Rock River Township to potentially repeal zoning ordinance
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MARQUETTE -- The Rock River Township Planning Commission has scheduled a meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Rock River Township Hall in Chatham to receive public comment on two actions proposed by the township board: rescinding Rock River Township's rental ordinance, and rescinding the entire zoning ordinance.
This action comes after several members of the township government were involved in a lawsuit against the township, as well as involved in a petition requesting signatures to repeal the zoning ordinance.
"Rock River Township is being sued by Wilderness Canyon LLC, a company partially owned by Jim Rondeau, our current township trustee, and Jon Rondeau, the current chair of the planning commission," said Rowan Bunce, current alternate for the board of review in Rock River Township and former board trustee and liaison to the planning commission.
"Wilderness Canyon LLC is suing over a long-running zoning dispute about a parking lot and convenience store on the edge of Rock River Canyon Wilderness Area."
This information was confirmed by current Rock River Township Planning Commission member Tammy Shega.
Rock River Canyon Wilderness Area is the site of the popular Eben ice caves destination. The Wilderness Canyon Facebook page describes itself as "(a) Newly developed recreation area for the visitors of the Eben ice caves, providing parking for 250 vehicles and restroom facilities."
"The litigation and heavy reliance on our township attorney has created an approximately $11,000 in attorney costs in the last two years," said Bunce.
"These costs are now being used as a reason to remove zoning and planning completely for our township, citing that it has become too expensive and tenuous for our township to afford.
"Jim and Jon Rondeau have been in regular contact with our township attorney Roger Zappa and have contributed to the large costs. Wilderness Canyon LLC will benefit greatly from the removal of zoning restrictions."
If the township's zoning ordinance is repealed, the zoning dispute between Wilderness Canyon LLC and the township would be obsolete.
"At the last public hearing Victor Aho (township trustee and planning commission liaison) submitted a list of names in favor of removing zoning and motioned for 'the complete removal of zoning,' said Bunce.
This statement by Bunce was confirmed by the Aug. 18 Rock River Township Board meeting minutes, which states "A motion was made by Victor Aho to formally refer the proposal to completely repeal the Rock River Township zoning ordinance and planning commission to the planning commission directing them to set a date and publish notice for the mandatory statutory public hearing."
"Yes" votes on Aho's motion, when brought to the Board, included Jim Rondeau and Victor Aho. The only "No" vote came from Township Supervisor Gerry Melchori.
"That motion (By Aho) was walked back to a public hearing on Sept. 14 at the regular planning commission meeting at 7 p.m.," said Bunce. "There is already a public hearing scheduled at that meeting for the repeal of our township short term rental ordinance. So it will be a long meeting."
The "list of names" Bunce referenced Aho submitting at the meeting comes from a petition circulated by Aho, Ron LeJeune and Alicia Charlebois, which reads "Petition to the Rock River Township Board of Trustees request for public hearing to repeal the township zoning ordinance:
"We, the undersigned registered voters and/or property owners of Rock River Township, Alger County, Michigan, formally petition the Rock River Township Board to initiate the legislative process to completely repeal the Rock River Township Zoning Ordinance and transition our community to a non-zoned township.
"By signing below, we state our support for restoring absolute private property rights, fostering decentralized economic growth and removing unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions on housing and local business."
The petition received at least 24 signatures.
The Rock River Township Board of Trustees also received a Notice of Demand from Thomas Schierkolk, a pastor and former Rock River Township Clerk who was removed by the State Bureau of Elections after insisting on hand-counting ballots in the 2024 general election. The incident was featured in The New York Times.
The notice reads, "Please take notice that the people have assembled and consulted, and now realize the current form of township government as regulated by Michigan public acts, is not the form of government the People have brought in their Michigan Constitution, and to which you are bound in trust."
"…Please take notice that any (legislative) statutory law repugnant to the Michigan Constitution is void and not to be followed"
"…Please take notice that the Michigan Constitution clearly reserves the duty of self-governance to the People, with inalienable right to instruct their township trustee/servants in administering their will."
"…Please take final notice (that) the People of Rock River Township have the inherent right to regulate land use and commerce within the boundaries of Rock River Township to protect their community and property, ensuring control over local land use to prevent irreparable harm and adverse effects to private property ..."
The notice is dated Aug. 16.
When contacted about the potential rescinding of the township's zoning ordinance, planning commission chair and Wilderness Canyon LLC partial owner Jon Rondeau said the following:
"During the Aug. 18, 2026 Rock River Township board meeting, a motion was passed to direct the planning commission to set a date for a public hearing on the full repeal of the township’s zoning ordinance. The date for the hearing is Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Rock River Township hall in Chatham.
"There were many reasons discussed (for potentially repealing the ordinance) ... The planning commission will hold the public hearing, take public comment and offer recommendations to the board in a future meeting."
Jim Rondeau declined to comment.
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.