Township Board Discusses Solicitation Ordinance, Advances School Sewer Project

A solicitation ordinance for White Lake Township was approved for second reading by the White Lake Township Board of Trustees at its meeting Tuesday at Township Hall.

The interest in adopting a solicitation ordinance was sparked by complaints to the township in January from residents about pushy door-to-door natural gas salespeople. The proposed ordinance would require all solicitors wanting to do business in White Lake to obtain a license with the township and undergo a background check with the police department.

The township has not yet set fees for the licenses, and the ordinance would apply only to door-to-door solicitors.

In addition, soliciting within the township would be limited to 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

The ordinance also states that solicitors would not be allowed to solicit in subdivisions or at homes and businesses where "no solicitor" signs are posted. According to the first draft of the proposed ordinance, any solicitors found in violation of the ordinance would be subject to civil fines up to $500.

The second draft of the ordinance will appear before the board at a future meeting for a second reading prior to adoption.

School sewer project moves forward

The Township Board gave approval Tuesday for Supervisor Greg Baroni to sign all contracts regarding the installation of a sewer line along Bogie Lake Road, from Lakeland High School to Commerce Road, in order to address sewage issues the Huron Valley School District has been trying to resolve at the Lakeland High School complex.

The resolutions to approve the contracts were one of the last steps needed in order to move ahead with the construction and installation of the sewer line.

Clerk Terry Lilley said he was very pleased that the project is moving forward. He said the township and school district have been working for more than a year to get the project started.

This sewer connection will replace the sewage system along the border of Lakeland High School property and will connect to the Commerce sewer treatment plant.

Lakeland High School was constructed in 1974, and the school has rid itself of sewage waste using a retention pond for the past 37 years.

The project, which will cost more than $700,000, will be paid for by a combination of funds from the township's sewer improvement revolving fund and funds from the school district.

Other items discussed Tuesday include:

• The first reading of the cemetery ordinance. The ordinance was tabled Tuesday after Trustee Carol Burkard shared several questions and concerns about the vagueness of some of the language and how records would be kept.
• The approval of more than $10,000 in parks and recreation purchases for several items, including bleachers for Vetter Park, park benches for Vetter and Hawley parks and rehabilitation of the volleyball court at Hawley Park.
• The approval of former White Lake Police Chief Ron Stevens' appointment to the White Lake Civil Service Commission for a term to expire Dec. 1, 2014.