Appeal filed by recall supporters

New Buffalo Times

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Electric vehicle battery maker knocking on door

BY STAN MADDUX

An electric vehicle battery making plant employing 1,700 people could go up between New Buffalo and South Bend. we’re aggressive enough that we believe this project based on a lot of factors will end up here,” he said. The St. Joseph County Council has begun the process of considering the

Ultium Cells LLC has applied for tax abatement on a more than $2 billion investment proposed on about a 700 acre site outside New Carlisle.

“We look forward to the application being reviewed and hopefully approved later this month,” said Ultium Cells spokesperson Brooke Waid.

The company, which has three other battery cell manufacturing operations moving toward completion, is affiliated with General Motors and LG Energy Solution.

Its first plant in Warren, Ohio, is expected to start production soon.

St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation Director Bill Schalliol said at least one other community is in the running for the proposed facility about four miles southeast of New Carlisle.

Schalliol said he’s confident of putting together a winning incentive package that includes tax abatement from county government and other financial benefits from the state.

He said the site currently used for growing corn and soybeans also has advantages for the company that should further help in the selection process.

“We aren’t overly aggressively but request for tax abatement, which likely will come up for a final vote in September. If approved, Schalliol said both sides will try to come to terms on a development agreement governing the project. Schalliol said the plant would be among the largest employers in the county and provide an estimated $600 million economic impact annually. “We think it’s a huge win on a whole lot of levels,” he said.

Construction, which could begin this year, is expected to take more than two years to complete.

A facility with such a large workforce would also have a noticeable positive impact on La Porte and the surrounding area, said Bert Cook, executive director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership.

Cook also said additional businesses like suppliers to the plant would likely go up near the facility.

“Many people that live here would obviously work at a plant like that, and that’s terrific for all of us,” Cook said.

Nobody wants to get Rich slow.

— Dino N. Fatouros Congratulations, Will & Jason!

For hosting the most successful fundraiser in MHS history!

Michiana Humane Society would like to extend our thanks to the event hosts of 11 years, Will Schauble and Jason Spohn, as well as the generous sponsors, auction donors, attendees, bidders, vendors, volunteers, event committee and staff who have given hundreds of second chances to shelter pets by supporting Cocktails at the Grand Cottage on July 30th!

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR. MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

BY STAN MADDUX

The failed recall attempt in New Buffalo has been formally challenged but whether the outcome changes remains to be seen. their four year term for supporting a cap and other restrictions on short term rentals. The Berrien County Clerk’s Office

There were 11 signed and notarized affidavits that were filed Monday, Aug. 22, with the Berrien County Clerk’s Office.

The affidavits are from people whose signatures were ruled invalid, a decision leaving recall petitioners six signatures short of the 212 valid signatures required to trigger a recall vote in November.

The people testified in the affidavits the thrown out signatures were from them.

The 88 of 294 that were signatures submitted Aug. 5 were thrown out primarily for not matching the signatures on their voter registration cards and signees not being registered to vote in the city.

The petitioners want Mayor John Humphrey and Councilman Brian Flanagan removed half way through could not be reached for comment on whether the affidavits will be reviewed and results possibly adjusted.

Supporters of the recall effort claim the signed and notarized affidavits conform with the requirements of Michigan Election law.

“It would be a blatant disregard of taxpayer rights if Berrien County officials ignored these signatures,” said Michael Davis, who’s helping to lead the effort for a recall.

Humphrey said he seriously doubts if the affidavits will be given merit, citing a letter he received Aug. 12 from the clerk’s office about the number of signatures thrown out.

“The county sent us what we were told was their final determination,” he said.

It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness. — Leo Tolstoy

30 N Whittaker St Deli by day

30 N Whittaker St Deli by day Controversial elections that changed

MBerrien County

are the Subjects of library

presentation forward on village right of way and that there be a Memorandum of An 1894 election, and the bitter Understanding (MOU) or easement political battle that surrounded it, is with regards to New Buffalo Township the subject of a presentation at the taking over the maintenance of the trail will be determined at a later meeting at their Wednesday, Aug. 17, meeting. New Buffalo Township Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. The program will feature Rhiannon Cizon, executive director of the Berrien County Historical Association.

The election that removed the with the Southwest Michigan Planning Berrien County Seat from Berrien Commission, said the New Buffalo City Council approved requesting Springs in 1894 was one of the most vicious in the county’s history. But $150,000 from the municipal funds the political battle began nearly 15 of the Pokagon Fund to support the years earlier in 1879 when efforts to project, so “we’re slowly closing our change the county seat began taking fundraising gap to fund the Michigan shape. Cizon will explore the story portion of 3.8 miles from the state line of the county seat removal and the up to the trailhead in New Buffalo.” surprising tales unearthed along the way. to be about $5.5 million, and there’ll be a last fundraising effort to raise an The presentation, sponsored by the Friends of the New Buffalo Library, is estimated $300,000 kicking off next month. free and open to all. The New Buffalo Library is located at 33 N. Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo. very close with getting the easement and approval from Amtrak, which has taken about two years. In accordance with current CDC guidelines, masks are optional at this event. — STAFF REPORTS come up from Indiana on the lakeside of Grand Beach Road. At the very first road - Woodcrest – the trail will cross over to the track side and go up the U.S. 12 entrance on the track side, “so between Grand Beach Road and rail tracks is what the current proposal is,” Hamilton said. between the tracks and U.S. 12, and there’ll be a 15-foot easement from Amtrak “to make that work.” Cyclists will go down Willard Street in New Buffalo, turn on Mechanic and end

30 N Whittaker St Bar by night

Grand Beach Village Council gives approval of moving forward wIith Marquette Greenway

Members of the Grand Beach Village Council approved construction of the Marquette Greenway moving forward on village right of way and that there be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or easement with regards to New Buffalo Township taking over the maintenance of the trail will be determined at a later meeting at their Wednesday, Aug. 17, meeting.

