Three Oaks Village Council hears next steps for wastewater lagoon improvements

Engineers are focusing on the next steps in the Village of Three Oaks’ wastewater lagoon improvements.

During the Three Oaks Village Council’s Feb. 8 meeting, representatives from Wightman and Associates engineering consultants presented a plan to meet the requirements set in the state’s administrative consent order (ACO).

Wightman’s proposal includes updating ordinances, assessing the entire wastewater system and making a report to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and incorporating the collected data into an asset management plan.

Wightman engineers told the council state funds and some grants may be available for the project.

The village council approved Wightman’s proposal for civil engineering services totaling $119,500.

Councilmember Tyler Ream stated the lagoons are below capacity and the average strength of discharge going in is acceptable. The planned work, he said, is for repairs and improvements that have needed to be done.

During the same meeting, the council learned the Downtown Development Authority is exploring the possibility of creating a social district in the downtown.

Councilmember and DDA liaison Joe Hinman explained a social district would allow patrons to purchase alcoholic drinks in specially marked cups and carry them between

BY THERESE DONNELLY

participating businesses. The cups may not be refilled.

Hinman said the DDA would not go further in their plans without feedback from the council. If the DDA proceeds, the village would need to determine if Watkins Park, Chamberlain Trail and the American Legion ballparks would be included.

Village manager Dan Faulkner noted the village leases the ballparks and he had not heard from the legion regarding the district.

Councilmember Becky Thomas said she thought the district would not draw additional visitors to the downtown, but could allow people to dine outside.

Police Chief Carl Krause expressed reservations, noting the village police department is currently not fully staffed and would have difficulty monitoring the district.

Later in the meeting Krause told the council he had recently met with a candidate who showed interest in joining the police department and he hopes to hold interviews in the next few months. Krause also said Lake Michigan College is looking into creating a police academy.

Acquisition of the countyowned administrative building at 21 N. Elm Street continues. Faulkner told the council the purchase agreement is complete and he is working with village attorney Charles Hilmer to determine dates for closing on the purchase.

Village president Richard Smith reported so far 129 people have responded to the short-term rental survey posted on the village website. He said the survey will remain open through February, and the council will review the results at its March meeting.

The council reviewed, but tabled, an amendment to Ordinance 210 regarding short-term rentals. Thompson noted the wording in the proposed amendment would limit rentals to Residential-1 zoning, which is while all previous discussion put rentals only in the Commercial-1 and Mixed-2 zones. Hilmer said that was a mistake on his part and would be corrected.

Councilmember

Lois Jones requested that wording in the number of permits be adjusted for clarification. The proposed wording said the number of short-term rental permits would not exceed 10% of taxed parcels, but Jones noted that would include vacant lots. Hilmer said it could be reworded to specify improved tax parcels.

The council continued its discussion on snowmobiles on village streets. Hinman said residents on Linden Street had contacted him with complaints about noise from snowmobiles. Smith noted that on MDNR maps Watkins Park is the only part of the village with a snowmobile trail.

Krause said he was willing to research how other communities handle snowmobiles, but added that MDOT permits snowmobiles on sidewalks and snowmobilers need to access the gas station.

In 2022, the council approved a conditional zoning for property at 23 W. Ash Street, set to expire March 20, 2023. During the February meeting, Smith said the village had received a letter from the property’s new owner requesting a oneyear extension on the zoning to have time to consider financing and construction options. The council approved the extension.

The council discussed but tabled proposed revisions to the village purchasing policy after village clerk Cindy Monihan pointed out the revisions would eliminate the office’s petty cash fund, which she said was used to handle cash payments on water bills.

The revisions as presented also include raising the limits on purchases made without prior approval from the council.

The council appointed Faulkner as primary emergency management liaison as part of the village’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Faulkner said he will work with the village police and fire chiefs.

In committee reports, councilmember Tyler Ream reported the Parks and Recreation Board’s five-year plan has been approved. He also said there are plans to place a plaque in Dewey Canon Park to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apple Cider Century bicycle tour.

Faulkner told the council he has scheduled an interview with a candidate for the open position at the Water Sewer Department.