...AND ON HIS FARM HE HAD A...

The Agritourism Task Force met again on Tuesday, April 8, this time with Sherri Buss.  Sherri is a Senior Planner with TKDA and was able to offer some sound advice to the committee based on her experience and other townships' regulations she has worked with.  She indicated which sections of the task force's work were clear and made sense and which needed more work for better definition. She mentioned that the committee should either come up with what they think people in Eureka would be "happy to live with," or could present the thresholds to the public now to get feedback.  In either instance, of course, she said that a Public Hearing would be held so that the Township will hear from the public what its thoughts are on these items such as size of building, noise, etc.

Generally, Sherri was complimentary of the group's work thus far. The committee still has to iron out the procedure whereby it would be determined, by whom, and when a permit might be needed or not.  A registration process was again discussed as an opening step in this process.

Sherri also indicated to the task force which of their questions were really attorney questions.  The committee will meet with the Township Attorney, most likely Chad Lemmons, on Thursday, April 24 (7:00-9:00). Attorney questions from the task force are to be submitted to Mr. Lemmons midweek this week so that he can prepare for the discussion on the 24th. This would be an informative meeting to attend, even if you haven't attended any other thus far.  

I DO hope that a couple of members of the task force who said something along the lines about seeking advice from a different attorney if they "didn't like" the advice coming from Mr. Lemmons were either joking (best case) or speaking on a personal basis only.  It was unclear to me what was meant. Naturally, the Township Attorney advises the Township, I think you would agree.

The committee is nearing the end of its work.  It may have a couple other meetings after the meeting with Mr.  Lemmons before its work is sent on to the next step. Keep an eye open!

Speaking of that, I did once again ask that the minutes and materials from this committee be put on the website for the public's information, just as was done for the Transfer Task Force.  I received a response that (at least one) set of minutes was ready for that. (!) I asked that it all be put there. Currently, none of it is yet.  In fact, I didn't see even a mention of this Task Force on the website at all.  I think that either this committee or the Board itself should make sure that the public has this information well in advance of any public hearing.