Hayes Township Planning Commission to Tackle Ordinances

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Hayes Township Planning Commission commenced its first quarterly meeting of the year Wednesday, Jan. 9, with new member Pat Adams joining John Marion, Rob McKay, Susan Miske, Chuck Powell and Jill Snover. Dale Miller was absent.

Business included approving the day’s agenda, as well as the Oct. 8, 2025, meeting minutes. It also was noted that the commission had usually met on second Tuesdays, but that the first Tuesday had been planned in error. Since that date had already been posted, it was decided to continue for all of 2026 with the dates already posted.

Another annual item of business that takes place in January is election of officers. Quickly nominated and approved were John Marion to continue as chairman, and Chuck Powell to serve as vice chair. That left the secretary position, which is a job that had been handled meticulously and in great detail by Karen Laskowsky, who resigned with the end of her term last year. She had brought in the many boxes of meeting minutes and information printouts amassed over her years serving in that position and those were stowed away in the township hall.

Again, that position needed to be filled, and no one was eager to step up. Adams cited a disability that affects his dexterity, thus notetaking ability. Snover was clear that she was not interested, and when that led to the nomination of Miske, she too declined to take up that office. Conundrum? Not so much, because this board did what so many do – nominated and elected the member who was absent. Thus, Dale Miller was named secretary, an appointment which of course will await his acceptance of the position.

Andrew Goodman was also in attendance to speak about the reviewing of township ordinances and zoning ordinances. He spoke of the need to find conflicting requirements in the ordinances, and requested that commissioners help by reviewing copies on their own. That, he said, would help to avoid overlooking items that may be similar, yet have different applications which should be considered.

One example of a conflicting ordinance was shipping containers, which can be used as sheds, but have different setback requirements than sheds. There also was discussion of the need to have different ordinances for lake communities, as their zoning setbacks differ.

Marion also cited the need to clarify the minutia of setbacks, such as measuring from the side soffit or from the deeper overhang of a peak: details.

Dwelling ordinances came up, and Goodman offered an explanation of a dwelling versus an outbuilding, as one being for living in and the other for containment of property. Adams also spoke of single-wide trailers being not allowed, while double-wide trailers are – something else for the commissioners to review.

Marion summed up the ordinance work ahead saying, “It’s going to take a lot of research and development.”

The Planning Commission will be meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 for an ordinance workshop which, fortunately for Dale Miller, will require only the taking of notes. Laskowsky explained that workshops require only notes, while meetings require formal minutes which are legal documents. When asked whether someone other than a commissioner could act as secretary, she explained they could not, however the commissioners could each take a turn.

It was settled on that Goodman would prepare copies of the existing ordinances so each commissioner could highlight any questioned areas, making it easier to focus on specifics.

The goal will be to tighten up the document – something which a few years past had consisted of 80 pages and has grown to 140 pages. Powell was encouraging that some ordinances quite possibly aren’t needed and could be eliminated.

The gist? The Hayes Township Planning Commission has lots of work ahead as it tries to trim and provide specific guidance for its residents.