REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 14, 2010
MEETING ROOM – 7:00 P.M.
Meeting called to order by Vice Chairperson Rick Borucki.
Present: Borucki, Blair, Bredin,
Absent: Kubicek
Also present: Jim Foulds, CPS
Borucki called the Public Hearing for the Stover Mining Special Use
Permit
to order at 7:02 PM.
Mr. Stover explained his project
of the mining pit on the north end of his property off of
Dave DeNike 7150 Oak Hwy talked about wet mining and
dredging. Also he stated that the hard
road will eventually not stop the mud from the trucks to end up on
Clerk was asked if complaint calls have come in about mud on the roads. Not many about the roads.
Borucki stressed that tonight’s meeting is about gathering facts and not hashing over the past.
Stover stated that they are surveying Billwood and it is scheduled to be resurfaced from M-100 to state complex.
Jane Love 7796 Nixon talked about the bringing in of fill
and that is not part of a mining permit.
She had pictures of fill being brought in from Lansing CSO project with
brick, plastic barrels and other items and Stover’s land is not a designated
area. She said Stover stated he had a
permit and City of
James Mauer 7170 Oak Hwy stated that there is muck or peat moss under the road. He also said that the Stover mining caused the Thornapple to go dry and they had to pay to get it cleaned out. Also that five wells in the area have been lost and this can cause pollution to the wells.
Cindy Mauer 7170 Oak Hwy said that since the mining has ceased that the natural resources are back including turkey, deer and cranes.
Gerald Phillips 7600 Nixon is concerned about the quality of soil for the water quality. He stated that the water is not as good. There is mud at the entrance.
Lynn Hamilton 7200 Oak Hwy stated that the pumping has affected some of the neighbor’s 40 acre lake across from them. It is down 2’. She asked about environment engineers that could explain the Thornapple and water drop.
Phillip Bacon 7191 Nixon stated he is the closest to the latest pond and his water table is fine. He has two sumps and they are continuing to run all summer and winter.
Dan Rockafellow 230 Brynford stated that he earns his living on water quality and is an aquatic engineer and has not seen any problems with the water that show it as a hazard. There are healthy fish and life in the area. He also stated that this is the head of the Thornapple so it would go dry in the summer. These ponds allow for family fun and have short term affects. He repeated that he has no concerns for aquatic life and he has been out there in the past years.
Don Card 6850 Davis boarders and his pond is always full but who will guarantee that this will not erode his pond and what happens if his water table goes down. Also where will the water go when pumping? They had to clean stubs in 2005. He wants to know what happens if the water gets worse and what the affects on the drain system are.
Mr. Card also wants to know why the road can not go across Stover property?
His third concern is the overload on the drain.
Bill Peters 7559 Nixon stated that the pond will be in their backyard. He wants to know where the road will be coming out? Andy McLean whose company will be doing the work stated that he has met with ECRC and they want them to use existing driveway to the North of the old farmhouse. This would be across from Mr. Phillips home and that there is already a culvert there.
Stover stated he wants to do what is necessary to reduce the impact on Peters and Phillips. The roads up there need to have some upgrade. The neighbors need to talk to Stover about noise, dirt, etc. Everyone wants to be good neighbors.
Larry Helms 7134 Oak Hwy asked if they upgrade the road who pays for it? Trucks ruin the roads and it will need to be resurfaced at some time. He asked who takes care of water in the drain?
Dave DeNike 7150 Oak Hwy stated they worked at a meeting like this with the railroad and road closures.
Gerald Phillips 7600 Nixon stated that the road is dug out muck.
Lynn Hamilton 7200 Oak Hwy asked if bonding of the roads can happen. Does this type of activity fit into the comprehensive plan? Will it enhance the natural resources? There are 4 pits around her now.
Jane Love 7796 Nixon asked about who would monitor water on the property and drain?
Public hearing was closed at 7:41 PM
No public comments about non agenda items.
Minutes of previous meeting were approved.
Blair gave report from Township Board.
Supervisor
STOVER SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR MINING:
Foulds reviewed his first recommendation sheet he had written about the project. There are two levels that the zoning ordinance regulates. We need to have written reports from the different agencies (ECRC, Drain, DNRE, etc.) about driveways, drains and permits.
The SUP will set guidelines for dust, noise, hours, setbacks where erosion is under the drain commissioner. The SUP would also control security, fence, slopes, posting information on a gate, storage of machinery, sifting actions, etc.
The outside agency information is all needed before the Commission can act on the SUP.
They could act without final approvals but no work could start until approvals are received at the Township. The township could require water quality, sedimentation and hydro studies and impact on the wells.
Discussion held on fill being brought in and if not in permits it is a violation.
Johnson moved and Pray seconded to table the Stover SUP until the
additional information can be obtained.
Carried unanimously.
CONDITIONAL ZONING:
No action as this has already been taken care of and in the zoning ordinance.
Public Comments – Darwin Greenhoe 6594 Davis Hwy said he is the closest and it could get noisy to the Stover new pit.
Carried unanimously. Adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Linda Towsley, Clerk
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