[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER] [00:01:10] SPEAKERS]. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE MAY 3RD, 2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. . THANK YOU. MR. LEMASTER, COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? . THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE TRUSTEE WISINSKI WILL BE A LITTLE LATE TODAY. SHE WILL BE HERE. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A PRESENTATION FROM THE CAPITAL AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY, THE ANNUAL [4A. Capital Area District Library Annual Report] REPORT. OK. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. MY NAME IS TOM AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW BETSY HULL, THE HEAD LIBRARIAN AT THE OAK BRANCH OF THE CAPITAL AREA DISTRICT LIBRARIES HERE. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTATION FOR FOR 2021. SO A LITTLE LITTLE LATE IN THE YEAR HERE. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE ANNUAL REPORT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR DIGITAL FILE IN YOUR BOARD PACKET. IT'S ABOUT 40 PAGES OF A BIG, BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENT, COVERS ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT KETTLE DID IN 2021. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE DOCUMENT TODAY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE COOL LOCAL THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT OR FASCINATING, OR MAYBE WE JUST HAD PICTURES OF. FOR BETSY AND I, WE KIND OF JOKED AROUND THAT 2021 WAS REALLY ABOUT GETTING BACK TO THE FUTURE. RIGHT? IT WAS ALL ABOUT LOOKING AT 2020 AND TRYING TO GET BACK TO THAT NORMAL OF EARLY 2020 AND 2019. AND THEN ALSO TRYING TO PUSH OURSELVES FORWARD TO FIND NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND SO IT'S ABOUT MOVING BACK AND KIND OF CREATING THIS NEW STANDARD FOR WHAT NORMAL WILL BE IN THE FUTURE HERE. AND HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO. JANUARY THROUGH MAY, WE WERE STILL CONTACTLESS. ALL OF OUR SERVICES WERE DOORS WERE CLOSED. YOU CAN PICK UP ITEMS BY APPOINTMENT. OKEMOS AND HASLETT, WE WERE THE TOP TWO CIRCULATING BRANCHES IN THE SYSTEM, SO THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING. HASLETT IS USUALLY ABOUT FOURTH AND FIFTH. OKEMOS IS FAR AND BEYOND ALL OF THE OTHER CATTLE BRANCHES ALL THE TIME. SO, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE MAKE UP ABOUT 30% OF THE PHYSICAL CIRCULATIONS FOR FOR THE CATTLE SYSTEM HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME FROM OUR CONTACTLESS SERVICES WAS THIS IDEA OF TAKE AND MAKES THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE GROUPS AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE AT THE LIBRARY ALL AT A CERTAIN TIME TO INTERACT WITH THEM. WE DECIDED THAT WE COULD PACKAGE THAT UP, HAND IT OUT, KIND OF ONE PERSON AT A TIME. AND SO WE'VE BEEN CREATING CRAFT KITS, STEM PACKETS AT THE LIBRARY AT HASLETT. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WE'RE HANDING OUT SPICE KITS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SPICE AND SOME RECIPES AND BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO TRY. AND SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A MAINSTAY OF OUR SERVICES GOING FORWARD WHERE WE CAN CREATE THESE ACTIVITIES. THEN YOU CAN TAKE HOME AND INTERACT WITH IN YOUR OWN WAY. [00:05:04] THE OTHER THING THAT THAT CAME FROM THIS IS THAT LIBRARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CREATING DISPLAYS, BUT WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL THAT HASLETT HERE AND WITH SO MANY GATHERINGS NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD WAY TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE, CREATE THESE BIG, LARGE INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS AND HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HELP US CREATE THEM. SO WHETHER IT'S OUR STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, WHERE WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAINT TISSUE PAPER TO CREATE THAT, OR OUR CARDBOARD CITY THAT WENT DOWN OUR HALL AND INTO HALF OF OUR YOUTH AREA. AND WE ENCOURAGE THE KIDS TO DECORATE AND BRING IN BOXES TO HELP US BUILD THAT CITY. IT WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING A SMILE TO PEOPLE'S FACES AND ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY AND DISCOVERY. IN JUNE, WE REOPENED OUR BUILDINGS. WE LAUNCHED OUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE, THE ANNUAL PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO READ OVER THE SUMMER. AND WE HAD ABOUT 6000 PEOPLE REGISTER FOR SUMMER READING OVER SYSTEM WIDE. SO IT WAS PRETTY INCREDIBLE PROGRAM. DESPITE STILL BEING IN THIS MIRE OF UNCERTAINTY IN 2021 AND SOME OF OUR BRANCHES STARTED BACK INTO OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS AND WE'LL LET BETSY SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING AT OKEMOS DURING THAT TIME, BUT JUST SPACE FOR. WE USED SIDEWALK CHALK TO DEVELOP CREATIVITY. WE READ TO DOGS TO DEVELOP LITERACY SKILLS. THIS WORKED BETTER AT WORK. WE LEARNED WE COULD ADD WE EACH COULD ADD SOMETHING TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR A MUCH LARGER PICTURE. WE LEARNED TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE SAME ROOM OR ONLINE AT THE SAME TIME. AND MOSTLY WE WERE SUCCESSFUL. WE LEARNED IT'S EASY TO TEACH ABOUT GRAVITY AND FORCE LIFT AND PROPULSION WHEN YOU CAN RUN AROUND OUTSIDE AND TOSS AIRPLANES AT EACH OTHER. WE DID THE SAME WHEN WE FLEW OUR HANDMADE KITES ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, POPSICLES WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS ACTIVITY. SOMETIMES STORY TIMES ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR LITERACY PROGRAMS. AND WE HAD THEM INSIDE. WE HAD THEM OUTSIDE. OUR TEEN ADVISORY BOARD REGROUPED, MEETING OUTSIDE FOR AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL ON A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY OR INSIDE TO HELP CREATE LIBRARY DECORATIONS FOR THE WINTER. WE LEARNED HALLOWEEN CAN BE JUST AS MUCH FUN OUTSIDE AS IT IS INSIDE. AND IT'S MUCH EASIER TO CLEAN UP AFTER OUTSIDE. AND MR. TOM AND SANTA CLAUS ALWAYS STEAL THE SHOW, NO MATTER IF THEY'RE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. THEY'RE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. ONE OF THE LIFELONG BENEFITS WE MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS THROUGH OUR US CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. AND THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE SEVERAL NEW CITIZENS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I LIKE TO THINK THIS SENTIMENT IS AN EXAGGERATION. YOU ARE A STRAIGHT UP GIFT TO HUMANITY, ONE OF THE MANY THANK YOU CARDS WE GOT LAST YEAR. BUT HELPING ONE CHILD LEARN TO READ BUILDS STRONGER FAMILIES, WHICH HELPS BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW THAT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. FAR LESS WORDS. SO WE WERE LOOKING IN OUR BUILDINGS, RECONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING INSIDE THE LIBRARY BUILDING. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO CONNECT TO SOME OF OUR OLD PARTNERS AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF COVID HERE. [00:10:02] AND SO WE KICKED OFF 2021 WITH A SNOWMAN TAKE OVER AT CENTRAL PARK, JUST OUTSIDE OF OF THIS BUILDING HERE. AND OUR KEY CLUB AT THE HASLETT HIGH SCHOOL HELPED US OUT WITH THAT. AND WE ALSO COLLECTED FOR LOTS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND COLLECTING FOR TOYS FOR TOTS, THE INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER. WE PAINTED ROCKS FOR THE POTTER PARK ZOO, AND WE COLLABORATED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MERIDIAN SENIOR CENTER, HARRIS NATURE CENTER, NOKOMIS CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER, AND AND MANY MORE GROUPS IN SCHOOLS AROUND THE TOWNSHIP TO HELP SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS WE'RE TRYING TO ALL CLIMB OUT OF A HARD TIME OF 2021 HERE. IN THE FALL CAME THE RETURN TO SCHOOL. AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE HASLETT LIBRARY AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, YOU KNOW THAT IT GETS WILD. WE ARE A HOTSPOT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. AFTER SCHOOL THERE, WE GOT NEW DOOR COUNTERS JUST AT THE END OF 2021. AND THIS LITTLE CHART HERE SHOWS THE YELLOW LINE OF DOOR COUNTS FOR THE HASLETT SCHOOL ON A TYPICAL DAY. SO BETWEEN TWO AND THREE, WE'LL SEE 30 TO 60 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS EVERY DAY COMING TO THE LIBRARY TO HANG OUT, SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS. IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS, BUT IS A GREAT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO INITIATE OUR STUDENTS SUCCESS INITIATIVE AND EXPANDED THAT TO ALMOST ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY. AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 28,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW CONNECTED TO THE LIBRARY AND CAN BORROW MATERIALS JUST USING THEIR STUDENT IDS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PARENT TO SIGN THEM UP FOR THE LIBRARY CARD. THEY HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS JUST BY BEING ENROLLED IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE'VE GONE A STEP FURTHER WITH THAT BY PILOTING A LONG TERM HOTSPOT LENDING PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE LENDING HOTSPOTS FOR SIX MONTHS TO STUDENTS IN NEED WHO ARE PART OF THAT PROGRAM. SO THAT'S PILOT RIGHT NOW, BUT HOPING TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT AND OTHER PROGRAMS AT CAL INTO THE FUTURE HERE. SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT CAL IS DOING. AGAIN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT OUR ANNUAL REPORT. IT WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE HOPEFULLY SOON. WE JUST FINISHED IT UP, SO READ THAT IN YOUR BOARD PACKET AND I'M STILL PRETTY NEW TO THE TOWNSHIP, SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP BY THE HASLETT LIBRARY. I'D LOVE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP OR THE LIBRARY OR THE KIDS AFTER SCHOOL, PLEASE. I'D ENJOY THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, JACK. BYE. I THINK SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HAVE A QUESTION OR TWO FOR YOU. MORE A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION. THANK. YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, OUR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS VALUE OUR LIBRARY SERVICES VERY HIGHLY, AS NOTED IN YOUR RECORD OR YOUR HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHECKOUTS, I'M ASSUMING FOR OKEMOS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR HASLETT IS A SECOND PLACE. LIBRARY EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT BOOKS, IT'S ABOUT MEDIA, IT'S ABOUT ROOMS. BUT MOSTLY I WOULD SAY IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE. AND I SAY TO YOU, THE DIRECTOR, THAT IN THE TWO LIBRARIANS YOU HAVE HERE, BETSY HOLLAND AND TOM MOORE, YOU'VE CHOSEN TWO EXCELLENT LIBRARIANS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MUCH MORE THAN LIBRARIANS. THEY ARE BOTH TRUE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE INVOLVED IN SERVICE CLUBS. THEY'RE DOING A LOT MORE THAN JUST BE A LIBRARIAN. AND WE FEEL THEIR PRESENCE IN THE TOWNSHIP. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR GOOD CHOICES FOR OUR TWO LIBRARIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US YOUR SUCCESSES. IT'S OUR PLEASURE. A BOARD MEMBER TRUSTEE. I JUST THINK THE AUDIENCE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THAT THE DIRECTOR OF CADL IS HERE TONIGHT, SCOTT DIMSTRA, AND ALSO THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HASLETT OKEMOS, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, SANDY GEBER IS ALSO HERE TONIGHT ON THE BOARD. SHE'S ON THE CADL BOARD. CORRECT. THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO YOU ALL AS WELL. THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS CITIZEN'S ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON AGENDA ITEMS. [5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS] THERE ARE A FEW RULES WE TRY TO CARRY OUT. THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. CITIZENS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS AGENDA OR NON AGENDA ITEMS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AS WELL AS NEAR THE END OF THE MEETING. INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE. WE ASK THAT YOU COMPLETE A GREEN FORM LOCATED NEAR THE DOOR WITH THE AGENDAS AND [00:15:08] PRESENT THIS CARD TO THE BOARD SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. NOW, THE SUPERVISOR WILL CALL UPON INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED A GREEN CARD TO SPEAK ON THE TOPICS CITIZENS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES. A TIMEKEEPER WILL COMMUNICATE TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ADDRESSING THE BOARD. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 3 MINUTES, THE BOARD HIGHLY VALUES PUBLIC COMMENT AND INPUT. HOWEVER, THE BOARD MEETING FORMAT IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE EVENING'S AGENDA AND THEREFORE RESTRICTS BOARD MEMBERS FROM ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH SPEAKERS OR IMMEDIATELY RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY THE BOARD LATER IN THE AGENDA AND OR MAY BE ASSIGNED FOR FOLLOW UP BY THE BOARD OR TOWNSHIP MANAGER AT A LATER DATE IN ORDER TO FOSTER THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE BOARD'S BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM RUDE OR DISCOURTEOUS BEHAVIOR. ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR TO OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE. FINALLY, THE MEETING IS A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF THE TOWNSHIP, HELD IN PUBLIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWNSHIP. IT IS NOT A MEETING OF THE PUBLIC. PLEASE LIMIT COMMENTS TO THE ISSUES ON THE AGENDA TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. SO I HAVE SEVERAL GREEN SHEETS. AND THE FIRST IS NICHOLAS CIRELLI? YES. AND PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE MINUTE RECORDS. YES, MY NAME IS NICHOLAS CIRELLI. I LIVE AT 1555 WEST POND DRIVE. THAT'S THE POND'S COOPERATIVE. I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK ON THE DANIEL'S DRAINS ASSESSMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRICE HAS GONE UP FOR OUR PROPERTY FROM 400,000 TO SOME 900,000. AND I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS, NUMBER ONE, WHY? BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS A SPECIAL BENEFIT ASSESSED AGAINST US. BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DOCK AND THE SIDEWALKS THAT WERE TORN UP AS A BENEFIT, SO MUCH AS A COMPENSATION FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY TO THE TOWNSHIP. I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AS A DISABLED VENDOR AND SO I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE BUDGET FOR MUCH MORE OF AN INCREASE. AND SINCE I'M PART OF THE POND'S COOPERATIVE, EVERYTHING THAT GOES TO THE PROPERTY IS ASSESSED EQUALLY AMONG THE MEMBERS. SO I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I DO APPRECIATE THE FORMAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE STUFF BEING ONLINE. IT WAS VERY EASY TO RESEARCH THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELLA GREEN. I BEG YOUR PARDON? YOU DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? NO. THANK YOU. NEXT IS CATHERINE SHICK. AND NEXT WILL BE CHARLES BARBIERI. HEY. UH, I'M KATHARINE SHICK 1570 WEST POND DRIVE. I WANT TO SAY, AS A RESIDENT OF THE PONDS, I FEEL AS IF I AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE BEING TARGETED MALICIOUSLY BY A GOVERNING BODY THAT IS CHARGED WITH OUR WELL BEING AND FAIR TREATMENT. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE DRAINAGE PROJECT. THE FACT THAT NOW, AFTER THE PONDS REFUSE TO OPEN ITSELF UP TO NEEDLESS FINANCIAL LIABILITY BY DECLINING THE TOWNSHIP'S SUGGESTION TO MAKE OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHO HAS NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO US AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO SIGN THE SAME AGREEMENTS WE DID TO LIVE HERE. NOW THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS PROJECT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE COST THEY ALREADY GAVE US. AND THE FACT THAT THIS NEW ASSESSMENT COSTS CAME WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. THE FACT THAT OUR TOWNSHIP REFUSED BASIC TRANSPARENCY ON THE FORMULA AS TO HOW THIS NEW COST IS REACHED, CITING OUR BENEFIT TO THE POND. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT BENEFITS FROM THAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO WHICH WE NOW HAVE TO ASK WHAT BENEFIT WE HAVE THAT ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN DOUBLE THE ORIGINAL COST. ALL OF THOSE THINGS MAKE IT OBVIOUS THE TOWNSHIP IS NOT TREATING US FAIRLY, BUT INSTEAD IS LEVERAGING THIS NEW COST AGAINST US AS A MATTER OF SPITE AT BEST. AS A VOTER, I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT THIS IS HOW THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY AS THEY'VE CHOSEN TO TARGET RESIDENTS WHO IN MAJORITY LIVE ON MODEST OR FIXED INCOMES LIKE [00:20:01] MYSELF, LIKE MY FAMILY, LIKE MY NEIGHBORS, MANY OF WHOM WERE FLOODED OUT AND DISPLACED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS LAST YEAR, THINKS THAT FAULTY DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID CRISIS. I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO LOOK LIGHTLY ON THIS BAIT AND SWITCH, AND I KNOW THAT AMONG MY FELLOW VOTERS AT THE PONDS, THERE ARE MANY IN WORSE CONDITION THAN I AM. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AGREE TO AN ARRANGEMENT THAT IS INTENTIONALLY MADE TO SCREW US OVER. THANK YOU, CHARLES BARBIERI. THANK YOU. CHARLES BARBIERI. I HERE APPEAR TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE PONDS, AS I'VE DONE ON NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS. WE APPEAR IN OPPOSITION TODAY TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION ITEM UNDER ITEM 12B, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD APPROVE THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENT FOR THE DANIEL'S DAM PROJECT. AS THE LAST SPEAKER INDICATED. THE LAST ASSESSMENT NOW WOULD DOUBLE WHAT PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN THE FIGURES GIVEN TO THE PONDS ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS. WE INCORPORATE POINTS THAT WE'VE RAISED IN OUR LETTER OF MAY TO YESTERDAY, 2022, AS WELL AS OUR PRIOR LETTERS AND STATEMENTS WHICH ARE PART OF THE RECORD. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS PETITIONED FOR THIS PROJECT THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE, AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE TOWNSHIP BEING WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR THE PROJECT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENT IS FAIR OR PROPORTIONATE FOR THE BENEFIT RECEIVED. THREE POINTS. FIRST, THE ASSESSMENT IS BEING ADOPTED WITHOUT THE FAIR NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT THAT WAS ENVISIONED BY THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE. THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION, NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS GOING TO DOUBLE WHEN THE LAST ASSESSMENT ROLL WAS CIRCULATED BEFORE THE APRIL 12TH, 2022 MEETING. THE FORMULA THAT'S NOW USED WAS CHANGED FROM THAT WHICH HAD BEEN USED AT THE TWO PRIOR CALCULATIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE ASSESSMENT. SECOND, THE ASSESSMENT, AS INDICATED, IS UNFAIR AND DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE BENEFITS TO RECEIVE THIS DETENTION BASIN ON THE PONDS PARCEL IS A REGIONAL DETENTION BASIN. IT COLLECTS THE SURFACE WATER FROM THE ENTIRE DRAINAGE DISTRICT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PONDS PARCELS ARE SUBJECT TO A PERPETUAL EASEMENT, AND THAT WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THIS PROJECT. THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE FULL ABILITY TO USE THAT PORTION OF THEIR PREMISES. THEY ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE EASEMENT AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER HAS IMPOSED. THIRD, THE CHANGE APPEARS TO BE PROMPTED BY THE FACT THAT CERTAIN TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES WERE DISSATISFIED BY THE PONDS REASON REFUSAL TO OPEN UP ITS PRIVATE AREA TO THE PUBLIC. LIMITED ACCESS IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE PONDS BYLAWS AND ALSO BECAUSE OF INSURANCE COSTS AND LIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS. THE IMPACT IS AN UNFAIR ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS DIVISIVE AND FINANCIALLY DETRIMENTAL, AND WILL CAUSE INCREASED ASSESSMENTS THAT EACH RESIDENTIAL SHAREHOLDER MUST ABSORB. WE RESERVE ALL RIGHTS REQUESTS THAT YOU REJECT TONIGHT'S ASSESSMENT, REVISE THAT ASSESSMENT AND HOLD A NEW PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS CELESTE BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY KRISTA SCHICK. GOOD EVENING. I'M THE BOARD PRESIDENT FOR THE PONS GROUP OF HOMES, INC., WHICH YOU COMMONLY REFER TO AS THE PONDS. EXCUSE ME, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME? OH, I'M SORRY. BECAUSE YOU ANNOUNCED ME, I THOUGHT. I'M CELESTE BENNETT. YES. AND I LIVE AT 1563 WEST POND DRIVE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU THIS EVENING BOTH AS THE CAPACITY AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND ALSO AS A CONCERNED TOWNSHIP CITIZEN. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, GIVEN TO YOUR POSITIONS AND THE DIFFICULT TASK THAT WAS PLACED BEFORE YOU, I AM APPALLED, ABSOLUTELY APPALLED AT THE ACTIONS THE BOARD TOOK WITH RESPECT TO THE PONDS SINCE THE PONDS LETTER OF OBJECTIONS THAT ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR POSSESSION AND MY TIME IS LIMITED, I JUST WANT TO PLACE EMPHASIS ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS. FOR THE RECORD, AS WAS INDICATED, THE POND THAT RESIDES ON OUR PROPERTY IS THE PHYSICAL RETENTION RECEPTACLE FOR ALL 218 ACRES OF THE [00:25:02] DANIELS DRAIN AREA THAT COLLECTS THOSE STORM WATER OFFS. HAVING THAT LARGER RETENTION POND REMOVES THE BURDEN OF INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS FROM HAVING TO STORE THAT WATER THEMSELVES. AND IN THAT PROCESS OF STORING, TAKING AND STORING THEIR WATER, THAT PUTS THEIR RISK OF FLOODING ON US. SO WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE THE POINT OF LOWEST ELEVATION. SO THE WORK DONE ON AND FOR THE PONDS COOPERATIVE WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. SO YOU MADE THE SUGGESTION TO ALLOW THE PONDS TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BECOME A QUASI PARK, I GUESS, FOR THE DISTRICT. AND YOU KNEW APRIL 12TH THAT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO, BECAUSE YOU'D BEEN TOLD NUMEROUS TIMES WE COULD NOT DO THAT. WE HAD COVENANTS WITH OUR RESIDENTS, OUR INSURANCE AND MORTGAGE COMPANIES THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO DO THAT. SO AND I SEE I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME HERE. BUT YOU MADE DISPARAGING COMMENTS AND REMARKS ABOUT THE PONDS. YOU PAINTED US AS BEING UNCOOPERATIVE. AND YOU INDICATED FOR THE NEXT DAY, FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE YOU WERE GOING TO MEET SO THAT YOU COULD RAISE SUBSTANTIALLY THE PONDS ASSESSMENTS. AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE YOUR DISMAY WHEN YOU REALIZED YOU HAD ALREADY CHARGED US THE HIGHEST YOU COULD UNDER THE CURRENT FORMULA. UNDER THE PREVIOUS FORMULA. THAT'S WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP WITH THIS POND SPECIAL BENEFIT FACTOR, WHICH EVEN ITS NAME INDICATES THAT IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE PONDS AND TARGETED TO THE PONDS. AS IS ALREADY INDICATED, YOU DID THIS WITHOUT NOTICE OR DUE PROCESS AND YOU FELT THAT WAS FAIR BECAUSE YOU HAD ALREADY HELD TWO PUBLIC REVIEW PERIODS, WHICH OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO THIS. SO. I WANT TO I'LL SHORTEN THIS UP BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I SAY IS THAT YOU DECIDED WHAT YOU DID WAS FAIR AND EQUITABLE. HOWEVER, ASKING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN 980 AND 108 OR 980 AND 1080 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENTS TO NOW ASSUME THEIR SHARE OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD BE 6000 TO $6500 FOR A PROJECT THAT EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT BENEFITS FROM, I THINK HAS SHOWN US VERY DISRESPECTFUL AS PROPERTY OWNERS. AND WE'VE BEEN RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SINCE THE PONDS ITSELF, SINCE THE MID EIGHTIES, AND I THINK THAT WE DESERVED A BETTER RESPECT THAN THIS AND BETTER FAIRNESS AND THAT WE DESERVE TO HAVE OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS ACKNOWLEDGED AND RECOGNIZE. AND I WOULD THINK THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS TOWNSHIP WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED WHEN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKES AN ASSESSED AMOUNT AND THEN LAST MINUTE JURY RIGS THE NUMBER SO THEY CAN INCREASE THAT AMOUNT MORE THAN DOUBLE. AND I THINK IF THIS ACTION GOES UNCHALLENGED, THE SAME THING MIGHT OCCUR AGAIN. AND THE NEXT TIME THESE ACTIONS MIGHT BE AGAINST SOMEBODY ELSE AND NOT JUST US. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. KRISTA SCHECK. SO I AM CHRISTA SCHICK. I LIVE AT 1570 WEST POND DRIVE. AT THE RISK OF BEING REDUNDANT, THE IDEA THAT WALDEN PONDS BENEFITS US, THAT THE POND BENEFITS US ENOUGH TO PAY A DISPROPORTIONATE ASSESSMENT COST IS ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT WAS TO REPAIR A FAULTY DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT ONLY LAST YEAR RESULTED IN FLOODING FOR OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST US. THE POND ONLY COMES INTO IT BECAUSE IT IS A CONVENIENT WATERSHED TO PREVENT SUCH FLOODING. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE OF WHICH IS TO HAVE OUR UPHILL NEIGHBORS COLLECT THE RAINWATER THAT RAINS ON THEIR PROPERTY SO THAT IT CAN'T FLOOD. THOSE OF US ON LOWER ELEVATIONS. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RESIDENTS WANTED IT TO. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS SOMETHING DONE TO US. AND WHILE WE MIGHT BE GETTING NEW WALKWAYS, TREES AND VIEWING PLATFORMS OUT OF IT, IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THE DRAINAGE PROJECT RIPPED OUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WHEN DOING THE REPAIRS AGAIN, THE BENEFIT OF THE POND ITSELF IS NEGLIGIBLE COMPARED TO THE BENEFIT TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN DEALING WITH FLOODING CONCERNS. THE TOWNSHIP HAS CALLED OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNREASONABLE FOR NOT GRANTING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR POND. BUT WHAT'S REALLY UNREASONABLE IS EXPECTING A NONPROFIT CORPORATION CONCERNED ONLY WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS ON A MODEST INCOME TO SOLELY TAKE ON THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF HAVING UNINSURED NON RESIDENTS ON OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD ISSUES WITH OUR PROPERTY BEING VANDALIZED. [00:30:02] THE TOWNSHIP IS CALLING US STUBBORN FOR REFUSING A REQUEST. THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO ASK OF US. MANY OF THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE ARE RETIREES, STUDENTS, MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS SUCH AS MYSELF OR FAMILIES ON A FIXED BUDGET. WE ARE WILLING TO PAY OUR FAIR SHARE FOR THE ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THE DRAINS NEEDED TO BE FIXED. BUT WHAT'S BEEN LEVIED AGAINST US BY THE TOWNSHIP IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT. THEY HAVE MADE IT PERFECTLY OBVIOUS BY THE ARBITRARY WAY THAT THEY HAVE RAISED OUR ASSESSMENT THAT THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A PUNITIVE MEASURE SIMPLY FOR ASSERTING OUR RIGHTS AS PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS EXTORTION, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RONALD. ASHLEY. KELSEY SIMESCOE. HI. I'M KELSEY SIMESCO. I LIVE AT 1555 WEST POND DRIVE IN THE PONDS. I'M HERE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE TO, YOU KNOW. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.