[00:00:02]
WELL, IT APPEARS TO BE 6:01, BUT NOT BY THE CLOCK ON THE WALL.
WE'LL CALL THE MARCH 1, 2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD TO ORDER.
OUR FIRST JOB AT THIS POINT IS FOR A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND AND JOIN ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, CLERK GUTHRIE, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? CLERK GUTHRIE IS HERE, TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I'M SORRY, OH MY GOSH. IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] I EFFECTIVELY CROSSED HIM OFF RIGHT NOW.
[ 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
TRUSTEE WISINSKI.ALL BOARD ALL FOUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
SUNDLAND [INAUDIBLE] YES, THANK YOU.
ITEM FOUR ON OUR AGENDA CALLS FOR A PRESENTATION, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION, WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS.
YES, THANK YOU. BILL PRIEST, CHIEF OF VMS AND [INAUDIBLE] AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT. SORRY.
CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT. HE HAD A PRIOR ENGAGEMENT AND ONE OF OUR NEW FIREFIGHTERS WAS ALSO UNABLE TO MAKE IT DUE TO A FAMILY INCIDENT THAT WAS TAKING PLACE.
BUT I'M VERY PROUD TO INTRODUCE [INAUDIBLE].
HE'S THE PERSON THAT CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
HE WAS A MEDIC IN 2014 AND ALSO A FIREFIGHTER, ONE AND TWO.
HE'LL BE STARTING SHIFT WITH US AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF TRAINING BEHIND HIM IN HIS SHORT CAREER AS BEING A FIREFIGHTER SO FAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD AND EXCITED FOR HIM TO COME ON BOARD.
THE OTHER ONE SITTING NEXT TO ME, MICHAEL WEBER, HE BECAME A MEDIC IN 2013 OUT OF ST.
JOHN'S AND THEN IN 2014 JOINED ST.
JOHN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN WITH MICHAEL.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM WITH US.
AT THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS A LITTLE TOUGH RIGHT NOW TO FIND GOOD QUALITY PEOPLE TO WORK.
AND WITH BOTH JARED AND MICHAEL, WE THINK WE'VE DONE THAT AND WE HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR THEM
[4A. Introduction of Two New Firefighter/Paramedics]
FOR THE REST OF THEIR CAREER HERE.AND THIS IS MICHAEL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM OR WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, GO RIGHT AHEAD. MICHAEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND THE FIRE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY WORDS? I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING THE TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AND ITS PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
AND AND THAT IS ALSO TRUE OF MR. GENTRY. YES, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. YEP, CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT. WE JUST ASK THAT YOU RATIFY BOTH OF THEM FOR NEW FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC POSITIONS HERE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT.
WE WILL. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-URGENT ITEMS. I HAVE TWO GREEN CARDS.
AND THE FIRST IS SCOTT HENDRICKSON.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR JACKSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS SCOTT HENDRICKSON, I'M FOUR TWO ZERO SIX GREYSTONE DRIVE [INAUDIBLE], MICHIGAN, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT AS THE OUTGOING CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
TONIGHT ON YOUR AGENDA, ITS AGENDA ITEM 9E YOU HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT. I KNOW THAT ORDINARILY WE WOULD GET UP AT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING TO HAVE A RECAP LIKE THIS.
BUT SINCE YOU'VE GOT IT ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GIVE A LITTLE LIFE TO IT AND COME BY AND SPEAK JUST FOR A FEW MOMENTS ON IT.
OK. THE PLANNING COMMISSION MET A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2021.
WE WERE PRIMARILY REMOTE, AS I'M SURE MOST OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WERE SAFE FOR A FEW IN THE SUMMER IN THE LATE DECEMBER.
WE TOOK UP TWO ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS WHICH CAME BEFORE THIS BODY LAST YEAR, INCLUDING THE
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDAITEMS]
CHANGE TO AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPS AND C2 AND C3, AS WELL AS THE MIXED USE PLANNING AND[00:05:04]
DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, WHICH WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON SUBCOMMITTEE WORK AND FINALLY IN FRONT OF THE BOARD, IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION AS WELL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL HAVE SPENT SOME TIME WORKING ON AS WELL.YEAH. LAST YEAR WE HAD FIVE REZONING REQUESTS WHICH WERE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WE HAD, I BELIEVE I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN HERE EIGHT SPECIAL USE PERMITS THAT WE THAT WE WORKED ON AND APPROVED, INCLUDING THE BUDDY'S PIZZA THAT'S GOING IN OVER ON GRAND RIVER AND THE CORRIDOR.
THE WOODWARD WAY PROJECT, WHICH CAME BACK BEFORE US AGAIN LAST YEAR, AND THE [INAUDIBLE] FACILITY OVER JOLLY ROAD, TO NAME JUST A FEW.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAD A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
WE HAD ALL NINE COMMISSION SEATS FILLED FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE YEAR, WHICH WAS EXCITING.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE JUST HOW PACKED WE COULD MAKE THAT THE CONFERENCE TABLE UNTIL WE GOT BACK HERE IN DECEMBER.
BUT NO, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A FULL GROUP.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO JUST MENTION WE DID IN PAST OUR PLANNING COMMISSION GOALS FOR 2022. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THOSE SO AS YOU KNOW, THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE IS COMING IN 2022.
AND OUR TOP GOAL FOR THIS YEAR IS TO REVIEW THE EXISTING LAND USE AND OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MASTER PLAN UPDATES AND WORK THROUGH THAT.
OUR SECOND GOAL WAS BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE DO HAVE LIAISONS CURRENTLY SERVING ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPLORING HOW WE CAN BETTER WORK WITH THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL AS THIS BODY.
AND THEN FINALLY COMPLETING THE SERIES OF QUALITY OF LIFE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO HELP RESIDENTS WITH FREQUENT ISSUES.
THE FIRST OF WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERING AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN MID-MARCH.
THESE ARE SMALL TWEAKS TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE BELIEVE WILL MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE LOCAL RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
FROM AN ORDINANCE PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO SEEM LIKE SMALL CHANGES, BUT WE BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACTS ON THE RESIDENTS HERE. AND YOU'LL BE SEEING THOSE LIKELY IN APRIL AS WE GET THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PASSING THOSE ON TO YOU.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE.
LASTLY, I AM, AS I MENTIONED, THE OUTGOING CHAIR.
I WANTED TO JUST MENTION BRIEFLY THE INCOMING LEADERSHIP FOR 2022, WHICH HAS ALREADY TAKEN TAKING THEIR SEATS.
OUR CHAIR THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE MARK [INAUDIBLE].
OUR VICE CHAIR IS PETER [INAUDIBLE] AND OUR SECRETARY IS DAVE [INAUDIBLE].
SO NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE], CHAIR [INAUDIBLE] AS HE GIVES YOU A FURTHER UPDATE ON WHAT WE DID IN 2022.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I WONDER IF ANY OF THE BOARD HAS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY.
I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I NOTED IN YOUR REPORT THAT MR. SCHMIDT, I BELIEVE, NOTED THAT THERE IS A LAW THAT REQUIRES SUCH A REPORT TO BE MADE TO THE BOARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT, AND OUR REPORT USUALLY CAME AT THE JOINT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT CHANGE.
THE OTHER THING IS, SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING, AS YOU NOTED, IS BEING PLANNED AT THIS POINT, I THINK APRIL OR MAY.
HAVE WE DECIDED WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN? WE HAD BEEN.
TENTATIVELY AT TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 5TH AT SIX P.M.
TO HOLD THE ANNUAL MEETING, WHICH WOULD TYPICALLY BE HELD ON THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF JANUARY. OK. OK.
SO AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOUR FULL COMMISSION AND SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.
AND I'D BE REMISS IF YOU'D GIVE ME ANOTHER TWENTY SECONDS TO IF I DIDN'T INDICATE THAT WE DID HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR STAFF LIAISONS WITH PETER AND MARK LEAVING AND TIM AND BRIAN COMING IN AND FROM ALL OF OUR INTERACTIONS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING TOWNSHIP TEAM AND HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT LIAISONS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT I HAPPEN TO SERVE ON
[00:10:02]
AS WELL. SO THANK YOU TO THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. SO NOW COME TO TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT . WE HAVE A SECOND CARD FROM THE PUBLIC.
OH, I'M SORRY, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE DO. WE HAVE ONE FROM ERNIE STEWART.
WOULD YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, SIR? MR. STEWART, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES WE'LL SET THE CLOCK AND IT'LL BEEP AT THE 30 SECOND MARK. OK, THANKS.
I BEEN WORKING, COMMUNICATING WITH MR. SCHMIDT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON OUR PROPERTY, WHICH IS TWO ACRES OVER HERE.
IT'S JUST A LOT. THERE'S NO HOUSE.
I'M SORRY COULD YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS 612.
WELL, I LIVE IN 612 TISDALE AVENUE IN LANSING.
IT'S STILL [INAUDIBLE] AND BOUNDS.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME TREES CUT DOWN BECAUSE WE WERE INFORMED THAT TWO LARGE TREES ON THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY FELL ONTO THE STREET, WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE AND IS A VERY SERIOUS, DANGEROUS SITUATION.
THEY WERE BOTH ASH TREES AND THIS DOESN'T SHOW THE ASH TREES THAT HAVE FELL, BUT SOME OF THE LOGS JUST OVER THERE.
AND SO WE WORKED WITH MR. SCHMIDT ABOUT HOW WE CAN APPROACH CUTTING DOWN TREES BASED ON RISK AND STUFF FOR THE NEIGHBORS. AND THERE ARE SOME RISK AND WE'VE AGREED ON THAT.
SO BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT BECAUSE THE ASH TREES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS HAVE DIED, THEY'VE ALLOWED TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND THIS IS WINTER GROWTH WHEN IT TURNED INTO SPRING.
YOU CAN'T WALK THROUGH IT NOW, HARDLY AT ALL.
CERTAINLY NO CHILDREN OR ANYBODY ELSE COULD WALK THROUGH THERE.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TO BUY IT.
BUT THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS BECAUSE WHEN THE TREES FELL AND DIED, IT OPENED UP THE SUN TO THESE PLANTS THAT WERE OTHERWISE MAINTAINED, AS WOULD BE DOWN, LIKE DOWN THE DOWN THE STREET. THAT HAS THIS KIND OF SITUATION WHERE THE TREES ARE NOT DYING AND THE CANOPY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY COME UP, THE CANOPY COMES UP AND THEY DON'T GROW.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS GROWTH ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY AND THERE'S SOME TERRIBLE VINES AND OTHER THINGS GROWING THERE.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ASKED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN THIS GROWTH DOWN, NOT TO DIG IT UP OR PLOW IT UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT TO SIMPLY MAINTAIN IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE REGULATIONS HAVE LANGUAGE THAT INCLUDES THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING THAT TALKED ABOUT MAINTAINING OR JUST THAT TYPE OF MAINTENANCE.
THEY JUST REFER TO LAND CLEARING AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS OF LAND CLEARING FROM LIKE THE LOW END SIDE DEFINITION DOES NOT INCLUDE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OR PROPERTY CLEANUP ACTIVITIES FOR IN THE DEFINITION OF LAND CLEARING.
LAND CLEARING IS TYPICALLY YOU CUT A TREE DOWN AND YOU YOU BRING THE ROOTS UP, AND THAT WOULD APPLY TO OTHER TYPES OF BIOMASS AS WELL.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'RE NOT ASKED TO DO THAT.
THE LADY NEXT DOOR ON OUR PROPERTY ACTUALLY HAS BEEN MOWING ALONG FOR ABOUT 10 FEET SO THAT THIS JUNGLE WILL NOT TAKE OVER HER FENCE AND WE'VE BEEN HAPPY TO LET HER DO THAT.
SO THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT YOU GOT THE LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT INCLUDES THE WORD DISTURBANCE, WHICH BASICALLY IF YOU BOIL IT DOWN TO WHERE YOU TAKE OUT ALL THE FLUFF, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ISSUE, IT SAYS DISTURBANCE OF VEGETATION ON A PARCEL WHICH DISTURBANCE CAN MEAN TECHNICALLY LITERALLY WALKING ON THE PROPERTY.
MEANING IF YOU WALK IN THE PROPERTY, YOU ARE DISTURBING THE VEGETATION BY THE STRICT LANGUAGE HERE. AND THAT RAISES A BIG CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD HAVE NOT ALLOWED US TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE, WELL, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT A MORE DETAILED DOCUMENT TO YOU THAT WILL HELP UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VERY LONG BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY SIMPLE.
OK, AND I'M SURE MR. SCHMIDTT WOULD GET A COPY.
WELL, HE'S GOT A VOLUME AND I'VE GOT THESE DOWN NOW THAT IT'LL BE A LITTLE EASIER TO READ NOW. OK. ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THEN WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT.
AND TONIGHT WE HAVE ASSISTANT MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER.
I ASSUME IS TAKING OVER THAT ROLE FOR MR. WALSH, WHO'S ON VACATION.
[00:15:01]
DAN? YES, ABSOLUTELY.SUPERVISOR JACKSON. SO JUST A FEW UPDATES REAL QUICK FOR THE BOARD.
THE EDC AND BOARD SUBCOMMITTEE DID MEET THIS MORNING TO COMMIT IT TO REVIEW AND DELIBERATE ON THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS LLC.
NO TWO REQUEST OF THE MERIDIAN REDEVELOPMENT FUND.
TREASURER DESCHAINE AND OF COURSE, SUPERVISOR JACKSON WERE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE BETWEEN THE EDC AND THE BOARD.
THREE OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE TO GRANT AN AWARD OF UP TO ONE POINT TWENTY FIVE MILLION TO THE DEVELOPER FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER ROADS, CURB GUTTER STREETSCAPE, ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT IS WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. AND THERE WAS A SECOND MOTION.
THE DEVELOPER IS SEEKING KIND OF AFFIRMATION FROM THE TOWNSHIP AS TO WHAT OUR COMMITMENT
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
MIGHT BE SO THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE MEDC TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEW RAP PROGRAM.THE RAP PROGRAM WAS CREATED WITH FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS BY THE STATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SO THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE EDC AND ARTICULATE CLEARLY WHAT THE LOCAL COMMITMENT IS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THOSE STATE FUNDS.
THE DEVELOPER IS SEEKING UP TO 10 TO $11 MILLION ACROSS THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISMS FROM THE [INAUDIBLE].
AND SO TO THAT EFFECT, THE SUBCOMMITTEE DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT IT WOULD ENTERTAIN A REQUEST NUMBER THREE, MEANING A THIRD REQUEST TO THE MERIDIAN REDEVELOPMENT FUND ON BEHALF OF THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS PROJECT DEPENDENT UPON FUNDING LEVEL AND SOURCE FUNDING FROM THE MEDC.
SO THAT PROCESS WILL NOW GO TO THE EDC, WHICH WILL THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BODY. AND SO THIS BODY WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT SOMETIME OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIAL MEETINGS AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ADD IT TO A SPECIAL MEETING OR PUSH IT TO APRIL OR TO LATE MARCH.
THE BOARD DID CONVENE ON FEBRUARY 15TH AT ITS REGULAR MEETING AND ESTABLISHED THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH WE WILL FILL THE TRUSTEE VACANCIES.
ORIGINALLY, THAT WAS FOR JUST ONE VACANCY.
AND OF COURSE, NOW WE WERE SADDENED TO LEARN OF SUPERVISOR STYKA PASSING AND WE DO HAVE A SECOND VACANCY.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH AT FOUR P.M.
THEY SHOULD GO TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR MS. [INAUDIBLE]. AND SO ANY RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK TO APPLY. AND AGAIN.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH AT FOUR P.M.
THE BOARD'S PACKET WILL POST PUBLICLY, AS IT ALWAYS DOES ON A FRIDAY PRECEDING A TUESDAY MEETING, AND ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE IN YOUR PACKETS FOR REVIEW AHEAD OF THE MARCH 8TH MEETING, AT WHICH THE FULL BOARD WILL CONVENE TO DECIDE WHO THE FINALISTS WILL BE AND THEN THE BOARD WILL CONVENE EARLY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR FIVE P.M.
ON MARCH 15TH FOR THE BOARD TO CONVENE, TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS AND SELECT A FINALIST, AND THE TRADITIONAL REGULAR MEETING WILL COMMENCE AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS.
JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER NOTABLE ITEMS BUDDY'S PIZZA THE RIBBON CUTTING HASN'T BEEN SET YET, BUT ANYONE WHO'S DRIVEN BY CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO OPENING AND THAT WILL BE COMING SOON.
WE DO HAVE A INTERNAL MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS, DIRECTOR SCHMITT DIRECTOR CLARK.
BOTH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND OUR FIRE CHIEF, AS WELL AS BRANDY YATES AND OTHERS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE MEETING.
THIS WILL BE A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING WITH [INAUDIBLE] TO GO OVER TIMELINES FOR THE M43 GRAND RIVER AVENUE CONSTRUCTION.
TENTATIVELY, WE'RE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT EARLY APRIL.
