The Leighton Township Board Thursday night adopted a local burn ordinance for the first time.
The vote was 4-0 with Supervisor Steve Wolbrink absent because of a family medical issue in Florida.
Leighton had been operating under state laws against residents burning trash or debris in their yards. This newly crafted local ordinance makes the law apply to the township specifically.
The new ordinance will take effect within seven days after it is published in the Allegan County News & Gazette next Thursday.
The board discussed several other proposed ordinances, but decided against take action on them. They included a camping trailer ordinance and a food truck ordinance. Township officials said they need more clarification before they decide.
In other business at the meeting Thursday, the Township Board:
- Agreed to pay $80 to the Wayland Chamber of Commerce to have a table at Wayland Expo next month explaining the Nov. 4 election for Kent Intermediate School District.
- Was told by Fire Chief Matt Weston that the department’s old vehicle finally died the week of a failed transmissio and was replaced by a new vehicle provided by the Gun Lake Casino. Weston noted that August was the busiest month firefighters have experienced, with 63 calls, and a cumulative total of 434, which is approaching the final total for all of last year.
- Heard from Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Earl that police in Leighton and Dorr townships received 117 calls in August, a very busy time, and there has been an increase in number of driving while impaired arrests.
- Agreed to renewing insurance with EMC, covering township, fire department and Green Lake sewer assets.
- Learned that the Zoning Board of Appeals late last month had difficult discussions about a resident’s request for a building permit after he had already begun construction on his home.
