Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NILES — Niles Charter Township Board members tackled a number of subjects at their meeting Monday, including the status of township hall repairs and recreational marijuana.

      Board members are currently holding their board meetings at the Niles Senior Center and conducting township business at the former bankd building next door to the center while the township hall on Bell Road undergoes repairs. Township Supervisor Marge Durm-Hiatt said it could take longer than expected for the township hall to be ready for occupation.

      She reported that the contractor working on the hall has found asbestos throughout the main part of the building. She said board members held a special meeting last week and agreed with the contractor that it would be cheaper to tear down that part of the building and build it back up from the foundation.

      She said board members realized that while it will cost an estimated $250,000 more than the original $2.458 million price tag, it is better to do it right. The work had been scheduled to be done this spring and is now expected to be done by the end of July.

      The topic of recreational marijuana businesses was not on the agenda but brought up by resident Ray Hartline. Voters approved a ballot proposal in November that allows marijuana businesses in the township.

      “Why are we doing this?” he asked. “It doesn’t make sense given the harm it brings to kids and people. We should do things that will benefit and be helpful to youth and the community.”

      Hartline asked a number of questions including how much money the township will get from the businesses. Durm-Hiatt said municipalities get a percentage of the state revenue from the businesses. Last year, she noted that the city of Niles got just under $60,000 per dispensary. Whatever the township receives will go into the general fund.

      Board members noted that they have little choice in the matter since voters approved allowing marijuana businesses in the township. Durm-Hiatt did say that such businesses will be allowed only along the South 11th Street corridor from Fulkerson Road south to the state line.

      She said that a final draft of the proposed marijuana rules should be done by the end of the month. She added that the planning commission is working on the specifics of special use and zoning requirements.

      Also Monday, board members set a public hearing for their March 3 meeting on the Shamrock Hills subdivision special assessment project to pay for road improvements. Durm-Hiatt said there are 53 parcels in that subdivision and more than 50 percent have requested the special assessment.

      The project is expected to cost $293,000 with the township agreeing to cover half of the costs. The cost for property owners is expected to be $2,756 per parcel and can be paid over 10 years. There is a total of .82 of a mile of road in the subdivision which is off of Niles-Buchanan Road.

      The March 3 public hearing is to hear comments from property owners on the project. If a majority still want to move forward, the board will order that an official assessment roll be prepared as to how much it will cost each property owner. There will then be another public hearing before the project is approved. The work is scheduled to be done this summer.

      Board members approved waiving the penalties for people paying property taxes after the Feb. 14 deadline but before the Feb. 28 date when delinquent taxes go to the county. They also approved letting an annual gravel mine safety meeting be held March 11 at the south fire station.

      Durm-Hiatt reported that the Community Park project is moving forward. The township received a $908,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources “Spark” grant last year and will be building a new pavilion and pickle ball courts at the park located on Bond Street.