After a brief period of dormancy, the air park issue resurfaced in a big way Thursday night at the Leighton Township Board meeting.
The board was told that Dr. Michael Hynes of Branson, Mo., appeared before the Planning Commission Wednesday night to outline problems associated with a proposed air strip near the corner of 144th Avenue and Kalamazoo Avenue. The strip years ago had been used by the Martin family privately, but it has been idle for quite some time.
Developers are Clark Galloway and Leighton Township Supervisor Steve Deer, who has refrained from voting or commenting on the issue in his official capacity.
Neighboring residents have expressed opposition to the project, insisting it will create hardships for them from noise and annoyance from planes flying low near their homes.
Both sides of the issue agreed to seek out aviation experts to provide more relevant information, and the residents brought in Dr. Hynes.
The board was asked to spend $11,000 to bring in its expert, with Galloway picking up the tab from a fund held in escrow. But the vote to do that was just 2-1-1, with Trustee Brian Bonnema absent. So the board voted to have a special meeting next week as soon as Bonnema returns from vacation so the full board can vote on the issue.
Clerk Mary Lou Niewenhuis and Treasurer Char Troost voted to proceed with bringing in an expert from Prein & Newhof architects and engineers. Deer abstained, as usual, but Trustee John Hooker voted against it.
“Everybody’s spending a lot of money,” Hooker said. “One expert is for it, maybe another is against it… There are too many unanswered questions… We’re going to make somebody angry, no matter what happens.
“Both sides have valid arguments, but I have a hard time spending money on this.”
Kate Sheltema, who has a horse farm near the proposed strip, acknowledged Hooker’s dilemma, but insisted her group did not tell the outside expert what to say.
“We did not pay him to support our side,” she said. “We wanted him to show the truth about what he saw. What he said last night to the Planning Commission was not scripted. He could have gone the other way.”
Sheltema said one of the residences going up at the nearby Summit Pointe development is only 100 feet from the air strip’s runway.
She and a colleague, who was videotaping the meeting, said the issues for them remain noise, property rights and the desire to live in a peaceful rural area.
Sheltema also said he has been frustrated by the perceived adversary attitude of the Township Board.
“We come to the meetings and you argue with us, you don’t listen to us,” she charged. “Why are you fighting for the other side? We are trying to protect our homes and businesses.”
Nieuwenhuis said she goes back and forth in support for and in opposition to the project almost daily.
“We have to make sure we make the right decision,” she said. “You people don’t seem to understand there has to be due process.”
Troost and Nieuwenhuis said they’re well aware of the comments made against the project during Township Board and Planning Commission meetings, but when citizens come to township hall to pay taxes, they hear about of a lot of support.
The board did not let the vote Thursday evening stand and promised to have the full board present for a special meeting, perhaps next Thursday, Sept. 18.
“It will be better that we have the whole board to decide,” Troost said.
PHOTO: Evan Alonso was one of three new firefighters sworn in Thursday night to join the Leighton Township Fire Department. The other two were Brian Smith and Eric Kwekel. Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis is administering the oath under the watchful eyes of Chief Tony Banas.
