[00:02:02]
>> [MUSIC] [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 6,
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD FOR THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP EVERY YEAR.PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THANK YOU. MR. LEMASTER, COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT ITEM 4 ON OUR AGENDA IS THE PRESENTATION.
[4. PRESENTATION]
WE HAVE TWO.THE FIRST IS BY LIEUTENANT EVEREST, AND HIS BOY SCOUTS FRIENDS [LAUGHTER]
>> THE CHIEF OKEMOS TROOP 125 [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE IS A BUNCH OF US, ACTUALLY.
>> SINCE 2017 WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY TO SEND TROOPS OFF TO GET THEIR NEEDED TRAINING AND THEIR CAMPS, AND ALSO FOR RAISING MONEY FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION.
THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME WE DID.
BREAK, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT WE RESUMED AT THIS YEAR AND WE WERE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL, I WOULD SAY.
>> TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> TWO HUNDRED AND TEN. YES, YOU GROW ON THAT.
THIS IS TED FARRIS. HE'S A DIRECTOR.
I'LL LET HIM TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE HISTORY ON THAT, SO THANKS JASON.
>> MAY I SLOW YOU DOWN JUST A LITTLE?
>> JASON ARE YOU LIEUTENANT EVEREST?
>> THANK YOU. COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> JASON EVEREST. I'M ALSO THE UNION PRESIDENT OF THE UNION ACTIVITY OF THE LOCAL AND I LIVE IN LANSING.
[00:05:02]
>> I'M TED FARRIS. I'M THE ASSISTANT SCOUT MASTER FOR TROOP 125, WHICH IS IN OKEMOS.
BUT I GOT STARTED AS AN ADULT LEADER IN SCOUTS IN OKEMOS, SO I STUCK WITH THAT EFFORT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THANKS TO DEBORAH AND ANDREA SMILEY.
WE MADE A CONNECTION WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO ADVERTISE OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS IN SCOUTS.
THE FIRST EMAIL I GOT BACK WAS, WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO HELP US WITH OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY SOMEHOW? WHEN WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PANCAKE BREAKFAST, I DIDN'T ASK ANYBODY.
I JUST SAID YES. WE'RE HERE TODAY PARTLY BECAUSE OF THAT. THIS HAS BEEN FUN.
IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR OUR SCOUTS TO HAVE SOME VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR THEM TO HELP PUT ON ONE OF THE EVENTS, AND THEY ALL LIKE PANCAKES.
I DON'T HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THEM THERE, [LAUGHTER] SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
THE NICE THING IS AS A RESULT ALL OF THIS WE'VE HELPED 15 OR 16 SCOUTS GO TO SUMMER CAMP, TO DAY CAMP, OR TO RESONANT CAMP THAT INCLUDES A CUB SCOUTS.
GABE ACTUALLY WANTED PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH, WHICH IS NEW MEXICO.
I THINK HE'LL TELL YOU THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR BETTER SCOUTING EXPERIENCES.
>> I ECHO ALEXANDER HERE, MY RIGHT.
THIS IS ALEXANDER KOLLS, HE'S ONE OF OUR OTHER SCOUTS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS WE HAVE A NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER TRAINING, AND WE'VE HAD TWO OF OUR FEMALE SCOUTS GO TO THAT THIS PAST YEAR.
ACTUALLY WE'VE HAD FOUR OF THE TWO THIS PAST YEAR WE HELP WITH THEIR SCHOLARSHIP THERE.
THAT'S BEEN A BIG THING FOR HELPING OUR SCOUTS DO THINGS.
SOME OF THESE THINGS THEY WOULDN'T DO IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY.
WE APPRECIATE THE VISIBILITY AND THE PARTNERSHIP VERY MUCH.
THIS IS THE NICE STUFF THAT ANDREW DOES.
ALL THE SIGNS YOU SEE AROUND OKEMOS.
>> THIS REPRESENTS PROCEEDS FROM THE PANCAKE?
>> YES. FIRST WE HAD A 1/3 FOR ALL THE DONATION TO THE FOOD.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL WAS, BUT WE ACTUALLY DONATED THE CRYSTAL REY BECAUSE WE HAD A LITTLE EXTRA FOOD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DONATE, STILL PACKAGED.
WE TOOK AT THE CRYSTAL REY, SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THINGS DON'T GO TO WASTE, SO I HELP DOING SO.
>> I CAN'T READ THOSE CHEQUES FROM HERE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHO THEY ARE MADE OUT TO AND WHAT THE AMOUNT IS?
>> THIS ONE SAYS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION, IT'S $300.
>> I GOT TO TURN IT TO RIGHT SIDE, I'M SORRY.
MERIDIAN SCOUTS CAMPERSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND, $968.
>> THIS INVOLVES ALL THE SCOUT UNITS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
IF YOU GO TO HASLETT YOU HAVE TROOP 97 AND PACK 97.
IF YOU COME TO OKEMOS WE HAVE TROOP 125, WHICH IS A BOY TROOP AND TROOP 164 WHICH IS A GIRL TROOP AND PACK 164.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR TOTALS ARE RIGHT NOW.
BUT SCOUTING IS GROWING AGAIN NOW THAT COVID'S PASSED.
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, THERE IS AT 35 ACTIVE NUMBERS FROM LIKE 12.
>> VERY GOOD. DID ALL OF THESE TROOPS PARTICIPATE IN THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST? PUT IT ON THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST?
>> YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO GET TOGETHER.
WE HAVE DISPLAYS, WE HAVE VIDEOS.
PEOPLE GET A FLAVOR OF WHAT SOME OF THE SCOUTS HAVE BEEN UP TO.
>> THEY HELP SET UP, CLEAN UP.
>> THE 242 CHURCH HAS BEEN OUR LOCATION AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.
BUT ONE THING WE HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED IS WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN EAGLE PROJECT DONE THERE.
BUT THAT'LL HAPPEN PROBABLY IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SCOUTS DO WHEN THEY GET READY TO BE AN EAGLE, THEY HAVE TO LEAD A PROJECT AND SO YOU'LL FIND WHAT THE SCHOOLS, CHIPPEWA AND OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL SCOUTS ACTUALLY WILL DO PROJECTS FOR THE SCHOOLS, OR THE PARKS.
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WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THE PARKS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.HOPEFULLY THEY LEAVE A GOOD FOOTPRINT AND PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
>> THANKS TO THE 242 CHURCH TOO.
THANKS TO THE MANAGER FOR SHOWING UP TOO.
