06-22-2017 Watervliet Township Board takes first step in allowing chickens; North Berrien Fire Board

Watervliet Township Board takes first step in allowing chickens

By Annette Christie

The Watervliet Charter Township Board is taking the first step in allowing backyard chickens in the township. The action taken at their Monday, June 19 meeting was a result of the Planning Commission’s recommendation.

The Planning Commission held a special meeting on June 6 which included a public hearing.  Following that public hearing, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend an amendment to Zoning Ordinance No. 77 regarding the “Keeping of Animals, Livestock, and Poultry.”  The amendment includes that up to four domesticated chicken hens may be kept on residential property with certain restrictions.

The amendment states that no more than four domesticated chicken hens may be kept on single family parcels or lots in the R1-A and R1-B districts within a hen house or restricted fenced in area and only in the required rear yard and not lets than 15 feet from a side or rear yard lot line. The restricted fenced in area shall comprise of no more than 200 square feet or one-quarter of the total rear yard area, whichever is less. Roosters and accumulations of fecal matter, in quantities sufficient enough to where odors of such are detectable from adjoined properties, are prohibited.

The board will have another reading of the zoning ordinance amendment at their July 17 meeting and expect to approve it that night.  It will go into effect upon publishing it.

Watervliet Joint Fire Board

Clerk Patt Bambrick discussed the Watervliet Joint Fire Board (Watervliet City and Watervliet Township) terms with the board.  Bambrick said that the fire board was formed under Public Act 33 of 1951 which allows for the governing bodies of two or more contiguous townships, villages, or qualified cities to create a joint fire administrative board.  The board is to consist of two members from each participating township, village or city.  The members of the joint fire administrative board are appointed by their respective governing body for terms of six years. In addition, the public act defines that the expiration date of the terms shall be June 30.

Bambrick said that the fire board did not realize that they were not in compliance with the statute.  Currently Bambrick’s term is set to expire December 31, 2017, and Joe Stepich, the other township representative, is set to expire December 31, 2019.  Bambrick recommends that the township board move both of those back to June 30.   She stated the timeframe was about right with both she and Stepich at about 6.5 years of service on the fire board. The board approved the motion to change the terms of service to six year terms and to move the expiration date to June 30 to be in compliance with the statute.

Bambrick then asked to not be re-appointed to the board once her term expires at the end of June.   Supervisor Dan Hutchins commented that Bambrick had done a great job for the township and the fire board.  “Thank you for your service,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins then added that he would like to fill the vacancy that will be left without Bambrick’s re-appointment.  Hutchins stated that there has been a conversation with other area leadership regarding fire service.  Hutchins said that the area leaders would like to see the results of a study on the concept of combining all North Berrien departments.  With the other municipal leadership being on their respective fire boards, Hutchins thought that it would be best at this time for him to fill Bambrick’s spot due to this conceptual discussion.   The local leaders involved in the discussion are Coloma City, Coloma Township, Watervliet Township, Watervliet City, Hagar Township and Bainbridge Township. He emphasized that this is just a discussion at this time but that it is likely that a study will be done.

Rental inspection/registration increase

The township board approved a rental inspection / registration rate fee increase from $35 to $45 annually.  Hutchins said that they are currently just covering their costs at this point with this relatively new program. The township provides this service for the city also under contract.  At their last meeting, the Watervliet City Commission approved the same rate increase.

Hutchins said one of the biggest challenges was getting everyone together for the inspection.  That inspection requires that the landlord, tenant, and inspectors be on the same schedule.  Their goal this year is to get to every rental property in the township.

Personnel discussion

Hutchins made a recommendation that township employee Diana Householder, who provides ordinance enforcement and does the rental program, receive three weeks paid vacation and holiday pay as part of her compensation package.  She works 30 hours a week for the township.  Based on her number of years worked, Householder would not be eligible for that many days of vacation based on the personnel manual.   Hutchins was seeking these additional benefits to be retroactive to the first of the year.

Bambrick stated that she would like to have consistency and brought up those employees who have worked the allotted amount of years to earn the awarded vacation time.

Trustee Joe Stepich commented that based on the size of the organization and the number of employees that the township has, he would rather see that all of the employees be under contract.  “Consistency doesn’t mean everybody gets the same thing it means every one dealt with in the same way,” Stepich said.

