A NEW YEAR – With the arrival of 2021, a new environment existed – giving reason for optimism. With installation of two new business friendly trustees and a presumed business friendly Township Manager, there was cause for hope. And because of the continuation of the Covid pandemic, the needs for assistance to the business community were apparent. The new Township Manager requested our specific recommendations which we documented in what we termed a Tracking Worksheet – this worksheet was discussed with him in detail.
While in principle, the Manager may have agreed with many of the proposals, he did not believe the current Township Board was ready for such a proposal, in total. We tried a new tack – the preparation of a White Paper that contained a more condensed version of our proposal – with wording we believed the Board might find easier to support. It was our hope that the Manager would be willing to utilize the White Paper in private, as a tool to help obtain Board concurrence.
2021 SUMMARY – The Manager offered to adapt/edit the “White Paper” into a form that he could use as a tool – however, to our knowledge he has not completed such edits. As he put it, he could not ask for approval at this time because of the positions of the current Board. Our relationship with him remains positive; he has assured us that he would aggressively implement what he could – administratively.
Until now, our proposals have not been published publicly or been presented to the Board. We are willing to talk with them anytime, should they be receptive. For the next year we will continue to ask for public support, while identifying candidates for the Board and Planning Commission who are committed to help change the Township’s direction. We will continue to work cooperatively with the Township Manager and with current Board members who agree there is a problem that must be solved.
In other words, we can expect no actual changes to the regulations – only administrative relief, such as promises not to enforce certain regulations. We can expect no permanent change to Hartland’s regulations. Any company which adjusts their operating plan based on such promises not to enforce would do so at their own risk – with enforcement resuming at any time.