May 06, 2021 Township Board

[00:01:03]

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

AND WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

FROM OUR CLERK WE NEED A ROLL CALL.

MS. GUTHRIE, ARE YOU HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TAKE A ROLL, MR. SUPERVISOR? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW MS. GUTHRIE WAS PLANNING ON BEING HERE, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? MEMBER TO ANNOUNCE FROM WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED, AS WELL.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? I AM HERE AND I'M IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, TREASURER DESCHAINE? I AM HERE AND I'M AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HALL.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? I'M HERE AND I'M IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? PRESENT AND ATTENDING VIRTUALLY FROM THE CITY OF LANSING.

TRUSTEE JACKSON? PRESENT IN OKEMOS, MICHIGAN, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY.

TRUSTEE WISINKI? AND CLERK GUTHRIE.

YOU HAVE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT, MR. SUPERVISOR. WELL, UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY IDEA WHY CLERK GUTHRIE IS NOT ON, BECAUSE OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO APPOINT A TEMPORARY CLERK FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MEETING I SAW CLERK GUTHRIE AROUND 20 MINUTES AGO, SHE WAS HEADING HOME TO COME INTO THE MEETING VIRTUALLY, SO I KNOW SHE WILL BE HERE.

SHE MUST HAVE BEEN DELAYED IN GETTING HOME OR GETTING ONLINE WHEN SHE CALLED IN FROM HOME. THERE SHE IS.

IN YOUR ABSENCE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER FROM THIS POINT AS FAR AS CLERKSHIP DURING THIS WONDERFUL MEETING? YES? YES. THANK YOU. OK.

NEXT WOULD BE PRESENTATIONS.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY.

[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]

AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS INTERESTED IN SPEAKING THIS EVENING.

CITIZENS ARE REMINDED YOU'RE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

WE ASK YOU TO BE CIVIL TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, NOT INDIVIDUALS, AND NOT TO EACH OTHER OR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BUT JUST TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE.

KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS AS LOGICAL AND STRAIGHTFORWARD AS YOU CAN, BECAUSE YOU ARE LIMITED IN TIME AND THE BOARD DOES NOT DIALOG WITH THE PUBLIC DURING THESE SESSIONS.

OK, MR. GEBES, DO WE HAVE ANY PEOPLE READY TO COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? THE ATTENDEE IS LABELED AS DR.

ANNE HUBBELL HAS BEEN ENABLED TO SPEAK.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.

MY NAME IS ANN HUBBELL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN. GO AHEAD.

MY NAME IS ANN HUBBELL.

I LIVE IN LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO, BUT I GREW UP IN HASLETT, MICHIGAN.

MY FATHER IS RICHARD OR DICK HUBBELL, WHO IS WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IF YOU'VE MET HIM, YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED HIM.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU.

I SENT YOU AN EMAIL EARLIER TODAY AND I APPRECIATE YOU SOME OF THE RESPONSES I RECEIVED

[00:05:01]

SO THANK YOU FOR READING MY FAMILY'S LETTERS.

THANK YOU FOR READING ALL OF OUR EMAILS.

AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE PICTURES OF WHAT I AM TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY.

AND I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY.

MY FATHER, RICHARD HUBBELL, WAS A MILITARY VETERAN, RETIRED AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT AND WAS BURIED IN THE GLENDALE CEMETERY ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.

MY STEPMOTHER, I THINK IT WAS LATE LAST YEAR, SAW SOMEONE PREPARING A GRAVE BEHIND HIM AND SPOKE TO THAT PERSON AND TOLD THEM I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CLOSE THAT GRAVE WAS TO MY FATHER'S. THEY TOLD HER NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL.

NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. SO SHE WENT AWAY THINKING EVERYONE WAS FINE.

SHE RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND SAW A HUGE STONE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES THAT I'VE SENT YOU ALL THROUGH EMAIL.

A HUGE STONE STANDING LITERALLY WITHIN ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF BEHIND MY FATHER'S.

IT NOW BLOCKS HIS MILITARY PLAQUE, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ISSUES.

HE WAS MOST PROUD OF HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE MILITARY AND BEING AN OFFICER AND SERVING WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY, OUR GREAT COUNTRY.

SO NOW WE CAN'T SEE THAT.

ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE STONE, WHEN THE PEOPLE GO TO PLANT PLANTS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL WHO THEY'RE ALSO GRIEVING OVER, IT'S ON MY FATHER'S PLOT.

THEY ALSO LEAVE THINGS LIKE ORANGES AND THINGS, WHICH IS FINE, BUT THEY LEAVE THAT ON MY FATHER'S PLOT AS WELL.

IN FACT, ONE OF MY FRIENDS LOOKING AT THE PICTURE SAID, DID THEY BURY THIS PERSON ON TOP OF YOUR FATHER? IT MAKES NO SENSE.

ANY RATIONAL PERSON WHO HAD SAW WERE MY FATHER'S STONE WAS WOULD SEE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE PLACED A STONE ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF BEHIND IT.

IT BLOCKS THE OTHER FAMILY STONE.

IT BLOCKS MY FATHER'S GREAT SERVICE.

AND I ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE OUR FAMILY IS BROKEN OVER THIS.

IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY STEPMOTHER WENT THERE AND SHE WENT FOR PEACE.

SHE WENT TO BE CLOSE TO MY FATHER AND INSTEAD SHE SEES GREAT DISRESPECT TO HIM AND DISHONOR TO HIS MILITARY SERVICE.

WE CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE IN THE SITUATION.

WE WISH WE WEREN'T HERE TALKING TO YOU TODAY.

WE WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS TIME AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO.

SHE WAS PROACTIVE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED.

SHE'S TRIED MANY EFFORTS TO GET THIS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THE OTHER STONE IS THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE MOVED.

WE MEAN NO DISRESPECT TO THIS OTHER FAMILY, BUT MY FATHER HAS BEEN THERE 20 SOME YEARS.

SOMEBODY PLACED HIS STONE WRONG.

THAT'S NOT OUR FAULT.

THAT'S NOT HIS FAULT.

LET'S NOT DISRESPECT THIS GREAT MAN ANYMORE AND TAKE ACTION TO [INAUDIBLE] RESPECTABLE FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

WE REALLY RESPECT ALL THAT YOU DO, AND WE HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE THIS VERY QUICKLY.

THANK YOU. AN ALARM THAT NEVER GOES OFF. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANOTHER PERSON THAT IS IN LINE? WE HAVE AN ATTENDEE LABELED AS JOHN [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S BEEN ENABLED TO SPEAK AND HE'LL NEED TO UNMUTE HIMSELF AND STATE HIS NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.

I WILL PAUSE MOMENTARILY TO REMIND PEOPLE WATCHING ON HOMTV, YOU CAN DIAL IN {517) 349-1232 TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT VIA TELEPHONE THIS EVENING AS WELL.

OK, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME.

OK? YES, WE CAN HEAR, YOU KNOW, JOHN [INAUDIBLE], MD, 3566 KANSAS.

JUST WANTED TO BRING THE SUBJECT UP AGAIN BECAUSE SPARROW HAD A MEETING WITH PERSONS INTERESTED A SHORT A FEW DAYS BACK.

THE COMMUNITY APPEARS TO CONTINUE TO BE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT.

