Drone usage will require a permit under the new ordinance.
A proposed Schoolcraft Township ordinance to regulate motorized and manned or unmanned aircraft in public parks did not take flight at the Board’s March 10 meeting after the Board tabled it.
The ordinance, proposed by the Planning Commission, was presented to the Board by Trustee Tamra Stafford, who is on the commission.
“We wanted a safe environment for all activities every day,” she said of the reasoning behind the ordinance. “The Commission had extensive discussions about the ordinance.” voicing concern about children in the park possibly being injured by one of the aircraft.
Stafford also said that Justin Ferrell, Parks and Recreation director, had done research and worked with the township attorney on the ordinance.
The proposed ordinance would require users of drones to obtain a special permit license, good for one-time use.
After a lengthy discussion which included questions about the use of e-bikes and some seeming contradictions in the ordinance, the Board tabled it.
Later in the meeting during public comment time on agenda items, township resident Justin Fox, a powered paraglider pilot and instructor, spoke on behalf of several paraglider pilots who attended the meeting.
Operating under Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the pilots have been flying out of the Township’s Swan Park since 2018. There have been no safety incidents in that time, he said.
The proposed ordinance prohibits manned aircraft unless a permit is granted. It specifically names powered paragliders in its definition of manned aircraft.
In a letter to the Board, Fox said, “As currently written, the proposed ordinance regulating motorized vehicles and aircraft in public parks would prohibit our activity except during specially permitted events. This would effectively eliminate the ability for our group to continue the safe and responsible recreational use of Swan Park that has existed for many years.”
In his remarks to the Board, Fox noted that the pilots’ use of the park happens once or twice a week and in the early morning or evening hours.
“We’d be happy to work with the Township,” he said. “We just ask that it doesn’t limit activities we’ve enjoyed for years.”
Alexis Quintana, a paragliding pilot, presented the Board with a packet of information about powered powergliding.
“We don’t want to lose a spot that’s special to us,” she said. She and Fox train powergliding pilots in the summer and repair equipment during the winter for various users, even those from other countries.
The pilots also hold a “fly-in” each year to raise money for the VFW and Vicksburg High School, Fox added. They have raised $20,000 at these events held at Thrall Lake Airport.
In other business, the Board approved switching the township’s lawn care-snow plowing contract to Needham Landscaping which will save the Township about $20,000 a year. Stafford noted that it’s the Board’s duty to go with the low bid.
She also said Needham has a 4.7 out of 5 rating while the company they’ve been using has a 2.6 rating.
Clerk Eska Brown expressed concern because Needham doesn’t have any experience in mowing and plowing in cemeteries which she described as a “whole different ball game.”
Trustee Jennifer Sportel said that the extremely low bid sends up red flags.
“As much as I like to save money, that lower bid amount concerns me,” she said.
After the discussion, the Board voted 3-2 to go with Needham.
The Board discussed a remodeling of the Township Hall’s entryway which would include installing ADA handicapped accessible doors, moving the clerk’s door, and installing a glass window with talk ports and pass-through drawers at the front desk.
The Board approved a bid of approximately $13,000 for the remodeling from Blodgett Construction.
Brown reminded the Board that the construction can’t start until after the May 5 election.
Reporting from the Planning Commission, Stafford said members discussed a short-term rental ordinance which is currently in the hands of the attorney. The Commission has also discussed battery storage facilities and they are learning about all the related issues including setbacks, noise, and zoning.
From the Parks and Recreation Committee, Stafford reported that members are in the process of applying for the Recreation Passport Grant through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which can provide up to $150,000 for park upgrades and maintenance. The deadline for the grant is April 1.
If they receive the grant, the Township would pay up front for the projects and then would be reimbursed for their expenses.
Much of the new business at the meeting revolved around approving service providers for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
They also approved salaries for the three employees. Supervisor Don Ulsh will be receiving $58,000; Clerk Eska Brown, $63,000; and Treasurer Teresa Scott, $63,000. This represents a five percent increase.
The Board set a meeting date of April 16 at 4 p.m. for a Fire Authority Budget workshop. The meeting is open to the public.
“We need to determine how we will finance our part of the Fire Authority budget,” said Scott.
Prior to April 1, 2026, six municipalities contributed to the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority (SKCFA) budget. However, as of April 1, Brady and Wakeshma townships have pulled out of the Authority, leaving the four remaining entities – Schoolcraft and Prairie Ronde townships and villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg – to fund the authority budget.
