[00:01:39]
>> [MUSIC] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE? I HOPE I'M COMING THROUGH AND [INAUDIBLE] I'LL NOW CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
THIS IS THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, WE'RE SET VIRTUALLY ON JUNE 15, 2021, 6:00 PM, AND WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND THEN DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.OF ALLEGIANCE] THEN I'LL ASK OUR CLERK, MS. GUTHRIE TO CALL THE ROLL.
THEN AS YOU ANSWER PLEASE INDICATE FROM WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, SUPERVISOR STYKA.
>> I AM HERE AND I'M IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I AM PRESENT FOR THE MEETING BUT CALLING IN FROM OAKLAND, MARYLAND TONIGHT.
>> PRESENT, IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> PRESENT, AND ATTENDING FROM THE CITY OF LANSING.
>> PRESENT, AND I AM CALLING IN FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> PRESENT, ALSO CALLING IN FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP
>> ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
OUR FIRST ITEM IS A PRESENTATION.
[4A. MERS, Retiree Health Care and Township Pension Fund 2020 Valuation Reports]
ITS A PRESENTATION WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR FROM MERS THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO WHICH THE TOWNSHIP SUBSCRIBES.IT'S FOR OUR RETIREE HEALTH CARE AND TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND 2020 VALUATION REPORTS.
I WILL START OUT WITH MR. WALSH.
>> THANK YOU YOUR HONOR AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THERE'S THREE THINGS I WANT TO COVER TONIGHT.
THE MERS PENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT FUND BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE LARGEST AND WHERE WE HAVE OUR DEBT.
IT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 105 EMPLOYEES WITH 73 OR 74 OF THEM BEING IN THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR OLD FORMER TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT FOR 20 OR 25 YEARS.
THERE ARE NO CURRENT ACTIVE EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE TOWNSHIP'S OLD OR FORMER PENSION PLAN, AND THEN RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
THEN I HAVE ONE SLIDE OVER OUR OVERALL FINANCIAL CONDITION.
ONE THING WE LEARNED FROM GOING THROUGH OUR BOND RATING TWO YEARS AGO, IS I REMEMBER STANDARDS AND POOR'S OFFICIALS OUT OF NEW YORK TELLING US, "YOU HAVE SUCH A SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION.
YOU NEED TO REPORT THIS MORE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE BOARD." WE ACTUALLY LOST A COUPLE OF POINTS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T REPORTING AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD TO THE BOARDS.
WE WERE MAKING THIS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO AND WE'RE GOING FOR A AAA BOND RATING, WHICH WOULD PUT US IN THE TOP SIX PERCENT IN THE STATE AND WE'RE DOING THAT NEXT YEAR.
IF YOU'D SHARE THE SCREEN, MR. PERRY.
THIS IS BEGINNING THE MERS VALUATION FROM 2020. FIRST SLIDE.
[00:05:08]
>> ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO SEE THAT OR NOT?
>> NO, IT'S STILL ON THE FIRST ONE, DEREK.
>> IT WAS SHARING NOW IT'S NOT.
>> [NOISE] OKAY. LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN.
SHARING, SO YOU CAN SEE IT NOW?
>> YEAH. WE CAN SEE THE FIRST PAGE.
HERE IS THE FUNDING LEVEL HISTORY OF THE MERS PENSION FUND, WHICH AGAIN IS BY FAR THE LARGEST DEBT THAT WE HAVE.
YOU CAN SEE BACK IN 1999 WE'RE 54 PERCENT FUNDED AND WE HOVERED RIGHT AROUND THERE.
IN 2017, WENT TO THE VOTERS FOR A MILLAGE FOR POLICE AND FIRE, INCLUDING LEGACY COSTS.
WE'RE AT THE HIGHEST FUNDING LEVEL THAT WE'VE BEEN.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAD HOPED TO, BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ACCELERATING THAT PROGRESS HERE IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES.
AGAIN, THIS SHOWS YOU WHERE WE'VE COME SINCE 1999 AT OUR LOWEST POINT.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING SLIDE IN OUR GRAPH CHART.
THIS SHOWS WHAT OUR PAYMENTS ARE INCREASING FROM 2021-2022.
THERE'S THE PHASE-IN AMOUNT AND THE NON PHASE-IN AMOUNT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THAT IF WE WANTED TO PAY THE LEAST AMOUNT WE COULD POSSIBLY PAY TO MERS.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THERE'S 2,930,316.
IF WE WANTED TO, THAT'S THE LEAST AMOUNT WE COULD PAY TO MERS AND STILL MEET OUR ARC, WHICH IS OUR ACTUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION, 2.9.
TRY TO REMEMBER THAT NUMBER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
ALSO, LOOK AT THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON THE PENSION.
IN THE NUMBERS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WHICH WERE PAYING 17 PERCENT OF PAYROLL RIGHT NOW FOR EMPLOYEES HIRED BEFORE 1/1/17.
JUST OVER THREE PERCENT INSTEAD OF 17.
THEN IF YOU GO DOWN TO COMMAND AND PATROL 1.35 EMPLOYEES BEFORE, 77 PERCENT.
THEN IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE FIRE, IT'S TWO PERCENT RATHER THAN THE 60, SOME PERCENT WE'RE PAID TO EMPLOYEES BEFORE.
THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR FUND GOING FORWARD IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE STRUGGLING IN THIS AREA, THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT EFFECT.
ONE THING I SHOULD NOTE THAT THESE PERCENTAGES FOR POLICE AND FIRE, EMPLOYEES HIRED BEFORE 1/1/17 DO NOT INCLUDE THE SURPLUS FUNDS.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN A MILLION AND A 1/2 PER YEAR, 750 BOTH POLICE AND FIRE THEY ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR THERE.
MOST PERCENT OF PAYROLL ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THEY'RE JUST DESCRIPTED IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHAT IF WE WANT TO GET TO A 100 PERCENT FUNDING IN 10 YEARS? REMEMBER, WE COULD PAY 2.9 AND GET BY, BY PAYING THE ACTUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION.
WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO PAY? WE'RE GOING TO PAY 5.2 MILLION.
THAT IS OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED TO PAY BASED ON WHAT MERS IS TELLING US WE COULD PAY, WHY? BECAUSE MERS USES A ROSY.
IN FACT, IT USED TO BE EIGHT PERCENT AND THEY LOWERED IT TO 7.75.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MERS HAS MADE ANOTHER REDUCTION DOWN TO 7.35 RATE OF RETURN.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS VERY VERY BOLD AND AGGRESSIVE IN FORECASTING THE RATE OF RETURN.
WE ARE FORECASTING ONLY A 5.35 RATE OF RETURN.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING SO MUCH MORE IN ON THE ARC.
THE 2.9 IS BASED ON A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF RETURN.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IT AS A SUCH A ROSY PICTURE.
THIS SHOWS YOU HERE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF YOU ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER, WE COULD PAY $271,000 PER MONTH, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING 400 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH, 434,000 BASED ON THE 5.35 RATE OF RETURN.
THIS SHOWS YOU THE DIFFERENT RATES OF RETURNS, AND EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU'D HAVE TO PAY PER MONTH.
AGAIN, A VERY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH BY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
[00:10:04]
THERE ARE VERY FEW COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN THAT ARE USING THIS 5.35 RATE OF RETURN.THAT'S A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE WITH MERS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CAN REMEMBER GOING BACK 6, 7, 8 YEARS AGO, WE WERE $4 MILLION UNDERFUNDED IN RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
TODAY, WE'RE 100 PERCENT FUNDED.
BY OUR AGGRESSIVE APPROACH OVER THE LAST 68 YEARS, WE HAVE PAID OFF ALL OF OUR RETIREE HEALTH CARE DEBT.
WE ARE NOW 100 PERCENT FUNDED.
WE WERE FUNDED IN THE 60 PERCENT RANGE JUST FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW WE'RE AT 100 PERCENT.
WELL, JUST THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE 54 PERCENT FUNDED, AND 17 AND 18.
YOU CAN SEE A VERY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH AND WE'RE NOW 100 PERCENT.
THAT PUTS US IN A VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PLACE IN MICHIGAN AMONG COMMUNITIES.
TO BE 100 PERCENT FUNDED FOR YOUR OPEB, WHICH IS OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS WHAT THE OPEB STANDS FOR.
WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN? IT SHOWS YOU THAT OUR OPEB LIABILITY WAS 4 MILLION, AND THEN 4.2, AND THEN 776, AND NOW OUR OPEB LIABILITY IS $18,000 INSTEAD OF 4 MILLION.
AGAIN, A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN.
HERE'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TO ANYONE WHO HAVE LISTENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IF WE COULD GET THESE PAID DOWN, OUR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION WOULD GO DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, THEREFORE, FREE UP MORE MONEY TO HELP US PAY OFF THE MERS.
HOW CAN WE AFFORD TO TAKE ON A 5.35 PERCENT RATE OF RETURN WITH MERS? WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE PAID DOWN OUR LEGACY COSTS.
LOOK, WE'RE PUTTING IN NEARLY $0.5 MILLION TWO YEARS AGO.
NOW, OUR PAYMENTS REQUIRED IS 88,000.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE OTHER 400,000? WELL, YOU TRANSFER THAT OVER AND BEGIN TO PAY DOWN YOUR MERS AT A MORE ACCELERATED RATE.
WE'RE ALREADY PAYING IT AT AN ACCELERATED RATE BECAUSE OF A MILLION AND A HALF THAT WE'RE PAYING ADDITIONALLY.
NOW WE'RE JUST RAMPING THAT UP EVEN MORE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT NOW THE THIRD LEG OF THE STOOL THAT THE CLOSED EMPLOYEE PENSION PLAN OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WHICH THERE ARE NO ACTIVE MEMBERS OR NO ACTIVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM.
AGAIN, LOOKING BACK 2015, NOT THAT LONG AGO, WHAT WAS OUR DEBT? 1.8 MILLION APPROACHING $2 MILLION.
YOU'VE GOT 4 MILLION IN ONE BUCKET, 2 MILLION IN ANOTHER BUCKET, AND MERS IS OUT OF CONTROL.
THIS TOWNSHIP BOARD SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE OWED AND WE'RE GOING TO REALLY GO AFTER THIS LEGACY DEBT.
INSTEAD OF A MILLION EIGHT DEBT, WE'RE $44,000 OVERFUNDED AT OUR TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND.
YOU SAY, WELL, WHEN YOU GET TO A 100 PERCENT, PEOPLE CAN'T ASK FOR MORE BENEFITS.
THAT'S TRUE, BUT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S WHY YOU PAY THIS ONE DOWN FIRST.
WE'RE 100 PERCENT, JUST OVER 100 PERCENT FUNDING.
AGAIN, $1.8 MILLION OF DEBT THREE YEARS AGO, AND HERE WE ARE NOW UP TO 100 PERCENT.
YOU CAN SEE, IN 2015, THE OPEB, OR RETIREE HEALTH CARE WAS 54 PERCENT FUNDED.
WELL, WHERE WERE WE IN 2015 WITH IT? WE WERE 68 PERCENT WITH THIS FUND.
THIS ONE'S DOWN FROM 66 TO 100, AND THE RETIREE HEALTH CARE HAS GONE FROM 54 TO 100.
AGAIN, WHAT DOES THAT DO? [LAUGHTER] IT FREES UP FUNDING TO ATTACK YOUR MERS PENSION.
WHAT WAS OUR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION WHEN THE LAST BOARD CAME IN PLACE? I'M YOUR AREA MEMBER.
IF YOU CAME ON THE BOARD IN 2016 OR 2017, WE WERE PUTTING $400,000 A YEAR.
WHAT WAS OUR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION? ABOUT 150.
WE PUT IN 400 BECAUSE WE WERE BOLD, AND WE SHOWED GREAT LEADERSHIP.
WE PUT IT IN EXTRA FUNDS, MANAGED WELL, AND NOW LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED.
OUR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS DOWN TO 120,000 WERE FULLY FUNDED.
WHAT DOES THAT DO? BRINGS UP ANOTHER 300,000 ON TOP OF THE 400,000 IN RETIREE HEALTH CARE. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT? YOU CAN NOW ATTACK YOUR MERS LEGACY DEBT WITH A GREAT ACCELERATED PACE.
I STARTED THIS PRESENTATION 10 MINUTES AGO, I TELL YOU, YOU COULD PUT IT IN 2.9 MILLION.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING IN $5.2 MILLION INTO MERS.
THAT'S 2.3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
[00:15:04]
WHEN PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, ARE YOU PUTTING IN A MILLION AND A HALF THAT YOU PROMISED THAT YOU PUT IN 2017?" WE ARE. PLUS ANOTHER $800,000.WELL, HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? BECAUSE WE WERE BOLD AND WE SHOWED GREAT LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OF PUTTING THESE OTHER DEBTS DOWN, AND WE FREED UP THAT 400 AND 300.
NOW YOU CAN SEE WE WALK THE WALK, WE TALK THE TALK.
WE'RE PUTTING THOSE EXTRA FUNDS INTO THE MERS PENSION FUND AND PAYING IT OFF AT AN ACCELERATED PACE.
NOT FULLY FUNDED SCENARIO, IF WE WEREN'T FULLY FUNDED, WHAT WOULD WE BE PAYING? WE'D HAVE TO PAY MERS FIVE, TWO, THE HIT RETIREE HEALTH CARE 400, AND THE TOWNSHIP PLAN 200,000.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5.8 MILLION IF WE WEREN'T FULLY FUNDED.
WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL CONTRIBUTION GOING TO BE? IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE 5.4.
NOT ONLY ARE WE PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600,000, ACTUALLY, OUR PAYMENT IS LESS THAN ONE IN THE BANK BECAUSE OF OUR FULLY FUNDED POSITION.
HERE IT IS, THE FULLY FUNDED POSITION IS $266,000 RATHER THAN THE NOT FULLY FUNDED OF 651.
THAT IS ABOUT $400,000 LESS THAN WE'RE PAYING IN ADDITIONAL INTEREST COST BECAUSE WE ARE FULLY FUNDED.
AGAIN, RETIREE HEALTH CARE, FULLY FUNDED, OLD FORMER TOWNSHIP HEALTH PENSION PLAN, FULLY FUNDED, MERS IS NOW UP TO 64 PERCENT.
THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE THREE FUNDS.
I'LL CLOSE WITH OUR OVERALL TOWNSHIP FINANCIAL PICTURE.
GOING BACK EIGHT YEARS AGO, OUR FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND WAS $5.2 MILLION.
THE QUESTION IS, OKAY, YOU ACCELERATED, YOU'RE BOLD, YOU PAID THESE DOWN, YOU'RE ALRIGHT, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO YOUR OVERALL FINANCIAL PICTURE? WE'RE HEAVY ROBBED TO PAY PETER, TO PAY PAUL.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE PAID OFF THOSE FUNDS AT 100 PERCENT, WE'VE ALSO INCREASED OUR OVERALL GENERAL FUND BALANCE FROM 5.2 MILLION UP TO $10 MILLION.
NOW, IN 2022, THE BOARD IS GOING TO FACE SOME REALLY INTERESTING CREATIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO.
THIS DOES NOT. WELL, PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS AND THEY SAY, "SURE WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO FUNDING COMING IN, SURE YOUR FINANCES LOOK GOOD." NO. NONE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS, NONE OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE GRAPH BEFORE YOU.
THAT WRAPS UP MY PRESENTATION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR PENSION FUNDS AND OUR RETIREE HEALTH CARE, AND WHERE WE LOOK GOING FORWARD.
THE BOARD IN THIS BUDGET COMING UP IS GOING TO HAVE SOME PRETTY EXCITING DECISIONS AND DISCUSSIONS TO TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU GO.
THAT'S IT, MR. SUPERVISOR AND BOARD, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT I RECEIVED FROM FINANCE CLERK MATTISON, ESPECIALLY DEPUTY MANAGER IN PUTTING THIS REPORT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> YES. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA.
MY ONLY QUESTION AND THANKYOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO REFERENCE THE REPORT [INAUDIBLE]
>> ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE HEARING HIM?
>> WE'RE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY, DAN.
>> OH, THERE YOU GO. YOU'RE COMING IN NOW.
>> I'M GOING TO REFERENCE THE ERS REPORT THAT'S IN THE PACKET BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT I WAS JUST LOOKING AT FIGURES THAT THEY GAVE US IN THE REPORT OR THE RATE OF RETURN THAT WE'RE RECEIVING ON THE MERS FUND.
THE SMOOTH RATE OF RETURN WAS WHERE WE FLIPPED OVER IT, GAVE US 8.17, WITH 2020 ACTUAL RETURN IN 12.7.
GIVEN THOSE NUMBERS, I WAS HOPING GIVEN THE 1.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL PAYMENT AND THAT OUR RATE OF RETURN IS ACTUALLY VERY STRONG, REALLY, ACTUALLY GIVEN COVID, I WAS HOPING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROGRESS ON OUR PERCENT FUNDED LEVEL ON THE MERS SIDE.
SETTING ASIDE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE RELATIVE TO THE OPEB AND THE TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND, WHAT IS MERS TELLING US AS TO WHY WE ARE SEEING
[00:20:01]
MORE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING LEVEL THAN 62 PERCENT? THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT FROM MERS, RIGHT?>> YEAH. WE'RE AT 64 FOR MERS.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED TOO.
WE EXPECT IT TO BE CLOSE TO 70 RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE ACCELERATE THIS THING MORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS BECAUSE OF OUR FUNDING OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, WE'RE MEETING WITH MERS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT 03:30, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ZOOM CALL WITH THEM.
IF THERE'S A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT WANT TO ATTEND THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING INFORMATION.
BUT HERE'S WHAT OTHER MANAGERS ARE TELLING ME WHAT THEY BELIEVE HAPPENED.
BECAUSE MERS LOWERED THE 775 TO 735, WE'RE ALL IMPACTED BY THAT, BY FORECASTING.
ALSO, THE SMOOTHING, THEY TAKE THE PERCENTAGE RATE OF RETURN AND THEY SMOOTH IT OVER FIVE YEARS, AND THE CHALLENGES WE STILL HAVE THAT REALLY DIFFICULT YEAR, I THINK THAT WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE WE HAD LIKE A 30 PERCENT LOSS.
WE STILL HAVE THAT SMOOTH OVER, AND WE'RE ABOUT READY TO DROP THAT OFF.
WE'VE HAD TWO REALLY GOOD YEARS TOGETHER.
THIS YEAR IS GOING PRETTY STRONG.
AS WE DROP OFF THAT YEAR, I THINK WE'LL SEE US ACCELERATE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER.
IT'S THAT SMOOTHING EFFECT AND THEN THE CHANGE OF THE RATE OF RETURNS THAT IMPACTED US.
>> CAN THE MAN ANOINTED EXPLAIN WHAT SMOOTHING IS?
>> YES, SMOOTHING IS LIKE IF YOU GET 18 PERCENT RATE OF RETURN IN ONE YEAR, YOU'RE THINKING, GREAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE 72 PERCENT VALUED.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY TAKE THAT 18 PERCENT, OR LET'S SAY IT'S 15 TO MAKE THE MATH EASIER, AND THEY ATTRIBUTE THREE PERCENT PER YEAR.
SO THEY SMOOTH IT OUT SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE HUGE DIP.
SO ONE YEAR YOU HAVE A 30 PERCENT LOSS, YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE A SIX PERCENT LOSS PER YEAR.
WHEN YOU COULD DROP OFF LIKE THE REALLY BAD YEAR WE HAD ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN THAT DROPS OFF, THEN YOU'LL SEE US HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE YEARS THAT ARE SMOOTH TOGETHER, AND WE'LL SEE AN ACCELERATED JUMP IN OUR FUNDING POSITION.
>> I'LL GO BACK TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT WHAT I WAS GETTING AT IS, IS THIS A PAPER TRANSACTION, THIS SMOOTHING OR IT'S JUST A REALITY?
I'M NOT AN ACTUARIAL AND I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND TO BE.
ALL I KNOW IS THEY TAKE THE 50 PERCENT GROWTH IN ONE YEAR AND THEY PUT THREE PERCENT TO EACH YEAR.
THAT'S HOW THEY SMOOTH IT OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO IT'S MORE OF A WAY OF ACCOUNTING FOR YOU.
DIRECTOR MATTISON, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH. IT'S AN ACCOUNTING METHOD WHERE YOU DON'T TAKE THAT HUGE GAME LIKE MANAGER WALSH WAS EXPLAINING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT HUGE GAIN OR HUGE LOSS IN ONE YEAR, SO THEY LEVEL IT OFF.
IT'S A WAY TO NOT HAVE HUGE SPIKES IN YOUR PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS OR HUGE DIPS IN YOUR PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS.
TRIES TO KEEP YOUR PAYMENTS AT A SMOOTH, EVEN PACE.
SO YEAH, IT'S A WAY OF ACCOUNTING FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE SIR.
ABSOLUTELY AN INTERESTING ANSWER BUT I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT THE X IS SMOOTHING STUFF? SO I THOUGHT I WANTED TO GET THAT IN THERE WHEN I COULD. GO AHEAD, DAN. I'M SORRY.
>> WELL ENOUGH MR. SUPERVISOR, AND THANK YOU MANAGER WALSH FOR THE EXPLANATION.
MY ONLY THING THAT WE'LL REVIEW WITH FOR THE MEETING WITH MERS ON FRIDAY AND I MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN MIKE BEING ABLE TO SEND THAT INFORMATION [INAUDIBLE] BUT IN THE EVENT THAT I COULDN'T ATTEND, MY ONLY THING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE ASKED OF MERS, I BELIEVE WE WERE AT 58 PERCENT IN 2017 WHEN WE ALL WENT OUT FOR THE MILLAGE.
OVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS, WE'VE MADE ABOUT A TWO PERCENT GAIN ON AVERAGE, AND OUR PERCENT FUNDED STATUS UP TO 64 PERCENT NOW.
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE COMPUTATION IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WITH OUR 1.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL PAYMENT, I THINK THAT'S ON TOP OF 4.2 OR 4.5 MILLION, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE INCREASE.
YES, THEY NEED TO EXPLAIN TO US WHETHER IT'S THE SMOOTHING OR A COMBINATION OF ANOTHER SET OF FACTORS, PERHAPS OUR PICTURE IS TECHNICALLY BETTER, AND LIKE YOU SAID, WE DO HAVE ONE BAD YEAR THAT'S HOLDING US BACK, BUT THOSE DO COME IN TIME, SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FAIR TO THROW IT OUT.
I JUST FEEL LIKE THE ACTUARIALS HERE, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO EXPLAIN TO US BECAUSE EVEN PUTTING THAT ADDITIONAL 800,000 THAT WE FREE UP FROM OPEB AND THE TOWNSHIP PENSION SYSTEM.
BUT I STILL FEEL GOOD BECAUSE WE WERE HOLDING STUDY FOR A DECADE, BUT JUST DOING THE BARE MINIMUM AT THE RECOMMENDED RATE OF RETURN.
[00:25:02]
NOW WE'RE DOING LIKE 30 SOME ODD PERCENT MORE EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE DOING A LOWER RATE OF RETURN AND WE'VE DONE ALL THE CHANGES UNDER THE PLANS TO REDUCE SOME OF THE FUTURE LIABILITY.I JUST FEEL LIKE MERS HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO ON THE ACTUARIAL SIDE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT ADDS UP COMPLETELY, WOULD BE MY SENSE.
>> TRUSTEE JACKSON, DID YOU HAVE A HAND UP BEFORE THE TREASURER DESCHAINE? I'LL CALL ON THE TREASURER. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU, WALSH. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMARY AS WELL, AND TO TRUSTEE OPSOMMER'S POINT, THE SMOOTHING HAS PLAYED A FACTOR HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER, WE ONLY APPROVED THE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE IN 2017.
2018 WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE COLLECTED IT.
SO WE'VE HAD THREE FULL YEARS OF COLLECTING IT, I BELIEVE IS GOING TO TAKE INTO THE END OF 2022 TO SEE FULL BENEFIT OF OUR INCREASED PAYMENTS, AND WE'LL GET THAT ODD YEAR, THAT BAD YEAR ON THERE, AND WHO KNOWS THAT WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER BAD YEAR? STOCK MARKET IS VERY FICKLE.
IT'S BEEN ON A RUN OF SORTS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER YEAR WHERE IT'S DOWN 30 PERCENT.
BUT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE GOING FOR US, WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A MINIMUM TWO PERCENT AND SOME YEARS, POSSIBLY 3, 4, AND 5.
WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ON FRIDAY.
YEAH, THAT COULD BE IN THAT MEETING AS WELL, MANAGER WALSH.
>> ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS, CONCERNS WITH MANAGER WALSH? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. IT WAS EXCELLENT.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, WE NEED TO BE HEARING ABOUT THAT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
EVERY TIME THERE'S A MAJOR CHANGE OF ANY KIND WE SHOULD CERTAINLY HEAR ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS EVENING.
>> [NOISE] WE NOW MOVE ON TO SUSAN WHO'S ADDRESSING AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS,
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
AND I ASSUME MR. GIBBS IS ON HERE TO HELP WITH THAT.I WILL MENTION WHILE HE FIGURES OUT IF THERE'S ANYONE IN LINE, THAT WE LIMIT OUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
WE DO NOT DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN AT THIS TIME.
WE DO MAKE NOTE OF WHAT THEY SAY AND WE MAY RESPOND LATER IN THE MEETING OR AT ANOTHER MEETING.
WE ASK THAT THEY BE COURTEOUS THAT THEY ADDRESS TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE NOT INDIVIDUALS AND NOT TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE, BUT TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE STICK TO THE ISSUES.
WITH THAT, MR. GIBBS , DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME ON?
>> YES. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE RAISING THEIR HAND AND WE HAVE A CALLER WHO'S BEEN ON HOLD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.
CALLER, GO AHEAD. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD?
>> MY NAME IS STEVEN VAGNOZZI.
MY ADDRESS IS 2144 WOODFIELD ROAD IN OKEMOS, MICHIGAN.
> > I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AN ITEM THAT IS COMING UP ON THE ACTION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
THAT IS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR AMTRAK.
YOU HAVE UP ON THE SCREEN NOW A MAP.
THIS AS ESSENTIALLY A 15-YEAR PLAN 2035.
THAT THIS MAP SHOWS ALL OF THE AMTRAK ROUTES IN THE MIDWEST.
CURRENTLY THERE IS ONE ROUTE, IT'S THE ROUTE FROM PORT HURON THROUGH BATTLE CREEK DOWN TO CHICAGO THAT SERVES MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE ON A ONCE-A-DAY BASIS IN EACH DIRECTION.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ADD A SECOND TRAIN, MOST LIKELY RUNNING ON AN OPPOSITE SCHEDULE.
