[00:00:08]
AN EXTENSION CORD.OH, WE DON'T NEED [LAUGHTER] WE SUFFER.
[INAUDIBLE] IS EVERYONE READY? YES.
LET'S CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, THIS IS THE [INAUDIBLE] AND BOARD
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
OCTOBER 19, 2021 REGULAR MEETING, AND WE SHOULD START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.ALL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO STAND IN THE FACE THE FLAG.
AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE DO NOT HAVE OUR REGULAR CLERK TODAY, SO WE NEED TO APPOINT A CLERK.
I'M RECOMMENDING THAT SOMEONE TO NOMINATE AND WE ELECT COURTNEY WISINKSKI AS OUR TEMPORARY CLERK TONIGHT, MR. DESCHAINE.
I MOVE WE APPOINT TRUSTEE WISINSKI AS THE TEMPORARY CLERK FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, SUPPORT .
ORDERED BY MS. JACKSON IS THAT RIGHT? [INAUDIBLE] SAY AYE, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT COURTNEY [INAUDIBLE] CLERK.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? I WILL SUPERVISOR STYKA, I'M HERE.
TRUSTEE SUNDLAND HERE AND TRUSTEE WISINSKI HERE.
WE HAVE SIX PRESENT THAT RIGHT? CORRECT SIX PRESENT.
AND WE START OUT TODAY WITH A PRESENTATION, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS BRIDGET
[4A. Environmental Commission Green Grant Update-Haslett Middle School]
BOOTH AN EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER FROM HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL WHOSE GOING TO TELL US ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S GREEN GRANT THAT'S HAPPENING AT HASLETT, AND SHE'S UP AT THE PODIUM.YOU SEE MR. [INAUDIBLE] GETTING THAT READY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE OUR PROGRESS.
MY NAME IS BRIDGET BOOTH AND I HAVE BEEN TEACHING EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE AT HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
BUT I'VE BEEN TEACHING SCIENCE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS TOTAL.
I GOT STARTED TEACHING AT A NATURE CENTER, ACTUALLY, AND SO MY MY FIRST LOVE IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
AND I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND TO GIVE THEM THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. SO WHEN THIS GRANT WAS CAME MY WAY, I JUMPED ON IT BECAUSE WHEN I GOT TO HASLETT, I SAW THIS BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR COURTYARD THAT WAS UNDERUSED.
IN FACT, I NEVER SAW ANYBODY USE THE SPACE AND IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE MY SCIENCE LAB WINDOWS.
AND SO I STARTED DREAMING RIGHT AWAY.
SO THE GOAL HERE WAS TO CREATE AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, A SPACE WHERE TEACHERS COULD BRING A CLASS OUT AND UTILIZE THE SPACE FOR TEACHING, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY IN THESE RECENT TIMES WHERE STUDENT ANXIETY AND STRESS HAS INCREASED.
GIVEN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY, A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN GO IN AND FIND SOME, SOME PEACE AND SOME SECURE SPACE TO SORT OF GET RE CENTERED WHEN THEY'RE FEELING ANXIOUS AT SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A LEARNING LAB, BUT ALSO KIND OF INCORPORATING A STRONG SOCIAL,
[00:05:02]
EMOTIONAL PIECE TO IT AS WELL.SO IT STARTED BECAUSE THIS GRANT FOCUSED ON IT BEING A STUDENT LED PROJECT.
I IDENTIFIED A TEAM IN THE SPRING OF EIGHTH GRADERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THE CONCEPT, AND THEY HELPED DEVELOP RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO THIS IS US LAST SPRING WHEN WE WERE BACK IN PERSON, SO WE DID QUITE A BIT OVER ZOOM, INITIALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT THAT I WORKED WITH ACTUALLY AT WALDEN NATURE CENTER WHEN I WORKED THERE.
AND SHE HAS BEEN OFFERING HER SERVICES.
HER KIDS WENT THROUGH HASLETT SCHOOLS, SO THAT WORKED OUT QUITE NICELY.
SO SHE HELPED ME DO THE INITIAL KIND OF CONSULTS WITH THE KIDS.
TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE USE THAT TO SOLVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
WE SPEND A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME BRAINSTORMING LIKE, WHAT DID WE WANT IT TO BE? AND THIS HERE SHOWS YOU KIND OF A COLLABORATIVE DOCUMENT THAT WE DID OVER ZOOM MEETINGS.
AGAIN, THIS WAS WHEN LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE KIND OF LEARNING THROUGH A HYBRID MODEL.
SO I HAD TO KIND OF BE INVENTIVE WHEN IT CAME TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE COULD SPEND TALKING ABOUT IT IN AFTER SCHOOL BASED ON STUDENT INPUT, OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DEB KINNEY, WAS ABLE TO KIND OF COME UP WITH A PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR US, AND WE'VE KIND OF BEEN WORKING OFF OF THAT AND ADDING TO IT, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CLEANUP THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
AS I SAID, IT WAS A PRETTY NEGLECTED SPACE [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, IT GETS MOWED.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS QUITE A FEW WEEDS AND THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
SO WE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME JUST TAKING CARE OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WHILE ALSO COMMUNICATING WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING OUT THERE.
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SLIDE THAT THE KIDS MADE THAT WOULD GO IN THE WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS, AS WELL AS SIGNAGE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE COURTYARD SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD KIND OF KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WOULD PEAK SOME INTEREST.
OVER THE SUMMER IT WAS CHALLENGING TO TO KEEP SOME OF THOSE KIDS ENGAGED BECAUSE IT'S SUMMER.
AND ALSO, WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN AND THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
YOU CAN SEE MY MY TEAM DWINDLED THERE.
I THINK I HAD THREE KIDS SHOW UP THAT DAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, THEY DUG RIGHT IN AND GOT A LOT DONE.
WE HAD TO WE TALKED ABOUT SAFE WAYS TO REMOVE SOME GRASS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT.
SO WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS CATCH BASIN IN THE CENTER OF THE COURTYARD AND USING THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN MITIGATE RUNOFF IN WATER THAT ENTERS OUR WATERWAYS AND THAT COULD POSSIBLY CONTAIN CONTAMINANTS.
AND SO WE DEVELOPED AN IDEA FOR A RAIN GARDEN AROUND THAT CATCH BASIN TO SLOW THAT MOVEMENT OF WATER.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT IN THOSE PICTURES.
OVER THE SUMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET QUITE A BIT OF THAT CLEANED UP.
WE WENT AND WE BASED ON THE KIDS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANTS THAT THEY RESEARCHED NATIVE PLANTS THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR GREEN GARDENS.
WE WENT AND PURCHASED THOSE [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL WORKING WITH US AND CUTTING US SOME BREAKS.
WE'VE GOT A LIST OF PLANTS HERE THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO READ THOSE, BUT SINCE THEN, I'VE, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED A NEW SCHOOL YEAR THAT THAT INITIAL GROUP HAS MOVED INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY'RE STILL PART OF THE PROJECT.
A COUPLE OF THEM ARE STILL VERY ENGAGED.
BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GET A NEW BATCH OF KIDS.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY MY ELECTIVE CLASS THAT'S BASED ALL AROUND ECOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION.
AND SO AFTER LEARNING ABOUT WATERSHEDS AND WATER MOVEMENT, I GOT THEM OUT THERE WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONTINUING THAT RAIN GARDEN PROJECT.
HERE THEY ARE GETTING THAT READY AND PLANTING A TREE.
AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME THINGS IN PLACE.
WE'VE BEEN KIND OF GETTING THINGS IN POSITION.
ADDING TO OUR CONCEPT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT THERE'S MORE DETAILS THAT HAVE COME SINCE THEN.
AND THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, I RAN A WORKDAY THAT WAS OPEN TO, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL STAFF AND FAMILIES.
AND THANKFULLY, THE WEATHER COOPERATED AND WE GOT QUITE A BIT DONE.
SO IT'S AN INTERIOR SPACE, SO THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE COURTYARD IS THROUGH THE BUILDING.
SO THAT'S ME AND THE LEFT HAULING A BUNCH OF STUFF, WHEELBARROW STUFF THROUGH THE THROUGH THE SCHOOL.
I DID HAVE TO WARN THAT THE JANITOR THAT THAT WHOLE WAY NEEDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLEANED UP BEFORE MONDAY BECAUSE WE WERE MOVING MULCH THROUGH THE BUILDING AND GETTING THAT AREA PLANTED IN MULCHED.
AND AGAIN, THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS AWESOME ABOUT GETTING THAT DELIVERED FOR US.
[00:10:03]
SO IT HAD ENTIRE FAMILIES SHOW UP AND SOME TEACHERS BROUGHT THEIR KIDS AND IT WAS REALLY COOL DAY OF KIND OF GETTING EVERYBODY WORKING IN THAT SPACE.AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS THIS, YOU KNOW, SPACE IN THE SCHOOL IS IS BEING UTILIZED AND SOMETHING'S HAPPENING WITH IT.
SO THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
THE RAIN GARDEN IS PLANTED IN THAT CORNER WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT BUSH THAT WAS LIKE THIS CRAZY JUNGLE OF A WEED THAT I HAD THIS ONE COUPLE BACK THERE JUST HACKING AWAY AT IT.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SOME TRANSFORMATIONS.
SPENT ABOUT HALF OF THE GRANT FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
THE NEXT STEP IS NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE PLANTS IN PLACE IS TO REALLY BE WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS AND THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS A REALLY COMFORTABLE LEARNING SPACE? SO STILL, LOOKING AT PURCHASING SOME THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE USABLE, WATER IS AN ISSUE.
THE WATER SPIGOT THAT'S OUT THERE DOESN'T WORK.
SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOKING INTO WHETHER THAT CAN BE REPLACED OR NOT.
WE'D LIKE TO DO MORE PLANTS NOW THAT THINGS ARE PLANTED, WE CAN SEE SOME PLACES WHERE WE CAN ADD SOME MORE SEATING.
HOW DO WE WANT STUDENTS AND STAFF TO BE ABLE TO SIT OUT THERE FOR A COMFORTABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
WE ALSO WANT CITIZEN SCIENCE AND DATA COLLECTION OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, SO BIRD FEEDERS SO THAT WE CAN BE MONITORING THE BIRDS THAT ARE COMING AND GOING, AS WELL AS MAYBE AN OUTDOOR LAB BENCH WHERE KIDS COULD ACTUALLY DO SOME WEATHER MONITORING AND REAL REAL DATA COLLECTION.
SO THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE BASED ON TEACHER AND STUDENT INPUT.
WE'VE GOT ENGINEERING AND STEM CLASSES THAT I'D LIKE TO EMPLOY AND GET THEM DESIGNING SOME OF THESE ELEMENTS SO THAT THERE ARE INVESTED AND ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AS WELL.
SO THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT FOR US TO DO.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE MADE SOME REAL PROGRESS, ESPECIALLY THIS FALL, AND WE'VE OVERCOME SOME CHALLENGES.
LIKE I SAID, SOME THE RAIN, THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES JUST TO GET THINGS ROLLING, WORKING WITH THE GROUNDS CREW AND WHAT THEY CAN DO VERSUS WHAT MY VOLUNTEER TEAMS CAN DO.
BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW DO WE KEEP THE KIDS? THIS IS THEIR PROJECT AND THEY WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO BE THEIR PROJECT SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND LIKE THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO TO SOLVE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THEIR FUTURES.
SO WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE TOWNSHIP, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, FOR GRANTING US THIS MONEY.
AND FOR DEB KENNEY, OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND FOR ALL THAT HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENT AND FAMILIES THAT ARE HELPING MY PRINCIPAL, DIANE NEWMAN AND AGAIN, [INAUDIBLE] FOR BEING SO HELPFUL WITH US.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SHARE THIS PROGRESS AND WOULD ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM OR WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT ME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] THE WAY THIS ONE WAS BEFORE YOU DECIDED TO TACKLE IT IS REALLY A WASTE OF RESOURCES.
THIS IS WONDERFUL WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'VE BEEN A LOT OF BUILDINGS WITH NICE COURTYARDS AND IT LOOKS LIKE HASLETT SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.
REALLY, AS A PLACE, YOU CAN ENJOY THE OUTDOORS WITHOUT EVER GOING OUTSIDE OF THE GREATER BUILDING, SO TO SPEAK.
[INAUDIBLE] HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING.
MS. WISINSKI ANYTHING? I WAS WAITING, YES, SUPERVISOR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MRS. BOOTH.
THIS IS FANTASTIC AND WE WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE IT AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S WHY I INVITED YOU HERE TODAY.
IT'S JUST CLEARLY A LOT OF THOUGHT IN YOUR VISION WENT INTO THIS AND IT'S HAPPENING.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT DOES ALWAYS TAKE MORE TIME, IT IS FANTASTIC THAT YOU HAVE HANDS ON LEARNING AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THE YOU'RE HOPING TO CONTINUALLY GET THE KIDS INVOLVED BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THERE'S GOING TO TAKE SOME MAINTENANCE AS WELL, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO FALL ON YOU, IS IT? YES.
SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR NEXT PIECE IS THINKING ABOUT, YEAH, HOW DO WE BECAUSE YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT LIKE SCHOOL GARDENS AND THINGS THAT GO IN AND THEN THEY JUST SORT OF GET NEGLECTED OVER TIME.
SO I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO THIS SPACE.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A PART OF OUR PLAN IS TO WORK WITH OUR GROUNDS CREW AND OUR CUSTODIANS AND AND THE TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A SPACE THAT STAYS MAINTAINED.
TREASURE? YES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO US AND FOR BRINGING THIS
[00:15:02]
TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
THEY'RE AWARE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED, YEAH THEY ARE.
AND I LIKE WHAT THIS PROJECT DID YOU GAVE THEM A TANGIBLE WAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING THAT.
WE HAVE GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MORE GRANT MONEY THIS YEAR FOR FURTHER PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN, WONDERFUL.
AND SO YOU'VE INSPIRED US TO KEEP FUNDING THIS AND HOPEFULLY OTHER SCHOOLS, OTHER GROUPS GET AS ENGAGED AS YOU DID THERE AT HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
[INAUDIBLE] ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MS. BOOTH, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO WERE INVOLVED AND THE PARENTS.
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT GOT INVOLVED AS WELL.
I WAS REMISS WHEN WE DID THE ROLL CALL.
I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT I'M I'M HERE VIRTUALLY BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME FLU SYMPTOMS OR FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS AND HAVING HAD NOT COVID, BUT SOME SOME EXPOSURE TO A COVID SITUATION.
DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES? SO I'M COMING FROM UNEXPECTEDLY COMING FROM HOME VIA ZOOM [INAUDIBLE] ACTION? OK.
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
OUR NEXT THING IS THE CITIZENS ADDRESSING AGENDA ITEMS AND NON AGENDA ITEMS, AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THERE HAS ANYONE PUT ANY CARDS TO SPEAK? YOU'VE GOT TO PASS IT TO [INAUDIBLE].I REMIND YOU THAT YOU GET THREE MINUTES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY START OUT WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE CORDIAL AND ADDRESS BOARD AS A WHOLE NOT ANY INDIVIDUALS.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU SAY IN THREE MINUTES.
YES, I'M MARK HARRINGTON, I LIVE AT 820 PIPER ROAD IN HASLETT, AND I'M HERE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO PREFACE MY REMARKS BY SAYING THAT I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN MANY ISSUES.
I I'M HERE TO CRITICIZE THE TOWNSHIP.
SO AT THE SAME TIME, I RECOGNIZE YOUR HARD WORK.
I I'M BEING BASICALLY GOING TO COURT WITH THE TOWNSHIP OVER MY BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND THE WHAT I'M ACCUSING THE TOWNSHIP OF IS GREENWASHING.
THEY SEEM TO BE THINKING THAT THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT I THINK THEY'RE JUST PUTTING ON A FAÃ♪ADE OF ENVIRONMENTALISM.
AND WHAT I SAW OUTSIDE THE DOOR OUT HERE, JUST AS YOU ENTER THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE DOOR, IT USED TO BE A LITTLE SIGN THERE, TALKED ABOUT CONSERVATION, ABOUT FOSTERING INSECTS, ABOUT NATURAL NATURAL PLANTS.
AND YET, WELL, IT'S NOT THERE NOW.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I CANNOT HAVE THAT ON MY PROPERTY, THAT I AM BEING DENIED THAT BY THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND HE WRITES THAT THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE A BUTTERFLY GARDEN IN FRONT OF MY PROPERTY.
AND HE SAYS THAT VEGETATION NOT INTENTIONALLY PLANTED IS NOT ALLOWED, IN OTHER WORDS.
THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT FLOWER GARDENS ARE ALLOWED AND IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INTENTIONALLY PLANTED.
MAYBE HE'D LIKE TO GET YOU TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE TO READ THAT WAY INTENTIONALLY PLANTED.
