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Residents tell Cass County commission of encampments, zoning concerns; ask about 70-acre site
Summary
Residents at the Feb. 4 Cass County meeting said campers and informal encampments have increased in Dikeland/Dichtenaw and raised zoning concerns; another resident asked whether the county has plans for 70 acres west of the justice center.
Speakers during the public comment period on Feb. 4 told commissioners they have seen more people living in campers and tents in the Dikeland/Dichtenaw area and expressed frustration that mailed complaints produced no response.
A resident who later identified himself as Recruit Crater said the neighborhood has "had a siege in the last couple of years of homeless people moving in, camper, kids," and asked which office received mailed complaints. The chair asked the resident to meet with Valerie after the meeting so staff could route his complaints to the appropriate office.
Another resident, Scott Evans, described himself as a first-time attendee and asked whether there is "any kind of a resolution or a motion or anything or plan for those 70 acres west of the justice center?" County staff answered that planning and zoning would be the venue for such matters and advised Evans to contact that body; no development plan or timeline was described during the meeting.
Valerie (county staff) was asked to follow up with residents who submitted mailed complaints; commissioners did not provide further policy or enforcement commitments on the public-record during the session.
The commission then moved into executive session; public commenters were not given further discussion time in the general session.
