The board acted on the advice of Zoning Administrator Rochelle Rollenhagen, who was unable to attend the meeting, but had sent an email earlier that night. "[T]he Planning Commission needs some time to research this so [it] can write the ordinance correctly the first time--not that there may not be amendments to it in the future," wrote Rollenhagen. She cited potential impacts on health, safety and welfare of township residents, and the increased height of modern wind turbines. Benzie County's Blaine Township, and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, which owns the Arcadia Dunes preserve, have also halted construction until more study is done.
Trustee Dave Ertel said that in the meantime, work on the commercial wind ordinance, which began in the fall, will continue. "If we get this done, we can come back and rescind this [moratorium]," he said. Ertel, who made the motion, also stated that the moratorium could serve as a deterrent for Duke. "If we do this, we're also giving the energy company a chance to look elsewhere," he said. Supervisor Tony Merrill, who seconded the motion, said that the moratorium could provide time to talk with Bear Lake and Arcadia Townships about sharing costs for noise consultants.
The moratorium also gives Pleasanton Township a chance to get its own house in order. Pleasanton's Planning Commission, which is charged with actually writing the wind ordinance, is in some disarray. Bob Babcock brought up the issue during the Board meeting, after the previous week's scheduled Planning Commission meeting was cancelled, for lack of a quorum. "What should we do?" asked Babcock. "There's no vice chair, no secretary, no chair--he's gone for the winter. I don't know where the minutes are at. We need to get this under control." Babcock recently took over as the Board's representative to the Planning Commission, replacing Dave Ertel. Merrill said he would find out if Kris Kranz, who has attended meetings infrequently, was still interested in serving.
Ertel replied that the minutes he had from past meetings were put onto a computer disc and given to commission Chair Bob Stafford. The Board agreed to contact Stafford in order to obtain the minutes, and Ertel said he'd see if he had copies of them. Treasurer Judy Girven offered to put them online, with the help of Clerk Amy Cross.
Another issue affecting the Planning Commission is its terms of office. This month, newly-appointed member Bob Peterson finishes out Jeanne Crampton's term. She resigned in November, with one month remaining in her term. The Gander asked the Board if it planned to keep Bob Peterson on the commission by extending his appointment to a full term. The Board responded by appointing him, but there was some confusion about how long his term should be. Available records appeared to show three-year terms of office, lasting from December 20, 2007 to December 20, 2010.
But it was unclear if this information was correct. Some members of the Board recalled that the terms of office were staggered. "It shows here that all of them expire [this month], but that can't be right," said Merrill. "We'll have to find out when they were all appointed," said Ertel, and the Board agreed to research the issue. In the meantime, the Board appointed Peterson for a one-year term, lasting until Dec. 20, 2011.
There was no action to fill Bryan Kidd's seat on the Planning Commission. His term expires this month. The Gander asked Supervisor Merrill how the vacancy would be advertised, but Merrill said it would not be. "I'm not going to, unless the Board wants to," he said. Ertel and Girven said that advertising such a position wasn't mandatory, and that appointees were at the discretion of the Supervisor.
In other business, the Board passed its yearly poverty guidelines, which allow low-income residents to apply for a reduction in taxes. Applications are considered by the township's Board of Review every March, July and December. More information can be obtained from Assessor Carol Merrill, by calling 864-2487.
The Board also paid the bills, and discussed whether Planning and Parks commissioners should receive mileage for travelling to meetings that are ultimately cancelled. The Board agreed to spend up to $100 to investigate why the township hall's back light stays on, and whether the motion detector needs to be replaced. The Board accepted a 3-year bid for snowplowing service from Pleasanton resident Steve Allen. The bid, which was the only one received, offered a price of $50 for regular plowing at the garbage transfer station and $25 per-instance plowing at the township hall. Governmental training expenses were approved for three members of the Board of Review. Expenses include $75 per person fees and course materials. Merrill said there was a sizeable amount of money in the township fire fund, and proposed spending up to $20,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the Bear Lake Fire Department. The Board agreed to invite the Department to outline its needs.
The Board also discussed whether the township could recoup money paid to the Bear Lake Township Fire Department. The department responded to a fire in the summer, set by a man trying to rid his trees of tent worms. The man was fined by Manistee County, but it appears that no part of the paid fine was distributed to Pleasanton Township, which pays for fire department responses on a per-call basis. Babcock inquired if anything could be done, but the Board did not pursue the matter.
In commission reports, Dave Ertel reported that the Parks Commission has made progress on the shuffleboard court and has purchased recreational supplies. He also said that a grant request had been submitted, seeking funds to repair the seawall near the township park.
The Pleasanton Township Board is scheduled to meet again on Monday, January 10 at 7pm.