[LAUGHTER] YOU THOUGHT I'D FORGET, DIDN'T YOU? [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, I LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON THIS EFFORT AND I'M CERTAIN THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED WILL ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU MAKE.
>> JUST A QUICK THANK YOU TO THE SCOUTS FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY.
MANY OF OUR PARKS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE EAGLE SERVICE PROJECTS IN THE PAST.
I'M THINKING OF THE AMPHITHEATER, THAT HARRIS NATURE CENTER, THAT WAS BUILT THERE, AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WERE DONE IN YOUR PARKS BY EAGLE PROJECTS, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE ADULT LEADERS PUT IN HAVING BEEN ONE MYSELF FOR TROOP 97, IT'S HOW THAT I KNOW IT'S SIGNIFICANT AND IT'S GREAT BUILDING CHARACTER FOR THE YOUTH AND MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR KEY ASSETS. THANK YOU.
>> ANY BOARD MEMBERS? CLERK GUTHRIE
I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS ANNUAL EVENT CONTINUE SINCE THE ONE [INAUDIBLE] GROWING UP SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS COMMUNITY LIKE A PANCAKE BREAKFAST.
SO IF SOMEBODY HASN'T BEEN TO A PANCAKE BREAKFAST [LAUGHTER], I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO EAT PANCAKES.
BUT THERE IS A HUGE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE WHEN PEOPLE GATHER FOR A SCOUT PANCAKE BREAKFAST, AND YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS MONEY PUT TO GOOD USE AND THAT IT'S A BENEFIT FOR THE SCOUTS.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THIS AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> SHE ORGANIZED THE FIRST ONE ACTUALLY.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND PRESENTATION.
CHIEF HAMIL. ARE YOU PREPARED? OUR SECOND PRESENTATION IS ALSO FROM A FIREFIGHTER.
IT'S LIEUTENANT SAMANTHA WEBER WHO ALSO HAS A CHECK PRESENTATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS OUR, I THINK, THIRD YEAR DONATING TO IT'S A BREAST THING.
IT'S A LOCAL CHARITY FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS.
IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY, I KNOW WE DID THIS LAST YEAR AS WELL.
BUT AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT WE'RE ABLE TO WEAR T-SHIRTS THAT ARE BLUE AND THEN IT HAS THE PINK WRITING IN THE WHOLE MONTH OF OCTOBER, SO A LOT OF THE GUYS AND GIRLS ARE ABLE TO WEAR A SHIRT.
THEN ALSO WITH THE PURCHASE OF THESE SHIRTS, WE RAISE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR THE CHARITY.
WE GET THE SHIRTS MADE AT T-SHIRT GOODS IN HASLETT, THEY'RE FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH.
THEY ALSO DONATE MONEY TO A CHARITY OF CHOICE, AND BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE SHIRTS FOR THE BREAST CANCER, THAT'S WHERE THEY DID.
COMBINED WITH THE SALES OF THE SHIRT, SOME DONATIONS, AND THEN ALSO T-SHIRT GOODS, WE RAISED $1,000.
I'LL LET HER TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY.
THIS IS MELINDA BARR, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHARITY.
>> MELINDA BARR 1867 LAKE LANSING IN HASLETT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ITS A BREAST THING, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER RUN.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION FOR THE LAST 15-17 YEARS.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT PUT ON THE BROAD CONTEST UP AT EAGLE EYE THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY OCTOBER AND RAISED $50-60,000 FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT IMPACT THAT IS, THE YEAR 2020, YOU REMEMBER THAT YEAR, WHERE EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED EXCEPT FOR US.
WE GAVE AWAY 111 $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS THAT YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] FOLLOWED BY 165 $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS 2021, AND THEN WE ARE APPROACHING THE 122 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE GO RIGHT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
IN JUNE, WE SCALED OUR ORGANIZATION DIFFERENTLY AND CHANGED
[00:15:05]
OUR BUSINESS MODEL DUE TO THREE OR FOUR MAJOR FUNDING SOURCES COMPLETELY DRYING UP, WHICH WE ARE NOT THE ONLY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION STRUGGLING FROM THIS.HOWEVER, WE'VE DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON AND MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THIS BY RESTRUCTURING OUR BUSINESS PLAN AND THE AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO THIS WILL GIVE US TWO $500 GRANTS.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED, I THOUGHT [LAUGHTER] THAT WILL HELP A SURVIVOR, MALE OR FEMALE.
ABOUT 98 PERCENT OF OUR SURVIVORS ARE FEMALE.
HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MALES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SURVIVORS THAT NEED EXTRA MONEY COVER THINGS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, HAIR, FOUNDATION GARMENTS, TRAVEL, OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL MEDICINES THAT MAYBE AREN'T COVERED BY INSURANCE THAT ARE EXPERIMENTAL, OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAD 10-YEAR-OLD TWINS, BUT SHE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND GOING THROUGH SO MUCH CHEMO THAT SHE COULDN'T DO HER BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HER 10-YEAR-OLD TWINS, SO SHE TOOK SOME OF OUR MONEY LAST YEAR AND HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CRITERIA ON HOW WE USE IT, WE JUST WANT YOU TO USE IT.
THERE IS A CRITERIA, AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON ON OUR BOARD THAT DOES THE RIGOROUS INFORMATION GATHERING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY COMPLIES, AND THEN WE TRY TO GRANT THE GRANTS AS QUICKLY AS THE APPLICATIONS COME IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.
WHEN JUDY SAID, "HEY, CAN YOU GO GET A CHECK AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP?" I'M LIKE [NOISE] "REALLY." [LAUGHTER] NO, I DID NOT.
SHE HAS THROWN HER BACK OUT AND SHE CAN'T STAND VERY LONG AND SO I SAID, "YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, I'LL GO OVER, GET TO SEE ALL MY FRIENDS AND RECEIVE THIS CHECK." THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH AND I LOVE TO SEE THE OFFICERS WEARING THEIR PINK SHIRTS, [LAUGHTER] THAT PRETTY COOL.
OCTOBER IS ADORNED WITH PINK EVERY SINGLE PLACE YOU CAN, BUT IF YOU CAN FIND AN ORGANIZATION, I KNOW ONE, THAT IS 100 PERCENT VOLUNTEER AND DOES NOT SPEND ONE DIME ON R&D, BUT THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, COME AND SEE ME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CAN I GET BOTH OF YOU TO GIVE US SOME NAMES AND ADDRESSES FOR A REVIEW.
>> SAMANTHA WEBER AND I'M FROM ST. JOHN'S.
>> I DID. MELINDA BARR 1867 LAKE LANSING HASLETT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU BOTH.
