MISSAUKEECOUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Minutes

County Annex Meeting Room

April 27, 20165:00pm

MEMBERS PRESENT: Linda Hartshorne-Shafer (Staff), Sherry Blaszak, Lan Bridson, Natalie Davis, Craig Fisher, Bruce Miller, Susan Schwager

OTHERS PRESENT: Kirk Merley, Tom Stephenson (ConnectMI), David O’Grady (ATI)

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: 5:05

Approval of March 23, 2016minutes - Motion by Craig with support from Bruce; all in favor. Approval of April 27, 2016 agenda - motion by Craig with support from Bruce with the addition of item 2 under New Business - resignation. All in favor.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Tom Stephenson (ConnectMI) & David O’Grady (ATI) – ATI owns fiber optic network from Grand Rapids to Oscoda and from Ludington to Kalkaska and has a 300 man construction crew. They contract to other companies and also work all build jobs. Currently in the process of determining which counties have need and which other companies provide coverage. They are a last-mile provider of broadband. Towers need to be identified; space could possibly be leased on them by ATI. Public/private partnerships are important in identifying underserved areas. ATI is focused on servicing small, underserved communities.

2. Natalie has provided a letter of resignation to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will greatly miss her enthusiasm and willingness to take on new tasks, but understands that she has many other responsibilities and obligations that also require her attention.

OLD BUSINESS:

  1. CWTA/Transportation Work Group – At 4/12/16 BOC meeting transportation millage was passed and ballot language was approved. Development of a “Friends of Transportation” group has been initiated by those in a position to do sobut there has been some difficulty thus far in recruiting participants.
  1. Ben Jeffs/Parks update – Nothing new to report
  1. Bylaw Review – Bylaws will be sent out to Planning Commission members for review – some updates have already been noted.

Objectivesto complete for June 22, 2016meeting:

1. Bylaw Review

2. Parks Board – Planning Commission representation

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:

P.A. 116 – None

Public Comment** None

ADJOURN: 6:15 by call of Chair

NEXT MEETING: June 22, 20165:00pm**Public Comment Rules authorized by the Missaukee County Planning Commission: Each person recognized by the Chairman shall state their name for the record and will have a limit of 3 minutes to state an opinion. All opinions will be duly noted by the Commission & if requiring an answer will be addressed by the chairman first or his designee or in writing. The audience is asked not to interrupt at any time during public comment.

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