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Fayetteville Residents Must Drain Lake Or Face Fine

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FAYETTEVILLE — Imagine your lakefront property turning into mudfront property for good. The image is a vivid one for dozens of residents in one Fayetteville neighborhood.

Homeowners on Rose's Lake have two weeks to drain their 75-acre lake or face a $500-a-day fine from the state'sDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources.

"We moved in here in the summer of 1981 and the specific reason that we chose the piece of property is the lake in the backyard," said homeowner Mike Henderson.

According to DENR officials, the problem is a high-hazard dam -- meaning if it fails it could result in major property damage or loss of life. Other than draining the lake, the only option is to repair the dam, and that could cost more than $250,000.

"Nobody will want to live on this property with a big mudhole that will be out here," Henderson said.

Since the city owns 20 to 30 undeveloped lakefront acres, some homeowners say officials have a responsibility to help.

"It's a public lake," said homeowner Charles Mathews. "The only right thing they can do is get involved, get it repaired and if necessary, charge each property owner their fair share."

If the city does not help, homeowners say they cannot afford a new dam, which means their lifelong investments will go down the drain with the water.

"The property value would drop down approximately anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000," Mathews said.

Lakefront homeowners attended the city council meeting Monday evening to ask for help. Council members voted to have their planning committee take a closer look at the issue and report back in 60 days.

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