CONSCIOUS, CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. OTHER MEMBERS, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY GREEN FORMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
SAY NONE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6.
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
AS FOR THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT. MR. FRANK?>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
I'LL BE BRIEF. THE SOLO PROJECT AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING IS COMPLETE.
THERE'LL BE PROVIDING ABOUT 17 PERCENT OF THE ENERGY NEEDS OF THAT BUILDING.
THE LIBRARY ROOF IS COMPLETE, THE BILL HAS BEEN SENT TO KETTLE.
THE SAME PROJECT IS GOING TO, YOU'LL START TO SEE THAT.
IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY YOU'LL SEE THE SIGNS ARE GOING UP.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A COUPLE OF DETAILS ON THE ENTRY POINTS FOR THE SIGNS, MOST NOTABLY THE EAST AND WEST LOCATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FIVE OFFICERS GRADUATING ON FRIDAY, AND THE CEREMONY FOR THE SWEARING-IN IS NEXT WEEK, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE FIVE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF YOU A WEEK FROM TONIGHT.
ACCORDING TO CHIEF FLAG, THEY'VE DONE VERY WELL IN THE ACADEMY.
SPEAKING, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION RE-ACCREDITATION IS HAPPENING EVERY THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE ACCREDITED.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOARD IS THERE YOU'LL SEE THE EMAIL THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, FRIDAY IS THE DAY TO BE INVOLVED.
I KNOW THAT SUPERVISOR THEY'VE ACTUALLY ASKED TO MEET WITH SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND ME ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
YOU ACTUALLY SEE WORK HAPPENING ON THAT IN THE 1ST OF JANUARY.
THAT'S THE PROJECT, THE FIRST PHASE OF ONE AND TWO FROM LAKE LANSING TO MSU.
YOU'LL SEE THAT FROM THE SHOW BUILDING, THE MUSIC BUILDING OVER TO GRAND RIVER.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN FEY'S MTA TOWNSHIP WORKSHOP THAT IS TOMORROW.
I HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH CANADA TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL OF A WAIVER OF THE ONE-YEAR CONTRIBUTION.
[00:20:05]
THE LOCAL ROADS 22 PROJECT IS COMPLETED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MANAGER OPSOMMER.THE TOWN HALL PROJECT, IT'S GOING WELL, WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINOR DETAILS, BUT I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR MASSEY AND SAMANTHA FOR FURTHER WORK ON THAT PROJECT.
THE SUPERVISOR IS PLANNING TO ASK THEM TO BE HERE NEXT WEEK FOR THEIR WORK IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAD 40-60 VOLUNTEERS HERE LAST WEEK.
THAT GOES ON SATURDAY, PAINTING THE INSIDE OF OUR POLICE BUILDING AND SOME OTHER STUFF THAT I'LL LET THEM SHARE WITH YOU.
NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THINGS FALL OUT FROM TONIGHT.
THAT'LL BE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK.
THE 242 CHURCH WILL BE HERE AND THAT WILL BE AS PLANNED IS THE LAST MEETING OF 2022.
THAT'S MY REPORT UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION, OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MR. WALLACE.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT GRAND RIVER AVENUE.
>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN HERE, I SKIPPED OVER.
WE'RE HOPING IN THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS IF THAT INTERSECTION OPENS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME COOPERATION FROM CONSUMERS WHICH DROPPED SOMEWHERE.
I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT STEPS DO WE TAKE WITH CONSUMERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION ON THAT AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOME THINGS AVAILABLE TO US.
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF PLUG.
I KNOW THAT HE WAS OVER HIMSELF ON TRAFFIC CONTROL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE INDIAN HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THERE LATELY, THE STREETS ARE NARROW.
THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS, IT'S NOT BUILT FOR 5,000 CARS A DAY TO GO THROUGH THAT.
IF YOU LIVE THERE, YOU WOULDN'T APPRECIATE THAT.
THE CHIEF I KNOW HAD ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING HIMSELF OVER THERE TODAY WITH THE BRIDGE BEING CLOSED TODAY.
THE BRIDGE IS BACK OPEN AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU GO THROUGH THERE, IT'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE VIEW RIGHT NOW WITH THE PETALS STYLES THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
SHOULD BE ANOTHER 4-6 WEEKS AND THE BRIDGE SHOULD BE TOTALLY OPEN, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE.
>> IT'S TAKEN THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE, INCLUDING OUR RESIDENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> ITEM 7 IS BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
>> JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT, TAX BILLS, ONE LOAD.
LAST WEEK THEY SHOWED A WILD-TYPE DECEMBER 1ST. OF COURSE.
IT'S NOT BEEN PIECEMEAL YOUR OWN BOOK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO, BUT THEY WERE MAILED.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN ONE FEEL FREE TO CALL TOWNSHIP OFFICES, MY OFFICE AT 8-534-14 AND WE WILL GET YOU TO LOOK AT SENT OUT RIGHT AWAY.
BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR TEXTBOOK RECEIVED BY THEM.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I VOLUNTEERED WITH THE FRIENDS OF OKLAHOMA'S LIBRARY OVER THE WEEKEND FOR THEIR ANNUAL BOOK SALE, AND THEY SOLD AROUND $5,400 WORTH OF BOOKS.
A VERY GOOD SHOWING BY THE COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE FOR BOTH DAYS AND I DIDN'T DO MUCH BUT SIT THERE AND COUNT THE BOOKS TO BE CHARGED.
BUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD YVONNE AND I THINK I BROUGHT HOME FOUR BAGS OF BOOKS MYSELF [LAUGHTER], THAT'S ALL FOR MY REPORT.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT, I THINK ON DECEMBER THE 1ST I ATTENDED THE LAST TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD MEETING.
THIS AFTERNOON, I ATTENDED THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR ADDITIONS WERE MOVED TO APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
I NEED A MOTION.>> MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN ON FAVOR. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I WOULD SUGGEST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO SWAP ITEMS 12B, AND 12C SO THAT WE RESOLVED THE PROPERTIES OUT OF RRA BEFORE WE DELETE OUR RRA,
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JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ORDERLINESS, IF THE MOTION MAKER WILL ACCEPT THAT FROM THE AMENDMENT.>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF THE AGENDA AND THAT CHANGE AND WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE SAY YES [OVERLAPPING].
NO. CHAIR VOTES YES, AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, BECOME TO ITEM 9, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA (SALMON)]
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS OUR MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 15TH TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING, NOVEMBER 17 BOARD AND OAKLAND SCHOOLS MEETING, AND NOVEMBER 29TH, SPECIAL TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING.ITEM C ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS THE MANAGER'S BILL, ITEM D, INCLUDES A 2023 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED, RESOLUTION AMENDMENT.
