By John Raffel
Correspondent
MCBAIN – The Missaukee County Board of Commissioers was expected to act at its finance committee meeting on Thursday on a request by the state Department of Natural Resources to appoint or confirm a representative to the Upper Manistee River Natural River Zoning Review Board.
It was pointed out the Upper Manistee River System was designated a state natural river in 2003 and the designation and the associated rules create an overlay natural river zoning district which extends 400 feet from each edge of the main stream and tributaries of the Upper Manistee River.
It was pointed out the fisheries division of the DNR runs the program.
It was further noted the zoning rules provides for appointment of a state zoning review board to act on requests for variances from the Natural River zone standards. The board consists of representatives from county and township governments, conservation districts, interested citizens and the DNR. Each county is given two regular and two alternate representatives on the board.
The regular representatives serve as voting members on all variance applications from within their county. An alternate services as a voting member when a regular member is not able to attend a meeting.
Current primary members on the board from Missaukee County are Hubert Zuiderveen and Len Bridson.