By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Through truck traffic on Barron Lake Road may soon come to a halt. The Howard Township Board Tuesday night announced it has information that can prohibit through truck traffic, despite that the Cass County Road Commission says it cannot because it is a primary road. A vote on the matter is expected at the next board meeting at 7 p.m. May 15.
The matter was checked into by Trustee Shelby Farmer, who received a response from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) saying that the board can prohibit through truck traffic by reinstating an old resolution or writing a new one.
The MDOT stated that the road will continue to be maintained by federal dollars, Farmer said. "The county selects the roads the money goes to. They (road commission) refused to post a sign. This has been an issue on my plate for years and lots of residents too. We have a constitutional right to have control of the roads in our borders," she said.
Farmer referred to rumblings out of Lansing that the state is trying to take over smaller townships under a population of 5,000. The township is the one that knows the issues and should be making the decisions. Right now, the state says Barron Lake Road is a rural-urban arterial. If through truck restrictions are imposed, it will be a major rural collector, she said. If so, it would still be classified as a road that is federally aid eligible, she added.
It was noted in the letter, the township should look at the road more broadly on the issue, meaning cars that travel the road headed in all area directions. There are joggers, bikers, walkers and bicyclists that also use the road, but the issue is children that play or go near the edge of the road, Farmer said.
"As a board, we have a responsibility to maintain safety, and to prohibit through truck traffic is something that needs to be done. The possibility of someone being injured or killed is a far clearer responsibility."
A motion by Treasurer Shaune Timm to create an ordinance to eliminate through truck traffic on Barron Lake Road was discussed and will be written up for a vote next month. In it will be the allowance of businesses along the road to proceed with driving trucks from their business or farm.
"Farmers can get their trucks out. Kenneth Smith's days are numbered," Farmer said.
It was discussed to post a sign at White Street to halt southbound truck traffic.
In other business, the board set a public hearing on a proposed liquor license for the Stop In restaurant at 1201 Barron Lake Road to be held at 7 p.m. May 9. The place will be determined, which will probably be Howard School. The notice will be published and posted.
In related business, Timm presented an attorney bill from Mowitt Drew in Niles for $1,975 that she said the taxpayers should not have to pay. It was for phone calls with attorney Michael Bell in Buchanan in regard to an application for a liquor license for Bell's client Laura Shaffert who with David McCarty operate the Stop In Restaurant.
Trustee Mike Richmond said the taxpayers should not have to pay for this bill for someone to get a license.
He withdrew a motion to set up an escrow account in the amount of $4,000 to $5,000 after discussion. Farmer noted, "We already have an establishment that serves liquor. We don't need another one."
The bill will be confirmed with Drew, before a decision is made.