IN THIS AMENDMENT, WE HAVE CHANGED THE SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON THE FIRST AND FOURTH TUESDAY IN APRIL, AND THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY IN MAY.
ITEM E IS RATIFICATION OF A NEW FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, ITEM F IS REALLY RAPID EXPANSION OF SERVICES, AND ITEM G IS QUARTERLY TREASURER'S REPORT SHOWS YOU DISHING.
>> THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE AND DICKSON.
WE'RE NOT THAT FAR OFF FROM THE TREASURER'S REPORT AND I'D BE GLAD TO DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL WHEN WE DON'T HAVE QUITE SUCH A FULL AGENDA AS WE DO TO MAKE THE RADIO ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE TRUSTEE SUMMIT AND SHOWS ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION THAT MADE THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I SERVED ON THE CALIBER CALORIES FILM GOING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE AND ESSENTIALLY THE CHANGES TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF A TOWNSHIP TO INCLUDE PICKUPS AND DROP-OFFS AT THE MCLAREN HOSPITAL.
I READ IT, THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR ME WITH OTHER VEHICLE.
IT'S A PRETTY IMPORTANT CHANGE AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ADOPTED TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? MR. LEMASTER. HERE WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
>> THANK YOU. FOR ITEM 10 THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ITEM 11 AND WE THEN COME TO OUR AGENDA ITEM 12, WHICH IS ACTION ITEMS. FIRST, HAS TO DO WITH BOARD AND COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENT,
[12.A. Board and Commission Reappointments]
AND I WILL INTRODUCE THE MEMO.MEMBERS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHO ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT IF THEY HAVE CHOSE TO BE REAPPOINTED.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD MOVE TO REAPPOINT XAVIER DURAND-HOLLIS, DEBORAH FEDERAU, SONYA PENTECOST, LANNY BRUNETTE, MICHAEL NUSSDORFER, CHRISTOPHER SILKER, AND TERRANCE WARREN, AN ALTERNATE TO THE BUILDING BOARD OF REVIEW FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM ENDING 12-31-24.
TO REAPPOINT JEFF THEUER AND FRANK WALSH TO THE BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM ENDING 12-31-2025.
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MOVE TO REAPPOINT KIMBERLY MAINGU AND GEORGIA STYKA TO THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE COMMISSION FOR A TERM ENDING 12-31-2024.MOVE TO REAPPOINT ANNA COLBY AND WILLIAM MCCONNELL TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM ENDING 12-31-25.
MOVE TO CONFIRM THE SUPERVISOR REAPPOINTMENT OF ALISANDE SHREWSBURY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM ENDING 12-31-2025.
>> SUPPORT BY TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
ARE THERE COMMENTS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I THOUGHT WE HAVE OTHER BOARDS COMMISSIONS.
SHOULD WE EXPECT A CLEAR LIST FROM THE NEXT MEETING OR THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY?
>> JANUARY. IT'LL BE IN JANUARY.
OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? IN THIS INSTANCE WE CAN USE A VOICE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO REAPPOINT THE LISTED PERSONS TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, PLEASE SAY YES.
CHAIR VOTES YES, AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 12B IS AN ORDINANCE 2022-14.
[12.C. Ordinance 2022-18 – RRA Properties Rezoning – Final Adoption]
SO WHAT IS NOW ITEM 12B IS ORDINANCE 2022-18, RRA PROPERTIES REZONING, AND THIS IS FOR A FINAL ADOPTION. MR. SCHMIDT.>> MADAM CHAIR, THIS REQUEST WOULD REZONE SEVEN PROPERTIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ZONED RRA ONE-FAMILY SUBURBAN ESTATE INTO THE RRA ONE-FAMILY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AS DIRECTED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
THE ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION PRIOR TO THE MATTER BEING BROUGHT UP AT THIS MEETING.
STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED NO MAJOR CONCERNS.
THE PLAN IN QUESTION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND WE HAVE MADE CONTACT, I BELIEVE, WITH ALL SIX OF THE OCCUPIED PROPERTIES AND NO ONE HAS ANY MAJOR CONCERNS WITH THIS.
FUNCTIONALLY, THIS WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROPERTIES.
IT'S CLEANING UP OUR ORDINANCES.
I WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING ORDINANCE 2022-18, AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE FOLLOWING SEVEN PARCELS FROM RRA ONE FAMILY-SUBURBAN ESTATE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO RA ONE-FAMILY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
NUMBER 1, 1250 ETHEL STREET, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33020223377011.
NUMBER 2, 4544 VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 330202024377004.
NUMBER 3, 4536 VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33020224377005.
NUMBER 4, 44558 VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33020224377012.
NUMBER 5, 4552 VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33020224377013.
NUMBER 6, 4564 VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33020224377017.
NUMBER 7, UNADDRESSED VAN ATTA ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 3302022437708.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
MR. HENDRICKSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT FURTHER?
>> SURE. I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, SO I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MUCH OXYGEN LEFT.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A MOVE TOWARD A CONFORMANCE FOR A NUMBER OF THESE PROPERTIES, IN SOME CASES CONFORMANCE IN FULL, AND IT FACILITATES THE STREAMLINING AND DELETION OF THE RRA ZONING CATEGORY, WHICH I THINK IS IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO CREATE A SIMPLER AND MORE COMPREHENSIBLE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I'LL BE VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT THIS CHANGE.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE SEVEN PARCELS FROM RRA.
[00:35:06]
MR. LEMASTER, I BELIEVE WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.>> THANK YOU. NOW TO ITEM C WHICH
[12.B. Ordinance 2022-14 – RRA District Deletion – Final Adoption]
IS ORDINANCE 2022-14 RRA DISTRICT DECISION, AND THIS IS BEFORE THE BOARD FOR A FINAL ADOPTION RELATED TO THE LAST ACTION.>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, THIS REQUEST WOULD ELIMINATE THE RRA DISTRICT FROM THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN FOR LAND USE.
ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR LAND USE IN 2017, THIS IS TO STREAMLINE OUR ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY SEVEN, THIS WILL BRING US DOWN TO SIX SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICTS PLUS THE LAKE LANSING RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY, WHICH IS ITS OWN ANIMAL.
AGAIN, THIS WILL HAVE NO FUNCTIONAL IMPACT WHEN PARTNERED WITH THE REZONING REQUEST THAT WAS JUST APPROVED.
