County commissioner reports Bellaire Dam leak, Antrim County emergency declaration noted

ELLSWORTH — County Commissioner Jarris Rubingh told the Village of Ellsworth council during public comment on April 13 that the Charlevoix County Commission chair has declared a state of emergency for Antrim County after officials identified a leak at the Bellaire Dam.

Rubingh reported that Drain Commissioner Leslie Meyers had identified a small breach in the dam. Parts to repair the breach are being brought in, but work has been slowed by frost laws, he said. Rubingh also reported that Mike Merriweather is the acting director of the conservation district and that state personnel are on site. The minutes record water levels at 609.4.

The report was made during the public input portion of the village council meeting and was recorded in the minutes as information provided to the council. The minutes do not record any action taken by the Ellsworth council in response to that report.

Next steps for the dam — including a repair timeline, responsible agencies and whether additional county or state declarations will follow — were not specified in the village minutes and remain with county and state authorities to address.