BUT I WOULD THINK THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE I GOT A WHOLE BOOK HERE OF TWO HUNDRED WILDFLOWERS THAT ALL GROW NATURALLY IN THIS AREA.
AND WHAT THE INSECTS LIKE IS THESE FLOWERS NOT THE KIND TO GET OUT OF THE PACKAGES BECAUSE THEY'RE ADAPTED TO THESE FLOWERS.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO COME UP, YOU'RE LUCKY, AND MOST OF THEM ARE BIGGER THAN EIGHT INCHES HIGH.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
NOW WHAT I GOT HERE, I'M SHOWING YOU HERE IS THE BACK OF THE GIANT SWALLOWTAIL, WHICH I SAW IN MY YARD IT'S EIGHT AND A HALF INCHES WIDE AND.
AND THE REASON I HAD THAT IS BECAUSE I'VE FOSTERED THOSE INSECTS WITH THE PROPER KINDS OF PLANTS.
I AM STRONGLY AGAINST THE WAY THE TOWNSHIP HAS TREATED ME.
THEY SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A RED, WITH A GOLD STAR AND A BLUE RIBBON, BUT INSTEAD THEY'RE TAKING ME.
[00:20:01]
I HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO DEFEND MY BUTTERFLY GARDEN.I DON'T LIKE THE WAY I'VE BEEN TREATED.
[INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY, I'M MUTED, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I ASKED IF WE HAD ANY OTHER CITIZENS PRESENT AND APPARENTLY NOT, AND I ASKED IF WE HAD ANY ZOOMING CITIZENS.
OK, WELL, NOW WE'VE GOT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGERS REPORT, MANAGER WALSH.
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR.WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE OWNERSHIP OF THE MALL IN MID-NOVEMBER.
WE HAD OUR AUDIT COMPLETED BY THE STATE FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING, WHICH WAS APPROVED HERE LAST WEEK, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE CLEARED NOW TO RECEIVE THE FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE HALF OF THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE OTHER HALF IN 2022.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M INVOLVED WITH THE TRI COUNTY MANAGERS GROUP, THE MIDDLE OF MINT, AND WE'LL BE HOSTING OUR FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING IN A YEAR AND A HALF TOMORROW.
AND REPRESENTATIVE BROOKS AND HER CHIEF OF STAFF OPSOMMER ARE GOING TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AND GOING TO BE OUR SPEAKERS TOMORROW ABOUT SOME NEW LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING BROUGHT OUT.
THE PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE WILL BE COMING OUT IN MID-JANUARY.
IT'LL FOCUS ON THE TOWNSHIP'S 2022 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, WHICH ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED.
OCTOBER IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH AND THE TOWNSHIP HAS A LONG STANDING HISTORY OF APPRECIATING OUR VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO DO THAT, BUT WE FIGURED OUT A WAY LAST YEAR TO DO IT WITH MASKS, AND THIS YEAR WE FOUND TODAY WE DETERMINE ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT FOR 2021 AND THE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE IN TO PICK SOMETHING UP FOR THE TOWNSHIP NEXT WEEK.
YOU MAY RECALL OUR IT ASSESSMENT THAT THE BOARD APPROVED.
THE FIRST MEETING WITH THAT GROUP IS TOMORROW AFTERNOON THERE OUT OF BRIGHTON, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A A LONG PROCESS FOR US, BUT ONE THAT'S VERY WORTHY AND VERY NEEDED.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS THE UPGRADES TO OUR TECHNOLOGY IN THIS ROOM, COMPLETE WITH SOME POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL OUTLETS HERE AT THE BOARD TABLE AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL AROUND WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY.
AND WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR THAT AND THAT PROPOSAL WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE FINISHING UP THE STREET PROJECT FOR 2021.
WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES ON LAGOON, WHICH WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING LAST WEEK.
I WANT TO THANK MANAGER PERRY FOR MEETING THAT MEETING.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A COUPLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND DEAL WITH ALL THE RAIN WE'VE HAD, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF STREETS THAT WE MAY NOT GET TO IN TWENTY TWENTY ONE.
THOSE WOULD BE PINE HOLLOW AND GLEN UP IN WHITE HILLS.
WE'LL KNOW MORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE.
IF NOT, THEY'LL BE FIRST ON THE LIST FOR 2022.
THE PREVAILING WAGE APPEAL FOR THE TOWNSHIP IS JUST ABOUT READY TO GO.
WE HAVE ONE MORE WEEK TO SUBMIT THAT ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND WE MET WITH THE HEAD OF DISCUSSION WITH THE DEVELOPERS OF PINE VILLAGE TODAY.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SCHEDULED, HOPEFULLY FOR DEMOLITION IN JANUARY.
THE ISSUE OF INTEREST CAME BACK UP AND WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT, WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INCENTIVE THAT'S RE-INTRODUCED TO THE DEVELOPERS.
THAT'S A LITTLE SNIPPET ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP MR. SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER? I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS.
RIGHT? WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL.
OH NO BOARD [INAUDIBLE] REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND THEIR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO [INAUDIBLE] REPORT MS. SUNDLAND.SUPERVISOR STYKA I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ON OCTOBER 7TH, AND THE FOCUS OF THE MEETING WAS PRIMARILY THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY POINTED OUT THAT IS TRUE NORTH IS NO LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH
[00:25:01]
THE DEVELOPMENT.THE DEVELOPMENT IS NOW THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS LLC.
SOME FIGURES THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE TWO POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FUNDS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE ONE POINT EIGHT FOUR GOING INTO INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THERE'S ABOUT THREE MILLION GOING INTO BROWNFIELD AND ANOTHER TWO MILLION IN THE REDEVELOPMENT FUND.
SO THAT THE EXCITING PART OF ALL THIS IS THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.
SO AND THAT'S PRIMARILY MY REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING, AND I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO LIKE PHIL AND PAT, IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT ON THE MEETING ALSO.
ON OCTOBER 6TH, I DID ATTEND THE EDC MEETING WITH TRUSTEE SUNDLAND AND SHE GAVE A VERY GOOD SUMMARY OF WHAT THE EDC IS WITH THE HEAD FOR THE EDC.
THEY ACTUALLY COULDN'T TAKE MUCH ACTION BECAUSE THEY'RE AWAITING A REVISED PROPOSAL ON THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS, WHICH WAS NOT IN HAND AS OF TODAY, ON THE 7TH I ATTENDED THE MABA MEETING AND MABA'S THE MEETING AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
THEY GAVE OUT THEIR ANNUAL AWARDS TO NON-PROFITS AND THE NUMBER ONE RECIPIENT WAS THE HASLETT/ OKEMOS ROBOTICS CLUB, WHICH GOT A THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM MABA.
THAT GROUP IS NOW GROWN TO OVER HUNDRED STUDENTS AND PARENTS, AN EQUAL NUMBER OF PARENTS, AND AS WE KNOW, THEY MADE A PRESENTATION HERE FOR THEIR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS. ON THE 13TH, I ATTENDED THE TACOMA HILLS MEETING THAT THE MANAGER REFERENCED WITH DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY AND STAFF, OUR CONSULTANTS AND EVEN THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.
GOOD BACK AND FORTH, AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE STAFF STAYED WELL AFTER DARK.
WORKING WITH EACH RESIDENT WHO HAD A PARTICULAR ISSUE, THEY CREATED A PUNCH LIST OF SORTS FOR WORK TO BE DONE.
SO IT WAS BROAD MEETING IN A VERY SPECIFIC MEETING ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT REMAIN AND STAFF STAYED ON ON SITE UNTIL THEY GOT ALL OF THOSE RECORDED IT WAS REALLY EXCELLENT SERVICE BY BOTH OUR STAFF, THE CONSULTANTS AND THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
AND THE 14TH I ATTENDED THE CALGARY TREASURES ASSOCIATION IN MASON.
AND I'LL SAY ON THE 12TH LAST WEDNESDAY, WE DID SWEAR IN [INAUDIBLE] AS THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP DEPUTY TREASURER, SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE A FULL TIME PERMANENT DEPUTY TREASURER IN PLACE.
AND THAT'S [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S WORKED FOR THE TOWNSHIP NEARLY A DECADE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER PROMOTED TO DEPUTY TREASURER.
ANY OTHER REPORTS, ACTIVITIES OR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I DON'T SEE ANY, AND WE WILL GO ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
IS THERE A MOTION? MS. WISINSKI, I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE AGENDA ITEM 13 D WHY WE WE CAN WE CAN APPROVE THE AGENDA AND THEN YOU WANT WANT TO REMOVE IT ENTIRELY FROM THE AGENDA.WELL, NORMALLY WHAT WE DO IS WE WOULD APPROVE IT, THEN YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE THAT ITEM AFTER.
IS THERE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? OKAY FOLLOWED BY TRUSTEE JACKSON ALL THAT'S IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA.
NOW, ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO CHANGE OR ALTER THE AGENDA? THIS WAS CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM 13 D FROM THE AGENDA IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CLERK, WHO IS A PRIMARY AUTHOR OF THAT DISCUSSION ITEM WITH THE INTENT OF BRINGING THIS BACK TO THE BOARD AT A LATER DATE? WHICH ITEM WAS THAT AGAIN? THAT'S DISCUSSION ITEM 13 D.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? [INAUDIBLE] OK LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
[00:30:01]
COURTNEY.WE WILL REMOVE THAT ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I MEAN, FROM THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, THE WHOLE AGENDA.
ANYTHING ELSE WITH REGARD TO THE ENTIRE AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH HAS ITEMS A THROUGH G.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
A IS THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH FROM CITIZENS, ET CETERA, THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER FIVE MEETING, WHICH ARE IN YOUR PACKETS, THE BILLS THAT NEED TO BE AUTHORIZED FOR PAYMENT, THE SILVERSTONE ESTATES PUBLIC STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT SAD #427 RESOLUTION TWO THIS IS A STREET LIGHTING WHERE THE CITIZENS, SEVERAL CITIZENS COME TOGETHER AND WANT TO LIGHT THEIR STREET.NEXT IS E RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE MNRTF GRANT MERIDIAN RIVERFRONT PARK PAVILION PROJECT.
THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOME FORMALITIES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A GRANT.
9F RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE, LWCF GRANT MERIDIAN RIVERFRONT PARK RESTROOM PROJECT AND THEN LAST IS G THE THIRD QUARTER 2021 INVESTMENT REPORT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR ADOPT THE CONSENT OR NOT ADOPT BUT APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? A QUICK, I MEAN TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I MOVE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE OPSOMMER.
MS. JACKSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE BILLS.
[INAUDIBLE] I NOTICED THAT THERE IN THE LISTING OF PAYMENTS THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 REPAYMENTS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR TAX OVERPAYMENT.
IT IS NOT TYPICAL? WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT IN CHANGE OVER A CHANGE IN STAFF.
WE SENT OUT WHAT WE DO FOR THE RESIDENTS ARE LATE ON THE 15TH OF THE MONTH.
BUT AS A COURTESY, WE SENT OUT A LETTER TO EVERY RESIDENT, EVERY PROPERTY OWNER SAYING YOU ARE NOW LATE AND THE AMOUNT YOU OWE TODAY IS ONE PERCENT MORE.
IT WILL GO TO ONE PERCENT MORE OCTOBER 1ST OR OCTOBER 1ST, MORE TO NOVEMBER 1ST.
WE DRAFTED THAT LETTER OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW DEPUTY TREASURER.
THE LETTER WAS A LITTLE BIT AMBIGUOUS AND PEOPLE READ THAT TO MEAN THAT THEY HAD TO PAY BOTH THE CURRENT AMOUNT AND THE OCTOBER AMOUNT AT ONCE.
AND IN FACT, THEY HAD TWO WEEKS TO PAY BEFORE THE OCTOBER ONE.
SO MANY PEOPLE PAID THE TWO MONTHS INTEREST WHEN THEY ONLY OWED ONE.
SO WE IMMEDIATELY SENT OUT A REVISED LETTER ONCE WE SAW THAT HAPPENING AND STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING.
BUT IN THE INTERIM, ABOUT 100 RESIDENTS OVERPAID AN ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT, SO WE IMMEDIATELY PROCESSED CHECKS TO REFUND THAT BACK TO THE RESIDENTS.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF THOSE 100.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TRY AND BE AS RESPONSIVE AS YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO A LITTLE QUICK AND WE READ AND OVER AGAIN, WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE MISREAD THAT LATE NOTICE AND THOUGHT THEY OWED TWO MONTHS WHEN YOU ONLY OWED ONE MONTH.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDED ANY OTHER COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA OR ITEMS [INAUDIBLE] OR ANYTHING? MR. DESCHAINE.
JUST ONE QUICK ONE ON PAGE 50, YOU'LL SEE OUR CURRENT FIXED MATURITY INVESTMENTS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THREE CRITERIA FOR OUR INVESTMENTS.
THE SECOND IS LIQUIDITY AND THE 3RD IS YIELD.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S A TERRIBLE TIME FOR YIELD AND OUR RATES.
WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD RATES HERE OVER THE YEARS AND THEY'RE FALLING AND FALLING.
AND EVEN TO GET A DECENT RATE OF A POINT EIGHT FIVE PERCENT, WE NEEDED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT FOR A FIVE YEAR BOND, SEVEN YEAR FOR A ONE POINT TWO TWO PERCENT.
SO IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE GETTING AN INVESTMENT INCOME, BUT WE HAVE PRESERVED THE FIRST TWO CRITERIA, WHICH IS THESE INVESTMENTS ARE ULTRA SAFE AND THEY ARE LIQUID.
ANY OF THEM ARE AVAILABLE THE DAY WE NEEDED THEM.
[00:35:04]
IF HOLD THEM THROUGH MATURITY WE GET THE FULL COUPON OR FULL RETURN ON THEM, BUT ALL OF THEM CAN BE LIQUIDATED AT ANY TIME IN THE CASE OF AN EVENT WHERE WE NEEDED THEM.BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY APOLOGIZING I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY OUR RATES HAVE GONE SO FAR DOWN.
DIRECTOR MATTISON AND MANAGER WALSH HAVE BUDGETED THIS INTO OUR WORK IN OUR BUDGET.
OUR INVESTMENT INCOME IS HALF WHAT IT WAS JUST TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THESE LOW RATES.
WITH THAT, WE NOW NEED A ROLL-CALL VOTE APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR MR. DESCHAINE.
DO WE HAVE ANY REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE GOING UP? I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN AN INFLATIONARY ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON RATES.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION ON THAT.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW.
ONE THING I'M DOING AS A TREASURER IS INVESTIGATING A COUPLE OF FIRMS THAT, FOR A REASONABLE FEE, PROVIDE INVESTMENT ADVICE TO MUNICIPALITIES, AND IT MAY WELL BE BRINGING A PROPOSAL FOR AN RFP TO THE BOARD IN THE COMING MONTHS FOR US TO CONSIDER BRINGING ON SOME ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE IN THIS REGARD.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW WHERE INTEREST RATES ARE GOING.
WE ARE ENDURING VERY HIGH INFLATION, RELATIVELY HIGH INFLATION FOUR OR FIVE PERCENT ACROSS THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.
TYPICALLY, WHEN THERE'S INFLATION, THERE'S A RAISE IN INTEREST RATES.
SO THE TALK WAS THE FED WAS GOING TO RAISE RATES IN 2023.
THE CONSENSUS NOW SEEMS TO BE THAT RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP IN 2022, BUT ALL OF THAT IS REALLY SPECULATION.
THAT'S WHY MARKETS ARE SO UNPREDICTABLE.
YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T PREDICT FINANCIAL MARKETS.
THE INFORMATION I WAS LOOKING FOR.
ALL RIGHT WE ALL GO ON WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR [INAUDIBLE] AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NO HEARINGS TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE ACTION ITEMS. AND THE FIRST ONE IS TO SET A DATE FOR OUR TOWNSHIP BOARD STUDY SESSION.
[12A. Set a Date for Township Board Study Session]
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE ARP MONEY, THE MONEY THAT'S COMING TO US FROM THE FEDS.SO WITH REGARD TO THE COVID SITUATION AND MR. WALSH, YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS QUICKLY OR NOT.
JUST THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE PROBABLY TO TIE THIS INTO YOUR ANNUAL GOAL SETTING.
AND SO THAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN DECEMBER.
AND SO THE DATES THAT I WOULD JUST THROW OUT THERE FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION WOULD BE MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH OR MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH.
OK IF YOU WILL NOTICE IN THE MEMO THAT I PUT ON THIS, I MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE SORT OF REACHED A CONSENSUS LAST TIME THAT WE GO THROUGH OUR APPROACH FOR FIGURING OUT HOW TO SPEND THIS MONEY WITH REGARD TO PROCEDURE WHERE WE FIRST HAVE STAFF INPUT TO THE MANAGER AND BOARD MEMBER INPUT TO SUPERVISOR.
WE KIND OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT PURGING OF DUPLICATIONS, ET CETERA.