WE DID PUBLISH THIS AS DIRECTED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION, SO WE HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, AND STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CHANGE AT THIS TIME.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR FINAL ADOPTION ZONING AMENDMENT 2022-14 TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AT MULTIPLE SECTIONS TO DELETE THE RRA ONE-FAMILY SUBURBAN ESTATE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT FROM THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD TO WHAT TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON SAID THAT DIRECTOR SCHMIDT HAD RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEED TO STREAMLINE AND I THINK IT JUST MAKES SENSE.
>> ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS? THEN MR. LEMASTER, A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
>> TREASURER DESCHAINE. [NOISE]
>> ITEM 12D IS THE 2022 TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
[12.D. 2022 Township Manager Performance Review]
ON NOVEMBER THE 29TH, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MET WITH THE MANAGER, FRANCIS L. WALSH, TO CONDUCT THE MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR.EACH BOARD MEMBER CONTRIBUTED TO SUMMARY EVALUATION OF THE MANAGER'S SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BASED ON 10 AREAS OF CONCERN.
BOARD MEMBERS FIRST REVIEWED THE MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE INDIVIDUALLY, THEN REVIEWED AND DISCUSS 2022 CALENDAR YEAR ON THE BASIS OF HOW THESE ENDS WERE ACHIEVED AND CHALLENGES MET.
ALL AGREED THAT THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR PRESENTED THE TOWNSHIP WITH MANY UNUSUAL CHALLENGES DUE TO THE VESTIGES OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THAT MANAGER FRANCIS WALSH PERFORMED HIS DUTIES EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, RESULTING IN NEARLY UNANIMOUS, EXCELLENT RATINGS.
I RECOMMEND A MOTION RELATIVE TO ADOPTION OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2022 TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE REVIEW AS PRESENTED.
THE REVIEW DOCUMENT SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICE FOR PROPER FILLING.
>> SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> YOU ENCAPSULATE IT EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
WE DID INDIVIDUAL EVALUATIONS, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A GROUP MEETING IN CLOSE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE MANY ATTRIBUTES OF TOWNSHIP MANAGER FRANK WALSH.
WE'RE ALL DELIGHTED WITH THE YEAR WE'VE HAD WITH HIM, AND WE'RE ENTHUSIASTICALLY GIVING HIM
[00:40:02]
EXCELLENT REVIEWS AND MAKING THE MOTION THAT WE'RE MAKING TONIGHT.>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THAT.
I THINK TRUSTEE WILSON, AND YOURSELF SPOKE ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE SATISFACTION THAT THE BOARD HAS WITH THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
I GUESS I WOULD ADDITIONALLY SAY THAT IT'S BEEN MOST IMPRESSIVE THE WAY IN WHICH MANAGER WALSH REVIEWS THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND KEEPS IT ABOVE PAR.
I PROBABLY WISH THAT HE COULD COME DO THAT AT MY HOUSE FOR MY PERSONAL BUDGET.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT I OFTEN THINK WHEN I SEE HIS REPORTS.
JUST THE DEMEANOR IN WHICH HE HAS WITH THE PUBLIC AND NOT EVERYTHING IS EASY-GOING, EASY STREET.
THERE'S A LOT OF TOUGH ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE TACKLED AND THAT I'VE SEEN HIM PERFORM WELL ON THAT AREA AND JUST THE MANNER IN WHICH HE HAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STAFF.
TREASURER, DESCHAINE, AND I ARE PRETTY MUCH ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY DAY, SO WE CAN SEE MORE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONAL TYPE OF THINGS.
I'M IMPRESSED WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT HE HAS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE SIXTH EVALUATION OF [INAUDIBLE] PRODUCT AND THE FIRST ONE WAS EXCELLENT.
I THINK EACH OF THE SIX YEARS HAD BEEN PROGRESSIVELY MORE POSITIVE WITH THE MANAGER.
THIS ONE I THOUGHT WAS RIGHTFULLY SO THE STRONGEST EVALUATION OF HIM FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT HE'S DOING.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, IT'S WORTH SAYING AGAIN, MOST IMPORTANT JOB THIS BOARD HAS IS TO HIRE THE RIGHT MANAGER.
THE BOARD 10 YEARS AGO NOW HIRED MR. WALSH WHO'S HERE AT THE BOARD TABLE.
BUT THAT BOARD TO BE THANKED FOR THEIR VISION AND ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE TALENT THAT MR. WALSH BROUGHT TO THE INTERVIEW AND HIRING HIM THAT DAY.
AS CLERK CATHERINE POINTED OUT HIS FINANCIAL ACUMEN IS REALLY AT THE TOPS, NOT BEING IN SUCH A STRONG FINANCIAL SITUATION IN THE 10 YEARS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HIRED, AND PERHAPS EVER BEFORE IN THIS TOWNSHIP.
HE KEEPS A VERY CLOSE TABS OF ALL EXPENSES AND IS VERY CAREFUL WITH THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND HOW EXPENSE GOES AND ACCOUNTING FOR [INAUDIBLE] IF IT'S UNNECESSARY.
THE SAME TIME HIS COMMUNICATION SKILLS, HIS WORK ETHIC, HIS LEADERSHIP, IS EXCEPTIONAL.
HE'S A VERY SINCERE MANAGER OF THE N TEAM AND MANAGING EMPLOYEES AND CREATES A VERY STRONG CONNECTION TO ALL 165 OF OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THIS BOARD.
AS I SAID IN EVALUATION IS IF WE'VE GOT TWO FOR ONE WITH FRANK, WE GET A TOP-NOTCH FINANCIAL MANAGER, AND WE GOT A REALLY ENGAGED, CONNECTED MANAGER WHO REALLY MAKES IT HIS BUSINESS TO KNOW WHAT EVERY EMPLOYEE IS DOING, HOW THEIR FAMILY IS DOING.
FINDING THE PERSON BEHIND THE EMPLOYEE THAT MAKES EACH EMPLOYEE COMFORTABLE FEELING THEY'RE VALIDATED.
I'M NOT JUST A COGNIZANCE, BUT I'M A PERSON AND I COUNT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
FRANK WALSH MAKES SURE THAT EACH EMPLOYEE KNOWS THAT.
WE HAVE THESE TWO OFTENTIMES DISTINCT SKILLS THAT YOU DON'T OFTEN FIND IN THE SAME PERSON.
WE HAVE THOSE WITH MANAGER WALSH, AND FOR THAT REASON WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AN EXCELLENT EVALUATION AGAIN.
LIKEWISE WE'LL BE APPROVING THE NEW CONTRACT.
