By Genine Hopkins
The regular Hayes Township meeting held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, drew a full house of over 50 people including special guests, in response to the potential GFL Transfer Station that would be built adjacent to the current location in the industrial park in the old Clare County Transit building. As the crowd began to grow, the meeting was moved from the normal meeting room to the basketball court of the recreation center to accommodate all those in attendance. The meeting went well into the 8 o’clock hour, ending almost to 9 p.m. Although the meeting was not the one that will take place in the future before the Planning Commission, the Hayes Township Board of Trustees allowed everyone present time to speak and ask questions.
Rick Fancon, of GFL, fielded most of the questions from concerned citizens, scared that there would be trash from around the Mid-Michigan area brought to the transfer station, should it be built, and that there would be increased traffic on Business127 due to the facility’s location.
Hayes Township’s Zoning Administrator, Andrew Goodman, was in attendance as well as Mr. Fancon, to clarify and explain how zoning in general works and how any process would move forward for any business looking to locate in the township. GFL is currently in the “idea phase” of any potential project. Fancon verified this is in the very early stages, with the idea just being floated about a month ago. Goodman went on to explain that the process is most likely at least a year away, perhaps a year and a half away from moving forward IF everything is approved.
“Any new business wanting to come into our township reaches out to me first,” Goodman explained, “We review our zoning ordinances and the location the business is seeking to locate and I explain the process, which begins then with an application that is reviewed by me and forwarded to the Planning Commission. There has to be notification of the Planning Commission meeting, there has to be notification to residents within 300 feet to the proposed business, and this all takes time.”
Hayes Township residents may recall the last time a business permit was rushed through over a decade ago, that cost township residents AND the new business too much in attorney fees and frustration. Most do NOT want to see this repeated again.
EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) will also need to approve any new use for the GFL business.
Many were unclear of the definition of a transfer station and also the proposed recycling center GFL will also include in their plans, for all Clare County residents to bring recyclable items. Currently, the GFL facility houses garbage pickup trucks and also performs repairs and maintenance on its fleet of rubbish trucks. With the expansion on the lot south of the current location, there would be a new building and also a small recycling center that will have a drive-up area for any such material. The new building will house a self-contained area for larger trucks to cart the regular rubbish truck materials to a waste facility. It will be fully enclosed and floors will be cleaned each night. Fancon also said that they use a pest control service for any rodents or insects that could be attracted to the material being transferred.
Fancon touted the employment growth for the community and increased revenue, as the township will be paid a fee by GFL per weight for what is transferred at the facility. Hayes Township Supervisor Brendan Powell, who wrote a letter in support of the facility as a resident but not board member, said increased revenues could be used to continue to improve the township.
“We have a number of people who would like the rec center open more often, that costs money,” Powell said, “We could use the extra revenue for doing that, as well as other improvements to services to the area.”
Many people in the crowd were not happy with the explanations.
Cid and Vicky, who live close by on Budd Lake, were concerned about the environmental impact as well as if GFL would come into the area, only to leave after a short time, since the plan is to stop GFL’s use of the Surrey Township Transfer Station once the Hayes Township facility in full operation.
“How do we know you won’t just pick up and leave after a decade?”
Resident John Parrish wanted to know if residents would then be required to recycle once the facility is built. Supervisor Powell responded that would not be happening.
Another resident named Mark, has created a website for information how to stop the facility. NoHayesTWPTransferFacility.carrd.co has a petition to halt further consideration of the transfer station. He questioned the board on what authority they have to make decisions for the people of the township.
“You guys have a duty to the residents, we are your bosses,” he told the board.
Tracy, who preferred as most people did to not have her last name used, questioned their protocol for lithium batteries, which cannot be recycled, however, many people dispose of them in their trash. Water cannot be used to combat any fire that starts because of a lithium battery. Fancon replied there is a fire suppression system to handle any chemical fires.
Those who were concerned about increased traffic to the area were told by Fancon that there should not be too much increased traffic, since the smaller trucks are already stored at the current facility and the larger trucks would be few and far in between.
“The trucks are already in Clare County,” Fancon said, “As trucks are increased they will be registered in the county so all monies collected in yearly registration fees will stay here in the county for road maintenance and repair.”
City of Harrison Manager Justin Cavanaugh was also on hand, and in addition to directing some of the responses he also suggested that concerned citizens put together a list of all their concerns and provide them to both GFL and the Planning Commission before there is a Planning Commission meeting so the township and GFL understand concerns and can work to alleviate them. He also reaffirmed Supervisor Powell’s response to a question on whether anyone in the township, city of Harrison, or county was personally benefitting from this plan, the response by both Powell and Cavanaugh was a resounding no.
Other concerns included property values – board members stated the Assessor determined minimal if any effect on property values – lighting, noise, and if fencing will be placed to better conceal the area. The facility would operate from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and fencing will be considered; the response on lighting was not given other than hours of operation, which, in the winter, would require some lighting.
Fancon finished his Q&A session with telling everyone that GFL would take all concerns into account.
“We want to be good neighbors,” he said, “This is our community too and we want to work together.”
