by Austin Marsman

Much of Gun Lake is covered in ice, however, one portion on South Shore remains open water.

Lucas Spoor, owner of the Landing Marina is benefiting from the installment of an aerator, as first reported by The Sun and News. Aerators, or bubblers, are commonly used to prevent ice damage to docks during the winter months.

Neighbors, in a local Facebook group, are raising concern because of the impact this large hole in the ice could have on ice skating, snowmobiles, ice fishing, and other activities that have historically occurred in the area. They are calling on Orangeville Township and other local authorities to intervene in the spirit of “public safety.”

From the beginning, The Landing Marina on Gun Lake has faced opposition from neighbors because it takes away lake access from those living in the nearby vicinity and raises concerns about safety and overcrowding. These off-season safety concerns compound on what has been a turbulent journey for Spoor’s marina, which included local municipalities adopting resolutions against expansion, denial of a text amendment to zoning law, and neighborhood protest.

Martin High School alumnus Austin Marsman is a GVSU student studying Multimedia Journalism and Political Science. He will return, as opportunities arise, to the TownBroadcast staff as a contributing writer. Marsman also reports for West Side Stories, a WGVU Broadcast.

(Photos courtesy of Sandy Knoll)