Escanaba, Mich. (WZMQ) – Residents from Escanaba and Cornell townships attended the board of commissioners meeting in Escanaba, where a motion was presented for the review of an application proposing the re-annexation of a boundary line covering 19,000 acres of land from Escanaba township to Cornell township.
Many in attendance at the meeting expressed their opposition to the proposed boundary changes. Some of the concerns raised during the public comment session included a potential that Escanaba township could lose protection of a groundwater aquifer. Other commenters noted that past votes in both townships have opposed a boundary change. Concerns were also raised over the signatures, many of which had requested to be removed from the petition for the boundary changes prior to the meeting.
The board voted against the motion, resulting in a sigh – and cheers – of relief from those who opposed the proposed boundary changes.
Commissioner David Moyle acknowledged the contentious nature of the issue, which led to numerous verbal altercations during the meeting. Several people in attendance had to be escorted out.
He expressed his concern over the threats made towards his own family, stating that he couldn’t cast a vote that would remove someone from office when the people put them in office. Moyle also voiced his concern over Escanaba township’s zoning, which he referred to as “draconian.”
The commissioner clarified that his vote wasn’t against the pursuit of solar energy. Instead, he was concerned about the wide-ranging implications that the annexation would have.
“We acknowledged receipt of the application for annexation, different commissioners had different reasons for not wanting to move forward with it. Any way you cut it, somebody’s getting their property rights violated either way it goes. And these are the kind of things as a commissioner you dread. Because the 26 landowners who wanted to move to another township, I understand why they do. But it’s the ones who didn’t want to go, that for me personally prompted me to not want to move forward with this. But this is nothing I feel good about,” stated Moyle.
Moyle suggested that the 26 landowners seeking to install solar energy on their farms should consider their next course of action, which could be a class-action lawsuit against the township. He believes that the people who want to do something with their property should be allowed to do so.
Moyle explained that there is potential that the circulator might petition to have the application reviewed, but it’s unlikely that the commission is interested in pursuing the annexing discussion further at this time. He expressed regret that anybody felt they got the short end of the stick on this issue.
“I as a county commissioner don’t belong voting on this, it’s not my decision. It’s the decision of the two townships,” he added.
