Watson Township is seeking its third zoning enforcement officer in a little more than a year after the resignation of Evan Stuart.
Stuart, who was hired for the part-time post to supplement his duties as a road patrol deputy last summer, summer, succeeding Marnie Mills, a retired Kent County Sheriff’s deputy. His hours have changed and Watson Supervisor Kevin Travis said he had to choose between time in zoning enforcement and time with his family.
The township will do some searching for people with public safety backgrounds and will post the job on its web site. It pays $25 an hour for up to 20 hours a week.
Travis said someone with a public safety background is preferred because, “We need someone who is experienced in dealing with the public in stressful situations.”
There is a possibility such an offer will have additional duties if the township eventually adopts an ordinance regulating shipping containers now being used to build storage facilities. They are regulated only as temporary storage units and fall under blight ordinances, which may be inadequate.
Treasurer Stephanie Caulder said, “If we don’t do something, people will just do what they want.”
Trustee John Caras said, “There are residents out there who already shipping containers.”
No action was taken, but further discussion and study are promised.
In other business at its meeting Thursday night, the board:
- Noted the Allegan County Road Commission plans to do a chip seal on 16th Street this year and paving for 124th Avenue east to 15th Street in 2024.
- Adopted the five-year recreational parks plan as a precursor to submitting a grant application. Caras praised the work of the Planning Commission in putting together a 12-page plan.
- Was told by County Commissioner Gale Dugan that a third Circuit Court judgeship has been approved by the governor and a cap has been set at $10 million for remodeling to set up the space. Dugan also told board members former Commissioner Rick Cain was elected by the County Board to a seat on the Road Commission instead of Jim Rybicki.
