Otsego Township will try to head off future problems and possible inconsistencies by commissioning a technical review of its zoning ordinance.
The board voted 7-0 at its Monday, Oct. 9, regular meeting to hire McKenna Associates to make sure the zoning ordinance comports with the township’s master plan.
Clerk Joan Squibbs said, “There is money in the budget for this. We knew we’d have to do this after we updated our master plan.”
The consultant will sit in with the township planning commission to go through the zoning ordinance and the master plan to make sure they are in accordance.
Township trustee Lori Bumgart asked why there was only one proposal rather than multiple bids.
Squibbs said because McKenna had also done the master plan it made sense to contract with the same firm again and that others would be reluctant to do the work.
“It would likely cost more, too, because they’d have to review the master plan, too,” she said.
Trustee Rick Moll moved to go ahead and trustee Karen Burns seconded the motion.
The total budgeted cost was $5,900.
In other business, the township board voted 7-0 to hire MnS Lawncare to plow snow at the township hall and on the path along M-89 on the Strip.
Trustee Matt McPherson asked why they only had one bid. Supervisor Bryan Winn said that they were happy with the work MnS did mowing the cemetery and the cost was the same as it had been last year when Harold Immekus handled the snow removal.
The price includes $75 per hour for clearing the township parking lot and $65 per hour for clearing the path. Winn said he thought the township spent a total of roughly $1,500 last year.
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
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