GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP – Grand Rapids Township zoning commission members are angry at the accusation by
Trustee George Foos that they have not met in about 18 months.
They attended the trustees’ meeting on Monday to challenge Foos’ estimation, published in the Aug. 31
edition of the Sentinel-Tribune, that "it had been about one-and-a-half years since its last
meeting." He made the comments following the trustees’ Aug. 24 meeting during which time zoning
questions were raised.
Foos’ comments were labeled "totally inaccurate and disrespectful to the commission," by Thomas
Sorosiak, a 22-year member, who spoke for those present. "We’ve had four meetings this year. Cary
Long gets those minutes after each and every meeting. Do you read the minutes?"
Sorosiak asked Foos if he would retract what he said about the commission. "What you stated … was
an outright lie. I sat there (at a trustees’ meeting) and told you we met. My minutes prove it. Cary
gets my minutes.
We’ve had four meetings plus I’ve attended one (trustees’) meeting. I thought maybe I’d hear, ‘I’m sorry,
Tom, I got it wrong.’"
Township Trustee George Limes turned to Foos and observed that it was the second or third time someone
has wanted to throw Foos out. "I don’t know how you got elected," he said.
But Foos stressed repeatedly there have been no changes in the township’s zoning codes in 17 years.
"Every January we cover this," he said, adding the trustees have copies of Weston Township’s
and Washington Township’s zoning ordinances to help as guides.
"We have these also," responded Sorosiak. "What works there does not work here."