Standish, MI

Housing commission to hold public hearing

County residents will have the opportunity to give input on a plan that would use grant money to repair homes in Standish. The Arenac County Board of Commissioners and the Arenac County Housing Commission have scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 15th, at the Arenac County Building, to review a grant application to the Michigan Development Block Grant Housing Program.

The public hearing is a requirement for receiving the grant. The housing commission received $126,300 in state Housing Fund Resource 2009 HOME, money that will go toward helping homeowners in Standish. The target area is on the south side of Cedar St, west of US-23 and covers around 100 homes. The grant money will help low income homeowners who may need help keeping their homes up to quality standards.

The housing commission helped improve 20 homes across Arenac County last year. The commission was established in 1993. The Bay Area Community Foundation gave additional funding to the housing commission to help homeowners who may not be able to pay their utilities.
references: james kuch, arenac county independent, donsrealty.net

Commissioners establish wind turbine regulations. Those seeking to construct an electricity producing wind turbine on their property in Arenac County will now have to comply with county inspection regulations.

The Arenac County Board of Commissioners voted 4 - 1 to establish regulations regarding the construction of wind turbines within the county at its Jan. 1 meeting. The Board of Commissioners said the measure places the construction of turbines producing electrical energy within the jurisdiction of the county building department.

The new regulations enacted by the commissioners require that a permit be purchased to construct a wind turbine, and that 2 inspections be held during construction. The permit and inspections will cost a total of $180.

The reasoning behind the decision, is to make sure that any wind turbines constructed within the county are built correctly and do not put neighboring residents in danger. It's got to have engineered drawings so it meets the requirements of that particular turbine.

The necessity of regulation depends upon the location of a wind turbine. While any wind turbines built in a populated area should be regulated, one built in a large, open space should not necessarily have to meet the same requirements. It is important a wind turbine be inspected regardless of its height because improper construction of any wind turbine producing electrical energy can be dangerous no matter how small it is.

It is also important that electrical inspectors check connections between turbines and building structures.
references: matt keeton, ogemawherald.com, arenac county independent

The Arenac Soil Conservation District is in the beginning stages of organizing a farmers market for county residents.

The administrator for the district received a lot of feedback from people saying they would like to see a market in the county. If enough local farmers express interest, then the district would like to begin the market in the spring or summer of 2011.

The district has a 1.5 acre piece of property on East City Limits Rd. which it would use for the market.

As far as what type of items would be sold at the market, the main focus would be anything that local growers produce, such as fruits and vegetables, or anything Michigan based. While a couple of larger stores in the community have farmers markets, there is nothing around for the small farmers.
references: arenac county independent, jeff patrus, ogemawherald.com