[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER ]
[00:00:12]
I CAN'T DEPEND ON THAT CLOCK BACK THERE.ONE MORE MINUTE, I'LL TELL YOU. 6:00.
TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL MEETING FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE INVITED OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO JOIN US AND MEET WITH US AND TALK WITH US TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU WILL, JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THANK YOU. MR. LEMASTER, WOULD YOU GIVE US A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
ALL PRESENT. THANK YOU.I WOULD ENTERTAIN AN APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS ATTACHED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA ]
SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. OPPOSED? SO THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
BILLS AND TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IN AT THIS TIME IN NOVEMBER.
THE FIRST IS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY ON NOVEMBER THE 26TH, AND AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM IN THE TOWNSHIP CALLED TOWNSHIP BONUS BUCKS, A GIFT CARD PROGRAM. I HOPE THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED WILL READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION, BUT THE BONUS BUCKS PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO START SATURDAY, NOVEMBER THE 26TH, 2022.
IT IS A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY BOTH THE MERIDIAN AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND THE MERIDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INVOLVES $50 GIFT CARDS TO PATRONS OF PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES IN OUR TOWNSHIP, THAT MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY ALL OF THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
THE SECOND RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
IT CALLS FOR AN OBSERVANCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND IN NOVEMBER, AND RECOGNITION OF THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.
THAT RESOLUTION ALSO CALLS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION OF THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP SPONSORED BY THE NOKOMIS CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER, AND I WOULD URGE ALL OF YOU INTERESTED TO READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION AND JOIN US IN OUR SUPPORT, AND SO BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR APPROVAL.
WE ALSO NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
NEED A MOTION FIRST. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON WILL ALLOW TO DO THAT THIS TIME.
NOW A ROLL CALL VOTE MR. LEMASTER.
[6A. Recap of 2022 Township Goals ]
MOTION CARRIED SEVEN ZERO.THANK YOU. ITEM SIX ON OUR AGENDA WILL BE A PRESENTATION BY OUR MANAGER.
[00:05:05]
A RECAP OF OUR 2020 TOWNSHIP GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE I START.
THANK YOU. SECOND THING IS, I'M MOVED BY SEEING GEORGIA STYKA IN HERE TONIGHT AND REMEMBERING WHAT RON STYKA, OUR FORMER SUPERVISOR, COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS, 20 OF THOSE ON THE OKEMOS SCHOOL BOARD AND ADDITIONALLY TEN OR 12 YEARS AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD STARTING IN 2012 AND GEORGIA, WE WE CERTAINLY MISS RON AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH REAL QUICK 2022.
WELL, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT OFF KILTER THREE YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF COVID, WE'RE DOING THIS IN NOVEMBER.
IN 2022, THE GOALS SET BY THE BOARD DEALT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, DEI, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCES, ENVIRONMENT, ARP FUNDING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND WELLBEING OF OUR STAFF.
THE OKEMOS ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS A COUNTY PROJECT $9 MILLION.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT HERE LOCALLY.
WE EXPECT THE PROJECT TO BE FINISHED IN THE NEXT 6 TO 7 WEEKS.
EVERYTHING EAST OF MARSH IS FINISHED.
THERE'S TWO MORE SEGMENTS LEFT TO GO.
AS YOU KNOW, THE VOTERS APPROVED A BOND MILLAGE IN 2019 TO FUND OUR LOCAL ROADS.
GOING FORWARD. IT'S ABOUT A 1.9 MILL LEVY THAT BRINGS IN APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION A YEAR.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR PASER RATING.
THE PASER RATING GOES FROM 1 TO 10.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO AN EIGHT BY THE END OF THE PROGRAM AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS ON OUR PROJECT.
ALTHOUGH I WANT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT HERE THAT 6.14 DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
SO THAT NUMBER MAY ACTUALLY BE IN THE MID FIVES RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE MAKING VERY STEADY PROGRESS GOING FORWARD, AND HERE ILLUSTRATES THE CHART OF US TRYING TO GET TO AN EIGHT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY FURTHER AHEAD THAN WE EXPECTED TO BE AT THIS TIME.
DEI SOMETHING THIS BOARD THIS COMMUNITY TAKE AND THE STAFF TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL JUNETEENTH EVENT THIS PAST SUMMER.
THE HONORABLE JUDGE WANDA STOKES CAME AND SPOKE TO.
WE [INAUDIBLE] TO INCREASE OUR DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE.
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE 30 BY 30.
WE MAY BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO DO SO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE HERE RECENTLY IS INCLUDED SANITARY PRODUCTS IN ALL OF OUR TOWNSHIP RESTROOMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE AMERICAN HOUSE MERIDIAN UP IN HASLETT ON THE FAR TEN ACRES ON THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
HASLETT'S BEEN DORMANT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE THROUGH THE WORK OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AMBER CLARK AND OTHERS.
[00:10:03]
WE'RE FINALLY SEEING PROGRESS WITH THIS PROJECT.IT'S 132 UNITS AND WE'LL BE OPENING HOPEFULLY IN THE FALL OF 2023.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, COPPER CREEK, 50 HOMES UP IN THE NORTH SIDE OF HASLETT.
SILVERSTONE IS 28 HOMES WHICH ARE SOLD OUT.
THERE ARE ONE ACRE LOTS OFF OF POWELL ROAD.
SILVERLEAF IS 150 HOMES OFF OF BENNETT ROAD ACROSS FROM COLLEGE FIELDS.
TRADER JOE'S, WE'RE STILL PUSHING FOR ACROSS THE WHOLE FOODS.
WOODWARD WAY IS WELL UNDERWAY.
THAT'S 49 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT NORTH OF WHOLE FOODS AND OF COURSE, BUDDY'S PIZZA ALONG GRAND RIVER, AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE WOODWARD WAY PROJECT.
THAT IS A 206 UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT THE CORNER OF HAMILTON AND OKEMOS.
THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE AGAIN IS WAY AHEAD OF THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS PROJECT.
IT'S ON THE 19 ACRES AT THE CORNER OF MARSH AND HASLETT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TERRIFIC DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S GONE THROUGH ALL THE APPROVAL STAGES.
IT'S RECEIVED A CRA, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY REHABILITATION ACT, TAX GROWTH FREE ZONE OVER TEN YEARS.
SO NOW THE ENTIRE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE ALL 30 ACRES BETWEEN MARSH ROAD AND GOING WEST ARE GOING TO BE UNDER DEVELOPMENT. LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR FINANCES FOR A MINUTE.
IF YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER, EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO FALL APART.
PENSION, RETIREE HEALTH CARE AND FUND BALANCE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK REAL QUICK AT OUR PENSION SYSTEM.
YOU GO BACK JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, ON OUR TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND.
RETIREE HEALTH CARE WAS $4 MILLION UNDERWATER, AND THE PENSION, $34 MILLION UNDERWATER.
IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THIS BOARD AND FORMER BOARDS HAVE DONE.
WE HAVE ELIMINATED OUR TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND DEFICIT AT 1.7.
IT'S NOW AN ASSET OF ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
OUR RETIREE HEALTH CARE, WHICH WAS $4.7 MILLION UNDER WATER, IS NOW 100% FUNDED, AND OUR PENSION FUND, WE'VE ELIMINATED ABOUT 8 TO $10 MILLION OF THAT DEBT. SO OUR FINANCES REMAIN IN VERY STRONG ORDER.
VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED IT.
HERE'S THE ACTUAL NUMBER FOR 2023.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO PUT IN $3.1 MILLION.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING IN 5.3.
WE'RE PUTTING IN 2.2 MILLION MORE THAN IS REQUIRED BY THE ACTUARIAL STUDY.
SO NOT ONLY WE'RE PUTTING THE ONE AND ONE HALF IN.
WE'RE PUTTING ANOTHER ADDITIONAL THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION INTO OUR PENSION FUND.
WHY? BECAUSE WE'VE ELIMINATED OUR OTHER DEBTS, AND WHEN YOU START ELIMINATING YOUR OTHER DEBTS, YOU CAN REALLY TAKE ON THE LAST REMAINING LARGE DEBT THAT WE HAVE, MERS PENSION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCE, OUR GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
WHAT WAS IT IN 2013, A DECADE AGO, $5.2 MILLION? WHAT IS IT TODAY? 14 MILLION.
SO AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING OFF ALL OF OUR DEBTS, WE'RE ACCUMULATING STOCKING UP TO TAKE ON THAT ONE PROJECT OR TO FUND THESE OTHER ONES AT MORE OF AN ACCELERATED RATE.
THE BOARD ADOPTED A MAINTAIN A 25% FUND BALANCE, WHICH WOULD BE $6.3 MILLION.
THIS IS HOW WE PAY FOR AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, POLICE CARS.
BACK IN 2013, WE HAD 80,000 FUND BALANCE.
THE TOWNSHIP IN 2012 HAD SPENT 1.1M.
MR. STYKA'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.
WHEN I GOT HERE, I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING 1.1M FOR? HE SAID, BECAUSE I WANTED TO.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE RON, DOESN'T IT? [CHUCKLING] BUT ANYWAY, WE HAVE BUILT UP THAT FUND BALANCE NOW.
WE HAVEN'T REDUCED OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT EQUIPMENT.
WE JUST REPLACED THE BATTALION CHIEF CAR.
WE JUST GOT OUR BRAND NEW AMBULANCE.
[00:15:06]
CASH. NO DEBT FOR ALL OF IT, AND THAT'S THE KEY TAXABLE VALUE.LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TAXABLE VALUE PER CAPITA, A BIG NUMBER THAT YOU LOOK AT WHEN YOU DECIDE WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD WHOLE FOODS HERE OR CHICK-FIL-A, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A FRANCHISE. YOU LOOK AT THIS NUMBER AND THIS NUMBER IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN DELTA AND EAST LANSING, IT HOVERS AROUND 25 TO 30 MILLION AND IT'S $45 MILLION IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, OUR TAXABLE VALUE PER CAPITA, IT'S MUCH HIGHER IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
ANOTHER KEY AREA IS THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE JUST ADDED OUR FOUR SOLAR ARRAY AT THE POLICE BUILDING.
THE OTHER ONES ARE AT THE MARKETPLACE, THE SERVICE CENTER, THE SOUTH FIRE STATION, AND OF COURSE OUR FIRST ONE IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING WE JUST RECEIVED. ALTHOUGH WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH IT, WE JUST RECEIVED A GRANT TO DO A SECOND RECYCLING CENTER.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING, WE RECEIVED FOUR AND ONE HALF MILLION.
WHERE HAS IT GONE? 1.3M TO HELP PAY FOR MORE ROADS? BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? BACK WHEN WE DID THE BOND, WE ANTICIPATED THE ROADS WERE GOING TO COST THIS MUCH, AND NOW ROADS ARE COSTING WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING, WITH INFLATION, THEY'RE COSTING A LOT MORE, AND SO THE BOARD DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO HELP FIGHT THAT INFLATION BY CONTRIBUTING A 1.3M.
