By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS - A development with more than 100 high quality homes could bring more children to Cassopolis schools and money into the community.
Daryl Knip of The Abonmarche Group of South Bend, Ind., described the plans for 115 lots off Park Shore Drive which Weiss Homes would like to bring to Cassopolis to the Village Council Monday evening.
Many of the homes will have golf course views with sidewalks. A pond is also in the plans.
Members of the audience and Trustee Bob Yoder requested Trustee Walter Malone resign, following his guilty plea for election fraud, adding he has been “disrespectful to the village president.” Malone refused, saying he has “good ideas and probably more experience,” than others on the council.
Comments from the audience and back and forth discussion between council members, took up the first hour of the meeting, which went well past its scheduled 9 p.m. ending time.
In other business:
Ronald Bass was approved as the new Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent at a salary of $40,000. He has been interim superintendent since Dan Bates left that position.
The law firm of Plunkett &Cooney of Kalamazoo was hired to represent the village as its attorney. Attending the meeting were Robert Callahan and Rachel Foster. The board at a previous meeting had let go the former attorney, Frank DeFrancesco.
The council will return unused housing grant money of $19,399 to the state. Though it is too late for application for spring grants, Clerk Paula Beauchamp said, they will be able to apply for additional grants this fall.
Beauchamp also told the council the books are up to date and the auditors will be in this week, with the audit to be completed by the end of March.
President Michelle Andrews is accepting applications from interested community members who would like to serve on committee, such as parks and recreation.