Watertown landfill Citizens to give up fight? The fighting might be through In southern Clinton County. said, It appears that the new Watertown sanitary landfill will "You are asked to go against the decisions of both the begin operation Sept. 15, on schedule, without a bitter court Watertown Township board of trustees and the Watertown Town­ struggle between Vector Construction Company and Watertown ship planning board and the people in the area," Wells told the residents. board. The landfill site will be in operation for up to seven years He said that tax base would suffer since "people Just before the land is reclaimed as a recreational area. The com­ won't be building homes in the area." pany's plans call for the construction of a nine-hole golf course Wells said that there were no provisions for traffic control - once their seven-year special permit expires, in the landfill area, and that the tract in question would be Bruce Love, of Vector Construction Company, had told the visible from Interstate 96. Clinton County Board of Commissioners In August that the Louis Smith, an attorney representing the construction project could be completed in five years, speeding up the golf company, told commissioners at the time that there were course construction plans. sanitary landfill laws in effect to govern this type of operation. Watertown residents have been protesting the landfill project When'the final arguments were completed the board voted since May when township trustees voted to squelch the plan. 8-3 to overrule Coffey and the planning commission and refuse However, the Clinton County zoning administrator William to issue the permit. Coffey approved the area for landfill purposes and was supported The decision was challenged at the Aug. 5 commissioners by the county planning commission. meeting when Love spoke to the board assuring them that all The landfill became a county-wide issue when representatives of Clinton County could be included in the project. from the construction company and area residents met head-on He said that his firm had posted a $40,000 bond to assure during a county board of commissioners meeting June 15. completion of the work. Coffey presented the plans for the 80-acre tract along Grand Representatives from the Watertown area again sat In on River near the Interstate 96 interchange. The first step was to the meeting protesting the reopening of discussion on the landfill change the zoning from residential to agricultural and to secure plan. Aerial view of the controversial Watertown Township sanitary landfill project (within dotted a special use permit for a seven-year period. • This time three commissioners, Claude Underhill, Rex lines) that will begin operation Sept.^ 15. Located between Interstate 96 and Grand River Avenue, one- After Coffey's explanation, the opposing sides bombarded Slrrine, and Gerald L. Lankford, switched their "no* votes to quarter mile west of the interchange, the landfill is owned by Vector Construction Company of Clinton the commissioners with pleas and counter-charges. "yes," and swayed the vote 6-5 to approve the project. Representatives from the Watertown area told commissioners During the Aug. 26 commissioners meeting, citizens and County. In lower left corner are two homeowners, but main source of opposition has been voiced from that the project would be too far south to benefit Clinton County, officials from the landfill area arrived to protest the switch­ residents to the north (left top area). The site will be turned into a golf course when the landfill is but would be an asset to the metropolitan Lansing area, ing of votes by the three commissioners. completed, according to public officials. Richard Wells, a St. Johns attorney who represented the No formal action, outside of hearing the Complaints, was citizens called the landfill a "dump," "This dump will greatly taken. Impede the value of the property and homes in that area," he Continued on Page 2A Bike day Sept. 19 Bicycle safety instruction, check points highlight week A comprehensive bicycle In addition, Rev. Hugh Banninga proper operation of their wheels safety program is underway in of the St. Johns Episcopal Church while In motion. I urge them to St. Johns, backed by a local civic and city police Sgt. Lyle French make the necessary adjustments group, police department and the will travel to each elementary upon discovering any defects in school system. school talking with students about their equipment. 