Synopsis of Meeting MinutesPlainfield Township Board of TrusteesAugust 19th, 2026Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm by Supervisor Lewis5 members present 7 guests Items approved: 1) Agenda with additions2) Minutes from Special Meeting July 13th, 2026 and Regular Meeting July 13th, 20263) Bills to be paid 4) Private Road Maint Contract to Jeff Streeter5) Downtown Sidewalk Replace/Repair-Hunt Brothers6) Raise in Community Center Prices starting October 1, 20267) Tavern License Local Government Approval for Timber and Tides.8) Approve Master Plan for Comments9) Park Survey Approval-Riggs Surveying10)Budget Amendment Meeting adjourned at 7:18 pmPrepared by Sue Reilly, Plainfield Township Clerk Copies of meeting are available upon request from the Township Clerk. Office hours at 9 am to 4 pm Monday thru Thursday and Friday 9-1
SUPERVISORS CORNER I want to thank our voters that supported our fire and MFR millage renewals at the polls by a resounding 4 to 1 approval of both. We are proud to service our community which supports the efforts and dedication of our firefighters and MFR volunteers. I know that these individuals work hard to keep your faith and trust in their actions and duties. Thanks to all your hard work.Don’t forget the last event of the summer at Lumbermens Monument is September 5-6 @10-3 Labor Day Weekend with the Lumberjack and Logging Museum! Also the Plainfield Township Historical Commission has a program scheduled for September 19th at 2 pm in the Eagle Pointe Plaza, with Phil Naud on the Civilian Conservation Corps(CCC), their camps and work programs in Iosco County and surrounding areas during the 1030’s. Please mark your calendars for this date. Phil is a known scholar on the CCC and their roles and impacts in northern Michigan.Within the next 30 days, the Michigan Public Service Commission will decide whether to allow Consumers Energy to sell the 13 hydros they operate to Confluence Energy, six of them are located on the AuSable River. Consumers has determined that their two options for these facilities are to either sell to an independent operator or remove the hydros and their dam structures from the rivers which removes the impoundments and backwaters that we use for recreation. There are conservation groups that are strongly opposing this sale and are pushing for their removal. If you would like to make your opinion heard go to mi-psc.my.site.com and search for U-21985 to submit your comments. We need to make our opinions known and not those of a non-resident activist.The Iosco Recycling Advisory Board is holding two events this Fall for all Iosco county residents and property owners. The first event is for Household Hazardous Waste Collection on September 12th from 9-1 at the Iosco County Airport. This event will allow you to dispose of paints, oil, antifreeze, corrosives and cleaners, pesticides, propane cylinders, fluorescent bulbs, aerosol cans, any batteries, OTC medications, fire extinguishers and tires. The second event is for E-Waste Collection and allows you to dispose of any electronic devices including tv’s, monitors, computers, game consoles, cell phones, office equipment and batteries. This event will be held on October 10th from 10-2 at the Eagle Point Plaza parking lot in Hale. Both events are on Saturday’s to allow resident and non-resident property owners to participate and are brought to you by the Iosco County Recycling Advisory Board and made possible through the Rural Electronics Recycling Grant from EGLE and the Iosco County Recycling Millage. For more information go to iosco.net/recycleforiosco/special-events/As you know, our Garden Club is staffed by volunteers from across our community and is always looking for help. So if you would like to be involved, you can contact them by calling Bev Mason at 989-305-8823 or Hale Garden Club, PO Box 174, Hale, MI 48739. Thanks to the Garden Club for all their hard work that keeps our community looking beautiful.Consider a membership at the Community Center and Eagle Point Plaza. You can come and enjoy pickleball at any time, yoga, fitness training, walking or some more intense TOWANDA. Whatever your need we probably have some form of activity to assist you. So stop in and see Roma about a membership. We would love to see you. When you’re here stop in on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the Plainfield Township Historical Museum. They have great displays of our community throughout history and how our residents lived long ago. The members do a great job preserving and showcasing our heritage. As always if you ever have any questions, comments or concerns regarding our community please contact me. I am in the office Monday – Friday 7:30 – 4:00 at 989-728-2811 or my cell at 989-984-7073 or by email supervisor@plainfieldtwpmi.com. Fred Lewis – Supervisor Plainfield Township
