Page 2 — Thursday, February 15, 2024 — The Hastings Banner
meet ambitious green energy goals set forth
by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her adminis-
tration.
While many residents already had a
high-level knowledge of this new law, Tues-
day was reserved to dig into the matter along
with touching on other topics, such as dual
uses for solar farms and a growing movement
that aims to bring this matter to the ballot for
the upcoming election.
County commissioners were joined by
Barry County Planning and Zoning Director
Jim McManus, attorney Bradley Fowler,
MSU Extension educator M. Charles Gould
and Kevon Martis, who represents a coalition
called Citizens for Local Choice.
McManus provided the basics on how
ordinances are crafted and what they do. He
also highlighted how the new state law has
hamstrung both his department and planning
and zoning bodies in townships across the
county by stripping them of much discretion
in creating ordinances for large-scale wind,
solar and other renewable energy projects.
Barry County currently does not have an
ordinance in place for large or small-scale
solar farms. They had one drafted but it has
been tabled because of the changing law.
That led to Fowler, an attorney with Mika
Meyers PLC that represents the county, who
walked through the new law, showing how
local units of government can still create an
ordinance for such projects, but it must be
compatible with the state’s existing criteria
for approval. Local governments also have an
avenue to challenge projects that are approved
by the state.
A central theme that arose from Fowler’s
talk is how the state, through the provisions of
the new law, has disincentivized local govern-
ments from creating ordinances of their own.
When a utility company seeks a permit
through MPSC, the state will require it to pay
grant money to each affected unit of govern-
ment up to $75,000, which can be used to
challenge or otherwise participate in the pro-
cess.
When utilities go through the state, they
also must pay $2,000 per megawatt of capac-
ity to each affected local unit of government,
which can be used for anything from police
and fire to infrastructure.
When a local government maintains a
compatible ordinance and manages the per-
mitting process themselves, they don’t get
any of that money.
The rub, however, is that a local govern-
ment cannot adopt a more restrictive ordi-
nance than the state, so despite having its
own ordinance, local governments are still
fairly powerless.Gould of the MSU Extension offered a
presentation on dual uses for solar energy
farms and how farmers can marry together
solar energy production and agriculture. This
included growing crops, planting pollinators
and using the space for animal grazing while
solar panels are in place.
Gould pointed to a type of solar panel that
can be adjusted vertically when needed, giv-
ing ample room for both farmers and animals
to maneuver.
“What I’m suggesting here is that we can
do this,” Gould said. “If there is a solar proj-
ect and we want to put ag on it, it can be done.
We need a willing farmer, we need zoning
ordinances that assist us and help us under-
stand where and how that can happen. We
certainly have the markets here.”
Gould also dispelled some of the most
commonly cited grievances with solar farms,
including glare, the presence of PFAS, panel
breakage and the lack of sun.
County Chairman Dave Jackson and the
crowd pushed back on whether Michigan,
which is notoriously cloudy and gray during
the winter and parts of other seasons, is even
a viable option for energy producers.
Gould contended that Michigan does meet
the threshold for sun on average and has
proven to be a viable solar energy producer
already.Finally, Martis of Citizens for Local
Choice, who proved to be a favorite
amongst the crowd, spoke about his coali-
tion’s movement to get this issue on the
ballot for the upcoming election so that
voters could decide. Martis is a commis-
sioner in agriculture-heavy Lenawee Coun-
ty and also served as Deerfield Township
Zoning Administrator.
Martis, who announced that the Michigan
Farm Bureau had joined the coalition earlier
that day, is looking to get 550,000 valid sig-
natures to get the issue on the ballot. The
group has set a May 29 deadline for those
signatures.
Martis stressed several times that this coa-
lition is not necessarily for or against renew-
able energy, rather, the power to permit these
projects should reside with the local munici-
palities in which the projects are installed.
“This is very much a bipartisan issue,”
Martis said.
“We are committed to only one cause – our
group is committed to the restoration of local
regulation of wind, solar and energy storage
projects,” he added. “That’s our only pur-
pose.”
The event concluded with a Q&A from the
crowd, many of whom used the time to voice
their concern and outright opposition to
renewable energy projects.Legal advice offered to Barry County seniors
The Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office will conduct interviews
for legal advice and possible representation, without charge, to interested Barry County
seniors this month.
