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*Joshua Dein* · 02-03-2009, 07:58 PM

The Steering Committee should review the draft, and the comments made at the last meeting, and decide what may need to be changed in the draft.

*Martha Gibson* · (This post was last modified: 02-03-2009 08:12 PM by Martha Gibson.)

Issues and Opportunities:
While I approve of many of the goals the citizens suggest that we should have, I don’t know how much control, as a Township, that we can have on some of them. Suppose, for example, that we say that we want to ‘promote alternative energy’. Is there some way we can do that? Or ‘provide quality living for aging population’, ‘provide for young farmers entering farming’. So I think we need to think about what we do and do not have control over and we shouldn’t say that it is our goal to do certain things that we cannot do.
From Martha

(02-03-2009 07:58 PM)Joshua Dein Wrote: The Steering Committee should review the draft, and the comments made at the last meeting, and decide what may need to be changed in the draft.

Issues and Opportunities:
While I approve of many of the goals the citizens suggest that we should have, I don’t know how much control, as a Township, that we can have on some of them. Suppose, for example, that we say that we want to ‘promote alternative energy’. Is there some way we can do that? Or ‘provide quality living for aging population’, ‘provide for young farmers entering farming’. So I think we need to think about what we do and do not have control over and we shouldn’t say that it is our goal to do certain things that we cannot do.
From Martha

(02-03-2009 07:58 PM)Joshua Dein Wrote: The Steering Committee should review the draft, and the comments made at the last meeting, and decide what may need to be changed in the draft.

*Joshua Dein* · 02-03-2009, 08:23 PM

If there are specific things that we can suggest that would move in that direction, they could be included. If not, they might not.

*Martha Gibson* · 02-03-2009, 08:28 PM

Based on 2000 Census data, the Issue and Opportunities section says that there are only 5 farmers in Primrose, down from 79 in 2000. This is a 93.7 % decline. I can't myself believe that this is accurate. I think I can think of more than 5 farmers in the Township, even if a farmer is defined by someone's whose primary income comes from farming. If other people agree, that this seems a very low number, I think we should try to get a more accurate number of farmers in the Township, both those for whom farming is their primary income, but also of those for whom farming is just a part of their income. Perhaps, this will already be calculated by the survey questions, but if not, I think we should make an attempt to come up with a more accurate number.

(02-03-2009 07:58 PM)Joshua Dein Wrote: The Steering Committee should review the draft, and the comments made at the last meeting, and decide what may need to be changed in the draft.

*David Garfoot* · (This post was last modified: 02-03-2009 08:38 PM by David Garfoot.)

I agree with many of the things that Martha stated. Some additional thoughts:
Other government agencies have control or funding for many of the citizen suggestions made. As a board member, I would surely like to see other sources of income for the township besides taxes. However, most grants are specific to a project rather than "free money". An example being TRIP funds used for a specific road project.
The public input talked a great deal about agriculture - many items that the township has no control over. I believe we should have a statement somewhere in the comprehensive plan that emphasizes Primrose is a farming community. Therefore, residents should expect noise, farm traffic, smells & night operations. Farming is protected by the state's Right to Farm law, but we should re-emphasize at the local level.

Martha's right - there's at least 15 dairy farms

*Joshua Dein* · 02-03-2009, 08:39 PM

This is one of the questions on the survey, so we should be able to get a sense of the number from that.

*Joshua Dein* · 02-03-2009, 08:41 PM

In regard to opportunities, should we suggest an effort, maybe a group of volunteers that might be willing to look for specific grant money for projects?

*Martha Gibson* · (This post was last modified: 02-03-2009 09:14 PM by Martha Gibson.)

(02-03-2009 08:41 PM)Joshua Dein Wrote: In regard to opportunities, should we suggest an effort, maybe a group of volunteers that might be willing to look for specific grant money for projects?

I think looking for grant money for things we cannot do-- that citizens want us to do is a good idea--e.g., for encouraging or promoting young farmers, or for preserving historical structures. But as far as the issues and opportunities section, I don't think we should overcommit to saying that we will do things we know we have no power or money to do.
I do agree with Dave that we should say that the Township is an agricultural community and back that up with figures, about how much land is in production etc.

*Bill Haack* · (This post was last modified: 02-22-2009 04:25 PM by Bill Haack.)

(02-03-2009 08:34 PM)David Garfoot Wrote: I agree with many of the things that Martha stated. Some additional thoughts:
Other government agencies have control or funding for many of the citizen suggestions made. As a board member, I would surely like to see other sources of income for the township besides taxes. However, most grants are specific to a project rather than "free money". An example being TRIP funds used for a specific road project.
The public input talked a great deal about agriculture - many items that the township has no control over. I believe we should have a statement somewhere in the comprehensive plan that emphasizes Primrose is a farming community. Therefore, residents should expect noise, farm traffic, smells & night operations. Farming is protected by the state's Right to Farm law, but we should re-emphasize at the local level.
Martha's right - there's at least 15 dairy farms

I think Dave and Martha's comments on Right to farm laws and language about Primrose being a Ag community should be put in the plan.Other language on how to promote Ag.e,g, Help young farmers get started,encourage different types of Ag, like improving wood lots to Organic farming may also be considered. Bill

(02-03-2009 08:34 PM)David Garfoot Wrote: I agree with many of the things that Martha stated. Some additional thoughts:
Other government agencies have control or funding for many of the citizen suggestions made. As a board member, I would surely like to see other sources of income for the township besides taxes. However, most grants are specific to a project rather than "free money". An example being TRIP funds used for a specific road project.
The public input talked a great deal about agriculture - many items that the township has no control over. I believe we should have a statement somewhere in the comprehensive plan that emphasizes Primrose is a farming community. Therefore, residents should expect noise, farm traffic, smells & night operations. Farming is protected by the state's Right to Farm law, but we should re-emphasize at the local level.
Martha's right - there's at least 15 dairy farms