In My Opinion AuTrain Needs A Plan Now

Michigan Law dictates, ”The zoning ordinance shall be based on a PLAN.” You don’t need a degree in law to understand that statement. AuTrain Township has no plan. DUH! The Michigan Township Association advises that with no plan, the zoning commission should treat the zoning ordinance as the plan. Under the misguidance of chairman George Lucier, AuTrain’s Zoning Commission is ignoring the law, trying to radically change AuTrain’s Zoning Ordinance. The sad part is that the benefactor of this error is Tru$tee Dennis Gramm. In my opinion corruption has crept from Zoning Administrator Rogers not enforcing the laws that Gramm is breaking to the Zoning Commission Chairman Lucier trying to change the law to suit Gramm. It looks like there might be a plan all right, but it is an unwritten agreement between Gramm, Rogers and Lucier. We need a written plan that is for all of AuTrain. We need this plan now. We need a plan that addresses the development of commerce, public safety, family neighborhoods, and the preservation of our precious environment. We need to coordinate these facets of our community, so AuTrain Township can develop in an orderly fashion. Are you a resort owner, contractor, educator, landowner, retail business owner, maybe provide a service in the AuTrain community? Your input is essential. We need a plan created with a diversified perspective, not the hidden agenda of a few public officials. If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. AuTrain has no plan; lets change that right now.

In My Opinion Michigan State Law Concerning Zoning

Michigan Zoning Enabling Act Sec.203

(click above to go to site)

(1) The zoning ordinance shall be based upon a plan designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, to encourage the use of lands in accordance with their character and adaptability, to limit the improper use of land, to conserve natural resources and energy, to meet the needs of the state's residents for food, fiber, and other natural resources, places of residence, recreation, industry, trade, service, and other uses of land, to insure that uses of the land shall be situated in appropriate locations and relationships, to avoid the overcrowding of population, to provide adequate light and air, to lessen congestion on the public roads and streets, to reduce hazards to life and property, to facilitate adequate provision for a system of transportation, sewage disposal, safe and adequate water supply, education, recreation, and other public requirements, and to conserve the expenditure of funds for public improvements and services to conform with the most advantageous uses of land, resources, and properties. The zoning ordinance shall be made with reasonable consideration to the character of each district, its peculiar suitability for particular uses, the conservation of property values and natural resources, and the general and appropriate trend and character of land, building, and population development.

In My Opinion It's In Your Backyard Now

Guest editorial by Judy Graves:

George Lucier, chairman of the AuTrain Township Board, was conducting a meeting last Thursday evening at the AuTrain community building when he told me, and I quote “If the people are concerned about their businesses,
or the transient rentals being allowed in AuTrain Township then they should be here asking questions and participating in the discussion not you.” I think I got my walking papers, but maybe now people will believe I am not present at the meetings just for the 16 mile lake area, but for all of AuTrain.
There is never an announcement for a meeting in the local paper letting people know what is being discussed or how the zoning could be changed. Certain zoning commission members do not want public participation and not every resident is going to go to each meeting like a few others and I have been doing for over three years, because we never know what is going to be discussed from one meeting to the next or what will be decided. Chairman, George Lucier, will be the first to tell you that you will have 3 minutes at the end of the meeting to make any comments. The whole process smells of dictatorship- we are allowed to participate after they have made their decisions.
The Zoning Commission is charged with the obligation and responsibility of creating the LAWS that you and I have to live by.
Here is a major announcement for AuTrain residents. At Thursday’s meeting the Zoning Commission passed a motion to allow transient rentals as either a conditional use or a permitted use in each current zoning district.
Some members will respond saying, nothing is written in stone and there will be a public hearing before the new zoning goes to the township board for approval, BUT WAIT the Zoning Commission board members have already received a note from the township board stating they will back the decisions of the zoning commission 100%. Where does that leave you and me?
In my opinion the township board thought the 16 mile lake area residents would be satisfied and go away if what was made fair in their district was made fair in all the districts. You know, “what’s fair for one is fair for all.”
I tried to state that legitimate hotels, motels and resorts would suffer throughout the county and people’s jobs would be in jeopardy. I believe the majority of the people in residentially zoned areas would prefer not to live alongside a transient rental. It is human nature to feel more secure when you know who your immediate neighbor is. Alger County is very dependent on the tourist trade, but I firmly believe there are ample accommodations available without impacting family orientated areas for what appears to be greed and a lack of respect for ones neighbor.