THE PROJECT BASICALLY IS PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, PLUS A STANDALONE EMERGENCY CENTER.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANYBODY WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP OR THE CITY OF OKEMOS, AND WE WANT THOSE SERVICES AS WELL.

OFFICE SPACE IS EXCEEDINGLY EASY TO OBTAIN.

I SENT ALL OF YOU A LETTER ENUMERATING THAT DEBT BY GOOGLING OFFICE SPACES TO RENT AND OKEMOS MICHIGAN. TODAY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO FIND FORTY THREE SPACES FOR LEASE AND OKEMOS.

AND SOME OF THOSE SPACES WERE FOR SALE AND SOME WERE SIGNIFICANT ACREAGE.

THE OTHER ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE STANDALONE URGENT CARE, WHICH WOULD BE WONDERFUL IN

[00:10:04]

HOWEVER, REPLACING STANDALONE URGENT CARE RIGHT AT THAT PLACE ON KANSAS ROAD WOULD CHANGE THE RESIDENTIAL NATURE OF THAT ROAD FOREVER.

NOW, MAYBE THAT IS NOT OF THAT HIGH A VALUE IN COMPARISON TO STANDALONE URGENT CARE.

BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU ALL BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE SERVICE, THEN WE SHOULD LOOK VERY, VERY HARD FOR A PLACE WHERE IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT DISTURBING A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY.

OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE? THERE ARE NO OTHER CALLS AND NO OTHER HANDS AT THIS TIME, SIR.

OK, THANK YOU. WELL, NOW MOVE ON TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGERS REPORT.

[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]

JUST A FEW THINGS TO COVER TONIGHT.

START OUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MARK CRANE AND RICK GRILLO.

THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO HAVE RECEIVED A PROMOTION FROM CHIEF PLAGA AND THOSE PROMOTIONS WILL BE MEMORIALIZED TOMORROW AT 11:30 WITH A CEREMONY THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF CLERK GUTHRIE. MARK CRANE IS BEING PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT AND RICK GRILLO TO CAPTAIN.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF BOTH GENTLEMEN AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

JUST A HEADS UP THAT DIRECTOR CLARK HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND SHE WILL BE BRINGING A DRAFT TO YOU AT THE MAY 18TH MEETING FOR YOUR FIRST REVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.

THE PAUL REVERE SITE, THERE'S A GUEST CARWASHES BEING PLANNED FOR THE PAUL REVERE SITE THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO.

BE TO THE BOARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY SOMETIME IN JUNE, THE SENIOR LIVING DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROPOSED AT THE CORNER OF POWELL AND GRAND RIVER, THE NORTHWEST CORNER AGAIN, IS IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, AT THEIR NEXT MEETING FOR A RECOMMENDATION. AND MR. KIESELBACH TELLS ME THAT BOTH OF THOSE SHOULD BE TO THE BOARD PROBABLY IN EARLY JUNE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH JOE'S ON JOLLY, THAT'S THE FORMER TIRE STORE AT THE CORNER OF JOLLY ROAD. AS YOU DRIVE BY, YOU CAN SEE IT'S A BLIGHTED BUILDING RIGHT NOW, WORKING WITH THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER AND TRY TO WORK OUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY HAVE.

THIS IS A REALLY GREAT INVESTMENT TO HAVE IN OUR TOWNSHIP.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND JOE'S ON JOLLY.

PEOPLE WITH POWER THAT ARE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH CAPITAL [INAUDIBLE] AND THE NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS. AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM WORKING IN MERIDIAN.

WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO FACILITATE THAT DEVELOPMENT.

BUDDY'S PIZZA HAS MOVED FORWARD AGAIN WITH ANOTHER STEP TODAY BY GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER. THAT'LL BE AT THE FORMER BURGER KING SITE ON GRAND RIVER.

PINE VILLAGE TOOK US A STEP FORWARD THIS WEEK BY MOVING FORWARD TO TRY GETTING SOME PLANS FOR THEIR DEMOLITION, WHICH WE HOPE IS COMING HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THE EDC MET AT 7:30 THIS MORNING AND APPROVED THE FIRST PAYMENT TO THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS, WHICH IS THE FIRST PAYMENT OUT OF THE MERIDIAN REDEVELOPMENT FUND, WHICH WAS CREATED FOUR YEARS AGO BY THE BOARD.

SO TODAY MARKS THE FIRST PAYMENT OUT OF THAT AND WE TAKE A STEP FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY.

AND DIRECTOR CLARK WILL CORRECT ME IF MY DATES ARE WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE SHE'S FACILITATING SOME BUSINESS TO REACH OUT WITH COMMUNITY MEETINGS, BOTH MERIDIAN MEETINGS.

ONE WILL BE IN HASLETT ON MAY 12TH, AND I BELIEVE THE ONE IN OKEMOS IS ON MAY 26TH.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE TO FOLLOW.

THE SPEAKER BEFORE REFERENCED THE JOLLY ROAD REZONING.

AND THAT WILL BE BEFORE YOU, IT APPEARS IT WILL BE BEFORE YOU AGAIN.

THE SAME NIGHT AS THE SURVEY, MAY 18TH WILL BE CONSIDERATION OF THE REZONING THAT CAME, IT'S A RECOMMENDED DENIAL AT THIS POINT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE CALLER THAT CAME IN FROM NEW MEXICO REGARDING THE CEMETERY, PROFESSOR HUBBELL.

THIS DATES BACK TO SEPTEMBER AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THE TOWNSHIP MADE A MISTAKE.

WE MADE A MISTAKE IN 2000, WHERE MR. HUBBELL'S [INAUDIBLEE] STONE WAS PLACED IN THE WRONG PLACE, WHETHER THAT WAS THE TOWNSHIP OR THE MONUMENT COMPANY, WHO KNOWS, IT WAS 21 YEARS AGO.

WE'RE SORRY IT HAPPENED AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

AND WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR AND THE FIFTEEN OR TWENTY CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE'VE HAD WITH A FAMILY IN A VERY RESPECTFUL TONE ON OUR END.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. WE WERE WRONG.

WE ARE WRONG. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE EITHER ONE OF TWO THINGS.

IT'S GOING TO BE LEAVING THE HEADSTONE WHERE IT'S AT AND NOT MOVING IT.

[00:15:02]

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FAMILY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S HAPPENED.

WE UNDERSTAND IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE.

WE FULLY GET IT. WE WERE WRONG.

IT'S PLACED IN THE WRONG PLACE AND WE'RE WILLING TO MOVE IT OR LEAVE IT TO MOVE THE NEW HEADSTONE THAT'S IN THE CORRECT LOCATION AND ALIGNS WITH ALL THE OTHER HEADSTONES, TEN HEADSTONES TO THE NORTH SIDE, HENCE THOSE TO THE SOUTH.

ALL THE MONUMENT STONES LINE UP TOGETHER WHERE MR. [INAUDIBLE] WAS BURIED LAST YEAR ALSO TO MAKE IT RIGHT BY MOVING ANOTHER HEADSTONE TO THE WRONG LOCATION. AND WE'VE TALKED TO THE FAMILY ABOUT ADJUSTING IT.

THEY'RE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN ADJUSTING THEIR CORRECTLY PLACED MONUMENT STONE.

