Supervisor Kevin Travis Thursday night declared that Watson Township has the most sand and gravel mining sites in all of Allegan County.
He made the claim during a discussion about how the township can preserve its rural nature without inviting trouble from the outside. And that trouble often involves sand and gravel pits because they require plenty of traffic from big rigs.
Watson Township invited the planning firm of MCKenna Associates to talk about the issues.
Representative Chris Korey told boards members the best way to keep Watson rural and agricultural is to restrict use of private roads. However, he recommended township officials do that by encouraging development on public routes rather than discouraging private roads.
McKenna has been working with the Watson Planning Commission on updating the master plan.
Lot splitting also was discussed with notations that incentives could be beneficial.
Travis said there have been lawsuits filed by sand and gravel mining companies and the township recently has won one and lost one, making it difficult to determine when local officials should stand up and oppose their operation.
“Whether they (township officials) approve it, whether they don’t, the township loses,” Travis said. “We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”
Watson resident Karen Fifelski asked if it’s proper for gravel pits to be located on land zone agricultural. She was told the State of Michigan has insisted they can be located anywhere.
Travis also mentioned that Watson must change its attorney because Mike Villar has been elected county prosecutor. The supervisor is negotiating a contract with the legal firm of Bloom-Sluggett of Grand Rapids as a result.
In other business at the meeting Thursday, the Township Board:
- Learned that Rob Irish has resigned as sexton, but former sexton Mark Simpson has agreed to return after stepping down earlier this year.
- Reported that paving of 12th Street will be done in 2025 and 24th Street will be paved in 2026.
- Noted that the township’s current road fund is $288,000 and the mislabeled “dust control” fund has been pegged at about $200,000.
