Hayes Board Meeting Done ‘Under the Wire’

HARRISON – Hayes Township managed to get its March General Board meeting done just under the wire before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her executive order enforcing a shelter-in-place strategy for much of the state’s citizens. The third-Tuesday evening meeting had been postponed to the following Thursday morning, and the 6-foot social distancing policy was in place.

The five-member board comprised of Terry Acton, Maye Tessner-Rood, Debra Hoyt, Robert Buckley and Mike Haley, along with zoning administrator Ken Hoyt, county commissioner Jeff Haskell, zoning board of appeals member Frank Gadberry and one lonesome newspaper reporter were the only people in attendance. Making certain the facility was a virus-free as possible, Rick Jones was busy disinfecting every surface that was likely to have been touched by anyone (including wiping down the entrance door touch surfaces after each person entered and again when they left).

Business began with the approval of minutes from the Feb. 18 general meeting and the Feb. 27 special board meeting, and approval of the consent agenda.

Ken Hoyt reported February was slow in the zoning department, with only one permit issued. He also described two problem properties which are currently going through legal channels. He also reviewed the sheriff’s monthly report, noting that 911 calls were up 6% from February 2019 to February 2020, that intimidation/stalking was up considerably, that suspicious persons was cut nearly in half, that there was only one criminal sexual conduct call and no Narcan calls. Tessner-Rood added that she had seen a report citing a rise in domestic abuse calls across the state and nationally, relative to people being required to stay home right now.

Jeff Haskell reported that the Clare County Board of Commissioners had a special meeting March 17, and that the current COVID-19 crisis had caused the “budget stuff to all come to a standstill” which he deemed to be “pretty scary.” He also said there was talk among the commissioners and he shared that one commissioner will definitely not run for re-election in November, that two others may not, and that one was “one the fence.”

[One might consider abandoning of those posts at such a time of budget crisis could be likened to saving oneself by leaving the kids inside the burning house…food for thought.]

Tessner-Rood reminded that the Michigan Township Association’s budget classes for county government which had been canceled may be rescheduled for later this summer.

At this point, Acton noted that the General Motors shutdown could likely reduce the number of Hayes/Harrison summer residents, thus adversely affecting the local economy. Of course, that was before so many of those same residents who were instructed to shelter in place at home decided to come north for the duration [in direct violation of the governor’s executive order, and potentially spreading the virus further].

New Business on the agenda included discussion of MTA guidelines/COVID-19 update; Gov. Whitmer’s guidelines for the Open Meetings Act; Township Hall hours; Penal fines; the Fire Insurance withholding program in which Hayes participates; Recertification of computerized assessing roll, which is done every three years; and this year’s brining dates which will be May 6, June 17, Aug. 5 and Sept. 23.

Motions included closure of the Hayes Municipal Complex for the next two weeks; paying hourly township staff during closure, as per the government directive; and diversion of a portion of the weighmaster penal fines [which would require an ordinance and public hearing].

It also was noted that township staff could check the offices for messages from residents, and that a lot of business can be done safely and efficiently through the website. Tessner-Rood said the interactive portion of the township’s website “leaves a lot to be desired,” but that IT Right would be making the site more interactive.

A final issue of concern was the upcoming regular quarterly meeting of the Hayes Township Planning Commission, which was scheduled for April 8, and ideas were tossed about on how to conduct that meeting while observing social distancing guidelines. The quarterly meeting was to address the highly contentious, proposed gravel pit operation on Mostetler Road, however, the COVID-19 restrictions have led to its cancellation. When a new date is determined, the rescheduled meeting time will be posted on the township website.

The Hayes Township Board meets monthly at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Hayes Municipal Complex. Stay tuned.