In My Opinion The Truth AuTrain Township Board Doesn't Want You to Know

During the November AuTrain Township Board meeting, Rusty Atherton gave his supervisors report.In this report Mr. Atherton quoted the Michigan Township News"The township zoning administrator position is unique. The zoning administrator is the only township official who has the authority to render binding or determative interpretations or decisions regarding the municipality zoning ordinance.Unless a decision of the zoning administrator is overturned pursuant to a formal apeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals, the zoning administrator's decision stands. Contrary to popular misconception, apart from the ZBA, the decision of the zoning administrator(when acting within his or her scope as arbiter of the local zoning ordinance) can not be overturned by a township supervisor(or any other township official), the planning commission or even the township board".
In 2004 ,AuTrain Township Zonining Administrator William D. Rantz issued a "NOTICE OF VIOLATION"of the AuTrain Township Interim Zoning ordinance as adopted on April 30,2002 after having been the Alger County Zoning Ordinance adopted December 7, 1979.
This notice was made in reference to all transient rentals in the 16 Mile Lake Region. *The complete letter can be read by scrolling down a bit in this blog, or click HERE.
If what Supervisor Atherton quoted is true, then the people using their homes in the 16 Mile Lake region as transient rentals are breaking the law and the transient rentals should cease and desist as Mr. Rantz demanded in his letter.
Dennis Gramm contends that he is legally using his home as a transient rental because of three affidavits signed by people who were at one time zoning administrators for Alger county. These statements have absolutely no legal binding , as no determination was made by these individuals while they were Zoning Administrators. Its just three pieces of paper written by Gramm's lawyer and sign by some citizens.
Why hasn't Zoning Administrator Will rogers enforced the zoning in the 16 Mile Lake region?
It is clear that the zoning ordinance was interpreted by Zoning Administrator William Rantz, declaring all transient rentals illegal in the 16 Mile Lake region from 1979 hence forth.
Will rogers is serving Dennis Gramm, not AuTrain Township. Will rogers is doing AuTrain Township a disservice by ignoring his responsibilities as a zoning administrator. Your tax dollars are being given to someone who is not doing his job. Is that OK with you?

In My Opinion AuTrain Township Board Filling Their Pockets

The results from the last elections showed that the citizens of AuTrain were not ready to pay more taxes . The proposal for a NEW millage for general funds was soundly turned down. At the November Township Board meeting Treasurer Ann Clapp brought a survey of several townships, of which all but one were from the lower peninsula. The survey contained information about how much township officials were being payed. It was clear to me that this information was part of a movement by board members to initiate a raise in salary had the proposal for more taxes passed. Mary Rogers entertained the notion of giving the board members health insurance and retirement benefits . It is interesting how greed can manifest into over consumption.

In My Opinion Letter to the Editor published in Munising News

In my opinion: It’s human nature to form into groups, whether it’s a baseball team, church, or political party; what have you. This can be good from the standpoint of common interest, or healthy competition. It can also be bad, manifesting into things like ethnic prejudice, or incumbent protection. Examples of incumbent protection could be a prosecuting attorney not going after a criminal because a police officer is connected in the crime, or perhaps a judge making a ruling that hurts the citizens of a community while favoring a “good old boy” in his circle of influential friends. Loyalty to a group supercedes moral values in some cases.
The AuTrain Township Board has been practicing incumbent protection for years. Good people on the board have completely lost their moral bearings, surrendering good acts for the community to favor the personal wishes of fellow board members. Nepotism is rampant. Their selection of officials and council include violent people who exert more effort threatening and harassing AuTrain citizens, who protest this political incest, than providing healthy service to our township. Indecent hand gestures, verbal insults and the threat of using a baseball bat on a citizen exemplify these vendetta driven thugs. Personality disorder can only partially explain such behavior. What does Trustee(??) Gramm have over this local government to make its members abandon integrity just to pave the path for his illegal hotel? It can’t be just the $1500+ per month of taxpayer’s money going into Mary and William Roger’s bank account.

Three minutes allowed at AuTrain Township Board meetings arranged by Clerk Rogers at the very end of the meeting and relentlessly enforced by Supervisor Atherton, then stricken from meeting minutes, thwart citizen input. I thank the Munising News for this necessary venue of free speech.

