Nathan Knight, owner of a gravel pit at 1082 10th St., in Martin Township, will be in Allegan County court Thursday, but its isn’t expected that he will be required to pay for the Township Board’s troubles.
Supervisor Glenn Leep Wednesday night told his colleagues he pleased the issue finally is being resolved, but he’s annoyed that Martin Township has had to pay for prosecuting Knight’s transgressions and Knight should have had a larger share of the burden for legal costs.
Knight constructed a non-permitted barn structure on his property and claimed it was for agricultural use, but never obtained a permit to build it. Professional Code Inspections and the township last December took Knight to court, where Knight was given a 30-day period to comply, get a permit and return to court.
However, Knight did not show up for his second court appearance, was granted an extension until Feb. 14, but again didn’t show.
The board decided to impose a fine of $250 per day starting from the Feb. 14 date until compliance was met. Knight also will be charged a $500 late fee if and when he obtains a permit. The total of fines eventually exceeded $15,000.
Leep Wednesday night said, “For Martin Township, this cost us thousands of dollars and we’re just trying to maintain order in the township (by enforcing the rules). He (Knight) is not the victim here. Martin Township is.”
Leep said he was disappointed in the lack of vigor from attorney Jeff Sluggett in making Knight at least pay for Martin Township’s costs.
In other business at Wednesday night’s meeting, the Township Board:
• Continued with plans for an extension of the township hall to the east to accommodate more space for the clerk and treasurer. Clerk Rachelle Smit will ask The Architectural Group to proceeds with drawings of the project.
Smit added that the township has about $250,000 in its capital improvement fund, but it needs to borrow the rest of the money and should seek bids for the best interest rates. The township intends to continue working with FCC Construction Inc. as general contractor and actual work on the project may not begin until next spring.
• Agreed to approve wording for a millage request in the Nov. 6 general election for the Township Fire Department. Officials said they’re interested in lowering the current millage for equipment from 0.9 to 0.75 mill, thereby raising revenue of $60,000 per year.
• Discussed perhaps changing the local cemetery ordinance in the near future to better handle regulations for cremations, which Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer indicated are becoming increasingly popular.
• Approved renewal of the street lighting contract with Consumers Energy for two lights on 124th Avenue in Shelbyville and at 10th Street and 116th Avenue.
• Learned from State Rep. Mary Whiteford that Martin schools stand to get an additional $240 per pupil for the 2018-19 academic year.
Whiteford said her current top priorities in issues are increasing rural Internet broadband and auto insurance.
The legislator said things are beginning to get done on roads, noting that the rules from legislation passed in 2015 are just beginning to kick in now and Lansing is promising an additional $500 million in road funding during the next budget year.
She said it’s very difficult to get everything done all at once, saying, “If we did everything at the same time, we’d have orange cones everywhere.”