BASED ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD AS MOST OF US WERE SUDDENLY NOT TO BE HERE AND WHETHER IT WOULD COST TO BRING SO MANY OF HIS CALIBER, IT WOULD BE 50,000 DOLLARS OR MORE TO BRING US A SIMILAR MANAGER.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD A BARGAIN AS WELL.
MANAGER WALSH IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AT A VERY REASONABLE CONTRACTUAL RATE AS MANAGER.
FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I TOO WILL BE SUPPORTING THE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS THAT ARE BEFORE US AT THE MOMENT.
A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BY MY COLLEAGUES, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT RESPECT.
I WILL ADD THAT AS A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S OFTEN WHAT YOU DON'T HEAR THAT I THINK IS INDICATIVE OF SOMEONE'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
[00:45:02]
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MANAGER, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TEAM, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE STAFF.I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT MANAGER WALSH BRINGS TO THE TOWNSHIP AND THE LEVEL OF CARE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT HE PROVIDES TO OUR RESIDENTS.
I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE AS LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP AS THE NEXT YEAR PROGRESSES. THANK YOU.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. TRUSTEE WISINSKI?
>> WELL, A LOT HAS BEEN MENTIONED, SO I WOULD AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN VOCALIZED SO FAR.
JUST ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS COMMUNICATIONS.
I THINK I SAID THIS IN OUR CLOSED SESSION THAT WHEN MY MOM WAS SICK AND I WAS GONE AND MISSING BOARD MEETINGS, FRANK WOULD CALL AND KEEP ME UP TO DATE.
I LIKE THE NINE MINUTE SUMMARIES.
[LAUGHTER] THEY WERE FANTASTIC, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY.
NOT ONLY WHAT THE STAFF AND OUR INNER TEAM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR RESIDENTS, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I FELT REALLY CONNECTED.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT SOME OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THIS REVIEW INCLUDED CUSTOMER SERVICE, PLANNING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, LOOKING FOR THE QUALITY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, WORK ATTITUDE, EFFORTS, SUPERVISION, AND LEADERSHIP, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE REVIEW AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A VOICE VOTE IN THIS CASE.
ALL IN FAVOR THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVIEW, PLEASE SAY YES.
WE NOW GO TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.
[12.E. 2023 Township Manager Employment Contract]
THE CONTRACT IS BEFORE US AND IN OUR PACKET, MR. DESCHAINE.>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION IN THIS CONTRACT AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> THERE ARE REALLY MINOR CHANGES TO THIS CONTRACT AND THIS EXTENSION FROM YEARS PAST.
WE ARE PROVIDING HIM WITH A MODEST PAY INCREASE WHICH IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RAISES PROVIDED TO ALL EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS AROUND EIGHT PERCENT.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO CONTRACTS WE'VE APPROVED FOR HIM IN THE PAST.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE VACATION TIME INVOLVED IN THIS ONE AND THE BOARD HAS ENCOURAGED MANAGER WALSH TO TAKE ALL THAT VACATION TIME.
WHEN HE IS HERE, HE IS HERE AND HE'S MANAGING VERY EFFECTIVELY AND WE DON'T WANT HIM TO BE BURNED OUT BY THE DEMANDS OF THE MANAGER'S JOB.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NOTHING REALLY EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT THIS CONTRACT EXTENSION.
>> I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO ADD.
[LAUGHTER] THERE'S NOT MUCH CHANGED.
>> BECAUSE THIS IS AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. MR. LEMASTER.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 12F HAS TO DO WITH THE TOUCHY 23 TOWNSHIP GOALS,
[12.F. 2023 Township Goals & Action Plan]
AN ACTION PLAN AS PREFERRED, PRESENTED BY MANAGER WALSH.>> THANK YOU. IF I MAY, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT AGENDA ITEM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD THAT I GET TO WORK WITH BEFORE AND I LOOK AT THIS EVALUATION AND THE COMMENTS YOU MADE ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE TEAM AND NOT ME.
BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT US AS A TEAM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT I'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO BUILD THIS TEAM FOR THE MOST PART,
[00:50:03]
I'M JUST REALLY PROUD AND HUMBLED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM.I LOVE COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> GETTING ONTO THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE GOALS. I WON'T GO THROUGH.
IF YOU RECALL, JUST ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN THIS ROOM WAS FILLED WITH BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, I WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE 2022 YEAR.
THAT TOOK ABOUT A HALF-HOUR, NOT GOING TO REPEAT THAT TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE A REVIEW OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2022 AS A TEAM. THIS IS NOT ME.
THEN 2023, YOU HAVE A LIST NOW THAT THE BOARD COMPILED OF, A, INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS, B, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, C, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, D, COMMUNITY PLANNING, E, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, F, FACILITIES, PARKS, AND GROUNDS, G, PUBLIC SAFETY, H FINANCES.
I, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND J, RETENTION, RECRUITMENT OF WELL-BEING OF OUR STAFF.
THOSE ARE OUR OVERARCHING GOALS FOR 2023.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
ACTUALLY, YOU CREATED IT, SO I WHY WOULD I READ TO YOU? BUT THOSE ARE OUR GOALS FOR 2023.
IF WE HAD TO CRUNCH THIS ALL DOWN INTO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE WANT TO DO, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT? AS JIM COLLINS SAID IN HIS BOOK, GOOD TO GREAT, HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COMMITTEE FROM GOOD TO GREAT? YOU DO TWO THINGS. YOU GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE BUS AND GET THE WRONG PEOPLE OFF THE BUS.
HE ALSO SET VERY AUDACIOUS GOALS.
EVEN IF YOU CAN'T ACHIEVE THEM, YOU SET YOUR MOST AUDACIOUS GOALS.
WE HAVE THREE OF THEM THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU THIS EVENING FOR YOUR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS FROM INPUT FROM ALL OF YOU AND THE TEAM.
BUT ONE IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SENIOR CENTER.
AS WE COMPARE OUR SENIOR CENTER TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE OFFER OUR SENIORS AS FAR AS OUR RESIDENTS AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, IT'S ONE WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY ENHANCE THAT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
ALTHOUGH, IF YOU LOOK AT A NUMBER OF THINGS, WE HAVE LAND PRESERVATION PARKS AND POLICE AND FIRE, I COULD GO ON AND ON, WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, IF YOU APPROVE THIS EVENING, IS TO LOOK AT, AND THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL OF A SENIOR CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER.
NUMBER 2 WOULD BE THE LAKE LANSING MSU PATHWAY.
IT REALLY IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT STARTING OVER AT THE CAMPUS AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE LAKE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THAT.