In My Opinion Please ceace and desist your use of the property as a transient rental

The following is a letter sent to a property owner on 16 Mile Lake:


May 19,2004
J-- and A-- B---
--- L---- Lake Rd
Marquette , Michigan 4-----
249------
Re: Transient rental establishments vs. zoning ordinance
Hayward Road ---------------------


Mr. & Mrs. B---,

This letter serves as a "Notice of Violation" of the AuTrain Township Interum Zoning Ordinance as adopted on April 30, 2002 after having been the Alger County Zoning Ordinance adopted December 7, 1979.

The 16 Mile Lake region is divided into 2 zoning districts. These districts are "Timber Production" and "Resource production". The districts are similar in some aspects such as permitted uses being growing and harvesting of timber and allowing certain dwellings. No where in the ordinance under either "permitted uses" or conditional uses" is there mention of any hotels, which as stated on the definition page,includes tourist homes, resorts, and motels.
Please cease and desist your use of the property as a transient rental unit and respond in writing within 10 working days of receipt of this notice. If you refuse to do so the township will take actions, as provided in the ordinance, against you.
In your response please state your reason(s) for the present "use" of your 16 Mile Lake property. In doing so please submit a copy of your zoning compliance approval application package as it was returned to you. Also bring to mind the conversation we had, on site, during construction when I explained to you that this type of rental has never been a permitted use in your zoning district.Your reply was "I did not see it mentioned in the permitted uses so I thought it was allowed".
Your cooperation with this matter will be greatly appreciated by AuTrain Township.

William D. Rantz
AuTrain Township Zoning Administrator
attachments
cc: Kirt Harmon, AuTrain Township Attorney
AuTrainTownship Zoning Boards
AuTrain Township Board
file

In My Opinion Quote from AuTrain Township Zoning Admistrator Will Rogers

The following quote is taken from a letter written by Zoning Administrator Will Rogers to the AuTrain Township Board on March 9, 2005:

" Clearly the transient rental properties are in violation of the current zoning ordinance that took effect on October 1, 2004.At face value this cannot be argued with"- Will Rogers AuTrain Township Zoning Administrator

In My Opinion Notice of Violation for "Illegal Transient Rental"

The following letter was sent to a property owner on 16 Mile Lake by AuTrain Township Zoning Administrator William D. Rantz :

January 26, 2004

This letter serves as a "Notice of Violation" of the AuTrain Township Interim Zoning Ordinance as adopted on April 30, 2002 after having been the Alger County Zoning Ordinance adopted December 7, 1979.
The 16 Mile Lake region is divided into 2 zoning districts. These districts are "Timber Production" and "Recource Production". The districts are similar in aspects such as permitted uses being the growing and harvesting of timber and allowing certain dwellings. No where in the ordinance under either "permitted uses" or "conditional uses" is there mention of any hotels, which as stated on the definition page, includes tourist homes, resorts, and motels. You will find included with this notice copies of the appropriate sections of the ordinance.
Please respond, within 10 working days of the receipt of this notice.In response please state your reason(s) for the present "use" of your 16 Mile Lake property.
Your cooperation with this matter will be greatly appreciated by AuTrain Township.

William D. Rantz
AuTrain Township Zoning Administrator

In My Opinion School Yard Bully for AuTrain Zoning Commission Chairman???

On December 6 at 6:00 pm there will be a hearing concerning the behavior of George Lucier. George has threatened to use a baseball bat on a citizen, threatened to use a shotgun on a citizen, and his latest threat to choke a person was the last straw. How can we expect to make progress with our children's behavior when we have someone in public office displaying terror tactics at public meetings? This has to stop right now. Even after a complaint was filed with the AuTrain Township Board , Mr. Lucier continued with his threats. Since George Lucier refuses to change, the only solution is to get him off the Zoning Board Commission.

