Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
ERWIN TOWNSHIP — The Erwin Township Board of Trustees updated the township fee schedule Wednesday.
The board addressed several fees, including introducing a scale for the cost of a special use permit.
Whereas permits were previously $600, they will now cost between $250 and $600 depending on the costs the township has for notifying neighbors and holding a hearing as required by the permits.
Township Supervisor Larry Grimsby said the goal of the fee should be to cover township costs, while not imposing a hardship on those seeking a permit.
“Zoning shouldn’t be punitive, you should be doing it for the people,” Grimsby said. “Do what’s best for your township and the people, that’s my opinion.”
Other changes to the fee schedule include setting a rate of $50 for a color copy of the zoning ordinance, setting a rate of $25 for a zoning permit and stating that the building inspector has a separate fee schedule that is largely based on a project’s square footage.
The board also reviewed its policy regarding Freedom of Information Act requests. It was decided to largely keep the current FOIA policy, and a fee of a $1 a page for requests was set, to be charged on a case by case basis.
In other action:
—The board approved donating up to $100 for the Erwin Township annual picnic, which will be held Sunday, July 2. The board also authorized an open house be held at the township hall the day before the picnic.
—The board passed the Michigan Township Association’s Principles of Good Governance.
—The board decided not to continue with a plan to repave the parking lot at the township hall, due to a lack of funds.