YOU WOULD HAVE TWO CHANCES IN THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON TO GO TO CHICAGO AND REVERSE COMING BACK.
IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE THE WHITE BLUE LINES.
YOU'LL SEE ONE BETWEEN DETROIT AND TOLEDO THAT ACTUALLY CONTINUES ON TO CLEVELAND.
THEY'RE PROPOSING IMPLEMENTING NEW SERVICE, THREE ROUND TRIPS A DAY, AND ALSO THROUGH DETROIT SERVICE BACK TO TORONTO.
[00:30:05]
THAT ONCE EXISTED YEARS AGO.IT RAN THROUGH PORT HURON TO TORONTO.
BUT THERE'S A MUCH BIGGER POPULATION BASE.
THIS AGAIN, IT WOULD SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS.
TRAIN TRAVEL IS EXTREMELY CLIMATE FRIENDLY.
>> NO YOUR FINE, THIRTY MORE SECONDS.
>> IT'S MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN PRIVATE CAR TRAVEL AND 73 PERCENT MORE EFFICIENT THAN AIR PLANES.
I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL GO TO SENATOR GARY PETERS, WHO SITS ON THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE IN THE US SENATE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS MR. VAGNOZZI, WHO'S ALSO TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, IN FACT I THINK HE'S CHAIR [INAUDIBLE].
>> NEXT WE HAVE A DR. SHEREEN TABRIZI MARKED IN THE ATTENDEE HERE, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.
>> GOOD EVENING. [NOISE] > > YOU HAVE AN ECHO.
PLEASE TURN OFF WHATEVER ELSE YOU HAVE ON.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MR. STYKA. ARE YOU OKAY NOW?
>>YEAH. WE'RE FINE. THAT'S GREAT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M SHEREEN TABRIZI RESIDING AT 3917 SHELDRAKE AVENUE, AN OWNER OF 3566 KANSAS ROAD, NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
I'M DISCUSSING AGENDA ITEM 12A REZONING NUMBER 21020.
I OPPOSE THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MARTIN FOR SPARROW TO REZONE THE TWO RESIDENTIAL PARCELS ON KANSAS ROAD.
AS YOU KNOW, SPOT REZONING THE TWO RESIDENTIAL PARCELS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE WILDLIFE, THE QUIET ATMOSPHERE, AND WE'LL THREATEN SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.
IT WILL DEPRECIATE THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES DESPITE THE PROPOSED GREEN BUFFER AND ACCESS TO MUNICIPAL WATER.
SPARROW'S REVISED PROPOSAL INCLUDES 24/7 FREESTANDING MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THIS MEANS LIGHT AND SOUND POLLUTION, STRANGERS NEXT TO MY BACKYARD AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL TIMES.
THE $10,000 PER RESIDENT SPARROW IS OFFERING WILL NOT COVER COSTS FOR CONNECTION TO MUNICIPAL WATER, DISABLING OUR CURRENT WELL, AND COVERING COST OF THE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM WE PURCHASED TWO MONTHS AGO.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS ON KANSAS AND INDIANA RHODES, HAS STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS PROPOSAL SINCE MARCH.
WHEN I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN WAS MY GUIDE.
THE PLAN DID NOT INCLUDE REZONING THOSE PARCELS.
IF I KNEW YOU'D APPROVE A FREE-STANDING ER, I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT.
ONCE YOU GRANT THE REZONING REQUEST, THE PARCELS ARE FAIR GAME.
THE DEVELOPERS MAY USE IT IN ANY WAY THEY PLEASE.
WHAT ARE YOUR ASSURANCES FOR HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TOWARD THE CONDITIONS YOU WILL SPECIFY? THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES OFF JOLLY, QUARTER OF A MILE WEST FROM KANSAS AT JAMES PHILLIPS STREET.
THERE IS ALSO MCLAREN, EIGHT MINUTES FROM KANSAS.
A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY SERVICES FACILITY DOES NOT NEED TO BE AN OKEMOS PROPERTY AND ON RESIDENTIAL PARCELS TO SERVE OKEMOS RESIDENTS.
I HAD SUGGESTED TO YOU TO MEET WITH NEIGHBORS, HEAR OUR PERSPECTIVES, AND FAMILIARIZE YOURSELVES WITH THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE ROAD.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU STILL HAVE IT AS A FINAL ADOPTION TODAY.
I HOPE THAT WE STILL HAVE SOME SAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
>> DR. TABRIZI WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN [INAUDIBLE].
>> STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
YOU'RE MUTED IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SPEAK. IS HE MUTED?
>> MY WIFE IS, AS USUAL, HELPING ME IN THESE MATTERS.
[00:35:02]
I THINK 3566 KANSAS IS A PROPERTY WE OWN.WE ALSO HAVE PROPERTY IN BRIARWOOD.
BASIC FUNDAMENTAL POINTS THAT SHE MADE, I AGREE, OF COURSE.
THERE ARE SIX PEOPLE WHO'VE WRITTEN THEIR DETAILED LETTERS IN THE PACKET.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS' LETTERS DESERVE TO BE READ IN DETAIL.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE PERSONS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE KANSAS ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL WANT MORE HEALTHCARE, WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BETTER HEALTHCARE, AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SPARROW HOSPITAL IS A LEGITIMATE INSTITUTION AND WE RESPECT ITS POTENTIAL.
I SEE THAT THE FIRE CHIEF IS PART OF YOUR GROUP HERE.
I WOULD JUST COMMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT AS FAR AS THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACTIVITY, THE NEW EMERGENCY ROOM WHICH WILL COME ON LINED FROM MCLAREN WILL OBVIATE SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE LAST MADE REGARDING MAKING THIS A GOOD CHOICE.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, IF THAT WAS USED, WOULD ALSO OBVIATE THE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THIS LOCATION IS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
A POINT I WANTED TO MAKE FROM LAST TIME WAS THAT OUR WATER WAS CONTAMINATED.
THAT POINT WAS MADE BY A RESIDENT IN A LETTER, AND THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, MR. DESCHAINE REPEATED THAT STATEMENT.
I SPOKE TO MR. WALSH AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE WATER FROM OUR AQUIFER VERSUS YOUR AQUIFER IS NOT IN CONTAMINATED, AND THAT THERE IS, OF COURSE, CHEMICAL MEANS OF TAKING CARE OF THAT IN ANY CASE, WHICH WE'RE ALL USING.
IN ORDER FOR US TO OBTAIN WATER FROM THE SPARROW ACTIVITY, WE WILL LOSE OUR QUIETHOOD AT SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK, FRIENDS, AND SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND SOME ELEMENT OF SAFETY.
IF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REINFORCE THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEN I WOULD URGE YOU TO THINK TWICE ABOUT YOUR DECISION.
THIRDLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I QUESTION THE OBJECTIVITY OF YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
THERE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEALTHCARE BACKGROUNDS THAT LIVE IN THIS REGION, IN THIS AREA, THE KANSAS AREA.
THEY ALL OPPOSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO NEXT FROM THE HEALTH.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
>> MR. PESHIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE ZOOM CALLER IDENTIFIED AS DONNA OLD.
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DONNA OLD, 0104 CORNELL ROAD, WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR THE PAST 29 YEARS.
I AM CHAIR OF THE EBERSOLE FOUNDATION, AN EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE GROUP THAT RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE EBERSOLE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER IN WAYLAND, MICHIGAN, WHICH IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE LANSING SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND TO WHICH STUDENTS FROM HASLETT HAVE PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED.
WE ARE PLANNING A RAFFLE TO HELP BUILD A PAVILION AND AMPHITHEATER AT THE SITE TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, AND WE'LL BE SELLING ONLY 250 TICKETS IN THE GREATER LANSING AREA.
WE HAVE FILED ALL OF OUR PAPERWORK FOR OUR LICENSE, EXCEPT THE DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH REQUIRES, ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THAT ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY SUBMIT TO THEM.
THE DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU, I BELIEVE, IS CALLED THE RESOLUTION FOR CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSES.
I COME TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CLOSEST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO WHERE I LIVE AND I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THIS DOCUMENT FOR THE EBERSOLE FOUNDATION.
IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
[00:40:02]
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER?
>> WE DO. THE FOLLOWING SPEAKER WILL BE IDENTIFIED IN ZOOM AS AUBREY HOME.
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M AUBURY HOLMES, 34 BROAD STREET, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M WITH THE OKEMOS IL-AL INVESTORS, LLC.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM IS HERE TONIGHT, WIN BISHOP IS ALSO ON THE LINE WITH SMITH PACKET.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED A SITE CONCEPT PLAN, AS WELL AS ELEVATIONS SINCE THE LAST TOWNSHIP HEARING.
WE'LL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS LATER ON.
>> FOLLOWED BY THE ZOOM CALLER IDENTIFIED AS ALISA KEENER.
>> FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU'RE ON MUTE.
MS. KEENER, YOU'RE MUTED IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IN.
I THINK MS. KEENER MAY BE HAVING TROUBLE UNMUTING, THE NEXT CALLER WE CAN GO TO IS THE ZOOM CALLER IDENTIFIED AS STEVE FREEMYER.
I WILL TRY TO GO BACK TO MS. KEENER LATER. MR. FREEMYER, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS STEVE FREEMYER.
I'M A RESIDENT AT 3622 KANSAS ROAD.
I AM AGAINST THE PROPOSED SPARROW HOSPITAL FREE-STANDING EMERGENCY ROOM FOR REASONS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY STATED; THE TRANQUILITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT GOES AGAINST THE MASTER PLAN, IT'S GOING TO BRING UNWANTED BAD ACTORS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION IS, THREE YEARS AGO, YOUNES, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ENGINEER DID A STUDY OF THE COST OF PUTTING A WATER MAIN DOWN KANSAS ROAD, AND IT CAME OUT TO APPROXIMATELY $15,000 PER RESIDENT.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GA HUNT TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO GET FROM THE MAIN TO THE METER.
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL THREE OR $4,000.
ALSO, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HIRE A PRIVATE PLUMBER TO GET EVERYTHING WORKED AROUND INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PUT UP BY SPARROW IS NOT ENOUGH.
IF THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR WATER QUALITY, WHICH HAS BEEN STATED IN THE PAST, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO RECTIFY MY WATER AND IRON FILTER, SULFIDE FILTER, RO SYSTEM, WATER SOFTENER.
MY WATER IS GOOD AND I DON'T GET A BILL EVERY MONTH.
THIS WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEN WHEN THIS BOARD GOT A HOLD OF IT, SPARROW HAD MADE ALL THESE PROMISES AND CONCESSIONS.
BUT WHERE AND HOW IS THIS BOARD GOING TO HOLD SPARROW TO THESE CONCESSIONS THAT SOLD IT TO YOU SO WELL? THEY ARE PROPOSING THE WATER MAIN, NOT ENOUGH MONEY THERE, AND HOW DO WE GUARANTEE THEY'LL PONY UP THE MONEY THAT THEY EVEN HAVE PROMISED? TWO, THEY HAVE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ENTRANCES OR EXITS OFF OF KANSAS ROAD INTO THIS NEW FACILITY.
HOW DOES THIS BOARD GUARANTEE US AS RESIDENTS THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE PLACE? I WILL REMIND THIS BOARD THAT WE WERE SOLD A BIG BILL OF GOODS WHEN THE ELEVATION PROJECT WAS BEING KICKED AROUND BY THE BOARD.
WE WERE PROMISED A GROCERY STORE TO KEEP TRAFFIC DOWN, WE WERE PROMISED A COMMUNITY CENTER.
UTOPIA COMMUNITY INSIDE OF A COMMUNITY, NO ONE WOULD EVER HAVE TO LEAVE AND THAT WOULD KEEP TRAFFIC DOWN.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP, SIR. PLEASE SUMMARIZE QUICKLY.
>> I DON'T WANT THIS DAMN HOSPITAL DOWN AT THE END OF MY ROAD. THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL TRY MELISSA KEENER ONE MORE TIME.
[00:45:05]
>> MISS KEENER? ARE WE ALSO IN THE QUEUE?
>> YES, MISS KEENER, ALTHOUGH UNMUTED, WE'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO HEAR HER.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO, THE COLOR IDENTIFIED IS DR. SONDOS AL-HACHIM.
>> AL-HACHIM, [INAUDIBLE] ADDRESS, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS SONDOS AL-HACHIM.
MY ADDRESS IS 3589 KANSAS ROAD.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY OR THE PROPOSAL BY SPARROW HOSPITAL.
I WORK IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND I REALLY AGAINST THIS PROJECT.
I THINK MY NEIGHBORS HAS SAID IT VERY WELL, WHAT WE ALL THINK, AND I MET WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS THIS WEEKEND.
IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO SEE ALL OF THEM ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAID.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO WHAT THEY SAID BECAUSE THEY REALLY SAID IT WELL.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL TRY ONE MORE TIME GOING BACK TO MELISSA KEENER.
>> WE WILL REMIND MISS KEENER THAT WE'D ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL.
BUT I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM MISS KEENER.
>> WE HAVE IVAN, THE ZOOM CALLER WHO'S RAISED HIS HAND AS WELL AT THIS POINT.
>> IVAN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> MISTER GAVE YOU THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO CALM THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT.
>> THESE ARE NORMAL ZOOM CALLERS.
>> OKAY. WE CAN'T GET IVAN EITHER.
>> WITH THAT, THAT'S THE LAST CHANCE THAT THE LAST CALL THAT WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.
>> WE ARE NOW GOING TO ATTACH THE MANAGER'S REPORT.
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO PASS AFTER OTHER REPORT I GAVE UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER? WE WILL NOW GO ON TO BUILD VERBAL REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND THEN ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
BOARD MEMBERS. YES, COURTNEY WISINSKI, PLEASE.HELLO, EVERYBODY. JUST A FEW REPORTS.
I ATTENDED THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING ON THIS MONTH WITH DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] , OUR ENGINEERING [INAUDIBLE].
THE MAIN THING THERE IS THERE WAS A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR FUNDING UPDATES TO THE MICHIGAN GEOLOGIC SURVEY THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED WITH A GRANT TO UPDATE THAT GEOLOGIC SURVEY THAT'S RELATIVELY OUT OF DATE AND IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR SOURCE WATER INTO OUR DRINKING WATER.
IF THERE WAS FUNDING THEY WILL ALLOW US TO UPDATE OUR RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTION, MODEL DEVELOPMENT, AND WATER CONSERVATION.
THAT WAS OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE THERE.
WE ALSO LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW SALT OR SODIUM CHLORIDE DOES AFFECT OUR GROUNDWATER AS WELL.
BEING USED FOR ROAD SAFETY AND OR SNOW REMOVAL ON OUR ROADS.
ALSO WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON OUR GREEN GRANTS WITH BOTH THAT HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE READ MORE [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL.
THEY'RE BOTH RIGHT ON TIMELINE READ ON BUDGET.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING TOWARDS A REVIEW OF OUR WETLAND ORDINANCE.
SURE. BOTH ARE OUR COMMERCIAL INDOOR INDUSTRIAL OR RESIDENTS DID IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S ANY GAPS IN THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO REVISE.
THE BIG THING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE EDUCATE
[00:50:03]
BOTH STAFF AND RESIDENTS ON WITH THE ORDINANCES AND HOW THEY'RE AFFECTED.ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT RESIDENTS WITHIN A WETLAND PROTECTION AREA OR ADJACENT TO A PROTECTED WETLAND RECEIVE NOTIFICATION ON THEIR TAX BILL.
LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN'T INCLUDE MAYBE THE NEW WETLAND BROCHURE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND OUR COMMISSIONERS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THAT SO THAT WE CAN HELP EDUCATE FOLKS ON THAT.
LAST, I JUST WANT TO, SINCE APPRECIATION, IT'S OUR LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL FOR ALCHEMISTS.
LAST WEEK AND I THINK HAS LEAD TO OUR APPRECIATION TO OUR EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
IN A TRUSTEE, I KNOW THE FACE WITH MANY CHALLENGES.
I'VE GOT TEACHER FRIENDS AND PARENTS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES, BUT REALLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT OUR EDUCATORS HAVE PERSEVERED.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CHALLENGING, I FEEL THAT WE'VE RELATIVELY POSITIVE OUTCOME AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM OUT THERE THAT PUT IN EXTRA HOURS, EXTRA TIME, EXTRA STRESS.
IN THIS, THANK YOU FOR EXTREMELY HARD WORK.
WE COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THROUGH WITHOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARDS, EDUCATORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR.
>> I JOIN IN THOSE LAST COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. MR. OPSOMMER?
>> YES. THANK YOU. MR. SUPERVISOR. BUT NOTE FOR THE BOARD AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP THAT WE DO HAVE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.
THE SETTING OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR NEXT MONTH AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IN JULY FOR THE PATHWAY MASTER PLAN FIVE-YEAR.
THAT'S THE MASTER PLAN FOR TRAILS AND PATHWAYS ALONG THE MAJOR ROADWAYS UNDERWAY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY HAS BEEN GOING AND ALL OF THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO RECEIVE INPUT.
A GREAT DEAL OF WORK IS GOING TO PUT IN WITH CONSUMERS ENERGY, WHO ESTABLISHED PROSPECTIVE FUTURE PATHWAYS ON SOME OF THEIR RIGHT OF WAYS.
ONE OF WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE RUNS PARALLEL TO CORNELL ROAD, WHICH HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR TREASURER DESCHAINE TO FIND PATHWAY CONNECTIONS THERE BUT SO I WOULD JUST FLAG THAT FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TOWNIFY AS MANY OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS WE CAN POSSIBLY IDENTIFY FOR VIABLE PROJECTS.
THAT WHEN WE HAVE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, THOSE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PUT THESE INFRASTRUCTURES IN PLACE ON THEIR SITES.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND REVIEW THAT PLAN AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE MULTI-MODAL AND PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO GET AN UPDATED COPY OF THE UPDATES THAT ARE BEING MADE CAN CONTACT DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY AND WE APPRECIATE AS WORK AT THE STAFF LEVEL LEADING THIS EFFORT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT ADDITIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. TREASURE DESCHAINE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND TRUSTEE WISINSKI FOR HER CALLING OUT OF THE TEACHERS AND THE GREAT WORK THEY DID THIS PAST YEAR.
I WAS IN HARVARD MIDDLE SCHOOL LAST WEEK TO GIVE AN AWARD TO LAUREN [INAUDIBLE] , AND SHE WAS DEMONSTRATING A FEW OF US HOW THEY TAUGHT CLASSES BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIA ZOOM.
IT WAS AS IF THEY WERE FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR HOLDING AND KEEPING GROUPS OF STUDENTS, EDUCATING THEM IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS, ONE VIRTUAL AND ONE IN PERSON.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY YEAR FOR OUR TEACHERS AND THEY WORKED EXTREMELY HARD.
WE'RE TRULY ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC AND THEY SHOULD BE CALLED OUT AND COMMENDED FOR THE GREAT WORK THEY DID.
ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS PROTECT THEIR, TO THAT OF THE LARGEST AND OUR COMMUNITY HOUSE THAT IN OKEMOS.
HE'S MY REPORT ON JULY 3RD, I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE TRUSTEE SUNDLAND, AND THE MAIN BUSINESS WAS THE SMALL BUSINESS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HANDED OUT WITH THE EDC AND MARBLE.
ON JUNE 7TH I ATTENDED THE DDA,
[00:55:01]
THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING.THE MAIN BUSINESS OF THAT MEETING WAS THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS UPDATE BY THE DEVELOPER, WILL RANDALL.
WE WILL EVENTUALLY SEE THAT UPDATE AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE ANY OF US VERY HAPPY.
IT'S THE PROJECT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT'S CHANGED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
BUT I'LL LEAVE MR. RANDAL TO EXPLAIN TO US WHEN HE COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD.
BUT WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE AND THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS AND IT HAS CHANGED.
>> MRS. SUNDLAND. YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ADD TO, I ATTENDED THE JUNE 3RD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ALSO, AND I JUST WANT TO ADD THE TOOLS THAT, THEY ARE WORKING ON AN LEAP ART GRANT PROPOSAL.
THAT WILL PUT A NICE PIECE OF ART AT THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT AS A COMMENT, BUT YES, WE WERE THANKFUL TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND THAT ASIDE, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
I'VE SEEN ALL OF THE SIGNS UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT EVERYBODY HAS GRADUATED FROM THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS AND I JUST AM SO THANKFUL, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE ON TIME.
IT'S JUST, IT'S AMAZING THAT IT ALL WORKED OUT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY THE BOARD MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR STYKA, I WANT TO REPORT THAT WE HAD OUR AUDIT WITH THE COUNTY LAST WEEK FOR THE MAY ELECTION.
IF YOU RECALL THE GENERAL ELECTION BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT AUDIT RESULTS SHOWED 15 DISCREPANCIES THAN THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE DISCREPANCY, AND SO I WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THE DISCREPANCY WAS THAT, NOTICE THAT WENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC WAS IN REVERSE ORDER.
WHILE IT WAS ON TIME, IT WASN'T THE NOTICE THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THE NOTICE THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO WAS TWO DAYS LATE.
I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, AND THE RIGOROUS SCHEDULE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER TO KEEP ON TOP OF ALL OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S MY REPORT FOR THIS WEEK.
>> I WANT TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO MENTION IT.
THE NEW REPORT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE REFLECTING TO WORK OF GUTHRIE, THE OLD ONE WITH THE MANY PROBLEMS WAS A PRIOR OF CLEAR.
THANK YOU. OTHERS HAVE ANY REPORTS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ONE WAS MENTIONED ALREADY, THE DDA MEETING WAS HELD AT EARLIER AND THE MAIN THING THAT CAME UP WERE TWO THINGS THAT CAME UP.
ONE WAS THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT AND WAS MENTIONED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE AND IT'S A VERY DISAPPOINTING THING.
I THINK SOME MAJOR CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED IN THE PROJECT, WHICH WE WILL ALL BE SEEING LATER.
SECONDLY, THE OTHER THING THAT CAME UP IS, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON OFFICIALLY A LITTLE BIT HERE, THERE IS A FORMAL REQUEST TO GIVE THEM RELIEF FROM THE LOAN.
IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR MANY YEARS FOR THE STREET LIGHTS THAT WERE PUT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WHEN WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, IT SEEMS SILLY THAT THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WHICH HAS A VERY WEAK, FINE BALANCE THANKS TO MY APPEALING MANY YEARS AGO, ETC.
THEIR TAX PAYMENTS THAT THEY SHOULD BE PAYING US WITH INTEREST ON THAT ONE, WE COULD FORGIVE IT.
WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME GOVERNMENT AND I BELIEVE THAT'S COMING UP ON THE AGENDA IS SIMPLY. MR. OPSOMMER.
>> YES. THANK YOU. MR. SUPERVISOR. SINCE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WERE REFERENCING IT, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO JOIN THEM EXPRESSING MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE LATEST UPDATE AND DIRECTIVES FROM THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS DEVELOPERS BUT I DO WANT TO EXPRESS SOME OPTIMISM.
I DO THINK THERE'S TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX WITH X INCREMENT FINANCING AND THE BROWNFIELD AND ALSO SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVEN'T UNDERTAKEN.
BUT STILL LIKE TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.
BUT THE ENTIRE OKEMOS NEEDS TO BE A DOWNTOWN WITHOUT COMMERCIAL BUSTLING ACTIVITY.
THAT'S I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO AND VALIDATE THE CONCERNS BEING EXPRESSED TONIGHT FROM THE BOARD. THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER HALF OF MY REPORT IS THE ATTENDED A MEETING TODAY WITH
[01:00:03]
SOME OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE QUARTER IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY AND THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONCERNING GREATER REVENUE.AMBER CLARK DIRECTOR RECORD, SET IT UP AND WE GOT AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEIR PLANNING TO DO IN TERMS OF THE ROADWAY, BUT MORE PARTICULARLY THE COMBINATION OF THE QUARTER APPROVAL AUTHORITY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND SET A LETTER TO MDOT A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO ASKING FOR SOME SPECIFIC THINGS TO HAPPEN WHILE THEY'RE DOING THEIR PROJECT.
ONE OF THEM WAS THE LIGHTING WHICH THEY EXPLAINED THAT IS OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER.
ANOTHER ONE WAS PLACING A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROL SIGNAL AT ALONG THE WAY BETWEEN PARK LAKE AND OKEMOS ROAD.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IS NOT LIKELY BUT A POSSIBILITY.
SOME STUDIES HAVE TO BE DONE AND THEN LAST, SOME POTENTIAL PEDESTRIAN CROSS WAYS BE LOCATED AGAIN, IN AREAS THAT ARE BETWEEN PARK LAKE AND OKEMOS, OKEMOS AND MARSH, AND BEYOND MARSH FURTHER.
THEY DID TALK ABOUT THOSE AS BEING POTENTIALLY SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND ARE WORKING ON, THEY HAD SOME PRELIMINARY IDEAS BUT NOTHING FINAL YET.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE SEEING A LOT MORE ABOUT THOSE.
ANY OTHER REPORTS? YES. MANAGER, WALSH.
>> I WAS JUST REMISS, I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED CAPTAIN RICK GRILLO, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
RECENTLY, JUST IN LAST MONTH, WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
PLEASED TO HAVE HIM HERE TONIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT CAPTAIN GRILLO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THINK ABOUT IT. I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED MYSELF.
>> OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WE DID MOTION, TREASURER.>> I MOVE THE AGENDA, BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. YOU NEED TO REMOVE MINUTES OR ANYTHING? CLERK GUTHRIE?
>> I'M SORRY. [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] ME?
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU ASK A QUESTION ABOUT REMOVING MINUTES OR SOMETHING LIKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I ASKED IF ANYBODY NEEDED ANYTHING AND NOBODY RAISED THEIR HANDS SO THEN I SAID.
>> MY EARS ARE PLUGGED OFF, SO I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING WRONG.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES, SUPERVISOR STYKA?
>> RIGHT. AGENDA'S APPROVED 7-0, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU THINK WELL ALL BE OUR SUPER EXPERTS AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'RE ALL [INAUDIBLE] WE COME TO ONE OF OUR VERY LAST VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS.WE HAVE MINUTES FROM MAY 18, 2021 AND JUNE 1, 2021.
WE HAVE OUR BILLS, AND WE HAVE THE PATHWAY MASTER PLAN FIVE YEAR UPDATE, INCLUDING SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING OF JULY 13TH THAT WAS MENTIONED BY TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
WE HAVE THE SETTING OF A DATE FOR A BOARD STUDY SESSION ON JUNE 30, 2021 AT 6:00 PM.