WE DO HAVE MDOT DOES HAVE A CONTRACTOR UNDER CONTRACT NOW, SO THEY'RE NEARING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION ON THAT AND THEN I WOULD JUST NOTE FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SUPPORT THE MERIDIAN CARES FUND, WE DO HAVE AN UPCOMING EVENT. GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT HERE.
ON MARCH 15TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS MARCH 15TH [INAUDIBLE] IS HOSTING A FUNDRAISER FROM FIVE TO NINE P.M.
SO IT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] AT TIMES SQUARE DRIVE AND OKEMOS FROM FIVE TO NINE P.M.
AND PROCEEDS AND A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALES WILL ACTUALLY GO TO SUPPORT [INAUDIBLE] FOR ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO DO SO.
THEN WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[00:20:08]
TREASURER DESCHAINE.THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, TAX COLLECTION IS COMPLETE FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR AS OF YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH BY STATE LAW.
IT WAS ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR TAX COLLECTION.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WELL NORTH OF NINETY FIVE PERCENT OF OUR RESIDENTS PAY BY THE 14TH DEADLINE AND A GREAT DEAL OF THE REST PAID BY THE 28TH.
ANYONE WHO IS NOT YET PAID THEIR LOCAL TAXES WILL NEED TO PAY THOSE DIRECTLY TO THE INGHAM COUNTY TREASURER.
CALL OUR OFFICE AT EIGHT FIVE THREE FORTY ONE FORTY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
I HAVE A FULL REPORT FOR THE BOARD IN A FUTURE MEETING WITH A FULL AMOUNT OF TAX COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS RECENTLY COMPLETED TAX YEAR.
ON FEBRUARY 16TH, I REJOINED THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR ITS REGULAR MEETING AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE BACK AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR IT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, WE ARE ABLE TO GRANT THE REQUEST THAT WERE MADE BY THAT MEETING AND INCLUDED SOME.
IT WILL AFFECT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT THIS BOARD WILL BE SEEN IN THE COMING WEEKS.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES ANDANNOUNCEMENTS]
THIS MORNING, AS DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER POINTED OUT, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP EDC VILLAGE OF OKEMOS MERIDIAN REDEVELOPMENT FUND SUB-COMMITTEE MET THE ASK INITIALLY WAS FOR $3 MILLION FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.THAT NUMBER WAS A NONSTARTER AT THAT MEETING, AND THE MORE MODEST AMOUNT OF ONE POINT TWENTY FIVE MILLION WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH THE PROVISO THAT THEY MAY COME BACK TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY GET FROM THE MEDC, IT WOULD BE A MATCHING GRANT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO POSSIBLY NEED TO FUND, AS WAS POINT OUT EARLIER THE MAJORITY OF THIS ADDITIONAL GAP FUNDING THEY'RE SEEKING IS COMING FROM THE STATE. THE TOWNSHIP'S PARTICIPATION THAT WOULD BE AROUND 20 PERCENT OF WHAT THE STATE IS PUTTING IN. WHILE MANY OF US ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS PROJECT AND THE CONTINUED ASKS FROM THE DEVELOPER FOR PUBLIC MONIES, I THINK THIS COMMITTEE GOT SOME SATISFACTION THAT THIS IS IT AND THIS IS THE LAST REQUEST THAT SHOULD COME FROM THEM, AND THE NEXT THING WE SHOULD BE SEEING FROM THEM WILL BE A CONSTRUCTION PLAN, AND THAT'S OUR HOPE OR IT MAY BE TIME TO MOVE ON TO A NEW DEVELOPER.
SO ONE OF THE TWO THINGS IT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN THERE.
WE WILL FIND OUT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. I WANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK OUR FIRE REPRESENTATIVES LEFT, BUT TO ACKNOWLEDGE I WAS SURPRISED TODAY THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS WENT OVER AND ABOVE AS USUAL IN AND HAD A VERY THOUGHTFUL ACTION AND A TRIBUTE TO OUR FORMER SUPERVISOR STYKA REGARDING IF THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW SUPERVISOR STYKA WAS POLISH AND VERY PROUD TO BE POLISH. AND TUESDAY WAS FAT TUESDAY AND NOT FORMALLY HE WOULD GO TO LIVONIA AND CELEBRATE HIS POLISH HERITAGE BY BRINGING [INAUDIBLE] TO THE MERIDIAN TEAM.
WELL, AS AN IN SUPERVISOR STYKA IS PASSING THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS DROVE TO LIVONIA THIS MORNING TO CARRY ON SUPERVISOR STYKA TRADITION, WITH DELIVERY FROM [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE [INAUDIBLE].
SO I WANTED TO THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THINK THE EMERGING TOWNSHIP LOCAL SIXTEEN HUNDRED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
OUR GREEN GRANTS APPLICATION HAS CLOSED AND WE HAVE RECEIVED FOUR APPLICATIONS THAT WE WILL BE REVIEWING AS A COMMITTEE AND HOPEFULLY AWARDING TOMORROW AT OUR COMMISSION MEETING ON MARCH 2ND.
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD HAS NOT MET THE PAST SESSION AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MEET IN THE NEXT MONTH ELECTION COMMISSION.
WE MET TO DETERMINE VOTER DISTRICTS IN THE CLERK PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE DETERMINE VOTER DISTRICTS BASED ON THE NEW REDISTRICTING OF THE TOWNSHIP TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE IN LESS CONFUSING FOR THE PUBLIC WHEN IT COMES TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
I WAS GRATEFUL TO BE APPOINTED TO AND MY FIRST MEETING WILL BE ON MARCH 9TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU. I TOO WANT TO THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS.
[00:25:01]
I MAY OR MAY NOT [INAUDIBLE] TODAY.I WILL NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY IT.
AND I KNOW THAT STAFF WAS SUPER APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE BREAK ROOM LOOKING AT THEM, DIVIDING THEM UP, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL THAT OUR FORMER SUPERVISOR STYKA DID FOR STAFF AND THE ENTIRE MERIDIAN TEAM.
SO THAT WAS VERY APPRECIATED BY THE TEAM THIS MORNING AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE EDC SUBCOMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING THIS MORNING AS A PUBLIC MEMBER JUST TO GET MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THIS PROCESS IS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND SEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON SOCIAL. BUT I REALLY WANTED TO JOIN THE MEETING THIS MORNING TO HEAR WHAT THE ASK WAS AND WHAT THE DISCUSSION WAS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY HEALTHY DISCUSSION BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE. THERE WERE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS AND I THOUGHT THAT THEY INVOLVED THE DEVELOPER IN THE DISCUSSION AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD OTHERWISE IF I HADN'T OF ATTENDED THAT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATED HAVING THAT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THAT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE INGHAM COUNTY M.T.A.
MEETING LAST WEEK, WHERE A PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN BY THE NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT, KELLY JONES, OUR FORMER DEPUTY MANAGER, DEREK PERRY.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT M.T.A.
IS. OH, MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION.
NOT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM KNOWS THAT.
OK. OK. THE MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE MONTHLY COUNTY MEETINGS AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS.
AND THIS MONTH IT WAS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT, KELLY JONES AND OUR FORMER DEPUTY TOWNSHIP MANAGER DEREK PERRY SAT ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THAT POSITION LAST FALL, AND SO SHE GAVE A VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION ON ROAD PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE OKEMOS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT GOING ON THROUGH NOVEMBER. THEY'LL ALSO BE WORKING AT THE HASLETT ROAD AND PARK LAKE ROAD INTERSECTION STARTING IN SPRING, RECONSTRUCTING THE INTERSECTION.
AND SHE GAVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW FOR PROJECTS IN 2023, ADDING A LEFT TURN LANE TO MERIDIAN ROAD IN COORDINATION WITH MDOT.
AND THEY'LL ALSO BE RECONFIGURING LAKE LANSING AND ABBOTT ROAD TO THE HAGEDORN INTERSECTION. I CALLED THIS YEAR OUR TOWNSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE YEAR BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERYWHERE I GO, THERE'S SOME INFRASTRUCTURE GOING ON.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED AND TO HEAR HER GIVE A PRESENTATION AND THE NUMBER OF ROADS THAT ARE ROADS THAT ARE BEING DONE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AT THE ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK, AS TRUSTEE WISINSKI MENTIONED THE [INAUDIBLE]. AND IMPROVED MOVING BOUNDARY LINES FOR PRECINCT 10 AND PRECINCT SIX TO REDUCE THE DUAL BALLOTS SITUATION AND PRECINCT SIX BECAUSE OF THEIR STATEWIDE REDISTRICTING AND THE COUNTY REAPPORTIONMENT, IT CREATED A DUAL BALLOT SITUATION FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND SO WE REDREW THE LINES FOR PRECINCT 10 AND PRECINCT SIX TO ELIMINATE THAT DUAL BALLOT SITUATION. IT'S STILL KEEPS A DUAL BALLOT IN PRECINCT 10 BECAUSE OF HOW THE LINES WERE DRAWN FOR JULIE BROOKS'S FOR THE STATE REP POSITION.
SO BUT WE WE TRIED TO ELIMINATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE DUAL BALLOTS CAN CAUSE CONFUSION AMONG VOTERS WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BALLOT STYLES WITHIN ONE PRECINCT.
AND THEN THE COMMISSION ALSO APPROVES SPLITTING PRECINCT 17 INTO TWO PRECINCTS TO MEET THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS, THE VOE REQUIREMENTS OF NO MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE REGISTERED AND ACTIVE VOTERS PER PRECINCT.
MERIDIAN THIS PRECINCT 17 WAS COMBINED WITH PRECINCT 16 BACK IN 2012, AND CURRENTLY PRECINCT 17 HAS THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED REGISTERED VOTERS AND ALMOST OVER TWENTY EIGHT
[00:30:06]
HUNDRED ACTIVE VOTERS.WE MET WITH DIRECTOR SCHMITT AND DIRECTOR CLARK AND REVIEWED NOT ONLY THE CURRENT NUMBER OF HOUSES AND UNITS WITHIN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS, BUT WE ALSO REVIEWED FUTURE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND HOW MANY UNITS WOULD BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE TO SEE IF WE NEEDED TO SPLIT ANY OTHER PRECINCTS.
AND IT WAS VERY GOOD TO ME TO MEET WITH DOWN THERE AND FIND OUT THAT WE REALLY ONLY NEED TO DO THIS ONE PRECINCT.
SO WE SPLIT PRECINCT 16 AND 17 BACK UP TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE, AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND THOSE BOUNDARY LINES AND PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE STATEWIDE REDISTRICTING COUNTY AND THE WHAT THE TOWNSHIP STONE, PROBABLY ALMOST EVERY VOTER IN THE TOWNSHIP WILL GET A NEW VOTER CARD WITH THEIR VOTER INFORMATION ON IT.
FRIENDS OF OKEMOS LIBRARY I ATTENDED THE FRIENDS OF OKEMOS LIBRARY MEETING.
THEY HAVE AN UPCOMING BOOK SALE THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH, FROM NINE A.M.
TO FIVE P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH SIX FROM EIGHT A.M.
TO FIVE P.M. AT THE OKEMOS MASONIC CENTER HAMILTON ROAD.
IT'S STILL PRETTY EASY TO GET TO THE THEIR SALES HAVE BEEN DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID.
THE FUNDING FOR THIS FOR THE SALES OF THE BOOKS HELPS HELPS THEM GET AUTHORS IN AND HELPS PROVIDE EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THEIR SALES WERE DOWN AT THE LAST ONE.
SO THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET THE WORD OUT MORE AND HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND BUY SOME BOOKS THAT THEY'RE USED BOOK SALES SO.
AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, ATTENDED THE ROTARY MEETING TODAY.
I KNOW TREASURER DESCHAINE WAS THERE AND SUPERVISOR JACKSON WAS AT THAT MEETING AS WELL, AND THERE WAS A FABULOUS PRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE HASLETT OKEMOS ROBOTICS TEAM AND WE HAD THEM HERE AT THE BOARD, [INAUDIBLE] AT A BOARD MEETING RECOGNIZING THEM.
AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE ROBOTICS HAS ON STUDENTS GOING INTO COLLEGE THINKING AND ENGINEERING DEGREE AND ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO GO INTO STEM PROGRAMS. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING TO HEAR TODAY, AND I THINK THAT'S MY FULL REPORT.
OH, ALSO, I JUST WANT TO MENTION I ATTENDED A SUPERVISOR STYKA FUNERAL SERVICE WAS ON SATURDAY, AND IT WAS JUST VERY TOUCHING TO SEEING AND THE OUTPOURING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME, WHO CAME OUT TO THE SERVICES AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO THIS TYPE OF FAMILY.
AND THEY TOO, IF YOU IF ANYONE'S CONSIDERING GIVING SOMETHING TO THE FAMILY, THEY WANTED DONATIONS TO GO TO, MERIDIAN CARES.
THANK YOU. I WOULD ONLY ADD TO THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR BROADBAND ACCESS ISSUE. I FINALLY ATTENDED THE FIRST INGHAM COUNTY BROADBAND TASK FORCE MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE 23RD, AND THE PRIMARY INFORMATION TO COME OUT OF THAT IS.
AT THE COUNTY HAS CONTRACTED WITH MERIT NETWORK.
SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
TO HELP ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED BROADBAND IN THE TOWNSHIP, THEY HAVE A PROGRAM DEVELOPED.
IT WILL BE ROLLED OUT, I THINK, MAYBE THE END OF MARCH, EARLY APRIL.
SO I BELIEVE THEY INTEND TO BE FINISHED WITH THAT PROCESS IN JUNE, AND SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO LET THE REST OF US KNOW WHAT KIND OF ACCESS YOU HAVE. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL LEARN HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRINGING BROADBAND ACCESS TO THE WHOLE COUNTY IN THE PROCESS.
NOTHING ELSE. AND WE MOVE ON TO WE NEED AN APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.
TRUSTEE WISINSKI, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
[00:35:04]
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND SUPPORT, ARE THERE IS THERE? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THEN CLERK GUTHRIE WOULD YOU? I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL ON THAT.YES, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
YES. OPPOSE NO? THEN THE CHAIR VOTES YES AND UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.
WE COME TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH CONTAINS COMMUNICATIONS.
THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 15 REGULAR MEETING.
MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 22ND SPECIAL MEETING, BILL'S RATIFICATION OF A NEW POLICE OFFICER
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
APPOINTMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ANNUAL REPORT.IS THERE A MOTION TREASURER DESCHAINE? I MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED, [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE WE APPROVE IT, THOUGH I DO WANT TO ASK THE CLERK WE DID HAVE A SUBSTITUTE SET OF MINUTES THAT WERE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL.
THOSE WILL REPLACE THE MINUTES IN THE PACKET.
IS THAT CORRECT? THEY WERE PLACED [INAUDIBLE] ALREADY.
OK, SO THESE ARE THE SAME ONES THAT WERE ONLINE.
CORRECT. AND THE SAME WITH THE BILLS THAT ARE HERE.
CORRECT. JUST A PAPER COPY OF WHAT WAS ONLINE.
CORRECT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA MUST BE BY ROLL CALL.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA (SALMON)]
SUPERVISOR JACKSON.THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY TONIGHT.
WE COME TO ITEM 12 ACTION ITEMS. ITEM 12A HAS TO DO WITH THE TOWNSHIP DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PLAN.
OH, CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT TONIGHT.
I CAN VAGUELY ANSWER QUESTIONS IF NECESSARY.
I KNOW IF CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT HERE, SO.
ALL RIGHT. JUST A QUICK REMINDER FOR THE BOARD.
THIS IS IN THE EVENT OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR ANY OTHER FORM OF DISASTER THAT WOULD RESULT IN A DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY, WHETHER IT BE FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH FEMA.
AND THERE'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO RECOUP DAMAGES.
THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO WE WOULD FOLLOW THIS AND INVENTORYING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, AND THEN WE COULD MAKE THE REQUISITE REPORTS TO THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RECOUP THOSE DAMAGES. SO THIS IS A WAY TO GET PUBLIC FINANCING FOR A NATURAL DISASTER OR OTHER DISASTER SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY SOLELY ON INSURANCE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] HAS KIND OF LED.
[12A. Township Damage Assessment Plan]
I WILL REDUCE MY NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.CHIEF [INAUDIBLE], DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS STAFF, LIKE HOW IT WORKS ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL? LIKE WHO'S ALL INVOLVED WITH IT? SO I USED TO BE A CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MANAGER IN THE STATE, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THIS ALL WORKS AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.
WE DO A WINDSHIELD DAMAGE AND I KNOW THAT THE FIRE CHIEF SPOKE AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING ABOUT THIS, WHERE WE GO OUT AND DO A FIRSTHAND LOOK TO REPORT BACK TO THE STATE AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE FOR US TO MOVE ON.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALSO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL RECEIVE TRAINING IN HOW TO DO THESE ASSESSMENTS.
WE THEN CULMINATE THOSE AND MOVE THEM UP THROUGH THE STATE.
