask for their input then. Assuming that Michigan’s EGLE would be able give you direction and thinking you would need permits to do any erosion control you find EGLE’s website and find a list of contractor’s they provided. You start calling contractors and quickly realize most of them are licensed home builders that don’t do marine construction and every marine contractor has a different solution, do you want to spend approximately $200K on a 100’ rock revetment, a seawall, or temporary sand bags for less money? Do you even have enough property to move your house? Nothing is guaranteed, how well does each solution work and what does EGLE recommend? So you see sand bags going in next door for $800 per foot, $80K, you draw it out of your retirement and get it done after waiting 60 to 90 days for a permit. Any Insurance certificates, its all your risk? A storm comes up and waves wash over the top of your sand bags and they roll out and away into Lake Michigan, $80K gone! So you see a rock revetment next door, surely that is a better solution and your neighbor made that decision, your highest bid for doing it by recommended permit drawings is $2,500 per linear foot or $250,000.00. Your concerned about your retirement fund and get a less expensive quote, a contractor can do it for only $1,500 per foot or $150K, obviously the higher priced contractor was trying to rip you off! You give a check to the less expensive contractor and wait 90 days for another permit, a storm cost you another 20’ of bluff in the meantime, this is all your problem and your dime! So you finally get the permit and revetment installed and paid for, you should have done that the first time! Another storm comes up and the waves scour out in front of your revetment and half the rocks in your revetment disappear in a hole and water is washing over the top and eroding your bluff again as the contractor did not properly install a scour curtain and only used 4 tons of rock per foot instead of 8 tons as shown on the drawing which is entirely legal under a EGLE permit. So you call the contractors back who did the revetment, wow, that was a big storm, for another $60K we can add more rocks in case we get another storm like that! So you have spent $290K for an erosion control structure that will fail again due to improper installation if lake levels don’t go down on a property that’s valued at what? And if you did it without a permit to protect your investment as EGLE was totally unprepared to process you may have to clean it all up at your expense which could easily exceed twice the installation cost!
And you are just one property owner, when does EGLE’s lack of competence and responsibility to represent Michigan’s environment and taxpayers veer into criminal neglect and liability?
And this is just the permits section of EGLE!!!!
Luis,
Thank you for your recent reply.
I am getting daily questions from clients regarding the questions I forwarded, unfortunately many of them don’t have the luxury of having much time to make their decisions. I had thought you had committed to answering my inquiries last week? Would you please commit to a date when I can expect answers to my questions or direct me to whom is able to process my request in a timely manner?
Thank you,
Dave Jonassen
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On Oct 14, 2019, at 8:58 AM, “Saldivia, Luis (EGLE)” <saldivial@michigan.gov> wrote:
Dave:
I started drafting a response and will get back with you this week.
Luis.
From: Mail@contractorsmarine.com <mail@contractorsmarine.com>
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2019 2:35 PM
To: Saldivia, Luis (EGLE) <SALDIVIAL@michigan.gov>; Jason Kolkema <kolkemaj@gmail.com>; Jesse Jonassen <jessejonassen@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: erosion control.
Luis,
I was hoping to hear back from you regarding my questions per your last e mail, what is the status of my request?
Thank you,
Dave
On Oct 2, 2019, at 3:58 PM, “Saldivia, Luis (EGLE)” <saldivial@michigan.gov> wrote:
Hello Dave:
Thank you for reaching out regarding your questions about shore protection projects along the Great Lakes shorelands. I also received your voicemail today.
I should be able to get back with you with answers in a week or so.
Luis A. Saldivia
Field Operations Section Manager
Lakes Michigan and Superior
Water Resources Division
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
616-710-2136 Saldivial@Michigan.gov
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