970,000 TOWARDS IT ENHANCEMENTS FOR OUR ENTIRE FACILITIES.
A REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION 262,000 FOR FOUR ELECTRIC COTS FOR THE FIRE STATION.
IF YOU'RE EVER IN NEED OF SERVICE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU'LL BE REALLY HAPPY TO BE SERVED BY AN ELECTRONIC COT RATHER THAN THE OLD ONES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GETTING RID OF AND SO WE APPROPRIATED $2.5M.
THE BOARD'S GOING TO TAKE UP THE DISCUSSION ON THAT ON THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH.
FOR THE REMAINING $2M, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A SMORGASBORD OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS.
I MENTIONED THE NEW LADDER TRUCK ARRIVED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO.
WE'RE UP FOR RE ACCREDITATION AND CAPTAIN GRILLO AND CHIEF PLAGA ARE LEADING US THROUGH THAT.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE THE FIRST DEPARTMENT TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED 15 WARNING SIRENS TO COVER THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP, AND BACK IN 2013, WE WERE PUTTING OUR FOURTH ONE UP AT WATCH PARK UNDER DIRECTOR MAISNER.
WE ONLY NEED FOUR MORE TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP, AND HERE'S A MAP OF WHERE THOSE IN THE RED OR WHERE THE SIRENS ARE AT AND THE YELLOW AREA UP IN THE NORTHERN OR EASTERN PART OF THE COMMUNITY ARE THE LAST FOUR TO GO UP.
WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE'LL HAVE THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP COVERED, AND GUESS WHAT? EACH ONE OF THOSE WERE PAID FOR IN CASH.
THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAVE A K-9 UNIT ARIES.
ONE OF THE DOGS DECIDED THAT HE LIKED TO BITE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO THAT WASN'T QUITE WORKING OUT FOR US.
[CHUCKLING] SO THAT DOG WAS RELIEVED OF DUTIES ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND IT'S A TRUE STORY, RIGHT? YEAH, VERIFIED IT.
SO THE BOARD JUST APPROVED A SECOND CANINE COME BACK, NOT THE SAME DOG, BUT A NEW CANINE IN 2023.
I DECIDED WE'D HAVE A NAMING CONTEST I THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
SO IF YOU CHANGE IT, WE'VE GOT TO SEND THE DOG BACK.
[CHUCKLING] SO THAT IDEA WENT OUT THE DOOR TOO.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE ELECTRONIC COTS.
WE'LL BE GETTING FOUR OF THOSE AS SOON AS THE SUPPLY ALLOWS.
WE'RE DOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SQUAD ROOM AT THE POLICE STATION.
YOU KNOW, RECRUITING POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW IS REALLY DIFFICULT, AND IF YOU BRING THEM INTO OUR SQUAD ROOM, THE WAY IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO ASK WHERE MARCIA AND PETER AND BOBBY ARE.
[CHUCKLING] THAT'S A JOKE, THE BRADY BUNCH.
SO WE'RE HOPEFULLY UPGRADING THE SQUAD ROOM.
[00:20:03]
HERE'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT NOTE.THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION PAYOFF.
BACK IN 2012, VOTERS APPROVED A 15 YEAR BOND TO PAY OFF THE NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION.
OF COURSE, IT WAS A BREEZE GETTING IT BUILT.
IT WAS WONDERFUL. EASY PROCESS UNLESS YOU'RE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR BOARD, BUT THE BLUE LINE THERE, THE RED LINE IS OUR ANTICIPATED REVENUE.
THE BLUE LINE IS THE REVENUE WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED BECAUSE OF OUR GROWTH.
SO, GUESS WHAT? OUR FORECAST TELLS US THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THE FIRE STATION AND NOT IN 2028, BUT IN 2025, THREE YEARS AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE OF OUR NET PROCEEDS.
RETENTION, RECRUITMENT, WELLBEING REALLY AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THIS TOWNSHIP TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE TALENT THAT WE NEED, AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO. FLEX TIME AND CASUAL WEAR IN THE TOWNSHIP.
WE DO AN ANNUAL EXCELLENT AWARD PROGRAM PROGRAM.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHILE COMMUNITIES STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYEES, WE ARE NOT.
WE HAVE 168 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 165.
FOUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS SETTLED THIS YEAR WITHOUT ANY USE OF LEGAL COUNSEL.
ALL OF OUR BARGAINING CONTRACTS ARE IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST 2 TO 5 YEARS NOW.
HERE'S THE NUMBER I WENT OVER ON A FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT.
[INAUDIBLE] A FEW NEW PEOPLE TO THE TOWNSHIP.
DIRECTOR OF PROJECT AND MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, MELISSA MASSEY, IN THE BACK.
DAN TOOK HIM AWAY FROM THE BOARD.
HE GOT A HIGH PROMOTION, LEAVING THAT BOARD AND COMING TO WORK FOR US, AND SO DAN IS OVER HERE.
HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB AS OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER.
OUR NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR, WE NOW HAVE A CPA IN THE FINANCE SPOT.
SHE'S DOING JUST A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR US.
SHE WAS ON STAFF AND GOT PROMOTED.
OUR NEW SUPERVISOR, PATRICIA JACKSON, HAD BEEN IN HER SPOT SINCE 2000 ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, AND NOW HERE 22 YEARS LATER, AS THE SUPERVISOR. TWO NEW TRUSTEES, MARNA WILSON.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT MARNA WILSON WAS ON THE BOARD BACK IN THE NINETY'S AND SHE'S BACK AND SCOTT HENDRICKSON JOINED US AS WELL THEY JOINED US AROUND APRIL, MAY SOMEWHERE IN THERE MARCH.
AN AWARD THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
WE BEAT LA. SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THE DANIELS DRAIN PROJECT THIS SUMMER, THERE WAS A SINKHOLE ON POWELL ROAD THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH.
HERE'S SOMETHING YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO NOTICE, AND THAT'S THE NEW SIGNAGE THAT'S GOING UP.
YOU'LL START SEEING THOSE SIGNS GO UP IN JANUARY.
WE'VE BEEN AT THIS PROJECT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND WE'RE FINALLY AND GUESS WHAT? IT'S ALL PAID FOR IN CASH.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
LAKE LANSING, THE MSU PATHWAY, YOU'LL START TO SEE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO UNDERWAY.
THAT'S FROM SHAW OVER OFF OF HAGEDORN THE MUSIC BUILDING ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE CORNER OF GRAND RIVER AND PARK PARK LANE PHASE ONE AND TWO, AND THEN WE'RE ENGINEERING IN 2023 FOR PHASE THREE.
THE TOWNSHIP'S PENSION PLAN IS NOW DEBT FREE.
THE RETIREE HEALTH CARE IS NOW DEBT FREE.
WE WERE PAYING A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE; WE'RE NO LONGER HAVING TO PAY.
HARRIS NATURE CENTER, 25 YEARS.
THE FLOATING ISLANDS AT CENTRAL PARK SOUTH.
CELEBRATE MERIDIAN WAS BACK THIS SUMMER.
WE HAVE MICHIGAN'S NUMBER ONE PARKS AND PATHWAY SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A VERY SAFE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES IN INGHAM COUNTY THAT'S GROWING.
IN FACT, WE HAD THE HIGHEST GROWTH OF ANYONE IN INGHAM COUNTY, BUT IT'S NOT OUT OF CONTROL .
AT 1% PER YEAR, I WOULD SAY IT'S PRETTY MUCH UNDER CONTROL.
WE'RE FINANCIALLY EXTREMELY STRONG.
WE'RE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.
GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE NATION.
[00:25:07]
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN 2022, AND SINCE WE'VE GOT MORE IMPORTANT STUFF TO DO TONIGHT.[7A.i. Planning Commission ]
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.SO THE NEXT PART OF OUR AGENDA INVOLVES A ESSENTIALLY JOINT MEETING WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND BEFORE WE START WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME, ENERGY, WORK AND SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD AND PROBABLY MUCH OF THE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP AND THANKING YOU AT THIS TIME FOR THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE.
IT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY, I THOUGHT, TO FIRST OF ALL, ALL MEET EACH OTHER AND SECONDLY, TO EDUCATE EACH OTHER ON WHAT WE WERE DOING IN OUR DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HOPING YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO FOR US TONIGHT.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR A SHORT PRESENTATION THAT EXPLAINS WHAT YOUR BOARD OR COMMISSION DOES TO THOSE OF US WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ALREADY TO REPORT ON YOUR ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESSES OVER THE PAST YEAR, YOUR THE RELATIONSHIP YOU SEE TO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BOARD THAT MR. WALSH HAS TALKED ABOUT AND MAYBE EVEN SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT HELP YOU DO YOUR JOBS BETTER AND HOW WE MIGHT DO OURS RELATIVE TO YOUR JOB BETTER, AND SO I HAVE A LIST HERE.
I THINK YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE LIST, AND WE WILL START WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WITH MR. TREZISE, I BELIEVE, OR MR. BLOOMER. I'M SORRY MR. BLOOMER IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WE WILL ASK THAT YOU GO TO THE PODIUM SO THAT THE RECORDING SYSTEM CAN PICK UP YOUR COMMENTS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS IS THE MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING INTO REVIEWING AND UPDATING.
WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY GOTTEN INTO IT YET, BUT THAT'S THE NEXT BIG STEP IN OUR PROJECTS.
BUT LET ME GO OVER A FEW THINGS FOR YOU.
THEY COME TO US WITH AN AGENDA AND INFORMATION.
THEY MAKE OUR JOB LOOK EASY, AND IT IS AFTER THEY DO ALL THE LEGWORK.
THEY ARE JUST TREMENDOUSLY PRODUCTIVE AND HAVEN'T YET, OTHER THAN TYPOS WHICH WE CATCH FREQUENTLY.
[CHUCKLING] I HAVEN'T CAUGHT THEM IN A SIGNIFICANT ERROR ALL ALONG.
THEY ARE REALLY A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE THEY GIVE OUR COMMITTEE, BUT ONE OF THE REALLY BIG PROJECTS AND IT'S GOING TO THE BOARD, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE FINISHED WITH IT AND IT'S NOW GOING TO THE BOARD IS THE REVISION OF THE SIGN ORDINANCES.
I CAN TELL YOU I'VE BEEN A GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
WHEN I SAW THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SIGN ORDINANCES, I THOUGHT MY HEAD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE.
THEY WERE CONFUSING, OVERLAPPING, INTERNALLY INCONSISTENT, AND JUST BASICALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE WORK OF THE STAFF WAS TERRIFIC ON THIS.
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
RIGHT NOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ABOUT TO START ON THE MASTER PLAN.
WE ARE ALSO DEALING WE JUST STARTED DEALING WELL, ACTUALLY, WE HAD TWO MEETINGS ON IT.