AND THE BOARD WOULD USE A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS IT.
AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO POSSIBLE PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE WE FINALLY WENT FORWARD WITH HOW WE ACTUALLY DO WITH REGARD TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AND THE MANAGER IS SUGGESTING TWO DAYS.
THOSE AGAIN WERE WHAT NOW? DECEMBER 13TH MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH MONDAY.
IS THERE A REASON WHY YOU PICKED MONDAY RATHER THAN OUR USUAL TUESDAYS? BECAUSE YOU HAVE MEETINGS IN EARLY DECEMBER ON YOUR TUESDAYS? SO IF YOU WANTED TO GO TUESDAY, YOU'D BE ALL TO THE 21ST.
YEAH, 21ST YEAH, OKAY I UNDERSTAND.
SO WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR ONE OF THOSE MONDAYS.
ANYBODY HAVE A PREFERENCE YOU WANT TO EXPRESS.
SOMEWHAT SELFISH BUT I HAVE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL ON THE WEEK OF THE 20TH.
AND SO THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO POTENTIALLY NOT BE IN TOWN.
MR. OPSOMMER YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE.
I WOULD ALSO EXPRESS A PREFERENCE FOR DECEMBER 13TH, THEN TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PREFERENCE.
ANYBODY HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE 13TH IF NOT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUICK VOICE VOTE ON THE 13TH.
GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE TREASURER.
[00:40:02]
NOT AN OBJECTION, BUT PERHAPS A REQUEST THAT WE STARTED THAT MEETING EARLY AND PROVIDED DINNER OR BRING A SACK LUNCH BECAUSE WE REALLY WERE TAKING TWO PRETTY BIG TOPICS AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME TIME.I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE US TRY AND SHOEHORN THAT INTO TWO HOURS WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED THREE OR FOUR FOR THAT.
IS THEIR ANY INTERESTING MEETING ON A SATURDAY LIKE THE 4TH.
THERE WAS SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO BRING UP, AND THEN IT KIND OF SLIPPED MY MIND IN A POSSIBILITY OF A SATURDAY.
MANAGER ANY COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THAT.
WE'VE DONE SATURDAYS BEFORE WITH OUR GOAL SETTING, SO IT'S WHATEVER THE PREFERENCE OF THE BOARD IS.
[INAUDIBLE] THE CALENDAR, IF WE DID A SATURDAY, THE 11TH WOULD BE THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE MONDAY THE 13TH, WE COULD START EARLY.
COULD WE DO A STRAW POLL TO SEE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN A SATURDAY MEETING? ACTUALLY I WAS WAITING FOR SOME FEEDBACK.
I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO A SATURDAY MEETING.
I WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 4TH.
BUT I WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON ACTUALLY.
I WOULD SUPPORT A SATURDAY MEETING DECEMBER 4TH DOES NOT POSE ANY PROBLEMS FOR ME AT THIS POINT.
HOW IS THE 11TH DOES THAT POSE A PROBLEM.
THE STRAW POLL HERE, HOW MANY WOULD LIKE SATURDAY THE 11TH.
[INAUDIBLE] NOT A VOTE JUST KIND OF GETTING A POLL HERE, HOW MANY WOULD PREFER THAT WE WAIT AND DO IT ON MONDAY EARLY ON THE 13TH.
THEN WE NEED A MOTION WITH REGARD TO PICKING THIS DATE.
I MOVED THAT THE BOARD MEET ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT A TIME TO BE DETERMINED FOR PURPOSES OF SETTING 2022 GOALS AND WORKING OUT A STRATEGY FOR SPENDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANT MONEY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? OKAY, SO WE WILL DETERMINE THE TIME AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THAT WILL BE.
WE FIGURE IT OUT WITH THE MANAGER AND HE WILL WORK WITH THE STAFF ON THAT, AND [INAUDIBLE].
OKAY? OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE 2021 THIRD QUARTER BUDGET AMENDMENTS, AND I BELIEVE
[12B. 2021 3rd Quarter Budget Amendments]
MR. WALSH IS GOING TO FIRST INTRODUCE THEM FOR US.BEFORE YOU YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS ORIGINALLY GOING BACK TO JULY OF 2020, WHEN WE SET THE BUDGET FOR 2021.
WE ANTICIPATED THE USE OF FUND BALANCE OF NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT SEVENTY FIVE.
THROUGH THREE QUARTERS NOW WE ESTIMATED THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION ONE ZERO EIGHT ZERO EIGHTY FIVE WOULD LEAVE A FUND BALANCE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ON TWELVE THIRTY ONE OR TWENTY ONE OF NINE POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ON THE REVENUE SIDE DEAL WITH TAX ADMINISTRATION FOR YOU, THE COLLECTION FEE OF ONE PERCENT AND THEN A REIMBURSEMENT ON ELECTIONS.
THE EXPENDITURES HAVE ALL BEEN LAID OUT FOR YOU IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST WOULD BE THE LEGAL FEES ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE LEEP ART GRANT AND SOME SALARY STUFF WE'VE HAD.
WHEN YOU SEE THIS, YOU'LL SEE SOME TEMPORARY SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FULL TIME SALARY WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTED DOWNWARD BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HIRING TEMPORARY STAFFING UNTIL WE CAN.
IN FACT, WE'VE USED AN AGENCY, A RECRUITMENT AGENCY, IN ONE CASE FOR ONE POSITION.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN YOU TAKE IN ALL THE [INAUDIBLE] AND I'D BE HAPPY TO, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THESE LINE BY LINE.
BUT THERE'S A SHORT EXPLANATION FOR EACH.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS AT THE END OF 12-31 OF 2021 OUR FUND BALANCE WILL BE NINE POINT ONE FIVE FIVE SEVEN HUNDRED A USE OF FUND BALANCE OF ONE MILLION ONE ZERO EIGHT ZERO
[00:45:05]
EIGHTY FIVE FOR THE YEAR.AND THE AMENDMENT [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOU THIS EVENING, IS NINETY SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DIRECTOR MATTISON HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HER DAUGHTER'S BAND EVENT TONIGHT AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WANTED HER TO BE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M FILLING IN.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER ON THIS SINCE WE DON'T HAVE DIRECTOR MATTISON.
JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION FOR CLARITY.
WHAT IS HUMAN SERVICES OR WHAT DEPARTMENT DOES THAT REPRESENT? YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN HUMAN RESOURCES, WHICH IS DIRECTOR TITHOF.
THAT IS MS. JACKSON DARLA JACKSON.
LOOKING THIS LIST OVER, YOU CAN SEE MANY OF THESE ARE SALARY RELATED, IN FACT, TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND OF THEM COME FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
IF ANYONE HAS TRIED TO HIRE SOMEONE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR NINE MONTHS, THEY KNOW THAT THE LABOR MARKET HAS CHANGED.
IT'S WE'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE GREAT RESIGNATION WHEN PEOPLE ARE RETIRING FROM JOBS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND IT'S IMPACTED US.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I LOST MY DEPUTY AND THE DEPUTY TREASURER, MARYANNE GROUP, WHO'D BEEN WITH THE TOWNSHIP THIRTY THREE YEARS.
PEOPLE ARE RETIRING FOR LOTS OF REASONS, BUT THE POOL OF QUALIFIED AND WILLING PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS DON'T ALWAYS COME RIGHT TO YOU.
AND SO WE'VE WORKED HARD IN THE TREASURERS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS NOT JUST TO HIRE SOMEONE BUT TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
I'M CONFIDENT WITH DIRECTOR TITHOF THAT WE'RE FINDING IT FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THERE IS EXPENSE INVOLVED WITH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS MUCH OF THESE INCREASES IN THE COSTS AND IN SOME CASES INCREASED SALARIES TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THIS TOWNSHIP RUNNING WELL AS IT IS.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE THIRD QUARTER 2021 BUDGET AMENDMENTS WITH A DECREASE IN BUDGETED FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF NINETY SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS WHICH PROJECTS A USE OF FUND BALANCE OF ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS BASED ON [INAUDIBLE] DOLLARS.
BASED ON 2020 RESULTS, THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 WILL BE NINE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND [INAUDIBLE] FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS.
ANY COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEE JACKSON OR ANYONE ELSE.
NO, I APPRECIATE MR. WALSH'S EXPLANATION AND MR. TREASURER DESCHAINE'S EXPLANATION AS TO THE ADDITIONS, AND I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
WE NEED A ROLL CALL FOR THIS ACTING CLERK.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS 12 C THE DANIELS DRAIN PUBLIC DRAIN IMPROVEMENT SAD #21 RESOLUTION NUMBER [INAUDIBLE].
[12C. Daniels Drain Public Drain Improvement SAD #21 Resolution #2]
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT.WE CONTINUE TO DO SO, AND I ASKED MR. DEREK PERRY IF YOU WANT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT TODAY.
GOOD EVENING SUPERVISOR STYKA MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BOARD APPROVED RESOLUTION ONE, WHICH KICKED OFF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR THE DANIEL DRAIN PROJECT.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT STARTED BACK IN 2015 2016 CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY IS UNDERWAY.
IT'S ACTUALLY A CHAPTER 20 DRAIN, WHICH MEANS THE MUNICIPALITY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE PORTION OF THAT PROJECT, AND BACK IN 2016, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD RESERVED THE RIGHT TO PASS ALONG A PORTION OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS TO THE BENEFITING PROPERTY THAT WAS DONE, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF CREATING THE ROLE THAT WOULD THEN BASICALLY DETERMINE WHAT THOSE ASSESSMENT AMOUNTS ARE.
[00:50:01]
AND THIS IS RESOLUTION TWO BEFORE YOU.THERE'S A MAP HERE FOR THE PUBLIC AT HOME IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WHERE THE LOCATION IS.
CORNELL ROAD DOBIE ROAD IN BETWEEN THAT AREA, GRAND RIVER RUNS THROUGH THERE TO THE NORTH, ESSENTIALLY RESOLUTION TWO WILL FILE THE PLANS OF THE DISTRICT.
IT DEVELOPS AN ESTIMATE OF COST, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT FROM THE PLANS THAT THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER PRESENTED TO US, IT SETS THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT SETS A PUBLIC HEARING THE FIRST OF TWO FOR NOVEMBER 16TH NEXT MONTH FOR THE PUBLIC.
IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT, EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER BASED ON THE ROLE THAT WE DEVELOPED WITH THE SPICER GROUP AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND, WILL RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUAL NOTICE OUTLINING THE PROCESS AND WHAT THAT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AMOUNT WOULD BE.
SO I DO WANT TO SPEAK A MINUTE ON THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLE AND HOW THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS THE BOARD'S AWARE OF WE'RE BEFORE YOU A LOT ON SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS.
STREET LIGHTS, WE ACTUALLY APPROVED ONE UNDER CONSENT POWELL ROAD PAVING THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST RECENT ONE.
A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S JUST ONE FACTOR THAT WE USE TO SPREAD THAT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT OUT.
LIKE POWELL ROAD PAVING, WE USE ROAD FRONTAGE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT WAS.
SO THE MORE FRONTAGE YOU HAVE, THE MORE YOU PAY, THE MORE YOUR PROPERTY BENEFITS FROM THAT IMPROVEMENT.
ON STORMWATER IT'S A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING.
I GUESS THERE'S MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT REALLY NEED TO GO INTO IT, AND BECAUSE A NORMAL DRAIN ASSESSMENT PROCESSES THAT'S DONE BY THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A CHAPTER 20 THAT ACTUALLY FALLS THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP TO DETERMINE THAT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS.
AND WE ACTUALLY HIRED SPICER GROUP FOR THEIR EXPERTISE TO HELP US DEVELOP THAT ROLE.
AND WE'RE UTILIZING THREE FACTORS ONE, THE FIRST TWO ARE PRETTY, OBJECTIVE.
I MEAN, IT'S THE SIZE OF YOUR PARCEL.
THE SECOND ONE IS THE LAND USE, THE COVERAGE TYPE.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU JUST LOOK AT THE ZONING.
IF YOU'RE IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING, YOU SHOULD GET THIS TYPE OF COVER TYPE OR IF YOU'RE IN INDUSTRIAL ZONING, YOU SHOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE OF YOUR WATERSHEDS OFF THE PROPERTY.
WE ACTUALLY WENT A STEP FURTHER AND USE THE LAND COVERAGE MAP TO KIND OF FINE TUNED THAT A LITTLE BETTER.
SO WE HAVE SOME, I WOULD SAY, BETTER FACTORS TO DETERMINE THAT.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS THE ONE THAT MAYBE IS A LITTLE MORE SUBJECTIVE VERSUS OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS THE PROXIMITY.
AND REALLY WHAT THAT'S TRYING TO DO IS IF YOU'RE IN THE DISTRICT, EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM THE PROJECT, BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE, I GUESS, A PHYSICAL, TANGIBLE ASSET BEING REPLACED OR REPAIRED IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME.
AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE SOME EQUITY WITH THAT.
SO THE MORE WORK YOU'RE HAVING DONE IN FRONT OF YOUR PROPERTY, THE MORE I GUESS INTRINSIC BENEFIT YOU ARE GETTING FROM THE PROJECT.
AND SO WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A PROXIMITY FACTOR.
SO AGAIN, I KIND OF GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW.
WE HAVE DENNIS LOUNEY FROM THE SPICER GROUP.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE MAX CLEVER FROM THE SPICER GROUP.
AND IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP HERE AND MAYBE SHED A LITTLE MORE DETAILS ON HOW THAT WAS DEVELOPED OR ANY OTHER, I GUESS DETAILS IN REGARDS TO THAT.
I THINK THE BOARD MAY APPRECIATE THAT AND MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, TOO.
SO I THINK THE METHODOLOGY IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT AND IS BEHIND THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE GOING FORWARD.
SO BEFORE WE GET TOO MUCH FURTHER, WE SHOULD GET A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
[INAUDIBLE] IT'S ON PAGE TWO OF THAT ITEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAGE IT IS [INAUDIBLE].
I MOVE TO APPROVE DANIEL'S DRAIN, PUBLIC DRAIN IMPROVEMENT, SPECIAL ASSISTANT DISTRICT NUMBER TWENTY ONE RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO.
FILING THE PLANS SHOWING THE PROPOSED SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT AN ESTIMATE OF COSTS, WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TENTATIVELY DECLARING INTENTION TO MAKE PUBLIC DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLE AND DEFRAY 50 PERCENT OF THE TOWNSHIP SHARE OF THE COSTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT TENTATIVELY DESIGNATES A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 16, 2021.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION PLEASE? SUPPORT.
NOW MR. PERRY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M MAX CLEAVER FROM SPICER GROUP.
OH YEAH, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. PERRY.
OTHER THAN HOW, OTHER THAN WHO SETS THE PARAMETERS FOR PAYING FOR THESE ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHAPTER 20 DRAIN AND OTHER
[00:55:01]
KINDS OF DRAINS.ARE THEY NECESSARILY LARGER OR THEY SERVE LARGER AREAS IN THE TOWNSHIP? WHAT IS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY REFER TO THE DRAIN CODE IN SPECIFIC CHAPTERS IN THE DRAIN CODE AND THE CHAPTER 20 BASICALLY SPECIFIES THAT LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR IT.
SO WITH THIS PROJECT, YOU HAVE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WITH THE LARGEST SHARE, YOU HAVE THE ROAD DEPARTMENT AND YOU HAVE THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO IT'S REALLY HOW THE DRAIN IS STRUCTURED AND FUNDED, AND REALLY, THAT'S IT.
THE OTHER TYPES OF CHAPTERS DRAINS THAT THEY'RE IN THE CODE.
TYPICALLY, THE ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE THROUGH THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER, AND IT'S DIRECTLY WITH THE BENEFITING PARCELS.
AND THEN THERE'S USUALLY SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC BENEFIT SHARE THAT A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU LOOK IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET, THERE'S WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF WATERSHED DEPARTMENT THAT WE PAY FOR OUR DRAIN, OUR SHARE OF THOSE DRAINS.
I THINK THE WAY I WAS SITTING HEARING THAT QUESTION, THOUGH, WAS HOW DOES SOME END UP BEING [INAUDIBLE].
I MEAN, WHO DECIDED THAT [INAUDIBLE].
AT SOME POINT MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE TOWNSHIP PETITIONED THE DRAIN OFFICE TO CREATE THIS DRAIN, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CHAPTER 20 WAS THE BEST WAY TO CREATE THIS DRAIN.
I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TOWNSHIP WANTED, YOU KNOW, WE FIND THESE DRAINS IN THE COMMERCIAL AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP TYPICALLY.
SO MY ASSUMPTION IS THE TOWNSHIP SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO MAKE THESE AREAS, I GUESS, PRONE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE TOWNSHIP HAS DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHAPTER 20 DRAIN PAID FOR THE DRAIN UP FRONT AND IMPLEMENTED IT THROUGH THE CHAPTER TWENTY PROCESS.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO DISCUSS OR ASK QUESTIONS? YES, MR. DESCHAINE.
