Ford Motor Company's plans for a lithium iron phosphate battery production facility in Marshall, Michigan seemingly remain on track. On September 15, 2023, Judge William Marietti sided with Ford in a decision over potential rezoning of the site.

The case was brought by a citizens' group, Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite, a spokesman for which told Community Matters their ultimate goal was to put the building of the plant to a referendum in Marshall, hoping to stop construction and return the land to its original state.

The judge did not rule on a related issue regarding the Marshall clerk's decision that petition signatures obtained by the group were not valid.

Attorneys Robby Dube and Richard Lindsey, representing both sides, reacted to the decision by joining Community Matters in this discussion.

Episode Resources
BlueOval Battery Park Michigan website
Ford Careers website
Marshall, Michigan website
Marshall Township,  Michigan website
Ford Motor Company press release about BlueOval Battery Park Michigan
Choose Marshall-MAEDA website
CATL website
PA 425 Conditional Land Use Transfer Explained
Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite website
Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite Facebook page
Other battery plant and Community Matters episodes

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8-8:30 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.