ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – A St. Clair County resident claims that ice fishermen parking near his house in an empty lot have turned winter into a headache.
The Ira Township man, who didn’t want to be identified, said that for the last few years, more people have been using the lot by Meldrum Road and Dixie Highway.
“Just chaos, a lot of traffic,” he said.
He said the crowds bring safety concerns and trash.
He worries that speeding drivers could hit someone crossing the street.
“I got litter blowing up behind the house,” he said. “I don’t want to complain or anything, but they’ve turned this into a public access, and it got out of control.”
He wants the property owner or the township to close off the lot.
Not all neighbors share his frustration.
Several nearby residents told Local 4 that the lot gets busy with ice fishermen, but they don’t mind.
Local 4 tried to reach Ira Township officials about the concerns. Staff at the township administrator’s office directed Local 4 to contact Al Orneals, the code enforcement officer, who was off on Tuesday (Feb. 3).
We left a voicemail seeking comment.
Local 4 also reached out to the property’s owners.
They said:
“We are fine with people parking here as long as they’re respectful of the property and area. We haven’t seen any trash. We have spoken with the Clay Township police, and they said there hasn’t been any problem here.”