After revisions were made by the Planning Commission, the final draft of Barry County’s new Master Plan went before the Board of Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday and was adopted.  The planning process started in early 2022.  Board Chairman David Jackson congratulated Jim McManus and the Planning Commission for completing the process, and announced that the new Barry County Master Plan has been selected by the Michigan Chapter of the American Planning Association as recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Best Practices Award.

Another topic that was brought up by Commissioner Mark Doster is the presence of Spongy Moths, formerly called Gypsy Moths, that are apparently becoming more prevalent in parts of the county.  The invasive yellow and black caterpillars emerge from tan, fuzzy egg masses and feed on leaves, causing stress and sometimes killing trees.  Persons who notice infestations on their property are urged to contact the Barry Conservation District so that they can gauge how widespread of a problem the pests are becoming.