[00:30:05]
THE NEW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA PLAN FOR THE OR MAP FOR THE TOWNSHIP.THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE JUST DEALT WITH, A NEW HOUSING PROJECT THAT'S CALLED THE GRAND RESERVE, WHICH IS OVER BY POWELL ROAD AND NORTH OF GRAND RIVER.
IT'S A VERY INTERESTING AND I THINK QUITE LUXURIOUSLY DEVELOPED RENTAL HOME UNIT, AND OUR BOARD DISCUSSED IT LAST NIGHT, AND IF I REMEMBER, WE APPROVED IT TO GO TO THE BOARD . HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE AND AMERICAN HOUSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
A NUMBER OF ORDINANCE UPDATES.
WE ALSO APPROVED CHANGES TO THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL, SPARROW HOSPITAL EMERGENCY UNIT ON JOLLY ROAD AND THE MUPUD ORDINANCE REWRITE.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN THAT SCOTT FLED FROM THE BOARD WHEN I GOT THERE [CHUCKLING] AND WE HAVEN'T HAD HIM REPLACED, AND I JUST HAVE LEARNED WITHIN THE LAST MEETING OR TWO THAT TWO OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED MEMBERS ARE DECIDING THAT THEY HAVE DEVOTED ENOUGH TIME AND THEY WANT MORE FAMILY TIME AND THEY WILL BE LEAVING. SO WE WILL HAVE--THE MOST EXPERIENCED ONES.
I'M THE LEAST EXPERIENCED, BUT AND THEY'RE LEAVING US AND THAT WILL LEAVE SOME SERIOUS HOLES IN OUR IN OUR PROJECTS UNTIL THEY CAN BE REPLACED WITH PEOPLE WHO COME TO US WITH FIVE OR SIX YEARS EXPERIENCE.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IN THE MEANTIME, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO ARE HERE, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO MR. BLOOMER'S COMMENTS?
[7A.ii. Pension Board/Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ]
IF YOU WOULD.THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, BY THE WAY.
THE NEXT GROUP IS THE PENSION BOARD.
THE REPRESENTATIVE HERE TONIGHT IS JOYCE VAN COEVERING, WHO IS A RECENT RECIPIENT OF VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BROWNFIELD TWO.
WE HAVE 442 RETIREES THAT ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING BENEFITS.
THIS IS THE OLD RETIREMENT PLAN, NOT MERS, THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND AS FRANK POINTED OUT, WE'RE 110% FUNDED WITH A PENSION ASSET OF 498,000.
NOW MR. SCHMITT CAN DO THE BROWNFIELD.
SO APOLOGIES IF I SKIP SOMETHING.
I HAVE SOME QUICK NOTES WRITTEN DOWN HERE.
SO GENERALLY, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THE BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS CHARGED WITH REVIEWING AND IMPLEMENTING BROWNFIELD PLANS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO A BROWNFIELD PLAN IS WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXISTING SITE THAT'S EITHER CONTAMINATED THROUGH SOME PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE OR FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE BUILDING THAT CAN'T BE USED FOR SOMETHING IN MODERN TIMES.
THERE IS A STATE ACT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CAPTURE CERTAIN TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE CLEANUP OF THOSE BLIGHTED OR ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAMINATED SITES, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE BROWNFIELD LARGELY DOES, IS REVIEWS THOSE PLANS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR LOCAL POLICIES IN THE STATE LAW, AND THAT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD AND THE BOARD ULTIMATELY ADOPTS OR DOESN'T ADOPT, AND THEN THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY IS THEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW OF THOSE PLANS TO ENSURE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY.
THE TOWNSHIP HAS SIX PLANS, FIVE PLANS CURRENTLY IN PLACE, ONE UNDER REVIEW.
[00:35:01]
THAT IS ACTUALLY OUR ONLY CAPTURING PROJECT RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT I MEAN IS THEY HAVE GENERATED TAXES TO START PAYING BACK SOME OF THOSE COSTS.THAT STARTED WITH THE COUNTY, AND THEN WE REALIZED THAT AS A TOWNSHIP WE SHOULD HAVE OUR OWN AUTHORITY.
THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A CONTAMINATED SITE AS A FORMER GAS STATION AND THE JOE'S ON JOLLY BUILDING, 2360 JOLLY ROAD WAS A FORMER TIRE SHOP AND SO HAD SOME CONTAMINATION ON SITE AS WELL, AND SO BOTH OF THOSE WERE CLEANED UP, BROUGHT IN TO NEW USE AND WILL BEGIN TAX CAPTURE NEXT YEAR.
THE PINE VILLAGE PROJECT, WHICH IS NOW KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN HOUSE PROJECT, IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT PLAN THAT THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY WILL BE MAKING A DECISION ON LATER THIS WEEK, WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTENS THE CAPTURE PERIOD FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, AND SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD OUTCOME FOR US.
THE BOARD ULTIMATELY ADOPTED THAT, AND THAT'S FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE PROPERTY, AND THE AUTHORITY HAS REVIEWED THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS BROWNFIELD PLAN A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS YEAR, HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT AND THE BOARD TOWNSHIP BOARD WILL BE TAKING THAT UP FOR A DECISION SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE HERE. SO ULTIMATELY THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY, IT BECOMES AN IMPORTANT PART OF ANY FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT AND AS I'VE SAID TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL GROWTH IS TO GROW WHERE YOU ALREADY ARE, AND SO USE THOSE PREVIOUSLY BUILT ON SPACES MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY COMES INTO PLAY.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY.
FIRST, I WOULD SAY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, THIS IS DIRECTOR TIM SCHMIDT, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WHO HAS APPARENTLY PUT ON MANY HATS IN MANY SITUATIONS.
YES, MA'AM. [INAUDIBLE] FOR US TONIGHT, AND WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY FROM THE BOARD.
[7A.iii. Downtown Development Authority ]
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SCHMITT? THANK YOU.THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MISS VAN COEVERING.
NEXT ON OUR LIST IS THE DDA THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
REPRESENTED TONIGHT BY RENEE KORREY.
ALL RIGHT, FROM THE GET GO, THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS, LET'S SEE, ONE PERSON WAS LOOKING AT THEIR LITTLE SMARTPHONE, ONE HAND, A LITTLE TABLET, AND I HAD THIS GIANT-SIZED PRINT BECAUSE EVEN WITH MY GLASSES, I WAS AFRAID I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
[LAUGHTER] SO I'M GETTING OLD, BUT JUST BEAR WITH ME.
OKAY, SO I WANTED TO START OUT BY JUST REMINDING EVERYBODY WHAT OUR MISSION IS, BECAUSE THAT'S IN ESSENCE, TELLING YOU WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
TO BEAUTIFY AND REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS IS A VERY DESIRABLE PLACE TO SHOP, LIVE AND DO BUSINESS.
NOW, WHAT DID WE DO THIS YEAR TO EMBRACE THAT MISSION? THE VERY FIRST THING THAT WE DID WAS WE PROVIDED QUALITY LEADERSHIP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF REDEVELOPING DOWNTOWN OKEMOS AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I MEAN THAT WE WERE SUPPORTED BY ALL OF YOU TO HELP US TRY TO REDEVELOP OUR DOWNTOWN, AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN YEARS AND WE'VE DISAGREED AND WE'VE AGREED, BUT WE'VE NEVER FELT UNSUPPORTED , AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE SUPPORT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY ASSISTING WITH APPLICATION PROCESSES FOR DDA TIF AND ALSO FOR THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP REDEVELOPMENT FUND.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD IN PAST YEARS EVEN TO CREATE THIS TIF, AND SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO LOOK OVER SOME APPLICATIONS.
NOW THIS REMINDS ME THE FIRST QUARTER OF OUR DDA 2022 YEAR, WE REVIEWED SOME PLANS FOR MIXED USE BUILDING THAT SOME OF THE REDEVELOPMENT FUND SIMPLY COULDN'T SUPPORT.
THEY COULD ONLY COMMIT PARTIAL TO IT.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO, ALONG WITH AMBER, PRIMARILY, I SAY WE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS HER ANYWAY.
BUT I'LL TAKE THE CREDIT HERE.
[CHUCKLING] SO ANYWAY, WE'VE PUT APPLICATIONS IN FOR $1.25M FUNDS
[00:40:05]
FOR ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, OTHER RAP GRANTS THROUGH MEDC.SO THERE'S BEEN A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY FOR THAT AMBER HAS HELPED US WITH IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION , AND WE EXPECT TO DO THE SAME THING NEXT YEAR.
THINGS ARE FINALLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF BUMPS, AS SOME PEOPLE SAID, AND [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT NOW WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME SMOOTH SAILING AND NOW MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MOMENTUM THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TO CONTROL THE BLIGHT IN DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO ALSO A LITTLE HICCUP THAT WE HAD ALONG HAMILTON ROAD THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN.
I THINK WE HAD A GAS MAIN BREAK.
SO WE DID HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY TO TAKE THOSE OUT AND THEY'RE BEING STORED, AND EVENTUALLY WE HOPE THAT WE CAN PUT OUR STREET LIGHTS BACK OUT BECAUSE OF COURSE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND SO ALSO ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE BRIDGE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA AND AGAIN, AMBER HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON A VARIETY OF THINGS, BUT IS THE SMALL BUSINESS MATCH $50 CERTIFICATE WITH THE $50 BUY.
ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD TO MOVE OUR LITTLE ART FAIR THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION WITH ALL THIS CHAOS GOING ON WITH THE ROADS [INAUDIBLE], PUTTING IT MILDLY, BUT WE HOPE TO GET THAT BACK TO AND ACTUALLY SOMEDAY, LUANNE, WE HOPE TO STEAL BACK CELEBRATE MERIDIAN, TOO, BECAUSE YOU STOLE THAT FROM US.
[LAUGHTER] WE STARTED IT, BUT THEY MADE IT MUCH MORE GRAND, BUT ANYWAY, WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME PLACE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THINGS LIKE THAT AND TO HAVE OUR ART FAIRS BACK AND NOT TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM ANYTHING ELSE BUT ADD TO.
SO ANYWAY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR FOR ANYONE?
[7A.iv. Lake Lansing SAD Advisory Committee ]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE.ITEM A4 IS THE LAKE LANSING SAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE NAME I HAVE IS ROGER TAYLOR.
THAT'S OKAY, COME AND TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND TELL US ABOUT THE SAD.
I'M CURT ARMBRUSTER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LAKE LANSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE'RE CHARGED WITH ADVISING THE TOWNSHIP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LAKE LANSING AND THE WATERSHED.
WE'RE FUNDED BY A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WHICH GOES TO THE LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND ROUGHLY AN AREA TWO BLOCKS AROUND THE LAKE, WHICH WE CALL TIER TWO, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING THAT COMES IN TO MAKE UP THE TOTAL 90,000, THAT 10,000 FROM THIS TOWNSHIP AND 10,000 FROM THE COUNTY, AND THERE'S A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT COME FROM THE TWO SAILING CLUBS ON THE LAKE ALSO.
SO THE TOTAL OF THAT IS 90,000, AND WITH THAT MONEY, WE PRIMARILY DO TWO THINGS.
