Manchester Township Board meeting: update on Watkins Lake Trail, PC Daubner stepping down after 23 years of service, and more

Manchester Township Hall

by Sybil Kolon

All board members were present at the December 9 board meeting except John Seefeld. Also present were fire chief Mike Kouba, planning commissioners Jim Carpenter and Carl Werner, and a few members of the public. 

There were public comments about the ongoing blight on Lakeview Drive and a proposed sand-and-gravel mining operation in Norvell Township adjacent to Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve.

Kouba provided the monthly report for November. There were 55 calls for service, including 34 EMS responses and six fires, one of which was a significant barn fire. Meetings and trainings were completed as required. 

Supervisor Ron Milkey reported that zoning administrator Carl Macomber had issued a zoning permit for one barn/garage. One variance and one conditional use was approved. Blight issues at Lakeview Drive have continued and tickets were issued to the resident and property owner after they did not respond to the zoning administrator’s request.

Milkey reported that a split-rail fence was installed along the trail to Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve along Austin Road east of Grossman Road, completing the township’s obligations. Milkey is working with the planning consultant to identify additional grants to complete Phase 2 of the uncompleted trail between Grossman Road and Austin Road just west of Teijin Automotive.

Sybil Kolon was reappointed as the township representative to the River Raisin Watershed Council.

Milkey reported that planning commissioner George Daubner has submitted his resignation after 23 years of service. The township has interest from one individual and hopes to fill the vacancy in January. There was discussion about recognizing his service at a future meeting.

The board passed a resolution to amend Ordinance 23 regarding driveways to make it consistent with Ordinance 53 in terms of how topographic and other difficulties in establishing a driveway can be resolved.

Trustee Mike Fusilier and Land Preservation Committee (LPC) member Kolon informed the board of a few issues for which the LPC needs board input. The LPC has been in touch with members of Sharon Township’s LPC regarding their plans to have a multi-township educational forum in March. The topic was also on the agenda of the Southwest Washtenaw Council of Governments meeting held on December 10. After the board passed the resolution establishing the LPC in November, a conflict with the LPC by-laws was identified. The resolution calls for two-year terms; the current bylaws calls for three-year terms. Amended bylaws consistent with the resolution will be considered by the LPC and brought to the board for approval in January.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.