Two cows, no barn: Alaiedon township leaves farmer in a bind

A mid-Michigan farmer says he followed the rules when he wanted to build a barn. And now he is suing Alaiedon Township officials who won’t let him build the structure.

Greg Ingle, owner of Benedictus Farms, filed a complaint July 23 in Ingham County Circuit Court. Ingle claims the township stopped his project by passing a new ordinance after he had already obtained permission from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Ingle says in his suit that Steve Lott, the township supervisor, denied his permit request April 11.

2025-07-23 Verified Complaint for Injunctive Relief (ICCC 25-3928-CZ)(61475388.1) by mcclallen

One of the reasons Lott reportedly cited for his decision was that the barn would be located in front of Ingle’s home. Ingle counters that this placement was allowed under the township’s ordinances at the time.

Ingle, following the township ordinance, appealed Lott’s decision to the local zoning board.

On June 2, the board overruled Lott after visiting the property and verbally approved the barn construction, contingent on certain conditions involving its location. Ingle complied and began building.

Within a week, township trustees passed a moratorium on all construction involving farm structures, effectively halting Ingle’s project, which was then underway.

Ingle told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email he and his family have tried to follow every rule and guidance issued by township officials.

“We are doing nothing wrong, we are playing by the rules and following the township zoning ordinance,” Ingle wrote. “We just want to build a barn on our farm to house our cattle, which right now is two cows.”

The lawsuit alleges that the township targeted Ingle with the barn ban.

“The moratorium was passed, in whole or in part, because of the Zoning Board of Appeals’ decision to allow Plaintiff Ingle to build his barn,” the lawsuit states.

Ingle also says Lott questioned whether his part-time farming operation qualified as a legitimate farm, because Ingle also works as a teacher.

Lott allegedly stated that approving the barn “would go against his better judgment” and could set a precedent, Ingle said in the lawsuit.

Peter Ruddell, Ingle’s attorney, told CapCon that the moratorium is illegal and unprecedented, adding that it violates Michigan’s Right to Farm Act.

The township failed to follow multiple legal requirements in the state law, Ruddell alleges. The requirements include public notification and submission of the moratorium to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“This is quite a bizarre case where the local government is targeting a farmer for following the advice of the township official and complying with the township’s ordinances,” Ruddell said in an email to CapCon.

The agricultural department, according to Lynsey Mukomel, spokesperson, does not comment on current or pending litigation as a matter of policy.

“However, we can provide the following background information about MDARD’s Right to Farm Program,” she added in an email to CapCon.

Mukomel highlighted specific provisions of the farm act. She said that  MDARD’s Right to Farm Program responds to nuisance complaints involving farms and evaluates farm activities to determine whether a farm is following the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices. The state legislature established the Right to Farm Act as a proactive legal defense for commercial farming operations against nuisance allegations.

On June 16, the township sent Ingle a stop-work notice, commonly referred to as a “red tag.” It said he no longer had a valid permit.

At a meeting July 14, township trustees reportedly discussed pursuing legal action against Ingle, according to the legal complaint.

The Alaiedon Township Board did not respond to a request for comment.