The County Press

Mayfield Twp. denies request to lower fire run bill issued to township resident




MAYFIELD TWP. — The Mayfield Township Board met Monday evening. The agenda business was light, and so was public attendance.

A Millville Road resident asked the Board to adjust a fire bill charged to her following a December fire where Lapeer Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the home to extinguish a large brush pile the homeowner was burning.

Per township ordinance policy, the township charges residents for fire department dispatches to their homes or properties. The township fee schedule calls for a $2,500 fire run charge if a burn permit had not been filed.

The homeowner had hoped the township board would consider a “vacant land” fee of $1,500, rather than the full $2,500 rate.

Trustee Beth Potter- Knowlton was hesitant to stray from the letter of the approved fee schedule. “I don’t think we should deviate from the policy,” she commented.

The board agreed.

In other business:

• The township board weighed in a question asked of them by the Michigan Township Association (MTA). The issue was whether Michigan townships should have the option to hold township board member elections on a non-partisan ballot?

The Mayfield Township Board unanimously adopted a resolution to oppose legislation, should there ever by any, that would require townships to have their elected offices appear as nonpartisan. Treasurer Dan Frisch was irked that the MTA would ask action on the measure by township officials with little notice or previous discussion at MTA meetings, The MTA wanted a response no later than April 30.

“I think what they (MTA) want to know from us is how should they lobby the question? They’re looking for direction,” said Township Supervisor Dianna Ireland. By wording the resolution the way Mayfield Township officials did, they believe party affiliations help voters know a candidate’s values.

• Township resident Bernard Swift asked if there was any new information the Board could share with the public regarding new construction at the Lapeer International Dragway on Roods Lake Road.

Supervisor Ireland responded, “No.”

“No, nothing. On the record,” said Swift. In attendance were several township residents opposed to the dragway and the township’s allowance of dragway owner Bill Jennings to proceed with new bleachers and other improvements under the property’s legal non-conforming use designation.

• Trustee Frisch reported that at a meeting of the DuPont-Lapeer Airport Committee earlier Monday it was announced the airport will host a pancake breakfast on May 11 (details to be announced soon), a “Wings and Wheels” event is being planned this summer.

Mayfield Township owns the DuPont-Lapeer Airport. In other airport business, Frisch said it was authorized to spend approximately $3,000 to retrofit the restrooms at the airport to be handicap accessible.

Frisch said he will contact the Lapeer County Road Commission to determine whether the road agency can prepare a bid to crack-seal the airport’s runways.

The Mayfield Township Board meets the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.