I FEEL REALLY BAD ABOUT THIS AND WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

AND BOTH OPTIONS REMAIN OPEN TO THE FAMILY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE ISSUE.

SO THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT THIS EVENING, UNLESS THE BOARD HAS QUESTIONS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER? BOARD MEMBERS? I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS.

OK. WE WILL NOW GO ON TO HAVE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND I

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAT! IS THERE SOMEONE HERE WHO HAS A GOOD VOICE? WHO WANTS TO SING? NO, I DON'T SEE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE SAY YES.

ALL RIGHT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAT.

OK, OTHER REPORTS? PAT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES.

IT'S BEEN A LOVELY DAY AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

OK. TREASURER DESCHAINE? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

SINCE OUR LAST MEETING AND BUSY WITH THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ON APRIL 21ST, I PARTICIPATED WITH A CAPITAL AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY IN ITS APRIL BOARD MEETING FROM APRIL 26TH TO THE 29TH, I ATTENDED THE SECOND YEAR OF THE MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL TREASURERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION COURSES.

LAST YEAR'S COURSE GOT POSTPONED BECAUSE OF COVID, SO WE'RE A YEAR BEHIND.

BUT THIS TIME, BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, I'LL BE FULLY CERTIFIED BY THAT ASSOCIATION.

AND APRIL 30TH, I HOSTED THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA TREASURES GROUP MEETING A GROUP THAT FORMER TREASURER BRIXIE HELPED GET STARTED.

AND WE HAD COUNTY TREASURER ERIC [INAUDIBLE] STAFF SPEAK BEFORE THE GROUP.

ON MAY 1ST, I PARTICIPATED IN THE TOWER WOODS LAND PRESERVATION PROJECT.

208 HARDWOOD TREES WERE PLANTED LAST SATURDAY, ALL BY OUR VOLUNTEERS, LED BY EMMA CAMPBELL AND NEWLY CREATED MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS ON MAY 5TH.

LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING AND THIS MORNING WITH MANAGER WALSH AND TRUSTEE JACKSON, I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE FINALLY KICKED OFF THE MERIDIEN REDEVELOPMENT FUND WITH WELL SPENT MONEY ON THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? CLERK GUTHRIE? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA, THE ELECTION ON TUESDAY WAS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS TODAY.

I WOULD SAY THAT I'M BLAMING MY SECOND VACCINATION SHOT, AND I'M SAYING A LOT, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE CASE.

I'M PROBABLY STILL TIRED FROM TUESDAY.

ANYWAYS, IT WAS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS TODAY.

THERE WAS A TOTAL VOTE COUNT OF FOUR THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED NINETY SIX, WHICH WAS A TURNOUT OF TWENTY THREE PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

THE TOTAL AB BALLOTS THAT WERE ISSUED WERE FOUR THOUSAND AND FORTY SEVEN AND THE TOTALS THAT WERE RETURNED WERE THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND SIX.

OF WHICH WE RECEIVED THREE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO ON ELECTION DAY, THE [INAUDIBLE] FUND HAD THREE THOUSAND AND SEVENTY TWO YES VOTES AND ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED NINE NO VOTES AND THE OPERATING MILLAGE HAD THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY FOUR YES VOTES AND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO NO VOTES.

ALSO TODAY, I ATTENDED.

A LITTLE KETTLE PRESENTATION FOR THE MICRO PANTRY THAT IS AT THE OKEMOS LIBRARY AND MORE FROM THE HASLETT LIBRARY, PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE MICRO PANTRY FLIER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT. WE DON'T HAVE THE LITTLE OVERHEAD THING THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE AT THE BOARD MEETINGS. BUT THIS IS THE FLIER IS IN THE LOCAL PANTRY AT THE HASLETT LIBRARY AT

[00:20:06]

IT LOOKS FANTASTIC.

SO THERE WAS A REALLY NICE AREA, DISTRICT, LIBRARIES, KETTLE CARES ON THE SIDE OF IT.

THESE FIRES ARE INSIDE.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DONATE OR IF THEY ARE IN NEED, THESE ITEMS ARE INSIDE THE PANTRY.

AND IT HAS SUGGESTED LIST OF DONATIONS ON THERE THAT YOU CAN FIND THESE FLIERS INSIDE.

SO I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THE BOARD AND SUPERVISOR STYKA AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE DPW TEAM ARE INSTALLING THESE. MY REPORT.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? WHILE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, I'LL MENTION I HAD THE DDA MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE DDA IS MOVING ALONG, HOPING AND WAITING FOR THAT BIG SHOVEL TO GO INTO THE GROUND TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE DOWNTOWN NEW DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT IT'S ISSUES IN TERMS OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, ET CETERA.

IT'S STILL MOVING, BUT VERY SLOWLY.

I ALSO HAD THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST WEEK WHERE THEY HAVE A GROUP THAT MEETS EAST LANSING IN THE MERIDIAN AREA BUSINESSES TOGETHER WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR GOVERNMENTS. THOSE ARE ALWAYS VERY FRUITFUL.

WE LEARN A LOT ABOUT EACH OTHER.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WHAT ELSE? AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

TRUSTEE JACKSON IS THAT A SECOND? IT IS A SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS BY ANYONE? WE NEED A VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES, I SHOULD CALL ON YOU FIRST EVERY TIME SINCE IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY.

IF YOU'RE REAL HAPPY TODAY.

TRUSTEE WISINSKI?. IS SHE HERE TONIGHT? NO, NOT TONIGHT, I BELIEVE SHE'S STILL DEALING WITH SOME THANK YOU. TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES.

CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? I VOTE YES. MAYBE YOU SHOULD CALL ON JACKSON LAST, SO SHE CAN BE THE DECIDING VOTE.

I CAN DO. I CAN DO THAT.

WHATEVER THE BIRTHDAY GIRL WANTS TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA THAT IS COMMUNICATIONS MINUTES OF THE APRIL 13TH VIRTUAL

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE A MOTION? TRUSTEE JACKSON? I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SUPPORTED BY TREASURER.

ANY COMMENTS, MS. JACKSON? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. IT'S A TYPICAL CONSENT AGENDA, EXCEPT FOR THE NAME, MAYBE THE NAMES OF THE NEW POLICE OFFICERS BEING APPOINTED MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.

OK. I THINK WE HEARD THOSE NAMES A WHILE AGO.

YOU WANT TO MENTION THEM AGAIN? MANAGER WALSH, OR I CAN DO IT.

WE HAVE RICK GRILLO BECOMING A CAPTAIN AND SERGEANT MARK CRANE WHO IS GOING TO BECOME A LIEUTENANT IN OUR POLICE FORCE.

THOSE ARE THE PROMOTIONS.

THE ITEM IN THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A REAL POLICE OFFICER.

I AM VERY SORRY.

I'M SORRY. I'M CONFUSED ON THAT.

I SEE OUR CHIEF IS HERE.

CHIEF PLAGA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS? YES, SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE] REMEMBERS BRYANT MARTIN, WHO IS A NATIVE OF PHILADELPHIA, GRADUATED WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY AND IS GRADUATING THE KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE ACADEMY AND [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE ACADEMY.

SHE GRADUATED LAST WEEK AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ALSO THE COLE SISTERS THAT.