REFUNDING IS THERE, IT'S TIME TO ACT.
C IS A BROAD BRUSH, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS HOW DO WE FURTHER ENGAGE WITH OUR CITIZENS? WHAT CAN WE DO? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TONIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE TEAM TO COME UP WITH THAT.
BUT HOW DO WE FURTHER ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIP AND OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS? HOW DO WE REACH OUT? HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS ROOM HERE AND TAKE IT ON THE ROAD? DO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BOARD MEETINGS WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE COULD DO.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO, HOW DO WE TAKE OUR DEI AND OUR EFFORTS TO BETTER COMMUNICATE OR ENHANCE OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR RESIDENTS, AND HOW DO WE MAKE THAT BETTER? THOSE ARE OUR THREE GOALS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE, BUT THOSE ARE THE PROMINENT THREE GOALS FOR 2023.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
I COULD TALK FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF ABOUT ALL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT I WILL SPARE YOU GREATLY FROM THAT.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT BEFORE US, BUT WE CERTAINLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT MOTION.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE THEM MOTION FIRST.
>> MOVE TO ADOPTING 10 2023 MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ACTION PLAN.
I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH THIS PLAN FOR 2023.
IT ADDRESSES WHERE WE HAVE GAPS, AND IT ALSO BUILDS ON THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO FAR.
I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT OUR BIG GOAL, WHICH IS AN AUDACIOUS GOAL, BUT IT'S ONE THAT I FULLY EMBRACE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS.
THAT IS TO CREATE EITHER THROUGH AN EXISTING BUILDING OR A NEW BUILDING AND WHERE THE LOCATION SHOULD BE.
IS IT ON THE BUS LINE? DOES IT HAVE PARKING ADJACENT? BUT TO GET A CENTER THAT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE CENTER OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WAS SERVE
[00:55:02]
OUR SENIORS AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING I'VE REALLY LOOKED AT FOR A LONG TIME.WE HAVE A SENIOR CENTER HOUSED IN OAKLAND SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, AND SO THERE HAS LIVED FOLKS THAT USE THAT FACILITY OR THE STEP CHILDREN, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
AS WELL AS THE PATHWAY, WHICH IS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS ENTIRE REGION HAS DONE WITH THE PATHWAY SYSTEM, THIS IS JUST LIKE THE LAST PIECE TO GO IN, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE SO VALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY OF WALKERS, RUNNERS, BIKERS, DOG WALKERS, AND SO ON.
THEN MANAGER WALSH CAME UP WITH THE THIRD GOAL, WHICH IS THE COMMUNICATION PIECE.
WE THINK THAT WE ARE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME.
YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF WHAT'S GOING ON, WE SEND OUT MEMOS ABOUT THINGS LIKE ALCHEMISTS ROAD BRIDGE BEING CLOSED.
BUT IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE I RUN INTO WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL MORE INVOLVED.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ENHANCEMENT OF OUR COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH.
>> THANK YOU. MR. HENDRICKSON.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WILSON HAS LAID OUT.
I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, I THINK THAT IS A SORELY NEEDED FEATURE THAT WOULD PREPARE US EVEN FURTHER INTO THE UPPER ECHELONS OF COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA.
I THINK THAT THE REMAINDER OF THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT, THAT ARE NOT AMONGST THE TOP 3, REPRESENT THE CONTINUATION IN MANY CASES OF THE GOOD WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE OR BEEN STARTED.
THESE ARE NOT SHORT-TERM GOALS, THESE TAKE TIME.
I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOKING AT AND ANALYZING, CREATING A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN AND THE QUARTER.
I THINK THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON BOTH THE SAFETY AND A BEAUTIFICATION [LAUGHTER] IT'S A REDUCTION TO SAY IT'S JUST BEAUTIFICATION, BUT TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF OUR GRAND RIVER CORRIDOR.
ALSO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ON IN FULFILLING THE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE TO THE VOTERS WHEN THEY CHARGED US WITH IMPROVING OUR LOCAL ROADS.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE OUR CONTINUED FOCUS.
THOSE AND ALL THE OTHER GOALS THAT WE'VE PRESENTED HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ACTION PLAN.
>> I TOO INTEND TO SUPPORT AND GO BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE COMMON [INAUDIBLE] THE BOARD SETS POLICY.
THE BOARD HELPS CRAFT THESE GOALS IN THE STAFF.
WE ALWAYS SEE, WE EVALUATE YOU WITHIN THE YEAR, SO HOW FAR IF WE GET THESE GOALS ARE NOT.
IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU, THE TEAM WE'VE MADE TO IMPLEMENT THEM.
THIS IS AGAIN IN SIX YEARS WE'VE HAD SUCCESSFUL MADE GOALS WHO WAS PASSED IN AGGRESSIVE AND REALLY SPECIFIC GOALS SET FOR THE YEAR AHEAD OF US.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE THESE.
WE HAVE THESE TWO VERY LARGE GOALS AHEAD OF US POSSIBILITY OF A NEW SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER FASHION THE PATHWAY WILL TRULY EXPAND ON OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
ALL ARE BIG GOALS AND I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS IF NOT COMPLETE TWO OF THOSE THREE IN THIS YEAR.
TO GIVE IT FOR THE SUCCESS WITH LAST YEAR'S GOALS AND RESISTANCE TO THE STAFF AND RECORDED THIS[NOISE] INSPIRATION OF GOALS THAT IS ACHIEVABLE FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
MY COMMENTS ABOUT MAKING A COMMENT ABOUT TONIGHT, THE SUTURE WEARING TONIGHT, IS THIS THE NEW FRANK WALSH YOU'RE WEARING WAS [LAUGHTER] OR JUST A ONETIME THING BECAUSE OF EVALUATIONS YOU MAKE? [LAUGHTER] IT'S A REALLY GOOD LUCK TO YOU BY THE WAY. [LAUGHTER].
>> I'LL PLAY THE SUPERVISOR'S ROLE, WHO'S NEXT? [LAUGHTER]
[01:00:06]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN COLLECT MY THOUGHTS AFTER THAT COUNTER.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT THESE GOALS ARE THIN, EXTENSION AND EXPANSION UPON WHAT THIS TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN BUILDING UPON WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP AS ONE PRIME, A PRIME COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP MOVING, CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWNSHIP AND MAKING IT A MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP CELEBRATION THAT I KNOW LILIANA AND HER STAFF WORKED SO HARD TO DO.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CENTRALLY LOCATING AND BEING INCLUSIVE.
