ALBA — Star Township’s public hearing for an ordinance that would allow off-road vehicles on county roads in the Jordan River Valley is off.
The township’s website states the Oct. 7 public hearing is canceled, “pending further review,” signed by township Supervisor Robert Marsh. Star Township Clerk Phyllis Hoogerhyde acknowledged the meeting had been canceled by the township supervisor, but said she couldn’t speak for him as to why.
Several messages left for Marsh received no response by Friday.
Meanwhile, neighboring Chestonia Township’s trustees are set to redo their previous vote to allow ORVs on county roads in Jordan River Valley. They’ll meet Oct. 10 for both a public hearing and to vote again, since the township didn’t give notice to every municipality in Antrim County for their Sept. 9 meeting, as required by law.
Brian Kozminski, a fly fishing guide from Boyne City, said he believes opponents to the ordinance can change the minds of Chestonia officials, who previously voted 3-2 in favor.
“I think personally that’s why Star Township canceled,” he said. “I think they’re starting to feel it’s not going to be a great idea for the Jordan Valley, period.”
Kozminski attended Chestonia Township’s Sept. 9 meeting and an earlier public hearing, both of which drew crowds to the township’s former fire hall. Most audience members who spoke opposed allowing ORVs in the Jordan River Valley.
Chief among Kozminski’s and other opponents’ concerns is the potential for environmental damage to the pristine Jordan River and surrounding wetlands. The roads in question run close to the river — designated a natural river with special protections by the state — and ORV traffic could generate erosion and noise in the swath of state forestland.
While ORV riders in support of the changes brushed off the concerns as overblown, Kozminski said they need to think about how other riders could act.
“It’s not just you, it’s 1,000 other people who don’t do it the way you do it,” he said.
Prior to Chestonia’s redo vote, a group of area residents and conservation group representatives will meet for a town hall, Kozminski said. The Antrim Conservation District organized the meeting Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Alba High School Gym, 5935 Elm St.
Topics will include the valley’s history, environment, road maintenance, emergency service and law enforcement, according to a town hall poster.
Kozminski said the idea is to inform anyone who comes about the ordinance before Chestonia Township trustees vote on it again. He believes it could also help organize a united response to a proposal the state Department of Natural Resources and various conservation nonprofits oppose.
“We all have different players, but we just all wanted to be on the same page instead of everybody yelling at the same time,” he said.