COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to turn down a request from a property owner to annex nearly 40 acres of land from Quincy Township into the Village of Quincy. The votes against the annexation were cast by Tom Matthew, Leonard Kolcz and Tim Stoll. Voting in favor were Jon Houtz and Randall Hazelbaker. But the Commissioners voted in favor of a separate request to de-annex property in the village to Quincy Township. The action came after two public hearings were conducted this month.
The Quincy Township Board voted in opposition during a special meeting last month after there were concerns raised about possible cannabis businesses on the property in the future. Quincy Township is on record against marijuana operations while the Village of Quincy allows those facilities.
Hazelbaker questioned County Administrator Bud Norman about possible legal action that could be brought against the county by the landowner.
Kolcz said every public comment they received was against the annexation.
He also pointed out what has happened in Coldwater.
Property owner Ian Bernard said during the June 2 public hearing he bought the property several years ago strictly for development purposes long before the laws regarding marijuana were passed. He stated that he doesn’t have any specific plans for the property and there are no plans for a cannabis operation. Bernard added it would be beneficial for the property to be in the village for the availability of village utilities.
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