721 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5423f2e6c3f226212ffdfe3b35cacd95.pdf 9a41cb479de3025f244b7bc2c165867c PDF Text Text The First Annual MSU American Indian Heritage August 8 & 9, 1992 11 :00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Michigan State University Campus Coordinated by the Michigan State University Museum and the MSU American Indian faculty, staff and students. All Indian Dance Categories Host Drum Skin Tones Adult Master of Ceremonies Thurmond Bear 5 places, $500, $400, $300, $200, $100 Junior 4 places $150, $100, $75, $50 Children .4 places $100, $75, $50, $25 All Tiny Tots $1 0 $500 total prize money for best 11 4911 drum and dance couple Head Judge Arthur (Butch) Elliot Arena Director Ted (here come the judge) Holoppa Head Veteran Dancer Donny Dowd Head Male Dancer Jim Klein Head Female Dancer Debbie Klein Admission with Michigan Festival Button (includes two weekends of MSU Museum's Festival of Michigan Folklife and ten nights of Oldsmobile Main Stage major performances): $15 in advance; $20 at the gate. Children 10 and under free. Bulk buttons available at $10 each prior to July 1. Day Passes $5. For Michigan Festival/Pow Wow button information and trader information, call MSU Museum: 517-355-2370. For dance contest information, call MSU Native American Institute: 517-353-6632. SponsoredbytheMichiganStateUniversityMuseum;theMSUNativeAmericanlnstitute,OfficeoftheProvost, MJCHrcANmTEUNIVERSl'IY andProgramonCanadianStudies;TheMichiganCouncilfortheArts .&,. Michigan council andCulturalAffairs;Michiganfestival,lnc.;CityofEastlansing;and ~~fortheArtsand the National EndowmentfortheArts. C _,Cultural Affairs .MJSElM � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Native American Publication Collection Subject The topic of the resource Native Americans Indians of North America Anthropology Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Michigan Description An account of the resource Selected digital surrogates of published and unpublished materials from the Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection dealing with different aspects of human culture and anthropology, with an emphasis on Native American people, events, organizations, and activities in Michigan. Includes newsletters, event programs, flyers, posters and other printed materials. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gillis, Edward V. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American Publication Collection (RHC-14)</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-02-21 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Relation A related resource Gi-gikinomaage-min Project (Kutsche Office of Local History) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1958-2000 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection, RHC-14</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14_msu-indian-heritage-pow-wow_1992-08 Title A name given to the resource Annual MSU American Indian Heritage Pow Wow, August 1992 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1992-08 Description An account of the resource Annual MSU American Indian Heritage Pow Wow flyer, East Lansing MI, August 8-9, 1992, collected by Edward Gillis included as part of his Native American publication collection. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Michigan State University Native American Institute Subject The topic of the resource Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Indians of North America Michigan Michigan -- Grand Rapids Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3eebd16ec593b485b682d7720d250c91.pdf 22e5a84ee063bd081e3164f673afd155 PDF Text Text / The Second Annual MSU American Indian Heritage August 14 & 15, 1993 12:00 noon - 7:30 p.m. Valley Court Park in Downtown East Lansing Coordinated by the Michigan State University Museum and the MSU American Indian facuity, staff and students. Host Drum Smokeytown All Indian Dance Categories $300 FOR FIRST FIVE DRUMS TO PAE-REGISTER Master of Ceremonies Thurman Bear Adult Arena Director 5 places, $500, $400, $300, $200, $100 Ted "Here come the Judge" Holoppa Head Veteran Dancer Junior George Martin 4 places $150, $100, $75, $50 Head Male Dancer Children Bucko Teeple 4 places $100, $75, $50, $25 Head Female Dancer Julie White Pigeon D'Artagnan All Tiny Tots $10 • Indian Traders Only • Camping for Traders Only • No Electricity Admission with suggested donation of $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for children and seniors. This event held in conjunction with the MSU Museum Festival of Michigan Folklife and Michigan Festival for which a purchased button is required for admission. For Michigan Festival button information, call (517) 351-6620. For dance contest and drum registration information, call the MSU Native American Institute at (517) 353-9525. For trader information, call (517) 353-5210 Sponsored by Michigan State University Museum; MSU Native American Institute, Office of the Provost, Office of Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Urban Affairs Programs, Canadian-American Studies Center and College of Arts and Letters; Michigan Council for Arts and MICHIGAN SfATE UNIVERSITY Cultural Affairs; Nokomis American Indian Leaming Center; and the ~~ Michigan Council O~ for Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. c ..-cultural Affairs MlsElM �Michigan State University Urban Affairs Programs Native American Institute Owen Graduate Center, W-104 East Lansing MI 48824-1109 PRESOR { '- ~v1\ I Ci) , -'~ • ~ .-;:- ~" •. ,,.>: : 6800175 ...__ _ ____.., • Grand Valley American Indian Lodge 2512 Union Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49505 ~1-i tf I '111 :.,< v~~_ 1...:f l US.POSiAGt • ·- 0 .2 4 8_:. JUN-9'93 -Z :i. ? 4·i=-.:•t::!:.:.-"""3:::.~:z ? 1 l: ~?"'!LA ,,. ·11--.,,·c -._..-~..-.··. - - ,~ ..' t=.:--~--:-)l~;;.;.,. L. :::...-,,_._ -··- !iii! tl1111 l1 l1 I! II 11 ll 11 !II1111 I1l111ll11l1 II 11111 �MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY URBAN AFFAIRS PROGRAMS • OWEN GRADUATE CENTER EAST LANSING • MICHIGAN • 48824-1109 NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTE TELEPHONE (517) 353-6632 July 23, 1993 The American Heritage Pow-Wow Committee would like to extend an invitation to you to attend our second gathering. This years event is to be held on August 14 and 15. The location is to be Valley Court Park in East Lansing, just off of the Michigan State University's campus. Enclosed you will find a map indicating the pow-wow location. Our pow-wow is held in conjunction with Michigan Festival which is two-weekend folk life gathering that features numerous cultures. In addition, the Oldsmobile Main Stage features some the finest concert entertainment nightly. On Friday, the 13th Arla Guthrie folk singer. Saturday evenings feature performers will be Foreigner. . Admission to the concerts is gained through the use of Michigan Festival bottoms which we give to pow-wow participants. Hope to see you in East Lansing for the Second American Heritage Pow-Wow. Warning: Camping upon the pow-wow site is for traders only. Thus, the map which delineates area motels, hotels. If you have any questions regarding this pow-wow and events associated with it, please feel free to contact me at (517) 353-9525 or 353-6632. We hope you enjoy your visit to East Lansing and Michigan State University. ie Parish, Specialist Native American Institute Committee Members are: George Cornell Gerald Church Eva Kennedy Robin Menefee Mary Kate Ojibway Marsha MacDowell Peter Wehr Student Assistants: Tony Bardy Jason Oberle MSU is an Affirmative Action / Eq ual Opportunity Institution � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Native American Publication Collection Subject The topic of the resource Native Americans Indians of North America Anthropology Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Michigan Description An account of the resource Selected digital surrogates of published and unpublished materials from the Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection dealing with different aspects of human culture and anthropology, with an emphasis on Native American people, events, organizations, and activities in Michigan. Includes newsletters, event programs, flyers, posters and other printed materials. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gillis, Edward V. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American Publication Collection (RHC-14)</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-02-21 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Relation A related resource Gi-gikinomaage-min Project (Kutsche Office of Local History) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1958-2000 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection, RHC-14</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14_msu-indian-heritage-pow-wow_1993-08 Title A name given to the resource Annual MSU American Indian Heritage Pow Wow, August 1993 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-08 Description An account of the resource Annual MSU American Indian Heritage Pow Wow flyer, East Lansing MI, August 14-15, 1993, collected by Edward Gillis included as part of his Native American publication collection. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Michigan State University Native American Institute Subject The topic of the resource Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Indians of North America Michigan Michigan -- Grand Rapids Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c152087f343da172f8698b39d01d51ee.pdf e14f22d24d5c15f04f2aa932a9a3f7c9 PDF Text Text UNITED INTER-TRIBALPOW-WOW Celebrating Sovereignty & Unity NOVEMBER 27 & 28, 1993 COBO Conference/Exhibition Center DETROIT, Michigan 11 A Time to celebrate with Native Americans 11 TIIURSDAY: November 25 Thanksgiving Parade SATilRDAY; November 27 COBO HALL Open to Public 9:00 am Trader Fair Craft Demonstrations Learning Circles & Story Telling OPENING CEREMONIES Elders from Four Directions Tribal Leaders U.N. Representatives Federal & State Officials SUNDAY; November 28 COBO HALL Open to Public 9:00 am Trader Fair Craft Demonstrations Learning Circles & Story Telling WOUNDED KNEE MEMORIAL Pipe Ceremony, Speakers Recognition and Honor Song POW-WOW GRAND ENTRY 1 :00 pm Veteran Honor Song Traditional Dancing Give Away & Closing Ceremonies Detroit American Indian Health Center Saginaw Inter-Tribal Association Competition Dancing CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Evening GRAND ENTRY 6:00 pm Inter-Tribal Dancing Competition Dancing Inter-Tribal Social Dancing ( COBO HALL closes at 10:00 pm) Anishnabeg Mom-Weh Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal Council Honor Songs Well known Native American recording artist to perform Michigan Urban Indian Consortium: North American Indian Assoc. of Detroit South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc. Genesee Valley Indian Association GRAND ENTRY 12:00 pm Inter-Tribal Dancing Competition Finals Anounce Winners Hoop Dancers Sacred Run to enter Pow-Wow* Pow-Wow Hosted By 11 Public Invited Lansing North American Indian Center To share the experience 11 For More Information call: Sandy or Joan Michigan Urban Indian Consortium Adult. ..... $8.00 Elderly .... $4.00 Children .. $2. 00 1235 Center Street Lansing, Ml 48906 Tel: (517) 374-6166 Fax: (517) 374-6925 This Pow-Wow is intended to be a learning experience, throughout the weekend we encourage your participation. There will always be a person on hand to direct you to the information you seek. * to be confirmed ; ;~~;;;;;; ~; : Niiwe AMEaieiNs : ~~~~~:=i CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL YEAR of WORLD ! ! INDIGENOUS PEOPLES �I Rochester Port HurC: New Belllmore Orchard Lake w ~ ~ ~ .., "ti .,a: ~ :,: z ci "'>C 1-96 Pl YMOUTH f-10 FORD >10 z 3 ~ it ..,a: MICHIGAN :li V,.N BORN .001 COBO HALL 17,300 Hotel / Motel accommodations available in the greater Detroit area. There are 4,400 rooms within 1O minutes; 6,000 rooms within 30 minutes; and 6,900 rooms within 40 minutes of Pow Wow area. RESERVATIONS OF ROOMS SHOULD BE MADE WELL IN ADVANCE OF POW WOW DATE. To find a motel, use the map, call area code (313) 555-1212, Detroit and ask operator for motel in designated area We would suggest that you find a motel close to an on/off ramp of any expressway, for easy access to Pow Wow site. If you have further questions on rooms call one of the MUIC members for suggestions. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Native American Publication Collection Subject The topic of the resource Native Americans Indians of North America Anthropology Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Michigan Description An account of the resource Selected digital surrogates of published and unpublished materials from the Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection dealing with different aspects of human culture and anthropology, with an emphasis on Native American people, events, organizations, and activities in Michigan. Includes newsletters, event programs, flyers, posters and other printed materials. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gillis, Edward V. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American Publication Collection (RHC-14)</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-02-21 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Relation A related resource Gi-gikinomaage-min Project (Kutsche Office of Local History) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1958-2000 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/446">Edward V. Gillis Native American publication collection, RHC-14</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-14_united-inter-tribal-pow-wow_1993-11 Title A name given to the resource United Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow, November 1993 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-11 Description An account of the resource United Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow flyer, Detroit MI, November 27-28, 1993, collected by Edward Gillis included as part of his Native American publication collection. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Michigan Urban Indian Consortium Subject The topic of the resource Indians of North America -- Michigan -- Periodicals Indians of North America Michigan Michigan -- Grand Rapids Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cf81a0870af6ee9972892804fe4717c5.pdf 7d90d95a42dbbad7d03e0358f9c063de PDF Text Text MIDLAND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I �• • • • • • • • --II MIDLAND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ~ II II Prepared by the Midland County Planning Co1T1Tiission with the assistance of the Department of County Development 11111 11111 11111 and The WBDC Group Consultants 11111 ~ ~ July 1987 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I MIDLAND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Jill s. Gallihugh, Chairperson Dale C. Bement Ann M. Dever Barbara J. Elliott Anita M. Frye A.M. Gegenheimer Charles D. Henderson John F. Henricks Barbara Plantz-Humpert E. Barbara Schoenherr Rosemary A. Urban DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY DEVELOPMENT Richard A. Maltby, Director of Planning Lois A. Thomas, Secretary THE WBDC GROUP. CONSULTANTS �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I =-==- - MIDLAND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN This report was adopted by the Midland County Planning Commission on July 22, 1987 in accordance with the County Planning Act, No. 282 of 1945, as amended. Mi u y erson mission �I I· I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LI ST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES PREFACE ix xi xii PLAN PURPOSE HISTORICAL SETTING PHYSICAL PROFILE GEOPHYSICAL FEATURES Geology Topography Floodplains Water Features Wetlands Soils 1 3 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 8 Class A - Slight Development Limitations: Class B - Restrictive Development Limitations: Class C - Significant Development Limitations: Non-evaluated Urban Areas: Soil Erosion FARMLANDS Prime Farmlands Unique Farmlands Farmland Preservation Forest Resources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Water Qua 1ity Groundwater: Surface Water: Environmen t al Contamination Sites Air Quality HISTORIC SITES SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE i 8 8 8 9 9 11 11 11 12 13 14 14 14 15 16 18 20 33 �I I I I I I I I II I I II II II II II II II I PAGE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE Population Characteristics Population Projections Scenario-based: Trend Line: Cohort-Component: Comparative Projections HOUSING PROF I LE Housing Goals Housing Development Characteristics Housing Quality Standard: Deteriorating: Substandard: ECONOMIC PROFILE Labor Force Characteristics Occupational Characteristics Income by Jurisdiction Employment Projections Future Economic Development Development Strategy: Tourism: Sport Fishing: Development Issues: Future Labor Force: Industrial Siting: Constraints Utilities: Transportation: Income Projections PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIPS ii 33 33 37 37 37 37 39 48 48 49 50 50 50 50 55 55 56 56 56 63 63 64 65 65 66 67 68 68 68 69 70 �I I I I I II II I I I I I - PAGE STATE OF MICHIGAN PLANS Recreation Michigan Recreation Plan: Michigan Recreation Action Program: Michigan Trails Systems Plan: Transportation Michigan State Transportation Plan: Michigan Highway and Non-Motorized Needs: Michigan State Airport System Plan: Michigan Scheduled Air Service Study: Michigan's Transportation Needs: Michigan Railroad Plan: Natural Resources and Environment Michigan's Forest Resources: Michigan's Oil and Gas Fields: Michigan Solid Waste Management Plan: REGIONAL PLANS Adjacent Counties East Central Michigan Planning and Development Region Bicycle Plan: Overall Economic Development Program: LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANS Municipal Goals and Policies Agricultural: Residential: Corrmercial: Industrial: Recreational: Environmental: Future Land Use Composition TRANSPORTATION TRAFF IC Major Thoroughfares State Trunklines: County Primary: County Local: iii 70 70 70 70 71 72 72 72 72 72 73 73 73 73 74 74 75 75 75 75 75 76 76 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 81 81 81 81 82 82 �I I I I I I -I -II • • PAGE HIGHWAY ANO STREET CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (PROPOSED) Rural Major Arterials Rural Minor Arterials Rural Major Collectors Rural Minor Collectors Local Streets SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS 83 84 84 84 85 85 Homer Road Bridge 85 85 West Midland North-South Corridor Alignment Study Eastman Road 85 Completion of the U.S. 10/B.R. 10 Interchange Magruder Connector Salzhurg Road Improvement Related Plans and Programs Traffic Count Programs: Sign Inventory Program: Non-motorized Trail Plan: Corridor Studies: PURLI C TRANS IT RAIL AIR ,Jack Ra rs tow Airport Tri-City Airport COMMUNITY FACILITIES IJTILITIES AND SERVICES Sanitary Sewer Water 86 86 86 86 86 87 87 87 87 87 87 89 89 89 93 93 93 93 Solid Waste Management Waste Generation: Waste Collection: Wastf> Oi sposal: 94 94 95 95 Prohlems with Existing Solid Waste Facilities: Prohlems with Existing Solid Waste Management Practices: Future Oirection: Drains iv 97 98 99 99 �I I I I I -I • • • • • • • PAGE RECREATION 102 Existing County Park Facilities and Activities Future County Park and Recreation Needs PUBLIC AND QUASI-PUBLIC FACILITIES County Government Services Midland County Courthouse Other County Offices: City/Village/Township Halls Libraries Grace A. Dow Memorial Library: Coleman Library: Medical and Emergency Facilities Emergency Medical Services: Department of Emergency Services: Midland Hospital Center: Midland County Fairground Educational Facilities Public Schools: Delta Co 11 ege: Northwood Institute: Regina Center: Michigan Molecular Institute: Great Lakes Junior College: Community Centers Midland Community Center: Mills Community Center: West Midland Community Center: Midland Center for the Arts Senior Citizens Centers Midland County Council on Aging (New Facility): Coleman Senior Services Center: Sanford Senior Citizens Center: Museums Chippewa Nature Center: Sanford Museum: 102 103 105 105 105 106 107 108 108 108 109 109 109 109 110 111 111 111 112 112 112 113 114 114 114 115 115 116 116 117 117 117 117 117 Midland County Historical Museum: V 118 �I. I I I I II II -II II • • • • • •Ill PAGE COUNTY FACILITIES Pinecrest Home Harbour House Horizon House Department of Animal Control Midland County Mosquito Control Facility Sheriff Department Emergency Services Building Midland County Road Commission Midland County Jail Central Vehicle Maintenance Facility HOUSING HOUSING PROGRAMS FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS LAND USE EXISTING LAND USE LAND USE ACREAGE NEEDS (PROJECTED) Residential Acreage Requirements Commercial Acreage Requirements Industrial Acreage Requirements Recreational Acreage Requirements COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Agricultural Land Resident i a1 Land Rural Residential: Residential: Commercial Land Community Commercial: Regional Commercial: Industrial Land Public Land River Corridor Streets and Highways ISSUES, GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS vi 119 119 119 120 121 121 121 122 123 123 133 133 134 136 136 138 138 138 138 138 143 143 143 143 144 144 144 145 146 147 14 7 147 148 �I I I I -I I • • • • • • ~ PAGE HOUSING Affordable Housing Preservation of Housing Mobile Home and Modular Home Regulations Elderly Housing Needs County Housing Planning TRANSPORTATION Traffic Data North-South Circulation Public Transit M-20 and Saginaw Road Corridor Development County Highway Planning Bicycle and Pedestrian Trafficways COMMUNITY FACILITIES Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA) Policy Historic Sites, Identification and Preservation Consolidation of Public Services County Offices Recreational Funding for Property Acquisition and Facility Development Meeting Recreational Needs: Resident versus Tourist Solid Waste Resource Recovery and Disposal County Drains Adaptive Reuse of Schools Planning of County Government Facilities Water Supply Without Consideration of Public Sewers LAND USE Random Development Resulting From Poor Soils Location of Industrial and Commercial Development Floodplain Development Land Use Compatibility Between Governmental Units Regional Commercial Center Location vii 149 149 149 150 151 152 152 152 153 154 154 155 156 157 157 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 163 164 165 166 166 166 167 168 168 �I I II II II II II II II II II • • • • • • • • PAGE Economic Development Sites Prime Farmland Preservation Conflicts between Residential/ Non-residential Development Residential Development in Non-Utility Areas Soil Erosion GENERAL PLANNING Urban Amenities in Rural Locations Private Sewage Systems Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA) Policy Air Pollution Control Stream System Use Midland County Economic Development Strategy Economic Diversification Coordinated Management of County Offices Planning Effort By Local Governmental Units Groundwater Protection IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS vi ii 169 170 170 171 172 173 173 173 174 175 175 176 177 177 178 179 180 �I • • • • • • • • • • • • • TABLES TABLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 PAGE Annual Erosion - 1982, Midland County Historic Sites, Midland County 1980 Population by Jurisdiction, Midland County 1980 Population by Age and Sex, Midland County 1980 AgefSex Distribution by Jurisdiction Allocated Population Projections, Midland County Population Distribution by Jurisdiction (Percentage), Midland County Population Projections by Race, Midland County Population Projections by Age, Midland County Population Projections by Age (Males) Population Projections by Age (Females) Household Projections by Jurisdiction, Midland County Housing Age by Percent of Total Housing, Midland County Housing Quality by Jurisdiction 1978-79, Midland County Factors Determining Housing Quality, Midland County Labor Force Characteristics, Midland County Employment by Industry - Historical, Midland County Employment by Occupations 1980, Midland County Income by Jurisdiction - 1979, Midland County Scenario-based Employment Projections, Midland County Allocated Employment Projections, Midland County Midland County Per Capita, Family and Household Income Projections Closed Dumps in Midland County Midland County Approved 641 Solid Waste Management Plan County Recreational Acreage Neects Fire Protection Coverage, Midland County Midland County and Municipal Major Parks and Recreation Areas Community Facilities, Midland County Projected Housing Need by Jurisdiction, Midland County ix 10 31 34 35 36 40 42 43 44 45 46 47 52 53 54 57 58 59 60 61 62 69 100 101 103 124 127 129 135 �I I II • • • • • • • • • • •II II II II Ill TABLES, continued PAGE TABLE 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Existing Land Use (Acres), Midland County Residential Acreage Requirements (low & High Density) Commercial Acreage Requirements (Per Capita) Co11111ercial Acreage Requirements Industrial Acreage Requirements (Per Capita) Industrial Acreage Requirements Service/Assistance Projects, Midland County Plans and Reports Capital Needs, Midland County X 137 139 140 140 141 142 181 183 186 �I -I I II II II • • • • •Ill FIGURES PAGE FIGURE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Topography and Floodplains Map Drainage Basins Map Soil Suitability Map Important Farmlands Map Oil and Gas Well Locations Map Environmental Contamination Sites Map Historic Sites Map Midland County Population Projections Future Land Use Composition Map (Local Units) Existing Street and Highway Functional Classification System Map Proposed Street and Highway Functional Classification System Map Utility Service Area Map Solid Waste Disposal Sites Map County and Municipal Major Parks and Recreational Areas Map Community Facilities Map Public School Districts and Facilities Map Comprehensive Plan Map Ill II II II II • xi 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 41 80 91 92 125 126 128 131 132 189 �I I I • • • • • • -Ill PREFACE In July 1985 the Midland County Planning Commission undertook the task of updating the County's 1974 General Development Plan. This task necessitated first formulating a detailed work program and securing the services of a professional planning consulting firm to assist the Commission in preparing a new comprehensive plan one that would serve to update the County's twelve-year old adopted General Development Plan as well as address new and recurring planning and development issues. The Midland County Department of County Development provided guidance to the Planning Commission in this endeavor and assisted in giving technical advice. The preparation of the County Comprehensive Plan, as it is described in this report, involved extensive data gathering and analysis, interviews with County department heads and key agency directors, survey questionnaires, and meetings with municipal and county officials on local planning. The Comprehensive Plan is an integrated plan of four planning elements: Transportation, Community Facilities, Housing and Land Use. All of these elements were addressed in the 1974 General Development Plan, however, based on the extensive investigation of countywide problems and issues during this planning update period, special consideration was given to each of the planning elements by either adding or strengthening certain features. For instance, the need to address countywide public transit was added to the Transportation planning element; considerable public and quasi-public facilities and services were addressed in the Community Facilities planning element; housing rehabilitation and housing needs were described in the Housing planning element; and an emphasis on farmland preservation and river corridor protection was made in the land use planning element. Lastly, a new aspect of countywide planning was introduced -- that of presenting issues of countywide concern and establishing goals, policies, and courses of action to address each issue. importance were identified. In all, forty-two issues of countywide The accomplishment of preparing a proposed Comprehensive Plan would not have been possible if it were not for the cooperation of many individuals. The Midland County Planning Commission would like to thank those who contributed to this effort and provided information to both the consultants, The WBDC Group, and staff of the Department of County Development. Special thanks is given to the municipal, county and state officials who directly and informatively participated in the planning process. xii �I I I I II II • • • PLAN PURPOSE The Comprehensive Plan for Midland County is authorized by the County Planning Act The broad purposes of the Comprehensive Plan are: I. To address the long-term physical developmental needs of the county. 2. To address the 1ong-term environmental and preservation issues facing the county • 3. To address both short-term and long-term solutions and action programs for implementing plan proposals • 4. To coordinate urban and rural development in the county based on significant natural features, countywide goals and policies, needs and priorities, projections and planned utilities, community facilities, and thoroughfares. In addition to these, the Comprehensive Plan also serves to facilitate the following: 1. The Plan provides a planning context within which local units of government may operate. It is the intent of this Plan to provide for the coordination of development within the various townships, cities and village in the county. 2. The Pl an provides an information base from which other plans may draw. This a 11 ows any agency or unit of government to use this information to evaluate their own planning efforts. 3. To remove as much uncertainty as possible from the development process • Ill (Public Act 282 of 1945, as amended). within Midland County and thereby facilitate optimum locational decisions on the part of all community sectors (developers, businesses, industries), as well as the respective local governments. Ill Ill - 1 - �I I II II II II • • • • •Ill Ill Ill Ill 4. The Plan considers the cumulative impact of local. regional and state plans existing as of the completion of the Plan. This information should be valuable to each agency or unit of government in their individual planning efforts by providing a means by which land use, facility and other needs might be evaluated. 5. The Plan acts as a framework for discussion and resolution of specific issues, such as economic development site selection and utility planning. While the Plan will not, in and of itself, provide specific solutions, it will provide at least some of the information required to reach a decision. 6. The Plan offers continuity in terms of direction of Midland County's future growth through successive County administrations • - 2 - �1· I I • • - 1111 HISTORICAL SETTING Prior to 1837, when permanent settlers first began to live in Midland County, the area was a center for Indian travel. From the mi d-1600s to the early 1800s the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians hunted and fished in the county. In 1819 the Federal government established the Chippewa Indian Reservation at Little Forks, now commonly ref erred to as th_e Tri dge area. The Tittabawassee and Chippewa Rivers, which join in what is now the City of Midland, were major "highways" through the dense woods which dominated the area. In fact, a large number of archaeological sites have been identified along these rivers. The Oxbow Archaeological District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Little FQrks Archaeological District has been determined to be eligible for listing. These Districts are southwest of Midland. Of these Districts the State Archaeologist of the Michigan History Division of the Michigan Department of State has indicated that "(A)rchaeologists have not yet surveyed most of these rivers, but wherever they have looked, they have found prehistoric sites." (Letter from John R. Halsey, March 24, 1983). In 1837 the first State Geologist, Douglas Houghton, at the direction of the State Legislature, began searching for salt, which was then being imported from New York. The first discovery was made at the mouth of the Salt Creek, near the current site of Sanford. By that time sett 1ers had begun arriving, at the urging of Dr. Dani el Fitzhugh, a New York investor who had bought 700 acres at the current site of the City of Midland. From 1850, when Midland County was first organized, the logging industry dominated the area. But the massive clearing of stands of trees soon exhausted the lumber operations and by 1890 the City of Midland was threatened by extinction. However, in that year, Herbert Henry Dow, an engineer from Ohio, began capturing bromine from local salt wells, which were first sunk in 1878 by lumbermen. - 3 - �,. -Ill Ill II II • - From that beginning the Dow Chemical Company. based still in the City of Midland. has expanded and now dominates the economy of the County. Accordingly the development of modern Midland County is concentrated in the areas adjdcent to Midland. Part of Midland County's heritage is highlighted in the Historic Sites table in the Physical Profile section. This table indicates those sites/buildings of significance to _the history of Midland County. Additional information was collected in a systematic reconnaissance level survey of historic buildings and presented in the East Central Historic and Architectural Resources Survey phase III final report (1979). Information on historic sites is far from complete. Local officials and project developers are advised to discuss their pl ans and projects with historians if they suspect any negative affects on historic sites or buildings. The historical organizations that should be contacted are: Bureau of History of the Michigan Department of State; Midland County Historical Society; and Midland Historic District Commission. - 4 - �1111 " "Ill Ill 1111 1111 Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill PHYSICAL PROFILE The physical make-up of Midland County helped shape its history and will continue to influence its direction in the future. The rivers, forests and farmlands are important assets to the economic vitality and quality of life in Midland County. This section examines the importance of those physical features and the impacts of sensitive environmental surroundings. Community awareness and understanding of these conditions will help maintain the quality of life for future generations. GEOPHYSICAL FEATURES Geology The geologic history of Midland County, as in the rest of Michigan, is dominated by the influence of glacial action, and of ancient seas. Rock formations of gypsum, dolomite (a limestone or marble rich in magnesium carbonate), sandstone, limestone and shale to a depth of 450 feet are covered with a variety of glacial deposits, called drift. When the last continental glacier receded, Lake Saginaw, a shallow pond-like lake covered • It is the combination of glacial drift deposited in low areas and wave action from the lake which accounts for the sand ridges (former beaches) and the lack of topographic relief in the county. Drainage from this area to Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay accounts for the rivers and their tributaries. Topography As noted above, the county 100 feet from one side of indicates a shallow valley 1and generally rises from Topography and Floodplains ( Figure 1). has a flat profile with topographic changes of about the county to the other. The topographic profile generally following the Tittabawassee River. The that basin out to the edges of the county. The map illustrates the lack of relief in the county - 5 - �• •II -II -II II " "II II - Floodplains The only identified floodplain, as acknowledged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is in the City of Midland. Studied in detail was the Tittabawassee River, Chippewa River, Sturgeon Creek, Inman Orai n and Snake - Creek. The area involved lies around the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers on the southwest side of Midland. This floodplain area, as well as flood prone areas are noted on the Topography and Floodplains map. According to gauges placed on each of these rivers, the highest recorded water flows were in 1916, 1948, and 1986. While the water flows in 1916 and 1948 equate to just under the predicted 50-year flood level for the Tittabawassee River, water flow in 1986 exceeded the 100-year flood level. The 100-year flood plain is the measure used to gauge flood risk. The definition of the 100-year flood is that flood level which has a one percent chance of being reached in any given year. Flood prone areas are those subject · to the same flooding potential but are not defined precisely as to flood levels. Water Features The most significant water features in the county are the Tittabawassee, Chippewa, Pine and Salt Rivers and Sanford and Wixom Lakes. The principal value of these water features is for scenic and recreational use, with some agricultural and industrial applications. There are three dams in the county: Dow Chemical Company's dam on the Tittabawassee River and Wolverine Power Corporation• s dams at Sanford and Wixom Lakes. The Tittabawassee River is a noted sports fisheries resource possessing a sizeable walleye population. In the history of the county the rivers were especially important transportation routes, creating a number of significant historic areas. Indians and early settlers relied heavily on these routes, as did logging activities in later years. The report entitled Midland County River Corridor Study identifies the historic, natural and recreational attributes of the river corridors. Other plans and activities are under development to take advantage of the scenic and recreational value of the rivers. - 6 - �II II Ill Ill Ill II I.I II II Sanford and Wixom Lakes have significant recreati'onal use as well as substantial residential development on their peripheries. Wetlands - Regulation of wetland areas is through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Wetland resources are important in recharging groundwater and filtering surface waters by trapping impurities. They also serve as wildlife habitats. Determination of wetlands is accomplished through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on a site by site basis. The Existing Land Use map, which is on fi 1e at the Midland County Department of County Development, indicates the areas designated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as being a type of wetland. These areas comprise approximately 3.6 percent of the total County land area. The Kawkawlin Wildlife Flooding and Refuge Area in Mills Township is one of the County's largest wetlands. Ill Ill Ill -II II II -- - 7 - �, II II II -Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill - " "- Soils The latest available soils information is from the report entitled Soil Survey of Midland County, completed in 1979 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 1 s Soil Conservation Service. Included in this report is a generalized description of various soil types and restrictions. To make this information useful, various soil types and slope conditions have been consolidated into a development context. Three development classifications have been used and are mapped under the title "Soil Suitability. 11 This term has been used to emphasize the importance of soi 1 content and structure in determining the abi 1 ity of the soil to absorb development without wholesale replacement. A generalized indication of such areas is shown on Figure 3, the Soil Suitability map. Class A - Slight Development Limitations: Few areas of the county are totally free of any development limitations. This is due primarily to the high water characteristics found in much of the county. table and poor drainage Cl ass A defines those areas where soil types and conditions present only slight limitations on building and site development. Class B - Restrictive Development Limitations: The Class B areas define soil types and conditions that present development limitations that require treatment. This may include areas of topographic relief, poor drainage, high water tables or other factors that may require corrective measures. Class C - Significant Development Limitations: These areas include muck soils, severe slopes or other conditions that may require substantial extensive earthwork. treatment, such as deep soil base replacement or The environmental impact of development in these areas may also be substantial. - 8 - �II II II II II II II "II " "-II II Non-evaluated Urban Areas: The cities of Midland and Coleman and the Village of Sanford contain substantial areas of urban type soils. These are soils that have, over time, been disturbed or replaced to the extent that detailed evaluation and mapping is not possible. Soil Erosion A significant ~roblem in any community where agriculture forms a significant element of the economy is soil erosion. Each year Midland experiences a soil loss of 271,800 tons due to various forms of erosion (Table ). The majority of this loss (265,500 tons) is related to cropland. The Soil Conservation Service has identified a significant soil erosion problem in Porter Township in the south ha 1f of Sections 31, 32, and 33, all of 34 and 35 and all but the northeast quarter of section 36. Wind erosion is the most significant source of erosion causing an estimated soil loss of from 6. 7 to 15. 5 tons per acre per year in this area of Porter Township alone. This is caused by the lack of protection measures in existence and the sandy soil conditions prevel·ant in this location. The Soil Conservation Service has identified some soil conservation practices that could reduce soil loss. These practices include: conservation cropping system, conservation tillage system, cover and green manure crop, crop residue use, field borders and planting of field windbreaks. Although other areas of soil erosion exist in the county, the Soil Conservation Service is concentrating efforts in Porter Township. As other areas are identified, further contact and work in selected areas will be accomplished. As a preventative measure, the Midland County Road Commission administers the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act on behalf of the county. - 9 - �II II II II II II II Table 1 Annual Erosion - 1982, Midland County Land Use Erosion Source Tons Cropland: Wind Sheet/Ri 11 TOTAL 196,900 68,600 265,500 II 0 0 200 200 0 0 Forestland: 0 0 700 700 0 OTHER: Source: Wind Sheet/Rill TOTAL Wind 3,100 2,800 5,900 Soil Conservation Service 1982 Resource Inventory Midland County II ,-, " 2,400 800 3,200 Pastureland: Wind Sheet/Rill TOTAL II "II Tons/Acre - 10 - 0 200 200 400 �Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill II II II II -.. .. .. .. .. " " ", FARMLANDS Farming in Midland County is a significant part of the economy of the area. The 1982 Census of Agriculture indicates that there were 502 farms in operation at that time. The average farm size was 186 acres with a total of 93,299 acres in production; this equates to 27.8 percent of the total county land area. Current Soil Conservation Service (SCS) estimates indicate a total of 96,997 farmland acres. These have been divided into three classifications. Prime Farmland at 72,010 acres, Unique Farmland at 61 acres, and Additional Farmland of Local Importance at 24,926 acres. Prime and Unique Farmlands are described as follows: Prime Farmlands Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber and oil seed crops, and is also available for these uses. The land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forestland, other land, but not urban built-up land or water. It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods. In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks. They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently or are protected from flooding. Unique Farmlands Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used for the production of specific high va 1 ue food and fiber crops. It has the speci a 1 combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality and high yields of a specific crop when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Examples of such crops are specialized fruits and vegetables. - 11 - �Ill II II II II II II II II - " " " " " ', The previous Agricultural Census, completed in 1978, counted 524 farms covering 94,386 acres with an average farm size of 152 acres. This trend of larger farms is the same as that occurring nationally. At the same time these farming operations are becoming more productive. The average per farm market value of agricultural products sold was $19,826 in 1974 but increased to $26,879 in 1978. The type of activity conducted on farms was divided into two categories: crops and livestock, ~oultry and related products. Farms with crop production numbered 444; livestock farms numbered 206. Of the 524 farms in production 316 were owner operated, 174 were part owners and 34 were farming tenants. Farming was the principal occupation of 190 operators, or 36 percent of all operators. The remainder had some other occupation upon which they depended for their livelihood. The Important Farmlands map (Figure 4) indicates those areas which are most suitable, in terms of soil qualities, drainage, topography and related factors, for agricultural use. Farmland Preservation The State of Michigan has instituted programs for the preservation of existing agricultural land. One of the most significant programs available is Public Act 116 of 1974, the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act. This program allows communities to designate parcels of land as either agricultural or open space and commits the property owners to a ten-year period when no development can take pl ace. In turn the property owner receives a tax credit based on income and is exempt from special assessments such as public water or sewerline construction assessments. Midland County makes extensive use of Act 116 as a preservation tool. Significant areas of land, amounting to approximately 44 percent of total farmlands have been designated under this program for preservation. The majority of the 116 lands are found in the southern one-third of the county. - 12 - �II II Ill Ill II II II II Ill Ill Forest Resources Midland County has 159,957 acres of forested lands. This represents 47.1 percent of the county's total land area. Major tree species include: .... ...... Northern Hardwood Aspen and Birch Lowland Hardwooqs . Aspen Predominates . Pine . . . . . . Lowland Conifers Managed Christmas Trees . .... ..... 18,484 17,033 36,165 85,314 2,903 12 acres acres acres acres acres acres 77 acres Commercial forestry is limited in the county, with slightly less than 500 acres enrolled in the state commercial forest preservation program. To protect forested lands, however, the County is currently admi ni steri ng a gypsy moth suppression program. This program will be continued with funding coming from a special mil 1age • .. .. Ill Ill , , , , , - 13 - �II II II II Ill Ill II Ill Ill ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Water Quality Groundwater: According to Michigan Department of Natural Resources statistics, about one-half of Michigan's residents, or about 4.5 million people, depend on groundwater as their sole source of drinking water. In Midland County nearly all of the area outside the City of Midland and Water District No. 1 depend on groundwater for domestic and business use. Protection of that groundwater, therefore, is a significant countywide concern. The City of Midland and Water District No. 1 are supplied with water from Saginaw Bay (White Stone Point) with treatment of the water at the Midland City water treatment plant. A number of potential activities could contribute to groundwater problems in the County. 1. Brine - There are significant underground brine or salt deposits in the County Which are adjacent to groundwater sources. 2. Brine Wells - As of 1986 all Dow Chemical Company brine well activity ceased operations with demolition and core filling of existing wells expected to be completed by December 1987. 3. Oil Wells - Although actual drilling operations are generally well protected from accidental groundwater contamination, the pumping and transporting of oil may create the opportunity for spillage and seepage into groundwater supplies. 4. Landfills - Testing of wells is necessary to ensure that protection measures constructed at the landfill site are intact. 5. Land Use - Some land uses, such as junkyards, closed dumps and gas stations may be potential contamination sites. Midland County also has a number of major chemical and petroleum facilities that, while adequately protected, are potential problem areas. - 14 - �Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill 6. One other significant aspect of this problem is the Midland Urban Growth Area Policy. It is implemented through the requirement that sewer service only be ext~nded to those areas which are annexed to the City of Midland. However, it is apparent that significant pressure for new growth and development will be forthcoming in the townships adjacent to the City of Midland. At the same time some degree of resistance to annexation is evident. Therefore, without proper vigilance or control by the townships new commercial, residential and industrial growth may take place without adequate long-term sewage disposal. 1111 1111 ,, , , , , Septic Systems - The general lack of sewer service outside the City of Midland requires reliance upon alternate sewage disposal service, principally septic tanks and fields. 7. Agricultural Uses - Improper use of fertilizers and herbicides/pesticides could create groundwater problems affecting large areas. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has available informational and educational publications relating to groundwater. They have also identified activities and programs which may be conducted by local governments in a brochure entitled Local Roles in Groundwater Protection Management. No specific contamination problems have been locally identified. The Midland Health Department has groundwater sampling information available but not in a format which is easily recoverable or significant on a large area basis. Surface Water: Significant surface waters include the Pine, Chippewa, Salt and Tittabawassee Rivers and Sanford and Wixom Lakes. According to the Midland Health Department, information on water quality is limited, with the exception of a study conducted on Sanford Lake from 1975 to 1978. The Sanford Lake study principally dealt with dyetesting of individual on-site residential sewage disposal systems. The results of this study found that about 11 percent of the test sites were improperly disposing of wastes. - 15 - �Ill Ill Ill Ill -.. .. -, , , , Corrective measures were not undertaken directly but it was found that many residents were unaware of the problems they had created. In a number of instances problems had been caused by sewage systems constructed prior to the advent of modern public health regulations. Therefore these are non-conforming _ systems that should be eliminated over time. Potential activities which contribute to surface water pollution include: 1. Septic Systems - Homes adjacent to these water bodies may inadvertently dispose of wastes directly into the water • 2. Agricultural uses - This is perhaps the greatest single source of water pollution. Increased use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides combined with a lack of water run-off control can contribute significant amounts of pollutants to drains, creeks or rivers. 3. Land uses - Various commercial and industrial uses in scattered locations may dispose of wastes in drains or creeks which act as tributaries to the rivers. Industrial wastes particularly need to be treated prior to disposal. Environmental Contamination Sites No significant county pollution problems have been locally identified. However, the Michigan Environmental Response Act, Act 307 of 1982, requires the identification, risk assessment and priority evaluation of environmental contamination sites in the State. The Environmental Contamination Sites map describes these sites in Midland County (Figure 6). The Environmental Contamination Sites map indicates all of the sites ideptified in Midland County. Next to the dot indicating a site there are codes identifying the type of contamination (the top line) and the natural resource affected (the bottom line). The code labels are noted in the map legend. With regard to many of the brine spi 11 s, Dow Chemical Company is studying the spill sites and decontaminating them where necessary based on a consent agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Dow Chemical - 16 - �Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Company I s brine spi 11 site investigation is to be comp 1eted by 1989. however. the time allowed for decontamination goes beyond 1989 in order to restore the sites to their previous use category. - Several other environmental contamination sites include chemical production manufacturing, landfills, oil drilling, scrap metal yard, gas station, laundry dry cleaner, and __ gasoline transport spills. - 17 - �II II II II II " " " " "~ Air Quality Air quality within Midland County falls under the responsibility of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Air Quality Division. Principle tasks handled by the Department include the issuance of air quality permits governing commercial and industrial processes and air quality monitoring. There are presently four mobile monitoring stations in the County. Two are under the ownership and control of the Natural Resources Department, while two are owned by Dow Chemical Corporation. The stations are portable and may be relocated based on need. They are used to measure traditional versus exotic pollutants. , Traditional pollutants include sulfer dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead. Exotic air pollutants refer to other forms/types of emissions lacking proscribed emission standards. Often the human impacts are not known. Within Midland County exotic pollutants are generally associated with new or experimental chemical processes. The MDNR has indicated that an average of three air quality permits are issued weekly in Midland County for emissions of the exotic type. The State of Michigan Designation of Attainment Status report (1986) indicates that Midland County exceeds acceptable air quality standards for ozone and total suspended particulates. Discussions with Natura 1 Resource Department staff revea 1ed severa 1 areas of concern pursuant to air quality. These include: • Monitoring of exotic pollutants is either non-existant or minimal at best • • Industrial processes existing prior to 1967 are not governed by air quality permits. Unfortunately, it appears Midland County has many of these. • There is often a lack of knowledge concerning the potential health impacts of new processes that are frequently generated by Midland's chemical ~ndustry. - 18 - �II II Ill II II Ill Ill • There is little interaction between health related agencies and the public except at times of major emergencies. Little concern is expressed by the public over air quality. The Air Quality Division hopes to eventually monitor exotic pollutants. as well as alleviate (or monitor) the other concerns addressed. To do so requires additional State .funding which is somewhat tenuous at this time. This lack of funding also accounts for the reduction of the number of air sampling facilities that has taken place over the past several years. Ill Ill Ill 1111 1111 1111 1111 '-~ - 19 - �Ill Ill -II II - HISTORIC SITES Midland County has a rich historical inventory of land and buildings. Historic sites are shown on Figure 7. The following is a brief description of these features. - Prehistoric: The Michigan Hi story Di vision of the Department of State has identified a number of prehistoric sites, only some of which have had archaeological surveys completed. In particular the Oxbow Archaeological District*, (also known as Chippewa Nature Center), located Southwest of the City of Midland in the area of the confluence of the Pine and Chippewa Rivers, has a number of sites deserving of survey work. This District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition the Little Forks Archaeological District. also located southwest of the City of Midland, has been determined as being eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Both of these areas are generally thought to contain significant prehistoric Indian campsites. Wayne Cemetery: On the high bank of the Pine River, this was a settlement during the logging era in the 187Os. Irish Cemetery: This site contains graves dating back to 1877. Wright's Bridge: This was a post office settlement during the 186Os. First Salt Well: This is the location of the first salt well, discovered by Michigan's first state geologist in 1837. Averill Rollway and Banking Ground: At one time this was the site of the largest riverbank log rollway in the world. - 20 - �II II II II II -Ill Ill -Ill - Father Nouvel 's Landing: Fur Trading Post: Jesuit Priest Burial Site: In 1675, Father Henri Nouvel became the first white person to visit this area. This is the location of the first white settlement in the County. Relics of a cross, chalice and robe were found at this burial site. *Bradley House: A historic home, constructed about 1870. Battle of the Oxbow: This was the site of a great battle between the Sauk and Chippewa Tribes. Indian Mission: This mission settlement served Indians in the area until the 1850s. Family Cemetery: Sites in this cemetery date back to the 1800s. Manitou Rock: This large stone had some religious significance to area Indians. Salt Spring: This spring attracted wildlife for salt and therefore was considered sacred by the local Indians. Chippewa Village: This site along the Pine River was excavated and remains of human bones, tools and lodgings were found. Redstone Village: This was the location of an early post office settlement. Herbert H. Dow Laboratory: Site of Dr. H. H. Dow's first successful electrolysis of brine to produce bromine. This is also the site of Even's Grist Mill, the building where Dr. Dow first began operations. - 21 - �Ann Street Depot: This railroad depot opened in 1905 and was closed to the public in 1952. Herbert H. Dow, founder of Dow Chemical Company, arrived in Midland at this depot. Sanford Museum: Formerly an early 20th century brick four room school building. *Midland County Courthouse: The Courthouse is an example of rustic Tudor design, one-of-a-kind among Michigan county courthouses, employing murals depicting the history of the county with Indians and early settlers. CCC Camp - Pine Haven: To create jobs for youth during the 1930's, a camp was constructed in what is now known as the Pine Haven Recreation Area. Veterans Memorial Park: A county park developed in 1951 on land purchased by the county in 1923 from the State of Michigan. Originally the state property was intended for a state sanatorium. Coal Mine: Exploration site for commercial extraction of coal. Hope Township Hall: Built in 1881, the structure is Midland County's only standing original township meeting hall still in use as a township hall. First Oil We 11 : This is the site of the first oil well in the county, drilled in 1932. Camp 16: Camp 16 was an early logging camp located at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers in Edenville Township. Red Keg Saloon: Located in what is now called Averill near the rollway and banking ground on the Tittabawassee River. Red Keg was the first name of the Averill hamlet. - 22 - �Grand Traverse (Mackinac) Trail: John Larkin Saw Mi 11 : Indian Trails: Dock of the Be 11 e Seymore: Midland Chicory Pl ant: Coleman Chicory Pl ant: *John Kelly House: This trail is an extension of the Saginaw Trail from Detroit to Higgins Lake, where it branched in to two trails; the Mackinac Trail extended to the Straits of Macki nae and the Grand Traverse Trail going to Traverse City. One of Midland's original saw mills. Junction of three Indian trails: Grand (Mackinac), Pine River and Chippewa trails. Traverse Midland's original dock for passenger and freight travel to and from Saginaw, located on the Tittabawassee River at Main and Benson Streets. A manufacturing plant located in Midland in 1910 near the intersection of Ellsworth Street and Bay City Road by the Franck Chicory Company, processing chicory root as an additive to coffee for taste and aroma effect. Another chicory manufacturing plant was located in Coleman. In 1926 all chicory in the United States was grown in the Midland County area. Build circa 1875, the Kelly House is a wood-framed and clapboard-sheathed building of Italianate inspiration with several attached wings. The house was built for John H. Kelly, a Midland drygoods merchant, and for his wife Almira and their children. - 23 - �' ' ' '- *Herbert H. Dow House: The Dow house is a two and one-half-story frame building of vernacular styling detailed with a steeply pitched gable roof, irregular groupings of diamond-paned windows, and deeply inset porch. Designed and built by Herbert H. Dow in 1899, the home was lived in by the chemist until his death in 1930. *Listed on State Register of Historic Places. also listed on the National Register. - 24 - The Midland County Courthouse is �I I I I I I I I J -J , , -, , , / c o u • ~~::> ILAOWtll , ' 1-r.--r~. z 4( ..J Q. FIGURE 1 TOPOGRAPHY a nd FLOODPLAINS w > en z w z ::i::: 4( w C, a: LEGEND Q. 40 FOOT - C ONTOUR ~ ELEVATIONS 0 0 ::i::: 0 ~ a 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN AREA > > I- Iz z 100 YEAR FLOOD PRONE AREA O 0 O 0 :::::, :::::, C C 4( ..J 4( ..J C C ~ ~ z z -, I I SOURCES: ' FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY 1984 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEf,icy t. t • M , tt I. I I �I I L • I W .,. ■ I ... I. m .,··1'i .•. ---, , , • FIGURE 2 { DRAINAGE t: t: II I ! . • I\ - . z . . .. BASINS C -I A. w • -z > • • en w ::c zC w C, • LEGEND 111111 RIVER BASIN DRAINAGE DIVIDE ➔ DIRECTION OF FLOW -::c - CE: A. :& t> 0 :& t> - ► tz ::, 0 ► tz ::, 0 Q Q t> t> z z C C -I -I -Q Q :& :& I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSION I I la .. ~.. ... •• • • , , ~ ~~~ OIL I e • • ... . I I O . , , - -__- - • ,. ~ --· I .-. • -. ''I••ltt j • I • 0 1J 'II ,., . 11 D �... I t C O U P' • 11 rlJt vlH I I\ I I I I I I I z -.: FIGURE 3 ..J 0. SOIL SUITABILITY w > en z w z :r:: -.: w CJ a: 0. :r:: . LEGEND .._ - :E 0 :E 0 0 CLASS A-SLIGHT DEVELOPMENT LIMITATIONS .. > > I- Iz z CLASS B-RESTRICTIVE DEVELOPMENT LIMITATIONS ::::, ::::, CLASS C-SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT LIMITATIONS 0 NON-EVALUATED URBAN AREAS 0 0 0 0 0 z z -.: -.: ..J ..J -:E -:E 0 I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I 0 �cou.T, ... t H~ 1 1Jl ~lli I\ I I I I I I I I I z c( ..J Q. FIGURE 4 IMPORTANT w > FARMLANDS Cl) z LEGEND w z :I: c( w CJ a: ... :t: Q. - ~ 0 0 ~ IMPORTANT FARMLANDS 0 (defined as PA 116 lands > > .... . .... z z :::, :::, and by SCS claaalflcatlona) 0 0 0 0 C C c( ..J c( ..J z z -C :EC~ I J J J , , I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I I I , ,.., .., ·u.. CD i I I~ ,: Ii!t•i1•• CD 0 i �t P' rlJl ,1 vHi 11. • o • • • t--+---t---+--+--+-~i-·.-'-... + ~~ · -+'. • ·+ .--t.'7-.+--i-"""""4-t":t-rt---t--+--+----hr=-A---L-~·-· '~ .4 ~.+~ I\ z --+-". • • I ct • ..J ~ w > en z FIGURE 5 I OIL AND GAS WELL LOCATIONS w I z l: c( w (!J ~ l: a: LEGEND r ... - GENERAL LOCATION I I I - :E 0 0 :E 0 > > Iz z ( 5 OR MORE WELLS PER SECTION ) ::::> ::::> 0 0 0 0 C C c( ..J c( ..J z z -:EC -:EC I f I J J I , , SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I l I I \ t ,. M , ti t I . . I I 'II•• 1 II) I. I • I .. l ... I I • A C It It fl f Y ~ ,;, " !: m, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ r - J ~'j=-'j_T_.:._JD - . SCALI - O 1• • 1000 �i i 0 • " l. A a W I f I_ I~ ' ---- ---♦ r----7·-"7-dflit":---r-I • '1 ,11; dn 11 •±•+--1• ·-t ·+· ---+-+ -_-t . -A'--L---J---+-+-t-r--t--t--t--+--+--,-4--4-•~ ••• ~~~~1,..-6-.--'. II • " • • • • t: ' ~==~~':,':,j"---+---6---a.--~. FIGURE 6 _" , ,. lnb--t-~:t---.;~........ ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION SITES I\ z .-...Jf~!!-+-.-t--'-t-t~-t--+---...-•G/SIF --1==~""-'~=l--------l C ..J -.,;-~-...-+-_J....,,,.~~-+---1---.--+--+-G7ff -1=--~---+---+ a. ea · I " L....._Jl-----{-J------1,a-+,--+-'--+-~Gisrf~F~-,- -+---__..,_...,__. • •al It t t w > f en z w z :c C w a: C, a. :c F,:.--i-- LEGEND - + -----1, .. - :E 0 0 :E 0 TYPES of CONTAMINATION; B - BRINE C - CHEMICAL - ► ► I- I- i r-+. I ·- M - METAL RESOURCE AFFECTED: " " I I z z ,. ::, ::, 0 0 -~· .T . . GROUNDWATER S - SOIL W - SURFACE WATER 0 Q Q z z F - FLORA/FAUNA G - 0 C C ..J Q ..J Q -- :E :E U - UNKNOWN I NOTE: I Loc ■ tlon ■ ■ re g ■ ner ■ llzed. ••• Act 307 llet for I ■ ctu ■ I loc ■ tlone. t I. I I SOURCE: I MICHIGAN SITES Of ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATIONI PRIORITY LISTS (FEBRUARY 1987), PUBLIC ACT 307 Of 1982 'II I,, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT Of NATURAL RESOURCES (SAGINAW "' ''III DISTRICT) DOW BRINE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDYl1985/1986) ••• < 0 • • ' ' ... I • • g • ... ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - -_ _ _. . _______n.J_~. .._\_-~_r_,__ : fi11 _JD �• • • • Table 2 Historic Sites, Midland County Legend* 1. Oxbow Archaeological District 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Little Forks Archaeological Wayne Cemetery Irish Cemetery Wright's Bridge First Salt Well Averill Rollway and Banking Ground Jesuit Priest Burial Site Fur Trading Post Father Nouvel 's Landing Bradley Hosue Battle of the Oxbow Indian Mission Family Cemetery Manitou Rock Salt Spring Chippewa Village Redstone Village Herbert A. Dow Laboratory Ann Street Depot Sanford Museum 22. Midland County Courthous e 23. CCC Camp - Pine Haven 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. Veterans Memorial Park Coal Mine Hope Township Hall First Oil Well Camp 16 Red Keg Saloon Grand Traverse (Mackinac) Trail John Larkin Saw Mill Indian Trails Dock of the Belle Seymore Midland Chicory Plant Coleman Chicory Plant John Kelly House Herbert H. Dow House *Refer to Historic Sites map, Figure 7, for location. - 31 - �I I I I I I I I I I - ·- ---- 'I~'1 ,IJ: vtn . . . .. .. ... ll ' z c( ...J FIGURE 7 Q. w HISTORIC SITES > z en w z X c( w C, REFER TO TABLE 2 FOR SITE LISTINGS r:r:: Q. ...z> z...>0 0 - ~ ::, ::, 0 0 0 0 C I I I I I X 0 ~ C z z cc cc ...J ...J -C C ~ ~ I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I I I I \ L I • ' " ,... '· • I I I "' ~ '--------------------------~---=-~ 1 ..,.... · - ..... .=._·i_, , ·11 I:, .. 11 : f'J ,f!I --=-_J□ �I I I I I I • • • •~ SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE This section describes the characteristics of Midland County's people, housing and economy. Past trends and the existing socioeconomic conditions are presented to help define both opportunities and constraints for the future. The _ reaction to these issues along with the vitality of the Great Lakes Region will influence the future population and economy in the county. DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE Population Characteristics The population of Midland County is centered in the City of Midland, which accounts for 50 percent of the county total. Adding the townships adjacent to the city raises that total to about 70 percent. Overall County growth from 1970 was 15.4 percent with Edenville, Geneva, Mills and Warren Townships posting the greatest percentage growth increase. Midland Township is the only unit of government that indicated a decrease in population, owing to annexations by the City of Midland • Households in the county number 24,498 which, when divided by the population, yields an average of 2.94 persons per household. Persons per household are higher in the townships than in either city or the Village of Sanford. This is most probably due to the lack of multiple family housing units and fewer single parent or single person households in the townships. The age of the population has increased since 1970 reflecting a nationwide aging trend. The greatest numerical increase is in the 25 - 44 category, which encompasses the post-World War II "Baby Boom." Significant declines in the Under 5 to 14 categories reflect another nationwide trend of smaller families and/or career decisions by women which delay or prevent child bearing. The median age for the County is 27.9, which is about a year under the State median age. The numerical distribution of males and females is almost identical. Males tend to outnumber females in the Under 5 to 24 age groups while females outnumber males in the 25 to Over 65 category. No significant distribution characteristics are evident in any individual jurisdiction. - 33 - �I I I I I I • • • "-- II II Table 3 1980 Population by Jurisdiction, Midland County JURISDICTION 1980 POPULATION PERCENT OF COUNTY TOTAL 2,029 1,157 1,244 4,477 1,249 3,011 1,129 4,171 3,284 3,325 1,643 2,389 1,461 1,586 1,113 1,846 2.8% 1.6 1.7 6.1 1.8 4.1 1.5 5.7 4.5 4.6 2.2 3.2 2.0 2.1 1.5 2.5 1970 - 1980 PERCENT OF POPULATION CHANGE Townships: Eden vi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome* Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mi 11 s Mt. Haley Porter Warren 73.6% 69.4 12.6 13.1 32.2 31.8 36.7 32.2 31.6 31.4 15.9 -5.2 45.4 25.7 23.8 43.9 Cities: Coleman Midland 1,429 37,035 2.0 50.1 10.3 5.9 County: 73,578 100.0 15.4 Source: 1980 U.S. Census of Population * Village of Sanford included - 34 - �I I I I I II • • • • ' ' ' Table 4 1980 Population by Age and Sex, Midland County FEMALE AGE MALE Under 5 3,061 2,751 5-14 6,909 6,359 15-19 3,960 3,627 20-24 3,242 3,136 25-44 10,791 11,051 45-64 6,602 6,733 65 and over 2,246 3,110 TOTALS 36,811 36,767 Source: 1980 Census of Population U.S. Department of Cofl1Tlerce Bureau of the Census - 35 - �I I I I I II • • • • -- " Table 5 1980 Age/Sex Distribution by Jurisdiction Under 5 M Townships Edenvi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mi 11 s Mt. Haley Porter Warren 79 54 55 173 56 133 60 178 154 166 74 96 61 95 50 101 F 211 97 110 47 69 139 433 149 137 48 124 315 45 127 156 390 154 364 141 373 63 . 167 79 197 73 188 82 168 39 124 67 172 65 & Over 15-19 20-24 25-44 45-64 M F M F M F M F M F 190 84 86 64 43 173 130 63 60 422 237 211 128 61 52 270 149 165 98 61 55 342 208 194 311 190 172 356 165 164 99 102 162 205 148 138 73 70 153 141 55 82 100 72 50 174 101 93 89 49 54 167 35 112 41 151 107 130 76 104 116 58 39 64 68 32 49 184 51 108 44 179 109 159 69 95 50 77 39 73 305 158 159 713 187 471 163 655 519 534 277 330 224 240 162 274 306 160 172 691 176 457 166 631 540 498 272 341 228 241 171 255 200 114 102 424 111 251 104 405 257 237 114 237 121 122 102 166 183 113 108 411 108 256 95 405 244 250 95 239 92 118 88 168 68 36 45 116 47 97 38 142 85 71 33 75 31 51 34 67 63 51 39 146 52 103 32 135 97 81 40 105 44 56 43 71 5-14 -M- F Cities/Village Coleman Sanford* Midland 73 69 121 125 90 64 64 79 138 166 125 139 69 107 32 32 37 37 42 41 100 105 89 82 43 44 89 91 1403 1249 3173 2926 2040 1826 1849 1671 5282 5580 3410 3621 1141 1845 Midland Cty. 3061 2751 6909 6359 3960 3627 3242 3136 10791 11051 6602 6733 2246 3110 Source: 1980 Census of Population *WBDC Estimate - The WBDC estimate was derived by using the Countywide ratio of male to female distribution and applying it to Sanford's population. - 36 - �I I I I I • • • • -- Population Projections Countywide population projections are available from a number of sources, each derived from different base information and each making certain assumptions. Of the projection methods used for Midland County, the three most common are described below. Scenario-Based: In this method overall scenarios are described, generally based on growth policies on a national, state or local scale. For instance the Battelle study prepared for the Midland County Economic Development Council suggests certain development strategies which, if followed, may sustain a specified rate of job production. From the number of jobs an overall population growth estimate may be calculated. Trend Line: Statistical methods may be used to analyze past growth trends and cycles and project future growth. This method normally applies certain assumptions regarding development potential, land availability and other factors which may indicate where the trend lines should rise or fall. Cohort-Component: Three population characteristics are used to implement this projection method. Mortality, or survival rates, are figures derived from an analysis to determine which segments of the population are likely to be alive in a given future time period. Next a calculation for the number of births likely in that same period is made. Finally an estimate of net migration, or the net number of persons who enter and leave the jurisdiction is projected. These characteristics are each computed and a final figure derived. In order to present population projections for each municipal jurisdiction i t was · necessary to distribute the population using countywide data computed by Woods and Poole Economics, Inc., of Washington, D.C. - 37 - �I I I I • • • • • • 1111 The Woods and were provided was developed The scenarios Poole data were used because four scenario-based projections which allowed for a range of events to occur. Each scenario assuming a different rate of growth or decline in employment. are described below. National Trends - This scenario correlated growth estimates for the United States and assigns them to Midland County using a regional forecasting model • 1. 2. Local Economic Development Strategy - This scenario is the basic National Trends scenario with post hoc assumptions imposed upon the model as follows: that 1) total manufacturing employment will increase by 200 jobs each year 1985 through 1995 from the 1985 level of 11,575, and 2) employment in wholesale trade, retail trade, finance, insurance and real estate and services will rise by 2 percent per year 1985 through 1995 • 3. Slow Growth - This scenario is the basic National Trends scenario with ~ hoc assumptions imposed upon the model as follows: that total manufacturing employment will be held constant at the 1985 level (11,375) for each year 1985 through 1995. 4. Decline/No Growth - This scenario is the basic National Trends scenario with~ hoc assumptions imposed upon the model as follows: that 1) total manufacturing employment will decline 200 jobs each year from 1985 through 1995 from the 1985 level of 11,175, and 2) employment in wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, and services will decline 2 percent a year from 1985 through 1995. In order to distribute the projections a two-part method was used: The first part of the method is based on an evaluation of each jurisdiction's master plan, taking into account growth policies (when stated), future land use plans and other factors such as Act 116 lands and sewer and water availability. The evaluation is used to assign the appropriate scenario to each jurisdiction. For example, a township expressing a desire to develop more industrial and commercial property and providing land for growth with utilities available may be assigned the Local Economic Development Strategy. Similarly a township which emphasizes agricultural uses with - 38 - �I I I • • • • • limited or no utilities may be assigned a Decline/No Growth scenario. The assignments have been established by the County Planning Commission and are used as a basis for all population and other projections. The second part of the method distributes the population, based on the 1980 Census, across each jurisdiction using the Woods and Poole scenarios assigned to the jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction's share of the 1980 county population is applied to e.ach five-year projection from 1985 to 2005 to produce the allocated population throughout the county. The allocated county population projection is thus an extension of the Slow Growth and National Trends scenarios and lies between the results of these two scenarios with weights of 40 percent and 60 percent assigned to each, respectively. At the bottom of the Allocated Population Projections table the Woods and Pao 1e scenario estimates are 1 i sted as a reference. The findings are graphically displayed on Figure 8 • Comparative Projections For comparison purposes, population projections prepared by Sales and Marketing Management and the Michigan Department of Management and Budget were consulted. These projections were derived at by using different methods and usually typically show modest rises in growth. These figures are presented at the bottom of Table 6. Comparing the figures with the County Planning Commission's allocated population projections for the years 1985 and 2005 shows there is a difference of three to six percent between the allocated county projections and those prepared by the State of Michigan. This percentage range of difference over the twenty-year planning period of 1985 to 2005 amounts to a numerical difference of 155 persons per year for the county as a whole. - 39 - �I I I I I • • • fl II .. Table 6 Allocated Population Projections, Midland County JURISDICTION scenar10 .1 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 SG SG SG SG SG SG SG NT SG SG NT SG SG SG SG SG 2,029 1,157 1,244 4,477 1,249 3,011 1,129 4,171 3,284 3,325 1,643 2,389 1,461 1,586 1,113 1,846 2,164 1,237 1,314 4,715 1,391 3,169 1,159 4,406 3,478 3,556 1,700 2,474 1,546 1,623 1,159 1,932 2,122 1,212 1,288 4,623 1,364 3,107 1,137 4,834 3,411 3,486 1,866 2,425 1,516 1,591 1,137 1,895 2,119 1,211 1,286 4,617 1,362 3,103 1,135 5,226 3,406 3,482 2,017 2,422 1,514 1,589 1,135 1,892 2,240 1,280 1,360 4,880 1,440 3,280 1,200 5,420 3,600 3,680 2,092 2,560 1,600 1,680 1,200 2,000 2,298 1,313 1,395 5,008 1,477 3,366 1,231 5,477 3,694 3,776 2,114 2,627 1,642 1,724 1,231 2,052 NT NT 1,429 37,035 1,546 38,727 1,696 42,485 1,834 45,941 1,902 47,645 1,922 48,146 73,578 77,296 81,195 85,291 89,059 90,493 Townships: Eden vi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome* Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren Cities: Coleman Midland TOTALS: *Village of Sanford Included 1woods and Poole Scenario Assignment : D/N = Decline/No Growth SG = Slow Growth NT= National Trends LOS= Local Economic Development Strategy Note: For Years 1985 75,500 77,300 77,300 77,900 1985 1990 1995 68,800 75,800 84,800 82,800 64,500 75,700 91,700 89,900 1990 1995 78,090 78,300 81,000 2000 62,100 80,000 95,100 96,600 2000 2005 57,400 82,100 96,100 101,700 2005 Comearative Projections: State of Michigan Sales & Marketing Mgmt. Source: 74,802 76,200 Midland County Planning Commission - 40 - 83,300 84,900 �I I I I II • • • • • - MIDLAND COUNTY POPULATION PROJECTIONS WOODS AND POOLE GROWTH SCENARIOS 100~000 95~000 90 ,., 000 z -... 0 85~000 C ..I ::, 80~000 Q. 0 Q. 75 \,000 70~000 1985 1990 1995 2000 YEAR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY SLOW GROWTH ------ DECLINE/NO GROWTH NATIONAL TRENDS --------------·-· ------- COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROJECTION FIGURE 8 :::::::::::::::::::::::: 2005 �I I I I I I I I - Table 7 Population Distribution by Jurisdiction (Percentage), Midland County JURISDICTION 1980 PERCENT OF POPULATION 1 Edenville Township Geneva Township Greendale Township Homer Township Hope Township Ingersoll Township Jasper Township Jerome Township* Larkin Township Lee Township Lincoln Township Midland Township Mills Township Mount Haley Township Porter Township Warren Township TOTAL TOWNSHIPS City of Coleman City of Midland TOTAL 2005 PERCENT OF POPULATION 2 PERCENT CHANGE 2.8 1.6 1. 7 6.1 1.8 4.1 1.5 5.7 4.5 4.6 2.2 3.2 2.0 2.1 1.5 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 5.5 1.6 3.7 1.4 6.1 4.1 4.2 2.3 2.9 1.8 1.9 1.4 2.3 -.3 -.1 -.2 -.6 -.2 -.4 -.1 +.4 -.4 -.4 +.1 -.3 -.2 -.2 -.1 -.2 47.9 41. 7 -6.2 2.0 50.1 2.1 53.2 +.l +3.1 100.0 100.0 +22.9% *Village of Sanford included 11980 U.S. Census of Population Midland County Planning Commission Projection - 42 - �I I I •I II Table 8 Population Projections by Race, Midland County - RACE 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 White 72,300 75,430 78,630 81,580 83,380 81,710 Black 580 850 1,390 2,440 4,350 7,440 Other 810 1,020 1,170 1,270 1,340 1,340 Source: Woods and Poole Economics, Inc., Comprehensive Plan Allocation Policy Scenario Data Pamphlet, March, 1986 • • • • 1111 1111 - 43 - �I I I Table 9 Population Projections by Age, Midland County 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85 + 5,830 6,080 7,130 7,540 6,400 6,420 6,100 5,180 4,280 3,650 3,850 3,260 1,580 1,980 1,400 940 590 480 6,530 6,120 6,330 6,380 6,130 7,410 6,990 6,380 5,020 3,880 3,340 3,280 2,920 2,210 1,730 1,190 800 670 7,100 6,810 6,230 5,870 5,440 7,220 7,680 7,020 6,210 4,660 3,640 3,060 2,870 2,420 1,790 1,350 930 900 7,100 7,360 6,950 5,910 5,080 6,390 7,510 7,650 6,920 5,960 4,380 3,240 2,710 2,360 1,990 1,530 1,110 1,150 6,930 7,300 7,410 6,630 5,190 5,980 6,650 7,550 7,650 6,630 5,580 3,940 2,900 2,240 2,020 1,730 1,240 1,480 6,960 6,910 7,130 7,010 5,900 5,960 6,080 6,490 7,350 7,150 6,090 4,890 3,470 2,360 1,880 1,670 1,400 1,770 TOTAL 73,700 77,300 81,200 85,300 89,100 90,500 AGE Source: Woods and Poole (1986) - 44 - �I I I I Table 10 Population Projection by Age (Males) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+ 3,070 3,140 3,740 3,950 3,260 2,129 3,050 2,560 2,130 1,770 1,970 1,640 1,220 890 630 360 220 150 3,350 3,120 3,240 3,290 3,140 3,730 3,530 3,190 2,520 1,930 1,720 1,630 1,390 1,000 790 460 270 180 3,640 3,470 3,190 2,990 2,730 3,580 3,820 3,470 3,120 2,350 1,880 1,540 1,390 1,140 790 530 330 230 3,640 3,760 3,550 3,010 2,560 3,170 3,750 3,800 3,430 2,940 2,230 1,610 1,300 1,110 890 610 400 310 3,550 3,730 3,780 3,380 2,630 2,980 3,340 3,770 3,820 3,290 2,840 1,960 1,400 1,040 900 670 440 380 3,570 3,540 3,630 3,580 3,020 2,970 3,060 3,250 3,690 3,560 3,110 2,460 1,680 1,110 830 660 490 470 TOTAL 36,890 38,500 40,190 42,060 43,900 44,680 Age Source: Woods and Poole (1986) - 45 - �I I I I • • • • • • - Table 11 Population Projections by Age (Females) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+ 2,760 2,940 3,390 3,600 3,140 3,330 3,060 2,620 2,140 1,880 1,880 1,620 1,080 760 580 370 330 3,180 3,010 3,090 3,080 2,990 3,670 3,450 3,190 2,500 1,950 1,610 1,660 1,210 940 720 520 480 3,460 3,340 3,040 2,880 2,710 3,630 3,870 3,550 3,100 2,310 1,760 1,510 1,280 1,000 600 600 670 3,460 3,600 3,400 2,900 2,520 3,210 3,760 3,850 3,490 3,010 2,160 1,640 1,240 1,100 710 710 840 3,370 3,570 3,630 3,250 2,560 3,000 3,310 3,780 3,840 3,350 2,740 1,980 1,200 1,130 800 800 l, 100 3,400 3,380 3,490 3,430 2,880 2,990 3,020 3,240 3,660 3,600 2,980 2,440 1,250 1,050 910 910 1,300 TOTAL 36,810 38,790 41,010 43,230 45,160 45,820 Age Source: Woods and Poole (1986) - 46 - �I I I I I I • • • •Ill Ill Ill 1111 Table 12 Household Projections by Jurisdiction, Midland County JURISDICTION Townships: 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Eden vi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mount Haley Porter Warren 678 376 391 1,419 389 914 357 1,420 979 1,005 504 777 435 480 339 571 726 402 413 1,516 433 978 367 1,499 1,032 1,087 521 808 460 492 357 602 712 393 405 1,486 425 959 360 1,644 1,012 1,066 572 792 451 482 350 590 711 393 404 1,484 424 958 360 1,778 1,011 1,065 619 791 451 482 349 589 752 416 428 1,569 449 1,012 380 1,843 1,068 1,125 642 837 476 509 396 623 771 426 439 1,610 460 1,039 390 1,863 1,096 1,155 648 858 489 522 379 639 Coleman Midland 504 13,058 548 14,082 601 15,449 650 16,705 674 17,325 682 17,508 County: 24,498 26,291 27,617 29,010 30,292 30,773 Cities: Source: 1980 column - 1980 Census of Population Projections were completed by WBDC, Inc. by using the Allocated Population Projections table and applying the same rate of increase to households as was used for population. NOTE: A "household" includes all the persons who occupy a housing unit. A "family" consists of a householder and one or more other related persons occupying a housing unit. Not all households contain families, because a household may be composed of a group of unrelated persons or one person living alone. (From 1980 U.S. Census). Ill Ill Ill - 47 - �• ' ' ' '' ~ HOUSING PROFILE Housing Goals This Comprehensive Plan notes goals for residential land uses which provide for - a wide range of housing opportunities and the preservation and protection of existing residential development. As described in the following section the bulk of activity being conducted in housing is by the Midland County Haus i ng Commission and by the City of Midland. An August 1985 report forwarded to the County Board of Commissioners from the Midland County Housing Conmission states two goals: 1. "Provide adequate and suitable housing for every family and resident of all ages, income and ethnic group, in accordance with their desires and needs." 2. "Renew blighted and/or deteriorating residential areas through upgrading of structures and improved environmental conditions and the achievement of a least minimum standards of housing quality." The City of Midland, Task Force 2000 report has stated its housing goal to: "Maintain attractiveness in housing and neighborhoods while attending to the problems of escalating building costs and the questions of energy and transportation availability." Additionally several sub-goals are noted in the Task Force 2000 report: 1. "Consider city ordinances related to housing." quality, diversity, standards and flexibility.) 2. "Consider new approaches to housing." innovative design.) 3. "Address housing needs of low-income persons." 4. "·Continue support of fair housing practices." 5. "Encourage the use of neighborhood schools and parks as community centers." 6. "Promote better neighborhood relationships." - 48 - (Relating to building, (Mixed use neighborhoods and �II - Housing Development Characteristics Housing development in Midland County has taken on a distinct urban/rural pattern. The urban area of the City of Midland, and the urbanizing townships around the City have developed quite differently than those in areas outside the City. These differences are reflected in the density, availability, variety and cost of housing throughout the county. The City of Midland is characterized by its denser development, higher home value, fewer persons per household and higher rents. These characteristics are present because of the increased urban amenities (recreation, cultural activities, utilities and wider variety of housing types and styles. The remaining areas of the county vary from moderately developed areas such as Coleman, Sanford, the areas adjacent to Sanford Lake and some areas adjacent to the City of Midland, to the rural farmstead and large lot residential areas prevalent throughout the townships. The developed areas were spawned from traditional settlements created by water, rail and road transportation routes or crossroads. Over the past 15 years a significant increase in housing growth has occurred in the areas outside the City of Midland. This fact is reflected in the age of housing. Table 13, "Housing Age" indicates that while Edenville, Larkin, Lee and Mills Townships have had over 40 percent of their housing constructed since 1970, the City of Midland has had just 25.6 percent constructed in that time period. The county as a whole has had a 29.3 percent increase in the construction of housing sincP 1970. One form of housing which has shown a significant increase in use is the mobile home. The mobile or manufactured home provides a relatively inexpensive housing alternative, particularly for low- to moderate-income families. This development has raised a number of concerns, particularly in the townships, regarding community appearance and the integrity of agricultural areas. Also of concern is · the higher density single family development which is occurring in - 49 - �ii 11 - some areas without proper sanitary sewer and water environmental problems could result. The lack of restricts the range of housing opportunities which can multiple family development. This, in turn, contributes ~ost manufactured housing. facilities. Long-term public utilities also be provided by limiting to the demand for lower One additional factor which the lack of utilities may cause is the concentration of development where soils and groundwater are able to support septic systems and wells. This development pattern generally tends to be random, without regard to available streets and related 1and uses, such as shopping and work place. Housing Quality A structural quality survey was completed for the county in 1978 and 1979 as a part of the 1980 Housing Plan. All communities, except the City of Midland, were evaluated. There were three quality standards used: 1. Standard: Buildings placed in this category required normal maintenance and did n·o t exhibit noticeable wear. 2. Deteriorating: This• description applied to buildings with several minor defects and, at times, one major defect which could be remedied at a reasonable cost. 3. Substandard: Substandard structures exhibit multiple minor and major defects which cannot be reasonably r epaired. These buildings should eventually be removed. Table 14 summarizes housing qllality in the county (again, excluding the City of Midland). The number of substandard dwellings must be considered in relation to future housing needs due to the loss of existing housing stock and the need to replace that lost structure. - 50 - �No clear pattern of quality related housing problems is discernible although one trend appears to be present. Communities nearer the City of Midland appear to have a higher percentage of standard housing while communities at some di stance - appear to have lower per centages. In addition, not surprisingly, those jurisdictions with higher median home values tend to have the lower perc entage of substandard hQusing. (See Table 15). - 51 - �i1 i1 II II II II II II II II -II II " " " " " Table 13 Housing Age by Percent of Total Housing, Midland County YEAR CONSTRUCTED JURISDICTION 1939 OR EARLIER 1939 - 1969 1970 -1980 Townships: 9.3% 30.6 13.0 18.5 23.3 28.5 26.4 12.3 11.3 9.4 12.1 17.2 12.5 16.8 32.7 19.3 47.9% 34.1 52.7 55.4 38.0 41.5 36.3 58.7 47.7 48.1 49.0 60.3 40.4 48.2 33.8 44.3 42.8% 35.3 34.3 26.1 38.7 30.0 37.3 29.0 41.0 42.5 38.9 22.5 47.1 35.0 33.5 36.4 Coleman Midland 33.4 13.6 44.1 60.8 22.5 25.6 County: 15.5 55.2 29.3 Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mount Haley Porter Warren Cities: Source: 1980 Census of Housing - 52 - �I I I II II II II II II II II II II Table 14 Housing Quality by Jurisdiction 1978-1979, Midland County - Jurisdiction Townships: Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren Standard Number Percent 830 293 293 1300 403 761 Deteriorating Number Percent 1078 981 710 343 747 335 431 286 474 91.9 77 .2 67.4 90.1 76.2 83.1 65.1 86.8 87.4 75.5 66.7 91.5 73.0 85.5 78.1 72.6 38 51 97 83 66 75 84 89 108 145 129 48 76 49 47 82 4.2 13.4 22.3 5.8 12.5 8.2 21.5 7.2 9.6 15.4 25.1 5.9 16.6 9.7 12.8 12.6 35 38 45 60 60 80 52 75 33 85 42 21 48 24 33 97 10.3 4.2 11.3 8.7 13.4 6.0 2.9 9.0 8.2 2.6 10.5 4.8 9.0 14.9 353 74.3 90 18.9 32 6.8 306 89.2 26 7.6 11 3.2 10,178 81.9 1383 11.1 871 7.0 254 3.9 4.4 Cities/Village: Coleman Midland* Sanford County: Source: Housing the County, 1980, Midland County Housing Commission * Data are not available for the City of Midland in the same categories as are available in the County Housing Commission report. -II II II Substandard Number Percent - 53 - �ii ii II II II II -II II - Table 15 Factors Determining Housing Quality, Midland County Jurisdiction Townships: Median Value Owner Specified Percent of Substandard Housing Percent Constructed 1939 or Earlier $37,300 30,500 24,800 41,000 37,900 40,800 27,500 38,300 48,700 35,000 38,100 41,100 29,800 37,200 32,800 32,800 3.9 9.9 10.3 4.2 11.3 8.7 13.4 6.0 2.9 9.0 8.2 2.6 10.5 4.8 9.0 14.9 9.3 30.6 13.0 18.5 23.3 28.5 26.4 12.3 11.3 9.4 12.1 17.2 12.5 16.8 32.7 19.3 Coleman Midland Sanford 23,900 52,600 N.A. 6.8 33.4 13.6 3.2 N.A. County: 44,900 7.0 15.5 Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mi 11 s Mt. Haley Porter Warren Cities/Vi 11 age: N.A. N.A. Data are not available for the City of Midland and Village of Sanford in the same categor i es as are available in the County Housing Commission report. Source: 1980 U.S •. Census of Housing Housing the County, 1980, Midland County Housing Commission - 54 - �11 II -~ ECONOMIC PROFILE Labor Force Characteristics Compiling and presenting data on all labor and occupational characteristics suffers from several drawbacks. A number of sources of this information are available with the two primary references being the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC). Several problems arise because the data available from both sources are inconsistent either in areas covered or categories used. Therefore some interpolation had to be made in some instances. A second problem is created when unforeseen events affect the data collected only months ago. The closing of the Midland nuclear plant has rather drastic impacts on some of the Census data. On the other hand, these impacts should be relatively short in duration since their greatest effects were on construction employment. Since the closing the Consumers Power Company has elected to convert the nuclear plant to a gas-fired plant. Lastly a problem is created by the lack of information available at the township level. As before some interpolations and assumptions are made and note is made where that occurs. In general, Midland County reflects the national trend of a decline in manufacturing and an increase in retail/service related employment. For instance MESC data indicates that in 1970 manufacturing related jobs made up over 52 percent of the total labor force while retail/service related jobs were about 25 percent. In 1984 these percentages were 37 percent and 34 percent respectively. While Census figures and MESC data for Midland County differ, the trend away from manufacturing employment is apparent in both sources. (See Tables 17 and 18). In the case of Midland County however, an additional factor may also have influenced the above trends. Given the size of the construction· and administrative labor force devoted to the Midland nuclear plant it is likely that a significant service/retail sector developed in response to the increased employment at the plant. Since this project was such a large capital facility - 55 - �I I I -~ ~ '1 ~ ~ with an extended construction period these jobs may have taken on the characteristics of permanent employment, thus creating a long-term but temporary increase in service related jobs. Consequently the County may see an overall decline in service related jobs should manufacturing employment fail to see moderate increases. However, any decline should not be significant since no large population decreases are forecast. Occupational Characteristics As may be expected Midland County has a highly trained and heavily professionally oriented work force. Table 18, Employment by Occupations, indicates that nearly 70 percent of the work force consists of professional, technical, managerial and administrative workers. The dominance of Dow Chemical Corporation and Dow Corning Corporation is very evident in this statistic. Since a majority of the future employment targeted industries also involve these workers, this trend can be expected to continue. However, the growth of these categories may be moderated should the auto industry capture a larger share of overall employment. Income by Jurisdiction Table 19 provides a breakdown Income by Jurisdiction. Higher incomes tend to be found in the City of Midland and adjacent "urbanizing" townships. Employment Projections Alternative projections of employment in Midland County are presented in Table 20. The scenario-based employment projections were developed by Woods and Poole Economics, Inc., using a regional economic forecasting model. A modification of the National Trends scenario was made to demonstrate the effect of the Midland County Growth Council's economic development strategy. Other modifications were made to show the effects of a declining job market and alternatively a stabilized manufacturing economy. All of the alternative projections are compared with the County Planning Commission's Comprehensive Plan Allocation Poli cy Employment Projection, which is correlated with the allocated population projections for the County. A breakdown of the Planning Corrmission's allocated employment projections is given in Table 21. - 56 - �I I I I Table 16 Labor Force Characteristics, Midland County Persons 16 & Older in Labor Force (1979) Town shies Eden vi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren 895 504 508 2,243 552 1,417 494 2,026 1,544 1,498 793 1,201 616 654 463 814 Cites/Village Sanford Coleman Midland 448 590 19,862 Midland County 36,538 Source: Percent of Percent Unemployed Of Total 15 or More Labor Force Weeks 2.4% 1.4 1.4 6.1 1.5 3.8 1.3 5.5 4.2 4.1 2.1 3.2 1. 7 1.8 1.2 2.2 1.2 1.6 54.3 (w/rounding)101% 1980 Census of Population and Housing - 57 - Percent of Total Population in Labor Force 1.2% 13.7 17.3 8.2 10.9 6.1 15.2 8.2 6.9 14.2 9.1 8.7 11. 9 7.6 12.5 11.15 44% 44 41 50 44 47 44 49 47 45 48 50 42 41 42 44 9.8 14.9 5.8 52 41 53 7.8 50 �I I I I -~ ' ' ' Table 17 Employment by Industry-Historical Percent of Total Employment Midland County 1960 Industry Construction 2.3% 1968 6.0% Percent Change 1960-1968 +160% 1976 6.2% 1981 5.0% Percent Change 1976-1981 -24% 73.1 66.3 -10% 62.0 55.2 -12% 1.5 1.5 0 1.2 2.3 +92 Wholesale, Retail 10.8 11.3 +10 12.9 21.3 +65 Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 1.4 1.9 +36 2.0 2.8 +40 10.9 13.0 +19 15.4 12.0 -28 .3 1.4 N/A Manufacturing Transportation, Communication, Utilities Services Other Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census County Business Patterns 1968, 1976, 1981 Memorandum Report Number 14, July, 1972, Midland County, Michigan Midland County Department of Development - 58 - �Table 18 Employment by Occupations 1980, Midland County Percent Of All Occupations Occupational Group 22.2% 9.7 8.8 16.7 14.7 13.3 .7 12.6 1.3 Professional and Technical Managers and Administrators Sales Clerical Craft and Kindred Operatives Laborers (Non-Farm) Service Farm 100.0% Total Source: 1980 U.S. Census - 59 - �I I I I I I ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Table 19 1979 Income by Jurisdiction, Midland County Jurisdiction Median Family Income Median Household Income Townships: $ 19,241 $ 17,909 20,221 14,805 22,948 19,167 23,598 16,645 21,113 24,794 19,803 21,860 24,607 18,947 20,217 19,286 19,572 17,903 13,712 22,136 18,477 22,233 15,774 20,174 23,657 18,246 20,479 23,095 18,009 19,569 17,768 17,841 20,427 19,593 Coleman Midland Sanford 16,779 26,897 21,033 12,893 23,611 19,868 County: $ 23,598 $ 21,527 Edenvil 1e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersol 1 Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren Total Townships: Cities/Vi 11 age: Source: 1980 U.S. Census - 60 - �Table 20 Scenario-Based Employment Projections, Midland County (Total) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 National Trends 32,610 34,940 40,310 44,420 46,080 45,690 Local Economic Development Strategy 32,610 35,100 39,340 43,520 46,800 48,260 Slow Growth 32,610 34,870 36,120 36,790 38,880 39,160 Decline/No Growth 32,610 34,040 32,860 31,450 30,360 27,550 Comprehensive Plan Allocation Policy 32,610 34,910 38,630 41,370 43,200 43,080 SCENARIO - Source: Woods and Poole Economics, Inc. Data Pamphlets, March and July 1985 March 1986 - 61 - �I I I I I Table 21 Allocated Employment Projections, Midland County Employment 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 -Proprietors 2,200 2,710 3,140 3,640 3,990 4,080 670 1,530 670 1,940 650 2,500 620 3,020 580 3,410 510 3,570 30,410 32,300 35,490 37,720 39,210 39,000 80 100 30,320 32,840 27,100 29,740 130 35,360 32,230 150 37,570 34,590 160 160 39,050 38,840 36,270 36,340 60 70 4,680 11,670 110 50 5,080 12,650 160 30 5,070 13,340 210 230 20 10 4,910 4,400 13,900 13,900 12,430 11,440 280 230 12,400 250 13,060 280 13,600 300 13,590 310 Farm Proprietors Non-Farm Propr_ietors Wage and Salary Employment I I ' ' ' ' ' ' '• ~ Farm Non-Farm Private Employment Agricultural Svcs, Other Mining Construction Manufacturing Nondurable Mfg. Durable Mfg. Transportation,Communications and Public Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Services Government Employment Federal Civilian Federal Military State and Local TOTAL EMPLOYMENT Source: 70 40 3,540 12,710 770 270 3,210 1,000 670 3,480 1,270 920 3,720 1,580 1,200 3,920 1,880 1,510 3,990 2,120 1,770 3',880 630 5,860 720 6,790 770 7,660 810 8,470 830 9,040 810 9,220 3,230 3,050 3,140 2,980 2,780 2,500 130 160 2,940 150 210 2,700 140 230 2,770 120 230 2,630 110 230 2,440 100 220 2,180 32,610 34,910 38,630 41,370 43,200 43,080 Woods and Poole Economics, Inc., Comprehensive Plan Allocation Policy Scenario Data Pamphlet, March 1986 - 62 - �I I I I ' '-II " ~ ~ ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Future Economic Development Development Strategy: The Midland County Economic Deve 1opment Council (MCEDC) contracted with the - Battelle Institute, a private research company, for an analysis and recommendations regarding the economic development of the Midland County area. As a result of the Battelle analysis, a group of "targeted" industries was identified. A targeted industry is one which attraction (or retention) efforts should be concentrated and which best matches the county's strengths to growth oriented industries. Targeted manufacturing ~ndustries identified were: • • • • • Plastic ar.d rubber products Electronic components Electric lighting, wiring equipment Motor vehicles, parts Soap, detergents, cleaning preparations • • • • • • • • Drugs Instruments Paints, varnishes and allied products Electrical machinery Metal forgings Miscellaneous fabricated materials Electrical-industrial apparatus General industrial machinery Targeted non-manufacturing activities include: • Business services - software development - data processing - professional organizations - headquarters, administrative functions - regional headquarters for insurance and banking - professional support - 63 - �I I I I I I -~ ~ ~ ~ • Specialized repair and supply services - electronics - laboratory equipment - To implement the activities designed to attract the targeted industries and to carry out a range of other development activities, the Midland County Growth Council (MCGC) pas been formed. Established under the State of Michigan's Community Growth Alliance program, the MCGC has been organized into three service delivery groups, which provide economic development assistance to businesses throughout the county. Retention and attraction efforts and related activities are concentrated in the Area Development Office (ADO), through the Midland County Economic Development Corporation. The Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) is run by the Midland Chamber of Corrmerce while the Local Procurement Office (LPO), which assists companies in securing government contracts, is handled on the Tri-County level (Midland, Bay, Saginaw) by the Saginaw Area Corrmunity Growth Alliance. To date no activities or assignments have been made in the area of exporting. A fairly wide range of bonding, loan and tax incentives are available countywide. A number of data collecting activities are underway as a result of Battelle 1 s recommendations. Tourism: Another important potential aid to economic development is tourism and convention activities. Both are significant in the spin-off effects created by bringing outsiders to the community. Not only do these visitors spend money on lodging, food and entertainment, but their visit also exposes them to the benefits of living in Midland County. This can serve as a part of the attraction of new industrial, commercial and office facilities to the county. Midland County has established a Convention Bureau located at the Midland Chamber of Commerce offices. The Bureau was established in 1984 and presently has only one full-time staff person. The goal of the Bureau is to increase tourism and convention business throughout the county. To acomplish this goal the Bureau prepares slide shows, a trade show booth and various informational brochures and packets. - 64 - �I I I I I I I I -II II II II Primary funding for the Bureau _activities comes from a two percent assessment levied on hotel and motel room charges. Approximately $85,000 in revenue in 1987/88 is expected from this assessment. These funds are allocated by the Midland County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, a seven member group of hotel/motel owners and other community leaders interested in tourism. A priority of targeting for convention business has been established by the Board in order to attract more groups to the county. Sport Fishing : Sport fishing is gaining new interest in the county 1 s waterways, particularly in the Tittabawassee River. According to the Midland County Visitors and Convention Bureau, over the past ten years more than one million dollars have been invested in capital and local fish planting to improve the county's rivers for recreational use. Two-thirds of the anglers come from the Bay-Midland-Saginaw area. Annual walleye fishing tournaments are held to promote tourism and recreation use. As reported by the Bureau, the goals of the new sport fishing program are to achieve 20,000 fisherman days per year on the county 1 s river systems, to generate 34 new jobs, and to create a flow of $1,350,000 per year in the local economy. Efforts to further promote sport fishing as a tourism-economic development program are described in the Tittabawassee River Fishing Enhancement Project report (1987) prepared by the Midland County Parks and Recreation Commission. Development Issues: Since the Growth Council operates on a countywide basis, a number of development issues have been identified as needing attention. Among these issues is the need for cooperation between the City of Midland and the rest of the county, particularly with regard to availability of land and utilities. In this regard, more involvement by the townships will be needed. One significant vehicle to increase cooperative efforts will be the county Growth Council. - 65 - �I f J J J J -J - The need for cooperation may become apparent should surrounding or outlying communities promote their areas for growth to increase their tax base. As noted in the Industrial Siting section, development in non-utility service areas has the potential for 1 ong term environmental problems. The fact that some _ industries may have objectionable aspects needing large acreages for buffering, coupled with the availability of land at lower costs, lower taxes and a community willing to grant incentives, may enhance development potential in outlying areas. Future Labor Force: Given the targeted industries and the development potential of the county, some implications for the labor force that will be needed can be estimated. As seen in the Employment By Occupations Table (Table 18, shown previously), the labor force of the county is heavily oriented toward white collar employment; craft and labor makes up less than 30 percent of the work force. Several of the targeted industries, on the other hand, require blue collar laborers in large numbers. Others will require additional skilled laborers. Therefore, it may be expected that the need for workers in the Craft and Kindred and Operatives occupations will increase. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ " ", " - 66 - �I I I I I I -~ ~ ~ , Another sector of the work force which should increase is service occupations. Much of the non-manufacturing attraction efforts and the overall employment increases will necessitate a growing service oriented economy. Declining occupations may include Clerical and Sales where new technologies, - including the use of computers and other telecommunications devices, may impact the labor intensiveness of those occupations. Industrial Siting: Given the targeted li.st of industrial and service products of the Battelle Development Strategy, and taking into account the development constraints present, the following site criteria for industrial growth are most relevant for Midland County. 1. Utilities and Energy Supplies - With the exception of the electronics and data processing, large volumes of water and sewer usage may be required for each targeted industry group. While water may be available outside of the City of Midland or the Midland Urban Growth Area, the availability of sewage disposal is limited. Energy supplies (i.e., gas and electricity) may be limited outside of urbanized locations and power transmission corridors. 2. Transportation - For each of targeted industries, possibly excluding data processing, availability of an efficient transportation network, especially highway and rail access, is essential. The corridor formed by U.S. 10 and the C & 0 Railroad fulfills this requirement. 3. Hazardous Wastes/Industrial Wastes - A major factor, particularly in the drug and chemical industries, is the availability of disposal of hazardous wastes. While Dow has provided its own facility, its availability for other chemical processors or drug manufacturers is uncertain. - 67 - �I I I I I -Ill Ill Ill 4. Land Use Policies - In nearly all of the Townships where utilities are not available the limitations on growth for industrial facilities are recognized. The availability of the other criteria, as noted in this section, tends to reinforce those policies. However, as residential development increases in some townships the need for increased tax base to support this development may create a more aggressive posture toward attracting new industrial and col11llercial development. Constraints While significant advantages exist for new industrial development, particularly in the areas of quality of life and la_bor force, future development potential may be significantly constrained in the county by the following factors. Utilities: This is the most significant hindrance to growth in the county. Without public sewer and water the range and intensity of industrial and commercial uses will continue to be limited. While the Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA) Policy has been effective in concentrating development within the City of Midland it is apparent that annexations will continue to be contested by some surrounding units of government. In addition, these governments have some policies that indicate the promotion of new development. Should this development materialize without public utilities a significant potential for environmental problems exists. Transportation: New inventory and production procedures, particularly those such as the "Just In Time" supplier system where inventories of production facilities are del iherately kept at a minimum, make transportation networks a critical item. Midland County is disadvantaged in that the regional North-South link to other industrial markets, 1-75, is some distance from the county, although a suitable connection does exist. In addition, no major regional East-West link is available. - 68 - �Income Projections In order to project income figures for Midland County the 1979 per capita, median family and median household incomes were taken from 1980 Census data and converted to 1984 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (C.P.I.) figures for 1979 and 1984. - To estimate future incomes the Woods and Poole scenarios for Slow Growth and National Trends were consulted for per capita income growth at five-year intervals to 2005. These two scenarios were used because population and household projections were based on them and the rate of change of both was nearly identical. Per capita income percentage changes were then applied to the county figures to complete the projections. The results are noted on the fo 11 ow i ng tab 1e • Table 22 Midland County Per Capita, Family and Household Income Projections Midland Countt Per Caeita Income Median Household Income Median Fami lt Income 1980 Census 8,052 21,527 23,598 1980 adjusted 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 $11,512 $11,742 $12,447 $13,007 $13,332 $13,465 $30,777 $31,393 $33,277 $33,738 $34,412 $36,477 $38,118 $39,071 $39,462 Note: $34,774 $35,643 $35,999 A11 figures are in 1984 constant dollars (no inflation factor). Source: WBDC, Inc. Estimates. The estimates were completed by using the following formula: 1979 dollars 1984 dollars .,....,,..,:-=---=--,,,....._,,,- = _ __ ,,_.....,,-1979 C.P.I. 1984 C.P.I. 1980 Census (reflects 1979 income) - 69 - �I I I PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIPS The purpose of this section is to describe and analyze plans formulated by other governmental bodies and agencies which have some relevance to or affect on Midland County. This is accomplished in order to ensure that the greatest degree of coordination between the various planning initiatives is obtained. It is important to recognize that the planning authority of the County is a part of a broad range of other governmental and quasi-governmental authorities. STATE OF MICHIGAN PLANS The State of Michigan conducts planning initiatives in a number of functional areas relating to statewide needs. For the purposes of this Plan these areas have been divided into three categories; Recreation, Transportation, and Natural Resources and Environment. Recreation Michigan Recreation Plan, 1985, Michigan Department of Natural Resources: This Plan identifies overall statewide recreation goals and presents data and program elements designed to implement these goals. Midland County is included with Isabella, Gratiot, Saginaw anrl Bay Counties as a planning region. Therefore, the data in the Plan includes these other counties, known as Region 7A. Michigan Recreation Action Program, 1985-86, Michigan Department of Natural Resources: The Action Program is an annua 1 e 1ement of the Recreation Pl an and, as such, describes events of the previous year as well as expected events for the coming year. Of note for Midland County's use is the Project Evaluation Criteria list for the Michigan Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON) program. The LAWCON program provides matching grant funds to Michigan communities for outdoor recreational activities. Up to $250,000 is available on a per project basis. The following evaluation criteria have been established by the MDNR pursuant to funding a project: - 70 - �1. Project must meet a need identified in a community 1 s local recreation plan. 2. Ability of project to meet recreation deficiencies indicated in the State Recreation Plan. 3. Relationship of project to non-residential demand. 4. Response of proposed project to other plan issues. 5. Administrative capability of applicant. 6. Relationship of project to water resources. 7. Relationship of project to special populations such as the low-income. 8. Use of significant natural resources. 9. Proximity of project to urban population. Michigan Trails System Plan, 1980, Michigan Department of Natural Resources: The purpose of this Plan is to outline programs for the development of recreational trail systems for bicycling, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, off-road vehicles and cross-country skiing. Four development alternatives are presented, with no particular preference stated. The alternatives are: 1. More trails on State lands and more trails on non-State land with State support. 2. More trails .on State land, no State support for non-State trails. 3. No new trails on State land, increased State spending for non-State trails. 4. Present development system continued. The only direct notation of Midland County is a map showing a portion of a long distance off-road vehicle trail starting in the Sanford area and continuing North into Gladwin County and beyond. - 71 - �I J J Transportation Michigan State Transportation Plan, 1982-1990, 1982, Michigan Department of Transportation: This important document represents a description of the goals and policies of the State Transportation Commission for the 1982-1990 period. In doing so, the Plan identifies transportation needs, programs, funding resources and priorities and management of resources. One policy direction of the Plan of interest to Midland County, as it is to all local governments, is the emphasis on increasing the role of local government in transportation funding and service. The Plan also links the roles of transportation and economic development. ·• Michigan Highway and Transportation: Non-Motorized Needs, 1984-85, Michigan Department of Act 51 of Michigan Public Acts of 1951, require that MOOT evaluate the street systems of various units of government to ascertain where funding priorities should be placed. The result of this assessment is a computer listing of county roads and streets which identifies significant characteristics. Michigan State Airport System Plan (Through 1990), 1974, Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (MOOT): The purpose of this Plan is to provide for the "orderly and timely development of a system of airports adequate to meet the air transportation needs of Michigan." The Midland Jack Barstow Airport and Saginaw (Tri-City) Airport are the recognized facilities for Midland County for General Utility and Passenger Jet air service. No new facilities are deemed necessary in this Plan. Michigan Scheduled Air Service Study (Summary Report), 1978, Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation (MOOT): One of the essential elements of transportation into, around, and from the state is commercial air service. This Study investigated the adequacy and future needs of existing airports with scheduled air services. The Saginaw Tri-City Airport is included in the report. - 72 - �I J J Significant in this report is an approximate 250 percent enplanement (aircraft boarding) increase at the Saginaw (Tri-City} Airport from 1965 to 1976, one of the greatest increases in the State. In addition, the only deficiency in air service adequacy indicated was the Saginaw-Cleveland route. Michigan's Transportation Transportation: . Needs 1983-1994, 1984, Michigan Department of The Needs study identifies goals and issues, describes the existing modes of transportation (passenger and freight}, forecasts available revenues and assigns priorities. The Needs study is used as a base document from which the State Transportation Plan is derived. Michigan Railroad Plan, Transportation (MOOT}; 1975, Michigan Department of State Highways and This Plan was necessitated · by the Federal Railroad Administration as a prerequisite for rail subsidy applications. Since 1975 the State of Michigan has shifted its funding priorities away from rail operating subsidies to the extent that no such subsidies are in existence. Therefore, the significance of this Plan has been negated. Natural Resources and Environment Michigan's Forest Resources, Direction for the Future, 1983, Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Early in Michigan's history forestry management was non-existent. Wholesale clearing of timber resources decimated the logging economy of the area. In the years since the national and state perspective on forestry resources has shifted from neglect to protection and management. This Plan recognizes the economic value of forest resources while supporting increased management of forest lands. It should be noted that within the context of the Plan, recreation is also recognized as a significant use of forested lands. - 73 - �Michigan's Oil Resources: and Gas Fields, 1980, 1982, Michigan Department of Natural This inventory and statistical summary indicates that through 1980 (from 1925) Midland County had produced the second highest volume of oil production and number of oil wells of any county in Michigan. New oil wells an~ production continues in Midland County but not at the rate of prior years. Michigan Solid Waste Management Plan, 1978, Michigan Department of Natural Resources: This Plan examined the status of current waste management problems and practices, investigated available techniques and recolTITlended future planning efforts. - 74 - �REGIONAL PLANS Adjacent Counties Most plans for adjacent counties are outdated or in the process of being updated. A review of the comprehensive plans that are available did not reveal any land use conflicts. Other plans deal principally with economic development issues. The plans reviewed included: • • • • Saginaw County Development Plan, 1970-1990 Gratiot Overall Economic Development Program Gladwin County Economic Development Project Report A Comprehensive Plan to Guide and Assist the Official and the Private Citizen of Isabella County • Gratiot County Zoning Ordinance • Isahella County Comprehensive Plan (1986) East Central Michigan Planning and Development Region THE ECMPDR (Region 7) has completed a number of plans with some relevance to Midland County. Bicycle Plan (1982): Following a general discussion of biking as a mode of transportation, a map is included which identifies roads the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognizes as suitable for biking. Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) Reports (1985 and 1986): In order to qualify for grant funds which may be available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, potential projects must be consistent with the annual OEDP. The OEDP also describes a general development strategy which presents an historical perspective as well as future directions. Of significance in this rlocument is the discussion of the Midl and nuclear plant and the effects on the community of its closing. - 75 - �LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANS Each township, the Village of Sanford and the cities of Midland and Coleman have master plans, or comprehensive plans. These plans vary widely as to detail, information provided and degree of adequacy for planning purposes. Most, however, have either stated or inferred goals upon which their plans are based. These goals have been synthesized and stated in general terms for the purpose of establishing goals for the county. One significant problem that exists throughout the county is a general lack of consistency in the format and content of adopted master pl ans. Some of the inconsistencies and deficiencies noted include: • • • • • • Lack of clearly stated goals. Inconsistent methodologies to determine existing and future land use, land use and population projections, economic development projections, or other related planning elements. Mapping differences in scale and information depicted. Lack of coordination with surrounding governmental units. Use of questionable data. Out-dated plans. From the information that was available some common goals, policies or directions were evident. These were used in the formulation of the overall county land use goals. Municipal Goals and Policies An inventory of each community 1 s master plan was conducted to determine areas of consistency and to identify any conflicts. Many of the goals and policies between communities that were either specifically listed or could be inferred were similar in nature; some were duplicated in two or more townships. For the most part, the stated or inferred goals and policies of the municipalities were relatively consi<;tent. The conflicts that do exist appear minor and are summarized below the goal. - 76 - �I I I I I Agri cultura 1: Although not all areas in agricultural production may be considered as prime farmland, those areas under cultivation should be maintained and protected against the intrusion of low density residential uses and public ut i1 it i es. Conflicts: A number of the master plans recognized the value of agriculture but noted that the soils were not particularly suited for extensive agricultural use. In those instances emphasis was placed on those areas which might be identified as prime agricultural land. Residential: Where public water and sewer service availability is limited or non-existent, residential use should be limited . to large lots, generally one acre or greater. Higher density residential development should be limited to locations with existing adequate sewer and water systems. Future areas should be planned where utilities might be provided at a later time. A range of housing styles and types should be provided. Mobile homes accommodate the need for lower cost housing, however, more detailed regulations are needed to ensure compatibility with other housing types. Conflicts: No clear conflicts are evident although a number of plans identify mobile home development as an issue to be addressed. Several plans report rapid increases in the use of mobile homes on individual lots and mobile home parks. Some townships state the need for more restrictive residential zoning classifications or mobile home regulations. Commercial: Commercial development should be limited to areas provided; generally 1ocated at major intersections or a1ong major streets. Strip shopping areas should be discouraged. - 77 - �I I I I I I I Commercial establishments should be limited to those which accorTmodate the immediate needs of local Except for these communities there is a limited market for other than local resident's needs. Conflicts: The only clear conflict identified through the master plans occurred as a result of a proposed regional shopping center in Larkin Township, just North of the City of Midland. In that instance Larkin Township's goal of maintaining a low density residential community was in conflict with the plan for the shopping center. Industrial: 1· Light J Expanded shopping opportunities are available in Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Shepherd, Coleman and Sanford. I r residents. Industrial development is limited because of a lack of utility service. industrial industrial uses uses should are appropriate in some instances but heavy be discouraged where utilities are unavailable. Where possible industrial parks should be developed or planned in areas where utilities might be expected. Conflicts: Some degree of difference between community pl ans was in the area of industrial development. Two relatively defined -- approaches were evident. --- limited by locational factors, such as highway and rail access, In the majority of cases, the plans recognized that the potential for industrial development was and by the lack of proper utilities. Other plans indicated the need for industrial development to help expand the local economy and strengthen the tax base. In J the case of Midland Township this pol icy is proper given its --- Townships ,- r relationship to the City of Midland. appear willing to Edenville and Greendale accept future industrial devel0pment and have outlined the conditions under which that growth should occur. - 78 - �No resolution of these differences is necessary because the plans which identify strong economic growth as a goal have well reasoned approaches toward achieving their goals. Recreational: Adequate recreational areas should be provided for all residents and visitors. Many areas have extensive recreational resources that should be maintained and preserved from appropriate development. Conflicts: No conflicts were apparent in the recreation goals. Environmental: Natural areils, including forest resources, floodplains, river areas, lakes and shore lines, should be preserved from development. The use of these areas for private recreation should be encouraged as a way to preserve these resources. Groundwater quality should be protected through proper utility planning and control over septic and well systems. Conflicts: No conflicts were apparent in the environmental goals. Future Land Use Composition A composite of generalized future land uses as depicted in the local plans is illustrated on the Future Land Use Composition Map (Figure 9). The map portrays the general land use goals common to most municipalities. However, not all the municipalities address the same future land use categories as proposed in the updated Comprehensive Plan for the county. - 79 - �II II II Ill Ill II •II • • C I O II Ill T t \' P'fi ,1Jt viii L II z C ..J 11. FIGURE 9 w > u, z w z :c C FUTURE LAND USE COMPOSITION ~( LEGEND - , w CJ ~ .. 11. RESIDENTIAL ~ COMMERCIAL filIIliliill INDUSTRIAL ~ PUBLIC/CONSERVATION CJ AGRICULTURAL :c - :E 0 0 :E 0 .. > > I- I- z z :::, :::, 0 0 Q Q 0 0 z z C C ..J ..J Q Q - -:E :E I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY LOCAL PLANS I I I �I I I I • • • • "-, Ill TRANSPORTATION This section describes how transportation facilities both support the county and help shape its development. Much of the system has been built in response to growth in the county. However, in many instances the provision of a major facility has indirectly induced development. By recognizing that relationship and defining deficiencies in the system, the county can protect a major public investment and efficiently allocate future expenditures • TRAFF IC Traffic statistics for the county are incomplete or non-existent. State highway traffic figures were taken from the Statewide Traffic Flow map (1983) and are noted on the Existing Street and Highway Functional Classification System map (Figure 10) • An improved system of obtaining traffic counts would benefit not only the County Road Corrrnission in determining traffic and road conditions but local and county planning efforts as well. A comprehensive look at traffic patterns could assist in the determination of the best locations for commercial and industrial uses, planning for new roads and numerous other applications. Without current and accurate traffic information sound planning decisions are difficult to make and federal aid may be affected, including the following aid program funds: 1. Federal Aid Urban System funds. 2. Federal Aid Secondary System funds. 3. Federal Aid Hazardous Elimination Safety funds. 4. Federal Aid Critical Bridge funds. Major Thoroughfares The County recognizes three major classifications of roads. These classifications and descriptions follow. The Existing Street and Highway Functional Classification System Map depicts these routes. (Note: a similar classification system is presently being revised by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MOOT). The Highway and Street Functional Classification system section, which follows this section, describes the proposed classifications.) - 81 - �I I I I I I • • • -.. State Trunklines: These are major routes falling under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Their primary purpose is to facilitate through traffic movements in conjunction with the statewide highway system. Some direct land access may al ~o be present, such as along M-20, M-18 and M-30, however, most automobile service needs are accommodated at highway interchange points. County Primary: These afe routes serving longer distance trips between major points of destination within the county. Primary roads are planned to facilitate through traffic movements but allow direct access for homes and businesses. There are presently about 289 miles of County Primary roads • County Local: The Local street system provides the travel network within the county necessary to serve areas of population. This system allows free access to homes and businesses and is designed for short to medium length trips connecting to the primary and state trunkl i ne roads. There are presently about 580 mil es of County Local roads. The Existing Street and Highway Functional Classification System map does not include the more detailed road classifications found in the county's cities and village. However, the systems of these governmental units are designed to link with the County 1 s. Also depicted on the Existing Street and Highway Functional Classification System map are county and local road bridges which have undergone a structural inventory and appraisal. Some of these bridges have been closed to traffic because of poor condition. Others have been posted and 1imited by weight of veh ic les. - 82 - �I I I I I I • • • HIGHWAY AND STREET FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (PROPOSED) Streets have two basic roles in the transportation system, 1) to allow through traffic movement and 2) to provide access to adjacent land uses. Some streets serve one role more than the other. For example, a highway is typically designed for traffic movement, while the main function of a local residential street is to provide access to homes. The inherent problem is that those two roles often conflict, such as along Designed to enhance 1ong di stance tr ave 1 , M-2O certain segments of M-2O. serves travelers between Midland and areas to the west. However, as the frontage properties developed, access became an important function. Vehicles entering and exiting those uses disrupt the longer distance travelers, creating periodic congestion, accidents and driver frustration. To help limit the conflicts between traffic movement and access, the County should coordinate transportation and land use decisions. This can be facilitated by designating streets according to their functional purpose. The process of grouping roadways according to the character of service they are intended to provide is called functional classification. Functional classification systems for roadways is used by the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation to help make decisions on where to spend limited funds. The county could use the system in a similar manner, thereby helping to protect the public investment in the roadway systems. The system is shown on the accompanying Proposed Street and Highway Functional Cl ass ifi cation System map (Figure 11). The proposed system for the City of Midland uses the national-state 'urban functional classification system,' which i s functionally interrelated with the 'rural' system. The proposed functional classification established by the State and Federal outside an area defined as urbanized designated by the State as "Rural." hierarchy of roads will help produce assist in decision-making. The Midland general critPria: system for Midland County uses criteria road authorities. Since the roads lie (the City of Midland), they have been Planning which is conscious of this an efficient transportation system and County System was based on the following - 83 - �I I I I • • • • •II .. .. Rural Major Arterials (example U.S. 10) • • • • • • Primary role is movement of traffic through the State. Long length. High traffic volumes and vehicle speeds. Limited number of access points, minimum interference to through movement • Limited number of traffic control devices. Generally less than five percent of overall Rural System • Rural Minor Arterials (example M-20) • • • • • • • • Primary role is movement of traffic between cities • Long length. High traffic volumes and vehicle speeds • Serve major traffic generators (Industrial areas, etc.). Spaced at intervals to ensure that all developed areas are within a reasonable distance. Somewhat limited number of access points which interfere with through traffic. Traffic control devices (signals) favor arterial traffic. Typically ten percent of overall Rural System. Rural Major Collectors (example Coleman Road) • • • • • • • • Primary role is movement of traffic within the County. Shorter than arterials • Moderate traffic volumes and speeds • Serve traffic generators such as major schools, county parks, small towns and important agricultural areas • Provide connections with arterial roads • Numerous access points for adjacent development • Traffic control is often through signals and/or signs • Typically ten percent of overall Rural System • - 84 - �I I I I I I • •II •.. .., _. Rural Minor Collectors (example Stark Road) • • • • • • Dual role of traffic movement and access to adjacent land uses. Shorter length (typically less than 10 miles long). Low to moderate traffic volumes, moderate speeds. Serve smaller communities and local traffic generators. Spaced at intervals to collect traffic from local roads and transport Major Collectors and Arterials. Approximately 15 percent of overall Rural System. Local Streets (example the various segments of Miller Road) • • • • • • Include all roads not classified under above categories. Primary role is to provide access to adjacent land uses • Short length. Low traffic volumes and speeds. Provide short distance connections with higher classed roads. Include 60 percent or more of the roads in the County System. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS In addition to classifying the existing system, the County Comprehensive Plan also indicates where new road construction should be considered. These projects would compliment the proposed land use and provide logical routing throughout the county. The projects to be considered include: Homer Road Bridge This project would provide an additional crossing of the Pine River, improving access for emergency vehicles, school buses and residents. The project would connP.ct with Gordonville Road forming a new Rural Major Collector Route, and serve the commercial node at Isabella Road {M-20) and Homer Road. West Midland North-South Corridor Alignment Study This project would provide a much needed north-south connector along the western fringe of the City of Midland. The project would provide a link between two - 85 - �I I I I • • • • • " arterial routes thereby complimenting the existing system. Improved access for Pmergency vehicles and daily traffic would also compliment development patterns. Since the exact alignment of this connector requires further study, the corridor study area is shown on the Comprehensive Plan (Figure 17). - l:astman Road This project inclurles widening Eastman Road and improving the interchange with IJ.S. 10. The road should he widened to either five lanes or preferably four lanPs with a houlevard median, to serve a proposed major retail development. The interchange should be redesigned to allow efficient traffic movement, espPcially rluring peak periods • r.0111pletion the 11.s. 10/M-20 Interchange This project a.ffects accessibility in Midland County, although it lies just east of the county line. The interchange should be reconstructed to allow both on and off movements in both directions • Magruder Connector (M-18 to South County Line) The extension of Magruder and connection with M-18 would provide the western half of the r.ounty with a north-south minor arterial route. This project should hP considered near the end of the planning horizon for this report. Snlzb1Jrg Road Improvement This project would upgrade existing Salzburg Road to an Urban Minor Arterial sta.t11s between South Saginaw Road and the M-47/Salzburg Road interchange. An Urhan Minor Arterial is functionally the same as a Rural Major Collector in the context of thp national-state functional classification system. The improved road c;ho1Jld be constr11cted for all season conditions to continue serving the Dow 1.he111ica.l-Dow Corning industrial area. ~PlatPd Plans and Programs SPveral transportation including: related plans and - 86 - programs are also recommended, I I ' �I I I I I I I • • • "- • A Traffic Count Program to determine changing traffic patterns and help rleter~ine priorities of road improvements. • An updated and continuously maintained Sign Inventory Program to ensure the regulatory signs meet safety standards and are regularly maintained. • A Non-motorizerl Trail Plan to improve the recreational opportunities for hicyclists, joggers. etc. • Corrirlor sturlies of major commercial strip areas to identify techniques to improve traffic operations, safety, aesthetics and business vitality. The street segments which should be considered for this type of linear study include M-20 (City limits to Meridian Road), Saginaw (Sanford to Dublin Road and possibly extending to Ray City Road upon agreement of the City of Midland). PlJRLir. TRANSIT Inter-county transit services are provided only by the Bay Metro Transit Company to the Midland Hospital Center for Bay County residents. The City of Midland opPrates n Oial-A-Ride rlemand response system. Trnnsit service needs have received a great deal of attention, particularly since 1981. In that year, the County Board of Commissioners approved a report entitled, A Sturly of Coordination or Consolidation Opportunities for Transportation Services in Midland County, Michigan, (COTRANS) report. The need for this study was promoted by the defeat of a millage vote on a proposal to establish a countywide transportation system. That question was defeated by a 65 percent to 35 percent margin. Only Jerome and Lincoln Townships had favorahle votes. Although defeated, the millage outcome did not diminish the need for public transit. The vote followed the operation of a county Dial-A-Ride system in 1977 and 1978 which was functed h_y the State of Michiga11 and fare box receipts. The COTRANS study concludect that the system, while achieving some success, did not have the opportunity to realize its full potential. The millage vote was proposed as the fonrling vehicle to continue the system. - 87 - �I I I I I I • • •II II II After an analysis of a number of alternative approaches to providing countywide transit service, the COTRANS recommended the development of a Limited County/City Service public transportation system providing a modest level of service to outcounty residents. This alternative was adopted by the County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners in 1981, but was not implemented because of financing uncertainties. In 1982 a countywide survey was conducted to determine needs and levels of satisfaction with county services and programs. A survey question on a countywi de Di a1-A-Ri de system found genera 1 agreement that such a system was needed. No follow-up questions were asked regarding willingness to finance such a system • In May of 1985 a report was issued by the Department of County Development on the Midland County Transportation Service Needs Survey. This report was asked for by the County Board of Commissioners in response to a request for planning assistance from the Midland County Council on Aging. The Council noted that, in their opinion, there was a significant need for countywide transportation services. As a follow-up to the May 1985 Transportation Service Needs Survey, the Midland County Department of County Development distributed questionaires to 56 human service organizations. Ten of the organizations are public school districts. Of the 46 human service agencies contacted, 27 non-school agencies responded to the questionaire. Of the 27 non-school respondents, 22 agencies indicated that they have clients in need of transportation. Ten of the 27 respondents said their agencies provide transportation for their clients. Survey findings indicated that statistical data are not available to show current ridership or to gauge future bus ridership. Such data can be generated only _after a trial period of operating a countywide bus transit system or by relating Midlanci County to similar counties that are using countywide bus transit systems for both the general public and human service agency clients. - 88 - �Ii Iii Ii • • • • •Ill Ill Based on the recent survey, it was determined it would not be reasonable to conclude that one could decide either way whether Midland County should have a countywide bus transit system. One could assume that there is a need for a bus transit system to serve the general public and thus directly provide transportation for the clients of Midland County's human service agencies. Based on the previous survey (May 1985}, 22 agencies reported that they were definitely inter·e sted in a new small bus transportation service. The current survey (October 1986) would seem to substantiate this level of interest in that over one-half of the agencies reported that their clients are in need of transportation services • It has been recommended by the County Planning Commission that a "Limited County/City Service System" be initiated. The system would involve a six bus system with one spare bus. The possibility of combining the system with the City of Midland Dial-A-Ride system was noted as part of the recommendation. RAIL Rail freight service is provided by a Chesapeake and Ohio (C & O} line running diagonally from the northwest to southeast paralleling U.S. 10. (Note: Potential vacation of the C & 0 system is currently under consideration.) This line passes through the City of Coleman, Village of Sanford, and City of Midland and services the Dow Chemical Company Michigan Division. A rail line from Bay City also services the Dow Chemical Company. These are privately held and operated and receive no State assistance in any form. AIR Jack Barstow Airport This facility is a general aviation airport located west of the Midland County Fairground, north of U.S. 10 and West of Eastman Road. There are two paved, lighted runways, each 3,000 feet in length by 75 feet in width. About 65 aircraft are based at the Airport while approximately 26,000 total aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) occur each year. - 89 - �I I I I • • • • • ~ Over the past few years a decline been evident at Barstow Airport. but is a nationwide trend. in the number of aircraft operations has This decline is not isolated to Midland County The decline is generally attributed to general economic conditions, the high price of aviation gasoline in comparison with automobile gas and fewer planes in operation. flight school training activities At Barstow the reduction in also has contributed to a decline in air traffic • Possible future improvements may include lengthening of existing runways to 3,800 feet, with a corresponding extension of parallel taxiways, expansion of runway aprons and taxiways, improvements to runway and taxiway lighting, modernization of approach aids and other general improvements to the grounds • Tri-City Airport Tri-City Airport is located in Freeland, Michigan, on 2,400 acres and provides air carrier service for Midland County. this facility. Five airlines currently operate from Two runways are available; the main runway, 8,000 feet in length by 150 feet in width and the crosswind runway, 5,500 feet in length by 150 feet in width. Runways are paved, grooved to remove excess water and reduce hydroplaning, lighted with a full range of radar and navigational aids. About 16,000 air carrier and 35,000 general aviation, military and air taxi aircraft operations Airport were Master conducted Plan, in 1984. expected to The airport be completed is currently updating the in early 1987. Under consideration are new or extended runways, expanded aircraft service areas and additional vehicle parking. - 90 - �t u: FIGURE 10 e L A O W I rlJ! ti1 Viii EXISTING STREET AND HIGHWAY I! FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Cl) " ..., LEGEND "" i=====l===ii.:::=1 . ."_._• . : r'-1--··-::!:~~·· ro+. 'nl'r'-f-~llir-----11--~-~- ~ ~.. - - - - STATE TRUNKLINE z t-::~-=l\'"1-+- ~ """""'=b~+=+=r=f==4==1===4==~~L--,,,,.,,la " --------- COUNTY PRIMARY ROAD I . > (/) z w :c zc( PRIMARY ROAD BRIDGE 0 0.. w ---i- COUNTY LOCAL ROAD □ c( ..I "_j m LOCAL ROAD BRIDGE w a: 0.. C, :c - :E 0 0 :E 0 C CLOSED BRIDGE p BRIDGE POSTED FOR WEIGHT LIMITS . > .... >.... z z ROADS SUITABLE FOR BICYCLING (IDENTIFIED BY D.N.R.l ::::> ::::> .,..-000 0 0 0 0 0 0 c( ..I c( ..I AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC COUNT (1983) rli-000 V z z 24 HOUR TRAFFIC COUNT (1985) (D NORTH SAGINAW RD. @ EASTMAN RD. @ AIRPORT RD. (NO. OF U.S. 10) @ EASTMAN RD, @ WACKERLY RD. (SO. OF U.S. 101 © WHEELER RD. @ CITY LIMITS @ WALDO RD. @ CITY LIMITS @ BAY CITY RD. @ ROCKWELL DR. (BAY-MIDLAND CO. LINE) (D SOUTH SAGINAW RD. @ WALDO RD./GORDONVILLE RD. @ SOUTH SAGINAW RD. @ SALZBURG RD. @ GEORGE ST. (POSEYVILLE RD.) @ CITY LIMITS @) (SABELLA RD. IM-20)@ VANCE RD. @ -0:E 0-:E CITY LIMITS I I I I SOURCE: 1. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 2. ::: ~ MIDLAND CITY ENGINEER C O V 1' T y • - ,.... ..... ..... ·11 f., i ! :i1 i I: f'f I c! a 1!.I - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - ~ c_,..·_·-·• · ·___JI-- J �G O u +--"ll----t--'------- I L A0• 1 t •-•• y P' ,11! 1i vlii I\ '+,'-+.-t-1;~-..+--=~~~---i-,_,....,.._....._.=1- ++ t--t----t---t--t--+----1-4-,_aal,, ~ """"=".I~ ~ .+ z c( ~ FIGURE 11 T .--r • :----0-"-+. ,: ' ~.. • ,.J l\.\s.i--+--- -J-~--,..,~-t---1--.-,.....,.....~ Q. PROPOSED STREET AND HIGHWAY w FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM UJ > z w z ::J: c( Q. ::J: • > > ...z ...z :E 0 0 :E 0 RURAL MAJOR ARTERIALS RURAL MINOR ARTERIALS ■■■■•••• (!J a: LEGEND -■■- w :::::, :::::, RURAL MAJOR COLLECTORS 0 0 C C c( c( ,.J ,.J 0 RURAL MINOR COLLECTORS 0 z z LOCAL STREETS -:E C-:E C I I I SOURCE: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION • I I 'JI I,• j ,,., 1 • • f ' O f C O U W T , •" , ,.,,. ., •i1 ~II c o. u • 1 • t .... ·- ,._ ,_ - - - - - - - . . . -_ _ _ _ _ _ _.._•_ _ _ _ _ •••_ _ _ _ _ _ n.r-i....ri_lC•ll_ . •_ •- - _ • ___ I !: fi i _Ji-- ] �COMMUNITY FACILITIES Community facilities, such as schools, parks and libraries are elements that can set one community apart from another. Other less visible elements such as _ utilities, waste management and governmental services also shape the character of Midland County. This section describes the wealth of community facilities in the county and how they should be maintained and planned for the future. UTILITIES AND SERVICES Sanitary Sewer Two municipal sanitary sewer systems are in operation in the county. The City of Coleman operates a lagoon treatment system which serves the entire city. The lagoons are lcr.ated on a 40-acre site northeast of the city, south of U.S. 10. There are three lagoon cells ; one nine-acre primary cell and two additional cells of four acres each which receive approximately 146,000 gallons per day. There are no industrial wastes flowing into the system. No problems have been reported in meeting treatment standards and no expansions are planned. By design lagoon systems typically serve limited areas and moderate volumes of waste. Consequently service extensions at any distance into adjoining townships would necessarily be limited. The second municipal sewer system is operated by and within the City of Midland. Most areas within the city have sewer service available and capacities exist for serving a greater area. The City of Midland has adopted a sewer and water extension policy known as the MUGA or Midland Urban Growth Area. Simply stated, the MUGA policy is that utility service will only be provided if one of two conditions occur. If a property is inside the MUGA boundary but outside the City limits utilities will be provided if the property is annexed. If outside the MUGA boundary, utilities will only be provided to a governmental agency. The only instance in which this has happened is in the Midland County Water District No. 1. Water The need for potable water supplies in the county is acute because of the generally poor groundwater quality caused by brine deposits. Most areas of the - 93 - �county depend on groundwater for water supplies. The areas covered by public water services include the City of Midland, the City of Coleman and Midland County Water District No. 1. - Midland County Water District No. 1 is administered by the Midland County Department of Public Works. Actual water supplies are purchased by the Midland County Water Dtstrict No. 1 from the City of Midland and distributed in accordance with the City's MUGA policy. Areas served in Water District No. 1 include the Village of Sanford and portions of Lincoln and Jerome Townships irm,ediately adjacent to the Village. The City of Coleman's water system is supplied by two 12-inch diameter, deep wells which pump an average of 180,000 gallons per day. covered by water mains. Most of the city is A 200,000 gallon elevated storage tank has also been constructed. The City of Midland's water system falls under the same extension policy, through the MUGA, as the sewer. Solid Waste Management Midland County has taken an active planning role in the area of solid waste management. completed. In 1983, the Midland County Solid Waste Management Plan was That document was developed under the auspices of Public Act 641, the Sol id Waste Management Act. 1984 with preparation of Implementation of the report was started in special studies concerning a county office paper recycling project, a volunteer recycling program, and an update of the data base pursuant to evaluating potential county has development feasibility completed and a series solid waste disposal of guidelines/regulations related waste management studies of potential sites. activities, resource recovery and Presently, the governing landfill is continuing with projects as well as implementing a volunteer recycling program. Waste Generation: Excluding agricultural wastes, approximately 334 tons of solid waste enter the county's waste stream each day and must be disposed of by public or private means. By the year 2000, the County's Sol id Waste Management Pl an estimates that 434 tons per day of solid waste will be generated. - 94 - �• • • • • • • • •II Ill .. Waste Collection: The only public collection service is provided by the City of Midland Department of Public Works, which collects businesses, and small industries. waste from city residents, corrmercial Large commercial and industrial establish- ments in Midland County contract private haulers for collection service on an individual basi _s. disposal Even Dow Chemical and Dow Corning, which operate their own facilities, contract with private haulers for collection of office waste. Most townships provide for some form of optional pickup by private haul€rs. or contracted door to door Lee and Lincoln Townships provide transfer stations where residents may choose to deposit their own trash. Mt. Haley and Porter Townships have arranged to have trucks park at the township hall. deposit their trash in these trucks on a periodic basis. Residents may There are seven private haulers operating in the county • Waste Disposal: Sol id waste is disposed of through facilities both within and outside the county. Landfil 1s: The City of Midland operates a Type II sanitary landfill, the only municipallyowned and -operated 1 andfil 1 in Midland County. Type I I 1 andfi 11 s are designed to handle non-hazardous wastes such as typical municipal garbage and trash. city landfill is a 100-acre site which handles primarily residential and commercial waste. The City has acquired two adjacent 40-acre parcels for future expansion, extending the projected life of the landfill to the year 2000. additional The quarter section of land adjacent to the landfill An may also be available for expansion purposes. Approximately 500,000 cubic yards of waste are handled at the City of Midland landfill each year. About three-fourths of this waste is collected by the City. The City recently stopped accepting refuse from outside Midland County in order to extend the life of the 1 andfi 11 • Waste is accepted from a 11 - 95 - of Midland �,--------------------------------------------....ii■ ■ • • • • • • •II - County, but non-city residents and private haulers must pay a higher tipping fee. For this reason, only waste from the City of Midland and Porter Township regularly enters the landfill • - Dow Chemical and Dow Corning both handle a portion of the solid waste generated at their plants at their respective hazardous waste landfills. Dow Chemical has recently received an operating license for a 152-acre hazardous waste landfill. In addition to hazardous waste, this facility handles app~oximately 3,000 cubic yards per month of solid waste, comprised primarily of non-combustible packaging and processing waste. The anticipated life of this landfill is 30 years • Dow Corning has recently upgraded an existing hazardous waste l andfi 11 and obtained an operating license from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources • The completed facility handles about 20,000 cubic yards of waste annually. Fifteen to twenty percent of this amount is comprised of hazardous waste, and the remainder is sol id waste which has been exposed to hazardous waste. The facility has the capacity to handle a total of 300,000 cubic yards of waste over its 25-year life. Private haulers in Midland County dispose of waste in a variety of out-of-county landfills. These disposal facilities include: the Isabella County Landfill and People's Garbage Disposal facility in Saginaw County. Only the People's Garbage Disposal facility is licensed at the present time. Use of the Saginaw facility is short-term at best, limited to 1988, or continuation with existing haulers' contracts with no volume increases. Some waste is hauled to Gratiot County for transfer to a landfill outside the county. A construction permit for a new Type II sanitary landfill tentatively planned for location in Section 35 of Lincoln Township was denied by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The landfill, proposed by Peoples Garbage Disposal, Inc., would primarily serve the surrounding rural residential area. It would have a projected capacity of 1,100,000 cubic yards and life of 28 years. Transfer Facilities There are two licensed, publicly owned, Type B transfer stations in operation in Midland County: the Lee and Lincoln Township transfer facilities. Type B - 96 - �• • • • • • • • • facilities are designed to handle primarily residential from vehicles unloaded by hand. and commercial waste Both facilities accept primarily residential waste and are experiencing no significant operational problems. Private haulers in Midland County also use the Tri-County Transfer Station located in Gratiot County • Incinerators Dow Chemical operates two incinerators in conjunction with Dow Corning. The incinerators burn combustible packaging and processing waste and currently do not have an energy recovery capability • Resource Recovery Facilities At present there are no solid waste resource recovery facilities in the county. Feasibility studies of a four-county regional Isabella and Midland Counties are facility to serve Bay, Gladwin, being undertaken. These studies involve technical and economical evaluations of cogeneration, electricity and/or steam for Bay Medical Center, Pleasant Regional Consumers Power Company, Center, and General Dow Chemical Company, Mt. Motors using different technologies of direct combustion and refuse derived fuel processing. The only facility in Midland County employing a limited amount of non-solid waste resource recovery is Dow Corning's Steam and Electric Cogeneration (SECO) project. The SECO system produces steam and manufacturing and heating using the most economical wood, oil, gas or coal. electricity fuel for use in available including As recommended in the County Solid Waste Management Plan, Dow Corning may be encouraged to expand the SECO operation to accept waste paper and municipal wood waste. Problems With Existing Solid Waste Facilities: No problems with the operation of the existing landfill or transfer facilities within Midland County have been reported. However, private haulers active in the c ounty have complained about the discriminating fee schedule at the City of Midland landfill. Non-city residents and collection vehicles are charged nearly twice as much as city residents to dispose of their waste. Thus, most private haulers dispose of their waste at out-of-county landfills. Only one of these - 97 - �out-of-county landfills is presently licensed. The remainder are expected to be licensed in the near future. However, the recent closure of a number of landfills in this area is likely to increase demand for an affordable disposal facility in the proximity of Midland County. Saginaw Valley Contractors (SVC), an organization which represents several large general contract9rs in Bay, Midland and Saginaw Counties, has expressed concern over the availability of landfill space to dispose of their construction and demolition debris. The material discarded includes concrete rubble, clay and sand, and some organic material such as wood, drywall, and paper on a periodic basis. Some privately owned landfills have charged high rates for the disposal of these wastes, which could force SVC to purchase a landfill of their own. However, SVC strongly prefers to be part of a community landfill. SVC estimates they will require 40 acres of landfill space in Midland County in the next 20 years. This projection does not include large projects such as land development, road construction, or the disposal of waste by other companies. Potential problems may also exist with dumps previously located in many of the townships. Unlike current 641 landfills, most dumps were not designed to provide for groundwater and other environmental protection. The closed dumps in Midland County are listed in Table 23 and are shown on the Solid Waste Disposal Sites map (Figure 13). Problems With Existing Solid Waste Management Practices: In the past, a primary problem in solid waste policy and decision-making has heen a lack of cooperation among the municipalities of Midland County. This situation has led to inefficiencies and a duplication of efforts in the provision of solid waste services and facilities. Private sol id waste haulers in Midland County have not reported any problems other than the high tipping fees for non-city vehicles at the City of Midland Landfill. Another unrecognized problem occurs in some rural areas where several private haulers are active in a single area under contract with individual residents. This situation results in overlapping routes and fuel waste, creates inefficiencies, and in most cases would increase collection costs. - 98 - �Future Direction: The recommended future direction for the disposal and management of solid waste has been delineated in the County's approved Solid Waste Management Plan. That Plan sets forth a program of action which should be followed. Moreover, as it is implemented, it should be carefully monitored and adjusted to take advantage of new information and technology. Table 24 provides a summary of Midland County's proposed waste management effort as delineated in the Plan report. Drains Establishment and maintenance of drainage systems is the responsibility of the Midland County Drain Conrnissioner. More than 1,100 drains service three main drainage basins; the Ka wk awl in, Tittabawassee and Shiawassee Drainage Basins. The majority of the work accomplished on these drain systems is cleaning and brush clearance. New drains are established in accordance with the Michigan Drain Code. Actual administration is also governed by the Drain Code. Each drain is a corporation composed of benefitting property owners. Funding for the Office of the Drain Commissioner's administrative expenses comes entirely from County funds. Construction expenses come primarily from funds assessed through the individual drain corporations or a cost per acre benefit assessment. The Drain Commissioner is also represented on the Inter-County Drain Board which deals with issues and problems arising on drains affecting adjacent counties. Other Board members include representatives of the Michigan Water Resources Commission, Michigan Department of Agriculture and adjacent counties. - 99 - �Table 23 Closed Dumps in Midland County Dump Site Size (Acres) Comnent 1. City of Coleman N.A. Disposal area is 3-5 acres. 2. Warren Township N.A. Disposal area is 5-8 acres. 3. Edenville T~wnship 40 4. Hope Township 40 5. Mills Township 5 6. Lincoln Township 40 7. Jerome Township 10 8. Geneva Township N.A. 9. Greendale Township Also discontinued station transfer Now used as a transfer station Disposal area is 3-5 acres 80 10. Lee Township 40 11. Jasper Township 40 12. Porter Township N.A. 13. Mt. Haley Township 40 14. Ingersoll Township 40 Now used as a transfer station Disposal area is 3-5 acres 15. Dow Chemical Company Poseyville Road Site N.A. Disposal area is 108 acres 16. City of Midland Currie Site N.A. Disposal area is approximately 13 acres 17. City of Midland Tridge Site N.A. Disposal area is approximately 6 acres 18. Dow Chemical Company Rockwell Drive, Ray County Site N.A. Disposal area is approximately 10 acres N.A. denotes size not available. - 100 - �■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Table 24 Midland County Approved Long-Range Surrmary) 1. 641 Solid Waste Management Plan (Short- and Five-Year Plan a. Promote second publicly available sanitary landfill by 1988. b. Continue existing arrangements to 1988. 1. 2. ■ Collection and transportation systems. Transfer facilities (Lee and Lincoln Townships). c. Continue City of Midland Landfill. d. Promote materials resource recovery (recycling). 1. 2. 3. Volunteer recycling of newspapers. Office paper recovery programs. Other materials. e. Promote energy recovery (actual projects to be carried out under the 20-year plan). 1. 2. 2. Continue Dow Corning 1 s SECO plant (chipped wood). Promote multi-county interest in resource recovery options and in a 11 owing the private sector to meet Midland County I s l andfi 11 needs. Twenty-Year Plan a. Promote non-landfill solid waste systems within the county or on a regional (multi-county) basis. 1. 2. 3. 4. Regional resource recovery systems. Materials recovery. Energy recovery. Composting. b. Continue and expand voluntary recycling. c. Support modular incinerators if energy market becomes available in Midland County. - 101 - �■ ■ ■ ■ ■· • • • • .. .. .., , RECREATION Recreation is an essential element in the makeup of any community. As more leisure time becomes available to Midland County residents the demand for - additional recreational opportunities will increase. The County Comprehensive Plan may be used as a guide for providing these opportunities. Further information may b~ found in the County Parks and Recreation Plan. Existing County Park Facilities and Activities The fo 11 owing chart presents information pertaining to County-owned and/oradmi ni stered parks • Name Sanford Lake Park Veterans Memorial Park West Midland County Park Acreage Activities/Facilities 52 Roat launch, concessions, picnic areas, picnic shelter, playground, swilllTling, fishing, ice skating, cross country skiing, restrooms 130 Canoe launch, nature trails, picnic areas, picnic shelters, playground, fishing, restrooms, hiking 29 Ball fields, playground, restrooms, multi-purpose basketball court Pine Haven Recreation Area 327 Hiking, cross country skiing, portable restroom facilities Manitou Park (220 acres planned) 152 Picnic area, canoe launch fishing, hiking (future proposed activities: swimming, cross country skiing, sledding, camping) TOTAL 690 Existing county and municipal major parks and recreation areas are listed in Table 27 and sited on Figure 14. - 102 - �• • Future County Park and Recreation Needs The adopted "Midland County River Corridor Study" proposed a standard of 10 acres per 1,000 persons as a space need for county parks. Accordingly, using the population projections developed for the County Comprehensive Plan, the following needs and deficiencies may be expected (Table 25): Table 25 County Recreational Acreage Needs* Year Existing Acreage 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 538 613 690 Deficjency Acres Reguired 735 773 812 853 890 905 197 160 122 163 200 215 * Note: Reflects County-based acreage needs and deficiencies. does not include local muncipal need. Source: Midland County The information The acquisition of the remaining 68 acres for Manitou Park would reduce the expected deficiency in 2005 by approximately 32 percent. As the table indicates, the County is in recreational space for the expected population. reach of providing adequate Another important aspect of recreational needs is whether or not the desires of the residents are being met in terms of the range of recreational activities provided. A survey conducted in 1980 revealed that county residents wanted to see parks developed that met these desires. - 103 - �Desired feature Parks that preserve nature Parks with picknicking and/or trails Parks with SWilTITI~ng Parks with many activities Percent of Response 87 79 70 74 Parks with ballfields, tennis courts, playgrounds 70 Historical areas with programs Parks with swimming and/or boating 69 54 Parks That Comply Veterans, Pine Haven, Manitou Sanford Lake, Veterans, Manitou, Pine Haven Sanford Lake, Manitou (future) Sanford Lake, Veterans, Manitou (future) Sanford Lake, Veterans, West Midland Sanford (canoeing (canoeing proposed) Lake, Veterans, only) Manitou currently, swimming Accordingly, it appears that with one exception the general desires of county residents are being met. This assumes, though, that Manitou Park will continue to be developed with the proposed activities. One activity not addressed in the recreation needs is fishing. Recently the Tittabawassee River has been recognized as an excellent walleyed pike, steelhead and salmon fishing area. This activity may also result in increased tourism. - 104 - �r PUBLIC AND QUASI-PUBLIC FACILITIES County Government Services _ Midland County Courthouse: The County Courthouse, located at 301 West Main Street in Midland, was constructed in 1~25 with building additions in 1958 and 1979. It is listed on both the Michigan State and National Register of Historic Places. Housed in the Courthouse are the following departments: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Adult Probation 42nd Circuit Court Board of Commissioners Controller County Clerk County Jail County Property Maintenance Custodian 75th District Court Emergency Services Friend of the Court Gypsy Moth Suppression Personnel Department Probate Court Prosecuting Attorney Register of Deeds Sheriff's Department/City of Midland Police Department Treasurer Although structurally sound, required staffing and space requirements have necessitated the relocation of other County offices to the point where many County functions are spread throughout the area. This has created a problem in providing efficient service to county residents. A recently completed exterior restoration study recommended a number of renovations including restoration of wall murals, refurbishing of windows and repointing of deteriorated mortar joints. - 105 - �r- Other County Offices: Due to space limitations at the County Courthouse, a number of departments have been located in leased facilities at alternate locations. These offices are: 1270 James Savage Road • • • • • Office Building - This facility houses the following: Alcohol Ser.vices Equalization County Development House-Numbering Coordination Parks and Recreation Planning Public Works/Water District No. 1 Veterans Counselor These offices are aging and inconveniently located. In addition, this facility is about two miles from the County Courthouse. This distance tends to discourage close interdepartmental cooperation and requires duplicated mailing, copying and other functional services. Other County departments are located as follows: • • • • • • • Animal Control Center Cooperative Extension Service Drain Commissioner and Road Commission Health Department Housing Commission and touncil on Aging Mental Health Department Mosquito Control 4271 E. Ashman Street 125 Main Street (Old Post Office) 4509 N. Saginaw Road (Rd.Comm.Bldg.) 125 Main Street (Old Post Office) 315 Fitzhugh Street (Fitzhugh Bldg.) 2620 W. Sugnet Road 2957 Venture Drive Some of these departments require special site considerations, such as the Animal Control Center, Drain Commissioner, Road Commission, Mosquito Control, and Mental Health, but most others would benefit from a central location for administrative functions. - 106 - �,- • • Recognizing these functional Midland City Council in problems, the County Board of Commissioners and 1980 asked County voters to approve an additional millage to construct a city-county building at a site bounded by Jerome, Larkin, Gordon and Buttl es Streets. vote. In The proposal was defeated by nearly a two-to-one 1983 the County Board of Commissioners appointed further study the problem. a committee to This group was known as the "Study Committee on Facilities for th·e County of Midland and City of Midland." In July 1986 the Midland County Planning Commission concluded a comparative evaluation of county office facility alternatives. Based on the study findings, it was recommended to the County Board of Commissioners that a new building with a total of 45,000 square feet be constructed on the Fitzhugh Street site, within the City of Midland. In conjunction with the above, it was also recommended that: 1. The County Board of Commissioners use the building authority method for financing county office facilities with limited authority given to the building authority for constructing a new county office building and/or managing the renovation of the Courthouse, preferably using limited _tax general obligation bonds issued by the building authority as secured by a lease hold agreement with the County Board of CoJT1Tiissioners. 2. The County Board of Commissioners use existing county building construction funds to reduce the amount of the 1 imited tax general obligation bonds required for the county office facilities. Recommendations have also been made to analyze the future space requirements of those agencies to remain in the present courthouse and to determine subsequent renovation needs. City/Village/Township Halls Locations of the various city, village, township halls are noted on the Community Facilities map. It should he noted that in a number of township 1 ocat ions the seat of government is housed jointly with the fire department. Except for the City of Midland, there are currently no proposals for the development of new municipal halls. The City of Midland plans to construct a new city ha 11 in the downtown area near the court house and the proposed County office facility. - 107 - �...-- • • Libraries Two principal libraries serve the general public. · Grace A. Dow Memorial Library: The Grace A. Dow· Memorial Library provides service to the City of Midland, which operates the system, and to twelve townships through contractual arrangements. The library is a part of the White Pine Library Cooperative, a network of 14 public libraries in a ten-county area. The collection contains some 218,000 items with 665,000 circulations in the 1984-85 fiscal year. In addition to book services, the library also circulates films and video cassettes, conducts children's programs and other miscellaneous community services. A cable-TV operation, Midland Community Television, is also a part of the library. Operational support is provided from the City of Midland, contractual township arrangements funded through a .3 mill levy, gifts, memorials and fund raising through the Friends of the Library. Volunteer services also contribute to library operation. A recent 3,000-square foot expansion was completed which added to the lobby area. A 9,000-square foot expansion is being planned to provide a new stack area, a fine arts room, expansion of the children's room and an area for genealogy and local history. Coleman Area Library: The Coleman Area Library is located at 231 E. Railway in Coleman. Located in a former bank, the library opened in 1968. The bank building was constructed in 1905. The library has about 8,500 volumes with 17,000 circulations per year. Funding is provided through a voted millage. As with the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, the Coleman Library is a part of the White Pine Library Cooperative. Although the building itself has not been expanded, the library recently increased its available space by utilizing the upstairs portion of the building. No other additions are planned. - 108 - �• • • • • - Medical and Emergency Facilities Emergency Medical Services: The Midland Hospital Center, through a fixed fee annual contract with Midland - County, provides emergency medi ca 1 services coverage for the entire county. Four vehicles are staffed and operated from three locations: • Two vehicles and two back-up vehicles operate from the Midland Hospital Center, 4005 Orchard Drive, Midland. • One vehicle operates from 3077 North Meridian Road in Jerome Township. • One vehicle operates from 855 East Railway Street, Coleman. These vehicles respond to approximately 3,300 calls annually. Response time within the City of Midland averages 3.8 minutes with an outcounty average of 7.8 minutes. No additional vehicles, staff or locations are planned. Department of Emergency Services: This County department is responsible for disaster or emergency planning for various possible events. Through analysis of county development patterns, population projections, industrial hazard identification and various drills and exercises, contingencies for reaction to disasters are developed. Future needs revolve around a requirement for a suitable emergency operations center with adequate radio and telephone communication links with any public or private agency which may be involved in an emergency response situation. The County Sheriff operates a communication station in Sanford which could be upgraded to serve as the center. Midland Hospital Center: The principle medical facility serving the county is the Midland Hospital Center, located at 4005 Orchard Drive in the City of Midland. The hospital has 307 beds. A $10.5 million expansion was completed in 1986 that will house some ancillary operations including the radiology section, additional - 109 - �laboratories, and emergency services. Further expansion is planned to begin in 1986 and completed in 1988. The hospital also operates, under County contract, an ambulance service. Although not part of the Midland County contract, the hospital recently established a helicopter ambulance service. A limited number of emergency care facilities are also available in the City of Midland. These facilities are designed to handle short term medical problems or emergencies, or if unable to provide necessary care, refer cases to the Midland Hospital Center. Midland County Fairground The Fairground is located northwest of Eastman Road and U.S. 10 on a site of just under 80 acres. Existing facilities include: • Thirty-eight buildings 13 exhibit buildings; 13 service buildings; seven administrative buildings; and five horse-related buildings • A harness racing track with covered grandstand seating 1,700 to 1,800 spectators. • • • Horse show arena. Four camping areas, covering about two and one half acres. Restroom facilities. General public use of the Fairground is from April through September, with the County Fair held in August. Aside from the Fair the other activities for which the grounds are used include picnics, camping, horse shows, antique shows, and soccer games, held on fields established by the Midland Parks Department. The Fourth of July celebration is the largest single event of the year. Problems which have been identified include the under utilization of the grounds, unattractive campgrounds, lack of public utilities, poor drainage, traffic and parking conditions, and conflicts between user groups. In addition a possible runway extension and land acquisition at the Barstow Airport and the planned construction of the Eastman Road/U.S. 10 shopping center may create additional problems for traffic and Fairground expansions. - 110 - �■ ■ ■ ■ • • • • • • Some improvements have s i nee been made in accordance with the Master Pl an, particularly in the restroom and camping areas. Educational Facilities Several schools and colleges serve the residents of Midland County • Public Schools: Midland County is served by nine school districts and a number of parochial and private schools. Census figures indicate approximately 19,000 school-aged children in the county. Of significance in school enrollment projections is the general decline expected by each district. Examination of the 1970 - 1980 Age Comparison through Census figures substantiates these expectations. The Under 5 and 5 - 14 groups declined by 13 percent from 1970 to 1980 from a 1970 total of 22,037 to 19,080 in 1980 • Implications for declining school districts included reduced levels of state aid, school closings and staff changes. However, changing job technologies and equipment may provide additional opportunities for adult education and retraining programs. Funding for such programs may be available through the State of Michigan. In terms of land uses for schools, many school grounds are also used for recreational purposes in the neighborhoods in which they are located. Sale or reuse of these areas may impact on the availability of recreation space. However, should additional classroom space be needed in the future new construction may have to be undertaken. On the other hand, maintenance for a closed building is costly and difficult. Each district will have to examine their alternatives and decide what is best for their situation. Delta Co 11 ege: One-year certificates and two-year associates degrees are offered in the academic program of this public college, with an enrollment of 1,600 students. There is one main building with wings for automobile technician and fine arts programs. The community affa; rs program offers enrichment and profess i ona 1 improvement courses, and classes are also available in local communities through - 111 - �• • • • •II ■- II II Ill off-campus centers. In the future the college hopes to attain funding for a vocational technical wing. Delta College offers selected courses of study at Regina Center in Midland in addition to its main campus • - Northwood Institute: A private college established in 1959 with an enrollment of 1,900 students, offering an Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Business degrees. The 145-acre campus worship contains athletics. student Of special facilities note is the for housing, National education, Automobile Dealers and Association (NADA) Center which has hotel, catering and conference room facilities and the Automotive Hall of Fame which contains plaques and photographs co1T1T1emorating individuals who have made significant contributions to the auto industry. Regina Center: Originally constructed as a girls Catholic high school in 1962, this two-story classroom building continues to provide for the religious classes and other activities of its owner, Blessed Sacrament Church. There are twelve classrooms, a large multi-use room which can accommodate 200-300 people, library, conference and meeting rooms, office space, and lounge. A portion of the building is rented to Delta College, so they may offer off-campus classes. The area which was the convent has eleven bedrooms and now serves as the "Hospitality Home" of the Midland Hospital Center. Until Blessed Sacrament can sell the building and centralize their activities at the church site, future use of the center will remain the same. Michigan Molecular Institute: This 35,000 square-foot facility is devoted primarily to research of fundamental po 1ymers. The affiliated with Institute Central is a member-owned, Michigan polymer science are also offered. University. non-profit 501-C-3 corporation Graduate education courses in A staff of 36 which includes nine senior scientists, conduct their activities within the twelve labs, two lecture rooms, and library of the Institute. The majority of funding comes from private sources, however, state funding and federal funds through the National Science - 112 - �Foundation also provide for ongoing research. Future goals include adjacent land acquisition and construction of an applied science laboratory, which is expected to double their staff size and aid another goal of recruiting scientists. Great Lakes Junior College: Associate degrees are offered programs, in several business and electronic technology The current enrollment is 231 students. The college leases space in the Consumers Power Company Training Center for cl ass rooms and 1aboratories. Future plans call for continuation of the existing instructional programs and establishing a medical and laboratory technicians program. At present there are no definite plans to construct a physical plant, however, the college is seeking facilities or land to build on in the City of Midland. appears to be a great need for the college students. , , - 113 - Bus transit service �• • • • • •II II Community Centers Midland Community Center, Inc.: The Midland Community Center was opened in 1919 in order to provide recreational - activities on a communi tywi de basis. Dr. Herbert H. Dow, founder of the Dow Chemical Company, and several prominent Midland residents and businessmen, were initial incorporators. Since that time, two divisions have evolved, the Midland Community Center and the Midland Community Tennis Center, which opened in 1975 • Since the original building on Townsend Street moved in 1955 to its current location at 2001 George Street, additions have been completed in 1968 and 1979. A broad range of activities and programs are available. Facilities include basketball, handball, jogging track, shuffleboard, exercise rooms, swillllling pool, gymnasium, golf driving range, locker rooms and bowling. In 1984 these facilities served 947,775 participants on 21,962 different occasions. The Tennis Center has 16 outdoor and 16 indoor courts. Construction and renovation of swimming facilities have been started. In addition, a study is underway to detennine the feasibility of a merger with the West Midland Community Center. Operationally, adult use of the facilities is open to those who live or work in Midland County and contribute to the United Way. All children are eligible to use the facilities. Operating funds are divided approximately as follows: 50 percent user fees, 30 percent United Way and 20 percent from industry and foundations. The George Street Center is a non-profit 501-C-3 corporation. Mills Community Center: This facility is presently open only from April available for rental and used by local clubs and tournaments. Along with a kitchen and lavatories, p1ayground and pi en i c tables. In the future the building open and available for year-round use. - 114 - through November. It is churches and for softball there are ball diamonds, a township hopes to have the �• West Midland Community Center: The functions of the West Midland Community Center parallel the Midland Community Center as described above. The Center is located on West Isabell a Road (M-20) approximately 15 miles west of Midland. The Center is located on a three-acre parcel and consists of a renovated two story building 60 feet by 100 feet. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as a school with the renovations occuring in 1974. The lower floor is used for senior citizen programs, including the daily nutritional meals program, as well as social programs for all age groups. The second floor is used for pre-school and continuing education, crafts, recreation, and various classes. The Community Center site adjoins a 27-acre park which has two ball diamonds, bathroom facilities, and trails. The Center was opened in 1974 at which time operational funding was handled by Midland County through Genera 1 Revenue Sharing. CETA funds were a1so used to defray employee costs. Presently, the Center is funded via a combination of three sources including United Way (60%), various fees and rentals (25%) and the County (15%). County funding is to be phased out by 1987. Future plans call for replacement of the existing building with a new structure. Midland Center for the Arts The Midland Center for the Arts, dedicated in 1971, was funded entirely through private donations. Continuing operation is also free of governmental funds. Facilities available include a 386-seat theatre, a 95-seat lecture/recital hall, a 1,538-seat auditorium, three art and sculpture galleries, art studios and administrative offices. It is located at Eastman Road and St. Andrews Road in the City of Midland. The Center is also the home of several art and cultural organizations. include: • • • Midland Arts Council Midland Community Concert Society Midland County Historical Society - 115 - These �.. • • • • Midland Midland Midland Matrix: Music Society Symphony Orchestra Society Theatre Guild Midland, a festival of the arts and sciences A large number of community education, art, music and science programs are also conducted at th~. Center. No expansions are currently planned. Senior Citizens Center Three center facilities are operated in the county, while several senior citizens organizations meet at churches and township halls. Midland County Council on Aging (New Facility): The present location of the Council is on Fitzhugh Street in a trailer of 1,975 square feet. The Council must vacate the temporary modular building in 1987 because of the construction of the new County Services Facility on the same site. No decision has been made regarding a temporary or permanent site for the Council's facility, however, the Council has tentatively planned to build and relocate to a permanent structure on North Saginaw and Cook Roads. The Council is seeking private donations to construct a new 4,000-square foot facility with a 3,000-square foot expansion possible. This would serve as the base for all program operations run out at the senior/community centers such as West Midland, Coleman and Sanford. As another possible location, the Council on Aging may be located in the United Way services building in downtown Midland. - 116 - �II II Coleman Senior Services Center: A 3,200-square foot hall with kitchen, storage, office and bathrooms. This facility provides a local base for dining in or home delivery of noon meals along with a variety of other enrichment programs for senior citizens. Sanford Senior Citizens Center: A hall of 5,000 square feet equipped with kitchen, storage, and bathroom space. It provides a local base for various senior activities such as noon meals, recreation, health, information, enrichment, education and craft sales. facility is also used for bingo and available for rental. The Museums Midland County is served with three exceptional museums. Chippewa Nature Center: The Nature Center is 1ocated north of Pine River Road, south of the Chippewa River between Atwell Drive and Section 23 of Homer Township. A system of trails, associated buildings and natural areas cover the 866-acre site. Features of the Center include three miles of river frontage, 14 miles of trails, a museum, auditorium, library, gift shop, an 1870 style farm complex, Maple Syrup House, a paved trail for the handicapped and a large variety of Michigan trees and shrubs. Programs operated by the Center include tours, Natural Science Lecture Series, field trips, an Explorer Post, Fall Harvest Festival, maple syrup demonstrations and a Natural History Day Camp. Ill Ill Ill - A nominal admission fee is charged daily with annual available. No expansions are planned at present. and life memberships Sanford Museum: In conjunction with the celebration of the Sanford Village centennial in 1970, the Sanford Museum was established in an early 20th century brick four-room school building on 2.5 acres, which is presently owned by Jerome Township. The Sanford Historic Society, with an active membership of ten, owns and maintains - 117 - �C - the period displays within the school. Since 1970 they have acquired five other buildings which are examples from early lumbering days. During the su1T1T1er several functions are held so the public may see these buildings. At other times of the year hours are 1 imited. Funding is 1 imited based on private donations and future goals include seeking increased funding along with continual refurbishing of existing structures, and acquisition of more buildings and land. Midland County Historical Museum: One of six member groups based out of Midland Center for the Arts, the museum has office space, and maintains two permanent exhibit areas at the Center. One 4,000-square foot room contains a collection which may be viewed by appointment. They also have an open exhibit area on the fourth level of the Center. Other ongoing projects include the maintenance of Bradley House and restoration of an old mill. - 118 - �• •Ill II COUNTY FACILITIES Pinecrest Home Pinecrest Home is a congregate housing facility providing long-term care for persons with a variety of diagnosed mental and physical disabilities. The facilities are located west of the City of Midland in Homer Township on a 160acre site on Homer Road. One hundred acres are 1eased for fanning with the remaining 60 acres used for the housing and associated buildings. Capacity of Pinecrest is 53 persons. Staff consists of the Director, one full time Registered Nurse, and one Licensed Practical Nurse. One vehicle is available for client transportation, with some transportation services supplied by the Council on Aging. Funding is provided by the County, which accounts for about two-thirds of needed revenues, with General Assistance and private pay making up the balance. Only county residents are accepted. Cases are generally referred by the Social Services Department and hospitals. Mental health cases make up the majority of the residents. No expansions are currently planned. Harbour House Harbour House was opened in 1971 by the Volunteers for Youth of Midland as a shelter for abused, neglected or otherwise troubled youths. In December of 1980 control and operation was turned over to the Juvenile Division of the Midland County Probate Court. Currently the Harbour House is an eight-bed co-educational facility serving adolescents who fall within one of the following situations: • • • • • • Ch ran i c runaways Severe school difficulties Breakdown of family relationships Physical and/or sexual abuse Neglect Criminal behavior - 119 - �Three to six weeks is a typical residency period. Funding is provided entirely through the County Child Care Fund, which is a combination of State and County funds that are to be expended on out-of-home care of Probate Court wards. Other resources include private contributions. No long-term changes are anticipated in the Harbor House program. Under consideration, bowever, is a Probate Court investigation into the possibility of establishing a Children's Center for maladjusted adolescents. Currently, three alternatives are under review: 1. 2. 3. Build short-term detention "cells" at Harbour House. Build a detention facility in a separate location. Build a new facility that would include both shelter and detention facilities and programs. The principle decision that must be made concerns the length of stay that would be programmed into the facility. The important element of this decision is the need for educational and recreational programming in a long term facility. Whichever decision is made, the Probate Court recognizes that the contracting of detention services from neighboring county facilities is not a viable, permanent solution because of a lack of available space. Therefore, it is felt that these services should remain within Midland County. Horizon House The Horizon House is a mental hea 1th day treatment center with two on-going programs that have totally separate facilities. Both programs receive clientele that are referred from the Midland Hospital Center and other local agencies. One program deals with treatment of learning disabled individuals who are eighteen years of age or older. The other program deals with people who have mental illness or life problems. The center for learning disabled contains two classrooms and activity areas where life maintenance skills are taught. Twenty-four clients are presently in the program. The mental illness day treatment faciltiy has two offices and two open areas for group therapy. A maximum of 20 clients are accepted to work with the coordinator (psychologist), social worker and recreation therapist. - 120 - �Department of Animal Control Midland County operates the Animal Control facility for the purpose of housing stray or unwanted animals. The facility has, in addition to the area used for animal housing, office space for the Director and a lobby/office are for general administration and reception. The Director wishes to add approximately 567 square feet of space as a room to conduct educational programs about animals and their care. Midland County Mosquito Control Facility Mosquito Control was established with a three-year mi 11 age approval to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases to County residents. Methods of control include larviciding, adulticiding, and source reduction. Year-round research is conducted in leased facilities which includes offices, conference room, 1aboratory, restroCJT1s with sho.,,ers, chemical storage, and garage for ten trucks. The mosquito control personnel have completed a needs assessment of a new mosquito control facility. Minimum building requirements indicate a need for 4,870 square feet of indoor space and 14,700 square feet of outdoor area. The new facility would include offices, conference/1 ibrary, laboratory, lunchroom, equipment maintenance, inventory/storage, restrooms, equipment parking (secured), general parking, and outdoor yard. Sheriff Department Emergency Services Building The Sheriff Department maintains an emergency services building (Station 11) at 1884 N. Seven Mi.le Road in Jerome Township. The purpose of this building is to store emergency equipment, boats and trucks. The building also includes a meeting room. There are no plans at this time to expand the building for housing additional emergency or non-emergency equipment. - 121 - �• • •Ill Midland County Road Commission County roads . are maintained by the Road Commission through facilities located at 4509 North Saginaw (Midland), the City of Coleman, Jasper Township at LaPorte and Magrudder Roads and in Ingersoll Township on Brooks Road (Section 18). Principle garaging and office functions occur at the Saginaw Road location. The other facilities store one road grader and one or two trucks. No facility expansion is currently planned. Maintenance programs include snow removal and minor reconstruction/ repaving. Snow removal operations use 16 snow removal vehicles (trucks and graders) and two 5,000 gallon tankers for ice control (brine spreading). First priority for snow removal is given to State highways under contract from the Michigan Department of Transportation. These highways include US-10, US-20, US-18 and US-30. Primary then 1 ocal roads foll ow in priority. All paving and construction projects are contracted. Determination of need is determined through observations of road conditions following the winter season. Consideration is being given to the establishment of a road rating system, based on the State Highway Needs Study, to assign road priorities. Policy for the Road Commission is determined by a three-member Commission serving six year terms in staggered order. Col11llissioners are appointed by the County Board of Commissioners and may serve a maximum of two terms. Funding is granted through a four-year, one mill levy, which, voted in 1986 will fund programs through 1989. Of the available taxes collected, approximately 75 percent comes from the City of Midland and 25 percent from the remainder of the County. Critical Bridge program applications are also administered by the Road Commission. Both primary and 1oca 1 road bridges have been cl ass ifi ed by the County and this is used to determine which bridges a re in need of reconstruction. Actual priority or application requests are made by the individual unit of government. - 122 - �Midland County Jail The existing jail facility is located in the City of Midland at Main and Gordon Streets. Total inmate capacity for this facility is as follows: • • • 57 inmate beds Seven work release program beds Six holding/booking beds Therefore, regular inmate capacity is 57 with the remaining 13 beds having security or time restrictions attached to them. Estimates by the Ways and Means Committee of the County Board of Commissioners indicates that additional jail capacity will be needed by 1989. This estimate is based on an inmate population averaging, on a daily basis, 54 persons in 1984. This is an increase of 18 over 1980 figures, yielding an average yearly increase of three inmates. If a functional capacity of 64 is assumed (57 regular plus seven work release beds), capacity will be reached by 1988. The Midland County Special Facilities Committee has recommended that the county's jail needs be analyzed including the location and design of detention facilities. Central Vehicle Maintenance Facility The Midland County Special Facilities Committee has ' recommended that the county investigate the need to establish a central vehicle maintenance facility. This facility would be used for the servicing of all county vehicles and other motorized equipment. Community facilities of countywide importance are listed in Table 28 and sited on the Community Facilities map (Figure 15). - 123 - �Table 26 Fire Protection Coverage, Midland County JURISDICTION AREA COVERED Eden vi 11 e Twp. Geneva Twp. Greenda 1e Twp. ·• Homer Twp. Hope Twp. Ingersoll Twp. Jasper Twp. Edenville Twp. 1 See Coleman See Lee Twp. Homer Twp. 2 Hope Twp. 1 See Midland Twp. Mid-Michigan Community Fire Dept. (St. Louis) Jerome Twp., Sanford 2 Larkin Twp., Midland 1 Twp. - Section 1 Lee,Greendale & Porter Twps. Lincoln Twp. 1 Midland Twp., Ingersoll 1 Twp, Mt. Haley Twp. Mills Twp. 1 See Midland Twp. See Lee Twp. See Coleman Jerome Twp. Larkin Twp. Lee Twp. Lincoln Twp. Midland Twp. Mil 1s Twp. Mt. Ha 1ey Twp. Porter Twp. Warren Twp. City of Coleman City of Midland Village of Sanford Coleman, Warren Twp., Geneva Twp. Midland See Jerome Twp. *All volunteers except the City of Midland. - 124 - # STATIONS MANPOWER* 26 26 24 25 38 1 30 15 23 15 1 25 3 48 �... I_ P' {i I L A O W I rlJ! lit Viii t--'ir""-+---+--+--+----ll--~•.-+-,-, f=::;~-;;. · ~• •_ k ~ H ·±·+-·" - 1!7' ~1--~ir""=at=rr=r=. , -----11----T""""""+~+.~ _,,.,• •---I t. 1-\ = 1 / / £ - ~ ~ ~ j j - lt.i---;-=----t-=y=={=!=~,\-......_j FIGURE 12 UTILITY SERVICE AREA ~ r =t--=+==+=,==~-4---~ ... 17 a-'1"'~!!1T-t--~~---,j----+ . t.-. +=·.:-=-or" - .,._.=+ --r _,..-...,....-.......~-.--_ T'" ,......r-1-+-- _:,__ - : - ..~=\==I= .. ~ - \ , ,"s;i~ . _ I! z ,c( ..J Q. w -z > u, ~ LEGEND ·······-· "'r--·---tl-.+--p===;, +·-i----·~,. ~ FULL UTILITY SERVICE ( WATER SUPPLY AND SANITARY SEWER ) w z :E 0 0 :E :c ,c( w CJ a: Q. :c 0 ------- MIDLAND COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 (WATER DISTRIBUTION LINES) MIDLAND COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 BOUNDARY AREA • WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY I _I . ·+M~, .+.+ I .. > > I- I- . ...._ z z :::::, :::::, .-I 0 0 0 0 C C ,c( ..J ,c( ..J z z . WATER TREATMENT FACILITY - -:E C-:E C MCWD NO. 1 PUMP HOUSE ..~ MUGA BOUNDARY / AREA SOURCE: 1. CITY OF MIDLAND 2. MIDLAND COUNTY i ! I. t. I ► • H ' II I. . I, I I ::: 'II•• . .., 1 ,;I •• ~ , OOAT O OJ COUNT Y ... , ... . cou,.,, . . . _ ·- . . ·- ·~ ~ ,....... ~~ .11: mi -------------------1~-Km_,~,-._••·_J -~1--1 �W t C O II llAOW l ti • I • +~+ .,_--"'j:i-'-"'""'-ll----+--+--+---1~-+-.-: 'f--,-, ~ ~ FIGURE 13 SOLID y 'l - e1-• -K ~ - a - . . - . !l--1.• t ~ z .+. ~. . c( ..I a. --u-- WASTE DISPOSAL w SITES -ezn > w X w LEGEND ~ z c( - C, a. X :i: 0 EXISTING FACILITIES CD 0 4311 EAST ASHMAN CITY OF MIDLAND LANDFILL 0 :E . > > t- t- 0 z z ::, ::, .o 0 NE 1/2 SECTION 25 DOW CHEMICAL LANDFILL 0 0 0 C C c( ..I c( ..I C C 3901 SOUTH SAGINAW ROAD z z DOW CORNING LANDFILL 0 0 -:i: -:i: E 1/2, NE 1/4 SECTION 21 LEE TOWNSHIP TRANSFER STATION SE 1/ 4, NE 1/ 4 SECTION 22 LINCOLN TOWNSHIP TRANSFER STATION I I CLOSED FACILITIES • I CLOSED DUMP SITES (FORMER ACT 87 SITES) SOURCE: 1. MIDLAND COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2. MIDLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT I. f: I I I I 'II . "'"' $! C I A t I • & • UC O U Iii t T j "'"' i 1•• ''I •• 1= lilt I! I D L---------------------J__------C O V N .,.T 't �I I I I •I • • • •Ill Ill , , , Table 27 Midland County and Municipal Major Parks and Recreation Areas 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17 • 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Sanford Lake Park Veterans Memorial Park Pine Haven Recreation Area West Midland County Park Black Creek State Forest Campground Mills Township Ball Diamonds Coleman Schools Ball Diamonds Porter Township Ball Diamonds Homer Township Park Lee Township Park Larkin Township Park Coleman City Park Sanford Village Park City of Midland - Pine River Site Whiting Overlook Park River Bend Park Midland City Forest Barstow Woods Central Park Chippewassee Park Emerson Park Plymouth Park Stratford Woods Park Manitou Park Ill Ill .. - 127 - �II.II ll.AOW I t C --,.-..,!r:o.,;l-""----,-0~ 1 T m rlJ! '-,---,-A_....__,_ ij:Ji N FIGURE 14 COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL MAJOR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS ...... II z c( ..J D. REFER TO TABLE 27 FOR FACILITY LISTING w . > en z w :c zc( w C, a: D. :c -. ua >- :E 0 0 0 :E > I- I- z z :::::, :::::, 0 0 0 0 C C c( ..J c( ..J C C z z -:E -:E I I I I SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I. t: I I I 8 ., ... C I I III A T ... I O T .& I I JI • ,- O U N T I C O U N T y f;:"' 0 't I ,,,.. 'II ''I lilt ~------------------j__-------- □ �I I I I I I I I I •II II • ,• , , , Table 28 Community Facilities, Midland County Legend 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 10. 31. Jasper Township Hall Coleman Fire Hall Coleman City Hall Greendale Township Hall Geneva Township Hall Warren Township Hall West Midland County Community .Center West Midland County Park Pine Haven Recreation Area Lee Township Hall Porter Township Hall Veterans Memorial Park Jerome Fire Station #1 Jerome Township Hall Edenville Township Hall and Fire Station Sanford Lake Park Sanford Village Hall Jerome F-ire Station #2 Lincoln Township Hall Hope Township Hall and Fire Station Lincoln Township Fire Station Homer Township Hall Pinecrest Home Mt. Haley Township Hall Homer Township Fire Station #1 Homer Township Fire Station #2 Midland County Road Commission and Drain Commissioner Chippewa Nature Center Jack Barstow Airport ~~dland County Fairgrounds Midland Hospital Center - 129 - �I I I I I • • • • •II II II .. .. .. fl .. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. Midland Fire Station #3 Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Midland Center for the Arts Dow Memorial Gardens Midland County Courthouse Midland Township Fire Station Midland Township Hall Ingersoll Township Hall County Offices Midland Fire Station #2 Midland City Hall Midland Community Center Midland Fire Station #1 Midland County Animal Control Center Larkin Twp. Fire Station and Township Hall Mills Twp. Fire Station and Township Hall Midland County Road Commission Garage Manitou Park Harbour House Mosquito Control Facility Coleman Senior Services Center Sanford Senior Citizens Center Mills Community Center Larkin Senior Citizens Center Northwood Institute Regina Center Lee Township Fire Hall Michigan Molecular Institute Sanford Museum Midland County Historical Museum Horizon House Coleman Area Library Midland County Council on Aging (New Facility) Midland County Health and Cooperative Extension Building Midland County Housing Commission and Council on Aging Midland County Office Facility (Proposed) Midland City Hall {Proposed) Great Lakes Junior College Sheriff Department Emergency Services Building - 130 - �t n: ,JJ! ... dJi FIGURE 15 COMMUNITY ll FACILITIES z LEGEND c( ..J 0. Fin Statfowe w > u, Olhar Comm•nlly Faollltl•• z w z w CJ :I: c( REFER TO TABLE 28 FOR FACILITY LISTING a: 0. :I: . > > ...z ...z :E 0 0 :E 0 :::, :::, 0 0 0 0 C C z z c( c( ..J ..J -:E -:E C C ... . I I I ., 'II •~ 1., .,., ,;, 11 j SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I C. 0 U N ... T y A ... I I fll A I I ,: i! ii Jilt D �- ... O IL t L A I W I I ...uulm , a I I i • J---t,-. -+--+-"4--'"--+-+-f...J-I_J I·+· -,+---➔-1'~1--t'"-.t--r:t-r-t--t--t-...::.+--.Jl~-!---L----1 . . +. ... . ,,.. t:-~-=-◄t.--·_-.a..+--+-·-·_•:-1-~-+---+-.J-+-~ FIGURE 18 II z C ..J PUBLIC SCHOOL . DISTRICTS +. ... AND FACILITIES I .. w ->z ,n • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL w z :c C w C, a: Q. :c ::E u 0 u ::E JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL • ► ► - ... LEGEND • Q. - ...z ...z :, :, 0 0 HIGH SCHOOL u u SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES Q Q z z C C ..J Q ..J Q -- ::E ::E I I I I !.. ·11 I,, . i ••, SOURCE: MIDLAND COUNTY I ... I O , COUNTY • • • °N" ~:·; · T "---------------L-' .I : fi11 •-_--10 IC_ .._., _ �HOUSING The previous Socioeconomic section covered existing housing types and quality. This section explains housing programs which are available to upgrade the quality of existing dwellings. Future housing needs based on previous population projections, are also given. The extent of reliance on existing housing stock and need for new construction will influence the County's future land use pattern. Housing Programs Government programs for housing have concentrated on three primary aspects, financing, construction and rehabilitation. Of these, financing and rehabilitation currently receive the most attention. Government construction of new housing has, essentially, ceased. Financing programs, mostly in the form of guarantees or interest subsidies are limited in scope and availability. Rehabilitation, while reduced in funding, remains an active pursuit of many programs conducted by various levels of government. The base planning document used by the Midland County Housing Commission to formulate programs and policies is a 1980 study report entitled, Housing the County - a Plan and Program for Midland County. This report contains much of the background data needed to establish program elements for residents outside the City of Midland. The Midland County Housing Commission administers several programs concentrating on housing rehabilitation and neighborhood improvement, including weatherization and clearance activities. Two programs which have been used for rehabilitation work are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Small Cities Program. These programs provide grant and loan funds for rehabilitation activities. Substantial administrative activities are accomplished by the Commission for the Michigan Energy Bank and the Community Home Improvement Program (CHIP) sponsored by the Michigan Department of Commerce. - 133 - �I I I I I I I ' ' '-, , , ,, The status of any housing program is generally uncertain and can only be depended upon from year to year. The County Housing Commission has recognized this fact and is pursuing funds as they become available. One source which may be depended upon is the income returning to the program from repayments of earlier loans. Activity on accounting for and collecting these payments is continuing. For residents in the City of Midland the City has a separate Housing Commission. In conjunction with the COBG and MSHDA programs. the City provides four housing re 1ated programs. These include MSHDA home improvement loans with interest subsidies provided by the City in target activity neighborhoods. assistance with self-help rehabilitation. a deferred loan for elderly and low-income home owners for home impruvements and a basic weatherization package for owned or rented dwellings. FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS Having projected future population growth it is possible to estimate the need for housing within each community. These estimates were made by using the 1980 Census figures for housing units and persons per unit and computi ng future need by dividing the persons per unit into the estimated population and adding the increase to existing housing units (Table 29). Residential acreage needs have also been projected based on anticipated population growth. These may be found in the Land Use section of this document. The Midland County Comprehensive Plan attempts to meet housing needs by: 1. Recommending that housing needs be carefully analyzed through an update of the County Housing Plan. 2. Once identified. that strategies be developed for implementing housing needs. 3. The Comprehensive Plan map provides standards for housing densities based on land use, environmental, and social constraints and needs. - 134 - �I I I I I I I I I I ' ' Table 29 Projected Housing Need by Jurisdiction, Midland County Persons/Unit 1980 Units 1990 1995 1980 1985 2.22 2.81 2.81 3.04 2.27 3.19 2.95 2.60 3.25 3.05 3.00 2.94 3.13 3.15 3.11 2.97 912 412 443 1,471 549 943 383 1,604 1,010 1,090 547 812 467 503 358 622 975 440 468 1,551 613 993 393 1,694 1,070 1,166 567 841 494 515 373 651 956 431 458 1,521 601 974 385 1,859 1,050 1,143 622 825 484 505 366 638 Coleman Midland 2.67 2.68 536 13,790 579 14,450 Count1: 2.79 26,355 27,704 JURISDICTION Townships: Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mount Haley Porter Warren 2000 2005 954 431 458 1,518 600 973 385 2,010 1,048 1,142 672 824 484 504 365 637 1,009 455 484 1,605 634 1,028 407 2,084 1,108 1,207 697 871 511 533 386 673 1,035 467 496 1,647 651 1,055 417 2,107 1,137 1,238 705 894 525 547 396 691 635 15,853 687 17,142 712 17,778 720 17,965 29,102 30,570 31,921 32,435 Cities: Source: 1980 Columns - 1980 Census of Hou s ing Projections were completed by WBDC, Inc. by computing persons per unit as applied to the Allocated Population Projec t ions. NOTE: Housing unit refers to actual dwelling/living unit whereas household refers to the persons occupying a housing unit. - 135 - �LAND USE This section describes the existing land use pattern in Midland County and the expected transformation to the future. As the county population grows there will be a demand for more homes, commerci a 1 uses and emp 1oyment opportunities. Careful planning for these uses can help ensure cost effective services and an attractive living environment. Existing Land Use The evaluation of the existing uses of land is necessary in order to estimate future need. The land use figures used in this Plan are consolidated from land cover/use information made available by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through the Michigan Resource Inventory Program (Table 30). The land cover/use data has also been displayed on maps which are available for examination at the county Development Department office. Table 30 provides a comprehensive breakdown of land use types for each of the county's political jurisdictions. Almost 92 percent of the county is devoted to "rural" uses such as agricultural and forested lands. Approximately eight percent is devoted to more intensive "urban" uses including housing, colllllercial, and industrial development. As might be expected, the more densely populated communities posses the least amount of non-developed lands, and conversely, the highest percentage of developed properties. - 136 - �Table 30 Existing Land Use (Acres) - Midland County Edenville Geneva Lew l:ensity Residential High l:ensity Residential 7% 3.5% 0 Greendale f-k:rll:!r ~ Ingersoll Jasper Jerare Larkin 300 297 1.3% 1084 4.9% 1112 5.1% 1225 5.3% 651 4.3% 0 0 0 0 0 1.3% 441 1.9% 1746 11.5% 2.0% 832 3.5% 0 0 5 0 0 l)4 Lincoln Midland Lee Mills Mt. Hal et Porter City of Warren Colanan 10.9% 572 2.3% 543 3.5% 1&3 .8% 549 2.4% 275 41.6% 0 0 0 0 0 4 17 .1% 216 .6% 25 3.8% 20 3.1% 2 .3% 115 .6% 469 2.7% 2418 13.8% 669 3.8% 14 2.1% 832 4.7% 1.9% 9376 41.7% 8736 38.8% 195 14 2.1% 175 26.5% 28 4.2% 0 49 5.0% 35 3.6% 257 26.2% 0 .8% 0 0 1024 5.8% &33 5.0% 3496 19.9% 181 1.0% 215 176 3741 1.1% 102018 30.0% 159957 47.1% 12222 3.6% 2465 1.2% 17.9% .7% 800 neg. Camercial Industrial Institut'l Parks/Q:Jen Space Trans,Crnm & Utilities 10 9 neg. neg. 142 .6% 20 .1% 11 15 .1% 45 .2% 105 10 .1% 12 12 .1% 413 neg. .2% 18 .1% .7% 105 .7% .1% 11 .1% 1.8% 23 .1% 4 0 17 .1% 6 0 neg. 45 0 neg. 6 90 .4% neg. 28 53 .1% .2% Agricultural 4096 8649 17.9% 37.4% Forest Lands 13268 12100 57.8% 52.7% 257 \.etlands 1600 6.9% 1.1% ~Jater Bodies 582, 0 112 .5% 1246 5.4% 18372 79.5% 354 1.5% 0 2.5~ Uldeveloped l'bnforested Land TITTALS l'btes: 30 .3% '3667 24.2% 6703 44.2% 234 1.5% 221 1.5% 6583 43.4% 5712 37.7% 326 2.1% 217 26 .1% 371 59 .3% 332 39 .2% 145 23 .1% 313 1.5% 20 .1% .6% 44 .2% 2.1% 2 neg. 1.7% 67 .3% 0 75 78 0 .3% .4% 113 .5% 8220 37.5% 0 18 .1% 7 8 74 198 neg. .3% 11547 50.0% 9376 40.6% 341 1.5% 2 .9% 1759 8.0% 13568 61.9% 1595 1.4% 16543 70.5% 4096 17.5% 403 1.7% 59 .3% neg. 7.3% 817 3.7% 41.6% 851 3.9% 10 neg. .2% 9098 .1% 541 16 .1% 43 73 72 .2% 25 .1% .5% 9 .1% .3% 11 neg. 7.3% 21 .3% neg. 1.0% 102 .5% 0 4 0 0 43 0 6 0 251 1.7% 2255 14.8% 8560 56.3% 1392 9.2% 49 1240 16.8% 2241 30.4% 1323 18.0% 44 0 .2% .1% 95 .4% 2709 11.8% 15421 67.0% 627 2.7% 50 4 0 0 neg. 2771 11.3% 16271 66.3% 2276 9.3% 0 .3% .6% 34 .5% 30 10497 45.7% 8929 38.9% 1157 5.0% 3 .2% neg. 8766 57.4% 4563 29.9% 389 2.5% 433 28.5% 236 24.1% 16959 5.0% 0 124 neg. 34 3.5% 25 2.5% 42 4.3% 48 4.9% 000 .2% 5315 1.6% 1204 .4% 1211 .4% 2285 79 33953 12.8% 13.0% 8.0% 9.9% 22507 661 17595 981 339969 1648 7.1% 2509 2275 1987 1063 1433 2353 1999 2655 1699 1107 2556 905 2083 2&33 10.8% 15.0% 13.1% 4.5% 6.2% 10.7% 9.1% 11.6% 11.2% 15.0% 10.4% 5.9% 9.1% 22962 23121 23112 15153 15164 23452 23095 21913 21892 23010 15195 7361 24534 15278 22983 Source: Michigan l:epartrrent of Natural Resources Current Use Inventory Acreage Report (Based on 1978/79 aerial photography) 5008 104 15.7% 2330 10.1% neg. - negligible acreage City of Village of Midland Sanford Totals �I •I I • • • • •II LAND USE ACREAGE NEEDS (PROJECTED) Land use acreages were tabulated by various use categories for each governmental unit. These acreages, coupled with population, housing, and related growth projections, were used to determine future housing, commercial, industrial, and recreational acreage needs. Information from the tables is summarized below: Residential Acreage Requirements (Table 31) - This table combines both low and high density development needs. The table projects that Midland County will require 4,000 additional residential acres by 2005. This is based on the application of the county's 1978/79 acres per unit rate multiplied by the projected growth in housing units estimated over the future years • Commercial Acreage Requirements (Tables 32 and 33) - These tables estimate future commercial acreage needs. Table 32 applies the 1978/79 per capita allocation of commercial land to projected population growth as a measure of future need. Table 33 is based on the relationship of the commercial market to spending. As population and sales increase, the need for additional commercial development also increases. The tables indicate a need range of 105 to 186 acres, or an average of 146 new acres. Industrial Acreage Requirements (Tables 34 and 35) These tables estimate future industrial acreage needs. Table 34 is based on 1978/79 per capita allocation of industrial land to projected population growth. Table 35 is based on application of an industrial standard of 12 gross acres per 1,000 population. Estimated future additional acreage ranges from 203 to 1,021 acres in the year 2005. It is felt the higher end of the two projections may be more realistic in light of industrial site characteristics. Industrial entrepreneurs wil 1 often secure more acreage than required . for actual development. The additional acreage provides for future expansion while allowing the development to be adequately buffered from adjacent uses. Recreational Acreage Requirements This table presents the estimated County owned and/or administered park land and is included in the earlier Community Facilities section (refer back to Table 25). - 138 - �.... I I I I I • • • • • -II " .." Tahle 31 Residential Acreage Requirements (Low & High Density) Based on 1978/79 acres/unit as applied to projected housing need. Jurisdiction 1978/79 Acreage 1980 Units Acres/Unit 1985 Acreage 1995 2005 Townships: 796 304 441 1751 300 832 297 1320 1112 1225 651 800 572 543 188 549 912 412 443 1471 549 943 383 1604 1010 1090 547 812 467 503 358 622 .87 .74 1.00 1.19 .55 .80 .70 .82 1.10 1.12 1.19 .99 1.22 1.08 .53 .-88 848 326 468 1846 337 794 275 1389 1177 1306 675 833 603 556 198 573 830 319 458 1806 330 778 270 1648 1153 1279 800 816 590 544 193 561 900 346 496 1960 358 844 292 1728 1251 1387 839 885 641 591 210 608 Coleman Midland 279 5123 536 13790 -?2 .37 301 5347 357 6343 374 6647 County: 17083 26355 .65 18008 19870 21083 Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome* Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren Cities: *Includes Village of Sanford - 139 - �I I I I I • •■ • •II II -, Table 32 Commercial Acreage Requirements (Per Capita) Based on population growth and using 1978/79 allocation of .01 ac./person Jurisdiction 1978/79 Acreage Edenville Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome* Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren 1985 Acreage 1995 22 12 13 47 2005 35 36 17 25 16 16 12 19 21 12 13 46 14 31 11 52 34 35 20 24 15 16 11 19 23 13 14 50 15 34 12 55 37 38 21 26 16 17 12 21 25 469 15 387 18 459 19 481 800 773 853 905 10 9 15 30 10 12 0 60 59 39 23 6 16 0 0 17 Coleman Midland County 14 32 12 44 Cities: *Includes Village of Sanford Table 33 Commercial Acreage Requirements Based on retail sales/establishment Year Poeulation Total Sales* 1980 1985 1995 2005 73,578 77,296 85,291 90,493 $293,228,000 308,102,000 339,970,000 360,705,000 Establishments 978 1028 1134 1203 Acreage 800 842 930 986 *Constant dollars with no increase for inflation. Sales per establishment approximately $299,824. Acreage per establishment is approximately .82 acres. - 140 - �I I I I I I I I I I • •II -, Table 34 Industrial Acreage Requirements Per Capita Based on 1980 per capita allocation of .07 acres Jurisdiction 1978/79 Acreage Eden vi 11 e Geneva Greendale Homer Hope Ingersoll Jasper Jerome* Larkin Lee Lincoln Midland Mills Mt. Haley Porter Warren 142 11 45 105 12 413 18 396 332 145 313 541 43 73 1985 2005 148 85 90 323 95 217 79 366 238 244 141 170 216 151 87 92 330 97 222 81 308 243 249 119 173 108 114 81 135 111 79 132 161 92 98 351 103 236 86 383 259 264 148 184 115 121 86 144 Coleman Midland 20 2418 108 2711 128 3216 135 3370 County 5315 5685 5968 6336 72 lOfi Cities: *Includes Village of Sanford 1111 Ill Acreage 1995 - 141 - �I I I I I I I I I I • • • -, • Table 35 Industrial Acreage Requirements (Per Capita) Based on the standard of 12 gross acres/1,000 population (as applied to the existing base).* Year 1980 1985 1995 2005 Population Acreage 73,578 77,296 85,291 90,493 5315 (existing) 5360 5456 5518 *Standard taken from Urban Planning and Design Criteria, Third Edition, 1982. - 142 - �I I I I I I I •I II • • " Ill " Ill , , COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The Comprehensive Plan map depicts the following major land use classificatjons. Agricultural Land The 1974 Midland County General Development Plan provides for a combined agricultural/residential land use classification. 1987 update The Comprehensive Plan, a of the 1974 General Development Pl an represents a departure from that plan through the delineation of a separate Agricultural category. Locations identified as Agri cultura 1 represent prime or significant farmlands. Typically, they include lands enrolled (Public Act 116, in the Farmland Preservation Program 1974) or lands that have been identified as agriculturally important by the United States Soil Conservation Service. In most cases, they have also been given an agricultural designation by local governmental unit in land use plans and zoning ordinances. This category is created to recognize the substantial economic and land use impacts agricultural uses have on the county. For identification purposes only farming operations exceeding 40 acres should be placed within this category. Farm residences are included only if part of an active farming operation and located on a parcel greater than 40 acres • The 40-acre division is appropriate given the 1982 Census of Agriculture information that indicates that 80 percent of the farms within the county exceed 50 acres. Residential Land The plan delineates two residential classifications, Rural Residential and Residential. Rural Residential: includes those areas identified for residential development where public sewer and/or water is not available or anticipated during the plan period. Such sectors. Rural locations are typically distant from the county's urbanized Residential is often found in close proximity to the county's agricultural areas. - 143 - �I I I I I I I I I I ' The Rural Residential category includes farms and farm residences on parcels from 40 acres to one acre. This density of development is recognized because of the nature of non-farm (and, to some degree, small farm) residential uses. This type of development often occurs when individuals divide larger parcels for residents seeking a rural living environment. The lack of utility service will also dictate somewhat larger parcels for water and sewer provisions. Residential: The Residential classification, sometimes referred to as urban residential, reflects areas either served by public sewer and/or water, or indicates locations where these utilities are potentially available. Lot sizes are generally one acre or less. The Residential classification encompasses full service utility areas, such as the Cities of Coleman and Midland, to outlying townships where utility service has been planned but may not be currently available. In cases where utilities will not be developed for an extended period, local communities should consider the sizing of lots commensure with their ability to supply quality groundwater while also handling wastewater. Commercial Land Commercial areas delineated by the Plan generally coincide with existing commercial development. Community Commercial: The Plan identifies a number of locations as Community Commercial. These areas primarily exist to serve the day to day needs of localized populations (less than 30 minutes away). Typical uses include gasoline service stations, minimarts, grocery stores, restaurants, and other small retail establishments. Limited office development may also be found. Several of the centers, such as along M-20 and at the US-10 interchanges, also serve motorists traveling through the county. The size of a Community Commercial center may vary, but normally does not exceed five to ten acres. In many instances, these centers encompass only the corner - 144 - �I I I I I I I I I I -I -~ " ' lots of highway intersections. The circular symbol represented on the Comprehensive Plan map reflects the general location of the Community Co111T1ercial centers. It does not indicate the size of the centers. -The Plan attempts to recognize viable Community Commercial locations. It is possible that unexpected population growth, changing consumer habits and preferences, or other factors may result in the demand for additional centers. Locational criteria for new centers include: • Demonstrated need based on market demand. • Compatibility with adjacent development~ • Location on designated arterials or collectors as opposed to local streets. • If possible, linkage to public utilities. If not, sites must be capable of supplying potable water and handling wastewater discharges. • Suitable location within the trade area (or market population) to maximize potential for success and reduce travel time and energy costs for consumers. • Suitable access to fire, police, rubbish collection and other municipal services. • Potential for growth. Regional Commercial: It should be recognized that some areas act, or may act, as shopping districts for persons outside the immediate area. Generally these centers will have large "anchor" stores and serve larger populations. Available shopping opportunities will be of a type that will attract customers from distances of about 30 minutes driving time. A regional center provides full range of comparison shopping and includes general merchandise, clothing, furniture, appliances, specialty stores, automotive centers, and like establishments. Regional centers attract consumers from a wide trade area. - 145 - �I I I I I I I The 1974 General Development Plan identified the city of Midland as the county's Regional Shopping Center. The importance of the city as a regional center remains strong. However, growth since the mid-1970s has resulted in new commercial development occurring along the perimeter of the city and into the surrounding townships. Such growth is especially evident in Larkin Township where a major shopping center has been planned on Eastman Road near U.S. 10. Outlying growth is anticipated to continue with many of the traditional corrmercial functions relocating from the city to the growth areas. Accordingly, the Regional County Commercial Center has been moved to just north of the city of Midland. The city, however, remains intrinsically linked to that center. Industrial Lanci The Plan calls for Midland County's industrial land base to primarily remain within existing industrial areas. Development has been provided for in the following locations: • Near the U.S.10 interchanges in Larkin and Lincoln Townships at Eastman, Stark and Meridian Roads). • Off Wackerly Road, east of Meridian Road. • U.S.10 and M-18 interchange. • Westerly portion of the City of Coleman. • The greater City of Midland area (as depicted on the Comprehensive Plan map). New industries desiring to locate in the county will analyze numerous site, labor, and political factors. Knowledge of these can be beneficial to the county and local units of government as they delineate industrial areas and/or seek to attract new industries. They include: • • • • • • • Community acceptance • Transportation logistics - access to freeway, rail, and air • Power supplies, including adequacy and costs • Water supplies, including raw and municpal water • Natural gas supplies • Raw material proximity • Market proximity • - 146 - ) �I • • • • • • • Permitability, including environmental and zoning permits. Utility purchase costs. Land availability and costs. Waste disposal opportunities, including hazardous wastes. Labor supply and labor relations. Local support services. Local development incentives, including tax abatement. New industrial development should be sited in those locations lending themselves to such development. Planned industrial parks are especially suitable. Public Land The Public classification includes land holdings under public and quasi-public ownership, most of which are in a natural condition. These encompass State forest lands and various county and other non-developed municipal holdings. River Corridor The Pl an map pl aces the county's significant surf ace water resources under a River Corridor designation. This designation implies that each of the w~ter systems has been recognized as environmentally sensitive and requires careful management pursuant to use and development. Streets and Highways In addition to land use, the Plan map depicts the existing and proposed thoroughfares using the rural functional classification system developed by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Only the rural cl ass ifi ed roads and improvements are shown on the map. Urban functional classifications of streets and highways in the cities of Coleman and Midland are available at the Michigan Department of Transportation. - 147 - �I I I I I a I I ISSUES, GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS The following represent issues and goals, policies, and action statements of the Midland County Planning Co111T1ission. They have been developed based on an analysis of comprehensive planning data obtained from numerous reports and interviews with local, County and State officials. The issues presented in this section generally correspond with the housing, transportation, community facilities, lanc;f use and general planning elements of the Comprehensive Plan. In particular the pol icy and action statements are meant to be specific ways of implementing comprehensive planning in the county. 1. Issue Identification Issues have been identified relating to areas of concern which the County Planning Commission perceives as requiring some manner of (corrective) attention. Issues are outlined in descriptive form. 2. Goal Statement Goal statements have been identified accomplished pursuant to each issue. 3. indicating what is to be Policl Statement The policy statement is the management component identifying what is to be done to achieve each goal, as well as the responsible agency. 4. Action Statement The action statement(s) refers to specific measures identified to implement policy. - 148 - �HOUSING 1. Affordable Housing Issue: Local land use plans have indicated a need to provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons. Goal: To encourage the development of a countywide housing mix capable of accommodating all economic levels. Policy: The Midland County Housing Commission shall develop and implement a housing plan (program) which addresses the county's housing needs. Actions: • • • • 2. Reassessment of housing needs data. Housing plan (long-term). Administrative/implementation program, including grants and revolving funds. Promotion of available housing rehabilitation grants and loans and meetings with the townships to promote housing programs. Preservation of Housing Issue: Local land use plans have indicated a need to maintain/preserve the existing housing stock, including the revitalization of older neighborhoods. Goal: To encourage the preservation of sound homes and neighborhoods in order to meet existing and future housing needs. - 149 - �I I Policy: I I I The Midland County Housing Commission shall develop and implement a housing plan (program) to address housing and neighborhood rehabilitation/ revitalization needs. Actions: • • • a I I I -II II II " " • • 3. Reassessment of housing needs data (see policy 1). Housing plan (long-term) (see policy 1). Administrative/implementation program, including grants and revolving funds (see policy 1). Promotion of available housing rehabilitation grants and loans and meetings with the townships to promote housing programs (see policy 1). Encourage local governmental units to maintain residential/neighborhood integrity through sound planning and zoning practices (see policy 1). Mobile Home and Modular Home Regulations Issue: Land use regulations governing mobile homes vary widely throughout the county pursuant to uniformity, and locational standards. Goal: To encourage the implementation of minimum uniform standards throughout the county governing mobile home use, construction and placement. Policy: The Midland County Planning Commission in conjunction with local building and zoning officials, shall develop model standards governing the use, construction, and placement of mobile and modular housing. - 150 - �I I I I I a I I I I -~ ~ ~ fl Actions: • • • • 4. Prepare a report on problems in Midland County. Prepare a report on model standards for Midland County. Amendment of municipal zoning ordinances and building codes. Adoption of municipal housing codes. Elderly Housing Needs Issue: Midland County's elderly, and future elderly, population have special housing needs which should be addressed by local planning efforts. Goal: To determine the current and projected housing needs of Midland County's elderly population. Once identified, develop and implement programs which address said needs. Pol icy: The Midland County Housing Commission shall develop and implement a housing plan (program) which addresses the housing needs of elderly residents. Actions: • • • • Reassessment of housing needs data (see policy 1). Housing plan (long-term) (see policy 1). Administrative/implementation program, including grants and revolving funds (see policy 1). Promotion of available housing rehabilitation grants and loans and meetings with the townships to promote housing programs (see pol icy 1) • • • • Prepare a report on model standards for Midland County (see policy 3). Amendment of municipal zoning ordinances and building codes (see pol icy 3). Adoption of municipal housing codes (see policy 3). - 151 - �I I I I • • • 5. County Housing Planning Issue: I The Midland . County Housing Plan is out of date and, therefore, may not reflect current housing need. a Goal: To update the Midland County Housing Plan. I I Policy: The Midland County Housing Commission shall update the Midland County Housing Plan. I I -~ , , - Report on economic feasibility, implementation and financing. County resolution and/or referendum. Grant application for capital and operating expenses. Actions.: • • • • Reassessment of housing needs data (see policy 1). Housing plan (long-term) (see policy 1). Administrative/implementation program, including grants and revolving funds (see policy 1). Promotion of available housing rehabilitation grants and loans and meetings with the townships to promote housing programs ( see policy 1). TRANSPORTATION 6. Traffic Data Issue: Mid 1and County 1acks sufficient traffic data necessary to make accurate assessments of traffic volumes relative to capacity. Consequently, expenditures for roadway and related improvements may not reflect true need. - 152 - �I I I I I Goal: To provide an adequate, safe, and necessary County highway transportation network and to make efficient use of available funds for road and highway construction and repairs. Policy: The Midland County Road Commission shall implement collection program sufficient to determine and transportation improvements. a I I I I ~ -~ ~ ~ Actions: • • • 7. Report on a traffic data system design. Adopt budget and operate system. Annual report on traffic data for the County Planning Commission and local townships. North-South Circulation Issue: West of Midland, north/south inadequate/inefficient. highway circulation patterns are Goal: To develop improved north/south vehicular routes thereby facilitating greater efficiency of traffic movement within and through Midland County. Policy: The Midland County Road Commission shall investigate, and implement as appropriate, improvements to the county's north/south vehicular circulation system. ~ ~ fl fl an ongoing data justify future - 153 - �I I I I I Actions: • • • • 8. Public Transit Issue: a Public transportation in Midland County is faced with many concerns including the lack of assured funding, high cost of serving rural locations, and previous lack of planning. I I I I ' ' Report on analysis/evaluation of problems and needs. Report on plan solutions and reco1T1Tiendations. Capital improvements program. Annual capital budget. Goal: As part of Midland County's overall comprehensive transportation planning effort, to address the need of and future concerns for public transit throughout the county. Policy: The Midland County Board of Commissioners shall address the issue of public transit as part of an overall transportation planning effort. Actions: • • • 9. Report on economic feasibility, implementation and financing. County resolution and/or referendum. Grant application for capital and operating expenses. M-20 and Saginaw Road Corridor Development Issue: M-20 and Saginaw Road are major east/west county corridors. Proper investigation and planning is necessary to assure that future development is consistent with the land use and transportation needs of Midland County. - 154 - �Goal: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of M-20 and Saginaw Road pursuant to overall use and development, including corridor design/development standards and traffic/access controls. Policy: The Midland cou_nty Planning Commission in conjunction with the Midland County Road Co1T1Tiission and the City of Midland shall prepare corridor studies of M-20 and Saginaw Road. Said studies shall include assessments of each system pursuant to use, future development, and traffic/access controls. Actions: • • Report County Report state, on M-20 corridor land use and traffic service for the state, Road Commission and municipalities. on Saginaw Road corridor land use and traffic service for the County Road Co1T1Tiission and municipalities. 10. County Highway Planning Issue: Midland County lacks a long-range (20-year) plan for road and bridge improvements and construction. Goal: To prepare a comprehensive plan and capital improvements program of county and local roads, streets, and bridges. Policy: The Midland County Road Commission, in conjunction with the Midland County Planning Commission, shall prepare a comprehensive transportation plan and capital improvements program covering the County 1 s roads and bridges. - 155 - �Actions: • • • • Report Report Report Report on on on on analysis of 1984 highway needs data. a critical bridges and historical data on bridges. a long-range (20-year) highway and bridge plan. a short-range (4-6 years) capital improvements program. 11. Bicycle and Pedestrian Trafficways Issue: Midland County lacks a long range plan for bicycle and pedestrian trafficways. Goal: To prepare a comprehensive plan and capital improvements program directed at bicycle and pedestrian trafficways. Policy: The Midland County Road Commission, in conjunction with the Midland County Parks and Recretion Co1T1Tiission shall prepare a comprehensive plan and capita 1 improvements program directed at bicycle and pedestrian traffi cways. Actions: • • • • • Report on origins (bicyclists/users), destinations (attractions/ generators) and needs (trail types/corridors). Report on a long-range (20-year) plan. Report on a capital improvements program. Report on a coordination program with county highway planning (see policy 10) and county and city parks and recreation planning. Seek State (MOOT) financing assistance from the Michigan Department of Transportation. - 156 - �I I I I I I I I COMMUNITY FACILITIES 12. Issue: Resistance to annexation could encourage townships adjacent to the City of Midland to allow development which may be inappropriate for areas not served by public utilities. Goal: To provide comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective utility systems capable of serving the diverse needs of developing areas, including locations potentially suitable for development. Policy: -I -~ The Midland County Planning Commission shall investigate the relationship/ impact of local utility expansion policies to areawide development. Actions: • • • ~ '- Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA) Policy • • • 13. Report on analysis of MUGA policy on the existing and probable future development within the MUGA requiring full utility service .(water supply and sanitary sewerage). Promotion of communications and cooperation between adjacent townships and the City of Midland. Report on an assessment of county-wide water distribution and sanitary sewerage needs (see policy 22). Report on a long-range plan (see policy 22). Report on a short-range program of improvements, financing and responsibilities (see policy 22). Coordinate with land use plans of the townships and County (see policy 22). Htstoric Sites, Identification & Preservation Issue: Midland County has identified a series of sites providing a rich history of the county's past. The County should continue its efforts at site - 157 - �I I identification as well as site preservation. While accomplishing the above, the County should also determine the extent to which identified sites might be better utilized for historic, cultural, recreational, and/or tourism purposes. I I I Goal: To identify~ resources. a preserve and properly manage Midland County's historic Policy: I I I I The Midland County Parks and Recreation Commission in cooperation with local governing bodies and with the advice of the Midland County Historical Society shall identify the County's historical assets and prepare a management plan pursuant to their use. ~ • • -~ ~ ~ ' ' ' Actions: • • • 14. Report (and map) on sites worthy of identification using signs/markers. Encourage all parties to publicize the historical assets, particularly in conjunction with tourism programs. Report on investigations of potential revenue sources (see policy 16). Enlist the assistance of the state and Automobile Club of Michigan and investigate grant assistance programs. Report on financing and responsibilities. Consolidation of Public Services Issue: Local units of government are faced with providing public services (i.e. fire and police protection, utilities, parks, and community centers) without assurance of necessary future revenue. Goal: To investigate the consolidation and/or privatization of public services in order to offset potential revenue loss. - 158 - �Policy: The Midland County Board of Commissioners in cooperation with local governing bodies, shall investigate potential revenue savings resulting from the consolidation of public services. Actions: • • • 15. Report on inventory of public services, consolidation potentialities, and cost-revenue analysis. Determine methods of more public involvement. Investigation of private operation of public services. County Offices Issue: Existing County offices are decentralized with certain facilities experiencing inconvenient locations (e.g. James Savage Road office facility). Facilities are also showing signs of age and will need to be replaced. This issue has been addressed by the County Facilities Technical Advisory Task Force and Midland County Planning Commission. Goal: To provide governmental facilities capable of meeting the needs and demands of the general public while promoting a high standard of internal efficiency within and between County agencies. Policy: The Midland County Board of Commissioners shall identify and analyze deficiencies within the existing system of County offices and reco111T1end needed improvements. - 159 - �I I I I I Actions: • • • • m • • • • • I I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 16. Report on a recommended county office facility. Develop a public traffic flow plan for the interior of the Courthouse. Determine the departments that are likely to expand at a faster rate than others. Declar~ urgency in solving the county office problem and establish priorities for the construction of an office building and the renovation of the Courthouse. Report on renovation of the Courthouse. Report on a county facilities master plan (see policy 21). Determine priorities for county facilities (see policy 21). Report on a county capital improvements program (see policy 21). Annual capital budget (see policy 21). Recreational Funding for Property Acquisition and Facility Development Issue: The acquisition and development of properties for recreational use is largely dependent on outside funding agencies such as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The future of such funding is typically uncertain from year to year. Goal: To lessen the County's reliance on outside funding sources for recreational land acquisition and facility development. Policy: The Midland County Parks and Recreation Commission shall investigate potential local revenue sources to be used for land acquisition and facility development. - 160 - �I I I I I I I I 'I -~ Actions: • • • • • 17. Report (and map} on sites worthy of identification using signs/markers (see policy 13). Encourage all parties to publicize the historical assets, particularly in conjunction with tourism programs (see policy 13}. Enlist the assistance of the state and Automobile Club of Michigan and investigate grant assistance programs. Report on financing and responsibilities (see policy 13}. Report on investigations of potential local revenue sources (see policy 13). Meeting Recreational Needs: Issue: Previously, recreational opportunities had been oriented to meeting the needs of local .residents. Recently, there has been emphasis on the significance of recreation to tourism as a way to enhance the overall economy. Concern has been voiced over the responsibility (including financial ability) in meeting both needs. Goal: To develop a balance whereby the recreational needs of both residents and tourists may be adequately served. Policy: As part of their planning effort, the Midland County Parks and Recreation Corrvnission, in cooperation with the Midland County Visitors and Convention Bureau, shall investigate the need and methods of meeting the recreational needs of local residents and tourists. ~ ~ ~ Actions: ~ ~ • ~ Resident versus Tourist • • rec reat i ona l needs Report on tourist-related (demandand attraction-based). Report (and map) on sites worthy of identification using signs/markers (see policy 13). Encourage all parties to publicize the historical assets. particularly in conjunction with tourism programs (see policy 13). - 161 - �• • • • • Enlist the assistance of the state and Automobile Club of Michigan and investigate grant assistance programs (see policy 13). Report on financing and responsibilities (see policy 13). Continue to support the Midland County River Corridor Advisory Co~mittee in overseeing the implementation of the Tittabawassee River Fishing Enhancement Project. Report on programmed recreation for tourists and local residents and public/private responsibilities. Rerort on investigations of potential local revenue sources (see policy ln). I H. Solid Waste Resource Recovery and Disposal Issue: The disposal of solio waste is a continuing and increasing county concern. A special problem is the siting of a long-term disposal facility. (;oal: To implement an efficient, cost-effective, waste management system capable of meeting the diverse needs of Midland County. Policy: The Midlanrl County Board of Commissioners shall maintain a waste management rlan capablP of meeting the diverse needs of Midland County and shall ~evelop anrl manage an implementation program and schedule. Actions: • • • • R11dqet for ongoing coordination of solid waste management planning. Rurlget for professional management consulting services and advice on managing the implementation of the plan. nPvelop an implementation program and schedule. r:stahlish a puhlic ertucation program ano promote public awareness of the immediate need to select a solid waste facility process and proceed with implementation of a designed facility. - 162 - �I I I I I 19. Issue: No system presently exists for setting priorities of county drain system improvements. Goal: To develop a system for setting priorities of county drain improvements. I I I I I Policy: The Midland County Drain Commissioner shall prepare a countywide drainage system plan oriented to future drain improvements and maintenance of existing drains. Actions: • • • ~ '~ ~ , , ~ ~ County Drains • 20. Report on analysis of drainage problems. Report on existing drains and future drain improvements with priorities. Coordinate with township planning, county road planning, soil conservation service/soil erosion control programs, and county drain budget. Develop a yearly schedule of drain improvements in conjunction with road improvements for county and township review and planning purposes. Adaptive Reuse of Schools Issue: A decline in school age children may result in an excess of classroom space and possible future closure of schools. This issue is often a controversial one requiring public input and education. - 163 - �Goal: To determine future classroom space needs and, consolidation of space and adaptive if necessary, reuse of excess need for facilities and to educate the public regarding the need for these actions. Policy: The Midland Intermediate School District, in cooperation with local school districts, shall investigate future space needs, including the need for consolidation of space. If space con sol idat ion is necessary, the Board shall educate the public accordingly. Schools that are no longer in use should be put to adaptive reuse. Actions: • Report on future space needs, consolidation potentialities, and appropriate adaptive reuses. • 21. Establish and maintain a file on proposals and ideas for adaptive uses. Planning of County Government Facilities Issue: Existing public facilities and programs may be insufficient to meet future need. Such facilities Center {including Maintenance and programs Harbour Facility, House), Courthouse, include: County Jail, Pinecrest Home, Animal Control Children's Central Facility, Vehicle Parks and Recreation Buildings, Mosquito Control, Fairground Buildings Improvement, Mental Health Day Activity Center, Central Data Processing, Vehicles and Major Equipment, and Land Acquisition Programs. Goal: To provide necessary County facilities and programs commensurate with anticipated need and in accordance with a capital improvements program. - 164 - �Policy: The Midland County Board of Commissioners shall determine future County facility needs, facility costs, and methods of funding. Actions: • • • • 22. Report on a county facilities master plan. Determi.ne priorities for county facilities. Report on a county capital improvements program. Annual capital budget. Water Supply Without Consideration of Public Sewers Issue: There is a need to prepare long-range plans for water distribution in conjunction with sanitary sewers. Goal: To provide for a coordinated program of water distribution and sanitary sewerage planning. Pol icy: The Midland County Board of Public Works shall prepare a long-range plan addressing countywide water distribution and sanitary sewerage needs. Actions: • • • • Report on an assessment of countywide water distribution and sanitary sewerage needs. Report on a long-range plan. Report on a short-range program of improvements, financing and responsibilities. Coordinate with land use plans of the townships and County. - 165 - �LAND USE 23. Random Development Resulting From Poor Soils Issue: On-site waste water disposal causes random development when buildings must locate in areas where soils are suitable for on-site disposal. Goal: To identify areas potentially unsuitable for on-site waste water disposal in order to discourage high density use and development, while encouraging more appropriate land use alternatives. Policy: The Midland County Health Department shall identify areas unsuitable for on-site waste water disposal in order to discourage high density or related inappropriate development. Actions: • 24. Report (and maps) on areas potentially unsuitable for on-site waste water disposal for the general public, municipalities and County Planning Commission. Location of Industrial and Commercial Development Issue: Based on recent projections, the amount of land needed for new industrial and commercial development is relatively limited. Competition between communities for that development is likely to be keen. - 166 - �I I I I I I I I I I - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Goal: To promote commercial and industrial development in areas exhibiting necessary locational criteria and offering the highest potential for success. Policy: The Midland · County Growth Council in cooperation with the Midland County Planning Commission, and local municipalities shall identify and promote commercial and industrial development at those locations offering the greatest potential for success. Actions: • • 25. Acknowledgement of Growth Council's promotion strategy. Promotion of communications and cooperation between the municipalities and county economic development and planning agencies. Floodplain Development Issue: Limited development has occurred within the 100-year flood-prone areas of the major rivers, thus subjecting said development to the potential of flooding, as well as potentially impacting the capacity of the rivers to handle future high water levels. Goal: To prepare and implement regulations governing floodplain development. Policy: Local governmental units shall prepare and implement regulations governing floodplain development. - Hi7 - �I I I I Actions: • • 26. Applications for national flood insurance program. Adoption of floodplain regulations/ordinances consistent with uniform standards of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Land Use Compatibility Between Governmental Units Issue: Various land use conflicts have been identified occurring along the borders of contiguous governmental units. Often, this results from the rezoning of property in one unit without consideration for the zoning classification in the adjacent unit. Goal: To encourage an orderly and appropriate transition of land uses between governmental units. Policy: The Midland County Planning Commission shall work with local governmental units to encourage the elimination of border (land use) conflicts, and discourage future conflicts. Actions: • 27. Provision of policy guidance and technical assistance in context of the County Comprehensive Plan (e.g. conduct workshops, seminars, conflict resolution/information conferences). Regional Commercial Center Location Issue: The City of Midland has traditionally served as the county's regional center for commercial activities. A regional shopping mall is proposed - 168 - �for the Midland community. As outlying areas develop. competition with the city has/will occur as townships attempt to secure a greater share of the conmercial development. Also. it is proposed that the Midland central business district be redeveloped with a hotel-conference center-shopping complex. These phenomena have raised the question of whether or not a regional county commercial center is necessary and. if so. its location. Goal: To determine the need and location of a regional county conmercial center. Policy: The Midland County Planning Commission shall determine the need and location for a regional county conmercial center. Actions: • • • 28. Report on regional market analysis. Report on definitions of commercial areas. existing and future. Assist the townships and city in the preparation of commercial development plans. Issue - Economic Development Sites Planned industrial parks. business parks. and commercial centers should be primarily oriented to the Midland County Growth Council 1 s targeted i ndust ri es. Goal: To encourage the development of the Growth Council's targeted industries in planned industrial and business parks and commercial centers. Policy: The Midland County Growth Council. in cooperation with the Midland County Planning Commission. shall identify locations suitable for the Council's targeted industries. - 169 - �I I I I I I I I Actions: • 29. Local plans - often discuss the need to protect/preserve prime agricultural lands, yet local development regulations/policies often encourage the non-farm use of such lands. Goal: To identify, protect non-agricultural use. ~ and preserve prime agricultura 1 lands from Policy: Local governmental units shall identify prime agricultural implement measures to protect same. lands and Actions: ~ ~ Prime Farmland Preservation Issue: I I ~ ~ ~ ~ Report (and map) of sites suitable for planned industrial parks and business centers in the context of the County Comprehensive Plan. • • • • 30. Township maps of U.S. Soil Conservation Service-classified prime agricultural lands. Workshop on measures to preserve agricultural land. Report on model/sample preservation techniques. Continuation of the countywide gypsy moth suppression program. Conflicts Between Residential/Non-residential Development Issue: Land use conflicts often arise as new commercial or industrial development seeks to locate in areas of existing residential development. - 170 - �Goal: Through planning, to provide for an appropriate spatial distribution/ location of use types throughout the community to lessen potential conflicts. Moreover, implement necessary development standards to decrease compatibility concerns. Policy: Local governmental units sha 11 pl an for the appropriate di stri buti on of land uses and implement measures to encourage said distribution. Actions: • • • 31. Prepare/update municipal land use plans. Prepare a report on model/sample standards to decrease compatibility concerns. Prepare/amend zoning ordinances and maps consistent with land use plans. Residential Development In Non-Utility Areas Issue: Housing densities more typical of urbanized areas are occurring in rural locations without benefit of existing or planned utilities, specifically public sewer or water. Such development may pose a threat to existing ground water supplies resulting in a potential health hazard. Goal: To encourage high density residential development to locate in areas where utilities exist or are planned. Policy: Local governmental units shall restrict high density development, including residential development, to existing or planned full service utility locations. - 171 - �I I I I I I I I I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ Actions: • • 32. Municipal maps showing existing and/or planned full service utility areas available for the general public, municipalities and County Planning Commission. Prepare/amend zoning ordinances and maps in accordance with level of utility services and _municipal master plan. Soil Erosion Issue: Each year Midland County experiences a soil loss of 271,800 tons due to various forms of erosion. The majority of this loss (265,500 tons) is related to cropland. Goal: To improve erosion control practices throughout the county as a means of curbing soil loss. Policy: Local land owners, including public agencies shall be encouraged to work with the United States Soil Conservation Service, Agricultural Stabil i zat ion and Conservation Service, Cooperative Extension Service, and related agencies to formulate and carry out erosion control programs. Actions: • • • • • Prepare and distribute to land owners information concerning erosion problems and erosion control methods in cooperation with local units of government. Use of the media should be considered for this action. Prepare sample/model standards for codes and ordinances. Increase the level of on-site field assistance to land owners. Develop and/or expand programs whereby landowners employing erosion control practices are given puhlic/media recognition. Where feasible, incorporate erosion control standards in development regulations such as zoning ordinances. - 172 - �• Ensure that the provisions of Public Act 347, the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act, are being properly enforced. GENERAL PLANNING 33. Urban Amenities in Rural Locations Issue: Many residents living in rural locations often desire those amenities found in urban locations such as paved streets, public utilities, cable television, recreational facilities. Providing such amenities in rural areas are typically not cost-effective, moreover, they may serve to encourage further decentralization of the populace to rural areas. Goal: To provide facilities and services commensurate with sound land development and growth policies and practices. Policy: Local governmental units shall provide facilities and services commensurate with sound land and growth development policies. Actions: • • 34. Prepare/update/adopt municipal master pl ans or community facilities plans. Local planning commission review of public works in accordance with adopted master plan. Issue - Private Sewage Systems The lack of public sanitary sewers requires reliance on on-site disposal. This may result in ground water and surface water problems as development increases. - 173 - �I I I I I I -· -I ~ ~ ~ , , , , Goal: To carefully regulate development in non-sewered locations in order to protect ground water resources. Policy: Local governmental units, in cooperation with the Midland County Health Department~ shall carefully regulate development in non-sewered locations as a way of protecting groundwater resources. Actions: • 35. Municipal codes and ordinances in accordance with policy 23 action program and county health department regulations. Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA) Policy Issue: The MUGA policy has created, in some instances, lack of coordinated planning efforts between the City of Midland and other units of governments. Goal: To cooperatively plan for comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective utility systems capable of serving the diverse needs of developing areas, including locations potentially suitable for development. Policy: Local governmental units within the MUGA shall cooperatively plan and develop full utility systems. Actions: • Intergovernmental report on utility systems planning in the City of Midland and adjacent townships. - 174 - �I I I I I I I • 36. ~ ~ ~ , , , , Air Pollution Control Issue: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has indicated that industrial air quality monitoring in Midland County does not adequately assess exotic pollutants. Goal: To provide an adequate and accurate system capable of measuring and interpreting local ambient atmospheric emissions/conditions resulting from industrial processes. '~ ~ Intergovernmental agreements on provision of utilities within the MUGA. Policy: The Midland County Health Department, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, shall monitor local atmospheric conditions pursuant to industrial emissions. Actions: • • • 37. Report documenting the nature and extent of emissions. Report on a system of monitoring and testing emissions. Report on an air quality maintenance plan. Stream System Use Issue: The Tittabawassee, Chippewa, Pine, and Salt Rivers and Sanford Wixom Lakes have been identified as significant for scenic and recreational use, yet many local comprehensive plans/zoning ordinances do not recognize these systems for such use. - 175 - �I I I I I I I I I I I I -I I I I ~ Goal: To encourage local communities to consider as part of their planning process, the scenic and recreational value of the county's major water features. A secondary goal might involve the preparation of implementation guidelines/controls governing a river/lake development. Policy: Midland County local governmental units in cooperation with the Midland County Parks and Recreation Corrmission, shall be responsible for implementing the planning and zoning recommendations of the Mid,-and County River Corridor Study report. Actions: • • • • 38. Prepare/update municipal master plans in accordance with the County River Corridor Study and the County Comprehensive Plan. Workshops on measures to protect/preserve river corridors. Report on model/sample protection and preservation techniques. Prepare/update municipal zoning ordinances and map in accordance with municipal master plans. Midland County Economic Development Strategy Issue: County development (commercial and industrial) is best achieved through a planned approach whereby the various parties combine efforts to achieve a desired end. The coordination of effort between parties (agencies) needs to be expanded. Goal: To maximize the county 1 s economic development potential through the joint effort of local governmental units, appropriate public agencies, and the private sector. - 176 - �II II -II -al -~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pol icy: The Midland County Growth Council shall continue to develop and implement programs to coordinate economic development efforts among local agencies, governmental units, and the private sector. Actions: • 39. Acknowleqgement of Growth Council's economic development strategy. Economic Diversification Issue: The economy of Midland County is largely dependent on a limited number of major employers. This lack of diversification may prove harmful should economic conditions negatively impact any one of the said employers. Goal: To encourage economic diversification versus orientation to a limited range of industrial employers/types. However, a companion goal to the above shall be to encourage the retention and expansion of existing industries. Policy: The Midland County Growth Counc i1 sha 11 continue to encourage economic diversification in its marketing efforts. The Council shall also strive to maintain existing industries. Actions: • 40. Acknowledgement of Growth Council's marketing efforts. Coordinated Management of County Offices Issue: Concern has been voiced over the lack of coordination of activities among County offices pursuant to such concerns as housing, transportation, - 177 - �community facilities, and land use. The lack of coordination may lead to operational inefficiencies, as well as efforts contrary to the desires of governmental leaders and the local citizenry. Goal: To develop a management system capable of coordinating county activities in order to achieve optimum efficiencies, provide quality service, and meet the needs and desires of the county at large concerning housing, transportation, community facilities, and land use. Pol icy: The Midland County Board of Commissioners shall develop a management system capable of coordinating County activities pursuant to housing, transportation, community facilities, and land use. Action • 41. Board policy statement on how certain departments will coordinate their work to effectuate the implementation of the comprehensive plan. Planning Effort By Local Governmental Units Issue: Community master plans and zoning ordinances vary markedly in format, depth of information and consistency with current law. Some communities do not have current comprehensive plans. Goal: To encourage local communities to prepare and maintain those documents necessary to properly guide growth and development. Policy: The Midland County Planning Commission shall advise local communities on the need to prepare and maintain necessary planning and zoning documents. - 178 - �Actions: • 42. Workshops on preparing/updating municipal documents. master plans and zoning Groundwater Protection Issue: Local communities have stressed the need to protect groundwater from contamination in order to ensure long-term supplies of clean water for residential and commercial purposes. Goal: To protect local groundwater supplies. Policy: The Midland County Health Department, in cooperation with local governing bodies, shall develop and implement ground water protection measures and shall monitor suspected problem areas. Actions: • • • • Report on groundwater resources/hydrogeological conditions in the county. Report on assessment of groundwater problems and the impact of large users drawing down the water table. Report on a groundwater protection management plan, including protection measures and a monitoring system. Establish priorities for monitoring suspected groundwater contamination areas, such as existing municipal landfills, closed dump sites, wells and abandoned gas stations. - 179 - �• • • • "' ' ' ' '~ IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS A major component of the County Comprehensive Plan update relates to the development of actions designed to carry out the various Plan components. A majority of those actions have been previously identified under the section detailing Issues, Goals, Policies, and Actions. Actions generally relate to one of three categories; 1) service/assistance projects, 2) plans/reports to be completed or updated, 3) capital needs (physical projects). This section summarizes the actions in tabular form and indicates: • The specific action, categorized according to type. • The lead agency responsible for meeting the identified action. • Time frame to complete the action. one to five years. Short-term actions are programmed for Long-term actions are progra1T111ed for six to twenty years and may include continuation of short-term action initiatives. should be noted that certain actions may overlap both periods. - 180 - It �• • "-~ Table 36 Service/Assistance Projects, Midland County PROJECT AGENCY SHORT TERM LONG TERM 1. HOUSING a. b. 2. a. b. 3. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. Implement housing programs including grant/loan programs Adopt hous fng code standards a. Midland Co. Housing Commission b. Local governmental units TRANSPORTATION Implement traffic data system a. Midland Co. Road Conmission Implement public transit system b. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners COMMUNITY FACILITIES Promote intergovernmental utility cooperation Publicize historical assets a. Midland Co. Planning Conmission b. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission c. Midland Co. Parks & Seek grant assistance for Recreation Commission program enhancement d. Midland Co. Parks & Coordinate intergovernmental recreation planning Recreation Commission e. Midland Co. Board of Implement Solid Waste ManageCommissioners ment Pl an f. Midland Co. Drain Coordinate intergovernmental/ Commissioner agency planning and programming of drainage improvements g. Midland County Board Coordinate water distribution of Public Works planning with local planning effort h. Midland County Mosquito control - 181 - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X �• • • • • - PROJECT 4. a. b. c. d. e. 5. a. LAND USE Intergovernmental/agency coordination of economic develop~ ment planning and promotion Seek applications for National Flood Insurance Program Provide technical planning assistance and data products Educate public and provide technical assistance concerning soil erosion Gypsy moth suppression GENERAL PLANNING Provide ongoing planning assistance and educational programs pertaining to planning and related growth and development issues AGENCY SHORT TERM LONG TERM a. Midland Co. Growth Council/Midland Co • Planning Commission b. Local governmental units c. Midland Co. Planning Commission d. U.S. Soil Conservation Service X X X X X X X X e. Midland County X X a. Midland Co. Planning Co1T111ission X X - 182 - �" " "II -II • -~ ~ ~ ~ Table 37 Plans and Reports PLANS/REPORTS a. HOUSING Housing Plan Update b. Mobil e/Mod.ul ar Home Study 1. c. Mobile/Modular Home Standards 2. a. TRANSPORTATION Traffic ::>ata System I s Report b. Traffic Data Report (Annual ) c• d. e. f. g. h. 3. a. North-South Circulation Study Public Transit Feasibility Study M-20 and Saginaw Rd. Corridor Studies Highway and Bridge Plan and Capital Improvements Program Bicycle and Pedestrian Trafficways Report Sign Inventory Program COMMUNITY FACILITIES MUGA Policy Analysis/Report SHORT AGENCY a. Midland Co. Housing Commission b. Midland Co. Housing Commission c. Midland Co. Housing Commission TERM LONG TERM X X X X a. Midland Co. Road Commission b. Midland Co. Road Commission c. Midland Co. Road Commission d. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners e. Midland Co. Planning Commission f. Midland Co. Road Commission X g. Midland Co. Road Commission X h. Midland Co. Road Commission X X X X X X a. Midland Co. Planning Commission - 183 - X X X X �" " ""'-, PLANS/REPORTS b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j • k. 1. m. 4. a. b. c. d. e. Historic Sites Identification and Preservation Public Services Consolidation Study County Office Facility & Space Study County Courthouse Renovation Study Recreational Funding Report Midland County Tourism Study Midland County Recreation Plan Update Solid Waste Management Implementation County Drain Plan Adaptive Reuse Study - Public Schools County Facilities Master Plan Public Utility Needs Study AGENCY b. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Co1J111ission c. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners d. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners e. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners f. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission g. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission h. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission i. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners j . Midland Co. Drain Commissioner k. Midland Co. Intermediate School District l. Midland Co. Planning Commission m. Midland Co. Board of Public Works LAND USE Soil Capability Report a. Midland Co. Health Department Regional Market Analysis Report b. Midland Co. Planning Commission c. Midland Co. Growth Economic Development •sites Council Report Farmland Preservation Techniques d. Midland Co. Planning Commission Report Land Use/Master Plans (updates) e. Local Governmental Units - 184 - SHORT TERM LONG TERM X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X �II II II II II -II PLANS/REPORTS 5. a. b. c. d. GENERAL PLANNING Facility Plans updates Air Quality Report update Groundwater Quality Study County Capital Improvements Program AGENCY a. Local Governmental Units b. Midland Co. Health Department c. Midland Co. Health Department d. Midland Co. Planning Commission II II II - - 185 - SHORT TERM TERM X X X X LONG X X X �• • • • • • • • • • • Table 38 Capital Needs, Midland County* NEEDS 1. Historic Sites Markers 2. Air Quality Monitoring Equipment 3. New Landfill Site Acquisition/ Development 4. Traffic Counters 5. County Road Improvements (various) 6. Public Transit Vehicles 7. Expansion of Water District No.I 8. Manitou Park Acquisition/ Development 9. Courthouse Exterior Restoration 10. County Office Facility 11. Courthouse Interior Renovation 12. 9,000 sq.ft. Addition(Phase II)/ Dow Memorial Library ·13. Emergency Operating Center 14. Fairgrounds Master Plan Implementation 15. West Midland Community Center New Building AGENCY SHORT TERM 1. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission 2. Midland Co. Health Department 3. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners 4. Midland Co. Road Commission 5. Midland Co. Road Commission 6. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners/Michigan Department of Transportation 7. Midland Co. Board of Public Works 8. Midland Co. Parks & Recreation Commission 9. Midland Co. Board of Commissioners IO.Midland Co. Board of Commissioners 11.Midland Co. Board of Commissioners 12.City of Midland 13.West Midland Community Center 14.Midland Co • . Fair Board 15.West Midland Community Center - 186 - LONG TERM X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X �II II II II II -~ ~ ~ AGENCY NEEDS 16. Renovation/Expansion of Pinecrest 17. Children's Center 18. 567 S.F. Addition to Animal Control Building 19. New Spray Equipment-Mosquito Control 20. Central Vehicle Maintenance Control 21. Road Patcher - Road Commission 22. Increase in Jail Capacity 23. Midland Hospital Center Expansion 24. Vocational Tech Wing 25. Applied Science Lab 26. Midland Co. Council on Aging New Building 27. Sanford Museum - Expansion 28. Mill Restoration 29. Homer Road Bridge 30. Eastman Road SHORT TERM 16.Pinecrest Home 17.Probate Court/ Midland Co. Board of Commissioners 18.Midland Co. Animal Control/ Board of Commissioners 19.Mosquito Control X X X X 20.Midland Co. Board of Corrrnissioners 21.Midland Co. Road Commission 22.Midland Co. Board of Commissioners 23.Midland Hospital 24.Delta College 25.Michigan Molecular Institute 26.Midland Co. Council on Aging 27.Sanford Museum 28.Midland Co. Historical Museum 29.Midland County Road Commission 30.Michigan Department of Transportation/Midland County Road Corrrnission/ City of Midland - 187 - LONG TERM X X X X X X X X X X X �NEEDS 31. Completion of U.S. 1O/M-2O Interchange 32. Magruder Connector (M-18 to South County Line) 33. Salzburg Road Improvement 34. Midland City Hall (Proposed) AGENCY 31.Michigan Department of Transportation 32.Midland County Road Commission 33.Midland County Road Commission/City of Midland 34.City of Midland - 188 - SHORT TERM LONG TERM X X X X �COUlf O L AOW I t p11Ji i1Jf TT dH N ll FIGURE 17 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN z c( ..J LEGEND CL w LAND USE CJ AGRICULTURAL > en z ~ PUBLIC :i:: c( ~ RIVER CORRIDOR a: fIItid RURAL RESIDENTIAL .. w z w RESIDENTIAL llilllll INDUSTRIAL ~ COMMERCIAL (< C, CL :i:: (> >t- :I!: 0 0 :I!: 0 1ac.) 1ac.) @ COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL A REGIONAL COMMERCIAL > tz z :::, :::, 0 0 Q Q c( ..J c( ..J 0 0 z z ... -:I!: -:I!: Q Q STREETS AND HIGHWlYS - RURAL MAJOR ARTERIALS I RURAL MINOR ARTERIALS -■■- RURAL MAJOR COLLECTORS •••••• RURAL MINOR COLLECTORS 1111111 PROPOSED RURAL MINOR ARTERIALS 111111 PROPOSED RURAL MAJOR COLLECTORS I • I I LOCAL STREETS NOTE: REFER TO EXISTING STREET AND HIGHWAY FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION MAP FOR SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION JANUARY 1987 'JI (., .. FOR CITIES OF MIDLAND AND COLEMAN , t II A T ... I O t •• u • T ' ... C O U N T ~SCALI : 1• = ., ''I .. ~ T 1000' L___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I !: fi!t D � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Midland-County_Comprehensive-Plan_1987 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Midland County Planning Commission, Midland County, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-07 Title A name given to the resource Midland County Comprehensive Plan Description An account of the resource The Midland County Comprehensive Plan was prepared by the Midland County Planning Commission with the assistance of the Department of County Development and the WBDC Group Consultants in July 1987. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Department of County Development The WBDC Group Consultants (consultant) Subject The topic of the resource Master plan reports Midland County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3db34cf104f3f4787354c3cb398d0591.mp4 cfe0c097a2c96354b435629e48244d20 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/55776f3c4c57e4f92eb82cb3673068ce.pdf a43488b6f75f81140918e556da5ce15c PDF Text Text ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW JOHN MIHALKO Born: June 6, 1947 Resides: Lakeview, Colorado Interviewed by: James Smither PhD, GVSU Veterans History Project, Transcribed by: Joan Raymer, December 10, 2012 Interviewer: Now John, start us off with some background on yourself, and to begin with where and when were you born? I was born on June 6, 1947 in a small patriotic town in New Jersey called Whippany. Interviewer: Did you grow up there? Yes, I was born and raised there. Interviewer: How many kids were in your family? Five Interviewer: Where were you in the sequence? I was the middle kid. My father died when I was very young and he was a WWII veteran. He was only forty-five when he died and he left five kids, and he left my mother a widow at age forty with five kids. Interviewer: What did she do then, at that point? She was a waitress in a diner most of the time, and you know that waitresses don‟t make a lot of money, so as we grew up we got jobs and gave my mother money to keep the house going. Interviewer: Did she remarry? No, she never remarried. Interviewer: She looked after you. 1 �She buried three men, my father and two boyfriends, but she never remarried. 1:01 Interviewer: When did you finish high school? Well, I was supposed to graduate in 1965, but I was having so much fun I stayed another year. I graduated in 1966. Interviewer: Once you finished high school what did you do? I got into warehousing and that‟s been my career up until the present. Interviewer: How long was it between the time you finished school and when you got drafted? Three years Interviewer: Over the course of that time, were you expecting, maybe, to get drafted or did you just not think about it? I thought about it—my buddy wanted me to enlist in the navy with him, but I didn‟t want to do four years because I had a good civilian job and I knew that I was going to go back to the same company so, he said, “Well, you know you‟re going to get drafted into the army”, and I said, “Well, that‟s the way it goes”. 2:00 Interviewer: When did you get your draft notice? I had to report August the 18th 1969. Interviewer: Now, at that point, how much did you know about what had been going on over in Vietnam? Oh, a lot—when the marines landed in 1965 in Da Nang, I wanted to quit high school and join because I thought, “That war‟s going to be over in no time, and with the marines there it‟s going to be over”, but my mother and oldest sister said, “You‟re not doing anything until you graduate from high school. So, when I finally get out of high school I 2 �lucked into this job that‟s been my career for the rest of my life, so I knew what was going on. 1966 came and went and we were still there, 1967 came and went and we were still there, 1968—and then in 1969 I said, “Wow we‟ve been there four years and we‟re still there, there‟s something wrong”, but then in 1969, that‟s when I got my notice. Interviewer: What was your reaction when you finally got the draft notice? 3:02 I knew it was coming. I had to take my physical in May of 1969 and then within thirty days I got this thing that gave me the dates of when to report. I was curious, to say the least, but I went. Interviewer: Now, you went and did the physical and the initial screenings and things like that and getting medical tests. Were there people who were trying to find ways to beat the system? Oh yeah, but it didn‟t matter. Interviewer: What kinds of things did they try? They would say they were either alcoholics, drug addicts, or gay, but it didn‟t matter. If you were overweight you were going in, if you were underweight you were going in. If you walked in with a Seeing Eye Dog, you were going in. I was underweight and I should have never been taken, but I was in. Interviewer: In a different year they might have rejected you. I only know about mine, so I don‟t know Interviewer: Where did they send you then for basic training? 4:02 I got lucky and they sent me to Fort Dix, which is in New Jersey. I was supposed to go to Fort Bragg, but when they were telling you where you were going I had to go to the bathroom and when I came back a guy said, “Where are you going?” I said, “I don‟t 3 �know”, and he said, “Where were you sitting?” I pointed and there was somebody else there, and he said, “Ok, you can go to Dix”. What they did was, they went down the line and said, “You‟re going to Bragg, You‟re going to Dix, Bragg, Dix, Bragg Dix”, and they did the same thing in North Carolina. They were sending the North Carolina guys to Fort Dix and the New Jersey guys to Fort Bragg, I can‟t understand it. Interviewer: When you got to Fort Dix, what did you learn about the guys you were training along with? You had some from North Carolina, or whatever, but were they mostly east coast people who were there? I think so Interviewer: What kind of a sort of ethnic mix was there? Were there black soldiers? Oh yeah, you name it, they were all there. Interviewer: Did you notice anything in the terms of age range of these guys? No, when you‟re in basic training you don‟t have time to think. You‟re up at the crack of dawn; you go out on night maneuvers. 5:08 Interviewer: What did basic training consist of for you? A little bit of everything, but in my opinion—the only thing that I really learned was the M16, which I didn‟t get until my last week of basic training. I trained on the M14, and they were using M16‟s in Vietnam, and it didn‟t make any sense. Interviewer: How much emphasis was there on discipline and following orders? Hardly any, we never had a barracks inspection. I thought it was going to be like—there was a movie out, a story about the DI and I thought that was what the military was. Interviewer: But not at Fort Dix? 4 �To me it was a joke. Growing up in Whippany, New Jersey, we played army all the time when we were kids. We were always out in the woods. My house was surrounded by woods, so living in the jungle and stuff like that, you know, not a big deal. 6:08 But, as far as what they taught us, I didn‟t get much out of it, believe me. Interviewer: Did you have any idea of what the background of the drill instructors was? Had some of them been to Vietnam and back? The drill instructors, I don‟t think they were, but a lot of the cadre was Vietnam vets. Interviewer: How long then does basic training last? It started in August and we graduated in October, it was roughly three months. Interviewer: What do you do after that? You‟re supposed to get a leave to go home and then report back and then they would send you to your AIT, but they wouldn‟t let any of us off the base. As a matter of fact, the day after graduation my sister was getting married and she wanted me to give her away at her wedding and they wouldn‟t let me off the base. Interviewer: Did they offer any explanation of that? Nope, I think they were afraid of desertions, I don‟t know, so, I had to sit on Fort Dis for three days doing nothing. 7:06 Then they put us on a bus and bused us to—I don‟t know which airport we went to. No, they bused us to Philadelphia; we got on a civilian jet and went to Fort Lewis, Washington. Interviewer: Now, did you get an AIT? Oh yeah,, that‟s where I took my jungle training, in the dead of winter in Fort Lewis, Washington. It doesn‟t make sense. Interviewer: No 5 �The terrain was definitely—we were in the mountains all the time and that‟s where I ended up in Vietnam, but the weather was—I couldn‟t get my head into jungle training with the snow, and it rains constantly in Fort Lewis. But, at least there I got an M16 from day one, but it was basically the same type of training, but you did a little more of it and that was a little better. 8:03 Interviewer: Was this just general infantry jungle training or was it specialized? No, just general stuff, basically the same stuff you did in basic, you just did a little more of it. Interviewer: Was this physically demanding work? No, I don‟t think so, working in warehousing, that‟s a physical job anyway. Interviewer: So, you were in good enough physical shape, so that wasn’t a problem for you. How long then does the AIT last? Another three months Interviewer: Now, do you go home at that point? That I did, and then I got a two week leave. We started on October 18th and we graduated on December the 18th. Interviewer: So, you get to go home for Christmas. I got to go home and I think they gave me ten days, but I took about twenty because we already had orders for Vietnam, and I said to myself, “What are they going to do to me, I‟m going to Vietnam?” Interviewer: Did you have to report back to Fort Lewis? Fort Lewis again 9:01 6 �Interviewer: And when you got back, was there any question about where you had been? I had to go to courts and boards and they didn‟t say anything or do anything, and in a couple of days they issued us jungle fatigues, in Fort Lewis, and we were on a plane off to Vietnam. Interviewer: Did they fly you in a chartered commercial jet or in a military plane? It was a commercial jet. Interviewer: So, they had stewardesses on and that sort of thing? Yeah, and the flight over is really bad. The stewardesses partly smile because they‟re looking at guys who are going to war and they‟re thinking, “This guy might get killed”. We‟re the same way; you could hear a pin drop on the airplane. Interviewer: Did you stop anyplace on the way? Hawaii—they let us off the plane at the Hawaii airport dressed in our jungle fatigues and people are staring at you, civilians. We get back on the plane and we landed in Guam to refuel, and that was scary. Guam was the hottest—that was hotter than Vietnam, I couldn‟t believe it. It‟s an island in the middle of the Pacific and when they opened that door there was just a blast of hot air, and I said, “Man, if Vietnam is going to be hotter than this, this ain‟t going to be good”. 10:06 Interviewer: What was your reaction when you actually got off the plane in Vietnam? We landed in Cam Ranh Bay and the United States built that port and it‟s beautiful. That had a larger PX than the PX‟s here in the states. You could buy a car there and when you got home it would be at your house. I never saw a PX that big. 7 �Interviewer: Did you stay there any amount of time or did they ship you out? One day, one day, it‟s all paperwork. I thought once we landed and got off the plane they would hand you a rifle and a helmet and you were going out, but no, it‟s just endless paperwork. Endless paperwork at Cam Ranh Bay, and they flew us to Phu Bai and then it was more paperwork there and then we went to camp, I think we went to Camp Eagle and from Camp Eagle to Camp Evans, and at Camp Evans, that‟s when I found out I was going to be in the 3rd brigade and then the 2nd of the 506. 11:06 Interviewer: All right, and then which company did they put you in? E Company, Echo Company, and here‟s another side to that, E Company in any infantry Battalion is the mortar platoon. I said, “I don‟t know one end of a mortar from another. I‟m going to be in a mortar platoon, I mean?” But, E company also has your reconnaissance platoon, which I didn‟t know about, and LZ cutters, and snipers. When I got to E Company, like I said, I thought I was going to be in the mortar platoon. This young sergeant comes out and he says, “You guys are lucky”, and there was like twelve new guys at the time, “You pick what you‟re going to be in “, so one guy raises his hand, I wasn‟t going to raise my hand for anything, I‟d been in the army long enough. 12:05 He said, “You have your choice of recon or LZ cutter”, so one guy raises his hand and said, “Well, what is an LZ cutter?” He said, “That‟s a good deal, you only go out to the jungle one day and you repel out of a helicopter with a chain saw and a hundred pounds of C4 strapped on your back and you blow the top off a mountain”. I‟m sitting there thinking, “That doesn‟t sound good to me”, so another guy raises his hand and says, “What‟s recon?” “That‟s even better”, he says, “You go out into the jungle for one week, one week at a time, you have to wear a helmet, that‟s one of the status symbols or recon, 8 �you have to wear camouflage fatigues, we don‟t have any right now, and you carry everything you own on your back and your job is to look for the bad guys”. So, now everybody raised there hand and said, “We‟ll take recon”. Interviewer: Of course, I don’t know, did it occur to them that the bad guys might try to shoot them? 13:01 No, it occurred to us, but repelling out of a helicopter at two hundred feet with a chain saw and a hundred pounds of C4, nobody there to protect you, that doesn‟t sound good to me. Interviewer: So, recon, at that point is a better deal? Oh yeah Interviewer: Having made that particular choice then, what do they do with you? We had to wait, it was a couple days before—all the recon teams were out in the jungle, so we did a little repelling and stuff like that. The recon platoon came in, I think, after about two days. They were coming down to the company area and I never saw such dirty, grubby guys in my like, but they were happy to see us and it was a good experience. I met my first platoon leader, at teenager, he scared the hell out of me because he was a lot younger than me, but he was a very good platoon leader. Interviewer: How many men, do you think, were in that platoon that came in? When I first got there we had five eight man teams. When I left we had two ten man teams. 14:01 Interviewer: Did the group of guys you were with, did that fill them out to the five eight man teams? Yeah 9 �Interviewer: So you got forty, you actually got a full strength platoon when you start. Yes Interviewer: Once they come in, do you spend a few days in base camp or do you— while they get cleaned up? We went out—see, stand down for recon is only one day, so they came in and then the next day they‟re out again. So, I got to meet my platoon leader, he assigned me to Bravo team, I got to meet my team leader, and then the next thing, „boom”, out you went. Interviewer: Did they do anything to get you oriented or give you any advice before you headed out, or did they just say, “Do what we do”? Well, luckily, the guys in recon are very, very tight and the old guys they show you, because they just dump all the C rations in front of you and I said, “How much do I take?” He said, “You can take as much as you want. Just pick what you want and load it up”, he said, “Remember you‟ve got to carry it all”. 15: 09 I had food stuffed in my pockets, in my rucksack and I couldn‟t get up or move. I had to jettison some of it. Interviewer: Do you have a sense of how much your total pack weighed by the time you got up? About ninety pounds Interviewer: How much did you weigh at the time? A hundred and thirty eight Interviewer: About how hot was it? I don‟t know the temperature, but it had to be in the nineties with a hundred percent humidity, I don‟t know, but it was brutally hot. When you got out to the jungle and got 10 �on your feet and started walking, I don‟t think you went ten yards and you were already dripping with sweat. Interviewer: Your first patrol, you said you’re out for a week at a time, so were you out for a full week then? We were out two weeks, we got socked in. Actually most of my missions lasted two weeks. They said a week, but when it started raining and you got socked in, you were out there. 16:05 Our missions lasted, roughly, two weeks. The longest I was out in the jungle was forty-four days. That‟s forty-four days without a shower, a shave, or a change of clothes. Interviewer: What do you remember about that first trip out in the jungle? Not too much, it was a routine patrol. I don‟t know how many clicks we went. It was hard keeping up with the other guys. They put me on rear security, the last guy and I knew I had to keep turning around and looking to see if we were being followed. When I would turn around and look again, I couldn‟t see anybody, so I had to hustle to catch up to them. I didn‟t like rear security. Interviewer: How long did you have to do that? Only two missions and my second mission out was my first firefight. Interviewer: So, on your first mission you’re going to, were you wondering where everybody was, or were you just happy you weren’t being shot at? Oh yeah, well, I don‟t know—you know, it‟s hard to remember. I remember some things about the first mission. 17:02 Luckily, they had me set up with an old timer and he and he was nice. He showed me how to do the claim, which we did in basic AIT anyway, 11 �but he showed me the sneaky way to do it and the right way to do it, so yeah, the old timers were good. Interviewer: When you’re out on one of these patrols, you’re out overnight multiple times, but you’re moving every day? Yes Interviewer: Ok, What do you do when you’re just setup overnight, how does that work? We try to setup in like a circle, we have two-man positions, you would actually sleep with your partner, one of us would use his poncho for the floor, which we slept on, and the other for a roof, sort of like a tent. We‟d sleep under there, and they gave us for—it got very cold at night in the jungle, people don‟t realize that, we froze at night. It got cold and the wind was always blowing. 18:00 You go to bed soaking wet and you don‟t dry off until you‟re asleep. But, they gave us, it was like a sweater, a light weight sweater, and we would put that on, and we had a poncho liner and that was our blanket, which was very warm, and that was it. Interviewer: Do you setup before dark, or after dark? Right around dusk—we didn‟t like to move around at night because you couldn‟t see anything anyway, you couldn‟t see your hand in front of your face. Interviewer: Now, when you’re camped overnight, what, you mentioned— You had to pull guard duty every night. Interviewer: You’re in two-man teams and you trade off who’s awake and who gets to sleep? 12 �No, we pick who‟s going to take first watch, second watch, etc. If you got an eight man team, then you only have to pull one watch. First watch and last watch were the best, if you got last watch you got seven hours sleep, but nobody ever slept the full eight hours. Either a rock would poke you in the side, or a piece—because you had to hack part of the jungle to lie down in. 19:05 You were never comfortable. Interviewer: Did you—how long did it take to kind of get used to sleeping in the jungle, or learn what sounds to worry about and which ones not to? No, there were no sounds. I never heard birds chirping, nothing. The jungle, the jungle, it‟s very, very beautiful, but the animals and the birds, and things like that, when humans move in, they move out. I cannot recall hearing any kind of—I did hear a tiger roar one night, that scared the hell out of me, I didn‟t know they had tigers in Vietnam. We were on the top of a mountain and he was somewhere down in the valley, but that thing echoed and reverberated, that was very scary. Interviewer: The first mission ends, now, did you encounter any enemy on that first time out? No Interviewer: Were there any booby traps or things like that? No 20:00 Interviewer: It was really quiet, then tell me about the second one then. How you do get in a firefight? The second mission we had our platoon leader with us, teenager, the young guy, and as soon as we got off the LZ we started—there was a trail leading off the LZ and we were going down into a valley, and again, I was on rear security and they saw sandal prints. 13 �The North Vietnamese didn‟t wear boots, they sore sandals made out of American tires. You would see the print and you might be able to read Goodrich. I didn‟t get to see the sandal prints, being the last guy, everybody‟s walking over them. But, the guy in front of me turned around and he said, “We got footprints in the trail”. We found, also, there was an American, and old pineapple grenade from WWII. It was like half buried in the trail, and I don‟t know if it was booby trapped or anything, but the guy in front of me said, “Watch out you don‟t step over the grenade”. So, when we got to the bottom we had to cross this—there was a little river or stream. 21:02 We got to the other side and our platoon leader was very excited and said, “I want to call up and set up for the ambush, but I got to get an ok, you know”. See, recon, they did not want us to make contact because we were such a small number and we carry no M60‟s, nothing like that. They just wanted us to find the bad guys, just report it, and then get out, ok? But, our platoon leader, he says, “This is good, men, were going to have--”, so he called up higher, I guess he called battalion, but he convinced them to let us stay down there and setup an ambush. We did, it took us about two days, but I wasn‟t on that ambush, but that other new guy, he, on that day, he was out there, I think it was like February 11th, 1970, and he was just sitting there looking around and one lone NVA soldier carrying a big bag of rice crossed the stream and he shot him, he got him, so that made the Lieutenant very, very happy, you know. 22:02 He had a big bag of rice and he was going to feed a whole bunch of people. Anyway, what we did was, there was a sandbar in the middle of the stream and we put his body on the sandbar and we put a live grenade under him with the pin pulled in case—the North Vietnamese, they come back for their dead, just like we do, so we figured, now we got bait so we‟re very happy, but nothing happened for three days. I 14 �would go out on the ambush, you know we kept changing the ambush teams and after three days the bodies bloated up, you know and bugs are on it and it‟s smelling pretty nasty. Valentine‟s Day, 1970, that‟s when it hit the fan. I was on that ambush that day and I was staring at the body, and I‟m thinking about home, “It‟s Valentine‟s Day and all my buddies back home are going out with their girlfriends and giving them candy, or whatever. The guys that are married are thinking about their wives, and here I am staring at a dead body, hoping more of his buddies come out, so we can kill them too”. 23:07 That‟s exactly what happened. Interviewer: So, they walk right into the ambush? They‟re very, very smart. One guy walked out on the other side of the stream, and he saw his buddy immediately, and he went right back, and he was just out. And we waited maybe ten or fifteen minutes and he poked his head out again. Then he came out and he got into the water, and very, very slowly he started approaching his buddy. He got out about a couple of feet and another guy came out, and then another guy, and another guy. We had about five or six of them in the water, and we only had like three or four guys on the ambush. We were already outnumbered, and all we got is M16‟s. There was like five of them, and then finally one of the veterans, one of the old timers in our group, he thought one of them saw us, so we just opened up and dropped them all. 24:03 It was over in less than three seconds. That‟s one thing I remember from AIT, they said, “A perfectly executed ambush should be over in under three seconds. If it takes longer, you‟re probably going to lose”, and this was over in like three seconds, one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three, and they were all dead. The water was red with blood, so then what we had to do was strip them. We had to get the bodies, 15 �get them out of the water and get them onto the land. We were supposed to take everything they had, even their underwear, but we weren‟t going to do that. We left them with some dignity, but they wanted all that stuff because they can get a lot of intelligence from it, you know. Was the uniform new, was it old, the weapon, what kind of condition it was in, we took everything, everything except their underwear. Then while that was going on, all of a sudden, we didn‟t know it, there was a whole lot more of them behind them and they started firing RPG‟s at us. 25:02 That‟s the first time I ever heard a RPG and it scared the hell out of me, and it was taking off the tops of trees, which told me that they were coming down the side of the mountain. They were still too far, too high up, and they were just firing blindly. So they inserted, the battalion, inserted a line company behind us and they came to our rescue. Interviewer: Now did you pull back yourselves, or did you stay where you were? No, I stayed on our—you know, the shoreline, we had the bodies and all that. We dragged them, and we just started firing at them even though we couldn‟t see anything. But, they weren‟t in any hurry to cross that stream, and we weren‟t in any hurry to have them come across that stream. I don‟t know how many of them there were, but they were firing a lot of RPG‟s, which tells me there were a lot of them. What the NVA use to do, if they were moving in large numbers, they would send out a small patrol out in front to lead the way, and if the small patrol ran into anything, they could tell by fire we were giving, if there up against a large force or a small force. 26:03 There were only three of us, three or four of us shooting, so they knew there were not a lot of Americans there, so then they came up and opened up with everything they had. 16 �Interviewer: So, with a short ambush, maybe one of the advantages is that it’s harder for them to tell what you have. Like I said, they took their time getting into that water. I mean, we got every one of them, they didn‟t have a chance. Interviewer: All right, then you go back—did you go back to base camp at that point? The next day, we went back the next day, but we had to spend the night. But we had the line out there, and they were around us for security and everything, and they were giving it to those poor guys, saying, “What did you get us into now?” They were looking at all the bodies, the water was just red, red, bright red, and they were going, “What did you get us into now?” “We can‟t help it”. Interviewer: After this patrol do you just go back to base camp for one day? One day, and you‟re out again. 27:05 Interviewer: You mentioned before that you were rear security in the first two, and after that what did you do? The team leader asked me to walk point. I said, “Is this guy crazy, I‟m still new”, but actually I wasn‟t, I was already in my first firefight. I was put up for a Bronze Star with a V, I got my CIB, so I figured, “Well, I can do it if he has faith in me”, and I walked point from then on, day in and day out for the rest of my tour. I became assistant team leader and when he left I was the team leader, and I still walked point. Nobody else—nobody wants to walk point, it‟s the most dangerous job there is. Interviewer: So, why were you doing it then? 17 �I‟m a little guy, number one, you know, and I was born and raised in the woods. The jungle didn‟t--I didn‟t like it, but nobody else wanted to do it and I figured I was the best qualified for the job. 28:00 Interviewer: What kind of skills do you need to do that job well? You have to have a good slack man, the guy that‟s walking right behind you, and I had my slack man walk like that far behind me, and if I was looking straight ahead, I wanted him looking from side to side. If I was looking down, I wanted him to be looking straight ahead. You have to work in tandem. Interviewer: Wasn’t the standard advice not to bunch up or not to have guys together? Oh yeah, I don‟t care, four eyes are better than two. Interviewer: did you normally walk on the trails? Oh yeah, we did, our job—you have to be quieter in the line companies. If you‟re breaking brush going through the jungle, you can be heard sure—we walked the trails all the time because you‟re not making any noise. Interviewer: Now, how common was it for them to be booby trapped? The NVA, I‟ll give them credit, they didn‟t booby trap a whole lot. They might booby trap a LZ, especially a fresh LZ, because they knew that GI‟s were coming in, but as far as punji pits and all that, they didn‟t do that. 29:05 As a matter of fact, the NVA looked down on the VC. The NVA were very proud, they were professional soldiers, just like the American GI‟s. The VC, they were just farmers carrying a rifle. They looked down on the VC, and I learned that from my NVA scout. He would tell us, “Oh, he‟s VC, number ten, NVA, he‟s good, he‟s good”. 18 �Interviewer: Now, was the NVA scout with your unit when you joined it, or did he come in later? Shortly afterwards Interviewer: You got to know him fairly well over the course of time? Yes, very well Interviewer: What did you learn about him? He was very well educated, the North Vietnamese, as a whole, are very well educated and the south Vietnamese are not. The North Vietnamese are taught American history, he knew a lot of our American Presidents, and he was an amazing young man. I don‟t know how old he was, and he didn‟t really speak a lot of English. 