Wednesday, October 29, 2008
News
Ordinance enforcement under scrutiny in Caledonia Twp.
By NATHAN BRUTTELL, Argus-Press Staff Writer
CALEDONIA TWP. - In larger cities, when an ordinance needs enforcement, the police department works in collaboration with the city.
In Caledonia Charter Township, Supervisor Joe DeCaire and enforcement officer Kirk Newman do the job.
DeCaire's role is under scrutiny after a resident complained to the township board about DeCaire at a recent meeting.
“He doesn't know what he's enforcing and he doesn't have any feeling for the farmers,” resident Hank Kuchar said.
Kuchar, who compared DeCaire to a dictator several times, said DeCaire is harassing him about unused farm equipment on his property.
“I'm not harassing - I'm not picking on one person only,” DeCaire said. “It's something that needs to be done.”
DeCaire said he visited the Kuchars about an unused combine more than a year ago and asked it be moved or used in accordance with a local ordinance.
Newman, who also works part-time as a deputy for the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department and as a patrolman for the New Lothrop Police Department, said the stationary vehicle violates the ordinance.
“Motor vehicles that don't operate, under the ordinance, need to be stored,” he said. “They have to be inside a building.”
Newman said he also works as an enforcement officer for other townships with similar ordinances. When he issues a citation, he said, it is usually after months of communication between the township and residents.
“Citations, in my opinion, are a last resort,” he said. “If they're showing progress, we will work with them. Some people just don't do it.”
According to the Michigan Township Association Handbook, “the supervisor may engage in the following activities and duties if they have not been delegated by the superintendent: To see that all laws and township ordinances are enforced.”
Kuchar said he has a problem with the law and DeCaire's enforcement.
“The ordinances shouldn't be enforced on agriculture,” he said. “It's like, ‘do it or else you're going to get fined.'”
During a recent meeting, DeCaire brought up Kuchar's situation with the board. A few of the trustees on the board disagreed with DeCaire.
“I think that he seems to think he can run the whole show,” said Trustee Joe Janca. “I don't think much of the way he's handling it.”
Janca also said he has issue with the ordinances.
“The code we have in there now, there is no way you're going to enforce it,” he said. “We'll have to write up everyone in the township. Every farmer that has been out here for 40 years has a junkyard in the woods. We're going to have to do something about it.”
Trustee Ed Bruckman said he didn't like DeCaire enforcing long-term problems alone without the board's knowledge.
“I don't disagree with (DeCaire) that he has the authority to do it,” Bruckman said. “It just seems like he thinks we don't need all seven (board members) if he's going to run everything.”
Bruckman said he didn't want residents to feel harassed in the township.
“I don't want to make exceptions,” he said. “I just want everybody treated equally...you can't pick and choose on the ordinances.”
Bruckman said he would like to see a report on all ordinance violations that are “extreme,” like the case with the Kuchars.
DeCaire said he would have no problem updating the board with reports.
“Sure we could do that,” he said. “Like I said, I'm not trying to pick on anyone - I'm just trying to do the best I can.”
The board hopes to meet with a lawyer regarding DeCaire's role in enforcement at the next meeting on Nov. 17.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com.
In Caledonia Charter Township, Supervisor Joe DeCaire and enforcement officer Kirk Newman do the job.
DeCaire's role is under scrutiny after a resident complained to the township board about DeCaire at a recent meeting.
“He doesn't know what he's enforcing and he doesn't have any feeling for the farmers,” resident Hank Kuchar said.
Kuchar, who compared DeCaire to a dictator several times, said DeCaire is harassing him about unused farm equipment on his property.
“I'm not harassing - I'm not picking on one person only,” DeCaire said. “It's something that needs to be done.”
DeCaire said he visited the Kuchars about an unused combine more than a year ago and asked it be moved or used in accordance with a local ordinance.
Newman, who also works part-time as a deputy for the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department and as a patrolman for the New Lothrop Police Department, said the stationary vehicle violates the ordinance.
“Motor vehicles that don't operate, under the ordinance, need to be stored,” he said. “They have to be inside a building.”
Newman said he also works as an enforcement officer for other townships with similar ordinances. When he issues a citation, he said, it is usually after months of communication between the township and residents.
“Citations, in my opinion, are a last resort,” he said. “If they're showing progress, we will work with them. Some people just don't do it.”
According to the Michigan Township Association Handbook, “the supervisor may engage in the following activities and duties if they have not been delegated by the superintendent: To see that all laws and township ordinances are enforced.”
Kuchar said he has a problem with the law and DeCaire's enforcement.
“The ordinances shouldn't be enforced on agriculture,” he said. “It's like, ‘do it or else you're going to get fined.'”
During a recent meeting, DeCaire brought up Kuchar's situation with the board. A few of the trustees on the board disagreed with DeCaire.
“I think that he seems to think he can run the whole show,” said Trustee Joe Janca. “I don't think much of the way he's handling it.”
Janca also said he has issue with the ordinances.
“The code we have in there now, there is no way you're going to enforce it,” he said. “We'll have to write up everyone in the township. Every farmer that has been out here for 40 years has a junkyard in the woods. We're going to have to do something about it.”
Trustee Ed Bruckman said he didn't like DeCaire enforcing long-term problems alone without the board's knowledge.
“I don't disagree with (DeCaire) that he has the authority to do it,” Bruckman said. “It just seems like he thinks we don't need all seven (board members) if he's going to run everything.”
Bruckman said he didn't want residents to feel harassed in the township.
“I don't want to make exceptions,” he said. “I just want everybody treated equally...you can't pick and choose on the ordinances.”
Bruckman said he would like to see a report on all ordinance violations that are “extreme,” like the case with the Kuchars.
DeCaire said he would have no problem updating the board with reports.
“Sure we could do that,” he said. “Like I said, I'm not trying to pick on anyone - I'm just trying to do the best I can.”
The board hopes to meet with a lawyer regarding DeCaire's role in enforcement at the next meeting on Nov. 17.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com.