THE STATE THEN PUSHES THAT INFORMATION UP THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THROUGH THOSE DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE, THEY CAN MAKE THE DECLARATIONS OF DISASTERS CASCADE FORWARD. SO LIKE THE TOWNSHIP WOULD DECLARE, THE COUNTY WOULD DECLARE THE STATE WOULD DECLARE DISASTER.
AND THEN ALL OF THOSE DECLARATIONS START OPENING COFFERS UP STATE MONIES AND THEN ULTIMATELY IN A BAD IN A DISASTER THAT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FEDERAL MONIES BECOME AVAILABLE THROUGH FEMA.
AND IT'S JUST A A STRUCTURED WAY OF DOING THESE ASSESSMENTS THAT FOLLOWS THE STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS SOMETHING AND THAT WE PROVIDE AN
[00:40:04]
ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF WHAT DAMAGES OCCURRED WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP BORDERS.SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT IT MAKES THINGS MORE EFFICIENT.
YOU WORK TOGETHER MORE COLLABORATIVELY AND MONEY IS AVAILABLE.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? IF THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE? THE STANDARDIZED PROCESS IN WHICH WE REPORT THE DAMAGE ALLOWS US TO REQUEST THOSE FUNDS, AND THIS DECREASES INSURANCE RATES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THERE IS SO THE FIRE CHIEF HAD SPOKE TO THAT, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE STEPS IN MULTIPLE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
THIS IS ONE OF THEM THAT STARTS US DOWN THAT PATH.
RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? SPECIFICALLY, CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] TALKED ABOUT THIS PLAN BEING INCLUDED IN A LARGER EMERGENCY PLAN AND PUTS US IN STEP WITH THE COUNTY'S PLANS FOR A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.
WE FALL UNDER THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND THIS IS JUST AN ANNEX ARE A VERY SMALL, REALLY IT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF AN OVERLAP, MUCH LARGER PLAN THAT COVERS RESPONSE, LOGISTICS AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS OF WHAT A DISASTER REQUIRES.
RIGHT. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO IS TO APPROVE OUR PLAN AND SUPPORT ITS INCORPORATION WITH THE OTHER PLANS.
THE OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CLERK GUTHRIE I MOVE TO APPROVE THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PLAN AS ANNEX C OF THE TOWNSHIP SUPPORT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.
OTHER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE EXPLANATION WE'VE GOTTEN [INAUDIBLE]? NOT MUCH TO ADD.
I MEAN, I LOVE SEEING GREATER EFFICIENCIES AND COLLABORATIONS AMONG DEPARTMENTS, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS NOT ONLY DOES THAT, IT'S A BENEFIT NOT ONLY FOR OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES, BUT IT'S A BENEFIT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, NOT ONLY IN HOW WE CONDUCT BUSINESS AND HOW WE SERVICE THE TOWNSHIP, BUT ALSO IN THE POSSIBILITY TO BRING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE TOWNSHIP.
I ALSO IN READING IT LIKE HOW IT COMPLEMENTS THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN THAT CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] HAS PUT INTO PLACE AT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I MAKE THE MOTION FOR THIS TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THE CLERK SAID AND JUST KNOWING WE HAVE A PLAN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT, GIVEN THAT WE'RE HAVING SO MUCH MORE FLOODING AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS THAT ARE HAVING HAVING HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IT JUST MAKES SENSE THAT WE HAVE THIS.
IN ADDITION, IF WE WERE TO EVER HAVE A NATURAL DISASTER, WE NOW ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT FUNDING THAT WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE IN OUR BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT, WITHOUT THE FUNDING [INAUDIBLE], I APPRECIATE TRUSTEE WISINSKI'S POINT BRINGING UP CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING FAR MORE NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF A PLAN WILL COME TO US ONE OF TWO WAYS THIS WAY, WHICH IS A PROACTIVE ACTION BY OUR STAFF TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, TO IMPROVE OUR EXISTING PROCEDURES OR AFTER A DISASTER, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE WHAT I DID AFTER THE ICE STORM OF 2013. I GOT A BACKUP GENERATOR AND OF COURSE, I DIDN'T HAVEN'T NEEDED IT SINCE THEN.
I [INAUDIBLE] NEED TO HAVE A MONTH BEFORE, SO THIS WILL BE BETTER THAN MY BACKUP GENERATOR. IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IN PLACE AND READY WHEN WE NEED IT, SHOULD A NATURAL DISASTER COME BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP AND COME TO THE TOWNSHIP AND AGAIN APPRECIATE THE STAFF LEVEL WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND BRINGING IT TO US HAVING IT VETTED SO IT'S IN PLACE WHEN WE NEED IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, SO THE MOTION BEFORE US IS TO APPROVE THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PLAN AS ANNEX C OF THE TOWNSHIP'S SUPPORT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE
[00:45:08]
MOTION. PLEASE SAY YES.YES. YES. OPPOSE NO? CHAIR, VOTE YES, AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. MOVE NOW TO ITEM 12B, WHICH IS THE [INAUDIBLE] LAW FIRM CONTRACT . ASSISTANT MANAGER OPSOMMER WILL INTRODUCE THIS.
SO THE BOARD'S FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING, THE BOARD DID DISCUSS THE CONTRACT AND HOW TO PROCEED. AND SO WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A THREE YEAR EXTENSION.
THE CONTRACT HAS ALWAYS INCLUDE THE OPTION FOR THE BOARD TO EXTEND IT ON A THREE YEAR BASIS. THE RETAINER REMAINS FLAT AT EIGHTY THOUSAND, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL RETAINER ESTABLISHED IN 2015 FOR THE BOARD'S REMINDER AND MR. [INAUDIBLE] WORK WITH THE TOWNSHIP PRECEDES THE ADOPTION OF THE CONTRACT.
HIS WORK WITH THE TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY DATES BACK TO 2010.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF [INAUDIBLE], HE I'M SURE HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE, BUT THAT IS THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU.
THIS LANGUAGE IS PRETTY STANDARD THROUGHOUT MANY OF OUR CONTRACTS, WHERE WE HAVE THREE YEAR OPTIONS FOR EXTENSIONS, WHETHER THAT BE FOR SOLAR OR LAW FIRMS OR CONTRACTORS.
MM-HMM. DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR.
[12B. Harkness Law Firm Contract]
CHIEF [INAUDIBLE]? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] COULD YOU, IN A FEW WORDS, JUST GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF PERFORMANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE [INAUDIBLE] LAW FIRM? IT'S VERY EASY. IT'S EXCELLENT.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH MR. [INAUDIBLE]. LIKE I SAID IN THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, WE CAN CALL HIM ANYTIME, DAY OR NIGHT, AND HE'S THERE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AND GIVE US GUIDANCE.
SO I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM THIS FAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING FORWARD WITH HIM IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THANK YOU. TREASURER DESCHAINE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE] AS WE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I GUESS WE CAN ALLOW THAT.
SO MANY OF THESE CONTRACTS WE'RE SEEING HAVE HAD HUGE RATE INCREASES, INFLATIONS AT FIVE TO SEVEN PERCENT RIGHT NOW.
WE APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING THE LINE AT THE EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLAR RATE FOR THREE MORE YEARS. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE COOPERATION YOU'RE GETTING FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL? THEY'VE GIVEN YOU LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ON WHAT WE CAN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THAT'S WORKED FOR YOU AS AN ATTORNEY.
SO I HAVE SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES THAT I WORK WITH.
SOME OF THEM ARE GENERAL CIVIL, BUT SEVERAL OF THEM INVOLVE PROSECUTION WORK AS WELL.
AND I CAN SAY WORKING WITH THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT IT'S AS FAR AS POLICE WORK, THEY'RE PHENOMENAL. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS THE REST OF HIS TEAM. THEY MAKE MY JOB THAT MUCH EASIER WHEN I GO INTO PROSECUTE A CASE.
THE VERY THOROUGH REPORTS, EVEN EVEN THE PUTTING TOGETHER OF THE PACKETS, IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF AMAZING.
YOU KNOW, I GET INFORMATION SHEETS FOLLOWED BY WITNESS LISTS, FOLLOWED BY SECRETARY OF STATE REPORTS, CRIMINAL HISTORIES AND THEN THE REPORT AND EVEN AN INVENTORY OF WHAT THEY FOUND AND EVERYTHING.
SO I MEAN, THERE'S NO STONE UNTURNED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO THOROUGH, THEY'RE SO PROFESSIONAL.
AND YOU KNOW, IS I APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS FROM THE CHIEF AND I WILL SAY IT'S, YOU KNOW, MY ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH I PLAN TO TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
I HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY WITH THE OFFICERS IN THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALL OF THEIR PHONES. THEY'RE VERY COMMUNICATIVE WITH ME WHEN I NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CASES, WHEN THAT COMES UP.
SO I MEAN, THAT'S ALSO VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR. [INAUDIBLE]? THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. WE HAVE MS. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I MOVED TO EXTEND THE CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] LAW CONTRACT AS PRESENTED IN THIS PACKET FROM MAY 1, 2022 THROUGH APRIL 30TH 2025, THE ANNUAL RATE FOR THE SERVICE SHALL REMAIN AT EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR.
SUPPORT. SO MOVE BY MR. DESCHAINE, TO PUT IT BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI, A VOICE VOTE.
[00:50:07]
YOU HAVE A COMMENT. I'M SORRY, CLERK GUTHRIE.THANK YOU. SO I SAID THIS THE LAST MEETING.
I AM IN FAVOR ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF MR. [INAUDIBLE] CONTINUING HIS CONTRACT WITH THE TOWNSHIP.
I'M IMMENSELY PROUD TO HAVE THE TOWNSHIP WORK WITH HIM AND I KNOW THAT THE CHIEF IS VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICES AND SO WE OF COURSE, ARE HAPPY WITH YOUR SERVICES.
BUT I ALSO AM NOT A BIG FAN OF NOT HAVING PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN WAGES, HAVING CONTRACTUAL INCREASES.
AND SO WHILE I DO SUPPORT OBVIOUSLY CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. [INAUDIBLE] AND HAVING HIM REPRESENT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, I AM NOT A FAN OF ANOTHER THREE YEARS. AT EIGHTY THOUSAND, I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I WANT TO COMMENT THAT I HOPE THERE IS ROOM TO OPEN THIS UP, IF POSSIBLE, WITHIN THOSE THREE YEARS OR AT THE END OF THESE THREE YEARS, IF THE SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE EXEMPLARY, THAT WE INCREASE THIS AMOUNT. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ZERO PERCENTAGE INCREASE FOR ANY JOB OR PERSON.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT I HOPE NEXT TIME THIS COMES BEFORE US THAT THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF INCREASE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED APPROPRIATELY AND THAT AN INCREASE IN PAY IS PART OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOU FOR THAT OPINION.
TRUSTEE WISINSKI I WOULD CONCUR THAT I THINK IT'S IT'S APPROPRIATE TO REASSESS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, THERE'S COST OF LIVING AND ANOTHER INFLATION INCLUDED.
MY COMMENT TO THAT WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO OPEN IT UP FOR INCREASED AMOUNT.
I WOULD BE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING AN ACTUAL RFP WHERE WE'RE WE'RE DOING A, YOU KNOW, A COMPETITIVE BID.
SO I'M COMFORTABLE BASED ON EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND THE FACT THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS A RESIDENT BUSINESS OWNER AND AN INCREASED FEE.
BUT I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT IF IN FACT WE INCREASE THE FEE. NOT TO SAY THEY'RE NOT WORTH IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO OUR CHOICES AT THIS POINT ARE TO EITHER HAVE AN RFP OR OPEN IT UP TO AN RFP AT THIS POINT OR TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT AS IT IS UNDER THE CONDITIONS, AS NOTED IN THE MOTION.
SO WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THE MOTION IS TO EXTEND THE CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] LAW FIRM CONTRACT IS PRESENTED FROM MAY ONE 2022 TO THROUGH APRIL 30 2025 AT THE ANNUAL RATE FOR SERVICE REMAINING AT EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE SAY OH OK. OUR CONTRACT.
YES. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM 12C, WHICH IS ORDINANCE 2022-01 FIRE HYDRANT HOSE CONNECTION STANDARDS.
MR. SCHMIDT, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I WOULD JUST OFFER ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM OUR LAST MEETING. THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. [INAUDIBLE], TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND IN LIGHT OF OUR CONVERSATION AT THE LAST MEETING, WE'D RECOMMEND ONE MINOR CHANGE IN THE FIRST LINE STRIKING NONRESIDENTIAL AND PUTTING OTHER THAN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME INSTEAD.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING.
IT'S A RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGE THAT WILL REQUIRE AS LONG AS THE BOARD IS OK WITH THAT AMENDED ORDINANCE, WE WILL PUBLISH IT PROPERLY AND NO ADDITIONAL ACTION IS NEEDED TO MAKE
[00:55:06]
THAT CHANGE. OK.DIRECTOR SCHMITT, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO ORIGINALLY IN THE ORDINANCE, IT WAS FOR SINGLE FAMILY ONLY HOMES.
NO, IT'S RIGHT NOW, SAYS NONRESIDENTIAL.
AND GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT SPECIFICALLY, IT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
[ 12C. Ordinance 2022-01 – Fire Hydrant Hose Connection Standards – Introduction]
EXCLUDE NON-SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.MR. [INAUDIBLE] SIMPLY SUGGESTED, JUST SAY THAT BE CLEAR ON ITS FACE THAT IT IS EVERYTHING EXCEPT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MULTIFAMILY.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? WE NEED A MOTION.
TREASURER DESCHAINE. I MOVE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022-01 AN ORDINANCE TO ADD FIRE HYDRANT HOSE CONNECTION STANDARDS IN CHAPTER TWENTY SIX FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION SUPPORT.
SO MOVED AND SUPPORTED TO ADOPT THE MOTION.
WE NEED A ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR THIS.
SEEING, NO FURTHER NEED FOR COMMENT.
YES. MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MR. SCHMIDTT. WE ARE AT 12D IN YOUR PACKET.
IS THE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH? THERE'S SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO EITHER, LET'S SEE, READ THE RESOLUTION OR MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
MR. DESCHAINE, I'D BE GLAD TO DO BOTH.
I MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND THE RESOLUTION READS, WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN OF EVERY RACE, CLASS AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND HAVE MADE HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROWTH AND STRENGTH OF OUR NATION IN COUNTLESS RECORDED UNRECORDED WAYS.
AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE PLAYED, CONTINUE TO PLAY CRITICAL ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ROLES IN EVERY SPHERE OF LIFE OF THE NATION BY CONSTITUTING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE LABOR FORCE WORKING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE HOME.
AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE PLAYED A UNIQUE ROLE THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED OF THE NATION BY PROVIDING THE MAJORITY OF THE VOLUNTEER LABOR OF THE NATION.
AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN WERE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EARLY CHARITABLE, PHILANTHROPIC AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS OF OUR NATION.
[12D. Resolution Celebrating Women’s History Month]
AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN OF EVERY RACE, CLASS AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND SERVED AS EARLY LEADERS IN THE FOREFRONT IN EVERY MAJOR PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL CHANGE MOVEMENT, AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY COURAGEOUSLY IN THE MILITARY.AND WHEREAS AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEADERS NOT ONLY IN SECURING THEIR OWN RIGHTS OF SUFFRAGE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, BUT ALSO IN THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, THE EMANCIPATION MOVEMENT, THE INDUSTRIAL LABOR MOVEMENT, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND OTHER MOVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE PEACE MOVEMENT, WHICH HAVE CREATED A FAIR OR MORE FAIR AND JUST SOCIETY FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS DESPITE THESE CONTRIBUTIONS, THE ROLE OF AMERICAN WOMEN IN HISTORY HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED IN THE LITERATURE, TEACHING AND STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. AND WHEREAS WOMEN HAVE PLAYED AND CONTINUE TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE GOVERNING OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, SERVING ON NUMEROUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND AS THE SUPERVISOR, TREASURE CLERK AND TRUSTEE THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP'S HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES PASSED A RESOLUTION IN 1987 AND IN EVERY SUCCESSIVE YEAR SINCE THEN DESIGNATING MARCH AS THE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, CALLING UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO OBSERVE AND HONOR THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE NATION WITH APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHAIR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE INGHAM COUNTY MICHIGAN, THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SHALL OBSERVE MARCH 2022 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. THE SUPPORT.
TRUSTEE WISINSKI, YOU KIND OF LEFT THE [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU FOR READING THAT AND MAKING THE MOTION OF THE OTHER COMMENTS.
I'M HOPEFUL AND EXPECTING THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ENGAGED IN THIS EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LOTS OF INFORMATION TO OUR RESIDENTS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING TO HONOR WOMEN'S
[01:00:02]
HISTORY MONTH. BECAUSE CLERK GUTHRIE KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES.I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK THE ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER IF HE KNEW OF ANY ACTIVITIES THAT STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT.
