By Staff
NILES – A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by Larry and Lucyle Eckler against Moose Lake Aggregates.
A formal statement from all parties involved – the Ecklers, Moose Lake and Howard Township – was expected later.
But Jeff Holmstrom, attorney for Moose Lake, said Dec. 12 both the nuisance lawsuit against Moose Lake as well as appeals by the Ecklers to Howard Township to limit mining by the aggregate company have been resolved.
"We have been able to wrap up both pieces of litigation that have been out there," Holmstrom said.
"There was a lot of give and take between the parties … and I think they ultimately decided it would be better to all to work together to resolve those issues."
Moose Lake was granted a conditional use permit by Howard Township in 2002 that allowed the company to mine sand and gravel in an area zoned agricultural/residential.
The Ecklers, who own and operate Eckler's Produce and Greenhouse at 1879 Barron Lake Road, appealed the permit and later filed the lawsuit claiming Moose Lake's operations were a nuisance to their business and also to the use and enjoyment of their property.