Committee declines to advance countywide planning-and-zoning pact after townships waver

Eaton County commissioners in the Ways & Means Committee voted Sept. 12 not to advance a proposed intergovernmental agreement intended to centralize planning and zoning services for 11 townships.

Commissioners and county staff described a previously announced plan in which each participating township would pay up to $15,000 toward the shared service. The county27s proposal required broad township participation to be financially feasible; administration said the county had expected all 11 townships to sign but staff now know at least one township (Eaton Township) has opted out and another has signaled it will not participate. Staff said approximately nine townships have signaled they are leaning toward signing.

"We've been told multiple times we needed all 11," a commissioner said during discussion. Committee members said that if two or three townships pull out, the unit cost would rise and the county could be exposed to a gap between the $15,000 figure and actual costs. The draft contract as presented contained a $15,000 per-township ceiling but did not include language requiring the townships to make up any…