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EDWARDSBURG — The Edwardsburg Village Council met for their September regular board meeting on Monday for updates and action on a variety of village business items.

In response to concerns about the increased use of Gunn Park and facilities at Pleasant Lake, Village President Dennis Peak said that he would ask staff to monitor the area for additional trash or litter. He also noted that community clean-up efforts, such as work by local Boy Scouts, were continuing and asked anyone using the facilities to do their part in helping keep them clean.

“It really hasn’t been bad at all,” said Peak, noting the community’s efforts to police itself.

It was also reported that new benches and trashcans with wildlife protections had been installed in the park and that the permit for a fishing pier had been submitted, with hopes to have the structure installed before the end of autumn.

Brown’s Tree Service will be removing several trees around the village. The trees were deemed dangerous in a recent arborist review. The trees, located at Church and Cass Streets, Elkhart Road, and Hamilton and Lake Streets, will be removed at a cost totalling $7,200. A sidewalk at Maple Street, damaged by a fallen tree, will also be repaired at a cost of $1,200.

The new online water reporting system approved by the council in May is operating and currently in the final phase of troubleshooting. The system will allow for more accurate regulatory reporting and minimize staff time in collecting such data. Staff will also be able to spend less time sampling and testing water due to the implementation of the new water plant. 

Work continues in Edwardsburg Cemetery to repair damage from spring tornadoes. Cemetery Craftsmen LLC will be paid $7500 for the restoration of headstones damaged in the storms, with $5000 being reimbursed to the Village by insurance. Consumers Concrete will be paid $2,259.50 for concrete used in the restoration, as well as for foundations for cemetery benches and the new columbarium. The cemetery board is currently working on a free structure for the columbarium. The council also discussed storm damage on adjacent properties. Though visible, the storm debris exists on private property just outside of the cemetery.

A public hearing will take place at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20 regarding members of the Planning Commission who have exceeded the allowed number of meeting absences. The hearing, as indicated in by-laws, will allow the members to speak on their own behalf regarding their attendance. The village council has the option to excuse the absences or possibly remove members of the commission.

The planning commission also put forward an Off Road Vehicle ordinance, which was approved by the council. The ordinance allows for the operation of ORVs within the village, with the exception of roadways under state jurisdiction, and gives local police the ability to enforce traffic violations.

The council approved Amended Ordinance 2022-02, updating rules for door to door sales in Edwardsburg. Once effective, the ordinance will prohibit the door to door sale of merchandise, medicine, remedies, manufactured goods or services.

Edwardsburg will be submitting for a grant through the State of Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity. The funds, if awarded, would be used to hire someone to write additional grants for the village to help funding for a variety of needs.

Trustees briefly discussed the future of village-owned properties, including the old library building and the possibility of getting input from village residents.

• The Edwardsburg Chamber of Commerce announced the Edwardsburg Fall Festival and Art Fair, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Edwardsburg Fire Department, and the Sauk Trail Festival by the Edwardsburg Area Historical Museum.
• The Edwardsburg High School Homecoming Parade was approved for Friday, Oct. 10.
• Halloween hours were established for Friday, October 31st from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The next regular village council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 at the village hall.