30:04 I couldn‟t speak any Vietnamese, but we could communicate. I learned a lot from that guy, I liked him and I trusted him. Interviewer: Did he tell you anything about his family, or how he wound up being on your side? He told me he came from a family—he had five brothers and he said they were all in the NVA, and I don‟t know where he fit in that family, but he said his oldest brother was a Colonel, and he said, “If the Americans leave, the North Vietnamese are going to come and take over the country, and my own brother‟s going to kill me”. Interviewer: Did he explain what he was doing being on your side? No, I never asked him. I did ask him why he came over to our side, and he held up one finger, number one, B52”s, and he said all the NVA were terrified of the B52‟s. Rightfully so, because you can‟t see them, hear them, nothing, and all of a sudden the 19 �earth disintegrates. 31:04 They were terrified of B52‟s. Then he held up two fingers and he said, “Number two, America never loses, told me”. Interviewer: That’s what he learned in his history class? I don‟t know if he learned it in his history class, but that‟s what he deduced from it. He said, “America never loses”. Interviewer: How effective, or useful, was he when you were on patrol. Well, in the “Ripcord” book, my team discovered a North Vietnamese telephone line and we tapped it, and he‟s the one that found the line. I‟m a good point man and I missed it, and my slack man missed it, everybody missed it, and he‟s the one that found it, and he turned white as a ghost. He was holding it up and he said, “Beaucoup NVA, beaucoup NVA, boocoo NVA, di di mau”. He was terrified and he wanted out of there. Interviewer: What does di di mau mean? It means, get out, leave. 32:00 Recon, when were in the jungle we never talk, if we talk at all we whisper, we never talk like we‟re talking now. Even if we think we‟re in a safe area, we still do not talk, we whisper at all times. But, he was getting very loud, and then when he saw me, because I heard all this noise behind me, I didn‟t know—I was starting to go u the side of a mountain and I heard this racket. I turned around and he‟s holding the wire and he‟s calling me, and he‟s saying, “John, John, beauoup NVA, di di mau”, and he kept saying it. I had to put my hand over his mouth and now I‟m getting scared, so he found the telephone line. Interviewer: I’m going to go back a little bit. How many patrols did you go on roughly? 20 �In my whole tour, I don‟t know. That mission in July, that was my thirteenth time to the jungle, and after that---I did maybe twenty five or thirty, I don‟t know. 33:00 Interviewer: Does that kind of work take its toll on you physically or mentally? Both, yeah—on the helicopter flight out nobody talks. You‟re deeply involved in thinking, “Is this the time I‟m not coming back?” The flight back though, everybody‟s happy. Everybody‟s smiling and happy. It takes its toll mentally and physically too. My knees bother me all the time and that‟s from carrying all that weight. I‟ve got arthritis, and that‟s from sleeping on the cold wet ground all the time. It takes its toll, but it doesn‟t happen overnight. I remember on my second time out, the old timers, it took them like ten minutes before they could straighten out , and I laughed at them, I was teasing them, I said, “I‟m three years older than you”, and they said, “Wait six months, you‟re going to be just like us”, and it‟s true. 34:01 Interviewer: On what proportion of your patrols did you actually make contact with the enemy, so you think? Oh gee, I don‟t know, we had more than our share of firefights, but to put a number on it, I don‟t know. Interviewer: Was it most of the time, or---over half? No, I don‟t think it was half, maybe a third of the time, maybe a little more, I don‟t know. Interviewer: What was the worst one you got into that you can recall? The one where I got shot and actually the second worst one was when we had to go through and retrieve American bodies. I had never seen a dead American. I saw a lot of dead NVA, but I had never saw a dead American. Interviewer: Was that before Ripcord? 21 �No, it was during the whole Ripcord episode, and it took place on Triple Hill. We had three of our recon teams were basically within a click of each other, and one of our teams detected North Vietnamese all around them and they got hit, and they had two wounded guys. 35:05 They called in a medevac and the team leader—the medevac was on its way out, but he told them, “Were still in contact, don‟t—wait for the Cobras to get there”. I think the medevac people were the bravest people in the world. This guy wasn‟t going to wait. He heard there were two wounded Americans and he came out. He didn‟t wait for Cobra escorts and there was no place to land, so they lowered the jungle penetrators. “You know what that is, correct?” Interviewer: You should explain that for the benefit of the audience here. Jungle penetrator, they can do it two ways. If the man was unconscious they would lower down a basket, it‟s called the Stokes litter basket, and you put him in the basket and they would pull him up. If the wounded were ambulatory, they weren‟t that seriously wounded, they would lower down this little seat. It opened up and one guy would get in. They would send one from one side of the helicopter and one from the other side. They would lower them down and the guys would get on the seats and they would hoist them up. 36:04 But, they also had an explosive device because a lot of times they would raise up the wires would get caught in the foliage. So, they could blow the cable, so the helicopter could get out of there. Our two wounded were ambulatory and they lowered the two seats down and they got them on them, and as they were raising them up, they were up about three feet, and then a NVA soldier with a RPG shot the medivac and blew it out of the sky in a big ball of flame. The most heroic thing I ever saw was watching that thing explode and the crew chief had the presence of mind to blow the cable before 22 �that got around the helicopter. That guy knew he was going to die, and everybody on the helicopter, but he still had the presence of mind to think of the two guys coming up, my guys, and he blew the cable and the guys fell down about five feet--but still, watching that helicopter go down in a ball of flame. 37:07 Then we got in a firefight, we got there and we did kill the NVA that blew up the helicopter, we killed another NVA, and we took one prisoner. It was very somber indeed, and then the next day—oh, they sent in a line company to help us out, you know, with the firefight, and the next day we got word that we had to go and get the bodies. I thought it was like the movies, they sent people out to do that. Well, grave registration, or whatever you want to call it. We got to the helicopter, but even before you got to the helicopter, I can smell it right now, you could even smell the death, it smelled like a barbeque. It‟s a very sweet and a very think smell and it even got in your mouth, you could taste it, and if you didn‟t know it was dead people, you would think, “This smells like barbeque”. 38:07 But, you knew it was dead and it was Americans, so it was very emotional. I can still smell it right now, I can smell it. We had to pull the bodies out and they were frozen in position, and when we grabbed an arm, it fell off; they were burned beyond recognition, like lumps of coal. We got all five of them out and in body bags and we had to hump them to the nearest LZ site. The strangest think about that, we had them in the body bags, but the jungle kept tearing the bags, and it was like the jungle did not want them to leave, and we would have to stop every once in a while because a body part would fall out, and you would have to put it back in. They were hard to carry and finally we decided-- luckily they gave us a whole lot of body bags because the jungle was just tearing them to pieces. 39:05 so we loaded those body bags into fresh body bags and we tied the body bags—we cut down trees and 23 �we tied them on there, like the old African safaris did with dead animals, and that‟s how we got them out. It seemed very undignified, but it worked in the jungle. We had them on our shoulders now instead of down. So, we got them to the LZ and a helicopter came in and we threw the bodies on and when the helicopter left they called back on the radio and they said, “Wait on the LZ for a while”, and we did and the people—the people that picked up the bodies, the medivac people themselves, they knew the dead people. They came back out with a cold case of beer. The first and only time I had a can of beer in the jungle, and they had it packed in ice and everything. 40:05 We also took the grenade launcher down to the medivac and we gave it to those guys and it was something, but that was very, very sad. Dead Americans and they were burnt to a crisp. Interviewer: Over the course of the time that you were with your platoon, what kind of losses did your unit take? Recon your very lucky, number one, nobody on my team died, nobody, I‟m very proud of that. A lot of, because I was the point man and the assistant team leader. If you were on my team you lived. Everybody got the Purple Heart in the whole—except me, I turned down three Purple Hearts. There was no blood, no pain, I don‟t want the medal. Interviewer: You did have one pretty close scrape though, and you actually brought along an artifact here to show that. Can you explain what went on with that? Yeah, that was on the wiretap mission. I got shot at point blank range by an enemy RPD machine gun, NVA machine gun. 41:06 That‟s the equivalent of our M60, and I took a burst right in the chest, right in the heart, and my bandolier saved my life. You can see it totally destroyed this magazine, I had to pull that one out and throw it away, and the rounds continued into this magazine, and you can see the hole in the front and the two 24 �heads of bullets coming out the other side. The first question everybody asked me was, “Did you feel it? Did it knock you down?” I didn‟t feel it when it hit me, I didn‟t feel anything, and just your natural reactions take over. 42:07 I hit the ground and while I was laying there I heard all this noise coming out of my chest and it was the bullets from the first magazine falling out. When I looked down and saw the hole, that‟s when I realized I had been shot. I laid on that LZ for I don‟t know how long. I knew my guys didn‟t leave me, but I couldn‟t see them and I knew they were going to call in Cobra air support, but I still didn‟t know how I was going to get out of there because I was laying on a bald LZ with no cover. To this day I don‟t know why that North Vietnamese soldier didn‟t finish me off. I know he saw my chest explode and maybe he thought I was dead. Like I said, I played dead. Interviewer: Now were you by yourself at this point? I had my slack man with me, he was with me, but he didn‟t get shot. 43:00 I was the only one that got shot, and like I said, I was just lying there. My personal opinion is, I think that North Vietnamese soldier was waiting for the rest of our guys to come across and try to retrieve our bodies, so that‟s why he didn‟t shoot at me anymore. That‟s what I think, I don‟t know. I did throw one grenade at the guy and when I threw it I cursed myself and then I said, “If this doesn‟t get him”, because I couldn‟t see him, I had no idea where he was, but he had to be in a bunker, a well hid bunker. When I threw the grenade I cursed myself and said, “If this doesn‟t get him he‟s definitely going to finish us off now”, but he didn‟t. Interviewer: What role did your platoon play in the larger Ripcord operation? What kinds of things were you doing? 25 �What I can tell you, that ambush in February of 1970, that alerted the whole battalion that the NVA were moving back out into our area of the mountains. 44:04 So, that was a valuable piece. Now, what they did with all the stuff we sent in, they analyzed all that stuff, and we did a lot of—when we found bunker complexes we would record them and tell them where they were, you know, and all that stuff. When we captured stuff, we turned it in. We captured a lot of enemy weapons, destroyed a lot of rice, we found a lot of caches. So in the broad—I don‟t know. Interviewer: Did you get ambushed yourselves, or did parts of your platoon get ambushed? Only that mission, the wiretap mission, you know, when I got hit. Most of my firefights, we initiated the contact and they never knew we were there. A lot of time when we would catch them they would be sitting down eating rice. They had no guards out checking things, and we‟d walk right in on them while they were eating rice. Interviewer: Now, your referring to the wiretap mission, was it actually going back to that line that your scout captured to try to tap it? 45:04 Yes Interviewer: What happened when you went out and did that? Well, we found the line on our first day. Once we got out there I found this nice place to set up for the night. The next morning as we were moving out that‟s when our scout found the line. Then they, I don‟t know who gave the order, I don‟t know if it was battalion or who, but they wanted us to tap the line. I said to my team, “We don‟t have any equipment to tap a line”. I figured once we found that line our mission was over, they were going to pull us out of there and send in the people that do all that stuff. The 26 �team leader said, “They‟re going to send out the equipment to us”, and I said, “You‟ve got to be kidding”. He said, “A helicopter‟s going to come right over our position and lower it”. I said, “Every North Vietnamese in this is going to know right where we‟re at”, but that‟s what they did, a helicopter came out, and they would take up what we took off the line and drop some more stuff every day, and we didn‟t move for three days. 46:02 Every night I thought we were going to get wiped out, but they never came looking for us and I don‟t know why, I have no idea. Interviewer: Did you get ambushed going out? On our last day, it was July 2nd, they said, “Ok”, they gave us coordinates to a landing zone, we had all day to get there, and they were going to pick us up the next morning. I found a nice landing zone on the top of this mountain, and I went up to the top of the mountain. It was overgrown and you could see that nobody had been up there for years, so I asked our team leader if he would call up and see if we could get picked up from there because I knew that this was safe. But they insisted we go to the LZ that they requested and that‟s where we got out and that‟s when I got hit. Interviewer: You talked about you were hit with the round that wound up in the magazine. Were you hit in other places? No Interviewer: Okay, but did that just knock you out? No, I didn‟t feel a thing. 47:04 I heard the burst and your instant reaction is you hit the ground. I looked behind me and I saw the dirt had been chewed up behind me, and I knew it was an enemy machine gun because an AK has a very distinct sound and that wasn‟t it. It sounded like it was coming from behind me, and that‟s why I was looking 27 �behind me, but it was in front of me. Sound is very funny in the mountains, you really— and we‟re on the top, almost on the top, of this mountain and with the wind blowing you really can‟t tell where it‟s coming from. Interviewer: All right, after they take you off that LZ do you get time in the rear? I have to finish—before we got out, now, I got out, the Cobras cane and I low crawled backwards across the North Vietnamese that we shot, and who had initiated all this mess, and I got back to our guys and I thought for sure they were going to let us go back to the other LZ. 48:09 This is a hot LZ, I don‟t know how many NVA, but there were a lot of them, a whole lot more than what we had. But they still insisted that we stay there because the helicopter‟s, they‟re in route. I‟d already been shot, and I said, “Junior, this is insanity”, and he said, “They‟re on their way”, so he said, “Who wants to volunteer to get on the helicopter first?” I said, “They already had a shot at me, I‟ll go”. I waited until I could see the helicopter coming and me and my slack man we went running, and I was almost in the exact same place where I was—the helicopter, I had a hold of its skid, and as soon as I grabbed the skid the door gunner jumped up and went like this and the helicopter left, and I ran back again and said, “Junior, what happened, what happened?” He said, “They shot the pilot”, so the co-pilot had to get the plane out. 49:00 They finally re-landed and they said we could go to the LZ that I picked out in the first place. Interviewer: Did you make it back there safely? Oh, yes we got out okay Interviewer: Once you get back do you get any kind of break at that point? One day Interviewer: And you go out again? 28 �Out again Interviewer: Now, did you get any longer breaks over the course of your tour? Yeah, they would rotate companies, or platoons to Eagle Beach. I think I got to Eagle Beach three times. You would have a battalion stand down where the whole battalion comes in from the jungle. You get new uniforms, boots, you know, but that didn‟t happen that often. My whole tour was basically in the jungle every day. Interviewer: Now, when you did go to the rear, was that comfortable or relief? 50:05 You got to unwind and you went to the EM club and you could drink beer. I think beer was ten cents a can, but you know, most of us were careful not to go crazy and really get drunk, because the next day you were going out and you didn‟t want to go out in the jungle with a hangover. Interviewer: Now, when they went to the rear did people in your unit use marijuana and things like that? I never saw it, but I could smell it. Interviewer: In the field, did they do things like that? No Interviewer: Did they even smoke cigarettes in the field? Oh yeah, oh yeah Interviewer: What would they do at night? You didn‟t smoke at night. You could see—your senses get so—you‟re like a blind man with his senses. You could see better, you could hear better, and just a thing from a cigarette, you could see that so far away, and you could smell the tobacco. We didn‟t 29 �smoke at night at all, never. 51:04 I‟m only speaking about my team and recon, and I don‟t know about others. Interviewer: How would you rate or characterize the morale of your platoon during the time you were with it. What was the attitude of most of the guys? We were upbeat, we were always cracking jokes. We got very close to one another, it was a brotherhood. I was closer to the people on my team than I was to my own brother. You could actually read their minds and they could read your mind, it‟s amazing, it‟s amazing. Interviewer: Now, were all the men in your unit white except for the Vietnamese? No, we had a mixture of blacks, we had a Chicano, we had everybody, we had boys from the south, we had boys from the north, and we came from all over. Interviewer: Were you ever aware of racial tensions or things like that? In the rear, in the rear you would see it, but never out in the field, never, never in the jungle, never. 52:05 Interviewer: In the rear, was it just kind of self-segregation, guys hanging together? Yeah, yeah, you know, a lot of times the southern guys would hang together. There were problems in the rear, there were a lot of problems in the rear, and sometimes I felt safer in the jungle. But, as far as our teams and everything, there were never any problems. As a matter of fact, we had a couple of black guys in the recon platoon and they would hang with us when we got to the rear. Every once in a while they would go and visit if they had a buddy in one of the other companies, but it‟s a brotherhood, that‟s all I can say. Interviewer: What kind of attitude did you have toward your officers? Was there a gap between the officers and the enlisted men? 30 �No, that‟s one good thing about the 101st, the officers, see, the officers get to pick which division they want to go to. We didn‟t; we had to go wherever they sent us. 53:06 And a lot of the officers they wanted the 101st Airborne, 1sr Cav, so most of our officers were very good, I liked all of our platoon leaders, CO‟s, but you know, we didn‟t get to see them that much. If you‟re in a line company, you got four platoons and you got four platoon leaders, so you saw your platoon leaders every day. In recon there‟s only one platoon leader, but there‟s five teams, so you would only see your platoon leader every fifth mission, so we were basically on our own. Interviewer: Now, you said over the course of the year, the strength of the platoon eventually went down. Were you losing guys that weren’t being replaced or were they moving them out? The troop withdrawal was going on big time in 1970, so most of the guys we lost, like I said, in recon we only lost two men the whole year, killed in action, two. One was a platoon leader and still—he was only with us for two days and I still cannot put a face on that man, he was only with us two days. 54:05 We lost a point man from another team, and that‟s the only two recon guys that died. We lost a lot when they got wounded, or maybe they got send somewhere else, and we just weren‟t getting replacements. Interviewer: Did you ever take and R&R anywhere? Yeah, I went to Sydney. Interviewer: How did that process work? Do you sign up someplace or do you get to pick where you go? Yeah, you had a choice. When I was there you could go to Sydney, Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong, I think it was Hong Kong, or Hawaii. And a lot of the married guys, 31 �naturally, they took Hawaii, so they could see their wives. I‟d always wanted to see Australia, I put in for Australia and I got it. As a matter of fact, I ran into one of the guys who was in recon, but he re-upped to get out of the field. 55:01 I ran into him and what they would do was they would fly you to Da Nang and from Da Nang you would go to wherever you were going. And there he was in Da Nang. I hadn‟t seen him for months and months, so we went on R&R together. Interviewer: What was there to do in Sdney? Sydney was great, the Australians love Americans, they still do, and the Australian women love American men. They do not like Australian men, but they love us. As a matter of fact, they had a place it was called King's Cross and it was a whole section, and they made you feel at home. They had one bar called “The Texas Tavern”, and they were great people. I loved Australia, great people. Interviewer: What was it like to have to get back on a plane and go back to Vietnam? That was hard, and that‟s why I didn‟t take my R&R until very late in my tour. A lot of guys after two months said, “I want to go on R&R”. I went very late in my tour and it was still hard once I got back. And it‟s scary to go back out in the jungle after having clean sheets, drinking and women and having a good time. 56:02 I‟m having a good time in Australia and now I have to come back to the middle of nowhere, so that was kind of hard. Interviewer: How much time did you have left of your tour when you got back? Two months, if that. 32 �Interviewer: Toward the end of it, as it’s getting short, did they do anything different with you, or give you different assignments, or did you just stay with your unit the whole time? Well, the way it was supposed to work was, you were supposed to do six months in the field and then six months in the rear and they would find a rear job for you. That never happened with me, I did my whole tour in the jungle and I didn‟t know it was my last mission, but when I got back I looked it up on the bulletin board, and I was leaving the next day, so I did my whole tour in the jungle. I never got my rear job, never. Interviewer: What was the response of your team when you told them you were leaving? I had a very good platoon leader. The whole platoon was on stand down, they presented me a lighter with my nickname on it and everything and I got to make a little speech, and in a way it was kind of hard to leave, you know. 57:09 But, I had watched the guys before me leave and it‟s very bittersweet. You want to leave, but again, you‟ve become so close to these guys that you feel for them. It was very bittersweet, but I was happy to leave, but again, I was sad too. Interviewer: Physically, how do they get you back to the states? It‟s amazingly fast, again we out-process, so I had to go back to brigade headquarters at Camp Evans, and then I had to go to Camp Eagle and out-process out of there, Phu Bai, the whole thing was repeated in reverse. Then they flew us to Cam Ranh Bay and processed out of the country. It took about a day to get all that done and then you‟re on a plane and back to Fort Lewis, Washington where they issued you your new uniform and you got a steak dinner. 58:06 The people that waited on you were the people going over 33 �to Vietnam and they had a million questions for you, I mean. But you got to pick out your steak and they gave you your back pay and off to the airport you went and home. I was home within thirty-six hours of leaving Camp Evans. I was home sitting in my living room. Interviewer: The route that you took did you encounter any anti-war protestors at the airport or anything like that? No, I was—number one, I got very drunk at the Seattle airport. I had to wait eight hours for my plane, so what else was there to do? No, I was very lucky. I didn‟t get a non-stop flight and our plane must have stopped at every airport from Seattle, Washington to New York City. We stopped in Cleveland, we stopped in Detroit, and we stopped somewhere else too. 59:01 I landed in New York City because my older sister lived in Manhattan and I didn‟t know how I was going to get to her apartment, but I was sitting next to a guy who was going home on leave and he said his mother was picking him up at the airport, and his mother said that she would take me there, and she did. I got a ride from Kennedy airport to downtown Manhattan. I surprised everybody in my family one at a time. Nobody knew when I was coming home, I wouldn‟t tell them. Interviewer: Now, you’ve got a fairly extensive collection of photographs etc. from your time in the service. How hard was it for a guy in a recon unit to be carrying a camera? I was the only one that had a camera, and I carried it in my side pocket. Interviewer: Was it easy to get film or to get things developed? I bought the camera at the PX in Camp Evans and it came with a roll of film. But every time I got to the rear and go to the PX to get film there was never any film. 00:05 So, I 34 �asked my mother to send me film. My mother would have been the greatest supply sergeant in the world. She sent me—I got more care packages than anyone, and how she did it, I don‟t know. She told me she spent eleven hundred dollars just in postage to send all those packages to Vietnam, and my mother was a waitress. Interviewer: This tape is out, so we’re going to stop here. How did you get your pictures developed? They developed them right there at Camp Evans. Interviewer: Then did you send pictures home? Everybody in my family would get a portion of the pictures, and then they would all get together, and my youngest sister put them all in albums for me. Interviewer: Now, because you were in the jungle all the time, you didn’t see much of the civilian population? 1:00 No, we only got a one say stand down and they didn‟t want you to—you couldn‟t leave Camp Evans unless you had a medical condition in which had to be treated, maybe, at Camp Eagle. Even then you have to go to the gate and the MP would flag somebody down and ask if they were going to Camp Eagle, so you could get a ride. They didn‟t let us out of Camp Evans. Interviewer: Once you get back to the states, you’re home and discharges, what do you do? I went back to my old job. Interviewer: Now, when you came back did you talk to people about your experiences in Vietnam? 35 �Well, my close friends, I wrote them all letters and they all knew what I was doing, they already knew, so they didn‟t—not too many people asked me questions. Interviewer: At what point did you start to talk more to people about what you saw, or share more of your stories? That started in the 1980‟s, there was a school teacher, who I had never met, called our local American Legion, and he wanted to know if there were any Vietnam vets that would like to talk to the kids. 2:12 They recommended me and the teacher called me up. I‟m a very private person and at first I wasn‟t going to do it, plus I was just talking to this guy on the phone, and he told me he had all kinds of Vietnam vets come in and talk to his students. He said he even had a draft dodger come in, which I wasn‟t too crazy about that aspect. See, I didn‟t know what this teacher was looking for. He said he had politicians come in, he had draft dodgers come in, he had soldiers that were against the war that came in, he wanted to know if there was somebody, you know, I guess, somebody like me. I was reluctant and I said to the teacher, “I‟ll tell you what, I‟ll do it, but I have to meet you face to face and we‟ll sit down and have talk and if we hit it off I‟ll do it, and if we don‟t hit it off, I‟m not doing it”. This guy, this teacher, he works— he was a teacher and he drove a taxi cab at night. 3:09 He came over to my house and he said he could only stay for about an hour, but he ended up staying for four hours. We talked and when we were done I said, “Ok, I‟ll do it”, and I said, “Do you want me to make up some kind of a little game plan?” He said, “No, just do what we just did”, and I said, “Ok, when do you want me?” He said, “How about tomorrow?” And then I did, and he combined two of his classes, and that‟s still the favorite class I ever did. They were very smart kids, and I can‟t say enough about the high school kids. They want to 36 �know and you can‟t B.S. them, they know, they‟re smart, but they want to know what you went through. One of the kids in his class was a foreign exchange student from Israel. She was a young girl, she was eighteen and she was in her senior year, and when I was done all the kids came up and they wanted to talk more, and shake my hand. 4:07 This girl said, “When I graduate and go back to Israel, I‟ll be going, it‟s mandatory male or female, you be in their army. But, you know, nobody‟s heard of John Mihalko in Israel, but when I get there people are going to know who you are”, and that made me feel ten feet high. But, all the kids were that way. Then they asked me to come back and I went back again a couple of weeks later and they all took up a collection and gave me money, which I didn‟t want to take. I said, “No, no, no”, and they insisted I take the money, and I donated it to our Ripcord Association, but that‟s just the kind of kids they were. It‟s amazing, and I‟ve had so many great experiences. I‟ve been lecturing for twenty-five years now, and I‟m still doing it in Colorado today. I‟ve never had a bad class and I enjoy it. 5:00 Interviewer: Now, are there stories, or things, you make a point of including in those presentations that you managed to leave out of this interview so far? No, what I do is, I give them a brief overview of what I did and then I want questions from them. In all truthfulness, girls ask more questions than boys. All boys want to hear about it blood and guts. Girls really make me think. But, I love doing it and I‟ve been doing it for a long time. Interviewer: Did you encounter much hostility, or whatever, because you were a Vietnam veteran? Did that create a problem for you at certain points? 37 �Not in my town. I told you I‟m from Whippany, New Jersey, and even the town Whippany comes an Indian name that means “the land of the willows”, willow trees. The people from my town were there before the French and Indian War, we weren‟t even a country yet, and it‟s a very patriotic little town, so I didn‟t have any problems going back. 6:01 Like I said, I went back to my job I had and as I traveled, yeah, I could see hostility, I mean a lot of the old veterans didn‟t want anything to do with us. But, I think that‟s true in all wars, because I know the WWI guys looked down on the WWII guys, and the Korean guys were the quietest. A lot of them fought in WWII and Korea, or Korea and Vietnam. The Korean guys are the quietest, see, the Vietnam guys, most of us, we‟re outspoken, and I‟m sure there were Vietnam guys that looked down on the Desert Storm guys because that thing was over so fast, I mean—but, that was over fast because our country learned from the mistakes of Vietnam, I firmly believe that. They went into it to win it and they won it. Interviewer: And in that case got out again. When you look back at the time you spent in the service, what kind of an effect do you think that had on you in the end? 7:03 I value each and every day. I‟m still the same person I was, but I enjoy things more. When I came home and I got into my house, I turned on the water and I watched the water run and then I turned it off real quick because I didn‟t want to waste it, but it was nice seeing running water. I opened the refrigerator and I said, „Wow, I don‟t have to carry ninety pounds on my back anymore‟. Things like that, I couldn‟t sleep in a bed for a long time. I slept on the floor for months, so that part changed me, but I‟m still the same person. I still have the same beliefs and ideals. 38 �Interviewer: Well, you got a good story, you’ve had some practice telling it, but you do a good job. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to me. Thanks for having me. 7:57 39 �40 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MihalkoJ1280V Title A name given to the resource Mihalko, John (Interview transcript and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mihalko, John Description An account of the resource John Mihalko was born in a patriotic town called Whippany in New Jersey. After graduating high school he worked in warehousing for three years before getting drafted. He got his training at Fort Dix. In Fort Lewis, he got his jungle training. Sent to Vietnam in January, 1970, he was assigned to the reconnaissance platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, in the 101st Airborne Division. He survived his year in the field, and went on twenty-five or more patrols. His unit was involved in the fighting around Firebase Ripcord between March and July, 1970. Mihalko later helped found the Ripcord Association and organize the first reunion of veterans of that campaign. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Army Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-10-06 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ff5df546f65a58fbcc379c26f6761dd5.pdf 8be679ad64993fc5105cd6b7a4d9c270 PDF Text Text r . ,. lVIILAN 2010 lVIASTER PLAN �MILAN 2010 MASTER PLAN CITY OF MILAN, MICffiGAN Prepared by: Milan 2010 Master Plan Committee and the Milan Planning Commission Assistance provided by: Vilican-Leman & Associates, Inc. 28316 Franklin Road Southfield, Michigan 48034 • JUNE 1991 �ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MAYOR Alan Israel MAYOR PRO-TEM Marilyn Wisner COUNCIL MEMBERS Louis G. LeBeau David Ludwig Thomas Preston Kevin Serpa Richard Zavala PLANNING COMMISSION Richard Bancroft Ed Swope William Craigmile Ira Kerns Glen King Donald Ludwig Thomas Preston Edwin Ransom Gregory Stripp, Chairman 2010 ADVISORY COMMIITEE REPRESENTING John Gaines ... . . . .. . ......... . ........... . .................. . . . .... . D.D.A. Alan Israel, Mayor ..... . ....... . ......... . ....... ... ... . ...... City Administration Glen Johnston ....... . .......... . ......... .. . . .... .. ............ . ... T.I.F.A. Patrick McShane, Administrator ..... . ......... . . . .. .. ... . ........ City Administration Ed Ransom Planning Commission Greg Stripp Planning Commission Clayton Symons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milan Schools Marilyn Wisner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City Council CONSULTANT Vilican-Leman & Associates, Inc. �TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE Introduction ................................................................... 1 Purpose ................................................................ Scope ..... ... ................... . .... ....... ........... ..... .......... Planning Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 Population Profile ...................... : ........................................ 3 Trends ................•................................................ Population Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Social & Economic Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Housing Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 7 9 Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Residential Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industrial Areas .......................................................... Parks & Recreation/Open Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 14 14 Goals and Objectives ........................................................... 16 Future Land Use ............................................................... 20 Residential Areas .......... .............. ....... ................ .. ............ Commercial Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industrial Areas .............................................................. Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public & Semi-Public .......................................................... Thorofares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Historic Preservation .......................................................... 23 25 27 28 39 42 43 47 Master Plan for Future Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Implementation ...................... .. ...... . ....... ............ ..... ......... 51 TABLES Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10 11: 12: 13: 14: 15: 16: Population Trends ................................................... 3 Age Group Comparison .............................................. 4 Age Group Trends .................................................. 6 Economic Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Employment Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8 Educational Characteriistics ............................................ 9 Age of Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1o Housing Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Existing Land Use Within City Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Comparison of Acres Per Thousand Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Proposed Future Land Use Within the City Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Proposed Future Land Use for the City of Milan and Planning Area .............. 21 Comparison of Acres of Land Use Per Thousand Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Future Land Use Comparison of Acres Per Thousand Population .... .. ......... 22 Standards For Lot Sizes, Existing and Proposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Facilities Deficiency and Surplus ....................................... 34 �• INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The overall purpose of the Milan 2010 Master Plan is to set forth a general plan that will serve to guide the long-range development of land in a defined area. A prime objective of the plan is to achieve a balance of land uses that economically, physically, and socially benefit those persons residing in and about that defined area. The master plan as a whole, serves as a policy manual to provide direction in making land use decisions. The master plan illustrates, "where the City is going." It serves in this capacity in several distinct ways. First, it provides supporting language which both reflects the public wishes and justifies land use decisions. Second, it provides a list of goals and objectives which can be used to shape the community in a planned manner. The Future Land Use Plan, which is included within this document serves as a framework for the physical land use distribution within the City and its respective planning area. The plan is the result of a study by the Milan 201 O Master Plan Committee and planning consultants, Vilican-Leman & Associates, Inc. SCOPE Milan's 2010 Master Plan is a policy manual. One of the tools to accomplish the goals and objectives is direct public actions. However, some of the most powerful and useful tools are the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. The Zoning Ordinance was updated in connection with the update of the master plan so that there is clear and consistent coordination. It is important to recognize that the master plan supports the Zoning Ordinance. State zoning enabling legislation specifies that zoning should be based on a plan. This master plan provides the framework for the Milan Zoning Map. Additionally, the plan considers the broad goals of the community and provides objectives as how to achieve these goals. ) .. PLANNING AREA The development of a Future Land Use Plan for a specific community and the surrounding area may have a direct effect on land use proposals and policies. Since Milan is surrounded by four townships, it becomes necessary to overlap planning efforts in order to effectuate sound land use transition between abutting communities. Also, the City's policy to eventually extend urban services outside the present City limits deems study of surrounding land uses necessary. Therefore, a planning area, as shown on the Residential Areas Plan Map, was delineated and used as a basis for study. Reference will be made to the City of Milan proper, and to the City of Milan and its planning area throughout the study. It should be noted that the two are distinct areas and should not be considered interchangeable. 1 �METHODOLOGY I I· In May of 1989 a field survey of the City was performed to record visual impressions of the City. These impressions were recorded and discussed with the Planning Commission, and thus started the master plan process. Other background studies were also conducted at this time including an inventory of all land uses within the City and a demographic analysis. Broad community goals were then discussed and prepared. Objectives and policies were established in conjunction with the specific goals for the individual land use elements. As the process continued, various elements were analyzed and discussed by the 201 O Committee. Goals, objectives and policies for each element were discussed and reworked. Upon completion of the analysis of the individual elements, and the setting of goals and objectives, the individual elements were condensed, compiled and coordinated to form the master plan document. I • ' 2 �POPULATION PROFILE TRENDS Both Monroe and Washtenaw Counties experienced significant growth between 1970 and 1980 according to Census statistics. However, during the same period, the City of Milan decreased in population. This loss, 423 residents, represents a 9.2 percent decline for the decade. Projections based on past trends predict the decline to continue resulting in a decrease of 577 residents by 1990 representing a loss of 13.8 percent. However, based on input from local officials as well as a windshield survey of the City, there is proof that the population may once again be increasing. An apartment complex containing 86 units was recently constructed and building officials estimate between 20 and 30 houses have been constructed within the past year. In fact, the only data figure now available from the 1990 Census shows the City of Milan population at 3,990 residents. Thus, the projected decrease of residents is not as sharp as trends would indicate. TABLE 1 POPULATION TRENDS City of Milan Sources: 4,605 4, 182 4,040 -9.2% Monroe County 118,479 134,659 · 133,600 13.7% Washtenaw County 234,103 264,748 282,937 13.1% -3.5% 6.4% 1970, 1980 & 1990 Censuses and Urban Decision Systems. County information was supplied by the Michigan Department of Management and Budget. Unfortunately, an increase in the number of households does not always create a corresponding increasing in population. Since 1980, it is estimated that the average number of persons per household has decreased from 2.87 to 2.61. 1 Therefore, there may be more homes, but because there are fewer people in each home, the population if not declining, is not growing as rapidly as perceived. This will be discussed in more detail later in this document. A declining population can be detrimental to the fiscal health of a community. As population decreases, the demand for homes also decreases. As the demand decreases, the market value of those homes will probably decline. Furthermore, a decrease in the number of people in the community results in fewer dollars to be spent at area stores, undermining their economic soundness. Urban Decision Systems. 3 �A program for arousing the demand should be considered. Milan's proximity to Ann Arbor could be beneficial. The recent growth in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas, has inflated land and home values. Milan may be able to offer a better value for the dollar. To do so, the historic character of the City should be emphasized, raising a sense of community spirit and placing renewed importance on the existing housing stock. At the same time alternative housing types which cater to the needs of the largest demographic group should be encouraged. The City's proximity to rail lines, expressways, the University of Michigan, and the Ford Motor Company complex may be very appealing to manufacturers. This should be exploited. The collection of commercial buildings of architectural quality in the City's downtown area is a considerable asset. These buildings should retain their historic character and a unifying streetscape treatment should be devised. Historic preservation tax credits and other economic incentives and programs should be explored. All of these details will be addressed further in other areas of the master plan document. But, their role in maintaining or increasing the population base is important. POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS Preschool TABLE 2 AGE GROUP COMPARISON: 1988 Age group estimates for 1988 indicate that 8.5 percent of the City's population is less than six years old. This compares closely with County percentages. This number is forecasted to remain relatively stable but may increase as baby boomers, who are now parents, have children of their own. This is refered as the echo of the baby boom. 8.5% 10.2% 7.8% 6-13 12.6% 13.8% 9.1% 14-17 7.7% 6.4% 6.4% 18-20 3.3% 4.4% 6.6% 21-24 4.3% 4.4% 12.4% 16.9% 17.0% 21.0% 2~34 In response to this and' other socioeconomic factors, there has been an 15.7% 14.2% 16.9% increase of day care facilities, nationwide. 10. 1% 8.3% 8.8% 4~54 It is becoming more socially acceptable 7.7% 7.4% 5.9% and to an extent economically essential 13.0% 10.7% 8.2% 65+ that both parents remain employed. Thus, working parents are turning to day care. 100% 100% 100% This trend has been reinforced through state legislation limiting the control of Sources: 1970 & 1980 Census and UrtJan Decision Systems. home based day care and the rise in day care franchise operations. The manner in which this is addressed by the City's zoning ordinance may be an important issue. 4 �School Aee Children The groups between five and 18 years old, collectively represented 20.3 percent of the City's population in 1988. 2 Although significantly greater than the Washtenaw County percentage, it is roughly equal to Monroe County's statistics. This group does not represent the largest sector of Milan's population profile, but with approximately 755 people, it does represent a considerable number. Based on these statistics, enrollment trends for the area appear to coincide with population trends. The trend is towards a declining enrollment since 1987. It should be noted that the school district encompasses a larger area than the City, but general patterns can still be followed. Family Formine The second largest group represented in the age distribution, 24.8 percent of the population, are those between 18 and 34, the family formers. With a total of 922 people estimated in this category in 1988, they constitute a large component of the City's makeup. This is the group that will be fueling any potential increase in the number of preschoolers. ,. l We are amidst a national trend in which one of the fastest growing groups is currently the singles. People are staying single longer and generally, delaying child bearing into their late 20's and 30's. This is one reason why the preschool group is not expected to have explosive growth regardless of the number of people within the family forming group. Compounding the issue is the fact that those who have children, today are having fewer. The estimated average household size in 1988 was 2.61 people per household for Milan. The 1993 forecast for household size shows a decrease to 2.47. 3 From an economic standpoint, these people, either single or childless are expected to spend large sums on household items, home-repair, fast food, entertainment and leisure. They are a strong consumers. The fact that the City contains a large number of people within this group may speak of prosperity for local business. I '. ,. I Mature Families A sizeable proportion of Milan's population is between the ages of 35 and 54. In fact, they are the largest group in the City's population profile. These people will tend to have children thoroughly entrenched within the educational system and will be very concerned with the quality of education available. Currently, they represent approximately 25.7 percent of the population, but with the aging of the family forming group, the mature 2 Urban Decision Systems. 3 Urban Decision systems. 5 �families group will become an overwhelming majority. Within ten years they will be clearly the largest group in both number and proportion. Again this does not suggest a huge increase in the number of school age children since family size is generally shrinking, but there will be more parents. These parents may be more sympathetic to millage increase and will probably be interested in issues relating to parks, open space and recreation. TABLE3 AGE GROUP TRENDS 0-5 352 8.4% 317 8.5% 267 7.7% 6-13 604 14.4% 470 12.6% 442 12.7% 14- 17 332 7.9% 286 7. 7% 246 7. 1% 18-20 212 5. 1% 122 3.3% 101 2.9% 21-24 304 7.3% 159 4.3% 104 3.0% 25-34 726 17.4% 638 17.2% 528 15.2% 35-44 520 12.4% 630 "16.9% 669 19.2% 45-54 371 8.9% 327 8.8% 353 10.2% 55-64 355 8.5% 287 7.7% 248 7.1% 65 + 406 9.7% 483 13.0% 518 14.9% 4, 182 100% 3,719 100% 3,476 100% POPULATION City of Milan 28.9 32.9 35.8 Monroe County 27.9 30.5 32.3 Washtenaw County 27.8 28.4 29.7 Sources: SEMCOG and 1970 & 1980 Census and Urban Decision Systems. Mature Adults Today, societies are typically characterized as aging. The median age in the city was 28.9 years in 1980. It is estimated that this will increase to 35.8 years by 1993. The estimates for both Monroe and Washtenaw counties are also on the rise. Because older adults tend to make more money than young adults this can be beneficial to the economy of the city. However, they are generally not a consumer oriented group. While it is true that this group is projected to spend an increasing amount of their income on leisure activities, they have a greater likelihood to save. l. ,- l_ 6 �The group between 55 and 64 years of age is commonly referred to as the "empty nesters." They are older parents who's children have left the household. Thus, many of these people find themselves with extra income and time to spend it. They seek more passive or less intense forms of recreation such as golf, swimming, or walking. Also, many of them find that their current houses are too big or costly for their needs and seek alternative living arrangements. The City of Milan's population make-up consists of approximately 7. 7 percent within the 55 to 64 year old range. This is above the figures for both Monroe and Washtenaw Counties. Furthermore, the City has a considerable amount of people 65 years or olde_r. They represent 13.0 percent of the population. Estimates indicate that this number will increase by 1993 to 14.9 percent. Many communities, seeking to diversify their age distributions and thus their economic soundness, are finding ways to retain mature adults. In fact, some communities have attempted to attract seniors into the community. Because the number of seniors is significant in Milan and is expected to grow, the number and placement of elderly facilities is an issue which should be addressed in the master plan. For example, elderly housing is often placed near to recreation and shopping areas to limit the distance that seniors have to travel either by car or other means. A number of mature adults, usually over 65 years old, do not use automobiles and thus require living arrangement which place them within walking distance of essential services. Planning for their needs may bring the need for a special zoning designation or some other treatment. GENERAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Household Income TABLE 4 ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: 1988 The median household income for the 5 i~~~::h~l~s ~i~ ~:~~~~ ( I r I . i~~~~~ !~~ $32,594. The median describes the middle point on a plotted curve of income per household while the average relates to the sum divided by the number of households. For our purposes, the median serves as a better indicator because it describes a situation in which one half of the households are above the figure and one half of them are below. Compared to either Monroe or Washtenaw counties, Milan has a greater median household income. In 1988, only 18.3 percent of the City's households earned less than $15,000. This is considerably less, percentagewise than either county. ll: !jli :Jj!i!~i~1il~il !il !i~!il !j!i!i~l~l il :~:i:i1: :1:1:1;,:;1:1:1:1:1:1:~il~l f •i1lilil!iL , ii!ilJ:[1:11 a 11: 11 Household Income •- - - - - -5.2% ---- - - -5.1% --• 4.3% $0- $4,999 $ 5,000 • $9,999 6.1% 9.2% 7.9% $10,000 · $14,999 7.0% 8.7"" 9.0% $15,000 • $19,999 8.8% 8.3% 9.3% $20,000 • $24,999 10.9% 8.4% 8.5% $25,000 • $29,999 7.5% 9.2% 8.3% $30,000 - $34,999 8.6% 10.5% 7.7% $35,000 - $39,999 11.4% 9.3% 7.4% $40,000 - $49,999 15.4% 13.9% 12. 1% $50,000 - $74,999 14. 1% 13.8% 16.2% 4.8% 4.4% 8.5% Med. Household Inc. $32,535 $30,887 $31,223 Ayg. Household Inc. $33,871 $32,968 $36,941 $75,000 7 + �At the other end of the scale, only 4.8 percent earned $75,000 or more. This is slightly above Monroe County's figure of 4.4 and below Washtenaw County's figure of 8.5%. The bulk of the City's households, 40.9 percent, has yearly incomes in the range of $35,000 to $74,999. Occupation TABLES EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS The City has a very even E~~~~e~~ b~~~~l~irew~~k::'.te show that 47.4 percent of the residents are employed in "white collar" positions and 48.9 percent are "blue collar." As a point of comparison, Monroe County has a make-up of approximately 40.4 percent white collar and 59.6 percent blue collar. Washtenaw County is almost the reverse of Monroe County with a make-up of approximately 62.4 percent white collar and 37 .6 percent blue collar. The Washtenaw County figure is probably strongly affected by the large number of white collar jobs associated with the University of Michigan and the City of Ann Arbor in general. llil ! ! J!i i l!,J~~li!l!lj!li;,!l lllilll!l! l\!i l!ililjl;jJ.!li ~ljifJJlil:lfl\JjlJ J ~\!ljlil lrJJ! !,li!i jll l : . llli !i !I WHITE COLLAR Managerial/Executive 6.4% 7.5% 9.9% Professional 11 .7% 8.8% 22.3% Technical 2.4% 2.1% 5.5% Clerical 19.4% 14.0% 16.4% Sales 7.5% 8.1% 8.3% 47.4% 40.4% 62.4% Craftmen 11.8% 18.4% 8.8% Operatives 19.7% 19.8% 11 .8% Services 16.0% 14.1% 13.6% Laborers 3.6% 5.0% 2.1% Farm Workers 1.5% 2.3% 1.2% 52.6% 59.6% 37.6% TOTAL BLUE COLLAR TOTAL Source: 1970 & 1980 Census and Urban Decision Systems. The proximity of the Ford automotive plant and the prison facility contribute to the availability of employment. The unemployment rate for the City of Milan was four percent in May, 1989. 5 While this is low in general, it is indicative of past unemployment figures for the City. It is safe to say that the demand for prison space is forecasted to remain strong. However, the automotive industry rides the economic rollercoaster. As the various business cycles progress, the demand for automobiles rises and falls. This can be extremely unsettling for a community. To maintain a healthy economy, a diversity of industry is essential. Industries which tend to run counter to automotive trends should be especially targeted. However, the attraction of businesses that serve largely as suppliers to the auto industry should not be neglected. Proximity to the Ford plant can be a key consideration to suppliers which may be used to entice new business into the community. L .. .,, 4 Urban Decision Systems 5 Michigan Employment Security Commission . 8 �I Education TABLE 6 EDUCATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS There is a high percentage of residents 25 years or older, who have only a high school education. Although this figure, 38.4 percent, is less than the Monroe County figure, it is high in relation to the Washtenaw County figure of 26.3 High School Only 38.4% 42.0% 26.3% College (1 to 3 years) 18.3% 12.5% 18.5% 14.0% 8.9% 36. 1% College (4 years or more) Source: 1970 & 1980 Census and Urban Decision Systems. * Includes only residents 25 years or older. percent. Also, 18.5 percent of Monroe County residents have one to three years of college education. Milan with 18.3 percent is for all practical purposes identical. The number of Milan residents who have completed four or more years of college is higher than the figure for Monroe County but falls far short of the Washtenaw County figure. Over all, education in median years at 12.54 for Milan, 12.32, for Monroe County is almost identical. Washtenaw County with a median of 13.74 most likely reflects the number of people employed by the University of Michigan. Milan's large percentage of adults with only a high school education may be related, to an extent, to employment opportunities in the City. Some communities have developed industrial/research/office parks. Facilities such as these, which have been developed in the Ann Arbor area, chiefly employ white collar workers. This may be an issue to be examined in the master plan and zoning ordinance. Also, the community could benefit from educational programs which promote advanced education. Examples are adult education, accelerated classes and advanced placement programs. GENERAL HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS Household Trends I A household is a group of people living together in a housing unit. The U.S. Bureau of the Census defines a housing unit as, "a house, an apartment, a group of rooms or a single room, occupied as a separate living quarters or, if vacant, intended for occupancy as a _separate living quarters." According to Census data, the number of households in the City of Milan increased throughout the 1970's, reaching a total of 1,458 households in 1980. The recession of the early 1980's coupled with high interest rates, severely limited new home construction. As a result, the number of households in Milan declined in conjunction with a lack of new development and the eventual elimination of some housing units. A 1988 estimate6 of 1,424 households indicates that the gradual decline in the number of households is continuing and will probably continue into the future unless offset by new home construction. 6 Urban Decision Systems. I. I '- 9 �... Household size In 1980, the average household size according to the Census was 2.87 persons per household. This figure declined through the 1980's reaching an estimated figure of 2.61 persons per household in 1988. This decline in households size is characteristic of County, State and National trends. Generally, a declining household size may contribute to a decrease in population if the number of households remains relatively stable. (number of households x average household size = pop. estimate) This appears to be the case in City of Milan. The decline in household size is due to a variety of factors among which are the increase in divorce rates (nationally) whereby what had been at least two persons living in one household becomes, two persons, each with their own household. Additionally, and of particular relevance in Milan, is that those born during the "baby boom" period of 1946 through 1964 have generally delayed their marriage and childbirth in proportions beyond those of previous generations. The largest share of the City's population, almost 34%, was born during the baby boom. TABLE 7 AGE OF HOUSING Historic Architecure ~ The majority, 52.2 percent of Milan 's housing was built before 1950. Of this a good amount may be of architectural or historic 11.6% 3.9% 10.0% 1975-1980 significance. As the predominant characteristic of the City's housing 14.3% 16.3% 9.7% 1970-1974 stock, an emphasis should be 14.8% 27.1% 15.7% 1960-1969 placed on the maintenance and 17.6% 17. 1% 18.4% preservation of these homes. 1950-1959 Currently, an Historical Society or 41.7% 29.5% 52.5% 1949 exists, but the City may wish to older consider the creation of a Historic L===========:!::::::============::!.I District Study Committee under Source: 1970 & 1980 Census and Urban Decision Systems. Public Act 169 of 1970 as amended. The committee would survey the area and then could designate specific buildings and/or districts for preservation. Also, the committee may be influential in the creation of an Historic District Ordinance. Other common activities of such committees include conducting periodic tours of historic buildings, preparing brochures, describing historic architecture, and holding community awareness programs to discuss the benefits of historic preservation. These and other issues will be reviewed more extensively in the Historic Preservation component of this master plan. Housing of little or no architectural significance, often requires a considerable amount of maintenance and code improvements. A variety of housing rehabilitation programs are currently available and are offered through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) in cooperation with local banks and the community. These programs have proven to be effective mechanisms to stabilize and improve the housing stock in many communities throughout Michigan. 10 �Tenure of Housine TABLE 8 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: 1980 I ' The City of Milan had approximately 430 rente r occupied housing units in 1980. This represents a 28.5 percent share of the City's housing Number of 1,512 98,172 45,361 stock. This compares with Housing Units 1980 figures for Monroe and 96.5% 95.1% Occupied Units 94.6'% Washtenaw Counties of 20.2 percent and 44.0 percent Vacant Units 4.4% 4.6% 3.5% respectively . Washtenaw 68.0% 74.9% 50.6% Owner County figures are most likely Occupancy distorted due to the large demand for rental units around 20.2% 44.00/4 Renter Occupied 28.5% the University of Michigan. At $48,134 $45,953 $61,578 Median Value the same time, 1988 estimates $270 $240 $199 for the City indicate a general Median Rent decline in the number of owner occupied housing units while Source: 1970 & 1980 Census and Urban Decision Systems. the number of renter occupied units remains stable at 430. 7 The market for new multiple family housing units appears to be quite good. There is a large segment of the population in Milan that may find a need for rental housing. Typically, this may be seen as young people who cannot afford a house or older people who may not care to maintain one. If there is a market, as appears to be true, the City should carefully pick areas for multiple family growth. One indicator of the need for alternative housing types is the number of non-family households. Non-Family Households A non-family household is one "containing just one resident or two or more residents unrelated by blood or marriage."8 For the City of Milan, the 1988 estimate9 of non-family households was 24.1 percent. Monroe County had an estimated 19.8 percent and Washtenaw County an estimated 38.6 percent of its housing units described as non-family households. ,. l . 7 Urban Decision Systems 8 U.S. Census. 9 Urban Decision systems 11 �Non-family households typically have fewer children and require smaller housing units. Also, housing that is not geared towards the family may require little or no yard due to the lack of children. ·Housing which suits their needs might be condominium townhouses, apartments, and attached or detached cluster condominiums. Older people often find condominium housing a desirable alternative due to the amenities available and lack of owner maintenance. It is important to remember that housing developed under the Condominium Act, can take many forms and does not reflect any particular style of development. Popular today, is single family cluster housing and site condominiums. From an economic standpoint, a housing unit that is larger than the occupant's needs can be a financial burden. This can lead to decreased maintenance and a blighting effect due to lack of time or money. Furthermore, by committing too much income to housing, little may be left for other expenditures. This is money that could have otherwise been spent in the community. To facilitate a healthy mix of housing units that meet the economic needs and desires of the community, areas should be carefully master-planned. ,e i l 12 �EXISTING LAND USE RESIDENTIAL AREAS The City's housing supply is predominantly single family in nature. The older homes are concentrated around the Central Business District to the north, east and west with some additional housing south of the Saline River. This area is bounded approximately by vacant land and Arkona Road to the north, Main Street to the south, Case Street to the east and Platt Road to the west. The additional smaller area south of the Saline River is concentrated along Wabash Street ·and between Division and Ohio Streets. Many of the larger older homes have been converted to two family and multiple family dwelling structures. ( . TABLE 9 EXISTING LAND USE WITHIN CllY BOUNDARIES (1989 FIELD SURVEY) Residential (311.3) 19.0 Single Family 275 16.8 Multiple Family 37 2.3 Commercial 37 2.3 Office 1.5 0. 1 Industrial 248 15.1 71 4.3 Public 24 1.5 Quasi-Public 38 2.3 Schools 58 3.5 Water 44 2.7 Road right-of-way 369 22.5 Rail right-of-way 38 2.3 Vacant 363 22. 1 1,640 100.0% -Parks TOTAL Newer housing is located further from the Central Business District. These areas include subdivisions north of Phillips Street, southeast of the Platt and Main Street intersection and Anderson Street. There are a few multiple family developments in the City. These include a development at Hurd and Ferman Streets (the old High School site), the northeast corner of Main Street and Platt Road; on the west side of Platt Road south of Main Street and on the east side of Platt Road between Canfield and Louis Street. 13 L. �,, COMMERCIAL AREAS The City of Milan has three major commercial areas, the Central Business District and adjacent commercial areas along Main Street in the center of the City. The Central Business District and adjacent area to the west has approximately 50 commercial establishments in an area roughly bounded by First and Hurd Streets to the north, the S~line River flood plain and Ford Lake to the south, Gay Street to the east and Church Street on the west. The commercial area in the northeast portion of the City lies on both sides of Carpenter Road near the U.S. 23 expressway. Commercial land uses are located along both sides of Carpenter Road roughly between Arkona Road to the north and Phillip's Street to the south. There are approximately 25 commercial establishments in this area. The third major commercial area is located west of Platt Road along Main Street. This area indudes a supermarket, drug store, bank and barber shop. In addition to these three commercial areas, there are two smaller commercial areas in the City. These include the following locations: 1. Intersection of Dexter and County Streets - this area includes a car dealer, gas station and auto parts store. 2. Intersection of Redman, Allen and Wabash Streets - this area has a farm supply store, offices, bar, an adjacent lumber business which is also an industrial use and other commercial uses. There are also a few individual commercial uses at various locations in the City. INDUSTRIAL AREAS The major industrial area of Milan is the area east of U.S. 23, between the Railroad rightof-way and Plank Road, occupied primarily by the Ford Motor Company. The other large industrial area in the City is located south of Redman Road on both sides of Platt Road. PARKS & RECREATION AREAS/OPEN SPACE The City of Milan is blessed with a wealth of recreation land and open space. The City of Milan has over 200 acres of developed parks. These include Wilson Park (35.6 acres), Ford Lake (14.4 acres), Nature Park (11.8 acres), Middle School Play field (4.15 acres), Sanford Road Park (139.5 acres), Milan Softball Park (9 acres) and the High School Paddock School Fields (22 acres). The remaining open space acreage is land which includes the Saline River and its floodplain and the Ford Lake backwaters (a greenbelt I \ L- C 14 �r area which takes an east-west course through the center of Milan). Ford Lake is shallow and silted, but provides an attractive water area in close proximity to the downtown and easily accessible to all residents. The extensive Saline River frontage is a valuable asset to the City Park System. TABLE 10 COMPARISON OF ACRES PER THOUSAND POPULATION: 1990 LAND USE SURVEY H:989) -:;•· . ·• )< 1 ··..:...•:•r•••::::::11 11:::::::; I I . ACRES PER 11 0H6 / . . PEOPLE •·• .< .•. .:. ...... 274 76.2 Multiple Family Residential 37 10.2 Commercial 27 10.2 Office 2 0.4 248 68.9 Parks 71 19.8 Public 24 6.6 Quasi-Public 38 10.5 Schools 82 16.0 Vacant 363 100.7 Industrial I .:AC.RES (?. Single Family Residential I .. 15 �:l~- !}:::'}{}1 SINGLE-FAMILY ~ MULTIPLE-FAMILY fI%~H OFFICE - COMMERCIAL ~ PU 8 LI C ~ QUASI 11W SCHOOLS ~ PARKS ~ LIGHT ~ HEAVY C::=J ~ ...... L RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL PUBLIC ...... INDUSTRIAL 400 INDUSTRIAL SCAL[ VACANT a toO IN !!_00 'f[T MAY 1989 AGRICULTURAL EXISTING Cl TY LAND USEI OF MILAN MICHIGAN vlllcan · lemon a 011oclat11 Inc . community planning conaultanta �GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In the formulation of a Future Land Use Plan, the Planning Commission set forth policies concerning the future of the community. Such a task requires much study and review by the Commission, as well as an objectiveness by which decisions made· benefit the community as a whole. Therefore, to aid the Planning Commission in their endeavors, a Milan 2010 Master Plan Committee was formed consisting of the following: Mayor, Council members, Planning Commissioners, TIFA Member, DDA Member, local residents , a Chamber of Commerce member, school board representative, City Administrator, and City Planner. It was the purpose of the committee to set forth a list of goals and objectives to serve as guidelines in the Planning Commission's formulation of the Future Land Use Plan. Following are the goals and objectives as listed by the 2010 Committee. Goal 1: Goal 2: To create a pattern of development for the City of Milan in which various land use designations are compatible with one another. Objective: Industrial area will be as distant as possible from residential areas. Objective: Business uses will be convenient to but not adjacent to residential uses. To provide an accurate balance of housing types to meet the needs of Milan residents. Objective: Encourage the development of new single family areas in appropriate locations with emphasis on preserving a rural suburban atmosphere. Objective: Emphasize the maintenance and preservation of existing single family neighborhoods while providing a balance of housing types. · Objective: Recognize the need for some multiple family housing, while limiting locations to major and secondary thorofares. Objective: Make provision for utilizing owner occupied single family detached and attached cluster housing in areas where single family subdivision development would be disruptive to natural resources. 16 �Goal 3: Goal 4: Goal 5: Objective: Preserve and maintain structures of significant historical or architectural value and their immediate surroundings. Objective: Use the cluster and PUD options of the zoning ordinance to meet the need for one and two person dwelling units. To designate land uses in such a way that development is not over-taxing the infrastructure. Objective: Place high intensity uses along major thorofares. Objective: Designate major thorofares on a map. Objective: Designate future school sites. Objective: Create mechanism which limits the number of drives onto major thorofares that would otherwise hamper their efficiency. Objective: Consult the various organizations which will be improving infrastructure components and analyze the impacts of these improvements. To preserve the natural resources of the City of Milan. Objective: Utilize a wetlands ordinance to insure that development will not disturb valuable areas. Objective: Create and adopt a woodland protection ordinance to insure that development will not disturb valuable wooded areas. Objective: Use zoning overlays to provide flexible mechanisms through which development can occur while maintaining natural areas. To promote and provide joint use by the City and School District of existing and proposed school sites, where feasible, for both passive and active recreation purposes. Objective: Emphasize cooperation between the City and School District for efficient use of facilities. 17 �Objective: Goal 6: Goal 7: Goal 8: 1• Seek agreement between the City and School District in the development of parks and recreation facilities and school facilities to avoid duplication of effort, where feasible. To incorporate the existing Parks and Recreation Plan into the City of Milan, 2010 Master Plan. Objective: l)tilize recommendations in the Parks and Recreation Plan. Objective: Update the Parks and Recreation Plan periodically to reflect current conditions and Michigan Department of Natural Resource Programs standards. To rehabilitate the existing Central Business District. Objective: Preserve the inherent architectural character of individual buildings and the downtown area as a whole. Objective: Preserve and maintain structures of significant historical and architectural value. Objective: Provide realistic and feasible economic restructuring to meet the current needs and market potential of the unique shopping atmosphere. Objective: Recognize the need to seek alternate uses for structures which are no longer suitable for their original purpose. Objective: Recognize the need for housing units to occupy second and third floors of downtown buildings where feasible. Objective: Encourage physical improvements to the streetscape which respect the architectural values of the buildings which occupy the central business district. The Master Plan should provide for future school sites in relationship to the population to be served. Objective: Provide convenient locations for future school sites. Objective: Provide future school sites which consider population growth potential of all areas shown in the Master Plan. 18 �Goal 9: Goal 10. Goal 11 . Provide for adequate water and sewer seNice which reflects the future growth potential of the City and surrounding area. Objective: Monitor existing and future plans and timetables (County, regional and others) to provide cost effective service locations. Objective: Determine the potential impact of future City growth and the surrounding area. To provide an adequate traffic circulation system. Objective : Improve truck routes between industrial areas and the expressway (U.S. 23). Objective: Place an emphasis on north/south movement. To provide for potential areas to accommodate alternative housing needs of the City of Milan residents. Objective: Provide for senior citizen housing. Objective: Provide for low and middle income housing. Goal 12. To aesthetically improve the thorofare approaches to the City. Goal 13. To encourage industrial development. Goal 14. To recommend and eliminate incompatible land uses. Goal 15. To take steps to insure that all inferior structures in the City are removed or rehabilitated so as to conform to the Code and Ordinance requirements of the City. Goal 16. To establish a historic district study committee for the purpose of identifying historical and architectural resources and methods for their preseNation. Objective: Preserve the unique identity and community character of Milan. Objective : Create public awareness of historic preservation benefits. Objective: Adopt a realistic historic district ordinance. Objective: Maintain and preserve structures of significant historical and architectural value and their immediate surroundings. 19 �FUTURE LAND USE TABLE 11 PROPOSED FUTURE LAND USE WITHIN THE CITY OF MILAN BOUNDARIES (1990) I LAND USE CATEGROY I I PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA (484.7) (30.3%) Low density 357.7 23.0% High density 117.0 7.3% (51.4) (3.2%) Local 5.0 0.3% General 15.0 0.9% Expressway 14.0 0.9% Central Business District 17.4 1.0% Industrial 315.6 19.7% Parks & Recreation 161.8 10. 1% Public 63.0 3.9% Schools (Public) 82.0 4.5% Road right-of-way 368.5 23. 1% Rail right-of-way 38.1 2.4% Water Bodies 43.6 2.7% 1,599 100.0% Residential Commercial ,,-----...., AREA (acres) TOTAL 'L ,·- / j I- 20 I �TABLE 12 PROPOSED FUTURE LAND USE CI1Y OF MILAN AND PLANNING AREA I I LAND USE CATEOGRY Residential AREA (acres) I PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA (1,725.2) 44.7% Low density 1,511.9 40.3% High density 169.3 4.4% (151.2) 3.9% Local 26.2 0.7% General 18.1 0.5% Expressway 89.5 2.3% Central Business District 17.4 0.4% 1,094.6 28.4% Parks & Recreation 334.8 8.7% Public 336.0 8.7% Schools (Public) 190.0 3.8% Water 73.2 1.9% 3,861.0 100.0% Commercial Industrial TOTAL L i' . 21 - - - -- I �TABLE 13 COMPARISON OF ACRES OF LAND USE PER THOUSAND POPULATION 1973 Land Use Survey Acres Acres Per 1,000 People Low Density Residential 265.7 57.8 High Density Residential 18.7 4.0 Commercial 30. 1 6.5 96.6 21.0 Public 56.6 12.3 Schools & Parks 111.7 24.3 8.4 1.8 Industrial \ Quasi-Public TABLE 14 FUTURE LAND USE COMPARISON OF ACRES PER THOUSAND POPULATION Acreage Acres Per 1,000 People Low Density Residential 367.7 115.6 High Density Residential 117.0 36.7 Commercial 51.35 16.1 Industrial 315.61 99.2 Parks & Recreation 161.8 50.9 Public 63.0 19.8 Schools (Public) 72.0 22.6 Future Land Use I (. r· l. I. 22 �RESIDENTIAL AREAS The Future Land Use Plan provides for two types of areas for 1,725 acres of residential development. These are 1,556 acres for low density (single and two family) housing and 169 acres for high density (multiple) housing. LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL The Future Land Use Plan shows the largest amount of land area for conventional low density residential development. About 1,276 acres is available for new low density residential development. Major areas included in those 1,276 acres are 320 acres in the far northwest portion of the planning area, south of Willow Road, 61 acres between Platt Road and the Ann Arbor Railroad right-of-way, south of Willow Road, 396 acres in the north central portion of the planning area between the Ann Arbor Railroad right-of-way and U.S. 23, 111.5 acres north of Mooreville Road and west of Platt Road, 40 acres east of Platt Road, north of Main Street, 117 acres south of Arkona Road between the Ann Arbor Railroad right-of-way and Carpenter Road, 149 acres west of Platt Road and south of Mooreville Road, 47 acres south of Allen Road and west of Crowe Road and 33 acres at the northeast corner of Redman and Platt Roads. The majority of the older houses in Milan, which were built between 1840 and 1930, are located adjacent to the Central Business District to the north, east and west. Many of these structures are outstanding examples of a variety of historic architectural styles. These houses are key elements responsible for Milan's unique identity. The quality of construction in these homes is substantial and provides potential for long use. Rehabilitation and restoration of many homes is now taking place. With the escalating price of housing, this trend towards restoration should continue. A variety of programs exist which could assist in further enhancing the viability of these areas. HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL The Future Land Use Plan provides for 169 acres of multiple family housing development. 144 acres are available for new high density residential development. Major areas included in those 144 acres include 31 acres at the southeast corner of Arkona and Platt Roads, 41 acres between Anderson Street and Platt Road, south of Canfield Street (with access on Redman Road) and 62 acres east of Wabash Street, north and south of Allen Road. r 23 �RESIDENTIAL AREA ANALYSIS There are currently several zoning categories that allow the construction of single family homes in the City of Milan. Of these, the R1-B district allows the lowest density (dwelling units per acre). The current area requirement of 7,200 square feet per lot would allow 6.05 dwelling units per acre. The smaller lot sizes are a product of a "grid system platting" which was commonly applied in the past. TABLE 15 STANDARDS FOR WT SIZES, EXISTING AND PROPOSED CURRENT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT PROPOSED Lot Areas (sq .ft.) Width (feet) Lot Areas (sq .ft.) Width (feet) With utilities - - 18,000 120 Without utilities - - 43,560 150 Wrth utilities - 12,000 100 Without utilities - - 43,560 150 R1-B (single family) 7,200 60 9,600 80 R2 (single family) 7,200 60 9,600 80 R1 (single family) R1-A (single family) Current development trends 12,000 100 (two family) 10,000 80 terid to have larger lot sizes based on subdivision designs which favor acurvelinear street pattern. This type of design tends to have less area dedicated to roads and a greater amount of open space. As it is likely that this type of development will occur in the future on large parcels of land which are currently vacant, lot sizes should be reevaluated. The table above compares current standards for existing single and two family residential districts and proposes some potential changes. There are 1,095 acres of vacant land outside of the City that are suitable for residential development. Development of these areas using the lowest density standards existing in the zoning ordinance could create 5,302 new single family lots. Using the proposed R1-A district, a total of 2,121 could be created. We note that these calculations assume that 20 percent of the total land area would be used for roads. Lowering the density of developments has many implications. Several of these include: a reduction in the capacity required for sanitary and storm sewers, a reduction in drinking water capacity, less of an impact on surrounding roads, a greater amount of open area (green space) . I. I. 24 �I • COMMERCIAL AREAS There are four types of commercial areas shown in the Milan 2010 Future Land Use Plan which provides a total of 151 acres for future commercial use. These are the Central Business District, Local Commercial, General Commercial and Expressway Commercial. The following are descriptions of each of the areas: CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT The Central Business District area shown on the Future Land Use Plan occupies 17.35 acres and closely corresponds with the existing downtown business area. Centered at Main Street and Wabash Street, the CBD extends one block north and south, three blocks east and one block west. The area contains abut 50 specialty retail, offices and other small businesses and over 50 percent of the commercial firms in the City. It is anticipated that growth in the Central Business District will occur more as a result of changes within its present area rather than from expansion of its boundaries. The potential for growth lies in the availability of vacant commercial space, more efficient use of existing retail space and the tendency of the local market to replace marginal businesses with stronger, well established retail operations that can better meet the needs of the community. The historical architectural character of the CBD (downtown) area is a tremendous asset which will continue to provide unique opportunities and an aesthetic environment for specialty commercial needs. The character of the downtown area provides a lasting impression of Milan to visitors and residents. Downtown Milan and its individual architectural resources are key elements in the City's unique identity and sense of place. ( LOCAL COMMERCIAL I L There are three areas with a total 26.21 acres of land designated on the Future Land use Plan as Local Commercial. Businesses such as a supermarket, grocery store, drug store, and branch bank facilities are typically located in these areas where adequate parking can be provided to servic~ local residential neighborhoods and nearby business employees in some locations. The largest of these areas lies on the north and south side of Plank Road, west of Platt Road. There is a small area of local commercial adjacent to the west end of the CBD on Main Street. GENERAL COMMERCIAL I \. There are two major areas and a total of 18.14 acres of land shown on the Future Land Use Plan as General Commercial. Business types include restaurants, gas and fuel service stations, car washes, auto parts stores, automobile dealerships, minor auto repair, 25 I �theaters, dry cleaners, laundromats, florists, dairy, bakery, furniture and appliance stores and lumber yard retail operations. The largest of these areas lies on both sides of Carpenter Road, approximately between Phillips and Lewis on the west and between Miller and Smith on the east. The other area is located on County Street at Dexter Street. EXPRESSWAY COMMERCIAL The Future Land Use Plan provides for three areas of Expressway Commercial adjacent to U.S. 23 with a total of 89.5 acres of land. Businesses in these areas would include gas and fuel service stations, fast food and family style restaurants, convenience stores, car washes, minor auto repair, hotels, motel, bus and other transportation depots. I- The largest of these areas is currently vacant and is located along the north and south sides of Plank Road east of U.S. 23. The existing expressway commercial area continues to develop and is located along both sides of Carpenter Road at the north boundary of the City. This area currently serves as the major entry point to the City of Milan. Jmprovements are now being planned for this area in order to provide a more positive and aesthetic impression of Milan and to link this area with downtown and other areas in the City in the -future. l. \ ' L 26 �INDUSTRIAL AREAS Presently there are three major areas for the development of industrial uses in Milan. The largest area containing approximately 219 acres of land, located east of U.S. 23 between Plank Road and the Ann Arbor Railroad right-of-way, is primarily occupied by the Ford Motor Company. The second largest area containing 140 acres of land is located on both sides of Platt Road south of Redman Road. The smallest area is located on the west side of U.S. 23 between Plank Road and County Street. This area contains 25 acres of land. Three new areas for industrial development are also shown within the Milan 201 0 Future Land Use planning area. The largest area is located east of U.S. 23 (on both sides of Carpenter Road) and north of Arkona Road in the far northeast corner of the Future Land Use planning area. This area contains 557 acres of land adjacent to the Carpenter Road interchange on U.S. 23. The second largest area contains 86 acres of land and is located south of Redman Road, west of the vacant Fruehauf facility. This area in the far southwest corner of the planning area includes access to the railroad right-of-way south of the Fruehauf property. The other area lies adjacent to the same railroad right-of-way but is on the east side of Platt Road. This area contains approximately 56 acres of land along the south boundary of the Future Land Use planning area. Industrial land uses are difficult to forecast because they are not typically dependent upon existing population for their growth. To the contrary, they actually are the generators or catalysts for growth that attract jobs and people to an area. Because of their importance in stimulating the local economy, industrial uses should be encouraged in the area. And, the City with its existing industrial areas, concentration of labor and available facilities such as sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and central water service, is able to offer the services which new industries desire and existing industries need to expand. ,. I I- 27 �RECREATION PARKS AND RECREATION INVENTORY The City of Milan ,has in its possession approximately 1,623 acres of waterways, parklands and open space. Of this, some 200 acres are developed parks, listed below. The remaining acreage is land which includes the Saline Rivere ~nd its floodplain and Ford Lake and its backwaters (a "green belt" area which takes an east-west course through the center of Milan). City Parks Wilson Park (35.6 Acres) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Softball Field, lighted Basketball Courts - 2 Picnic Shelter Playground Equipment Tot Lot Play Area Little League Fields: a. Major League Field b. Minor League Field C. 'T' Ball Field d. (New) Little League Field Community House Ford Lake (14.4 acres) A shallow, silted but attractive water area downtown which could be renovated and made an important water use area, easily accessible to all residents. Contains an island. River Frontage A very valuable asset to the City park system with potential for multi-use development. The water quality is low from industrial, nutrient and septic filed pollution upstream. Milan's portion of the stream is only a part of the complete river basin which is planned as a green belt by both counties. Nature Park (11.8 acres) L. I • 1. 2. 3. Softball diamond Picnic Shelter Playfield L rI ~ 1. 28 �4. 5. 6. 7. Playground Equipment Volleyball Court (grass) Horseshoe Court Parking Area Middle School Playfields (4.15 acres) 1. 2. l' . Tennis Courts (4) Softball Diamond Sanford Road Park (139.5 acres) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Golf Range Tennis Court Small Picnic Areas Playfield Community Garden Plots 1.6 mile Jogging Trail Horse Show Arena/Reviewing Stand Model Airplane Flying Field Cross Country Skiing Trial Milan Softball Park (9.0 acres) ~ 1. Softball Diamonds Fitness Center Located in the Milan High School, the center contains weight lifting apparatus and an exercise area. Other Public Facilities The Federal Correctional Institution has a training center building which is available for community use, on a limited basis, but is somewhat remote for other than special purpose use by the community. It is, however, valuable to the community in that it is a space that is available under certain circumstances. SCHOOLS r \ r The School District extends over large portions of the two counties including the City of Milan. Within the City of Milan are two school properties, the high school - Paddock School area and the middle school area. Facilities contained in these two areas are as follows: t . 29 �High School - Paddock School (22.0 acres) C'\ .• Indoor Facilities: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Larger multi-purpose gymnasium with stage Art rooms Music rooms Photography laboratory Wood and metal shop Swimming Pool, indoor Closed circuit television Two Physical Education Stations (Gyms) Library Computer Center The high school has average facilities for recreation programs for use by the entire community and the swimming pool complex is outstanding. Its primary use is, of course, by students and the swimming team, but is used extensively for community-wide swimming activities. Outdoor Facilities: 1. • 2. 3. 4. 5. Football practice field Baseball field Track Softball sand lot fields (2), and storage buildings Playground Middle School (40.0 acres) The Middle School was opened in 1969 and includes some excellent indoor and outdoor facilities for Park and Recreation activities. I L Indoor Facilities: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Auditorium with stage Multi-purpose gymnasium Music rooms Library Art rooms Wood and metal shop 30 �Outdoor Facilities: 1. 2. 3. 4. '•· Lighted football field Track Baseball field General turfing & parking Private Recreation There are many clubs and organizations open to membership in the community and the region which furnish facilities and programs to meet their memberships' need and demands. Churches The churches in Milan have miscellaneous spaces which are being used for some recreational activities such as arts and crafts, generally oriented toward their own congregations. However, many of the church buildings are used by various community groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and for meetings of various groups. Family Recreation Many forms of recreation preferred by adults involve the family. This is especially true of such activities as sailing, swimming, picnicking, fishing, gardening, bicycling, tennis, dining out, concerts and movies, camping, skiing, bowling and backyard barbecues. The setting for such activities range from the homes, which include a variety of design features for leisure living, but extends to include other areas of the county and state. Added to the above are the mass forms of entertainment such as radio and television; no figures are available on the relative use of television in Milan compared with people living elsewhere. It can be surmised that a relatively high frequency of TV-watching takes place, not only by adults, but by many children for whom there are inadequate recreation opportunities. '. I t Commercial Recreation Commercial recreation currently available in Milan includes: Cloverleaf Bowling Lanes, Milan Sports Plaza and The Milan Dragway. Many such facilities and services are within a half hour's drive such as restaurants, motel with swimming pools, football, basketball and other college and professional sporting activities. Cultural events in the region are numerous in Toledo, Monroe, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit such as music, drama, art events, flower show, auto and boat shows, ballet, theater, circuses and a great variety of other events. Milan is especially well located to 31 �■ take advantage of these surrounding metropolitan areas and their recreation opportunities. Heath Beach 5 miles Swimming, picnicking (privately owned, open to public) Irish Hills Ski Area 25 miles Skiing Mt. Brighton Ski Area 35-40 miles Skiing There are also two riding schools, a 9 hole golf course, and sportmans club in the region Library In addition to the three school libraries, the city library is located adjacent to City Hall in the central park complex, is a part of the Washtenaw County system and has access to any part of that system. It contains about 25,000 volumes and operates on a 1 mil appropriation from the City Council, plus some receipt and a small amount of State aid. Reejonal Facilities The people of Milan use the state parks and regional parks for varying purposes. However, all are some distance from Milan. Below is a list of these parks including the approximate distance from the Milan area and the activities and facilities available: ,..........,_ ' 'ii (' State Parks & Recreation Areas Distance W.J. Hayes 25 mi. Swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, hiking. Sterling 20 mi. Picnicking, boating, fishing. Pinckney 30 mi. Swimming, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking. Waterloo 45 mi. Picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming, hunting, camping. Island Lake 35 mi. Canoeing, swimming, picnicking. Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Parks Distance Lower Huron 25 mi. Swimming, golf, picnicking, hiking. Kensington 35 ml. Swimming, hiking, canoeing, ice skating, sledding, boating, fishing, golf. Dexter-Huron 25 mi. Canoeing, picnicking. \ I Activities r L. Activities I \ . ,.....--..__ I 32 '·. r ■ �,,- Washtenaw County Parks Facilities Distance Independence Lake Park 25 mi. Swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, nature programs, winter sports. Park Lyndon 25 mi. Picnicking, nature trails Park Washtenaw 15 mi. Community gardening, nature trails, par course. Rolling Hills Park swimming. 12 mi. Athletic fields, picnicking, winter sports, nature trails, Activities A comparison of Milan's Park Facilities with communities of similar size in Southeastern Michigan indicates that we are above average in park acreage and public park facilities. Source: Department of Natural Resources, Recreation Service Division, Public Recreation Facility Inventory Report Summary, 1990. 33 ,- - ~----- ~ -- �• TABLE 16 *FACILITIES DEFICIENCY & SURPLUS EXISTING DEFICIENCY SURPLUS 3 . 2 1 2 . 1 1 (1 A/ 200) (25A) 2 1 1 1 . . Art:>oretum 1/ 10,000 0 1 - Archery Range 1/ 1,500 1 . Baseball Diamond 1/6,000 + - Bicycle Trail 1/ 2,500 1 (route) 1 Bridle Trail 1/2,500 1 (open area) 1 Boating Facility 1/2,500 0 2 Band Shell 1/ 10,000 0 1 Botanical Garden 1/ 10,000 0 1 Basketball Court 1/ 500 2 6 Croquet Alea per demand 0 1 . . Casting Pool 1/2,500 0 1 . Camp, Day 1/10,000 1 . Football Field 1/10,000 1 - Handball-Paddleball 1/1,500 0 3 Horseshoe Alea per demand 1 - Ice Skating Alea 1/2,500 1 1 Shuffleboard Court 1/1,500 0 3 18 holesj20,000 0 9 holes Softball Diamond 1/3,000 + + Tennis Courts 1/2,000 5 . 3% population 1 (indoor) 1 (outdoor) 1/1,500 2 1 - FACILITY Neighborhood Playground Playfield Community Park Recreation Center Bldg. STANDARD 1 per 2000-5000 pop. SPECIAL PURPOSE Golf Course I.. Swimming Soccer Field +existing baseball diamonds; 1 regulation diamond in good condition 2 practice diamonds in fair condition 3 little league diamonds In good condition 1 T-ba/1 diamond in fair condition existing softball diamonds: 5 diamonds in good condition (3 are regulation size). **based on N.R.P.A. standards 34 + . 3 �PROBLEM STATEMENTS AND LONG RANGE GOALS Description of Plannini: Process With the help of the University of Michigan Social Research Development, the Milan Parks & Recreation Commission developed the following survey. One hundred and fifty (150) city residents were selected at random and the survey was hand delivered to their residence along with an instruction sheet and a stamped return envelope. Residents were asked to fill out the short survey and mail it to the Parks and Recreation Office, by the designated deadline. The University of Michigan advised us that 50% of the surveys were required back to make it legitimate. 37 completed surveys were received by the deadline. At that time follow-up phone calls were made to residents and 14 additional forms were received, bringing the total to 51. The additional 24 surveys were done by phone to bring the level to the needed 50% mark. The responses were tabulated and goals were set as a result of those findings and Parks and Recreation Commission expertise. The survey and results are shown on the following page. Questions No. 5, No. 6 and No. 11, that require written response are presented in more detail on a separate sheet from the actual survey form. (page 25.) On a whole the responses were very useful in our priority setting process. Current Problems and Issues I 1. Although a lot of improvements have been made as far as park maintenance and equipment acquisition there is still the need for an adequate storage and work area to maintain the existing and proposed park facilities. Within the next five years new equipment should continue to be purchased. The top priority as far as maintenance, has to be the development of a parks headquarter for the storage of vehicles, equipment, tools and supplies and to provide work areas for small repairs and winter work projects. 2. A system of equitable, area-wide financing of the Parks and Recreation Department must be explored in the near future. The Milan Parks and Recreation Department serves the needs of 12,000 people but is heavily subsidized by 4,000 plus city residents. It would be advantageous to establish a joint recreation authority whereby all units of government would cooperatively plan and provide leisure services to area residents. 3. At this point in time the Milan Senior Citizen Center is run under the direction of the Milan Parks and Recreation Department. Center activities currently take place in the Community House which is inadequate for the needs. A new center with more space is needed in the next five years. With the Senior population growing and the amount of leisure time available this is an important undertaking for the future of the community. '· 35 �4. Demand for local parks and recreation programs and facilities is sure to increase as Americans require more leisure time and transportation cost rise. However, funds for the development and operation of park facilities and programs to meet this increased demand may not be readily available. Alternative forms of funding through millage, manpower grants and fund raising drives are being explored. Wilson Park-Ford Lake Area: There are limited opportunities for passive or water based recreational activities within the City of Milan. The Wilson Park-Ford Lake area, despite having ample lake and river frontage is inadequate because of substandard park facilities and limited access to the water. The area should be developed to enhance existing scenic and water resources. Sanford Road Park Site: The Sanford Road Park Site could provide an adequate site for the annual Milan Fair, as well as continuing to provide large open spaces for certain space consuming recreational activities. Community Recreation Center: There currently is no facility that is built specifically for use by the total community for a wide range of uses. A community recreation center should be constructed for the following reasons: '· r 1. A large increase in the demand for indoor recreation programs and the facilities that are required for those programs. 2. An increased demand for meeting facilities by community and private groups within the community. 3. The lack of a large facility which is available by rent for large groups for meetings and other activities. 4. Limits in the availability of existing school facilities for recreation programs. 5. Lack of indoor facilities for future recreation growth. 6. Improvising programs in a less than satisfactory manner, because facilities do not meet the requirements of size and demand. 7. As after-school activities increase, more and more space will be needed for those purposes. 