Paint Creek Dam Removal, Zoning Ordinance Dominate Board of Trustees Meeting

Patch was writing live from the packed Oakland Township Board of Trustees meeting at Tuesday night. There were , including the Paint Creek Dam Removal Project, township budget and salary and wage schedules:

8:27 p.m. – The meeting is adjourned.

8:25 p.m. – "Drive 25 – Keep Kids Alive" reads a sign that Fogler wants to put in area subdivisions. "Wherever we feel we need one, where there are kids out playing, we will do it," she said.

8:24 p.m. – The board moves to pay the bills for the month. Motion carried.

8:20 p.m. – "We're going to be putting together some sort of way to work with waste management ... to reduce some of the cost the township is accruing" in regards to recycling, board member Katherine Thomas said in her report. "It's astronomical that we have to pay to haul the recyclables away."

She added, "We're reducing the cost of waste management."

8:15 p.m. – Board Member Judy Workings has finished her Clerk's Annual Report and says she will post it online.

8:08 p.m. – The board votes to continue funding the 's snow plowing services for 13 senior citizens in Oakland Township.

8:07 p.m. – The board votes to approve the Household Hazardous Waste Consortium inter-local agreement for 2011.

8:05 p.m. – The board has approved the two-year extension of the Hidden Creek preliminary plat approval.

7:58 p.m. – Discussion of the budget has begun. All four board members have voted to adopt the budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

7:55 p.m. – The board approved the administration's recommendation for salary and wages schedules reflecting a wage freeze for 2011-12.

7:54 p.m. – Discussion of the Paint Creek Dam removal project has concluded.

7:50 p.m. – The former owner of the mill, Jerry Mancour, opposes removing the dam and just asked, "Where's the best trout fishing in Oakland County?" The audience yelled back, "Paint Creek!"

One of the reasons given for dam removal includes ensuring that the trout population can make its way upstream without being impeded.

7:35 p.m. – Jan Olson, who lives in one of the seven houses that would be affected by the removal of the Paint Creek Dam, has taken the podium to ask questions about the dam.

"We're wondering, is the township going to fill in the ditch where the mill race is for safety? Are you going to fence it? Are you going to landscape it for us? What's going to happen to this mill race if this doesn't work?" she asked.

Patch will have more in-depth coverage on the Paint Creek Dam Removal Project soon.

7:25 p.m. – Anne Vaara, executive director of the Clinton River Watershed Council, is updating the Board of Trustees on the Paint Creek Dam Removal Project.

7:05 p.m. – Several residents are making public comments about the proposed zoning ordinance, which is not on tonight's agenda. is a hot-button issue right now; many residents feel they , though the township did hold public hearings on the ordinance last year. The new ordinance would place tighter restrictions on residents regarding a variety of things, from how many accessory buildings are allowed to how they dispose their pet's waste.

7 p.m. – Meeting is called to order. The board adopts the minutes and agenda and opens up the meeting for public comment.