ON THE FORCE HOPING CLERK GUTHRIE CAN SWEAR THEM IN ON THE 24TH AS LONG AS EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY STAYS HEALTHY AND THINGS GO THE WAY WE PLAN.

AND LOSING ONE TO RETIREMENT, YOU WANT TO MENTION THAT?

[00:25:01]

THEY'RE RETIRING TOGETHER.

AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME OPENINGS.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE LYNN AND SOME PROMOTIONS DUE TO BRAD'S RETIREMENT, BUT WE WISH THEM BOTH WELL. AND BRAD'S TWENTY FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF SERVICE AND LYNCH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWNSHIP WERE EXEMPLARY.

AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE IN NEED OF THREE OFFICERS.

IS THAT RIGHT? ACTUALLY, IT'S A NET GAIN OF TWO OFFICER KEVIN HARVEY, WHO SPENT 10 YEARS WITH THE TOWNSHIP, HIS WIFE RECEIVED A PROMOTION AND THEY'RE MOVING TO TRAVERSE CITY.

IT WAS HIS LAST DAY WAS TODAY, AND THEY'RE HAVING A FAREWELL SENDOFF FOR HIM.

HE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN EMOTIONAL THING.

HE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING, BUT HIS WIFE DID RECEIVE A JOB OFFER THEY COULDN'T REFUSE.

AND TRAVERSE CITY IS A NICE PLACE TO LIVE AND ON THEIR WAY UP THERE.

SO A NET GAIN OF TWO, SIR.

OK, I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE COMMENT ON A SOCIAL BEING THESE DAYS THAT WHEN THE WIFE GOT A PROMOTION, THE HUSBAND FOLLOWED.

I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT IT'S NOT THE WAY IT USED TO BE.

OK, WE'RE BACK TO VOTING AT A CONSENT AGENDA.

MR. DESCHAINE, YOU HAD SOMETHING? JUST A COMMENT ABOUT THE CONSENT PACKET, IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE PACKET, YOU CAN REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

YOU'VE GOT PRESS RELEASES, YOU'VE GOT CORRESPONDENCE, YOU'VE GOT PROMOTIONS, YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF NEW INFORMATION IN THE CONSENT AND CORRESPONDENCE PACK.

WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE CLERK BECAUSE THIS HAS ALL BEEN PROVIDED JUST BEFORE SHE HELD HER FIRST ELECTION.

SO HER AND HER DEPUTY, ROBIN FOSTER, DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

PUTTING THESE PACKETS TOGETHER.

AND THE MINUTES AS WELL, ARE MORE CONCISE, EASIER TO GET THROUGH, AND WE'VE HAD NO REASON TO CHANGE THEM AT ALL. I DON'T EXPECT WE WILL ANYTIME SOON.

SO I WANT TO SAY SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEW CLERK, NOT ONLY PULLED OFF HER FIRST ELECTION, SHE ALSO PUT TOGETHER ANOTHER GREAT PACKET FOR THE BOARD.

THANK YOU, CLERK. I AGREE.

SHOUT OUT TO THE CLERK. AND I'M GLAD FOR HER SAKE, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE SMALLER ELECTIONS SHE WILL REALLY GOOD A TASTE OF IT LATER ON, BUT SHE DID VERY WELL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE NEED A VOTE THEN. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES.

I WON'T TO DO IT EVERY TIME.

TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES, YES, AND TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES.

MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

OK, WE'RE NOW GOING TO PASS QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY AND THE HEARINGS AND GO ON TO ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE 12A THIS IS ONLY AMENDMENT NUMBER 21010 COUNCIL BOARD.

[12A. Zoning Amendment #21010 (Township Board) amend the Code of Ordinances to require Township Board approval of a special use permit for motor vehicle sales and service establishments and automobile dealerships in the C-2 and C-3 (Commercial) zoning district-Final Adoption]

IN THE C2 AND C3 COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.

THIS IS UP FOR FINAL ADOPTION.

GET A MOTION? TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? I MOVE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021-02 PURSUANT TO ZONING AMENDMENT NUMBER 21010 TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ACQUIRE TOWNSHIP OR APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMITS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS AND AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS.

AND C2 AND C3 COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.

IS THERE SUPPORT. SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY THE TREASURER.

MR. OPSOMMER, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS? THIS IS ACTUALLY A AMENDMENT OUR ORDINANCE THAT YOU ORIGINALLY GOT THE IDEA FOR AND MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US FOR THE LAST TIME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

SO LET ME BRIEF, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR PREVIOUS TWO AGENDAS AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ON INTRODUCTION AND WHEN I CAME BACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT BASICALLY THE INTENT AS SUPERVISOR STYKA AND I OUTLINED THIS ZONING AMENDMENT BACK IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY WAS TO TREAT AUTO DEALERSHIP.

IDENTICAL TO THE THOUGHT BEING THAT THE OVERALL SCOPE AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA OF THE DEVELOPED THE ONLY THING THAT DIFFERENTIATES THESE FROM ESPECIALLY USE PERMIT APPROVAL FOR BIG BOX RETAILER IS THAT WE TRIGGER THE BIG BOX STORE, SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL BASED ON THE

[00:30:03]

AND SO IN THESE CASES, THE LOTS ARE BIGGER, BUT THE SHOWROOMS FOR A DEALERSHIP OFTEN FALL BELOW THAT TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET THRESHOLD.

SO THAT WAS THE THE GENERAL INTENT.

AND WE'RE GOING FROM USE BY RIGHT IN C3 AND A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL AND C2 TO BOARD APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMITS IN BOTH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE AND AS TRUSTEE OPSOMMER MENTIONED, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

MS. GUTHRIE? OH, WAIT A MINUTE, MR. DESCHAINE? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF, MARK IN PARTICULAR ON THIS ONE.

MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE STILL UPSET ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO LAFONTAINE IN THEIR TOWNSHIP AND THAT THEY BACKED AWAY FROM MASTER CUTTING 300 TREES.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED A FIASCO LIKE THAT, APART FROM THE BOARD DENYING IT AT THE SUP LEVEL? THE WAY THE AMENDMENT IS THAT IT NOW REQUIRES NOT ONLY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, BUT IT IS A APPROVAL FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.

IN THE SEAT TWO ZONING DISTRICT THAT ONLY ALLOWS NEW CAR DEALERSHIPS.

AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY SOLELY UP TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPROVE THAT SPECIAL USE PERMIT. SO NOW THE PROCESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD MAKE THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THE BOARD HAS THE FINAL DECISION TO OVERSEE BASICALLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS MEETING THOSE CONCERNS.

OK, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE, MISS GUTHRIE.

ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES, TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU ALL. WE'RE NOW GOING ON TO ACTION ITEM 12B, WHICH IS THE KIND OF A GOOD NEWS

[12B. Acceptance of Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) Public Art Grant]

MS. [INAUDIBLE], YOU WANT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

YES, GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS ONE AND SOME DIRECTOR MAISNER IS HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME WITH HER FAMILY.

WE WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY ANNOUNCE THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC ART GRANT PROVIDED BY LEAP.

AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH PNC BANK AND THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PLACE AN ART PIECE THAT'S VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD FOR MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN. A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACK STORY ON THIS IS THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR BUCK AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM DIRECTOR KIESELBACH AND PRINCIPAL PLANNER MENSER AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAD SENT AN APPLICATION TO LEAP FOR MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN IN 2019 PRIOR TO THERE BEING A MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.

