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Can’t we all just get along?

November 04, 2004

Fillmore Township approved a tax hike on Tuesday to pay for their new water and sewer system. There are many things I find wrong with their desire to build a water system, and now it really seems like they’re going to go out and do it.

First off, the City of Holland could have control of their water system, had we not fought with the Township over water rights and annexation in the 1990s. Now, we’ll have to sit back and watch as Fillmore destroys its wonderful farmland in the name of economic development.

Secondly, they will be using groundwater, even though they are a couple of miles from Lake Michigan. The Lake’s water is much easier to purify, because it will be inherently more clean from the beginning.

Thirdly, the new water tower they are proposing will stand within a 1/4 MILE of Holland’s brand new tank. This is completely idiotic. Not only will we have to look at Holland’s when driving into town from the south, we will also be subjected to Fillmore’s anti-Holland tank. PISSES ME OFF TO NO END!

You can see I’m a little wound up about this, but from all the campaigning and public statements made in the past years, I can tell that Fillmore has no interest in smart growth, they just want growth. Holland could have subverted this by acting slightly more friendly back when the 425 agreement failed. This is just one more reason I get disgusted with the township system in Michigan.

Posted by paul at November 4, 2004 07:54 AM

Comments

Brandon said on November 4, 2004 12:30 PM

Shit.

I had no idea this was going on... I liked Fillmore because it didn't seem to have any desire to become a Holland Township, or even a Laketown. Don't they realize all this "growth" will likely cost them more than they'll gain? Do they even know what Smart Growth is? If they densely developed at the Holland border it could be okay... I just don't see most Fillmore residents as truly desiring to become Holland Township... seems odd. I really don't want Allegan County to become another Ottawa. Damn. Damn. Damn. We're screwed. Unless people like you can influence the township leaders. Letters to the editor?

Brandon said on November 4, 2004 12:32 PM

Or maybe the City can annex the rest of the township and sensibly develop/preserve it?

Paul said on November 4, 2004 05:25 PM

Uhh, that's next to impossible, seeing as they've tried before and failed on just a portion. Also, Keith Potter, the township supervisor, is the ring-leader for development, as well as a few large land-owners. And before you get all pissed at Ottawa for being sprawled out, remember it's still the largest agricultural producing county in the state (money-wise), and Allegan is seoncd.

Brandon said on November 4, 2004 07:38 PM

Exactly, Paul... not for long, though.

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