Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative that owns the power plant on Rawsonville Road wants to build a “weather structure” and its plans will be on the agenda of the 7 p.m., July 12, meeting of the Sumpter Township Planning Commission.
At the planning commission’s June 14 meeting, Deputy Clerk Esther Hurst, who takes commission minutes, explained that the structure Wolverine wants to build consists of a roof with supports and no sides.
It will eliminate the water that has been collecting on top of the transformers, she said, adding electricity and water don’t mix.
Wolverine has been advised it has to get the site plan approved by the planning commission before proceeding.
Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative is the township’s largest taxpayer. In spring 2010 Wolverine bought the FirstEnergy Generation 340 megawatt peaking power plant on Rawsonville Road. In 2010, Wolverine appealed its property assessment and won.
Almost all of the $3.5 million in property tax Wolverine paid went to the Lincoln School District, along with portions of that total to the zoo, Wayne County Community College, the jail and other entities, along with a small amount to Sumpter, according to the township’s financial officer James Glahn.
The state reduced the Wolverine assessment from $71 million to $68 million and all the extra tax it paid to the various entities had to be paid back. Sumpter had to refund close to $90,000 (which it had set aside in case Wolverine won its appeal). Also, Wolverine’s taxes for 2010 and 2011 were lowered, as well, and Sumpter is seeing a decrease.
Most of the June 14 meeting was devoted to a review of proposed zoning ordinance changes, as presented by planning consultant Laura Kreps of Carlisle Wortman.
The board discussed ordinances on:
• Ponds – with the requirement for a lifesavings station, which could be just a board in the ground with a life preserve on it. Kreps said ponds have to follow regulations for swimming pools, which include a four-foot fence around them;
• Animals – with the generally accepted practices of the Department of Agriculture as a guideline for keeping animals. The commission wanted to keep 3 acres minimum for animals in the Agriculture zoning. There was discussion on the problem with chickens going into other yards and bothering neighbors on Judd and how two bunnies at Easter can turn into a thousand by Thanksgiving. Kreps said if a property owner invokes the Right to Farm Act, he can pretty much do whatever he wants and he comes under state jurisdiction;
• Riding Stables – with a minimum of 10 acres for a commercial operation. “If you’re collecting boarding fees, you’re commercial,” Kreps said;
• Roadside Produce Stands and Markets – with only one per farm and the necessity of having parking that isn’t in the road right of way and a temporary use permit from the township with annual inspections.
“Our building inspector refuses to inspect ponds or check the depth of graves. What makes you think he would do this?” asked Clerk Clarence Hoffman, referring to the annual inspections of produce stands.
“He works for you. If he won’t do what the township board wants…” she said, punctuating her statement with a thumbs out gesture.
“You need to fire him,” agreed Commission Chairperson Jane Stalmack.
Getting back to the roadside stands, Kreps said, “You’re never going to stop people from parking in the right of way.” She added people want to drive up quickly and grab 12 ears of corn.
She said, hopefully, the new ordinances will be in effect and letters can be sent out informing stand operators of the yearly permit needed, inspections, and parking out of the right of way.
Clerk Hoffman said the zoning ordinances are supposed to be overseen by a “zoning administrator” and the township doesn’t have one.
Kreps said the township needs to specify who would be zoning administrator to accept applications, etc.
“It’s a thankless, important job. It’s gotta be done,” Kreps said.
• Rooming and Boarding Houses – since because of the economy more and more single family homes are now housing more than one family and renting out rooms. Commissioner Jim Clark explained that a rooming house provides rooms and a boarding house also provides food;
• Salvage Yards – which must have a minimum size lot of 10 acres, be enclosed and out of view and have an Incident Protection Plan. The commission discussed several small operations that have cars sitting around; and
• Seasonal Items for Sale – which would have the same regulations as roadside stands.
Stalmack said at the rate they’re going the commission could be through the review of the proposed ordinances and updates by October.
The board voted unanimously to follow Kreps’ recommendation to pull from current action by the township board any zoning ordinances or amendments on land use, which need a public hearing before a vote on adoption.
Kreps informed the commission that the township has asked her to look at updating engineering fees, so she will also be working on that.
Eight of the nine members of the board were present for the meeting, with only the ailing Tyrone Borden absent.