Since March 2019, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has requested to sample approximately 475 residential drinking water wells in the area “Trout Creek” (in the neighborhood east of the 36th Street exits off I-96, west of the Thornapple River), for PFAS as part of the ongoing investigation of potential PFAS contamination sources in Cascade Township.
Cascade township free#
His first term is scheduled to expire in 2016, at which point the board would be free to appoint a new clerk if Laures' ballot question is approved.EGLE Site Lead: Aaron Assmann, or 61. "I thought, 'Oh, by golly, what if we can't find someone to take his place?'"īrown took office in 2012, replacing a clerk who had held the job for 26 years. "(Brown) had made a comment that maybe he didn't want to run again," Laures said. Laures said Thursday that Brown has been a "great clerk," but he's concerned about filling the position in the future, if no one should run for the position. Laures proposed the change and it was unanimously approved during the Dec. "I was very concerned with how the interests (of the public) were being represented, or, in my opinion, not being represented," said Sieck, who is advocating for Ohly to replace Laures.Īlso on Tuesday's Cascade Township ballot is a question on whether to make the township clerk/secretary position an appointed position, rather than elective. She said the town board was "trying to shoot this under the radar so no one found out about it." When the board was considering the quarry expansion, she went door-to-door to explain the situation to neighbors. Sieck said Thursday that the intent of her petition is to diversify the Cascade board. Olmsted County has two townships with five-person boards. Just eight signatures were required to get it on Tuesday's ballot. Joanne Sieck, who lives near the proposed quarry, submitted a petition to the town board in November seeking to expand the board from three members to five. Heathman and Atkinson are not facing election. However, some Cascade Township citizens are not satisfied with the performance of Laures and the township's two other board members, Arlen Heathman and Harold "Corky" Atkinson. "My experience is that (Laures) has never been someone to let an issue be thrust upon township residents, but rather he gets out in front of these issues in order to help us keep our voices heard," said John Johnson, a member of the Haverhill Town Board who has worked with Laures for years. Endorsements letters are fairly rare for a township election.
Supporters of Laures have made a public show of support by submitting several endorsement letters to the Post-Bulletin. He said Thursday that his position on the quarry hasn't changed - he remains opposed to it. He is also chairman of the Olmsted County Township Officers Association, which represents the 18 townships in the county. Laures, the township's maintenance supervisor, has served on the town board for 12 years. The annual meeting will commence immediately after the votes are tallied and is expected to last until about 10:30 p.m. Voting will be held Tuesday from 5 p.m to 8 p.m.
To have that questioned at all, I don't understand, unless your interests are different than representing the people in your district."Ĭascade Township is on the northeast side of Rochester. "The congestion of people around that quarry made it really hazardous to our way of life. "There will be way more (voters) this year because people are recognizing their voices are important after it was a really close call to have that quarry approved," said Ohly, who was a county commissioner from 2004 to 2012. 1 meeting, where she felt Laures wasn't emphatic enough in protecting his constituents.
1, it continues to drive conversation and will be reflected on the ballot.įormer Olmsted County Commissioner Judy Ohly said she was urged by township citizens to run against current Board Chairman Lenny Laures as the quarry debate unfolded. The proposal raised concerns from area residents about noise, water pollution, property values and health concerns. Local interest was piqued last fall when the town board considered a rezoning request that would have allowed Milestone Materials to expand its existing quarry at U.S. But Michael Brown, the township clerk/treasurer, said he's ordered 400 ballots for Tuesday and has a backup plan ready if he needs more. Just 47 people voted in Cascade Township's election last year, less than 2.5 percent of the township's 1,900-plus registered voters. Record turnout is expected for Tuesday night's election and annual meeting in Olmsted County's second-largest township.
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