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Minutes of Plainfield Township Planning and Parks and Recreation CommissionRegular meeting Aug 12, 20261. Called to order by Olmsteadat 6:30p.m.2. Pledge of allegiance was said by all present.3. Roll Call:a. Present: Toth,Thayer, McDonell, Morell,Olmstead, Heal,b. Absent: Johnson4. Guest: PatrickReady, zoning enforcement; Fred Lewis, supervisor, NEMCOG Denise representative, 36 citizens a. Approval of Agenda: Motion by Johnson andseconded byMcDonellMotion carried byvoice, all ayes.5. Approval of agenda with changes to open and close meetings for zoning approval.6. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Toth, seconded byMcDonellto approve July 8, 2026minutes. Motion carried by voice, all ayes.7. Township board report: Morell: July 15th meeting: reviewed bills, library is moved, changed sick policy, MDOT changing traffic lights downtown. 2 lights to 8 lights8. ZBA Report: Toth:2260 Bliss Lane August 20, at 6:009. Community comments or questions:None10. New Business: a. Recommendation to survey parcels 073-T30-001-029-00 and 073-T40-002040-00to also consider all parks except Loon Lake Nature Center and DNR park at Long Lake Motion by McDonell and seconded by TothMotion carried by voice, all ayes.11. Motion to close the meeting: Motion by Toth and seconded by McDonell Motion carried by voice, all ayes.12. Motion to open public hearing regarding proposed zoning manualMotion by Heal and seconded by ThayerMotion carried by voice, all ayes.13. Public Commentsa. Jim Waltz: Why changed zoning? Response 2007 was the last revision, many chaged have been mad and have made the document difficult to follow. North Kokosing went from single family to multifamily?Response: No intension to change.b. Linda Hutchinson: AI data centers is the purpose of the changes in the ordinance. Listed the concerns for data centers. Response:Zoning has been adjusted to stop data centers coming to our area. The zoning has restricted the use of our land. We have an established industrial area and restrictions to defend against the building in the township.c. Jeff Streeter: agricultural changes. Fences and use for permits supersede state wetlands. Response:Exact verbiage from the existing zoning manual. Environmentally sensitive areas: the board has the right to assign areas, but we currently have no area. Will review as board. d. Rob Broadvent: question: lives on Burnside and off lake. 66 ft. from center line for utilities. He has issue with setbacks for his garage. Why do neighbors get to have a larger garage? Response: to go to ZBA to review his needs. e. Charlie Kocher: Water drainage issues: non-conforming becomes conforming once this is approved. Response: not a zoning issue but that is a drain commission issue. In zoning, a new construction cannot have water running off onto another property. The beautification project in 2004 is the concern, water has been diverted since curb and gutterf. Data center concerns. What to do if data center changes. Concern with lawsuits. g. Solar farms: leased land- we cannot control those decisions. Development still must come to the planning commission but the ownership still has to bring forth plans to be approved with special use public hearings. h. Amanda- Why allowing- Denise addressed why we cannot ban people from doing what they want with their land. We can restrict itwith discretionary standards. Solar is more difficult to fight- Public Act 33 -State allows companies to jump past local zoning for approval. Have to walk a fine line to screen development and not just have companies to go straight to state for approval. i. Medical marijuana was already in zoning. Storefronts are not allowed.j. Industrial Area: defined the area from the dump to the old junkyard, now if someone wanted to rezone for industrial, they would need to meet the new standards for the zoning requirements. k. Zoning book: onlinel. John McNaby: concerned that they were not aware or informed of any changes in a timely manner. Response: we posted in paper with 15 day notice, document now goes to county for 30 