In My Opinion MTA Lawyer Response

The AuTrain Township Board supposedly sent information to the MTA so they could get a response concerning the transient rentals in the 16 Mile Lake area.The information sent to the Michigan Township Association was incomplete. The information that was given was inaccurate with some direct falsehoods for bad measure. I am not surprised. If all the pertinent information were to be given to the MTA, the response would be very different. Garbage in garbage out.
One of the responses by he Michigan Township Association lawyer was that the Zoning Administrator has the authority to interpret the township zoning ordinances. This is true as stated in the Michigan Township Zoning Act. As a matter of fact AuTrain Township Zoning Administrator Bill Rantz interpreted the Zoning Ordinance by issuing notices to the people illegally using their homes on Sixteen Mile Lake as transient rentals.The AuTrain Township Board made a motion to prosecute Dennis Gramm for illegally using his home as a transient rental. The case was dropped by township attorney kirt harmon, but not by any direction from the AuTrain Township Board. That's right folks, the board never made a motion to drop this case against Dennis Gramm. Who is running our township government?

In My Opinion First Responder ,Treasurer , Community Pillar

Bet you think all I see is the bad in the Township Board.Well, here is some good that I've been able to observe: Our Township Treasurer Anne Clapp has been on the job for a long time and been instrumental in our having a Township hall, she's kept a tight set of books too. But what impresses me the most is her dedication to her fellow citizens on the most personal level you can get,she is a first responder . Anne has made this service an integral part of AuTrain Township and because of such dedication, she has influenced quite a few people to join in. Thanks Anne Clapp, you make me proud to be a citizen of AuTrain Township. Thanks too to all the other first responders in our community.

In My Opinion TOO MUCH BAGGAGE

In My Opinion Some Good, Some Bad , Some Progress, Some Bravery...

The January 11th AuTrain Township Board meeting showed some signs of progress as Supervisor Graves was successful in making citizen input a more integral part of the process. This seems to be a hard pill to swallow for some of the board members who are more accustomed to a process that caters to a closer circle of influence, themselves. Not all input was from the same perspective now with more participation. Disagreement in the audience took a bad turn however, when George Lucier threatened to use a baseball bat on another person.This type of behavior is inexcusable and criminal in nature.

George Lucier joins Will Rogers as appointed government officials in AuTrain Township who resort to violent behavior at public meetings.

Not all the excitement was negative though. During the meeting pocket alarms began chirping a cautionary note to the volunteer firemen and off they went to serve our community with Firechief Steinhoff leading the way.Thank you.

In My Opinion AuTrain Township Board meeting Jan 11, 7:00 pm

There is an AuTrain Township Board meeting Wednesday January 11, at 7:30 pm. I wish I could tell you what the agenda was but that is a well kept secret held by Clerk Mary Rogers. Rogers usually reveals what is on the agenda the day of the meeting. It would be nice if the taxpayers of AuTrain knew what was on the agenda at least a week before hand.I guess a tradition of illegal closed meetings, suppression of public input, and secret agendas is a hard habit to break. Why bother with some stupid reality TV show when you can have the real deal live. Plan on attending the meeting.

In My Opinion $18,000 of Taxpayer's Money defending NOT DOING THEIR JOB ....

On Feb 6, 2006 at 10:45 am, there is a hearing in Circuit Court before the Honorable Judge Stark to determine the validity of a Writ of Mandamus suite against Au Train Township Clerk Mary Rogers, her husband Will Rogers Zoning Administrator, Ellen Steinhoff Trustee, Ann Clapp Treasurer, and Gary Porter Zoning Board Chairman. A Writ of Mandamus is a written court order commanding an individual or individuals to perform their written responsibilities and duties, as elected officials in this case. A Board member made this statement to the people attending a township meeting; quote “we can do whatever we want”. Ignorance and defiance of the law has been observed and public input has been repressed. We, as taxpayers, are paying for their defense and to date they have expended $18,000.00 of our tax dollars so they can do whatever they want.

In My Opinion Some AuTrain History

March 2004: Gary Porter, Autrain Zoning Board Chairman, along with zoning board members Bob Nelson, Dale Bowen, Kurt Love, Rick Carr and (advisor) Supervisor George Lucier were trying to wrap up the new zoning ordinances for Au Train Township.
Bill Rantz , Alger County Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator has sent out ordinance violation notices to approximately 6 parties who are renting their homes to transient traffic (tourists) in the 16 mile lake area. Bill Rantz leaves office before following through, but Supervisor George Lucier becomes acting zoning administrator with no follow up.

