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County passes symbolic resolution urging alternatives to ITC route through Birchfield Park
Summary
After extensive public comment, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a symbolic resolution urging parties and regulators to avoid routing an International Transmission Company (ITC) high-capacity transmission line through the Riverbend/Birchfield natural area, citing grant risks and ecological impacts.
The Ingham County Board of Commissioners on June 23 adopted a resolution urging parties and regulators to pursue alternatives to a proposed International Transmission Company route that would bisect the Riverbend/Birchfield natural area.
Residents and volunteers packed the public-comment period to oppose the route. "Birchfield Park is a unique and irreplaceable resource that serves the entire county and well beyond," said Dennis Pace, a 25-year volunteer, citing the park's nearly 500,000 annual visitors and the presence of sensitive species including the Indiana bat. Anne Groffert, a longtime volunteer trail coordinator, told commissioners a "200 foot wide corridor of towering power poles will diminish" the park's prairie and riverine areas and asked the board to pass the resolution.
Commissioner Mayville proposed clarifying language to refer specifically to the Riverbend natural area within the park so the resolution correctly targets the affected parcel; Commissioner Morgan moved a technical amendment to note that four of seven proposed routes were among the company's finalists. The parks director warned the board that if the line led to a "conversion" of park land it could render affected parcels ineligible for grant programs tied to park status: "If the line were to indeed end up going through the park, we've been in a form of conversion which would make us, in all intents and purposes, ineligible for grants because of DACA's 50 points when we apply until we fix the conversion," the parks director said.
Commissioner Morgan emphasized that the resolution is symbolic and does not bind the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state regulator that will consider route approvals, but said it could amplify constituent concerns. Chair called for a voice vote after friendly amendments; the board voted in favor and the resolution passed.
The resolution was moved by Commissioner Cahill and supported by Commissioner Morgan; the board adopted amendments clarifying the natural area and correcting the number of finalist routes. Next steps remain external to county authority: any final routing decision resides with the Michigan Public Service Commission and ITC's routing process.
