The regular meeting of the Au Train Township Board was held on Monday, January 8, 2024. Trustee Tom Balmes chaired the meeting in place of Township Supervisor Michelle Doucette, who was absent. The evening’s discussions centered on two letters regarding members of the Au Train Township Planning Commission.

According to Supervisor Doucette’s written report for January, a new MDOT permit for dredging at the Au Train river mouth has been accepted for the period between January 31, 2024, and January 30, 2025.

Under new business, the board announced the resignation of Planning Commission member Matt Lang. Though the resignation was accepted, the details of the letter were not shared with those in attendance.

The board also passed a motion to contract with BS&A Online, a digital public records database that will soon enable Au Train Township residents to access their records for free. Though the rollout may come this spring, the board said that it may not be accessible until after tax season.

A group of local property owners addressed a complaint to the board demanding the removal of three members of the Township Planning Commission, citing “malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeascance in office.” During public comment, a representative of the group clarified that, “this letter was written not in reference to any one particular finding, but in reference to the Planning Commission’s behaviors, specifically, not following the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act or the Michigan Open Meetings Act.”

A special meeting to address the accusations made against members of the Planning Commission has been scheduled for Monday, January 29 at 6 p.m.