day review and then to Township Board for final approval. m. Stone: concerned that this was important and only 15 days of notice doesn’t feel like enough time. Where would they want to have posted? Agreed that the public knows these are important issues and we have to take care to be aware of what is happening at the local level.n. Morrell: new member of the community, moved in 2021. With Nemcog being involved has been very influential on making decisions and cleaning up the manual. Thanked the audience for their concernso. Jeff Streeter: why was it posted that the entire document was being changed. Response: The document was not clear and rewritten so would be more congruentthroughout, and updated with new laws. p. Denise: explained why was a total re-writing. 5,6, 8 , 9, 10 process chapters. Site plan review was vague and details were added to make clear. Public should read chapter 3 with general provisions. Chapter 4 is allowing districts and defining what can be used in the districts. Chapter 7 is a specific uses and shows charts and diagrams. q. What are changes for apartment complexes. No changes for apartment complexes. Concern that they will be allowed in lake areas. Section 11 is allowing. Multi family is different than apartment complexes. They would need fire suppression and we don’t have city water. Lake owners are concerned with extra building in areas around lakes. Planning makes recommendations to elected township board and then they approver. What is the policy to have something changed. See Patrick at the office during the week and then he brings to board if he cannot handle directly. 14. Motion to close special meeting: Motion by McDonell and seconded by MorrelMotion carried by voice, all ayes.15. Motion to open regular meeting: McDonell and seconded by Morrel Motion to carried to open meeting.16. Zoning ordinance review: Board Review: a. Denise commented about the environmentally sensitive areas. Article 3.21 The planning board can discuss now or wait for the next meeting. This is an unusual areaand she is not aware of any other townships that use this language. Motion by McDonell and Heal second to remove the environmentally sensitive area section of the chapter: Motion carried by voice, all ayes. b. Motion to forward the proposed zoning manual to the county Motion to Morell and seconded by Heal Motion carried by voice , all ayes. 17. Planning Board makes recommendation for the Master Plan: Master Plan is setting the goals for the Township. Both were updated at the same time. Verify that the master plan and the zoning match. 63 day window to have approved for grant deadline at the end of December. a. Motion to send Masterplan to Township board for review with corrections to maps. Motion by McDonell seconded by Heal. Motion carried by voice, all ayes18. General Discussion and Public Comments: Fred thanked everyone for working on the document. Thanks to MISHDA for grant money to complete this process. Communication is currently an issue, minutes are posted at township, on website and on facebook. Township board minutes are posted in the Iosco Herald as was the posting for this meeting. No other options were suggested by audience. 19. Motion byThayer, second Toth adjourn 8:20Motion carried by voice, all ayes.20. Next meeting September 9,2026 6:30pmMinutes submitted by Cheryl McDonellApproved: Date________________ _____________________________
Plainfield Township Historical CommissionJuly 21, 2026,Minutes Call to order at10:00Introductions NoneApprove Agenda MH / BNApprove Previous Meeting Minutes RDS / MHPresentBoard Members:Rona Dane Sullivan Chair PresentBruce Thayer Vice Chair PresentJim Kesler Curator PresentBernie Nuttall Secretary PresentMargy Holzheuer Treasurer PresentMembers at large:Earline Robinson, Bill Morton, Beth Thayer, Amy Albers, Erin KelahanTreasure Reportapproved as read MH / RDSCurator Work Activity: Few new items. Past Perfect Training on goingOld BusinessThe moveget keys soon, thenget measurements and assess what needs to be done. The Fairschedule is set, July 4 float driver got sick unable to partake, Friends of the Museum set just need get signatures at the bank.New BusinessRefine our organization remain as is, By Laws need to be reviewed, Newspaper Article schedule done, Business cards closed.Next Meeting 18 August 2026Adjournment 11:15 RDS / BN
Just a heads up to everyone. The BIG ITEM DUMPSTER IS DOWN. Sorry for any inconvenience I will post again when it is back up and running.