June 2004: Trustee Dennis Gramm recommends hiring Mr. Will Rogers as zoning administrator/ enforcement officer with a salary of $750.00/ month. Will is the husband of Mary Rogers, AuTrain Township Clerk who also receives $750.00/month. George Lucier retains enforcement responsibility, but takes no action until August. Under heavy pressure the Board instructs Mr. Lucier to begin prosecution of AuTrain Township Trustee Dennis Gramm for illegally renting half of his home to transient traffic. Township Attorney Kirt Harmon selected Dennis Gramm because he presented the best case and Dennis Gramm vocally stated that he would continue to rent to transient traffic in a residential zone and he welcomed the opportunity to prove he was legal. He said quote “Bring it on”.

December 2004: Judy Graves became the new supervisor and at her first meeting Mary Rogers announced the prosecution of Dennis Gramm was dismissed. There was no motion to dismiss the case. ( Hmmm!) Open Meetings Act Violation? The excuse for dismissal was 3 former zoning administrators signed affidavits stating they allowed the rentals- a decision beyond their authority and the Board had allowed an unintentional 5-month lapse in zoning. The violation took place before the lapse in zoning. The lapse of zoning has since been dismissed as a determining factor.
A dog kennel with 30 dogs had also been developed in the 16 mile lake area contrary to the zoning ordinances of 1979 and the new zoning ordinances and has been found guilty of the noise ordinance 3 times – at the magistrate level, district court and in circuit court, but has been and is still operating with no action by the zoning administrator

January 2005:
Trustee Dennis Gramm made a formal request to be refunded his legal fees to the tune of $3,732.00. The Board, excluding Mr. Gramm, went into what was an illegal closed session to discuss the reimbursement and what the township attorney advised. Upon returning to the open meeting, Trustee Ellen Steinhoff made a motion to return the funds to Mr. Gramm and the motion passed with 1 descending vote from Supervisor Graves.

December 2005:
For ten months previous, after persistent inquiries and investigative letters, four (4) concurring opinions had been presented stating the refund of Mr. Gramm’s legal fees was an illegal expenditure of taxpayer funds by the Township Board.
The opinions were obtained from the Alger County Prosecuting Attorney Karen Bahrman, a Michigan Township Association Attorney Jim Porter, the Michigan State Attorney General’s Office, and the Michigan State Treasury Department- Cary Vaughn. The Board would not act on these opinions. These opinions were free except for the time it took the supervisor to gather material, make long distance calls and write exhaustive letters. The Board requested another opinion from Attorney William Smith of Kendicks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman and Greenlee, PC.of Marquette. Attorney Smith’s opinion was thorough, extensive, indisputable, but unnecessary and cost the taxpayers $900.00. Attorney Smith agreed the expenditure was illegal.
Mr. Gramm formally asked if each member of the Board if they wanted the money returned and their answers were positve.

In My Opinion The most important asset is.....

Everyone needs a plan,whether it's what you'll be doing during the day, week, year or life. Corporations need a plan, football teams need a plan, and racecar teams need a plan. AuTrain Township needs a strategic plan to help our township government to stay focused on the good of the entire community.We only have 142 square miles of land.Let's plan on building on our strengths like AuTrain Lake and Christmas and promote their commercial potential. Other strengths, such as our family neighborhoods and environment, help provide incentive for future generations to live here bringing prosperity to our community. A plan that preserves these assets is equally important. The most important asset of all is YOU! Go to the next township meeting and bring some positive ideas for a plan.I know your Township Supervisor will listen.

In My Opinion Thanks for returning AuTrain Taxpayer's Money.... (sort of)

After months and months,AuTrain Township Tru$tee Dennis Gramm finally said that he would return the illegally gotten $3,732.00 back to the Township. Hey, thanks Dennis(sort of). The Michigan Township Association thought you should return the money,our Alger County prosecuter thought the money was ill-gotten, the Michigan Attorney General advised that the $3,732.00 should have never been given to you. The Michigan State Treasurey Department thought you should not have been given the money.The independant lawyer, the Township Board hired for $900.00 , thought the money should be returned.
Tru$tee Gramm should repay the Township's $900.00 legal fees.Tru$tee Gramm should also stop illegally running a hotel in a single family AuTrain Township neighborhoodThe cartoons were published in the Munising News while Trustee Dennis Gramm held on to AuTrain Township taxpayer's money. Tru$tee Gramm has finally returned the money. Interest free loans for Tru$tee Gramm are a sign of what?