8. The lack of a central City civic building which is available to all civic and community groups, and which serves as a central focal point with the City. * The 2010 Committee has departed from the exact wording found in the City's Recreation Plan in order to meet the purpose of the Master Plan. 36 �Lone Ranee Goals Sanford Road Park Development Goals: Develop a major community park that provides adequate acreage for a variety of space consuming recreational activities. Milan Softball Park Development Goal: Install lighting on the existing tournament class softball diamonds. Wilson Park Development Goal: Develop the Wilson ·Park area into an attractive and functional community park and lake front accommodating passive and water based recreational activities. Milan Community House: Preserve and upgrade the Milan Community House to insure continuing use by the community for a wide variety of social and recreational activities. Park Maintenance: To provide clean, orderly and attractive appearance of park grounds, structures and facilities for the healthful, safe, convenient and enjoyable use of Milan area citizens. Area-wide Recreation Agency Goal: Encourage the cooperative planning and financing of leisure services by City and Township governments. Community Center Development: Develop a multi-purpose community center that provides facilities for a wide variety of social, and passive recreation activities. Short Term Objectives Sanford Road Park Development Objectives: 1. To continue cooperative planning with community organizations to determine the feasibility of developing facilities on the Sanford Road Park site. 2. To complete development of a community jogging-exercise trail including exercise stations and better organized parking. Milan Softball Park Development Objectives: 1. To install lighting on both tournament class softball fields. 2. To provide a play area with play structure for the Softball Park. 3. To develop an irrigation system and upgrade turf on both fields. r 37 �Wilson Park Obiectives: 1. To provide adequate means of vehicle entrance, exit and parking in the Wilson Park area. 2. To increase access to the waterbased recreational opportunities in and along the banks of the Saline River and Ford Lake. 3. To provide a system of scenic trails, overlooks, and a pedestrian bridge within Wilson Park. 4. To continue to develop and upgrade basic park facilities for the enjoyment and safely of park visitors including picnic shelters, passive activities area, open air concert facility and public restrooms. 5. To begin necessary steps to re-claim Ford Lake in conjunction with the Wilson Park project. r l Community House Development Obiectives: 1. Refinish interior to provide an attractive, Ford industrial period meeting facility. Park Maintenance Objectives: 1. Develop an adequate site for the storage of vehicles, equipment, tools and supplies. 2. Provide work areas for repairs and winter work projects. Area-Wide Recreation Agency Obiectives: 1. To involve township citizen in the planning of recreation services. 2. To establish a system of financing recreation services that provides greater equality between city and township residents. 3. Explore the feasibility of an area-wide (tax levy) milage appropriation for parks and facilities. Park & Facility Development Objectives: 1. To identify city owned land considered appropriate for park land and have Council designate it as such. 2. To develop a multi-room Senior Citizen facility to meet the needs of the senior citizens of the area. 38 �COMMUNI1Y FACILffiES To properly and effectively operate a community requires the provision of numerous services and facilities. Public facilities are those physical improvements required to provide public services to the neighborhood and community population. The following community facilities are considered: civic center, library, police station, fire station, department of public works, community center and utilities. CIVIC CENTER The civic center as part of the Future Land Use Plan, is important in that this center should be a focal point of the City. The concept of the civic center implies a complex for civic and governmental activities. The key advantage of a civic center is the grouping of compatible public uses in a single, recognizable area. Such a facility may include governmental offices, police station, fire station, library, community buildings and recreational facilities. The advantage of this campus-like center is the economy realized through the development of jointly used facilities such as parking, drives, landscaping, lighting and the close proximity afforded interdependent offices. By providing a civic center as one coordinated site, an aesthetic focal point for the City has been accomplished which reflects local pride and progress. The new Civic Center site, located south of the Saline River east of Wabash Road, contains the completely renovated and expanded City Hall, the adjacent library, new police station and new fire station, department of public works, and two historical buildings. The integration of restoration and reuse of the two historical Ford buildings and removal of the DPW storage barn would further improve the Civic Center site. LIBRARY The Milan Public Library currently operates within its own facility adjacent to the City Hall. The number of volumes is adequate to meet the present needs of Milan residents, however, the library is deficient in floor area. COMMUNI'IY CENTER r l. The Community /Senior Citizen Center building plan for the future is to be located in the City Complex Center of the Wilson Park area. Preliminary study indicates a community need for a center to service approximately 200 people in an estimated 7,200 square foot, one-story brick building or sided building planned for some future date in that location. POLICE f . I !. )1. As essential element of community service is that of police protection. To function effectively, the police station should be central to the population it is intended to serve. This provides for greater efficiency in normal patrol activities as well as dispatching standby vehicles. The new City police station in the Civic Center is a state-of-the art facility. 39 �The building consists of a 5,200 square foot, one-story brick building in place to handle the current/future community's public safety needs. The level of staffing for the Milan Police Departments is, 1-Chief, 1-Lieutenant in the command ranks, 6-State-certified Patrolmen, 4-communication dispatchers to operate 24 hour dispatching and 911 communication system coming on line in mid 1991. The Milan Police Department is part of the Mutual Aid System with the counties of Washtenaw and Monroe Police agencies. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS The Department of Public Works (DPW) is charged with the responsibility of servicing and maintaining the public street and park system as well as the collection of refuse. At the present time, the DPW storage barn is located to the rear of the Civic Center site. DPW offices are now located behind the new City Hall and Police Station. Due to the trucking, repair, and storage operations associated with DPW functions, it resembles most closely an industrial activity. Further, the non-office portion of the DPW does not normally generate visits by the general public and, thus does not require proximity to administrative facilities or a central location. Based on these characteristics, it is felt DPW facilities are best located in an industrial district where its operation would be compatible and similar to adjacent land uses. This would provide a more aesthetic setting for the Civic Center and adjacent Henry Ford buildings. FIRE STATIONS Milan is serviced by the Milan Area Volunteer Fire Department consisting of four surrounding local units of government (Milan Township, York Township, London Township and the City of Milan) which make up the Milan Area Fire Department, and is staffed by a total of 32 volunteers consisting of 1-Chief, 1-Assistant Chief, 1-Captain, 2Lieutenants in the command ranks with the remaining volunteers all being State-certified firemen and some EMT rated and certified personnel. The Fire Station is a modern, 1O year old, one-story brick building of approximately 5,200 square feet with 5 equipment bays, training and communication areas, standby power and mutual aid system in place with both counties of Washtenaw and Monroe Fire Departments. The existing fire equipment is in place to meet all fire service requirements for class 7 rating per I.S.O. The Fire Station, located at Wabash and Main Streets in the center of Milan, is owned by the City of Milan and leased to the Milan Area Fire Department with a 10 year lease and renewal provisions. UTILITIES Existing and future land use is greatly influenced by the extent of public facilities that serve land uses. The availability of water and sewer facilities contributes to a more diversified and dynamic community structure. The future service areas for water and sewer facilities will be determined by the anticipated distribution and density of population. In order to 40 �effect the greatest economics, new land development should be encouraged in areas having existing service or in areas adjacent to serviced areas. Dispersed development can only be serviced at a high overall cost to the community. Generally, urbanizing development should progress gradually in areas where utility services, streets, schools, etc., can be provided at the least total cost to the community. It is not the intent of this section to discuss in detail water and sewer facilities due to its engineering nature. However, statements are made concerning the futur~ use and capacity levels of each. Water Supply Water service for the City of Milan is supplied and provided by a City-owned and operated ground water supply system. The system consists of five working well houses with average depths of 112' ranging in size from 6" to 12" cased wells. The total system capacity is 2 million gallons per day. One new iron removal plant rated at 2 million gallons per day with the ability to expand to 3 million gallons per day is located in Wilson Park. One 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank is located on City-owned property at the end of Green Tree Lane. The water system is controlled with state of the art telemetering equipment and standby power both gas and diesel power in two of the working wells along with an automated alarm and tow pressure controls at the well houses. All existing land within the City of Milan is serviced by public water lines in the road right-of-way and approximately 18 miles of cast iron mains in place ranging in size from 4" to 12". According to engineering reports, the .City has an abundance of ground water adequate to serve the City for many years in the future. Sanitary Sewer Sanitary sewer service for the City of Milan is provided by a City-owned new, three year old, 11 million dollar Tertiary Treatment Plant located in the City of Milan, Gump Lake location with a design capacity of 1.85 million gallons per day and expandable to 4 million gallons per day. The Waste Water Treatment Plant was EPA approved and funded at the 75% level. The existing EPA discharge permit and City of Milan Use Ordinance is in place for industrial users which meets the required pretreatment ordinance. All areas within the City of Milan are available for sanitary sewer service by way of a collection system in place of approximately 18 miles of sanitary sewer lines and lift stations, where needed. The existing collection system size ranges from 6" to 32". I !__ _ 41 �PUBLIC & SEMI PUBLIC USES Public and semi-public uses include schools, churches, government buildings and facilities, and fraternal and non-profit organizations. For the most part, these cannot be accurately predicted or projected in a plan. The Milan 2010 Future Land Use Plan suggests three planned public uses. One is a school site located on Redman Road, just west of Platt Road behind the existing Junior High School, that was recently acquired as a potential new high school site. The second site is the existing high school which could become a junior high school. The third site is directly south of the existing junior high school. This site is now owned by the school district but is used for agricultural purposes. The site is anticipated for a new elementary school. Should substantial growth occur in the City and surrounding areas (2010 Future Land Use Planning Area) which encompass the Milan School District, it is possible that these three facilities would be developed in the future. i I.. 42 �THOROFARES .e A network of thorofares, analyzed in accordance with land use patterns, is an important element in the Future Land Use Plan. A basic objective of an efficient thorofare plan is the maximum separation of local and through traffic movements. Local streets should be designed so as to avert through traffic and to serve only the traffic of local residents. However, through traffic should be provided means of movement by secondary and major thorofares that surround the residential areas. Three basic street types of importance to the Future Land Use Plan are: • Local Streets: Local neighborhood streets, industrial service drives, and the like, are for local traffic only and provide direct access to abutting property. They are indirect in alignment in order to discourage through or fast moving traffic. Public right-of-way widths are normally 60 feet. • Secondary or Collector Thorofares: Through streets which collect vehicles from local streets and distribute them to either local destinations, or higher type arteries. Right-of-way widths are normally 86 feet. • Major Thorofares: Along with freeways, major thorofares serve as the principal network for traffic flow. Major thorofares connect areas of principal traffic generation, as well as serving the interurban connectors. Generally, right-of-way widths are 120 feet or greater. The following proposals of the thorofare plan are influenced by future residential, public, commercial, and industrial land use proposals of the Future Land use Plan. LOCAL STREETS As stated above, local streets provide direct access to abutting property and are intended to serve only local traffic. It is not the purpose of this plan to propose, in detail, local street accesses and extensions. Efficient development controls exercised by the respective City bodies can assure proper local street extensions and accesses. The scope and number of all such proposals are too vast to show graphically on the Thorofare Plan Map. It is intended, that those shown, do not constitute the full extent of such proposals. The thrust of local street planning should occur during the development of respective parcels of land at the time of platting and site plan review. SECONDARY THOROFARES The following roads are suggested as secondary or collector thorofares: l Division Street and its extension west to Platt Road will provide access through the proposed medium-density area as well as serve traffic generated from the Milan Middle School. I ~ l 43 �Platt-Dexter connection, north of Sherman Road, is proposed in order to provide secondary access between these two major thorofares to serve future land use proposals. • Wabash Road, south of Division Street, is one of two north-south routes. Although the intersection of Wabash with the railroads is cumbersome, improved design and signaling should improve the crossing. There is also the possibility that the Ann Arbor Railroac;i may be abandoned, in which case, Wabash would only intersect one railway. However, should activity on the Ann Arbor and Wabash increase significantly, the possibility of realigning Wabash to include Division, Anderson, Anderson extension, and realignment with the Wabash as a direct southern route should be considered. Dexter Road, also known as Carpenter Road, travels in a north-south direction providing interchange access to the freeway. At the present time, Dexter only travels south as far as Main Street. It is a proposal of this thorofare plan that Dexter be extended south to Sherman Road. Such an extension would serve adjacent land uses by permitting north-south movement to one of two freeway interchanges without having to circle west through the CBD and by creating an additional bridged access over the Saline River. In this way, persons who live on Allen Road could utilize Dexter to gain access to County Street rather than using Wabash Hoad. The proposed route, as shown on the Thorofare Plan Map, represents route location number 3 per the "Dexter Street Extension Study" by McNamee, Porter and Seeley, Engineers, in 1973. As stated, the extension of Dexter Road would relieve the Wabash Road traffic as well as downtown congestion. However, it should be noted that if development east and south of the Wabash Railroad occurs much in advance of the Dexter Road extension, the traffic volumes of existing surrounding arterials would be greatly increased. Therefore, careful planning and phasing of development is essential. Redman Road, between Platt and Wabash Roads, serves as a collector street for the medium-density and industrial areas traffic. • Allen Road, between Wabash and the proposed Dexter Street extension, will, in the future, serve the medium-density residential areas. MAJOR THOROFARES 1~ The following roads are suggested as major thorofares: I_ ,. i - I I l.- County Street provides the City's main point of access from the east and merges with Main Street in Milan's downtown area. The portion of County Street east of 44 �the City limits becomes Milan-Oakville Road which links Milan and the rural area of Oakville. Regionally, this route connects with Telegraph Road at the MonroeWayne County lines to the east. Existing land uses along County, within the planning area, include industry, as well as being planned for additional industrial uses. Therefore, County Street as a major thorofare will serve primarily the industrial uses as well as provide bridged access over U.S. 23. Main Street currently functions as a major thorofare carrying the bulk of area traffic in a diagonal pattern through the City. To the northwest, beyond the City limits, Main splits into: the Saline-Milan Road which links the Cities of Saline and Milan; and Mooreville Road which connects Milan with the rural area of Mooreville. To the southeast, Main becomes Plank Road connecting with the rural area of Mayer. Plank Road currently provides one of two interchange points with U.S. 23 making this road an important regional thorofare providing freeway access to Milan and its surrounding areas. Platt Road provides north-south travel in the western portion of the City, as well as bridged access over the Saline River. Ultimately, the area is planned to develop with residential uses, an in turn, to be served by this major thorofare. From a regional standpoint, Platt connects with Michigan Avenue (M-12) to the north as well as continuing further north to Washtenaw Road in the City of Ann Arbor. To the south, Platt continues the extent of Milan Township, terminating at Day Road. Industrial development south of Redman will be better accommodated by improvements to Platt Road which would form a potential loop from U.S. 23 connected with east-west roads to the north and south which have access to U.S. 23. This would reduce and potentially eliminate industrial related, east-west traffic thru the middle of the City which is now necessary. Redman Road traverses east and west originating at Wabash Road in the City and traveling west to Ridge Highway. Redman is proposed to serve as a major thorofare from Platt Road west. Arkona Road presently linking Platt Road and U.S. 23 is proposed to be extended westward to the Saline-Milan Road. This route would provide continuous northerly access to the freeway, as well as serve the planned northern residential area. A minor realignment of Arkona Road west of U.S. 23 "'(as recently implemented by the State Highway Department to provide additional acreage for improvement of the interchange. L. 45 I �N. Wabash Road currently serves two large traffic generators: Wilson City Park and Milan City Hall. Also, Wabash Road provides one of two bridges over the Saline River. For these reasons, N. Wabash will remain a major thorofare. • Sanford Road extending north and south will, in the future, serve the planned industrial uses as well as the Milan Federal Correctional Institution and proposed golf course. Sanford Road is proposed to be extended from Plank south to Sherman to provide greater continuity. • Sherman Road traversing east-west along the southern boundary of the planning area will serve as a major thorofare for future land uses and \\'.ill intersect w'th Platt and Sanford Roads. • Dexter Road, as previously discussed in the Secondary Thorofares section, travels in a north-south direction providing interchange access to the freeway. Its designation, north of Main Street, as a major thorofare is important due to the access it provides to the north over U.S. 23. Dexter Road also serves as one of the main points of access into the City of Milan in the vicinity of Dexter and Phillips Road. Dexter is now being realigned between Lewis and Michigan Streets in order to provide straight line continuity without the median access between U.S. 23 and Dexter as cur:rently exists. This suggested improvement will require cooperation between the City and State Highway Department, and most likely require initiation of such investigation by the City. 46 �.....--! -= :: .. : ... - 0 0 .. ... .0 w • > 0 : z .. .! o- E .. .• .;'" =.... o 2 E E 0 z~ <{~ _J~ a..~ z W<t _J o::~ <t:u.. I.J._o O>. .... O::u 0 :c I- ___ .I ,.. .::::::=---· . z . . "". ... 0 ;; . '' w z w M z w 2 ... ....... ....... : .... .. .. .. ... ... I C 0 C C C 0 :,; C 0 z 0 ,, I \ '\ i I I I 0 z 0 0 0 " 2 ♦ •• . I I • ~ ! C 0 J ◄ 0 " ... ~ -.. . ..... !. ; "... "... ...> ◄ . u z "..." ! I® �HISTORIC PRESERVATION The City of Milan is blessed with a wealth of historic architecture resources which are key elements in the City's visual character and unique identity. The basic purpose of including Historic Preservation in the Master Plan is to bring significant historic architecture and other cultural resources into the City's planning process so that intelligent decisions can be made regarding their future. The City's culturally significant historical and architectural resources are irreplaceable. They continue to provide information about the past which can be useful in thei future. They combine with the rich natural environment to provide a distinct sense of place. Without maintaining this sense of place, the City would lose its unique identity. Historical architecture and other cultural resources allow us to recall the contributions of early settlers and past residents who through hard work and determination have helped to make the City the attractive living environment which it is today. Field analysis and previous studies have shown that there are significant examples of the following architectural styles: Greek Revival, Italianate, Early Victorian Vernacular, Gothic Revival, Late Victorian, Queen Anne, French Second Empire, Dutch Colonial Revival, Bungalow, Grand Bungalow, Collegiate Gothic, Early Twentieth Century Vernacular, Art Deco and others. Also, there are some fine examples of carriage houses, barns and other outbuildings from throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Careful consideration should be given to all culturally significant historical and architectural resources whenever ownership development or maintenance threaten their Mure. The federal role in historic preservation expanded with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966. The Act established a review process to protect historic buildings threatened by federally funded projects. Under Section 106 of the Act, the head of any federal agency must take into account the effect of the project on a site included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register before approving the use of federal funds. A corresponding provision, Section 11 0(f) of the Act, requires federal agencies to undertake planning and actions necessary to minimize harm to that landmark and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment on the undertaking prior to approving the project. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent federal agency within the Executive Branch which advises the President on historic preservation policy and comments on federal and federally assisted projects which affect historic properties. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 also protects historic resources. Section 102(2)(c) of NEPA requires the filing of an Environmental Impact Statement {EIS) for "major federal actions" which affect the human environment. "Environment" was defined to include natural and cultural resources and Section 101 (b)(4) noted the need to" ... preserve important historic, cultural and natural aspects of our natural heritage." 47 �• ~ Section 4(f) of the Transportation Act of 1966, prohibits federal agencies within the Department of Transportation from approving any project requiring the use of an historic site unless: 1. There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of such land; and 2. Such program includes all possible planning to minimize harm to such ... historic sites resulting from use. Executive Order 11593 issued on May 13, 1971, directs all federal agencies to protect and enhance the cultural environment. Agencies must inventory all historic and archaeological properties under their jurisdiction or control, nominate potential properties to the National Register, and exercise caution to ensure that historic properties are not altered or destroyed in the interim. During environmental review of federally funded, licensed, or assisted projects, agencies must ask the Secretary of the Interior if any property including the environmental impact area is eligible for the National Register. The Historic Preservation Section of the Michigan Bureau of History was established in the Michigan Department of State in 1966 to carry out the national preservation program, as required by the National Historic Preservation Act. One of the major responsibilities of the Historic Preservation Section is to carry out Section 106 review of all federally funded projects in the state which affect properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register. The Bureau also administers federal historic preservation grants. The historic preservation fund provides federal grants for historical surveys, nominations to the National Register, planning, public education, project plans and specifications and archaeological projects. Educating the public about federal and state historic preservation programs, and assisting local governments with developing local historic preservation programs are other responsibilities of the State. The Bureau also · directs and conducts a statewide survey of historic properties and maintains an inventory of these properties. Through the survey program, the state coordinator provides technical assistance to communities who wish to perform a local survey. This inventory of historic properties is the first step towards enacting an historic preservation program. Michigan's State Register of Historic Sites, was established under PA 10 of 1955, MCL 399.151. Applications for the State Register and Marker programs are reviewed by the Michigan Historical Commission - appointed by the Governor. These programs are honorary, placing no restrictions on property owners, and designation offers no tangible benefits. The Act does provide for state grants to preserve and restore certain State Register properties, but no money has been allocated for this purpose since 1980. 48 �• 8 The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, also requires each state to prepare and implement a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan. Michigan's historic preservation plan was first prepared in 1975 and updated in 1985. It is currently being revised to reflect new directions in historic preservation policy. Michigan Public Act 169 of 1970; as amended, establishes historic preservation as a valid purpose and provides guidelines for local communities to establish a historic district study committee to study and analyze resources, prepare plans, ordinances and promote public awareness of the benefits of historic preservation. The preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse of every historical architecture example in the City of Milan is not realistic. There are hundreds of structures more than 50 years of age. That is why only those buildings which possess integrity and a high degree of originality, with little or no major alterations, are those which we speak to. The significant examples of historic architecture in Milan are those which are eligible for State and National Register listing as individual Historic Structures or as contributing elements to Historic Districts. - s ( '. The majority of the houses in the residential neighborhoods surrounding the central business district have some degree of historic architectural integrity. Their variety of shapes and styies show the evolution of residential development and building technology in the City of Milan. In addition to those houses which have retained their historical and architectural significance, there are many structures which have had only minor alterations that can be removed or reversed to show the true architectural character. Historic preservation of individual homes and conservation of entire neighborhoods has proven to stabilize and improve property values. The quality. of construction and craftsmanship embodied in early houses up through the early twentieth century are now being rediscovered and appreciated. Downtown Milan contains an impressive collection of late Victorian commercial structures which provide a lasting impression of Milan's unique community character to residents and visitors. Historic preservation programs in cohesive downtown areas such as Milan's central business district have proven the economic viability and opportunities provided by architecturally significant commercial structures. Adaptive reuse of structures that have outlived their original purpose, such as the Henry Ford structures near City Hall, the old fire hall and others have a great deal of potential. Historic sites and buildings are irreplaceable resources that serve to physically show the evolution of Milan's early development. They are more important as key elements of the City's visual identity and unique character. While many represent specific architectural styles and historical periods, they each have their own distinct character variations and setting. Their continued use and maintenance will play a major role in protecting the atmosphere that has given Milan its identity. These values, if not properly protected or planned for, can be seriously eroded as development patterns change. Local coordination and cooperation between preservation advocates, citizens and city government can successfully preserve these valuable resources for future generations of Milan residents. 49 �THE MASTER PLAN FOR FUTURE LAND USE The Master Plan For Future Land Use, which follows, represents a composite of the elements presented in the preceding sections. They are considered to be imaginative, yet workable and realistic, providing for a desirable arrangement of the various land uses, a unified and efficient thorofare system, and the necessary public facilities to serve the community. It should be emphasized that the Plan represents what is felt to be the best future use of land based upon today's knowledge and trends. The Plan is by no means rigid or unchangeable. It should be reassessed periodically and adjusted to meet new trends and to allow flexibility in cases where an alternative use may be as desirable as the one initially proposed. Timing is critical to effectuation of the Plan. Some proposals should be carried out as soon as possible, especially in the case of acquiring land for schools and parks. These sites will eventually become more expensive as development occurs, and in some instances, may not be available at a later date. In summary, the more significant goals and proposals included in the Master Plan For Future Land Use are: To provide for the redevelopment of housing types within the Planning Area by designating those areas which lend themselves to rehabilitation and redevelopment. • To set aside sufficient land area to meet the leisure time recreation needs of both present and future residents, and to carry out park improvement programs. • To develop an efficient, well-organized thorofare system which meets the needs of all anticipated land use types, while at the same time providing necessary linkage with the regional highway system. To promote the development of a sound economic base through continued commercial and industrial growth. !. • To promote the preservation of the City's historical landmarks and to assure the development of an orderly and harmonious relationship between various land use types to enhance the visual environment of the community. It should again be noted that the Master Plan For Future Land Use map, as presented herein, is intended to show generalized land use and not intended to indicate precise size, shape or dimension. The map reflects long-range future land use proposals and does not necessarily imply short-range zoning proposals. • ~ 50 �j --=----=......- L - - !I L -:e. -=-:-:-.!!!!.!!.=- -- ,:1~! ,. -= #..,,;; // 0 ·1-~· Ill -- ~ I ~-/ I R.aohled thal purauanl to the provlalon• of Act 285 of the Michigan Publlc Acl of 1931, as amended , lhe City of ~llan Planning Comml .. ton, having duly held a pubilc: hearing on th• Muter Plan for Future Land Uae, doe• hereby otflcla1ty adopt Nld Master Plan fo, Future Land Uae. We certify lhal the foregoing re.alulion wa.a duly adopted at a m . .tlnQ ol th• City ot MIian Planning Commlulon held on the [I] --- HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL -- GENERAL COMMERCIAL EXPRESSWAY COMMERCIAL FLOOD PLAIN DESIRABLE STREET ACCESS </:?t;)-l,/--·- ' -2flJ1 day °J ~/4'J U ( ·, I ,I -',' ,,/;1 /:(;/ ;1;;/1/1 OESIRABU: STREET EXTENSION . - - - - - SECONDARYTHOROFARE MAJOR THOROFARE Dated f ,, ;:.mI Day .., " o1 (< I< 4J / , Chair ~4,t, ✓~(~'~ 1 Secretary /, (, A.O., i991. I CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SPECIAL PURPOSE c::J PUBLIC ts::s:l CEMETARY E:JI;:;l \ I I I I I LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LOCAL COMMERCIAL '~ ~ ,,1 LECFE~ c::::J ~~ IiI!! - - _j1 ..... SCHOOLS/PUBLIC ~ RECREATION INDUSTRIAL USE PLAN MILAN 2010 - FUTURE LAND CITY OF MILAN MICHIGAN I tCA l. l I i.I '1:0 •illc ■ 11 • ltma" a ouoc1otu Inc . community plonnln9 con1ultanh �• IMPLEMENTATION This Milan Future Land Use Plan is intended to be a policy guide for future land development. As the City grows, it should grow in a manner consistent with this Plan. The two primary tools for the implementation of this Plan are the City's Zoning Ordinance and Capital Improvement Program. When properly applied, the Zoning Ordinance accepts the realities of existing land uses and gradually, as new development is proposed, directs growth toward achieving the goals and objectives of the Land Use Plan. In the future, as rezoning's are considered they should be compared to the concepts of this Land Use Plan. If a proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the Plan, it should be discouraged. However, sometimes a desirable land use is proposed which is in conflict with a land use plan. If it is determined by the Planning Commission that the proposed land use would be desirable for the community as a whole and not inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the Land Use Plan, an amendment to the Plan can be made to bring the proposed use into conformance. • The City's Capital Improvement Program also assists in implementing the Land Use Plan. Capital Improvement Programming is the orderly process of developing a comprehensive plan to accomplish needed public improvement projects in the community. Through this programming, the City is able to schedule public works at a time when they will be most beneficial in the growth and development of the community. In many cases these are major areas in the Land Use Plan. The annual update of the Capital Improvement Plan allows for regular review of needed public improvements and the optimum and feasible timing of their implementation. Finally, this Land Use Plan should be a flexible document which changes as the character of the community and its people change over time. This Plan should be periodically reviewed and amended as necessary to remain up-to-date. It should be remembered that the Land Use Plan is just the best estimate of what would be the desirable land use configuration of the community in the future, from a point in time at the present. As time moves on, this concept of a desirable community may change, so the Plan must be flexible and be amendable to accommodate this change . • 51 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Milan_Master-Plan_1991 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Milan 2010 Master Plan Committee Milan Planning Commission, City of Milan, Monroe County, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-06 Title A name given to the resource Milan 2010 Master Plan Description An account of the resource The Milan 2010 Master Plan was prepared by the Milan 2010 Master Plan Committee and the Milan Planning Commission, with assistance from Vilican-Leman & Associates, Inc., in June 1991. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Vilican-Leman & Associates, Inc. (consultant) Subject The topic of the resource Master plan reports Milan (Mich.) Monroe County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a4c0cd827e82102cd24c6d2de8d8c6d9.pdf 76bb1f2a94bbd62a91badcda41dd0be3 PDF Text Text Cutler Official Zoning Map of Bath Charter Township, Clinton County, Michigan Hunt er Upton Center Watson Chandler Cutler Zoning Districts HDD - High Density Development Watson Peacock Howe D - Development HDR - High Density Residential Clise MDR - Medium Density Residential Herbison Upton Angle Webster Chandler Center Clise Clark Center Sleight D D P - PUBLIC 425 - East Lansing Robson Drumheller Zoning Overlay Districts Center Webster Water Peacock Clark I 69 R - Rural Parcels Owned by MDOT Clark Drumheller LDR - Low Density Residential H wk ollow Ha Stoll Stoll Stoll Access Management Overlay Upton Peacock Development Overlay 425 - Dewitt I 69 Pa rk L ake I 69 Coleman Cole ma n Commercial Sales and Provisioning Overlay µ 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles 0 Township Clerk, Date 1,500 3,000 6,000 US Feet -~ ). e~,cJtJ),,) Township Supervisor, Date u $I). JJ. ~c~ -;)/.5"/~ Prepared by: Miles Roblyer August 2022 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Bath-Charter-Twp_Zoning-Map_2022 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miles Roblyer Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2022-08-30 Title A name given to the resource Official Zoning Map of Bath Charter Township, Clinton County, Michigan Description An account of the resource The Official Zoning Map of Bath Charter Township, Clinton County, Michigan was prepared by Miles Roblyer and was approved by the Township Supervisor on August 30, 2022. Subject The topic of the resource Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Bath Charter Township (Mich.) Clinton County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cdd5028190cb9c52f01dc11f3393d411.mp4 710ec301fb7dc33f3cfbff1dd7138758 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a519d87d27d1c4221c54b2257f2c97a9.pdf 5366cca4f3e88cddb305d26aca2f4043 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Louis Miles (00:58:26) (00:15) Background Information • • • • • Louis was born in Grand Rapids and had to walk to his Catholic school every day His father was a carpenter and was still able to work through the depression There were eleven kids in his family He went to Union high school and graduated in 1938 He then worked for the Grand Rapids Bus Company as a mechanic (4:45) Pearl Harbor • • • • He had not paid attention to the news until Pearl Harbor had been struck Roosevelt had been focusing on domestic economic policy He was drafted shortly after Pearl Harbor was hit They were shipped to Wisconsin and then to Camp Hood, Texas (7:20) Training • • • • They worked on maneuvers, shooting, with machine guns, routine training They were only in Texas for basic training and he was then assigned to a cadre to train others before they left for Europe They worked with 30 caliber machine guns and sub-machine guns, which are not very accurate He was ranked sergeant while training and worked with two different companies (13:40) The Trip Overseas • They were sent to Camp Shanks, New York • They all had to get spinal shots to prevent yellow fever • Louis was part of company D of the 409th infantry, 103rd division • During the trip they were wary of German submarines • Louis was part of a heavy weapons company and they worked on the very top of the ship (18:50) France • • • They were in Marseilles for a week Four months later they moved north into Alsace to put up a road block They were using bazookas to shoot German tanks �• • • The lieutenant commanding his unit disobeyed orders and put the squad in a house rather than by the bridge they were guarding. The house came under tank fire, and they had to surrender Louis got shrapnel in his shoulder and shortly before his unit surrendered They were put in a German prison camp (27:40) The Rhine River (29:30) Reunions • Louis goes to reunions every year and this year a reunion will be held at Fort Custer, in Battle Creek, Michigan (31:00) The Prison Camp • • • • • • There were many guard dogs at the prison camp and they had to stay underground to avoid them There were Sikhs from India and Russians in the camp The Germans treated the Russians the worst The Indian army had been working with the British The British had sent over bombing squads that dropped flares surrounding the camp in order to mark it so that they could avoid hitting it when they bombed Nuremburg They eventually left the camp and were made to walk south for a long time (39:20) Christmas • A truck came to deliver bear to all the troops on the holiday (42:20) Camp Work • • The non-combatants had to do all the manual labor The British army commandos were interrogated and tortured, and memorized as much as they could so that they could about their torturers so that they could find them after the war (44:55) The End of the War • • • The Germans had reaching into Russia when the war came to an end Louis had received orders that he would be headed home on a LST He was treated well when he got back to the US; he received government aid and free cigarettes (50:30) The US �• • • • Louis arrived back in New York and he was in charge of the mess hall at the fort Each man was issued a new full combat outfit They took a train to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he met his brother in law He went to work for the bus company again for a few years and then went to work as a truck mechanic � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MilesL Title A name given to the resource Miles, Louis (Interview outline and video), 2007 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miles, Louis Description An account of the resource Louis Miles served in Europe as part of the 103rd Infantry Division in 1944. Prior to being sent to Europe, Louis had worked in training other men in the Army. While in Europe, Louis worked on damaged bridges and roads. Shortly after arriving at the front in Alsace, he was captured by Germans and then spent the rest of the war in a German prison camp with British, Russian, and Indian prisoners. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans United States. Army World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Video recordings Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-12-04 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7389406afcf4e25836ef6915219f9e05.mp4 5f72f72967542677fe65a5114cbd7376 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cf332048ae99aebb90e21a2a1f685271.pdf 5f5e384c54ac6662f61ef3a160b5a094 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Notes Length:1:01 Wendell Miles WWII Veteran Provost Marshal and Judge Advocate General; 1943 to –(?) 1:12 Born in Holland Michigan 1:45 Born in 1916 2:09 Discussing being the smallest member of his family and how he played the drum 3:12 He went to Hope College, During college he was a sailor. He was a member of the Debate team 5:18 He went to Wyoming to get his masters degree and write laws for the legislature. 6:06 He then went to the University of Michigan law school 6:56 In 1941he was listening to the symphony when he heard the Pearl Harbor was bombed. 8:00 He did not know if he was going to be able to finish at Michigan 8:36 He never knew if he was going to be drafted. 8:57 He took the Bar Exam and passed 9:43 on October 2 1943 he signed up 10:14 He tried to join the navy as an officer he was denied because of his height 10:55 He went into the Army as a Private 11:38 He got injured in basic he broke his ankle; he spent a month in the hospital. 12:31 He ended up in Fort Riley Kansas he became a member of the Provost Marshal corps 14:14 He describes how he got in trouble at Kansas he through a fire cracker down the hall where the officers were eating. 15:55 He told the officers that he was the one who did it �16:26 He was put on permanent KP duty. 18:10 He was told to apply to OCS 18:53 He describes OCS and the application process 20:26 He was accepted to OCS he shows the picture of his Class at OCS 21:30 He says that OCS is the worst place in the Army the men picked on him because he was a Lawyer 23:01 He talks about how he got along in OCS he played craps and poker. 23:59 He discusses how he had to appear before a General at the end of his term of OCS. The General fires off a few hard questions 26:16 He answered the questions correctly. 28:18 He is still discussing OCS, He says that his friend was kicked out of OCS. 30:43 He discusses tensions between the officer candidates, who were college graduates, and the noncoms who were training them, career men without even high school degrees who treated them badly. 32:53 He went to Texas at a POW camp he lectured men of why we fight. He says that he was not found of Roosevelt. 33:03 He talked to the German POWs he said that most of them were not really Germans. 35:01 He says that most of the Germans were smart and that they put on plays and had Kangaroo Courts. 37:07 He tried to explain what Democracy was. 37:42 Every other night there would be a German would be convicted at these Kangaroo courts. 38:50 He went to some of theses plays and translated for the Cornell in charge. 39:21 He tried to talk to these Germans to convert them to democratic values. 40:18 He transferred men to different camps, hoping to separate the hard core Nazis from the others. 41:32 After Camp Hood he went to Oregon 43:13 He was a Lawyer for about six months in Oregon at Camp White �44:51 He went east to New Jersey he spent four hours there and then went on a boat to Europe. He spent three or four days in the ship until the convoy was sent out. Everyone on the ship was sick. He was in a convoy of eighty ships 46:03 He was sitting outside of Scotland the nets were holding the ships back because of the submarines 48:00 He got there in 1944 48:43 He describes his captain he says that he was the dumbest person he knew 49:45 His captain got drunk and told him what he thought of him. 50:09 He describes White night and Black night, He says that the English People are not that brilliant 51:03 He describes the racial disparity and the whites and blacks fighting. 51:44 He said that he was very busy there. 52:12 He took a ship full of POWs back to the U.S and he got three days off. 53:11 He says that he went to a prison in Illinois to recruit prisoners for the army and said to the prisoners that he had more respect for the German POWs than he did for the prisoners because they fought for there country. 55:27 He discusses how the prisoners got ready to go to Europe. 57:53 He discusses the treatment of these prisoners 58:19 He got his on a rack of six (?) on the Queen Elizabeth he said it was quit a chore. 59:42 He thought that it was a good and a bad idea that they had prisoners to fight. 1:01 He was making constant trips to go to the front. Lost the end. �·The HollaI!!tD~!~y!!,ing Sentinel Zeelaftd, s.ug.tuck~ DouglU, FORTY-SEVENTH YEAR-NO. 89 w..t Ollv.. HUdto,,"llIe. Fennville, Hamilton, E.at Saugatuck, Morrtello P~rk. Central Park, Vlrah,'. P.rk, Jenl,on Park, Macatawa Puk. North Shore Drive. and District No.2 HOLLAND, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY. OCTOBER 17,1942 EIGHT PAGES-PRICE THREE CENTS SOVIETS AGAIN YIELD AT STALINGRAD Another Group of Holland Selectees Report for Duty at Fort Cu~t~r Admit Defenses '" I May· Be Split by Ii Gennan Wedge I I Dakar ClasL Denied; Bag of Axis Planes at Malta Over 100 Mark By Unlkd Prtss The Soviet defense of StaUn­ J1'I.d appetl'(.'d to. have taken a tum tOf' the worse today with mcee Nazi gains apinst· the reeteess-mee factories which have been the bulwark of the Red anny stand. Mogcow reported that tor the fourth time in two days Soviet fQrees have Iallen back under thl!o Intense preswre of German tanks and ground t.rooJM: directed a&aibst a narrow front where the .Nui .ObjeCtiv.e is the banks of ~ Volga river. The Russians said tJ!t')' had re­ tired only a .hort 6tance and in good crder and that the cee, mana bad not reached the, river German claims, however, said the VO]l:a was reached on a broaden~ ing front. The RussIaM admit­ I ted there. was. acute "dang", tne th e Nazl W«Ige would dIvide the StalinCl'1ld defense arm)". The Germans were said to be .: [ IUUerlna- heavy losses. One- Rus­ , I f I I ~; ~:; =~I1~id l;'ogg 1~~)4:: lone part. or the front and 151 tanks destroyed, Berlin clalmed that Nul troops had entered. tbe . "R~ barricade" h:tory which WlU described as one of two remaining Soviet strong points in SblJngrad. Tile other was the "Red October" WOI"b which was said to 00 sur­ rounde9. RUSli;an troops north­ west of Stalingrad were said to have been isolated. Despite the StaUngrad develop­ ments, President Mihail Kalin]n in a review of the war Mid the sltuatlon generally wes more rev­ . ~~blEl for _ R_US.sia than' ~." )lear The above group of selectees left -Holland Friday noon .to , report for duty in the army at Fort Custer. They are· (left to right). First row, Carl Jay' .Mar- 'eus, Wendell Alverson Miles, Marvin J. Overway, Melvin James Van. buren, Delwin Harris Andersen, .Herman Harold· Banger and Benjamin Wagner; second row, Wallace William Grant'l Theunis Hoort, and William Ger­ John Buursma, Jr., Bernard Jac- rit De Graaf; third row,. Gordon ob Vail De Lune, Harold Marvin Van Voorst, Walter Scott I B. Ver Hulst, Allen Taylor and Burke, George Bernard Wilner, I Robert Woldring, . �, .'1 ?>~J . II 1'1 I i I " <,ttl l . ,! ; . t! ,I!: ! : ,~ I! '~ .~~~----~--- �!J..--_.-?:%:~... -.tY~.~ ~ -.....~·.~u.~- __..-r, ....C~I~dIo)- . ~i~~J-t.a:-1I5-ZAh~·. . . l: -­ -(JJJ..~ Td~W~~··· - .. - - - · . f · · - . · -.' ~. .: - .... -~ i f ~ - ... . ... 1 - + .~-- ~--_:_-_:::_ .. ­ _. . _ /6)" . _ .. .'..'. .-/ :;:r . ~ _~-::. ~r;:"'--'~-'IJCI :::::-­ ... ­ _. +' ~~~·····S~~-· ...--~- ':f -~~ --=.~. ...• ··Ir •. :--~~~~~-~= ~l·;i;J;-1iJ!;f?~ -~~.~._.~~.~~~/ ~a--o ~ ~ Fv" . :.!~ " .. ._-­ ' . . �'. -"~" ... · '. ' .. ------------------------- �. ,'" - . ." ':.: ~ . '. " .. ":'" "" . .<': •.•. :"., ,<:, .:~ .':~ ' .. �- '. . ~,'" •... .- ........ '.. ' " " . .... .: ~ ;. . .' �----1--- ... --~.--- Honorable Wendell A. Miles: Soldier, Prosecutor, Professor, Court Historian, and Judge Extraordinaire .lIhi5 i5sue'isdedicated to Federal District Judge Wendell Alverson Miles, who celebrated his 90th birthday April 17,2006, and is still going strong. Judge Miles was instrumental in establishing the Historical Society for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan only a few years ago and, at meetings of the Society's board of trustees, graces us with reminiscences of litigation. gone by and character sketches of judges, lawyers, and witnesses, By dedicating this issue of the Journal to Judge Miles, we express our sincere thanks and deep gratitude for all that he has bestowed on the bench, the bar, and the entire West Michigan community. Patrick E. Mears �---....---..e-----.. . --­ Stereoscope I I History of the Sixth Circuit Court ofAppeals Presented by Michael Barone, SeniorWriter/or U.S. News And World Report at the Sixth CircuitJudicial Conference Detroit, Michigan, May 19, 2006 Thank you. It's a great honor to be asked to speak to the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference. You know, I understand that out on the West Coast, the Ninth Circuit also voted to have a Circuit Conference. But the Supreme Court reversed them nine to nothing. It's a special honor for one who was once a law clerk in the Sixth Circuit, for the late Judge Wade H. McCree, Jr. I'm very glad to see in the audience a friend so many of us know and have long admired, Mrs. Dores McCree. And I'm happy to be able to say that also in the audience are the two people who have contributed more to my life and whatever success I've had than anyone else--my parents, Jerry and Alice Barone. It's good to be back in Detroit and to reminisce about my own days as a Sixth Circuit law clerk. I must say that I felt very grand and exalted in those days. As one of two law clerks, I had a huge office in the Federal Building on Fort Street, something like 40 feet long and 30 feet wide, with 20-foot ceilings, bookshelves with hundreds of volumes u-,,'"", of the Federal Reports, a huge desk with the high-tech equipment of the day-an IBM Selectric typewriter-and a conference table that seated 14. But I was taken aback a little when Judge McCree told me that I had better enjoy it, because I would never again have a larger office unless I was .• appointed a federal judge. Well, I'm still waiting for that appointment, but as usual, Judge McCree was right: every office I've had since then has been smaller than the one before. My office at U.S. News is about 10 feet by 8 feet, and it has chairs that will seat two visitors in a pinch. I have many memories of my two years at the Sixth Circuit--of listening to oral argument of cases in the beautiful courtroom in Cincinnati, delivered in all the accents that you hear from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and · Tennessee. I remember hearing moonshine prosecutions · being defended, somewhat perfunctorily, by a young · assistant U.S. attorney from Nashville named Fred · Thompson, who went on to become a lead counsel on the Watergate Committee and a U.S. senator-and then to achieve real fame as an actor. I remember Judge McCree · showing me that he was able to recite in Latin more of the opening lines of the Aeneid than I could remember. and then completely overtopping me by reciting in ancient Greek lines from the Anabasis. I remember occasionally going down the elevator in the Federal Building to 4 Congressman John Conyers's office and being greeted by his receptionist, Rosa Parks. Those were in many ways grim years in Detroit. In 1967, I had worked as an intern in the office of the mayor of Detroit, Jerome Cavanagh, and was at his side during the six-day riot in July 1967; at one point he asked me, a first-year law student, whether he had authority to order a curfew. In the years of my clerkship, there was great controversy over the district court's decision in the Detroit busing case, ordering busing of students from the central city to the suburbs. While I was a clerk, there were raging protests of the Vietnam war and the so-called Moratorium. But in Judge McCree's chambers and in the Sixth Circuit courtroom in Cincinnati, things were more serene. Not because Judge McCree and his colleagueswere unaware of the turbulence in the outer world, but because they were dedicated to do justice, impartially, under law. They disagreed on particular cases, but I never heard Judge McCree utter a disparaging word about any of his colleagues-and knew instinctively that he would never tolerate any from his clerks, Since my days as a law clerk, I have gone on to other things. I did practice law-for four billable hours-and got paid for two of them. Then I went into political writing, with the first edition of my Almanac of American Politics, and into political consulting and then journalism. From law to political consulting to journalism--each profession paying lessthan the one before, and each held in less esteem. I guess my next profession is selling used cars. This evening I'd like to talk to you about history-with perhaps just a little politics thrown in. As I was pondering what I'd talk to you about, I thought suddenly ofone of my favorite history books, David Hackett Fischer's Albion Seed. And it struck me that Albion Seedtells us a lot about the Sixth Circuit-about the people who settled and now live in these four states, the nation's second most populous federal judicial circuit, and, I would argue, the one which in many ways is the circuit most typical of America as a whole. The central argument of Albion Seed is that the American colonies were settled by four distinct groups from four separate parts of the British Isles, who brought with them distinctive folkways which have ever since characterized those regions of America and the regions to s s s �---...---~-~--- .....--­ Winter 2007 I which the descendants of those settlers moved and have characterized those later immigrants who came from other parts of the world to each of those regions. Folkways, in Fischer's book, include all manner of things-from speech patterns to building styles, marriage and sex and child­ rearing, religion and food and dress, ideas of rank and ideas of order and ideas of freedom. New England was settled by people from East Anglia, the region of England northeast of London-Puritans. Virginia and the Chesapeake colonies were settled by people from the West Country of England, Cavaliers and their indentured servants. The Delaware River Valley, Pennsylvania and New Jersey and Delaware, were settled by Englishmen from the North Midlands, many of them Quakers. And the Appalachian borderlands, from Pennsylvania south through the Carolinas, were settled by North Britons, people from the North of England, the Scottish borders and Northern Ireland-Presbyterians. I can't do justice in any short time to the richness of Fischer's characterization of the folkways that these people brought from the different regions of the British Isles to the different regions of America. But let me try to characterize them briefly. The New Englanders believed in moral improvement, to be enforced on others; high literacy; and what Fischer calls ordered liberty. Transferred across the sea, the Norfolk whine of East Anglia becam€tlft!'New England twang that we have heard in our own time even from New Englanders who were the descendants of later immigrants like John F. Kennedy and Michael Dukakis. The New Englanders may have been slave traders in the colonies, but in time their stern morality led them to lead America's antislavery movement-and, another instance that would have surprised their ancestors, the movement for Prohibition. The Virginians were the descendants of West Country Cavaliers, gentlemen who believed in honor and also in rank, and their indentured servants who saw themselves, as their ancestors had been in England, of a lower order.'The Cavaliers would fight for their idea of hegemonic liberty, as George Washington and Lighthorse Harry Lee did in the American Revolution and as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson did in the Civil War. The North Midlands people who settled the Delaware Valleybelieved in a stern morality, bur unlike the Ne~ Englanders, they did not believe in community morality but in individual morality: you should do your best as you saw it in your light but not try to impose your way on others­ what Fischer calls reciprocalliberry. The people who settled the Appalachian chain, mostly in the last few years before the American Revolution, came from the fighting borderlands of Britain and Ireland, where I armed brawls and clan feuds led to pitched battles in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were fiercely egalitarian, in many cases Presbyterians who believed that men-and women-should all read and interpret the Bible in their own way, and be ready to fight those who did wrong by their family-what Fischer calls natural liberty. Of course, none of these groups of settlers landed immediately in the states that now make up the Sixth Circuit. Bur in the first years of the Republic, and even in a few years before the Revolution, they did-and left imprints that are still visible today. The first to come were the Virginians, over the Cumberland Gap, into the green lands of Kentucky, in the 1770s and 1780s; and remember that Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792, just one year after that other mountain republic, Vermont. The prototype is Henry Clay, originally from Virginia, the gallant champion of the West, a major leader in American politics from 1811, when he was elected Speaker of the House, until his death in 1852. You can still see the Cavalier culture, I think, in the Bluegrassregion of Kentucky, with the manicured horse farms around Lexington, and you can see its spirit in Derby Day in Louisville every May. Then came the mountain people, over the Appalachians, into parts of Kentucky and especially Tennessee, which was admitted to the Union in 1796. The prototype here is Andrew Jackson, born poor and fighting the English before he was a teenager. A self-made man, he was violently in love with his wife-so violently that he killed men in duels for saying bad things about her. The Jacksonian spirit still lives on as a vital force in America; as the foreign policy scholar Walter Russell Mead put it, ''I'm peaceable and tolerant, but if you threaten my family, I'll kill you." And it lives on in country music, with its headquarters in Andrew Jackson's home town of Nashville. Then came, more quietly, the North Midlanders from the Delaware Valley. They moved into parts of Ohio, which was admitted to the Union in 1803, and left their imprint especiallyon Cincinnati, the biggest city in the interior of the United States at the time of the Civil War and after. If you look at the street map of downtown Cincinnati and turn it sideways, you will see the street map of Center City Philadelphia, with numbered streets running one way and named streets with the same names-Race, Vine, Walnut, Chestnut-running the other. German immigrants did much to establish the character of Cincinnati, as they had in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania some years before, and they took on the character of the North Midlands folkways. Perhaps we have them to thank not only for Philadelphia scrapple but also four-way Cincinnati chili. 5 �---.. . - --..e-----.. . --­ Stereoscope I I And then there are the New Englanders. In the years after the American Revolution, New England Yankees rapidly moved west, through Upstate New York and into the northeast corner ofOhio - the Western Reserve, originally set out as part of Connecticut in 1784. The New England diaspora rapidly moved west, settling northern Ohio and southern Michigan, establishing congregational churches and dozens of colleges, including Oberlin College. the first American college to admit women and blacks, and Hillsdale College, which a few years later followed its example. They were the founders of the Republican party and the northeast corner of Ohio, represented in the 1860s and 1870s by future President James Garfield, which was the most Republican congressional district in the country. Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe moved into Cleveland and Detroit, but these cities still kept some of their New England folkways. As David Hackett Fischer acknowledges, his four categories of colonists were not the only people who settled America. There were the New Yorkers, with a culture that derives from its original Dutch settlers, and which has not been much transplanted to the rest of the country; although Hillary Rodham Clinton, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, has assured us that she has always been a New York Yankees fan, and has now been elected a senator from New York. Consider Americans of African descent, who bring a heritage of special oppt~on and special richness to the rest of us. It was across the Ohio River, between Bracken County, Kentucky, and Brown County, Ohio, that Liza escaped to freedom across the frozen ice floes in Uncle TOm Cabin­ which was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe of Cincinnati. In the far southwest corner of the Sixth Circuit, in Memphis, Tennessee, there is the black community that gave birth to blues music and rhythm and blues. and inspired a poor white in the housing projects, Elvis Presley. The boundaries of the 12 judicial circuits of the United States Court of Appeals were established in the 19th century and modified in the 20th-and may be modified in the 21st if some of the western states that want to get out from under the heel of the 9th Circuit get their way. But as 1 look at all the circuits, I think that the Sixth Circuit, more than any other. is made up of Americans who derive from all the traditions that David Hackett Fischer describes in Albion Seed. And 1 think one proof of that comes from politics. Crunching numbers as I like to do--I can't think of s s 6 anything more fun than staying up and calculating political percentages for different groups of states and districts-I have noticed a pattern. The four states of the Sixth Circuit, aggregated together, have voted almost exactly as the nation as a whole for more than 40 years. The Sixth Circuit voted for President Bush in 2000 and 2004, for President Clinton in 1992 and 1996, for the first President Bush in 1988, for President Reagan in 1980 and 1984, for President Carter (by a very narrow margin-but so did the nation) in 1976, for President Nixon in 1968 and 1972, for President Johnson in 1964. You have to go back to 1960 to find an election where the Sixth Circuit voted the opposite way from the nation as a whole, and mostly because Ohio went more for Richard Nixon than anyone expected. As then, candidate Kennedy said, in a rousing rally in Columbus, "I don't know where I get more cheers and fewer votes." . If you look at the results of the 2004 presidential election by circuit you see the same thing. The First, Second and Third Circuits on the East Coast gave all their electoral votes to John Kerry. So, obviously, did the D. C. Circuit. The Ninth Circuit, where California casts more votes than the rest of the states combined, voted for Kerry, and so did the Seventh Circuit, where the Chicago area outvoted downstate. and Indiana and Wisconsin were tied. The Fifth and Tenth Circuits in the West voted heavily for George W. Bush; so, by lesser margins, did the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits in the South and the Eighth Circuit in the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River. The four states of the Sixth Circuit voted 52 percent for George W. Bush and 47 percent for John Kerry-just one percent more for Bush and less for Kerry than the country as a whole, the closest circuit to the national average. Indeed, going back to 1960, the Sixth Circuit has never voted more than two percent away ftom the average of the nation as a whole. Is there a message here that is relevant to your work in doing justice in the federal courts? Only this, I think, that within your jurisdiction you have, more than the judges of any other circuit, the whole of America proportionately represented, presenting to you, I suspect, the whole range of legal issues and challenges before judges in this country­ even if you still get a disproportionate number of moonshine cases. The Sixth Circuit is. more than any other, America in full. It was a privilege to serve there, and it- is an honor to be here tonight. Thank you. �---...---..e-----..•. --­ Wmte.r 2007 . I Curriculum Vitae of Michael Barone Michael Barone is a senior writer for u.s. News & World Report. He grew up in Detroit and Birmingham, Michigan. Mr. Barone graduated from Harvard College (1966) and Yale Law School (1969) and was editor of the Harvard Crimson and the Yale Law Journal. Mr. Barone served as law clerk to Judge Wade H. McCree, jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1969 to 1971. From 1974 to 1981, he was a vice president of the polling firm of Peter D. Hart Research Associates. From 1981 to 1988, he was a member of the editorial page staff of the Washington Post. From 1989 to 1996, and again from 1998 to present, he has been a senior writer with U.S. News & World Report. From 1996 to 1998, he was a senior stalf editor at Reader's Digest. Mr. Barone is the principalco-author of The Almanac ofAmerican Politics, published by National Journal every two years. The first edition appeared in 1971, and the 15th edition, The AlmanacofAmerican Politics 2000, appeared in July 1999. He is also the author of Our Country: The Shaping ofAmerica from Roosevelt to Reagan (Free Press, 1990). His essays have appeared in severalother books, including Our Harvard and Beyond the Godfather. Over the years he has written for many publications, including The Economist, The New }Ork TImes, the DetroitNews, the DetroitFree Press, the Moek(y Standard, the New Republic, NationalReview. the American Spectator, American Enterprise. the Times Literary SupplemC1lt, the Daily Telegraph ofLondon, and the Italian publication, Libra Aperto. Mr. Barone is a regular panelist for the McLAughlin Group and has appeared on many other television programs and networks, including the Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, Meet thePress, This Moek, TOday, Good Morning America, Hardball, Crossfire, the British Broadcasting Company, ITN of Britain, the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and the Australian Broadcasting Company. Mr. Barone lives in Washington, D.C. He has traveled to all 50 states and all 435 congressional districts. He has also traveled to 37 foreign countries and has reponed on the most recent elections in Mexico, Italy, Russia, and Britain. Western District Historical Society Mission The Historical Society was created to research, collect and preserve the history of the lawyers, judges and cases that have comprised the federal court community in Western Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and to share this information with the public in an effort to promote a better understanding of the region, the court and the rule oflaw. 7 �---.. .--__.._41----.. .- -­ Stereoscope I I Interview with Judge Wendell A. Miles, Recipient of FBA Service to the Profession Award The followingis the record ofan interviewofFederal DistrictCourtJudge Wendell A. Milesconducted in December 1998, by Patrick Mears and Michelle Le~que in Judge Miles' chambers. The following is nota verbatim transcript ofthe interview, but-isa summary that hopefully captures its essence andflavor. MEARS: Can you ten us something about your family background? hand carved, wooden desk in my office was at one time my father's courtroom bench in Grand Haven. JUDGE MILES: I was born on April 17, 1916, in Holland, Michigan. My father, Fred T. Miles, was the son of a farmer and Civil War veteran. My mother, Dena D. Alverson Miles, was the daughter of a Methodist preacher and Civil War veteran. My father was one of seven children and left school when he was in the fifth grade. Later, at age 17, he enrolled in Hope College and was later awarded an honorary degree from that institution. I was one of three children. My brother, Frederick T. Miles, was the probate judge for Ottawa County for 28 years, and my brother, Lloyd George Miles was a school teacher in Grand Haven, Michigan. My father was ,elected as circuit court judge for Ottawa "'-County in 1928 and held that position until 1948. The I grew up in Holland and received my bachelor of arts degree from Hope College in 1938. The next year, I was awarded a master's degree from the University ofWyo­ ming in Laramie. From mere, I entered The University of Michigan Law School, where I received my juris doctorate in May 1942. My father swore me in as an attorney after I passed the Michigan bar examination. MEARS: I understarid that you were in the United States Army during World War II. JUDGE MILES: I was inducted into the army in October 1942 at Fort Custer, Michigan, and took my basic training at Fort Riley; Kansas. I graduated as provost marshal from officers' candidate school in April 1943 and. was assigned to Camp Hood in Texas. My first assignment was to interview German Afrika Korps prisoners being held there. I was picked for this duty because I had-taken two years of German at Hope College. I was ultimately able to speak fluent German because of the coaching I received fro~ a German Wehrmacht sergeant who had attended Columbia University before the war. In interviewing these prisoners, I wo~ld classify them according to a spectrum of political attitudes so that they could be segregated in prison according to their political philosophy. We put all the ardent Nazis in one camp, for example, so that they would not intimidate and physically harm other German POWs who held moderate political views. I also caught these prisoners about the American political system. They were generally amazed that, during 1944, in the midst of the war, we would hold a presidential election. JudgeMiles in the European 17U'(ltI!r during IJiJrld lIftr If ..... 8 ' �....--_.._...---.....- - ­ Winter 2007 --- I I In August of 1944, I landed at Normandy only two months after D-Day in General Patton's Third Army. My assignment there was to interview German POWs immediately after their capture to obtain information on gun emplacements, the location of German reserves, and the like. It was important for us to obtain this information quickly to save American lives. I performed this duty in France, Belgium, and Germany as the Third Army advanced into the Reich. I also made three trips with German POWs across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. When the European war ended, my company was scheduled to be transferred to the Pacific front, but I didn't want to go there. I had enough earned "points" to permit me to be released from active duty. On my release, I enrolled in a special course at the Sorbonne in Paris and was then assigned in April 1945 to try black marketeering cases as a JAG officer in Marseille. These trials were held in Marseille because U.S. Army supplies would be delivered there for distribution to the troops in the Seventh Army. Many of the defendants being tried were members of the army who would sell these supplies to French civilians on the black market. During my stay in Marseille, I would often fly to Rome for weekends on U.S. bombers. I would either sit on the floor of the plane or i~ the bomb rack, w.h!';.~we would be called "shark meat" by the pilots. The greatest American whom I ever met; Bob Hope, carne to Marseille along with Jerry Colonna and Frances Langford to perform for the GIs. They would put on four shows a day, seven days a week. MEARS: Where were you stationed after these black market trials ended? JUDGE.MILES: I was then transferred to Srrasbourg, France, as a U.S. claims and liaison officer. It was in Strasbourg that I lost my first trial, which involved a French wine producer who sued the U.S. Army for damages caused when the army commandeered his chateau and drank the wine stored there. I argued that this was "combat damage" that was not compensable, but the judge disagreed with me. He said in his bench opinion that "American soldiers only drink water." It was in Strasbourg that I met my wife, Mariette Bru~kert, who was the daughter of a French banker. I would accompany her to the opera and other events there. She had a brother who was in the French Underground during the war but who was captured and killed by the Gestapo. Another brother was in the French Navy and survived the naval battle of Mers-el-Kabir off the Algerian coast. After the war, this brother lived in Judge Miles in uniform tounng Europe afterIE ckJJ~ Tunisia but then moved back to France after Tunisian independence was gained. He is now 85 yearsold and visited us here last summer. MEARS: When did you marry Mariette? JUDGE MILES: We were married on June 8, 1946, in a Catholic church in Strasbourg, even though I was raised as a Methodist. After our wedding, we moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where I was a law officerin the Third Army's General Court. Life was very good there. We lived in a requisitioned house and had a car, chauffeur, and gardener. We would hunt wild boar, rabbits, and moose in the nearby forests. Later, I was transferred to Stuttgart. I remember holding a meeting there with German civilians who were applying for licenses to conduct business in Occupied Germany. At the beginning of the meeting, I asked the people in the room who had been a Nazi. At first, only one man stood up and admitted that he had been a member of the Nazi parry. I said to the room that we have to givehonest men like him a job to rebuild Germany. After I said that, others in the room admitted to being party members. At that time, I was tempted to live in Europe, and my father recognized this. He told me that he would resign from the bench and join me in the practice of law if I returned home. So I did, and arrived in Holland on Christmas Eve 1947. My father resigned at the end of the year, and we became law partners in Holland. MEARS: Weren't you later elected as prosecuting attorney for Ottawa County? 9 �---.. . - --..e-----....--­ Stereoscope I I During his campaign against Yonkman, Gerry Ford made good use of this story. MEARS: When were you appointed United States Attorney? JUDGE MILES: I was appointed to this post in 1953 by President Eisenhower and was re-appointed by him in 1957 after his re-election. This was the best job that I ever had. When I started, I had only two assistants to help me. Myoid office was in the building that now houses the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In 1960, I was nominated by the Michigan Republican Party to run for attorney general. I had been urged to run for this position earlier by the then-U.S. Attorney General William Rogers, who was a good friend of Richard Nixon. In fact, it was Bill Rodgers who wrote Nixon's "Checkers Speech" that saved him from being let go as Eisenhower's running mate during the 1952 election. 0" th«:lOth da,l' (1JI/(I' 1C)'H, I was in G1asb'vll'. S("otlaTld. It hodjus: been (JIlT/DUlICrd that Hitler had beenassossi­ noted and them IVa., gll'atic!,,' and celebration. I went into a photo simp and became a Scotsman. Eteryone expectedthe war to be terminated in 1() clays. On election day in 1960, when I lost the race for attorney general, I was approached by a trial lawyer who asked me to join his law firm. I agreed, and this firm ultimately became known as Miles, Mika, Meyers. Beckett and jones. In private practice, I represented plaintiffs and defendants in almost every category of cases. In 1962, I was appointed special counsel for the City of Grand Rapids. I acted as chief trial counsel for the city in all urban renewal/condemnation cases that resulted in the rebirth of the downtown business district. In a number of these cases, my opponent was Harold Sawyer, who was then a partner at Warner; Norcross & judd. In April 1967, I argued before the United States Supreme Court the "one man, one vote" caseof Sailors u BoardofEducation ofthe CountyofKent, which is reported at 387 U.S. 105,87 S.Ct. 1549 (1967). I also argued and won an important appeal "in Lewis v Cityof Grand Rapids, 356 F.2d 276 (6th Cir. 1966). MEARS: When were you appointed to the federal bench? JUDGE MILES: I was elected to this position in 1948, and was re-elected twice afterwards. It was during this time that I became good friends with Gerald Ford, who was then practicing with Phil Buchen in Grand Rapids. Phil introduced me to Gerry. In 1948, Ford defeated Congressman Barney Yonkman and was elected to Congress. When I was a GI in Northern France, a delegation of U.S. congressmen, including Yonkman and Claire Booth Luce, visited our company. Ms. Luce discovered that I was from Yonkman's congressional district and called him on a field phone to let him know that I was there. Yonkman said that he was "too tired" to visit me and later went to visit his daughter in Nice. 10 ; JUDGE MILES: I was appointed a United States district judge for the Western District of Michigan on April 17, 1974, exactly seven years after I argued the Sailors case before the United States Supreme Court. I assumed the bench on May 4, 1974. Before that, I had been the circuit judge for Ottawa and Allegan counties since June 1970 when I was appointed to that position by then­ Governor William Milliken. When I was appointed, I had to work seven days a week for a long period of time to dispose of 600 cases that were backlogged in the system. In some of these cases, I would read trial transcripts and then issue an opinion. �Wmter2007 I I ----...----...e..-----.---­ MEARS: Can you tell us about your career as a federal district court judge? JUDGE MILES: When I was appointed in 1974, I joined Judge Fox as the second judge for this district. That year, I handled about 65 percent of the 1,540 pending civil cases in this district. I was busier than I had been as circuit court judge in Ottawa and Allegan counties. My criminal case docket would be called at 8:30 a.m. and would last until I :00 p.m. I would then hear my civil cases starting at 2:00 p.m., and that session would normally end at 6:00 p.m. This lasted until 1977, when three new federal district court judges were appointed for this district. I have had so many wonderful times as a federal judge. I have tried cases at Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island, and Marquette. I especially love Marquette, because I am an avid skier. I also attended football and hockey games at Northern Michigan Uni­ versity when I held court up there. I am especially proud of being one of seven hand-picked judges on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. I was appointed to this position in 1989. This court hears only top-secret matters that I cannot discuss with anyone other than the other six judges. We take no papers into these hearings and render decisions right after the hearing is held. It is a fascinating job. MEARS: Do you have any special advice for practicing lawyers? JUDGE MILES: Earn a reputation for being thorough and honest. Admit possible weaknesses in your case but vigorously argue why your case should be decided in your favor. Avoid being personal. Ifyou do that, the judges aqAj~ies will like and respect you, and your fellow lawyers will accept you as a mediator and arbitrator. Judge Miles as United States Attorney (19.53-196()). II �----.._...._---....- - ­ - - -.....I I In This Issue History of the Sixth Circuit Court ofAppeals .4 Interview with Judge Wendell A. Miles, Recipient of FBA Service to the Profession Award I 8 I NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANSING, MI PERMIT #191 STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN MICHAEL FRANCK BUILDING 306 TOWNSEND STREET LANSING, MI 48933-2012 www.michbar.org James A Mitchell Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton PO Box 2567 695 Kenmoor Ave SE Grand Rapids M' 49546-2375 I, I" II ,I" I 1.1"',,1,1 I, ",1,1,. I 1,1, "I ,',1,1,1", I,'", ,II' �Stereoscope , -­ - - -.....I- - - -..e..' - - - -....The following is a reprint ofJudge Miles' official biographical summary in the official History of the Sixth Circuit, which may be found at: www.ca6.uscourts. govllib_histiCourtsldistrict%20courtIMJlWDMlljudgeslwam-bio.html WendellAlverson Miles{1916-) United States District Court, Westem District of Michigan (1974- ) Nominated: March 29.1974 Con6nnecl: April 10. 1974 Appointed: April 17. 1974 Entered on puty: May 9. 1974 ChiefJudge: January I. 1980-April 17. 1986 Senior Status: May 6. 1986 '['hi! s~~icopetel1crVes copyrighfkiauthQrs pf~ignedilrti9es.!'~),ssiot1i· . ·~;:.;.nA·· . l' ..I: 'ut't:"······ s7'w..~'~c O~lo·.A!Je<>, "'.. rroll1.thecauth<>r, and1hi!St~'~' bt:aclcrio~lcd~9d'iJ;lJhl; repl(in~ ,material ' " 't;e<lwitho ".~roi~,.:.:~~,~s . prima ~ . ,'".' .•.• ".,,,' ~i;;;>,< • April 17, 1916, Holland, Michigan • Hope College, B.A., 1938 • University ofWyoming, M.A., 1939 • University of Michigan, J.D., 1942 • United States Army, 1942-1947 • Miles & Miles. Holland, Michigan. 1948-1953 • Miles, Mika, Meyers & Beckett, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1961-1970 • Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, 1970-1974 • Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1974-1986 • Chief judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1980-1986 • Senior Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1986-present • Judge, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, 1989-1996 • Western District of Michigan Court Historian. 2000-present :'::;:!"'; ;~: �--------..e-----.. .--­ Wmter2007 • I • Prosecuting Attorney, Ottawa County, Michigan, 1949-1953 • United States Attorney, Western District of Michigan, 1953-1960 • • • Instructor, Hope College, 1948-1953 Instructor. American Institute of Banking, 1953-1960 Adjunct Professor, Hope College, 1979-present • Special Counsel, Grand Rapids School Board. 1961-1970 Special Counsel. City of Grand Rapids, 1961-1970 • SpecialTrial Counsel. Michigan Consolidated. 1962-1970 • General Counsel, Ferris State College. 1965-1970 • Grand Rapids Bar Association Board of Directors, 1963 State Bar of Michigan • American Bar Association • Fellow, American Bar Foundation • Federal Bar Association • Fellow, Federal Bar Foundation • Ottawa County Bar Association • 20th Judictil~cuit Bar Association, 1948-1960; president, 1952 • American Judicature Society • Grand Rapids Inns of Court, 1995-present '.~~::;;.:';~~: ..~:f.;,~.~ ..;:,:'j! :v·:;;:-~:~~ Civ.iC&;Qthef . L j,~_; ,.:"_,,,,_,: ,_.~', .. • Holland Board of Education, 1951-1953; president, 196 I-1963 • Penisular 9ub. 1948-present Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, 1948-presenr • Holland Board of Governors, University of Michigan Club, 1955-present • Mason. 32;degree Chairman. Statewide Republican Policy Constitution and Revision Commission, 1962 • Vice Chairman, Michigan Higher Education Commission. 1974-1985 • Grand Rapids Torch Club, 1953-presenr; president, 1974 • Grand Rapids Rotary Club. 1974-present • Honorary LL.D., Detroit College of Law, 1979 Honorary LL.D., Hope College, 1980 3 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MilesW Title A name given to the resource Miles, Wendell A. (Interview outline, video, and papers), 2007 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miles, Wendell A. Description An account of the resource Wendell Miles was born in Holland, Michigan. He went to Hope College, then to the University of Wyoming to get his masters degree. From there he went to the University of Michigan for law school. He became a lawyer and joined the Army as a private. After getting in trouble for throwing a fire cracker in the officers mess, he went to school to become an Officer. After graduating OCS he went to Camp Hood, Texas where he looked after the German POWs. After leaving this duty station he traveled between Europe and the U.S transferring POWs and inmates who went to jail for not honoring the draft. After the war ended in Europe, he worked as a JAG (Judge Advocate General) dealing first with contraband stolen by US soldiers, and was stationed in Marseille and Strasbourg. Miles went on to become a Federal District Court Judge. Newspaper article, biographical notes, and a 2006 published interview is appended to the interview outline. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center, Mich.) BCTV Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) Video recordings United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans United States. Army World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-05-20 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/eaf23c0e1583a7c63136d74894c2b4aa.m4v f1682d33167f476d7d4563d2dca79d23 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/543bb6b2f61de5337923d010d40b6f94.pdf cf3d8d73a0dbf9e45572e214c0885812 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Project Vietnam War Richard Millard Jr. Length of Interview (01:32:20) Background Born in Cleveland, Ohio; Feb. 28, 1950 Moved from Maple Heights to Highland Heights, there for elementary school, then settled in Parmo, Ohio Father was a WWII Veteran, worked in Opti Co., very good father Mother was a housewife, divorced when Millard was 13 Both parents eventually remarried and Richard eventually went to live with his father Remembers playing on the railroad tracks behind his home Grew up in a time where people left their doors unlocked, everyone knew each other and would watch out for each other (00:03:00)  Would play baseball, go outside, never watched TV; remembers when TV went to color and it was amazing, only a few channels in color  Parents didn’t have to worry about where their children were because they knew everyone would watch out for them, strong sense of community  Did all regular summer activities Didn’t really understand what was going on when his parents divorced, but they tried to explain it the best they could; stayed in contact with both parents, very loving Older sister, younger sister, younger brother; all very close  Would listen to records with his older sister when he was younger Didn’t play anything seriously, just recreation (baseball, basketball, football, etc.)  Got involved in theatre during middle school, plays; didn’t get into it heavily �Father had a large family, 7 brothers and 1 sister; all of his brothers were WWII Veterans, as well; Father had to get signed consent from his parents to go into the War, age 16/17 (00:09:30)  Most served in Army or the Air Force Graduated from Mid Park High School, when he was living with his father; 1970 June 18th enlisted in camp; was 20 at the time; had started late in school after being taken ill with pneumonia as a child  Joined the Air Force, recruiting station was in Rio, Ohio  Could have gotten into the Army, but wanted to be in the Air Force; have to graduate from high school to be in the Air Force  Got straight A’s the last two years of high school because he had a goal, wanted to be in the Air Force On first day of enlistment, his Father’s advice was to never volunteer for anything (00:13:55)  Volunteered for almost anything anyway  Was rough to transition from civilian to military life  Have to be extremely disciplined, neat, and prompt; very controlled, regimental  At the time didn’t enjoy it, but looks back on it and realizes he did  Made some good friendships  A wonderful experience, hard to explain it to someone who hasn’t been in the military Didn’t matter what field one went into, at the time (00:15:55) Had a friend who wanted to be a cook (“No one ever wanted to be a cook!”), was in security at the time Security and Cook were two things no one wanted to be in, often drafted people into doing it  Millard wanted to be in Security Police �Lackland Air Base, San Antonio, Texas (00:16:50)  Very small base [Lackland was very large, but was divided into separate camps, some of which were smaller], at that time, small town  Stayed on base during training Basic Training lasted about six weeks (June 18th-July 29th, 1970); Police Security Training six more weeks (finished September 1970) Before Security Police training, showed a demonstration of the dogs there; dog-handling program, loved animals  Volunteered to get what he wanted; went into dog-handling school, 12 week program Paired off with a dog best suited for the trainee (00:18:50)  The dogs were already familiar with the program, already trained  Had to familiarize themselves with the dog, and then begin basic training: basic commands (hands and voice)  Had to read quite a bit about dog training, a lot of on-the-job training  Sentry dogs, attack dogs, etc. Had to be careful around them, would sometimes attack the handler to test for dominance; used the choke chain for discipline  Millard weighed about 130lbs. during this time, so hefting 80lbs. animal took a bit of work Shown first aid for the dog (00:23:05)  Worked with veterinarians Didn’t stay with the dogs all the time, had kennels; one dog for 12 weeks Advanced training included attacking people; instructor would be fully dressed in a attack suit Patrol Dog Program just beginning to develop; friendlier, could allow people to pet them unlike Sentry Dogs  Being taught both, but in Vietnam, only Sentry Dogs �Went to one other program, heavy demand of dog-handlers in Vietnam (00:26:10)  Wanted to go to Vietnam because his father was a Veteran; sense of duty AZR Training, combat preparedness and training; trained without the dog  Made as realistic as possible, wilderness training: how to set up perimeters, preparing for attack, live firing, preparing for combat situations (all done near or on the base)  Four weeks of training; slept outside in the woods, no barracks (00:28:30)  AZR stands for Security Police Combat Preparedness Course  Seven months total of training at Lackland (00:29:35) Given a small break before being sent to Vietnam, went home in January ’71 for about one month  Wore his uniform home, looking sharp; time went by very fast Flew to California, Travis Air Force Base; used civilian planes to transport soldiers to Vietnam  Stopped in Alaska first (near Fairbanks) experienced the cold there; landed in Tan Son Nhut Air Base Very warm during that time (March 5, 1971) (00:33:50) Right outside of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City currently), could see it from the base  Assigned ahead of time what bases they were going to be in; was asked which they would like go to Went to Cam Ranh Bay, on the coast  Stored a lot of bombs, ammunition, planes there; also a Navy base, Army, Marines, etc. Sent to 43rd Security Police Squadron, dog-handlers lived in a separate section; ‘hooches’ (00:36:00) After being assigned living areas, taken in a truck to ‘Canine Hill’ where the dogs were kenneled Assigned a dog to work with, no choice; dogs stayed there for the whole time  Millard worked with a dog that was eight years old and had been there since it was trained (probably since the beginning) � They were mean dogs, knew what was happening Would work perimeters; canine-handlers would give the alert, used radio, if perimeter was penetrated  Worked at night, dogs would give the alert signal  Would use R-16’s, light-weight automatic/semi-automatic weapon  Dog leash in one hand and weapon slung over the shoulder of the other  Sometimes would be false alarms, animals, sounds, etc. Dogs stayed at the kennel, would groom, train, and play with them during the day (00:40:55)  Near the bay, could swim with the dogs to cool them down during particularly hot days; bathed them to keep the ticks off Two shifts: earlier and later, 6-12 hours  1st shift, first to be on the post, no one to relieve; dropped off in trucks  ‘Kilo Post’ code used by dog-handlers; had about 20 posts  50 dogs all together and 20-25 per shift  Six days on and one day off, still doing training on days off ’71: a lot of bases being attacked during this time by the Viet Cong (00:44:35)  “Vietnamization Program” U.S. getting ready to leave, training VP’s  Knew that South Vietnam would collapse once U.S. troops pulled out; weren’t prepared enough or organized Out at the post by themselves, rarely spoke with others; had to patrol (00:45:45) Millard was very attached to the dog he worked with, acted as a protector and buddy; very hard to leave them after a year, a special bond  Friends from the military, stays in contact with them through organizations Cam Ranh often had rocket attacks, made a lot of noise, but little damage, very inaccurate (00:48:55) � Would be given warnings over the intercom of incoming attacks Had a lot of “Sapper Attacks” by Viet Cong or the “others” who were fighting for the North (00:51:10) May 23, 1971 had a particularly large sapper attack; attacked the POL area where jet fuel was stored, lubricants, etc.  Had three dog posts in that area, Millard was on the other side of the base  Had a friend who was in security and dog-handling training with him in that area along with a few others  There was a firefight and explosions, called for help; sighting of about 8 Viet Cong sappers who were trying to penetrate the camp  Were carrying satchels of explosions to place in the POL area, but they didn’t get in  Eventually backup arrived  The next day, found where the sappers had been camped Had bounties on dog-handlers in Vietnam, would be in the front lines detecting and patrolling Army would ask for volunteers to go out on patrols  Took their jobs seriously because people’s lives depended on them and the dogs especially Dogs did tracking, tunneling, etc.; trained to do just about anything to save people’s lives (00:57:25) Another attack in the bomb storage area, August 25, 1971; “sappers” (00:58:15)  Bombs stored: 200, 500, 1000, 10,000 lbs. bombs; very large area  Security and canine posts there, could patrol right next to the bombs, close enough to touch  Satchel charges were thrown in and a lot of it went up, the whole area; wasn’t too near it  It is unimaginable to those who weren’t there, incredibly bright and loud  Was on the bay at that time and his dog was going crazy  Had to keep patrolling, wasn’t easy; didn’t lose anyone, dogs were more alert �Didn’t handle any Water Detection dogs, Navy used these dogs (01:03:50)  Spoke with some of the Navy handlers, were ‘brothers-in-arms” A part of a national dog-handler organization, all branches; meet every two years in different cities all over the country Hoping to go to one next year, still keeps in contact with friends through email, phone, etc. The dogs were being left there, considered equipment; left in March ’72 (01:06:10)  Heard Cam Ranh was closed in August, four months after he left  Some dogs were shipped back to U.S., some to Thailand, Philippines, etc. Given another leave after Vietnam; got out through Tan Son Nhut (01:08:25)  Back to the United States and went home for a month Assigned to another base before leaving Vietnam; 4 years Active Duty in the Air Force  Wasn’t due to get out until ’74, had another two and a half years of service left Given a “Dream Sheet”  Sent to some of the coldest bases; Maine, etc.  Many complained and eventually they were given a choice between England or Germany Millard chose England, Upper Heyford Air Base as a dog-handler Arrived April ’72 (left Vietnam in March ’72) Had to go through English Military Dog Training; Denton, England (01:10:55)  Was a little different: terms, commands, etc.  Worked with patrol dogs The difference between patrol dogs and sentry dogs, is that patrol dogs allow more people near them if the handler lets them “1st Louies” (in Vietnam) (01:12:30) �More strict protocol in England; never did any State-side (01:13:45) Travelled all over England; lived off-base, Burford, England Lived with four other guys, rented a house, quaint town and houses  Would go to the pub down the street where they played darts  Drank what they called “Bitter Drink”  Enjoyed it immensely, very different from Vietnam  Very accepting civilian population Got into dog racing, which was a popular sport in England  Groomed and trained his own greyhounds  Did it for fun, not money  Did some coursing, as well; chased hares in the fields Five days on and three days off, more free days in England (01:18:00)  During Base Alert, had to work longer hours Had some dogs and handlers in law enforcement, but mostly did night patrol  During the time when there were problems with the Irish Nothing serious happened when he was there, less to worry about compared to Vietnam  Sometimes the Sergeant would come out with an attack suit to make sure everyone was still alert Wanted to stay in England after he was discharged (01:20:30)  Bought a car through the military (because he was military personnel), was a deal  Couldn’t keep the car �Went to be discharged in the base in New Jersey (01:22:05)  There for a couple of days  Still had two years of Inactive Duty to serve  Didn’t get his discharge papers until ‘76 Went back home for about a month, had to get a passport (had a Military ID, could go anywhere) Was a civilian Went back to England, still had his greyhounds but not his military dog (Tasha)  Still raced them and visited many race tracks (Oxford, London, Wales, etc.) Stayed in England for 13 months, then went back home (01:24:20)  Had to sell his dogs Wanted to get into dog racing in the U.S., but it is too much of a business Travelled a bit, was a wanderer Worked odd jobs, wasn’t hard to find work, worked in some resorts in Florida; there for a year Went to college after coming back (’77); a community college outside of Cleveland, ’77-‘79 Stopped short of getting his Associate’s in Small Business Management and Marketing  Didn’t take the general credits, but did all of his major classes  Was working and attending school at the same time After graduating in ’79 left Ohio, transferred to a school in Florida; met his wife there (late 1980’s)  Married in January of ’82, daughter born in ‘82  Did divorce, but still get along well together  Eventually moved to Grand Rapids to stay close to his daughter � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MillardRJr Title A name given to the resource Millard, Richard Jr. (Interview outline and video), 2006 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Millard, Richard Jr. Description An account of the resource Richard Millard Jr. was strongly influenced by his father at an early age to join the service. After graduating high school, he enlisted into the Air Force where he became a part of the Security Police, and, eventually, a dog-handler. He was stationed at Cam Ranh Bay in 1971-72, and then sent to England for a year. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Collins Sr., Charles E. (Interviewer) Collins, Carol (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Air Force Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2006-12-04 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c65ded67f9c0895d033d166620b19648.pdf add2a173a32c81ca01f645786f444339 PDF Text Text VERGENNES TOWNSHIP· MASTER PLAN 1989 I * MILLER ASSOCIATES-·- - - ·- - - �I • VERGENNES TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS For\P-1ard .•••••••.••..••.•.••.....•............•....•.••••. Introduction ................................... . .iV ••V Chapter I - Description of Vergennes Township ...•.••.••..•..•..•.•.......•.•. I-1 Regional Setting................................................... ..I-1 Natural Features ........................................................ I-1 Topography and Drainage ............................................... _.. I-2 Water Resources ..••••••..•.......•••..•..•••••• ................ I -2 Soils ................................................................... 1-2 Developmental Limitations of Soils •.•....•••••••••••••.•..........•••.•• I-5 Chapter II - Cormnunity Profile... . ••.••.•.•.•.••••••..••••.••....•.•.•. II-1 Existing Land Use Inventory ............................................ 11-1 Agricultural Lands ••••......•.•••••.••..•.••••.•••••.....•..•••.....••• II-1 Residential Land Use •••..•.••.•.••••••..•••••.••••••..•..•••....•..•••• II-3 Industrial Land Use •••.•••••••.....••.•••.•••••••.•••.••••••••.•••••••. II-4 Commercial Land Use .•.........•..•...•.....•....•••.....•..•••...•••.•• 11-4 Public/Semi-Public Land Use .•••••••••••.•••..••••••..•.•.•.•••.•..•.••• II-4 Population & Housing ••.••.•.••.•••••..•••••.•••••••••.•....•.••..•...