Township Board Address Signs, Other Items at Meeting

The White Lake Township Board of Trustees was presented a proposal for a new ordinance Tuesday night that would help the township standardize temporary and portable signs.

The community development department and planning commission are working jointly on the proposal.

Planning Director Sean O'Neil explained to the board that no action would be taken on the ordinance at the meeting, but that the planning commission was looking for board feedback.

Late last year O'Neil and other employees conducted a sweep of the township, removing nearly all temporary signs. There was some blow-back from the business community, but O'Neil said the department has been working with business owners to address their concerns.

O'Neil said having an ordinance that clearly states what types of signs are allowed will help to clean up the M-59 corridor, where the majority of White Lake business are located, and improve the aesthetics of the township.

The planning commission will be holding a public hearing on the sign ordinance at one of the upcoming planning commission meetings. The planning commission meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Board attempts to address issue with resident

Also on Tuesday, the board attempted to tackle a issue raised by White Lake resident Matt Sprader with his township sewer hook-up as part of the regular agenda.

Sprader was given the floor to present to Township Supervisor Greg Baroni his problems with how the township charged him for his sewer.

Sprader said that his business, , was overcharged for the sewer hookup and requested the board reimburse him nearly $5,000.

Sprader cited other business, such as and , as examples of other businesses that have been overcharged. Representatives for either business did not speak at the meeting to back that claim.

The township was then given the floor to respond, and Clerk Terry Lilley provided background on the sewer issue, and also defended himself against accusations of wrongdoing , which Sprader mentioned at the last township meeting.

In the December meeting Sprader spoke during public comment and questioned how money was being spent on the baseball diamonds. He also criticized Lilley for volunteering to do work on his own at the baseball fields.

During Lilley's turn to talk, things got heated in the audience and Baroni and the rest of the board unanimously passed a motion to move the conversation into an executive session.

Trustee Todd Birkle said he felt an executive session would be the best place for Township Attorney Greg Need to address the board and answer any questions the board had regarding the Sprader issue. There is currently litigation pending between Sprader and the township regarding a consent judgement that discusses the sewer issue.

Other items discussed Tuesday include:

• A proposed amendment that would allow the fire and police chiefs to be the purchasing agents for their departments. In addition, the policy states that any purchase above $2,000 must be approved by the board of trustees, and anything above $10,000 requires the use of the township's current sealed bid policy. This amendment was approved unanimously by the board.
• The board discussed placing a moratorium on digital signs throughout the township, but the measure was voted down by the board.