Manchester Township Board considers allocation of ARPA funding, acts on fire department request

Manchester Township Hall

submitted by Sybil Kolon

All board members were present at the September 13 township board meeting, as well as the preceding special meeting. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully and other members of the public.

The purpose of the special meeting of the township board was to discuss allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. $270,500 has been received and the township has until 2026 to spend it. This meeting followed an earlier meeting on the same subject in February. The board expressed interest in several projects, including additional road projects, upgrades to the walking trail between the village and Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve, upgrades to the heating and cooling system at the township hall, improvements to the parking lot across from the township hall, upgrading the fence at Reynolds Cemetery on Ely Road, archiving of older township records, improvements to facilities at Alumni Field in the village, and log jam removal in the portion of the River Raisin in the township. No decisions were made.

During the regular board meeting, Fire Chief Scully provided the monthly report for August. There were 82 calls for service, including 41 EMS responses, three fires, and 15 HAZMAT incidents. This is the highest number of calls ever received in one month. HAZMAT incidents include wires down. The board approved the request for a defibrillator.

Zoning administrator Carl Macomber was not present. Supervisor Ron Milkey reported only one permit was issued for a new house.

The draft minutes of the previous week’s planning commission meeting were briefly reviewed. Updates to ordinances on short-term rentals and agritourism are being considered.

Milkey reported there is a lot of activity at the planned recreational vehicle resort at the former gravel pit in the northeast portion of the township. Phase I is expected to open next year. Phase I upgrades on Herman Road continue. The tire recycling event with Washtenaw County was very successful; 60 vehicles dropped off over 19,000 pounds of old tires. Another event will likely be scheduled for next year.

Bob Thompson, a township resident who has extensive experience with gravel mining, provided a review of the township’s mineral extraction ordinance, on which there is currently a moratorium, to allow the township to update its ordinance. Thompson indicated the ordinance is generally good. Thompson suggested updates to buffer and screening requirements.

Milkey indicated a temporary security camera has been mounted to monitor activity at the recycling bins that are now in back of the township hall. This would be a low-cost option compared to other systems previously considered. The video feed can be reviewed at any time by township officials. A decision on future use of video surveillance has not yet been made.

Treasurer Kim Thompson reported the committee reviewing the mineral extraction ordinance has reviewed the ordinances of six surrounding townships and will review Bob Thompson’s recommendations.

Milkey indicated the committee reviewing the solar and wind ordinances, which also have moratoriums in place, has not met. The township planner has indicated the solar ordinance is generally adequate, but that a density clause could be considered to limit how close solar farms could be to each other. This ordinance pertains only to commercial-scale solar facilities.

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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.