WE HAVE THE CHANGING OF THE REGULAR MEETING DATE BECAUSE OF OUR POTENTIAL ELECTION WE HAD SCHEDULED AUGUST 3, I MEAN, AUGUST 5, AND NORMALLY WOULD BE AUGUST 3.
THIS WOULD MOVE IT BACK TO THE AUGUST 3 NORMAL TUESDAY DATE.
THEN LASTLY, WE'LL HAVE THE CHARITABLE GIVING LICENSE FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] FOUNDATION THAT WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER THROUGH A CITIZEN IN THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? TRUSTEE JACKSON? TRUSTEE JACKSON WE DIDN'T HEAR YOU, BUT WE THINK YOU SAID YOU'RE MOVING TO APPROVE IT.
>> I'M SORRY, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONCERN AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
>> THEN I THINK I HEARD A SUPPORT.
>> YEAH, I SUPPORTED. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
[01:05:02]
>> IS THERE ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNED AGENDA? THEN WE WILL TAKE A VOTE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR ATTORNEY ON TODAY'S HEARINGS, NO.
WE COME TO SECTION 12 WHICH IS OUR ACTION ITEMS.
[12A. Rezoning #21020 (Martin Investment Properties, Inc.) rezone approximately six acres on the north side of Jolly Road and east of Kansas Road from I (Industrial) and RA (Single Family-Medium Density) to PO (Professional and Office) –Final Adoption]
THE FIRST ONE IS THE REZONING NUMBER 21020, IS A CORPORATE REZONE APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF JOLLY ROAD AT EASTERN KANSAS ROAD, FROM I-INDUSTRIAL AND FROM RA SINGLE FAMILY, MEDIUM DENSITY TO PO OR PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICE.THIS IS UP FOR FINAL ADOPTION.
IS THERE A MOTION. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR FINAL ADOPTION, REZONING NUMBER 21020, AND ORDINATES TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF JOLLY ROAD, EAST OF KANSAS ROAD FROM I-INDUSTRIAL AND ARE A ONE-FAMILY, MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICE WITH CONDITIONS.
>> IS THERE SUPPORT FOR THAT? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
> YES. THIS HAS BEEN BEFORE THE BOARD FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO MEETINGS, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN SUPPORT AND SOME OF WHOM ARE IN OPPOSITION.
WHAT BROUGHT ME IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT WERE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
ONE IS THE SCREENING AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE SCREENING WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND INTERLOCKING CONIFER AND TREE LINES ARE CODIFIED IN THE CONDITIONS WHICH IS HOW WE GO ABOUT ENFORCING IT.
SOME OTHER EXAMPLES WERE GIVEN ON THE LAND-USE DECISIONS WHERE CERTAIN THINGS WERE NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON AND BY LARGE, THE DRIVING FACTOR THERE WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT CODIFIED IN CONDITIONS.
THEY WERE JUST PROPOSED BY DEVELOPERS AS HYPOTHETICALS, BUT NOT CODIFIED WITHIN THE CONDITIONS.
IN THIS INSTANCE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE CURRENT PARCEL KNOWN AS ADDRESS NUMBER 3558 KANSAS ROAD, BEING USED AS A BUFFER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND IT PROVIDES FOR THE TREE SCREENING WITHIN THAT CONSERVATION AREA.
BUT THEN ALSO ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE KANSAS PROVIDING THOSE TREE LINES TO SCREEN ALL OF THE RESIDENTIAL FRONTAGE WITH INTERLOCKING CONIFERS AND SPECIFICALLY OUR ORDINATES CALLS FOR INTERLOCKING CONIFERS, BUT THE CONDITION REQUIREMENT REQUIRES SPARROW TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THOSE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR A DOUBLE ROW OF INTERLOCKING TREES ON THAT WESTERN EDGE OF THE PARCEL ON THE EAST SIDE OF KANSAS ROAD.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SCREENING THAT COMMERCIAL USE OR WELL, THAT CURRENT INDUSTRIAL USE FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO CREATE THAT BUFFER ON THAT CHANGE OF USE.
THERE WOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL FOOTPRINT TO THIS FACILITY VERSUS THE CURRENT INDUSTRIAL USE.
BUT FOR ME, THE OTHER FACTOR IS JUST THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT WITH ELIMINATING THE INDUSTRIAL, WHICH STICKS WITH THE PROPERTY, AND WHAT KIND OF FACILITY COULD GO INTO THE INDUSTRIAL SITE.
OF COURSE, TODAY WE DO HAVE ACTORS AND MORE OF EQUIPMENT AND WORKING ON THAT SITE.
THOUGH INEVITABLY, WE WOULD LIKELY SEE SOME CONTAMINATION THAT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO OFFSITE OR PLUME AWAY FROM IT, BUT YOU ARE HAVING A LOT OF OIL CHANGES SO YOU DO HAVE OILS AND GAS BEING HANDLED ON SITE DURING THE MAINTENANCE WORK THAT TAKES PLACE THERE TODAY.
[01:10:03]
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FUTURE USE.I DO VIEW THE PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICE AS AN IMPROVEMENT, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT, BUT THEN OF COURSE, THE BIG THING FOR ME WAS THE WATER MEANS BEING EXTENDED DOWN KANSAS ROAD.
THE COST, AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WISH TO DO THIS BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT, IS JUST STAGGERING TODAY.
UNDERGROUND UTILITY WORK HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO THE HEALTH CARE COSTS INVOLVED WITH THE LABOR THAT INSTALLS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND THEN ALSO JUST THE RAW MATERIAL.
INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS THAT'S INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO BRING WATER LINES TO THESE HOMES, WHICH IS TREMENDOUS FOR THE MARKET VALUE AND OF COURSE THE SAFETY OF THE WATER SUPPLY LONG TERM.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE REZONING BEFORE US.
I DO EMPATHIZE WITH THE RESIDENTS.
THERE WAS ONE COMMENT MADE ABOUT OKEMOS ELEVATION AND THAT SAME COMMENT WAS SHARED AT OUR LAST MEETING.
I LOOKED BACK AT THAT APPROVAL PROCESS AND WHAT WE WENT THROUGH, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE DEVELOPER WANTED TO TURN ONE OF THE OLD INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS THERE INTO A FOOD CROP GROCERY STORE INNOVATIVE CENTER AND OBVIOUSLY THAT FELL THROUGH.
BUT THAT WAS NEVER CODIFIED THROUGH THE CONDITIONS.
THAT'S HOW WE HOLD THE APPLICANT ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE ORDINANCE MIGHT REQUIRE.
IN THAT CASE, I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT DID COME BACK TO US AND TELL US THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO CREATE AND PROVIDE FOR THAT GROCERY STORE.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE JOBS ON CHARLEYS RESTAURANT THAT WE'LL BE GOING INTO THE OLD TIRE CENTER ALONG WITH FEW COMMERCIAL USES.
THAT WAS HYPOTHETICAL AND THAT WAS APPROVED AND I THINK LATER AMENDED DUE TO THE CHANGE IN USE IN THOSE THINGS TO OCCUR, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME THROUGH AND ASK FOR THESE CONDITIONS TO BE CHANGED.
I WOULD NOT SUPPORT A CHANGE IN THE CONDITIONS OR LESSENING OF THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE LISTED OUT BEFORE US TONIGHT IN THE COVER MEMORANDUM, ITEM 1-6.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE SUPERVISOR AND THE REST OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTORS.
DIRECTOR SCHMITT, WHEN A REZONING IS DONE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, WHAT HAPPENS IF THOSE CONDITIONS ARE NOT LIVED UP TO?
>> PRESUMABLY IF A CONDITION OF APPROVAL IS NOT LIVED UP TO, WE'VE GOT INITIALLY THE ISSUE A VIOLATION NOTICE TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME, NOTIFYING THEM THIS POTENTIALLY IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE ACTUAL APPLICANT AT THIS TIME NOTIFYING THEM THAT THERE IS A VIOLATION ON THE PROPERTY AND THEY NEED TO BE CORRECTED.
IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO FOR SOME REASON, WE WOULD PURSUE THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY BACK TO THE PREVIOUS DESIGNATION AS THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ARE NO LONGER VALID AND BEING FOLLOWED.
>> IT MIGHT BE THAT THIS PROPERTY COULD TRANSFER TO SOME OTHER OWNER WITH A NEW ZONING IN PLACE, THEY WILL STILL HAVE TO MEET THE SAME CONDITIONS. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. A CONDITIONAL REZONING RUNS WITH THE LAND.
MANY COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY RECORD IT AT THE REGISTER OF DEEDS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT IT SHOWS UP ON TITLE SEARCHES FOR FUTURE OWNERS.
>> THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU, SIR.
THE OTHER ONE IS FOR DEPUTY MANAGER, PERRY.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT COSTS WITH REGARD TO RUNNING A WATER MAIN.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT AND HOW IT RELATES TO THIS KANSAS PROJECT?
>> SURE. THE APPLICANT, AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS, ARE ACTUALLY COVERING TWO OF THE COSTS.
ONE IS THE ACTUAL EXTENSION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER MAIN.
DEVELOPER WILL PAY FOR THOSE 100 PERCENT.
AS IS TYPICAL WITH A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, LET'S SAY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'LL CONSTRUCT IT TO OUR SPECIFICATION AND STANDARDS, TURN IT OVER TO THE TOWNSHIP, AND THEN BASICALLY WE HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY WITH THAT.
IF ANY ISSUES ARISE, THE DEVELOPER IS ON THE HOOK TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS.
IN A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS,
[01:15:01]
IF WE WERE TO EXTEND THAT, THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS WOULD BASICALLY SHARE THAT COST AND WHATEVER THE ACTUAL COST TO CONSTRUCT THAT WATER MAIN WOULD BE.IN THIS SITUATION, THE DEVELOPER'S PAYING FOR THOSE 100 PERCENT, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE DEPENDING ON THE MARKET AND WHEN THEY BID THAT OUT.
THE SECOND PART OF COSTS TYPICALLY INVOLVE THE ACTUAL CONNECTIONS TO THAT WATER MAIN.
THE DEVELOPER IS ACTUALLY PROPOSING NOT ONLY TO BUILD AND EXTEND THE WATER MAIN, BUT ALSO TO ASSIST WHAT THOSE COSTS UP TO $10,000 PER HOME.
I BELIEVE THERE'S 14 HOMES IN THERE.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD A WATER MAIN AND EXTEND IT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ASSIST THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS WITH CONNECTIONS TO THAT WATER MAIN.
THOSE WOULD BE THE TOWNSHIP WATER CONNECTION FEE WHICH IS BUYING INTO THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM.
IT WOULD BE THAT EXTENSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SERVICE FROM THE CURB SHUTOFF TO THE HOME, INTERIOR PLUMBING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, ANY POTENTIAL WELL ABANDONMENT.
THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS INVOLVED WITH THAT AND AGAIN, THE DEVELOPER IS GOING TO PROVIDE $10,000 TO EACH INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER FOR THAT.
IF IT WILL ONLY CAUSE SOME $7,000, THEN BASICALLY THE HOMEOWNER HAS NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS.
IF IT COSTS $10,001, THEN THE HOMEOWNER HAS A DOLLAR OUT OF POCKET COST TO MAKE THAT CONNECTIONS.
AGAIN, THOSE CAN BE VARIABLE COST DEPENDING ON THE PLUMBING AND THE WELLS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. HOPEFULLY THAT CLARIFIES.
>> WELL, WE HAD ONE CITIZEN TALK ABOUT A $15,000 AMOUNT THAT THE ENGINEER GAVE THEM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, DO YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT?
>> SURE. WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAS THAT AT THAT TIME THEY WERE INVESTIGATING A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT TO EXTEND PUBLIC WATER DOWN THE ROAD, SO THAT $15,000 COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR ESTIMATE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS SHARE OF THAT EXTENSION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER MAIN.
THE HOMEOWNERS STILL WENT AHEAD ON TOP OF THAT $15,000 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT.
THEY ALSO WOULD HAVE HAD THOSE CONNECTION CHARGES THAT I TALKED ABOUT JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO.
>> THANK YOU. MANAGER WALSH, YOU WANTED TO COMMENT?.
>> YEAH. BASICALLY, HE'S SAYING THAT $15,000, WHICH IS THE COST OF THE MAIN.
SPARROW IS PAYING 100 PERCENT OF THAT COST IF THIS GOES FORWARD.
WHEN HE SAID THAT THE TOP TWO ARE [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING THAT WAS $3,000 OR $4,000 TO CONNECT, THAT'S WHERE THE $10,000 COMES INTO SO IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT WOULD BE 100 PERCENT COVERED FOR THAT HOME WHERE THEY'RE CALLED, PLUS HE'S REFERRING TO THE MAIN COST WHICH IS 100 PERCENT COVERED IN THIS PROPOSAL BY SPARROW.
>> TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, YOU WANTED TO COMMENT FURTHER?
>>YEAH. I JUST SENT TWO POINTS, ONE OF WHICH OVERLAP WITH MANAGER WALSH.
I WAS JUST GOING TO NOTE THAT JUST TO DIFFERENTIATE, THE WATER MAIN IS WHAT RUNS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ON KANSAS ROAD OR THE OTHER PUBLIC STREET, AND THEN THE CONNECTION IS IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A CAP OBVIOUSLY DRAW FROM THAT MAIN LINE IN THE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY CONNECTED TO YOUR HOME.
BUT I'M JUST GOING TO NOTE THAT WE SAW BETWEEN 4,000-5,000 FOR PREVIOUS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON FOR THE CONNECTION COST.
SO THAT $10,000 CAP THAT SPARROW IS OFFERING IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.
YOU'D NEED A REALLY LARGE SETBACK TO HIT THOSE COSTS FOR THE CONNECTION.
BUT AS MANAGER WALSH STATED THAT THE WATER MAIN ITSELF IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT RUN PARALLEL TO THAT STREET IS COVERED AT 100 PERCENT REGARDLESS OF COST, BUT WE OBTAIN A LOT OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT [INAUDIBLE] DOESN'T FAIL EVEN GIVEN VERY STRONG RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT WHERE THEY INITIATED IT, BUT THEY'VE ULTIMATELY FAILED WHERE THE RESIDENTS JUST SEE THE STAGGERING INCREASES IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THEY BASICALLY CAN'T STOMACH THAT, BECAUSE IT IS A 3-4 YEAR PROCESS.
ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, YOU CAN SEE 20-40 PERCENT INFLATION BASED ON RAW MATERIALS AND JUST NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I SAW TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER IS CORRECT.
WE HAD A RECENT APPLICATION FROM THE RESIDENTS ALONG SLEEPY HOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE NORTH WEST CORNER OF A TOWNSHIP FOR A WATER AND SEWER SPECIAL ASSESSMENT VERSUS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNED ON TO IT.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. DIRECTOR PERRY WENT OUT, GOT ACTUAL BIDS FOR THE WORK AND ONCE THE BILL WAS KNOWN, THEY ALL COMPLETELY REVERSED COURSE OR VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM DID AND CAME BACK TO US AND ASKED US TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
[01:20:02]
BUT THAT WAS ENTIRELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT COST WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY EXPECTED.AS TRUSTEE OPSOMMER POINT OUT, THAT WAS PRE-COVID, SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT [NOISE] SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TODAY.
TO CLARIFY A COMMENT THAT ONE OF THE PUBLIC MADE ABOUT A COMMENT I MADE LAST MEETING, IF IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS SAYING THE WATER ON SLEEPY HOLLOW ON KANSAS ROAD IS BAD, I DID NOT SAY THAT.
WHAT I SAID WAS A CALLER IN PERSON WROTE TO THE BOARD WHO LIVES ON KANSAS ROAD, WHO STATED TO THE BOARD THAT HE HAD TAKEN HIS WELL WATER, RAN FOR TWO TESTS AND BOTH FAILED THE COUNTY WATER WELL TEST.
I WAS SIMPLY REPEATING WHAT THAT RESIDENT HAD SHARED WITH THE BOARD.
I DO NOT KNOW THE QUALITY OF ALL OF THE WATER ON THE WELLS ALONG KANSAS ROAD.
I WAS SIMPLY REITERATING WHAT WAS HEARD FROM A SINGLE RESIDENT OF KANSAS ROAD WHO SUPPORTED THE SPARROW PROPOSAL.
I THINK WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE OF SPARROW HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION OF THEM ABOUT THESE CONDITIONS.
WHETHER IT WILL THEY BE DONE CONCURRENT WITH THE PROPOSAL OR IT WILL BE AS THE PROJECT IS DEVELOPED? IF IT'S APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, WILL THE WORK TO BE DONE AFTERWARDS? JUST SOME TIMELINES FOR WHEN THE SPACE BUFFER WE'VE PUT IN, AND EACH OF THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE WRITTEN INTO THIS REZONING.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SPARROW DIRECTLY AS THEIR INTENTIONS FOR HOW THEY PLAN TO EXECUTE THIS, AS TO ALLAY THE CONCERN OF A PREVIOUS CALLER THAT IMPLY THAT SPARROW WOULD MAKE THIS PLAN WITHOUT MORE INTENTION OF PUTTING IT THROUGH WITH THEM.
IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SPARROW.
>>YEAH. MR. BRANCHES HERE FROM SPARROW, I BELIEVE.
I SEE HIM ON THE SCREEN, TOM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT?
>>THANK YOU. SURE. TOM BRES, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH SPARROW AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, TRUSTEE DESCHAINE.
WE WOULD INTEND TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.
WE'D OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE DEVELOPED YET, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE PLAN THAT WE WOULD GAIN SOME EFFICIENCIES BY BEING ABLE TO DO IN PARTICULAR THE WATER WORK AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE CONSTRUCTING THE REST OF THE FACILITY.
WE'RE CERTAINLY PROUD OF OUR TRACK RECORD OF FACILITIES AND IN NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR HERE.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WISINSKI?
>> THANK YOU SUPERVISOR AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[NOISE] IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS REGARDING THE BUFFERS, WHICH I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, AS WELL AS THE WATER EXCESS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT THE NEED FOR THESE TYPES OF SERVICES AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ON THIS SIDE OF OUR TOWNSHIP IS NEEDED.
I MIGHT SAY THAT BECAUSE GOING TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM, AND THIS IS EVEN PRE-COVID, YOU CAN SPEND HOURS, AND HOURS, AND HOURS THERE.
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HEALTH CARE OUT THERE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE EMERGENCY CARE THAT'S NEEDED.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. BRES AGAIN.
I THINK YOU'D MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY CARE CENTER, BUT THAT THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITY AND/OR PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS FOR PRIMARY CARE, CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT PART OF IT DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION SOMETIMES, BUT WE PLANNED TO HAVE A FULL SPARROW MEDICAL GROUP, FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTICE, SO WE'LL BRING SIX ADDITIONAL PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS TO THE SITE AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, PRIMARY CARE IS WHERE WE'RE LACKING HEALTH CARE IN MOST CASES, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
BECAUSE THE NEED IS THERE, BUT THE PAY RATIO COMPARED TO THE DEBT THAT FOLKS NEED TO INCUR TO BE A PHYSICIAN IS JUST NOT FEASIBLE IN MANY CASES, SO TO ALLOW, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS, THEY'RE JUST NOT ENOUGH PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT MEDICAID POPULATION
[01:25:03]
AND/OR JUST ACCOMMODATE GETTING INTO A NEW PHYSICIAN.FOR ME, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THAT OFFERING THAT COULD REALLY BE AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THIS EMERGENCY CARE AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A PHYSICIAN THAT'S ON YOUR STAFF, I'M NOT SURE SHE'S HERE TODAY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SPEAK ANYMORE TO THAT COMPONENT THAT WE ARE LACKING PRIMARY CARE, AM I CORRECT?
>> WELL, WE'VE IMPROVED IT A LOT IN MID MICHIGAN, BUT YOU'RE CORRECT THAT PRIMARY CARE IS SOMETHING THAT IS A SHORTAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THAT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HAVE STRUGGLED WITH.
DR. [INAUDIBLE] ISN'T WITH US TONIGHT, BUT SHE DID EXPLAIN IN THE LAST MEETING HOW WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE TRAIN AT SPARROW PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADD 26 OF THEM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS A PART OF THIS STRATEGY THAT WE FOCUSED ON TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE.
FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE WILL HELP US TO PLACE THOSE PHYSICIANS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A FAMILY MEDICINE ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE RESIDENTS, I TRULY DO READ EVERY EMAIL AND I LISTEN TO EVERY COMMENT.
I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INPUT.
I DO TAKE ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND/OR LETTERS INTO CONSIDERATION.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS, AND I'M HEARING THAT MANY CONCERNS HAVE TO DO WITH THE 24/7 OPERATION OF THIS FACILITY, AS WELL AS WHAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT, OR COME ALONG WITH THAT IS LIGHTEN NOISE POLLUTION.
I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL ORDINANCES IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT DO SPECIFICALLY LIMIT A LOT OF THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE BUFFERS.
I ALSO WANT TO ASK MR. BRES, IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCING THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS IN THE RESIDENTS, I GUESS, OPINIONS AND/OR INVOLVEMENT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT ON HOW YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS?
>> SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE LANDSCAPE BUFFERS?
>> FOR ME, IF I WAS A NEIGHBOR, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISE, AS WELL AS THE LIGHT POLLUTION.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> WE HELD A MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND HAVE HAD ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH THEM TO HELP BEGIN TO DESIGN THOSE BUFFERS.
TOOK THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ALL GAVE US IN THE VERY FIRST MEETING AND DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD.
IT'S PART OF HOW WE WENT ABOUT SELECTING THIS SPACE AND PLANNING FOR THE SITE SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH LAND TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THOSE BUFFERS.
FOR US, IT WASN'T A HESITATION TO BE COMFORTABLE PUTTING THAT INTO THE CONDITIONS.
WE'D LOVE FOR OUR REPUTATION TO BE ABLE TO STAND BEHIND THAT, WE'LL FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE THINGS, BUT HAVE NO PROBLEM PUTTING THEM IN THE CONDITIONS, SO THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION IN ANYBODY'S MIND THAT WE'LL FOLLOW THROUGH AND DELIVER THAT LANDSCAPING, WHICH WE THINK WILL BE A REAL IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE SITE LINE FOR THE KANSAS ROAD RESIDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. TWO OTHER THINGS, SUPERVISOR, I'M NOT SURE THIS WAS MENTIONED YET, BUT ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE AS A RESIDENT AND I DO HAVE AS A TRUSTEE, BUT DIVERTING TRAFFIC FROM KANSAS ROAD.
IN THE NEWEST SITE PLAN THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I DON'T BELIEVE HAD SEEN, INCLUDES THE ACCESS COMING OFF OF THE, I GUESS, EAST SIDE OF THE SITE.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT AS WELL THAT THE PLANS INCLUDE NO ACCESS COMING OFF OF KANSAS ROAD?
>> YES. WE MET WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OFFERING US THAT ACCESS SO THAT THAT SITE PLAN CHANGE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
>> THANK YOU. ONE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IS, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME SUPPORT.
[01:30:02]
SPECIFICALLY FOR ME, KIND OF SPOKE TO ME WAS [INAUDIBLE] HILLS.[INAUDIBLE] HILLS IS A LARGE ASSISTED LIVING AND/OR REHABILITATION CENTER.
THEY HAD COMMENTED VIA LETTER ON SUPPORT FOR A FACILITY LIKE THIS, SO THAT THEY COULD TRANSFER THEIR CLIENTS INTO A RESIDENTS TO A EMERGENCY ROOM THAT MAY BE LESS OF A WEIGHT AND/OR ENOUGH FOR NON-MEDIC INJURY OR NON-TRAUMATIC EMERGENCY.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT ONLY BECAUSE I DID SAY THAT I DO REVIEW ALL THOSE OTHER COMMENTS, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ONES THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY REPRESENTED TODAY.
WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, ALL OF THE OTHER TRUSTEES AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS THAT, AS TRUSTEE OPSOMMER MENTIONED, ARE CODIFIED AND ARE GOING TO BE HELD TOO.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS FACILITY MAINLY FOR ACCESS FOR OUR ACCIDENTS, FOR BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE.
>> ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEE JACKSON.
>> I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS REZONING PROPOSAL ON PRIMARILY A ZONING BASIS.
IT IS MY OPINION AFTER REVIEWING THE ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE, THAT A 24/7 EMERGENCY ROOM OPERATION IS INAPPROPRIATE IN A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE DISTRICT.
IF I MAY IN THE DESCRIPTION, SECTION 86 432 HERON, A, THE PURPOSE OF A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE ZONING DISTRICT AT LEAST IN OUR ORDINANCE, IS TO ACCOMMODATE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL NATURE, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO PROHIBIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RETAIL NATURE OR OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH REQUIRE THE CONSTANT VISITS OF A GENERAL PUBLIC.
24/7 EMERGENCY ROOM OPERATION AT JOLLY AND KANSAS, CLEARLY BY DEFINITION REQUIRES CONSTANT VISITS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THEREFORE, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS AN INAPPROPRIATE REZONING COMBINATION OF USE AND DISTRICT CHOICE.
IN ADDITION, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS IN THE TOWNSHIP APPROPRIATELY ZONED ALREADY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS KIND OF USE.
IN SUMMARY, I CANNOT SUPPORT THE REZONING OF THESE PROPERTIES TO PROFESSIONAL OFFICE FOR THIS CONDITIONAL USE.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE JACKSON.
I HAVE COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, DIRECTOR SCHMITT, IT IS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY'LL BE NO DRIVEWAY ACCESS ONTO KANSAS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT'S BEEN REFERENCED IS NUMBER 4, IT STATES DRIVEWAYS WILL BE LIMITED TO A PRIMARY DRIVE ACCESS ON JOLLY ROAD, A SECONDARY DRIVER WHO WOULD DRIVE ON THE EAST, AND DRIVE ON KANSAS ROAD ALIGNING WITH THE CURRENT CODE ON KANSAS FOR 24/76 JOLLY ROAD.
THIS CONDITION WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE DRIVEWAYS AND LOCATION ON THE DRIVEWAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE IS ONE DRIVEWAY THEN I TAKE CARE OF THIS.
>> THE ONLY DRIVEWAY WILL BE ON THE KANSAS.
[NOISE] IF I'M BEING CANDID WITH THE BOARD, I'M NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED THE ROAD DEPARTMENT WILL APPROVE IT ANYWAY, BUT THE ONE OPTION FOR THAT ONE KANSAS ROAD WE JUST TO THE NORTH OF JOLLY THAT DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE PORTNOY'S TO ACCESS ACROSS THE STREET.
