Manchester Township discusses recycling, solar, and road maintenance

Manchester Township Hall

by Sybil Kolon

All board members were present at the June 14 township board meeting. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully, zoning administrator Carl Macomber, and other members of the public.

Scully provided the monthly report for May. There were 43 calls for service, including 21 EMS responses, two fires, and three HAZMAT incidents.

Macomber reported issuing three permits. The gravel roads had been bad, but have now been graded and brined.

Trustee John Seefeld reviewed the planning commission meeting last week, where residents continued to comment on the proposed solar project. A revised submittal is expected soon to address comments received at the public hearing in April. The township’s planning consultant mentioned purchase of development rights (PDR), which is one way to preserve rural character as called for in the master plan. Supervisor Ron Milkey asked Seefeld to bring up PDR at the next planning commission meeting to find out more about how such a program could work and other entities that might be involved.

Milkey discussed recent and planned work by the Washtenaw County Road Commission on local roads in response to a public comment. Macomber confirmed that work has been completed as required as part of his travels around the township. There is limited funding available for local roads. Upgrades are being completed on Buss Road and work is expected to begin on one section of Herman Road, with another section expected to be done next year.

Trustee Lisa Moutinho reported the township interviewed and hired a recording secretary to assist the board and planning commission with preparing minutes.

Clerk Danell Proctor mentioned the upcoming budget workshop on Monday, June 20, at 7pm, and the budget hearing will be Monday, June 27, at 7pm. The township’s budget year begins on July 1 and a budget must be approved by then.

The board discussed having another tire-recycling event through the county this summer. The date will be announced. Agricultural tires will not be accepted.

Trustee Krista Jarvis reported the recycling bins have been moved to the parking lot behind the township hall. Directional signs have been ordered to help control traffic flow. The bins had to be moved due to plans for the parcel near the Manchester Market where they had been. Jarvis is the board’s representative to the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority. A special assessment on township households helps fund these bins. Jarvis has spent time at the bins surveying users and reminding them of what can and can’t be recycled. Security cameras are planned to monitor the site, as too many materials are being left that can not be accepted, which increases the costs of recycling. During a recent visit by Jarvis, only four of twenty users were from Manchester Township. Plastic bags are a major problem and can be recycled at Meijer and other locations. Recycling materials should be removed from any plastic bags they have been stored in before depositing accepted recyclables in the bins. Plastic bags clog up the conveyors that assist in sorting the materials.

Milkey reported that a panel discussion on utility-scale solar-energy systems has just been scheduled for Thursday, June 23, at 7pm, at the township hall. The panel will present information and answer questions about solar projects in general. It will not be a time for discussion of the proposed Thorn Lake Solar project. Another public hearing has been scheduled for that project at 7pm on Thursday, July 7, at the Manchester Jr/Sr High School.

The board voted to impose a one-year moratorium on submittal of utility-scale solar-energy projects. This will allow the planning commission to make any needed changes to the township’s solar ordinance. The moratorium will have no effect on the status of the Thorn Lake Solar project, nor will it affect accessory uses of solar on residences or farms for their own use.

The survey for township residents is back up on the township website. The board would like everyone to fill it out to provide input to the board and planning commission.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.