Clinton Township ends 22-year environmental order

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After more than 22 years of compliance and work, the Clinton Township Board of Trustees announced it had finally completed “Administrative Consent Order SW00-002” at its July 25 meeting.

Placed on the township on March 3, 2000, the order required the township to change its wastewater management practices in order to lower water pollution levels produced by its sanitary sewer system by taking steps to eliminate sewer overflows. Meeting the terms of the ACO has cost the township around $35 million.

“We were hit with an ACO, and we deserved it,” Robert Cannon, township supervisor, said. “We have corrected it thanks to a lot of staff people, thanks to the Township Board who supported every single project that was brought forward. And I appreciate that, because without that, we would not be where we are today where we can have our director (of public services) tell us that we are done and we can have the board approve the fact that we are done with our ACO.”

According to a letter by Director of Public Services Mary Bednar, the township was informed that it could begin the process of terminating its ACO by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy on July 13. The board was asked to approve a procedural step to allow the termination process to continue.

“All three branches of the river converge within this community,” Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem said. “We have a special responsibility to meet and exceed, but the fact is, we now exceed.”

Gieleghem called upon EGLE to hold other communities to the same standard in combating pollution.

 

Taqueria Mi Pueblo Express expansion
On July 25, the board unanimously approved a plan to expand the parking lot of the Taqueria Mi Pueblo Express restaurant.

Located along Groesbeck Highway, the plan calls for turning a vacant lot north of the restaurant into a parking lot and installing a sidewalk to connect the two parcels. The north lot will be zoned B-3, and the south part will be R-5.

Concerns were raised in public comment regarding the parking lot’s lighting, and Planning Director Bruce Thompson said the lights would meet code requirements by being downcast and shielded from the nearby residences.

 

ARPA funds
The board also unanimously voted to have the Finance Department investigate and determine how township revenues were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to compensate the losses with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The goal is for the township to use the last of its ARPA funds, which are federal funds originally awarded to assist with the monetary complications that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. The act allows for funds to be used in four ways, one being to replace lost public revenue that can be tied back to the pandemic.

 

Food truck fees
The board unanimously approved a slate of fees for food trucks on July 25.

New food truck licenses are $25 and are $20 to renew. Food truck operation permits are priced at $75 for 10 days, $125 for 90 days and $250 for 180 days. First-time inspections are $100 while re-inspections are $75.