•• II-7 Community Services and Facilities ..................................... II-12 Chapter III Planning Dimensions •.••..•.•.•••••••••••••.•.••.•.••..••••••• III-1 General Gro\v-th Policy........... . ................................... III-1 Goals & Policies •••••.•..••••••••••••••••.•••••••••.••.•••.....•.••• 111-2 Growth Trends ........ ................................................. I I I-5 Chapter IV - General Development Plan ...••.••••.....•...•••.•••..•.•.•...... IV-1 Residential Land Use Plan •••••••••••••.••••••••.••••.•.•..•••.•.•..•..• IV-1 Rural Conservation Plan •••••••••.••••...•.•.••••••••.•••....•.•••.•••.. IV-4 Commercial Land Use Pl an .••.•.....•.•. .IV-5 Industrial Land Use Plan ............................................... IV-7 Historical Preservation .•...••.•...•.•.. •••• I V-8 Natural Features Preservation Plan .••..•.••.•••..•.• . •. IV-10 Community Facilities Plan ..... . . ...•...... IV-13 Transportation Plan .•••.•.•..•. . .......... IV-16 Chapter V - Implementation ••••..•.•..•...•...•.•..•.•...•.•.•..•...•......... V-1 Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Historical and Projected Traffic Counts ...••.......•..•........• A-1 Resident Questionai re - Summary ......•..•.•.......•..•.....••..• B-1 Correspondance ....•.....•••.•...•..•••••.••.•........••....••.•. C-1 �TABLE OF CONTENTS - CONT List of Maps t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap t1ap Hap t1ap Hap 1 - Regional Location 2 - Genera 1 Soils 3 - Environmental Limitations 4 - Important Farmlands 5 - Street Function 6 - Genera 1 Service Areas 7 - Residential Land Use Plan 8 - Rura 1 Conservation Pl an 9 - Commerci a 1 Land Use Plan 10 - Industrial Land Use Plan 11 - Historic Preservation Plan A-1 - Traffic Count Locations List of Tables Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 :.. - Existing Land Use •••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••.•.•••••••••.••..•. II-2 Parcel Sizes-1988 •••.•••••••••.••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••..••••• II-5 Property Ownership-1988 •••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••• II-6 Population 1960 to 1988 •••••••••••..••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••.. II-7 Age Group Comparison ••••••••••••••••.••••••••.••••••••••••.•..••.• 11-8 t1igration Characteristics By Age Group (1970 to 1980) ••••••••.•••• II-9 Housing Stock 1980-1988 •••••••••••••.••••••••••••.••••••••••.•••• II-10 Construction Activity 1980-1988 .••••••••••••••.••..•••••••••••••• II-11 Recreational Facility Needs .••••.••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••• 111-7 �VERGENNES TOWNSHIP t1ASTER PLAN 1989 -2000 FORWARD t1ichigan law enables the Vergennes Township Planning Commission to adopt and periodically update a basic plan for the development of the Township. The Plan must contain the Planning Commission's recommendations for the physical development of the Township. This Plan is therefore, designed to provide direction for future growth and development in accordance with Township goals and objectives. Future development is intended to be in accordance with these goals and plans. Although the Plan is enabled by f1ichigan law, it does not have the force of statutory law or ordinance. It is an official advisory policy statement for encouraging orderly and efficient use of the land for residences, business, industry, community facilities, parks and recreation areas, and for coordinating these uses with each other and with the development and use of streets, utilities and other public facilities and services. Once adopted, it is the Township's intent to implement the Plan's recommendations until such time that specific modifications or deviations are deemed appropriate and the Plan is amended as a result of the Township's on-going long range planning program. iv �INTRODUCTION Attractive and d~sirable communities are difficult to achieve and even harder to maintain. Conscientious and deliberate long range planning is required. It is this basic premise \'lhich has prompted the Vergennes Township Planning Commission to update its 1978 t1aster Pl an. Vergennes Township has many attributes and opportunities \·1hi ch wi 11 continue to make the community an attractive and desirable place to live. Howe •,er, due to continued growth, the Township is also faced with numerous problems. The responsibility of making various policies and decisions regarding grm'lth and development is therefore an important one. Future needs for such things as improved streets, parks and recreational areas, community facilities and eventually, public utilities must be recognized. This Plan attempts to set the groundwork for making future commitments relative to these needs. More central to this Plan are the decisions made regarding the various spatial relationships of the major land use types - agriculturial, residential, commercial, industrial, and public. These are important in providing a harmonious pattern of land use and in the economics of providing community services. The Planning Process The planning process can most basically be divided into four major phases, described below. 1. as Understanding the Contnunity - Basic Studies The purpose of this phase is to obtain knowledge of the existing situation, of changes that have occurred, trends that gave rise to the present situation and trends that are likely to persist. 2. Planning Dimensions With a clear understanding of existing conditions and trends, planning dimensions setting forth the basic parameters for development of the 11aster Plan are enunciated. 3. The General Development Plan Various elements of the Plan are formulated which are designed to guide the community towards its long range goals. 4. Plan Implementation and Maintenance This phase outlines the various controls and programs necessary to implement and maintain the Plan in recognition of the fact that the Plan is not an end in itself. V �The plan components or elements include a wide range of subject areas, all of which have a significant bearing on community growth and development. Included in this report are discussions and recommendations regarding the following individual plan components: - Demographics Land Use Community Facilities Utilities Transportation Parks and Recreation Each of the above elements was studied and the resultant assumptions and recommendations have been incorporated into the overall General Development Plan. vi �CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION OF VERGENNES TOWNSHIP Any plan for the future must in part be based on existing conditions and the influences that shaped the community. This chapter examines the natural influences that have shaped the community, including its location and natural features such as topography and soils. REGIONAL SETTING Vergennes Township is located in Eastern Kent County, just beyond the easterly fringe of the rapidly expanding Grand Rapids r1etropolitan Area. The Township is bounded on the north by Grattan Township; on the west by Ada Township; on the south by Lowell Township and the City of Lowell; and on the east by Ionia County's Keene Township. t1ajor access to the To\'mship is via Lincoln Lake Avenue which traverses the community from north to south and intersects with r1-21 just south of the Township in the City of Lowell. Interstate I-96 lies approximately four and one half miles further south. NATURAL FEATURES Based on a survey of community attitudes, residents of Vergennes consider the Township's natural features among its greatest assets. In the survey, 96 percent of residents responding indicated that the Township's "rural environment" was either important or very important as a reason for selecting the Township as their place of residence. In the survey the preservation of "rural areas" was cited by 98 percent of respondents as being important or very important to them. In Vergennes Township the "rural environment" is comprised of a variety of natural features in a relatively unspoiled setting. These include rolling hills, dense forest, winding rivers and streams, deep ravines and major expanses of farmland and orchards. These features, combined with relatively close proximity to a major metropolitan area, also make Vergennes increasingly attractive to many individuals and families seeking a high quality rural living environment. It is, however, ironic that the qualities considered most important for preservation are those which continue to attract new residents. As a result, each ne\', resident contributes to some extent the demise of these assets. Striking an appropriate balance which attempts to maintain the rural qualities enjoyed most by existing residents, while accommodating an influx of new residents seeking the same qualities is a major task of this plan and a challenge which will become increasingly difficult as growth pressures increase. Understanding the area's natural features and the implications that they have with respect to mans activities is therefore fundamental if the community is to institute appropriate policies of land use. 1-1 �TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE The topography of Vergennes Township is ~idely varied and comprised_o_f hil~s, ravines, floodplains and generally undulating lan?· T~e to~ographic relief provides visual interest and privacy and by itself is an important natural feature, and resource. It is the gently rolling nature of the northern sections of the Township that promotes the air drainage necessary to support the numerous orchards found in the Township. The most prominent collective feature of the Township is the natural drainage network. The Flat River Valley is primarily wooded and contained by bluffs that, in many areas, exceed 50 feet in height. In some cases these bluffs border directly on the banks of the river, while in other areas the bluffs and banks are separated by a wide floodplain. The tributaries of the Flat River and the Grand River which are located south of the Township have created numerous ravines characterized by steep slopes, and narrow valleys. Several of these contain numerous wetland depressions. As a system, these rivers and streams serve to accommodate storm water runoff, maintain safe flood conditions by retaining and absorbing large volumes of water during storm periods and to recharge surface water as well as sub-surface water tables. Disruption of this natural drainage network on even a minor scale can prove costly in terms of public health and safety and aesthetics. WATER RESOURCES In addition to the Flat River and numerous smaller streams there are several lakes, small ponds and wetlands located in the Township. The most significant includes the Flat River impoundment located in Sections 25 and 26. This impoundment is seeing increased residential development pressure because of the stunning views it offers for home sites and its largely untapped recreational opportunities. f1urray Lake, located in the extreme north, is now virtually ringed by residential development and, as a result, has experienced water quality problems such as severe eutrophication. It is heavily used by boaters. Bailey Lake, located in Section 19, is ringed by wetlands and has yet to see significant development or recreational pressure. Numerous smaller lakes and wetland areas are scattered throughout the Township. t1ost are associated with the major drainage courses. Each of these water resources, in addition to their value for drainage purposes, serve as important habitat for many forms of wildlife. SOILS The General Soils Map {t1ap 2) illustrates the major soil associations within Vergennes Township. An overview of these soil associations is useful in identifying the general suitability of soils for certain types of land use and provide further insight into the topography and drainage of the Township. It is important to note that in Vergennes Township, existing land use has been largely determined by the suitability of soils. In any rural community having as its goal the preservation of its rural qualities, attention to the natural suitabilities and limitations of the soil is paramount. !-2 �' ,. MASr ·-··-----~-----·---- --------~--- .' . --,.-.. •----·-----········ . :................;---·-···- -·-- ----...L-----ai------: .....~ .--='--• ' ' ' ''' ' :oc£ANA ': I - --- ...: -- --- -- --- ---,·-..... , I ' __ -...-,_ ~ /,/£COSTA '7 I • ' -· ----- ·------·- .' -- -- ·- · '' ' I ' 1----+----!--C,,oo)--➔----t----""'"'.I ------. - -- ------~1 -- --- __ ;,' _______ --------·f-------I I 1 : l I I • : I • I ------- --·----f---------,- -' REGIONAL LOCATION MAP VERGENNES TOWNSHIP MAP 1 �l L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN GENERAL SOILS MAP T 7 N, R 9 W b trtm= I OAKVILLE - THETFORD - G_RAunv Assoc1Anou t;~~~3 PLAINFIELD V'i.v[rf;J SPINKS I - OSHTEMO - SPINKS ASSOCIATION - TEKEIHNK - OSHTEl10 ASSOCIATIOll I rtARLETTE - CAPAC - 11ETAl10RA AssocIATIOtl {::;:::;:::::::::::I !\ARLETTE - CHELSEA - BOYER ASSOC! ATI ON [: ::::: : !CHELSEA - PLAINFIELD - BOYER ASSOCIATION k\\~~~KIBBIE - DIXBO~O - THETFORD ASSOCIATIOtl HOUGHTON - COHOCTAH - CERESCO ASSOCIATION MAP 2 �1. OAKVILLE - THETFORD - GRANBY ASSOCIATION This association consists of a narrow, two mile long band, located in the south centrill portion of the Township. The topography in this area is level to gently rolling and poorly drained. Soils are dark in color, consisting of fine sands and loamy sands which are, in general, poorly suited for building development because of wetness and poor filtering capacity for septic tank absorption fields. Most of the area is presently wood or idle and only -a relatively small portion is considered well suited for cultivated crops. association comprises approximately 3 percent of the Township's land area. Because of Lincoln Lake Avenue and its location in proximity to the City of Lowell, considerable residential development and most of the To~1nship's commercial and industrial development has occurred in this area. Due to the soils general inability to naturally support intensive development, the provision of public sewer and water utilities should be considered a prerequisite to any additional major developments occurring in this area. The 2. PLAINFIELD - OSHTEl10 - SPHIKS ASSOCIATION This association is located throughout much of the eastern portion of the Township and generally encompasses the areas directly drained by the Flat River. Another similar area is found in the southcentral portion of the Township. The topography is flat to gently rolling and the areas are generally well drained. Along the drainage ways, ravines with slopes of over 18 percent are common. Soils consist of grayish brown sands, sand loams and loamy sands which are generally well suited for development. However, because of a poor filtering capacity in association with high water tables, ground water pollution from septic tank absorption fields is a hazard in the areas nearest to surface water features. Because of this area's location with respect to the Flat River and the City of Lowell and the apparent ability to naturally support a certain level of development, some areas within this association have witnessed considerable residential development. Host of the remaining portions are wooded or idle and are not considered well suited for agricultural purposes. It comprises roughly 25 percent of the Township's land area. 3. SPINKS - TEKENINK - OSHTEMO ASSOCIATION This association is found in the extreme northeast and southeast corners of the Township. The areas are level to gently rolling and consist of well drained sand loam and loamy sands. The soils are well suited for building purposes and septic tank absorption fields in most areas except along drainage courses where a high water table in association with rapid filtration could result in ground water pollution. I-3 �These soils are also fairly well to well suited for farming and are presently extensively used for that purpose. This association comprises approximately 7 percent of the Township. 4. t1ARLETTE - CHELSEA - BOYER ASSOCIATION Found in a wide band in the northcentral and central portions of the Township, as well as in the westcentral area, this association of soils varies fro~· mainly level to gently rolling topography. Soils range from poor to well drained surface loams and sands. Clays, loams and clay loams are found in the sub surface. This association supports significant amounts of agriculture including orchards and row crops. Soils are considered well suited for these purposes. Because of the existence of many poorly drained, lessor soil . types, many areas within the association are poorly suited for development. Such areas are generally found in association with low topography and drainage ways. The major upland soils are however, generally suited for building site development and have supported the majority of the Township's recent large lot single-family residential growth. It comprises approximately 25 percent of the Township. 5. t1ARLETTE - CAPAC - t1ETAt10RA ASSOCIATION This association extends from north to south in the western one-third to one-half of the Township and covers nearly 30 percent of the total land area. Topography is gently rolling to steep and the soils are generally well drained. Soils consist of loams and loamy sands underlined by gravelly sand clay loams, loamy fine sand or gravelly coarse sand. Throughout much of this association are soil conditions considered well suited for farming and the vast majority of the area is presently cultivated. In the northern portions of the Township characterized by this association, is a large expanse of poorly drained soil which is subject to ponding. For this reason, this area is generally not considered suitable for non-farm purposes. 6. CHELSEA - PL~INFIELD - BOYER ASSOCIATION This association makes up less than six percent of the Township and is found in four separate locations in the southeast and southwest. The topography is gently rolling to very steep, resulting in well drained to excessively well drained soils. Soils consist of loamy sands and sand underlined by gravelly sand and gravelly sandy clay loam. These areas are generally wooded or idle and are not considered quality farm soils due to droughtiness and erodability. less sloping sites are fairly well suited for site development if they are not associated with a high water table. Because of excessive permeability, ground water within 6 to 8 feet of the surface could be contaminated by septic tank effluents. I-4 �7. KIBBIE - DIXBORO - THETFORD ASSOCIATION This association comprises less than one percent of the Township's area and is found in• the Township's extreme northwest corner. The topography is only slightly undulating, resulting in poorly drained soils. These sandy and loamy soils are generally unsuited for development. The area is well suited for farming and most of the area is used for that purpose. 8. HOUGHTON~ COHOCTAH - CERESCO ASSOCIATION This association consists of poorly drained organic and mucky soils formed in alluvial (river) deposits. The topography is nearly level. Soils are not well suited for development due to wetness and potential flooding. The association is located in the southeast corner of the Township and represents less than two percent of the Tmmship's total land area. ttost of the area is presently being farmed with the remainder being left idle. Suitable uses include agriculture, recreation or open space. DEVELOPr1ENTAL LIMITATIONS OF SOILS In Vergennes Township public sewer and water facilities are, for the most part, unavailable and the prospects for their future provision on a large scale does not appear feasible. Therefore, one of the most significant constraints to development is the ability for soils to accommodate private septic tank systems. Due to poor percolation and wetness, and in the other extreme, the inability of permeable soils to adequately filter effluent before it reaches the ground water supply, many areas in Vergennes Township must be considered unsuitable for intensive development. As a result, the location and character of development must in large part, be determined by the ability of soils to accomodate private septic systems. r1ap 3, illustrates those areas of the Township which exhibit characteristics of soil and topography which are considered to have the most severe limitations for the development and proper operation of septic systems. Slopes in excess of 18 percent and soils with poor percolation properties, severe wetness, and poor filtration properties, in association with a permanent or seasonally high \'later table, have been mapped and shown as composite areas being unsuitable for intensive development (Map 3). I-5 �L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W - ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS AREAS WITH SLOPES IN EXCESS 18% OR SOIL CHARACTERISTICS CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS MAP 3 �CHAPTER II COMMUNITY PROFILE At the present time large expanses of Vergennes Township remain undeveloped or are used for agric111tural purposes. This being the case, the Tm·mship still has the opportunity to direct future development in a manner that will be both desirable and econo~ical to serve with p11blic services and facilities. However, in order to develop a realistic plan for future development, decision makers must have a clear picture of the community as it is nm..,. EXISTING LAND USE INVENTORY As previously noted, Vergennes Township is at the easterly li111its of the rapidly expanding Grand Rapids t1etropolitan Area. In addition, the City of Lowell is, in its own right, an economic and community focal point i,,1hich will continue to have significant implications on adjacent lands located within Vergennes. Av,areness of these implications ,rnd the types and pattern of existing 1and use is therefore a key factor in assessing the comr.,unity's character, in identifying problems and opportunities and in establishing future goals and objectives. The follo•,..,ing is an inventory of existing land uses in Vergennes Township. Altogether, approximately 9,000 acres area is in active agricultural use. or 40 percent of the Township's total The second most significant land use are forested lands \'lhich occupy roughly 6,500 acres or 28 percent of the Township. Open lands or land left in an uncommitted or idle state of grass or shrubs comprise about 4,100 acres or 18 percent of the Township. Approximately 2,158 acres of land is committed to a permanent non-farm use. The largest single use within this group are streets and highways which occupy approximately 700 acres, followed by recreational lands (685 acres) and residential lands (610 acres). Table 1 illustrates the complete breakdown. AGRICULTURAL LANDS Approximately 9,000 acres are presently devoted to agricultural use. Of this acreage 89 percent is devoted to field crops, and 4 percent to fruit orchards. The remainder is devoted to the confined feeding or pasturing of livestock. As can be seen from the existing Land Use t1ap (!tap 4 ) , only the southeast one quarter of the Township can be characterized as not being primarily devoted to agricultural use. It is in this general area that the majority of the Township's development has occurred. Approximately 35 percent of the Tov,nship's land area can be classified a prime farmland or land which, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is "best suited to food, feed, fiber and oilseed crops, and has soil qualities, II-1 �Vergennes Township Existing Land Use TABLE 1 Acres Single Family Residential Agricultural - Total Cropland Orchards Confined Feeding Pasture Public/Semi-Public - Total Streets e, Highways Railroads t1unicipal Buildings Airport Churches Cemeteries Historical Recreation Industrial Commercial Forested Open (Grass & Shrubs) Lakes & Rivers Wetlands Total % 610 9,180 8,216 367 21 576 1,524 700 76 3.5 50.7 14.0 14.0 1.0 685.0 18.0 6.0 6,504 4,150 330 646 22,996 * Figures may not add up due to rounding Source: t1i chi gan Resource Information System, t1DNR, 1988 Kent County Property Desc. .~ 11appi ng, 1988 II-2 2.6 40.0 35.7 1.6 .1 2.5 6.6 3.0 .33 .01 0.2 0.06 0.06 3.0 0.08 0.02 28.3 18.0 1.5 2.8 100 * (09. 5) (4.0) (0.2) ( 6. 2) (45.9) (4.9) (0.2) (J.2) (0.9) (0.9) 0.06 (44.9) �:,,:·..:;,.• :/.,'... ·,, .."./'. -~::,:5. ~ )~ . I I ,, \I , , '• ~1=='1~·- --·--·--...,,-1===--1 t~~~{;:.: ' ----- ' ,~~·i.·~. ;r~ fJ r? I I I I 11 : I : ..!......~ AR£A I I I I L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W IMPORT ANT FARMLANDS E:.}~i~:~ P R I M E A G R I C U LT U R A L S O I L S ~ ENROLLED P.A. 116 LANDS MAP 4 �growing season anrl moisture supply to produce sustainecf, high-yielrl crops with minimal input of energy anrl economic resources and, 11hen cultivated, it results in the least rlamage to the environment. 11 In Vergennes Township the vast majority of the aci:eage classified as 11 prime 11 is presently being farmer. Hhile "prime 11 farr1lands are scattered throughout the Tol-'mship, the largest amounts are located in the western half of the community. There are 25 to 30 major farm operations t'lithin the Township and the majority of these operations have enrolled some or all of their acreage in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (PA116). Under this program, property owners agree to relinquish their non-farm development rights for periods in excess of ten years in exchange for tax credits. At the present ti~e there are over 6,000 acres of land in Vergennes Township enrolled in this program. It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of the Tmmship 's "prime farmland" is enrol led and protected from non-farm development under P.A.116. RESIDENTIAL LAND USE With the exception of only a few duplex and mobile home units, the housing stock in Vergennes is virtually all single-family in nature. It is estimated that there are now roughly 760 single-family homes, compared to 609 in 1980. The construction of 151 new homes since 1980 represents a nearly 25 percent increase. The largest and most intensive area of residential development is found in the southeastern portion of the Township near Lowell. The pattern of cfevelopment in this area is seen as a logical extension of development northward from Lowell. While much of this development occurred during the 1960's and 1970's, several newer plats have been constructed in more recent years. Platted lot sizes are in the 13,000 to 20,000 square feet range for older plats and 17,000 to 30,000 square feet for the newer plats. Another area of intensive development is found around t1urray Lake. Because of pollution problems, sanitary sewers have been provided to this area.. Hm'lever, because of the limitations of the system, expansions in support of additional new development is not foreseen. Lot sizes around the lake are generally in excess of 15,000 square feet. Many of these homesites are the result of the consolidation of smaller lots that were platted many years earlier. The third significant concentration of residential development is located in the Fallasburg area. This settlement has significant historical roots but has not seen considerable growth pressure in recent years. The smallest lot sizes in this area generally range bet1'leen one-half and three acres. A large number of homesites occur on scattered large lots throughout the Township. However, general concentrations of this type of development have occurred. Such concentrations are found adjacent to Ada Township in Sections 18 and 19, adjacent to Lowell Township in Section 32 and 33 and in the eastcentral areas near the Lincoln Lake Avenue/Fallasburg Park Drive intersection. This type of development is seen as the manifestation of suburban fringe pressure being felt within the Township. II-3 �The splitting of large contiguous parcels into 2 to 20 acre parcels for residential use is a significant aspect of this pressure. It is estimated that the~e are currently over 600 parcels within the size range of 2 to 20 acres. It 1s estimated that approximately one half of these are presently committed. This trend has had and will continue to have a significant effect on the overall character of the To\'mship as well as the land use policies necessary to address the problems that it can create. INDUSTRIAL LAND USE The few small industries located in Vergennes Tmmship collectively occupy less than 18 acres of land. Most are located near Lowell, west of Lincoln Lake Avenue in Section 35. These facilities consist of relatively sr.iall tool & die and fabrication shops, contractors yards, and warehousing and distribution. COMUERCIAL LAND USE The relatively fe\·1 cormnercial land uses are located along Lincoln Lake Avenue, within one mile of the City of Lowell. They collectively occupy approximately 6 acres of land. Several small offices are located in front of the industrial site adjacent to Lowell and feH heavy commercial uses are located near the intersection of Vergennes Street and Lincoln Lake Avenue. As of this tine, very 1 ittl e if any of this development can be termed strip development. HoHever, because of the Lincoln Lake corridor which extends northward fron LoHell, such a trend could develop if allowed to occur. The only bonafide conmercial development located else\'1here is the r.iarina on f1urray Lake. Several scattered home occupations are also carried out \'1ithin the Township. PUBLIC/SEt1I-PUBLIC LANO USE This category of land use encompasses public facilities such as roads, government buildings, airports, schools, cemeteries and semi-public facilities such as churches, utilities, and public or private recreation lands. Collectively, these uses occupy nearly 1,500 acres of land. Excluding the land areas devoted to streets and highways, recreation lands comprise the most significant category of public and semi-public lands. The largest area is the Lowell State Game Area. It contains over 800 acres of mature woodland and has extensive Flat River frontage. F~llasburg Park, a regional county park, is also located on the Flat River. It offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities and drav,s thousands of users each year from throughout the metropolitan area and region. It contains over 530 acres. The other major recreational use located in the Township is Arrowhead Golf Course. This public golf course encompasses 18 holes on 143 acres in Section 10. Collectively, these three major outdoor recreation assets offer residents and visitors alike relatively abundant outdoor oriented recreational opportunities. II-4 �Other significant public and SP.mi-public land uses include the Lm,ell City Airport and several church sites and cemeteries scattered throughout the community. A breakdown of the acreages devoted to the various pL1blic and serai-public uses is found in Table~- Vergennes Township Parcel Sizes 1988 TABLE 2 Parcel Size Number % of Total Parcels Less than 2 Acres 2 to 5.9 Acres 6 to 10. 9 Acres 11 to 15.9 Acres 16 to 20.9 Acres 21 Acres & Over Total Under Under Under Under 361 270 220 109 52 264 1,273 6 Acres 11 Acres 16 Acres 21 Acres 631 851 960 1,012 28.3 21. 2 17.3 8.5 4.0 20.7 -100 49.5 66.8 75.4 79.5 Est. Total Acres* 540 1,100 1,850 1,500 960 15,932 21,882** 1,640 3,490 4,990 5,950 % of Total Acres 2.5 5.0 8.4 6.8 4.4 72.8 100 7.5 15.9 22.8 27.2 * Est. Acres based on Estimated average lot size within each category. ** Total Acres excludes major Hater bodies and street R.O.W. and railroad properties. Source: Kent County Property Desc. and 11appi ng, 1988 �Vergennes Township Property Ownership 1988 TABLE 3 Acres PUBLIC Kent County Streets & Highways Park Land Historical Other State Of t1ichi gan State Game Area Railroad Other City Of Lowell Airport Proper Airport Environs Cemetery Other Vergennes Township Cemetery Town Hall Other 3,056.74 894.15 3.6 818 76 0.15 128.5 0.57 50. 72 37.95 4.95 34.85 10.24 241.8 143 350 18,867.2 22,658 0.04 3.53 1.5 4.15 734.8 Religious Organizations Church sites Cemetery Other Recreation Golf Course Utilities Consumers Pm'ler Total * 8.9 700 535 1.06 784 SEMI-PUBLIC PRIVATE 13.5 2,024 25.03 5.35 211.0 143 350 3.2 1.07 0.06 0.06 1.9 1.9 83.J 100 * Excludes lakes and rivers. Source: Kent County Property Desc. & rlappi ng, 1988 II-6 -----iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii_________ �POPULATION &HOUSING Population Growth Trends From 1940 to 1980 the population of Vergennes Township increased from 741 persons to 1,819. Current estimates of grov,th indicate the Tmmship's 1988 population to be approximately 2,160 persons. The most significant periods of population growth have been in the decades since 1960. Between 1960 and 1970 the population grev, by 48 percent. Between 1970 and 1980 the increase 'das 30 percent. For the 1980's the relative increase is expected to be approximately 20 percent. Each decade has resulted in a population increase of roughly 400 persons. Table 4 compares the current and historical populations of Vergennes Township with adjacent communities and Kent County. It shows that Vergennes Tovmship trails only Lowell Township in the current rate of growth being experienced in Eastern Kent County. In terms of numerical increases, Cascade, Ada and LoHell townships continue to see the largest gains. In perspective, it can be said that population growth in Vergennes ToHnship has remained relatively constant. Vergennes Township Population 1960 To 1988 TABLE 4 '.t Increase Vergennes Tv1p. Lowell Twp. Ada Twp. Cascade Twp. Lowell City Kent County Source: 1960 1970 1980 1988 1980-1988 945 1,567 2,887 3,333 2,545 363,187 1,400 2,160 4,479 5,243 3,068 411,044 1,319 3,972 6,472 10,120 3,707 444,506 2,160 4,742 7,616 11,920 4,125 488,498 18.7 19.4 17.6 17.8 11.3 9.8 1960, 1970 & 1980 US Census . . 1988 Vergennes Tmmship est. based on an assumption of 697 occupied housing units at 3.1 persons/househ~ld. . ~ Other estimates based on interpolation of 1986 est1ma . . es provided by US Bureau of Census. II-7 # Inc. 341 8'> ( <.. ' l, ll'I/ 1,80( 4F 43,99 ~ �Age Composition As in most areas of tile country, the population of Vergennes Township is grm,i:ig older. During the 1970's, the median age rose from 23.6 years to 28.9. Table 5, illustrates this point and shows that while the overall 1980 population was still comprised of a high percentage of adults in the family rearing years, t~e percentage of pre-school and school age children (Oto 19 years) declined considerably (4.8 percent) and the percentage of young adults and middle aged persons (20 to 59 years) rose considerably (8.7 percent). Although reliable current data estimates of the age mix are not available, it is assu □ed that given the high percentage of persons that were in the family forming years in 1980, the Township is nm-1 in the midst of a mini baby boom that will serve to te~per the increase in the median age through the next 10 to 20 years. Vergennes Township Age Group Comparison TABLE 5 1980 Age Group Persons Under 5 5 - 9 10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 74 75 - Over 143 172 186 187 119 133 186 256 171 73 49 84 55 7.8 9.4 10.2 1,819 11medi an Age Source: 1970 % 10.2 143 180 146 135 6.5 7.3 10.2 14.1 9.4 4.3 2.7 4.6 3.0 62 93 184 157 56 27 86 66 100 28.9 1970 & 1900 U.S. Census II-8 Persons % 9.6 12.8 10.4 9.6 3.8 4.4 6.6 13.1 11.2 4.0 1.9 6.1 4.7 53 1,400 100 23.6 �Migration Patterns General migration rates can be determined by taking the 1970 age groups and shifting them ten years. For example, a person in the 20-24 age group in 1970 would be in the 30-40 age group in 1980 if they stayed in Vergennes Tm·mshi p. The total for each age group shifted ten years can then be compared with the actual numbers for 1980. The differ2nce in these numbers generally represent either a net in-migration or net out-migration as illustrated in Table 6. The results pi npoi rit the 1980' s trend of young fami 1i es moving into the To1-mshi p by showing sharp increases in the number of children under 9 years of age as well as for adults in the family forming age bracket of between 30 and 44. As seen from Table 6, births and in-migration far outv,eighed population losses due to deaths and out-migration for a total population increase of 419 persons. It is estimated that in-migration accounteCT for 67 percent of this increase, or 282 residents. The recent attitude survey supports the conclusion that in-migration continues to be the single nost important influence in the growth of Vergennes Township. Of those responding to the survey, 57 percent of households reported to having moved within that last ten years and JO percent within the last tv,o years. Over 83 percent of those responding to the survey reported having 1i ved at an address outside of Vergennes Township prior to living at their present address. The responses indicate that in-migration from elsewhere in Kent County is very high and the percentage of the population having previous ''roots" in Vergennes Township is becoming less significant. Vergennes Township Migration Characteristics By Age Group . 1970 To 1980 TABLE 6 Age Group Under 5 5 - 9 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 55 65 75 - 14 19 24 29 34 44 54 64 74 & Over Total (1) (2) (3) (4) 1980 1970 Population Shifted 10 Years 143 172 186 187 119 133 186 256 171 127 84 55 134 180 146 135 53 155 184 157 83 152 1,819 1,379 Net Change + 143 (1) + 172 (1) + 52 (2) + 7 ( 2) - 27 (3) 2 ( 3) + 123 (2) + 101 (2) -- 13 ( 3) 30 (3) + 1 (2) 97 (3) + 419 (4) Net increases due to births &in-migration. Net increases due to in-migration. Net decrease due to deaths and out-migration. Based on average rates of 16.67 births and 8.18 deaths per 1000 people in Kent County during the period, the expected natural population increase for Vergennes was 136 persons. With a net increase of ~l? persons ft is therefore estimated the in-migration resulted in an add1t1onal 282 residents or 67 percent of the total increase in population. Source: 1970 & 1980 US Census �Housing As illustrated in Table 7, 1~80 sa11 a total of 500 housing units. Of these, 550 were occupied, 24 were vacant and 26 were considered seasonal. Based on building permit information it is estimated there are presently 760 housing units. This is an increase of 25 percent in 8 years. The vast majority of housing units are conventional si ngl e-fami ly homes. There are also a small number of rluplex units, mobile homes, and migratory farm labor units. Vergennes Township Housing Stock 1980 - 1988 TABLE 7 Total Occupied Vacant Seasonal Source: 1980 Est. 1988 Est. Increase 609 559 760 697 30 33 151 138 6 7 24 26 1980 - US Census 1988 - Total based on 1980 thru 1987 building permits. - Occupied units based on residential mailing addresses within Township. - Vacant and seasonal units based on 1980 percentages of unoccupied m,elling units. Fifty-one percent of all housing units have been constructed since 1970 and over two-thirds of the total have been built since 1960. Only 20 percent were constructed prior to 1940. Because of their age, the majority of homes in the Township are in good condition and are well maintained. The median value of housing in the Tm·mship is reflective of the relative age of the units. In 1980 the median value of homes was $44,500. This compares to a figure of $38,900 for Kent County as a v,hole. It is estimated that there is presently an average of 3.08 persons per household. This figure compares to 3.25 in 1980, 3.57 in 1970 and 3.65 persons II-10 - �per household in 1960. This trend for reduced family size is indicative of a national trend and in large part explains why the growth rate in housing units exceeds the rate of population gr01--1th. Table 8 shows the construction activity that has occurred in the Tm·mship in recent years. It i 11 ustrates that home construction far exceeds other types of construction in terms of quantity and the value of construction. Vergennes Township Construction Activity 1980 - 1988 TABLE 8 Type Of Construction Permits Issued Value Single Family Homes 151 $ 6,415,130 Res. Garages 53 Residential Additions 64 502,600 Commercial Bldgs. 3 53,600 Industrial Bldgs. 3 500,263 tJ/A Other Non Res. Bldgs. (farm, public etc.) 59 NIA Structures Other Than Bldgs. (pools etc.) 14 N/A 347 Figures not totally accurate due to incomplete information for and 1985. Source: $13,561,863 the years 1984 Vergennes Tmmship Bldg. Permit information, Wf1RPC & Bldg. Inspector. II-11 �Income The income of households in the Township is relatively high as compared to many communities within Kent County. In 1980 the median household incor:ie for the Township \'1as $22,435. For Kent County as a \/hole this figure was $18,554. In 1980 less than one percent of households had income belo'r't the poverty level. Based on the re.$ponses to the Resident Property Ovrner Survey, it is estimated that the combined average income of households is presently well over $25,000 since 70 percent of the respondents (203) reported household incomes of over that amount. Occupation &Place of Employment The results of the resident survey also indicate that approximately 70 percent of households have at least two wage earners. Roughly 49 percent of the principal wage earners are employed in '\.,hite collar" occupations and 35 percent in "blue co 11 ar" occupations. Approximately 16 percent a re retired. Because of the lack of local employment opportunities, Vergennes Tmmship can be considered a bedroom comr.iunity in that the majority of its residents \\IOrk outside of the Tovmship. In 1980 the average travel time to work for individuals who did not work at home vrns over 20 minutes. Sixty-two percent had to travel between 15 and 50 minutes to reach their place of employment and only 38 percent could reach their jobs within 15 minutes. Based on the 1980 U.S. Census, approximately 20 percent of employed persons work l'lithi n the City of Grand Rapids, and approximately 3 percent \'IOrk outside of Kent County. While more <ietailed information is not available, it can be expected that, based on recent metropolitan area employment patterns and reported travel times, the majority of employed persons work in the southeast portion of the Grand Rapids i1etropolitan Area 1-1hich includes Kentwood, Cascade and Ada Townships. Education Levels The general citizenry of the Township in 1980 was fairly 1-.,ell educated with over 60 percent of persons over 25 years of age having completed at least 4 years of high school, 30 percent having attended college and 15 percent having completed 4 or more years of college. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES A certain paradox often exists as residents who move into a rural area to escape the congestion and problems of "city life" increase in number and then begin to seek the services and conveniences often taken for granted in urban areas. As a result, Vergennes Township is likely to see increased demands of its new residents for a variety of public services and facilities. II-12 ► �While the resident survey indicates that the large ~ajority of residents are presently satisfied with the basic services being providerj, it is expected that as development continues to occur, dissatisfaction in the areas of police and fire protection, emergency services, roarl conditions and other basic services is lik~l~ _to increas~. The followi~~ is a brief discussion of the existing fac1l1ties and services presently provided to Vergennes Township residents. Township Offices Administrative functions of the Tm·mship are conducted in the Tovmsh -i p Hall ,,,hi ch is a 1eased faci 1ity 1ocated at the intersection of Bai 1ey Ori ve and Parnell Avenue. The offices occupy the first floor of a t\'rn story 1·rnod frar.ie structure that was once a local grange hall. The second floor provides approximately 1,000 square feet of meeting room. Indications are that the structure is relatively sound and capable of adequately handling expected administrative space needs for the foreseeable future. However, space for expanded administrative functions, pub 1 i c meetings and community gatherings are severely limited. As a result, as the need for services expands there is likely to be a need for the 1ong range consideration of a new multi -purpose Community building/Township administration facility. Libraries Vergennes To1·mshi p does not have its own 1 i brary. The nearest 1i brary is 1ocated in the City of Lowell and it is in need of expansion. There are presently no plans to provide a library facility in the Tmmship. Coordination and assistance to the Lowell Library would appear to be the most feasible approach to improving library services to Vergennes residents. Schools Vergennes Township is uithin the Lm'lell Public School District. · All school facilities, with the exception of one elementary school in Alto, are presently located in the City of L01·1el1. There are presently no plans for the location of school facilities within the Township. Police and Fire Protection The Township does not have its mm police or fire departments and must rely on the Kent County Sheriffs Department and the Lowell Fire Department for these emergency services. Parks and Recreation As previously noted, Fall as burg County Park nnd the Lowell State Game Area are located in Vergennes Towns~ip. Fallasburg Park offers a variety of opportunities which include picnicking, hiking, playground equipment and ball fields. In addition, the park offers public access to the Flat River for canoeing and fishing. The State Game Area is used primarily for hunting and fishing. Other facilities such as tennis courts, ball fields, picnic areas and playground equipment are located at two public parks v-lithin the City of L~well. A~ditional playground and athletic facilities are provided at the various public school facilities in Lowell. II-13 �Lowell City Airport This facility ovmcd by the City of Lm.,iell is located on approximately 50 acres just north of the City. It is presently seeing limited use. The City of LmJell is however, in the process of assessing its future utility and the need and feasi bi 1 i ty for improving and expanding its faci 1iti es . Historical Features Eighty-six percent of the households responding to the resident survey listed the preservation of historic buildings as being important or very important. Of particular historical significance to the Tovmship, is the Fallasburg area.. It consists of a settlement with several existing structures uhich predate the Civil vJar. The 11 Fallasburg Covered Bridge" is listed on the National Register of Historical Sites. In addition, the Fallasburg tlill site/Fallasburg School/ Fallasburg Pioneer Village area on Covered Bridge Road is listed on the State Register of Historic Sites. The local Historical Society presently operates the school building as a museum. This organization is very active in promoting the preservation and enhancement of this area and has purchased at least one other structure for preservation purposes. Their goal is to i~prove the area as a tourist attraction and they have approached the Tol'mship for support. Public Utilities Only the homes located adjacent to t1urray Lake are presently provided with public sewer and the system used is not designed to allow expansion into other areas. Public water is not provided any~·, here in the Township. As a result the vast majority of residents must rely on private Hells and septic systems. The City of LO\tell operates systems for both public utilities; however, because of economic considerations the Township has not chosen to be included in future services area agreements necessary to allm·1 expansion of these systems into adjacent Township areas. Transportation Facilities Because of its nature as an agricultural and rural bedroom community, Vergennes is dependent upon roacl links \•lith Lov,ell and the Grand Rnpids t1etropolitan Area. Convenient, safe and efficient access both internally Hithin the Township and to other commuter destinations is therefore very important. The Township's natural features pose a significant impediment to convenient traffic movement. Hilly terrain, wetlands, ravines and, of course, the Flat River have dictated the locations of several roads and, in some cases, have resulted in the disruption of roads that would otherwise have been constructed in a complete grid pattern. Nonetheless, the Township is generally well served by its system of roadways and they operate at high levels of service. Map 5 illustrates the TO\rnship road network and cl ass ifi es the various roads by function. II-14 ► �I 't I ,..J r-1 ---------- ( 1 "\ I . J :, .'---. L" . :::. i -\ -~, ' -, . ~ .... ••"'--.&----....a---1W1JJ:.•-----fi=,___11-__ __·.·::.,.- - ~ - - ~ { ~ ·,:- -{-\~.~-..-.J----,.:.:."~"'~"----1 l(r, I . ,o. ·.. A• • ~ '\" ~, STIU(T -- --~ ( ~"{_ __ - ____ IUN T. L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN STREET FUNCTION T 7 N, R 9 W MAJOR RURAL ARTERIAL MINOR RURAL ARTERIAL ... ·-·-·-• PAVED RURAL COLLECTOR GRAVEL RURAL COLLECTOR MAP 5 �The major and r.iinor arterials illust.ratecf are classified by the Kent County Road Commission as County prir.iary roads. The Road Commission has total responsibility in maintaining and making improvements to these roads. The . rural collectors are classifi~d as local ro~ds by the County and the responsibility for making any improvenents to these streets is shared bet,1een the County and the Towns~ip. In such cases the Township is required to provide 55 percent of the necessary funding for maintenance anc1 improvements and the Road Commission 45 percent. The Road Commission's equipment and personnel are relied upon to carry out these task-s . As growth in the rural areas continues, ments is likely to arise. the need to make costly road improve- At the present time there are over 30 miles of unpaved streets in the Township. These types of roads are not designed to efficiently handle traffic 1olumes that exceed 50 to 75 cars per day. Based on traffic counts provided by the Kent County Road Commission, there are presently up to 8 miles of gravel road with volumes that exceed the desirable maximum. They include all or portions of the following roads: Foreman Avenue, Cumberland Avenue, Bennett Road, 11cPherson Street, Fero Avenue, Biggs Avenue and portions of 3 mile road. On several of these roadways, daily volumes are approaching 200 vehicles per day. 1 As in most rural communities that are experiencing growth pressures, demands to improve these roads will increase. As a result, the ability of the Township to program and finance such improvements is expected to be a major issue of the future. Based on the resident survey, over 80 percent of the respondents taken as a whole were satisfied with road conditions. However, in the central and southwest areas which are not well served by paved roads, the percentage of respondents being unsatisfied with road conditions approached nearly 40 percent. Those streets that are paved have been maintained in good to excellent condition. While traffic volumes on almost all of these streets have increased, it is expected that the levels of service on most road segments will remain well within the design limitations. Where problems do arise, relatively minor improvements such as left turn lanes, and deceleration lanes at major intersections can be expected to adequately address deficiencies (see appendix). II-15 �CHAPTER III PLANNING Dlt1DJSIONS Planning dimensions are guidelines which become the basic frame~ork for the development of the Comprehensive Plan. For plans to be meaningful and valuable in guiding future growth and development, they must first represent the needs and aspirations of the community's citizenry and, second, they must be realistic and within the community's financial capability. This is assured by the use of planning dimensions which set forth both the qualitative and quantitative requirements of the community for the planning period. Planning dimensions include a General Gro\'1th Policy, Goals, Population Projections and an estimate of Future Land Needs. In preparing these planning dimensions, the Vergennes Township Planning Commission has relied on several types of information. The Commission has undertaken a number of basic studies which, together, provide a factual background relating to the past and present development of the Township. These studies also are of value in determining the physical limits and opportunities of future development. In addition, as mentioned in the previous chapter, the Planning Commission has conducted a resident property owner survey in the attempt to gain insights into the thoughts and feelings of residents on a wicfe range of development related issues. The survey \'/aS mailed to every resident property O\'tner in the Township and the response rate was over 45 percent. The results of the survey are very useful and they have been used extensively in formulating the following planning goals and policies contained in this chapter. A summary of the survey is found in the appendix. GENERAL GROWTH POLICY It is recognized that in some ways Vergennes Township has become inextricably linked to Lowell and the Grand Rapids f1etropolitan Area. f1any interrelationships exist which include land use, recreation, shopping and employment centers. Past and future development of the Township has been and will continue to be greatly influenced by these various relationships. The Township, therefore, realizes that it cannot plan for its future development in complete isolation of the needs and growth trends of the balance of the metropolitan area. Within this general framework, hm·,ever, the Township also realizes that it is a separate community and is obligated to plan for its future in accordance with the needs and desires of its residents. The following brief statements form the overall growth policy and are based on recognition of both the Township's areawide responsibilities as well as responsibilities to the residents and land0\'lners within the Township. * While the Township recognizes the need to accommodate future growth and development, it is not the desire or goal of the Township to encourage development for the sake of development alone. III-1 �* All development should consider the natural capabilities of the land to support the d~velopment and the available services and facilities necessary to assure the continual protection of the public health, safety andwelfare of all To~nship residents. * Vergennes Tmmshi p is blessed v-1i th bountiful natura 1 resources and amenities which combine to give it a desirable and sought after rural character. The Township recognizes that the loss of such attributes, such as prime fa~mlands, is an irreversible loss to not only local residents but the region, state and nation as a whole and to future generations. It is therefore the intent of Vergennes Township to promote the preservation of farmland by directing groV✓th and land uses considered incompatible with agricultural practices to those areas of the Township considered to have a higher suitability for such uses. I I GOALS & POLICIES Planning goals and policies are statements that express the community's long range desires and needs. They are intended to provide overall direction for planning activity. In the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, existing goals and policies were reviewed as well as the effectiveness of existing zoning regulations in achieving those goals. The desired goals for Vergennes Township include the following and form the basis for the establishment of more specific land use and development related policies. General * To preserve the general rural character and qualities of the Tovmship * To preserve the agricultural economic base of the Township and to promote the preservation of farmland, especially prime farmland for agricultural uses. * To establish a pattern of land uses which will promote the highest degree of health, safety, and general welfare for all segments of the community. * To establish a pattern of land future development into areas and where the future extension and cost effectively provided, * To e~sure that waterfront development densities are not over capacitated in ways that \•lill jeopardize the public health, safety, and general welfare of all people ..•• and that waterfronts be preserved where possible as scenic and natural resources. * To promote, develop and maintain a transportation network which for the safe and convenient movenent of people and goods. * To promote a wide range of safe and rlecent housing in the Township. use \'lhich directs the highest intensity of where existing urban densities are prevalent of public utilities can be most efficiently if required. III-2 provides �* To discourage sprawl development especially in areas where residential development is not considered the highest and best use of the land. * To protect the natµral environment in order to reduce inefficient consunption of land resources, and to preserve the existence of such resources for the enjoyment of Vergennes people no111 and in the future. * To maintain and enforce restrictions necessary to insure proper maintenance of property values. * To assess the environmental impact of all development based on the physical characteristics of the area. * To accommodate appropriate commercial and industrial land uses in order to better serve the shopping and enployment needs of the community and to promote a more diverse tax base. * To maintain the natural beauty of the area by preventing over development and by preserving existing v1oodland areas to the fullest extent possible. Further, while the economic benefits of mineral resources within the Township must be recognized, it is equally important that these areas be properly contoured and readied for a desirable ultimate use once the minerals have been extracted. * To provide an adequate level of public services and facilities to protect the public health, safety and \telfare. * To acquire public facility sites in advance of actual need to assure that sites will be available when the need for additional facilities arise, and to minimize public expenditures. * To promote the preservation of historical resources located within the Township in the attempt to safeguard the Township's heritage, stabilize and improve local property values, strengthen the local econony, foster civic beauty and broaden the educational base of citizens. Land Use Policies In addition to the above general goals, a number of specific land use policies have been enumerated 11hich are intended to be official statements on land use planning. Several relate specifically to the major functional conponents of the corrrnunity. 1. It is the policy to accommodate limited commercial development in a planned fashion in logical areas best suited to serve the residents of the nearby area. It is specifically not the goal of the Tmmship to encourage regionally oriented shopping facilities which would over burden the transportation network and create other public service burdens. III-3 �II I 2. It is the policy of the Tmmship to discourage cor:nnercial strip development along the streets within the Township. 3. It is the policy of the Tovmship to provide separation betv,een commercial uses and single-family residential uses by encouraging transitional uses such as offices and/or higher density residential uses. 4. It is the policy of Vergennes Tovmship to accommodate additional industrial development only in those areas in which the provision of appropriate utilities and highyay access can be made available and vhere potential conflicts with other uses can be avoided or minimized. 5. It is the policy of Vergennes Tmmship to ensure that future residential development consider the natural limitations imposed by existing topography and soils and that filling, grading and erosion are minimized. 6. It is the policy of Vergennes T01-mshi p to ensure the capacity and function of existing arterials and collector streets and to minimize the conflicts between their functions, by regulating 1and uses, bui 1ding setbacks and driveway openings and, vthere appropriate, by encouraging the development of front or rear access service drives. 7. It is the · policy of Vergennes Township to promote enrollment into the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act (Michigan Public Act 116). O. It is the policy of Vergennes Township to discourage large ment on prime agricultural land. 9. It is the policy of Vergennes Township to discourage grov1th and development sc,1le develop- in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, areas of steep slopes, floodplains, and prime agricultural soils. I is the policy of Vergennes Township to ensure that new housing types preserve the character of the land and ~ei ghborhood \~here they are located. 10. It 11. It is the policy of Vergennes Township to support the spirit and philosophy of the Natural Rivers Act of 1970 (t1ichigan Public Act 231). 12. It is the policy of Vergennes Township to promote the preservation structures in the Fallasburg area which are of historical significance. 13. It is the policy of Vergennes Tm·mship to periodically review its land development related ordinances such as zoning, subdivision and building regulations in order to ensure fulfillment of the land use plan and its goals. III-4 of �Service Area Policies The proposed Rural Conservation Area includes about 30% of the total land area of Vergennes Township. Proposed land uses in this area primarily include farming, forestry and single family homes on large estate type sites (3 to 10 acres). Families building homes in this area most desire the privacy and seclusion of large, scenic sites in a natural and more rural setting. Because of the low overall density of development, feH urbar types of services are required and this is consistent with the desire to preserve the rural character of the area. These lands are shown on the Generalized Service Area f1ap as being within the "Rural Service Area". The Plan also recognizes that it is important to provide an area for urban types of land uses such as commercial, industrial and higher density residential. These lands are designated as being v1ithin the "Urban Service Area," \lhich includes about six square miles in the southeast portion of the Tmms!lip and generally adjacent to the City of Lowell. This area will require a full range of urban services such as a public water system, sanitary sei·1er system, storm drainage improvements, major street improvements and police and fire protection. Very few of these services are presently available and, as a result, only limited development can occur at the present time. For these services to be provided in an orderly and economic manner, arrangements must be made for their provision before development occurs. If, for example, the Township contracts with the City of Lowell for water and sel'1er services, those contracts should be in place so that the necessary extensions can be made at the time development occurs. In the meantime, the Township should discourage the premature development of large projects within the Urban Service Area which would utilize private wells or sanitary se\·1er facilities. The use of private systems 1•1ould result in a duplication of services at the time public facilities are constructed and would greatly reduce the potenti a1 number of customers and thereby increase the indi vi dual customer costs. This effect could delay or even prohibit the construction of the necessary public i nfrastructurE'. III-5 �GROWTH TRENDS Population and Housing Determination of reasonable future population growth is important in a planning program since expected population growth provides a general basis for determining future 1and needs as \'te 11 as future community service and facility needs. Population projections for Vergennes Township have been made 1ising three methods which have resulted in a reasonable forecast of growth. II The first method involves relying on recent d1•1elling unit construction to gag~ future growth. In 1980 the census of population reported 609 housing units in the Township. From 1980 to 1988, 151 new units were constructed for a total of 760 units. This Has an increase of nearly 25 percent. The vacancy rate in 1980 was 4 percent. Projecting this recent trend of 3.1 percent residential growth per year with a current estimated figure of 3.0~ persons per unit and a vacancy rate of 4 percent, the estimated population by the year 2000 is approximately 3080 persons. Under this method there would be a total of 1,040 housing units. The second method involves using the same figures except that, rather than making the projections using yearly percentage increases, it is assumed that a straight line increase of 19 new homes per year will be built. Under this method it is estimated that the population in the year 2000 will be approximately 2,920 persons. This projection would result in a total of 989 housing units. The third methorl is based on the population growth trend from 1970 to 1980. During these years, the change from 1,400 persons in 1970 to 1,819 persons in 1980 equated to a 29.9 percent increase. Assuming that this overall trend has continued and will continue over the next 10 years, the population for the year 2000 will be 2,906 persons, anrl 981 housing units. Based on these alternative methods, it is reasonable to project Vergennes Township's population for the year 2000 to be bet1•1een 2,900 and 3,100 persons. For planning purposes, the population projection for the year 2000 is estimated as an average of the three methods, or 2,968 persons, and 1,002 housing units. Land Needs Residential It is presently estimated that there are 760 housing units, occupying 610 acres of land. This equates to an average of 0.3 acres of land for each housing unit. However, it is also recognized that many homesites are on parcel sizes of 1 to 20 acres, and that the Township presently has minimum lot size requirements that range from 17,000 square feet to 3 acres. Assuming that the expected new grouth of 240 units will be fairly evenly mixed with roughly 50 percent of the growth occurring on an average parc~ls size of one acre and 50 percent occurring on an average parcel size of 5 acres, it can be estimated that on the average each new housing unit will consume 3 acres of land, for a total of 720 acres. III-6 �I 't I ,,.I I j r-f ---------, ~--- . 0 .... ;1) \~ \ . 'f' \ ~~ i ~~ - ~; 'V • ... ..,. ;1:'.,1 .....-.. ~~ •t---- .....,... . \ I I \. I I 1: I • r I ,·- . I ( () t-11•• ' I I \ o• . narc, ,.- \ ( . I.. VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W GENERAL SERVICE AREAS c::J C!J RURAL SERVICE AREA URBAN SERVICE AREA MAP 6 �~~1ever, based ?n past trends, it could b~ expected that roughly 30 percent of l..,1e ne1·1 gro1,,1th 1,1111 occur on parcels of less than 2 acres and 70 percent on parcel sizes th~t range between 3 and 20 acres. If ve assu~e an average of one acre for , the first category and 5 acres for the second over 900 acres of land 1'lill be needed to satisfy the nev, residential grm,,th. ' In both instances the amount of land consumed is excessive when compared to the 160 acres that would be required if all new units were constructed on more reasonable. suburban densities of 1.5 units per acre. Nonetheless, it is impor- ~ant to note,,that there are ~n estimated 300 ex~sting pa,rcels of. lanrl that are 1n }he 2 to ... o acre range wh1ch are not nm-1 occupied by d\·1ell1ng units .., . • To avoid the inefficient and unnecessary consu~ption of adrlitional ran~~ development must therefore be encouraged to locate in those areas already com-:,. mitted to residential use, and discouraged from locating in areas better suited ·• to agricultural activity in accordance vlith the previously stated goals ,a~d :~ ... · • pof'f ci es. __ • , ,.. • • ,, • , .,.. ,• . ff • .. -1 i,,J ·.,; Commercial ~ .~. r f ,' t ,; Based on a commercial land use inventory contained in the City of Lm,ell 's comprehensive plan, there are presently about 75 acres of developed commercial land within the City. Developed commercial land in neighboring L0\·1ell To\lmship and Vergennes total approximately 35 acres. With populations on the rise in all three communities as well as the other nearby communities of Boston and Keene Townships, it can be expected that demands for additional commercial development in the area 1-1ill also increase. Since the City of Lowell is presently the market area's center, it is also expected that additional demands will be focused 1ttithin and irrnnediately adjacent to the City. The growth characteristics of the Lowell market area are such that by the year 2000, it is estimated that the market area population will be nearly 30,000 people. Based on past trends, the retail and service demands of this population would translate into 5 to 6 acres of commercial development for each 1000 persons, or 150 to 180 acres of total land. By comparing these figures 1·lith the ~xisting amount of commercial development located in the area (110 acres), it is estimated that there 1·/ill be an additional demand for between 40 and 70 acres of commercial development. Review of land use plans of the City of Lowell and Lowell Township reveals that the total amount of vacant, commercial land that is planned and zoned in these cor.mlunities totals approximately 35 acres. - This tota 1 represents an ability to accommodate bet\'leen 50 and 90% of the tota 1 market area's future demand through the year 2000. Subtracting this amount from the projected future demand of 40 to 70 acres leaves a deficit of between 5 and 35 acres. This deficit represents a demand for land that could potentially be felt in Vergennes Tmmship. III-7 �Industrial Recreational Adequate recreational opportunities are general health and well being of persons in that recreation and leisure facilities therefore an important aspect of long range sibility of the community. recognized as being essential to the almost every age group. Assurances are made available in a community is planning and an important respon- Utilizing recreation standards adopted by the State of !·1ichigan, facilities required to adequately serve the community, irrespective of those provided by Kent County parks and facilities located in the City of Lowell, have been identified. Table 9 represents these findings. Table 9 Recreational Facility Needs Facility Local park land (acres) Ball fields Outdoor basketball courts Bicycle trails (miles) Picnic areas (tables) Playgrounds Outdoor tennis courts X-country ski trails (miles) Horseback riding trails (miles) Snowmobile trails t1.R.O.S. Standard 10/1000 1/3000 1/5000 1/40,00(l 1/200 1/3000 1/4000 1/10,000 1/20,000 1/3000 111-8 persons persons persons persons persons persons persons persons persons persons Facilities required: 2000 projected Population of 29n8 ~() 1 0 0 15 1 0 0 0 ,. �/\s a r.,~~ns. of att~r.ipti ng t~ focus in on the types of recreational opportuni ti PS that 1:x1 st, ng res, dents enJoy t1nd to further identify recreation needs, thr 2.ttitude survey of residents asked several pntinent questions. A sumriary of the results pf this survey is as follows: Types of recreation participated in on a frequent basis: Type ~ of respondents 36 28 Picnicking Softball Hiking and x-country skiing Lawn games Off-road vehicles Other /1,4. 30 11 46 Types of additional facilities that members developed in or closer to the Township: Type of household would like to see % of respondents 28 Ballfields Playgrounds Swimming areas Hiking and ski trails Off-roarl vehicle trails Horseback riding trails 32 47 4P 9 1 The results indicate that of the 319 households responding to the survey, 298 or 93% would like to see some sort of additional recreational facility developed in or near the Township. The highest demands are for swimming beaches and hiking trails, followed by ballfields and playgrounds. Analysis of the results of the survey by sub-area indicate that a Iii gher percentage of respondents residing in the southern portion of the Township desire the development of additional facilities such as ballfields and playgrounds than the responses taken for the Township as a whole. This would indicate a need for facilities more in line with the findings indicated by the application of the f1ichigan Recreation Opportunity Standards in the more densely populated areas of the Township. Overall, 50% of responcients felt that the prov1s1on of additional public recreational facilities is important. Nonethel~ss, 85~ of the respondents are satisfied with current facilities, 11'1ich at this time are provided entirely by Kent County, the City of Lowell, public s,:hools and private organizations. 111-9 �Communit_y faci1 iti es As has been previously discussed, grm,th in the To1trnship 's population can be expected to result in increased public services in the area of administrative services and police anrl fire protection. At the present time the Township does not own land that would be suitable for the eventual construction of neu Township offices or fire protection facilities. If such facilities are to be developed in the future, a centrally located site comprising 3 to 5 acres woulrl adequatPly serve . both types of facilities. School facilities I II l l At the present time the Lowell School District is in the process of a strategic planning program that will identify classroom and land space requirements through the P.arly 1990's. One option under consideration that would be intenrled to satisfy a need for up to 20 new classrooMs, is the purchase of additional lanrl for the development of a ne\'I school facility. Such a facility would require between 15 and 20 acres of land. llo decisions have been made as to the location of such a facility, if such an option :-,ere to be pursued. I 11-10 - - -- - - - �CHAPTER IV GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN RESIDENTIAL LAND USE PLAN Vergennes Township is presently witnessing and has witnessed in the past a healthy rate · of residential growth. Based on studies of the local and metropolitan area, there is no reason to believe that future growth will be diminished. As Vergennes continues to grow, the greater portion of the developed land will be taken up by residential uses. In itself, this fact is an important planning consideration. However, the primary concern must be the realization that the living environment is the real heart of the community; and, therefore, a major basis upon which to formulate major land use decisions. The Residential Land Use Plan is a set of guidelines which, if implemented, is capable of producing safe, convenient, and pleasant neighborhoods for the mutual benefit of all Township residents. The Plan is based on the following objectives and influence factors. Objectives 1. To offer a broad range of choice among the living areas; 2. To utilize natural features to create attractive residential areas; 3. To allow the development of a broad range of housing types to accor.imodate varying lifestyles. 4. To assure traffic safety and privacy of residential areas through the design of streets that discourage through traffic. 5. To locate residential areas in such relation to other land use types and community facilities as will best contribute to the overall desirability of the community. 6. To stabilize property values by protecting residential areas from the encroachment of incompatible land use types. 7. Assure public health and safety by permitting the more intensive residential growth patterns in only those areas which can be adequately served by the future extension of public utilities. 8. Provide a variety of lot sizes and shapes to meet the varying desires of all persons in the community. IV-1 �Influence Factors In every community there are various factors that influence and, 1n some instances, dictate how land can be developed. In Vergennes Township, these most importantly include the following: Public Utility Systems. Because provision of public utilities such as sewer and water ,snot foreseen ,n the immediate future, one of the largest limitations to development will be the lack of public utility systems. As a result, soil characteristics are extremely important when considering residential development. Soils must be capable of supporting urban structures, and in areas where public utilities are not available, they must be conducive to the safe and efficient operation of private septic systems. High density residential uses should not be allowed until public utilities are available. Relief. r1uch of the land area in Vergennes is ma.de up of steep hills and deep river valleys which provide many extremely attractive homesites. Because of these factors, however, the density of development in much of the Township will be very 1ow. Vergennes Township is blessed with large quantities of Important Farmlands. These areas valuable farmland that contributes greatly to the local economy. should be protected from encroachment by residential and other types of development. Low Density Residential The Low Density Residential Planning Area is applied to several areas of the Township that have soils generally amenable to single family residential development at densities of approximately one unit per acre, without the provision of public utilities. Most of these areas have experienced some development pressure, as witnessed by the large number of parcels of less than 10 acres that have been created. The primary intent of this area is to promote development that is virtually exclusively residential in nature while still preserving the area's rural and unique environmental qualities. It is also intended to serve as a transitional area between rural densities of development and the higher urban concentration nearer the City of Lowell. The recommended minimum lot size is one acre. Implementation Measures The following mechanisms are intended for use in achieving the objectives of the Low Density Residential District. 1. Maintain the restrictive zoning regulations Residential District. 2. r1uch of the land area included in this planning area is presently included in the existing Low Density Residential Zoning District. However, additional land areas are proposed for ultimate inclusion. It is recommended that necessary rezonings be done incrementally based on the demand for home sites of the size permitted in the district. IV-2 of the "R-1" Low Density �3. The Low Density Residential Planning Area also includes some areas that are presently zoned for medium density residential development. It is recom~ended that the zoning map be amended early on in the planning period to incot-porate these areas ,..,ithin the Low Density Residential District. Medium Density Single-Family Residential T~e med!um dens!ty residential development areas are intended to promote additional s1ngle-fam1ly homes on platted lots of less than one acre in size. Soils in these areas are generally capable of supporting the higher densities, but the need for the eventual extension of public sewer and water should be taken into account. As a result, only those areas south of the Flat River in Section 26 and north of the City of Lowell in Sections 35 and 36 are included. These areas are presently zoned R-2. A maximum density of 3 units per acre is recommended in this Planning District. Implementation l~asures It is recommended that the zoning map and text be amended to create an exclusive medium density single-family residential district. Provisions similar to the existing R-2 p~ovisions should be maintained but uses such as mobile home parks, two-family dwellings, and other uses now viewed as incompatible with the existing conventional single-family residential development, excluded. Medium Density Special Residential Similar in intent to the medium density designation outlined in the previous land use plan and the current R-2 zoning district provisions, these areas are envisioned to accommodate the logical extensions of residential growth northward from the City of Lowell. Through mechanisms already contained in the zoning ordinance or planned unit development provisions, a wide variety of housing types could be permitted including single-family homes, mobile home parks, duplexes, multi-family apartments and condominiums and senior citizen housing. The areas designated are inclusive of soils that, for the most part, appear capable of supporting two to three units per acre with septic tanks. However, as a means to assure long-range public health, only those areas that appear to be the most cost effective to serve with future public utilities extended northward from Lowell have been designated for ultimate inclusion. The maximum density of 6 dwelling units per acre is recommended for developments in this area. t//11~• -Jiu-) Implementation Measures rJe/ift" tiJ 1. Amend the zoning map "'line11emeR-tal+y,-ttpon ;t;he a·,a-tta-bM I t:r, as outlined on the Land Use Plan to reduce the amount of area included in the existing R2, Medium Density Residential District. 2. Develop and implement Planned Unit Development Zoning Provisions that would allow flexibility in the design of higher density developments and mixed uses. 3. Developments that would exceed a density of three units per acre should be delayed until such time that the public sewers are extended and made available. IV-3 ~ �RURAL CONSERVATION PLAN. \-Jithout a doubt the greatest concerns expressed by Township residents iri the attitude survey relate to the preservation of the Township's rural character and its important farmlands. As a means of promoting the protection of these qualities, the plan proposes the designation of a Rural Conservation District encompassing over 80% of the Township's land area. Within this planning area, extensive development would be discouraged and rural land uses such as farming would be promoted. The Rural Conservation Planning Area provides invaluable benefits in terms of natural drainage, aesthetics and natural wildlife habitat. Several areas are typified by steep slopes, wetlands and/or soils ill suited for intensive development. The western and northeastern portions of the area is by in large actively farmed and contains the majority of soil classified a "prime" for agricultural purposes. r1any of these farms are presently enrolled in the P.A. 116 "Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program". The primary objectives of this planning area are twofold: 1. To promote farming activity as the priority land use in the areas ·Township best suited for such use and; of the 2. To promote the existence of forestry operations and the conservation of rural qualities such as woodlots, wetlands and meadows while at the same time providing low density country living opportunities in those areas having soils capable of supporting private septic systems. Implementation t1easures Recommended mechanisms and guidelines for use in achieving the objectives of the Rural Conservation Planning Area include: 1. Maintenance of zoning regulations such as the existing rural-agricultural zoning requirements relative to permitted and special uses as well as the minimum lot area requirement of three acres for single family homes. 2. Encourage the enrollment of farmlands in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program and the dedication of conservation easements to land ... trusts . 3. • ~ \,-1 ~..,,. ; implement~t,onp .,~--~~~~-e~!~_<!..~~I~t~~ ·--~OIJ.1:gjned in Preservation 1an. IV-4 the Natural Features �\ _,__ ' 1 ,.., r- f ·--------_____,~ii--"'-°'"'"-......-,4..---~.......,,_!,:--=-::....~.....;" } / "' r VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN • T 7 N, R 9 W RESIDENTIAL LAND USE PLAN (::.;_:_;,:,_._;_:_:~:.:.:. ,);.,_; ;_:.] LO W D E N S IT Y S IN G LE FAM IL Y f:;:;:1:1:l:l:1:l:1:l:1:j M e o I u M o e N s I T v - s I N G L e FA M I L v MEDIUM DENSITY-SPECIAL RESIDENTIA MAP 7 �VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W RURAL CONSERVATION PLAN (:f\:j::::i@;::r:= i ] R U RA L C O N S E R VAT I O N A R E A IBij FLAT RIVER MANAGEMENT AREA •MAP 8 �COMMERCIAL LAND USE PLAN Typically, . commercial establishments seek out major streets with high traffic volumes to maximize their visibility and encourage drive-in trade. However when a major street begins to develop commercially, traffic congestion too ofte~ occurs and conflicts result between through traffic and vehicles entering and exiting driveways. This plan recog.nizes that the demands for commercial development in Vergennes Township are likely to increase within the planning period as more and more residents move into the area. These demands are most likely to be greatest along Lincoln Lake Avenue, near the City of Lowell where traffic volumes are greatest and where commercial establishments can take advantage of a more concentrated consumer market. It will be important to direct this type of development in a manner which avoids the generally undesirable effects that commercial strip development could bring along Lincoln Lake Avenue. Therefore, retail and office types of commercial development should be directed toward the triangular area lying north of Lowell, between Lincoln Lake Avenue and Flat River Drive. This area encompasses approximately 45 acres and would potentially offer retail establishment access from both streets, thus minimizing traffic conflicts. In addition, this area is nearest to existing sewer and water utilities within the Lowell area. Therefore, from an engineering standpoint, this appears to have the highest potential for being served by public utilities. Heavier commercial uses such as lumber yards, implement dealers, automotive repair shops etc. would be directed to the area near the intersection of Lincoln Lake Avenue and Vergennes Street. The objectives of the Commercial Land Use Plan are to: - Accommodate limited yet appealing shopping facilities that provide a sufficient amount of goods and services to meet the daily needs of a growing township population, while not duplicating the services provided by establishments located in Lowell. - Promote physical clustering of commercial establishments rather than strip development thereby providing for joint use of parking facilities, more convenient shopping, pleasant pedestrian spaces and minimized extension of utilities. - Discourage over-concentration of similar businesses to prevent vacancies and market saturation. - Blend the commercial areas with surrounding uses to minimize land use traffic and environmental conflicts. - Provide adequate parking to create an inviting shopping environment convenient for all to use. IV-5 �- Provide for conflict. efficient accessibility to retail uses to minimize traffic Implementation f1easures: Unless careful site planning and access controls are instituted, conflicts bet1-.,een uses can occur, opportunities for integrated uses 1ost and the capacity of streets can be greatly reduced. It is therefore recommended that the rezoning of lands designated by the Land Use Plan for commercial purposes be done incrementally to help assure that development is not done prematurely or haphazardly, with disregard for the lack of utilities . and the uses that are in existence or could develop on adjoining sites. Implementation of the Commercial Land Use Plan should therefore involve the following recommendations: 1. Development of flexible planned unit development zoning provisions that would allow the review and approval of proposals incorporating integrated mixed uses, joint access and alternative access characteristics. 2. Institution of zoning standards and a site plan review process which promote desirable objectives and the careful scrutinization of such site plan features as: - Water, Sewer and Drainage: Until public or collective -systems for these utilities are provided, it is recommended that major developments not be permitted unless careful consideration is given to the ability of individual methods to handle expected water usage, waste water generation and runoff. - Driveway Location and Spacing: Driveways should be located as far from street intersections as possible to avoid left turn conflicts and businesses should be encouraged to _share driveways whenever possible. Driveways should be at least 200 feet apart to reduce conflicts and provide gaps in traffic for safer ingress and egress. It is recommended that commercial parcels have a minimum of 300 feet of street frontage to promote adequate driveway spacing. · - Landscaping: Commercial development should provide landscaping along the street edge to enhance aesthetics and screen the parking areas. Specific landscaping requirements should be incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance to ensure adequate and uniform landscape treatment among all businesses. - Alternate Access: A secondary means of ingress and/or egress should be provided if possible. Such alternate access could take the form of access to an intersecting street for corner parcels, access across adjacent parking lots, access to another street to the rear of the property, a frontage road or service drive paralleling the major street, or a similar alternative. - Signs: The number, size and location of signs should be controlled and kept to a reasonable minimu~ to avoid motorist confusion and insure individual business identity. IV-6 ....... �\ t \ I l ~ \ ► J .r• . .... r" y ' ·--.. (_ . . :, J L \ t ,. -( .. I I J '-w~ ( - .. ...:- .... ,J. = .. ; ' - •, 7 > ,... d l ----• '!''ll '- . < \. ~ . : .,.r - _...-·•-, ...__ r;•,...::...~ =-=4=\-!l~-~ ~ t T (} ) c' """ . ' ~-' L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W COMMERCIAL LAND USE PLAN %:::iIIf::::::~ii:LI::: R E T A I L A N D O F F I C E A R'E A I HEAVY COMMERCIAL AREA MAP 9 �6. Encourage the landscaping of industrial sites through site plan review. 7. Discou irage the development of "heavy" industries which, because of their scale or type of operation, could have severe environmental implications, or overburden public services. 8. Incorporate access control mechanisms similar to those recommended for the commercial ~reas into zoning provisions relative to the industrial zone. HISTORICAL PRESERVATION The Land Use Plan designates many of the properties in the Fallasburg area as a "Historical Preservation Planning District". Within this district are several historical structures included on State and Federal Registers of important historical sites. Through tent of certed develop the designation of the Historical Preservation District, it is the inthis plan to promote and lay the ground work for possible future conefforts designed to preserve and restore existing structures as well as new structures in accordance with the heritage of the area. The objectives of the district are as follows: - To preserve and promote the heritage of the Township by increasing public awareness of the area most reflective of the Township's cultural, social, economic and architectural history. - To promote the stabilization and improvement of property values within the district. - To strengthen the local economy. - To promote the use of historic sites for the education and pleasure of residents within the community and state. Implementation measures In order to fully achieve the objectives of the district, there are many financial physical and political factors that must be addressed in detail. In addition ' several alternative approaches and levels of public involvement must be considered. These efforts are well beyond the scope of this General Development Plan. It is therefore reconnnended that subsequent to the.adoption of this plan, the Township should undertake a program for the preparation of a detailed Historic Preservation Plan for the Fallasburg area. Such a program should incorporate the following: 1. Create a Historical Commission pursuant to the provisions of Public Act 169 of 1970. 2. Prepare a detailed Historical Preservation Plan under which detailed studies and recommendations can be made relative to the following: IV-8 •· �- Pedestrian Access: Where appropriate, sidewalks or paths should be provided to link businesses with each other and residential areas. INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PLAN The "Industrial'' planning area as depicted on the Land Use Plan is intended to provide and reserve adequate land for future industrial development. In so doing it is recognized that industrial development wi 11 be important to the economy and tax base of the community. The areas designated are located to provide easy access and to minimize potential conflicts with residential uses. They would also form a buffer between the airport and nearby residential uses. Intensive industrial development within the areas shown would require the provision of public sewer and water. Another important influence on the Industrial Plan is that much of the land around the airport is owned by the City of Lm·1ell. As a result, a great deal of cooperation with the City would be required if that portion of the Township is to be made available for eventual industrial use. The objectives of the Industrial Land Use Plan are as follow: - To encourage industries to locate in an industrial park setting. - To p'.omote diversification of the local tax base. - To provide additional nearby entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for Township residents. Implementation Measures The following recommendations are intended for dustrial Land Use Plan: use in implementing the In- 1. Explore with the City of Lowell the feasibility of creating an industrial park on city owned property adjacent to the airport. 2. Incrementally expand the availability of industrially zoned properties within the planning area based on needs over the planning period, keeping in mind that development without public utilities should be carefully monitored. 3. Improve site plan review standards relative to industrial uses to ensure building and site design quality and that those industries being proposed without public sewer and water facilities will not jeopardize environmental quality. 4. Encourage the creation of industrial subdivisions rather than piecemeal development to help ensure development and collective use of necessary access roads, drainage and other improvements. 5. Incorporate provisions in the zoning ordinance that would discourage extensive outdoor storage and activity areas that would detract from the character of the Township. IV-7 �/, I \ I \ l ~ \ r J I _r _.... .. , I < WI\. I \\ ~ y r"" (_. ' .. .: "'- ·\i :: .\ (_ .. --·:r . .____ \I 1.._IJ,!-lT >1 \.) ~ . :r,. ~~ '<'~i I \ ..-:,, /~ ~ .---- • ~ fv; I I I ·i:. t --✓ I I \. l •• • I t =~ ~ ~~t• ) } . 91tttt:T '- ~ ~ I t•t t ' L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PLAN INDUSTRIAL AREA MAP10 �- The determination of the actual physical extent of the Historical trict and the lands and structures to be included. - The identification of a central architectural theme, promoted in the District. if any, Disto be - The identification of any additional properties that should be publicly acquired • . - The formulation of architectural and land use controls necessary to stabilize and improve property values in the District. - The identification of the role and extent to which the Township, by Ordinance should become actively involved in promoting the recommendation for the District. - The targeting and securing of finances capable of carrying out the plan for the district. - The potential extent to which the area could be actively promoted as a tourist attraction. - The desirability and feasibility of limited commercial uses, such as craft and gift shops and home occupations within the District being utilized to help capture the tourist potential and create revenues for carrying out District improvements. 3. The incorporation of the Historic Preservation Plan into the General Development Plan. 4. The implementation of necessary ordinances and controls mechanisms recommended by the plan. IV-9 and other �NATURAL FEATURES PRESERVATION PLAN As previously discussed, the preservation of the rural character of the Tmmship is a high priority among residents. One important aspect of the community's rural character are the natural features found in the Township. These include hills, woodlands, water resources and soils. The importance of these features however, go well beyond natural beauty. Taken collectively, these features form an interrelated, high quality and well-balanced environment that should be protected from potentially disruptive development practices and land uses. The following objectives and quidelines should be applied throughout the Township and, coupled with recommended land uses and densities outlined in the previous sections, are intended to provide a balance between the desire to accommodate continued development and to protect the natural environment. Objectives: - To preserve woodlands, quality hillsides, wetlands and wildlife habitat and water - To promote proper site planning and design of developments so as to preserve natural vegetation, steep slopes and prevent erosion, excess runoff and siltation - To discourage development in flood prone or flood hazard areas Implementation r1easures: 1. t1aintain and enforce the Flat River Overlay Zoning District and its provisions to restrict development along the banks of this designated "natural river". 2. Through site plan review, program: subdivision regulations and a public education - Encourage the construction of roads that follow contours rather than running against them. - Encourage minimum grading and cut fill activities on steep slopes. - Encourage the concealment of buildings located on prominent hillsides. - Discourage the filling of wetlands. - Evaluate soil suitability for the proposed use. Discourage the over improvement of building sites in rural areas that would replace natural vegetation with large manicured lawns, and other forms of urban landscaping. IV-10 �( \ \ I ~ l \ _r ..-,, ., r J•2•u \ \. :..,, ... < r°" l. -- ( --- ~-- . '\ i ~ .I L .~ ,. .- ·J ' .' I I ·\· .. '-, .• : )l \) ~ . i flAIIC - ¾., - ' I I( ( "'-"" 1 · " 9'1111U f ~"l.~---!_\ ,, \ I I "' ..... ' ( '- ~ DWtV I T• t ( f L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN -HISTORIC PRESERVATION AREA MAP 11 �r - Encourage the use of natural drainageways vs. ground drains. 3. channelization or under- t Cooperate with the Kent County Road Commission to ensure strict enforcement of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act. If necessary, adopt and enforce a local ordinance. 4. Inform residents and farmers of the problems of over fertilization of lawns and fields near water bodies and drainage ways. 5. Inform residents of measures that should be taken for proper septic tank and drain field maintenance and operation. 6. Inform residents with livestock and other domesticated animals of the hazards of locating feeding areas and animal runs where nutrients from animal waste can readily enter surface waters in the form of runoff. 7. Support State and County laws and administrative programs which help to protect natural resources. The following list of State and County approvals is directed toward the major environmental protection needs of the areas. Feature of Concern Agency or Approval Requirement Wetlands State wetlands permits are required for alteration of any wetland contiguous to lakes, streams, and other water bodies, and for wetlands which are five acres or more in size. Proper septic system location and installation for surface water and groundwater quality protection Permit required from the Kent County Health Department. Erosion control during construction An earth change which is within 100 feet of a lake or stream or is one or more acres in size requires a permit from the Kent County Road Cormnission. This agency presently administers the provisions of the Michigan Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act w1th1n Vergennes Township. Adequate drainage facilities minimize flooding The Kent County Drain Commissioner reviews all subdivision plats to assure adequate drainage facilities. Proposals for developments with stor11Mater outlets to county drains, as well as mobile home park proposals, are also subject to approval by the Drain Commissioner's office. On-site retention of storrmtater is often required. IV-11 �Feature of Concern (Cont.) Agency or Approval Requirements (Cont.) Roadside drainage The Kent County Road Commission reviews all subdivisions for conformance v1ith Road Commission standards. For large lot developments, surface drainage to roadside ditches is a11 owed. If the development is not a subdivision, but results in a drainage discharge to a roadside ditch, approval from the County Road Commission is required. Runoff must be restricted and retained on-site to assure an agricultural rate of runoff. Spill prevention plans at industrial sites The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reviews and approves Pollution Incident Prevention Plans submitted by businesses. Businesses are required to submit such a plan if they store or use critical materials on the "Critical f1ateri a1s Register," sa 1t, or 1arge quantities of fuel. Wastewater treatment systems with discharges of more than 10,000 gallons/day of sanitary sewage The Michigan Department of Natural Resources issues groundwater discharge permits when discharges of more than 10,000 gallons/day of sanitary sewage (or other discharges) are proposed. The provisions apply to large-scale septic systems, and other types of wastewater facilities. Proposed discharges must meet requirements of the Part 22 Rules of the Water Resources Commission Act. Wastewater treatment systems which discharge into lakes and streams require a Federal tJPDES permit nlational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit), which is issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 8. Developers should be encouraged to contact state and county agencies at the earliest possible point in the site plan preparation process, and to incorporate state and county agency requirements for resource protection into site plans, presented to the Township. IV-12 �COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN Recreation , Analys~s of ~ocal recreational opportunities within the Township shows that Township res, dents presently must rely on, and at times compete with others for the use of facilities located at Fallasburg County Park and with the City of Lowell. · While these facilities are adequate for their intended use, it must also be recognized that as the area population increases, Ver~ennes Township must become increasingly responsible for providing additional opportunities for i~s residents. This conclusion is justified by the results of the resident att,.tude survey which shows significant desire among residents for additional facilities. It is therefore this plan's recommendation that the To~mship begin an ongoing program intended to satisfy basic recreational needs of residents. The recommended objectives of this effort are as follows: - To identify and acquire approximately 30 to 40 acres of land capable of supporting the outdoor recreational facilities needed to satisfy the identified basic needs of . all age groups within the Township beyond the year 2000. - To work closely with the Kent County Parks and Recreation Department in an effort to identify potential areas in which local needs can be addressed by existing or expanded County facilities until such time that Township facilities can be made available to augment the County facilities. - To pursue a wide variety of potential funding sources that can be used for the acquisition, development and maintenance of local park land and facilities. Implementation r1easures: While it does not appear that the needs identified in the preceding chapter are critical at the present time, it is important that planning and decision making for the ultimate provision of additional recreational facilities begin at an · early stage. This is especially important in terms of land acquisition, where early acquisition can greatly reduce overall costs and better assure the ability to acquire land in the most desirable location. It is therefore recommended that the Tounshi p take the following measures in establishing a parks and recreation program, in fulfillment of the above objectives. 