I DO NOT RECALL ANY UPDATES FROM THE STAFF MEETING YESTERDAY, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY CHECK WITH COMMUNICATION MANAGER YATES AND HER TEAM TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE HOPPER.
I'M SURE THEY HAVE STUFF PREPARED.
VERY GOOD. TRUSTEE WISINSKI, I WOULD SAY.
THANK YOU TO TREASURER DESCHAINE FOR THAT AND JUST BEING A FEMALE BOARD MEMBER, A RESIDENT MOM, SISTER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE REALLY MADE A LOT OF STRIDES IN EQUITY FOR WOMEN.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
THERE'S STILL A LOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT WE I CAN SAY I INCUR DAILY THAT COULD BE BLATANT DISCRIMINATION OR IT COULD BE MOST OFTEN MICROAGGRESSIONS THAT SOME MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY KNOW.
SO I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THAT I THINK MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS REALLY DONE A FANTASTIC JOB WITH SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATING WOMEN INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES.
IF I'M DOING MY MATH RIGHT, INCLUDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR MANAGERS, WE'RE AT SIXTY PERCENT OF DIRECTORS BEING FEMALE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOARD TODAY, GRANTED, WE'RE NOT A FULL BOARD.
WE'RE CERTAINLY OUTNUMBERING TREASURER DESCHAINE.
SO WITH THAT, I DO BELIEVE THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS SIGNIFICANTLY AND I THINK MORE THAN MOST OF OTHER COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING.
SO WITH THAT, I BELIEVE STAFF AS WELL, AND I JUST I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND MOVING THIS ENDEAVOR FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR THIS A MOTION AND I APPRECIATE YOU READING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAY THIS NOW OR AS THE ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER PASSED THIS LONG.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CONCRETE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WOMEN IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION BY FEMALES WITH THE MASTER PLAN.
I KNOW THAT'S HAD A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IF SOMEONE'S SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
SUPERVISOR JACKSON, I COULD GO TO FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN AND THE WOMEN WHO PUT TOGETHER THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN AND ALL OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THERE. [INAUDIBLE] OVER AT THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER AND ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT SHE DEVELOPED OVER THERE BEING THE FIRST[INAUDIBLE] NATURE CENTER PROGRAM COORDINATOR OVER THERE. I THINK THERE'S A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF FEMALE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK I RECALL DIRECTOR CLARK AND MANAGER GATES TALKING ABOUT FEMALE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND DOING SOMETHING WITH THEM.
BUT I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE A RESOLUTION THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTS WOMEN WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED X, Y AND Z IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING STAFF CAN WORK ON, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MAYBE SEE AT THE END OF THE MONTH KIND OF WRAPPING UP THE MONTH, YOU KNOW, OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH OR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IT REALLY STRUCK ME WHEN YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, READING THE MOTION WITH FEMALES BEING OVERLOOKED. I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK ANY OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MANY, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE FORMER CLERK [INAUDIBLE] AND.
YOU KNOW, I JUST JUST SO MANY, YOU KNOW, IN VIRGINIA WHITE AND JUST SO MANY FABULOUS CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS COMMUNITY REALLY LIKE TO NAME THEM AND WHAT THEY DID.
THANK YOU, MR. DESCHAINE. WELL, WITH SUPERVISOR JACKSON ASSUMING HER ROLE THAT WILL MAKE THREE OUT OF THE PAST FOUR SUPERVISORS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAVE BEEN WOMEN.
OUT OF THE PAST FOUR CLERKS HAVE BEEN WOMEN.
[01:05:02]
THE TREASURES AREA WERE 50 50 [INAUDIBLE].WE HEARD FROM THE ROBOTICS CLUB THIS MORNING AT THE ROTARY MEETING, AND THEY MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO INVOLVE YOUNG WOMEN IN THEIR STEM PROGRAMS, AND THEY NOW HAVE ALMOST 38 PERCENT OF THE ROBOTICS CLUB MEMBERS, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE A TRADITIONAL MALE CLUB ONLY. IT'S NOT.
IT'S MORE THAN A THIRD OF OUR FEMALE MEMBERS, INCLUDING SOME ALL-FEMALE TEAMS, THAT ARE GOING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS HERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, I'M SURE IF WE BROUGHT THE POLICE CHIEF BACK UP TO THE PODIUM AND ASK HIM, HAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GONE AWAY IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP? HIS ANSWER WOULD BE NO. SO WOMEN CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH HISTORICAL STRUGGLES, INCLUDING VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM, AND WE NEED TO DO MORE.
AND WE'RE DOING A LOT HERE, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE.
I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE ON THAT.
THANK YOU. YES. TRUSTEE WISINSKI, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S THAT WAS THAT WAS NICE TO HEAR.
I WOULD SAY THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH ROBOTICS AND BEING A FEMALE IN THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY.
IT WASN'T EASY TO ATTEND SOME OF THE CLUBS AND THINGS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, PREDOMINANTLY A MALE ATTENDEES.
BUT I THINK LEADERSHIP, FEMALE LEADERSHIP MAKES THAT HAPPEN.
AND I SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS THAT SUPPORT US AS WELL.
SO, YEAH, APPRECIATE THAT AND ASSISTANT MANAGERS.
[LAUGHTER] NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
TO SUPPLEMENT THE THE RESOLUTION, SINCE IT IS A RESOLUTION, WE NEED A ROLL CALL.
THANK YOU. AND NOW WE COME TO A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ARE KIND OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS SINCE THERE'S BEEN SUCH MOVEMENT AND CHANGING ROLES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
AND SO ITEM 12 E IS THE APPOINTMENT TO THE EAST LANSING MERIDIAN WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY. MR. OPSOMMER. ARE YOU PLANNING TO INTRODUCE THIS? YES. SO [INAUDIBLE] YES.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JACKSON.
SO WITH THE DEPARTURE OF OUR FORMER DEPUTY TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING, MR. DERRICK PERRY, WE DO HAVE A VACANCY ON THE EAST LANSING MERIDIAN WATER, A SEWER, WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY [INAUDIBLE] AND SO TRADITIONALLY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN ENGINEERING HAS SERVED AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE BODY.
AND SO WE NEED TO FILL THIS VACANCY.
AND IN THIS INSTANCE, I'VE RECOMMENDED MY OWN APPOINTMENT TO [INAUDIBLE].
THIS HISTORICALLY, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THESE APPOINTMENTS ON THE STAFF LEVEL IS THERE IS NO END TERM TO THE APPOINTMENT.
SO SUPER DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY WAS APPOINTED ON MAY 19, 2015 TO SERVE ON [INAUDIBLE] IN PERPETUITY. AND THEN OUR ALTERNATE VOTING MEMBER IS CHIEF ENGINEER [INAUDIBLE] AND SO
[12E. Appointment to the East Lansing Meridian Water & Sewer Authority]
[INAUDIBLE] ALREADY APPOINTED AS THE ALTERNATE VOTING MEMBER IN PERPETUITY, SO LONG AS HE CONTINUES TO WORK FOR THE TOWNSHIP IN ITS CAPACITY.SO DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY WAS ALSO THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC BODY WILL NEED TO SELECT A NEW CHAIR AND HISTORICALLY IT ROTATES BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR EAST LANSING AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR MERIDIAN.
SO NICOLE AND I WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO WANTS TO CHAIR THE AUTHORITY MOVING FORWARD. BUT BY ALL ACCOUNTS, I DID ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING, THE FEBRUARY MEETING OF THE AUTHORITY DURING MY FIRST WEEK, AND CLYDE [INAUDIBLE], THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEEMS TO RUN A VERY GOOD AUTHORITY AND THERE'S SOME.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CHANGE THERE AS WELL, BUT THEIR SUCCESSION PLANNING IN THE WORKS AND I'LL KEEP THE BOARD APPRIZED ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
[INAUDIBLE] DOES AN ANNUAL MEETING EVERY YEAR, IN FACT, CLERK GUTHRIE AND I ATTENDED LAST YEAR.
ASSISTANT MANAGER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A BROADER REVIEW OF [INAUDIBLE] IS AND HOW IT SERVES MERIDIAN EAST LANSING RESIDENTS? YEAH.
SO IT'S OWNED IN ITS EAST LANSING AND MERIDIAN'S WATER AUTHORITY, SO IT OWNS AND OPERATES THE WATER PRODUCTION FACILITY, SO WE MAINTAIN OUR OWN WATER MAINS AND OUR OWN SEWER MAINS. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY PRODUCES THE WATER THAT WE PUT THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, AND SO
[01:10:04]
ALL THE CAPITAL OUTLAY THAT GOES WITH MAINTAINING OUR WATER PRODUCT PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT FACILITIES IS RUN THROUGH [INAUDIBLE], THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ITSELF WE MAINTAIN SEPARATE FROM EAST LANSING.THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THAT RULE.
WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO THE BOUNDARIES OF EAST LANSING AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING SOME LATERALS INTO THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN EAST LANSING AND MERIDIAN IN EDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK REMEMBERING WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THERE'S A FEW HOMES ON THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY THAT ARE STILL ON THE CITY SEWER, SO WE'RE ADDING SEWER LATERALS SO THAT THEY CAN CONNECT TO OUR SYSTEM.
BUT BY AND LARGE, WE EACH MAINTAIN OUR OWN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND BY OWNING OUR OWN, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR WATER AND SEWER CUSTOMERS WITH EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RATES.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST WATER AND SEWER RATES ANYWHERE IN THE REGION.
IN FACT, THEY WANT TO SEEM TOO COMPETITIVE WITH EAST LANSING, BUT OUR RATES ARE ALMOST HALF OF WHAT THEIR RATES ARE.
SO WE PROVIDE EXCELLENT WATER AND SEWAGE FACILITIES, AND WE DO IT AT A BARGAIN RATE.
AND WE DO THAT IN PART BECAUSE WE OWN THE PLANT AND WE WE'VE MADE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO IT OVER THE YEARS TO KEEP IT WORKING PROPERLY AND PROVIDING EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY WATER, WHICH IS TESTED REGULARLY.
MOST RECENTLY, WE HAD AN ARSENIC CONCERN, A LOT OF WATER AUTHORITIES AND WE DID THAT TESTING IN THE LOW LEVELS ARE SO LOW THEY COULDN'T BE TESTED.
THAT'S HOW LOW LEVELS OF ARSENIC WERE IN THE WATER.
DO WE KNOW WHEN THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE THIS YEAR? I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A REPORT TOMORROW AND WHEN THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.
I MEAN, ONE THING THAT BENEFITS US AT THE AGE OF OUR SYSTEM, OUR SYSTEM.
AS FOR NEWER AND WE DO NOT HAVE A COMBINED SYSTEM, EAST LANSING STILL HAS A COMBINED STORM, WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, AND THAT CREATES ISSUES FOR THE RESIDENTS.
SO MR. OPSOMMER, I KNOW THAT THE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ALSO HAS I GUESS CIVILIAN REPRESENTATION FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
ARE YOU AWARE OF WHO THEY ARE? COULD YOU NAME THEM AT THIS POINT? I'VE ONLY MET THEM ONCE, SO I COULD NOT NAME THEM OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. IT'S ON THE EAST LANSING'S PAGE.
DO THEY PUT THEM IN MY MEMO? WE DO HAVE TWO CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY BOTH HAVE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND WITH WATER AND SEWER TREATMENT.
THEY BRING EXPERTISE TO OUR AUTHORITY, AND THE FEBRUARY MEETING WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD MET THEM.
OK. THESE ARE TIMED APPOINTMENTS.
YES, THEY ARE THREE YEAR TERMS. AND SO THIS BODY APPOINTS THEM TO THREE YEAR TERMS. AND I PROBABLY DO NEED TO DIG IN BECAUSE WHEN I WAS DOING MY RESEARCH ON THIS BACK IN 2015, THERE WAS A LAPSE IN ONE OF THE APPOINTMENTS.
SO. I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MEMBERS IS BRAD BROGAN, WHO'S ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE MERIDIAN HISTORICAL COLLEGE, WHICH IS TYPICAL OF A MARINE TOWNSHIP RESIDENT TAKING HIS EXPERTISE TO HELP IN ONE AREA AND THEN TAKING THIS PASSION FOR THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE IN ANOTHER.
BUT WE LIKE ALL OF OUR BOARDS, THE COMMISSION.
THESE REPRESENTATIVES BRING A LOT OF INDUSTRY EXPERTISE BASED ON THEIR CAREER TO THESE VOLUNTEER APPOINTMENTS.
AND WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SERVICE ON THESE BOARDS.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] AND MR. JAMES [INAUDIBLE] ARE THE TWO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BODY.
MR. BROGDEN'S TERM EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2023 AND MR. [INAUDIBLE] EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2022.
SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
OK, SO NOW THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEN AND WHO'S INVOLVED WITH, TRUSTEE WISINSKI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? EXCUSE ME. I MOVED TO A POINT.
DAN [INAUDIBLE], ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN ENGINEERING TO THE EAST LINDSEY MERIDIAN WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SUPPORTED, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPOINT ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER TO THE EAST LANSING MERIDIAN WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, PLEASE.
WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE, ACTUALLY APPARENTLY.
[01:15:05]
CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.LOOK FORWARD TO SWEARING YOU IN.
[LAUGHTER] ITEM 12 F HAS TO DO WITH APPOINTING ALTERNATE ONE AND TWO TO THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JACKSON.
SO SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM, THIS IS ANOTHER HOUSEKEEPING MATTER WITH MR. PERRY'S DEPARTURE, SO TRUSTEE WISINSKI DOES SERVE AS OUR MERIDIAN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE STANDARD VOTING MEMBER ON THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD.
CHIEF ENGINEER YOUNES ISHRAIDI CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE ALTERNATE TWO MEMBER, AND MR. PERRY PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE ALTERNATE ONE.
MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS TO APPOINT OUR CHIEF ENGINEER ISHRAIDI TO ALTERNATE ONE AND MYSELF TO ALTERNATE TWO TO FILL THOSE IF TRUSTEE WISINSKI IS ABSENT FROM ANY OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETINGS.
JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND ON THIS ITEM, THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD WAS CREATED AND ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROTECTING OUR WATERSHEDS AND OUR GROUNDWATER.
ROUGHLY 98 PERCENT OF OUR DRINKING WATER HERE IN MID-MICHIGAN COMES FROM OUR GROUNDWATER, SO THAT IS THE PREDOMINANT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD, AND IT WAS
[12F. Appointing Alternate 1 and 2 to the Groundwater Management Board]
ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1982.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
SO THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD IN TOTAL INVOLVES THE THREE COUNTY REPRESENTATION THAT IS MANAGED BY TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE WHO THE STAFF LEAD IS.
TRUSTEE WISINSKI DO YOU KNOW WHO THE STAFF LEAD IS? AND IS IT, I ASSUME IT'S AN EMPLOYEE OF TRI COUNTY.
THERE'S REPRESENTATION FROM ALL MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THOSE TRI-COUNTY REGIONS.
I MOVE TO APPOINT, CHIEF ENGINEER YOUNES ISHRAIDI AS THE TOWNSHIPS ALTERNATE ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD AND MOVE TO APPOINT DAN OPSOMMER AS ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING AS THE TOWNSHIP'S ALTERNATE TWO MEMBER OF THE GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT BOARD.
WE CAN TAKE BOTH MOTIONS TOGETHER AS ONE.
THEN THE MOTION IS TO APPOINT YOUNES ISHRAIDI AS ALTERNATE ONE MEMBER AND MR. OPSOMMER ASSISTANT MANAGER OPSOMMER, ALTERNATE TWO MEMBER OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD. WE NEED A ROLL-CALL VOTE AGAIN.
ON OUR AGENDA NOW WE COME TO DISCUSSION ITEMS, BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS. THE FIRST IS SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 22-011.
AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUESTS BEING REFERRED TO US FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MR. SCHMITT.
YES, I'LL BE BRIEF IN MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
THE REQUEST IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING LARGER THAN TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET ON THE VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING MERIDIAN COMPANY BUILDING. MERIDIAN COMPANY HAS OUTGROWN THEIR SPACE AND ARE LOOKING TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXPAND, AND SO THEY'RE PROPOSING A BUILDING SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE THIRTY ONE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET ON THE ADJACENT VACANT FIVE ACRES.
IT DOES REQUIRE A TOWNSHIP BOARD APPROVAL PER ORDINANCE.
PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THE MATTER AT THEIR LAST MEETING HAD NO CONCERNS, WAIVED THE RULES AND TOOK ACTION THAT EVENING TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED NO MAJOR CONCERNS IN THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT REVIEW AND WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL SITE PLAN REVIEW AND ALL THE TECHNICAL DETAILS ARE STILL FORTHCOMING, OBVIOUSLY. BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE PROCESS, WE'VE IDENTIFIED NO CONCERNS.
I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING AND CAN SPEAK FURTHER TO IT IF YOU'D SO DESIRE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE.
