Newton Township
Oliver Named New Building Inspector
By Ryan Schlehuber

Richard Oliver has been hired as the Newton Township building inspector. The Curtis resident, formerly of St. Ignace, is also the assessor for Portage and Newton townships and briefly held Newton's sexton position.

He was one of two applicants for the vacant building inspector position, the other being Karl Smith of Gulliver.

The township board, meeting Wednesday, December 12, chose Mr. Oliver owing to its satisfaction with his work as an interim building inspector, said Township Clerk Alice Zdebski. A licensed contractor, he filled the position in the absence of John "Hughey" McNeil, who was not rehired when his building license lapsed in November 2006.

Since then, with the help of Mr. Oliver, the township has met the state's requirements to remedy documentation and procedures, said Mrs. Zdebski.

Mr. Oliver will earn 10¢ per square foot for issuing permits for residential and commercial building, and 8¢ a foot for all garages and out buildings. The township receives 20% from what he earns to cover education and supplies for the building inspector, according to Mrs. Zdebski. Hired as a contractor rather than an employee, he will not receive benefits.

Township Declines Offer

for Acre for Ball Field After offering $3,200 to property owner Kurt Doepke for one acre of his land connected to the township's baseball field to provide more parking space, the board rejected a counter-offer by Mr. Doepke to sell it for $5,000.

"It would've given us more parking, but people can just park on the side of the road," said Mrs. Zdebski. "The ball field is only used a few times during the summer, so it wasn't crucial."

The acquisition of an extra acre would have provided enough space along the third baseline, between the backstop and the outfield, for parking.

Public access to the baseball field was secured by the township this fall as the board worked out a land donation and easement with property owners Dale Laidlaw and Mr. Doepke, who each donated 15 feet of property adjacent to the field.

Township Supports Park

Acqusition Proposal

The board approved a resolution written by Jerry Blanchard of the Scott Point Tribe of American Aboriginals, a nonprofit corporation, to seek the purchase of Scott Point Park from the state.

Mr. Blanchard submitted a draft resolution to the board in November, seeking the support of the township to work out a deal with the state that would allow the organization to buy the property for the township.

The board added one stipulation to the resolution before passing it: That the township has the first say in approving or disapproving any action to acquire the property.

The township will also provide the Scott Point organization with the names and addresses of township voters.

Mr. Blanchard, who attended the meeting, said letters will solicit

opinions of township residents on his proposal to build a community center and conference lodge in Gould City. Possible uses could include library, swimming pool, Internet room, pharmacy pick-up station, movie theater, and fitness center.

A public forum could be held in the spring or summer, Mrs. Zdebski suggested.

In other action, the board approved a Solid Waste Management Plan that will add two new landfill areas for Eastern Upper Peninsula garbage disposal, one in Schoolcraft County and another in Presque Isle County. The measure

expected to stimulate more interest in the area among waste haulers.

The board approved Fire Chief Neil McArthur's request to purchase six new tires for township firetrucks for $2,342.

The board's January 9 meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 16, owing to members of the board attending Michigan Townships Association conference downstate. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.