Adrian, MI – Lenawee County and several members of the Amish community are in the process of working together to possibly settle several cases brought forward by the County Health Department about storage and removal of human waste, water well concerns, and storage of greywater on their properties.
Richard Shultee with Wright & Shultee, out of Ohio, and the Michigan ACLU are representing the Amish community in Lenawee County Circuit Court. John Gillooly is representing the County.
A final pretrial hearing took place in the Courtroom of Judge Anna Marie Anzalone on Friday. WLEN News spoke with both sides after the hearing. Shultee said that both parties are talking, and are hopeful to find a solution that would protect the Amish way of life. He also said that there are motions pending that they think could be decided in their favor, but did not disclose what they were on Friday. Shultee also said that in the meantime, they will continue talks with the County.
Gillooly said that Lenawee County offered the defendants a confidential settlement last week, and will enter mediation in June if needed. He said that the goal is to continue working with the Amish community to get the case settled, but acknowledged that both parties will have to do some movement.
The county believes that there’s no religious discrimination, whatsoever. They believe that the ordinances in place protect those who live on the property and downstream.
Gillooly said that they will not shy away from a trial if settlement negotiations are unsuccessful.
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*NOTE: the image featured in this article is not from Lenawee County. It is a stock image*