[13A. Special Use Permit – 22-011 – The Meridian Company– Building greater than 25,000 square feet]
I THINK WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.[01:20:05]
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, JIM [INAUDIBLE] 5823 WOOD VALLEY ROAD IN HASLETT TOWNSHIP RESIDENT, I THINK FOR 35 YEARS AND TOWNSHIP ENTREPRENEUR FOR NEARLY 38.SO I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, AS TIM ILLUSTRATED, WE'VE BEEN IN OUR CURRENT FACILITY.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1999 AND WE MOVED IN ROUGHLY 22 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH AND NEVER FIGURED WE'D OUT GROW IT AND MOTHER FATE HAS A STRANGE WAY OF DOING THINGS. SO HERE WE ARE NEED A BIGGER, BIGGER HOUSE, BIGGER OPERATING PLANT.
AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
MR. DESCHAINE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REINVESTMENT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PLAN HERE YOU ARE JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM BATH TOWNSHIP AND CLINTON COUNTY, AND YOU'RE STAYING HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND IN THE COUNTY, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR YOUR EXISTING BUILDING YOU'RE MOVING OUT.
DO YOU HAVE A BUYER FOR IT? NO, WE INTEND. I'M THE JAY IN MJ MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS MY BROTHER, MARTY AND I.
WE WILL BE THE OWNERS AND THE DEVELOPERS.
AND WE'LL ESSENTIALLY PROBABLY SIGNING A LISTING AGREEMENT WITH A COMMERCIAL REALTOR LATER ON THIS SUMMER TO FIND A SINGLE USE ENTITY THAT WOULD TAKE OVER OUR EXISTING NINETEEN THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.
AND THERE'S NO INTENTION TO SELL IT, AND THEIR USE WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH TOWNSHIP INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ORDINANCES.
YOU'RE BUILDING AT A TIME OF COVID, AN INCREASE IN RAW MATERIAL COSTS AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS COST.
YOU'VE HAD THIS PLAN ON THE BOOKS I'M TAKING.
I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN GIVE US A BALLPARK FIGURE TO HELP US COMPARE OTHER PROJECTS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH YOUR COSTS HAVE GONE UP TO WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO YEARS AGO FOR YOUR BUILDING MATERIALS? A ROUGH BALLPARK COST WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE 20 TO 22 PERCENT RANGE.
AND AS FAR AS A TIMELINE, WE HAD OUR RATHER SUCCESSFUL SECOND SOIREE WITH THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE EARLIER TODAY, JUST A COUPLE OF MINOR POINTS.
SO PENDING THE ACTION THIS BOARD, WE'RE HOPING TO GO BACK TO STUDIO AND [INAUDIBLE] ARCHITECTS AND RENDER OUR FINAL CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND HOPEFULLY SUBMIT TO THE TOWNSHIP IN MAY AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN WITH THE ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT AT OR AROUND EARLY JUNE.
JUST BECAUSE WE GET THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO GET GOING RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS AND MATERIAL UNAVAILABILITY.
WE COULD DO SITE WORK THROUGH MOST OF THE SUMMER, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION COMPONENTS WOULDN'T ARRIVE PROBABLY UNTIL SOMETIME LABOR DAY OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
WE'RE HOPING FOR A SENSE OF ENCLOSURE BY CHRISTMAS AND A MOVE IN ROUGHLY A YEAR FROM NOW.
AND LASTLY, WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF BUSINESSES OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE, PARTICULARLY SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGES. AND YOU'RE GROWING AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO CONTRACT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR SECRET IN THAT OR WHAT ARE YOU FINDING IN THAT? [LAUGHTER] WELL, FIRST OF ALL, A COMPETITIVE WAGE AND BENEFIT PACKAGE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST AS OF FEBRUARY 1ST UPDATED OUR WAGE SCALE FOR ALL OF THE FIELD STAFF.
WE DO THAT EVERY TWO YEARS, AND IN THE INTERIM WE HAVE COST OF LIVING INCREASES.
BUT IF I COULD, I COULD JUST TAKE UP A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME AND DOVETAIL BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 12 D.
I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THE INGHAM INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WILSON TALENT CENTER OUT IN MASON. IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CAREER CENTER.
WELL, ONE OF THE UPWARDS OF MAYBE 20 CURRICULUMS THEY HAVE IS SOMETHING CALLED CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS PAST SATURDAY TO GO OUT AND JUDGE THE INITIAL REGIONAL LEVEL OF COMPETITION IN SKILLS USA.
AND THIS IS BASICALLY WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE INDUSTRY CRAFTS PEOPLE WILL COME FROM.
AND I'M JUST VERY PLEASED TO KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY EXTENDED AND OFFER EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S BEEN ACCEPTED TO A YOUNG LADY WHO WILL BE ALUMNI OF THAT INSTITUTION COME THIS JUNE.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SUBSEQUENT OFFER EMPLOYMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO ANTICIPATE THAT SOON AFTER GRADUATION, THEY'LL BE COMING ON BOARD WITH US
[01:25:04]
AND THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR YOUNG WOMEN WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE PAYROLL IN THE FIELD, RANGING IN AGE FROM TWENTY TO TWENTY EIGHT.AND THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT GET INTO THE TRUCKS AND GO TO THE JOB SITES AND SERVE YOUR NEEDS AS HOMEOWNERS OR GO TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITES AND WORK ON THINGS LIKE RALLY'S PIZZA AND THINGS LIKE OUR BUDDY'S PIZZA, THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
SO WE'RE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO RECRUIT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRADESPEOPLE WITH A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON WOMEN IN THE TRADES AND SO MUCH FOR MY DOVETAILING. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
MR. DESCHAINE. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. OKAY. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
AND TO TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE JUST WE ARE LACKING SKILLED TRADE OVERALL IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN THAT CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT IS FANTASTIC.
AND WOMEN EVEN BETTER? WELL, WE MANAGED. I MEAN, IF I WERE TO HAVE TAKEN AN EMPLOYEE CENSUS FOR OUR FIELD STAFF, BE IT SERVICE PERSONNEL OR INSTALLATION STAFF, I THINK FIVE YEARS AGO, THE AVERAGE AGE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY BETWEEN 42 AND 44 YEARS OF AGE.
IF I WERE TO TAKE THAT NOW IT'D PROBABLY BE BETWEEN 30 AND 33, SO WE DROPPED IT DRAMATICALLY WITH OUR YOUTH MOVEMENT HERE.
AND HONESTLY, WE HANG OUR HAT ON THAT.
AND WILSON TALENT, MY SON WANTS TO GO INTO THEIR WELDING PROGRAM, GIVEN THAT HE'LL BE A SENIOR NEXT YEAR AND HAS ALL HIS CREDITS, SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A COOL TRADE. HE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A JOB OFFER BEFORE HE GRADUATES.
[LAUGHTER] I DO HAVE THREE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM IN THE PACKET.
SO MENTIONS, SO THE NATURAL FEATURES STUDY I WAS READING THROUGH.
SO STORMWATER SAYS STORMWATER TREATED STORMWATER WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE ADJACENT WETLAND. AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT TREATED STORMWATER MEANT WITHIN THAT NATURAL.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE THE TERM TREATED CAME FROM.
ORIGINALLY WE WERE DISCUSSING RECYCLING STORMWATER COMING OFF OF THE ROOF.
OK, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHERE THE NOTION OF THE TREATMENT WOULD HAVE COME THROUGH BECAUSE WE'VE DONE SO IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONAL JOBS WHERE WE TOOK STORMWATER RUNOFF OFF OF A ROOF AND PUT IT THROUGH A RATHER SIGNIFICANT FILTRATION SYSTEM AND THEN DISCHARGED IT INTO THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WE'VE OPTED NOT NOT TO GO THAT ROUTE FROM A COST CONSIDERATION PERSPECTIVE.
TIM MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BETTER THAN I.
SO GENERALLY, TREATMENT OF STORMWATER IS THROUGH THE MECHANICAL OR NATURAL MEANS.
MECHANICAL BEING SOMETHING LIKE A SWIRL CONCENTRATOR WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S IN THE GROUND THAT PULLS OUT ESSENTIALLY THE GRIT IN THE STORMWATER OR THROUGH NATURAL MEANS, WHICH WOULD BE THE PREFERENCE AND LIKELY WHAT THE DRAIN COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, IS GOING TO PUSH TOWARDS SOMETHING LIKE A RAIN GARDEN OR MORE NATURAL TREATMENT WHERE YOU DISCHARGE INTO LAWN, NOT WETLAND.
THEREBY HAVING THE GRIT AND THE UNNATURAL ITEMS FALL OUT BEFORE IT GETS TO ITS ULTIMATE DESTINATION, SO THAT'S WHAT WE REFER TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TREATED STORMWATER, OK? AND SO DO WE HAVE A FINAL PROPOSAL FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE THE STORMWATER? WE DO NOT. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF DETAILS THAT WE GET INTO AT SITE PLAN REVIEW.
PERFECT. OK. OK. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE SAME THING DIRECTOR SCHMITT DON'T GO TOO FAR.
THE TREE SURVEY. SO THEY DID A TREE SURVEY ON THIS PARCEL, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THIS AREA WAS AGRICULTURE AT ONE POINT.
AT THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL, THERE IS A LOT OF OLD GROWTH TREES THERE PREDOMINANTLY, I THINK, BECAUSE OF WETLANDS THAT ARE THERE.
IT MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREES, OLD GROWTH AND WHAT WE CALL SIGNIFICANT TREES, WHICH ARE AT A CERTAIN DIAMETER OR HAVE SOME HISTORICAL VALUE, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND SO IT SAYS THAT THERE'S 563 PROTECTED TREES ON THE PROPERTY, 30 TO 40 OF THOSE TREES ARE PLANNED FOR REMOVAL.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE 30 TO 40 TREES ARE SIGNIFICANT? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD? I DO NOT, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION.
I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE PLAN IN THAT DETAIL BECAUSE THAT'S AGAIN, NOT TYPICALLY SOMETHING WE GET INTO IN THIS STAGE, BUT HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
EXCELLENT. I THINK THE REST OF MINE, SO ALL FOUR WETLANDS ON SITE ARE REGULATED, BOTH BY
[01:30:08]
EGLE AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, JUST BASED ON THEIR ON THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE KLINGER DRAIN AND THEIR ACREAGE.BUT AS I READ THE WETLANDS OUTSIDE OF ANY STORMWATER THAT MAYBE DIRECTED, THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED AT ALL.
THERE'S NO WETLAND IMPACT PROPOSED AND THERE IS NO DIRECT DISCHARGE TO WETLANDS FOR BOTH.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
IF I MAY FOLLOW UP ON YOUR QUESTION THERE ON TIM'S COMMENTS.
THE ZOOM MEETING THIS MORNING WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR KARLA KLOSS AND AN ENGINEER WHOSE NAME ESCAPES ME AT THE MOMENT TO MY PRIMARY CONCERNS THEY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AT THE POINT WAS INCREASING ONE OF THEIR EASEMENTS FOR EVENTUAL OR SUBSEQUENT MAINTENANCE WORK.
THEY'VE HAD TO GET IN THERE, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO DO IN THE 30 YEARS SINCE THAT PORTION OF THE KLINGER DRAIN WAS COMPLETED.
AND SO WE'LL BE PROBABLY GRANTING THEM AN INCREASE IN SIZE OF THEIR EASEMENT FOR ACCESS FOR EQUIPMENT, SPILLAGE THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THE OTHER ONE HAD TO DO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN ENCROACHMENT OF THE STRUCTURE ITSELF ON ONE OF THE OTHER EASEMENTS, AND WE'RE WORKING TO RESOLVE THAT.
BUT BY AND LARGE, THEY WENT OFF THE TICK LIST, IF YOU WILL, OF STANDARD CONCERNS THEY WOULD HAVE. AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY MAJOR CONCERNS FOR STORMWATER OR GROUNDWATER RUNOFF AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OUR SITE PLAN HAS INDICATED MORE THAN SUFFICIENT AREAS FOR RETENTION. AND WE GOT INTO THE NOTION OF WHAT TYPE OF PLANT LIFE WE'RE GOING TO BE PUT IN THOSE RETENTION AREAS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY AT SECOND BASE WITH THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
GREAT. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THANK YOU.
I THINK WE OH YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS. WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS WORKING, AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAM AND STUDENTS BEING TRAINED OUT OF THE WILSON CENTER OVER THERE AND SKILLED TRADES.
AND I KNOW IT'S WORKING BECAUSE WE HAVE A 1984 HEATER AND WE'VE HAD VARIOUS COMPANIES.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE HAVE, HAD VARIOUS COMPANIES COME IN AND TRY TO FIX IT.
AND THE MOST RECENT PERSON THAT WE HAD WAS SOMEONE WHO'S MY SON'S AGE WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM. AND I KNOW, I KNOW THIS PERSON THEY CAME FROM THE MERIDIAN COMPANY AND THEY FIXED OUR PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, AND HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON OUT OF EVERY SINGLE COMPANY TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HOW WE SHOULD MAINTAIN IT.
AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIM BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN HIM SINCE, LIKE YOUTH FOOTBALL DAYS AT OKEMOS.
SO I KNOW THAT THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING AND I APPRECIATE HEARING YOU OFFERING COMPETITIVE WAGES AND BENEFITS BENEFIT PACKAGES TO YOUR EMPLOYEES.
WE ALL GOT TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, SO I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS KIND OF MORE OUT OF CURIOSITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A ZONING QUESTION OR IF IT'S YOUR BUSINESS IS IN THE TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY. IS THAT WAS THAT WHAT I READ? I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT HELPS YOU OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE IN DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR LEASE IS GOING TO BE WITH A FUTURE LEASE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE 2017 MASTER PLAN FOR THE TOWNSHIP AND THE ACCOMPANYING FUTURE LAND USE MAP THAT WAS WITH THAT CALLED FOR A BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY AREA LACK OF A BETTER TERM AND ESSENTIALLY BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY, I BELIEVE, IS A HYBRID OF INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE RESEARCH AND OFFICE PARK.
SO NOW WHETHER THAT'S A FUTURE LAND USE TERM OR WHETHER IT'S CONTEMPORARY NOW IN 2022.
BUT YOU HEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT DEFINITION OF THAT TERM, THEY INVOLVE CAMPUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. DO I EVER SEE A CAMPUS COMING OUT TO THE INDUSTRIAL TRIANGLE ON SAGINAW STREET? PROBABLY NOT.
IT WOULD TAKE A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT EFFORT FOR THE BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO THE
[01:35:04]
WEST OF US TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.BUT I'LL ASK TIM IF MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERMINOLOGY IS CORRECT.
[LAUGHTER] AND SO YOU PLAN ON LEASING THE CURRENT BUILDING THAT YOU'RE IN? YES. OK.
DO YOU ALSO LEASE THAT COMMUNICATIONS TOWER OR DO THEY LIKE? THAT'S LOCATED ON THE FIVE ACRE PARCEL THAT WE HAD RETRO ZONED BACK TO INDUSTRIAL LAST YEAR. AND RIGHT NOW, THAT TOWER LEASE IS NEARING THE END OF A 25 YEAR LEASE WITH MY BROTHER AND I.
AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND, NEGOTIATE AND COMMUNICATE WITH, IT IS A CELL TOWER.
OH YEAH. WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE CONTINENT TALKING TO EXPERTS.
I BET. SO WHERE THE FUTURE OF THAT PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR IS IN TERMS OF THAT INDUSTRY OR PROFESSION? I HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT WE ALL REALIZE IT EVERY DAY.
AND THEN I HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR SCHMITT IN REGARDS TO I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IF THIS IS A DRAIN COMMISSION QUESTION.
MAYBE THIS IS FOR DIRECTOR OPSOMMER ABOUT THE KLINGER INTER-COUNTY DRAIN.
AND IF WE ANTICIPATE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE, LIKE WE HAVE WITH DANIEL'S DRAIN AND SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THAT.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT'S NOT ONE OF THE CHAPTER 20 DRAINS.
IT WOULD BE IT'S LIKELY A CHAPTER 3 OR A CHAPTER 4 WHICH THE DRAIN OFFICE WOULD SET THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLE.
THAT'S WHERE WE RAN INTO JUST THIS WEIRD CONUNDRUM.
I SUPPOSE I WOULD CALL IT WITH THE DANIEL'S DRAIN AND THE DRAIN COMMISSION SETTING THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND THE COST OF THE PROJECT, AND THEN US HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. AND SO I ASSUME FROM WHAT I'VE READ IN THE MEMO THAT THE THE THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSION OFFICE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAIN OR WOULD IT BE THEM OR IS IT A DIFFERENT COUNTY? YEAH, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PART OF THE REVIEW YET, BECAUSE THE REVIEW IS SOLELY A ZONING ISSUE FOR THE TOWNSHIP AS FOR A BUILDING OVER TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
WHEN WE MOVE TO THE SITE PLAN PROCESS THEY WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND THAT'S PART OF THE MEETINGS THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] HAS ALREADY HAD WITH THEM TO GET THEM UP TO SPEED ON THE PROJECT THAT'S COMING. YEAH, THE FACT THAT HE'S MET WITH THE APPLICANT TWICE, HE'S AHEAD OF MOST PEOPLE AT THIS POINT. WELL, I APPRECIATE THE VERY THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT WAS DONE AND PROVIDED IN THE PACKET.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TREES, HOW MANY TREES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN IN READING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OVER FIVE HUNDRED PROTECTED TREES AND OVER FOUR HUNDRED, I FORGET WHAT THE OTHER NAME IS FOR THE OTHER TREES, AND THEN THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE AROUND 40 OR 50 TREES THAT ARE TAKEN DOWN.
