Waterloo Township Board Unapproved Meeting Minutes August 27, 2019

Call to Order: 7:00 p.m.

Pledge

Present: Lance, Walz, Kitley, McAlister, Morency. 26 residents present along with Bruce Pindzia, Civil Engineer and Larry Bamford representing Aggregate Industries.

Public Comment: The following were comments voiced by our residents regarding Aggregate Industries request to do exploration drilling on another parcel of land:

• When the federal government deeded the Waterloo Recreational Area properties to the State of Michigan on June 4, 1942, it did so with the stipulation that “PROVIDED ALWAYS”, that this deed is made upon the express condition that the State of Michigan shall use the said property exclusively for public park, recreational, and conservation purposes.
• Because the DNR, Jackson County and Aggregate Industries have financial interests in approving the expansion, it seems that the rules can be changed to allow it. However, we collectively as Waterloo Township residents have nothing to gain from approving the expansion and we lose precious property that is dedicated as “recreational and conservation” property to mining operations.
• The Green Road issue has not been resolved yet.
• We are constantly confronted with having to come to the meetings to fight off the next piece of land being asked to use for extraction. Please do not grant the use of the additional property for more extraction.
• Concern with the environmental issues and the water around the area. Please consider all of this regarding a vote to approve the expansion.
• Need a culvert on Green Road because it washes away in a certain area during every rain.
• Concerned about the impact of the expansion on the horse trails, bike riding, and this is an approved natural beauty area.
• This expansion would encroach on a very hilly, beautiful area and tearing it up.

Consent Agenda: Kitley motioned with support from Walz to approve the consent agenda as presented. Aye/all; no/none. Motion carried.

Correspondence: None

Old Business:

• Walz gave a report on the last Parks and Recreation Committee meeting.  Lion’s Park in Munith is having a celebration at 6:30 on August 29^th to celebrate the new equipment and other improvements done to the park through grants from Five Healthy Towns. The plans for the plant and produce exchange scheduled for September 21^st is gaining a lot of interest.  The Portage Lake County Park on Portage Lake Road is receiving some new playground equipment the week of September 2.   It is being done with funds donated by the Burgess family and matching funds from Jackson County Parks and Recreation. There will be another meeting of the Region II non-motorized group here at our Township on September 11, from 2:00-4:00 here at our Township. Parks and Recreation Committee is also looking to have the Clear Lake County Park updated.

Aggregate Industries:   Larry Bamford explained the sonic boring that they are asking for on the additional property they are requesting. He showed the current mining location and where the additional property is located, which is 40 or so acres. The DNR has approved it if the Township approves it. Property would have to be given in lieu of the 40 acres that are being requested for extraction. He spoke of reclamation plans. Bruce Pindzia, our Civil Engineer had inspected the property being requested for exploratory drilling. He gave his report stating concerns, environmental impacts being one of them. He stated that monthly water monitoring report is on our website. Mature canopy hardwood trees would be taken down. A resident stated that moving east to look for gravel would not be near anyone.  Reclamation of the land is to DNR specifications not the Townships. Only source of revenue to Township comes from taxes on DNR land and equipment used to do extraction. Aggregate Industries has approximately 3 years left at their current site. The board will take no action at this time and seek an opinion from our legal firm.

• Trash disposal day in partnership with Stockbridge Township will be on September 28^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There is a flyer on our website explaining what will be accepted from our residents and also proof of residency will be needed. It will take place at the SAESA location on the corner of M-52 and M-106 in Stockbridge.

New Business:

• Morency stated that the Planning Commission looked at seven new items that were added to the topic review list. They reviewed and discussed single household dwelling controls for the Township Zoning Ordinance.
• Lance motioned with support from McAlister to accept amendments to ordinances 3.05 and 3.06 regarding violations. Aye/all; no/none. Motion carried.
• Lance motioned with support from Walz to approve land division application from Ronald Beyer and Amelia Bohne with the original parcel #000-05-25-126-000-020 resulting in two parcels: Tax ID#000-05-25-126-002-00 with 104 acres and Tax ID# 000-05-25-126-003-00 with 7.45 acres.
• Morency motioned with support from Kitley to approve Resolution #19-08-27-2 regarding Hazardous Substances Cost Recovery Ordinance. Aye/all; no/none. Motion carried.
• Lance motioned with support from McAlister to approve Resolution #19-08-27-1 to address the collection of payments or refunds on taxes under/over $3.00. Aye/all; no/none. Motion carried.
• The new Fee Schedule is tabled until more questions can be addressed.
• Walz motioned with support from Morency to purchase another voting tabulator and ballot box at a cost not to exceed $6,433.92. Roll call vote: Yes/Walz, Kitley, Lance, Morency, McAlister. No/none. Motion carried.
• Kitley motioned with support from Morency to accept the bid to replace the toilet and repair plumbing, add a new hot water heater and plumbing at a cost of $2,230. Additional work will be done by electrician. Roll call vote: Yes/Kitley, Lance, Morency, McAlister, Walz. No/none. Motion carried.

Other Business That Comes Before The Board: Lance explained the reason Mt. Hope will not be resurfaced this year. There is a tunnel going in under M-52 by Green Lake that will tie in the two sections of the Huron Pathway-Border to Border. Mt. Hope Road will be used as one of the detours for the work that will be done. The work is scheduled to start at the end of September and should be completed within 3 weeks.

Public Comment:   There was a question as to when the Verizon towers would be completed. The towers are up but without the components at the top as of yet. It is expected that after inspections which are being waited for, the towers should be complete this fall.

Adjournment: Walz motioned with support from McAlister to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Aye/all; no/none.  Motion carried.

The next Planning Commission meeting will be on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 7:00. The next regular Board meeting will be on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.  Minutes will be published in the Stockbridge Community News at the end of each month, on our website at www.waterlootwpmi.com and on our Facebook page at: waterlootownshipmichigan.

Submitted by: Janice Kitley, Clerk