>> THEN THE OTHER ONE BEFORE I GO TO ANOTHER TRUSTEE.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT ANECDOTALLY, I BRIMMINGLY LOST BY LONG-TIME AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.
[01:35:03]
IT'S HARD TO FIND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS TAKING PATIENTS, IT'S VERY HARD AT THIS POINT.THAT ADDS TO WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER TERMS OF, THIS ALSO BEING A PLACE WHERE PRIMARY CARE WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
TRUSTEE OPSOMMER YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>> IN ADDITION TO WHAT DIRECTOR SCHMITT OUTLINED.
I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT THE CONCEPT PLAN AND THE SITE PLANS DO NOT HAVE THE KANSAS ROAD ACCESS, SO OBVIOUSLY THE GRANT CONDITION WOULDN'T PROHIBIT BUT IT'S NOT THEIR INTENT TO [INAUDIBLE].
BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD IS THAT WE'RE ON THE REZONING PHASE, SO RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T REQUEST CONDITIONS BUT THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A FACILITY IN EXCESS OF 25,000 SQUARE FEET, AT WHICH POINT WE COULD ACTUALLY CONDITION THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL IN WHATEVER WAY WE DEEM NECESSARY.
AT THAT POINT, THE BOARD COULD THEN ESSENTIALLY RECODIFY THAT CONDITION WITHOUT THE KANSAS ROAD INGRESS AND EGRESSING AT THAT POINT, THE COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT CONVERSATIONS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
IT'S CERTAINLY MONEY AND TIME TO ENSURE THAT THAT [INAUDIBLE] CLOSED OFF.
[NOISE] WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO FOR THE MOMENT, WHICH [INAUDIBLE] WHAT TRUSTEE WISINSKI WAS TALKING ABOUT, SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT EXCESS, I DON'T THINK WE ALWAYS PUT OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS TRULY ACT AS IT ACTS AS AN EIGHT MINUTE DRIVE OR A 10 MINUTE DRIVE TO A FACILITY [NOISE] THAT'S IN THE REGION.
BECAUSE WHAT SOME MAY NOT KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT, TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED THE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE UP IN [INAUDIBLE].
ON WITH A LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN, DUE TO THE FACT THAT 60 PERCENT OF CHILDREN ON MEDICAID ACTUALLY END UP MISSING THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.
IN AN EIGHT-MINUTE DRIVE, SOMETIMES ACTUALLY IS THE IMPLEMENT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS REGIONALLY, IT ACTUALLY HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPLEMENT.
INCREASING PRIMARY CARE ACCESS FOR FAMILIES IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME PRIVILEGE IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.
ALSO JUST HAVING A MORE RELIABLE WORK SCHEDULE, AND THEN GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF TAKING FAMILY TIME.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT AND THE NEED FOR NON-PROFIT IN OUR REGION SIGNIFIES WE ARE ACTUALLY INCREASING ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE PRIMARY CARE ACCESS FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.
THEN OF COURSE, THE WATER AND SEWER IS ALSO OF GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
ACCESS TO SAFE MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC WATER WHICH IS RELIABLE AND OBVIOUSLY SAFETY IS INSURED, I THINK ARE TWO IMPORTANT ACCURATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH THAT SIGNIFICANTLY PUT THIS PROJECT AS A TRUE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE EVERYONE WITH THOSE TWO THOUGHT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL THOUGHT ON THAT'S WE WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL AND SITE PLAN APPROVAL. THANK YOU.
>> [NOISE] I WOULD NOT BE DOING MY JOB AS A SUPERVISOR IF I DIDN'T ASK DIRECTOR SCHMITT OR ANDREW THE MANAGER, IF THE ISSUE RAISED BY TRUSTEE JACKSON HAS BEEN LOOKED AT AT ALL IN TERMS OF DESIRE ORDINATES WITH REGARD TO ZONING ALLOW WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED HERE IF REZONING IS PERMITTED?
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I PRESUME IT WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR IF THAT HADN'T ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT MY READING OF THE ORDINANCE UNDER SUBSECTION 2 OF THE PO PERMITTED USES ALLOWS HOSPITALS.
THAT IS CERTAINLY IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING HERE, AND I TAKE ALTHOUGH IT EXPLICITLY DOESN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY A STANDALONE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH AN OFFICE BUILDING.
IT'S CERTAINLY WELL WITHIN THE BROAD OUTLINES OF WHAT YOU
[01:40:03]
WOULD CONSIDER A HOSPITAL UNDER SUBSECTION 2 IN A MEDICAL OFFICE UNDER SUBSECTION 1, AS A PERMITTED USE.>> IF WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS REZONING AND OUR LAWYERS OR SOMEONE ELSE WE'RE HAVING A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECTIVE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE? I KNOW YOU'RE NEW TO US BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WILL BE COMPLETELY FRANK.
IT WOULD BE A VERY RARE CIRCUMSTANCE FOR US TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THE ATTORNEYS INTERVENE AND STATE THAT THE PLANNING COMMUNITY VOLUNTACTOR HAS MADE AN INCORRECT INTERPRETATION OF SOMETHING.
PROJECTS DON'T GET THIS FAR WITHOUT KNOWING THE USE IS PERMITTED.
BECAUSE A USE VARIANCES AND EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH BAR TO REACH IF YOUR USE IS NOT ONE THAT IS ALREADY PERMITTED IN THE DISTRICT.
>> AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH US SHORT-TIME AND THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE YOU GOT THERE BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
>> ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON THIS? I'LL SAY TO HIS HANDS GO UP TO THE CONTRARY, SO IT'S TIME FOR A VOTE TO CLICK GUTHRIE.
>> THAT'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE [LAUGHTER] I MEAN, FIVE, TWO, AND CARRIES.
>> PASSES FIVE TO TWO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.
[12B. Resolution in Recognition and Celebration of Juneteenth]
JUNETEENTH IS COMING UP SOON, AND WE WOULD CALL ON MS. JACKSON, MAYBE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUNETEENTH.[INAUDIBLE] MAYBE I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE I'M [LAUGHTER] SO SINGLING YOU OUT, BUT GO AHEAD.
>> I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS PREPARED TO DO THAT.
[LAUGHTER] I DID NOT PREPARE FOR THAT [OVERLAPPING]
[LAUGHTER] IT'S AN IMPORTANT DATE.
JUNETEENTH, IT'S ACTUALLY A WHOLE YEAR AFTER THE END OF THIS.
[LAUGHTER] ALMOST A YEAR, IS WHEN THE WORD FINALLY GOT TO TEXAS, THAT IN FACT, THERE WAS AN EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, IN THAT THE SLAVES IN SLAVE STATES WERE FREED.
IT IS CELEBRATED IN TEXAS AND THEN THE GREATER GROWTH TERMS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT DATE IN OUR HISTORY BECAUSE UNTIL PEOPLE KNEW THAT THAT HAD HAPPENED, NO EXTRAS COULD TAKE PLACE WITH REGARD TO IT, AND SO JUNETEENTH IS AN IMPORTANT DAY TO COMMEMORATE.
WE COMMEMORATED IT IN AT LEAST LAST YEAR, MAYBE A YEAR BEFORE THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVE IN-FRONT OF US A POTENTIAL OF A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH. MS. JACKSON?
IN REPAYMENT, I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IN CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE GUIDELINE RATHER THAN VOTE. YES, MS. JACKSON?
>> SOMEWHERE ALONG MY MAIL THIS WEEK, I'VE HEARD FROM, I BELIEVE, DIRECTOR CLARK, ABOUT AN ACTIVITY IN THE TOWNSHIP RELATED TO CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.
COULD I ASK MS. CLARK TO TELL US ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE VOTE?
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE JACKSON.
YES, THE MERIDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THEIR STEPS TO REVITALIZE SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOOKING AT GETTING BACK AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE THOUGHT OF TRYING TO DO SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, AS FAR AS ENGAGEMENT, AND OUR FIRST ACTIVITY FOR DOING WAS A CELEBRATION OF DUTY.
AS PUT OUT IN THE RESOLUTION, AND ITS THE CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLOOD THAT HAD SHED, AND LOVE THAT SHARED ACROSS OUR GREAT NATION, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY HENCE WE THOUGHT, AS AN INCLUSIVE ACTIVITY,
[01:45:01]
WE INVITED SMALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE A GIFT CARD.I REALLY JUST SET A SMALL DENOMINATION AT $10.
THEY COULD MAKE THAT WHATEVER VALUE THEY WISH, AND WE'RE HIDING THOSE GIFT CARDS IN OPPOSITE BUSINESSES.
WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH DETAIL, IF YOU WERE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE ESTABLISHMENT, MAY BE YOUR GIFT CARD IS OUT OF PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD BE BETTER AND VICE VERSA, OR CHILD-LIKE ACTIVITIES ARE CRISSCROSSED.
THAT WAY, THERE IS A CULMINATION OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY DO ALL THE TIME, PERHAPS VISITING A BUSINESS THAT THEY DIDN'T VENTURE INTO BEFORE, ALL ENGAGING, ALL SIMPLE, EASY, FUN ACTIVITIES.
IT WAS ALSO A PART OF OUR PLAN DURING COVID, SO WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO WE FIGURED THAT GERM PODS, GROUPS OF PEOPLE COULD GO IN AN [INAUDIBLE] OTHER WITHOUT CREATING A LARGE ENGAGEMENT, PERHAPS IF COVID WAS STILL GOING ON.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED. I'M FINISHING UP THE HIDING THIS WEEK AND STARTS FRIDAY.
WE'VE INVITED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PICTURES OF WHATEVER GIFT CARDS THEY FIND.
IF THEY DON'T FIND ANY, AND THEY STILL TAKE PICTURES WHILE THEY LOOK, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO A GRAND PRIZE DRAWING FOR A GIFT BASKET OF OVER $100.
THESE ARE ALL GOING IN AS WELL.
>> YOU'RE TURNING THINGS INTO A REALITY.
>> I WOULD JUST ASK MS. CLARK, WHERE WE MIGHT GO TO FIND INFORMATION ONCE THE PLANS THAT ARE COMPLETED?
>> ABSOLUTELY. PRESS RELEASE IS GOING OUT, OUR FACEBOOK POSTS WOULD GO OUT TOMORROW, BUT YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT'LL BE UNDER EVENTS AND IT'LL BE UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL, AS WELL AS OUR UNDERNEATH NEWS.
THE CLUES FOR WHERE THE GIFT CARDS ARE HIDDEN ARE IN A LIST BELOW, ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE LOCAL SLOGANS OF THE BUSINESSES.
SO IF YOU KNOW YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
IT DID NOT TAKE A MINUTE FOR MANAGER WALSH METHOD WHEN CREATING RIDDLES.
I WANTED THIS TO BE [LAUGHTER] VERY EASY.
SO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, VERY EXCITED.
>> WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS THE DAY OF THE WEEK THAT MANAGER WALSH'S STEP UNCLE FOUR TIMES MOVED HIS OFFICE? [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WOULD LIKE MANAGER WALSH TO GO FIRST, PLEASE.
>> ARE YOU SAYING HE'S GOING TO SLAY ME DOWN FOR MY CALENDAR? [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, ISN'T THIS EXCITING AND REFRESHING, THE PEOPLE WE HIRE, THE PEOPLE WE PUT ON OUR TEAM, LIKE DIRECTOR CLARK.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED BEFORE, HASN'T HAPPENED BEFORE.
IT JUST EXCITES ME TO SEE OUR TEAM GETTING BETTER AND BETTER, AND THE THINGS WE OFFER INCREASING.
BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT TOO.
YES, THE EMANCIPATION OF SLAVERY WAS IN 1866, BUT WE'VE COME SOME WAY, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY AMONGST OUR DIVERSE CULTURES.
I THINK THIS FITS REALLY GREAT INTO OUR DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT IDEA AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS INCORPORATED LONG TERM, AS DIRECTOR TIHOFF, CONTINUES TO PUSH AND ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF, AND OUR BOARD, AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IS BEING EDUCATED AND IS CELEBRATING THESE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
JUST I BELIEVE, I DO, I AGREE, AND AS YOU-ALL SAID, I JUST I'M SO VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE STAFF LIKE DIRECTOR CLARK AND TIHOFF THAT REALLY SPEARHEADS WITH THESE ENDEAVORS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ANYONE ELSE? WE NEED TO VOTE ON OUR RESOLUTION, CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH.
I>> MOTION CARRIES. SEVEN, ZERO.
WE HAVE WATCHED TO THE NEXT ITEM,
[12C. Resolution for a Traffic Speed Study]
WHICH IS OUR RESOLUTION FOR TRAFFIC SPEED STUDY.I SEE A HAND OF TRUSTEE JACKSON.
[01:50:01]
>> I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE, MSP, TO CONDUCT A SPEED STUDY AND SAFETY AUDIT ON MOUNT HOPE ROAD AND ADVISE THE BOARD OF THEIR RESULTS.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SUPPORTED.
YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT, MISS JACKSON?
>> I WAS WONDERING IF CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] MIGHT BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE HAVE CAPTAIN GRILLO HERE INSTEAD.
>> CAPTAIN GRILLO, IF HE COULD TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND WHY WE'RE HAVING IT? WHERE WE'RE GETTING IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE CONCERN CAME UP NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE VOLUME OF ACCIDENTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE AREA BETWEEN CHITWAN COMANCHE AND [INAUDIBLE].
BUT ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENTS, WE RECENTLY HAD A FATAL CRASH.
THERE WHERE SPEED LIKELY WAS A FACTOR, AND TO GO ALONG WITH THIS SPEED, THE SIGHT DISTANCE, OR VEHICLES THAT ARE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, SIDE STREETS OUT OF THE CEMETERY IS QUITE LOW.
SO WE'RE NOT SURE IF THE RATIO WAS CORRECT FOR SPEED TO SIGHT DISTANCE IN THAT AREA.
THE STANCE THAT THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN IS THAT A LIMIT SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.
HOWEVER, WE'D LIKE TO GET MORE DATA AND THAT'S WHERE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROAD DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MICHIGAN STATE POLICE COME INTO PLAY..
>> I JUST LIKE TO THANK CAPTAIN GRILLO AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS HIS PROMOTION [LAUGHTER].
>> TRUSTEE OPSOMMER YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP?
>> YES. I WOULD JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT.
[INAUDIBLE] KELLY AND OTHER RESIDENTS WHO LIVE OFF OF MOUNT HOPE ROAD, AND I BROUGHT THESE TWO CAPTAIN AND CHIEF [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 2.5 MONTHS AGO NOW, AND THE SIGNAGE UP HERE WERE MADE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT INQUIRY IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY DONE WORK AND THAT'S LAST YEAR WITH TWO-SPEED STUDIES, WHICH IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR PREVIOUS MEETING HERE [INAUDIBLE] THE BOARD.
BUT THE SIGNAGE THERE, LET ME JUST GO THROUGH CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] NOTES.
IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIVING THE INQUIRY FROM THE RESIDENTS, WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT TO GET SIGNAGE APPROVED.
IT'S MOSTLY WHERE THE 35 MILE AN HOUR SPEED TERMINATES, WHICH STARTS FROM COCONUT'S ROAD TO CHIPPEWA.
THERE WAS SIGNAGE IMPROVEMENTS MADE ON THE EAST AND WEST BOUND DIRECTIONS.
HOPEFULLY, SIGNAGE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALSO HELP INFORM US RELATIVELY ABOUT P'S NEW ETHICS STUDY THAT RELATES TO THE ONE THAT WE DID LAST YEAR THROUGH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST IN THE TOWN FOR A BETTER ROAD HERE, BUT I SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT DAMPED ON THE VARIOUS SIGHT LINES AND THEY HAVE WORKED WITH ROAD DEPARTMENT TO CUT DOWN VEGETATION AS WELL THAT WAS INHIBITING SOME OF THOSE SIGHT LINES, BUT A LOT OF THE CEMETERY WITH REFERENCE AND IT'S REALLY THE GRADE AND THE SLOPE THERE AT THE STREETS THAT LIMITS THE SIGHT LINES.
THE VEGETATION ONLY ADDRESSES SO MUCH THAT I SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
THEY BELIEVE 35 MILE AN HOUR WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE THE SITE DISTANCE IS NOT GREAT.
WHAT WE ALSO KNOW AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THE FATAL ACCIDENT WE RECENTLY, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY ACCIDENTS BUTTON FERAL DURING COVID, WITH ROADS BEING MORE FREE AND OPEN MOTORISTS WE'RE DRIVING FASTER, AND PERHAPS, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE THE 85TH PERCENTILE OF SPEED AND MY HOPE ROAD DECREASE UNDER THIS MSP STUDY.
[01:55:01]
NOW THAT THE ROADS ARE MORE THAN NORMAL TRAFFIC VOLUMES.IN 2020, WE DO KNOW THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKER FATALITIES AND JUST VEHICLE ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN GENERAL, WE'RE UP DUE TO SPEEDS OF MURDEROUS BEING UP DUE TO THE ROADWAYS BUYING LARGE CLEARED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
BUT THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND CONTACT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 20-25 RESIDENTS RATHER THAN LIVE THERE ON MY ROAD ACTUALLY AND CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE INITIALLY INQUIRED WITH [INAUDIBLE] CAPTAIN GRILLO WORK ON IT THAT FAR AS ANY ROAD DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. WE NEED TO REMIND THE RESIDENTS THAT ONE OF THE FUNNY THINGS ABOUT SPEED LIMITS IS THAT IT'S REALLY ULTIMATELY CONTROLLED BY STATE POLICE AND THEY LOOK AT THIS 85 PERCENTILE, AND YOU COULD END UP WHEN YOU DO A SPEED STUDY YOU'RE GETTING THE WRONG RESULT OR SPEED GOES UP RATHER THAN DOWN.
TO HOPEFULLY AVOID THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR TOWNSHIP THAT WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING, GO SLOW.
BECAUSE IF YOU GO SLOW IT'S GOING TO ENHANCE THE PERCENTAGES TO POSSIBLY BRING THAT DOWN TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE, WHICH IS 35-45.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TRAVEL SLOW, DON'T BE PUSHING IT AND WE CAN GET IT TO BE A SAFER STRAIGHT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF SIGHT LINE ISSUES. TREASURER.
>> JUST A QUESTION FOR CAPTAIN GRILLO.
AFTER THE SECOND FATALITY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] INFORMED US THAT ADDITIONAL ROAD SPEED PATROLS WE'RE GOING TO BE RUN IN THAT AREA.
I'M WONDERING WHAT THE RESULTS WERE THOSE WERE.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT ANY INFORMATION WITH ME AT THIS TIME.
I WILL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU THOUGH, SIR.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RESULTS WERE UP THEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE NEED TO VOTE. CLERK GUTHRIE?
>> GUTHRIE VOTES, YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE?
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE THE LAKE LANSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
[12D. Lake Lansing Advisory Committee Appointment]
THEY COULD SEE COME UP.THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE VERY INTERESTED PARTY WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA, ROGER TAYLOR, WHO WAS ALSO BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE STAFF AND HE ATTENDED SOME MEETINGS.
IT'S RECOMMENDED IN CHIEF ENGINEER, THAT WE APPOINT TAYLOR TO THE SHIFT POSITION.
IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WANT TO READ THE MOTION? TREASURE.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT, MR. ROGER TAYLOR OF 6089 EAST LAKE DRIVE, HOW'S THAT MICHIGAN KNOWS THAT TIER ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LAKE LANSING YOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR A TERM ENDING APRIL 30TH, 2022.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE JACKSON OR MR. TREASURE.
>> JUST ANOTHER EXCELLENT VOLUNTEER FROM OUR COMMUNITY COMING FORWARD TO DO THE GOOD WORK OUR GOVERNMENT.
THIS GROUP GETS ALL EXCITING WORK LIKE PICKING OUT A WILL ERADICATION VENDOR OR I'M MAKING SURE THAT THE CHEMICALS BEING PUT IN THE LAKE ARE SAFE AND NONTOXIC.
THEY DO GOOD WORK. THEY WOULD MEET MONTHLY AND THE LATENESS AS HEALTHY AS IT IS TO REDO WITH THEIR GOOD WORK TO FORTUNATE TO HAVE MR. TAYLOR VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> I WOULD POINT OUT THAT MR. TAYLOR GET ANOTHER WAY BECAUSE HE GOT BACK IN GRAFTED, LOVES THE LAKE, [INAUDIBLE] KEEP IT CLEAN.
THE FRONT OF THE FLORA AND WHICH ARE ALWAYS SURPRISING THEM.
THEY SEE THINGS LIKE BROADLY GOES WEASELS, GAZE, TAX, ETC.
SOUNDS LIKE JUST THE RIGHT PERSON WE BE LOOKING AT, KEEPING THIS THE LAKE WE WANTED TO BE.
WE NEED TO VOTE. FRANK, TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE].
DID YOU SAY YES, TRUSTEE OPSOMMER?
>> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. OKAY, THANKS. TRUSTEE JACKSON?
[02:00:02]
>> GOT THREE VOTES, YES. TRUSTEE WISINSKI?
>> MOTION CARRIES SEVEN, ZERO.
[12E. Review of Meridian Township Investment Policy]
>> NEXT IS THE REVIEW OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP INVESTMENT POLICY.
SUBMITTED TO BY CLERK PERIODICALLY, I MEAN, THE CLERK, THE TREASURER THAT SPOKE TO [LAUGHTER] US SPORADICALLY AND I WOULD ASK THE TREASURER TO INTRODUCE THIS QUICKLY AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, OR NOT.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. THIS HAS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD BEFORE, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MEMO OF [INAUDIBLE] FIFTH TIME IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
SOME BOARDS APPROVE IT YEARLY, SOME APPROVE IT ONCE AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER ON THIS BOARD TO BRING IT BACK BEFORE THE BOARD.
WE DO HAVE A NEW CLERK, CLERK GUTHRIE.
SHE WAS NOT IN THE BOARD THE LAST TIME THIS BOARD APPROVED IT.
THE KEY TO OUR INVESTMENT POLICY IS THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST IN VERY SAFE INSTRUMENTS.
WE DO NOT INVEST IN ANY EQUITY SUCH AS THE STOCK MARKET.
WE INVEST ONLY IN GRADE A CDS SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND WE ALSO DIVERSIFY OUR ACCOUNTS SO WE ARE SPREAD OUT INTO AS MANY INSTITUTIONS AS POSSIBLE.
YOU WILL SEE IN THE OBJECTIVES, OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS SAFETY, PROTECT THE MONEY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SECONDLY, TO BE DIVERSIFIED INTO MANY DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS.
THIRD IS TO BE LIQUID SO THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY WHEN WE WANT IT, AND THE FOURTH IS RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THAT IS USED IN MONEY MANAGEMENT.
THOSE ARE REVERSE WHERE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS PRIMARY.
IT'S NOT FOR US AND IF I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN JUST FOR A MOMENT, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS IN A WHILE BUT OUR RETURNS HAVE NOT DONE WELL BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON SAFETY SO LET ME BRING UP OUR INVESTMENTS RIGHT NOW.
HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN ALL SEE THIS.
YOU'LL SEE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, 2018, 822,000 IN RETURNS.
THIS IS TOTAL TOWNSHIP INVESTMENTS GENERAL FUND ON THROUGH, 2019 ALMOST A MILLION AND SIX.
LAST YEAR, IT FELL PRECIPITOUSLY DOWN TO LESS THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN RETURNS.
THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE MORE AGAIN.
THE FACT IS WE USED TO GET ABOUT 250 BASIS POINTS ON OUR INVESTMENTS WHICH IS 2.5 PERCENT INTEREST.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE GETTING IN BETWEEN 11 AND 22 BASIS POINTS.
ABOUT ONE TO TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT OF INTEREST.
THESE ARE NOT GREAT TIMES TO BE INVESTING IN SAFE INSTRUMENTS BUT AGAIN, RETURN ISN'T OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE.
>> WE NEED A MOTION. THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION IS VERY SHORT.
IT'S BASICALLY THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS A POLICY TO INVEST FUNDS AND THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE FUNDS AND MAXIMIZE THE RETURN AND THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT THE TOWNSHIP HEREBY APPROVES THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP INVESTMENT POLICY ATTACHED.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS STATED.
>> I SAW A HAND FOR SECOND, TRUSTEE JACKSON.
ANYTHING FURTHER NEED TO BE SAID ON THIS? I THINK THE CLERK HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
WE EXPECT A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM INVESTMENTS AND WHATNOT AND RECENTLY, IT'S MORE ON THE NOT SIDE BUT SHE'S STILL DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB PROTECTING OUR MONEY AND HOPEFULLY, THIS INVESTMENT POLICY WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE GUIDEPOST UNDER WHICH THAT HAPPENS.
>> I WAS ONLY GOING TO ADD THAT I'D LIKE TO THANK TREASURER DESCHAINE [LAUGHTER] HELPING ME PARTICULARLY TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT YOUR POLICY.
>> I THINK IT'S THE IDES OF JUNE, THAT'S WHY [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] ANYONE ELSE?
[02:05:06]
THEN WE NEED A VOTE FROM OUR CLERK.>> MOTION CARRIES. SEVEN, ZERO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR LAST OPTION FOR TONIGHT IS
[12F. Amtrak Corridor Development Program Resolution]
THE AMTRAK QUARTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RESOLUTION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US BY TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE].WE HEARD FROM HIM EARLIER FROM PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU TO READ A SHORT RESOLUTION.
IT'S MEANT TO GO TO US SENATOR PETERS WHO'S DEALING WITH THIS AT THE US SENATE TO GET THE ADOPTION AND FUNDING OF THIS LONG RANGE GOAL OF IMPROVING OUR SERVICES HERE IN MICHIGAN AND AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS? TRUSTEE OPSOMMER?
>> I APPROVE THE AMTRAK QUARTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BY CLERK GUTHRIE.
>> JUST TO THANK CLERK GUTHRIE FOR THE WORK OF [INAUDIBLE] AND THE TOWNSHIP TRANSPORT COMMISSION FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION OF AMTRAK'S BACKS US 2035, JIM.
THAT WILL IMPROVE THE FREQUENCY AT ALL THREE [INAUDIBLE] ROUTES AND QUARTER BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] , CLEVELAND, AND COLORADO.
OBVIOUSLY, MANY RESIDENTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRIDOR HERE AT THE MULTI-MODAL STATION AT [INAUDIBLE].
CAN YOU DIRECT TO THE DOWNTOWN CHICAGO BUT CAN ALSO GET YOU TO MANY PLACES AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PERSPECTIVE ROUTE THROUGH CLEVELAND AND TORONTO.
[INAUDIBLE] AND DO SO AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WAY.
>> ALL SAID. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, WE NEED A VOTE.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE?
>> MOTION CARRIES. SEVEN, ZERO.
>> I REALIZE WE'VE BEEN ON MEETING FOR COUPLE OF HOURS BUT I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY'S PATIENCE.
TAKE A FIVE TO TEN MINUTE RECESS TO TAKE CARE OF ANY MATTER YOU NEED TO TAKEN CARE OF.
[LAUGHTER]. THANKS. [NOISE] I SEE ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE BACK.
[13A. A. Rezoning #21040 (Okemos IL-AL Investors, LLC) rezone approximately 9.07 acres located at 1510 and 1560 Grand River Avenue from C-2 (Commercial) to RA (Single Family-Medium Density)]
WE WILL RECONVENE AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. OUR FIRST ONE IS THE REZONING NUMBER 21040 OKEMOS IL-AL INVESTORS, LLC, REZONE APPROXIMATELY 9.07 ACRES LOCATED AT 1510 AND 1560 GRAND RIVER AVENUE FROM C-2 COMMERCIAL, TO IL SINGLE FAMILY-MEDIUM DENSITY.WHO WOULD LIKE TO START BY EXPLAINING IT TO US? MR. SCHMITT, USUALLY WE ASK [INAUDIBLE] MARK AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW ERA.
>> I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO RESPOND TO MARK FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL DO WHAT I CAN.
I KNOW THE APPLICANTS, AUBURY HOLMES AND WINN BISHOP FROM PACKETT SMITH ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD AFTER THEIR INITIAL MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.
THEY'VE GOT SOME INITIAL FEEDBACK AND PROVIDED THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT YOU SEE IN THE PACKET THIS EVENING.
SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THEY GOT, THEY WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER DISCUSS WITH THE BOARD.
[02:10:01]
THE DENSITY CONCEPTS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING WERE JUST CONCEPTS AND THEY'VE TIGHTENED THAT DOWN TO AROUND 18 DWELLING UNITS BREAKER BASED ON LAYOUT OF THE LAND AND THE PROPERTY.NOW, THEY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
BUT JUST RATHER THAN MOVE THIS FORWARD TO POTENTIALLY PREMATURE VOTE FROM THE BOARD TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION, THEY WANTED TO COME BACK AND HAVE A BETTER DIALOGUE WITH THE BOARD TO GET A BETTER FEEL FOR THE PROJECT AND HOW BEST TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I'LL DEFER TO THE BOARD.
I KNOW AUBURY IS HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANTS.
>> MR. OPSOMMER HAD HIS HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR. SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I WENT BACK AND REVIEWED SOME OF THE MEETINGS IN WHICH WE DISCUSSED THIS ZONING AMENDMENT THAT WE ENTERTAINED AT [INAUDIBLE] REQUEST FOR THEIR PROJECT LOCATED OFF THE STUB STREET OF HANNAH BOULEVARD.
I ALSO WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S MEETING WHEN THEY TOOK UP THIS REZONING REQUEST.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE ZONING AMENDMENT, THAT IN-DEPTH HAD WORKED WITH OUR STAFF TO DEVELOP AS A ONE-OFF APPROACH FOR THEM.
THE REASON WHY WE CHOSE THE RA ZONING FOR THAT ZONING AMENDMENT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ZONING THAT THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE [INAUDIBLE] END OF WAS LOOKING AT ACQUIRING FOR THAT WAS ALREADY ZONED.
IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A WAY TO BUY AND TO PURSUE A REZONING, WHICH I THINK MADE SENSE BECAUSE WE WERE WE WERE FORMULATING THE ZONING AMENDMENT AS A ONE-OFF PROPOSAL TO ALLOW FOR HAND-OFF TO GO IN.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS RA ZONING? WELL, UP IN HASLETT, IT'S HILBERT PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S ONE OF OUR DENSE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE TYPICALLY ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN AREAS.
IN OKEMOS, THEY WOULD BE SEEN ON THE HEIGHT OF THE ROAD ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN OKEMOS AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
A THIRD EXAMPLE WOULD BE TOWER GARDENS ADJACENT OFF OF LAKE LANSING ROAD UP IN THE EAST LANSING POSTAL.
THAT'S TRADITIONALLY USED FOR RA.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND OR ZONING MAP, WE HAD THAT STUB STREET OFF INDIAN LAKES WHERE HANDOUT WAS PROPOSING AND SO IN THE FUTURE, BASED ON OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP, THE ZONING MAP AND EVERYTHING, WE HAD HYPOTHESIZED THAT INDIAN LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT BELT OFF OF THAT STUB STREET AND CONTINUED ON TO THAT END UP SITE.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT THEM WHAT THE COMPANY WHO OWNS THAT LAND HAS PURSUED.
THEY FOUND AND DIVE AND BROUGHT THEM TO US, AND HAVE SAID YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO OPEN A THREE TIERED MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY UNDER ANY ZONING, WE HAD NO AUTHORIZATION.
RATHER THAN OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR THESE DENSE FACILITIES TO GO ANYWHERE, WE DID A ONE-OFF TO ACCOMMODATE AND OFF.
THE APPLICANT HERE IS TRYING TO USE THAT ORDINANCE.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ORDINANCE AND HOW IT'S DRAFTED, I ASKED DIRECTOR CECIL BUCK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER RA ZONE PARCELS IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF 10 ACRES BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CAP THAT PETER MENSER AND DIRECTOR KIESEL BUCK PUT INTO IT.
I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT ACREAGE CAP WAS WAS MAKING IT A ONE-OFF.
DIRECTOR KIESEL BUCK COULDN'T PLAN US TO ANOTHER RA ZONE PROPERTY OR A COLLECTION OF PARCELS THAT WERE CONTIGUOUS THAT WOULD MEET THE 10 ACRE REQUIREMENT.
BECAUSE TYPICALLY, RA PARCELS, ONCE THEY'RE ZONED RA, A HOME DEVELOPER WILL DIVIDE THE PARCELS OUT AND PROPOSE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILD A NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOSE WERE THE MECHANICS OF HOW WE INTENDED AS A TOWNSHIP TO MAKE IT A ONE-OFF.
IN THIS INSTANCE, THE DEVELOPER IS TRYING TO USE THAT ONE-OFF ZONING AMENDMENT AND REZONED RA.
WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE INTENT OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO THERE, I DON'T THINK IT FITS ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS A ONE-OFF.
I THINK, IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT ZONING AMENDMENT AND DECIDE IF WE DO WANT MORE OF THESE FACILITIES.
[02:15:05]
HOW WE SHOULD GO ABOUT REGULATING THEM FROM A ZONING PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING ON A ONE-OFF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE FROM A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE.
THAT WOULD BE THE CORRECT PLACE TO START FOR THE BOARD, IN MY OPINION.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE PARCEL IN QUESTION HERE IS IN MY OPINION, IT'S IN THAT EASTERN THIRD THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE.
IT'S ON A SCENIC ROAD WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE SCENIC QUALITIES OF THAT ROAD.
I DON'T THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE.
I DO SEE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS OFFERED TO COME DOWN TO 18 UNITS PER ACRE.
BUT I STILL VIEW THIS AS BEING PART OF THE EASTERN THIRD AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE DENSE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS CEASE TO THE WEST OF POWER ROAD.
I DON'T THINK THIS FITS A STATICALLY IN THIS PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT THE SECTION OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING UTILIZED IS INAPPROPRIATE [INAUDIBLE] WE HAD WHEN WE PUT INTO PLACE.
AS I STATED, A CLASS MEETING THOUGH, I FED SUPPORT THE REZONING REQUEST AND OF ITSELF.
THAT CONDITION WERE TAKEN OFF BECAUSE THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S BEING OFFERED WOULD REVERT THE REZONING IN THE EVENT THAT THE APPLICANT DOES NOT ACTUALLY ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY WITHIN ONE OR TWO YEARS BY CERTAIN IN 2022, SO ONE YEAR, I BELIEVE.
SO DEZONING THIS PROPERTY I THINK FITS BECAUSE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THE COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT CONTINUE INTO THE EASTERN THIRD.
I COULD SUPPORT THE REZONING WITHOUT THAT CONDITION.
BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE.
ONCE WE GET BEYOND THE REZONING AND WE GET TO THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN IN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE ZONING BECAUSE THAT ZONING AMENDMENT WAS INTENDED FOR ONE PROJECT ON A SPECIFIC PARCEL, AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS CODIFIED THAT WAY.
WHEN WE WRITE A ZONING ORDINANCE, WE CAN'T JUST WRITE INTENT LANGUAGE.
WE CAN'T JUST SAY THIS IS FURTHEST ONE PARCEL FOR THIS ONE APPLICANT.
WE HAVE TO CODIFY THAT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY AND THAT'S WHERE THE ACREAGE CAP CAME INTO PLAY.
THEN THE FINAL THING THAT I WOULD NOTE FOR THE BOARD, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON THIS, I FORGET WHICH OF THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED, BUT ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED DIRECTOR KIESEL BUCK, IF YOU THOUGHT IT WAS THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU COULD TAKE TWO PARCELS OR A COLLECTION OF PARCELS THAT ARE CONTIGUOUS TO FULFILL THE 10 ACRE REQUIREMENT TO PUT IN A FACILITY LIKE THIS, AND HE SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS THE INTENT.
THAT IS WHAT THE APPLICANT THAT'S BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO US IS ATTEMPTING TO DO.
ATTEMPTING TO TAKE TWO PARCELS THAT ARE DIVIDED BY PAUL ROAD TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
THEY'RE CIRCUMVENTING THAT TRIGGER THAT WE PUT IN THERE TO ENSURE A ONE-OFF AMENDMENT WAY THROUGH OUR PARCELS THAT WERE ZONED RA AND LOOKING AT HOW THAT ZONING AMENDMENT WE WERE WORKING ON COULD IMPACT OR HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON OTHER DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
BASED ON DIRECTOR KIESEL BUCK'S COMMENTS AND MY BELIEF AND WHAT THE INTENT WAS, WHICH IT WAS THAT YOU NEEDED 10 ACRES OF CONTIGUOUS LAND ZONED RA, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BEFORE UP TO AS APPROPRIATE.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THE UNIT PER ACRE ON THE FRONT THIRD OF THE TOWNSHIP ESPECIALLY IN THIS SOUTH-END AREA.
WITH THAT I'LL HAND OVER THE SUPERVISOR FURTHER [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THE BOARD MEMBERS. YES, DESCHAINE.
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS, WE'VE GOT THE WALDEN POND DEVELOPMENT.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE DENSITY IS FOR THAT, DR. SCHMITT? IT'S PROBABLY UNFAIR QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MY GUESS IS IF EVERY BIT IS DENSE AS 18 UNITS PER ACRE, THOSE ARE THREE AND FOUR-STORY CONDOS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS.
I THINK THIS BUILDING IS [NOISE] AN ATTRACTIVE BUILDING.
[02:20:05]
I AGREE WITH TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, THIS IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN HAVING A CAR DEALERSHIP THERE.IN TERMS OF THE DENSITY, WE JUST APPROVED A DTN DEVELOPMENT PROBABLY A QUARTER-MILE NORTHWEST OF THIS AREA, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO 150 UNITS THERE OR SO.
I THINK DRAWING THE LINE IS SAYING BECAUSE THIS ENCROACHES ON POWELL ROAD, THE SPLITTING HAIRS I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS.
DO WE LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT? DO WE NEED THIS DEVELOPMENT? IS IT FOR THE GENERAL GOOD OF THE TOWNSHIP OR NOT? IF THE APPLICANT MEETS THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS, I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO THEM TO SAY, "WELL, WE DIDN'T REALLY MEAN THAT, SO WE'RE GOING TO DISAPPROVE YOU BECAUSE WE MEANT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY." THE APPLICANT IS TRYING TO COMPLY WITH AN EXISTING ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED.
IF THE APPLICANT IS ON HERE FOR A QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF.
ONE IS, WHAT FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR SENIORS? BESIDES APARTMENTS, WHAT OTHER SERVICES WILL BE OFFERED TO THE RESIDENTS TO FACILITATE INDEPENDENT LIVING? THE SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WORK BEING DONE TO MAKE A PORTION OF IT AFFORDABLE? FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE YOU MADE ANY APPLICATION TO MSHDA FOR A TAX CREDIT APPLICATION FOR A NUMBER OF THE UNITS TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TOWNSHIP FOR BOTH FAMILIES AND SENIORS.
THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT.
>> GOOD EVENING. HI, THIS IS AUBURY HOLMES, AND MS. [INAUDIBLE].
TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE BUILDING SHARE SOME SERVICES AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE UNIQUE TO EACH CARE LEVEL.
ALL OF THEM SHARE VAN TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'LL BE AN ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR, PLANNING ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARDS INDEPENDENT LIVING AND IN EACH LEVEL OF CARE AS WELL.
THERE'S A WALKING PATH, THERE'S A COURTYARD, THERE'S A THEATER, THERE'S A PUB, THERE'S A BEAUTY BARBER, THERE'S PHYSICAL THERAPY, THERE'S A GYM.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER AMENITIES WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE THE SENIOR TO, ONE WORK OUT, STAY HEALTHY, TO BE ACTIVE, TO BE SOCIAL, NOT TO HIDE IN THEIR ROOMS ALL THE TIME AND JUST BE ALONE, WHICH IS ALSO HEALTHY FOR THEM AS WELL.
THE VAN TRANSPORTATION WILL HELP GET THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NO LONGER DRIVING, THEY CAN STILL BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THEY CAN STILL GO OUT AND GO GROCERY SHOPPING, THEY CAN GO TO LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THEY CAN STILL BE INVOLVED EVEN IF THEY CAN NO LONGER DRIVE OR [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE].
[LAUGHTER] THEN ALSO THEY ALL RECEIVE HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES.
THEN THE INDEPENDENT LIVING HAS A DINING ROOM THAT THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WILL SERVE.
TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION REGARDING THE TAX CREDITS.
NO, WE HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO THAT AND THAT'S NOT TYPICALLY OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
I'M NOT SURE WE'RE COMPLETELY SET UP FOR THAT.
WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE APPLICATION AND LOOK AT THAT PROCESS, BUT AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NOT EXPLORED THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> ONE MORE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ABOUT THE MEALS YOU'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING, THEY'D BE A LA CARTE OR WILL REQUIRE EACH RESIDENT TO BE PURCHASING A 21-MEAL A WEEK MEAL PLAN?
>> ALL THE RESIDENTS, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF MEMORY CARE, OBVIOUSLY IS THREE MEALS A DAY.
INDEPENDENT LIVING CAN HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY.
THAT'S HOW IT BREAKS OUT TO, BUT THEY CAN HAVE UP TO THREE IF THEY WOULD LIKE.
IF THEY PREFERRED TO MAKE THEIR OWN BREAKFAST LIKE CEREAL OR YOGURT OR SOMETHING, THEY'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO, BUT THEY DO HAVE AN OPTION IF THEY'RE SICK, FOLKS CAN BRING THEM A MEAL TO THEIR ROOMS, IF THEY JUST HAD SURGERY AND ARE RECOVERING.
THERE ARE SOME FLEXIBILITIES IN THOSE MEAL PLANS.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION REGARDING PERSONAL ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, WOULD YOU EMPLOY THOSE OR WOULD THE RESIDENTS HIRE A THIRD PARTY THAT WILL COME IN AND PROVIDE THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS BATHING, MEDICINE ASSISTANCE, GETTING DOWN TO AND FROM MEALS, ETC?
>> NO, THAT IS PART OF THE STAFF WITHIN THE BUILDING.
THEY DO HAVE A MEDICAL GROUP AND IT'S FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CARE, SO IT DEPENDS ON THEIR NEEDS.
IF IT'S SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO BATH THEM, THEN THAT'S PART OF IT.
IF IT'S DOING LAUNDRY, IF IT'S MEDICATION REMINDERS, BRINGING THEM MEDICATION DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF CARE,
[02:25:03]
BUT YES, THAT WILL BE ALL PART OF THE SERVICES IN THE BUILDING.>> YOU WILL HOLD A LICENSE FOR AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, NOT JUST AS A INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE OTHER FACILITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP HAVE HIRED THIRD PARTIES TO DO THE MEDICAL WORK, AND SO THEY AVOID THE LICENSURE AND AVOID THE SCRUTINY THAT COMES WITH THAT AND TURN IT OVER A THIRD PARTY.
IT'S REALLY NOT THE MOST TRANSPARENT WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER ASSISTED LIVING, YOU SHOULD OFFER IT AND GO THROUGH THE STANDARD CERTIFICATIONS THAT SUCH A FACILITY SHOULD GO THROUGH WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. JUST CIRCLING BACK TO THE QUESTION THAT QUICK BACK IN THE NAPKIN MATH.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PONDS ITSELF IS DEVELOPED RIGHT ABOUT EIGHT DWELLING UNITS OF THE ACRE, BUT AS YOU MAY RECALL THERE'S GIANT POND IN THE MIDDLE.
THE PROPERTY LOOKS A WHOLE LOT DENSER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS BECAUSE THE POND OBVIOUSLY TAKES UP A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE CENTER OF THAT SITE.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSSION. CLERK GUTHRIE.
>> ALSO AT THE PONDS ACROSS THE STREET.
THEIR FIRST STORY IS BELOW GROUND.
IF YOU HAVE THREE STORIES, OF THE THREE STORIES, ONE OF THEM IS BELOW GROUND.
IT'S NOT FOUR STORIES ABOVE GROUND, SO IT LOOKS QUITE DIFFERENTLY.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BELOW GROUND, YOU CAN ACCESS VIA A WHEELCHAIR AROUND THE OUTER SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE BACK OF THOSE APARTMENTS IF YOU'RE ON THAT LOWER LEVEL FIRST GROUND, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ELEVATORS AT THOSE APARTMENTS.
IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT ARE THE GUARANTEES OF WHAT TREES ARE GOING TO STAY IN PLACE AND WHAT TREES ARE GOING TO BE IN FRONT HERE AND THEN THE BACK.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE A TON OF INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT THIS AREA IS ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING FACILITY.
AM I WRONG? DID I MISS IT AT A MEETING?
>> NO, I WOULD POINT OUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A REZONING REQUEST.
SOMETIMES AS WE GOT INVOLVED, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE PROJECT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THIS EVENING, THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED WITH THE REZONING.
TECHNICALLY, THEY COME AT DIFFERENT STAGES, BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OF THAT.
IF I'M WRONG, SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME.
>> NO, I WOULD REITERATE THAT THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT WHERE WE'RE AT AT THIS POINT.
OBVIOUSLY, GIVEN THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT THEY'VE SHARED WITH US, IF IT WERE TO PROCEED, WOULD CERTAINLY BE BACK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN THE FUTURE FOR SPECIAL END-USE REQUESTS FOR A COUPLE OF ITEMS IF I'M THINKING THROUGH IT PROPERLY IN MY HEAD.
WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS CONCEPT OF REZONING THE PROPERTY IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE TOWNSHIP TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
>> I ALSO SHOULD MENTION TO THE TREASURY THAT MICHIGAN DOES NOT REGULATE OR LICENSE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
WITH NURSING HOME FOR THE AGED, WE DO THAT TO THIS FACILITY SO THERE IS NO STATE REQUIREMENTS. MS. JACKSON?
>> I THINK AS TRUSTEE OPSOMMER SUGGESTED, WE'VE GOTTEN WAY AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
I THINK THAT HIS SUGGESTION THAT WE STRAIGHTEN OUT THE ISSUES WITH THE ZONING CATEGORY FIRST BEFORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT MAY BE PUT ON THAT LAND LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW IT USES AND FITS ON THE LAND.
I THINK THE QUESTIONS HE RAISED ABOUT WHAT ZONING DISTRICT CATEGORY IS ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE AT THIS LOCATION IS MORE PERTINENT AT THIS TIME THAN GOING ON AND TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL THAT IS HERE.
THE SUGGESTION THAT THIS APPLICANT IS TRYING TO USE A SPECIAL ZONING AMENDMENT
[02:30:04]
THAT WE APPLIED AT ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE RA WAS ALREADY EXISTING, RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ME IS RA EVEN APPROPRIATE AT THIS LOCATION IN THE EASTERN THIRD AS AN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE OR C2 I BELIEVE? I THINK REALLY I WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED AT THIS POINT IN EXPLORING WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE ZONING CATEGORY FOR THIS SITE IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE C2.I DON'T HAVE A SUGGESTION. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU.
>> TRUSTEE WISINSKI AND THEN MISS GUTHRIE.
>> THANK YOU. APOLOGIES I HAD TO STEP AWAY FOR A MINUTE.
TO TRUSTEE JACKSON'S POINT, I AGREE THAT BASED ON PREVIOUS ZONING CHANGES, WE'RE IN A POSITION TO LOOK AT THE APPROPRIATE ZONING AT THIS POINT.
I'M NOT SURE I'M COMFORTABLE ACTUALLY EVEN CONSIDERING A DEVELOPMENT AT THIS POINT, BUT MAYBE LOOKING AT THE ZONING, IT IS THE EASTERN MOST PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS MOSTLY OUR NATURAL AREA.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOT A CLEAR CUT PORTION RIGHT NOW, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK AT THAT INTENTIONALLY IS MY THOUGHT AT THIS MOMENT.
>> ANYONE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN YET, WE HAVE SEVERAL.
>> I CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE JACKSON ABOUT ALMOST [LAUGHTER] EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S SAID.
BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH TRUSTEE DESCHAINE THAT THOSE TYPE OF PROJECT DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE BASED OFF OF WHAT IS ACROSS THE STREET.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS OF THAT PROPERTY.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT THAT LIKE TRUSTEE WISINSKI SAID.
>> TO CLARIFY FROM THE DTN REZONING THAT CAME BEFORE US THAT HAS A DENSITY OF ABOUT SIX UNITS PER ACRE, OR ONE-THIRD OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS PROJECT.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS PROJECT IS CONCEPTUAL, BECAUSE THERE'S NO CONDITION OFFERED TO CONSTRAIN IT TO 18 UNITS PER ACRE.
OUR REZONING ORDINANCE ALLOWS IT TO ACTUALLY HAVE IT'S EITHER 25 UNITS PER ACRE OR UNLIMITED.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE'S A CAP BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DIDN'T GO OVER IT WITH GREAT SCRUTINY BECAUSE IT WAS A ONE-OFF AMENDMENT FOR ONE DEVELOPER WHO ALREADY HAD A CONCEPT SITE INDEV WAS ALREADY SHOWING US HOW MANY UNITS PER ACRE THEY WANTED TO BUILD ON THIS ONE SPECIFIC SITE.
SOO MANY THINGS HAD BEEN HASHED OUT BASED ON WHAT INDEV WAS PROPOSING AND THEN THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE DIDN'T SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME DELIBERATING ON THAT REZONING ORDINANCE.
WITHOUT A CONDITION ON THIS REZONING 18 UNIT PER ACRE, THERE'S NOTHING HOLDING THE APPLICANT TO THAT.
IT'S NOT ACROSS THE STREET AT THE PLANS.
IF IT'S EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE, IT'S CLEARLY NOT A MIXED USE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT WHERE 18 UNITS PER ACRE WOULD EVEN BE ALLOWED.
IT'S CLEARLY A MUCH LOWER REZONING CATEGORY FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES.
BUT THAT GETS CONFUSED HERE BECAUSE RA IS A VERY LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DETACHED HOME ZONING CATEGORY.
BUT TO TRUSTEE JACKSON'S POINT, THE ONLY REASON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RA RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT LIKE C3 OR SOMETHING INTENSIVE, BUT WE'VE PICKED THIS TO LET INDEV BYPASS THE REZONING.
BECAUSE IF IT'S A ONE-OFF AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE RELEVANT TO INDEV WHY DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM REZONE?
[02:35:01]
IN FACT, IF WE HAD MADE THEM REZONE, THEY COULD HAVE WALKED AWAY AND THEN REZONING COULD HAVE STUCK WITH THE LAND AND THEN THE RESIDENTS IN INDIAN LAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH WHATEVER THAT ZONING STAYED WITH THE LAND ADJACENT TO THEM COULD'VE BROUGHT ABOUT IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT.IT'S ALSO A FORM OF INSURANCE FOR INDIAN LAKES RESIDENCE SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT RA PARCEL UP ZONE TO COMMERCIAL ONLY TO HAVE INDEV WALKAWAY, WHICH ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REACH A SELLING PRICE WITH THE HEIGHTS.
ALL THE MORE REASON TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE REZONING.
BUT BECAUSE THIS TECHNICALLY IS A DOWN ZONING, I CAN SUPPORT THE REZONING WITHOUT THE REVERSION CONDITION, BUT I DON'T THINK [INAUDIBLE] BEHIND IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THAT REZONING AMENDMENT WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR THE PARCEL, IT WAS INTENDED FOR ONE.
I WOULD CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE JACKSON [INAUDIBLE] LOOKING AT THAT INDEV WENT OFF ESPECIALLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, SITTING ON THE BOOKS FOR NO REASON WITH INDEV HAVING WALKED AWAY.
SO PERHAPS WE COULD LOOK AT WHERE DO THESE FACILITIES COULD GO IN THE TOWNSHIP, WHAT ZONING COULD THEY BE HAVING.
BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 18 UNITS PER ACRE, THAT'S THE DENSITY THAT WE ALLOW UNDER MIXED USE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
LIKE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT, THERE'S ONLY SIX UNIT PER ACRE NEARBY TO THIS SITE.
BUT NEWTON POINT UP THERE [INAUDIBLE] DENSITY AND IT WAS A MIXED USE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT WHERE YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 18 UNITS PER ACRE.
REALLY THESE FACILITIES SHOULD HAVE SIMILAR REZONING REGULATION TO THAT.
IN THE END, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS CORNER PRESERVE BECAUSE AS CLERK GUTHRIE NOTED, NOT ONLY ARE THE GROUND FLOOR UNIT UNDERGROUND, OR AT LEAST HALFWAY UNDERGROUND, BUT THE GRADE DROP-OFF THERE AT GRAND RIVER AVENUE ALSO PUTS THAT DEVELOPMENT AT A VERY LOW GRADE LEVEL.
YOU REALLY ONLY SEE THE TOP UNIT OR THE TOP FLOOR BECAUSE THAT GRADE CHANGED.
IT BARELY RISES ABOVE THE ROAD LEVEL AND THE SCREENING OUT INFRONT MUCH MORE INTENSIVE THAN WATER IN THE [INAUDIBLE].
I COUNT SIX OR EIGHT IMMATURE TREE THAT WOULD BE REPLANTED AT THE FRONT OF THE SITE.
I DON'T EVEN THINK LANDSCAPING, THE [INAUDIBLE] MEET OUR REZONING REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPING, THOUGH.
THEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE DE QIAN SIDE ADJACENT [INAUDIBLE] WE SAID THEY HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BRINGING MORE PUPILS INTO THE OKEMOS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WOULD HAVE SOME PROSPECT OF HELPING US REOPEN WORD CLEFT ELEMENTARY BY GETTING OUR PUPIL COUNTS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE FOR THE REOPENING OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BUT A THINNER CARE FACILITY CAN HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE ON REOPENING WORD CLEFT.
JUST A FEW OTHER THOUGHTS THAT I'VE HAD ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE REZONING APPLICATION BEFORE US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SCHMITT.
AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE NEW, BUT [INAUDIBLE] A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO ADOPTED MORE OR LESS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BOUNDARY WHERE THE TRIANGULAR.
THAT'S PART OF THE JOB AS GENERAL.
>> ABOUT A QUARTER WHO GOT THE THIRD, BUT IT'S AROUND A QUARTER OF THE TOWNSHIP AND EASTERN SIDE TRYING TO KEEP THEM MORE RURAL, SO WE CAN HAVE A MIXED TOWNSHIP TERMS OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHERE IS THAT BOUNDARY FLOOR WITH REGARD TO THIS PROJECT? BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED NOW BY A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.
>> LET ME PULL IT UP HERE SO I HAVE THE EXACT LOCATION OF IT.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE JUST DOWN THE STREET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF PAL ROAD.
>> THE AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE URBAN SO IT'S NOT THERE AT ALL.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA.
THANK YOU, MR. SCHMITT AS WELL. ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT HIS PROJECT IN TERMS OF ZONING REQUEST.
I LIKED THE FACT THAT IT'S ZONING DOWN BUT I'M NOT SURE I LIKE WHERE IT ENDS UP GOING.
TREASURER, YOU RAISED YOUR HAND UP.
ONE IS THAT I AGREE THAT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE THIS ZONING FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT,
[02:40:03]
WE NEED TO FIND A ZONING REQUIREMENT THAT ALLOWS THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES TO EXIST IN THE TOWNSHIP, OR YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THESE REQUESTS BEFORE US, THEY ARE NEEDED.WHILE THEY MAY NOT ADD STUDENTS DIRECTLY TO OUR SCHOOLS, THEY DO ALLOW OUR SENIORS TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND OFTENTIMES FAMILIES WILL RELOCATE TO BE NEAR THEIR PARENTS AND SO INDIRECTLY THEY DO.
AS FOR THE TREES MENTIONED BY THE CLERK, WE LOST 210 TREES ON THIS SIDE.
THOSE TREES ARE GONE AND IF YOU'RE HOLDING A FUTURE DEVELOPER RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE 210 TREES REALLY DOESN'T GET US ANYWHERE.
THAT WAS A NATURAL DISASTER WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT SITE BUT IT HAPPENED AND WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON FROM THAT AND MAKE SURE THE LANDSCAPE AND THAT ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES THE INCLUSION OF TREES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT BUT WE'VE LOST THE BATTLE WHEN LA FONTAINE CAME IN AND MASSACRED THAT SITE.
WE NOW NEED TO MOVE ON AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THAT SITE BUT THE TREES ARE GONE.
I'VE PIONEERED THE EFFORT LAST YEAR WITH ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO PLANT 30 MATURE TREES.
WE NEED MORE AND MORE OF THAT.
FOR THIS SITE, THE DAMAGE IS DONE, THE ACCIDENT IS OVER.
WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON AND RECOVER FROM IT AND NOT HOLD FUTURE DEVELOPERS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT LA FONTAINE DID TO THAT SITE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU.
>> BOTTOM LINE IS I THINK MANY OF US COULD FIND THE WHEREWITHAL TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM A COMMERCIAL TONIGHT BUT THE APPLICANT MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THAT AT THE END BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE WILLING TO APPROVE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROPOSE AND DIFFER WITH WHAT I JUST SAID.
I'M NOT REALLY SEEING ANYBODY.
DOES ANYBODY THINK THIS NEEDS TO MOVE? GO AHEAD, MR. OPSOMMER.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY I CONCUR WITH YOUR SENTIMENT THERE THAT I CAN SUPPORT THE REZONING WITHOUT THE CONDITION, I GUESS TO CLARIFY, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN OF THE PROJECT.
I DO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I DON'T THINK THE TREE SITUATION IS LOST.
I STILL THINK THIS CAN BE PRESERVED IN A CORRIDOR IN THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAYS ARE FREE GAME SO LONG AS WE GET APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY AND WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THIS MEETING ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCE BEING IN EXCESS OF MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS OVER A THIRD OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET IN THE CONTRACT.
SAW THE ARPA FUNDING COMING IN AND WE'VE ALREADY DONE TREE PROGRAMS THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS [INAUDIBLE] OF 1,000.
THERE'S NOTHING PROHIBITING THE CONCEPT FROM REEF OR ACTING AT LEAST THE RIGHT OF WAY PROVIDE A SCENIC STATIC AREA OF THIS DEVELOPED CORNER OF ROAD AND GRAND RIVER.
IF WE HAD WHOEVER THE LAND OWNER IS IN THE FUTURE, AS LONG AS WE GET THEIR BLESSING WE CAN ALWAYS PLANT, I'M SORRY, INTO THE PARCEL, BUT I WOULD CONCUR WITH THE SUPERVISOR'S TAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THE QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE INTERESTS IN HAVING THIS CUT BACK FOR ACTION OR THE CHANGE IN THE ZONING BUT THE PROPOSAL IS THE CONDITION ONE WORD, IT HAS TO BE VOCAL MESSIAH, INVESTORS RESELLERS BECOMING THE [INAUDIBLE]? I DON'T SEE A LOT OF HANDS GOING UP.
>> THIS IS THE FEEDBACK THAT I THINK THE DEVELOPER NEEDED TO HEAR THIS EVENING.
IT AT LEAST GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CONDITION AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT CAN BE MASSAGED OR REMOVED FROM THE REQUEST.
HOPEFULLY, THIS HELPS THEM MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY IN THE POSITION WHERE WE'RE HAVING AN AWKWARD VOTE ON THE POTENTIAL INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WE DON'T LIKE.
I THINK THAT WAS THE HOPE THIS EVENING TO GET THEM AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS POSSIBLE.
>> IS THERE ANY FINAL FEEDBACK? MS. HOLMES, WAS THAT YOU?
>> I'M SORRY. I WASN'T QUITE SURE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF I ADDRESS THE TREE CONCERN REAL QUICK?
>> IF I ADDRESSED EVERYONE'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. I THINK THE ELEVATIONS ARE A LITTLE MISLEADING AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THE ELEVATION FOR SHOWING THE TREES UP CLOSE TO THE BUILDING IT'S NOT DEPICTIVE OF THE VIEW OF THE BUILDING OR THE TREES FROM THE ROAD AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHOW THAT AS WELL.
ON THE SITE PLAN, WE WERE TRYING TO SHOW A MUCH LARGER TREE BUFFER THAN THE ELEVATIONS DEMONSTRATE.
[02:45:03]
WHAT THEY'RE SHOWING ARE JUST THE TREES BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE PARKING LOT, NOT UP AGAINST THE ROAD.WE AGREE, WE REALLY DO LIKE THE TREES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PLANT A TREE BUFFER NOT ONLY AROUND THIS FULL NINE ACRES BUT WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TO PLANT IT ALONG THE ONE ACRE AS WELL.
IT MAKES THE SITE A LOT PRETTIER AND MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE WALKING PATHS, SO WE ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE THE LANDSCAPING AND ADD MORE TREES.
I APOLOGIZE AGAIN, I FEEL ELEVATIONS ARE A LITTLE MISLEADING.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTION FOR THE ONE ACRE?
>> I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, IT COULD BE PART OF THE TREE BUFFER.
HONESTLY, JUST TRYING TO FIT THE A 108 UNITS ON THIS PROPERTY WAS TIGHT SEVERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT HOW TO FIT THAT IN PARKING.
WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON PUTTING A BUILDING OR ANY AUXILIARY BUILDING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET TO THAT 10 ACRES, JUST TRYING TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT ZONING AND THAT WAS THE OPTION, THAT WAS THE CLOSEST PARCEL.
OBVIOUSLY, THE POWER IN BETWEEN IT'S NOT CONTIGUOUS BUT THAT'S AS CLOSE AS WE COULD GET AND NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO ADD A TREE BUFFER ON THERE TOO.
>> HAD YOU CONSIDERED ANY HUMANITY WITHIN THAT ONE ACRE SITE?
>> WE HAVE NOT BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR IN MIND?
>> YOU'RE THE APPLICANT. [LAUGHTER]
>> ANYONE ELSE? I GUESS WE'LL WAIT AND SEE WHAT DIRECTOR SCHMITT TELLS US IN TERMS OF BRINGING US BACK FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION.
>> I'LL DISCUSS IT WITH THE APPLICANT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU ALL. [NOISE] HANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR MEETING MS. HOLMES, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE FROM THE PROJECT.
>> OKAY. NEXT IS OUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOAN FORGIVENESS REQUEST.
[13B. Downtown Development Authority Loan Forgiveness]
[BACKGROUND].[NOISE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
TODAY, BEFORE YOU IS A DISCUSSION ITEM FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOAN FORGIVENESS.
AT OUR LAST MEETING, THE DDA AUTHORITY MET, AND IN YOUR PACKET IS INCLUDED AS A LETTER SUBMITTED BY THAT AUTHORITY, SIGNED BY THE CHAIR DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF THE DDA'S FINANCES.
NOW, WE'LL GO OVER THAT [NOISE] IN RELATIVE DETAIL [NOISE] OF THE REQUEST FORMALLY IS FOR FORGIVENESS AND GRAND GAIN OF THE $124,500-LOAN NOTE THAT IS WITH THE TOWNSHIPS GENERAL FUND TO THE DDA.
CURRENT FUND BALANCE OF THE DDA IS $83,407.36 IN THE NEGATIVE.
THERE'S ONLY $57,000 IN CASH IN THE DDA'S INDEPENDENT BANK ACCOUNT AT THE TIME.
YOU HAVE THE $24,500 NOTE AS WELL.
A LOAN AGREEMENT WAS FORMED BY THE DDA IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN 2010 FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE STREET LIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE DDA AS THERE ARE RIGHT NOW.
THE DDA CONTINUES TO PAY ON [NOISE] THAT LOAN.
THEY ALSO PAY CONSUMERS' ENERGY BILL FOR THOSE STREET LIGHTS IN CONTINUED OPERATION.
TWO YEARS AFTER THAT LOAN WAS APPROVED, BETWEEN THE DDA AND [OVERLAPPING] THE COUNTER COURT, [NOISE] THE TOWNSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF A TAX APPEAL MADE BY DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S LARGEST COMMERCIAL RETAIL OPERATOR.
IT CAME TO A TOTAL OF $300,000 AT THE TAX APPEAL FOR THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS INCLUDED THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR ABOUT $84,000.
THAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT THE DDA NEEDED TO COVER FOR THAT TAX APPEAL IN 2012, AND AT THE TIME THE DDA ONLY HAD $27,751 IN CASH IN YOUR [OVERLAPPING] ACCOUNT.
THEY ENTERED INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP GENERAL FUND AGAIN FOR $60,000 TO COVER THAT AMOUNT THAT THEY NEEDED TO PAY IN 2012.
[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] IN THE PAYMENT, IT WAS MADE.
[NOISE] THAT TOOK THE DDA'S ORIGINAL LOAN AND THE NEW INSTALLATION OF $60,000 TO TOTAL OF $250,000 THEY BORROWED FROM THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD IN ORDER FOR THE STREET LIGHTS AND FOR THE TAX APPEAL.
[02:50:05]
IT BEGAN MAKING PAYMENTS TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THAT IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.THE LOAN AGREEMENT WHICH WAS SIGNED BY THE BOARD HAD A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS AS WELL, BUT THAT LOAN AGREEMENT DID NOT REQUIRE PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS UNTIL 2023.
BUT THE DDA IS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY PAY DOWN THEIR DEBT.
EVEN IN 2012 WHEN [NOISE] THE TAX APPEAL CAME THROUGH, IT ALREADY STARTED MAKING LARGE PAYMENTS TO THAT ORIGINAL LOAN IN 2010.
THE DDA GAVE IT INITIAL INSTALLMENT OF $10,000 FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT OF THE LOAN, FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF THE LOAN [NOISE] IN 2013.
IN 2017, THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A LARGE [INAUDIBLE] PAYMENT OF $50,000 AND ANOTHER LARGE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT, $25,000 IN 2019.
LAST YEAR, THEY ELECTED NOT TO PUT A LARGE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT [NOISE] DUE TO HAVING A SMALLER AMOUNT OF CASH ON HAND AT $40,000 AGAIN IN OCTOBER, AND WERE PURSUING [BACKGROUND] ASSISTANCE OF DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS AS WE ALL KNOW.
THAT IS A PRIORITY SITE, A POTENTIAL INTENSITY CHANGE AREA FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THE DDA DECIDED WITH POTENTIAL PLANS FOR CELEBRATION, THEY WANTED TO HAVE MORE CASH ON HAND FOR THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STIMULUS PLANS FOR OUR [OVERLAPPING] COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE $4 MILLION PLUS IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND AS OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS ARE ALL SITTING DOWN THINKING ABOUT WHAT NEXT DEVELOPMENT TOOLS OR WHAT NEXT STEPS COMMUNITY SHOULD TAKE TO MAKE THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY STRONG TO ASSIST MORE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOGICAL STEP TO ME AND THE DDA.[NOISE] CURRENT FINANCES FOR THE DDA ARE INCLUDED.
THIS BOARD DID RECEIVE A REPORT, I BELIEVE IN MAY ABOUT THE CURRENT TAX CAPTURE INCREASE FOR THE DDA, AS WELL AS THEIR CURRENT FINANCES.
[NOISE] THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST TO GRANT THEM $124,500-LOAN, AS FORGIVENESS TO THE DDA AND THEN AUTHORIZE A TERMINATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
>> DISCUSSIONS, QUESTIONS. TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
>>THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CLARK AND THANK YOU MR. SUPERVISOR. I AM IN SUPPORT OF GRANTING [NOISE] THESE REMAINING FUNDS ON THE LOAN [BACKGROUND] FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, [NOISE] SO THAT THEY CAN REMIT CASH ON HAND FOR ANY FUTURE NEEDS THAT MIGHT COME ABOUT.
I APPRECIATE THE HISTORICAL RECAP ON THE DDA'S FINANCES.
[NOISE] OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL STILL HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING CAN COME TO FRUITION WITH THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS PROJECT WITHIN THE DDA AND SPECIFICALLY THE [INAUDIBLE] ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF OKEMOS ROAD , [INAUDIBLE] ROAD INTERSECTION.
[NOISE] BUT FINANCING REMAINS AN ISSUE.
SHOULD ANYTHING FALL THROUGH OR IF THERE ARE FURTHER DELAYS IN THAT PROJECT JUST LIKE [INAUDIBLE] INTERVENED AND STEPPED IN TO HELP MAKE SURE THE DEMOLITION WAS TAKEN CARE OF, I'VE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE AESTHETIC OF THE SITE SINCE THE SNOW MELT, AND I THINK THESE FUNDS COULD BE THEN UTILIZED IF WE HAVE MORE DELAYS TO BEAUTIFY THE OUTSKIRTS WITH SOME GREEN BUFFERING AND POSSIBLY PUT IN SOME TOPSOIL ON SOME GRASS SEED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN LEAVE THOSE SITES IN THEIR CURRENT STATE.
[NOISE] IN PERPETUITY, I DON'T THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO DRIVE BY THAT FOR ANOTHER TWO OR THREE YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WENT THROUGH THIS ALL LAST SUMMER AS [INAUDIBLE] WALSH KNOWS AND STAFF AND SUPERVISOR STYKA KNOW, AS WE WENT THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER AND FINALLY REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN THAT DEMOLITION, BUT THIS CONTINUES TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT QUEUE AND WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE DELAYS.
I THINK THIS COULD BE AN ANGEL INVESTMENT IN WHAT MIGHT VERY WELL BE NEEDED TO PUT THAT IN THE SITE AND THE STATE [NOISE] THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES, AS WE [NOISE] HOPEFULLY REALIZE BREAKING GROUND AT SOME POINT.
[02:55:03]
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE SUPERVISOR FOR ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS.BUT I SUPPORT GRANTING THESE REMAINING FUNDS AND THIS LOAN FORGIVENESS TO THE DDA.
>> YES, I TOO SHARE WITH TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS DEBT TO THE TOWNSHIP, AS WELL AS HIS OPTIMISM ABOUT THE EVENTUAL COMPLETION OF OUR DOWNTOWN OACOMA'S VISION.
>> THANK YOU. I THOUGHT I SAW THE TREASURER STAND UP A MINUTE AGO.
>> WISINSKI HAD HER HAND UP FIRST, I BELIEVE.
>> THANK YOU, TREASURER. I HAVE A QUESTION AND I'M LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE DDA.
IF THIS LOAN WAS FORGIVEN AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR MATTISON AND, OR MANAGER WALSH, WHERE WOULD THE FUNDS COME FROM? WILL THAT COME FROM OUR GENERAL FUNDS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT?
THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE DDA.
THE DDA JUST WITH THE DEBT THAT'S ON THE DDA'S BOOKS WOULD GO AWAY.
THE DEBT IS BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE DDA.
THE LOAN, THE DEBT THAT'S ON THE DDA'S BOOKS WOULD CEASE TO HAPPEN, SO THERE WOULDN'T BE THAT LIABILITY ANYMORE.
>> THE MONEY'S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR THE LIGHTS AND THE TOWNSHIP GENERAL FUND HAS PAID THAT.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE FUND BALANCE-WISE? WE'LL BE EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ALREADY PAID IT.
THEY JUST WON'T BE PAYING THE MONEY BACK.
BUT I HAVE $10 IN MY GENERAL FUND.
TODAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE $10 AFTER THIS IS OVER BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY PAID THE EXPENSE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT JUST FOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE HERE THAT IF WE TURN THE CHAPTERS BACK A FEW YEARS BEFORE ANY OF YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, I THINK ONLY THE SUPERVISOR WAS ON AT THAT TIME, THE TOWNSHIP FORGAVE A LOAN TO THE ROAD FUND AS WELL.
OUR LOAN TO THE ROAD FUND MR. STYKA, I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT.
THAT WAS FORGIVEN. THAT OCCURRED PROBABLY AROUND 2014 OR '15, JUST FOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.
KNOWING THAT AND KNOWING IN THE ECONOMIC CONDITION THAT WE'RE IN AS A RESULT OF COVID, AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF COVID, KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO PUT OUR BUDGET AND OUR RESIDENTS IN A POSITION TO WHERE THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED, I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THE FORGIVENESS.
>> IN THE END, IT IS A PAPER TRANSACTION.
RIGHT NOW, PART OF THE TAXES THAT ARE RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF THE PROPERTY VALUES WITHIN THE DDA TERRITORY ARE BEING PAID TO THE TOWNSHIP GENERAL FUND AS LOAN PAYMENT AND INTEREST ON LOAN PAYMENT.
IT'S ALL MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TAXES IN THE LONG RUN.
WHAT WE'VE GOT IS WE'VE BENEFITED FROM $200,000 WORTH OF LED LIGHTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THEY HAVE CHRISTMAS READS ON THEM AND FLOWERS AND SOME OF THIS USED TO BEFORE THEY GOT STOPPED BY THE PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON.
I'VE THOUGHT FOR A NUMBER YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ON THE DDA AS A MEMBER SINCE I BECAME A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE ROLES OF THE SUPERVISOR HERE IN MERIDIAN IS TO EITHER SERVE DIRECTLY OR THROUGH SURROGATE, AND I CHOSE TO BE DIRECTLY ON THE DDA.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME THAT WE'VE GOT DDA PAYING US AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COULD HAVE SOME OTHER MORE IMPORTANT OBLIGATIONS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF HELPING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, ETC., AS WE TRY TO GET DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT IN THERE.
>> I WOULD MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE SO THAT WE
[03:00:02]
CAN TAKE THIS UP FOR CONSIDERATION ASSUMING.>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO, BUT SURE IF YOU WANT TO MOVE IT.
>> OKAY. CAN WE GET A VOTE? BY THE WAY, FIRST WE GOT TO VOTE ON WHETHER WE'RE TAKING IT UP THIS EVENING.
>> IN CLEAR CUT THREE VOTES, YES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SUSPENDING THE RULES CARRIES, 7, 0.
>> NOW, WE TAKE UP THE MATTER AS A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO IN FACT GIVE THE LOAN.
TREASURER, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> BEFORE I DO, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT FIRST IN TERMS OF TRUSTEE WISINSKI'S QUESTION.
THIS NOTE THAT WE'RE CARRYING FROM THE DDA DOES SHOW UP ON THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENTS REPORT THAT I SHARE WITH YOU EVERY QUARTER.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE 10-12 DOLLARS MILLION IN LIQUID NON-FIXED INVESTMENTS AND ANOTHER 10-15 MILLION IN FIXED INVESTMENTS.
IT ALWAYS SHOWS UP IN THE FIXED INVESTMENT.
PROBABLY SHOWS THE THREE PERCENT INTEREST THAT WE GENERATE FROM THAT.
ALL THE 12 MILLION WHEN THIS FALLS OFF IT WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANT, BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL SEE IT DISAPPEAR FROM IF WE APPROVE IT.
>> TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THERE?
>> YEAH, I CAN UNLESS THE TREASURER WANTED TO MAKE IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. I MOVE TO APPROVE GRANTING OF $124,500 TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS FORGIVENESS OF THE LOAN TO THE GENERAL FUND, AUTHORIZE THE TERMINATION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MERIDIAN CHARTER TOWNSHIP IN THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
>> ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED, CORRECT.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE JACKSON, IS THAT RIGHT? ANY FURTHER COMMENTS NEEDED? NO NEED TO VOTE.
>> WE'VE GOT THREE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE?
>> OUR LAST DISCUSSION ITEM IS A CITIZEN SURVEY WHICH I DRAFTED OFF IN OUR PACKET.
[13C. Citizen’s Survey Draft]
WOULD IT BE DIRECTOR CLARK THAT WOULD START THIS DISCUSSION?>> YES, IT WILL BE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LAST VOTE.
I APOLOGIZE, IT DOES HAVE DRAFT FIVE ON THERE.
THAT'S COBALT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ME AND MY NUMBER OF VERSIONS.
THIS IS THE FOURTH PUBLIC DRAFT, COMPILED OF THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.
AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED TO HAVE COMMENTS SENT TO ME AND FOR WALSH, AND FOR US INTERNALLY TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THOSE COMMENTS, AND TRY TO COMPILE THOSE INTO THIS SURVEY THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
TAKING A LOOK [INAUDIBLE] , AGAIN TRYING TO MAKE THE SURVEY CONCISE AND MOST OF THE EDITS WERE INCLUDED.
I'D SAY ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS WERE INCLUDED FOR ADDED SUFFICIENCY FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND THE SURVEY.
THE LARGEST THING I WOULD NOTICE, MANY OF BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING SO MANY ELECTIONS THAT HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS BETWEEN 0-10 WITH AN I DON'T KNOW OPTION.
WHEN TALKING WITH COBALT ABOUT THAT, THE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT IS FOR THEIR ACSI SCORES, WHICH HAS A RELATION TO HOW THE SURVEY NOW ANALYZES OUR COMMUNITY OR OTHER COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE SELECTED COBALT, THAT WAS NOT OUR PRIORITY, IT WAS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FALLS AS A COMMUNITY AGAINST NATIONS OR OTHER LIKE SIZED COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT WE'RE A PRIME COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE SERVE OUR RESIDENTS VERY WELL ON THE MOST HITTING TOPICS.
TAKING THOSE OPTIONS OUT DOES NOT HAVE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ANALYSES OF THE SURVEY ONCE WE GET THERE.
I WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
ESSENTIALLY, IF THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM AT LEAST ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER FOR THAT COMMENT, BASED ON MY ANALYSIS BETWEEN COMMENTS, THAT ACTION WAS TAKEN.
[03:05:01]
YOU WILL SEE QUESTION 31 AND 32 ARE OUR COMMUNITY-CREATED QUESTIONS ON TOPICS THAT ARE SENSITIVE, OR 32.THIRTY TWO IS A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR CALL AND 33 IS A QUESTION ABOUT MARIJUANA. THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW..
I LIKE THE SURVEYS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE STAFF.
I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR CLARK.
I THINK SHE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB WHICH SHE BROUGHT BEFORE US.
SHE'S DONE HER BEST TO INCLUDE THE INPUT FROM MANY DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS TO COME UP WITH QUESTIONS THAT ARE BALANCED, AND I THINK REPRESENT A CONSENSUS OF WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO KNOW.
I KNOW IT TOOK MONTHS OF WORK TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, AND SHE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
IF YOU WERE KNOCKING ON HER DOOR, GIVING HER INPUT, AND IT WASN'T EASY BALANCING ALL THAT OUT PARTICULARLY FOR A NEWER DIRECTOR AS SHE IS, BUT I THINK SHE DID A FINE JOB HERE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SURVEY, AND WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A FEW THINGS DURING THIS WAY.
NONETHELESS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION FROM IT, AND I THINK ONCE WE GET IT PUBLISHED AND WE GET THE RESULTS BACK AND THE PROFESSIONALS HAVE A CHANCE TO ANALYZE THE DATA, WE'RE GOING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW OUR RESIDENTS FEEL ON IMPORTANT ISSUES.
AGAIN, GOOD WORK DIRECTOR CLARK AND I LIKE THE DOCUMENT YOU'VE BROUGHT BEFORE US.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA, I CONCUR WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I'LL ONLY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LAST QUESTION ON THE SURVEY WHERE YOU ASKED IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE WORKSHOPS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
THAT THE ANSWER BE PUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S NAME, LIKE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET INSTEAD OF ONE LINE, BECAUSE IF YOU ACTUALLY HAD 1,000 PEOPLE ANSWERING IT, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING THE DATA ENTRY FOR THIS THING, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MONSTROUS TO TRY AND LET ALL OF THAT INTO SOME SORT OF SPREADSHEET.
THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY THING IS IF THIS GOES INTO AN AUTOMATIC TABULATOR, THAT THAT BE SOMETHING THAT GOES INTO AN AUTOMATIC TABULATOR AS WELL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE IT IS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO HELP WHOEVER OUT WHO'S PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER.
>> DIRECTOR CLARK JUST BROUGHT UP, THIS IS A BROAD THING, ARE YOU WILLING TO VOLUNTEER, HELP US OUT IN VARIOUS AREAS? WHAT WAS THE INTENTION AS FAR AS HOW YOU'RE HERE? IT'S A GREAT ONE TO HAVE, WE NEED IT.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CAPTURE THAT? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DELINEATE THAT?
>> COBOL LIKES TO USE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANSWERS, LIKE THE MATRIX, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE QUESTION HELPS TO IDENTIFY WHO'S TAKING THE SURVEY, AND THEN BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT STAGE THEY ARE IN THEIR LIFE, WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR.
GENERALLY, WITH OUR ANALYSIS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY UTILIZE ALL OF THE QUESTIONS TO GET A GOOD HOLISTIC VIEW OF EARLY TAKER.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ANALYZING THE INFO REGION, COBOL.
>> BUT THIS QUESTION IS, "IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING WORKSHOPS, FOCUS GROUPS, ETC, YOU MAKE SURE YOU GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS.
IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING.
THIS IS TRYING TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WE COULD BE PUTTING ON LAKE BOARD OR ADVISORY BOARD OR PLANNING COMMISSION, OR WHATEVER.
IT WAS DURING A DISCUSSION WITH, THAT BROUGHT ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD CAPTURE THAT IN TERMS OF INFORMATION FOR US.
>> YES, AND IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO US IN THEIR FINAL PRESENTATION WHEN THEY COME TO GIVE US THE ANALYSIS.
I BELIEVE IT WILL BE IN A SPREADSHEET.
I BELIEVE IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TABULATOR.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I TRUST THE ANSWER.
>> DIRECTOR CLARK. I SEE THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS REGARDING BROADBAND AND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE INCLUDED THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE BOARD'S GOAL OF PROVIDING BROADBAND ACROSS THE TOWNSHIP.
AM I CORRECT? OR AM I OVERLOOKING THE QUESTION?
>> I GUESS IT'S YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK 22 IS THE CLOSEST THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET
[03:10:04]
OF INTRODUCTORY INTO WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE YOU HAVE? WHEREVER YOU HAVE IT? THOSE ANSWERS WILL HELP THE BOARD IDENTIFY WHAT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE MISSING AS FAR AS BROADBAND.IS THAT YOUR QUESTION, OR DID YOU HAVE A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT YOU WANTED THAT ASKED ABOUT BROADBAND?
>> YEAH THAT HELPS. I HAVE ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION, AND THE FIRST ONE, LOOKING AT THE PROSPECT OF A MILLAGE, WHETHER IT WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL MILLAGE IN 2017 OR THE ROAD MILLAGE IN 2018, WE'VE USED THE SURVEY TO GAUGE RESIDENTS' INTERESTS IN MILLAGE PROPOSALS IN THE BROADBAND GOAL FOR THE BOARD DOES HAVE THE PROSPECT OF A MILLAGE.
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S AN HAVING AN ERROR.
WE DON'T HAVE A MAPPING OF THE CONSULTANT, THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT CAPTAIN JACKSON AND CLERK GUTHRIE SERVE ON, AND WE ALL HAVE A MAPPING BACK, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT TINFIN, COMCAST, THEIR SERVICE IS PRETTY AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP.
THERE ARE SOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A SATELLITE BROADBAND SERVICE, WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE, BUT, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE OPTIMAL GOAL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF CREATING A PUBLIC SYSTEM, I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A QUESTION IN THERE BECAUSE IF WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE ONLY DO THE SURVEY EVERY THREE YEARS, AND IF WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL DURING THE CURRENT TERM THAT BEGAN BACK IN NOVEMBER.
OVER THESE FOUR YEARS, THIS IS PROBABLY OUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO ASK RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD SUPPORT A PUBLIC BROADBAND SYSTEM.
BECAUSE WHAT MAKES US VERY UNIQUE FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE MARSHALL AND WINDHAM IS THAT WE DO HAVE FAR MORE ACCESS, BUT PEOPLE WANT RELIABILITY, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE QUESTION ON UPLOAD SPEED AND DOWNLOAD BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BROADBAND PROVIDERS UNDERMINE RELIABILITY.
THEY CAN PROVIDE A FAST UPLOAD SPEED AT VERY LITTLE COST TO THEM AND I GUARANTEE THEY COULD PROVIDE THE SAME UPLOAD SPEED AS THEY DO THE DOWNLOAD SPEED, THEY'LL GIVE YOU LIKE 50 MEGS OR GIGABYTE FOR DOWNLOAD AND THREE FOR UPLOAD AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO UPLOAD ATTACHMENTS TO YOUR EMAILS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOUR BROADBAND WILL GLITCH.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A QUESTION ABOUT INTEREST IN A PUBLIC BROADBAND SYSTEM THAT COULD REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE RELIABILITY AND INCREASE THE BASELINE PLAN THAT WE PROVIDE TO PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SPEEDS.
ENGAGE INTEREST IN PAYING MORE AND MAYBE WE COULD ASK BECAUSE WE DID IT.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE 2017 CERTAINLY, WE TESTED THE ROAD MILLAGE AND WE PUT MILLAGE GROUP NUMBERS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE TO GAUGE HOW MUCH THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY.
TO SAY, "ARE YOU WILLING TO ACTUALLY FIX THE ROADS WHICH WOULD COST TWO MILS? OR ARE YOU ONLY WILLING TO DO A PARTIAL FIX?" THAT DID HAVE AN IMPACT BECAUSE THEN THE BOARD DID PUT UP THE FULL FIX OF 1.94 MILS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A FULL-FLEDGED CORRECTION ON THAT IN HERE.
>> I THINK QUESTION 30 IS OUR ATTEMPT TO ASK RESIDENTS ON VARYING TOPICS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY COST-EFFECTIVE, WHAT THEIR OPINION IS ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MOVING FORWARD AND PAYING FOR THOSE THINGS.
WE DID SPECIFICALLY TAKE OUT, "WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY ADDITIONAL ON YOUR TAXES?" IT IS A TOWNSHIP GOAL AS FAR AS BROADBAND [NOISE] BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW REALLY HOW MUCH ANY OF THESE OTHER ENHANCEMENTS WOULD COST, SUCH AS THE QUIET PHONES, EXTENDED PEDESTRIANS, INVESTING AND UPGRADING, MODERNIZING THE WATER-SEWER SYSTEMS. THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER 30 AND THOSE HAVE RADIO BUTTONS FOR RESIDENTS TO ELECT, AND THE FIRST TWO ARE RELATED TO BROADBAND.
THE FIRST HAS IMPROVED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO ALL AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND THEN THE NEXT IS BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE TO KEY BUSINESS AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP INCURRED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN SUPPORTIVE INSTALLATION OF ID CELLULAR SERVICES WITHIN THE TOWN.
>> YEAH. I WAS THINKING A STANDALONE QUESTION WHERE IT'S ISOLATED AND IT'S NOT ONE OF A NUMBER OF THINGS TO SELECT.
[03:15:04]
THE OTHER THING THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF WE ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SPEED IS, "HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING PER MONTH FOR YOUR BROADBAND SERVICE?" THEN WE COULD THROW IN THE MIL NUMBERS, "WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY 3, 4, 5 MORE MILS?" I'M JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT FACTORS OUT IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY TAXES.EVEN IF IT COST US FOUR OR FIVE MILS TO BUILD IT, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT AN OUTLANDISH NUMBER SINCE OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BUILT THE NETWORK FOR UNDER THREE MILS.
IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD SAVE MONEY.
>> QUICKLY I WAS GOING TO CALL ON YOU IF YOU HAD ANY ANY COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THIS QUESTION THAT THERE BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA.
I CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE OPSOMMER ABOUT THIS QUESTION NUMBER 2, THAT'S ALMOST AS IF THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS IN HERE.
YOU'RE ASKING IF WE MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE MEGABYTES, BUT YOU DO THAT AGAIN IN NUMBER 25.
BUT IN 22, NOT ONLY IN MAKING THAT STATEMENT ABOUT THE UPLOAD OR DOWNLOAD SPEED, BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO HINTING AT THE FACT THAT THE TOWNSHIP'S LOOKING AT A GOAL TO PROVIDE RELIABLE BROADBAND ACCESS, BUT IT'S NOT VERY SPECIFIC AS TRUSTEE OPSOMMER WAS SAYING.
IT REALLY DOESN'T GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM IF THEY WOULD SUPPORT ME TO MUNICIPAL BROADBAND.
BUT THEN I HEARD YOU SAY THAT DOWN IN NUMBER 30.
BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING TO REALLY GET THAT ANSWER FROM PEOPLE.
YET I LIKED WHAT TRUSTEE OPSOMMER WAS SAYING IN REGARDS TO HAVING I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THIS QUESTION NUMBER 22 BOTHERS ME JUST BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY ELEMENTS IN IT AND THERE'S TWO MAIN DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN THERE, AND IT REALLY CAN JUST BE ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK A TON OF PEOPLE KNOW.
I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM THEY HAVE BUT THEY'RE NOT EVEN REALLY SURE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT BROADBAND MEANS.
THEY DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BROADBAND AND THEN ON THAT.
I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH A 45-YEAR-OLD THE OTHER DAY AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BROADBAND AND INTERNET BAND.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS AT ALL.
I JUST CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE OPSOMMER BUT QUESTION NUMBER 2 NEEDS TO BE MORE POINT-BLANK AND MIRROR THE GOAL THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS.
MORE SO THAN WHAT IT HAS IN HERE.
>> MS. JACKSON THE OTHER MEMBER THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.
>> YES. FIRST OF ALL, IN GENERAL, I THINK THIS IS WHAT IS BEEN PRESENTED.
THIS TIME IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT WE STARTED WITH.
TWENTY-TWO, MY INITIAL REACTION TO THAT IS THAT 25, THREE IS WHAT'S THE MOST PROVIDERS WILL TELL YOU IS THE MINIMUM THAT IS OFFERED AND EXPECTED.
IN FACT, THE FCC HAS UNTIL THIS YEAR SANCTIONED AS SUFFICIENT CONNECTIVITY.
WHAT WE'LL FIND IS THAT SINCE JANUARY, AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR FOCUS ON CONNECTING THE NATION AND CONNECTING AND PROVIDING UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT ANOTHER SET OF STANDARDS.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN NEW FCC DIRECTOR WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO DO THAT.
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A WHOLE NEW SET OF STANDARDS, WHICH ARE, I BELIEVE 100 UP AND 100 DOWN, 100 MEGABYTES PER SECOND UP 100 MEGABYTES PER SECOND, BUT THE FCC HAS NOT OFFICIALLY MADE THAT CHANGE OR IMPROVE THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
IN VIEW OF THAT, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT HELPS DEFINING HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND AS 25-3.
[03:20:09]
THAT DOESN'T IMPROVE THE SITUATION WE HAVE WITH THIS QUESTION.I'M NOT SURE HOW WE IMPROVE IT.
IN FACT, I THINK THAT PUTTING 25-3 AS THE STANDARD IN THIS QUESTION PROVIDES A DISSERVICE.
I AGREE WITH THE DEBORAH'S POINTS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT BROADBAND IS AND IN ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS WE ASKED THEM, WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE YOU HAVE NOW? NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DETERMINE AND THERE ARE MECHANISMS. MAYBE THE STRUCTURE OF THAT QUESTION IS NOT HELPING US DETERMINE WHERE THE PEOPLE WANT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP? THAT IS NOT A HELPFUL ANSWER.
>> TWENTY- TWO IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 80 PERCENT I'M NOT SURE.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US TREASURE.
>> YEAH, I'M HEARING THESE COMMENTS, TO THOSE GOT THREE PERCY JACKSON.
I REALLY DON'T THINK 22 DOES US ANY GOOD AT ALL.
WE'RE GOING TO GET WHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE.
WE DON'T NEED FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF IT IS.
TWENTY-THREE GETS TO THE HEART OF THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU AND ALSO USE THE INTERNET, BROADBAND OR OTHERWISE? I WOULD SUGGEST WE TAKE THE CURRENT DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD SPEEDS OUT ENTIRELY BECAUSE UNLESS WE SAY TO THEM, GO TO SPEEDTEST.COM TO FIND OUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW A QUICK DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD SPEEDS.
A MORE RELEVANT QUESTION FOR THIS BOARD WOULD BE, WOULD YOU SUPPORT A WIDE BROADBAND INITIATIVE THAT WOULD INCLUDE A KNOWLEDGE INCREASE TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY-BASED BROADBAND SERVICE? YES OR NO? IF YES, WHAT LEVELS OF SUPPORT THAT ONE TO TWO MILS, 2-4, 4-6, GIVE THEM SOME OPTIONS THERE THAT WOULD TELL US A LOT MORE THAN THEIR CURRENT SPEED.
WE CAN FIND OUT THE CURRENT SPEEDS RIGHT NOW FROM COMCAST.
THEY COULD TELL WHAT THE AVERAGE RATING FOR THEIR USERS ARE, 25 AND 26 ARE GOING TO CONFUSE THEM FURTHER.
THEY MIGHT JUST GET DISCOURAGED AND QUIT THE WHOLE SURVEY.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE WORK 25 AND 26 INTO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE YOUR SUPPORT A COMMUNITY-BASED BROADBAND INITIATIVE.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT? THAT WE ELIMINATE 22 ENTIRELY IT JUST DOESN'T HELP US OUT THAT MUCH.
>> I'M AGREEING WITH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS WHAT DO WE SUPPORT AND TO WHAT EXTENT AND YOU EVER ANSWER. YES.
>> I CONCUR WITH DESCHAINE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCRETENESS.
I THINK WITH THE SMALL SAMPLE SIZE.
ANY PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT, THERE JUST DOWNLOADING UPLOADS FEEDS ARE.
THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT TO DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD ARE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU PROBABLY GET UNDER-SAMPLED RESPONSE TO THOSE.
BUT I DO THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW HOW MUCH THEY PAY.
QUESTION 25 COULD BE CONVERTED.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING FOR BROADBAND? INCREASE YOUR PROVIDER.
I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THEY ROUGHLY ARE PAYING 100 TO 150 PER MONTH AND THEY KNOW IF THEY'VE COME TNT OR A SATELLITE PROVIDER WITH AN ANTENNA.
THEN 26 GO TO THE MILLAGE QUESTION.
IF YOU WOULD SUPPORT IT, AND I THINK BASED ON THE INITIAL DATA POINTS THAT WE HAVE, PROBABLY TWO RANGES OF MILL'S THREE TO FOUR MILS WOULD YOU SUPPORT THREE TO FOUR MILS OR FIVE TO SIX BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO CAUSE 2.5-3 TO BUILD THE NETWORK AND THEN OPERATING A NETWORK WOULD BE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
>> ARE YOU GETTING ALL THIS DIRECTOR CLARK?
IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M GOING TO ELIMINATE QUITE A FEW OF THESE QUESTIONS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE, I HAVE A QUESTION, WOULD YOU SUPPORT A MILLAGE FOR COMMUNITY WIDE BROADBAND ACCESS AND IN THE TOWNSHIP? YES OR NO? HOW MUCH WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT?
[03:25:01]
THREE TO FOUR MILS, FIVE TO SIX, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.BUT BEFORE EITHER OF THOSE QUESTION, I SHOULD ASK, HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY FOR BROADBAND CURRENTLY?
>> THINK THERE'S ANY UTILITY. WHO ARE YOU? YOU'RE BROADBAND THROUGH ON THAT SAME QUESTION, HOW MUCH AND WHO'S PROVIDING? I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE CONTEXT OF THREE TO FOUR OR FIVE TO SIX MILES.
IT SHOULD BE STATED AS A PUBLIC BROADBAND NETWORK.
I'M NOT TO EXPAND ACCESS, BUT FOR THOSE KINDS OF MEALS, WE'D BE LOOKING AT A TRUE PUBLICLY OPERATED NETWORK AND PUBLICLY OWNED NETWORK TO REPLACE COMCAST OR AT&T PROVIDERS, THAT THEY'RE PAYING 100 TO 150 PER MONTH FOR IT VERSUS THREE MILS TRANSLATES TO $300 A YEAR FOR SOMEONE IN A $200,000 HOUSE.
ONE-THIRD OF WHAT YOU PAY COMCAST FROM THEN ON BASE PLAN.
>> I WOULD ALMOST ADD IN FRONT OF THAT QUESTION, BUT CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO INTERNET PROVIDER OR THERE'S NO INTERNET THAT IS PROVIDED TOWNSHIP-WIDE.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A TOWNSHIP-WIDE INTERNET COMMUNITY SERVICE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING INTERNET IS PROVIDED TO ALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY'RE NOT THINKING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PACKET AREAS IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT DON'T GET AT&T, THAT DON'T GET ANY SERVICE.
THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT GET NOTHING.
>> YEAH. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THEIR SURVEY? TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
THE OTHER ONE IS REALLY SIMPLE.
I DO THINK LEARNING FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] RECENTLY HAD.
THEIR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THEY SOLICITED A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND FEEDBACK, AND THEY GOT A LOT OF BACKLASH.
I DO THINK IN QUESTION 32, IT'D BE WORTH NOTING THAT WE ARE PERFORMING THIS DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN CONCERT WITH THE DNR, JUST WORKING WITH DNR.
SOMEWHERE, I THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO THAT, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT SUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF MANAGING THIS POPULATION, AND ON THE ECOSYSTEM THAT IT WILL IMPACT ON.
MY FINAL POINT, WHICH I HAVE SHOWN A NUMBER OF TIMES.
I STILL THINK QUESTION 33 IS APPROPRIATE IN THIS CONTEXT BECAUSE WE ARE INEVITABLY GOING TO HAVE ELECTION ON THIS.
WE HAVE AN ELECTION ON PROP 1.
I STILL DON'T SEE HOW A SURVEY WITH A SMALL SAMPLE SIZE VALIDATE OR BE INTERPRETED TO INVALIDATE OR INITIATE THE PROP 1 VOTE THAT WE HAD IN 2018 WITH 24,000 VOTERS GOING TO THE POLLS.
I ALSO THINK LIKELY TO CAUSE MORE CONFUSION THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THE SURVEY WERE DONE EXTREMELY PROPERLY.
YOU'D HAVE A DIFFERENT POPULATION WEIGHING IT ON THE SURVEY VERSUS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE ON ELECTION DEPENDING ON WHAT ELECTION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THERE'S MAY ELECTIONS, AUGUST ELECTIONS, NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
THEN OF COURSE, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE ODD YEAR OR THE EVEN YEAR, THEY HAVE WILDLY DIFFERENT TURNOUT.
YOU CAN HAVE TURNOUT AS LOW AS 3,000 OR YOU CAN HAVE TURNOUT OUT AS HIGH AS, I FORGOT THE PRESIDENTIAL NUMBER FROM 2020, BUT IT'S THE HIGHEST WE'VE EVER HAD RECORDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 27,000 TO 28,000 VOTES.
HAVING ALREADY HAD A VOTE AND PROPOSAL 1 IN 2018, I DON'T SEE WHAT THIS QUESTION DOES FOR US.
BECAUSE IT'S A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WE DON'T CONTROL, IT'S A VOTER-INITIATED BALLOT PROPOSAL, WE'LL LIKELY SEE ONE IF NOT MORE OF THEM.
BECAUSE OF THE PROVISION IN [INAUDIBLE] , THERE'S VERY LOW THRESHOLD TO MAKE THE BALLOT PROPOSAL FOR OR AGAINST RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
WE'RE NOT IN CONTROL OF WHAT GOES ON THE BALLOT.
I DON'T SEE WHAT GOOD THIS QUESTION DOES IN TOWNSHIP.
WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO REACT TO IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND I THINK IF THERE IS A REFERENDUM ON THE ELECTION THAT WE HAD IN 2018,
[03:30:03]
IT WOULD BE FOR THERE TO BE ANOTHER ELECTION INITIATED BY THE VOTERS.I FULLY EXPECT THERE WILL BE ONE IF NOT OF THOSE PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
THEN THE REGULATIONS OUTLINED IN [INAUDIBLE] CAN BE FIVE PERCENT SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR VERSUS THE STATEWIDE PROPOSALS THAT REQUIRE 10 PERCENT AND YOU HAVE TO COLLECT WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
THOSE ARE MY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE SURVEY WHICH INCLUDE BMR UNDER 32 AND I DON'T SEE THE UTILITY OF THE QUESTION 33. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD JUST PUT OUT, I THINK WITH A REGARD TO 33, WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE A BAD PROPOSAL.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THINKING ABOUT IT.
THEY MAY BE TAKING ACTIONS, BUT UNTIL IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT, WE DON'T KNOW THIS WITHIN THE BALLOT.
TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT BEGS THE QUESTION.
WITH REGARD TO WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT, SO RUSS AND HIS BOARD, FEEL THAT THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPROVING PROPOSAL RIGHT WHICH DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS LIKE LEGALIZING OR DECRIMINALIZING, IN ANOTHER WAY, RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA, ETC., AND THERE'S A [INAUDIBLE] THAT AND ACTUALLY HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THEM IN THE FACILITIES WITHIN OUR TOWNSHIP.
THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AT ALL.
TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT THE GENERAL FEELING OF THE TOWNSHIP.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE THERE IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR TOWNSHIP CITIZENS FEEL, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO DO, ETC.
WE RELIED ON A LOT OF IT IN TERMS OF ROADS AND OTHER THINGS OF THE PAST.
IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S JUST LOGICAL WE ASK THE QUESTION TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHING OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS IN MANY OF TOWNSHIP AREA.
THAT'S THE QUESTION AND ITS LOGICAL ASPECT.
IF IN FACT, IT ENDS UP BEING BALLOT PROPOSAL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE PEOPLE ANSWERED, BECAUSE IT'S BEING DECIDED BY THE VOTER.
BUT IF THERE ISN'T ONE, IT GIVES US SOME INFORMATION TO USE IN TERMS OF OUR DECISION MAKING, SO THAT TO ME MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
CLERK GUTHRIE HAD HER HAND UP, AND THEN MR. DESCHAINE, AND THEN MS. WISINSKI.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA.
I AGREE WITH TRUSTEE OPSOMMER'S COMMENT ABOUT NUMBER 32, INCLUDING THE DNR.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT SHOULD SAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DNR AND THE FOOD BANK.
I THINK THE DONATION OF DEER TO THE FOOD BANKS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DNR IN THERE AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THE FOOD BANK IN THERE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH I DON'T LIKE DAMAGE TO LANDSCAPING BEING THE NUMBER ONE ITEM, THE FIRST ITEM THAT'S MENTIONED IN THERE BUT IT IS, I WOULD CHANGE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I THINK THE FOOD BANKS SHOULD BE IN THERE AS WELL.
THEN THE NUMBER 33 IN REGARDS TO RECREATIONAL USE, I DO LIKE ASKING THAT QUESTION IN THERE.
I ALMOST WOULD RATHER SEE THE FACT THAT THE BOARD OPTED OUT OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD OPT IN TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA? I'D ALMOST RATHER SEE A QUESTION LIKE THAT THAN HOW IT'S CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT IT IS.
>> THEN WE HAVE MR. DESCHAINE AND MS. WISINSKI.
>> I AGREE WITH CLERK GUTHRIE.
SUPERVISOR STYKA, WE NEED TO INCLUDE 33 IN THE SURVEY.
I AGREE WITH CLERK GUTHRIE, THE QUESTION NOW IS BIASED, SAYING THAT THE BOARD OPTED IN FOR RECREATIONAL WHEN IN FACT, THIS BOARD HAS ALREADY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPT OUT.
TO BE A MORE HONEST QUESTION WOULD BE, AS THE CLERK PUT IT, THE BOARD HAS VOTED OUT OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN 2019.
DO YOU WANT THE BOARD TO REVERSE THAT DECISION AND NOW OPT IN? THIS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ISSUE IS THE MOST DIVISIVE QUESTION THIS BOARD HAS FACED IN THE FIVE YEARS AND MOST OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
QUITE HONESTLY, WE'RE SPLIT ON THIS ISSUE AND WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN SPLIT.
TRUSTEE OPSOMMER, YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE 2018 ELECTION AS YOUR EVIDENCE THAT THIS PUBLIC SUPPORTS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
I LOOKED AT THE 33 LETTERS TO THE BOARD OPPOSING IT AND TWO, IN FAVOR OF IT AS MY DATA THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE DATA WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.
[03:35:01]
THE SURVEY WOULD BEGIN TO GIVE US SOME COMMON DATA THAT WE CAN ALL DISCUSS AND COME BACK TO A CONSENSUS ON.>> MS. WISINSKI, YOU ARE NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I JUST LIKE TO SAY TO DIRECTOR CLARK AND ALL THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS.
THIS VERSION OF THE SURVEY IS SERIOUSLY VERY WELL DONE.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF MY COMMENTS WERE ABOUT THE FLOW AND JUST THE CONSISTENCY, AND WHEN YOU'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS, DO THEY MAKE SENSE? I REALLY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS AND I THINK THAT THAT COMPONENT OF IT, THE FORMAT AND THE FLOW IS FANTASTIC.
I DO APPRECIATE AND I CAN SAY THIS FOR MYSELF.
I DON'T KNOW OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMENTS, BUT I DO FEEL MY COMMENTS AND/OR EDITS WERE IN CONSIDERATION, SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAD, I'M SURE, A VERY LONG LIST [LAUGHTER] OF COMMENTS AND EDITS, AND THAT YOU USED ALL OF OUR COMMENTS AND EDITS TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST AND FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES YOU THOUGHT WERE MOST IMPORTANT, AND I FEEL IT'S VERY FAIR, SO I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
ONE OF MY COMMENTS WAS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS TO ADD SOME OPEN-ENDED OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M GOING TO MINIMIZE YOU AND THAT SO I CAN GIVE YOU SOME SPECIFICS.
>> I'M STILL HERE. CONSIDERING EXPECTATIONS, DO WE FALL SHORT? DO WE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS? FOR ME, WHAT HELPS ME AS A TRUSTEE AND AS A POLICYMAKER, WHY? WHY DO WE DO THAT? I SEE THAT YOU'VE ADDED THOSE OPENING INTO QUESTIONS WHICH ARE NOT QUANTITATIVE BUT ARE IN THE LONG RUN, VERY HELPFUL.
