Over 150 people attended the Bengal Township board meeting tonight. They got up to speak against wind turbines, citing a variety of reasons why they wanted to board to adopt a Police Protection Ordinance similar to the one passed by Dallas and Essex Townships.
People spoke passionately about noise, safety, property values, and quality of life. People presented research, governmental studies, and personal testimony. People pointed out how it's a great compromise - it doesn't disallow turbines, it just makes them quieter and farther away from personal property. People spoke for two and a half hours, begging the board to represent them and protect them by passing the ordinance. One man simply asked, "Why wouldn't you?"
After everyone had a chance to speak, Eric Mohnke suggested the the board look over all the information and talk about it at another time. The crowd erupted with 'NO!" Judith Huhn gave a talk that garnered applause from the crowd - saying that Eric was wrong and the board had to finally do something. There was a lot of chatter among the board members about the ordinance as written. Stephen Mahoney offered up his changes to the PPO. Marilyn Irrer asked the board's lawyer what he suggested the board do. He said the ordinance would be legal and could be amended at any time.
In a tricky move, Eric moved that the board approve the PPO. Then when asked to vote he said, "No, on advice of counsel." (Never mind that his counsel hadn't advised that.) Judith Huhn voted yes. Marilyn Irrer voted no, parroting Eric. Stephen Mahoney voted yes. Then, inexplicable to this writer, as she didn't speak the entire meeting, Arleita Schafer voted no. The disbelief, desperation, and frustration in the room was overwhelming.
This township board simply does not listen to its constituents. Please follow by email (on the upper right) to get updates directly in your inbox.