THAT GAVE ME SOME SOLACE BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED.
I'VE BEEN OUT TO THE PROPERTY AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DETAIL THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THAT REPORT AND JUST TRYING TO THINK IF I WANT TO ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME IN REGARDS TO THAT.
I THINK I'LL HOLD THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS FOR ANOTHER TIME AFTER WE FIND OUT SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSION, SO.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS WON'T COME BACK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
IT'LL COME BACK SIMPLY FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE WILL REVIEW IT SOMETIME IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, WHICH IS A PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
BUT WE DO GET TO VOTE ON THE? YOU CAN COMEBACK AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR FINAL REVIEW OF THE TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND.
THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY THAT I DO WANT TO ASK DIRECTOR SCHMITT AND I WILL LET YOU ASK.
[LAUGHTER] IS THE ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR PARKING SPACES REQUIRED? DO WE NEED THAT MANY PARKING SPACES? YEP STAFF HASN'T LOOKED AT THAT YET.
THAT'S A SITE PLAN RELATED ISSUE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OVERPARK THE SITE.
[01:40:01]
GENERALLY, THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED.I KNOW THEY DID HAVE SOME SPACE THAT THEY NEEDED TO ADD TO THE SITE FOR STORAGE OF VEHICLES OVERNIGHT, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS BETWEEN ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFTS OF THE PLAN I SAW IN THIS VERSION OF THE PLAN.
SO IT'S GOING AT REDUCE PARKING SPACES.
YEP. IT'S I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT NOBODY PUTS EXTRA PARKING ON THEIR SITES ANYMORE BECAUSE PARKING DOESN'T PAY RENT.
THANK YOU. YEP. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT IF I COULD.
IT'S A THOUSAND PER SQUARE FEET [INAUDIBLE].
YES. OK. WE KNOW FROM REAL TIME EVERY DAY REPORTING TO WORK AND GOING THROUGH OUR BUSINESS MODE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ROUGHLY A TWO AND A HALF TIMES MULTIPLIER OF THE MINIMUM TOWNSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL USAGE.
WE SEND A NUMBER OF OUR VEHICLES HOME EVERY NIGHT, EVERY COMPANY VEHICLES FOR DISPATCH FROM HOME, BUT STILL IN REAL TIME.
THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS HAVE INDICATED THE FACT THAT IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM WOULD EVEN 2X THE MINIMUM SUFFICE OUR NEEDS.
SO IT DOES APPEAR TO BE INORDINATE, BUT IN REALITY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, IT'S THE REAL WORLD FOR OUR BUSINESS.
OK. ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY A PROSPERING BUSINESS IN OUR TOWNSHIP, AND THAT'S BEEN VERY USEFUL.
MR. SCHMITT I THINK WE LEARNED SOME THINGS ABOUT HOW WE PUT TOGETHER OUR NEW MASTER PLAN AS WELL IN TERMS OF DEFINING SOME OF THE TERMS. OH, I'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF IDEAS FOR A NEW MASTER PLAN SHARING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
ALL RIGHT. OUR FINAL DISCUSSION ITEM AGAIN WILL BE PRESENTED TO US BY MR. OPSOMMER IT HAS TO DO WITH THE 13B, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.
YOU WILL ALSO TELL US WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THIS TIME, RIGHT? YES. GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT HERE, BOARD MEMBERS.
SO I AM GOING TO TRY TO REMOVE AS MUCH JARGON AND ACRONYM AS I CAN AND TRYING TO OUTLINE THIS. SO ESSENTIALLY WITH THE ARP MONEY, SO THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WERE APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DURING COVID.
SO THESE WERE LARGELY DESIGNED TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY THROUGH STATE APPROPRIATIONS AND LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS.
AND SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GONE THROUGH A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS SINCE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED INTO LAW.
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY HAS CREATED RULES AND PROMULGATED RULES AROUND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH ARP FUNDS.
FOR US, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY SIMPLE.
SO THE FINAL RULE BASICALLY STATES THAT IF YOU HAVE LOST $10 MILLION DOLLARS OR LESS IN REVENUE, WHICH WE'VE ACTUALLY GAINED REVENUE DURING COVID, THEN YOU CAN TAKE THE STANDARD
[13B. American Rescue Plan Funds]
ALLOWANCE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO UTILIZE OUR ARP FUNDS FOR ANYTHING THAT WOULD FALL UNDER GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES IS THE TERM THAT'S USED IN THE FINAL RULE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY TO PUT THAT INTO LAY TERMS. GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES IS ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD TRADITIONALLY DO, WITH A FEW SPECIFICALLY CITED EXCEPTIONS TO THAT, THE EXCEPTIONS BEING LARGELY DEBT SERVICE, WHETHER THAT'S OPEB OR PENSION LIABILITY DEBT SERVICE, WHETHER THAT'S PAYING DOWN A ROAD BOND A ROAD BOND AS A DEBT SERVICE, THAT WOULD ALSO BE AN IMPROPER USE, BUT ANYTHING ASIDE FROM THAT WOULD BE PROPER USE. SO ONE THING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED INTERNALLY YESTERDAY AT THE STAFF MEETING THAT TREASURER DESCHAINE AND CLERK GUTHRIE WERE A PART OF.SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE SINCE WE CAN DO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT THE TOWNSHIP CAN GENERALLY DO WITH THESE FUNDS? HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE PROJECTS OR PROSPECTIVE INVESTMENTS AND WHAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY PROCEED WITH.
4.5 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.
IT ACTUALLY REALLY ISN'T WHEN WE GET TO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO REALLY, WE'VE ARRIVED AT TWO CRITICAL THINGS.
FIRST IS THAT WITH THESE BEING ONE TIME FUNDS, WE DO NOT WANT PROJECTS THAT CREATE
[01:45:05]
ONGOING LEGACY COST.PREDOMINANTLY, WE DON'T WANT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE STAFF COSTS THAT WE CAN'T SUSTAIN. WE KNOW THAT ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IS GOING TO CREATE MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION COST, AND THAT'S UNAVOIDABLE.
SO THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO EVALUATE THESE? SO INTERNALLY WITH MY DEPARTMENTS, I HAD SOME JUST KIND OF SOME BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS WHERE WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF SCENARIOS AND WE BASICALLY WENT DOWN EACH BUCKET OF PROJECT THAT WE TYPICALLY DO.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, ROAD PROJECTS OUR NEW 10 YEAR ROAD MILLAGE IF WE INVESTED ARP MONEY IN ROADS, WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN? WELL, WE WOULD SPEND OUR DOLLARS OUR ARP DOLLARS, THAT FINITE AMOUNT AND WE WOULD GET ZERO MATCHED DOLLARS.
SO PUBLIC ACT 51, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE FUEL TAX AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES, ALREADY DESIGNATES ALMOST NO MONEY FROM THE STATE FOR TOWNSHIP LOCAL ROADS.
ANYTHING FROM CORNELL ROAD TO CORNELL WOODS, RIGHT? ANYTHING FROM HATCH ROAD TO, YOU KNOW, TO BRIARWOOD SUBDIVISION ROADS AND SO ROAD FUNDING REALLY WOULD SCORE VERY LOW ON THAT METRIC BECAUSE WE GET ZERO MATCHED DOLLARS, WE'RE BASICALLY LEFT WITH 4.5 MILLION IF WE WERE HYPOTHETICALLY TO INVEST ALL THAT MONEY.
THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM FROM MY DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE A PATHWAY AND TRAIL PROJECTS.
SO IF WE CAN FIND PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPETITIVE WITH THE COUNTY MILLAGE, WE CAN ACTUALLY LEVERAGE A VERY LUCRATIVE MATCH.
SO THE OKEMOS BOARDWALK, FOR INSTANCE, WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS.
WE RECEIVED ALMOST A MILLION BETWEEN THE COUNTY TRAIL MILLAGE REVENUE AND THE TAP GRANTS, WHICH ARE FEDERAL GRANTS THROUGH MDOT.
AND MOST OF THAT ONE MILLION, ALMOST ONE MILLION WAS COUNTY REVENUE.
SO THE COUNTY MILLAGE TRAIL AND PARK MILLAGE REVENUE ISN'T A 50 50 PROPOSITION IF YOU HAVE A VERY ATTRACTIVE PROJECT IN TERMS OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY.
AND SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN FOR GRANT MONEY ON THE PATHWAY END OF THINGS.
BUT IF YOU GO TO THE VERY LAST PAGE OF THE PACKET IS THE PATHWAY MASTER PLAN.
SO I PUT THAT IN THERE JUST SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN ALL REFERENCE IT AND LOOK AT IT.
SO THIS IS THE 2021 ADOPTED PATHWAY MASTER PLAN, AS YOU RECALL, WHEN I WAS SERVING ON THE BOARD. I PUT THIS ON OUR GOALS AND DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY AND I WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS, COMING UP WITH VARIOUS IDEAS.
ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT DEREK ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH BEFORE HE LEFT US WAS BASED ON SOMETHING THAT TREASURER DESCHAINE WANTED TO DO, WHICH WAS CREATE PATHWAY CONNECTIVITY ON CORNELL ROAD.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WETLANDS.
DOING ALL THE BOARDWALKS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE WETLAND AND IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
SO IN LIEU OF THAT, WE LOOKED AT THE MAP AND FOUND THIS CONSUMERS ENERGY RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH STRETCHES NORTH SOUTH BETWEEN CORNELL ROAD AND VAN ATTA ROAD.
IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE CLOSER TO VAN ATTA ROAD.
AND SO THE STRETCH THIS PERSPECTIVE TRAILHEAD NOW WE DON'T HAVE EASEMENTS TO BUILD IT WITH CONSUMERS YET, BUT I WILL BE MEETING WITH CONSUMERS NEXT WEEK AND PLAN TO HAVE AN INITIAL CONVERSATION AND SET UP A FURTHER STAFF MEETING ON THIS.
BUT A TRAILHEAD LIKE THIS, WHICH WOULD SPAN FROM HASLETT DOWN TO LAKE PARK AT THE SOUTH END OF THE TOWNSHIP AND WOULD BRING MORE REGIONAL-ESK CONNECTIVITY, IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROBABLY SCORE VERY HEAVILY ON THE COUNTY'S FUNDING.
AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM, WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE ONE DOLLAR AND WE COULD GET FIVE TO NINE DOLLARS OUT OF EVERY $1 DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND, RIGHT? SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE WOULD BE WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.
AND SO OUR SAW GRANT SEWER AND WATER AUTHORITY GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE IN 2017 HAS BEEN FULLY INVESTED INTO THE SYSTEM.
AND SO WHEN WE INVEST INTO THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY GET OUT OF IT? WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW SYSTEM, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. AND SO IF WE WERE TO USE ARP FUNDING, WE CAN USUALLY GET ROUGHLY A 50 50 MATCH FROM THE STATE'S TWO REVOLVING FUNDS, ONE ON THE WATER SIDE, ONE ON THE SANITARY SEWER SIDE. AND SO THAT'S A PRETTY STANDARD MATCH.
AND WHAT WE DO WITH THOSE RESOURCES IS WE'RE KEEPING OUR WATER RATES LOW.
[01:50:01]
ANY INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE IS GOING TO OFFSET WATER BILLING INCREASES.SO THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET FUTURE COSTS TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
AND SO THOSE ARE THREE IDEAS THAT MY DEPARTMENT'S PUT TOGETHER.
I DID PRESENT THIS TO THE M TEAM YESTERDAY AT OUR MEETING.
CHIEF HAMEL HAS ALREADY SENT ME A COUPLE OF IDEAS FOR ARP FUNDING.
I KNOW DIRECTOR MAISNER IS GOING TO HAVE A LIST AND THE STATE IS PROSPECTIVELY LOOKING AT A POT OF GRANT MONEY WHERE THEY'RE TAKING SOME OF THESE FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS AND CREATING A LOCAL PARK FUND WHERE LOCAL UNITS COULD APPLY.
THAT ONE IS A MOVING TARGET BECAUSE WE DON'T.
WHEN WE CREATE A NEW FUND LIKE THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE DEPARTMENTS DON'T PROMULGATE RULES UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE PASSES THEM.
JUST LIKE HOW THIS FINAL RULE WAS JUST ADOPTED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS MARCH OF 2021, RIGHT? SO IT CAN JUST BE IT CAN BE TOUGH TO LOOK AT NEW FUNDS AND TRY TO KNOW WHAT THE MATCH WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE KNOW WITH LIKE THE NATURAL RESOURCE TRUST FUND AND ESTABLISHED FUNDS LIKE THE CLEAN WATER REVOLVING FUND AND OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.
BUT WE ALSO DO NEED TO GET MOVING OUR TIMELINES FOR ARP FUNDING AND FOR OBLIGATING THIS IT'S THE END OF 2024, AND THEN WE HAVE TO EXPEND IT BY THE END OF 2026, SO WE NEED TO APPROPRIATE BY THE END OF 2024 AND SPEND BY THE END OF 2026.
AND SO THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO NEED ENGINEERING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO OUR PIECE FORM WHETHER IT'S PARKS, PATHWAYS, WATER, SEWER, THERE'S A LOT OF LEAD TIME THAT GOES INTO THE PLANNING OF THE PROJECT.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, TWO TO FOUR YEARS THERE, BUT THAT GOES REALLY QUICKLY. THAT'S ONLY TWO CONSTRUCTION SEASONS BEFORE WE'RE OBLIGATED, SO WE NEED TO GET SOME CONTRACTS.
YOU KNOW, FISHBECK IS ON RETAINER WITH US FOR WATER AND SEWER.
IF WE DO PATHWAYS, WE'LL WANT TO DO AN RFP.
WE'LL LARGELY DESIGN IT IN-HOUSE, BUT WE WOULD DO AN RFP FOR THE CONSTRUCTION END.
SO ROUGHLY WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS SINCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING IN APRIL, YOU'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE THREE MEETINGS IN APRIL AND WE'VE GOT THAT FIRST WEEK. WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MEET THE 12TH, THE 19TH AND THE 25TH OR 26TH.
I THINK IT IS. SO WITH THE APRIL CALENDAR BEING PRETTY FULL, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAY.
COULD WE DO A SPECIAL WORK SESSION IN MAY WHERE WE DEVOTE IT SOLELY TO ARP AND I'VE ASKED DEPARTMENT HEADS TO HURRY UP AND BRING FORWARD IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT A LIST OF PROJECTS AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD AND START TO NARROW THE LIST DOWN ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE.
ONE OTHER ITEM OUTLINED IN HERE IS BROADBAND ACCESS, SO SUPERVISOR JACKSON GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE VERY FIRST BROADBAND TASK FORCE.
AND SO I BRIEFLY JUST DESCRIBE WHAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE UP TO THIS POINT.
SO THE COUNTY, IN THEIR FIRST ROUND OF ARP FUNDING, WHICH THEY'VE ALREADY APPROPRIATED ALL OF IT SET ASIDE FIFTY THOUSAND FOR A CONTRACT WITH MERIT NETWORK.
MERIT NETWORK IS GOING TO START CONDUCTING THEIR STUDY AND THEY HOPE TO HAVE THEIR FINDINGS BY JUNE, ACCORDING TO CONTROLLER [INAUDIBLE] AT THE COUNTY.
THE STUDY IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE PROVIDERS TO GET THEIR SERVICE MAPS RIGHT, LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONSUMERS ENERGY AND THEIR SERVICE AREA OR BWL AND THEIR SERVICE AREA, WE TALK IN TERMS OF MAPPING AND GIS AND LITERALLY MAPPING THE BOUNDARY.
APPARENTLY, THE MERIT NETWORK CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY IS SURVEYING HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES LIKE THEY'LL GO IN AND TEST THE SPEEDS.
IT'S NOT FAIRLY CLEAR TO ME, BUT I'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS AT THE COUNTY HOW THAT YIELDS A STUDY THAT WOULD SHOW US THE GAPS.