AND SO I THINK LEAP WAS REALLY INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA THAT WE HAD A HEART AND A PASSION FOR THE SPACE AND ALREADY KNEW WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH IT.

BUT I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBSTANCE MAYBE BEHIND OUR ARGUMENT FOR WHY THIS WAS THE BEST LOCATION WITHOUT IT BEING UTILIZED IN THAT TYPE.

SO AFTER THE RIBBON CUTTING IN OCTOBER, THE OPPORTUNITY CAME TO US AGAIN TO APPLY.

AND WE STILL HAD FAITH IN THE LOCATION.

AND WE DID AND WITH HELP WITH THE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW, GRAPHICS ANYTHING, THEY ARE MANAGED TO HELP MAKE THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BASICALLY SAY, LOOK AT THE SPACE RIBBON CUTTING DURING COVID.

SIXTY THREE THOUSAND VISITORS.

IT'S JUST OUTSTANDING FOR A FARMERS MARKET.

IT WAS A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO SHOP.

AND THEY KNEW THEY WERE GETTING QUALITY FOOD AND QUALITY SERVICE AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO STAY SAFE. IT'S JUST AMAZING.

SO WE WERE SELECTED AND WE HAD TO WAIT PROBABLY LIKE SIX WEEKS BEFORE WE COULD ANNOUNCE IT. SO I THINK WE KEPT BOUNCING BACK EMAILS TO LEAVE LIKE WE'RE READY, WE'RE READY, BECAUSE WE WERE SO READY TO ANNOUNCE THIS.

THE NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS, WE HAVE AN RFP OUT.

IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

WE'VE SENT IT OUT.

I'VE TALKED TO A FEW BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE A HEART FOR ART THERE'RE DIFFERENT ONES THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE DONE LOCAL PROJECTS AND HAVE WORKED WITH US BEFORE OR WORKED ON

[00:35:03]

WE'RE REALLY SPREADING THE WORD THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN ARTIST FROM CLINTON, EDEN OR INGHAM COUNTY. SO THEY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THOSE THREE AS THEY ARE REPRESENTED BY LEAP.

WE'LL GET THE FIRST INSTALLMENT FOR THAT AND BE ABLE TO PUT THE PIECE UP BY THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER. THIS WHOLE ENTIRE PROJECT HAS TO BE FINALIZED BY OCTOBER 31ST.

SO WE'RE KIND OF A TIGHT DEADLINE, BUT WE HAVE EVERY BIT OF FAITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO PULL SOMETHING OFF AND DO AN UNVEILING.

THAT'S GREAT. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

INCLUDED THE LEAP CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN SIGNED AND SUBMITTED, AS WELL AS OUR OVERALL TIMELINE WITH THE RFP OUT RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED A FORMAL MOTION TO, I MEAN, NEED A MOTION TO FORMALLY ACCEPT THIS GRANT.

IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? TRUSTEE JACKSON? THE BIRTHDAY GIRL.

YES, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE PUBLIC ART FOR COMMUNITIES GRANT FOR 2021 AS DESCRIBED BY DIRECTOR CLARK.

OK, VERY GOOD.

[INAUDIBLE] WHEREBY CLERK GUTHRIE.

WE ALL HAVE A GOAL OF MAKING THIS SO MUCH MORE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY WITH PUBLIC ART ON DISPLAY EVERYWHERE. AND THIS IS ANOTHER SMALL STEP IN THAT LONG JOURNEY.

SO IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A VOTE. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? OH, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND, GO AHEAD.

YES, CAN I ASK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN A GRANT OR ONE OF THESE I MEAN, A CONTRACT FOR ONE OF THESE.

CAN I ASK WHO SIGNED THE CONTRACT FOR THE TOWNSHIP? OH, I DID.

OK. IT'S OK.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

IF ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS YES, YES.

I SEE HOW THAT LOOKS NOW, HUH? OK. ONE OTHER POINT, ONE OTHER OBSERVATION, BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT AND BECAUSE I'M THE TOWNSHIPS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LEAP BOARD, THAT LEAP RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REVIEW AND THE RIGHT TO REJECT THE CHOSEN PIECE BEFORE. I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

I'M JUST MAKING AN OBSERVATION THAT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE COGNIZANT OF.

NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM ONE OF THE GREAT ART PATRONS OF HISTORY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT WHAT THE GREAT ARTISTS OF THE HISTORY PROPOSED TO THEM, TOO.

SO THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT. SO I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH, MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THAT HISTORY, BUT GOOD TO KNOW. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE DO NEED THAT.

OK, YOU MADE THE MOTION AND WAS THERE A SECOND? I LOST TRACK. I THINK.

I SUPPORTED IT. OK, SO NOW WE ARE READY FOR THE VOTE, MS. GUTHRIE. OK.

ALL RIGHT. TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES.

AND THEN TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES.

MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. WE NOW COME TO SEE 12C IS THE FINAL PLAN NUMBER 17012, THE POWELL

[12C. Final Plat #17012 (Powell Road Holding LLC) Silverstone Estates]

FOR SILVERSTONE STATES.

WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE PACKET.

TRUSTEE JACKSON? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR FINAL PLAT NUMBER 17012 POWELL ROAD HOLDING, LLC.

SILVERSTEIN ESTATES, A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION OF 25 LOTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF POWELL ROAD, NORTH OF GRAND RIVER AVENUE.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TREASURER.

DO WE WANT AN EXPLANATION FROM STAFF OR MS. JACKSON DO YOU JUST WANT TO GO RIGHT INTO IT? I'D LIKE TO HEAR STAFF'S PRESENTATION.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK IT'S MR. KIESELBACH THIS TIME. YES, THANK YOU.

SILVERSTONE ESTATES, AS WAS MENTIONED, IS A TWENTY FIVE LOT SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION ON TWENTY FIVE POINT FIVE ACRES EACH SIDE OF POWELL, NORTH OF GRAND RIVER.

ZONING ON IT IS RAA.

THAT'S A SINGLE FAMILY CATEGORY, LOW DENSITY.

THE FINAL PRELIMINARY PLAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN JUNE OF TWENTY EIGHTEEN.

[00:40:03]

THE PURPOSE OF THE FINAL PLAT IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S THE COMPLETION OF ALL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND PRIVATE IMPROVEMENTS.

THOSE WOULD BE THE STREET, THE WATER AND SEWER AND THE OTHER TYPES OF UTILITIES THAT WOULD SERVE THE SUBDIVISION, AND THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FINAL PRELIMINARY PLAT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

AND IN THE MEMO THAT WE PROVIDED TO REVIEW THAT ALL THE LOTS MEET OR EXCEED THE RAA STANDARD ARE INCONSISTENT, I SHOULD SAY, WITH THE FINAL FLOOR PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED AND THOSE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

AND IF HE HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? MISS JACKSON? ON NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHERS, WE'VE APPROVED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, OK, AN Y BOARD MEMBERS? JUST CONFIRMING.

I DON'T SEE MR. PERRY HERE TONIGHT, BUT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS PARTICIPATING IN THIS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR THE PAVING OF POWELL ROAD.

