Kingsford public meetings in 2023
8 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission met and approved the minutes and agenda. They reviewed and graded capital improvement requests submitted by department heads for the 2025/2030 Capital Improvement Plan. The commission also voted to cancel the December meeting due to the Christmas holiday.
- Reviewed 2025/2030 Capital Improvement Plan requests
- Graded CIP requests from department heads
- Voted to cancel December 25 meeting (Christmas Day)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission voted unanimously to support proposed ordinance #298, which would ban livestock and fowl in residential zones, with a required setback of 500 feet from a residence. The decision followed a resident's complaint about a neighbor's animals causing noise and odor. The commission also discussed the timeline for enforcement and continued a review of the Capital Improvement Plan.
- Unanimous support for ordinance #298 banning livestock and fowl in residential areas, with 500-foot setback
- Resident Nicole Dorman reported neighbor's pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, and horse causing noise and odor
- Commission to enforce removal of goats and pigs under current ordinance
- Pigeons left as is; no change to existing rules
- CIP process update; discussion to continue in September
The Planning Commission voted to support proposed ordinance #298, which bans livestock and fowl in residential zones. The commission modified the required distance for farm animals from 200 feet to 500 feet from a property. The commission decided to leave existing rules regarding pigeons unchanged.
- Supported proposed ordinance #298 to ban livestock and fowl in residential areas (Unanimous)
- Changed required distance for farm animals from 200ft to 500ft from a property (Unanimous)
- Decided to leave rules regarding pigeons as is
- Approved July 24, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved the meeting agenda (Unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission met and approved minutes and agenda. They discussed several unfinished business items, including the conditional hire of a cadet, adding a second SRO officer at Breitung Township Schools, the success of the city-wide rummage sale, and starting the next capital improvement plan. No public hearings or public comments were held.
- Conditional hire of 4" Cadet Rebecca Person
- Second SRO officer at Breitung Township Schools
- City-wide rummage sale success
- Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-2030
The commission approved the minutes from the May 24, 2023 meeting and the current agenda. Discussions were held regarding a cadet hire, a second SRO officer for Breitung Township Schools, and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
- Approved May 24, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda (Unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission met and approved minutes and agenda. They discussed several unfinished business items, including the conditional hiring of a cadet, adding a second school resource officer, and the success of the city-wide rummage sale. No public hearings or public comments were held.
- Conditional hire of 4" Cadet Rebecca Person
- Second SRO officer at Breitung Township Schools
- City-wide rummage sale held June 10
- Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-2030 to be started next meeting
The commission approved the minutes from the May 24, 2023 meeting and the current agenda. Discussions were held regarding a cadet hire, a second SRO officer for Breitung Township Schools, and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
- Approved May 24, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda (Unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission discussed and amended a proposed ordinance regulating outdoor wood furnaces. Changes include reducing the minimum lot size from 2 acres to 1 acre, increasing the required setback from neighboring property lines from 150 to 200 feet, and giving public safety the right to extinguish fires in cases of noxious smoke. The commission did not hold public hearings or address other business.
- Minimum lot size for outdoor furnaces changed from 2 acres to 1 acre
- Setback from neighboring property lines increased from 150 to 200 feet
- Public safety authorized to extinguish fires in cases of noxious smoke
- Commissioner Flaminio expressed concern that the ordinance as presented was essentially a ban
- Meeting minutes from April 24, 2023, approved unanimously
The Planning Commission updated the proposed outdoor wood furnace ordinance. Changes include adjusting minimum lot size and setback requirements and clarifying public safety's role in managing noxious smoke.
- Approved April 24, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda as amended (Unanimous)
- Changed outdoor furnace minimum lot size from 2 acres to 1 acre
- Changed outdoor furnace setback from 150 feet to 200 feet from nearest property line intersection
- Changed nuisance clause to grant public safety the right to extinguish fires in the event of noxious smoke
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission met on April 24, 2023, and approved the previous meeting's minutes and the agenda. They discussed sponsoring three PSO trainee candidates at the NMU Police Academy, an update on the Heights project where bids exceeded expectations by over a million dollars, and other items like a city-wide rummage sale and centennial entertainment. No public hearings were held, and the outdoor furnace issue was deferred to the May meeting.
- Sponsoring 3 PSO trainee candidates at NMU Police Academy (Andrew Mann, Trevor Povolo, Tobiahas Wheeler)
- Heights project bids over a million dollars above anticipated, loan negotiations underway
- City-wide rummage sale scheduled for June 10
- Centennial entertainment update with various artists
- Outdoor furnace concerns deferred to May meeting
The commission approved the March 27, 2023, meeting minutes and the amended agenda. No substantive policy decisions were made; the meeting consisted of updates on PSO trainee candidates, Heights Projects bids, and centennial entertainment.
- Approved March 27, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved amended agenda (Unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission met and unanimously recommended a revised outdoor wood furnaces ordinance to the City Council. They also received updates on the Pine Grove Heights water/sewer project, the Kingsford Centennial event, and a new hiring process to fill three public safety vacancies.
- Recommended outdoor wood furnaces ordinance to City Council
- Update on Pine Grove Heights water/sewer project and bidding process
- Kingsford Centennial event ticket reminder
- New hiring process for 3 public safety vacancies, including sponsoring 3 individuals for the Police Academy
The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended a revised ordinance regarding outdoor wood furnaces. The commission also received updates on the Heights Water/Sewer Project, the Kingsford Centennial event, and a new hiring process for public safety vacancies.
- Approved January 23, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda (Unanimous)
- Recommended outdoor wood furnace ordinance to City Council (Unanimous)
Planning Commission
The Kingsford Planning Commission held its January 23, 2023 meeting, approving minutes and agenda, and reorganizing leadership for 2023. The main new business was a discussion about outdoor wood furnaces, prompted by a complaint, leading to a unanimous motion to have the City Attorney review and draft an ordinance. No public hearings or unfinished business were on the agenda.
- Mark Spencer appointed Chairperson for 2023
- Floyd Lindholm appointed Vice Chairperson for 2023
- Mike Stelmaszek appointed Secretary for 2023
- Motion to have City Attorney review and work on outdoor wood furnace ordinance
- Discussion referenced City of Norway's outdoor wood furnace ordinance
The Planning Commission appointed its Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary for 2023. The commission also voted to have the City Attorney review and develop an ordinance regarding outdoor wood furnaces.
- Appointed Mark Spencer as Chairperson for 2023 (Unanimous)
- Appointed Floyd Lindholm as Vice Chairperson for 2023 (Unanimous)
- Appointed Mike Stelmaszek as Secretary for 2023 (Unanimous)
- Approved moving an outdoor wood furnace ordinance to the City Attorney for review (Unanimous)