WE DO WHAT I CALL EVERY YEAR MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS WE SURVEY THE LAKE REGULARLY AND THEN EITHER CHEMICALLY TREAT OR HARVEST MOSTLY INVASIVE PLANTS ON THE LAKE TO KEEP IT SO IT'S USABLE FOR FISHERMEN AND BOATERS AND EVERYBODY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL SPECIAL PROJECTS, WHICH IS LIKE I THINK THERE'S 15 DRAINS AROUND THE LAKE THAT COME FROM THE STREETS OR FROM MISCELLANEOUS PROPERTIES THAT WE PUT FILTERS ON OR WE'VE BUILT SWALES SO THAT THEY'RE NATURALLY FILTERED, AND WE ALSO TEST THE WATERS, I THINK ABOUT SIX TIMES A YEAR, AND TWO OF THOSE TESTS ARE EXTENSIVE ONES WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DO MEASUREMENTS OF OXYGEN AND PHOSPHATES AND DIFFERENT CHEMICALS AND SO ON
[00:45:02]
AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORTS, WHICH THE BOARD GETS EVERY YEAR WHEN WE PRODUCE IT IN FEBRUARY, AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.CURRENT PROJECTS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION OUT TO ALL THE RESIDENTS.
SO WE'RE SENDING NEWSLETTERS OUT TWICE A YEAR WITH FRIENDLY HINTS THAT YOU CAN DO TO YOUR PROPERTIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH TO BE HELPFUL TOWARD THE LAKE-FRIENDLY KINDS OF ACTIVITIES, AND WE ALSO HAVE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEEN PROMOTING NATURAL SHORELINES, WHICH THE TOWNSHIP PICKED UP ON THAT HERE WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IS DOING IT FOR THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS WATER PONDS AND LAKES IN THE AREA.
WE'VE ALSO GOT AND THIS ISN'T FULLY APPROVED YET BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BIDS TO COME IN TO SEE IF WE'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO IT, BUT WE'VE GOT A PROJECT OUTLINED SOUTH OF THE SWIMMING AREA ON SHAW STREET, JUST SOUTH OF WHERE LAKE LANSING AND SHAW MEET. THAT IS GOING TO BE A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A COUPLE DIFFERENT KINDS OF NATURAL SHORELINES.
SO RESIDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING TO THEIR PROPERTY CAN LOOK AT THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, AND THEN INFORMATION ABOUT NATURAL SHORELINES AS OF COURSE, IS AVAILABLE. THE TOWNSHIP NOW HAS INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
I THINK THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT WE PROVIDED FOR OR PROVIDING THE IDEAS OF THINGS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT DO TO HELP US AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE LAKE IS PHOSPHATES.
PHOSPHATES COME MOSTLY THEY COME THROUGH RAIN, BUT THEY ALSO COME THROUGH FERTILIZERS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, AND THERE ARE NOW LAWS THAT SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BUY FERTILIZER THAT'S GOT PHOSPHATES IN IT, WHICH IS A LITTLE NUMBER WHEN YOU BUY FERTILIZER, BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THAT THERE'S EXCEPTIONS TO THE LAW, AND SOME OF THE EXCEPTIONS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE FOR FARMERS AND GOLF COURSES AND PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED AREAS, BUT ALSO THE ONE THAT CONCERNS US A LITTLE BIT IS THE LAWN CARE PEOPLE THAT I'M NOT PICKING ON, BUT ONE THAT EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW WOULD BE LIKE TRUGREEN OR THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE ALSO GETTING AROUND THE LAW.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY GET AROUND IT BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS YOU GOT TO TEST, AND SO OF COURSE THEY TEST, AND IF I WAS IN THE BUSINESS, I'D WANT TO HAVE THE MY LAWNS THAT I SERVICED WOULD BE THE GREENEST, AND PHOSPHATES [INAUDIBLE].
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE COMPANIES STILL PUT PHOSPHATES ON THE LAWNS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THE TOWNSHIP COULD ADDRESS, IF NOT TOWNSHIP WIDE, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE AREAS AROUND WATERSHEDS OF SOME KIND, I GUESS THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DEMO PROJECT FOR THE NATURAL VEGETATION.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT WILL [INAUDIBLE]? WELL, YOUNES IS OUR TOWNSHIP CONTACT AND SERVES ON OUR BOARD.
IT'S HE'S PUTTING IT OUT FOR BIDS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH A DESIGN STAGE AND IT'S OUT FOR BIDS.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US, AND SO WE'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL MEANS OF FINANCING OR CUT THE PROJECT DOWN IF THAT, IN FACT IS THE CASE, TO KEEP IT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
[7A.v. Environmental Commission ]
IT'S OUR IDEA TO TRY AND GET IT DONE THIS SPRING.THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WILL BE REPRESENTED BY MR. BILL MCCONNELL.
I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT CELEBRATORY MYSELF, SO BEAR WITH ME.
[00:50:09]
ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED ACTIVITIES.ON THE ADVISORY SIDE, WE TEND TO ACT AS AN ENTIRE COMMISSION IN OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION.
WE TEND TO ACT IN TEAMS OF ENTHUSIASTS THAT TYPICALLY HAVE A MEMBER OR TWO OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, PLUS A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO ENGAGE IN THESE TOPICS.
PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN TEAM THAT WE HAVE OPERATING IS OUR ENERGY TEAM, WHICH PUT FORWARD IN OUR 2017 CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN. SOME VERY WHAT I THOUGHT WERE AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND GENERATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
FOR TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS, WE ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THOSE GOALS THAT WERE SET FORTH IN 2017, AND I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A MOMENT ABOUT THE VALUE OF PLANS IN SOME COMMUNITIES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE LAUNCHED A SOLARIZE MERIDIAN PROGRAM THAT'S BUILT ON A MODEL THAT YOU MAY KNOW FROM ANN ARBOR AND OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN THEIR HOMES INVITE THEIR NEIGHBORS TO COME AND MEET WITH INSTALLERS TO TALK ABOUT THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS OF HOW IT HAPPENS.
SO FAR THEY'VE HAD OVER 100, I THINK 112 ATTENDEES AT THESE MEETINGS AND SOMETHING LIKE 15 PURCHASES OF ROOFTOP SOLAR ARRAYS AROUND 121 KILOWATT INSTALLATION.
IT'S FIVE SOLAR ARRAYS ON THE FACILITIES AND OVER 100 SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO REALLY SOME SOME GREAT PROGRESS ON THAT.
TWO MAJOR EVENTS SPRING AND FALL AT CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, TRYING TO RECYCLE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY TOUGH, LIKE PAINT AND DOCUMENT SHREDDING, METAL, EGG CARTONS AND MOST RECENTLY ELECTRONICS.
OTHER SMALLER EVENTS THAT THEY'VE HELD ARE AT THE MERIDIAN FARMER'S MARKET FOR RESIDENTS TO PICK UP RAIN BARRELS AND COMPOST BINS, POP-UP MINI RECYCLING EVENTS , AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD AT THE FARMER'S MARKET THE GREEN FAIR, WHERE A LOT OF THE VENDORS AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS WERE PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES AT THE WONDERFUL NEW FARMER'S MARKET PAVILION.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE DEVELOPED.
IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.
THERE WAS A LETTER AND FLIER MAILED TO RESIDENTS WHOSE PROPERTY IS NEXT TO OR NEAR WETLANDS, REMINDING THEM OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BUFFER BETWEEN THE WETLAND THEIR LAWNS OR OTHER LAND USES AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN THOSE FILTRATION FUNCTIONS OF THOSE BUFFERS.
THAT EFFORT ALSO INCLUDED A MAILING TO CONTRACTORS WHO PERFORM LAWN CARE SERVICES, REMINDING THEM OF THE REGULATIONS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR APPLICATIONS OF PHOSPHATES AND OTHER OTHER MATERIALS.
PRACTICAL NATIVE PLANT GUIDE WETLAND WALKS ALONG WITH OUR WONDERFUL PARK STAFF AND A WORLD WETLAND DAY PRESENTATION WITH OUR TOWNSHIP'S WETLAND CONSULTANT. THE NEXT ONE LAST ONE THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE NOT HEARD OF YET BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GETTING STARTED AND UNDER THE RADAR PRETTY MUCH IS WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A NAME FORMALIZED FOR IT.
IT STARTED OFF AS AN EXPANSION OF OUR GREAT RECYCLING EFFORTS INTO INCLUDING ORGANICS.
THE MOST INTERESTING ACTIVITY THAT I KNOW OF IN THAT REALM HAS BEEN AN OPERATION GLEANING AT THE FARMER'S MARKET, WHERE OUR MANAGER HAS BEEN ORGANIZING SO MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY'RE FULLY STAFFED AT THE END OF EVERY FARMER'S MARKET.
THEY COLLECT UNSOLD PRODUCE FROM THE VENDORS, GIVE THEM A RECEIPT FOR A TAX BENEFIT, PUT THAT PRODUCE INTO THE REFRIGERATOR THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE USED AT OTHER PARTS OF THE YEAR FOR THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FOOD IS STILL FRESH WHEN THE FOOD PANTRIES CAN
[00:55:03]
COME ALONG AND COLLECT IT AND GET THOSE FRESH FOODS TO PEOPLE WHO COULD OTHERWISE NOT AFFORD TO OR HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS ABOUT TRYING TO CUT DOWN ON FOOD WASTE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IT'S NOT EASY DURING THIS TIME OF COVID.
OVER 3,000LBS OF FRESH PRODUCE, BY THE WAY, COLLECTED AT THE FARMER'S MARKET.
I THINK THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS ABOUT 7,000LBS OF VENISON.
SOONER OR LATER WE'LL WORK ON SOME POTATOES OR I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT, AND FINALLY, THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS IN SUPPORTING MONETARILY SOME RELATIVELY SMALL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOME RELATIVELY LARGE IMPACT EVENTS, AND I THINK OF THE TREE PLANTING EFFORT THAT OUR TREASURER LAUNCHED AT CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHAT, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO NOW, HUGE TURNOUT FOR THAT EVENT.
WE ALWAYS GET A HUGE TURNOUT OF STUDENTS FOR OUR RECYCLING EVENTS AND NOW OUR GREEN GRANTS PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN MAINLY UTILIZED BY SCHOOLS DOING THINGS LIKE BUTTERFLY GARDENS, GREENHOUSES, GARDENS AT THE SCHOOL.
SO THAT ONE IS GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL, REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
FINALLY, IN OUR ADVISORY CAPACITY, WE'RE WORKING ON REVISING OUR 2017 CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, AND WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THERE IS THAT, AS I SAID, THAT VERY AMBITIOUS ENERGY CONSERVATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL, WE'RE ON TRACK TO MEET IT.
NOT EVERYONE IS ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS ON ACHIEVING THOSE AMBITIOUS GOALS, AND THAT'S REALLY SETS THIS COMMUNITY APART IN THE SAME WAY OUR MASTER PLAN, WHICH MANY OF OUR TRUSTEES WERE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING YEARS AGO, AS I ALSO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO AS WE LOOK TO REVISING THAT, THE FIRST THING THAT KIND OF POPS OUT AT ME IS IN THAT MASTER PLAN, WE SAID, HERE ARE THREE AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE SEE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER DENSITY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THAT, AND AS WE LOOK BACK ON IT, WE REALIZE THAT IN AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE OKEMOS AND HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING THAT VISION COMING TO FRUITION AND LOTS OF PEOPLE MAKE MASTER PLANS.
WE'VE GOT THREE NOTICES RECENTLY ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND US THAT ARE MAKING MASTER PLANS.
THIS COMMUNITY IS IMPLEMENTING THEM AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY AMBITIOUS.
OUR INTENTION, RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE A COMPLETE REVISION OF THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, IS TO TAKE ONE PART, THE ENERGY PART THAT IS MOST WELL DEVELOPED AND BRING THAT TO THE BOARD AND SEE IF WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE HAVE TO DO.
IT'S NOT LIKE A MASTER PLAN WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE THING ALL AT ONCE.
WE CAN DO IT IN BITS AND PIECES AS LONG AS THE MASTER PLAN ADOPTS OUR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN BY REFERENCE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT AS A LIVE DOCUMENT RATHER THAN JUST KIND OF PUTTING IT IN CONCRETE.
[7A.vi. Community Resources Commission ]
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.NEXT IS THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMISSION REPRESENTED TONIGHT BY SUZANNE BROUSE.
YES, GOOD EVENING, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I'D JUST LIKE TO REVIEW FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE COMMISSION DOES IS THAT OVERSEES THE DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND THIS IS DONE THROUGH, WE HAVE A HUMAN SERVICE SPECIALIST WHO WORKS WITH THE COMMISSION.
SHE ACTUALLY DOES ALL THE WORK.
SHE IS THE ONE WHO CONTACTS PEOPLE WHEN PEOPLE CALL IN, SHE IS THE ONE WHO CONTACTS SERVICE AGENTS OR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. SHE'S THE ONE WHO CONTACTS CHURCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED.
WE THINK OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AS A PRETTY AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.
19% OF THE POPULATION ARE LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
[01:00:01]
SO THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THESE KINDS OF SERVICES, AND WHAT THE COMMISSION DOES IS WORK WITH HER TO FACILITATE THE BUDGET TO SHE ALWAYS GETS APPROVAL FROM ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHEN SHE GIVES OUT LARGER SUMS OF MONEY AND THAT KIND OF THING.SOMETIMES AT RESTAURANTS WE WILL DO FUNDRAISING AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT REALLY IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMISSION AND IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
WE JUST HAD GOT A NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE SPECIALIST, MARY MCGINNIS, DARLA JACKSON, WHO HAD BEEN WITH US FOR A LONG TIME, RESIGNED, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE IN TRANSITION.
WE, AS I SAY, WE HAVE A NEW HUMAN SERVICE SPECIALIST TO WORK WITH US.
WE HAVE A NEW LIAISON FROM THE BOARD, MARNA.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAIR, GEORGIA, WHO YOU ALL KNOW WILL BE CHAIR FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW VICE CHAIR, YVETTE, OVER HERE.
WE FOUND OUT, I DID, I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WAS A THING CALLED THE CODE FOR COMMISSIONS.
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE WILL HAVE A VICE CHAIR.
ALSO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION HERE, TOO, KATHLEEN.
WE HAVE THE NEW LIAISON, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY IT , BUT WE ARE. SO WE NEED TO GET REUNITED.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE MAYBE TOO RELAXED.
WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS GETTING A QUORUM, BUT NOW THE TEAM IS REVITALIZED.
WE WILL START MOVING WITH OUR NEW CHAIR AND NEW VICE CHAIR, AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL GOOD COMMISSION AND WE'LL CONTINUE AS USUAL. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION? BOARD MEMBERS? I'LL ASK GEORGIA STYKA, AS THE NEW CHAIR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? JUST THAT MARNA WILSON IS OUR LIAISON NOW, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER AS PART OF OUR LIAISON, AND OUR GOAL THIS COMING YEAR IS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE AWARE OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMISSION AND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT FOR THAT.
THERE ARE TOO MANY PLACES, WHEN WE USED TO HAVE FUNDRAISERS OVER AT VARIOUS RESTAURANTS, THEY WOULD SAY, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU? AND WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT WE WERE AND WHAT WE DID, AND THEY WOULD GO, OH, WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU EVEN EXISTED.
[7A.vii. Communications Commission ]
THAT'S IT.THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, MS. BROUSE. OH, I DIDN'T MENTION OUR MAJOR FUNDING IS FROM MERIDIAN CARES.
[CHUCKLING] NEXT UP IS THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
WE USED TO HAVE DEBORAH ON OUR COMMISSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT MAIN THINGS.
WE ADVISE THE BOARD ON MATTERS OF THE VIDEO SERVICE FRANCHISEES THAT ARE IN THE TOWNSHIP: COMCAST, AT&T, ETC., MATTERS OF RIGHTS OF WAY AS THEY RUN CABLES AND WHATNOT THROUGH THE THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP, WE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM FROM TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS FROM TIME TO TIME, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE, THE VAST MAJORITY GO DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND AIR THEIR COMPLAINTS, BUT IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO HEAR SOME OF THE REAL ISSUES THAT PEOPLE FACE AS THEY TRY TO CONNECT, OR IN MOST CASES, HOW THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT STOP CONNECTING AND HOW TO GET IT BACK ON AGAIN.
[01:05:08]
YOU KNOW, WE ALL FRET WHEN THE CONNECTION IS LOST.NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT PROBLEM, THOUGH, OF COURSE.
THERE'S A YOUNG MAN AT THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL THAT RECENTLY DID AN ARTICLE.
HIS NAME IS JARED WEBBER, AND IN JULY HE WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT WHAT'S CALLED THE INGHAM COUNTY BROADBAND SURVEY , AND IN THERE HE WAS PUTTING IN QUOTES FROM GREG TODD, WHO'S THE CONTROLLER FOR THE INGHAM COUNTY, AND GREG WAS SAYING WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS SURVEY OUT BECAUSE WE REALLY GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE GET A GOOD ESTIMATE ANYWAY DON'T HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS, AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN THINK OF ALL KINDS OF GREAT THINGS ON THE COMMISSIONS ALONG WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO JOIN US IN OUR MEETINGS, BY THE WAY, THEY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT JOIN US AND WE GET INTO ALL KINDS OF CRAZY TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS.
YOU TALK ABOUT STARLINK AND ELON MUSK OR WAS IT OR WAS IT SKYNET AND ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER? [CHUCKLING] IT WAS STARLINK, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS, BUT WHAT GREG HAD TOLD HIM IS THAT THERE'S A PEW RESEARCH REPORT THAT SAID 77%, IT'S ESTIMATED OF US HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS.
IT'S A NUMBER THAT LARGER THAN I HAD THOUGHT.
IN MICHIGAN, ABOUT 380,000 HOUSEHOLDS DON'T HAVE IT, BUT WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO IN MICHIGAN IS 27% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN DON'T , AND YOU SEE, I GUESS THE POINT OF THIS WAS EXACERBATED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, WHICH PUT A CHALLENGE ON FOLKS WHO HAD TO GO TO THE INTERNET, AND IF IT'S NOT THERE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT, YOU YOU ALREADY KNOW FAMILY MEMBERS, I'M SURE FRIENDS, IT'S HAPPENED IN OUR HOUSEHOLD.
WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO DO TO SAY, OKAY, WHO'S GOING TO WATCH THE KIDS? THE KIDS CAN'T EVEN GO TO SCHOOL AND THE LIKE.
IT GIVES PARENTS A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THE TEACHER IS TRYING TO TEACH.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF WE HAVE AN ASK OF THE BOARD, KEEP GOING WITH WHAT DEBORAH HAS LED US TO TO START LOOKING AT AND IT'S IN SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL SURVEY ON THE MATTER AND THE RESULTS ARE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED, I UNDERSTAND, BUT ALSO AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE GOVERNOR HAS CHIMED IN ON THIS AS WELL, AND WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS.
IT'S JUST SO VALUABLE TO HAVE THE ACCESS.
THE SURVEY THAT WAS DONE, THE DEADLINE YOU MAY HAVE HEARD WAS EXTENDED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
SO THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO LOOK AT JUST A SMALL SLICE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON EVERYWHERE, BUT THE ANYTHING THAT YOU FOLKS CAN DO TO HELP PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF ADVANCING ACCESS FOR THE INFORMATION.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE OUR OWN WONDERFUL TELEVISION CHANNEL, AND SOME OF THAT COMES FROM THE PEG FEES, THE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT FEES AND FRANCHISE FEES THAT ARE PAID BY THE VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS.
NOT EVERYBODY CAN EVEN WATCH IT.
SO THAT'S JUST THE BROADBAND UPDATE.
LESLIE CHARLES IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE REST OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE DO THAT, OF COURSE, THROUGH THE WEBSITE.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR AND I REALLY THINK OF HOMTV AS SORT OF OUR FLAGSHIP.
THIS PAST YEAR, OF COURSE, WE'RE IN TRANSITION LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO OUR TEAMS OF INTERNS ARE SMALL BUT MIGHTY, LET'S SAY, IN COMPARISON TO THE NUMBERS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, HOW WE, OF COURSE, STAY CONNECTED. WE HAVE PRIMARILY A MAGAZINE, WHICH IS NOW A SPRING PRODUCTION, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO PREPARE FOR WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IS JUST HIBERNATE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ISSUE, BUT ALSO, OF COURSE, TAKING A LOOK AT AND STAYING IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH OUR WONDERFUL WEBSITE THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS ALWAYS CONSTANTLY LIKE HUMAN BEINGS IN PROCESS TRYING TO IMPROVE OURSELVES.
[01:10:05]
WE'VE MADE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.WE HAVE STEPHANIE NOW FOR OUR ESTEEMED LEADER AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION, AND I WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF RECENT THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
IN THE SUMMER, THE HOMTV DOES THREE DIFFERENT INTERVIEWS ON THE BOND PROPOSALS FOR THE PRIMARY, AND WE ALSO HAD NINE FOR THE ELECTION THAT WE JUST HAD NINE CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS, ELECTION PRE-SHOW ON THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER, PLUS FULL RESULTS RECAP AS IF, WELL, WE PROBABLY ALL DID WANT TO SEE THAT AND HEAR THAT ON NOVEMBER 10TH.
SO WE HAVE A NEW PRESENTATION AND I'M JUST CATCHING UP ON THIS ONE, CATCHING UP WITH KENZIE, FOCUSING ON TOWNSHIP HIGHLIGHTS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HELP OUR COMMISSION ON IS LETTING US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH MERIDIAN CARES AS I WAS LISTENING TO THAT PRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS OF OUR TOWNSHIP AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REPORT.
SO THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME INTERNAL PUBLICITY THAT WE CAN ALSO DO WITH THE HELP OF HOME TV AND THE WEBSITE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY THE BEST KEPT SECRET AS A TOWNSHIP.
MAYBE TO THE COMMISSION OR THE BOARD, WHAT WILL THE TOWNSHIP'S INVOLVEMENT BE WITH THE COUNTY WIDE BROADBAND INITIATIVE? ARE WE GOING TO BE INVOLVED? YES, WE ARE INVOLVED.
WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING, AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'M THE TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT TASK FORCE AT THIS POINT.
'THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEP. BUT I DO KIND OF HEAR THAT MAYBE I SHOULD BE WORKING MORE WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE RELATIVE TO BRINGING AND EXPANDING BROADBAND IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, WE DECIDED THE TOWNSHIP DECIDED EARLY THAT WE WOULD NOT GO ALONG AND AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COUNTYWIDE EFFORT TO EXPAND BROADBAND THROUGHOUT THE
[7A.viii. Transportation Commission ]
COUNTY. ANY OTHERS? NEXT IS THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WITH MR. STEVE VAGNOZZI AS OUR SPOKESMAN.AN EXPLANATION OF REALLY THE SCOPE OF OF THINGS THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WORKS ON.
BASICALLY WE WE LOOK AT BOTH MOTORIZED AND NON MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.
ACTUALLY HAVING BEEN ON THE COMMISSION A WHILE WE PROBABLY SPEND AS MUCH TIME ON NON MOTORIZED OR THE INTERSECTION OF NON-MOTORIZED AND MOTORIZED AS WE DO ON MOTORIZED, AND TO SIMPLIFY THAT REALLY OUR DOMAIN IS ROADS, PATHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
THANKS TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S COMMENTS, MDOT ADDED EXTRA PATHWAY USER SAFETY OBJECTS ON THE ONGOING GRAND RIVER REDO PROJECT. I DON'T DRIVE DOWN IT THAT OFTEN.
[CHUCKLING] THOSE ARE PROBABLY NOT YET VISIBLE, BUT IT WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN CROSSING LOCATIONS ON ON GRAND RIVER. THE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY ORDINANCE UPDATE WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AFTER AFTER OUR COMMISSION REVIEWED AND COMMENTED ON IT.
[01:15:10]
AND THAT'S GOTTEN SOME VISIBILITY LATELY BECAUSE SURVEYS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT OR PUBLICIZED.IT IS A QUITE INVOLVED--IT'S NOT A SLAM DUNK THING.
THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION AND EFFORT THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT.
FOR THOSE IN JULY, WE GOT OUR ANNUAL PRESENTATION FROM CATA TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE STATE OF READY RIDE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AT THIS POINT IS FAIRLY STABILIZED AND WHAT WE'RE JUST DOING IS TWEAKS.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TWEAKS WHEN WE ADDED EXTRA HOURS, OUR FIRST GUESS WHEN PEOPLE WANTED TO RIDE OVERSTATED THE DEMAND IN THE EVENING, AND SO WHAT WE WOUND UP DOING IN THOSE VERY UNDERUTILIZED TIME PERIODS IS WE SWAP THEM FOR EARLY MORNING WHERE THE UTILIZATION WAS MUCH HIGHER.
I NEED TO SAY THAT CATA HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND HAS SHOWN REAL FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF ADAPTING TO OUR REQUESTS AND PROVIDING US THE DATA THAT ALLOW US TO MAKE CHANGE REQUESTS, AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT--SITUATION CHANGE OVER TIME--WE HAD ESTABLISHED A LIMITED NUMBER OF, THE PRINCIPAL SERVICE AREA FOR READY RIDE IS IS THE TOWNSHIP.
WE HAD ADDED A HANDFUL OF CLOSE BY STOPS OUTSIDE THE TOWNSHIP THAT WERE THINGS LIKE THE MSU CLINICAL CENTER WHERE WE FIGURED THAT THERE WAS A NEED OR THERE WOULD BE USE.
WITH THE RECENT OPENING OF THE MCLAREN NEW HOSPITAL JUST OFF THE CAMPUS OF MSU. WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO ASK CATA TO TRADE, WE HAD A STOP AT THE EAST LANSING AQUATIC CENTER, WHICH EVEN AFTER THEY REOPENED THE SUMMER, WE'VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE PASSENGER UTILIZE THAT STOP.
SO WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD THAT WE ASK CANADA TO TRADE THAT SPOT, THAT STOP FOR THE MCLAREN COMPLEX.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE GOT A PRESENTATION FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT REGARDING AN UPCOMING 2023 PROJECT AT THE INTERSECTION OF WHERE LAKE LANSING ROAD CURVES AND TOWERS THERE, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER STREETS.
THEY'RE GOING TO REDO THAT INTERSECTION NEXT SUMMER, ESSENTIALLY, INSTEAD OF HAVING IT BE A T-TYPE OR A STANDARD INTERSECTION.
THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE LIKE GLANCING TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE CURVE BOTH IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND ALL OF IT SINKS IN.
WE HAD A COORDINATION MEETING WITH THE EAST LANSING TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION BECAUSE THIS INTERSECTION SITS AT THE BOUNDARIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON WAS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE GOOD NON-MOTORIZED CONNECTIONS AT THAT INTERSECTION BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE KEY
[01:20:09]
EAST LANSING PATHWAYS COMES UP THROUGH A PARK AT THAT POINT , AND WE'RE SCHEDULED.SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WAITING TO TO COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION OR PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH TRANSPORTATION RELATED PORTIONS OF THE MASTER PLAN.
SO THAT'S THE ACTIVITY THAT GOES ON.
ON BEHALF OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN COMING OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GOING ON, AND I DEAL WITH BOTH OF THEM AND.
WERE APPRECIATIVE OF THE FREQUENT UPDATES STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION THAT ARE COMING, I BELIEVE, OUT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AREA OF THE TOWNSHIP.
WHEN I SEE THOSE, I IMMEDIATELY POST THOSE ON OUR SUBDIVISION FACEBOOK GROUP AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF POSITIVE RESPONSES BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN MY SUBDIVISION, YOU ARE RIGHT, ALMOST AT THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE. SO I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS.
CHARGING PORTS FOR ELECTRIC CARS IN TOWNSHIP FACILITIES [INAUDIBLE] THINK THOSE ARE VERY MUCH [INAUDIBLE] CLIMATE-FRIENDLY.
ABSOLUTELY, TANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER PREMOE.
SO WE HAVE DONE SOME PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.
WE QUALIFY FOR REBATES TO INSTALL THE CHARGERS.
SO OUR PLAN IS TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR BRINGING IN THAT SUPPLY IN 2023 AND POSSIBLY CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR OR 2024 AND WE'RE ALSO EXAMINING SOME OF THE LOGISTICS AND REALITIES OF ELECTRIFYING OR GOING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR OUR FLEET AS WELL.
[7A.ix. Park Commission ]
THANK YOU, MR. OPSOMMER.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. VAGNOZZI.
I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE PARK COMMISSION, AND THE PARK COMMISSION IS A BODY OF FIVE ELECTED INDIVIDUALS THAT WORKS WITH DIRECTOR MAISNER AND HER WONDERFUL STAFF ON OVERSIGHT OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE FACILITIES AND THE PROGRAMS FOR PARKS AND RECREATION FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
WE'VE HAD A BANNER YEAR SINCE COVID.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THIS PAST YEAR TO REINSTITUTE SOME SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2022 THAT INCLUDED CELEBRATE MERIDIAN, MERIDIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERTS AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN FROM JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER, AND THOSE WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED AND REALLY APPRECIATED.
I WANT TO THANK ANY ONE OF YOU THAT WAS A VOLUNTEER.
I KNOW QUITE A FEW WERE PARTICULARLY CELEBRATE MERIDIAN AND THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY EMBRACED BY THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND IT COULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEERS, WHICH YOU ARE SOME OF THOSE.
WE ALSO HAD HARRIS NATURE CENTER CELEBRATED THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN JULY, AND IN CONJUNCTION WE HAVE WORKED WITH ABLE EYES, WHICH IS A CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL TOURS, AND HARRIS NATURE CENTER NOW HAS A VIRTUAL TOUR THAT IS POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND ON OURS
[01:25:09]
ALSO AND THAT IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO LOOK AT FACILITIES IN ADVANCE, AND ALSO IF THEY HAVE EMOTIONAL ANXIETY OR PHYSICAL CONCERNS, THEY CAN CHECK THAT OUT BEFORE ACTUALLY VISITING THE FACILITY.THEY WERE PLANTED WITH NATIVE PLANTS THAT WERE GROWN FROM SEA, COLLECTED AT THE PARKS AND LAND PRESERVES, AND THE INTENT IS TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AT THAT PARTICULAR WATERBODY.
ANYWAY, WITH A FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN IN MARCH THAT IS REQUIRED FOR DNR GRANT ELIGIBILITY, OF WHICH THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT SECURING AND LEVERAGING MONIES THAT WE HAVE WITH GRANTS THAT WE CAN RECEIVE.
WE ARE LOOKING IN OUR FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN TO PARTICULARLY LOOK AT ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, FURTHER ENHANCING THOSE FURTHER ENHANCING INCLUSION CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FOR THE MANY VARIED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS PARTICULAR TOWNSHIP.
WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF USE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES WE MAYBE DON'T HEAR ABOUT AND WE WORK REALLY HARD TO ACCOMMODATE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES AND USING SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY WITH OUR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT OUR PARKS AND LAND PRESERVES IN ADDITION TO 19 OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTIES, AND THIS WILL BE OCCURRING FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WITH 64 VOLUNTEER HUNTERS.
THE VENISON IS THEN DONATED TO THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS.
AS FAR AS OUR GOALS FOR 2023, WE'RE FOCUSING INTENTLY ON REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORK IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR, STARTING WITH THE MERIDIAN HISTORICAL VILLAGE BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS AND THE MAINTENANCE THERE.
ANOTHER AREA OF MAINTENANCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS A CENTRAL PARK PAVILION RENOVATION THAT HOUSED OUR FARMER'S MARKET FOR 40 YEARS AND NEEDS SOME ATTENTION THERE.
WE WILL ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING ENGINEERING PLANS AND COST ESTIMATE FOR ALSO RENOVATING THE CANOE LANDING IN FERGUSON PARK, AND THEN WE'LL USE THAT INFORMATION TO OBTAIN FUTURE GRANTS FOR COMPLETION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THAT WORK.
WE WILL ALSO BE STARTING SOME PLANNING AND ENGINEERING WORK ON A UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND THAT WOULD BE LOCATED CENTRAL TO THE TOWNSHIP, SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND UPGRADED FROM SOME OF OUR TYPICAL PLAYGROUNDS, AND THE LAST THING IS, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING WHAT WILL BE THREE GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 UNDER THE FEDERAL SPARK GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE FOR SPECIFICALLY PARK PROJECTS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS FOR MICHIGAN.
