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 a
llowed 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.