Those who wish to speak with an attorney should visit the Barry County Commission on
Aging, 320 W. Woodlawn in Hastings, between 10:30 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Legal Services of South Central Michigan-Battle Creek office is a nonprofit organization
that provides legal assistance, representation and education to low-income people in Calhoun
and Branch counties and seniors in Barry, Branch, Calhoun and St. Joseph counties.Moolenaar announces 2024
Congressional Art Competition
United States Congressman John Moolenaar is inviting high school students in Michigan’s
Second Congressional District to participate in the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.
The winning student from the Second District, which includes Barry County, will have
their art displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year. Additionally, two regional winners
will have the opportunity for their art to be displayed in Congressman Moolenaar’s offices
in Caledonia and Clare.
The deadline for students to enter their artwork is Friday, April 12. All entries should be
mailed or personally delivered to Congressman Moolenaar’s Caledonia office at 8980 North
Rodgers Court SE, Suite H, Caledonia, MI 49316, or his Clare office at 431 North McEwan
Street, Clare, MI 48617.
More information on the rules and how to enter the 2024 Congressional Art Competition
can be found online at Moolenaar.house.gov. Participating students who need assistance
transporting their art to Congressman Moolenaar’s offices, or who have any questions about
the competition, should call his office at 616-528-7100.KCC Foundation seeks nominations
for KCC Alumni Awards
The Kellogg Community College Foundation is seeking nominations for recipients of
the college’s KCC Alumni Awards.
KCC Alumni Awards recognize former Kellogg Community College students who have
made outstanding strides in their professional fields, enriched their communities and sup-
ported KCC.
To qualify for a KCC Alumni Award, the nominee must:- Have earned a minimum of 12 credits from Kellogg Community College
- Demonstrated outstanding service or enrichment to their community
- Have provided support for the college while a student and beyond through financial
contribution, partnership, volunteer service or other support
Nominations are open through March 31 for consideration in 2024 and can be complet-
ed online via the form linked at kellogg.edu/alumni.
“KCC is blessed to have many amazing alumni who are doing great things across the
region, all over Michigan and throughout the world,” said Eric Greene, Vice KCC Presi-
dent for Communications and Advancement. “The college wishes to honor them, extol
their accomplishments and give them the recognition they deserve.”
Alumni may not nominate themselves for an award, but there is no limit on the number
of nominations one can submit.
Once a nomination has been received, the KCC Foundation will reach out to the nominee
to gather additional information. Recipients are announced and recognized annually at the
college’s Outstanding Bruin Awards ceremony. The 2024 event will be held on April 25.
For more information about the KCC Alumni Awards, contact the KCC Foundation at
269-965-4161 or [email protected].
Gun Lake Casino announces
$10 million interior renovation project
Gun Lake Casino (GLC) last week announced an investment of $10 million to enhance
its food and beverage, entertainment and gaming amenities. This will entail the construc-
tion of a new Crossroads Casino Bar and lounge, a new high-limit table games room and
a new restaurant, Lucky Dragon Noodle Bar, offering authentic noodles and Asian cuisine.
“We are excited to announce exciting renovations coming soon here at Gun Lake Casi-
no,” said Sal Semola, CEO. “Continuing our commitment to enhancing the guest experience
through innovation and excellence, this $10 million investment by the Gun Lake Tribe will
bring a new noodle restaurant, a new center bar, and a new high-limit table games room.”
Preparation for construction of these renovations will begin immediately. Guests will
notice the temporary relocation of some table games, slots and the existing Grab & Go
venue. The new amenities are scheduled to open by year’s end. GLC partnered with Pio-
neer Construction, JIVE Architecture, and HBG on this project. Updates can be tracked at
gunlakecasino.com.
A major expansion project is simultaneously under construction at GLC, which is known
as Phase 5. It will bring a 252-room hotel, multiple indoor swimming pools, a full-service
spa, new dining options and more. The $300 million expansion is scheduled to open in 2025.NEWS NEWS BRIEFSBRIEFS
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Members of new personnel committee set;
Sheriff’s presentation still in the works
Jayson Bussa
Editor
The Barry County Board of Commission-
ers has named the members of a newly
formed standing committee designed to take
on the personnel and human services needs in
the county.
