Skip Schulz/For the Gazette Mike Rebholz, who was denied appointment to the Ontonagon Planning Commission at the Feb. 10 council meeting, was appointed at this past week’s council meeting.

ONTONAGON — The village council retracted a decision they made in not appointing Mike Rebholz to the Planning Commission. Rebholz received a majority vote to fill one of two openings on the commission.

Rebholz addressed the council with his experience in a housing project in Madison, Wisconsin.

“The community development, with the goal of affordable, middle-income housing to first-time home buyers,” Rebholz said.

He stated that the project was to provide an alternative way to build equity.

“That housing co-op is still in existence,” he said.

The village resident also talked about a development committee he served on for a major expansion of a grocery co-op in Madison.

“I have committee experience and understand how to work in a group,” he said. “I (have) owned my own business for 40 years. I’m an architectural photographer and work directly and close with planners, developers, preservationists, architects, and builders.”

Carol Maas spoke in support of Rebholz.

“I am here tonight to support Mike Rebholz,” she said. “I was dismayed that Mike’s application was rejected and hope you will reconsider that position. Mike brings to Ontonagon a larger network of colleagues and friends that he has already packing into for ideas and advice, and tested solutions that can help our village plan for the future.”

“For me I have no problem with Mr. Rebholz,” said Trustee Mike Mogen. “The problem that we (have) on our council is his stated position that we change our zoning to allow commercial marijuana sales in downtown Ontonagon. Part of the Planning Commission is zoning recommendations. That’s where I have the problem.”

“The council voted to not allow that,” said Trustee Hopper, who had previously pushed for allowing retail sales of marijuana within village limits. “I respected that decision.”

Hopper stated that she has not challenged that decision and the decision to appoint Rebholz, “has nothing to do with that.”

Mogen pointed out that this issue can be brought up again at future meetings, to which President Tony Smydra agreed.  

“To change anything, it would require a majority vote on the council, and on some things it would take a two-thirds majority vote,” Smydra said.

At the Feb. 10 meeting, Hopper, Chastain and Smydra supported Rebholz’s appointment to the Planning Commission. Those three also supported the original motion last year to allow a retail marijuana business in the village. A decision that Smydra changed his mind about after a number of village residents spoke in opposition to allowing a marijuana business in the village.

With Smydra changing his mind, the village decided to opt out of allowing a marijuana business to locate in the village.

At this week’s meeting, Trustee Maureen Guzek, who voted against appointing Rebholz at the prior meeting, changed her mind and supported the appointment. While Mogen voted against the appointment again, the council voted 5-2 in support of the appointment.

Arnie Bolo was appointed to the Recreation Commission, Dorothy Phillips to the Housing Commission, and J.R. Richardson was appointed to the Marina Commission. All appointments were approved unanimously.

The council also discussed having a term of three years for all commission appointments. The council also approved establishing ad hoc committees on village documents and the fire department.

The council unanimously approved the abandonment of Balsam Avenue so that Don Kullis can build a new home.