SO I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT CONTRACT WITH MERIT AND WHAT THE ACTUAL DELIVERABLES WILL BE, RIGHT? WHAT'S THE FINAL PRODUCT? BECAUSE REALLY, THE WAY THAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD IT IS, YOU KNOW THAT THE COST, THE NON COSTLY APPROACH IS FOR US TO GO AND APPROACH THE PROVIDERS WHO ARE ADJACENT TO THE GAPS IN SERVICE. AND WE COULD TALK TO THEM AND SEE IF WE COULD PARTNER EXPENSE WISE ON
[01:55:04]
EXTENDING THEIR LINES RIGHT.SO EXTENDING IF CONSUMERS AND SOMEWHERE ON GRAND RIVER, COULD WE WORK WITH THEM TO EXTEND IT ALL THE WAY TO MERIDIAN ROAD ON THE EAST END OF TOWN AND NORTH SOUTH, UP AND DOWN MERIDIAN ROAD? IT'S NOT A FEASIBILITY.
AND WHAT WOULD BE THE COST SHARING, RIGHT? BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A MAP OF WHERE THE GAPS ARE, THEN WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PURSUE.
SO THAT'S A BIT OF A MOVING TARGET.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU AT ONE OF OUR FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT ABOUT COVERS IT I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY AND FOR TONIGHT, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR GENERAL FEEDBACK ON INTEREST AREA FOR THE BOARD AND WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO PURSUE WITH KNOWING THAT WE'VE GOT TWO YEARS TO GET THIS OBLIGATED.
LET'S HEAR FROM TREASURER DESCHAINE FIRST.
I'VE GONE FIRST MANY TIMES TONIGHT WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE CLERK GUTHRIE, GO FIRST THIS TIME. IF YOU LIKE.
LADIES NIGHT. RIGHT.[LAUGHTER] THE MOVING TARGET FOR BROADBAND, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT TO BUDGET OR OR HOW TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THAT TYPE OF PROJECT.
IT ALMOST SEEMS AS IF WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF THE PROVIDERS AND MAYBE FIND OUT WHERE SOME OF THE GAPS ARE, OR ASK THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS REGARDING LACK OF COVERAGE ON SPECIFIC STREETS.
I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE FILED ON MERIDIAN ROAD WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IN THE PAST AND MAYBE WORK WITH THEM ON A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND THAT. YEAH, THIS IS NO DOUBT IT HAS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY DELIVERABLES ON SERVICE UNDER THIS OPTION.
AND SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PROVIDERS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND SO COMCAST IS ON MY LIST OF PARTNERS TO MEET WITH, AS IS ACD NET AND OTHERS, BUT I NEED TO GET AN ACTUAL WORKING LIST OF EVERY PROVIDER IN THE TOWNSHIP.
IT'S JUST TOUGH WITHOUT MAPPING BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DO OUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE ON THESE THINGS.
SO I'M GOING TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION WITH GREG TODD TOO.
I HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH HIM PRIOR TO THIS, AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED OF HOW THE STUDY WAS BEING CONDUCTED.
AND SO I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO PROCESS EVERYTHING.
SO I'LL HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DELIVERABLES ARE ON THAT AT THE END OF THIS.
BUT I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT PRODUCES WHAT I THINK WE WERE EXPECTING AND WHERE THE GAPS ARE. BUT COMCAST IS ON MY LIST AND THAT'LL PROBABLY BE THE FIRST PROVIDER AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY THE LARGEST PROVIDER IN THE TOWNSHIP.
BUT I'LL MEET WITH AT&T ACD NET EVERY OTHER PROVIDER ACROSS THE TOWNSHIP AND BUT IT'S THE PROVIDER THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.
WE DON'T HAVE CHOICE AND IT'S UP TO THEM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THEIR PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, THEIR SERVICE AREA AND WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND. I KNOW.
[INAUDIBLE] WOW WANTED [INAUDIBLE] MERIDIAN ROAD WOW WANTED TO COME OVER INTO THE TOWNSHIP. YEAH, I KNOW IN ONE INSTANCE, I WORKED IN MY FORMER JOB WITH A CHURCH THAT WANTED WOW TO EXTEND.
I COULDN'T FIND A GOOD CONTACT TO COMMUNICATE WITH WOW.
THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ARM THAT I COULD DISCERN IN MICHIGAN.
SO WE JUST KIND OF RAN INTO A DEAD END WHERE WE COULDN'T REALLY HELP THE CHURCH.
THEY HAD REACHED OUT JUST THROUGH THE 1800 NUMBERS OR 1888 NUMBERS.
AND THAT'S NOT A PLACE TO HAVE A CALL ABOUT EXTENDING THE BROADBAND SERVICE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE DOWN THE ROAD.
THE CHURCH WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.
I JUST DON'T THINK THEY REACHED THE RIGHT PERSON, SO IT CAN BE A IT ALL DEPENDS.
EVERYTHING IS SPECIFIC TO THE PROVIDER, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING'S SPECIFIC TO A LOCAL UNIT.
WILL, YOU WHEN YOU COLLECT THIS DATA FROM THE DIRECTORS AND THIS INFORMATION, WILL THAT BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD? THAT'S MY IDEA AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE'D HAVE AT LEAST A WORKING PROJECT LIST WITH SOME
[02:00:02]
ROUGH IDEAS INTERNALLY ABOUT WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.WILL YOU ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND SEEING WHAT RESIDENTS WERE DESIRING TO SEE IN THE TOWNSHIP AS POSSIBLE WAYS THAT THESE FUNDS COULD MEET SOME OF THOSE DESIRES? YEAH, FORGET IF WE HAVE AN ARP SPECIFIC QUESTION OR NOT, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT GET TO.
YEAH, ONE OF THEM WAS BROADBAND I MEAN, THE THING IS, IS THAT WE'RE PRETTY CONSTRAINED ON I MEAN.
IN TERMS OF CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UNLESS WE WANT TO GET INTO FACILITIES, THERE ARE PLENTY OF FACILITY NEEDS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE INITIAL ITEMS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR INSTANCE, IS STORAGE ON THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION SITE, WHICH IS A GENERAL FUND BUDGET ITEM THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
SO I MEAN, WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST INTERNAL NEEDS TOO, BUT TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SURVEY.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, POLICE AND FIRE GET HIGH REMARKS, BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT STAFFING FOR THIS.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE BUILD TRADITIONALLY ARE GOING TO BE PATHWAYS, TRAILS, PARK SYSTEMS, WATER, SEWER.
OK, SO YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SURVEY, THE FEEDBACK FROM DIRECTORS AND BRING SOMETHING TO US TO LOOK AT.
AND JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF WE CAN GET A 50 50 MATCH ON THE ENTIRE THING THAT NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 9 MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT, WHEREAS IF WE PUT IT INTO ROADS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST THE 4.5 THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE BIG PICTURE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MATCH FUNDING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE MATCH FUNDING.
THAT WOULD HAVE A HIGHER PRIORITY THEN.
YEAH. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. MY COMMENT WAS THAT YOUR MATCH STRATEGY HERE, I THINK, IS BRILLIANT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE TAKING YOUR REALLY CREATIVE WAY OF THINKING YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER AND APPLYING IT HERE AS ASSISTANT MANAGER.
I THINK THE BEST WAY TO LEVERAGE IT AND COUNTY IS THE EASY, LOW HANGING FRUIT ONE.
BUT THERE COULD BE OTHER GRANTS, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR WATER AND SEWER PLANT THAT WOULD BE WORTH IT TO HAVE THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVING TO MATCH FOR US IF WE COULD TURN OUR 4.5 INTO $9 MILLION DOLLARS.
AND SOME OF THEM MAY NOT HAVE A MATCH, BUT THOSE THAT DO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PURSUE THOSE. IF WE'RE GETTING BROADBAND I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF PARTNERING WITH EXISTING PROVIDERS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITY IN OUR WATER AND A SEWER PLANT.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE EVEN SOME OF THOSE THAT SAID, YEAH, THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD PURSUE BROADBAND. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THINKING WE WOULD PROVIDE A SIMILAR PUBLIC UTILITY FOR BROADBAND. THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH HAVING JUST ONE CHOICE WITH COMCAST.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL THAT WE ACQUIRE ISN'T FOUR AND A HALF MILLION.
IT'S I'M SURE WELL NORTH OF TEN TIMES THAT SO WE COULD TAKE THIS MONEY AND MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND THEN HAVE TO PUT MORE AND MORE MONEY INTO IT AND CREATE MORE AND MORE DEBT AND REALLY JEOPARDIZE OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION WHILE GOING AGAINST THE ONE OF THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS COMCAST, NBC AND STILL NOT GET OUR END PRODUCT COMPARED TO PARTNERING WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE THE IDEAL SOLUTION THERE WERE STILL THEN USING MOST OF THE MONEY FOR THESE KIND OF MATCHING GRANTS AND PROVIDING SOME MONEY FOR THIS WORKING WITH THE EXISTING PROVIDERS.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF OUR EASTERN THIRD OF THE TOWNSHIP URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO INTERNET, AND WE KNOW THAT'S ESSENTIAL RIGHT NOW.
ACCESS ISN'T REALLY OPTIONAL IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK REMOTELY AND WE DON'T WANT TO SAY, WELL, YOU BOUGHT A HOUSE BACK THERE AND SO YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE THEY BOUGHT THAT HOUSE.
WHEN THEY BOUGHT THAT HOUSE 20 YEARS AGO, INTERNET WASN'T ESSENTIAL.
AND SO WE NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN HELP THEM TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND STILL BE CONNECTED AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO.
BUT I WANT TO REALLY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS MATCHING IDEA TO THE BOARD.
AND IN TERMS OF IT, THE TRAIL THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD NORTH SOUTH TRAIL RIGHT NOW AND CORNELL ROAD IS ALWAYS THE PRIME LOCATION.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN IT, THERE'S JUST NO RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS TO BE HAD THERE.
SHORT OF TAKING OUT ONE HUNDRED OR TWO HUNDRED PRIME TREES, WHICH NO ONE WOULD WANT US TO DO WOULD CHANGE CORNELL ROAD FROM BEING A NATURAL BEAUTY ROAD TO SOMETHING VERY
[02:05:02]
DIFFERENT. SO IF THIS CONSUMER EASEMENT COULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE, IT'S NOT QUITE A MILE TO THE EAST, BUT IT WOULD STILL PROVIDE US WITH THAT AND IT WOULD BE VERY FUNCTIONAL AND MAKE GOOD USE OF THAT.DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE COOPERATION FROM CONSUMERS WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH THEM REGARDING EASEMENTS? YEAH. DEREK MR. PERRY DIDN'T SEE THAT AS PROBABLY BEING A PROBLEM, AND I THINK HE DID HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL AGREEMENT.
I THINK CONSUMERS HAD AN INTEREST IN DOING SOME STUFF WITH POLLINATORS AND STUFF.
AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY WAYS THAT WE CAN PARTNER AS WE'RE BUILDING IT.
WE COULD PLANT SOME POLLINATOR SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE TRAIL SYSTEM IF WE NEEDED TO.
THERE'S PLENTY OF WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THEM.
ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER TRAIL THAT WOULD PROBABLY SCORE VERY HIGH THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR LONGER, WHICH IS AN EAST WEST CONNECTOR.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM, THE MASTER PLAN JUST BELOW THE SOUTHERN END OF THAT NORTH SOUTH TRAIL, WHICH IT GOES THROUGH LAKE PARK AND HITS VAN ATTA.
IF YOU GO DOWN ABOUT ONE INCH WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW BIG YOUR SCREEN IS, BUT THERE'S AN EAST WEST TRAIL. IF YOU SEE THE NUMBER 35, 34 AND 28, THERE'S AN EAST WEST PROPOSED TRAIL THERE THAT RUNS THROUGH BRIARWOOD AND IT KIND OF RUNS IN THE MIDDLE OF BRIARWOOD AND SPRING LAKE. MM HMM.
AND SO IT WOULD CONNECT FROM VAN ATTA ROAD, ALL THE WAY TO OKEMOS ROAD AND TO EXISTING TRAILS THAT GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO HAGADORN ROAD WITH ONE LITTLE GAP, I BELIEVE JUST SHORT OF HAGADORN ROAD.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD SCORE HIGH.
IF YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, IF WE RECEIVED SIMILAR MATCHES TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST, YOU COULD SPEND 200,000 AND GET TWO MILLION OUT OF IT.
LIKE, I MEAN, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL GET THAT KIND OF MATCH LIKE WE DID ON LAKE LANSING MSU. BUT LIKE, WE'VE BARELY SPENT ANY ARP MONEY.
AND YOU KNOW, IF WE DO ONE OR TWO OF THESE LARGER TRAIL PROJECTS THAT WILL SPEAK TO THE COUNTY, BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT THEIR COUNTY FUNDS MIGHT BE ALLOCATED FOR THE MOST PART.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH CAPACITY THERE IS THERE.
BUT WE INTEND ON MEETING WITH THEM.
AND ON THE BROADBAND SIDE OF THE EQUATION, SOME POINT I WILL GO DOWN TO MARSHALL AND VISIT WITH MR. PERRY BECAUSE HE DOES HAVE A BROADBAND NETWORK.
NOW THEY HAVE AN ELECTRIC UTILITY.
AND I GLEANED FROM MR. PERRY FROM HIS RESEARCH ON THE CITY OF MARSHALL THAT THEY BOUGHT IT AGAINST THEIR WATER AND SEWER FUNDS.
WE HAVE SEPARATE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS.
THERE'S A SEVEN MILLION AND CHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO CUMULATIVELY.
SO ESSENTIALLY I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY AGREE WITH THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE WAY THAT THEY WENT ABOUT THIS. THEY HAD TO INCREASE WATER RATES PROBABLY MORE THAN THEY WOULD HAVE IF THEY HADN'T BONDED AGAINST THEIR WATER AND SEWER FUND.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE PAYING BASED ON WATER USE FOR BROADBAND.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH THAT WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT.
BUT WHAT'S ALSO LIKELY DIFFERENT FROM MARSHALL TO US IS THAT THERE YOU KNOW, YOU NEED CASH RESERVES AND THERE'S SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT THEY HAVE A UTILITY, THEY HAVE WATER AND SEWER. AND SO WHEN YOU'RE AND ELECTRIC, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ELECTRIC UTILITY, TOO. SO WHEN YOU'RE SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY WITH UTILITIES, YOU STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOU NEED A SOLID FUND BALANCE.
AND SO THEY'RE FUND BALANCE IS LIKELY FAR HIGHER THAN OURS IS RELATIVE TO THE POPULATION AND THE GEOGRAPHIC TERRITORY, RIGHT? IT'S A CITY. CITY LIMITS TEND TO BE MORE CONSTRAINED.
PORTLAND IS ALSO WORKING ON BROADBAND.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ELECTRIC UTILITY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO RUN CONDUIT USING THEIR UNDERGROUND, USING THEIR ELECTRIC UTILITY.
SO I WAS GOING TO TALK TO THEM JUST ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND GLEAM.
BUT NO COMMUNITY HAS SUCCESSFULLY BUILT A PUBLIC NETWORK THAT THEY'VE RUN PUBLICLY.
AND MARSHALL, EVEN AFTER YOU PAY THE HIGHER WATER FEE TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE YOU PAY LAST TIME, I LOOKED 39.95 A MONTH FOR THE BASIC PLAN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, SO THEY DO AN RFP TO GET THE LOW BID ON MONTHLY RATES FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICE. AND SO IF YOU CAN'T RUN IT YOURSELF, I FAIL TO SEE HOW YOU'D ACTUALLY SAVE PEOPLE MONEY. AT THAT POINT.
THE COST TO BUILD IT IS CERTAINLY MORE THAN $20 DOLLARS A HOUSE, AT LEAST INITIALLY FOR THAT GAP 20 TO 40, DEPENDING ON THE SERVICE.
SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND RELATIVE TO TREASURER DESCHAINE'S COMMENTS, BUT
[02:10:07]
. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S REMARKABLE THAT ALL THE BIG ONES THAT HAVE DONE THEIR OWN PUBLIC BROADBAND UTILITY OWN THEIR OWN ELECTRIC COMPANY BECAUSE THEN THEY OWN THE POLES AND THE WIRE LINES AND THEY HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THAT.THERE'S ALSO A THING CALLED IP OVER 120 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE THE ELECTRICAL GRID AS A DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR IP OR INTERNET CONNECTION INTO THE HOME AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THEM ARE DOING THAT, BUT THERE'S A WAY TO PIGGYBACK ETHERNET OVER STANDARD 120 LINES INTO THE HOMES.
SO STEVEN'S LEFT THE ROOM PROVIDERS THAT WILL WORK WITH US, I THINK, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING LINES IS VERY DOABLE IF THEY'LL WORK WITH US. I MEAN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT AREN'T SERVED, IT'S ALL FIBER RUNNING ON POLES.
IT'S NOT UNDERGROUND. IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE SHOALS NEIGHBORHOOD, TRUSTEE JACKSON OR SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL THE UTILITIES AND ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDERGROUND, RIGHT? YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE SHOALS.
YOU'LL NEVER SEE AN ELECTRIC POST.
YOU WON'T SEE ANY ELECTRIC LINES ANYWHERE.
