A new ordinance to provide regulations for those growing medical marijuana had its first reading approved at the May 17 regular meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees.
The second reading is expected at the June 7 meeting.
Ron Akers, director of planning and economic development, said the zoning ordinance was amended by the board recently and this is a companion piece to provide for registration of medical marijuana cultivation facilities.
Township Supervisor Linda Combs said this is a good idea “to get our ducks in a row before anyone comes in to apply.”
Akers said the new ordinance includes registering with the Public Safety Department and annual registration fees established by the board. The ordinance also would allow the Public Safety Department to maintain a record of the licensees who operate in the cultivation facility.
Akers was asked to make a recommendation on the fee at the next work/study meeting on June 6, so the fee schedule can be approved with the final reading of the ordinance on June 7.
In other business at the 40-minute meeting, the board:
- Unanimously approved agreements for property-owner maintenance of storm-water facilities at two 2014 building projects — L&W Engineering and Bethany Bible Church — as required by Wayne County so the property owners can get their bond money back from the county. The supervisor also agreed to a subcommittee of three board members (Jahr, McClanahan, and Hart) to work for a solution to the county’s mandated Stormwater Maintenance Agreement that two different attorneys’ opinions have declared to be without foundation in the law. Trustee Jeff Jahr, who always votes against the Stormwater Maintenance Agreements, voted yes this time because he learned the township originally approved these agreements when getting a permit for the wastewater treatment facilities. This vote is to allow the property owners to get their bond money back. He referred to Wayne County as the “500-pound gorilla” in the situation;
- Approved a contract with Wiese’s Lawn Care for the 2016 Ordinance and Code Enforcement mowing of non-township properties. Wiese’s was the only bid received in a recent call for bids but Wiese has an excellent work record in the township and it has a history of being the lowest bidder on several occasions;
- Approved selection of Zambelli Fireworks at a cost of $10,000 for the contract, paid through funds from Waste Management, plus $10,000 from donations in the community sought by Supervisor Combs to pay for the overtime of wages that occur with police and fire personnel. The fireworks show is set at the Beck Ball Fields on June 25 and is preceded by a concert by Rich and Eddy’s Rocking Oldies at 7 p.m. from a portable stage on the ball fields;
- Approved a change order for the Walden Woods Paving Repairs Project in the amount of $123,796.50 to take advantage of Wayne County funding and also approved thee proposal from Wade Trim for $11,000 for construction engineering relating to the project. Matching funds from Walden Woods Home Owners Association in the amount of $25,000 was delivered before the change order document was finalized. Most of the project is reconstruction of the subdivision entrance on Tyler Road;
- Witnessed Supervisor Combs proclaim May as a Month of Remembrance for U.S. Armed Forces with the American Flag being flown in their honor throughout the month. LeRoy Paige accepted the proclamation and said he would be with the state Senate the next day. He said he appreciated the support of Van Buren Township; and
- Heard Clerk Leon Wright announce that new identification cards are being sent out to voters this month and if a voter doesn’t get the new card by June 1 to let his office know. Also they are still looking for poll workers for the August Primary and November General Elections. Clerk Wright said at the recent Belleville High School student council and class elections that his office put on for the school, they registered 27 18-year-old voters. He also talked of a state law that he thinks needs to be repealed requiring voters complete their ballots within two minutes. He said with no straight-party voting and ballots that will probably be two pages long, time may be a problem. He urged those qualified to vote absentee to do so this year since lines may be long.