Community members voiced their concerns about the condition of Stone Lake at the Cassopolis Village Council meeting Monday night.

Cassopolis resident Fred Shank called it a cornerstone of Cassopolis and “well worth saving.”

“All my life I’ve lived here and fished (at Stone Lake),” Shank said. “I remember when the lake was so clear you could see all the way through it. I fished there like a religion.

“I wonder why there are so many weeds out there that shouldn’t be out there. It looks trashy especially with all the garbage people throw out there along the shoreline. It’s one of very few lakes you can walk around with your dog in the area. I think it should be a lasting thing, not something that is tossed to the side.”

In response village manager Cynthia LaGrow said, “We are looking at what we can do. Some people want a beach. A biologist came in to speak with us about the species we have in there and we will have a meeting with the DNR and DEQ to find out what we can do.”

LaGrow called on the community to get involved and to help with the financing.

“I speak for the council when I say we will not step up as chief financier because it will be very expensive. It can range anywhere from $5,000 to $80,000. We will need to do this as a community,” she said.

LaGrow also spoke about the option of spot treating trouble areas and the shoreline for economical reasons.

LaGrow said whatever course is taken will be a slow process as the county has to work with other state and federal agencies to ensure a safe chemical treatment that will not harm the fish and wildlife.