IS IT JUST THE LOTS THAT ARE ABUTTING ON ONTO POWELL ROAD OR IS THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT AFFECTED BY THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT? WE KNOW THAT.

THIS IS THE PLAT. [INAUDIBLE] YES, I KNOW IT IS, BUT I'M ASKING.

OK. [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.

BUT THAT INCLUDES BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD AS FAR AS THE ASSESSMENT WOULD GO.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RESPOND TO THAT, MR. SUPERVISOR? YES, PLEASE.

I BELIEVE AND I CAN BE CORRECTED BY MR. PERRY. HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.

I BELIEVE THE WAY THIS WORKS IS IT IS THE HOMES THAT ARE ABUTTING POWELL ROAD, A, THE ASSESSMENT, THE HOMES THAT ARE WITHIN AND DO NOT ADJOIN POWELL ROAD DO NOT PAY THE ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THEIR THEY HAVE TO ALREADY PAY FOR THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, THEIR HOUSES.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THIS IS ALL TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THOSE HOUSES THAT ARE DO NOT HAVE FRONTAGE ON POWELL, PAY THE ASSESSMENTS FOR POWELL ROAD.

THEY PAY FOR THE STREET IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.

BUT I'LL CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU TREASURER DESCHAINE.

OK, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND ARE WE READY TO APPROVE THIS PLAT? MS. GUTHRIE? TRUSTEE, OPSOMMER? YES.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0. THANK YOU.

NOW, WE DO GO RIGHT INTO THE POWELL ROAD APPROVAL OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NUMBER

[12D. Powell Road Public Road Improvement SAD #43- Resolution #4]

YES, TREASURER? I MOVE TO APPROVE POWELL ROAD PUBLIC ROAD IMPROVEMENT, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NUMBER FORTY THREE, RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR, WHICH FILES IN THE PROPOSED FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK AND SET THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 18TH, 2021.

I REMIND EVERYBODY YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A REVISED NUMBER 12 THE PROBABLY TODAY AND AT SOME POINT AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A REVISED DRAFT TO BE THERE WAS THERE WAS SOME INCREASES HERE IN TERMS OF THE COST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RECENTLY. IS THERE A SECOND? TRUSTEE JACKSON, OK.

I SUPPORT THAT. MR. DESCHAINE, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THIS IS STARTING THIS PROCESS OFTEN WILL LEAD TO A PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, MAY 18TH. MS. JACKSON? I HAVE ONE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK THE NOTIFICATION TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING OR THE PUBLIC HEARING, I BELIEVE IS

[00:45:04]

ARE WE? I DON'T BELIEVE WE'LL BE BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS BY MAY 18TH.

YOU'RE POINTING OUT IT'S GOING TO BE VIRTUAL, WHICH WOULD INDICATE.

YES AND WONDERING IF THAT MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED IN TERMS OF THE NOTIFICATION.

TO THOSE PEOPLE COMING TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. GUTHRIE? I THINK MS. GUTHRIE HAS THE ANSWER.

WHEN THEY POST THE LEGAL AD NOTICE THAT STATES IN THAT LEGAL AD NOTICE THAT IT'S BEING HELD VIRTUALLY. OH, I SEE.

OK, THANK YOU.

[INAUDIBLE] YOU TAKE CONTROL TODAY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

NOT NECESSARY. YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MR. SUPERVISOR, YOU DID REFERENCE A CHANGE IN COST AND I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE TO ILLUSTRATE THAT TO ALL THE BOARD AND TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED COST FOR POWELL ROAD OF ABOUT FORTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ADDITIONAL SOIL COST.

THE CONTRACTOR HAS FOUND SOME REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT SOILS ON POWELL ROAD.

SO THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL FORTY FOUR THOUSAND SPREAD OVER THE, I BELIEVE, THE 15 YEARS OF THE ASSESSMENT.

AND THE TREASURER IS CORRECT, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 18TH.

HOPEFULLY THE ROLE WILL BE SET THAT EVENING AND THE ASSESSMENTS WILL GO OUT AROUND THE 1ST OF JUNE. WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO BE THE RECONSTRUCTION, AT LEAST THE SURFACE OF POWELL ROAD TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.

SO THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT AND WHAT COMES NEXT, WHAT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. AND WE'LL GO TO THE VOTE.

OK, SO. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES. SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES.

CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES TO YES.

TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES, AND TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

THANK YOU. OUR LAST ACTION ITEM FOR THE DAY IS A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN

[12E. Resolution Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Month]

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE IN RECENT YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE DID IT HISTORICALLY OR NOT, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

BUT MAY IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED [INAUDIBLE] AS A SPECIAL MONTH TO SET ASIDE TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA AND OUR TOWNSHIP THAT HAVE COME FROM ASIANS AND OF ANCESTRY AND PACIFIC ISLANDER ANCESTRY INDIVIDUALS. SO WE HAVE THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION? TRUSTEE JACKSON? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH.

WHICH IS IN MAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SUPPORT.

[INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL ASIAN AMERICAN AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PACIFIC ISLANDER, I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE WITH THAT HERITAGE HERE, BUT WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL ASIAN POPULATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS WE DO OTHERS, WHETHER THEY'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SENIOR CITIZENS.

WE HAVE A MONTHS WE GO THROUGH EACH YEAR.

AND THE FACT I THINK THIS IS ALSO SENIOR CITIZEN MONTH, WE USUALLY CAN DO THAT ONE AS WELL.

MR. DESCHAINE? THIS RESOLUTION IS PARTICULARLY SALIENT NOW, ASIAN-AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGHER LEVELS OF HATE CRIMES AND DISCRIMINATION, IN PARTICULAR THE SHOOTINGS IN ATLANTA LAST MONTH, AND THERE HAVE BEEN IN PARTS CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, FORTUNATELY NOT OUR PART OF THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY HATE GROUPS.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT ONLY STAND FOR THEM, BUT WE CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN COUNTLESS WAYS.

MS. JACKSON? I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATES AND CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS HAVE MADE, NOT ONLY TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THE UNITED STATES.

[00:50:07]

WE NEED A VOTE. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. AND TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES.

MOTION CARIES 6-0. THANK YOU.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE ONE DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, AND THAT IS THE NUMBER 18011 [INAUDIBLE]

[13A. Special Use Permit #18091 (Newton Pointe, LLC) request for an extension of the special use permit for the square footage of buildings at Newton Place, 6276 Newton Road]

AND THAT'LL BE THE DISCUSSION AND LET'S GET STARTED.

[INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT IT? IF I CAN JUST INTRODUCE THIS FOR YOU.

I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS HERE IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THEM, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD BACK IN 2019 IS ASSOCIATED WITH ALSO THE MIXED USE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS PROPERTY THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AGAIN BACK IN 2019.

THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS NEWTON PLACE, IS AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAGINAW AND NEWTON ROAD.

THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS FOR THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF ALL THE BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY. THE ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIRES ANY SINGLE BUILDING OR GROUP OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE OVER TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.

IN AREA ARE SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND APPROVAL IS AT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD LEVEL.

THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR ALL THE BUILDINGS ON THE SITE AS THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SQUARE FEET AND AS DIVIDED INTO SIXTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR SQUARE FEET FOR NONRESIDENTIAL SPACE.