BECAUSE THIS IS A SECTION 20 DRAIN WITHOUT THIS RESOLUTION ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COSTS WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE TOWNSHIP.
SO IT'S ALL OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO WHAT THE INGHAM COUNTY GREEN COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO DO IS HE HAS THREE ENTITIES THAT HE'S GOING TO BILL.
HE'S GOING TO BILL THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
AND THEN WE'VE TAKEN THAT A STEP FURTHER AS A CHAPTER 20 AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PASS ALONG A PORTION OF THAT ASSESSMENT.
NOW THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS MADE THE DECISION TO DEFRAY OR PAY FOR 50 PERCENT OF THAT COST, WHICH IS AGAIN IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE TOWNSHIP NORMALLY PAYS FOR A DRAIN PROJECT.
SO IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE BENEFITING PARCELS.
I THINK WE'RE NOW READY TO HEAR FROM COMPADRE THERE, MR. PERRY.
SO I'M MAX CLEAVER FROM SPICER GROUP, AND I GOT IN CONTACT WITH DERRICK, JUST AS A MATTER OF HOW TO COME UP WITH A PRAGMATIC AND EQUITABLE WAY OF REPRESENTING BENEFIT TO THE PARCELS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE ASSESSED TO SEPARATELY FROM THE OVERALL TOWNSHIP.
SO JUST TO DETAIL THAT OUT THE TOWNSHIP, AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS BEING 50 PERCENT LIKE DERRICK MENTIONED THERE, THE OTHER 50 PERCENT IS BEING ASSESSED OR PROPOSED TO BE ASSESSED TO THE PARCELS THAT ARE IN THIS BENEFIT AREA.
AND SO, AS DERRICK MENTIONED, THERE'S AN ACREAGE FACTOR AND THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE.
SO THE ACREAGE IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND THAT GETS MULTIPLIED BY A RUNOFF COEFFICIENT, WHICH IS DERIVED FROM THE LAND COVER.
SO THERE'S A NATIONAL LAND COVER DATASET, WHICH WE OVERLAID WITH THE PARCELS THAT ARE IN THIS BENEFIT AREA AND CAME UP WITH A COMPOSITE RUNOFF COEFFICIENT.
AND THEN THE THIRD FACTOR IS THE PROXIMITY AND THE PROXIMITY RANGES FROM ONE.
THERE'S THREE PROXIMITY FACTORS.
ONE IS THIS 1.4 ZONE HERE, WHERE THERE'S A COUPLE OF HIGH RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT IS BENEFITING FROM THE DETENTION AREA.
THIS A LARGE PART OF THIS PETITION PROJECT.
AND THEN ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S IN THE BLUE SHADING HERE HAD LAND THAT WAS EITHER HAD PIPE IMPROVEMENTS OR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, SOMETHING THAT THE PETITION DIRECTLY BENEFITED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY.
THEY'RE AT AT A PROXIMITY FACTOR OF 1.2.
[01:00:01]
SO THE GREEN IS ONE, THE BLUE IS 1.2, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A 20 PERCENT INCREASE.ALL OTHER THINGS CONSIDERED THE SAME.
IT'S A 20 PERCENT INCREASE COMPARED TO THE GREEN AREA.
THE RED OR PINK AREA HERE IS A ONE POINT FOUR FACTOR, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A 40 PERCENT INCREASE COMPARED TO THE GREEN, AND THAT'S JUST WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROXIMITY FACTOR.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, SINCE THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD SHOWN DERRICK A PROPOSED ROLL, WE UPDATED IT FROM THE PARCELS THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
SO IT HAS A FEW MORE PARCELS SPLITS UP HERE NORTH OF GRAND RIVER, AND THOSE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE ASSESSMENT ROLL.
AND OUTSIDE OF THAT, I GUESS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR THE THE MATH THAT GOES INTO HOW THESE ASSESSMENT BENEFITS ARE DERIVED, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DID YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN OR SOMEHOW, [INAUDIBLE] SEE THE MAP, YOU REFERRED TO IT, I HAVE IT IN MY PACKET.
SO DO THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON MY SCREEN HERE IN THE ZOOM MEETING.
IT'S JUST ON THE OVERHEAD SUPERVISOR.
OK, AS LONG AS IT'S THERE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS THERE WHEN YOU'RE REFERRING TO IT, THAT OTHERS COULD SEE IT BESIDES THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY HAVE OUR OWN.
SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THIS IS VERY DATA DRIVEN, ALTHOUGH THE MATH IS ABOVE MY HEAD.
I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, THOUGH, ABOUT THE PROXIMITY FACTOR.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN? SO IT MAKES SENSE, LIKE IF MY HOUSE IS SITTING NEXT TO THE DRAIN AND I'M GOING TO GET A NEW CARBON GUTTER THAT YOU MENTIONED OR A NEW ROAD OR MAYBE NEW TREES OR SIDEWALK.
BUT WHERE DOES THE DRAIN? HOW DO I ASK THIS? SO IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, WHY ARE THEY SO SPORADIC THERE? COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME.
JUST TO SPECIFICALLY DOWN THERE ON WHAT IS THAT SATIN WOOD DRIVE AND SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT? IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE ENGINEERING PLANS SHOW THERE, THEY DIDN'T FULL OUT REPLACE THE ROAD.
WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS THEY MIGHT REPLACE A CATCH BASIN AND A FEW MANHOLES IN THE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE PLANS HERE THIS THESE SHEETS THAT WERE PART OF THE ENGINEERING PLANS.
SO THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE WITH A CATCH BASIN IN SOME LATERALS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE OR IS GETTING PATCHED RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THAT PROXIMITY FACTOR.
SO I REALIZE IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT HAPHAZARD AND THAT JUST HAS TO DO WITH HOW THE ENGINEERING PLANS WERE WERE PUT TOGETHER.
SO THE DREAM IS A SYSTEM, NOT JUST A DITCH.
TREASURER DESCHAINE, SO I'M SORRY.
IS THERE A LAND USE FACTOR, THE TYPE OF LAND USE BEING COVERED? DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE ACTUAL ASSESSMENT ROLL HERE? SO, YES, THERE'S THERE'S VARIOUS RUNOFF COEFFICIENTS ASSIGNED TO EACH LAND USE TYPE OR LAND COVER TYPE, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT UP HERE.
SO WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS IF YOU HAD FOR A GIVEN PARCEL, IF THE ENTIRE THING, ACCORDING TO THE LAND USE DATASET WAS CODED AS DECIDUOUS FOREST, IT WOULD HAVE A C FACTOR OF 0.15.
NOW, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE THE DATA SET, YOU CAN HAVE A PARCEL THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HALF OF ITS ACREAGE IS DECIDUOUS FOREST, BUT THE OTHER HALF IS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPED MEDIUM INTENSITY.
AND SO IT HAS A DIFFERENT C FACTOR THERE.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ROLE, WHAT WE SHOW AS THE THE C HERE IS ACTUALLY AN ACREAGE COMPOSITE C FACTOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE VARIOUS LAND USE COVERAGES THAT MAY BE ON A GIVEN PARCEL.
AND COMING UP WITH ONE C FACTOR, THEN THAT GETS USED FOR OUT OF THE THREE FACTORS
[01:05:06]
THAT THE ACREAGE AND THE PROXIMITY.MR. TREASURER? REGARDING, BACK A LITTLE FURTHER AND THEN HILLSIDE EASTWOOD, MARLBORO, SO THESE WILL ALL BE NEW STREETS AS WELL WHEN THE PROJECT IS DONE, IS THAT CORRECT, THOSE AREAS IN YELLOW? NOT ALL OF THEM ARE.
I DRIVE BY THAT GOING UP NORTH OF YOU TO WORK EVERY DAY AND YOU LOOK OVER THE POND RIGHT NOW.
IT LOOKS LIKE DYSTOPIAN NOVEL.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF IN THERE.
AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO RENAME THE POND, WE HAVE A CHIEF OF POLICE THAT WOULD REALLY BE APPROPRIATE IF WE NAMED THAT POND AFTER HIM.
BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ANOTHER STORY.
WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE FOR DREDGING THE THE, DO THEY HAVE ONE FOR DREDGING THE POND? I DON'T HAVE THE SCHEDULE.
YEAH, SPICER GROUP IS ACTUALLY WITH US.
GI IS THE ENGINEERING COMPANY THAT'S DOING THE PROJECT FOR THE THE DRAINING COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSIONER, I SHOULD SAY.
BUT BACK TO THE YELLOW AREAS, THOSE AREAS ARE PAYING MORE A HIGHER FACTOR.
BUT IN THE PROCESS OF THIS WORK BEING DONE ON THOSE ROADS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL ALL BE REPAVED.
YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL SHEETS, THE PLAN SHEETS, YOU CAN, IT ACTUALLY IDENTIFIES THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
SO THAT GOES BACK TO HAVING THAT TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENT IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY AND THEN DETERMINING THAT AS A FACTOR.
ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT, I GUESS, IS THE MORE YOU'RE BEING INCONVENIENCED, YEAH, THE MORE YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.
SO MR. PERRY, HOW DOES THE NOTICE WORK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, DO THE PARCELS IN THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY ACTUALLY, YES, WILL RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUAL NOTICE THROUGH FIRST CLASS MAIL.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL ALERT THEM TO CHECK THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL NOW THAT WE'VE DONE THIS MORE SITE SPECIFIC WORK IN LOOKING AT THE PARCELS.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS AFTER THE ACTION TONIGHT, WE'VE PREPARED THE ROLL USING THE METHODOLOGY PREPARED BY SPICER GROUP.
AND THEN AT THE END, IT HAS WHAT EACH INDIVIDUAL PARCEL WOULD PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
AND THEN THAT'S WHAT GOES ON THE NOTICE AND ACTUALLY IDENTIFIES THAT.
NOW AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE IS A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AND AS THE BOARD RECALLS AT THE VERY END YOU FINALLY SET THE FINAL ASSESSMENT SO THERE CAN BE VARIATION BETWEEN THIS AMOUNT AND WHEN WE'RE ALL SAID AND DONE, BUT TYPICALLY WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
SO IF IF RESIDENTS AT HOME WHO ARE TUNING IN WANTED TO LOOK AT THEIR PARCEL AND CALCULATE THEIR ACREAGE, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT THESE C VALUES TO SEE IF THEIR PARCEL WAS CALCULATED CORRECTLY.
SO ALL THIS INFORMATION ACTUALLY IS ON THE WEBSITE.
SO IF ANYONE WANTED TO GO LOOK AT THE AGENDA ITEM, THEY COULD OPEN UP THE THE PROPOSED ROLE AND LOOK AT THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO SPICER GROUP FOR THE WORK IN HELPING US ANALYZE EVERY PARCEL FOR THIS CHAPTER 20 DRAIN.
[INAUDIBLE], OKAY, GO AHEAD TREASURER.
WOODS AND A HOUSE LOT IS THAT ONE INDIVIDUALLY FIGURED YOU DO THAT MANUALLY IN TERMS OF ASSIGNING IT A C VALUE.
SO THE BACK END CALCULATIONS THAT WENT INTO HOW THIS SEE VALUE IS DERIVED HERE, WE USED AS [INAUDIBLE] GIS, IT'S A GIS SOFTWARE TO INTERSECT THE PARCEL LAYER WITH THE LAND COVER AND WHAT THAT CREATES IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF SEPARATE ACREAGES FOR EACH PARCEL NUMBER.
AND THEN YOU CAN TOTAL ALL THOSE AND GET WHAT THE TOTAL OF ALL THOSE C VALUES IS.
MULTIPLY THAT BY THE ACREAGE AND THEN YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY GETTING AN AVERAGE C VALUE BASED ON THOSE LAND COVERS BY AREA.
SO YOU KNOW THE MATH THAT GOES INTO THAT ISN'T ON THIS SPREADSHEET.
THERE'S A SEPARATE TAB IN THE SAME EXCEL FILE, BUT I'VE TALKED WITH DERRICK AND
[01:10:05]
[INAUDIBLE] ABOUT HOW THAT CALCULATION WORKS AND WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING.I'M SURE, LIKE PEOPLE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE WONDERING ABOUT THAT METHODOLOGY.
ANYONE ELSE? DERRICK, HAVE YOU BEEN.
BEFORE I GO TO MS. JACKSON, DERRICK, HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING MUCH FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC DURING THIS PROCESS? I KNOW WE HAD FORMAL FEEDBACK AT OUR MEETING, BUT INFORMAL.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ME IN REGARDS TO THE ASSESSMENTS, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE CALCULATED.
NOT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THE METHODOLOGY.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE THE PROXIMITY FACTOR.
THEY JUST AS SOON HAVE JUST DO ACREAGE AND THE THE C FACTOR.
BUT I THINK THE PROXIMITY, I THINK I THINK IF YOU CAN LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW AND SEE A SPECIFIC BENEFIT, I THINK THERE'S A REASON TO HAVE THAT PROXIMITY FACTOR.
TRUSTEE JACKSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING MORE.
YES, I MAY HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER, AND IT'S HOW MANY CHAPTER 20 DRAINS EXIST IN THE TOWNSHIP.
I THINK WE'RE AT A TOTAL OF SEVEN.
BUT I DON'T RECALL IF THAT INCLUDES THE OKEMOS DRAIN, WHICH WE JUST CONVERTED FROM A CHAPTER 20 SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO AS PART OF THE GRETTONBERGER MEIJER DRAIN ALL THAT CONVERSION.
SO THE THE GOAL IS TO CONVERT ALL THOSE CHAPTER 20 TO CONVENTIONAL DRAINS SO THAT THE TOWNSHIP DOESN'T HAVE TO CONTINUALLY DO THIS TYPE OF PROCESS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S REALLY NOT THE BUSINESS THAT THE TOWNSHIPS IN.
THERE'S THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER WHO SPECIALIZES IN DRAINS.
AND REALLY THIS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DRAIN SHOULD BE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
[INAUDIBLE] QUESTION, BUT I'M NOT SURE YOU GOT THAT GOOD OF AN ANSWER BEFORE.
ANYONE ELSE? THEN WE NEED A VOTE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, EVERYONE.
[12D. Tentative Preliminary Plat #19-012 – Sanctuary III – Extension]
THANK YOU.MY NOSE IS REALLY GOING CRAZY HERE LATELY.
A TENTATIVE PRELIMINARY PLAT #19-012 THE SANCTUARY III Â" EXTENSION.
AND BEFORE WE DO A MOTION, I THINK, MR. SCHMITT, TIM SCHMITT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
BRIEFLY, THIS IS A VERY SMALL SEVEN LOT SUBDIVISION LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ROBIN'S WAY TOWARDS THE VERY END OF THE CUL DE SAC.
THE BUILDER AND DEVELOPER GIGUERE HOMES HAS REQUESTED ANOTHER ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO THE APPROVAL OF THE TENTATIVE PRELIMINARY PLAT, DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE EFFECTS OF COVID AND WORKING THROUGH AN ONGOING LAWSUIT THAT RELATES TO THE APPROVAL OF THE SUBDIVISION.
AT THIS POINT, NOTHING MAJOR HAS CHANGED IN THE AREA OR FROM AN ORDINANCE PERSPECTIVE.
THE CONDITIONS ARE CERTAINLY VALID.
WE ARE HEARING COVID DELAYS ACROSS THE BOARD ALMOST, AND STAFF WOULD THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT WE APPROVE THIS EXTENSION THIS EVENING.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE.
THIS IS A SMALL LITTLE ADDITION THAT MR. WALSH HELPED GET THE AGREEMENT FROM ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THIS [INAUDIBLE].
YOU SAID THERE'S A LAWSUIT OF SOME KIND.
I BELIEVE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HAS SUED MR. GIGUERE OVER THE PROJECT, BUT TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN SETTLED.
AND THEREFORE, MR. GIGUERE IS REQUESTING FURTHER TIME ON THE PROJECT.
THAT'S JUDGE STOKES SUPPORTED THE CITY AND IT'S NOW ON APPEAL.
I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] SO ACTUALLY SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT EVEN IN THAT SUBDIVISION
[01:15:01]
THERE NEAR IT, SO TO SPEAK.DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION EXTENDING TENTATIVE PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL FOR SANCTUARY THREE TO OCTOBER 15TH 2022.
I KNOW THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD AND BECOMING MORE COMMON NEEDING THE EXTENSION TO BE GRANTED DURING COVID.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE LITIGATION AND THE LAWSUIT IN THIS INSTANCE, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THIS WAS BEFORE US ANYWAY, JUST DUE TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE THEN? GO AHEAD.
THE NEXT ITEM A IS GEORGETOWN SEWER PAYBACK DISTRICT RESOLUTION.
[12E. Georgetown Sewer Payback District Resolution]
WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION DEALING WITH THIS WITH OUR ATTORNEY NEGOTIATIONS HAVE OCCURRED.YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED DOCUMENTS.
