July 11, 2018
Michigan

Hearings set as recall petitions filed against two Isabella officials

By Lisa Yanick Litwiller | The Morning Sun | 07/10/18 | www.themorningsun.com

Residents have filed recall petitions against two elected officials in Isabella County, one citing a financial conflict of interest because of a land agreement with a wind farm development company while another alleges improper meeting procedure.

A recall against one official has already been denied by the county election commission once and then re-filed by the same resident.

Two recall requests are set to be heard Thursday.

A petition filed on June 20 against Isabella Township Trustee Robert Walton by resident Marjorie Horan contends that Walton, “Promoted the Apex-Isabella Wind project while having a financial interest in the project.”

The Isabella County Election Commission – comprised of Judge William Ervin, Treasurer Steve Pickens and County Clerk Minde B. Lux – held a public hearing on July 2, and ultimately found that the petition was not “of sufficient clarity.”

That same day, Horan resubmitted her petition, clarifying the accusation.

“Promoting the Apex/Isabella Wind project to help further the progress of the project while having a financial interest in the form of a wind lease with Isabella Wind LLC,” the second petition reads.

That public hearing is scheduled for July 12 at 8:45 a.m.

Denver Township Supervisor John Pedjac faces a hearing at 8:15 a.m. the same day, after Louise Ann Mogg filed a petition alleging a “Failure to make a motion for a board vote on whether or not to adopt an ordinance creating a township planning commission.”

Mogg has been in active and vocal opposition to the Apex wind farm and has been a driving force behind efforts to put planning and zoning in the hands of townships rather than the county in an effort to gain more restrictions on wind farm development.

Voters in the August 7 primary who reside in Denver, Isabella, Nottawa, Gilmore or Vernon Townships will decide on ballot initiatives regarding localized planning and zoning boards.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/07/11/hearings-set-as-recall-petitions-filed-against-two-isabella-officials/