After the formation of the Personnel and
Human Services Committee earlier this year,
the board on Tuesday morning approved
appointments to this new standing commit-
tee, which will be central in sourcing, inter-
viewing, vetting and recommending talent to
come to work for Barry County. Upcoming
retirements of long-time employees – most
notably, Administrator Michael Brown –
prompted the formation of the committee.
In a brief Board of Commissioners (BOC)
meeting on Tuesday morning, the board
appointed Chairman Dave Jackson, Vice
Chair David Hatfield, Commissioner Mike
Callton and Commissioner Catherine Getty
to the committee.
Jackson, Callton and Getty were all part of
the now-defunct Grievance Committee,
which resolved grievances issued by county
employees who couldn’t find a resolution at
the department level. The new Personnel and
Human Services Committee absorbed the
Grievance Committee.
The committee will devote its focus to all
things human services.
“I think this is a really good thing,” Com-
missioner Bob Teunessen said during Tues-
day’s meeting. “We need to get moving in a
direction where we can start a search to try to
fill the shoes of that man over in the corner
(referring to Brown).”
The new committee’s meetings will be
subject to the Open Meetings Act, making
them open to the public and allowing for pub-
lic input.
PLANS FOR SHERIFF’S PRESENTA-
TION STILL IN THE WORKS
Tuesday’s BOC meeting was originally a
must-attend for many Barry County residentswho were interested in the years-long voter
fraud investigation conducted by Barry Coun-
ty Sheriff Dar Leaf.
Leaf was originally slated to present some
of his findings at the morning meeting, but it
was postponed and a new date and venue has
not been set.
“Just as a side note, we had initially sched-
uled Sheriff Leaf to do a presentation on his
election investigation, but because of the
interest in that event, it is being rescheduled,”
Jackson said during Tuesday’s meeting.
The Sheriff had announced last week
already that the presentation was postponed.
“We’re looking for a different venue,”
Jackson added.
Leaf told the Banner that securing a venue
was still in the works.COMMISSION OK’S VILLAGE OF
NASHVILLE ZONING MAP
Barry County Planning Director and Zon-
ing Administrator Jim McManus appeared in
front of the BOC on Tuesday morning to
present an updated map, which now includes
the Village of Nashville.
The village council has already agreed to
hand over planning and zoning duties and
responsibilities to the county, an arrangement
that will begin in March of this year.
After they were subject to a public hear-
ing held by the Barry County Planning
Commission, the maps featuring zoning
districts for the village in both Maple Grove
and Castleton Townships have been final-
ized and received a thumbs up from the
county board.Barry County Commissioners Catherine Getty (left) and Mike Callton (right) were
two of the four individuals named to the new Personnel and Human Services
Committee on Tuesday morning. (File photo)ENERGY, continued from page 1 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
M. Charles Gould (center), a bioenergy educator with MSU Extension, fields a ques-
tion from the crowd during Tuesday’s solar and alternative energy workshop.and eluding a police officer and reckless driv-
ing. The false report or threat of terrorism
charge carries a possible sentence of 20 years
in prison.
According to court records, Barry Town-
ship Police received contact from two mem-
bers of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post
422 in Delton, starting on Dec. 8 expressing
concern regarding “behavior, actions and
comments” involving Mickey.
One of the two individuals who contacted
authorities alleged “specific threats” against a
VFW bartender, the town of Delton and chil-dren at Delton Elementary School, court
records show.
The witness also alleged Mickey threat-
ened him “and at least two other local citi-
zens” and had access, control and/or familiar-
ity with weapons, according to court records.
The police report further went on to state
that Mickey had “allegedly hostile contact
with another vehicle and passenger” on the
road on Dec. 11, 2023, and refused to comply
with attempts to stop his vehicle by Prairiev-
ille Township Police Chief Mike Reizin and
Barry Township Police Detective Karen Lar-son en route to the Delton VFW, where he
was eventually arrested.
Mickey told police he had a knife with a
blade that was 3-and-a-half inches long. A
nitrous oxide canister was found by police on
the floor of the driver’s side of his Toyota
Sequoia. Military gear and dark winter gloves
were inside the vehicle, as well as a rifle case
in the rear floorboard back seat, which “was
confirmed to contain a.22 rifle,” court records
show.
Mickey has no known prior criminal his-
tory.MICKEY, continued from page 1 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––