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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
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New Buffalo Township Board approves proposal for endangered plant relocation regarding planned Marquette Greenway APPROVES MATCH FOR BERRIEN COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS RADIO REPLACEMENT GRANT
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embers of the New Buffalo Township Board approved a proposal for the relocation of some endangered plants that are in the path of the planned Marquette Greenway at their Monday, Aug. 16, meeting. Marcy Hamilton from the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission said that in 2019, a three-season plant survey was done along the corridor for the Marquette Greenway (a planned nonmotorized trail that will connect Chicago with downtown New Buffalo). Contractor Cardno found some endangered plants, Hollow Joe Rye Weed, in the township’s section along U.S. Highway 12, in the area that’s going to be disturbed by the trail. Hamilton said the proposal from Cardno allows them to obtain a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and to relocate the plants. The plants are currently on the Amtrak side on U.S. 12, and Cardno is proposing to move them to another population that are on the other side of U.S. 12. Hamilton said the plants flower in August and September, and they need to be flagged and photo documented while they’re still in flower. The best time to move them is in the fall. Board members approved the Hollow Joe Rye Weed relocation for the Marquette Greenway from Cardno for $12, 825. Hamilton said this amount doesn’t include monitoring the plant population for three years. She added that MDOT gave her a local contact from Chikaming Open Lands for monitoring and she may also approach MDOT’s environmental staff members. New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit gave special recognition
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
to Deputy Brittany Garza of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department New Buffalo Township patrol. Deputy Garza and Sgt. Russ Tillery of the New Buffalo Police Department were the initial emergency responders on scene of an early morning June 30 house fire in the 15000 block of Locke Road in Chikaming Township, during which they assisted the 55-year-old male
had been working to secure a grant for portable radios since 2016. This year, members of the association learned they had been awarded a FEMA grant for $558,00 for the portable 800-megahertz radios. Flick said that with New Buffalo Township having two fire stations, the township’s fire department was awarded $31,693.82 to go toward portable radios
Trailhead Project in the amount of $5,962.05 was approved. Heit said that it’s a shared cost with Chikaming Township. Board members also approved a proposal in the amount of $16,369.80 for a retaining wall at the trailhead and $9,632.58 for additional landscaping work there from Naylor Landscaping. Heit said that there’s currently a twofoot elevation drop-off between the township’s lot and the neighbor’s lot. She said the township will request if its $75,000 grant from The Pokagon Fund that was to go toward finishing off the parking lot can go toward the wall and additional landscaping.
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Township Supervisor Michelle Heit (right) recognizes Deputy Brittany Garza
resident safely out of the residence. The fire was controlled and was tended to by firefighters from Chikaming Township. Board members approved the 7 percent match for the Fire Department Radio Replacement Grant in the amount of $2,218.56. Fire Chief Jamie Flick said that the Berrien County Fire Chiefs Association
for the department. The township is required to pay 7 percent of that amount, which brings the total that the township received to $29,465.26. Board members approved the ninth payment in the amount of $47,979.70 for the Public Safety Building Project. The eighth payment for Roggow Construction for the Union Pier
n application for Outdoor Assembly for U.S. 12 Speed and Custom for its annual Full Throttle Throw Down Saturday, Aug. 28, was
approved. Board members approved the following amendment to the fifth paragraph in Article 5 of the Sewer Use Ordinance: “In the event the six-inch sewer lateral should require an open excavation, the property owner must contact New Buffalo Township and the township will coordinate the excavation process.” A maintenance proposal from Kalamazoo Mechanical Contractors for the new public safety building for the annual cost of $3,920 was approved. Heit said that this will help “keep an eye” on the heating and cooling system for this year. Board members approved loaning the marina fund $30,000 from the Local Revenue Sharing Board fund, which will be paid back once Pleasure Isle Marina starts receiving funds from the slip rentals.