1. Appoint a "Park Commission" under the provisions of P.A. 271 of 1921, or an ad hoc citizen's committee to: - Identify potential future park sites. - Prepare a Parks and Recreation plan capable of qualifying the Township for the receipt of Land and Water Conservation Funds {LWCF) and rtichigan Natural Resources Trust Fund {f1NRTF) grants from the Nichigan Department of Natural Resources. IV-13 �-Identify and pursue potential funding sources such as private and other local, state and federal programs. foundations - Work with the Kent County Parks and Recreation Department and LoHell School District to ensure a coordinated approach to providing facilities with organized recreational activities. - Monitor citizen needs and concerns. - f1ake necessary recommendations to the Township Board with respect to ongoing parks and recreation needs in the areas of administrative, budgeting and operation and maintenance. Administrative Offices, Library and Fire Protection As has been previously discussed, the Township. Administration Offices are located on leased property with very little room for expansion, fire protection is contracted through the City of Lowell and the nearest library in Lowell is in need of expansion. While existing conditions in these three critical areas of public service appear satisfactory, it must be recognized that continued growth will almost certainly bring increased needs and public demands for improvements in all three areas. It is therefore important that the Township periodically assess its position with respect to these facilities and services as well as available options for improvement. One of these options is, of course, the acquisition of land and the ultimate crinstruction of one or more of these three facilities. If during the remainder of the ten year planning period, it becomes apparent that land acquisition for one or more of these facilities is necessary to ultimately address long range needs, it is recommended that the following siting factors be taken into consideration. 1. Fire stations should be located near but not directly on the intersection of two major streets. This will enhance accessibility to all areas of the Township, but reduce the number of potentially hazardous conflicts directly on the intersection. 2. The Flat River forms a barrier that will have a direct influence on site selection for a fire station. 3. Economies of scale and the applicability of fire station locational criteria to other types of community facilities tend to indicate that a single site capable of ultimately supporting the collective needs of a fire station, township hall, library and community park should be considered. Such a site would allow the Township greater decision making flexibility and the opportunity to minimize overall acquisition and development cost. Such a site would also allow most administrative, operation and maintenance functions to be carried out in a more cost effective, centralized fashion. IV-14 �School Facilities It is recommended that the Township work closely with the Lowell School District in the district's efforts to assure that the necessary educational facilities are provided. Such cooperation will be necessary since the district is presently exploring options that could lead to a decision to acquire a new school site within the district. Should sites in Vergennes Township be considered, it will be important that the Township have adequate lead time to consider possible land use and development related implications. IY-15 �TRANSPORTATION PLAN The street system forms the framevrnrk for grm•1th and deve 1opment of the community. By providing a means for internal and external circulation, it serves the community by helping shape the intensity of land use. Thus, this costly and long-lasting element becomes one of the most dynamic forces of the community. Street classification The street system serving Vergennes Township can be classified as follows: t1ajor Arterials This class of street serves major movements of traffic within or through the area. t1ainly designed to move traffic, the secondary function is to provide land service. Minor Rural Arterials This class of street serves primarily local or shorter distance traffic and provides a limited degree of continuity. Their principal function is providing local land access in connection with major arterials. Paved Rural Collector Streets These streets serve the internal traffic movement within specific areas and connect those areas with the major and minor arterial system. Generally, they are not continuous for any great length. The collector street is intended to supply abutting property with the same degree of access as a local street, while at the same time serving local traffic movement. Traffic control devices may be installed to protect and facilitate movement of traffic; however, these devices would not be as elaborate as those on arterial streets. Unpaved Rural Collectors and Local Streets The sole function of these streets is to provide access to immediately adjacent property. They make up a major percentage of the streets in the community, but carry a small proportion of the vehicle-miles of travel. Objective The primary objective of the Transportation Plan of Vergennes Township is to provide a street network which will encourage the most logical development of the area while providing for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. IV-16 -- �Problems The major pPoblem with the street system is increased traffic volume on unpaved rural collectors. Other factors that will become increasingly significant as growth continues include the need for better traffic and access controls to reduce traffic conflicts, and the incomplete grid pattern of the street system. Reconmendations The following transportation related recommendations are intended to address existing problems and to avoid problems in the future: - Within zoning and subdivision regulations institute assess controls intended to reduce traffic conflicts along the major and minor arterials thereby preserving their volume and function. - Establish road improvement priorities. Through cooperation with the Kent County Road Commission, monitor traffic volumes and road conditions as part of a program to establish road improvement priorities. In this way, the Township can objectively allocate its limited resources to those areas already having the greatest need. - Consider the ability of existing roadway conditions to handle projected traffic volumes resulting from new development when reviewing site plans and rezoning requests. - Implement the Land Use Plan. This document contains specific land use recommendations which reflect the adequacy of the existing roadway system. Taken collectively, the implementation of the various land use proposals will minimize the need for long range road improvements. - It is recommended that zoning and subdivision controls officially recognize the hierarchy of the road network by taking into consideration the traffic volume, noise, speed and clear vision requirements of each roadway 7la~s. Such requirements should translate in larger minimum lot frontages and bu1ld1ng setbacks along major streets than those along local platted streets. IV-17 �CHAPTER V IMPLEMENTATION Updat!ng of the f1ast 7r Plan pr~vides a direction for future gro\'1th and development in accordance with Township goals and objectives. However accommodation of the anticipated population growth over the next ten years wiil require investment from both the public and private sectors. It is important that this investment be made wisely and that the results are consistent with Township goals. The recommendations in this Plan are advisory, and are intended to form an acceptable framework for decision making. While the Township Planning Commission does not have the total responsibility for plan implementation, it must assume a leadership role to assure the plan's success. Implementation components: of this Plan will require a combination of three basic 1. Acceptance and use of the Plan by the Planning Cormnission and Township Board as a decision making tool. 2. Commitment of resources in accordance with Plan proposals. 3. Community understanding and acceptance. The Master Plan cannot serve its intended purpose unless it is implemented as part of an overall action plan. The following action plan elements are listed as the primary means of plan implementation. A vital step toward implementing the Plan is official recognition of the Plan and its proposals by the Township Board, Planning Commission, and general citizenry. Plan implementation will require community understanding and support and thus, should be given wide exposure and continuing public and governmental review and evaluation. Zoning Controls By contrast to the general policies of a land use plan, a zoning ordinance and map are specific, and offer an important means of guiding land development. Subsequent to the adoption of this Plan, the Township Planning Commission and Township Board should review and make any necessary revisions to the zoning regulations to ensure that recommendations of the Plan are instituted. Flat River Natural River Plan and Zoning Controls Vergennes Township participated in the development of the Flat River N~tu~al River Plan. At its November 9, 1979 meeting, the Natural Resources Commission formally adopted this plan and designated the Flat River as a Country Scenic River under authority of Act 231 of the Public Acts of 1970. V-1 �The Township has al so developed and adopted zoning regulations for controlling development 1•1ithin 300 feet from the ordinary high water mark on each side of and paralleling the Flat River. The Flat River District is established as an overlay zoning district as a secondary district to the conventional zoning districts which are adjacent to the Flat River. The requirements of the Flat River District should be reviewed every five years and any necessary changes made to keep the ordinance current with changing patterns of land use development. Marine Safety Act The f1ari ne Safety Act (Act 303 of 1967, as amended) sets forth genera 1 regulations for the use of vessels in waters of the state. The Department of Natural resources may, via hearings and adoption of rules by local governments, further regulate the use of such waters by special regulation. The Planning Commission and Township Board should give consideration to the adoption of special rules to regulate the use of the backwaters of Burroughs Dam. Such rules might regulate such things as permissible hours of operation for speed boats, no-wake zones etc •• Under this act, the Township would hold a public hearing to determine if regulation is necessary. If deemed necessary, the Township would then request the t1ichigan Department of Natural Resources to undertake an investigative study of the site and hold a public hearing. Following this hearing, and with DNR approval, the Township could adopt rules by ordinance. Once adopted, the Township, County or State could enforce the rules, although they are generally enforced by the Watercraft Division of the Kent County Sheriffs Department. Subdivision Controls New subdivisions should be contained primarily within areas designated for low and medium density development by this Plan. It is recommended that the Township establish as a high priority the development and adoption of subdivision regulations that are tailored specifically to the needs of the Township. Subdivision regulations should include requirements, and performance standards. design criteria, development Building and Housing Codes Codes regulating the construction and maintenance of housing units are important to the preservation of an attractive community. The Township building codes should reflect the continuing advances in building technology and maintain high standards for building design and construction. V-2 �Community Facilities The_M~ster Pl~n is not i~tended !o provide the level of detailed planning and dec1s1on making that 1s required to locate and implement future community facilities. Instead, it is intended to provide general direction as to how these improvements should be made in an orderly and cost-effective manner, taking into consideration the projected long-range needs of the community. It is recommended that early on in the planning period, the Township should develop the necessary facilities plans to determine detailed needs and the timing of their development. Through these early decision making processes, all available options should be discussed and, if needed, land should be identified and, to reduce cost, acquired in advance of actual construction. Early decisions will also allow funds to be allocated over time and help to ensure that when actual development is needed, the resources will be available. The list of community facilities that have been identified as being in need of serious discussion and decision making within the planning period include; parks and recreation facilities, administrative offices, fire protection and library facilities. Historic Preservation The Plan makes specific recommendations relative to historic preservation in the Fallasburg area. It is recommended that these steps be carried out early in the planning process period. Economic Development The commercial and industrial components of the Plan make specific recommendations relative to land for commercial and industrial development near the City of Lowell. However, without the adequate provisions of public sewer and water facilities, extensive development will not be desirable and it is doubtful that these areas will experience a great deal of development activity. For this reason, it is recommended that the Township explore the many options available for the ultimate provision of public utilities in these areas. To provide necessary utilities within the 10 year planning period, it is recommended that discussions with the City of Lowell begin at an early stage. Potential areas of discussion should focus on the following: 1. Inclusion of areas immediately adjacent to Lowell in an ultimate sewer and water service area of Lowell utilities. 2. Development of sewer and water plans to determine those sewer and water capacity improvements necessary to serve portions of Vergennes. 3. Discussion of alternative financing for improvements and extensions including special assessments, additional millage and possi~ly the conditional transfer of property by contract between the two units of government. V-3 �Funding On-going planning and selective components of the Plan by necessity will require financial assistance if they are to be realized. Such funds may be generated locally through the general fund or special millages or may be made available from several state and federal sources. Among the state and federal sources are: - Community Development Block Grant Program - As an entitlement community, Kent County receives yearly allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A portion of these funds are allocated to the 33 local units of government in the County. Vergennes Township receives a share of these moneys which can be utilized for on-going planning projects and certain capital improvements if they will directly benefit low-income or minority groups in the Township. Examples of local projects that are typically funded wholly or in part through this program include: * Public facilities including libraries, firestations, cor.,munity centers, fire equipment, historical structures, etc. * Planning studies including rtaster Plans, Recreation Plans, Housing Studies, Drainage and Utility Plans, etc. - Land and Water Conservation Fund and Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Assistance under these programs is available for planning, acquiring and developing a wide range of outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The programs are administered by the ttichigan Department of Natural Resources and are financed by funds appropriated by the Federal Government and State legislature. Under the LWCF Program, grants of up to 50% of the cost of a project are available. Under the t1NRTF Program, 100% funding may be obtained. - Tax Financing Authorities - Townships such as Vergennes are enabled under state statue to raise funds through various tax authorities. These include the Downtown Development Authority (ODA). Through establishment of a ODA, tax increment financing can be used. This would allow the capturing of moneys generated from increased assessed values within the defined district. Captured funds can be devoted to specific public improvements such as utilities, parks and street improvements. Capital Improvements Program Capital Improvements Programming is the first step in a comprehensive management system designed to relate priorities and programs to community goals and objectives. It is a means of planning ahead for the funding and implementation of major construction and land acquisition activities. The typical CIP is 6 years in length and updated yearly. The first year in each CIP contains the capital improvement budget. The program generally includes a survey of the long-range needs of the entire governmental unit covering major planned projects along with their expected cost and priority. The Township Board then analyses the projects, financing options and the interrelationship between projects. Finally, a project schedule in developed. Priority projects are included in the V-4 �Capita 1 Improvement Program. Low priority projects may be retained in a Capita 1 Improvement Schedule which may cover as long as 20 years . • The CIP is useful to the Township, private utilities, citizens and investors since it allows coordination in activities and provides the general public with a view of future expectations. Continuing Planning In order to ensure continual implementation of the t1aster Plan, a continuing planning process should be maintained. The elements of such a process should provide for the following: 1. Monitoring: The maintenance of basic socioeconomic planning data on a current basis. 2. Re-evaluation: Periodic review, rea.ppraisal, and modification of the plan to make 1t fully reflective of changes in the community and the surrounding area. 3. Assistance: The provision of planning data and technical services to community policy-makers, developers, and lay citizens. The preparation of a Plan is only a corner-stone in a continuous process and not an end result. Public Information Public understanding and discussion of major policy questions and proposals is essential so that the Plan may receive maximum public acceptance. because the Planning Commission and the Plan are advisory in their approach to community development, education of the public regarding planning is required. This education must be based on a flow of information and dialogue on major issues. In order to increase public acceptance of the Plan and in turn, put into the planning process, several methods may be employed: gain public in- 1. To establish and maintain contact with the general public and with civic and service organizations in the Township. 2. To utilize the mass media to advance the Township's planning and development objectives. Plan Review It is important to remember that this Plan is not a static document. It should be continually utilized to guide the Township's growth. The Planning Commission should monitor changes in conditions or advances in planning technology and periodically review and update the Plan to take advantage of these factors. V-5 �It is recommended that five year updates be undertaken but that, as a minimum, they be timed to coincide with the release of decennial U.S. Census data. This will allow the utilization of highly detailed and up-to-date demographic information as accurate benchmarks in monitoring and projecting community growth and change. V-6 �APPENDIX A Historical and Projected Traffic Counts Table A-1 _presents the available historical traffic counts on street segments located within Vergennes Township. Location have been identified by the letters A through S and correspond to their locations found on 11ap A-1. For example: Location A on Table A-1 refers to location A on t1ap A-1, or the intersection of Vergennes Street and Lincoln Lake Ave. Where available, traffic counts are provided for each road\'lay segment north, south, east and \·lest of the intersection. Numbers refer to total two way traffic counts taken over 24-hour time periods. 11 11 11 11 Table A-2 presents traffic volume and level of service projections for selected street segments within the Township. The table presents two alternative projections: - The first projections are based on historical rates of increase extrapolated from available traffic counts during the 1980 s. Since the projections are based on relative increases that have occurred in the past, maintenance of the same rates of growth are not seen as being realistic. 1 - The second set of projections utilizes the standard rate of increase as utilized by the t1i chi gan Department of Transportation and assumes a normal rate of development and population growth. It can be expected that traffic increases for the selected road segments will more closely correspond to the projections derived from the standard rate. Projections based on the historical increases should therefore be considered worse case scenarios. �APPENDIX A • TABLE A-1 HISTORICAL TRAFFIC COUNTS Selected Locations (Two-way Counts) Location 1982 1987 A - North South East West 3,151 3,753 599 1,435 4,714 5,184 662 2,078 1981 1986 3,335 3,288 714 3,835 4,488 804 1982 1986 2,386 3,135 731 3,398 4,797 1,711 1981 1985 2,168 2,269 N/A 58 2,772 2,403 260 160 1981 1985 N/A 1,409 161 247 N/A 2,515 228 574 1981 1985 B - North South West C - North South East D - Uorth South East West E - North South East West F - IJorth South East West 286 403 86 110 445 401 94 115 t Incr./Decr. 50% 38 4 45 15 37 13 42 53 134 28 30 N/A 176 N/A 78 42 132 56 0 9 5 l �APPENIX A TABLE A-1 CONT. Location 1982 1986 G - North South East West 483 483 1,402 1,317 749 595 1,725 1,769 1980 1986 907 898 744 998 804 573 696 1,043 1981 1985 H - North South East West I - North South East West 444 670 338 264 1981 J - North South East West 423 520 74 19 1984 K - North 224 275 457 1982 M - North South West 55 23 23 34 -11% -36 - 6 5 28 12 33 19 1985 574 N/A 78 32 36 5 68 Recent Data Not Available 655 1981 L - North South East 567 749 451 314 % Incr./Decr. 370 440 385 1986 616 509 N/A 175 85 Recent Data Not Available �APPENDIX A • TABLE A-1 CONT. Location 1982 N - North South East West 613 677 136 103 1981 0 - North South East West 477 63 676 504 1982 P - North South East South East East West Source: 690 77 862 619 25 0 -21 45 22 27.5 23 Recent Data Not Available 1986 107 54 83 69 46 % Incr./Decr. -11 54 43 Recent Data Not Available 144 369 424 1980 S - North 20 1985 120 1980 R - South 733 844 132 81 % Incr./Decr. 188 400 214 1982 Q - North 1986 N/A Kent County Road Commission 1988 Historical Data Not Available 1598 I �( \ \ l ' J I I 0 I \ I •tU ( II ",..J r-i I ) ~ I '-, "\ L-, r r .. H[llf (_ I •...__ __ 11 r-.. I I "' IAtL[Y ~ r { --- \ \ MNN[TT tTtt([T '- ~ '\'" ( I - \ "'L __ - ----____ AREA L VERGENNES TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN T 7 N, R 9 W TRAFFIC COUNT LOCATIONS MAP A-1 �APPENDIX A TABLE A-2 Traffic Volume And Level of Service Projections For Selected Street Segments L.0.S. 1995 L.0.S. 2000 L.0.S. 5,580 5,470 IIAII IIAII 8,550 6,570 llcll 10,300 7,500 "Ell 5,740 4,552 "All 9,225 5,485 "C" 13,433 6,266 "E" 4,100 3,583 "All 5,895 4,093 "All 8,036 4,577 11B11 "A" 2,265 2,134 "All 3,488 2,503 IIAII 4,500 2,860 "B" 1988 Street Lincoln Lake Ave. South of Vergennes Hist. Rate Stand. Rate "A" "B" Lincoln Lake Ave. Between Bailey and Fallasburg Park Dr. Hist. Rate Stand. Rate IIAII IIAII IIAII Lincoln Lake Ave. North of Fallasburg Park Dr. Hist. Rate Stand. Rate IIAII IIAII Vergennes St. East of Lincoln Lake Hist. Rate Stand. Rate IIAII "All IIAII Notes: 1. A short qualitative description of each level of Service is as follows: Level of Service "All "Bu ucu "D" IIEII Traffic Flow Description Free Flow Stable Flow Within design operations Congested but acceptable for short periods Subject to operations breakdovm and severe congestion 2. All projections relate to 24 hr. two way volumes, assuming 5% truck traffic 3. Projections based on historical rates of increase are projected from 1986 & 1987 Kent County Road CoITlllission Traffic Counts. 4. The standard rate of increase is 2.7% per year, Department of Transportation. as used by the t1ichigan � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vergennes-Twp_Master-Plan_1989 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miller Associates Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989 Title A name given to the resource Vergennes Township Master Plan Description An account of the resource The Vergennes Township Master Plan was prepared by Miller Associates in 1989. Subject The topic of the resource Master plan reports Vergennes Township (Mich.) Kent County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2fc4cbfa3131419f0941f25d30f1ef47.pdf 70a475e2fdfe131d63d6c905def401d2 PDF Text Text Nazi-revival aa?lenakt door FBI / vA il Ik Nadat een rechtbank in cfrge deze week een lid van een racistische bende veroordeelde, heeft de Amerikaanse justitie een speciale eenheid samengesteld om de nazi-revival onder jongeren te bestrijden. Voor het eerst wordt in de VS de landelijk opererende FBI benut om de bizarre renaissance van de Hitler-adoratie bij jonge blanken aan te pakken. De eerst klus van deze speciale groep is het onderzoeken van drie andere moorden die worden toegeschreven aan de jongeren - door de Amerikanen steeds aangeduid als skinheads - met nazi-sympathiën. Justitie heeft echter ook aangekondigd dat de eenheid op een veel breder terrein zal gaan opereren dan het onderzoeken van moorden, -want racisme "is een serieus nationaal probleem geworden". Kenneth Measke, lid van een bende in'Portland genaamd East Side White Pride, kreeg in Oregon levenslange gevangenisstraf opgelegd wegens moord op een Ethiopische student. Measke ontkende niet en vertelde dat hij zijn slachtoffer met een honkbalknuppel had bewerkt "alleen vanwege de huidskleur". Measke zei met datzelfde argument tijdens het winkelen een zwarte beveilingsagent te hebben neergestoken. speciale eenheid. Het gevolg daarvan was dat een negentienjarig lid van de K u Klux Klan nu een straf van tien jaar uitzit voor zijn aandeel in die gebeurtenissen van Dallas' Kristallnacht. De 19-jarige verdachte bracht de rechter de Hitlergroet toen zijn veroordeling werd uitgesproken. Het proces bood een navrant kijkje in de gedachtenwereld van dergelijke groepen.' Op een strooibiljet van een groep die zich de Confederate Skins noemen was te lezen: ,,Wij verwerpen het kapitalistische en communistische tuig die proberen onze ooit-trotse natie te vernietigen. We realiseren ons ook dat de joodse parasieten, die de massamedia controleren, de kern van het probleem vormen. Net als de verraders van ons eigen ras die willoos toegeven aan wat de joden willen. We zijn blanke strijders. Steun ons gevecht om de blanke erfenis te redden voor die voor altijd verloren gaat." In feite zijn de tot nog veroordeelde skinheads afkomstig uit middle class milieus en soms ook goedgesitueerde gezinnen, waarbij onderzoekers aantekenen dat ze doorgaans niet behoren tot de categorie jong & geslaagd. Over het algemeen verwerpen ze drugs, maar veel van hen drinken behoorlijke hoeveelheden alcohol. Rockmuziek is een verIn Dallas is in oktober vorig jaar, bindende factor, vooral de Britse nadat de plaatselijke synagogen bands Final Solution en Romanwerden beklad met hakenkrui- tic Violence. sen, de situatie plotseling geëscaleerd. Op een nacht trok een Tot op heden is er nog geen lanbende door de stad, sloeg de rui- delijk opererende racistische ten van een synagoge in met bende ontdekt, hoewel veel inknuppels, vuurde schoten af in formele banden tussen de diverhet gebouw en trok vervolgens se groepen bestaan. Veel van de verder de stad in om hun agres- groepen beschikken over tekssie uit te leven te herhalen bij ten en documentatie van een oreen moskee. ,,Ze creëren een at- ganisatie die zich WAR noemt mosfeer van vrees in de samenle- (White Aryan Resistance), die ving. Mensen weten niet hoe ze Californië als thuisbasis heeft. veilig hun godsdienst kunnen WAR is opgericht door ene Tom belijden", zegt Briskmann, voor- Metzger, die met de grondwet in zitter van de plaatselijk joodse de hand pleitte voor vrijheid van meningsuiting en daarom vond beweging in Dallas. Volgend op die gebeurtenissen dat lokale tv-stations zijn racistivormde de politie in Dallas een sche praatjes moesten uitzenden. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Termaat, Adriana B. (Schuurman) Termaat, Peter N. Description An account of the resource Collection contains genealogical, personal, and family papers and photographs documenting the lives and interests of Adriana and Peter Termaat. The bulk of the materials are related to family history and genealogical research carried out by the Termaats, including research notes and materials about places in the Netherlands that were significant to the Termaat and Schuurman families, such as the city of Alkmaar. Other materials in the collection are related to the Termaats' experiences on the eve of and during the Second World War, especially the German occupation of the Netherlands and the Termaats' participation in organized resistance to the Nazis. Also included are materials that document the family's post-war life in the United States, including their public efforts to recognize, commemorate, and honor people and events significant to World War II. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1869 - 2012 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/719">Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection, RHC-144</a> Subject The topic of the resource Netherlands Netherlands--History--German occupation, 1940-1945 World War, 1939-1945 World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Netherlands Dutch Dutch Americans Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-144 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Text Image Type The nature or genre of the resource application/pdf image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng nl Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-144_Termaat_NWS_1989-04-10-Neo-nazism-USA-331 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miller, Jim Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-04-10 Title A name given to the resource A War To Remember Description An account of the resource Newsweek article about World War II. Subject The topic of the resource World War, 1939-1945 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/719">Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection (RHC-144)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a1d3cd97e0a958b0585c7c400414b201.mp4 355d23d1c03ca98f500c567e9c2e05f8 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c747835154253254f0aa9eaa06aa570e.pdf 61346f8570c7bb2ee90c47a582f6fb64 PDF Text Text William James College Interviews GV016-16 Interviewer: Barbara Roos Interviewee: Krystal Miller Date: 1984 [Barbara] How did this happen? It still sounds like magic. [Miller] We talked a lot about power and taking your own power. We talk about authority; authority coming from the word author, and who is the author? And that you give people power or you take power yourself. And thinking about how you used your own personal power. We talked a lot about ourselves – it wasn't just educational. It was something that was out there, away from us. It was something that was within us and that you had to look at who you were and what did you want? What were your emotional needs? And it wasn't just, you know, facts and dates that were somehow removed from us. We were involved in the world and could create change and that change came from individual. That the old grassroots movement, which is a phrase from the sixties and seventies, but you can't really go out there and make the world change. What you can do is change yourself and be honest and deal with people and try to be honest and then that change can create change in other people sometimes. I mean you can't force it, but by doing your own thing that's one person changing and if every person works on their own self then that creates a change that is more powerful than the political revolution. [Barbara] But how did this happen in courses? I don't understand. [Miller] Sometimes it always didn't happen in the classroom. Sometimes it happened when you were talking to people afterwards because the conversation seldom ended right in the classroom. Sometimes it happens when you are at home alone. And that if you kept thinking that… we talked about if you kept thinking change was everybody else and not you that you weren't doing it, you were just intellectualizing about it. I don't know. [Barbara] That's fine. I didn't want to cut you short. I had a real sense of real communication during all this part, you know. [Miller] I'm trying to think about how that happened in classes though. It happened with students questioning each other. [Barbara] Say that again. �[Miller] Sometimes having one student question each other in classes… if you were saying something that other people didn't understand or didn't think was quite real – it’s not like you – they jumped on you or anything. But you were questioned and asked directly: "Why do you think that? Why do you feel that? What does it have to do with what we're talking about?" And you weren't supposed to remain just intellectual, you know. All of you was involved in the classes. That's the word engaged again - that hands on, that looking at something and pulling it apart and looking at the different pieces. Peeling an onion layer by layer and that things just aren't facts and dates. We talked about spirit of the times. What were everyday people doing at that time? How do they think? What did they want? What did they do? And we just looked at the world more like that, than like "On this date in history the Declaration of Independence was signed." You know, how did it happen? Who lead that? What was their thought? Who were they personally? And that just made it so much more interesting and you learn so much more that way. I mean, we weren't psychoanalyzing each other in class or tearing each other a part – it wasn't that. I mean, sometimes there were some confrontations. I mean it's like sometimes people would get angry, or excited, or happy, you know. It was there was such an air of excitement in those classrooms sometimes. You know it's not like every day, it was just the most exciting thing in the world there. But it happened so often. And I have developed a lot of really good friends through schools that I still have. We have similar ideas. We weren't programmed to think a certain way. We were just programmed to think about what we thought. And to keep working and growing. Growth and change is exciting. It’s scary sometimes, but it's also very exciting and you know. One of my favorite sayings is change is scary but consider the alternative. I don't… [Barbara] Let me check focus. [Miller] I remember there were some folks… some students that seemed really frustrated, and anxious, and didn't quite get William James College because nobody told them what to do. They didn't tell them who they had to be, how they had to do it. Part of William James was figuring that out yourself. What you wanted. How we wanted to do something. Your own ideas, the internships, the projects. And that's hard for people who have been always told what to do, when, where, and how. Especially in an educational or institutional setting. To reach into themselves and to look within. I mean that's, I think, one of the biggest problems in this culture is that we're so removed from ourselves, and from feelings, and how do we want to do things. And I think there were some people that were real angry or intimidated because they were scared to do that and needed to be told what to do. And I think William James hard for them. There were a lot of other people that were so excited at finally being allowed to put their hands on something and do it themselves and to think! When a lot of times questions were frowned upon in classes; it was an interruption, it was insubordinate somehow. And I never felt like that at William James. That the �more questions, even if they seem sort of silly sometimes, some of the most incredible discussions came out of the smallest questions. So, you know maybe William James wasn't the right school for some people. [Miller] But part of the reason why I'm angry that it's not still there is that there are a lot of people out there starving to be able to learn that way and to be involved… to have their personal self involved in the education and not just sitting in a classroom writing notes and taking a test with multiple questions. So, that's some of how we learned how to think or how to be. Just by the probing, keep looking and keep trying. And if it doesn't make sense, maybe there's a reason why it doesn't make sense. That there are seldom simple answers. One of the things that’s been hard for me since leaving William James is that questioning part of me that says: "But why?" Or if it doesn't work, then let’s change it or trying to change it is sometimes very scary to the people that I work with. That the questioning, the "Well, let’s make it better!" is just intimidating to people who are lazy or scared to death of change. And you can become the bad guy because they're intimidated and not ever used to seeing change as exciting and something that makes life and work interesting – the growth. And people are scared to death to grow. And when you work in a world that is scared of that it sometimes makes it difficult for you. It's very frustrating to be seen as the bad guy; to be shut out, to be fired sometimes. And you were the strange person, not them – they’re comfortable. [Barbara] So, was William James education lacking because we didn't learn how to cope with that dissonance? [Miller] No, I think I've learned how to cope with it, but that doesn't mean that it's never painful, or hurtful, or frustrating. You know, life isn't always easy, and we learned that and learned to deal with it. But that doesn't mean you don't feel the weight sometimes. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource William James College Interviews Description An account of the resource Videotaped interviews of William James College faculty, students and administrators by Barbara Roos. William James College opened in 1971 as the third baccalaureate degree granting college for Grand Valley. It was originally designed to be an interdisciplinary, non-departmentalized college consisting of concentration programs, rather than majors. Curriculum was organized around three concentrations that were meant to be interdisciplinary career preparation offerings: Social Relations, Administration and Information Management, and Environmental Studies. The college was discontinued in 1983 during a reorganization of Grand Valley. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/69">William James College faculty and student interviews (GV016-16)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University Michigan Universities and colleges Oral histories Alternative education Interdisciplinary approach in education Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Roos, Barbara (Interviewer) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV016-16 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Language A language of the resource eng Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV016-16_GVSU_36b_Miller Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miller, Krystal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984 Title A name given to the resource Krystal Miller interview (video and transcript) Description An account of the resource Interview with Krystal Miller by Barbara Roos, documenting the history of Grand Valley State's William James College. William James College was the third baccalaureate degree granting college for Grand Valley. It was originally designed to be an interdisciplinary, non-departmentalized college consisting of concentration programs, rather than majors. The college opened in 1971 and was discontinued in 1983 during a reorganization of Grand Valley State. Krystal Miller was a student of William James College and in this interview she discusses her experience being in the classroom and the personal growth she experienced being a part of the WJC community. This interview is part 1 of 1 for Krystal Miller. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Roos, Barbara (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University Michigan Universities and colleges Oral histories Alternative education College environment Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/69">William James College faculty and student interviews (GV016-16)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/801770a1e20d9a019b57dfa90dedbdee.mp4 9e38677c3bb99709879f6f131152dee5 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f794658e42f602bfdf06039e89d60162.pdf b6fd3679df2f96681a8b0e803f9f05e5 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project Noel Miller Vietnam War 1 hour 33 minutes 44 seconds (00:00:08) Early Life -Born in Lima, Ohio on March 23, 1949 -Mother and father owned a family farm in Harrod, Ohio -Brought up on that farm until he was five years old -Moved to Findley, Ohio and spent the rest of his childhood there -Father was a corporate pilot and worked for Cooper Rubber & Tire Company -Worked as a commercial pilot for TWA for two years after WWII -Graduated from Findley High School in 1967 -Wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life -Had aspirations of being a firefighter (00:01:39) Awareness of Vietnam War and Pre-Enlistment -Heard about fighting in Vietnam, but didn’t know much about it -He knew that even college graduates were getting drafted -If he knew he was going to get drafted he wanted to get military service out of the way -Didn’t want to be an infantryman -Helicopters mesmerized him from an early age (00:02:48) Enlisting in the Army -Enlisted in the Army to fly helicopters -Enlisted in April 1968 -Had orders to leave in early June 1968 (00:03:06) Flight Physical and Basic Training -Reported to Columbus, Ohio on June 10, 1968 -Allowed to specify what he wanted his occupation to be -Had taken, and passed, the aviation aptitude test -Had to take a flight physical -Grueling physical test -Passed it -Sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training -Spent ten weeks there -Arrived in the middle of the night -Disoriented and confused upon arrival -Didn’t know what to expect -Took two weeks to go through processing -Paperwork, testing, more physicals, and adapting to military life -Given the same training that the infantry received (00:06:53) Morale and Conditions in Basic Training -Most men were draftees -Terrible morale, some desertion occurred, and one recruit committed suicide -He knew that he wanted to make it through basic training to enter flight school �-Hot and humid weather while training in Louisiana -There were high rates of illiteracy and a lack of discipline (00:10:06) Drill Sergeants -Senior drill sergeant was tough, but had a good heart -Vietnam veteran, tall, loud, but lovable -Other drill sergeant was an alcoholic -One drill sergeant was intimidating, but was quiet and well humored -Senior drill sergeant was eventually killed doing his third tour in Vietnam (00:12:12) Training at Fort Walters, Texas -After basic training he was placed on a bus and sent to Fort Walters, Texas -Given a day of liberty before training began -Greeted by officers berating him and the other recruits -Class started with two hundred seventy five warrant officer candidates -Seventy five quit on the first day -Warrant officers were specialists in one area -For him it was learning to fly a helicopter -Given the privileges of being an officer without the responsibility -Easier to get into than officer candidate school (00:15:42) Details about Fort Walters -Fort Walters was the primary helicopter training school -First month was spent on pre-flight training -Classes mixed with processing and physical training -Twenty four hours of harassment -Stayed in three man rooms -Gear was expected to be perfectly organized -Took four weeks to get used to what was expected of recruits -Rewarded/punished on a merit/demerit system -A weekend pass was granted if you had less than five thousand demerits -A minor error was worth one thousand demerits -Taught to work as a team and depend on each other for protection -Two men were dismissed from flight school for protesting system (00:22:43) Learning to Fly at Fort Walters -Learning to hover was extremely difficult -The entire program of learning to fly was rigorous -Picked up solo flying within ten hours of flight time -Flight training was split into three stages -Pre solo, primary, and advanced -Flew in TH55 helicopters as well as Bell 13’s and Hillers (larger helicopter) -Flying a Huey was like “flying a house” compared to the training helicopters -Graduated from primary training after five months (00:26:00) Instrument Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama -Sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama for four months instrument training -Taught how to rely on flying with instruments only -Spent four weeks learning the basics -After four weeks of learning the basics went on to advanced instrument training -Had to fly a “check ride” (final exam) to pass flight training �(00:28:40) Graduating from Flight Training -By the end of training in May 1969 only eighty eight men graduated -Before he graduated he spent time flying the UH-1 (Huey) -Learned how to do tactical flying -Before graduating they had to spend two weeks in the field -Had to fly a training mission to pick up Airborne graduates from Fort Bragg -Mechanical issue on his helicopter forced him to turn back -Got extra tactical training as a result -Graduation was split into two days -On the first day they got their officer bars and on the second they got their wings -Family showed up for graduation -After the first day they had a party at the officers’ club -Almost missed the second ceremony the next day (00:33:06) Conditions at Fort Rucker -Culture in south Alabama was vastly different than Ohio -Excellent food -Very Southern -Enjoyable except for the bugs and the heat -Fort Rucker was the most relaxed part of training -As long as discipline was maintained the recruits were left alone (00:35:35) Deployment to Vietnam -Given thirty days of leave before reporting for deployment -Reported to San Francisco, California -Two days of paperwork before departing -Left the country on a chartered airliner -Flew up to Anchorage, Alaska to refuel -From Alaska they flew to Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon, Vietnam (00:36:22) Arriving in Vietnam -First impression of Vietnam was that it was hot, humid, and smelled awful -Attached to 101st Airborne Division for a week of training -Officially attached to A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division -Stationed in the I Corps region of Vietnam -South Vietnam was split into four corps: I, II, III, IV -Taught how to get used to the sounds, smells, and sights of fighting in Vietnam (00:38:17) Camp Eagle -Placed on C-130 cargo plane and flown up to A Troop -Camp Eagle outside the city of Hue -Camp Eagle was dug in and had a variety of aircraft -A Troop was in charge of reconnaissance -Relatively independent -Worked with “hunter-killer” teams in the field -Arrived at Camp Eagle in the middle of the night -Told to find an empty bunk (00:42:24) Adjusting to Vietnam -Waking up in Vietnam was a shock -Camp Eagle was surrounded by a field, made up of huts, a basic latrine, and helipads �-Housing was extremely primitive -Had to get used to feeling vulnerable to enemy artillery and enemy sappers (00:45:23) First Assignment and Area of Operations -First assignment was to fill sandbags -Had to build sandbag fortifications that were ten feet high -Started flying missions after a week -Given option about what missions he could fly -Chose to fly scouting missions because it meant the most flight time and action -Flew an OH-6 Cayuse “Loach” -Worked with an experienced scout to learn how to be a scout -Taught to throw smoke grenades out the door to mark enemy positions -Training lasted about a month -Armed with a mini-gun that could fire four thousand rounds a minute -Also carried smoke grenades, frag grenades, white phosphorus (incendiary) grenades -Initial area of operations was the A Shau Valley (00:49:01) Hamburger Hill -His unit was involved in the Battle of Hamburger Hill -He arrived a week after the fighting began -Took enemy for the first time at Hamburger Hill -Soldier from his unit initiated the battle by firing on North Vietnamese that were there -By the time he arrived the hill had been leveled by bombardments (00:52:01) Daily Routine in the A Shau Valley -Started every day by flying “first light” missions (survey of firebases) -Left at 6:15 AM to patrol the A Shau Valley -Had to look for enemy activity and report it to Cobra gunship that followed him -Landed at a firebase in the Valley and refuel -Flew a “first light” mission down the Laotian border looking for NVA activity -Had to fly at tree top level and deal with triple canopy jungle -One time, on patrol, he found a downed Marine helicopter -It had disappeared three years ago -Only saw it because of the orange body -Infantry was inserted to verify and investigate -No bodies were found -After first light missions flew support for the 3rd Battalion -Flew in various areas they operated in looking for the enemy -Stayed in the A Shau Valley from late June 1969 to January 1970 (00:56:01) Quang Tri -Got sent to Quang Tri at the end of January 1970 in the middle of the night -Located near the DMZ (demilitarized zone) -Marine airbase -Kept there a week before being told their assignment -Assignment at Quang Tri was to support the 5th Marines leaving the DMZ -Whole unit was moved at once to support the Marines there -Flew scouting missions for a month at Quang Tri �(00:56:55) Flying in Vietnam -Monsoons made it difficult to fly -Heavy rain and thick fog made it impossible to carry out scouting missions -Almost had to spend the night in the A Shau Valley because of thick fog -Used the minimal sunlight as a guide back to base -Remembers training a new scout that managed to shoot a giant lizard from four thousand feet -Flying down Highway 1 he got to pull tight, fast maneuvers -Almost hit a Chinook helicopter that was doing the same thing (01:00:57) Combat in Vietnam -Learned how to shoot his .38 pistol from the helicopter -Inaccurate and ineffective -Kept holster between his legs for added protection -Used mini-gun to wipe out NVA that were on the DMZ -NVA had no idea what the helicopters were -Remembers killing three NVA with no effort -Realization didn’t sink in until later in the day (01:03:18) Conditions on the DMZ -DMZ had been softened by bombing runs -NVA on the DMZ were still battle hardened and entrenched though -NVA possessed high powered anti-aircraft guns -Helicopter pilots avoided the Ho Chi Minh Trail -B-52 bombers were ineffective at breaking the determination of the NVA (01:05:04) My Lac -Got transferred to My Lac for scouting missions -Northwest of Quang Tri -Mostly used for refueling and rearming -Close to Khe Sanh -Khe Sanh had been abandoned by the U.S. at this point -Flew for the commanding officer there for about a month -Commanding officer wanted a hog’s skull from one of the wild pigs at Khe Sanh -Never managed to get one -Remembers a colonel and pilot flew out to survey damage done by U.S. artillery -Shot down within minutes -Colonel took eighty gunshots -Pilot took seventy gunshots -After that he didn’t want to be a scout anymore (01:07:27) Flying with a Lift Platoon -After scouting flew Hueys or “slicks” -Not as exciting -Transferred to lift platoon (dealt with moving people and supplies) -Spent the first half of 1970 doing lift platoon work -Last five months of deployment -Continued to operate in DMZ area (01:08:22) Last Scouting Mission -Last scouting mission was to extract a colonel from Dong Ha Mountain -Monsoons had been on for three weeks �-Awful visibility -Had to use minimal sunlight to navigate -Extracted him safely to Quang Tri (01:09:48) Downed Aircraft Duty and Other Extractions -A Troop was placed on downed aircraft duty for all of I Corps -Extract downed personnel 24/7 anywhere in I Corps -Aided the medevac helicopters by extracting some wounded -Remembers a group of Army Rangers that needed extraction -Pinned by a company of NVA, begging for help -No ammo or rig to extract them with -Eventually got an aerial bombardment in to wipe out the NVA around them -Extracted surviving eight (out of twelve) Rangers -Practiced rappelling into landing zones one day -He opted out of trying it -The day after that they had to fly into a “hot” (active) landing zone -By the time they arrived the landing zone was cold (inactive) -He had to fly his helicopter into the treetop after an infantryman cut the rope -Rotor blades got chewed up -Made it back to base but the $20,000 rotors were ruined (01:15:40) Awareness of the Status of the War -Had no idea how the war was actually going (good or bad) -They mostly focused on helping each other -Helped the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) units occasionally -He just wanted to do his duty and go home (01:16:34) Vietnamese Civilians -Saw very little of the Vietnamese civilians -All cities and towns were off limits -A special pass was required just to pass through the city of Hue -Went through Hue and took some pictures -It was an ancient Asian city -He saw dead cats and dogs hanging in the marketplace -Some Vietnamese civilians worked at Camp Eagle -Maintenance workers -One Vietnamese worker accidentally ruined the base’s generator -Old Vietnamese man was the barber for a while -Replacement from States became the barber after him -Used the Vietnamese for some laundry services -They used buffalo dung to heat the furnaces to dry the clothes (01:19:51) General Morale in Vietnam -Pilots were enthusiastic and enjoyed flying -Infantry morale was terrible especially among the draftees -He loved flying and flew every day for nine months (01:20:52) Drugs and Race in Vietnam -There were rumors of drugs being used by the infantry -New pilot stumbled into the infantry latrine and saw some soldiers smoking weed -Same pilot was later tasked with finding a missing swimming pool �-He never saw racial tension while at Camp Eagle -He and the rest of the pilots had to deal with Marines at Quang Tri who were troublemakers (01:24:32) Patriotic Commander at Quang Tri -New commander was particularly enthusiastic about serving -Wanted to orchestrate a patriotic smoke display involving the helicopters -Didn’t work at all -Same commander wanted to greet the Thunderbirds with a white smoke display -Accidentally used riot gas and they inadvertently tear gassed all of Quang Tri (01:26:30) Leaving Vietnam -Got out of Vietnam two and a half weeks earlier than he was supposed to -He was supposed to fly a scouting mission -Turned out that he was actually supposed to be in Cam Ranh Bay -Got sent there and then sent home -Saw a lot of warfare while in Vietnam which was expected (01:28:19) Christmas 1969 -Looked forward to seeing Bob Hope perform for Christmas 1969 at Camp Eagle -After a night of drinking on Christmas Eve he was selected to patrol Christmas Day -He wanted to fly first light as quickly as possible and get back to base for the show -While on patrol he orchestrated things so that mail and care packages could be dropped off -Never got to see Bob Hope perform -Helping the troops on Christmas Day was more of a reward than seeing the show (01:31:17) Buying an MG after the War -Later in life he bought an MG sports car -He found a plate in the map pocket in the glove box -Warrant officer candidate tag from Fort Walters in 1969 -Original owner had driven the MG at Fort Walters in 1969 -He (Noel) also drove an MG at Fort Walters in 1969 -He got into contact with the previous owner through his insurance agency -They met and talked about Vietnam and he showed the MG to the original owner � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MillerN1563V Title A name given to the resource Miller, Noel (Interview outline and video), 2013 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miller, Noel Description An account of the resource Noel Miller was born in Lima, Ohio in 1949. He grew up in Ohio, and after high school he wasn't sure what to do and decided to enlist in the Army in April 1968. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and helicopter aviation training at Fort Walters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama where he graduated from in May 1969. He was deployed to Vietnam in June 1969 and was assigned to A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry of the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Camp Eagle outside of Hue. From June 1969 to January 1970 he served at Camp Eagle and flew scouting patrols in the A Shau Valley until he and the rest of his unit was transferred to Quang Tri and My Lac located near the DMZ where he would serve the last five months of his deployment. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2013-12-19 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6838c93aa7a85ef8f94312ddc2f6b015.m4v c03372db7c4d86e80156c62ecb41618b https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/34e4f9e8298a0f9e740a8dd431731054.pdf 5441a961724c992fae781f230e513f15 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Name of War: Vietnam Interviewee: Doug Mills Length of Interview: 00:18:45 Background  Drafted into Army in November 1965; 20 years old Training (00:30)   Trained in Fort Riley, Kansas July 1966 assigned to the 199th Infantry Brigade and 504th Police Platoon Vietnam (00: 50)         Sent to Vietnam in September of 1966 October 1966: began different operations: Ganston and Lancaster Operation Addleboro: Backup support for Company A and helped take out wounded. After finished went back to guarding the landing zone. Began operation Cedar Falls; land mines constantly blowing American vehicles Set up road blocks and increased security which brought Cedar Falls to an end Operation Junction City began and they moved to the Cambodian border; here they would round up members of the North Vietnamese Army Spent the rest of Vietnam guarding the northernmost POW camp in Chu Lai Returned home in September of 1967 Post War (03:28)  Lived as a civilian Reactions to Vietnam (04:00)     First reaction of Vietnam: remembers machine guns, mortar and instant fear. It took them a while to realize that what they heard was miles away and they did not have anything to worry about currently. Looking back, it scares him more now to realize what he did in Vietnam then back when it all happened. Terrible effects of seeing what he saw in Vietnam “Agent Orange” was sprayed on him every morning by the US Air Force; believes he has problems from it. (05:33) Training (cont.) �    Inducted into training in Detroit and sent to Tennessee for the first set of shots with many in his graduating class due to the draft. Did most of his training in Fort Riley, Kansas. Said that it was a good training program and it would hurt kids today. Sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for heavy weapons training. In POW training, they were taught about the Geneva Convention. Remembering Combat (08:00)     When working with the POW’s, he saw a lot of the country when he transported prisoners between hospitals and camps. Experience “combat”, as described by snipers shooting at him and his team, and mortar fire for 6 or 7 months, on and off. It was never like anything seen in modern day war films. Never actually saw the enemy. Never explored the NVA tunnels, though they are a tourist attraction today. He said that some of his buddies went back and explored them. Spent some time trying to take a mountain that had a 3 story hospital built into it. Once they had taken it, the NV moved out and once they moved out when the war was over, the NV had all moved back. Returning Home (11:15)       Hardest part is leaving a combat zone and finding themselves back in the world. It’s mind-blowing because everything is still the same here. It was nice to be home. People bought him drinks to thank him for his service and to welcome him home. He recalled that he was pretty wired when he came home, and it would not have taken much to make him violent. When he was in combat he got as close to the ground as he could. He said “I was not a hero, I survived, and I did what I was told.” Stays in close contact with his sergeant and three other guys that served with him. Most places they went, they used helicopters, especially the Chinook. Politics (15:20)       His does not hold Nixon and his policies in high regard.. He said that LBJ learned what a tragedy the war in Vietnam was and it killed him. Said Eisenhower administration got them into the war with all the promises and contracts that were set up to protect against aggression, and it was the Kennedy administration that got them out, though with much trouble. Worked with soldiers from different countries: South Vietnamese, Korean soldiers, the Filipinos, and Australians. He said that one has to remember that this was a war that was fought by kids, as is the war today. He is hoping that Obama will end both the Afghan and Iraq wars today so they do not turn into Vietnam. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MillsD Title A name given to the resource Mills, Doug (Interview outline and video), 2010 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mills, Doug Description An account of the resource Doug Mills was drafted into the United States Army in 1965. He trained in Tennessee, Kansas and Georgia before being sent to Vietnam with the 199th Brigade. He served as a heavy weapons unit MP and would look after POW's for the last few months of his service before returning home. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Bouwens, Taylor (Interviewer) Couture, Nick (Interviewer) Caledonia High School (Caledonia, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-05-25 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f29a6dabf7ffab00479f5fc16c092b77.mp4 1aa6c9f4a8ebd77fda93f9d4dbb78168 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f1ae26b275d2c03816ed5cfb45994e8e.pdf 423ccd662dd077b5e5d44ffd0431d6a7 PDF Text Text Living with PFAS Interviewee: Jonathan Miner Interviewer: Dani DeVasto Date: Apr 13, 2021 DD: I’m Dani DeVasto, and today, Apr 13, 2021I have the pleasure of chatting with Jonathan Miner. Jonathan, can you tell me about where you are from and where you currently live? JM: Wow, that’s a long story, I’m old now. DD: [laughs] JM: I’m a Hoosier by birth, but I grew up on the East Coast, in Maryland. I went to the University of Maryland and got a degree in landfill engineering. But my wife is from Missouri, so back in 1991 we decided to split the difference and move to the midwest. DD: [laughs] JM: I took a job with a local company, and I moved from Baltimore, Maryland out to Rockford, Michigan - a suburb, just north of Grand Rapids in 1991. DD: Alright, so, you’ve been in Rockford for - wowJM: 30 years this year. DD: Ah, wow, must not be too bad. JM: No, it's a really great place. It’s a really great place to live. DD: So, can you tell me a story about your experience with PFAS or with PFAS in your community? JM: Yeah, my family, like I said, moved here in 1991, and we’ve- my boss at the time suggested Rockford as a great place to raise your family, because it's like Mayberry, you know, the crime rate here is an overdue book at the library DD: [laughs] JM: And my kids actually walked to kindergarten. 1 �DD: Wow. JM: We had moved here from Baltimore where, you know, you don’t let your kids out of your sight. Kids used to show up on milk cartons. Here [pause] it was just like shaded trees; it was just like Mayberry. We moved here with my two young daughters and they started school here and raised our family. At the time, we lived right in downtown Rockford in an old house and all of our municipal water was drawn from the Rogue River, which runs right through town DD: Mmhmm. JM: - Rockford was founded on a - alongside the river with a sawmill that was powered by the river. And factories were powered by the river, so we’re a river city. Our water sources were pulled from the river and treated at the water treatment plant right alongside the river. And it was downstream, important word, downstream, from the tannery. So, probably more than a hundred years ago, Wolverine Worldwide shoe company was started in Rockford. They’re most famous for making hush puppy shoes. But they also own a lot of other brands: Caterpillar, Harley Davidson, some other shoe brands they make, but they are still headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. They’re our biggest employer. They’ve been really good for the community in terms of prosperity. But they ran a tannery that was right along the river, and back in those days people just [pause] amazingly dumped things in the river, and buried things. So when we moved here our city water was drawn from the river and treated at the plant. We became good friends with the guy who ran the plant. He was a good guy, and he worked diligently to make the water safe to drink. But no one knew about PFAS back then. No one had the means for testing for it, or eliminating it from the water. So he was proudly treating the water. In fact, he used to bottle it and sell it at farmer’s markets and festivals in town. “Hey, here- for a dollar buy a bottle of our great city water.” DD: [slight disagreeing noise] JM: We all drank it, and one of my daughters, my oldest daughter, was sort of a fitness or health - shes a little mature for her age - but she was very conscious of drinking water and not soft drinks or juices with a lot of sugar, so she drank water all the time. DD: Wow. JM: And we thought, wow she's being very healthy, and encouraged her to drink water. So all of us in town were drinking water that probably has, had, PFAS in it. We don’t know. No water samples survived. I’ll talk about it a little later but, our bodies probably don’t have the PFAS in it anymore. So, my personal interest in it was wondering what effect that had on my family’s 2 �health. What long term effects, if any, will PFAS have on my family? Living right downtown, we, you know, we’re near the tannery. We used to live South and a little East of the tannery. About 5 blocks. And on a summer day when the tannery was working, and our windows were open, you could smell the tannery. DD: Yeah. JM: So you kind of just always had this eerie feeling that your environment wasn’t the healthiest. The smell of the tannery and knowing where the water came from, but nevertheless, that's what we had, that’s what my family grew up with. [pause] So, then about 1999-2000, the city changed its water source from drawing from the Rogue River to wells, deep wells, drilled outside of the city limits; south east of the city. I’m not sure why they changed. I don’t know if it was a capacity issue or not but, coincidentally, and some people are suspicious of the coincidence, about that time, Wolverine Worldwide, maker of Hush Puppies, was notified by 3M that Scotchgard, one of the ingredients they used to waterproof shoes, contained PFAS. They were learning that PFAS was potentially dangerous and pervasive. They told Wolverine that they were going to change the formula and encouraged Wolverine to stop using it or whatever, butDD: Mhm. JM: To some people it's curious that that’s about the time our water source changed and some people think that the city was told to do that or suggested that Wolverine - I don’t know if it's a true story. About that time the water source was changed to deep wells instead of the city and I feel better about that. DD:[laughs] JM: [laughs] And then around 2010, the tannery was demolished. You know, they slowly stopped doing any tanning in the U.S. It’s labor intensive and environmentally not easy to do, so they shut down and demolished the tannery in about 2010. Now we have a big green field of grass along the river where the tannery used to be. So, that’s the story on the city water. I’ve never had well water, unlike many members of our CAG, Community Advisory Group, that I’ll talk about a little bit later. So all of my personal exposure would have been from the city water for a decade that my family drank. Now, a few years ago, my wife and I were out gardening in our yard and we stuck a shovel in the ground and found some shoe leatherDD: Ah. JM: - in our yard, so she was concerned that maybe some dumping had occurred in our yard. But we had some people come out and do some test digs and they didn’t find any other shoe 3 �leather. We’re pretty sure it was just stray trash. But, you know, if you find something like that in your yard, it's like, “oh no, are we going to find barrels of PFAS in our yard?” But, no, we didn’t. So, my concern for my family is the ingestion and I’ve talked to people from the Michigan Department of Health, and the Health Department is now just beginning studies of PFAS and health effects. They’re recruiting volunteers to give blood samples. They want people that have a fresh dosage of PFAS - who have currently or are recently drinking contaminated well water. Because, PFAS, apparently even though it's a forever chemical, it does leave the body after a number of years. So if you tested my blood or my daughter’s blood, you probably wouldn’t find PFAS in there. Becauses of that, the Health Department can’t really correlate the PFAS level in my blood to my health outcomes. DD: Mhm. JM: That is the plan for the health study. They’re going to test the blood PFAS levels of a lot of people and see, correlate that with cancer, or liver disease, or other kinds of health issues. That health study is just beginning now. DD: And that’s the MiPEHS study, right? JM: Yeah, there’s two studies and I’m not sure the difference between them right off hand, MiPEHS is one of them. JM: Another part of my personal story with PFAS is that I am on the Rockford Planning Commission. As a planning commissioner I am concerned about - concerned - that’s the wrong word, interested in future land use of primarily the tannery property. Wolverine has a couple other facilities in town like an old shoe sole factory that's actually right in my backyard. I can see it from here. DD: [chuckles] JM: Right, which they’ll probably be vacating eventually, so mainly, that the big tanning tannery property is a big grassy field right downtown along the river. So, I’m interested in what that’s gonna become. Is it gonna be donated to the city for an amphitheater? Will Wolverine put up an office building there? Will it become residential? All of that will affect the city. All of that requires different levels of remediation to get approval. So as a planning commissioner, I’m interested in the land planning aspects of that property, and what the best use is for the city and to make sure the planning gets done properly. So, given those concerns, when the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, formed the CAG [Community Advisory Group] back in 2019, I applied to be on it and luckily I was chosen. There’s about 20 members on the CAG. The purpose of the CAG is to communicate with the parties involved with the clean up of Wolverine 4 �waste. That includes several sites around Rockford. I don’t know how much of this you need to hear, but there’s a dumpDD: As much as you wanna tell me. JM: [laughs]There’s two big spots. There’s a dump on House Street, North West of Rockford that Wolverine, back in the sixties, used to dump sludge- industrial sludge that contained PFAS. They buried barrels, and dumped raw sludge into this dump site. Back then, it was the thing you did. It was an approved site and they were driving trucks out there and dumping it. In fact, sometimes farmers would pay them to dump this stuff on their farm fields, because it was a fertilizer. I don’t know how the crops grew. You know, that was back in the day when you didn’t have filters on cigarettes and seatbelts in cars. You were living dangerously. DD: [chuckles] JM: Uh, [chuckles] so, that’s one site, the House Street dump site, the other big site is the tannery - the other hot spot. So the purpose of the CAG is to meet with the EPA and EGLE, E-GL-E, which stands for Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, Energy, used to be the Michigan department of Environmental Quality, so we meet monthly with EPA and EGLE and stay up to date on what's going on on the clean up. What is Wolverine doing and their hired contractors and what are the requirements, what do the test results show? We get into the nitty gritty of PFAS levels in the river, in the plume, where it's tracking - all of that stuff. And then we turn around and face the community and tell them what we know. JM: So we’re the communication conduit between the community and those involved in the clean up. I think it's been great. We have about 20 members; they’re varied in experience. I’m a retired engineer. We have a professor from your college, in chemistry, who’s an expert in this area. We have a lot of people who have had some serious exposure issues. One of our members, I believe, has the highest PFAS concentration in her blood of anybody in the world that’s been tested so far. She has some tragic personal family health history that you’ll probably talk to her about. We have a young mother whose 5 or 7 year old son has been drinking contaminated well water, highly contaminated, well water since he was born, so my exposure is nothing compared to that of some of the other members. Anyway, the CAG has been very good. I'm thankful for the EPA for forming it. The EPA and EGLE, both, they’re representatives have been wonderful. They’ve been honest with us and very informative, they’ve been great. JM: Unfortunately, Wolverine has not joined the CAG. There are some lawsuits flying around and these days when a company gets accused of something, the first reaction is to lawyer up and huddle and plant down, and they’ve kind of done that, not surprisingly. They do attend the 5 �meetings. We see their little Zoom picture now that they’re there, they’re listening. It would be great if they could contribute and talk to us, but I understand why they won’t - can’t. DD: Yeah. JM: Uh, Let’s see. [pause] Alright, uh yeah that’s my story. My feelings about Wolverine are mixed. They’ve been great for Rockford. They’ve made our town prosper. We have a nice little town here in large part due to their employment of our residents and investment in our town. I don’t know what they knew, when they knew it and what they did with that knowledge. Some people think, “uh oh they’re liars and cheats. They knew about it and hid the truth.” Others think they were just doing what people did back then. You bury your waste. In their defense, they were buying this product from 3M, this Scotchgard stuff. That turns out, it had an ingredient that’s harmful and lasts forever - or a long time. I don’t blame Wolverine for what’s in Scotchgard. That’s more 3M’s problem. They should never have made a forever chemical. I don’t know what we were thinking. [chuckles ]. DD: Yeah. JM: I don’t want to get on my high horse too much, but you know. Humans are the plague of this planet. We just produce all of this stuff. We’re driven to consume. We’re consuming the planet. Make plastics and forever chemicals and just spew them around. Whoever invented landfills, you know, what were you thinking? “Let’s bury our trash,” oh, what are we going to do next week, bury more? Look at the trajectory. Where does this end? The plague of the planet. DD: Yeah, we’ve definitely done some not so great things. DD: So, you’ve kind of maybe started to touch on my second question a little bit, but what concerns do you have about PFAS contamination moving forward? JM: Well, you know, Michigan is sort of one of the hotspots of PFAS. That's not that I don’t believe that we have more, we have just been investigating more. I think it's going to be a nationwide and worldwide big problem. We don’t yet - I don't think - know what the true health impacts are - you know, if you drink a cup of PFAS, are you going to get cancer a month later? We don’t really have it tied down that well yet, but I suspect it's not healthy. We’re going to find more and more problems with that. I think we’re going to find more and more places in our country where there’s big contamination issues and drinking water issues. We had - in southern Michigan - a city shut down its municipal water because PFAS exceeded the limits for drinking water. We're going to have more of that in the country. So one of my concerns is just widespread problems with it. 6 �JM: Another concern is, I think 3M - this might need to be verified - but I think 3M’s answer is to make a shorter chain molecule instead of an eight carbon, make it six, or instead of six, make it four. A shorter chain molecule version of Scotchgard. Who says that’s safe? Maybe it's safer. Who- how do we know? So a concern of mine is the companies who are making these chemicals that are in everything we buy and touch and sit on and drink, have made it impossible, it seems, to test the long term effects of those in a short term development cycle. I’m concerned that we just as humans continue to poison ourselves. To foul our own nest. I almost wish we could go back to you know wooden plates and [chuckles] and growing our own food and [chuckles] not driving cars. DD: Then you’d be stuck back in Baltimore. [laughs]. JM: Yeah. [both laugh] JM: I’d probably be dead. I had a hip replacement recently and some other surgery, so from that standpoint, I’m glad to be alive this time. DD: Well, I’m glad you’re here, too. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to add that we either haven’t touched on today, or anything you’d like to go back to? JM: I don’t think so. I’m glad I live in Rockford still. I feel like, overall, it was a good choice for my family. We’ve been well here. I wish we hadn’t been drinking that municipal water that probably had PFAS and other things in it. But, that’s the way it was. I’m hopeful that, you know - my personal trait is that I like things to get resolved. I don’t like conflict; I don’t like hard feelings. My downfall sometimes is I try to make everybody like everybody else. I would love for some day Wolverine and the community could heal, and Wolverine could once again be a proud employer and all that stuff, but that may never happen. DD: But wouldn’t it be beautiful if it did, some sort of reconciliation? DD: Well, thank you, Jonathan, for taking the time to share your story today. JM: You’re welcome. I enjoyed it. Thank you. 7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Living with PFAS Interviews Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Devasto, Danielle Description An account of the resource Beginning in 2021, the Living with PFAS interviews were recorded to gather the personal stories of individuals impacted by PFAS contamination. PFAS, or per- and polyflourinated substances, are a large group of human-made chemicals used widely since the 1940s to make coatings and products resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. They can be found in countless household items, including food packaging, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant furniture, and water-resistant clothing. These chemicals are often called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily, can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources, and build up in animals, plants, and people. PFAS have been linked to increased incidences of various cancers, increased cholesterol, decreased fertility, birth defects, kidney and liver disease, and immune system suppression, and thyroid dysfunction. It is estimated that PFAS are in the drinking water of more than 200 million Americans (Andrews & Naidenko, 2020). In Michigan alone, over 280 sites have PFAS contamination exceeding maximum contamination levels for groundwater (MPART, 2024). Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Living with PFAS (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In copyright Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Personal narrative PFAs (Perfluorinated chemicals) Groundwater--Pollution Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf audio/mp3 Type The nature or genre of the resource Motion Picture Text Sound Language A language of the resource eng Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PFAS0004 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miner, Jon Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021-04-13 Title A name given to the resource Jon Miner, 2021 (Interview video and transcript) Description An account of the resource Jon Miner has lived in the Rockford, Michigan area since 1991, and is on the Rockford Planning Commission. In his interview, he discusses living near the Wolverine Worldwide factory and worrying about contamination of the local environment by tannery chemicals. In his role as a commissioner, Jon has concerns about dumping sites and interest in the future land use of the tannery property. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource DeVasto, Danielle (interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Personal narrative PFAs (Perfluorinated chemicals) Groundwater--Pollution Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Living with PFAS (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a7c610cf497638645ae7457fa07374f7.mp4 e59bfcecdcb11e9c44c11c7a6021f193 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5536496fa9d2097758f45d71d5555b3c.pdf 8d59a08713f1ca451dfd90e5ea6f3298 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Project Will Miner East Africa / Somalia Interview Length: (01:17:52:00) Pre-enlistment / Training (00:00:15:00)  Miner was born Lennon, Michigan, a small town outside of Flint, Michigan, in 1973 and his family stayed in Lennon until Miner was three before moving to a farm northeast of Flint (00:00:15:00) o The Miner’s farm was forty acres, although the family worked an additional onehundred-and-twenty acres belong to Miner’s grandparents and some family friends (00:00:38:00)  For the most part, the Miners grew: hay, grain, and corn, as well as had pasture for cattle (00:00:49:00) o Apart from the farm, Miner’s father worked for Buick and his mother worked for the country library (00:00:58:00)  Miner attended a small high school northwest of Lapeer, Michigan called Lakeville High School, which took students from three small towns in the area (00:01:15:00) o After graduating from high school, Miner attended Grand Valley State University for a year; he had initially planned on joining the Marines but the Gulf War was going on at that point and his mother convinced him to wait a year before enlisting and to try out college (00:01:34:00)  Miner had decided that he wanted to join the Marines when he was young, around six or seven years old (00:01:55:00)  Most everyone in Miner’s family had served in the military, either the Army or Marines, so Miner kind of knew he would serve as well; Miner’s father was the only person in Miner’s family not to served (00:02:01:00)  As the Gulf War was going on, Miner closely followed what was happening; by that point, Miner had done a lot of study of military history and contemporary military tactics (00:02:27:00)  Based on his own background knowledge, even Miner was surprised as to how fast the Gulf War went; Miner had used the Arab-Israeli wars as comparison but even those were slow in comparison to the Gulf War (00:02:53:00)  By late spring / early summer of 1992, Miner had met a girl while at Grand Valley State and they had discussed marriage, which Miner could afford to do if he enlisted in the Marines; Miner went to talk with a recruiter, who set everything up for Miner to officially join in November, although Miner actually went in August (00:03:14:00) o As far as basic training, Miner had no clue what to expect; the only thing Miner knew when he enlisted was that he wanted to go into the infantry because he wanted to be a reconnaissance Marine (00:03:54:00)  Prior to actually choosing the infantry, Miner’s recruiter had laid out some other options, such as joining the air wing, which would allow Miner to � get a nicely paying job at an airport once his enlistment ended; however, Miner was adamant about joining the infantry (00:04:10:00) For training, recruits from Michigan could either go to the East Coast or the West Coast and Miner ended up going to the West Coast, to the Marine Corps Training Depot in San Diego, California and Camp Pendleton, further up the Pacific Coast (00:04:36:00) o When the recruits first arrived in San Diego, the drill instructors waited until night time to make sure Miner and the other recruits were as disoriented as possible before they brought them to the training depot (00:04:52:00)  A couple of drill instructors met the recruits at the airport and would have the recruits sit with their legs crossed, staring into their lap as they waited; other people in the airport walked by and over time, Miner felt as though he and the other recruits looked out-of-place (00:05:06:00)  Eventually, the recruits piled onto a bus and were taken to the training depot, which was right next to the airport; once at the depot, the bus drives around the base a couple of times, just so known of the men knew where they were in relation to anything specific (00:05:26:00)  When the bus finally stopped, the receiving drill instructors came on, yelling for the recruits to get off the bus and stand on the series of yellow footprints that had been painted outside (00:05:36:00)  An initial surprise for Miner was that the first twenty-four hours of the “training” as paperwork, including filling out the recruits’ records and their medical history, as well as various tests (00:06:15:00)  For some of the recruits, standing in the lines was too much and that caused them to “snap” and begin acting out (00:06:54:00)  Because the recruits came from all different parts of the country, the instructors did not allow the men to eat or sleep, so that all the recruits would acclimate and be on similar cycles (00:07:16:00)  After completing the paperwork, all the recruits had to strip and they were all forced to take a shower; by then, more recruits had arrived, bring the group total close to eighty, and all the recruits were smashed into showers meant for only twenty (00:07:42:00)  After the showers, the recruits were taken to the barracks and allowed to lay down for a couple of hours; it is hard to say how long the instructors let the recruits sleep because by that point, none of the recruits even knew what time it was (00:08:04:00)  By that point, even Miner was thinking that there was no way he was going to get through the experience (00:08:28:00) o During the first few days of training, Miner and the other recruits went through more testing and received all of their equipment and supplies (00:08:40:00)  As traumatic as the initial arrival were, the drill instructors still made an effort to ease the recruits into the training, if only to limit the culture shock on the recruits (00:09:00:00)  It took about a week for Miner and the other recruits to get through all of the necessary in-processing (00:09:24:00) � o Apart from Miner’s group of friends from the Grand Rapids area who had all enlisted together, most of the other recruits were from west of the Mississippi River (00:09:35:00)  Most of the recruits were around Miner’s age, although Miner himself was considered “old” because he waited a year before enlisting; a couple of the recruits were old than many but they were exceptions (00:10:05:00)  Male and female recruits were not trained together; at the time, the training depot in San Diego was all male recruits and the training deport at Parris Island, South Carolina segregated males and females (00:10:42:00) Once the training began in earnest, the recruits fell into a sort of regular routine, which somewhat surprised Miner (00:11:07:00) o The training was divided into the three phases: (00:11:09:00)  During the first phase, the recruits learned a variety of things, such as how to march properly and also spent a lot of time in classrooms, learning about the various wars and battles the Marines had fought in, the different laws of combat, etc. (00:11:15:00)  During the second phase, the recruits actually began their field training at nearby Camp Pendleton; here, the recruits did training at the fire range, as well as small unit tactics, etc. (00:11:44:00)  The third phase was a “polish” phase, where the recruits worked on their drill procedures, did their swimming qualifications, etc. (00:11:55:00) o During the training, there was an emphasis placed on discipline, although how much of an emphasis varied from training unit to training unit (00:12:16:00)  Each of the different training companies had its own “style” and Miner suspects this was done on purpose so the recruits in one company would have a feeling of distinction from the other companies (00:12:25:00)  In particular, there was a lot of discipline when the recruits were in the field; once the recruits received an order while in the field, they were not allowed to do anything other than that order (00:12:54:00)  When someone would screw up, the most common response from the drill instructors was to get in the recruit’s face and yell at them (00:13:31:00)  There is a common myth that the drill instructors were not allowed to touch the recruits and although this is partly true, the drill instructors compensated by yelling at the recruits (00:13:35:00)  Later on, the drill instructors would get more creative and would have the recruits doing odd assignments (00:13:44:00) o The strangest thing the Miner can remember was during the field training, the recruits had to stand outside their tents with their rifles and count off (00:13:56:00)  Somehow, the count was always screwed up and Miner remembers thinking how surreal it was that he and the other recruits were grown men, standing on a hillside in their underwear at three in the morning and they could not count off number properly (00:14:08:00) �  As well, the drill instructors used old stand-bys, such as making the recruits do push-ups or having them hold their rifles out in front of their body for an extended period of time (00:14:24:00)  If a recruit really screwed up, one of the drill instructors might hit him in the stomach, but that was very rare; when it did happen, the recruits did not make too big a deal out of it because in their minds, they knew they deserved the punishment (00:14:30:00) o Physically, it was not hard for Miner to adjust to military life because he had prepared for that part by exercising (00:14:46:00)  Conversely, Miner was not prepared for the isolation from his family; apart from a form letter at the beginning of training, the recruits were not allowed to send out any mail and they did not receive any incoming mail until the first month of training (00:14:52:00) o Although all of the recruits liked to claim that their drill instructors were the craziest, one of the instructors in Miner’s training unit seemed to be more so than the other instructors (00:15:22:00)  The instructor took great pleasure in seeing people washout of the training, so although Miner’s training unit started out with eighty-five recruits, it ended in the low sixties (00:15:28:00)  Although some of the washouts were due to injury, most were recruits who had had enough and just quit (00:15:42:00) When Miner and the other recruits finally finished the training, they were allowed to go home for a week (00:15:59:00) o During Miner’s basic training, President Clinton was elected and he began making the military go through budget cuts, particularly in regards to the training (00:16:05:00)  Therefore, Miner’s group was one of the last to go through MCT (Marine Combat Training), which lasted for about a month and was a review of everything the recruits had learned during basic training (00:16:18:00) o After MCT, Miner went to the Infantry School, which was also located on Camp Pendleton (00:16:34:00)  The Infantry School was a six-week course and it was there that the recruits really got into the different specifics of what their individual MOSs (Military Occupational Specialty) might be (00:16:41:00)  Apart from training with the basic three infantry weapons: the M16 rifle, the M203 grenade launcher, and the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) light machine gun (00:16:56:00)  Apart from those three weapons, the recruits also trained with the M2 heavy machine gun, the M19 automatic grenade launcher, and the M64 anti-tank rocket (00:17:19:00)  The training did not have a budget for the recruits to train with nightvision equipment, so that had to wait until later schools or when the recruits joined their new units (00:17:46:00)  There was some night vision equipment, such as a night-vision scope from the Vietnam War, that the men could practice with but nothing too spectacular (00:17:54:00) �  At that point, the recruits were not training with helicopters or landing craft; there were some practice helicopters the recruits could practice roping out of (00:18:18:00) Within line infantry battalions, there were specific companies for boats, helicopters, and tracks (armored) and any in-depth training related to those assignments was held until the recruits joined those units (00:18:30:00) 1st Recon / First Deployment (00:19:01:00)  After completing the infantry school, Miner was sent to join his new unit (00:19:01:00) o Due to the Clinton Administration budget cuts, a lot of units were phased out completely; one of the units to be phased out were the reconnaissance battalions that Miner had hoped to join (00:19:12:00)  Instead, one of the companies from the a division’s reconnaissance battalion plus the battalion’s indoctrination platoon merged with a battalion of LAVs (Light Armored Vehicles), effectively turning the LAV battalion the 1st Recon Battalion (00:19:22:00)  Once Miner finished he training, he received orders to join the newly-formed 1st Recon Battalion, where the company from the old reconnaissance battalion would provide reconnaissance for the LAVs (00:19:36:00)  The other three companies in the reconnaissance battalion were assigned to a different regiments (00:19:46:00)  The phasing-out of the reconnaissance battalions was a somewhat controversial move because the battalions were seen as somewhat prestigious (00:19:58:00) o When he joined the 1st Recon, Miner went through an indoctrination process, which involved going through a scout training program (00:20:14:00)  As it turned out, 1st Recon was stationed on Camp Pendleton, next to where Miner had gone through his previous training (00:20:35:00)  During the indoctrination process, Miner was doing “all the really fun stuff”, such as riding around on rubber boats, jumping from helicopters into the ocean, etc. (00:20:59:00)  Part of the indoctrination process involved Miner do memory games where the instructors laid out items, allowed Miner thirty seconds to look at them, had Miner go on a three mile run and then had him try to remember as much as possible as to how the items were laid out in relation to each other (00:21:12:00)  Miner learned how to measure the gradients of beaches, the size and strength of bridges, etc. (00:21:34:00)  When Miner first joined the battalion, it was with a larger group of men and they all went through the indoctrination together (00:21:49:00)  Once the men completed the indoctrination, they were parsed out to the individual companies in the battalion to join a scout team in the company (00:21:53:00) o Once Miner joined a company-level scout team, he was surprised to learn that there was not much in the way of a daily routine (00:22:14:00) � When Miner first joined the unit, he was told that the unit was going to be deployed in the winter of 1993/1994, so Miner assumed that the men were going to be training to get ready (00:22:21:00)  Instead, on most days, the men would sit around, cleaning their weapons and the like (00:22:45:00)  On a typical day, the men got up in the morning and ran for two hours, returned to their area and lifted weights or went to the pool and swam, broke for lunch, and then did weapons maintenance in the afternoon (00:22:49:00)  The daily routine was not as fantastical as Miner had imagined and he remembers mentioned to the scout team leader that if the men were to war at that point, they would all be killed (00:23:06:00)  Eventually, the training did increase and Miner remembers one of the first things the scout team did was travel to the Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms, California for additional training (00:23:20:00) o Once Miner and the other men got situated into the scout teams, they realized it was like a regular 9-to-5 job, which gave the men freedom to do what they wanted in the time they were not on duty (00:23:50:00)  However, most of the men compensated this freedom by “going crazy”, such as going to the bars and strip clubs in San Diego (00:24:04:00)  Although the men could drink on-base was at the various enlisted clubs; however, there were no girls there, so most of the men went across the U.S.