I THINK SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL PACKAGE GOING OUT AND WITH MR. WALSH YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS QUICKLY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH INFORMATION THE BOARD WANTS.
THIS IS THE GEORGETOWN SUBDIVISION, WHICH HAS POWELL ROAD TO THE WEST, TIHART TO THE SOUTH AND CORNELL TO THE EAST.
IT WAS DEVELOPED BACK IN 2009, AND AT THAT TIME THE TOWNSHIP DEMANDED THAT THE SANITARY SEWER LINE BE OVERSIZE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO THE EAST.
AND THEN AGAIN, THAT WAS AROUND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEN BACK IN 2013 FOR PHASE THREE AND FOUR THE TOWNSHIP AGAIN DEMANDED AN OVERSIZE TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THREE THINGS OCCURRED SINCE THAT HAPPEN.
THE TOWNSHIP ACQUIRED A MAJOR PIECE OF REAL ESTATE, THE LYNN PROPERTY THAT HAD BEEN PLANNED I THINK ALL ALONG FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE HOOKUPS TO PAY BACK THE PAYBACK DISTRICT THAT THE IVES HAD AGREED WITH THE TOWNSHIP THAT THEY'D BE PAID BACK ON FUTURE HOOKUPS TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE EAST.
AND OF COURSE, THE TOWNSHIP THEN CREATED THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY NUMBER TWO.
AND THE THIRD THING WAS WHEN SILVERSTONE ESTATES WAS CREATED DOWN IN THE SOUTH END OF POWELL THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A FORCE MAIN IT WASN'T EVEN CONNECTED THROUGH THIS.
SO IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WITH URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY, THE TOWNSHIP'S LARGE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY AND THE LYNN PROPERTY, THAT THE PAYBACK OF THE ABILITY OF THE IVES TO GET PAID BACK WAS MINIMAL AT BEST.
THE TOTAL INTEREST COSTS BECAUSE THE FIRST AROUND IN 2009 WAS A FIVE PERCENT INTEREST, AND IN 2013 THERE WAS A THREE PERCENT INTEREST.
SO THE TOTAL BEFORE THE RATE NOW THAT THE IVES ARE DEMANDING IS EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE TOTAL THAT'S OWED UNDER THE AGREEMENT.
IF LITIGATION WERE TO OCCUR, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE REQUESTED.
WE SET DOWN HAD SOME NEGOTIATIONS, HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS.
WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A PAYBACK OF NOT EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR SEVEN YEARS FOR TOTALING AROUND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
IT WOULD BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE SEWER FUND FOR FUTURE CONNECTIONS.
AND THE LAST THING I WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE FUTURE ABILITY TO MAKE THESE CONNECTIONS AND TO GET REIMBURSED WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE TOWNSHIP.
SO IF THERE ARE CONNECTIONS MADE IN THE FUTURE IN THIS AREA, THOSE DOLLARS, THOSE MONIES WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE TOWNSHIP.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TAKES YOU BACK.
THAT'S THE HISTORY OF 12 YEARS RIGHT THERE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY YOU MAY HAVE.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMPLICATED AND LONG PROCESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE GEORGETOWN SEWER PAYBACK DISTRICT RESOLUTION.
MR. TREASURER YOU WANT TO COMMENT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK TOWNSHIP MANAGER WALSH FOR HIS WORK WITH THIS.
HE TOOK A BAD, LITIGIOUS SITUATION AND RESOLVED IT IN TERMS THAT I THINK ARE FAVORABLE TO THE TOWNSHIP AND OBVIOUSLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE IVES FAMILY.
AND WE CAN PUT THIS LONG RUNNING DISPUTE BEHIND US AND MOVE FORWARD.
[01:20:02]
AND WITH THE CONNECTION FEES COMING TO THE TOWNSHIP IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL GET SOME OF THIS REVENUE BACK.MANAGER WALSH FOR YOUR GOOD WORK ON THIS, THIS GEORGETOWN SEWER PAYBACK RESOLUTION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND HANGING AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND NEEDED TO COME TO SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION.
MR. OPSOMMER DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WERE GOING TO SAY.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST ADD THAT YOU KNOW THIS WAS PRETTY STANDARD PRACTICE AMONG STAFF AN THE TOWNSHIP.
AND CLEARLY THERE WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN STAFF AND THE BOARD AND THE DIRECTION THAT PREVIOUS BOARDS WANTED TO GO IN IN TERMS OF POLICY WITH THE URBAN SERVICES BOUNDARY.
BUT THE MAIN CRUX OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE REACHED IS THAT WE ARE SETTLING FOR LESS THAN THE ACTUAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT OCCURRED BACK WHEN THE GEORGETOWN SEWER SYSTEM WAS PUT IN.
AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR INTEREST.
THAT WAS JUST THE PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE, AND WE HAVE SEVEN YEARS TO SETTLE IT.
IT'S LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF OUR ANNUAL REVENUE FOR THE SEWER SYSTEM.
SO ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE SETTLEMENT THAT THE MANAGER AND I'M SURE THE DIRECTOR SCHMITT AND DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY AND OTHER STAFF PARTICIPATED IN.
SO I THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORT.
BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A LESSON LEARNED HERE AS IT RELATES TO MAKING SURE THAT STAFF AND THE BOARD ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHICH DIRECTION THEY HAD GONE IN.
IF THEY WERE [INAUDIBLE] IN THE SAME DIRECTION, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
SO AND OBVIOUSLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF ON THIS.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT FOR THE BOARD THIS EVENING.
I WOULD SAY, IN FAIRNESS, THOUGH, TODAY THIS PREDATES ANYBODY THAT'S ON THIS BOARD NOW, AND IT PREDATES OUR MANAGER AND HIS KEY STAFF MEMBERS.
BUT IN FAIRNESS TO ALL OF THEM, I'M NOT SURE THAT STAFF WAS OUT OF LINE BECAUSE IN FACT, THERE WAS NO URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT ACTUALLY FIRST GOT CONTEMPLATED, BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT SORT OF CREATED THE ISSUE FOR THE REPAYMENT TO THE IDE CORPORATION.
I WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS ENDS UP BEING A FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR AMOUNT AS I MULTIPLY SEVEN TIMES 75.
ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO BRING UP? ALRIGHT THEN WE NEED A VOTE? YES.
WE NOW GO TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS, THE FIRST ONE IS PLANNED AND EXCUSE ME MIXED
[13A. Mixed Use Planned Unit Development Ordinance Update]
USE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE UPDATE.AND I KNOW THAT OUR PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN OUR COURT SOON.
AND MR. SCHMITT'S GOING TO TELL US ABOUT IT.
I'VE TRIED TO TAKE ALL THE CONVERSATION FROM THE JOINT MEETING AND ALL THE CONVERSATION FROM THE BOARD'S MEETINGS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND DISTILL THEM DOWN INTO TRYING TO GET SOMETHING THAT IS ACCOMPLISHING AS MUCH OF EVERYONE'S DESIRES AS POSSIBLE.
BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS DOES NOT MEET EVERYONE'S EVERY GOAL.
THIS IS A COMPLICATED ORDINANCE, AND I'VE TRIED TO STREAMLINE IT AS BEST I CAN, AND I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE AMENITIES BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN.
SO I WENT BACK AND READ THROUGH THE MINUTES AND READ THROUGH MY NOTES AND AFTER THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED LAST WITH THE BOARD AND TRIED TO RESTRUCTURE THE AMENITIES IN A WAY THAT WAS RESPONDING TO THE CONCERNS OF THE BOARD WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS.
THE THOUGHTS HERE OF HAVING THESE IDEAS AS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN POTENTIAL PROJECTS.
AND SO WE'VE ESSENTIALLY RESTRUCTURED THE AMENITIES IN THREE CATEGORIES, AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT FOR THE LEVEL ONE AMENITIES THAT ONLY COUNT TOWARDS ONE, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE OF THOSE FOR A PROJECT.
SO WHILE SOME OF THOSE ARE VERY SIMPLISTIC SEEMING, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE, AND THEN I TOOK OUT A COUPLE OF THE ONES THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS WITH MOST DIRECTLY.
SO THE LEVEL THREE AMENITY THE COUNT IS THREE TOWARDS YOUR OVERALL TOTAL, THOSE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
THEY TAKE UP A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SPACE ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY ARE NOT FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE STRETCHED.
THEY ARE THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE EASY.
THE LEVEL 3S ARE GOING TO BE A STRETCH FOR ANY PROJECT AND THEY ARE GENERALLY SORT
[01:25:05]
OF PUBLICLY FACING.THERE IS A PUBLIC MORE OF A PUBLIC BENEFIT TO THESE THAN OTHERS.
THE LEVEL TWO AMENITIES THAT COUNT TOWARDS TWO ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT YOU START TO GET TO THE BLEND.
SOME OF THEM ARE PUBLIC FACING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL OF THEM.
THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS THE LEVEL 3S THEY STILL PROVIDE.
THEY STILL TRY TO MEET, THOUGH, THE INTENT OF WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS GETTING AT WHILE STILL TRYING TO GET SORT OF SOME SORT OF PUBLIC VIEW TO SHOW THAT IT'S AN AMENITY.
BUT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE PERFECT.
AND THEN THE LEVEL ONES ARE GENERALLY THEY'RE ALL GOOD STILL, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THEY'RE JUST RELATIVELY LOW HANGING FRUIT, I WILL SAY, FOR THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE TRIED TO RESTRUCTURE THE AMENITIES.
I KNOW THERE WAS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING CERTAIN THINGS REQUIREMENTS.
I WILL SAY FROM A PLUMBING PERSPECTIVE, I LOOKED INTO THIS AND WE ACTUALLY CANNOT EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF [INAUDIBLE], WHICH IS THE SINGLE STATE CONSTRUCTION ACT.
SO WE LEFT SOME OF THOSE PLUMBING ITEMS IN JUST AS BASIC AMENITIES, AND THEY'RE STILL VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
I DON'T EXPECT ANYONE'S GOING TO DO THEM, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN THERE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL AND THEN SOME OF THE PARKING ITEMS ARE IN THERE AS IT RELATES TO E-SCOOTERS AND ELECTRIC CHARGING.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT AS WE START TO TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY UPDATING OTHER ORDINANCES, WE TAKE A BROADER LOOK AT THOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR EVERY PROJECT, NOT JUST IN MUPUD ORDINANCE, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT EVERY COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS.
AND AT SOME POINT E-SCOOTERS ARE EITHER GOING TO GAIN WIDE SCALE ADOPTION OR THEY'RE GOING TO REMAIN SORT OF THAT NICHE TRANSPORTATION MODE THAT THEY ARE NOW.
AND SO I THINK THESE ARE BIGGER CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE MUPUD ORDINANCE.
THIS IS A GOOD ORDINANCE TO TEST IT OUT, THOUGH.
LET'S SEE IF IT'S UNDERTAKEN BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE INVESTMENTS MADE AND THEN SLIDE IT OVER AS A REQUIREMENT IN THE FUTURE.
BUT OVERALL, YOU KNOW, THIS HOPEFULLY STREAMLINES THE MUPUD ORDINANCE A LITTLE BIT, MAKES IT A LITTLE CLEARER FOR PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND STILL PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE A QUALITY PROJECT WITH GOOD AMENITIES FOR THE PUBLIC.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MARKUP THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT SUBSTANTIVELY NOT A GREAT DEAL HAS CHANGED.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE MOVED SOME THINGS AROUND, SO THE ORDINANCE FLOWED BETTER BECAUSE THERE WERE STANDARDS THAT RELATED BACK TO EACH OTHER, WHICH I CAN'T STAND, AND SO I WILL ALWAYS CLEAR THOSE UP WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT I WILL SAY THE ONE THING THAT I DID ADD THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS I HAVE ADDED A REQUIREMENT FOR SORT OF A FORMAL AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THIS WHOLE THING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIRECTOR CLARK AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY IS THE IDEA OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS OR PUD AGREEMENTS, THAT THERE IS A PHYSICAL DOCUMENT AT THE END THAT DOCUMENTS THE ENTIRETY OF THE AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE, NOT JUST A FILE, LITERALLY A FIVE PAGE WHATEVER THAT I CAN HAND TO SOMEONE, HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND SO I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCLUDE THAT NOW GOING FORWARD FOR MUPUDS.
I'M HAPPY TO, AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM ME LATER.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD HAS AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US THE VERY, VERY WELL DONE ATTEMPT BY MR. SCHMITT AND STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE ALL DISCUSSED LAST TIME WHEN WE REVIEWED THE WORK OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TRY TO GET IT INTO A PLACE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
NOW I'LL ASK OUR TREASURER TO COMMENT FIRST.
DIRECTOR SCHMITT THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AND GOOD WORK OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS NEW ORDINANCE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD REVISED ORDINANCE.
WHAT YOU JUST WENT OVER IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL ONE, TWO AND THREE, IF THERE'S A WAY YOU CAN INCLUDE THOSE RECITALS, IF YOU WILL, IN THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE PART OF THE PROVISIONS BEING PROPOSED HERE IS THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD COULD ADD ADDITIONAL ONE, TWO OR THREE'S THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
BUT IT WOULD HELP FUTURE BOARDS TO KNOW WHAT THAT CRITERIA IS FOR ONE, TWO AND THREE LEVEL AMENITIES AND WHAT THE INTENT OF DEFINING THESE WERE A PUBLIC BENEFIT, A MIXED IN BENEFIT OR A MINOR BENEFIT.
ONLY ONE OF THOSE COULD BE USED.
SO YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE.
AND IF YOU COULD ADD THAT SOME KIND OF RECITAL TO THE ORDINANCE, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS LOOKING OVER THIS ORDINANCE.
REGARDING THE CRITERIA, THE THREE CLASSES OF AMENITIES.
[01:30:01]
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE HOW YOU GROUPED THEM.A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, THOUGH ONE WOULD BE YOUR INCLUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC THERE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN QUOTES AS DEFINED BY THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE DEFINITION THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE IS THE DEFINITION FROM HUD.
SECONDLY, REGARDING THE FOUR CHARGING STATIONS, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE CHARGING STATIONS ARE GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL.
GENERAL MOTORS EXPECTING TO SELL NOTHING BUT ELECTRIC CARS IN THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS.
SO FOUR UNITS, FOUR CHARGING UNITS, FOR A [INAUDIBLE] MIGHT BE JUST TOKEN, IS ANY THOUGHT GIVEN IT TO, NOT TO A NUMBER, BUT A PERCENTAGE OF UNITS PER CHARGING UNIT? SO I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT DRIVES AN ELECTRIC CAR.
SO WE HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE HERE ON THIS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULL INDUSTRY TRANSITION.
TO ME AT LEAST AND THAT NUMBER CAN CHANGE.
CERTAINLY IF THE BOARD THINKS THERE, THEY NEED TO GO UP.
I MEAN, AN INDIVIDUAL CHARGING STATION IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'VE DONE GRANTS IN THE PAST, WE PUT ABOUT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FOR THE STATION ITSELF.
BUT THE ISSUE IS REALLY THE PLANNING RUNNING THE ELECTRICITY TO THE STATION BECAUSE GENERALLY THEY'RE NOT IN.
YOU KNOW THEY DON'T ALWAYS GO IN THE MOST CONVENIENT PARKING SPOTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE THOSE SPOTS UP, NECESSARILY.
SO YOU'RE RUNNING ADDITIONAL CONDUIT, YOU'RE RUNNING ADDITIONAL COPPER OUT TO THEM.
SO CERTAINLY THAT NUMBER COULD CHANGE.
AND WHETHER IT GOES TO YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE PERCENT OF THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT OR HALF PERCENT OR IT GOES UP TO SIX.
I THINK THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE SAID SIX, BUT IT WAS ALSO A LEVEL THREE.
SO WOULD WELCOME COMMENTS ON THAT.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK RIGHT NOW MY GOAL IS TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE SO WE CAN START TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.
AND THEN I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IN MY TENURE HERE, THERE WILL BE AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT THAT BECOMES A REQUIREMENT OF OUR PARKING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK ON THIS.
SO REAL QUICK, JUST TO TRIGGER DESCHAINE'S POINT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY LIKE THE AVERAGE ROUGHLY MUPUD HAS LIKE TWO HUNDRED, YOU KNOW, TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SPACES, ROUGHLY AT LEAST THE RECENT ONES.
NEWTON POINT OKEMOS THAT'S A FAIR NUMBER.
THOSE ARE FAIRLY LARGE, BUT THAT SO FOUR SPACES WOULD BE TWO PERCENT.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE, SO RIGHT NOW, IT BASICALLY REQUIRES TWO PERCENT FOR A LARGER.
AND IT WOULD REQUIRE UP TO FOUR PERCENT FOR ONE HUNDRED SPACE, WHICH MIGHT BE LIKE A FRACTION OF RED CEDAR FLATS, RIGHT? MAYBE THE FRONT BUILDING OF RED CEDAR FLATS REQUIRES 80 TO 90 PARKING SPOTS, JUST FOR CONTEXT, SO WE'RE ALREADY AT A DECENT PERCENTAGE IF WE LOOK AT CONVERTING THAT.
SO DIRECTOR SCHMITT, CAN YOU REMIND ME SO? CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I SUPPOSE.
SO THEY NEED THE FOUR AMENITY POINTS TO ACHIEVE THE 18 UNITS PER ACRE FOR DENSITY.
AND THEN THEY ALSO NEED ONE AMENITY POINT FOR EVERY WAIVER OR VARIANCE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING FROM THE TOWNSHIP WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE ZBA.
AND SO WE SEE LIKE FOR THE VARIANCES WE MIGHT SEE LIKE FOUR TO EIGHT, USUALLY FRONT BACK.
WE SEE THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON WHICH UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT IT IN.
BUT YOU KNOW, FOUR IS PROBABLY A FAIR NUMBER.
IT BEGS THE QUESTION AT SOME POINT, DO WE START LOOKING AT IT, MAKING THIS ZONE ZONING AS OPPOSED TO AN OVERLAY? OK.
BUT THAT'S A MUCH, MUCH BIGGER QUESTION THAT I'M NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER.
SO TYPICALLY, MAYBE LIKE EIGHT THAT WOULD BE FRONT BACK AND SIDE SETBACKS, RIGHT WOULD USUALLY BE THE MOST COMMON, BUT MAYBE PARKING AND NOT ONE OF THE SIDE YARD SETBACKS.
YEAH, DEPENDING ON THE PARCEL.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO THEY GET ONE POINT BECAUSE THEY CAN USE ONE OF THE ONE POINT AMENITIES AND THEN FOR THE TWO POINT AMENITIES, WE HAVE NINE OF THEM, SO THERE'S 18 POINTS WORTH THERE.
SO THE ONLY IDEA THAT I'VE HAD IN REVIEWING THIS IS MAYBE WE CAP THE TWO POINT AMENITIES AT ONE ALSO SO THEY COULD ACCRUE THREE POINTS THROUGH THOSE TWO CATEGORIES.
AGAIN, THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT THE BOARD IN BOTH OF THOSE LISTS THAT THE BOARD CAN PUSH TO HAVE INCLUDED IN THE SITE PLAN, BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO AT LEAST DO ONE,
[01:35:01]
MAYBE TWO, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY VARIANCES THEY'RE SEEKING.BUT RIGHT NOW, I STILL DON'T THINK WE'RE PUSHING THEM TO EVEN DO ONE OF THE TOP AMENITIES, BUT IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT INTENT IN THE WAY THAT YOU CODIFIED WHAT WE WERE GETTING AT WITH THE ONE POINT AMENITIES AND BRING IT UP TO THE TWO POINT AMENITIES.
I THINK THE WAY THAT THEY'RE BROKEN OUT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT COME BACK TO US ONE MORE MEETING FOR DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE TO READ THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I THINK THE WAY THAT THEY'RE CATEGORIZED LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
SO THAT'S MY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE AMENITY PORTION.
MR. SCHMITT, PARTICULARLY LIKE THE I THINK IT'S CALLED A DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THE IDEA THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSING IS DONE, WE ALL END UP ON THE SAME PAGE BY HAVING THIS AGREEMENT.
THIS IS WHAT HAS SO YOU KNOW, NO ONE COMES BACK AND TRIES TO WELL I GUESS THEY STILL COULD COME BACK AND CHANGE THINGS, BUT IT INVOLVES A MAJOR PROCESS.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT THAT I DO LIKE THAT IDEA.
THE AMENITIES, AS MUCH AS I FOLLOW WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND WHAT'S HERE, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, THOUGH, IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SEEN WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTING TO US AT THIS POINT.
THEY ARE NOT SEEING THIS REVISION, LARGELY BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY APPROVED.
LIKE I SAID, THE ONLY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE REALLY WAS THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE AMENITIES BASED ON THE CONVERSATION YOU ALL HAD AND THE ADDITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PIECE.
THE REST OF IT IS REALLY JUST LANGUAGE AND MOVING IT AROUND TO MAKE IT FLOW BETTER .
AND IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THE WHOLE THING DID YOU SEE ANY OTHER FEATURES WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED ON FURTHER? WELL, AND I WILL CAVEAT THAT BY SAYING I WENT AHEAD AN UPDATED THE SIGNS BECAUSE THAT WAS COMING ANYWAY.
THE SIGN COMMITTEE WAS WORKING ON IT.
SO I JUST TOOK CARE OF THAT NOW.
NO, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S DONE AS AN OVERLAY.
AND SO YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS BASED ON THE UNDERLYING ZONING AND THEN BASED ON OUR THREE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S TRYING TO BE MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE, AND IT DOES A PRETTY DECENT JOB OF IT.
HOPEFULLY THIS STREAMLINES IT A LITTLE BIT, MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AS A COMMUNITY, AND IT CERTAINLY TIGHTENS UP SOME OF THE PROCESS ISSUES THAT I THINK BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.
ANYONE ELSE? THERE IS A LOT TO BITE OFF HERE.
I THINK DAN IS RIGHT, WE NEED ANOTHER DISCUSSION SESSION AND GO AHEAD MR. DESCHAINE.
I REALLY LIKE TRUSTEE OPSOMMER'S NOTION OF LIMITING NUMBER TWO'S SECOND CATEGORY TO ONE WHICH REALLY FORCES THEM TO DO AT LEAST ONE LEVEL ONE.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THAT IDEA AS WELL.
I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY THIS BOARD IS AT LEAST IN PRINCIPLE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND NOTHING SHOULD TEST IT MORE THAN REVISING THE MUPUD ORDINANCE.
SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE TO THAT IDEA SO THAT A DEVELOPER COULD GET ONE LEVEL TWO ONE LEVEL THREE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ESSENTIALLY ONE LEVEL ONE AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE SOME OTHER COMMENTS ON THOSE THOUGHTS.
SO ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR SCHMITT.
DO WE STILL ALLOW AN APPLICANT TO USE ADJACENT COMMERCIAL TO COUNT TOWARDS COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS? AND IF SO, WHERE IS THAT CONTAINED? I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE I'M FOLLOWING.
DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT YOU CAN REFERENCE FOR ME?
[01:40:03]
YEAH, LIKE RED CEDAR FLATS.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE MUPUD ORDINANCE TODAY ALLOWS FOR A IF YOU'RE PROPOSING AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND IT'S ADJACENT TO A STRIP MALL, YOU CAN ACTUALLY COUNT THE STRIP MALL NEXT DOOR THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING USING THE ORDINANCE.
AND SO I WAS LOOKING FOR WHERE AN ORDINANCE THAT MIGHT FALL.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT KNOW.
THAT IS AN INTERESTING INTERPRETATION, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT TO THIS BODY.
I WAS ASKING IN TERMS OF POSSIBLY GETTING RID OF IT OR EXTREMELY REDUCING ITS USE, BUT IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE.
YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
AND IF I RECALL, IF I RECALL THE QUESTION CORRECTLY AND TRUSTEE JACKSON WOULD BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BECAUSE OF HER TIME ON HER LENGTHY TIME ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BACK WITH HANNAH LOFTS WAS DEVELOPED OVER OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] IT CAME UP WHERE WHERE'S THE COMMERCIAL? AND THEY IN TURN SAID, WELL, IF WE BUILD THIS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO LIFT UP THAT COMMERCIAL AREA OVER THE PIZZA HOUSE AND ALL OF THAT.
SO THAT WAS I DON'T THINK IT WAS, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT WAS WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ETCHED IN STONE ANYWHERE IN THE ORDINANCE.
BUT IT WAS A CONGLOMERATE OF A DISCUSSION THAT EVERYONE BOUGHT INTO AT THE TIME.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE MUPUD OR THE ORDINANCE, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY BROUGHT UP, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.
I'M HAPPY TO FURTHER REVIEW THE ORDINANCE NOW THAT I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY GOTTEN THAT QUESTION YET.
SO IT WAS USED AT LEAST AS AN ARGUMENT FOR RED CEDAR FLATS ON GRAND RIVER AVENUE ADJACENT TO THE PLATO'S CLOSET STRIP MALL, WHICH IS THE OUT LOT IN FRONT OF HOBBY LOBBY AS WELL.
SO NOW THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF COMMERCIAL THAT'S DEFUNCT ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF RED CEDAR FLATS, BUT IT WAS USED THERE AS AN ARGUMENT AS WELL.
SO I GUESS MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THERE WAS ACTUALLY THIS BOARD AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD FROM 16 HASN'T SEEN AN APPLICANT MAKE THAT ARGUMENT, BUT IT WAS ONE THAT WAS OUT THERE FROM HANNAH LOFTS AND RED CEDAR FLATS AND POSSIBLY SOME OTHERS.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THAT WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED UP OR IF THAT WAS JUST IT MAY JUST BE AN ARGUMENT.
I WILL ABSOLUTELY GO BACK THROUGH THINGS WITH THAT IN MIND, I HAD NOT ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT AN INTERPRETATION I WOULD LIKELY SUPPORT.
BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, TO TREASURER DESCHAINE'S SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT.
ONE OF IF WE CAN GET THE APPLICANTS TO DO ONE OR TWO OF THOSE THREE THINGS, A BIG ONE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS IS GOING TO BE THAT 25 PERCENT GROSS FLOOR AREA BEING NON RESIDENTIAL USE, RIGHT? THAT'S I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEADER IN THE PACK JUST BECAUSE OF THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT CANNIBALIZING THE COMMERCIAL MARKET IN LANSING IN GENERAL.
BUT EITHER WAY, YOU NEED A MIX OF USES TO STACK IT.
SO EITHER WAY, YOU'RE GETTING SOME COMMERCIAL, BUT THAT'S EASIER TO ACHIEVE THAN LEAD.
SO IF WE GET THEM TO A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO DO TWO OF THEM, THEY HAVE TO DO ONE OF THOSE.
THEY HAVE TO STACK USES VERTICALLY, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE MULTIPLE USES AND THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S NON RESIDENTIAL.
WHICH IS PROBABLY COMMERCIAL NINE TIMES OUT OF 10.
OR THEY SAY, OK, WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING LIKE AN ALDI PROJECT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WE'RE GOING TO EASILY MEET THAT TWENTY FIVE PERCENT GROSS FLOOR AREA.
SO I THINK WE PUSH THEM TOWARDS ONE OF THOSE, TWO.
AND SO THAT'S THE COUNTER OF THIS USING ADJACENT COMMERCIAL, RIGHT? THAT'S THE INVERSE IS ACTUALLY FORCING THEM TO BRING SOMETHING HERE TO STAFF AND TO THE BOARD THAT ALREADY ENCOMPASSES THAT.
I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT DURING MY YEARS ON THIS BOARD, EITHER AS A TRUSTEE OR AS A SUPERVISOR, I ALWAYS VIEWED IT AS QUITE A MISUSE OF THE WHOLE IDEA, NOT NECESSARILY THE LAW, BUT THE ORDINANCE WITH THE IDEA TO USE THIS ADJACENT COMMERCIAL AREA THE WAY IT WAS BEING DONE AT HANNAH LOFTS AND OTHER PLACES.
AND I NEVER STUDIED IT CLOSE ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT LANGUAGE IT WAS BEING BUILT ON, OR WHETHER IT WAS JUST SOME INTERPRETATION THAT CAME ALONG AND GOT BOUGHT BY PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY.
SO THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR YOU TO STUDY FOR US AND CONFIRM BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT ANY MORE THAN WAS MENTIONED BY MR. OPSOMMER OR MR. DESCHAINE OR OTHERS.
AND WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER POINTS, I THINK MR. OPSOMMER HAS MADE SOME GOOD ONES AND MR. DESCHAINE HAS TO.
[01:45:02]
OKAY [INAUDIBLE] THIS ANOTHER TIME, AND ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE.DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAKE ANY COMMENTS BACK TO US BASED ON THE WORK MR. SCHMITT DID OR IS THAT NOT NECESSARY.
BASED ON THE TREASURER'S COMMENTS I'M PLANNING ON ASKING THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT WEEK FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE LIMITATION/ REQUIREMENTS IN THE AMENITY SECTION, SINCE THAT'S THE MAJOR SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE THE BOARD IS DISCUSSING.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. JACKSON YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR COMMENTS ON THE ENTIRE REVISION OR PROPOSED REVISION.
I THINK THEY CAN READ THROUGH IT, AND, YOU KNOW, CHANCES ARE NOTHING'S GOING TO STICK OUT OTHER THAN THE NEW AREAS BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, A REORDERING AND RESTRUCTURING.
OK, WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.
[13B. Rezoning #21-070 – 5114 Jo Don Drive – Rezone north half of property from RCC, Multiple Family – Maximum 34 dwelling units per acre, to RB, Single-Family, High Density]
AND OUR NEXT TOPIC, I BELIEVE ALSO CALLS FOR MR. SCHMITT TO BE THERE AND THAT'S REZONING NUMBER 21-070 5114 JO DON DRIVE REZONE NORTH HALF OF THE PROPERTY FROM RCC TO MULTIPLE FAMILY MAXIMUM 34 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE TO RB SINGLE FAMILY HIGH-DENSITY.AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO US.
YEAH, SO THIS IS THE SECOND HALF OF THE CONDITIONAL REZONING THAT THE BOARD APPROVED IN AUGUST 21-030 THEY WERE REQUIRED TO COME BACK TO NOW REZONE THE NORTHERN HALF TO BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY OR TO SINGLE FAMILY.
IT WENT FROM MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIFAMILY TO HIGH DENSITY.
IT'S NOW BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY.
ULTIMATELY, THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO GET THE NORTHERN HALF OF THIS PROPERTY SPLIT OFF FOR A SINGLE FAMILY LOT.
IT IS A LONG AND LABORIOUS PROCESS THAT STARTED LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT WE'RE GETTING THEM DOWN THAT ROAD.
THEY DID MEET THE 30 DAY REQUIREMENT, AS OUTLINED IN THE INITIAL REZONING, PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND THEREFORE WE ARE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING FOR ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEFORE WE BRING THIS BACK FOR INTRODUCTION.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I THINK WE ALL GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE CITY OF MASON BUILDING CONTRACT MR.
[13C. City of Mason Building Contract]
SCHMITT.SO THIS IS, AS EVERYONE IS AWARE, WE'VE ACTED AS THE WE'VE HAD AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MASON SINCE, I BELIEVE MAY OF 2011, ACTING AS THEIR BUILDING OFFICIAL AND BUILDING INSPECTORS WITHIN THE CITY.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL ACTS AS THEIR BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR RECORD AND FOR INSPECTIONS.
OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY SETTLED ON OUR SENIOR BUILDING INSPECTOR RON RAU.
IT'S BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE USE.
A VERY EFFECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR BOTH PARTIES USES OUR TIME VERY EFFICIENTLY, AND IT CERTAINLY SAVES THE CITY OF MASON A FAIR BIT OF MONEY, FRANKLY, BECAUSE THEY GET SOME HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES FOR A VERY LOW PRICE.
THIS CONTRACT ESSENTIALLY IS AN UPGRADE / CLARIFICATION TO SORT OF ONGOING PRACTICE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
JUST AS YOU GET INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU REALIZE THAT THEY NEED BUILDING OFFICIAL TO OCCASIONALLY WEIGH IN ON THIS AND BUILDING OFFICIALS WHO OCCASIONALLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND SO REALLY, THE CONTRACT ITSELF HASN'T SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGED.
I WILL SAY THE MAIN THING IS CHANGE IS SUBSECTION EIGHT.
WE ESSENTIALLY CONVERTED FROM A SHALL NOT DUE TO A IF YOU NEED US TO DO THIS, YOU'LL PAY US MORE.
WHAT REALLY HAS CHANGED IS THE EXHIBIT THAT'S ATTACHED TO THIS EXHIBIT A THAT DISCUSSES THE ACTUAL SCOPE OF WORK IS NOW PRETTY DETAILED AND COVERS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN KIND OF DOING.
BECAUSE AS YOU GET INTO THIS, YOU REALIZE THAT, OK, HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK INSPECTIONS AND THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE US DOING A FEW THINGS.
AND IN AN EMERGENCY, HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS, AND IT JUST COVERS STUFF THAT WE'VE LARGELY BEEN DOING AND HELPING MASON WITH.
SO WE'RE CODIFYING IT INTO A CONTRACT, EXTENDING THE CONTRACT AT THIS POINT.
WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING A FEE INCREASE BECAUSE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
BUT DIRECTOR HEWITT AND I FROM MASON HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND NEXT YEAR I THINK SHE IS GOING TO WORK WITH US IN TERMS OF GETTING BOTH.
[01:50:05]
WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE OUR FEES, I THINK, SORT OF AT THE SAME TIME AND SEE WHERE THERE'S AREAS WE CAN OVERLAP AND TRY AND HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY.BUT THIS REALLY DOES WORK WELL FOR BOTH BOTH PARTIES, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH HOW IT'S GONE THUS FAR.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE ON THIS.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT, IT WORKS WELL FOR BOTH PARTIES, OF COURSE IT WORKS WELL FOR MASON.
I'M SURE WE'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB THERE.
FINANCIALLY HOW'S IT LOOKING FOR US? SO WE CERTAINLY DO PERFECTLY FINE ON THIS CONTRACT.
WE'RE STILL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND MR. WALSH CAN SPEAK FURTHER TO THIS.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS AGO, WE WERE CHARGING SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS AN HOUR AND I CAME TO YOU WITH THE CITY OF MASON AND ASKED THAT THAT BE INCREASED TO ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AN HOUR.
IT WAS AROUND 2015, MAYBE 2016.
AND SO IF YOU DO THE ANALYSIS IN WHICH WE DID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, BECAUSE WITH THIS CONTRACT UP, I KNEW ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WOULD BE.
IS IT A WHAT IS THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP? AND WE ARE ABOUT TWENTY SIX OR TWENTY EIGHT PERCENT BELOW WHAT WE ARE CHARGING THE CITY OF MASON.
SO IT'S FINANCIALLY IT'S GOOD FOR US.
AND JUST SO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF OTHER PIECES OF INFORMATION, IT'S NOT A BIG REVENUE FOR.
I MEAN, WE BRING IN ABOUT THIRTY EIGHT TO FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, BUT WE DO PAY OUT APPRECIATION STIPENDS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR, WHO ARE ON OUR TEAM WHO SERVE OVER THERE.
WE GIVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
SO WE GIVE THEM A FEW DOLLARS.
ONE GETS, I THINK, THREE DOLLARS, THE OTHER ONE, FIVE DOLLARS AN HOUR STIPEND FOR WHEN THEY'RE THERE.
SO OUR TOTAL COST IN 2020 WAS APPROXIMATELY FOURTEEN TO SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WE BROUGHT IN CLOSE TO 40.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE FINANCES.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. JACKSON AND THEN MS. WISINSKI.
THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT'S RENEWED YEARLY.
SO THE WAY IT'S SET UP IS THAT UNLESS IT'S UNLESS THERE'S A TERMINATION AGREED TO, IT'S AN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL.
THIS WOULD BE NOT SURE, DIRECTOR SCHMITT OR MANAGER WALSH.
WE SPOKE TO THE FINANCIAL STABILITY, BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CAPACITY OF OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE BOTH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND THE CITY OF MASON.
EVEN IN THE PERIOD OF TIME WHEN I'VE BEEN HERE, WHEN WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE INSPECTOR, WE'VE DONE A FINE JOB.
WE NOW AS OF MONDAY OR HAVE A SECOND BUILDING INSPECTOR ON STAFF MR. JOHN HINDS, WHO I'VE WORKED WITH PREVIOUSLY IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER, HAS EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN BOTH PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION, SO HE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE ABLE TO TAKE UP SOME OF THE SLACK IF NEED BE.
BUT WE'VE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH SCHEDULING.
THERE'S BEEN NO DELAYS TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENT GETTING A BUILDING INSPECTION AS A RESULT OF THE MASON CONTRACT.
SO WE HAVE TWO BUILDING INSPECTORS, CORRECT MR. SCHMITT.
AND SO WE WOULD MAINTAIN THOSE TWO REGARDLESS OF THIS CONTRACT.
IS THAT WHAT WE NEED TO MEET THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS? CORRECT.
WE I MEAN, IT EBBS AND FLOWS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SUPPORT TWO INSPECTORS AND A BUILDING OFFICIAL.
AND THEN SO QUESTION FOR MANAGER WALSH, I WASN'T CLEAR.
SO WHERE ARE OUR COSTS? YOU SAY THEY'RE LIKE 14 TO SIXTEEN THOUSAND.
WHAT ARE THOSE COSTS? BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE PAYROLL AND THE BENEFITS, BECAUSE WE'RE I'M ASSUMING SINCE THESE ARE EMPLOYEES, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ON PAYROLL REGARDLESS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS THE SAME KIND OF ANALYSIS TRUSTEE THAT WE DO FOR, SAY, WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP FOR POLICE.
WE TAKE ALL OF OUR COSTS SALARY BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE APPRECIATION, PAY EVERYTHING INTO A FOLDED INTO WHAT IS THAT TOTAL? AND IF THAT TOTAL MIGHT BE SIXTY TWO DOLLARS AN HOUR AND WE'RE CHARGING ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AN HOUR.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COVERED IN THAT COST, AND THAT INCLUDES THE EXTRA STIPENDS THAT I REFERRED TO A LITTLE EARLIER THAT WE PAY TO BOTH.
WE PAY IT TO ONE BUILDING INSPECTOR AND THEN THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL BECAUSE HE'S AT FIFTY FOUR CERTIFIED AND HAS TO SIGN OFF ON SOME THINGS.
[01:55:04]
OK, TIME ARE THEY SPENDING IN THE CITY OF MASON VERSUS HERE? YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE COST OF HIRING THOSE PEOPLE? AND ARE WE RECOUPING OUR COST ON AN HOURLY BASIS THAT UNIT COST? YES.THAT WAS MY ONLY CLARIFICATION.
AND I GUESS WELL, ACTUALLY NO ONE MORE.
SO BASICALLY, SINCE THIS AUTO RENEWS, IF NEITHER PARTY INTERVENES, WAS THIS BASICALLY BECAUSE YOU HAD IDENTIFIED SOME STUFF THAT YOU WISH TO CODIFY? SO THIS WAS THE REQUEST CAME OUT BEFORE I GOT HERE.
BUT ONCE I SAW THE CONTRACT AND WHAT WE WERE DOING, WE BOTH DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] AND I DECIDED WE NEEDED TO GET THIS UP TO SPEED.
AND I SAW MASON ALREADY ACTED ON THIS.
IS THERE ANY BENEFIT IF WE TOOK ACTION ON THIS TONIGHT? IT WRAPS IT UP.
IF THE BOARD IS OK WITH IT, IT WRAPS IT UP AND GETS IT CODIFIED QUICKER.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. SUPERVISOR.
YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE] PER HOUR DOES THAT INCLUDE TRAVEL TIME TO AND FROM MASON.
THERE'S ESSENTIALLY THE WAY IT GENERALLY WORKS IS THE GUYS TAKE OFF THAT CALL IT TWO O'CLOCK THEIR OFFICE OUT.
THEY POP INTO THE OFFICE, GET PLANS ABOUT 2:30 FIRST INSPECTIONS SCHEDULED AND THEN THEY GENERALLY SCHEDULE.
AND IT DEPENDS ON THE INSPECTION, OBVIOUSLY, BUT GENERALLY TRY TO SCHEDULE A HALF HOUR PER INSPECTION AND GO FROM THERE.
OK, NOW IN TERMS OF INSPECTIONS FOR ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING PERMITS, ARE WE STILL CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY OF EAST LANSING FOR THOSE.
WE ARE, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING PERMITS ARE STILL THROUGH, ARE ISSUED BY US, BUT INSPECTIONS ARE DONE THROUGH THE CITY OF EAST LANSING UNDER A SEPARATE CONTRACT.
OK, HAVE WE LOOKED AT THE EFFICACY OF THOSE IN TERMS OF COSTS? AND I'M GLAD WE'VE GOT TWO BUILDING INSPECTORS.
BUT SHOULD HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT [INAUDIBLE] OR HAVE YOU LOOKED AT POSSIBLY BRINGING SOME OF THAT IN-HOUSE OURSELVES? AND MAYBE IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, I'M JUST WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
SO I'LL LET MANAGER WALSH SPEAK FURTHER TO THIS.
I JUST WOULD ADD THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT STREAMLINING THE PROCESS AS BEST WE CAN WITH THE EAST LANSING, BUT IN TERMS OF BRINGING IN HOUSE I'LL DEFER TO THE MANAGER.
YEAH, WE ALSO DID THAT ANALYSIS IN THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE WHEN EAST LANSING DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR ASSESSOR COME BACK WE ALSO SAID, OK, WELL, IS THAT MAYBE GOING TO SPILL OVER TO MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING? AND WE SORT OF DID THE ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE SERVICES WE WERE RECEIVING AND WHAT THE COST WAS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, JUST FROM MY PAST EXPERIENCE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WHAT THE GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS IS THAT IT'S AN 80 20 MATCH.
IF YOU GO WITH THE STATE, IT'S ONE HUNDRED.
YOU CAN HAVE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DO YOUR MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING ELECTRICAL AND THEY KEEP ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.
TYPICALLY, IF YOU HIRE A COMPANY, IT'S 80 20.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WOULD GET 20 AND THE COMPANY WOULD GET 80.
IT'S A LITTLE SKEWED IN THIS COMPARISON BECAUSE IN THAT THE 80 PERCENT COMPANY WOULD DO A LOT MORE OF THE WORK THAN WHAT EAST LANSING IS DOING FOR US AS FAR AS WE DO THE PERMITTING AND ALL OF THAT, THEY WOULD DO THAT.
SO IT'S NOT EXACTLY AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON, BUT OUR ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT FROM WHAT WE WOULD, THE POSITIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE BASED ON WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING AND WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO EAST LANSING THAT THE ARRANGEMENT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THEM IS PRUDENT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS AND THE SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVE.
WHAT IS THE [INAUDIBLE] IS IT 80, 20 TO 50, 50? HOW MUCH DOES EAST LANSING KEEP? HOW MUCH DO WE KEEP IN THE PERMIT FEES.
AND BUT THE RULE OF THUMB IS 80 20.
SO WE GET INSTEAD OF GETTING 20 PERCENT OF THE REVENUE, WE GET 50 STATE WE WOULD GET IF WE WENT TO THE STATE, WE'D GET ZERO.
ANY CLARIFICATION, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
[INAUDIBLE] FOR DISCUSSION AS [INAUDIBLE].
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES AND ACT ON THIS TONIGHT.
OK, YOU'RE GOING BACK TO THE CITY OF MASON BUILDING CONTRACT.
MASON BUILDING INSPECTOR CONTRACT GO AHEAD.
OKAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING THE RULES SO WE CAN ACT ON THIS TONIGHT SAY AYE.
OK, OKAY, WE HAVE ENOUGH, THEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THEN MR. DESCHAINE.
I MOVE THAT TOWNSHIP BOARD APPROVED THE CITY OF MASON BUILDING CONTRACT AS PRESENTED TONIGHT TO THE BOARD.
[02:00:03]
WE WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE CONTRACT.AND FURTHER THAT THE CITY, THAT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, FRANK WALSH, SIGN THE AGREEMENT .
AND THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY MR. OPSOMMER.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE NEED A ROLL CALL.
[INAUDIBLE] WE NOW COME TO THE CN RAILROAD QUIET ZONE AND MR. PERRY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND PUT TOGETHER A NICE MEMO AND HE'S NOW GOING TO
[13E. CN Railroad Quiet Zone]
TELL US ABOUT IT BEFORE WE GET TALKING ABOUT IT.AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN CAUGHT AT SEVERAL CROSSINGS THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, WE HAVE TWO RAILROAD LINES THAT TRAVERSE THE COMMUNITY.
THE NORTHERN LINE IS THE CN ROUTE AND CARRIES APPROXIMATELY 18 TRAINS PER DAY AND THEN THE CX LINE THE SOUTHERN LINE.
IT HAS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TRAINS PER DAY, SO THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAIN TRAFFIC IS ON THAT NORTHERN CN LINE AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE BOARD BEFORE YOU HAS TALKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A RAILROAD QUIET ZONE.
THERE'S A FEW COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN THAT HAVE DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY.
ANN ARBOR TALKED ABOUT DOING IT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, BUT THE PRICE TAG WAS JUST TOO EXORBITANT FOR THEM, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THEY PROCEEDED.
BUT BACK IN 2017, THERE WAS ENOUGH INTEREST THAT WE ACTUALLY IT WAS PLACED ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD'S GOALS AND OBJECTIONS.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HIRED AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO DO A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS FOR US, EVAN MARSH.
AND THEY DID THAT REPORT AND IT WAS ISSUED.
AND AT THAT POINT IT REALLY THE DOLLARS IT WAS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE TO REALLY PURSUE IT AT THAT POINT.
A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, THERE WAS AGAIN SOME MORE INTEREST THAT WE WANTED TO REVISIT THE ITEM.
SO WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN OHM, WHICH WAS THE ENGINEERING FIRM THAT IMPLEMENTED THE PROJECT IN THE CITY OF BATTLE CREEK, BASICALLY TO HAVE SOME REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE TO KIND OF LEAD US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, AT THAT POINT THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP OBVIOUSLY COULD PROCEED WITH A PROJECT, BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO.
IT'D BE VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THE POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL, THE CIRCUITRY THAT IS BEING MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO YOUR BEST I GUESS COURSE WOULD BE TO WAIT TILL THAT OCCURS AT THE END OF 2021, WHICH IS MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO AGAIN, THERE MORE RECENTLY, THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS SAYING, HEY, WHAT ABOUT THAT RAILROAD QUIET ZONE? AND THEN THERE WERE SOME INQUIRIES MADE.
TRUSTEE OPSOMMER ACTUALLY MADE A CONTACT WITH THE RAILROAD REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THAT POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ON THAT CN LINE.
REALLY, THE IMPETUS FOR THAT IS THERE'S AN AMTRAK TRAIN THAT UTILIZES THAT RAIL LINE, AND AS PART OF THAT, THAT REALLY PUSHED THE MANDATE FOR THE CN LINE.
THE CX LINE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF TRAINS ON IT, THEY'RE NOT MANDATED AT THIS POINT.
POTENTIALLY THEY MIGHT BE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT REALLY, I THINK WE'RE AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT CN LINE TO SEE IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO PROCEED WITH AN IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT RAILROAD QUIET ZONE.
AND THE MEMO KIND OF PROVIDES SOME HISTORY.
THE REPORT FROM OHM'S BEEN INCLUDED REALLY AT THIS POINT, STAFF IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND HOW YOU'D LIKE TO PROCEED.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC AS TO THE WHEN WE SAY QUIET ZONE WE'RE NOT MEANING THAT THE RAILROAD TRAINS PUT ON, YOU KNOW, STOP SHOES AND GO QUIETLY THROUGH THIS TOWN, WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN? SO CURRENTLY, I THINK EVERYONE'S AWARE THAT WHEN THEY APPROACH A CROSSING, THEY START SOUNDING THEIR HORN TO ADVISE NOT ONLY FOR ALL CROSSINGS.
EVEN WITH THE GATES, EACH GATE HAS KIND OF A SAFETY FACTOR.
IT'S MEASURED BY A POINT SYSTEM, AND THERE IS A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS A TRAIN NOT TO SOUND THOSE HORNS AS THEY GO ACROSS THOSE GATES AND THOSE TRACKS, THOSE ROAD CROSSINGS.
AND THAT REALLY IS THE RAILROAD QUIET ZONE AND WHAT THAT IMPLIES.
THE POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT THE TRAIN HEADQUARTERS TALKS TO THESE WAYFINDING THOSE CROSSINGS AND THEY TALK TO THE TRAINS.
SO IN ESSENCE, IF THINGS AREN'T COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY, THE TRAIN COULD BE STOPPED OR CONTROLLED IF SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING RIGHT.
SO IT'S A HIGHER LEVEL OF SAFETY FACTOR, WHICH THEN ALLOWS YOU TO NOT HAVE THE
[02:05:02]
TRAIN BLOW THEIR HORN AS THEY GO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.OK, DISCUSSION WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FIRST, MR. OPSOMMER, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT? YEAH.
AND I WOULD JUST NOTE, IN ADDITION TO MANAGER PERRY'S SUMMARY OF THE QUIET ZONE, THE STRETCH OF THE CN RAILROAD THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS FROM BOGUE STREET ON THE WEST SIDE THROUGH GREEN ROAD TO THE EAST.
AND FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS, THE PRIMARY CROSSINGS OF INTEREST ARE THE HASLETT ROAD, THE OKEMOS ROAD, NEAR THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEN GREEN ROAD TO THE VERY NORTHEAST OF THE TOWNSHIP.
SO THOSE ARE THAT IS THE SPAN OF THE CN TRACK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR THE CSX LINE, YOU KNOW THIS POSITIVE CONTROL EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEING EQUIPPED ON THE CN LINE IS ONLY FEDERALLY REQUIRED DUE TO AMTRAK BEING ON THAT LINE.
SO THERE ISN'T REALLY ANY CURRENT HOPE FOR THIS EQUIPMENT THAT I'M AWARE OF TO BE INSTALLED ON THE CSX LINE, UNLESS THERE'S EITHER A NEW AMTRAK LINE CREATED OR A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN POLICY.
BUT I APPRECIATE DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY GETTING THE PACKET PREPARED FOR THIS AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED IN RETAINING OUR CONSULTANT AGAIN FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN THE FALL AND YOU KNOW, RFPS NEED TO BE CONDUCTED AND STUFF IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS NEXT YEAR DURING THE, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT CONSTRUCTION WINDOW THAT WE HAVE.
BUT I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'VE FINALLY CROSSED THESE FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION HURDLES.
AND WHAT SPARKED MY INTEREST IN THIS WAS I WAS AT A COMMUNITY EVENT AND A RESIDENT ASKED ME IF THE TOWNSHIP HAD LOOKED AT THIS, AND I SAID, WELL, IN FACT, WE HAD.
I COULDN'T RECALL HOW LONG WE WERE WAITING ON THIS CHANGE.
AND SO I TEXTED DEREK AND HE QUICKLY GAVE ME AN ANSWER BACK, AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, MDOT BELIEVES THAT IT WAS INSTALLED, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE.
AND I SAID, CAN I MAKE A PHONE CALL TOMORROW AND FIND OUT? AND SO I DID, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET CONFIRMATION FROM CN DIRECTLY THAT THEY HAVE IT.
AND NEXT STEPS, IN ADDITION TO OUR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WOULD BE TALKING TO MSU AS WELL AND POSSIBLY EAST LANSING AND THE ROAD DEPARTMENT FOR THE INTERSECTIONS THAT THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER.
YES, I NOTICED IN THE MATERIAL THAT WE GOT THIS WEEKEND THERE ARE ESTIMATES OF THE COST FOR BOTH TRACKS OR SETS OF TRACKS AND BUT THOSE COSTS ARE DATED 2019.
MY QUESTION IS HOW REALISTIC IS IT TO HOPE WE'RE IN THE SAME BALLPARK IN 2021? I THINK THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY REALISTIC.
I THINK WHEN THEY RAN THOSE NUMBERS, THEY WERE ANTICIPATING THREE YEAR OUT CONSTRUCTION.
SO I THINK THEY DID SOME INFLATIONARY ESTIMATES IN THERE.
TREASURER 21 OF THE LAST 30 YEARS, I'VE LIVED IN HASLETT SIDE OF THE TOWNSHIP AND TELL YOU, THE CN LINE IN HASLETT IS LOUD.
I THINK IN TIME YOU GET USED TO IT, BUT THEN YOU GO BACK UP THERE AND YOU ARE REMINDED OF HOW LOUD IT IS KATHY IS OVER WEST OF THERE AND [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU STILL HEAR IT VERY STRONGLY THERE.
AND THERE ARE 18 TRAINS A DAY AND PARTICULARLY AT THIS INTERSECTION AT HASLETT ROAD AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS THERE, THE LAKE IS RIGHT THERE AND THE TRAIN SOUND IS AMPLIFIED BY THE DYNAMICS OF THE LAKE.
AND SO YOU FEEL ON THIS SIDE OF THE LAKE AS WELL.
GETTING THIS DONE, I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO DO, I FULLY SUPPORT IT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP US WITH OUR REDEVELOPING OF THE PICA AREA OF THE OLD L AND L BECAUSE THERE'S TALK OF RESIDENTIAL USE FOR THAT.
AND RIGHT BEHIND THAT, RESIDENTIAL USE IS THAT RAILROAD TRACK.
AND SO HAVING THAT QUIET ZONE WOULD MAKE THAT A FAR MORE ATTRACTIVE RESIDENTIAL USE OF THAT LAND THAN IT IS NOW.
FURTHER EAST OF THERE, WE HAVE THE STAR FLOWER, WHILE IRISH NEIGHBORHOODS AND BEAUTIFUL HOMES BACK IN THERE JUST OFF OF RABY ROAD, AND THIS RAILROAD TRACK SEVERELY IMPACTS THOSE RESIDENTS AS WELL.
SO I WOULD SAY FROM OKEMOS ROAD TO GREEN ROAD IS THE AREA MOST
[02:10:02]
IMPACTED BY THIS BECAUSE THAT HORN GOES OFF THERE AND IT JUST SHAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE TIMES AND AGAIN, PEOPLE ADAPT TO IT.BUT IT WOULD BE YOU START TO TALK ABOUT THE AMENITIES OF MUPD.
THIS WOULD BE A BOARD AMENITY THAT I THINK OUR RESIDENTS WOULD IN TIME, BE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE, BUT IT'S WORTH INVESTIGATING AND I THINK WORTH AN INVESTMENT BECAUSE MOST OF THE EXPENSIVE WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY THE RAILROAD ALREADY.
AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL WORK TO DO, BUT MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING IS DONE.
WE'VE GOT THE CLEANUP TO DO, BUT IT'S A TASK WELL WORTH DOING.
AND I AGREE I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND INSTRUCT STAFF TO BRING US A FULL PROPOSAL OR AS FULL AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO PROCEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS QUIET ZONE.
I WILL AGREE THAT IT IS EARTH SHAKING MY YOGA STUDIO IS UP THERE, AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE DISTURBING THAN WHEN THE TRAIN GOES BY DURING YOUR YOGA PRACTICE.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A QUESTION IT'S SOMEWHAT ELEMENTARY AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'M TRYING TO THINK SO AS A MOTORIZED VEHICLE AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PEDESTRIAN IN THOSE AREAS TOO.
HOW IS THIS NEW SAFETY TYPE OF I WANT TO SAY MORE THAN A MECHANISM SYSTEM? HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT OVER LIKE A LOUD NOISE LIKE IF YOU'RE WALKING OR YOU HAVE YOUR AIRPODS IN AND YOU DON'T NOTICE THAT THE TRAIN'S THERE? LIKE HOW DOES THIS WORK? MANAGER PERRY.
SURE, WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOME PRELIMINARY WORK AS WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME PATHWAY WORK TO, I'M SURE, ON HAGADORN.
ON THE WEST SIDE, YOU SEE, MSU HAS KIND OF CREATED WHAT THEY CALL THE Z GATES TO WHERE IF YOU'RE WALKING ALONG, YOU CAN'T JUST WALK ONTO THE TRACKS.
YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DO THE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, ANGLE THING.
SO WHEN THEY REACH SURFACE HAGADORN ROAD, WE MADE SURE THAT WE INCORPORATED A CONCRETE PAD FOR US TO BASICALLY BUILD ONE OF THOSE ON THE EAST SIDE TO MATCH THE WEST SIDE.
AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING UP ON OKEMOS ROAD AS PART OF THE PATHWAY PROJECT, TOO.
SO THOSE ARE REALLY THE WAY THAT YOU, I GUESS, GET THE ATTENTION OF THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TO MAKE THEM RECOGNIZE THAT, HEY, I NEED TO LOOK UP.
I NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF THIS CROSSING.
YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
YOU CAN'T DO PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AGAIN BUT THOSE WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO INCORPORATE AND OBVIOUSLY THE COSTS IS DRIVEN WITH THAT.
BUT AT A BASELINE, WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE THOSE Z GATES WHEREVER WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE'RE DOING NEW PATHWAY CONSTRUCTION.
SO THOSE PATHWAY ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT INCLUDED.
THE COST OF THOSE PATHWAY ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THESE ESTIMATES HERE.
THE ESTIMATES THAT THEY DID, DID NOT INCLUDE THOSE.
HOWEVER, THEY DID RECOMMEND THAT WE, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THOSE.
SO THAT'S WHY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE MADE THE DECISION IN HOUSE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT EVEN IF WE DON'T DO A RAILROAD QUIET ZONE, THEY REALLY DO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR OUR PEDESTRIANS.
SO AS WE'RE IMPROVING OUR PATHWAYS AT THESE RAILROAD CROSSINGS, LET'S START TO INCORPORATE THOSE.
COUNCIL IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, SO NEXT UP, SEE [INAUDIBLE] PERRY.
REALLY ALL I NEED IS CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD THAT THIS IS A PROJECT YOU WANT US TO PURSUE.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL GET IT ON THE WHITEBOARD AND WE'LL SEEK A PROPOSAL FROM OHM AND WE'LL START HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH MSU AND CITY OF EAST LANSING AND THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT.
THE POINT OF MY QUESTION WAS THERE'S OTHER STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN JUST [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A POSITIVE FOR THE BOARD, WHICH I THINK I'M CERTAIN YOU NOW HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CNS LINE.
YES, THE CSX, AGAIN, I THINK AT THIS TIME, IT'S JUST TOO COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THAT.
BUT SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF YOUR INSTRUCTION? YEAH.
I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE CSX IS THE ONE THAT COMES FROM THE DETROIT AREA.
SO IT'S MORE OF AN INDUSTRIAL LINE THAT HAS A LOT OF GOES UP TO THE GENERAL MOTORS PLANTS, ET CETERA.
WHEREAS THE CN, WHILE IT HAS A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL, ALSO HAS THE PASSENGER SERVICE THAT GOES FROM CHICAGO UP TO [INAUDIBLE].
AND THAT'S WHY THAT HAS THE CONTROLS THAT WE NEED THAT WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO
[02:15:04]
BECAUSE OF THE RAILROAD.I HAD NO IDEA WHY, YOU KNOW, THE SUBJECT WAS NEVER TALKED ABOUT AGAIN.
AND SO NOW I'M VERY HAPPY TO KNOW WHY.
AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE ACTUALLY WAITING ON SOMETHING CONCRETE AND SPECIFIC, AND THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE.
YEAH, IT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT THE BOARD LEVEL A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THE COSTS WERE JUST WAY BEYOND OUR ABILITY.
WE ARE USING THE SAME CONSULTING FIRM THAT BATTLE CREEK USED BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW IS WHAT THEIR HISTORY OR WHAT THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN IN BATTLE CREEK HAVE THEY HAD AN INCREASE IN ACCIDENTS, AS OPPOSED A SAFETY HAZARD IN THERE AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE US THE DATA HAVING BEEN THERE HAVING WORKED WITH THE CITY OF BATTLE CREEK SINCE THEY IMPLEMENTED IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE HASN'T, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY'LL HAVE THAT DATA.
AND THAT'S ONE CERTAIN QUESTION WE'LL GET FROM OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
ARE WE PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK BY HAVING THE TRAINS NOT BLOW THAT HORN EVERY TIME? DAN.
JUST ONE NOTE FOR DEREK, AND I'M CURIOUS IF THE CONSULTANT COMES BACK WITH DIFFERENT COST ESTIMATES FOR US, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT LANE SEPARATION AS YOU'RE APPROACHING THE RAILROAD CROSSING, AND THAT'S TO PREVENT THE CARS FROM BASICALLY GOING AROUND THE GATES, RIGHT? WE DO HAVE TWO EXAMPLES FROM BATTLE CREEK IN OUR PACKET.
I LIKE THE CLEANNESS OF THE RAISED CURB MEDIAN WITH SOME OF THE CAUTION SIGNAGE ON IT VERSUS THE, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTER YELLOW, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE SPEED BUMP ESK MEDIAN.
JUST THE AESTHETIC, I THINK, IS SOMETHING OUR RESIDENTS, I'M SURE IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO THE OFFICIAL RAISED MEDIAN, BUT I THINK AESTHETICALLY THAT WOULD BE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD WANT.
SO JUST HAVING THE CONSULTANT MAKE SURE THEY PRODUCE OPTIONS FOR US ON THOSE DIFFERENT AESTHETIC ELEMENTS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE PROPOSE, THEY BUY INTO THAT.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR MARCHING ORDERS, MR. PERRY.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC THAT HAS WANTED TO COMMENT [INAUDIBLE] CARDS IN OR
[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]
RAISED THEIR HANDS.WE HAVE A RAISED HAND SUPERVISOR.
ALL RIGHT? AND I ASSUME ON ZOOM WE HAVE NOTHING.
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS YOUR LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA CANFIELD.
I LIVE AT 1351 HICKORY ISLAND DRIVE IN HASLETT.
WE BOUGHT OUR HOME ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
WE MOVED TO HASLETT FROM EAST LANSING, FIXED OUR HOME UP AND ABSOLUTELY LOVE LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIN TRACKS AND WE CERTAINLY KNEW THERE WAS A TRAIN THERE WHEN WE MOVED.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH APPRECIATE YOU MOVING FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR HOUSE, BUYING YOUR HOME, YOU HEAR THE TRAIN GO BY.
AND ACTUALLY OUR HOUSE DOES, IN FACT, RATTLE.
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY THINK ABOUT IS THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ALL NIGHT LONG.
AND IN THE SUMMER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN, IT'S LOUD AND AS OFTEN AS IT GOES AT NIGHT AND THE FOUR HORNS.
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN ALSO HEAR THE ONE ON OKEMOS ROAD.
I HAVE TO SAY IT DOES KIND OF WEAR YOU OUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, GETTING READY, YOU KNOW, BEING IN PUTTING YOURSELVES IN A POSITION TO DO THIS WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
AND I THINK IT WILL ADD GREATLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[02:20:01]
IT WILL BE A QUIET THAT I THINK WE ALL LIKE WHEN WE HAVE PICNICS OUTSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETS TOGETHER THINGS LIKE THAT.YOU JUST HAVE TO STOP TALKING DURING IT AND THEN WAIT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN DO IT AGAIN.
I MEAN, THE RATTLE OF THE TRAIN, WHATEVER, THAT'S FINE.
BUT IT IS THE HORNS THAT ARE THE REALLY DISRUPTIVE PART OF TRYING TO COMMUNICATE DURING THE DAY OR TRYING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
SO I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK IT'S PEOPLE ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE IT.
AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT THIS AS SOMEONE WHO IS IMPACTED BY IT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO IT.
SO REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'LL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
OKAY NO OTHER MEMBERS WE WILL GO ON TO OTHER MATTERS FROM THE BOARD.
I WILL MENTION THAT GEORGE BAILEY OF IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE WOULD BE KIND OF SAD AT
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
THIS BECAUSE HE SAID IN THAT MOVIE THAT THE GREATEST SOUNDS WERE WHICH ANCHOR CHAINS, PROPELLERS AND TRAIN WHISTLES.BUT I THINK HE WOULD FORGIVE US IN THIS CONTEXT.
OK? ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS THEY WANT TO RAISE? MR. OPSOMMER.
SO THE STATE'S FISCAL YEAR STARTED OCTOBER ONE, AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THE GRANT FROM THE MADC FOR A NEW FIRE TRUCK IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE WEEKS.
AND THEN ONE OTHER ITEM OF NOTE, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WAYS THAT WE CAN GET AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAD A THOUGHT THIS CAME UP THROUGH A CONSTITUENT CASE.
SO A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP HAD CONTACTED ME IN MY CAPACITY AND MY DAY JOB AT REP BRIXIE'S OFFICE ABOUT THE POVERTY EXEMPTION.
SHE WAS RECEIVING THE POVERTY EXEMPTION IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP.
SHE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR IT NOW THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY CHANGED THEIR THRESHOLDS.
SO WE HAVE TO WE CAN'T GO BELOW THE THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, BUT WE CAN GO ABOVE IT.
SO WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY USED TO DO TWICE THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE.
WE'RE DOING ONE POINT THREE, FIVE TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE TODAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD TAKE ACTION ON IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER PRECEDING THE TAX YEAR.
SO IF WE WANTED TO BRING THAT FORWARD, WE WOULD NEED TO BRING THAT HERE IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO, POSSIBLY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, AND I KNOW THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND US HAVE GONE UP HIGHER, BUT THAT IS ONE WAY TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE, AND IT'S SOMETHING TANGIBLE THAT WE CAN DO VERSUS WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MUPUD ORDINANCE AND, YOU KNOW, THE HUD STANDARD OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WE REALLY HAVE NO WAY OF ACTUALLY ACHIEVING IT, RIGHT? LIKE, WE BASICALLY NEED A DEVELOPER TO COME FORWARD AND OFFER FREE HOUSING, ESSENTIALLY TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
BUT SO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE MULTIPLIER THAT WE ASSIGN, WHETHER THAT BE THE, YOU KNOW, JUST STRICTLY THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE 1.35 TIMES IT OR SOMETHING LIKE WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP HAS DONE IN THE PAST AND GOING UP TWICE AS MUCH AS THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE IS A GOOD WAY THAT YOU CAN HELP FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES THAT MIGHT INHERIT THEIR HOME, ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SUSTAIN LIVING HERE, RIGHT? BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, IF YOU'RE INHERITING, YOU COULD AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE THE TAXES ON THE PROPERTY.
SO ONE CONCEPT THAT I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SUPPORT ME ON THAT, WE COULD MAYBE PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA HERE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.
TRY TO GET A HOLD OF ME SOME TIME, DAN.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND SEE ABOUT GETTING IT ON ACTION.
ALL RIGHT? ANYTHING ELSE FROM BOARD MEMBERS? AND WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS MOTION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.