The Issues
The Roads
Transparency and Accessibility
Transparency and Accessibility
The roads in Webster Township are a big concern for our residents. Washtenaw County is responsible for road upgrades, repairs, and maintenance. Webster Township has separately spent $2M on our roads over the past ten years. Sometimes, road grants become available that require Webster Township to contribute money to complete the funding of the project. The Trustees have some money put aside for these opportunities, and we were successful in getting a few matching grants to upgrade culverts.
The County is focused on all of the roads in Washtenaw County and Webster Township roads are not always the priority. The Township Trustees voted to put a Webster Township road millage on the ballot for August 6th. This was done for a few reasons:
- It will give the residents greater control over road projects that can be completed.
- There is a County road millage on the ballot for the August election.
- There is a concern about the cap on millages and ensuring that we put the choice to voters before reaching the cap. See future blog posts to learn more about this!
Transparency and Accessibility
Transparency and Accessibility
Transparency and Accessibility
Residents want to know what's going on with their government and we need to have effective ways to participate. I am a strong proponent of upgrading the technology in the Township Hall. My priorities include:
- Speakers
- Microphones
- Recording equipment
- Videoconferencing software to allow residents to attend virtually (and enable accessibility features)
- Monitors that can be used to share what the Board is looking at or working on
This is currently planned as part of the construction updates for the Township Hall.
The Animal Ordinance
Transparency and Accessibility
The Role of the Planner/Zoning Administrator
I am not a farmer and I do not have over 5 acres of land. But I live in a rural setting and should be able to have a reasonable amount of chickens.
Many places offer opportunities for residents to have chickens on small tracts of land and there is no reason why Webster Township can't do the same.
The balance is in finding an ordinance that:
- Allows for the ethical treatment and care of animals
- Allows residents to use their land for agriculture
- Prevents disputes amongst neighbors
- Prevents undue court costs for a resident or the Township
There is no answer that will make everyone happy. I have listened to a lot of viewpoints from residents, our Zoning Administrator, and MDARD and I think we can come up with a reasonable ordinance and agree to monitor complaints or variance requests that may require us to revise it later.
The Role of the Planner/Zoning Administrator
The Role of the Planner/Zoning Administrator
The Role of the Planner/Zoning Administrator
When I started on the Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission were struggling. They needed a consistent and skilled Planner and Zoning Administrator to provide expertise and prepare them for each of the meetings. They were not getting the necessary support they needed. Many members were threatening to quit.
A sub-committee was formed to find a Planner/Zoning Administrator. I was on the committee. It was very difficult to find an Administrator. We put out a public bid and didn't initially get many leads. Planners and Zoning Admins are in great demand and many firms were overbooked.
Initially, we contracted with a firm who could only provide a part-time Planner/Administrator. The zoning work was very behind and the part-time person was focused on ensuring that permits were approved and resident projects were not delayed. The Administrator did not have time to review complaints or update ordinances. We attempted to hire him as a full-time employee; however, he accepted a different position.
We contracted with a firm for a full-time Planner/Admin who eventually directly contracted with Webster.
Our current Planner/Zoning Admin speaks with numerous residents each day and works to resolve barriers for people to build and use their property within legal guidelines. She has been a true asset for us. She is knowledgeable about regulations, is focused on resident input, and works hard to give sound advice to the Board, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and the community.
Policies
The Role of the Planner/Zoning Administrator
Policies
Personnel policies are boring but necessary. I am a risk manager by trade. Our administrative policies are out-of-date. They need to be updated to reflect best practices and updated regulations. This is not exciting, but it really needs to get done in order to prevent risk and potential cost to the Township.
Every election, personnel change. But, policies should stay the same to guide new and inexperienced personnel how to lead staff, document situations and conduct business in an ethical manner.