County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County
Mostly Cloudy, 61°
Wind: mph,
By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY
Cleaver Senior Staff Writer
HARRISON – Seeing that the Hayes Township Board Room was soon to overflow with attendees, it was decided to move the April 28 meeting into the gym. After a flurry of table and chair moving, the meeting commenced.
Following approval of the agenda, and hearing no public comment, the meeting moved on to
Community Reports. County Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis apprised of the previous Board of Commissioners meeting and the motions passed (see April 22 issue of the Cleaver). Clare County Road Commissioner Bill Simpson reported that the first batch of funding from the new gas tax for April had been received. He also noted having had a look at the new CCRC building, and said it’s expected the project would be finished in July.
Supervisor Brendan Powell expressed his thanks to Deb Hoyt and Savannah Cavanaugh for all the work they had put into the playground project which is now coming to fruition. He also spoke of taking a class on roads.
Treasurer Cavanaugh lauded her deputy treasurer and Clerk Hoyt for graduating the Township Governance Academy. She also noted that the day’s scheduled Community Night at Hayes saw a low turnout due to the many other school sports going on. Lastly, she informed there was still some curbing work to be done on the new playground, and that there would be a grand opening later on – adding that she hoped playground users would treat it with kindness and love.
Clerk Hoyt reported being part of the inaugural class of Redbook Ready graduates, and that her office is gearing up for elections.
Trustee Bob Buckley said he had nothing to report, but wanted to say the Board appreciated all the people who had shown up that evening.
Trustee Rob McKay reported having also attended the Michigan Townships Conference and thought it was good.
The only New Business action was approval of the installation of a replacement smoke detectors by Summit Fire Protection at a cost of $467.
Then came Discussion Items, which listed only GFL [Green For Life Waste Disposal] Q&A – regarding a proposed transfer station at the existing GFL site on N. Clare Avenue, near the airport – which was why there was such a large turnout at a meeting which rarely sees attendance greater then 15-20 people.
This portion of the meeting began with Hayes Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer Andrew Goodman providing a thorough explanation of the required steps for such a project. Basically, this one is in the “idea phase,” and that many ideas come out, but only some come to fruition. Here, there is the additional required approval by EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes and Energy).
Attendees were assured there are still many hoops to jump, and that before he presents a site plan to the Hayes Planning Commission, he goes over it in detail. Then it would go to the planning commission for review and determining if it applies and whether it be approved or denied. If approved, neighbors within a specified distance would be informed. Goodman said no information would be withheld, and then there would be a public hearing.
He reminded that, “Right now it’s only at the Idea Stage. I guarantee you, you will know what’s going on.” Goodman added that there is no formal forward motion at this point, and no application has been presented to the public.
Rickie Fancon, GFL general manager, took the podium to describe the plan and scope of the project. He spoke of the company’s evolution from American Waste to Green For Life, and the company’s mission to create jobs and to be a good neighbor. To that end, the company would grow from six employees locally to 70, with an initial increase of 50 and an economic impact of $1.5 million.
The project would include a recycling center available to all and aimed at creating a cleaner environment. He said the transfer station would be totally enclosed, with a misting odor-neutralizing system used daily. Also, the building would have full fire suppression built in, and staff are trained in fire suppression n the building. He addressed vermin by saying that Orkin does a weekly facility check.
Many citizens voiced their concerns about a variety of possible problems: foul odors; vermin; noise; pollution of ground water, ergo surrounding wells; toxic waste from standing dumpsters and truck clean-out water; influx of waste from other communities; and increased traffic causing roadway deterioration. One person even questioned under what jurisdiction the Township was allowed to permit such industry.
In response to another question, Fancon said the project is expected to take from 1-1.5 years.
Fancon also described the dumpster/truck washout practice which accumulates that water into a holding tank which is then pumped out into a transfer tanker and disposed of elsewhere. He explained that, while some additional trucks could access the facility (due to the shifting of the Surrey Township facility to the Hayes site), that truck traffic per se would not increase appreciably.
He expected recycling would increase and assured there would be no cost increase to citizens. He described the facility as 100 feet-by-120 feet on a two-acre lot.
The supervisor explained that the township does not contract with GFL, but rather with Waste Management. Also, road spillage concerns south of town were addressed by Fancon who noted his trucks had not dumped at the Waste Management facility for years.
To address the jurisdiction question, it was noted that the Michigan Zoning and Enabling Act and the Michigan Planning and Enabling Act provided that authority. And, as far as the siting of what was referred to as an eyesore, the answer was that township zoning had established that area of N. Clare Avenue as what is its only Industrial district.
Sadly, there also had been rumor-fueled accusations of financial chicanery by the township and individuals serving the township in an official capacity. Powell explained the letter of support he had sent to the Clare County Board of Commissioners as being his personal opinion of the financial benefit the project could bring to the township, not one officially representing the township.
Fancon did confirm that GFL does “give back” monetarily to the City of Harrison and Clare County, and would intend to give back to Hayes as well. That money would be proposed to support the airport, for the life of the transfer station’s operation.
Justin Cavanaugh, Harrison City manager/clerk, urged residents’ concerns be gathered for presentation to GFL and the Hayes Planning Commission.
Amazingly, this issue had even spurred death threats against township officials. Planning Commissioner Chuck Powell said that he had received multiple threats that same day, and clarified that while he had indeed purchased the property GFL leases, that lease was not initiated nor signed with him nor extended by him – which Fancon confirmed.
Also in attendance was Dewayne Rogers, managing director of the Clare County Road Commission, who addressed the supposition that additional wear and tear on the highway would result in repairs of cost to Hayes Township residents. He explained that the state pays costs for state highways maintenance, and the only roads cost born by Hayes residents are those specific projects contracted with the road commission (which are done on a township percentage and CCRC percentage basis). All other monies for road maintenance, repair or construction come from the state – some of which are state budgeted or derived from the pump gas taxes (referred to earlier by Bill Simpson). He actually noted that more wear and tear on the road equals more repair work, thus more money coming into the county via governmental funding.
Essentially, this proposed project is in its absolute earliest process step, and will proceed in accordance with the law – and with the conviction that the public will be kept informed and involved.
Speaking in Public Comment at the end of the meeting, Hayes Planning Commissioner Pat Adams offered his thanks to the 43 people who had attended. He also expressed his appreciation for the work done on the playground grant, and said he hoped more people would come to the township with good news.
The Hayes Township Board meets next at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 12 at the Hayes Municipal Complex on E. Townline Lake Road.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here