Marcy Hamiliton, senior planner with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, said the New Buffalo City Council approved requesting $150,000 from the municipal funds of the Pokagon Fund to support the project, so “we’re slowly closing our fundraising gap to fund the Michigan portion of 3.8 miles from the state line up to the trailhead in New Buffalo.”

The Michigan portion is estimated to be about $5.5 million, and there’ll be a last fundraising effort to raise an estimated $300,000 kicking off next month.

Hamilton added that they’re getting very close with getting the easement and approval from Amtrak, which has taken about two years.

The current plan is for cyclists to come up from Indiana on the lakeside of Grand Beach Road. At the very first road - Woodcrest – the trail will cross over to the track side and go up the U.S. 12 entrance on the track side, “so between Grand Beach Road and rail tracks is what the current proposal is,” Hamilton said.

The trail will then go up U.S. 12 in between the tracks and U.S. 12, and there’ll be a 15-foot easement from Amtrak “to make that work.” Cyclists will go down Willard Street in New Buffalo, turn on Mechanic and end up at a trailhead at the end of Smith Street.

The trail itself will be 10 feet of pavement.

Hamilton said there’ll need to be future discussion on what kind of fence the village wants, which may depend on their budget. There’ll be the road, a little bit of grass, the trail, a little bit of grass, the fence and the railroad.

The fence in this portion will be on the Grand Beach right-ofway; however, the fence along U.S. 12 will require input from Amtrak due to it being on their property.

Hamilton said the township had passed a resolution a couple months ago regarding putting the Marquette Greenway and Red Arrow Linear Path under the parks department, so the township will take care of the maintenance; however, the village needs to figure out the “best legal vehicle between the village and township to memorialize that.”

Councilmember Blake O’Halloran said that it “sounds to me there’s no cost associated to the village to have this” and the trail is necessary from a safety perspective to keep the cyclists off the road.

“I think most villagers understand how congested old Grand Beach Road can get,” he said.

Paul Leonard said if there are any other costs, they have Act 51 money they must spend on nonmotorized improvements to the village.

Councilmembers approved that a letter to all property owners who are adjacent to beach accesses, a beach access license agreement and a beach access release and hold harmless agreement are ready to go.

The letter informs property owners what they can and can’t use an access for and that it’s public; the license agreement between the village and homeowner ensures that, for any landscaping done on the property, the village has insurance for that property so it’s not liable and the release and hold agreement for contractors says that they must indemnify the village for any liability if they use the village’s access points.

As was requested from the last meeting, beaches and parks commissioner Peter Doerr said that he’d added to the letter that any landscaping must have approval from the council and that a licensing agreement is enclosed.

Doerr said that a contractor from another state can’t be required to pay a higher fee to use the access points; however, they can be charged more if they use a crane.

Councilmembers agreed that they’re interested in moving forward with regards to a Wildwood/Ely Waterline Easement proposal.

At the last meeting, councilmembers accepted the lowest bid of $69,410 from Merritt Engineering and Paul Oselka from Pay Jay Construction, Inc., with regards to the relocation of the water lines, although clerk Mary Robertson hasn’t signed the contract yet.

Councilmember Paul Leonard said that homeowner Joe Farwell may need to incur costs, such as moving a power pole. He said that Joe suggested that he sell the easement over the water lines to the village for the lower price of $60,000.

Councilmembers agreed to let Robertson first get the information on some dollar figures that the village has already invested in the project, such as legal and engineering fees, before deciding to move forward with the proposal.

Councilmembers agreed to purchase a wood plaque in the amount of $300 displaying the article that appeared in the New Buffalo Times regarding the village’s recent acquisition of the Grand Beach Nature Preserve.

Councilmembers agreed to charge $150 per white cement post in the village that has been knocked down and must be set back up and per broken post that must be rebuilt.

Councilmembers agreed that members of the Harbor Country Hikers can park in the circle area by the village hall and walk to the Grand Beach Nature Preserve for a hike that’s being planned for November or December.

Councilmembers approved reappointing Bracewell as ex-officio member of the Planning Commission with a term ending Aug. 31, 2023, and Frank Giglio as a member with a term ending Aug. 31, 2025.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Marcy Hamiliton, senior planner with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, said the New Buffalo City Council approved requesting $150,000 from the municipal funds of the Pokagon Fund to support the project, so “we’re slowly closing our fundraising gap to fund the Michigan portion of 3.8 miles from the state line up to the trailhead in New Buffalo.”