Atlas Twp.- The petitions are in.
Approximately 124 petitions bearing about 1,109 signatures of residents requesting the hotly debated five acre minimum be put to a vote were turned in at 3:30 p.m. on April 2 at the township hall. The signatures were received by the township prior to the March 5 deadline to bring the issue to a vote in the Aug. 7 elections.
Pauline Hillman, a township resident for 34 years, was among the group delivering the petitions. Hillman said her 10 acre parcel was affected in the rezoning.
‘I feel great about it, because we got over 1,000 signatures. It was great going and knocking on people’s doors and telling them the situation. I just feel that we did the right thing,? said Hillman. ‘I want people to know what is going on…some of the people, I’d knock on their doors and they did not know their property had been rezoned. I want people to have the right to vote on whether or not their property is rezoned. I just feel that the right thing to do is put it on the ballot and have everybody vote on it.?
The five acre minimum was adopted for portions of Atlas Township last month, following months of heated discussion amongst residents and officials. Since that time, the issue continues to be a topic of debate in the township.
‘We’re not pro high-density as the township is trying to make us out, but we are pro-fairness,? said Sue Arnold, a vocal opponent of the minimum. ‘If a township has a problem with its roads or other infrastructure, the whole township needs to pay for it. You can’t burden one third of the township with those costs by devaluing their property, it needs to be shared by everyone.?
Genesee County elections supervisor Doreen Fulcher said the next step in the process of getting the issue on the ballot for August elections is for township clerk Tere Onica to verify the signatures on the petition.
‘I have to validate every signature,? said Onica. ‘I have to make sure (the people who signed the petition) are registered voters in Atlas Township and have put their correct address. Then I count the signatures up and (the petitioners) will need to meet the threshold of signatures.?
Fulcher said according to statue 125.3402, a minimum of 15 percent of the total number of voters in from Atlas Township who voted in the November 2006 gubernatorial election is required to bring the issue to a vote.
Onica said in this instance, she has been informed that number must be at least 442 legitimate signatures.
Township attorney David Lattie said signatures from residents of the Village of Goodrich will not be counted in the this petition, because they have their own zoning jurisdiction. Additionally, village residents would not be able to vote regarding the issue should it be included in the August elections.
However, Lattie stressed it is not only those in the area affected by the rezoning that will be counted on the petition and eligible to vote. Essentially, said Lattie, every Atlas Township resident except those in the Village of Goodrich are included.
Township supervisor Paul Amman did not respond to request for comment in this article, but previously told The Citizen he was confident that should the matter come to a vote, the 5 acre minimum prove to be the will of the people.
Fulcher said the next step in this process, after signature verification, is the township providing the county with the language that will go on the ballot for this issue.
Onica said to the best of her understanding that language must be submitted prior to May 29 in order for the issue to be included in the August election.
‘We have plenty of time,? said Onica. ‘We will get it done as quick as possible and we’ve already started the process.?
Hillman said she is grateful the process is moving forward.
‘I just wanted to thank each and every person in the area that signed the petition,? said Hillman. ‘Even the ones we weren’t able to get in touch with, I just hope they keep it in mind and go to the polls and vote on it. That is our right to vote on it, when we’ve given up our rights to vote, we’ve given up a lot.?