MM HMM. IF YOU DRIVE IN THE EASTERN THIRD, EVERYTHING IS ABOVE GROUND ONLY WHEREVER THE WATER AND SEWER STOP, THOSE ARE BELOW GROUND, BUT ALL THE ELECTRIC LINES ARE ABOVE GROUND . SO EXTENDING FIBER ON POLES IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN POURING IT UNDERGROUND.
CLERK GUTHRIE. DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION TO THIS REPORT? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
I WOULD AGREE WITH TREASURER THAT I THINK THE MATCH IS YOU KNOW, IT MAKES THE MOST FISCAL SENSE. I MEAN, I ALSO AGREE THAT IT HAS TO BE CAPITAL OUTLAY AND SUSTAINABLE GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOESN'T DOESN'T GO FAR, SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ASSISTANT MANAGER TO GET MORE INFO ON SOME OF THE TOPICS.
BUT YEAH, THESE ARE JUST FOR CONVERSATIONAL PIECES BECAUSE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO WEIGH IN.
BUT WE'LL COLLECT ALL OF THOSE AND WE'LL BRING A FULL REPORT BACK IN MAY WHEN WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL WORK SESSION.
OK, SO THIS WAS JUST A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND KNOWING THAT BROADBAND WAS ONE OF THOSE DISCUSSED.
YEAH, THIS AGENDA ITEM PROCEEDED AT A TIME IN MY CURRENT POSITION, AND SO DEPUTY MANAGER PERRY HAD IT SLATED FOR THE AGENDA AND IN THE INTERESTS OF NOT SLOWING IT DOWN I TOOK THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE FINAL RULE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 50 PAGES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE AND REALLY COULD BE DISTILLED IN ABOUT 20 WORDS.
BUT LIKE ANY BUREAUCRACY, THEY TOOK SO IT'S THE RULES ARE MORE ONEROUS AND MORE PRESCRIPTIVE FOR CORE COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES LIKE FLINT, SAGINAW AND DETROIT, EAST LANSING GOT A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WE DID.
WE ONLY GOT ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE DOLLARS PER RESIDENT.
I THINK IT IS. SO FOR THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT GOT, YOU KNOW, TENS OF MILLIONS, IT'S A LOT MORE PRESCRIPTIVE.
IT REQUIRES YOU KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T SPEND IT ALL ON PREFERRED ITEMS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT LEAD SERVICE LINES, YOU NEED TO GET THE LEAD OUT THAT KIND OF PROGRAM.
I STARTED TO DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AND I THINK.
BUT ASSISTANT MANAGER, DO YOU? SO WE'VE HEARD ABOUT LIKE HOW SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE WORKED TO IMPLEMENT BROADBAND, BUT HAVE WE DONE ANY RESEARCH ON WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING TO DO WITH THEIR ARPA FUNDS? OR IT'S HARD TO TO COMPARE BECAUSE WE'RE A TOWNSHIP AND.
I KNOW THAT. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION TRUSTEE WISINSKI I KNOW THAT DELHI IS INVESTING ALMOST ALL OF THEIR FUNDS INTO THEY'VE GOT LIKE 2.8 MILLION IN CHANGE, MAYBE 2.9 IN [INAUDIBLE] CHANGE. THEY'RE LOOKING TO INVEST THE LION'S SHARE OF THEIRS IN WATER AND SEWER AND KEEP THEIR COSTS LOW.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT FOR PEOPLE.
I WILL SAY I LIKE THE PATHWAY CONNECTIONS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET MATCH FUNDING AND TAKE SOME OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS OFF.
AND IF THERE'S GAPS, WE CAN FILL GAPS TOO.
LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT GRAND RIVER, THERE'S SOME GAPS WITH THAT NORTH SOUTH CONSUMERS EASEMENT. WE COULD FILL IN A FEW GAPS THERE, TOO, AS PART OF THE SAME PROJECT SCOPE, BUT COVID DID EXPOSE FOR GAPS IN OUR SYSTEM.
[02:15:05]
I WOULDN'T SAY IT EXPOSED GAPS.IT MADE RESIDENTS VERY COGNIZANT OF GAPS IN OUR SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY GOT OUT AND THEY USE THE SYSTEM A LOT MORE.
AND SO NOW PEOPLE ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF WHERE THE FAILINGS OF IT ARE, AND IT'S COSTLY TO PIECE IT IN AND OUT OF ALL OF OUR MILLAGE'S THE PATHWAY MILLAGE IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFICIENT. IT'S .33 MILLS ROLLED BACK OVER MUCH.
IT'S BEEN ROLLED BACK SINCE WE PASSED IT IN 2016, I BELIEVE.
WITH WATER AND SEWER SO YOU SAY IT KEEPS OUR WATER RATES DOWN AND I ASSUME THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING MORE MAINTENANCE AND MORE REGULAR.
HOW WOULD THAT WORK BEING THAT WE'RE EAST LANSING MERIDIAN WATER AND SEWER? IS THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD SHARE WITH EAST LANSING OR SO ALL OF OUR MAINS WE MAINTAIN ON OUR OWN. WOULD BE OUR MAINS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.
SO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT WATER UTILITY BILLING RATE.
WE SET OUR OWN RATE, THE WATER, YOU KNOW, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS MANAGED BY THE AUTHORITY AND THEN THERE'S COST SHARING BASED ON THE WATER USAGE OF EACH COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY LEARN WHAT ALL GOES INTO THE FORMULATION, BUT IT WAS IN OUR PACKET LAST MONTH.
BUT ALL OF OUR WATER MAINS AND SEWER MAINS ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND PREDOMINANTLY OUR WATER RATES NEED TO GO UP TO COVER CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE AUTHORITY. AND WE COST SHARE THAT WITH EAST LANSING, BUT ALSO MAINTENANCE OF OUR SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY.
THERE WERE ABOUT 24 WELLS, I BELIEVE SPREAD AROUND THE TWO COMMUNITIES.
AND ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOZEN OR SO THAT ARE LIKELY IN OUR REGION OR IS THAT PART OF THE AUTHORITY? DO YOU KNOW THAT ANSWER WHO MAINTAINS THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE SEPARATE WELLS. THE WELLS THAT ARE PART OF THE AUTHORITY? YEAH. THE AUTHORITY DOES THAT, SO YEAH, WE MIGHT HAVE A PROJECT ON OKEMOS ROAD THIS YEAR, EVEN IT'LL DEPEND ON THE BIDS AND A FEW OTHER FACTORS.
BUT YEAH, THE WELLS THAT DRAW THE WATER TO THE TREATMENT PLANT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE AUTHORITY. SO OUTGOING WATER FROM THE AUTHORITY AND FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT INTO OUR DISTRIBUTION LINES ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
OK. AS WELL AS THE LIFT STATIONS AND HOSE ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY? THE LIFT STATIONS. YEP. ANYTHING THAT'S DISTRIBUTING THE WATER SUPPLY OR THE SEWER SUPPLY IS OURS. THE WELLS ARE THE AUTHORITIES.
DO YOU HAVE AN INVENTORY ON? I'M SURE YOU DO. I'M SURE IT'S INFORMAL CONVERSATION. I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD. DO WE HAVE AN INVENTORY ON THE CONDITION OF OUR SEWER SYSTEM? DO WE KNOW THERE'S A NEED? YEAH. WHEN WE DID THE SAW GRANT, WE DID DO A LOT OF SCOPING AND WE KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND WE KNOW WHAT MAINTENANCE NEEDS TO OCCUR ON THE LIFT STATION.
SO IF YOU WANTED, I KNOW YOUNES HAS A RUNNING LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD DO, AS DOES OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF DPW, AND I COULD BRING A LIST BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INVESTING IN THE WATER AND SEWER MAINS ISN'T THE MOST SHINY OBJECT OUT THERE, RIGHT? BUT AND IT TAKES EXPLAINING, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU'RE EXPLAINING WHY UTILITY BILLS DIDN'T GO UP, YOU'RE EXPLAINING WHY SOMETHING DIDN'T HAPPEN. WINSTON CHURCHILL HAS A QUOTE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE ABOUT THAT, WHEREAS A PATHWAY YOU CAN SAY, LOOK, WE BUILT THIS AND IT'S NOT UNDERGROUND AND EVERYONE CAN SEE IT. SO BUT YEAH, WE HAVE AN ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS THAT WE COULD CHECK OFF AND WE WOULD NOT INCREASE.
OTHERWISE WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL SLOWLY AND STEADILY INCREASE WATER RATES AND WE WILL SLOWLY REPLACE THE LIFT STATIONS, REPLACE AND SERVICE MAINS, ET CETERA.
IT'LL PROBABLY OCCUR OVER 10 OR 12 YEARS INSTEAD OF THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
AND UTILITY RATES WILL, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T SEE INFLATION LIKE YOU.
ONE WAY TO PROVE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS YOU COULD SHOW INFLATION OVER THOSE NEXT 10 YEARS AND THEN OUR WATER RATES.
THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHERE THE PROOF WOULD BE.
YEAH AND THOSE LOWER RATES HELP WITH PEOPLE LIKE MR. [INAUDIBLE] WHO'S DECIDING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT STAYING IN THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
HE MOVES OVER A CLINTON COUNTY LINE HE'S GOING TO SAVE A TON ON COUNTY TAXES ALONE, NOT TO MENTION LOCAL TAXES, BUT HE'S STAYING HERE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT WAS THE WATER AND SEWER RATES THAT DID IT FOR HIM, BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS THAT WHILE WE'RE MAYBE THE THIRD HIGHEST TAXING RATE, WE ARE THE LOWEST
[02:20:03]
WATER AND SEWER AND WE HAVE FOR THE BEST QUALITY WATER AT THE SAME TIME.SO IT IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
AND WHEN YOU TAX AS MUCH AS WE TAX FOR ALL KINDS OF IMPORTANT EXTRA SERVICES LIKE OUR PATHWAY MILLAGE, IT HELPS TO HAVE OTHER ADVANTAGES LIKE EXCEPTIONALLY LOW WATER SEWER RATES. LUANN'S GOT HER FIVE YEAR OR DIRECTOR MAISNER HAS HER FIVE YEAR PLAN AS WELL, WHICH THE BOARD JUST ADOPTED THROUGH THE PARKS MASTER PLAN.
SO I THINK EVERY DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS A RUNNING TALLY OF PROJECTS.
THEY JUST HAVEN'T ENGINEERED THE PROJECTS AND THEY HAVEN'T WRITTEN RFP'S FOR THEM BECAUSE NO ONE'S WORKING FOUR YEARS AHEAD.
WE NEED TO FINALIZE A LIST HERE, HOPEFULLY IN MAY OR REALLY REFINE A LIST IN MAY AND SET THE COURSE AND I'LL GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ITEM BEFORE THEN.
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT FROM THE COUNTY AND SOME OF OUR BROADBAND PROVIDERS.
LET ME KIND OF SUM UP WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
SO WE HAVE THIS LONG RANGE VIEW OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO SMARTLY SPEND THE ARPA MONEY.
AND WE DON'T HAVE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT ONE OR TWO HOW WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE.
WHAT I THINK HAS HAPPENED HERE IS THAT ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS UNDER BOTH MR. PERRY AND AND MR. OPSOMMER HAVE BEGUN TO SHOW US SOME OF THE WAYS WE CAN USE THE MONEY FOR THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY'RE NOT AT THIS POINT SUGGESTING THAT THOSE ARE THEIR PRIORITIES BUT THEY'RE SUGGESTING ONE THE KINDS OF THINGS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AND THE WAYS IN WHICH WE SHOULD MAKE OUR DECISION? LIKE THE IDEA OF LEVERAGING THE ARPA MONEY FOR AT MATCHING FUNDS FOR BIG PROJECTS.
OK, SO YOU ARE NOT TAKING OR HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN LEADERSHIP OF THIS ARPA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE, IT WON'T BE A MANAGEMENT OF STAFF POSITION.
IT'LL BE MORE SIMILAR TO DIRECTOR CLARK, BUT BROADER PURVIEW.
MANAGEMENT OF AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.
AND SO THE NEW DIRECTOR IS GOING TO WORK ON A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS FROM ARP TO I.T.
TO UPDATING OUR PERSONNEL MANUAL, ET CETERA.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROBABLY AT THE STAFF LEVEL OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, MYSELF, DIRECTOR MAISNER AND THE PROJECT ORIENTED DIRECTORS THAT DO CAPITAL OUTLAY.
OK. SO AND THEN ALL THE DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME IDEAS.
AND IF THE BOARD HAS IDEAS, LET'S PUT IT ALL ON PAPER AND BRING IT TO THE TABLE ON MARCH 4TH AND COMPARE WHAT WE THINK.
YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE LIST AND WHAT THE ESTIMATED COST IS, WHAT THE ESTIMATED MATCH IS AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY. SOMETIME IN MAY.
OH, THANK YOU I MISSPOKE. [LAUGHTER] SOMETIME IN MAY FOR THE WORK SESSION.
SO. SO THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO TAKE FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ORGANIZED OPPORTUNITY FOR EVEN THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN REVIEWING IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING YOURS.
AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE BOARD TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY GENERALLY AND SPECIFICALLY.
YEP, WELL, AND SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW.
SO THIS IS HELPING US TO ORGANIZE OUR THINKING BEFORE WE GET TO THAT MAIN PROCESS.
[02:25:02]
AND I WOULD SAY A LOT OF THIS NEEDS TO BE PUT ON PAPER SO THAT WE CAN TOTALLY THINK THROUGH IT TOO. BECAUSE IF PART OF WHAT MIGHT GET FUNDED ARE PERB PROJECTS THAT WE ALREADY INTEND ON FUNDING IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW.AND SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS FREEING UP GENERAL FUND AND THEN THAT GENERAL FUND COULD GO TOWARDS PROJECTS THAT ARE CONCEPTUALLY PUT ON THE TABLE FOR ARP, BUT DON'T COME WITH ANY MATCH FUNDING, RIGHT? SO HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MAKE THIS LESS FINANCIALLY VIABLE POSITION FOR THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT STORAGE FACILITY BEHIND THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION DOESN'T COME WITH ANY MATCH FUNDING.
BUT IF LUANN IS ABLE TO GET STATE MATCHING FUNDS FOR A PARK PROJECT THAT WE ARE ALREADY GOING TO DO IN TWO YEARS AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY WITH, YOU KNOW, MILLAGE MONEY AS A RESULT, CAN WE FREE UP, YOU KNOW, EXISTING FUNDS FOR OTHER STUFF? I SEE. SO IS THAT EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING? ONE OF THE REASONS I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE SEEING THE FISHBECK PRESENTATION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
AND THIS ALL FITS INTO WHAT MR. OPSOMMER IS PRESENTING, NOT THE THOSE PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY, BUT HOW THOSE PROJECTS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND ORGANIZE FOR BEING INCLUDED IN POSSIBLY ARP FUNDING FOR REALIZATION. OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE TALKED THEM OUT OF THE ROOM.
[LAUGHTER] SEEING NONE ARE THERE OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? ONE QUICK COMMENT. I FAILED TO MENTION THAT WE DID HAVE A MEETING, A ROAD BOND FUNDING MEETING WHICH JUST MANAGER OPSOMMER WAS PART OF.
AND WERE YOU THERE AS WELL, SUPERVISOR? I DON'T KNOW.
WITH OUR BOND COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS WE'LL BE ISSUING BONDS AGAIN IN OCTOBER FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
TO RECAP, WE'VE STILL GOT $4 MILLION DOLLARS AND FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF BONDS THAT WE SPENT THIS SUMMER ON THE ROAD PLANS THAT WE'VE ANNOUNCED, AND DEPUTY ASSISTANT MANAGER OPSOMMER IS WORKING TO GET THOSE TO CONTRACT AS SOON AS WE CAN TO GET OUR ROAD [INAUDIBLE] UNDER CONTRACT. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ISSUING NEW BONDS IN OCTOBER AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING WITH THAT BOND COUNCIL TO GET OUR BOND RATING UP TO TRIPLE A..
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DOUBLE A PLUS WE WANT TO BE AT TRIPLE A.
OF COURSE, THE WAR IN UKRAINE ISN'T HELPING MATTERS AT ALL.
HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BE SETTLED DOWN BY OCTOBER FOR THE WORLD'S SAKE AND THE UKRAINIANS
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
SAKE, BUT CERTAINLY OUR BOND AS WELL.SO. BUT WE'VE ALREADY HAD THOSE INITIAL MEETINGS.
ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT CAPITAL OUTLAYS AND FUNDING FOR OUR PRE-FUNDING SOME OF OUR WATER AND SEWER DEBT.
IT HELPS, THAT THEY LOOK AT ALL THAT WHEN THEY LOOK AT OUR OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
THEY ALSO LOOK AT THE LARGER DEBT OF OTHER SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
SO ANY WAY THAT WAS DISCUSSION UNDER WAY SO THAT WHEN WE'RE READY TO PURCHASE THESE BONDS IN OCTOBER, WE'LL GET THE BEST BOND RATE WE CAN FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
THAT'S ALL. ANY OTHER FINAL REMARK? THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AYE. OPPOSED. CHAIR VOTES YES.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.