THE PARK COMMISSION JUST TODAY WE HAD OUR MEETING RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS AND IDENTIFIED THE FIRST PROJECT THAT WILL GO IN. THOSE GRANTS CAN BE A MINIMUM OF $100,000, UP TO $1,000,000 FOR EACH ONE.
[7A.x. Economic Development Corporation ]
GRANT.ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, KIM THOMPSON.
THE MISSION OF THE EDC IS TO SET THE STANDARD AND CREATING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE, BE THE EXAMPLE FOR REVITALIZATION OF OUR BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND TO BE THE LEADERS IN BUILDING SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE IN 2020, MOST OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS IN SUPPORTING ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN AND TO
[01:30:09]
KEEP THEM TO HAVE SUPPLIES COME IN.SO THAT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT THINGS ARE REALLY STARTING TO MOVE NOW AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF EXCITING AND I'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN.
THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE IS JUST VERY EXCITING AND WITH DIRECTOR CLARK AND DIRECTOR SCHMITT'S ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, THEY SECURED THAT 16.5 ACRES TO BECOME THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH APPROXIMATELY 290 HOMES, AND THEY'LL ALSO BE RESTAURANTS AND SOME RETAIL SPACE THERE.
AT THE OTHER END OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE AMERICAN HOUSE MERIDIAN, AND I DON'T THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY RETAIL SPACE IN THERE AND THEY HAVE ALREADY LEASED 3000 SQUARE FEET OF THAT ALREADY FROM DIFFERENT PLACES ACROSS THE STREET OR FOR WHATEVER. SO THAT'S GOOD.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS A REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITY.
SO REALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON IS TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THROUGH ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION AND THROUGH ALL OF THE FUN AND FRIVOLITY THAT WE'VE HAD. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, WE PURCHASED AND PRINTED SHOP LOCAL SIGNS THAT WENT ALONG THE DETOUR ROUTES TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW HOW TO GET TO PLAYMAKERS AND HOW TO GET AROUND, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE STILL UP, AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SEEKING SOME ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SORT OF MITIGATE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID IN AUGUST WAS MOB THE ROADBLOCK.
WE ALL WENT TO PLAYMAKERS AND THEN WENT TO A COUPLE OF OTHER BUSINESSES AND I THINK WE STILL ARE SORT OF THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE IN THE SPRING, BUT AS SOMEBODY POINTED OUT, WE'LL BE HIBERNATING SOON, AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE BONUS BUCKS FOR THE LOCAL SHOP SO THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE TRAFFIC GOING IN THERE.
THEY GET SOME ADVERTISEMENT AND PEOPLE THERE WITH BIG SCISSORS AND RIBBON, AND WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING TWO OR THREE A MONTH FOR '22.
SO THAT REALLY SPEAKS WELL TO HOW OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY RESPONDING TO THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT.
A COUPLE OF THE NOTABLE ONES WAS BUDDY'S PIZZA, AND THEN THE JOE'S ON JOLLY, WHICH WAS A LONG TIME COMING, BUT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT ASSET , AND JUST A COUPLE THAT ARE COMING UP, TRADER JOE'S, WE'RE STILL KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR THAT ONE, AND WE HAVE KING PHO RESTAURANT.
THESE ARE ALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE EITHER OPENING OR RELOCATING INTO THE TOWNSHIP AS IT STANDS.
KING PHO, [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], REFRESH IV, WHICH IS VERY COOL.
YOU GO IN AND THEY GIVE YOU A NICE LITTLE BAG OF THINGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, VITAMINS AND SUCH, AND THEN THE SPARROW MEDICAL FACILITY AND THE HYPERSHINE GREAT [INAUDIBLE].
ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW IT SOUNDS INTERESTING, DOESN'T IT? I MADE IT SOUND MUCH MORE.
YES, MA'AM. WHAT'S WRONG WITH TRADER JOE'S? WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG? IT'S SUPPLY CHAIN.
IT'S STEEL SUPPLY CHAIN STUFF.
[7A.xi. Board of Review ]
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY OTHER ISSUES THERE WITH THAT.[01:35:06]
EXEMPTIONS. THERE ARE SIX FULL TIME BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO ALTERNATES.SOMETIMES THE ALTERNATES ARE NEEDED BECAUSE THERE'S THREE DAYS FULL DAYS, MORNING AND AFTERNOON, AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN MAKE THAT TIME. SO THE ALTERNATES KEEP PRETTY BUSY.
YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE, AS I MENTIONED, WAS TO HEAR TAX APPEALS AND EXEMPTIONS.
SOMETIMES THE EXEMPTIONS ARE POVERTY EXEMPTIONS, VETERANS EXEMPTIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT ACCOMMODATES PEOPLE WHO WORK DURING THE DAY.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO DURING COVID, IT WAS ALL DONE ON ZOOM, WHICH WAS PRETTY INTERESTING, BUT RELATIVELY SAFE, TOO, IN MANY WAYS.
WE ALSO MEET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BASICALLY KIND OF PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE MARCH MEETINGS, BUT ALSO TO CORRECTIONS KIND OF MINOR BOOKKEEPING THINGS.
SO THE PRIMARY TIME IS IN MARCH AND THAT'S WHEN WE'RE REALLY BUSY.
SO AND IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IS JUST DISPUTING YOUR TAXES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT THE VETERANS EXEMPTIONS AND POVERTY EXEMPTIONS, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED THOSE, AND IT'S A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL AND IT'S GETS SCRUTINIZED PRETTY WELL.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THAT, AND WE DO EXPECT TO BE RELATIVELY BUSY AS THE VALUES HAVE INCREASED.
SO ANY QUESTIONS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
THANK YOU, AND THE WHOLE BOARD FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I FOLLOW [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSIONS.
YOURS PROBABLY IS THE ONE OF THE HARDEST IN THE SENSE YOU SIT DOWN FOR THREE DAYS AND LISTEN TO LONG ARDUOUS TAX APPEALS AND MAKE A FAIR DECISION FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DID RAISE THE POVERTY EXEMPTION FOR 2023, 150% OF POVERTY WAGE WILL GET YOU A 50% REDUCTION IN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES AND WE'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT IF THE DEMAND IS STRONG.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS TO HOW THAT GOES THIS YEAR.
WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND WE'LL LOOK TO IMPLEMENT MORE POLICY TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES.
IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT I--IT'S A TOUGH NUT, BUT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY PANIC WHEN THEY TRY TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP WHAT MY FEELING AND WORK WITH THE ASSESSOR IS YOU KNOW THE TOWNSHIP IN THIS REGARD IS FAIR ALL YOU NEED, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS BRING EVIDENCE OF THAT TO THE BOARD OF REVIEW , AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T--THEY'RE NOTIFIED OF IT, IT'S IN WRITING, AND THERE'S PROBABLY A GOOD 30, 40% OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN TOTALLY UNPREPARED AND THEY'RE PROBABLY RIGHT IN THEIR CLAIM, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT PREPARED, WE CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT.
SO WE TRY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, AND I DO THINK WE'RE FAIR.
MY BACKGROUND, I'M A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER, SO I UNDERSTAND VALUES.
I UNDERSTAND THE EVIDENCE IS NOT ALWAYS AN APPRAISAL, IT'S JUST DATA, AND SOMETIMES THEY JUST NEED TO BRING IN A FEW PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT'S RELEVANT, NOT LOOKING UP ON THE TOWNSHIP SITE AND WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORS STATE EQUALIZED VALUE IS.
THAT'S NOT RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT'S DIFFERENT, BUT JUST BRING EVIDENCE, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS VERY FAIR AND SOMETIMES EVEN BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME IN ON THE FIRST DAY AND WE TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN COME BACK BY THE SECOND OR THIRD DAY WITH THIS PARTICULAR EVIDENCE, WE'LL HEAR IT AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT.
[01:40:04]
AND THEY DO STRESS, AND IT IS IN WRITING THAT THEY JUST BRING EVIDENCE, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN APPRAISAL.IT'S JUST EVIDENCE OF COULD BE FROM A REAL ESTATE AGENT, A HOUSE THAT SOLD RIGHT NEARBY.
VERY SIMILAR, AND SOMETIMES WE DO THE ANALYZATION.
SO THAT'S ONE THING I'M KIND OF PROUD OF, IS THE TOWNSHIP IS FAIR.
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF FUDDY DUDDIES SAYING, NO, NO, NO.
[7A.xii. Corridor Improvement Authority ]
SO I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY.
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY, WE'LL HEAR FROM DIRECTOR CLARK.
I WAS SILLY ENOUGH TO OFFER TO STAND IN FOR THE REPORT.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO WORK AS A STAFF MEMBER FOR THE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED IN 2017 AS A PART OF BRINGING TOWARD THE GRAND RIVER, RESHAPING THE AVENUE VISION THAT THIS TOWNSHIP HAD.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH FOR THE CIA.
WE'VE LOST OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR THIS YEAR, SO LEADERSHIP IS A LITTLE WAYWARD FOR THOSE VOLUNTEERS IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON ANOTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION.
IT GOES ESSENTIALLY FROM OUR BORDER LINE, STARTING INTO THE TOWNSHIP ON GRAND RIVER TO CORNELL ROAD AND ENCOMPASSES THE MERIDIAN MALL AND THE [INAUDIBLE] JEWELERS, KELLY'S CONSIGNMENT COMMERCIAL COMPLEX AREA.
THE BIG THING FOR THE CIA RIGHT NOW IS FUNDING.
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A TIFF.
SO THERE'S NO GENERATION OF FUNDING.
ONE THING WE RAN INTO WAS WITH OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO HAVE MDOT DO ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ALONG GRAND RIVER. WE WANTED THE LIGHTING MECHANISMS TO ACCOMPANY THOSE, AND MDOT SAID ESSENTIALLY YOU COULD HAVE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT WITHOUT THE COMMISSION HAVING ANY MONEY, THERE'S NO WAY TO GO AFTER A MATCHING GRANT OR ANY OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THERE'RE USING OTHER TAX INCREMENT FUNDING RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO OUR CLOSEST TIF WOULD BE THE CIA, AND SO THAT IS THEIR SUGGESTION RECOMMENDATION.
WE HAVE AN ACTIVE TIF RIGHT NOW WITH THE DDA.
WE ALSO KNOW WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONG ARGUMENT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF OUR DDA TIF.
WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING FOR THE CIA, HOPEFULLY TOMORROW.
[CHUCKLING] CENTRAL FIRE STATION, 6:00 TOMORROW TO DISCUSS THAT AND MOVE THAT FORWARD.
IF THE QUESTION IS WHAT COULD THE BOARD DO TO SUPPORT THE CIA, IT WOULD BE A TIFF.
I THINK THE CIA MEMBERS HAVE A HARD TIME DISCERNING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD WITH KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE HURDLE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING AND BEING ABLE TO DO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, FACADE IMPROVEMENTS, OR EVEN HELP THE MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MALL.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CIA WITH THE TIF.