-Mexican border to Tijuana (00:24:14:00)  Some of the men would purchase new cars, although some of the older men tried to keep an eye on the younger ones to make sure they did not spend all their money (00:24:34:00) o While Miner was in boot camp, he received a letter from his mother saying that Miner was a great person and he was going to get through this; however, Miner had no idea what she was talking about (00:24:47:00)  It was not until later that Miner received a Dear John letter from the girl he had met at Grand Valley State (00:25:02:00)  Although Miner had talked to the girl on occasion during his training and had gone home to talk with her while on leave, they just decided to break everything off (00:25:17:00)  In a way, Miner was relieved that he had broken off the relationship with the girl because he saw other men who came into the unit with families and they had a rough time of it, especially when the unit would go off for six weeks at a time to train (00:25:28:00) o Once the men started doing training, the experience started living up to what Miner’s expectations had been (00:26:05:00)  Miner’s mentor in the unit, his scout team leader, had gone through scout/sniper school and done a lot of really neat stuff that Miner found interesting (00:26:11:00)  The team leader was twenty-nine at the time and was considered an old man by Marine Corps standards (00:26:44:00) �  Because Miner was extra motivated, compared to the other men in the scout team, the team leader took Miner under his wing and taught him a lot of the stuff that he knew (00:20:56:00) o For the most part, the other men in Miner’s unit had joined the Marine Corps for a variety of different reasons, with the most common reason being that they had always wanted to try it (00:27:10:00)  However, Miner’s best friend in the unit was Jewish kid from Massachusetts who had gotten into some trouble back home that upset his parents and to spite them, the friend joined the Marines (00:27:18:00) o Although Miner had wanted to take some classes while in the Marines, there was never any time to take them (00:28:08:00)  Miner did try to do some correspondence courses while he was deployed but most of those did not work out; he did complete a philosophy course through the University of Syracuse but he never received a grade for the class (00:28:15:00) Miner joined the 1st Recon in April 1993 and the battalion shipped out in January 1994; the men started their “build-up” six months prior to the deployment (00:28:43:00) o The “build-up” was officially named Special Operations Capable training and consisted of the men going through a series of schools, learning about tactics such as embassy evacuation, hostage rescue, etc. (00:29:02:00) o Early on, the men knew that they were going to be part of the UN involvement in Somalia; at this point, the Black Hawk Down incident had not occurred, so the Marines were going to be a supporting role to the Special Forces deployed in the country (00:29:36:00)  However, when the incident occurred in October, the entire operation changed and the plan was to remove all American forces from Somalia by March 1994 (00:29:55:00)  Miner remembers he walked into the base PX (Post Exchange) and saw a picture of one of the downed helicopter pilots being dragged through the streets on the cover of a magazine (00:30:07:00) o Miner remembers he paused and thought about how in a couple of months, he was going to be in the middle of that; still he and the other Marines were “pissed off and ready to go” (00:30:22:00) o Although there had always been a rivalry between the Army Rangers and the Marines, when it came down to it, it was about supporting another fighting person (00:30:32:00) o By Fall 1993, everything had been ironed out for Miner and the Marines to deploy and it was early to mid-January 1994 when they actually deployed (00:30:56:00)  Miner returned home to Michigan on leave for Christmas 1993 and shortly after he returned to California, boarded a ship with the other Marines to deploy (00:31:05:00)  The Marines sailed on an LSD (Landing Ship, Dock), the U.S.S. Anchorage; the Anchorage was the first ship in its class, which meant it was very old by the time Miner sailed aboard it (00:31:22:00) �  After leaving California, the Anchorage joined an Amphibious Ready Group consisting of an LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock), which carried helicopters, two LSDs and an LST (Landing Ship, Tank), which carried armored vehicles (00:31:38:00)  After leaving California, the Ready Group sailed to Singapore, where they picked up their ammunition, and then directly to Somalia (00:32:19:00)  Miner actually liked sailing aboard the ship, which he found to be somewhat relaxing (00:32:32:00) o However, by the time the ships had sailed across the Pacific, the men were tired of open water and the first island they saw, they discussed how nice it would be to just land and stay there (00:30:48:00) o Life aboard the ships was very cramped, which completely change the men’s sense of “personal space” (00:33:02:00)  From what Miner can remember, it took the ships about three weeks to sail from California to Singapore (00:33:37:00) o There was an Amphibious Ready Group already deployed to Somalia, so the commanders were not in too much of a rush to get Miner’s Ready Group there (00:33:59:00)  After the Ready Group left Singapore, the intended destination was Somalia; however, the situation in the country had heated up, so the men received additional intelligence briefings and situationspecific training, such as riot training (00:34:12:00) The landing in Somalia was an interesting event because prior to the actual landing, the ships sat visible off the coast for a while, in what Miner suspects was an attempt to intimidate the local warlords (00:35:21:00) o Miner remembers looking out and seeing an aircraft carrier and destroyers sitting there as well and not believing that they had “lost” the conflict; by that point, the men considered Somalia to be a lost-cause (00:35:34:00) o As the ships sat, Miner remembers being unimpressed with Mogadishu, which he expected to be more built-up (00:35:50:00)  A lot of fighting occurred at night and Miner and the other Marines would watch from the ship as tracer rounds flew through the city and helicopters would fly overhead and launch attacks (00:35:58:00) o Apart from the American forces in the UN coalition, there was also an Italian contingent, a Pakistani contingent, a Saudi Arabian contingent, and a German contingent (00:36:15:00) o During the briefings prior to the landings, Miner and the other Marines were preparing themselves for an old-fashioned, World War II-style landing (00:36:26:00)  Although the men knew it was not going to be a “hot” landing, they did not know what to expect and prepared for the worst (00:36:36:00) o When the landings finally happened, the men boarded landing crafts and actually landed to the south of Mogadishu (00:37:03:00) � The landing craft arrived at the beach around mid-morning and as the men rolled off, Miner remembers that the first thing he saw was a Somalia man squatting down to relieve himself (00:37:13:00)  Once ashore, the men began doing patrols around the local settlements, which were little more than mud huts with wooden fences made from sticks and briars (00:37:36:00) o The Marines did not start performing actual missions in Mogadishu until later in the week (00:37:57:00)  The warlords had been raiding the villages where the Marines were but stopped when the Marines arrived; the warlords knew the Marines were only staying for a short period of time, so they decided to lay low and wait until the Marines left (00:38:10:00)  However, some of the younger Somalis would occasionally get wound-up and take pot shots at the Marines (00:38:40:00)  Initially, the Marine’s first mission in Mogadishu was escorting an electronic warfare vehicle up to the Mogadishu airport (00:39:01:00)  During the missions, Miner was again unimpressed with Mogadishu; he had been expecting a “big” city with tallish buildings but almost everywhere, the buildings ranged from one to three stories tall (00:39:28:00)  When the Marines arrived at the airport with the electronic warfare vehicle, the personnel at the airport looked at the Marines as though they were aliens; the personnel there were walking around in their shorts and t-shirts (00:39:49:00)  At the airport, the Marines were positioned next to a group of German fallschirmjägers (paratroopers), who thought the Marines were cool-looking and took pictures with them (00:40:12:00)  The day after the Marines left, enemy forces ended up hitting the gate they had used with rockets (00:40:28:00)  Apart from the escort assignment, the Marines mostly did security patrols around the various UN buildings in the city (00:40:38:00)  By that point, Miner does not believe the UN aid effort was still going on; if there was an aid effort, it was not very intense (00:40:50:00)  There was a Swedish-run hospital in the city that took care of wounded fighters and civilians (00:40:57:00) o Miner saw quite a bit of the local Somali population; in fact, one of the most beautiful women he ever saw was there (00:41:25:00)  Prior to landing, the Marines had received warnings against interacting with the Somali women because the women had to live under strict Islamic law (00:41:31:00)  There was always this one particular woman that the men would see and although Miner wanted to wave at her, he never did (00:41:50:00)  Finally, one day, Miner decided to wave to her and as the men drove past, he did; in response, the woman shyly turned her head away (00:42:00:00) �  The other major interaction Miner had with the local population was when the Marines would set up road blocks (00:42:11:00) o From the way they were dressed to their overall attitude, Miner did not have a good impression of the other American forces in the city (00:42:46:00)  The German contingent did patrols in the city and the Saudi Arabian contingent were all business; if someone came up or the Saudis felt particularly threatened, they just shot (00:42:52:00)  The Marines never saw the Italian contingent and they only saw the Malaysian contingent very briefly (00:43:36:00) o It is hard for Miner to remember exactly how many days he was deployed in Somalia because during that time, he and the other Marines were living a day-today existence (00:43:47:00)  The Marines arrived in Somalia prior to Miner’s birthday, so he used his birthday as a sort of baseline and he figures it was a couple of weeks after that before they left (00:43:54:00)  The men would go on patrols, go back out to the ships, land again, and go on more patrols (00:44:04:00) o For the most part, the Marines never really encountered any actually enemy opposition (00:44:24:00)  On occasion, the enemy would make probes of the perimeter at night; the men would hear rustling but they had no way of knowing if it was an animal or a person (00:44:31:00)  Once the Marines thought whatever it was had gotten close enough, they would launch a flare, which would cause whatever it was to stop and inevitably, leave (00:44:45:00)  Although the men had been warned about the possibility of enemy mines and were told to watch for garbage along the side of the road, it was nothing like it was in Iraq or Afghanistan later (00:45:01:00)  The Somalis did not have remote detonation capabilities and had to use good, old-fashioned mines, which did not worry the Marines too much (00:45:08:00)  If there was a “disturbance” in the road, the Marines would just drive around it (00:45:15:00) After leaving Somalia, there was a plan in place for the Marines to go into Rwanda, although it never materialized; the Marines did go to northern Kenya to train the Kenyan military to stop warlords from raid across the Kenyan-Somali border (00:45:31:00) o The operations in Kenya were cool because it gave the Marines a chance to live with the local population and get to know them (00:46:02:00) o Operations in Kenya were different than those in Somalia because the Marines were operating in a jungle-environment (00:46:10:00)  Although the men would sleep in their vehicles, they would spend time with the local Kenyan population and would train with the local militia forces (00:46:21:00)  The local population was still living in grass huts, so the Marines must have seemed like spacemen stepping off a flying saucer (00:46:42:00) �   The adults would often stand back and watch the Marines but the children would come right up to them, who would share candy with the children (00:46:53:00) o The men did not spend more than a week at the border before they returned to their ship (00:47:12:00)  The men did receive some liberty time and were able to go into Mombasa, Kenya, which was fun (00:47:18:00)  Mombasa was more in line with what Miner had expected the African cities to be (00:47:28:00) Before leaving East Africa, the Marines had to go through “pass and review”, which involved the men wearing their quasi-dress uniforms and standing at attention as a sign of respect (00:48:08:00) o Having to go through the ceremony upset some of the men because in their minds, they had still lost the fighting (00:48:21:00) After the “pass and review”, the ships stayed in the area for a little while longer, in the event something broke out, before eventually sailing to Australia, which was what all the men had been waiting for (00:48:31:00) o The ships sailed to Fremantle and Perth, Australia; Fremantle was the harbor town and Perth was the larger city (00:48:43:00) o The Marines stayed in Australia for five days and luckily, one of Miner’s friends was in-charge of the duty roster, so Miner never had to stand guard (00:48:51:00)  Instead, Miner and his friends partied the entire time they were there, sleeping maybe two nights during the five days (00:48:58:00) o From Australia, the ships sailed to the Philippines and then on to Hawaii before finally returning to California (00:49:12:00) o Miner did not realize that the seasons flipped once someone crossed the equator, so the men went from 130° plus in East Africa to Australia, where it was winter and freezing cold (00:50:02:00) Return Home / 2nd Deployment (00:50:51:00)  When the men returned to San Diego, it was odd for them because they got off the boats, turned in their equipment and were able to go out; however, the people around them had no idea what the men had done or gone through (00:50:51:00) o Miner was somewhat resentful of the fact that people did not know what they had done; the only real news he saw about them was when his mother mailed him a small newspaper clipping about the men’s deployment (00:51:31:00) o After they had returned, the men had some downtime, which so men used to go on leave, while other slipped into a more relaxing schedule, closer to the 9-to-5 schedule the men had followed prior to deploying (00:52:06:00) o A couple of months after the men had returned to San Diego, word came down that they were going to deploy again; Miner personally was okay with the orders because he enjoyed being aboard the ship and traveling around (00:52:26:00) o Initially, Miner and his roommate had planned to try and join Force Recon, which was the Marines’ version of the Navy SEALs; however, Miner had gotten a little out-of-shape by this time (00:52:43:00) �   Nevertheless, the roommate tried out for the unit, failed the first time, tried out a second time, and made it (00:52:59:00)  When the roommate made it, it motivated Miner, who began getting back into shape (00:53:04:00)  Although Miner did fairly well during his first tryout, he still failed; however, he figured that if he tried out a second time, he would make it through (00:53:12:00)  However, by this point, Miner had met a girl from L.A. and he began rethinking joining Force Recon; if he joined the unit, he would have to extend his enlistment at least another two years to account for all the training he would need to go through (00:53:21:00)  Instead, Miner decided against trying out a second time and decided to just go through with his second deployment (00:53:41:00) When he enlisted, Miner had always intended to go through a single enlistment, nothing more; Miner had liked going to Grand Valley State and decided that he would like to go back there (00:53:51:00) Eventually, Miner began his second deployment in November 1995 (00:54:27:00) o By the time of the second deployment, Miner’s mentor in the scout team had moved on and Miner had taken his place as the scout team leader (00:54:51:00)  During the build-up prior to the deployment, Miner was busy training some of the new men in the scout team (00:55:56:00) o The deployment was expected to be relatively easy, so the ships sailed to Japan and Hong Kong before continuing on to the Persian Gulf; at that point, there was nothing really going on (00:55:16:00) o On the voyage across the Pacific, the ships were hit by extremely powerful storms; Miner’s ship’s commander had been in the Navy for thirty-two years and according to him, those were the worst storms he had ever seen (00:55:36:00)  There were fifty to sixty foot swells at some points, with waves coming over the flight decks on the backs of the ships (00:55:46:00)  There were a few days where the men were confined to their berths and they had to take belts to secure themselves (00:55:54:00)  Miner thought they were going to sink but the Navy sailors said “no, U.S. Navy ships do not just sink” (00:56:06:00)  Miner eventually became used to the swells because he never really got seasick; it reached the point that Miner was the one who was sent to the mess to bring back the food for everyone else (00:56:19:00)  During the storms, the ships were sealed to keep anyone from going ondeck, although Miner remembers once sticking his head outside and being scared of how violent the ocean looked (00:57:11:00)  It almost looked as though the ocean were alive and trying to kill them (00:57:26:00) o The attitude of the men during the second deployment was much less serious and much more toned back (00:57:39:00)  During the Somalia deployment, the men had made pacts that if they were going to be captured, they would shot each other (00:57:44:00) � The men had heard the stories about what had happened to men who were captured and tortured and none of them wanted to go through that (00:57:54:00)  The men were always told to remember that when they went ashore, they were not only Marines but also U.S. diplomats and they were to not make the U.S. look bad (00:58:12:00)  The men did a lot of diplomatic missions, such as going to an orphanage in Singapore and fixing the children’s bicycles or building a Special Olympics workout center in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) (00:58:29:00)  The men also did training with the various militaries, such as jungle training with the Singapore Army and a lot of training with the U.A.E. military (00:58:45:00) o Previously, the U.A.E. had purchased some of the new Russian BMP-3s Infantry Fighting Vehicle, so the Marines were climbing all over them as the Russian advisors told them to get down (00:58:56:00)  Miner had his camera with him and was taking pictures of the interior of the vehicle because up until that point, no one had seen the interior of one before (00:59:07:00)  The BMP-3 was the Russian version of an armored personnel carrier; however, because it was Russian, it was much more cramped and far more uncomfortable than Western versions (00:59:16:00)  Although the vehicle was considered high-tech by the Russians, once Miner got the pictures developed, the Marine commanders were somewhat unimpressed with it (00:59:29:00) o At the time, the BMP-3s in the U.A.E. were assigned to a U.A.E. mechanized infantry unit that the Marines were training with (01:00:22:00) o The Marines would train with the U.A.E. forces for a little bit, go off and do their own training, then come back and train more with the U.A.E. forces (01:00:39:00)  None of the U.A.E. soldiers spoke English and the Marines had not been assigned an interpreter but both sides managed to communicate using hand signals (01:00:46:00)  Although the Russian advisors for the BMP-3s spoke English, none of them spoke Arabic either (01:01:01:00) o The nature of Miner’s unit was that he and the other Marines in the unit did not have as much interaction with officers (01:01:29:00)  Often, the scouts would be flown out to an area to perform an operation and would meet up with ground transport later; although some of the scout �  could be done from vehicles, some of it still needed to be done by men on the ground (01:01:34:00)  For example, during one part of the deployment, the scouts spent time in Kuwait and the entire time, they were in positions along the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border (01:01:53:00) o At one point, intelligence showed that the Iraqi armored forces were mobilizing towards the border, so Miner and the other men were briefed on how they would do delaying actions all the way back to Kuwait City (01:02:08:00)  Outside of Kuwait city were a series of hills and once the men reached them, they were to turn around and make their last stand (01:02:32:00)  However, the Americans flew tanks along the border and the Kuwaitis brought up their own armored forces, which caused the Iraqis to back down and return to their base (01:02:43:00) o Prior to the deployment, Miner’s scout team received some new members, one of whom was an older man, around thirty to thirty-one years old; whenever the ships would pull into port, instead of going out and drinking at the bars, Miner would stay behind with that Marine (01:03:13:00)  The man had been to college and knew the history of all the places where the men went; therefore, when the men arrived in Malaysia, the man explained how the Dutch and Spanish had fought over it (01:03:33:00)  Another time, the men were in Bahrain and Miner and the man snuck off the base to visit an archeological site (01:03:58:00)  Because of the other man, Miner was able to get much more culturally out of his second deployment than his first deployment and was better able to appreciate the cultures of the other countries (01:04:05:00) The deployment ended in Spring 1996 and the men returned to San Diego; for the most part, the return to San Diego was the same as it had been following the first deployment, although this time Miner had a girlfriend waiting for him (01:04:22:00) o After he had returned to San Diego, Miner became an instructor for the scout school, which involved a lot of classroom time, teaching things such as vehicle identification and tracking (01:04:43:00) During his first deployment, Miner was promoted meritoriously, which meant he had attained higher ranks fairly early; by the end of his enlistment, he was told that if he stayed in, he could make a great career out of the Marines (01:05:18:00) o When Miner mentioned he want to go to school, he was told he could go to school and become an officer (01:05:31:00) o Although Miner was seriously considering re-upping, a series of circumstances happened that caused him to change his mind (01:05:35:00) Post-Military Life (01:06:24:00)  Once he was finally out of the military in the summer of 1996, Miner returned to Michigan and to Grand Valley State with the intention of double-majoring in History and Archeology/Anthropology (01:06:24:00) � o Readjusting to civilian life was extremely difficult because Miner was so used to life in the military (01:06:33:00)  If he went out and blew his entire paycheck in the Marines, it was not as big a deal because he could still come back, sleep in the barracks, and eat in the mess hall (01:06:39:00) o Miner did stay in the Marine Corps reserves, mostly because he was not quite ready to let go yet (01:06:53:00)  However, the reserves were far different than the active-duty, with far less discipline amongst the men (01:07:00:00)  After staying in them for about a year, Miner finally left the activereserves; although Miner stayed on the inactive-reserves, which meant there was a chance he could be recalled, that was never really something he worried about and he finally left all together in 2000 (01:07:24:00) o While going to school, Miner met his wife and took time off and on, such as when his children were born, before finally graduating in 2003 with a degree in Archeology/Anthropology (History became his minor) (01:08:24:00) o After graduating, Miner was looking at attending graduate school at Michigan Tech (01:08:45:00)  However, he and his wife had three children at the time and it would have been too much, so Miner put away the idea of going to grad school for a couple of years (01:08:52:00) From his time in the Marines, the main thing Miner gained was an appreciation for how the rest of the world lives (01:09:21:00) o Based on Miner’s own opinions, people in the United States do not realize how insulted they are from a lot of the realities of life (01:09:27:00)  For example, while in Somalia, people were being killed on a daily basis but it was considered an everyday course of life; although this was shocking to the Marines, it was normal for the Somalis (01:09:35:00)  In the main village where the men would stay, there was a teenage goat and sheep herder and would walk his animals to the water hole every day and then back (01:10:08:00) o The Marines were positioned in an observation post along the route the herder took and he would wave to them as he passed (01:10:24:00) o However, one day, the herder walked past, waved to the Marines, took a few steps, and exploded; dead sheep where knocked to the side and the herder’s body was thrown into the air (01:10:30:00) o Initially, the men thought they were under attack, so they hunkered down and then speculated that the herder had walked into a mine field (01:10:47:00) o The herder did not die right away and after a few moments, Miner volunteered to go out because he was an aide man for the unit (01:10:53:00) �     However, as Miner got up, the platoon sergeant told him he could not go because they had no way of know what was out there (01:11:11:00) o Although Miner initially thought about going out anyway, he did not; instead, he went back and the men watched as the herder bled to death (01:11:36:00) o As the men were sitting there, Miner remembers a woman coming up; Miner had seen other people grieve over a death but he had never seen the type of grief that was on that woman’s face (01:12:05:00)  The woman was pulling her hair out, screaming at the ground, hitting the Marines, etc. (01:12:20:00)  The men later found out that the herder was the woman’s last child; all her other children had starved to death (01:12:44:00)  Other times, the men saw people living in grass huts and being completely happy with it, which is totally opposite of how Miner thinks most Americans would react (01:12:58:00) Whenever the men traveled in and out of Mogadishu, they saw the burned out wreckage of vehicles that had been destroyed in previous fighting (01:13:50:00) o Even the airport had the remains of MiG-21 jets that had been burnt out and destroyed (01:14:01:00) o The men knew that they were in a war zone; all of the buildings had at least a few bullet holes in them (01:14:10:00) As a call back to his time in the military, Miner still wears his wristwatch on the inside of his wrist (01:14:47:00) o Whenever the men were hunting enemy snipers, the reflection from wristwatches could be seen from far away (01:14:55:00) Miner admits to suffering from some mild PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder); although he has had some bad dreams, it is nothing compared to what the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are going through with their own PTSD (01:15:14:00) o Miner ends up having to sleep with a gun within arm’s length of him because that was something engrained into the culture of the Marines (01:15:31:00) When the attacks happened on 9/11, Miner did give some thought to re-enlisting in the military (01:16:12:00) o Miner’s old roommate from college, who had joined the Army, served in Bosnia and was slated to go to Afghanistan before he managed to get out because of the things he had seen in Bosnia (01:16:14:00) o However, before the roommate was discharged, he called Miner and told him that he could get Miner to Afghanistan; all Miner had to do was join the Army because the Special Forces were looking for new recruits (01:16:57:00) o Although Miner thought about it, he knew in the back of his mind there was no way it was going to happen, especially when he talked with his wife; if he was not going to go to grad school, there was no way he was going to pack everything up and go fight on the side of some mountain in Afghanistan (01:17:16:00) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MinerW1466V Title A name given to the resource Miner, William (Interview outline and video), 2012 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Miner, William Description An account of the resource Will Miner was born in Lennon, Michigan in 1973. After graduating from high school, Miner attended Grand Valley State University for a year before deciding to enlist in the Marine Corps. Once he completed his basic training at the Marine Corps Training Depot in San Diego, California and his advanced training at Camp Pendleton, California, Miner joined the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. In January 1994, Miner and the remainder of the 1st Recon deployed to East Africa to take part in the American operations in the region. Apart from operations in Somalia, Miner and the battalion briefly served in Kenya and Rwanda before returning to the United States. After a year, Miner deployed a second time, this time to the Persian Gulf region, where he participated in operations in the U.A.E. and Kuwait, amongst other places. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.) WKTV WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American United States. Marine Corps Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012-11-20 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4a8afa39a8067f67b620956d16b8e858.m4v 321ffc08b5f02b562a02ef3b7c95a4dc https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f17ef83eea5fb987df0d74d3e773a02e.pdf 6b21e3a094f1a61be8b37df769b5bf29 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veteran's History Project Vietnam War Joseph Minias Total Time (00:28:46) Introduction (00:00:23)  Joseph Minias was born in Bockhorn, Germany in 1945; his family moved the United States when he was five years old (00:00:40)  His parents were both Polish (00:01:37)  Joseph grew up in Buffalo, New York; he has one brother- his family didn't have a car and mentions there wasn't much to do in Buffalo (00:02:28) ◦ He graduated from high school in 1964 and got a part time job as an apprentice for a tool and die shop (00:03:23) ◦ Joseph got drafted for the Vietnam War in 1969; he mentions before that he wasn't paying much attention to what was happening in Vietnam (00:04:12) ▪ He got married in October of 1968 and got his draft notice for the Army in April of 1969 (00:04:25) Basic Training & Beyond (00:05:08)  Joseph says he didn't like basic training because he didn't like taking orders from anyone- being older than the guys giving him orders bothered him (00:06:22)  His Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) was for combat infantry at Ft. Dix, New Jersey (00:07:42) ◦ Joseph got his orders to leave for Vietnam and first was shipped to Oakland, California and then to Alaska to refuel and finally landed at either Cam Ranh Bay or Da Nang Vietnam (00:10:18) ◦ He was ordered to the 101st Airborne Infantry at Camp Evans (00:11:24) ▪ His first recollection of being in Vietnam wasn't pretty: he was sitting in a helicopter and as they were landing gunfire from rockets were coming from everywhere, after they landed he remembers F-15's dropping napalm and bombs (00:14:02) ▪ Joseph mentions repeatedly that he was never told where he was or where he was going while in Vietnam (00:16:49)  At Ripcord, Joseph and his group had to prepare by digging foxholes and placing a lot of sandbags down (00:18:32)  He received a rest and relaxation (R&R) leave to go to Japan; he got to see Mt. Fuji and says overall the trip was nice (00:20:48) Coming Home (00:21:00)  Joseph received a leave to go home for a few days and then he had orders to go to Ft. Riley in Kansas; Joseph got asked to go to Germany and he said no- his duty then was as a bunker guard (00:22:07)  After the Army, Joseph moved back to Buffalo, New York; he had an opportunity to go back to school and went for general studies (00:25:27) ◦ He went back to his old job at the tool and die shop for about ten years; he applied to Ford Motor Company and got the job immediately as an automation repairmen (00:26:37) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_MiniasJ1694V Title A name given to the resource Minias, Joseph (Interview outline and video), 2014 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-10-11 Description An account of the resource Joseph Minias was born in Bockhorn, Germany in 1945 his family moved to the United States when he was five years old. He grew up in Buffalo, New York and graduated from high school in 1964. He was drafted by the Army for the Vietnam War in 1969. He was ordered to the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Evans in Vietnam. He served in the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry, and participated in the Ripcord campaign in 1970. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Minias, Joseph Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource McGregor, Michael (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Moving Image Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/x-m4v application/pdf https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fb6cd35188e07997b0717b1214f03b73.mp4 3fd94b825e9cd64209dc15791337e915 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Meisenheimer-32 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Misenheimer, Charles V. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941 Title A name given to the resource P-40 Flying Tigers, circa 1941 Description An account of the resource Film taken by American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron Crew Chief Chuck Misenheimer, wtih color and black and white sections (no sound). The footage, dated circa 1941, documents the training and flight activities of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers," servicemen organized by the U.S. Government to aid in the defense of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 AVGs. P-40s and bomber airplanes. Kunming hostel #1. AVG picnic. City of Rangoon and temples. 03:00 Misenheimer and other AVGs sightseeing in Rangoon. More Rangoon temples. 05:40 Pre-teeth P-40s (#10 and others). AVGs with bicycle around P-40 in Toungoo. Flying P-40. 06:00 Uebele and Kenner talk on P-40. P-40 #5, #9, #4, and others taxing, taking off.and flying in the sky. Workers at airfield. 06:50 Two AVGs in front of P-40 #10. Misenheimer comes down from P-40. An AVG working on wheel of P-40. 07:05 Locke, Wylie, other AVG's and workers under a tent. AVGs sightseeing. 07:35 People carrying a load on a street. Boats on a river. 08:30 AVG trucks and jeeps. Two AVGs or British by AVG truck. Bomber airplanes. 10:02 A man and a woman (AVG?) with a dog. P-40 being repaired. Prop specialists working on propellers of P-40 at Kunming airbase. 11:00 Burma road. AVG trucks. 11:55 An AVG truck driver closes door and looks out window. View of road and mountains. 12:35 Trucks and cars on Burma Road. 13:13 Truck stops once, back up and turns hairpin curve on Burma Road. 13:55 Stacked truck on winding road. Mountain view. 14:35 Truck convoy at a sign of Rasio-Mandalay. 15:00 London 6372 miles sign. 15:05 Truck convoy goes through a Chinese city. Street scene. Children play on street. Rickshaws. 16:30 Market in a Chinese city. Parks. Subject The topic of the resource China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945 Air pilots P-40 (Fighter plane) Kunming Shi (China). Liang shi ju Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp8 Language A language of the resource eng chi Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d343a59e95205b16524bf1b78d96c971.mp4 f077519facbf6aae8d842656fa7e86dd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Meisenheimer-33 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Misenheimer, Charles V. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941 Title A name given to the resource AVG Flying Tigers, circa 1941 Description An account of the resource Film taken by American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron Crew Chief Chuck Misenheimer, wtih color and black and white sections (no sound). The footage, dated circa 1941, documents the training and flight activities of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers," servicemen organized by the U.S. Government to aid in the defense of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 Rural area in China. Small village and Chinese people. 01:00 Chinese children gathering around AVG car. Water mill. AVG shooting guns. 1:32 Chinese workers rolling runway in Kunming. A two-pilots fighter airplane on ground. Dolan and other (McClure?)on air field. Landing airplanes. P-40 #13, #12, #33 and others on ground. 02:48 Snuffy Smith and Chinese crew with P-40 #93 of Hell's Angel on ground. Close-up of Hell's Angel insignia. 03:15 Adam and Eve insignia on P-40 #13. Chinese worker and pilots at airport eating lunch. Landing bomber planes. Train coming in. Chinese worker at airport. View of Kunming Lake. Misenheimer on mountain top. 05:07 P-40 #6 and #24 taxiing. Cross in cockpit of P-40. P-40 #13, #33 and others taking off from Kunming airfield. 06:12 Crashed Wright's P-40 on fire. AVG's Carney, Dean, Neale, Burguard talking in front of P-40 in Kweilin. Close-up of Bob Neale. A dog in water. Airplane parts. View of desert field. Bomb holes on the ground. 08:07 An AVG at repairing area in Kunming. J.J. Harrington standing by truck. Rodewald and others on truck. Hoffman walks to camera. Landing P-40. 09:36 An AVG sitting by remaining shot guns and engines of shot down plane in Kweilin. AVG's on Chow line (Schiel, Bright and others) in Kweilin. 11:03 Japanese hostage Honda with Harrington, Bond, Snuffy Smith, Bartling, Burguard, Bob Neale, Olson, Rossi, Rosbert and Chinese soldier in Kweilin. 11:20 Close-up of Honda. Close-up of bullet holes on a plane. Bomber airplane #74 and AVG. 12:50 Crashed airplane. Cars destroyed by air raid. Bombing in Yunnanyi. 14:00 P-40 and Jim Cross on Kunming airfield. A building on fire. Crew working on three bombs on the wing of P-40E. P-40E takes off. 15:05 Training airplanes. Chinese pilots. 16:03 Doc Rich on truck on Kunming airfield. Musgrove and other AVG's standing around truck. Name plate of Uebele and Misenheimer's room. 16:30 Misenheimer with a kitten and dogs at Kunming hostel #2. 17:24 Kitten. AVG with Kitten and dog. Kitten killing a dog. 19:00 Flying and landing training planes in Kunming. 20:00 Flying P-40. Landing US P-40E. 20:40 Cargo airplane 'Available Jones'. Chinese soldiers. Two-pilots fighters and biplanes take off and fly in the sky. 22:10 Destroyed British plane. Airplanes and a crowd of people around it. Fox and Overley by a passenger plane. American soldiers standing by plane. People wait to get into plane. 22:30 Crashed CNAC airplane. 25:00 Misenheimer on a truck. Kenner and other by AVG red cross car. 25:30 Chinese people running away from a town (Kunming air raid). People in shelters. Subject The topic of the resource China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945 Air pilots P-40 (Fighter plane) Kunming Shi (China). Liang shi ju Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp9 Language A language of the resource eng chi Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5dff9bccdff97420cff4064d6ea20ead.mp4 a14c341cf5db7d3038829699c1fc6922 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Meisenheimer-34 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Misenheimer, Charles V. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942 Title A name given to the resource Sightseeing in Toungoo, circa 1942 Description An account of the resource Film taken by American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron Crew Chief Chuck Misenheimer, wtih color and black and white sections (no sound). The footage documents the training and flight activities of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers," servicemen organized by the U.S. Government to aid in the defense of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 Snake charming act. 01:48 Monkeys at Toungoo barracks. Burmese cooks. AVG with monkeys. AVG play acting. 03:12 Church. Elephant. 3:30 Snake charming act. 07:12 Elephants. AVG riding elepant. Sightseeing AVG in Toungoo. Jungle views. Monkeys. 12:55 Waterfall. 13:13 South Africa monument close-up. 14:00 View from plane in flight. Wing, clouds, land, waterfall. 15:10 Arrival at Livingstone Tourist Capital of the Federation. Rhodes-Livingstone Museum Craft Village. 15:35 African dancers and drummers. Subject The topic of the resource China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945 Air pilots Toungoo (Burma) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp10 Language A language of the resource eng chi Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ca09c852ea75abc87d53c685085ffd83.mp4 e229210d7d5b1d1f32f2c5bc7b9effa0 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5089889f044272d52aba94100cbff991.pdf b30b2deb4be8808396e689da948c4947 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Joseph Mitch (48:46) (00:20) Background Information • • • • • • Joseph was born in Pennsylvania in 1919 His father was a coal miner and his mother stayed at home Joseph finished school through the third grade After that he sold scrap metal that he had found on the streets He eventually became a loan shark and made 25% interest He also made money betting on games (2:45) The Army • • • Joseph was drafted into the Army in 1941 They almost rejected him because of his low IQ He trained at Camp Polk, Louisiana; they did not like Northerners there and were pretty prejudiced (5:30) Training • • • They did a lot of training out in the desert They did not have to march around in camps He worked on tank destroyers (8:00) Loan Sharking • • • • Many enlisted men borrowed from him and he made tons of money The other officers thought he was just a “flunkie” Joseph can’t read but he has a very good memory The food in the service was not very good (10:15) England • • • • He went before the invasion, in 1942 and was there for 3 or 4 years Joseph never got seasick while traveling on the ocean liner with convoys They did not communicate much with the British military On his time of he would visit London and they had a lot of nice shops �(16:50) Combat • • • • They got involved in combat right away The hedge rows were hard to fight in His tank destroyer was never hit Joseph also helped infantry in Normandy (19:50) France • He said that the French were happy to see them • They did not experience much combat while traveling through France • They did have to fight in some forests • There was lots of battle damage in France (26:15) Germany • There the people were strong and tough to deal with • Joseph was able to learn quite a bit of German • They traveled to the far East of Germany • He was still in Germany when the war was over (31:45) The End of the War • Joseph was surprised when he heard that the war was over • He was in Europe when Japan was bombed • Many men thought they would have to go on to Japan (33:30) The End of his Service • Joseph was still a loan shark after the war • He bought a house in Pennsylvania • He did not get married until 1947 • Lots of people did not like him because of his occupation and how well off it made him • The Army did not affect his life very much afterwards (39:00) The Battalion • Joseph worked with all the same men for the whole period that he was in the service • Most of them were Northerners and discriminated against by those from the South � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MitchJ Title A name given to the resource Mitch, Joseph (Interview outline and video), 2007 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mitch, Joseph Description An account of the resource Joseph Mitch was born in Pennsylvania in 1919 and drafted into the Army in 1941. He had gone to school only through the third grade, and never learned to read. Because of his illiteracy, he scored poorly on aptitude tests, and the Army almost did not take him because of his low IQ. Before being drafted, Joseph had made money as a loan shark, and he continued to do so through the service and afterwards. Mitch traveled to England, Germany, and France where he served in a Tank Destroyer battalion in the 3rd Armored Division, and was discharged in 1946. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Video recordings Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-10-30 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bf18dc26efcad9fb3f821b2d48967ac3.mp4 6634ce8a80faa3a1ddbcf0ecb2404092 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2b8b0bdcaa2db20c1144ec9ad6e2ec05.pdf 385f19eb59bb3bfb2536f0cb470b2fc9 PDF Text Text Mitchell, David Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Name of War: Vietnam War Interviewee’s Name: David Mitchell Length of Interview: (59:32) Interviewed by: James Smither Transcribed by: Maluhia Buhlman Interviewer: “We’re talking today with David Mitchell of Show Low, Arizona the interviewer is James Smither of the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. Okay start us off with some background on yourself.” I was born in a small town, basically a farming community Auburn, Indiana. The industry we had there was all centered around the automotive industry out of Michigan for the most part. Interviewer: “What year were you born?” (00:27) 1949. Interviewer: “Okay and then did you grow up there?” I grew up there, graduated from high school. Interviewer: “What year did you graduate?” 1967, ventured off to Purdue University, after the first semester of my sophomore year they felt that I was probably the smartest person in the world and I didn’t need to come back. So in other words I pretty much blew it off, but I wasn’t ready for college. I didn't know that, but I wasn’t. Interviewer: “Now why had you gone to college to begin with?” �Mitchell, David That was primarily my mom and dad’s wish because neither one of them actually had an opportunity to go to college, even though my father should’ve he was a brilliant man but– Interviewer: “What kind of work had your father done?” He was a journeyman electrician. Interviewer: “Alright, now so when do you actually– When do you get drafted then?” April 3rd, 1969. Interviewer: “Okay, at that point I mean how much did you know about Vietnam and all that?” Some, not a lot but the interesting thing is my father was inducted into the Army April 3rd, 1942, same day. (1:49) It was an ongoing thing Vietnam but remember I was born and raised in a small town Indiana, right Fort Wayne was the biggest city within any distance. There were almost– You know there were no racial issues to speak of at the time 1969. When I went to college it was my first induction– Introduction to the fact that some kids hated their parents, right? I never heard that before, you kidding me? Not in Auburn, didn’t happen, so– But after my stellar performance at Purdue I pretty much figured out what the inevitability was going to be in the near future, so yeah. Interviewer: “Alright, so and now I guess while you were at Purdue did you– Was there a kind of counter culture on campus there, did you have hippies or things like that that you noticed?” No, Purdue was an overgrown Auburn you know it was a farming– Primarily an agriculture school right and the only thing they cared about was soybeans and corn and wheat, and they had some other good programs. Engineering is what I started in and they had a wonderful engineering program I just didn’t excel at it enough. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Okay, so we’re now– We’ve made it now to April of ‘69, now you’re reporting for basic training so where do you go?” I left Auburn at like four o’clock in the morning, took a bus to Indianapolis, from there we were assigned whatever we were gonna do. Some of them went to the marines, it was a scary thing for them poor boys but– And I ended up in Fort Knox. Interviewer: “Did you notice how it was determined who went to the Marines?” I think I’ve got a pretty good idea, they never said specifically but I think a lot of it had to do with criminal records, speeding violations, drug and alcohol problems– [Shuffling] Interviewer: “Make sure you pass in front of the camera. Okay, alright so basically it wasn’t a system like every third guy goes to the Marines or anything like that there were just certain lucky people.” (4:13) They might like to think that’s what they thought it was but that’s not what it was. Interviewer: “Okay, so where did you go for basic training?” Fort Knox, Kentucky. Interviewer: “Okay, what kind of reception did you get when you showed up there?” It was typical like everything else, I can remember we didn’t get there till late in the evening right and so they fed us and you know we had our first police call and basically the drill sergeant said “Boys here’s the first lesson you gotta learn, if God didn’t put it there it’s got to go.” I mean you police the barrack area right, cigarette butts, paper, it didn’t matter what it was and then we �Mitchell, David were issued our fatigues and boots and you know Army only has two sizes, too big and too small. Interviewer: “Alright, and then how easy or hard was it for you to adjust to Army life?” It was pretty easy for me from the standpoint that I grew up working right, I mean I worked a lot on the farm. So you get up at dawn, you go to bed at dark and in between it was whatever, probably the thumb on discipline was probably the hardest thing for me to get used to. I was not used to that, I pretty much was given a lot of freedom and flexibility when I was growing up. Interviewer: “Alright, now were there other guys who were training alongside you who were having trouble?” A lot of them. Interviewer: “What kinds of things?” (5:50) They were– One thing they came from broken families, some of them, they didn’t know how to work, they were overweight, they didn’t want to exercise, they had a bad attitude right. I mean I went into it with the outlook of this, you know it’s inevitable this is going to happen so you might as well make the best of it. You screwed up college so you got another chance to do something in your life that isn’t a blooming failure. So that’s what I did you know I tried, I tried to do the best I could I maxed my PT test you know. Interviewer: “Alright and then what impression did you have of your drill instructors?” I hated them right until I got into my first firefight in Vietnam. Interviewer: “So what was it that– What did you recognize once you had that first firefight, what was it that they had done for you?” �Mitchell, David They made you be aware of what you were going to face and experience and how to deal with it. The hardest part about– And I was talking with Bob or somebody last night, you know anyone who was in Vietnam in a firefight or in Vietnam in the infantry who professed not to be scared, they’re not telling the truth. Now the fear– As soon as you started the firefight the fear went away right and then when it was over you gradually moved back into that “Well here we go again.” Right but when you’re in the middle of a firefight you just, you do what you gotta do, you know and there was a saying that was in the 101st at least in my unit and probably yours too. When somebody got killed, okay this is one of the hard things to learn, when somebody in your unit was killed on a firefight they went from an asset to a liability okay and there was a phrase that was coined, or at least was there when I was there, that said “Don’t mean nothing, drive on.” And it took people a long time to understand what that really meant and that is a lot of where survivor’s remorse comes in because you used to have to step over dead guys, your brothers, to go finish the mission and you always had it in the back of your mind that “We’ll come back and take care of you, we’ll come back and get you but right now we don’t got time.” Interviewer: “Alright, let’s roll back now so you get through your basic training.” (8:35) Yeah. Interviewer: “And how long was that?” Eight weeks I think. Interviewer: “Okay, what’s your next stop?” Fort Polk, Louisiana AIT. Interviewer: “Alright, the Advanced Individual Training and describe what that program was like.” �Mitchell, David It was hot, it was sweaty, it was July and it was just a step above what basic training was. Basic training was basically a fitness training program with, you know, some tactics thrown in here and there, AIT was a little more advanced. They assumed that you lost the weight you were gonna lose and developed the muscle you were gonna get and so it was more of a tactical process if you will. Interviewer: “So how were you spending your time?” Working in the field, we did a lot of physical therapy. Interviewer: “Or training?” I mean physical training, well physical therapy too but we spent a lot of time on the rifle range, we spent a lot of time going through basically map skills and understanding what we had available to us as an infantry soldier in the field. What, you know what we had, do we have machine guns, we had aircraft, we had jets, we had you know pistols, we had bayonets. Thank God we never had to use those, except to kill the spider and so it was just a continuation on with that. Interviewer: “Okay and how much of it was geared for Vietnam?” (10:15) Every bit of it was geared to it, the problem at the time I went through it a lot of the tactics were World War II tactics and they weren’t really jungle warfare type stuff. Interviewer: “What would be the difference between those?” Basic– One of the basic differences was we never– Unless you were going to cordon off an area you never got online and attacked in Vietnam we walked single fire, much separation, point man, slack man, rear guard. So it’s not like we were fighting in the trenches in Germany or storming the beaches in, you know, in France or wherever they were. It was you had to figure out how to tactically move in the jungle environment and that’s what when I went to NCO school I learned. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Okay, how was it that you wound up going to NCO school?” I volunteered. Interviewer: “Okay, and how does that work within the Army, they want people and what– Do they put out a call or?” They ask for basically anybody who was interested and then they, I think I’m gonna guess, I think they do a review of your performance because in every aspect of the military there’s always a performance rating that goes along with it. Sometimes you know what it is, sometimes you don’t. Interviewer: “Okay now was this at Fort Polk where they did that?” No, Fort Benning. Interviewer: “No but I mean in terms of when they were–” (11:55) Oh yes it was right at the end of AIT. Interviewer: “Okay, alright and so what motivated you to sign up for that?” I’ll be quite honest with you, the more I could learn, the better information I could have, the better I was gonna have a chance of coming home from Vietnam and that was basically the motivation. Interviewer: “Alright, so now Fort Benning now becomes your next stop and describe a little bit what the NCO school was like.” �Mitchell, David It was a graduate program in– For us, in leadership skills, tactics because that’s what we were being trained for, basically front line supervision right, and so it was just– It was a compounding of what you had learned in AIT with a new more advanced aspect of the training and I found it was more designed around Vietnam because all of the instructors had been there at least once if not twice, sometimes three times. Interviewer: “And so now you were learning to operate differently rather than line up and charge.” Yeah, I mean you still had the fun opportunity of crawling through mud and barbed wire and all that stuff but that’s just part of what we– What you still probably do, I don’t know. Interviewer: “Alright, and how long did you spend there?” I think it was eight or ten weeks. Interviewer: “Okay, and now once you complete that do they give you any additional work before they send you to Vietnam?” (13:40) Yeah then we went to– I went back to Fort Polk as a training sergeant in a basic training unit– Or an AIT unit in that case. Interviewer: “Okay, and what were your duties?” We were basically, we called them barrack sergeants, you know you were responsible for everybody in that barrack. To make sure they were up, trained, you know disciplined properly, physical train properly, and then you would lead them in a lot of the exercises that you would do. So that’s where we developed the hands-on leadership skills that you don’t always get by doing it in a group. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Alright, so here you’re actually giving orders to other people in order to make them behave.” Oh yeah, you have to I mean it’s part of the discipline program. Interviewer: “Okay, now when you had gone through basic and AIT yourself, had you noticed those guys? The new sergeants do they kind of stand out from the other ones?” I didn’t see any of them until AIT, in basic training everybody that– Our drill sergeants were all– Interviewer: “Veterans.” They’re veterans, been in Vietnam and they only had one mission in mind and that was to try to get you in a position where you can come home. Interviewer: “Alright, okay so now you’ve gone through all of this stuff, so by the time you finish– How long was the stint then at Fort Polk as a trainer, how long did you stay there?” (15:22) Eight weeks. Interviewer: “Okay so it’s another eight weeks so basically you work with one group–” One rotation, yeah. Interviewer: “Alright, and now do they give you time off before going to Vietnam?” Yeah I was off 30 day leave I believe. Interviewer: “Okay, and then where do you leave the states from?” �Mitchell, David Fort Lewis, Washington. Interviewer: “Okay, and at this point did you have orders for a particular unit or you’re just going to be a replacement?” We went to a replacement company in Cam Ranh Bay. Interviewer: “Alright, now how did they get you to Vietnam?” On a Flying Tiger airline. Interviewer: “Okay, and do you remember where they stopped?” Stopped in Anchorage, Alaska and Yokota Air Force Base in Japan. Interviewer: “Okay, did you get off the plane in Alaska?” (16:05) Yeah, they were refueling, I got off, it was pretty brief I mean we didn’t have a whole lot of time to go to the bar and drink or anything so, but yeah. Interviewer: “Okay, alright so you go there and Cam Ranh Bay you said is where you landed?” Cam Ranh Bay. Interviewer: “Okay, did you come in during the day or night?” During the day. Interviewer: “Okay, and what was your first impression?” �Mitchell, David David what in the hell are you doing here? It was hot and it was just like stepping off the plane in Fort Polk in July, you know it’s a stark realization that, and I think Bob had mentioned it, this is if you can’t get back on the plane they ain’t taking you home today right. So that was basically it, I mean you had an inkling about what it might be about, you didn’t really know. Interviewer: “Okay, and how long did you spend in Cam Ranh Bay?” Oh we were probably there three days, two or three days before we were given our assignment and then we were sent up north. Interviewer: “Okay, and do you remember anything about how you spent your time in those couple of days there?” I don’t really. Interviewer: “Okay, but do you think– They didn’t give you bunker duty or anything like that?” (17:20) No, they didn’t give us anything to do initially and we went up to Phu Bai in northern I Corps and we went through our in-country training search, is what they call it. Interviewer: “Okay, so 101st Airborne you get there so you got there for Screaming Eagles replacement training and for a newly minted sergeant, now what was that experience like did the training school there do you any good?” Not really, the best– The best training that I got in my entire career in the Army was the first week in the field with the sergeant that I was replacing, Jerry Bull. Interviewer: “Alright, so what unit do you join?” Delta company the 2nd 501st. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Alright, and where were they when you joined them?” They were just getting off a stand out so we were getting ready to deploy. Interviewer: “Okay, and what kind of reception do you get when you join them?” Like any other brand new cherry that comes into the country, you know it’s– You know the things where you know give it a week or so and you’ll stop pissing stateside water, and the only thing they didn’t tell me that you figure out pretty quick, you don’t wear underwear in Vietnam unless you want to live with ringworm. Interviewer: “Okay, now when you first join the unit do you get any responsibility or you’re just supposed to watch?” I just basically spent my time with the sergeant I was replacing. Yeah it was not like I didn’t do anything but it was basically at his direction and discretion what he asked me to do initially. Interviewer: “Okay, so now when you go out in the field do you fly out, walk out?” (19:13) We were airmobile, we flew in helicopters. Interviewer: “Okay, and so you first go out in the field with the unit– What do you remember about that first week?” I remember that the only mountains in Vietnam go up, they don’t go down, you climb to the top of one, they fly you to the bottom of another. On my birthday, April 8th, I got that ARCOM medal for valor and then on April– Interviewer: “How did that happen?” �Mitchell, David It was in a firefight that– We actually had gotten ambushed and we just– My squad was the one that was in– Walking point for the platoon and so we maneuvered and removed the threat, if you will, and then on April 15th I got my first purple heart and that was on a place that you’ve heard of before called [sound like re-uk-hill] cause we were Delta Company 2nd 501st was actually a swing battalion for the 101st Airborne. What that meant was wherever there was trouble someone in that unit would go, Delta Company happened to be selected as the swing company for the swing battalion, at least while I was there. So Bravo Company was on [re-uk-hill] and they were in a bit of a bind and so we went in to try to help them. Interviewer: “And so, what happened to you?” I got shot, well shrapnel actually. Interviewer: “Do you know what it was from, was it mortar or RPG?” It was an RPG. Interviewer: “Okay, and when you’re in one of these firefights do you see the enemy at all or just?” (21:07) Sometimes but not very often. Interviewer: “How long would these things last?” They could last anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes basically, as Bob had explained earlier, trail watchers a lot of times they were there only to delay you right. So they’d fire a magazine or two and then they were gone because they knew what they Americans would do right. We would set up a defensive position, we’d fire, their whole intent was to hit somebody that way you had to stop, set up a perimeter, call in a medevac, whatever and they knew that’s what we’d do and so a lot of times it was we were moving into a position where they might have set up a camp, or a base camp, or a cache of ammunition, or whatever and so they wanted time to move all that stuff �Mitchell, David out of the way cause– Because they just sometimes knew and it was– It was interesting sometimes. Interviewer: “And how badly were you hurt?” Not really all that bad. Interviewer: “Did you stay in the field or go back?” Yeah, oh yeah, I still get shrapnel in my back from that, not big pieces but I still get it. Interviewer: “Alright, now did that get infected or did you have other problems with it?” No, it was good we had one of the best medics that you could ask for I mean he just didn’t let you ever not take care of things, jungle rot, Phisohex soap and gauze pads, scrub it out, he said “I don’t care if you cry, get rid of it.” Right, and salt tablets back in those days we took salt tablets and he made you take them every day. Interviewer: “Okay, now when you got into that first firefight that was happening for real did that– Is that sort of where the training kicked in where you–” (23:12) It became instinctive at that point based on the training basically, you know I mean one of the first things you realize is you don’t stand up and run towards the enemy in a firefight in the jungle, at least I didn’t. Interviewer: “Maybe the marines did.” Well it depended on what their IQ was but– Interviewer: “But it was not what you were doing.” �Mitchell, David No, that’s not what we were doing. Interviewer: “Okay, and now did your unit normally function as a platoon or company or what side–” Mostly as a platoon. Interviewer: “And about how many men were in the platoon?” Probably around 18 to 20, I mean that’s what was physically there, it’s not supposed to be that small you know it’s supposed to be more like 45 to 65 but attrition and lack of replacements just over time dwindled what was available for us. Interviewer: “Okay, and did you stay with the same unit the whole time you were in Vietnam?” I did, yes. (24:21) Interviewer: “Okay, and so how much turnover did you see when you first got there?” A lot, a lot. Being swing battalion and swing company we were in contact a lot, not necessarily Ripcord firefights and stuff but a lot. So you get a guy that gets wounded when he goes out you don’t know if he’s coming back or not right and there was just the repetitive turnover from people DEROSing and going home, I mean it’s just an evolutionary type thing that that’s what happened. Interviewer: “Yeah, now part of the logic of all that was supposed to be that you always have an experienced group of certain people in the field and then the old guys train the new guys, then you maintain your effectiveness, is that how it actually worked?” �Mitchell, David It was intended to work that way, a lot of the time it did– Some of the hardest things to instill in the new young kids, and I know you’ve heard this before from probably a lot– And I was not real I was only 21 but I’d been there for a while right. I had a lieutenant, Frank Bass, and his philosophy was this, well number one he was a hard stripe and promoted to lieutenant, in your rucksack if you couldn’t throw it, shoot it, or eat it, it didn’t go. No radios, no cameras even alright, yeah you can have an air mattress but I get it first, and he’d slit it. It made a great ground cloth but couldn’t hold any air in it right. No smoking at night, no zippo lighters at night, I mean it sounded like a Liberty Bell going off and I don’t care how well you cover up with a poncho lighter or something you can still see the glow, but aside from that, I mean walk down through this casino you can smell smoke a mile away, a mile away and it was just a dead giveaway. Interviewer: “Well would the N.V.A still smell you anyway?” Oh they do, we smell like sour milk, they smell like dead fish to us but you know there were different philosophies about how you set up a night defensive position and that’s one of the other things that we ended up teaching our guys and was taught to us, is we never dug in at night, never ever ever. (27:01) We would stop sometime in the three, four, five o’clock in the afternoon, change your socks, let your feet and boots dry out, change your T-shirt if you were lucky enough to have an extra one, eat right and then we’d send out a patrol to find our night defensive position and then at night right at dusk we would move into that position but we would have a predrill, where we had set up at say five o’clock, of where your positions were gonna be, who was gonna be where, how we were gonna cover what, who was gonna set out the mechanical ambushes, where we were gonna set them and so we’d move in at dark and I had a friend in 1st 501st Charlie Company, they dug in every night and I just could never figure out why you wanted to sit there and give away your position with shovels and– Interviewer: “So it was a noise issue?” It was a noise issue, and I have actually gone into areas where that was their philosophy was they wanted to dig in and if you do a perimeter walk after a firefight or something, you know what an aiming stake is right? An aiming stake is something the N.V.A will set up outside of a position �Mitchell, David where they know where it’s at. So right at predawn or wherever it is that’s where they would focus their fire on and they would use it for their mortars too. Interviewer: “Alright and so I guess kind of take us through– I mean there’s sort of several months there– Did you go in and out of the Ripcord area kind of April, May June, July?” We were– We were in that basic AO almost the entire time through July, we were around Firebase O'Reilly, Granite, Henderson and it was– Like our company commander would say when we would get together, he said “You guys don’t have to go find these guys, they know where you are.” They’ll find you, you don’t have to go find them and pretty much he was right but the thing that kept us alive, most of us– And the company commander was Captain Chris Stroud, was he said “We will always do the unexpected.” Right, we will only walk on trails when there’s no other way to do it, period and he was– It was his second tour he was with the 25th Infantry before so. Interviewer: “Alright, now elements of your battalion got into a couple fairly ugly fights and I believe it was Stroud’s company that wound up in a place called Hill 805.” (30:05) That’s where we were. Interviewer: “Okay, can you talk a little bit about that action?” Yeah I can, there were three basic hills that were strategic points around Ripcord, 902, 1000, and 805 they were just strategically placed with access to Ripcord, I think it was on April 12th– Interviewer: “Sounds right.” We were in the O’Reilly AO and they actually choppered out a hot meal to us in the field, only time I ever had one right, and we looked at each other and we said “This shit ain’t good.” Right, the next day we flew into an LZ below Hill 805 and our orders were to take 805 and fortify it and we were anticipating an extremely hard fight. We ran into no resistance, not one, not one bullet �Mitchell, David was fired until that night and then for basically from then until the 18th, we got hit every night, we got probed every day, we didn’t sleep for those five days or six days, I mean you just couldn’t. We were up all night pulling basically a 100% guard duty cause we’d get hit anywhere from ten at night to three in the morning right. Interviewer: “I guess in terms of the chronology April 12th that’s about when Ripcord was originally established so–” No, I'm sorry it was July. Interviewer: “Yeah July.” I’m sorry, July. Interviewer: “Yeah, right there we go, just making sure we have that.” (32:00) I’m sorry, yeah you’re right. Interviewer: “The 12th thing rang a bell, okay yeah so this is the same time when Ripcord was under siege–” It was. Interviewer: “Being bombarded, it’s the same time when some of the stuff is going on with Hill 1000–” 902, yeah. Interviewer: “And then I lost a little order but yours was kind of distinctive because it was how many days running did you stay up there?” �Mitchell, David Six. Interviewer: “Okay, and what– Do you happen to know why you were there that long?” I’ve got a suspicion that they had it, okay most of the time we take a hill and we leave it right, I mean that was just Vietnam, Hamburger Hill, the Ia Drang Valley, all of that stuff it was basically the same thing but for this time they took it, we occupied it, and it was an interdiction point to Ripcord cause it sat right there and looked right down the throat of it. Matter of fact half of the fire support we got from Ripcord, artillery, was basically point blank fire it was not high angle or anything it was low– Interviewer: “It was direct fire pretty much.” Yeah, they lowered them down, pulled the trigger and when we were ordered to pull off Captain Stroud didn’t want to go, he said he’s lost 13 guys, well 11 at that time, he said “I don’t want to give it up, I don’t want to give it up.” But he didn’t have an option, he just didn’t have an option so. (33:30) Interviewer: “I guess my impression from reading about it was that he was upset about having to stay there as long as he did and not get out earlier.” What he was upset about was staying there as long as he did and not getting the reinforcements that he needed. That’s what the caveat was right, I mean we lost two lieutenant and in one night, Terry Paul and I forget who the other one is right off the top of my head but yeah he was not– I mean nobody wants to stay in the damn same place in Vietnam more than a night if you don’t have to, it’s just suicidal and it was really evident every night we got hit, you know we got hit from three different directions, a different one each time, but their mortars were pin point accurate, their RPGs were pin point accurate. We ate satchel charge after satchel charge after satchel charge, even 122 millimeter rockets they’d hit that hill with pretty accurately. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Now did you just kind of keep moving around and changing positions while you were up there?” No, when we were there, we were there, everybody– Except for when we had some people killed, you know we’d backfill obviously. Interviewer: “But you were dug in there?” We were dug in, most of the bunkers were actually in some form N.V.A bunkers that we just reoccupied but we improved them and made it, you know we cut fields of fire so we’d clear out some stuff a little better so you could actually see and the other thing was is they were sneaky little guys. Very good at what they did but if you give them, if you give them a bush to hide behind they’ll disappear in it, I mean just the way it was. Interviewer: “So how did you manage to survive all that time?” (35:29) I don’t know. Interviewer: “Or the unit itself, I mean was there–” I don’t– Honest to God it’s just you went every minute of every hour of every day, you just you know we would prepare to fight at night, we’d get hit, we’d have that firefight, the next morning we’d do a patrol, you know they were ultimately interested in body count and all that BS that went along with it. We come back, the log birds that come in and resupply us with ammunition and food and replacements if we could. If there were guys that were wounded but not bad enough to call a medevac in at night we’d do that during the day, and so you just regear for that night. Interviewer: “So basically the enemy would lie low during the day–” Yeah. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “When I guess we control the sky and the air and could see things–” Yeah. Interviewer: “And then at night they’d come out again.” Yeah, that’s just typical of almost everything we were in unless you happen to run across a trail watched or you know if they knew you were there and they wanted to set up an ambush but most of the incidences we had were either at– Almost always at first leg, before– Right before first leg. Interviewer: “Alright now through that time did you get hit again?” Yeah, July 13th, it was an RPG. Interviewer: “Okay, but again not badly enough to take you off?” (36:58) If you weren’t dead you didn’t leave, that’s just what Captain Straub’s theory was you know. Interviewer: “Alright, so once you finally do get off there I mean was it quiet, did they shoot at you as you were leaving?” Oh yeah, matter of fact when we left 805 we left on, I believe it was the 18th or something like that, and we actually piled up all our extra munitions, combat loss rifles, and the M-79s and some ammunition that was left for the recoilless rifle we just couldn’t pack and we moved off and we left one platoon back and they blew that stuff. Well as we were moving off we had what was known as a Kit Carson scout with us and he pulled the pins on his grenades and killed another guy and wounded Captain Stroud, moving off and so we ended up setting up right above the LZ that we were gonna be picked up on and those were other N.V.A bunkers that we found but we had seeded them with CS crystals and– But we spent the night there anyway and then the next �Mitchell, David morning when the birds came in to pick us up they were running– They were running off the 805 right towards us, burning up whatever they had AKs or 51 cals or whatever. Interviewer: “Alright, now please explain for the audience what is a Kit Carson scout?” It was an N.V.A soldier that was captured or surrendered, it was what was known basically as the Chieu Hoi program, and if there was a value or if they were willing to turn supposedly against the north they would send them off to a school and they would become what was known as a Kit Carson scout which meant that they would come back and be reassigned to a line unit and they were supposed to be the eyes and ears and know what was going on in the jungle and in and around that area, sometimes it worked, most of the time it was not real successful Interviewer: “Yeah and in this case counterproductive.” Counterproductive, but you know it’s another lesson learned. Interviewer: “Okay, so when you finally get out of there do they give you any downtime or are you right back in the field again?” (39:30) We went to Eagle Beach for I think two days. Interviewer: “And what do you do there?” Decompress– Well the first thing we did– That’s the first place I ran into hot running water showers was at Eagle Beach and when we went in to take a shower our medic was there with a stack of gauze pads and a bottle of faisal heck soap and he said “I wanna see you guys come out raw.” Okay well we came out and Captain Stroud was there and he handed everybody a bottle of whisky, or whatever they wanted to drink, but the caveat was you had to go sit down in the South China Sea because basically what you were doing scrubbing off all that jungle rot and stuff right and without that whisky you couldn’t do it, it would be like torture I’m serious, but we did that for a couple days and then you know it was back to business as usual. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “Okay, now by the time you got back, had Ripcord been abandoned by the time you got back in the field?” No. Interviewer: “It was still all going on okay.” It was, but we went into, I believe it was Firebase Granite I think that’s where we went I don’t remember exactly but I do remember a comment from Fred Spalding at some point in time and he told everybody in the rear who was– Which was primarily the 506 that that B-52s were already in the air and they were gonna be hit that night. Now if they had done that on 902 or 1000 like they did Ripcord there probably wouldn’t be any safe place but I don’t think that we ever hit them with B-52s. Interviewer: “Well it would’ve been too close to Ripcord, B-52s–” (41:28) It would’ve been pretty close but you know. Interviewer: “Yeah and there’s usually the sort of minimum distance everyone had to be away from–” Oh yeah they wanted you to be five miles away, do you know how far that is in the jungle? Interviewer: “Well still bombs– I think even if you strike 1000 is so close to Ripcord that probably you’re not gonna do that.” You’ll get a flier. Interviewer: “But it’s what it would've taken.” �Mitchell, David That’s what it would’ve taken, you know I mean that’s what we did to Ripcord and we did that to Ripcord to basically destroy everything that we had left up there and Bob had gone back and he said it was like a ghost town. It was denuded all the way up and down the hills. Interviewer: “Alright, now after the Ripcord campaign was over at the end of July do things quiet down at all?” Yeah they got– Small skirmishes right but they had actually executed what their new mission was going to be when we rebuilt Ripcord. Again I know– I’m a believer that there was another offensive headed in the north similar to Tet of ‘68 I mean they just– But they had to change their focus initially and then not all that much longer after Ripcord, you know the monsoon seasons would start and that’s when they did a lot of their resupplying and their refortification and because we didn’t spend a lot of time in the field, we pulled people off fire bases, you couldn’t resupply you know and so we basically turned whatever we had back over to them and then next spring we go get it again. Interviewer: “Alright, during the monsoon season then how are you spending your time?” (43:25) Wet, cold, muddy, and we were not as deep into the mountains, we weren’t in the flatlands necessarily but we still would pull patrols but they weren’t as deep or as concentrated but it was miserable, it was miserable. Interviewer: “But how many months of that?” Seemed like a year but it was probably three or four months of pretty wet. Interviewer: “Okay, and then did you get an R&R anywhere?” �Mitchell, David You know what I was scheduled for an R&R and then ended up in the 85th evac and then I was scheduled for another one and I ended up in the 95th evac and they asked me about another one and I said “Thanks but no thanks.” Interviewer: “Okay, and these are evacuation hospitals?” Yeah, one's in Danang, one’s in Phu Bai. Interviewer: “Okay, and why were you going there?” Well I had shrapnel from 805 so they sent me there for two days, come off of Eagle Beach and then I went there and then I had cellulitis in my leg and they had to go and scrape shrapnel off my shin bone and you know it was two days here, three days there but no thanks don’t give me an R&R I don’t want it again, I can’t afford it except for maybe dead. Interviewer: “Alright pause this here and– Alright so I was gonna ask at this point what’s morale like in the unit during this period now when you don’t have a lot of activity or whatever, you’re getting rained on a lot?” (45:13) It was pretty low from an overall morale standpoint but at the same time most of the problems that people have alluded to in Vietnam, the racial problems, the disorganization most of the, not all of it, but most of it occurred in the rear and a lot of it occurred in the rear because there just was not enough stuff to do during that period for a lot of people to do it right, I mean our supply sergeant he could only supply us when the helicopters would fly. If they didn’t fly there wasn’t shit to do and so that– And plus there was the, just the building unrest from the racial aspect, the political aspect was going through the roof. Interviewer: “Yeah, all the stuff from back home comes over.” I mean my brother was going to Ball State University and he’d sent me the Indianapolis Star or whatever it was and you can go through that paper whenever you got it and you could find a �Mitchell, David story in favor of the war, you could find a story against the war, you could find a story about apathy, they didn’t give a shit right. It was almost every time I saw one that was kind of where it was our country– You think it’s divided now? It was really divided back in the early 70s, maybe not as vocal about it but it was divided. Interviewer: “Because by the time you finish in Vietnam, Kent State has happened–” Kent State’s happened, Woodstock has happened. Interviewer: “The Calley trial comes up at some point, My Lai and it was about that comes out.” Yup. Interviewer: “All that kind of stuff going on, but basically did you spend your time either at forward firebases or in the field? Was that pretty much where you were?” (47:05) That’s all I ever was for the most part. Interviewer: “Yeah, now aside from your stray Chieu Hoi scout did you ever see much of the Vietnamese themselves? Were there civilians–” The civilians? Interviewer: “Yeah.” Anytime we were in the rear we had mamasans cleaning the hooches and they had duties around the base. So that was basically most of it, if we take a convoy somewhere, we go through Phu Bai or DaNang, well not even DaNang we went north of there, Hue. You’d see the indigenous people there then you know they’d be lining the streets and stuff when we were riding a deuce and a half but other than that it was primarily N.V.A. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “So you’re really not seeing much, getting really acquainted with the local population at all the kind of stuff that you’re doing and certainly not seeing them when you’re out in the field.” No, there were no villages where we were, I mean almost virtually none in the mountains. Interviewer: “Yeah,I think even a lot of the Montagnard population had moved on or was hiding some place.” They were pretty remote, I mean they were an interesting group, we were taught about them a little bit, you know basically they wanted to be left alone. Don’t bother me, don’t screw with my women, you know you’re welcome to pass through but don’t try to change us, influence us, or whatever. That was just their culture. Interviewer: “Alright, okay now are there other particular things that stand out in your mind about the time you spent in Vietnam that you haven’t brought into the story yet?” (48:43) Yeah there’s a few things, before I went to Vietnam I went out to dinner with my mom and dad, and my uncle who had fought in the Philippines in World War II as an infantry soldier and he said “Davey I’m gonna tell you three things that can get you killed.” He said “Don’t ever ever ever make close friends, don’t ever think about home, and never ask anybody you’re in charge of to do something you won’t do yourself.” And that was a lesson that I tried to pass on to my replacement and anybody that was in my squad, it just, you know it filters down, it's a lesson in life learned. I had– In my life I had three significant events, Vietnam was one okay, marrying my wife was two, and the birth of our children. Those were the things– I married my wife June 5th, 1971 shortly after I got home, I was engaged to her before, the other thing was patriotism. Her dad, whom I was engaged to his daughter, was on the draft board when I got drafted. Never said a word, not a word, he was a Navy pilot in World War II. So it was the patriotism but the patriotism and the camaraderie and the respect for each other primarily existed in the field, there �Mitchell, David was not a lot of it in the base camp or in the rear, that’s where the division– That’s where I saw the division and experienced it whenever we were back so. Interviewer: “So as far as you were concerned you’d rather be out in the field?” Oh I didn’t like the base camps, I didn’t like the firebases, you’re captive you know, you’re just captive and at least in the field you had an opportunity to maneuver and move and in some cases you had some part of destiny on your side as well as on the enemy’s side, but on a fire base it was theirs, it was theirs for picking. Interviewer: “Yeah, you’re a target.” You’re a target and you’re always gonna be a target on a firebase. Interviewer: “Alright, now as you get to the end of your time in Vietnam, are you gonna have to go back and stay in the Army in the states or were you able to get out or what was the deal for you?” (51:31) I got out. Interviewer: “Okay, now did you get an early out?” I got an early out to go back to school. Interviewer: “Okay, and how did that work, I mean you’re supposed to be on active duty for two full years when you’re a draftee?” Well, yes. Interviewer: “Okay, so how does it work that you can get out early?” �Mitchell, David You put in a request for early out to go– For whatever reason, school was the primary reason and I know you know this but you gotta realize that back in 1970-71 we started to really withdraw troops. So when you only have a month left, or a month and a half left, you know and it was near the end of the monsoon season, hadn’t even begun the spring build up process yet that hell they were glad to get rid of a lot of people or it seemed like it at any rate. So it was not at that point that difficult. Interviewer: “Okay, so when do you actually leave Vietnam?” January 10th. Interviewer: “Okay, ‘71?” 1971. Interviewer: “Alright, and now what was leaving like?” (52:40) Heaven, I mean I flew home on the most beautiful airplane in the world, it was a Pan American Stretch DC-8 right and the pilot we had, I can’t speak for everybody else, but there were two things– Three things that happened, the crew that was on, there the stewardesses, this was their first flight into Vietnam okay, the pilot had been in several times and so when he took off– Out of Cam Ranh, when he took off out of Cam Ranh Bay he tilted to the left so everybody could say goodbye and then he tilted back to the right so everybody could say goodbye and about as soon as he hit cruising altitude, if there were 250 people in that airplane I swear there was 240 bottle of whisky came out of AWOL bags, and the stewardess was running up she was in a panic, running up and down the aisle screaming “You can’t do that! You can’t do that!” There was a little– He was a black 1st sergeant, he grabbed a hold of her and set her down on his knee, he was sitting on the aisle, and he said “Honey, just let them go.” She said– He said “In about an hour you ain’t gonna have any problem with anybody.” We landed in Yokota Air Force Base in Japan, five of us walked off the airplane, five, the rest of them couldn’t walk if they wanted to. �Mitchell, David Interviewer: “So where’d you reenter the states at?” Fort Lewis. Interviewer: “Okay, alright and then do they discharge you from there?” Yeah. Interviewer: “Okay, now when they did that did they give you anything, tell you anything, watch out for protestors, don’t wear a uniform, anything like that?” Well I had to wear a uniform to fly military standby but when we went into Fort Lewis and then they always put you in a room, see if anybody’s got any drugs, leave them underneath your seat and they will be prosecution or anything right. So you go through that, they load us on buses, they took us to an orderly room and we were standing outside milling around and the company clerk came out and said “Is there a Sergeant Mitchell here?” and I said “Oh shit what’d I do now?” (54:57) I said “Yeah.” and they said “Well somebody wants to see you in the back.” It was a sergeant that had been in my unit that had come home a month and a half ago and he was out processing people. I was literally out of the Army in 45 minutes, he took me back to his barracks, I got a shower, civilian clothes, he did his thing with those guys, we went out and had a few drinks. Next morning he gave me a set of his dress greens, took me– Got me paid, took me to SeaTac. That was it, I was done. Interviewer: “Okay, and then did you have any trouble getting home? So nobody hassled you or anything like that?” Oh yeah, they did in SEATech there were instigators and you know the problem is? Well what I saw, most of it was the younger generation that was– And it’s the same thing today about the protest of some things they don’t know what they’re protesting or why, they just don’t. It’s just “The thing.” Right and if you want to protest a war, go to war, see what it’s like, and then come back and protest it but so yeah there was that but see I had– He had given me a pair of jeans and �Mitchell, David a shirt, whatever right my friend, and so when I was on the airplane I just went in the restroom and took off all the dress greens, the class A’s, put them in my AWOL bag, and put civilian clothes on. When I got to Chicago that was the end of that. Interviewer: “Okay, alright now once you finally get back home what do you do?” I went back to school at a local– At a regional campus, I.U Purdue and then in June we got married and we moved to West Lafayette and I finished up one semester there and then I just was not comfortable in the big university setting so I ended up transferring to Tri-State University. Which is a small private school in Angola and I ended up graduating from there with a degree in mechanical engineering. Interviewer: “Okay, and then that became your career at that point?” I went to work for Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan for five years, left there and went to Alaska to work for– It was [unintelligible] BP at the time which ended up being BP Exploration, for 18 years and then I bought a spill clean up business with a friend of mine, and we sold it to a native corporation, moved to Arizona, went back to work as a maintenance superintendent at the papermill and then when they closed it five years ago, I retired. (58:00) Interviewer: “Very good.” But that’s basically what I did, I was in engineering almost all my life. Interviewer: “Alright, and then I guess to close here, when you look back at your time in the service how do you think that affected you?” It was a life changing event for me, to frame it up in a few words my wife told me about five years ago she said “I haven’t told you this but the boy who went to Vietnam was not the man that came home.” I mean you know it put a whole new perspective on things because if you can’t fix �Mitchell, David it don’t worry about it and don’t worry about anything because words never solved a damn problem in this life. Interviewer: “So for you in a way it helped you learn how to move forwards rather than just–” Oh yeah, oh yeah it was a great experience, it was a great experience, tortuous at times but it was a great experience. It taught you that you only imagine what your limit is, you have no idea what it is till you find it and you know even on Hill 805 with no sleep for five or six days we never really found our limit, never really found it. So that’s it. Interviewer: “Yeah, thank you very much for sharing the story today.” You bet. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MitchellD2158V Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mitchell, Charles David Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-10 Title A name given to the resource Mitchell, David (Interview transcript and video), 2017 Description An account of the resource David Mitchell was born in Auburn, Indiana, in 1949 where he graduated high school in 1967 before attending Purdue University. Unfortunately, Mitchell did not acclimate well to college life and soon left the university and was drafted into the Army in April of 1969. He was then sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for Basic Training where he was first introduced to regimented discipline. After Basic, Mitchell was transferred to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for Advanced Individual Training. He then volunteered to go to Noncommissioned Officer School at Fort Benning, Georgia, to learn tactics and leadership geared toward Vietnam. Before deployment, Mitchell briefly served as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Polk before he was shipped out to a replacement company in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He was then assigned to D Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He received his first Purple Heart after receiving rocket shrapnel during a firefight. As a ‘Swing Battalion,’ D Company encountered a lot of firefights and, thus, had lots of soldier turnover. His Company Commander stated that the Battalion managed to stay alive by doing the unexpected, navigating the jungle and avoiding official trails when possible. During the fight for Hill 805, there was no enemy response during the day, but at night, his Battalion was hit regularly, forcing the men to stay awake at night. Mitchell, again, was hit by rocket shrapnel during the fight and received his second Purple Heart. Overall, Mitchell recalled how morale was low amongst his men and that the monsoon season left them wet and miserable for months. He remembered only seeing North Vietnamese civilians while in the rear or while moving by villages in the field. Most racial and political divisions were only seen in the rear base camps. Toward the end of his tour, Mitchell requested and received an early-out of the military to go back to school, leaving Vietnam in January of 1971. Landing in Fort Lewis, Washington, he was officially discharged and quickly shed his military dress uniform for civilian clothing to evade antiwar protesters and instigators. Mitchell went back to Purdue University, married in June of 1971, and then transferred to a smaller tri-state university campus where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then went to work for Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, BP Exploration Incorporated in Alaska, and several other mechanical engineering jobs before retiring. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States—History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975—Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1a9a43de76ed919b26006dd1690dd057.mp4 65f976eec609047647227ddbf438a3af https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/db032cda3f93d6a3f278ef3d20d56b85.pdf 29f801eaf07616010d37c575441ef742 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Gary Mitchell. (1:34:32) Introduction (0:00)       U.S. Marine pilot during the Korean War. (21:28) Born In Wolf River,, Wisconsin. (00:27) He was a Colonel and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. (1:49) Served from 1951 until 1959. (1:58) Because his aircraft was shot down he was a prisoner of war for 10 months in the People's Republic of China. (2:19) Has received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the POW award. (2:45) Background Information (3:15)                      Born September 4th 1945 [1934?] in Wolf River, Wisconsin. (3:15) His father was a cook in logging camps. His mother was employed along with him. (3:38) He had one sister and one brother, however the brother passed away young. (4:00) (5:00) He attended high school in Bruce Wisconsin. (5:11) He left high school in 1951.(7:10) He went into the Marine Corps in October of 1951. (7:23) He had lasting friends in high school but since many have passed away. (7:36) His father worked as a cook in logging camps from age 17 almost to his death. (8:25) He commonly spent time with the lumberjacks while in the camp and learned much about the European cultures each group came from. (10:25) He worked for a logging company while in high school. Here he preformed many tasks, mostly he helped with trimming the trees. (11:02) He did some sharpening of tools such as saws and axes. (14:00) There was a blacksmith at the camp. (15:08) When he was nine he started trapping and he started his own trap line. (15:25) He had a timber wolf that he had trained. (16:50) While on his trap line he found abandoned bear cubs. He cared for them for 4 months. (18:00) A badger tried stealing food while he was trapping and his timber wolf attacked it. (20:09) In the spring he and the loggers would also collect maple sap. (21:00) He completed high school through the Marine Corp. (23:47) He never attended college. (24:35) He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 in 1952 [1951?]. He was then sent off to basic training. (25:07) Basic training (25:19)  He first attended basic at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego California (25:37) �                 Basic lasted at the most 5 months. (26:08) He remembers other disliking his drill instructors but he didn’t mind them. (26:28) The training in basic was brutal. (26:44) His platoon had approx. 38 men from all over the U.S. Of which, he was the youngest. (27:25) Next he was sent to flight training at Cherry Point, North Carolina. (28:32) He was taken as a pilot because the Marine Corps was in need of men to fly aircraft. (29:15) He had a pilot’s license prior to entering the service. He received this private training in Wisconsin. (29:20) He flew primarily jets. (30:00) He flew a J3 Cub once in his private training but did not like it. (30:18) He did his private training in a 2 seat Cessna 140. (31:07) He then trained in Pensacola Florida. (31:57) He stayed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, on 3 different occasions. The first being for 1 year the next being for 1.5 years and the third time being for 2.5 years. (32:10) He did his military training in F3D, the Corsair, and the AT6. (32:52) He was a Master Sergeant when he started flight training in approx 1952, 1953 and ended as a Second Lieutenant. (34:18) In Pensacola, Florida, he had his most strenuous training learning aerial maneuvers. He trained in the F3D Sky Knight twin Jet. (35:15) The training he underwent was accelerated. As a young soldier, trainers were nervous about his performance. (36:53)] When he was deployed in Korea he was there for 4 days before making his first flight. He was sent as an individual not as a unit. (37:55) Service in the Korean Conflict (38:00)                 Once in Korea he was placed in a Squadron VF 62 part of the First Marine Air Wing. (38:37) VF 62 was based K6 south of Seoul, Korea. (39:43) There were many aircraft station at K6 including prop planes. (41:09) There were approx. 300 men stationed at K6. It was mostly Marines but there were some Army Air Corps on the base. (42:36) Some maintenance was also prepared on K6. (43:02) The men drank sleep and flew. The man could be called to fly a plane at any minute and as a result where often on guard. (43:30) The building had about 3 hangers. Some men stayed in tents. (43:50) The food was good and always available. (44:16) His job was to fly the F3D Sky Knight specifically. (44:45) The F3D Sky Knight sat 2 men. The man on the left worked radar and guidance. The man on the right flew the aircraft. (45:02) Though he loved the aircraft, it was full of many kinks when it was received. (45:30) He flew 2-3 missions a day. (46:43) The missions where “seek, hunt, and kill.” (47:10) The plane was equipped with machine guns in the wing, napalm bombes, and sidewinder rockets. (47:38) The missions varied in length depending on task or gas in the airplane’s tank. 2 hours at the most. (48:41) The average pilot was in his 20s or 30s. (49:40) �Missing in Action and Imprisonment (1953-1954)(50:16)             He flew along the shore and locked on to an enemy aircraft below him. A rocket was fired and hit the enemy air craft. (50:29) 5 minutes after heading out to sea both engines burned out. He and his copilot had to bail out in the ocean. (51:00) When the men hit the water they both broke their knees. (51:21) The men had vests on but the water was very cold. He was picked up by the Chinese the next morning. (52:14) He was in the ocean north of North Korea. (53:07) After arriving on shore the men where beaten by the Chinese. (53:21) He was placed in a camp with 200 Americans. The men had no clothes and were rarely fed. Men died every day. His copilot was beaten and stabbed often. (53:40) The Chinese wanted to know all they could about his aircraft. When the copilot was unwilling to tell them anything, he was bayoneted. (54:53) There was a name for the prison camp he was in but he tried to block out as much as he could about it. (55:14) He was in the prison camp for approx. 1 year. He was released near the end of the war. (55:44) When the war was ended the he was released. With his knees broken he had to push himself with his hands to the signing of the peace papers on a bridge. (56:02) At the time of his release some men beat him once again. But several of his commanding officers at the sighing shot them with a Thompson submachine gun. (57:14) Recovery and service in the U.S. (58:00)            He was in hospitals for 2 years in order to recover from his imprisonment (1954-1956). His legs never fully recovered. (58:18) Being unable to walk, he was sent back to the states and stayed in 4-5 Marine Hospitals (58:55) From his torture, a thin rod was placed through his chest. Men were hesitant to remove it because they may have killed him. (59:26) The rod was removed in California. He was awake when the surgery was done. This almost killed him. (1:00:20) He had his surgery done at a naval hospital in Southern California for almost a year for rehabilitation. (1:20:37) After being rehabilitated he was placed back on duty and was moved around from different Marine and Navy bases. (1:04:05) Much of the things about imprisonment and POW camps were kept from incoming soldiers. However he wanted to tell new soldiers what could happen and what to do and not do if it did happen. (1:04:27) He came down with Meniere’s disease when he was taken of active duty. (1:04:53) He was discharged in 1960 at Cherry Point, North Carolina. (1:05:48 After being rehabilitated he did not do very much retraining in new aircraft. He mostly did ground instruction on weapons system. Most of this was done at Cherry Point. (1:06:33) At the end of his imprisonment in China, all 200 men he was imprisoned with had been killed. [?] (1:08:35) Life after discharge (1:09:00) �                         He still struggles psychologically from his imprisonment. (1:09:12) He was planning on having a full military career. He was still called back after retiring to talk to new recruits about POW camps. (1:09:55) 10 months after his discharge he received a call from Bill Lear. He requested aid to build an aircraft for the military. The plane was a twin engine Cessna. (1:10:45) 12 months later the plane was finished. He said that Gary was to be the first to fly it. (1:12:29) He aided in the mass production of this air craft. (1:13:14) The aircraft Bill Lear had him fly was modified to be flown without the use of legs. (1:14:00) The planes where then shipped to Hawaii for test flights. The aircraft were placed on an old World War II runway where he and Bill Lear could practice flying. (1:14:40) 42 of these planes were produced, all of which were sold to the military. (1:16:42) Gary was then assigned to train men in a factory that Bill Lear owned. (1:17:08) When he worked at the gyro factory he found that men were taking stickers off of gyros that recognized them as dysfunctional for a functional one. The men who did this went to prison for 12 months. (1:18:16) He was then contacted by Don Bowman and asked to assist in marketing for Canadian Lakes. (1:20:10) He worked there for about 10 years. He started in the mid 60s and ended in the mid 70s. (1:21:56) He then began working in sales. (1:23:31) He designed a new wheel chair for a woman who was pregnant and in a wheel chair. (1:24:05) He was with a woman, Linda, and was with her for 8 years. They did not have any children. (1:25:21) He didn’t join a veterans organization till late in his life, however, he was asked to speak to them on many occasions. (1:26:05) He did not go back to school on the GI bill. (1:26:58) His friends have all moved out west or died that he made in the service. (1:27:20) He feels guilty that all the people in the camp died because he didn’t talk when interrogated. (1:28:47) The men who are in the Legion have helped him cope with his emotional distress. (1:29:29) He has 3 grandsons who are serving in the Marine Corps. (1:30:28) He doesn’t believe that the conflict his sons are fighting in is necessary. (1:30:55) He had 5 children and 13 grand children. (1:31:01) He was served at the clinic for 4 years. (1:31:40) Sarah, the commandant at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in 2011was much appreciated by Gary. (1:32:07) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MitchellG1292V Title A name given to the resource Mitchell, Gary (Interview outline and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mitchell, Gary Description An account of the resource Gary Mitchell, of Wolf River Wisconsin, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1951 at the age of 17. Despite his age, he was able to train as a pilot due to a shortage of combat pilots. Sent to Korea in 1952, he flew multiple combat missions over enemy territory before mechanical problems forced him to bail out off the North Korean coast. He and his copilot were picked up by the Chinese, who regularly beat them in an effort to gain information about their aircraft. He was released at Panmunjon at the time of the signing of the armistice, and then underwent several years of medical treatment for injuries suffered in the bailout and while in prison, and then served as an instructor on Marine and Navy bases until he was discharged in 1959. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Erichsen, Wallace (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American United States. Marine Corps Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-09-06 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives