MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At Tuesday's Township Board Meeting, Consumers Energy presented a draft of the gas franchise ordinance to the Township Board.

The current Consumers Energy gas franchise with the township is supposed to end in April of this year.

If the board chooses to adopt this franchise, there will have to be a first reading and a final reading.

Chris Thelen, Consumers Energy representative said that the franchise is something required by the state constitution in order to operate the utility within a public right away.

The franchise agreement has a 30 year maximum that is allowed by the constitution, it is revokable within 60 days and is not exclusive.