MONTAGUE — White River Township supervisor Ron Bailey reported
during Tuesday's regular board meeting that the township received a
letter from Lakeside Solar LLC inviting him and other township officials
to meet regarding the latter's proposed solar energy facility.
The
letter, Bailey said, is the first step prescribed by the new renewable
energy law that allows a state commission control of siting decisions
for such facilities. The law took effect Nov. 29.
Bailey said
the next step to be taken under the law would be to confirm White River
Township's existing renewable energy ordinance is sufficiently
permissive. The township approved the creation of a renewable energy
district this summer that largely consisted of the current Chemours
property; the board believes the district will satisfy the terms of the
law.
Bailey added that a large number of townships have
appealed the new law to the state's court of appeals, and that there is a
motion from that group to halt enforcement of the law until the appeal
is heard.
Lakeside Solar and the township have butted heads
over a proposed facility that would have comprised 1,700 acres ever
since it was publicly revealed in late 2022. After not receiving a
public hearing on the matter and seeing the township board pass new
ordinances that would preclude the facility from being built, the
company filed suit against the township in early 2023, though that suit
was dismissed this summer in anticipation of the new siting law taking
effect.
Also Tuesday, the township board unanimously
approved an edited version of an easement that will enable Consumers
Energy to access a new residence nearing completion. The home is located
near the tennis courts at Indian Bay and Sunset roads. The board
consulted with township attorney Cliff Bloom, who made edits that ensure
Consumers will pay for any necessary tree removal to access the home
and any property destruction that may occur; Bailey noted there isn't
really any property to destroy, but the wording limits the township's
exposure if something unforeseen were to occur.
The board
also unanimously appointed Deb Harris deputy treasurer under Mary
Kriesel. Harris had been township treasurer, with Kriesel as the deputy,
until moving away from the role following this year's elections; she
was re-elected to the board as a trustee. Harris also reported that May
3, 2025 has been set as next year's free dump day at the Muskegon County
solid waste facility.
Planning commission chair Don Kline
reported that Bloom is reviewing a potential ordinance that would govern
short-term rentals in the township. Once a review is complete, the
township will schedule a public hearing to potentially approve it. One
resident asked what the ordinance entails, and Kline said the township
currently outright prohibits the practice; the new ordinance would
permit it while establishing regulations surrounding it.
After
the board stated it received a letter from the White Lake Fireworks
Committee asking for donations and for interest from municipalities in
having a representative on the committee, Kriesel quickly said she would
be interested in joining it due to her interest in the July 4
fireworks. The board also noted it has budgeted $600 to donate to the
committee, which is hoping to raise $20,000. The cities of Whitehall and
Montague each contribute $5,000 to the fireworks.