I DID REALLY LIKE THE QUESTION AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS IN THE VERSION I DON'T KNOW 1,2 OR 3, ABOUT WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK IN THE HOME.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE PROVIDED IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
ONE OF MANY WAYS OF THAT IS LANGUAGE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAD MADE, AND I WONDER IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO STILL CONSIDER, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T ASK TOO MUCH ABOUT WELLNESS AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT THAT IN RELATION TO COVID.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONE OFF THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE WRITTEN ON EVERY YEAR SURVEY.
BUT, I THINK FOR THE POSITION TO WHERE REALLY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE ARE WE AT WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WHEN IT COMES TO COVID, IS I THINK THAT BASED ON PROFESSIONALS I'VE TALKED TO IN MANY REALMS, THERE'S A LOT OF EFFECTS THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE YET.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW THEY'RE MANAGING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND, OR PHYSICAL HEALTH RISKS RELATED TO COVID, HOW WE CAN HELP THEM.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WASN'T INCLUDED.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE ON A TIME CONSTRAINTS.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF QUESTIONS BASED ON TIME CONSTRAINT SO THAT WE CAN GET REALLY GOOD RESULTS ON GETTING SURVEYS BACK.
THE OTHER THING WAS, I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LANGUAGE QUESTION WAS SPECIFIC TO OUR DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION EFFORTS, BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE COMMUNICATION QUESTIONS, MAYBE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
BUT, I PERSONALLY BEING ON THE BOARD AND PROTESTS FORCE,
[03:40:09]
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, WHAT KIND OF EVENTS, WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM OR MAKE THEM FEEL INCLUDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.FEEL THAT PEOPLE WANT TO VOLUNTEER, WANT TO BE A PART OF IT, WANT TO BE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION THAT YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SURROUNDED BY FOLKS THAT MAYBE THINK SIMILARLY, LOOK SIMILARLY, OR HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS THAT CAN BE PROHIBITIVE.
I PERSONALLY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHEN IT CAN BE ONE QUESTION LIKE, WHAT ACTIVITIES OR SERVICES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? WHAT DETERS YOU FROM BEING MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? THAT WOULD BE THAT. THE OTHER- I AM TALKING REALLY FAST, I AM APOLOGIZING [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> [LAUGHTER] BEFORE WE GO INTO THE NEXT ONE.
I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY ASK ABOUT COVID BECAUSE I WASN'T TOTALLY SURE HOW TO RAISE UP THE OPTIONS AND TO KEEP IT CONCISE.
QUESTION NUMBER 9, ASKED ABOUT ECONOMIC HEALTH, WE DID INCLUDE ACCESS TO GENERAL HEALTH, AND THEN ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH, AND A RATING ON THAT, FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL TO LET YOU KNOW.
THEN AS FAR AS DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSIVITY, AGAIN, COHORT USES A LOT OF THEIR ANALYSIS BASED ON MULTIPLE ANSWERS IN SURVEY TO GET A HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE PERSON ANSWERING AND WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IN RELATION TO OUR TOWNSHIP.
QUESTION NUMBER 14 IS GRADING IN A SCALE OF BEING A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, PARTICIPATING IN EVENTS, REMAINING HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THEN IF DEAN ASKS FOR THEM TO FILL IN THE BLANK, DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO KEEPING THEM FOR VOLUNTEERING IF THEY HAPPENED, AND THEN WITH A LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER.
WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY TELL US THAT IS THEIR LANGUAGE, AND DEMOGRAPHICS IDENTIFY IN A SPECIFIC WAY, THEN WE CAN UNDERSTAND PERHAPS THE WHY IS TO THAT PERSON.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO ASK.
IF I LOOK AT SURVEY, COME ACROSS MY E-MAIL, HOW WOULD I FEEL AND HOW DO I ASK THE QUESTION OF ME AS A PERSON THAT IS IN A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.
IT STILL THROWS ME OFF, IT STILL MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE.
THIS WAS OUR WAY OF GETTING THE PERSON WHO'S TAKING THE SURVEY TO TELL US ABOUT THEMSELVES WITH SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF WHO THEY ARE SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE.
WELL, MAYBE IT'S LANGUAGE, MAYBE IT'S TIME, MAYBE IT'S INCOME, MAYBE IT'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IN THOSE CASES.
NOT EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEMBER'S QUESTION IS A DETERMINED ONE QUESTION ON THE SURVEY AND MAYBE ANSWERED IN A MULTITUDE [OVERLAPPING] ANSWERED.
>> YEAH. NOW, I APPRECIATE THAT.
DIRECTOR CLARK AND I KNOW YOU'VE PUT SO MUCH THOUGHT INTO IT.
I'M SPECIFICALLY NOT NECESSARILY SEEING EACH QUESTION WITH ALL THAT THOUGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IT INCLUDES A SCALE OF FOUR INCLUSIVE, A PLACE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND CELEBRATES DIVERSITY.
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHO WOULD BE ANSWERING, SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF DEMOGRAPHICS.
POSSIBLE BARRIERS YOU CAN GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHO IT IS.
MAYBE THEY'RE A THIRD SHIFTER, THEY DON'T RETURN.
>> YEAH. I CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
JUST A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, WHAT BARRIERS KEEP YOU FROM PARTICIPATING IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT, FOR ME, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THIS COMMUNITY? I LIVE AMONGST MANY ASIAN AMERICANS, AND SO WE DO HAVE ONE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE A PART OF A CULTURE THAT I SEE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I DON'T THINK WE MIGHT BE EMBRACING AS A COMMUNITY.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY? WE'VE GOT A MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC THAT WE COULD HAVE COMMUNITY EVENTS AT, THAT COULD CELEBRATE ALL THIS DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR TOWNSHIP.
[03:45:01]
HERE'S YOUR BARRIERS, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? THAT WOULD HELP ME. I REALLY LIKE THAT.TELL ME WHAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM BEING INVOLVED? BUT, WHAT WOULD ALSO MAKE YOU BE MORE INVOLVED? I GUESS IT'S THE SET NEGATIVE VERSUS POSITIVE WHEN YOU'RE ANSWERING A QUESTION.
THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I GUESS MY LAST ONE WOULD BE WITH RESPECT TO QUESTION 33.
A QUESTION REGARDING OUR PROPOSAL, ONE END OR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
I THINK THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM OUR FIRST VERSION THAT I'VE SEEN WHEN IT COMES TO SES QUESTION, BUT I'VE HEARD AND I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS WILL BE A BALLOT QUESTION COME NOVEMBER.
FOR ME, [BACKGROUND] ASKING A QUESTION ON A SURVEY VERSUS ASKING A QUESTION ON A BALLOT THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, I WOULD PREFER TO GO THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
FOR ME, WHERE DO I GET THAT INFORMATION? HOW VALID IS THAT? WITH THIS QUESTION HERE, WITH SUPPORT, OPPOSE, AND NOT SURE, I'M THINKING, OKAY, YEAH, GET THESE ANSWERS AND I GET SUPPORT, OPPOSE.
WE GET A QUANTITATIVE RESPONSE.
WHAT DOES NOT SURE ME TO ME, HOW DO I USE THAT? IN ANY SENSE, I COULD USE THAT EITHER WAY.
DO I SPELL THAT OUT? IS THAT AN OUTLIER OR HOW DO I USE THAT PARTICULAR ANSWER? QUITE HONESTLY, WOULD IT BE BEST IF WE JUST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT? LET'S USE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
TREASURER DESCHAINE SAID IT, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR OUR BOARD.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE ASK THE QUESTION AS WELL AS WHAT ARE OUR RESULTS, AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE RESULTS? MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME? I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS QUESTION IS BETTER WRITTEN.
BUT, THE RESPONSE OF SUPPORT, OPPOSE, AND NOT SURE IS GOING TO BE AMBIGUOUS.
IF WE'RE ASSUMING SUPERVISOR THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT, BUT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS SAYING THAT THIS IS A VERY MAIN OBJECTIVE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I ENCOURAGE IT. LET'S PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
LET'S GET A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
I STILL THINK THAT MAYBE THE SURVEY IS NOT THE BEST SPOT FOR THAT QUESTION.
BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR THE CITIZEN'S INPUT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> WE CAN'T PUT IT IN ON THE BALLOT.
>> NO, NO, NO. WE'RE NOT PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT.
>> YEAH, WE CAN. LEGALLY, WE CAN. [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT, I'VE GOTTEN MULTIPLE CALLS.
>> IT'S GOING TO SUCCEED. WE SEE PETITIONS ALL THE TIME GET THROWN OUT BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL REASONS OR WHATEVER.
>> MY THOUGHT IS, [OVERLAPPING] WE GET SOME DATA.
>> WHAT WE ASKED THE QUESTION, SO WHAT.
>> I DO, I AGREE DATA'S IMPORTANT, BUT TREASURES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN 32 LETTERS IN OPPOSITION, ONLY TWO ARE IN SUPPORT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE.
>> PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SUPPORT ARE GOING TO BE SO ANXIOUS TO WRITE A LETTER, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS HAPPENING.
WHERE IF WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN OPPOSITION, THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL VERY STRONG ABOUT THAT AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT WHEN I WRITE A RESPONSE TO A SURVEY OR WHEN I WRITE A RESPONSE TO SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE I GOTTEN IT'S GENERALLY BECAUSE I FELT VERY STRONG ABOUT THAT, WHETHER IT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SURVEYED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND TO DO THAT, I FEEL THE BEST PART IS TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT AND NOT ON OUR SURVEY.
>> IF WE COULD THAT WOULD BE AN ANSWER [LAUGHTER] GUTHRIE YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR STYKA, I CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE WISINSKI IN REGARDS TO THE PROGRAM QUESTION BECAUSE I KIND HAD THAT SAME QUESTION IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.
[03:50:03]
WHAT EVENTS AND PROGRAMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE TOWNSHIP OFFER? I FELT LIKE THAT WAS MISSING FROM THE SURVEY AS WELL.THEN IN REGARDS TO NUMBER THREE, AGAIN, I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN HERE, BUT B, IT SHOULD BE WRITTEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, SHOULD THE TOWNSHIP OFFER BROADBAND? SHOULD THE TOWNSHIP HAVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES? I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THOSE TWO QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE BASICALLY IT'S AN OFFERING THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE TOWNSHIP OPTED OUT OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, SHOULD THEY OPT BACK IN, SO WE HAVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES.
THERE'RE CURRENTLY IS NO TOWNSHIP-WIDE BROADBAND BEING OFFERED TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.
SHOULD THE TOWNSHIP PROVIDE TOWNSHIP-WIDE BROADBAND SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE TOWNSHIP HAS IT.
TO ME, THOSE ARE THE SAME, YOU'RE ASKING SOMETHING, SHOULD THIS BE A TOWNSHIP-WIDE OFFERING? SHOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WE OFFER IN OUR TOWNSHIP? TO ME, THEY'RE THE SAME KIND OF QUESTION AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT EVENT SHOULD WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES? DO WE HAVE TOWNSHIP-WIDE BROADBAND? TO ME, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME KIND OF THING.
>> DESCHAINE, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP? [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DID. I USED THE EXAMPLE OF LETTERS, NOT BECAUSE IT'S SCIENTIFIC, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OTHER DATA RIGHT NOW.
IN SOME ISSUES LIKE THE KANSAS ROAD REDEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE SEEN LETTERS BOTH FOR THAT AND AGAINST THAT.
WE'VE SEEN STRONG LETTERS IN BOTH CASES AGAINST IT.
PEOPLE DO WRITE US WHEN THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING AND PEOPLE DO WRITE US WHEN THEY'RE OPPOSED SOMETHING.
BUT I THINK MORE TO THE POINT, WE ALL RAN ON A PLATFORM OF PROFESSIONAL, TRANSPARENT AND BOARD THAT REPRESENTED ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
OUR RESIDENTS ARE EDUCATED, THEIR PROFESSIONAL, THERE ARE WELL-INFORMED, THEY WANT A BOARD THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH DATA AS POSSIBLE ON THIS ISSUE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BEFORE WE TAKE ANY ACTION.
TO GET MORE DATA, WE NEED TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
THIS IDEA THAT BECAUSE IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IS REASON TO EXCLUDE IT NOW, MAKES NO SENSE TO ME AT ALL.
IT JUST SEEMS TO BE A RED HERRING ISSUE.
WHY WOULD THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, BE FILLED OF THE SURVEY.
THAT WOULD BE ONE RECOURSE FOR PEOPLE TO TRY AND FORCES THE TOP 10 OR STAY OPTED OUT, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THE FACT WE GAIN MORE DATA FROM OUR RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT.
WE HAVE DATA ON THE 2018 ELECTION, WE HAVE DATA ON LETTERS WE RECEIVED, BUT WE'D NEVER ASKED THIS QUESTION.
NOVEMBER ELECTION TO ME IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS QUESTION.
WE NEED TO KNOW TODAY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND PART BECAUSE THIS BOARD COULD ITSELF TAKE ACTION AND OPT IN AND LICENSE THESE FACILITIES.
BUT SHOULD WE? WE DON'T KNOW THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW OUR RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT IT.
THE ESSENCE OF THIS SURVEY IS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT AND IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT BEING AMBIGUOUS, TAKE OUT THE NOT SURE QUESTION PART OF IT.
JUST ASK THEM YES OR NO, FORCE AN ANSWER THERE.
BUT WE CAN GET DATA WITH THIS SURVEY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT DATA.
IT HAS REALLY BIG DEAL THAT THERE MAYBE NO PETITION SIGNATURES GATHERED AROUND NOVEMBER ELECTION, DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE NEED DATA FROM OUR RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR AND LIKELY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
IT'S ESSENTIAL WE GET MORE INFORMATION.
WE ARE A WELL-INFORMED COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO BE WELL-INFORMED BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH [INAUDIBLE] I STAY WITH [INAUDIBLE] AND I KNOW EARL [INAUDIBLE] TOTALLY AMBIGUOUS.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANYONE'S MIND THAT WE HAD AN ACTUAL VOTE WITH A RECORD OF 2018 OF VOTER [INAUDIBLE].
REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU INTERPRET THAT VOTE, I DON'T SEE HOW A SURVEY OF 300 TO 500 RESPONDENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP, IS GOING TO CHANGE SOMEONE'S OPINIONS ON AN ELECTION IN WHICH 24,000 VOTES WERE CAST.
BUT WE CAN LOOK AT OUR 2017 SURVEY AND LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE INCLUDED A QUESTION ON THE PROSPECT OF THE TOWNSHIP INITIATING AND ROAD MILLAGE.
WE DID THAT TO CLICK GUTHRIE'S POINT BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION ACTUALLY ALLOWED US TO POSSIBLY ADAPT WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH A BALLOT PROPOSAL.
HERE WE DON'T CONTROL ANY BALLOT PROPOSAL AND NOTHING ABOUT THIS QUESTION GIVES US ANY INDICATION AS THAT WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS ABOUT HOW THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE ZONED AND REGULATED.
IT ALSO DOESN'T GIVE THE PUBLIC ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY DONE TO ZONE AND REGULATE THESE FACILITIES,
[03:55:03]
WHICH WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS THE FEWEST FACILITIES PER CAPITA, IN THE ENTIRE STATE FOR MEDICAL THAT'S NOT REFERENCED.THE OVERLAY DISTRICTS AREN'T REFERENCED.
WHEN PEOPLE REACT OUT OF FEAR AS A NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND THEY WRITE US IN FEAR.
THIS QUESTION READS AS IF THE ICE CREAM PARLOR, LAKE LANSING AND MUSHROOM COULD BE TURNED INTO A MARIJUANA FACILITY, ADULT USE OR MEDICAL.
THERE'S UNEQUIVOCALLY NO CONTEXT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT THE BOARD SPENT A YEAR ADOPTING ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS.
TO POINT BACK TO THE 2017 SURVEY WHERE WE ELICITED [INAUDIBLE] THE ROAD MILLAGE BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY WITHIN OUR CONTROL.
IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT IT, OUR SUPPORT FOR FIXING THE ROADS MILES WAS ACTUALLY ONLY 33 OR 34 PERCENT.
I COULD HAVE ARGUED THAT THAT'S SURVEYS IS EVERYTHING.
OUR RESIDENTS SUPPORTED THAT MILLAGE WITH 60 PERSON OF THE VOTE I BELIEVE.
59 PERCENT IN VERY HIGH CHANGE.
BUT I BELIEVE IF YOU TOOK THE SOMEWHAT SUPPORT FOR THE ROAD MILLAGE, IT ADDED UP TO LIKE MID-SIXTIES.
IT WAS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE ACTUAL VOTE.
WON'T MISCONSTRUE IT, BUT EVEN IF YOU LOOKED AT THE SOMEWHAT SUPPORT AND A STRONG SUPPORT IS OVER VOTE SUPPORT FOR THE MILLAGE BY FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS.
FOR ME, THERE IS NO SURVEY THAT CAN INVALIDATE AN ELECTION AND WHEN I READ THE QUESTION AS PRESENTED, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF WHERE IT WAS LOCATED IN THEN THE LAST ONE [INAUDIBLE] CREATE A NUMBER AND SAY, I ONLY X PERCENT FOR [INAUDIBLE] , BECAUSE THERE'S A SEVERE LACK OF CONTEXT OR INFORMATION BEING PRESENTED ABOUT THE ZONING AND REGULATION OF FACILITIES, WHICH THE BOARD IS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AND ALREADY UP THERE RESOLUTE ORDINANCE IS IN THE OVERLAY FOR THE MEDICAL FACILITIES WHICH ARE REFERENCED.
I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE ME AND JENNY [INAUDIBLE] BECOME FODDER BECAUSE OF THE AMBIGUITY, AND THERE WILL BE AN [INAUDIBLE] ARE STRONG FEELINGS THAT IT'S NOT HARD TO COLLECT 1,000 SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED VOTERS, OR 1,100, WHICH IS ROUGHLY THE REQUIREMENT AT THE VERY LOW BAR.
IT'S THE LOWEST BAR FOR BEING ANYTHING.
IF YOU WANT TO OVERTURN A REZONING, YOU NEED 15 PERCENT, YOU NEED THREE TIMES AS MANY SIGNATURES TO OVERTURN A REZONING IN THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
WE HAVE ONE BACK IN 2010 OR 2012.
EVEN THAT THRESHOLD OF COLLECTING 3,000, 3,300 SIGNATURES HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
BUT THE QUESTION [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I LOOK AT FOOTBALL SURVEY IN ROYAL OAK, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US IN THE EXAMPLE WHERE I CONFESSED IT WITH QUESTION 33, SO IN QUOTES SURVEY, THEY FOUND THAT [INAUDIBLE] WAS ONLY TWO PERCENT AND THAT COMMUNITY'S VOTE ON PROPOSAL 1, BUT THEIR SURVEY HAD A LAYER OF QUESTION ABOUT REZONING REGULATION, ROYAL OAK WAS STARTING FROM SCRATCH, THEY HADN'T [INAUDIBLE] THEM UNDER THERE.
THEY ARE SOLICITING INPUT ON THE FACILITIES, HOW TO REGULATE THE FACILITY, WHICH ZONING CATEGORY SHOULD THESE FACILITIES BE PERMITTED WITH THEM.
THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THE VARIOUS FACILITY TYPES AND THEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ZONING CATEGORY.
THEIR SURVEY WAS INSINUATING AND WAS INFORMING THE PUBLIC THAT THERE WOULD BE A ZONING REGULATIONS FOR IT, WHEREAS IT'S COMPLETELY SILENT ON ALL OF THAT AND IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE [INAUDIBLE] SURVEY, SO I HAVE TO QUESTION WHY THE SAME FIRM, WILDLY DIFFERENT, WILDLY FAIRLY APPROACH FOR [INAUDIBLE] THAN THEY DID FOR ROYAL OAK WHEN WE COULD HAVE MORE CONTACTS BECAUSE WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT SPEAK TO THE ZONING REGULATIONS WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE AND THE FACT THAT IT'S RESTRICTED TO FIVE, THAT IT'S RESTRICTED TO THESE PRECISE OVERLAID DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF SCHOOLS, DAY CARES, ETC., NOT ADJACENT TO ANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, EVEN [INAUDIBLE].
BUT WE'RE GOING TO POLITICIZE THIS EITHER WAY.
[04:00:07]
AS I SAID, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET IN TO WRITING THE QUESTION AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT COBOL PRODUCED FOR ROYAL OAK AND WHAT THEY'VE PUT IT INTO THIS SURVEY AS QUESTION 1 AND NOW QUESTION 33 ARE WILDLY AND [INAUDIBLE] CRAMPED.THOUGH WE'VE TAKEN MARKED UPS IN ROYAL OAK, INCREASED UP TO REGULATE AND ONLY FACILITY.
THAT IS IMPORTANT CONTEXT THAT IS NOT PRESENT.
BUT I THINK [INAUDIBLE] STEP FURTHER AMBIGUITY ON THE QUESTION, AND OF COURSE, ANY AMBIGUITY, IT'S GOING THROUGH A PUBLIC FEEDBACK. THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE] RAISE YOUR HAND UP THERE FOR A WHILE.
ARE YOU STILL WANTING TO GO BACK HERE?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO DO MYSELF ANY GOOD TO SAY ANYTHING.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SURVEYS IN A COMMUNITY THAT I STARTED FOR 17 YEARS, I WROTE FOUR OF THEM, I WROTE EVERY QUESTION.
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ASKED YOU TO DO THAT.
WE DID THAT AND WE HAD GOOD SURVEYS, GOOD RESULTS, AND WE USE THOSE RESULTS ON A WHOLE NUMBER OF ISSUES.
WE BUILD AN ICE ARENA BASED ON THOSE SURVEYS.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS SEVERAL TIMES.
WE ASKED YOU TO SEND YOUR RESPONSES BACK.
I SAID LET'S GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE THIS ALL OUT.
NO, NO, NO, I COULDN'T DO THAT.
LET'S JUST SEND YOUR REQUEST, YOUR POINTS IN, AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
YOU SEND ALL YOUR STUFF IN, AND DIRECTOR CLARK CAME BACK AND WROTE A GREAT SURVEY.
WE HIRED AN EXPERT, WE HIRED A FIRM TO PUT TOGETHER A SURVEY, AND NOW IT'S AS IF IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE ASKED YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPONSES A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND THIS IS OUR FOURTH OR FIFTH DISCUSSION ON THE SURVEY.
YOU SENT THAT ALL IN, WE PUT IT TOGETHER, AND DIRECTOR CLARK HAS PRESENTED THAT.
NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW SUBJECTS, NEW ITEMS. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDS.
AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD IS VERY SPLIT ON QUESTION ON THAT ONE ISSUE, AND THAT'S FOR YOU TO SOLVE.
BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING LIKE THIS AND WE NEED TO GO LIKE THIS.
IF WE WEREN'T GOING TO USE THE EXPERT, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HIRED HIM, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT IN HOUSE, LIKE WE SUGGESTED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU PAY THAT HAVE WRITTEN PLENTY OF SURVEYS, SUCCESSFUL SURVEYS, AND WE WENT ANOTHER DIRECTION, AND NOW WE'VE GOT AN EXPERT, NOW WE'RE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
I HOPE WE CAN REFOCUS ON THIS, COME TOGETHER, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE IT'S GETTING VERY WEARY, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY IT.
THEY'RE THINKING IT, I CAN TELL YOU.
THE WHOLE TEAM'S THINKING IT, BUT NO ONE'S GOING TO SAY IT, BUT I WILL.
LET'S FOCUS ON THIS AND GET IT DONE AND GET IT OUT.
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING AT THIS POINT.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF TIME FOR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, FROM WHAT I HEARD TODAY.
I THINK THE RUNNING AID, THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE ALMOST THE CONSENSUS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOME TWEAKING AS IN THE BROADBAND AREA BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE SOME BIG POLICY DECISIONS THEREIN.
I THINK SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT DIRECTOR CLARK TOOK NOTES OF MIGHT BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SURVEY WITH REGARD TO BROADBANDS SO WE CAN RELY ON IT FOR JUST LIKE WE DO FOR ROADS, ETC.
THE REST OF IT, I GUESS, NOTES HAVE BEEN TAKEN, IT'LL COME BACK, AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL COME BACK FOR THE LAST TIME.
>> SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE] BUT TRUSTEE OPSOMMER ASKED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL MARIJUANA QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE IT WAS SURVEY DRAFT 2, 1 OR 2, BOTH OF THOSE HAD EXTENSIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA, WHICH INCLUDED QUESTIONS ABOUT OVERLAY, ZONING, ETC.
FROM COMMENTS BASED FROM THIS BOARD, YOU REQUESTED TO HAVE THOSE REMOVED, THAT'S WHY THOSE ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED, AND THE QUESTION PRESENTED EARLY DIRECTION PRESENTED TO ME WAS TO ASK ONE QUESTION WITH A SIMPLE YES OR NO AS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD, SO I JUST [OVERLAPPING].
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I DON'T KNOW THERE IS A CONSENSUS BECAUSE I THINK ONE QUESTION IS ALL YOU NEED, MAYBE EVEN SIMPLER IN WHICH IT HAS TO [INAUDIBLE] END UP.
>> YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I AGREE WITH GUTHRIE THAT I THINK MAYBE THE QUESTION 33 IS WORDED NOT VERY GOOD, OR IT NEEDS TO BE MORE
[04:05:04]
DIRECT OR MORE FAVORABLE TO RESPONSES.THAT'S WHAT I CAN SAY. I AGREE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] WELL, WE CAN KEEP KICKING THIS AROUND FOR ANOTHER HOUR.
I GUESS AT THIS POINT, WE SHOULD TAKE IT DOWN TO THE NEXT MEETING, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE HAVE TO KICK IT.
TAKE TO HEART WHAT THE MANAGER SAID.
[INAUDIBLE] THROUGH THE PUBLIC, WE'RE BACK TO THAT AGAIN IF MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS STILL WITH US.
>> OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL HERE, AND WE CAN TAKE OUR HANDS IN THE ZOOM MEETING ITSELF OR THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IF SOMEBODY'S PARTICIPATING FROM HOME, IT'S 517-349-1232 AND WE'LL GIVE PEOPLE JUST A SECOND OR EITHER TO RAISE THEIR HAND INSIDE THE ZOOM MEETING OR DIAL THAT NUMBER ONE LAST TIME, 517-349-1232.
WE HAVE NO ANSWER AND I'M HEARING NO TELEPHONES RINGING.
>> THEN WE COME TO [INAUDIBLE] OR THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I SEE NO HANDS EITHER RAISED THERE.
>> MOVED BY DESCHAINE, SUPPORTED BY OPSOMMER.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? WE'RE ADJOURNED.
>> GOODNIGHT. THANKS, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.