The Hopkins Township Planning will have a big meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the village/township hall.
Not only will the commission have a public hearing on its updated master plan, it also will say good-bye to outgoing Chairwoman Lori Castello, welcome new member Ken Rutgers and make decisions on proposed ordinances on wind turbines, salvage yards and communications towers.
The master plan, by law, must be updated every five years and be subjected to a public hearing for approval or rejection. Commissioners indicated there are a few tweaks because of changing conditions driven by technology.
For example, there have been discussions and rules made on towers and turbines in the past, but new wrinkles have necessitated reflections of the changes.
Kirk Scharphorn Jr., of Professional Code Inspections, told the board that though it was widely believed wind turbines won’t be installed in Hopkins Township, the technology has changed enough to make the huge turbines unnecessary. He added that test smaller devices are considered as close as Martin and Gun Plain Townships.
The May 24 meeting is expected to be the last for Castello, who has served as chairwoman for more than two years and has been secretary at Hopkins High School. She is leaving both posts to work full-time at PCI.
Mike Timmer is succeeding her as chair of the Hopkins Township Planning Commission.
PHOTO: Lori Castello