[7A.xiii. Local Officials Compensation Commission ]
THANK YOU. QUESTION? WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.I THINK SO. [CHUCKLING] NEXT IS THE LOCAL OFFICIALS COMPENSATION COMMISSION. I BELIEVE TONYA PRATT COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THAT? BOARD. I DON'T SERVE ON THE BOARD, BUT JUST A LITTLE QUICK, ONE MINUTE UPDATE ON WHAT THEY DO.
[01:45:02]
THIS IS A GROUP OF FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD AND THEIR ONE AND ONLY JOB, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE IS TO DETERMINE THE SALARIES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY ON THAT, AND THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THEY CAN SET THE SALARIES.IT'S DONE IN ODD YEARS, SO IT'S COMING UP IN JANUARY OF 23.
THEY'LL DO THAT ONCE THEY ACT, THOSE SALARIES ARE PUT IN PLACE.
[7A.xiv. Zoning Board of Appeals ]
, AND THEY DO THAT IN JANUARY OF ODD YEARS, AND THAT'S SET BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN LAW.YOU'RE WELCOME. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, DAVID PREMOE.
I JUST REALLY LIKE STANDING BEHIND THIS THING.
IF THEY GO IN A WAY THAT IS NOT THE WAY SOMEONE LIKES.
SO THE ZBA PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE LAST YEAR THEY HAD 18 CASES.
THEY EARLY IN THE YEAR DID RECOMMEND THAT STAFF DRAFT UP SOME NEW STANDARDS FOR REVIEW FOR THEM.
WE DO HAVE A FULL BOARD RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO VACANCIES FOR YOU PEOPLE AT HOME.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU FOR ALTERNATES.
THE ALTERNATE FOR THE ZBA IS A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUR TOES WET BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED YOU EVERY MONTH.
YOU CAN COME IF YOU WANT AND YOU CAN SLOWLY EASE YOURSELF INTO VOLUNTEERING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
GENERALLY, WE HEAR CASES ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS.
FOR THE RECORD, DIRECTOR SCHMITT, HAVE WE BEEN SUED SINCE YOU BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT? [CHUCKLING] YOU KNOW, MR. TREASURER, TWO YEARS AGO, I WOULD'VE TOLD YOU I'VE NEVER BEEN SUED IN MY CAREER, AND THEN I HAD A ZBA CASE GO VERY SIDEWAYS IN MY PREVIOUS JOB.
SO WE HAVE NOT SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.
YES. ALL THE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE, DOES THAT MAKE THE ZBA'S JOB EASIER? I THINK THE TREASURER CAN CHIME IN ON THIS, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE CHANGES THAT THE BOARD ULTIMATELY APPROVED FOR SETBACKS AND LOT COVERAGES AROUND THE LAKE, WERE A GREAT BENEFIT.
WE WERE GETTING THESE SAME CASES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND GENERALLY MY RULE OF THUMB IS IF YOU SEE IT TWICE, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE RELAYED TO THE ZBA.
[7A.xv. Land Preservation ]
IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND SO I THINK IT HAS REDUCED THE CASES.ANYONE ELSE? OUR FINAL GROUP IS LAND PRESERVATION.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE FOR LAND PRESERVATION? YES. HI, I'M JAMIE HILLER.
I'M THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
WE SERVE AS AN ADVISORY TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND WERE CREATED BY A MILLAGE OF THE PEOPLE TO FOR THE ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF NATURAL AREAS OF HIGH VALUE FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
WHEN THAT FIRST STARTED, THE GOAL WAS 10% OF AVAILABLE LAMPS, ABOUT 600 ACRES.
WE'RE JUST SHY OF 1000 ACRES AT THIS POINT.
SO WE'RE AT A POINT OF TRANSITION FROM ACQUISITION TO LONG TERM LAND MAINTENANCE, AND THIS LAST YEAR, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE HAS BEEN WITH THE CREATION OF THE MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IS A VOLUNTEER BASE OF ABOUT 224 MEMBERS.
THEY HAVE DONE 58 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEWARDSHIP AND 20 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. SO THEY FOCUS ON THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, TREE PLANTINGS, NATIVE FLOWER PLANTINGS AND THE MONITORING
[01:50:07]
OF VERNAL POOLS, WHICH ACTUALLY HAVE CRITICAL SPECIES IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IN OUR AREA, WHICH IS REALLY FASCINATING.COOL THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY PUT IN OVER 1000 HOURS THIS YEAR.
PART OF THIS IS WE HAVE OUR VOLUNTEERS COLLECT SEED OF NATURAL FLOWERS AND THEIR ORIGINAL GENOTYPES FROM OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES, AND THEN WE ARE PLANTING THEM BACK INTO OUR PRESERVES AND PARKS TO HELP WITH THE BUILDING OF NATURAL SPECIES AND HELPING TO REPLANT WHERE INVASIVE SPECIES HAVE BEEN.
WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS INCLUDING THESE TO GIVE AWAY AND SELL TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY .
WE LIKE TO SAY THAT WILDLIFE DOESN'T KNOW PROPERTY BOUNDARIES.
SO WHEN THERE ARE INVASIVE SPECIES AND PEOPLE ARE PLANTING THEM FOR THEIR GARDENS, WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MORE NATIVE LOCAL SPECIES INSTEAD, BECAUSE BIRD'S GOING TO EAT A BERRY AND LEAVE THAT DEPOSIT BEHIND ON A PRESERVE AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN THERE.
SO THE MORE NATIVE SPECIES THAT WE CAN HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP, THE BETTER.
2023 GOALS IS TO CONTINUE WITH THE PLANTING NATIVE MERIDIAN PROGRAM.
WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON THE INSTALLATION OF RULES SIGNAGE FOR OUR PRESERVES.
WE ALSO THIS YEAR INTRODUCED NEW COMMUNITY FRIENDLY NAMING FOR OUR PRESERVES, WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN THE SIGNAGE IS PUT IN NEXT YEAR, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO HOST MORE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND A VARIETY OF CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND EXPANDING OUR CURRENT COLLABORATIONS WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
WE'VE HAD REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM IN THE PAST FOR DEER MANAGEMENT STUDIES.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THEM IN THE DNR ON A FISH STUDY FOR LAKE LANSING FOR SOME SPAWNING HABITAT THAT WE BELIEVE IS THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S THE LAST OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WE HAVE.
[APPLAUSE] AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN WORKING AROUND HERE FOR A LONG TIME, I LEARNED A LOT TONIGHT THAT I DID NOT KNOW AND DID NOT UNDERSTAND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE THAT WITH WITH US AND WITH EACH OTHER.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPAND ON SOMETHING THAT DIRECTOR SCHMITT HAD POINTED OUT, WHICH IS THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXCELLENT VOLUNTEERS AS WE SEE AROUND THE ROOM TONIGHT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES, AND I WAS RUNNING THROUGH HERE AT THE END JUST TO JUST TO SEE HOW MANY WE HAD.
WE'VE GOT SOUNDS LIKE THREE UPCOMING VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MAYBE FOUR.
WE'VE GOT ONE ON THE PENSION BOARD, FOUR ON THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, FOUR IN THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMISSION, ONE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ONE ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, ONE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THREE IN CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY.
TWO IN THE LOCAL OFFICIALS COMPENSATION COMMISSION, TWO IN THE ZBA AND ONE ON LAND PRESERVATION AND SO WE'VE GOT AN EXCELLENT CADRE OF VOLUNTEERS HERE IN THE ROOM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR MORE.
[CHUCKLING] THERE'S ALWAYS MORE HOURS IN THE WEEK, BUT FOR ANYONE AT HOME ALSO WHO'S INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PART OF THE TEAM HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, PAPER APPLICATIONS, OF COURSE, ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE AT THE TOWNSHIP HALL.
THERE IS AN APPLICATION ONLINE.
IF YOU GO TO THE GOVERNMENT PAGE UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPLY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOU CAN CHECK ONE, TWO, SIX BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS THAT YOU'D BE INTERESTED OR WILLING TO SERVE ON.
THAT'S HOW I STARTED HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP GETTING INVOLVED.
I CAME OUT FOR ONE AND ENDED UP DOING THREE, AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
[01:55:01]
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU GET TO COME AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU'VE DONE, AND SO PLEASE CONSIDER GOING OUT AND APPLYING FOR THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.I WOULD ADD THAT I NOTICED TONIGHT, THOUGH, I DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM PERSONALLY, I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES WHERE SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON MORE THAN ONE OR TWO OF OUR BOARDS, AND WE THANK YOU AGAIN AS WELL AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO
[8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ]
JOIN US. OTHER COMMENTS.THEN WE COME TO ITEM EIGHT ON OUR AGENDA, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
IS IT ROGER? ROGER HAS LEFT. OH, HE HAS? OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MR. VAGNOZZI.
I LIVE AT 2144 WOODFIELD ROAD IN OKEMOS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND STAFF ON WHAT I CONSIDER AN EMERGING.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT WORSE THAN EMERGING THE CRISIS THAT IS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF HOUSING COSTS, RENTAL HOUSING COSTS IN PARTICULAR, EVEN IN THE MULTIFAMILY SECTOR.
I HAVE AT THIS POINT A 24 YEAR OLD AND A 31 YEAR OLD LIVING IN MY HOUSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF LIVING IN RENTAL HOUSING.
I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE JUST LET ME CALL IT COVID RELIEF SURPLUS, THE REMAINING SURPLUS TO A PORTION OF THAT TO LOOK AT WAYS OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING OF AGE AND YOUNGER FAMILIES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THERE'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE CORNER OF COLLINS AND [INAUDIBLE].
THERE USED TO BE A DUMPY OLD HOTEL THERE, AND I DROVE BY RECENTLY AND IT SAID STUDIOS FROM 1300 DOLLARS A MONTH AND UP.
IT WAS RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THE RENT NATIONWIDE FOR THE AVERAGE RENT NATIONWIDE FOR A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT IS NOW APPROACHING $2,000 A MONTH.
I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP AS, IT LOOKS TO WHAT TO DO WITH THE REMAINING SURPLUS, WILL PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND SEE CAN WE LEVERAGE SOME OF THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO PRIORITIZE THAT IN SOLICITING OR APPROVING NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
MAY I RESPOND TO THAT? MR. VAGNOZZI, HAVE YOU--I'M DONE.
IF YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
[INAUDIBLE] THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WE CAN WAIT.
[02:00:07]
THE CHURCH ON DOBIE ROAD HAS TEN ACRES THAT THEY ARE ASKING TO BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP INTO APARTMENTS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING FOR BOTH IMMIGRANTS AND YOUNGER WORKING FAMILIES.THANK YOU. MR. PREMOE, FOR THE RECORD, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS? IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE I ALWAYS INSIST ON THAT WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS ON THAT AND I FAILED TO DO IT.
[CHUCKLING] I'M DAVID PREMOE AND I LIVE AT 3884 PINE KNOLL.
ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE SAY YES.
OPPOSED NO. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.