Bearinger Township planning commission repealed

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor– A change in representation has resulted in a different direction in Bearinger Township where board members voted Jan. 11 to approve a resolution repealing the township?s planning commission ?in its entirety.? Prior to the decision, another motion to table the matter and allow voters to decide a referendum in August was turned down.

The same board members who voted to dissolve the township planning commission (TPC), supervisor Karen Silver, clerk Nancy Shutes and treasurer Gale Phelps, and continue the services of the county planning commission, voted against tabling the matter. Trustees Pat Augustine and Kay Dowker were in the minority during both votes. ?We can?t afford it at this time,? said supervisor Karen Silver, interviewed Monday by the Advance. ?Implementing the whole program, we?ve never had it before. The county has always done it, and I find that they?ve done a pretty good job of it.?

SOME TOWNSHIP residents and taxpayers believe the local zoning and enforcement is needed. ?I sincerely feel that with proper and well-managed zoning, we can deal with progress and growth and still retain the rural atmosphere that is now enjoyed in Bearinger Township,? said TPC secretary Beverly Rossetto. Rossetto presented her letter and attached e-mail and phone comments prior to the Jan. 11 meeting. She urged the board to review the information before making a decision. Silver said it was presented to the board only five minutes before the start of the meeting. ?I am very much in support of Bearinger Township having their own ordinances as well as having a voice in future land use development,? stated Judi Isaacs in a letter to Rossetto. ?Bearinger Township is too small of a township to take this project on,? stated Susan Derouin, in an e-mail. ?Most residents/property owners do not want this. I do not see this will help the township in any way.?

THE JAN. 11 decision puts the brakes on an effort started May 9, 2006. More than $16,000 in grants was received from different agencies to assist the township, which chipped in $16,000 of its own money, to develop a master plan. The zoning ordinance was completed, but when it went before the board Oct. 12, it was shelved. Silver said the master plan and zoning ordinances, which she described as ?products,? could be implemented when ?the economy goes up. Who would have thought three or four years ago that Michigan would have taken such a hard shot economically.? She added that the time and effort to put the information together was not wasted as has been accused. Silver said it would cost between $3,000 to $4,000 to operate a TPC and that doesn?t include the start up costs. ?You still have to throw in your gas, your education, the computers, computer programs ? the starting amount would be way over that. I couldn?t even tell you how much it would cost,? said Silver.

PROPONENTS OF a TPC have indicated a part-time zoning administrator would oversee the zoning issues for no pay, and that the cost could be $400 annually. However, one resident asked what would happen if that person no longer wanted to continue in that capacity. ?I am very upset that our elected officials can not see the value of these efforts for our community and future,? said taxpayer Steve Slifko in an e-mail to the Advance. ?The issue I have is that this board is

not even soliciting the opinion of the majority of the community.? He added that the board ?in fact disenfranchised the voters of their opportunity to vote on these matters of grave importance.? He?s also concerned that an attorney was consulted regarding questions of dissolving the TPC and that it wasn?t discussed in a public forum. On the other hand, Christopher Zuellig, who owns property in the township, believes Silver has done a ?phenomenal job? of getting the information out to the public. The TPC consisted of chairman Tom Harkleroad, vice chair Ronald Dulak, Rossetto, as well as Robert Sido and Kay Dowker.

Two years ago, four of the five township board members resigned, including township supervisor Dick Mowers, who was part of the effort to bring local zoning. ?Hopefully, we can go forward,? said Silver. ?We?ve got emergency services in Bearinger Township we have to look at. We have to get them up to par. We have a building that is below par. It doesn?t meet the handicap Americans with Disabilities Act. We have to get that going. ?People are very upset and I understand that. This is a great service, but we can?t afford it at this time.?