Three Oaks Township
Special Meeting
September 22, 2009

On Tuesday, September 22, 2009 members of the Three Oaks Township Planning Commission met 
with various officials of the Village of Three Oaks concerning the direction or lack of 
the Three Oaks Township Industrial Park.  Those in attendance from the Three Oaks Township 
Planning Commission were; Jackson, Klute, Kramer, Mangold, Mitchell, Seifert and Snyder.  
Attending from the Village of Three Oaks were: Village President Dave Grosse, Village 
Planning Commission Chair Gene Svebakken and Secretary Zoe Elrick and Mike Merlo from 
the general public.

The purpose of the meeting was to develop some new ideas on the future of the Industrial 
Park.  One of the main questions brought out was "Is an Industrial Park feasible?"  The 
property, consisting of 67 acres, was purchased by the Township over 10 years ago.  
Advertising and consultant fees were paid to South-West Michigan Business Alliance with 
no tangible results.  No infrastructure, such as water or sewer, has been added to the 
property.  For the past several years the Township has leased the property to a local 
farmer to grow crops.  Many expressed a concern that without infrastructure in place 
the property will likely remain empty.  Gene Svebakken urged those present to "keep 
an open mind" about how the property could be used.  The Village of Three Oaks is 
already in the early phases of a visioning process, administrating a survey, seeking 
input on longer range economic development ideas.

There was a general consensus that a "study committee" need to be formed.  It was 
suggested that the study committee consist of three members of both the Village of 
Three Oaks and Township Planning Commissions.  Additional members from the business 
or general public could be added.  Mangold is to contact Township Consultant Jay 
Killpatrick regarding a strategy concept and costs related to such a project to 
present to the Three Oaks Township Board of Trustees for their approval.  The study 
group will then develop step-by-step strategies to implement any proposals it hopes 
to advance.  Once the study committee is established public input on development 
needs and conceptual plans will be actively sought.


Respectfully submitted,
George A. Mangold