With one of its biggest decisions scheduled to occur at its Wednesday, Dec. 19 meeting, the makeup of the Elmwood Township Zoning Board of Appeals will not change.

The Elmwood Township Board Tuesday unanimously reappointed two members whose terms were expiring to the five-member township ZBA. During a four-hour meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of a member of the township Planning Commission, which for budgetary reasons is being reduced from seven to five members.

Reappointed to three-year terms on the ZBA were board representative and trustee Jim O'Rourke, and 12-year member and recently appointed chair Gary R. Bergstrom.

Bergstrom, an attorney who works in Elmwood Township, prepared a letter dated Oct. 29 seeking reappointment — and affirming that he takes his position seriously.

"I believe that the work that I and other members of the ZBA perform is very important to the township and as with all the other long-time members of the board, I take my work for the township very seriously," he wrote.

Other ZBA members are Jeff Aprill, also chair of the township Planning Commission, John Riegling and John Sutton. George Preston, the husband of township clerk Connie Preston, is the designated alternate should one of the regular members not be able to attend.

The big decision that the ZBA must make involves a proposed electrical substation off M-72 near the landmark windmill. The ZBA is being asked by two neighbors of the proposed site if the project falls under a category of "essential services" within the township Zoning Ordinance. Agreeing with the former township zoning administrator's assessment — which was recommended by the township attorney — would essentially exempt the substation from township zoning requirements.

The ZBA has one other item on its agenda that affects a long-time television station located just east of the substation site.

TV 7 & 4 is seeking to convert a garage on its site into office space, which under the township Zoning Ordinance would require a total of 88 parking spaces on the site, according to Elmwood community planner Bill Swanson. Currently, only 58 spots exist.

However, a provision in the ordinance allows exceptions for businesses like TV 7&4 that utilize split shifts for employees, should the ZBA concur.

Swanson said the television station also plans to increase handicapped accessibility to its workplace and offices.

The township Planning Commission is down to six members after the board accepted the resignation of Ken Shugart, who cited personal reasons for his decision. The board earlier this month sought to reduce the number of commissioners from seven to five in an effort to save about $2,000 in wages.

Township supervisor Derith Smith said the commission could be reduced by one more member through attrition. The terms of members Aprill and Steven VanZoeren are due to expire in May, at which time just one will likely be reappointed.