Hutchins said that if they were going to review the whole personnel manual and make changes where needed, he wanted a timetable. Stepich said that between now and next month it would be able to go through the personnel handbook. The board set a workshop for July 12 to discuss the personnel manual.  The workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Mute swans on Paw Paw Lake

The township board had a conversation about mute swans and their possible removal from Paw Paw Lake.  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to remove as many of the mute swans from as many lakes as they can.  The mute swans are an invasive species that is harmful to other native wildlife and humans.  In order for the DNR to take care of ridding mute swans from Michigan lakes they require requests from either the municipalities or residents that live on the lake.

Mute swans are not native to Michigan, or to North America. They were brought to this country from Europe. Mute swans are invasive because they are non-native species that have become established and spread rapidly, causing negative impacts such as competition with native wildlife, displacement of native species and degradation of wetland habitat.  The mute swan population in Michigan originated from one pair introduced in Charlevoix County in 1919.  Michigan now has one of the highest, if not the highest, populations of mute swans in North America.

According to the DNR website mute swans are a problem for three primary reasons: they pose a threat to humans, endanger native wildlife and destroy wetland habitat.  Mute swans are large, conspicuous birds and have little fear of humans. Each year, the DNR gets reports of mute swan attacks on people in watercraft and on shore. Nesting mute swans can be very aggressive to humans who come too close to their territory. Mute swans will attack humans, especially small children, who get too close to their nest or young. Canoeists, kayakers and those operating personal watercraft have also been attacked when too close to mute swan territories. Mute swans also exhibit aggression toward other waterfowl and can displace native waterfowl from their nesting and feeding areas by attacking, injuring and even killing other birds.

The DNR’s goal is to reduce the statewide mute swan population to less than 2,000 by 2030.

Hutchins said he would not be in favor of any such action unless we had a petition from the residents stating that they wanted it.  “I think the swans are fine right where they are,” Hutchins said.  Treasurer Tom Scheid added, “If it becomes a problem we can act on it.”

HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1967… gathered for a class reunion photo Saturday, June 3, at the bi-annual All Class Reunion held at the Mendel Center of Lake Michigan College in Benton Township. The class got to graduate again the night before at the 2017 high school commencement, an annual tradition for the 50-year class. Pictured (from the left): Seated – Gwen Carlson Parrish, Lowell Harris, Larry West, Bill Wil-liams, Cheryl Frantz DeMorrow, Carol Cornell Schaus, Karen Bakken Wallace, Bob Wallace; Standing – Susan Szewczyk Jobe, Rick Ward, Debbie Heeter Tetzlaff, Linda Phillips Willer, Linda McFarland Biffus, Bruce Schilling, Ruth Rademacher Roach, Alice Stafford Martin, Lynne Conklin Farmer, Morris Rice, Doug Ewald, Bob Scaletta, Claud Hobson and David Troutman.

North Berrien Fire Board votes in favor of Mattix

By Annette Christie

The North Berrien Fire Board has voted unanimously to select Michael Mattix for the vacant fire chief position.  They held a special meeting last Wednesday, June 14 specifically for that purpose.  Mattix was the recommendation of the interview committee.  The position of chief has been vacant since the end of 2015.  Two captains have been sharing extra duties in the meantime to assure things administratively are getting completed.

Mattix came in second in the lengthy process of filling the position.   The interview committee spoke to him last week prior to making the recommendation to the fire board.  He assured them he was still interested.   Mattix has been with the City of Dowagiac Fire Department for 32 years.  He is currently a captain with the department and the Operations Officer.

The fire board has turned the negotiations and contract discussions with Mattix to their attorney.

Theology discussions at Arclight Brewery

 All are welcome to join Pub Theology at 7 p.m. on Mondays at Arclight Brewery, 544 N. Main Street in Watervliet hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.

People have been gathering in pubs and public spaces for ages, talking about life, philosophy, faith, and deep questions of meaning. People all over are rediscovering the pub as a safe, open space where they can explore and express their own doubts and questions, learn from others, and engage people of varying religious traditions. In today’s fractured society, these spaces are not only welcome, but needed.

Everyone is invited; believers and doubters, agnostics and Hindus, atheists, Buddhists, and born again. The more the merrier, invite friends and come with curiosity and an open mind.

Sister Lakes fireworks Saturday, July 1

 The Sister Lakes Lions Club will have its spectacular Independence Day fireworks show on Saturday, July 1 at Lions Park, 66991 95th Avenue.  Fireworks will begin immediately after the Celebration Raffle drawing at 10 p.m.  Bring a blanket or a folding chair and enjoy the show.  Admission is free, but donations are welcome.  Refreshments will be available.  In case of rain the fireworks show will be on Sunday, July 2 – same time, same place.