It is certainly unfortunate that the previous Board of Commissioners fell victim to Administrator Lawson's selection of Michael Turisk as the sole candidate for P & Z Director. Mr Turisk has no degree in community planning, no professional certifications, and no experience with Michigan's Planning Enabling Act.
Commissioner Gouine introduced the subject of the "trespassing chickens" at a public meeting in 2018. Mr Turisk had been ineffectively addressing the problem and the complainant had finally contacted Commissioner Gouine. She described Mr Turisk as evasive and non-responsive to her complaint.
The issue? The keeping of free range chickens in a P-LS District on the west side of Mullett Lake and their trespass onto adjacent private property. Chickens are allowed in M-AF and with some limitations in Rural Character zoning. Chickens, defined as "SMALL DOMESTICATED ANIMALS", are not permitted in other zoning districts.
Mr Turisk proved his ignorance of Ordinance #200, the laws he is supposedly enforcing, and gets off into the weeds. He questioned protection of this illegal activity by Michigan's Right to Farm Act. He turns to numerous people looking to find some individual to do his job. He reaches out to legal counsel, Steve Schnell, and eventually MSU.
The issue dropped off my radar and I assumed the complaint had been resolved. Attached are just a small portion of the correspondence related to this complaint. Mr Turisk's second draft enforcement letter was sent to legal counsel for input. Mr Turisk mentioned "alleged chickens and their trespass". He threatens some undefined enforcement after 30 days notice or his apology if a law is not being broken.
Mr Wendling clarifies the law being broken is the keeping of chickens. Trespass is not the issue. Get rid of the chickens in the P-LS zoning district.
Now, at the 6/5/2019 Planning Commission meeting, Commissioner Gouine advised the Planning Commission there had been no action taken on the "trespassing chickens". How evasive and ineffective can Mr Turisk be? From late September 2018 to June of 2019, he has still failed to address this complaint.
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