Martin Township Supervisor Glenn Leep praised Townbroadcast reporter and recent Martin High School graduate Austin Marsman for his role in moving a local land use issue forward.
Leep said Mansman wrote an article last month about a gravel pit at 1082 10th Street, owned by Nathan Knight, the center of two controversies. One deals with a non-permitted barn structure on the property. Knight originally had claimed it was for agricultural use, but never obtained a permit to even build it.
Kirk Scharphorn Jr. of Professional Code Inspections told the Township Board Wednesday night that Knight has paid more than $1,000 in fines and fees and things appear to be progressing toward some kind of resolution. He said inside plumbing has been removed, electrical permits pulled and it stands as an open pole barn as an accessory building for a mining operation.
PCI and the township took Knight to court Dec. 14, 2017, and it looked as though things would turn around. Knight given a 30-day period to comply, get a permit and return to court. The board learned Knight did not show up for his second appearance in Allegan County court scheduled Jan. 14. The judge granted an extension until Feb. 14, but Knight again didn’t show.
It was decided March 14 that township officials can do whatever they would like with the building and property, including leins and demolition since the owner failed to obtain a permit.
After much discussion, the board decided unanimously to impose a fine of $250 per day starting from the Feb. 14 date until compliance is met. Knight also will be charged a $500 late fee if and when he obtains a permit.
To date, this total of fines is nearing $15,000. This is all pending final review by the township attorney.
Another issue at 1082 10th St. is that a swamp is being excavated and Knight does not have a $1 million performance bond, something that is required for excavation.
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, the Township Board:
• Adopted the 2018-19 fiscal year budget that shows $538,401 in revenues and expenses and $32,283 in the fund balance. The rainy fund was made smaller by expenditure of $200,000 on the proposed expansion of the township hall to accommodate more office space.
Board members had a lengthy discussion about the particulars of the expansion after receiving proposed sketches from Dan Vos of The Architecture Group (TAG).
Though the board will ask for a number of changes in the plans to lower costs, Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer declared, “(They say) If we do everything they recommend, it won’t need any changes for at least 20 years.”
• Held a Truth in Taxation Hearing to approved the current tax levy without a Headlee rollback. The decision enables the township to take in an additional $9,754 for general fund, roads and fire millages.
• Fielded a question from Marlene Leep about getting a police officer assigned to the village and township. She insisted, “There’s some weird stuff going on.”
The village and township now are covered through the Allegan County Sheriff’d Department. The village years ago had its own police department, but like Hopkins Village has been unable to pay for the service.
• Agreed to continue Bloom, Sluggett and Morgan of Kalamazoo as township attorneys, Peter Haeffner & Associates for auditing, Jordan Simmons as assessor, and United Bank as its financial institution.