115th Year, No. 19 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1970 15 CENTS A bicycle safety check program bicycle safety. will be held Sept. 19 at four St. French will explain the rules "I further urge police and Johns locations, in an effort to and laws of safe bicycling. Each school authorities to support this teach young bike riders road student will receive a bike care effort to make every street in safety rules and maintenance of pamphlet, rules of riding, and a the City of St. Johns as safe a safe machine. decal for the bicycle. as humanly possible and thusadd Ovid Labor Day crash Mrs. Paul Maples, spokes­ The week of Sept. 13 has al­ to the happiness and enjoyment woman for the civic group People ready been declared Bicycle of all members of the community. Who Care, said Thursday that Safety Week by St. Johns Mayor injures three seriously each bicycle will be individually Robert H. Wood. "It is only through the alert­ In,proclaiming the special ness, vigilance, and interest of checked and' those passing will t It was a quiet Labor Day into the path of ft camper-truck be issued a certificate stating week, Wood said, "I earnestly call every citizen of St^ Johns that upon all residents of St. Johns Bicycle Safety Week can achieve weekend in Clinton County. operated by Hager. the bicycle is in. safe riding The sun was shining and many , The crash splattered debris condition. to join in a vigorous and or­ itst worthy end, and I therefore ganized effort to promote greater call upon every citizen to give families took the free day to over a wide area of the roadway, The four city locations for the their voluntary and wholehearted drive in the country. leaving the camper on its side safety check are Swegles Street safety for all bicycle riders in i this city. support to this collective effort." But the quiet was shattered in the ditch, School, East Ward School, Per- Monday < afternoon for a Clinton rin Palmer School and the St. "I seek the cooperation of all Mrs. Maples said that the children will be taught 12 basic County man and an Ann Arbor All three victims were taken Johns Park swimming pool park­ owners of bicycles in having their couple. ' to Clinton Memorial Hospital ing lot. vehicles inspected to assure safety rules during the program. She said the rules were to where their condition was not None as yet have died, but made public, however sheriff's observe all traffic regulations, all are hospitalized in serious Clinton, la. man keep far to the right, ride in a deputies believe their Injuries condition the result of a head- serious. straight line, be alert, listen for on car-truck collision on traffic, give pedestrians the right Meridian Road, one-half mile Det. Sgt. Richard May, of the Tom McEleney joins of way, slow down at intersec­ north of Price Road. sheriff's department, said he Is tions, have and use a clear, loud waiting to question Bunce, who horn or bell, never hitch rides on -has remained in a semi-con­ other vehicles, never carry other Dozens of curious spectators lined the road watching ambu­ scious state since Monday after­ News editorial staff riders or packages that obstruct noon. vision, keep the bike in good lances and wreckers do their mechanical shape, and see and unnerving tasks, as Clinton Tom McEleney can't seem to He is single and resides at be seen. County sheriff deputies tried to No violations were citedpend- get away from Clinton County. 306 S. Lansing St., St. Johns. aid -the Injured and control the ing further investigation. In another crash near St, Johns A former Clinton, Ia.(CHnton Mrs. Maples indicated that if crowd. County) resident, McEleney, 24, Injured in the accident were Monday, Robert Hall, 25, 2110 parents would explain some of Miller Raod, Niles told deputies joined the Clinton County News these bicycle safety rules to George Bunce, 58, R-5 Shep- editorial staff last week as a ardsville Road, St. Johns, George that a coat slipped off his motor­ general assignment reporter. their children many of the prob­ cycle and became tangled in the lems encountered by the 1,600 Hager, 67, 114 E. Davis St., Ann Arbor. spokes. Before coming to St. Johns, bicycles in the city could be he was the editor of the Jackson eliminated. He said it caused him to lose Citizen-Patriot youth page and a She cited some cityordinances According to sheriff's de­ control and run into a ditch along reporter for the Flint Journal. that prohibittheridingofbicycles puties, Bunce was allegedly U.S. 27, one-half mile north of McEleney attended high school on downtown streets and demand traveling at a high rate of speed Klnley Road. at the Marmion Military that all vehicles be registered Part of the debris littering the countryside, the aftermath of a spectacular when he saw an auto ahead on with the police department and northbound Meridian Road mak­ Injured in the accident was his Acadamy in Aurora," 111, and was car-truck collision on Meridian Road near Price Road in Ovid Township8 & a journalism student at St.