AND THE RESIDENTIAL SPACE IS THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX SQUARE FEET. THE PROPOSAL HAD TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DWELLING UNITS AS PART OF THE APPROVAL. THE ORDINANCE ALSO REQUIRES A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS GRANTED THAT THE APPLICANT HAS A TWO YEAR TIME PERIOD TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.

IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO BEGIN THAT CONSTRUCTION AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COME IN AND ASK FOR A ONE TIME, ONE YEAR, 12 MONTH EXTENSION OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THAT'S WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS DONE.

AND IT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH THAT REQUEST.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO PROVIDES THREE REVIEW CRITERIA THAT THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING AT THESE EXTENSIONS.

THE FIRST ONE TALKS ABOUT THE INABILITY TO START THE PROJECT, EITHER BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS OR SOME OTHER REASONS THAT IS OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE APPLICANT.

THE LAST TWO ARE ONE IS CONSISTENT AND REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH THE REVIEW CRITERIA FOR GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT REMAINS CONSISTENT. SAW THE PROJECT, AS PRESENTED TODAY, IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT ORIGINAL SPECIAL USE PERMIT. AND I CAN TELL YOU THE LAST TWO OF THE REVIEW CRITERIA AND THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE APPROVED PLAN HAS REMAINED THE SAME AS FROM WHAT IT WAS IN 2019.

BUT THE APPLICANT DID PROVIDE YOU WITH THEIR EXPLANATION FOR THE OTHER REVIEW CRITERIA.

AND AS I MENTIONED, THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT, IF YOU HAD SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THEM.

THANK YOU, MR. KIESELBACH.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE APPLICANT COMMENT ON THE REASONS WHY THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROCEED WITH THE TIME THEY NEED THE EXTENSION? WHEN WE DO THAT.

[INAUDIBLE] THE APPLICANT? [INAUDIBLE] MR. CHUCK COLEMAN. ABSOLUTELY.

STAND BY.

AND CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MR. HAMMOND, I GUESS THE ONLY ISSUE THAT'S REALLY PRESSING US IS THE REASONS FOR THE

[00:55:01]

I'M CHUCK COLEMAN WITH [INAUDIBLE] 2502 LAKE LANSING ROAD.

AND I'M SORRY IF YOU HAVE MENTIONED FOR ME TO SPEAK.

I MISSED THAT.

I APOLOGIZE. YES.

THE CRITERIA THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE, THE FIRST ONE MENTIONED IS IT WOULD BE APPLICABLE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCING IN PLACE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

WHY THE CURRENT STATUS AS WE BID OFF THE PROJECT? AND WE ARE REVIEWING THE PROPOSALS AND ARE PREPARED ACTUALLY THIS WEEK TO SUBMIT ALL OUR DOCUMENTS FOR THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL.

I THINK THAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY, ISN'T IT, MARK? YEAH. WE RAN INTO AN ISSUE THAT DELAYED US QUITE A BIT, IT WAS HAD TO DO WITH THE ST ORM SYSTEM.

OUR ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO TIE INTO THE PUBLIC STORM SYSTEM THAT SERVES SIERRA RIDGE, WHICH IS A DEVELOPMENT DUE SOUTH OF OUR DEVELOPMENT.

THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT HAD BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO OWNERS OF THE PARCELS THAT IS SIERRA RIDGE IN NEWTON.

AND WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS, WE LEARNED THAT THE STANCE, THE PUBLIC STORM SYSTEM IN SIERRA RIDGE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE OUR PROJECT.

WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE.

SO AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE PROBABLY NEEDED TO GO BACK TO INGHAM COUNTY GREEN COMMISSION.

AND TIE IN TO THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAD TO BE EXTENDED. SO WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND INGHAM COUNTY WAS ABLE TO GET THAT APPROVED. AND THEN WE UNDERTOOK DESIGNING THAT EXTENSION AS A PART OF OUR EFFORT. IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND IT IS INCORPORATED IN THE PROJECT.

BUT THAT PROCESS TOOK APPROXIMATELY A YEAR TO GO THROUGH ALL THE VARIOUS STEPS THAT WE NEEDED TO GO THROUGH WITH INGHAM COUNTY GREEN COMMISSION.

SO THAT DELAY IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY REQUESTING AN EXTENSION.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING, BUT NOT NICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION.

I THINK YOU CAN SOME, IN MY OPINION [INAUDIBLE] WAY IT DID.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COLEMAN? MR. OPSOMMER? NO QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD JUST THANK YOU, MR. [INUDIBLE], FOR THE OUTLINE ON THE TIMELINE AND WORKING ON THE DRAIN AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES WITH THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S HELPFUL CONTEXT.

AND I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THESE SPECIALIST PERMIT EXTENSIONS ARE A FAIRLY NORMAL OCCURRENCE. WE ALWAYS, DURING MY TIME ON THE BOARD, HAVE APPROVED THEM.

AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR HAS OCCURRED DURING NOT ONLY COVID 19, BUT ALSO WITH THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WHERE ALL OF THE RAW MATERIALS AND THE AGGREGATES THAT YOU PUT INTO [INAUDIBLE] CONCRETE, THE LUMBER ITSELF ARE ASTRONOMICALLY COSTLY AND THAT CAUSES FINANCIAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF FINANCING PROJECTS.

SO WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, I AM PERFECTLY FINE WITH APPROVING THE EXTENSION AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU.

TREASURER? THANK YOU. I, TOO, WILL VOTE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THIS FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, MR. HOLLEMAN, REGARDING TRUSTEE OPSOMMER'S COMMENTS.

WE KNOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE PAST YEAR AND COUNTLESS WAYS, AND ONE OF THOSE WAYS IS THE INCREASED COST OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

AND THEN YOU WOULD ALSO MENTION YOU DO NOT YET HAVE FINANCING.

IS THE PROJECT IN PERIL BECAUSE OF THOSE TWO FACTORS? NO, WELL, BELIEVE ME, THERE HAS BEEN QUITE INTERESTING, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY, TO

[01:00:05]

INCREASE IN LUMBER ALONE.

WE'VE EVEN LOOKED AT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD GO TO WHAT THEY CALL METAL STUD FRAMING JUST THEM. BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE PLANNING ON STAYING WITH WOOD FRAMING ON THE PROJECT WE'RE IN LINE TO GET OUR FINANCING IN PLACE HERE VERY SOON.

AND AS I MENTIONED, JUST THIS WEEK, WE COMPLETED OUR SIGNED DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. HOLMAN, FOR COMING.

MS. JACKSON? YES. OK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AT THIS HOUR WITH THIS PROJECT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE APPROVED IT.

THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN.

AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT, WE WILL HAVE THIS ON FOR OUR AGENDA NEXT TIME FOR ACTION THEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BUT NOW WE COME FOR A SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

YOU HAVE AN ATTENDEE IDENTIFIED AS BETH.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.

CAN I REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS THREE MINUTES LIMITED AND YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD AS A WHOLE NOT INDIVIDUALS AND SPEAK TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, NOT ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUALS.

AND GO AHEAD, BETH.

YOU WILL NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.

I THOUGH YOU WERE DOING THAT, SO WHICH JUST BRINGS ME TO THE FACT THAT.

WE'LL START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

OH, OK, SORRY, I'M GOOD.

YEAH, BETH HUBBELL, 1158 WOODSIDE DRIVE.

