Rural Character Being Maintained

I'm sorry that I don't post as quickly as I should. Sometimes it takes several days for me to hear all that has taken place at the township meetings. I'm really sorry that I couldn't be at the board meeting this past Monday. For those of you that were not there, our board voted unanimously to deny the consent agreement to Mr. Birkenshaw pertaining to his retail establishment (S.O.B.). Included in the denial was that there would be no lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order put in place by Judge Deegan barring the gas station from having any adult materials. This is the one win for our side so far.

What I did find curious was Mr. Damon's comments, the attorney for Mr. Birkenshaw, regarding the meeting that he has with our supervisor Dave Rushing. Mr. Damon stated that they had sat down together drafting this consent agreement and that Dave had said that this was something he could take to "his board." My questions are: Is this his board? Was he authorized to negotiate a consent agreement without first having the full boards approval? When he was negotiating, was he concerned what was in the best interest of Riley Township, or was he just trying to get this thing settled before the election? Good questions? I wonder if there are any good answers out there.

Anyhow, the Planning Commission Meeting is this Monday at 7:00. The site plan review for the S.O.B. (Sexually Oriented Business) will be taken up then. I hope that the turnout is as good as last month.

Board / Planning Commission Meetings

This is just to remind all that there is a Planning Commission Meeting tomorrow evening September 9th at 6:00 prior to the regular Board Meeting. This meeting is scheduled for 1 hour or less to continue the discussion for the zoning changes for the River Conservation District. This issue has been tabled now for what seems forever and I believe no outcome will happen till after the elections. We have 3 members on the board that know it would hurt their chances if they were to vote as they stated in the past. (See below entries.) If you are interested in seeing this do-nothing meeting, as I said, it will begin at 6:00.

Following at 7:00 is the normal Riley Township Board Meeting. Still on the agenda because it was also tabled last month is the "consent agreement" that Mr. Birkenshaw requested for his Sexually Oriented Business. (Remember the acronym S.O.B.?) It will be important that we continue to have the community active and showing up at this meeting. Questions?? Why was this tabled rather than acted upon last month (denied)? Who was present when a consent agreement was proposed? Who on the Board took the time to come to the public hearing last month and hear what their constituents thought of the S.O.B.? (FYI, the two trustees, Al Titus and Linda Hazelton did not care enough to show up! Are we at least continuing to cite the property for blight after we spent so much township money and won in court? When was the last citation issued?

Next Monday, the 15th, the Planning Commission will meet at 7:00 to possibly vote on the allowance of the S.O.B. at Bisco's. By then we should have the information from the professional planners and the Riley Township attorney. Let us all be there again and hear what they have to say. Let us hear how they vote. Let us remember who appointed the commission members.