By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Howard Township residents showed displeasure about the Howard Township Board cutting out a police contract in its budget for next year and complained about semi trucks using Barron Lake Road Tuesday night.
"Every time a truck goes by, it rattles my house," said a Barron Lake Road resident during a heated meeting of the Howard Township Board.
Another resident argued why the police contract with the Cass County Sheriff's office was cut.
Resident Bill Kasprzak asked who is enforcing new signs put up on Barron Lake Road about no loud noises. "I am disappointed this board did not opt to renew the contract with the police department. "[Cass County Sheriff's deputy] have been Johnnie on the spot. I am disappointed in all of you (board members) for not having a contract. If we are not going to have a police department or not doing enforcement, how can Shaune (Timm-ordinance enforcement officer) do that in her car? What are we going to do with the $100,000 (cost of police)?" he questioned.
Another woman argued that there were two home invasions across the street from her house.
The board last month announced it would cut 40 hours a week out of the police contract for with the sheriff's department in the 2007-08 budget since the cost was $100,000 a year, and voters turned down a 1.25 millage request for police service on Nov. 8. Trustee Mike Richmond said his decision to cut police service was because of the cost. "I cannot see how it cost $100,000," he said.
Trustee Shelby Farmer argued with the board that just because the voters didn't want to pay extra taxes didn't mean they didn't want police protection.
Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. said after the meeting that he has to pay for all the costs of an officer, the car, insurance and maintenance for one officer.
Joseph Bellina III, Cass County Road Commission engineer-manager, was present to answer questions about Barron Lake Road and its status as a primary road which means it receives federal funding for paving.
Farmer maintained that she found a way to keep trucks off of Barron Lake Road. A Michigan law states a local authority and county road commission may prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles on designated highways or streets.
The board could adopt an ordinance to ban truck traffic from coming through the Barron Lake area, she added. Bellina said, yes, this can be done, but the road commission is under no obligation to post it. "The township has no authority to post anything in the right of way," he said.
Bellina's comment drew criticism from Treasurer Shaune Timm who asked, "What do you get from it? "Do you get a certain amount of money for trucks going down the road?"
Bellina responded that he found that question "objectionable."
Bellina said if the road commission would post signs, it cannot select the trucks that do use the road such as delivery trucks. "That means that any local delivery truck that has another way to get there would have to go." He said since the road is an all-season road, to restrict trucks at this point is a question of where would they go. "There is no other route," he said.
After more discussion, Trustee Irving Frost said, "They have been running trucks for so long, who would enforce it?"
Bellina reminded the board that Barron Lake Road just doesn't run in Howard Township. He questioned if anyone on the board talked to anyone in Pokagon Township where the road ends on Pokagon Highway at the railroad tracks. The answer was "no."
Supervisor Michel Sutherland ended the conversation by saying the matter should be turned over to the township attorney. By motion of Farmer, the matter was turned over to the Safety Board to discuss with attorney Mowitt Drew of Niles in a six to one vote.
Bellina told the board that Barron Lake Road at the bridge south of Cook Street will be repaved this year starting May 1-22 and will be flag controlled to keep the road open one lane for the duration.