OK, YES, I TRY TO GET ON EARLIER.

IT SEEMS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT THE SYSTEM.

HOWEVER, YOU DID HEAR FROM MY STEPDAUGHTER AT REGARDING THE PROBLEM AT THE CEMETERY.

AND I JUST YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME TIME TO READ THE LETTER, WHICH I WAS HOPING TO DO SO.

BUT I HAVE NOTICED IN MY LATEST.

A LITTLE MAGAZINE THAT YOU PUT OUT FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND THAT YOUR YOUR MESSAGE, YOUR THEME IS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH PASSION, PERFORMANCE AND PRIDE.

I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INFORMATION TO YOU.

AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS I TRIED TO GET LETTERS TO THE SUPERVISOR AND TO THE BOARD, I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO.

THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN TO THE SYSTEM.

IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO TRY AND FIGURE THIS OUT THROUGH YOUR WHOLE MEETING AND TO OBSERVE THIS MEETING, HOW IT'S WORKING WITH THE VIDEO.

BUT I'M VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I'M HOPING THAT THERE IS A WAY TO GET OUR LETTERS TO YOU TO READ SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE CEMETERY AND THE PLACEMENT OF THIS NEW MARKER THAT'S CAUSED OUR FAMILY A CONSIDERABLE STRESS FOR THE PAST YEAR.

WE WANTED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO YOU AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO GET THE LETTERS TO YOU, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WOULD FIND THEM VERY INTERESTING READING.

AND WE HAVE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT OUR FAMILY.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE BACKING OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN MICHIGAN AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS DOES CONCERN OUR MILITARY PLAQUE.

BUT IT IS ABOUT THE OTHER FAMILY THAT HAS NO PLACE WHERE THEIR STONE HAS BEEN PLACED TO

[01:05:05]

OURS IS A HEADSTONE AT THE HEAD OF THE PLOT.

AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE STONES THAT ARE RECENTLY BEING PUT IN ARE BEING PUT AT THE FOOT OF THE PLOT.

SO PEOPLE PUT THEIR HAVE TO PUT THEIR FLOWERS AND SOMEBODY ELSE'S PLOT.

THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY PUTTING IT ON THEIR OWN PLOTS WHEN THEY PUT IT IN FRONT OF THEIR STONES AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THIS.

SO WE NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.

I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME AND I HAVE A WAY TO CONTACT ME, ALTHOUGH I KNOW I NEVER DID HEAR BACK FROM THE SUPERVISOR THROUGH MY EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS.

AND WE JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU.

AND WE WERE HOPING WE COULD DO IT THROUGH THE BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.

AND IT SEEMED VERY FRUSTRATING AND TO BE SO LIMITED TO ONLY GIVE PARTIAL INFORMATION.

SO WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THE WHOLE STORY, AND I THINK YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION BETTER WHEN YOU DO GET THE WHOLE STORY.

SO IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW A WAY TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO YOU, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

IF NOT, WE WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT OVER.

IT AFFECTS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MARKERS THERE OR POTENTIAL PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE CEMETERY, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN ON THEIR OWN PLOT WHEN THEY PUT FLOWERS IN FRONT OF THEIR STONES.

SO IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH WITH THE RULES, THEN MAYBE IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THOSE RULES BECAUSE THOSE RULES DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOOTSTONES THAT SOME CEMETERIES USE IF YOU WANT A MARKER AT THE FOOT OF A PLOT. BUT THESE ARE HEADSTONES THAT ARE BEING PUT IN YOUR CEMETERY AND THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE HANDLED THINGS THE WAY THEY HAVE HANDLED OUR STONE.

YOU WANT TO MOVE IT. AND THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

SO WE BELIEVE I REALLY BELIEVE AND OUR FAMILY BELIEVES IN GIVING PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS.

SO PLEASE SUPPORT US IN THIS.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU WILL WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE WANT FOR THIS WONDERFUL MAN WHO SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR 50 YEARS WITH VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE TOWNSHIP.

I WORKED ALMOST EVERY ELECTION FOR FORTY YEARS.

I HAVE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE WHO CAME UP WITH THE RECYCLING PLAN.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOLS ALL THIS TIME.

OUR KIDS WENT THROUGH ALL THESE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES, MUCH OF WHICH I'VE DONE AS A VOLUNTEER. SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL LISTEN TO US.

AND AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I FEEL LIKE NOT EVEN BEING APPRECIATED FOR WHAT I'VE DONE HERE, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING JUST KIND OF BLOWN OFF.

AND THIS IS A REALLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND AS I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A BACK AND FORTH RIGHT NOW, BUT LATER ON, YOU MAY BE [INAUDIBLE]. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? I SEE NO HANDS AND WE HAVE NO TELEPHONE CALLS, SIR.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] BOARD MEMBERS, OK, WE DO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT.

[16. CLOSED SESSION]

AND UNDER THE LAW, WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT IN CLOSED SESSION AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO OPEN SESSION SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADJOURNING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AM I CORRECT? MR. WALSH COULD BE OUR ONLY PURPOSE.

OK. [INAUDIBLE] YES, MR. OPSOMMER? YES, I JUST WANTED TO STATE FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD AND FOR THE PUBLIC WHO JUST REQUESTED

[01:10:01]

SO, AGAIN, THAT'S BOARD@MERIDIAN.MI.US.

THANK YOU. OK, AND WITH REGARD TO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS MATTER HAS BEEN MONITORED VERY CLOSELY BY THE SUPERVISOR AND THE MANAGER.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS ON THIS AND HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE COMMUNICATION THAT HAS COME.

ALL RIGHT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN ANOTHER SESSION, ANOTHER TIME, MR. OPSOMMER? I MOVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEYS CONFIDENTIAL WRITTEN LEGAL OPINION CONCERNING THE LANSING BOARD OF WATER LIGHT FRANCHISE FEE.

OK, WELL. TRUSTEE JACKSON? WE NEED A ROLL CALL ON THIS? TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES, TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES. AND TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

WE ARE NOW READY TO GO IN A CLOSED SESSION.

NOW TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THIS VIRTUALLY.

DO WE NEED TO SIGN OUT OF THIS MEETING? A FEW OF US HAVE RECEIVED THE SECURITY CREDENTIALS FOR A DIFFERENT MEETING AND THEN SIGN INTO THAT MEETING.

AND. AND GUESS WHAT WE NEED IS A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

WAS THERE SOMETHING MISSING? YOU NEED AN OFFICIAL MOTION TO GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.

WE HAVE DONE THAT, BUT THEN I WAS CRITICIZED FOR DOING IT, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE WE DIDN'T NEED IT. BUT GO AHEAD, LET'S DO IT.

I THINK IT'S BETTER IF WE DO IT.

OK, I MOVE TO GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.

SUPPORT. MOTION BY OPSOMMER, SUPPORTED BY JACKSON.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE ROLL CALL ON THESE.

TRUSTEE OPSOMMER? YES.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND? YES. TRUSTEE JACKSON? YES.

TREASURER DESCHAINE? YES.

SUPERVISOR STYKA? YES.

CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

SO NOW WE ARE IN OPEN SESSION, MR. DESCHAINE? I MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

SO IS THAT SUPPORTED? SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ADJOURN.

GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAT.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.