In a move that disappointed members of the public eager to discuss the short-term rental ordinance, Solon Township Supervisor Chris Comeaux, with unanimous board support, signifi cantly reduced the agenda for the March 13th board meeting, sparking concerns about transparency and the prioritization of long-standing issues.
During public comment, several people asked about items that won’t be discussed not be on the agenda.
According to Clerk Shirley Mikowski, items are kept on the agenda until completed. Some items have been on the agenda for years.
Comeaux stated his goal is to keep meetings to an hour to an hour-and-a-half and removing agenda items that have been back burner for whatever reason, would help move things along.
March was the third meeting for three of the five board members since the November election, during which Solon elected two new trustees and its first new supervisor in 18 years.
The mostly new board is taking on a lot, according to them.
In addition to the short-term rental ordinance, they are working on fireworks, parks and landscape ordinances.
With the exception of the landscape ordinance, none can be completed until the fireworks ordinance is approved by the public because each will reference the fireworks ordinance.
There will be a public hearing on the fireworks ordinance at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting on April 10th. The fireworks ordinance public meeting will be the first item on the agenda.
Starting with the April 10th meeting, board meetings will begin at 6 p.m.
The board is reviewing plans for a retaining wall repair at the town hall and space there for township offices, of which there currently are none.
The board agreed that plans for a new office space can’t move forward until after the upcoming budget meeting on March 20, 6 p.m. at the town hall.
After discussion, the board also put off deciding on whether to form a parks commission, which would receive a per diem, or hire a full- or part-time parks manager. Currently, the parks committee is made up of volunteers.
The board approved property lease agreements with the Polka Fest and two sports leagues for use of the softball fields for the 2025 year.
The future land-use maps are now in the Master Plan for public review on Leelanau.gov. Several board members announced they will walk Vlacks Park to review a forest management plan.