IN TRUSTEE WILSON'S COMMENTS REGARDING THE SENIORS BEING OVER IN OKEMOS AND I WOULD IMAGINE YOU WOULDN'T FEEL INCLUDED AS A RESIDENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CENTRAL PART OF THE TOWNSHIP.
I THINK ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE REALLY CENTRALLY FOCUSED IN COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT AND IN EXPANSION OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE INCLUDED AND THAT WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT ONE PRIME MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP THEME THAT THE BOARD AND STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR SO LONG.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE THREE MAIN ITEMS. ANN HERE, I THINK IT'S INDICATIVE OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE THE TOWNSHIP IS GOING AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR THIS BOARD AND I HOPE IT'S NOT TOO MUCH BURDEN ON THE STAFF BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED ON THE BACK-END.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WISINSKI?
>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS.
I DO THINK THE TOP THREE GOALS ARE THOUGHTFUL AND SOMETHING LIKE TRUSTEE GUTHRIE, THAT WE CAN PROBABLY ACCOMPLISH TO.
THE OTHER ONES MORE OVERARCHING AND WILL BE LONG TERM.
I WILL SAY THAT I THINK CLERK GUTHRIE HAD SAID, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK INTO SOME OTHER COMMUNICATIONS SO THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
ALSO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR DEI COMMITTEE AND WE'VE STARTED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE CULTURAL EVENTS AND WE REALLY WANT TO REACH OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY HAVE INPUT ON THOSE EVENTS AND HOW THAT WILL AFFECT PEOPLE AND HAVE THEM FEEL VERY CONNECTED AS A COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY EXCITED. THE OTHER 10 GOALS ARE A LOT OF WORK AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS NO DOUBT.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? THEN THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED 2023 TOWNSHIP ACTION PLAN.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> THOSE NO? CHAIR VOTES YES AND MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WALSH. ITEM G,
[12.G. Grant Application for Nancy Moore Park through the Federal SPARK Grant Program]
GRANT APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL PARK THROUGH THE FEDERALS PARK GRANT PROGRAM.>> GOOD EVENING MADAM SUPERVISOR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE SOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUND SPECIFICALLY FOR PARKS.
STATE OF MICHIGAN CURRENTLY HAS 65 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR PARK PROJECTS.
THE FIRST ROUND IS FOR 15 MILLION AND FROM SITTING IN ON A WEBINAR, THEY HAD STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE SMALLER REQUEST FOR THE FIRST ROUND AND THEN NEXT YEAR THERE'LL BE TWO ADDITIONAL ROUNDS.
THIS ROUND HAS 15 MILLION, NEXT YEAR THERE'S TWO ROUNDS OF 25 MILLION EACH.
WE HAVE AN APPLICATION HERE AND IT'S THE REQUESTS MINIMUM, 100,000, MAXIMUM A MILLION, AND THERE'S NO LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED.
EVEN REQUEST FOR OUR PROJECT IS 400,000.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE ASKED FOR A $400,000 PROJECT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS SO THIS IS LARGE FOR US.
IN THIS PROGRAM, NOT SO LARGE.
THE PARK COMMISSION WENT THROUGH THE FIVE-YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLANNING SUBMITTED EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THE LEGWORK ALREADY.
IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR RECREATION PLAN.
AS THE PARK COMMISSION WAS MEETING,
[01:05:03]
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE COULD DO WITH THIS QUICK TURNAROUND TIME.ACCESSIBILITY, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO NANCY MOOR PARK WERE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED.
RIGHT NOW, I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH NANCY MOOR PARK.
YOU HAVE THE PARKING LOT AND THEN EVERYONE HAS TO TRAVEL A LONG WAY TO GET TO A PAVILION TO ACCESS THE ATHLETIC FIELDS.
NANCY MOOR SUPPORT ALL OF OUR LEGS FOR YOUTH WITH SOCCER, LACROSSE, FLAG FOOTBALL.
WHEN GRANDPARENTS WANT TO TRY TO COME AND WATCH THEIR GRANDCHILDREN PLAY, THERE'S REALLY NO ACCESSIBLE ROUTE TO GET THAT FAR DOWN IN THE PARK.
MIKE DEVLIN, HE BRINGS THE GATOR AND HE WILL DRIVE PEOPLE BACK THERE ON A SATURDAY ON GAME DAY.
IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SO PUTTING IN AN ACCESSIBLE PATHWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT AND ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO PUT AN ENTIRE LOOP TRAIL SO IT'LL LOOP AROUND BY THE PAVILION AND THEN BACKUP BY THE FLAGPOLE, THEN OUT TO THE PARKING LOT.
NOT ONLY PROVIDES ACCESSIBILITY, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR FITNESS.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PART OF IT.
THEN THE OTHER THING IS NANCY MOOR PARK WAS DEVELOPED AND OPENED IN 1996.
THAT PLAY STRUCTURE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1996 AND IT'S LESS THAN EXCEPTIONAL THEN AND SO EVEN NOW.
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE THAT PARK, SO REPLACING THAT OBSOLETE PLAY STRUCTURE IS THE OTHER THING ON THIS LIST.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PODIUM PLACE, RUBBER SURFACING, WHICH MAKES THE ACCESSIBILITY BETTER.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF EXPENSE UPFRONT IN PUTTING THAT IN BUT THEN THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE MOVING FORWARD AND WE DO NOT HAVE A CORD IN PLACE, RUBBER SURFACE ON ANY OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME FOR US AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US WITH THE GRANT AVAILABILITY.
INITIALLY, WHEN I PUT THIS STAFF REPORT TOGETHER, I ADDED A MOTION AT THE BOTTOM.
THEN THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT BULB WENT OFF IS LIKE, I NEED A RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE IN THE GRANT APPLICATIONS, SO DISREGARD THAT MOTION THAT'S THERE.
WHAT I REALLY NEED IS THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS DIRECTOR MAYSNAR.
I THOUGHT THAT THE PATHWAY WAS PAVED FROM A PARKING LOT TO THE BACK AREA, IS IT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ASPHALT CEMENT OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE POURED IN THERE OR AM I WRONG?
THERE IS A SIDEWALK THAT LEADS TO THE PAVILION.
IF YOU WALK IN, YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE PATH, YOU CAN TURN RIGHT TO GO TO THE BALL FIELDS, TURN LEFT TO GO TO THE PAVILION.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS THAT ONLY WOULD GET YOU TO THE FIRST PART OF THE ATHLETIC FIELDS AND THERE'S ANOTHER WHOLE SECTION THAT IS WAY BEYOND WHAT ANYONE CAN ACCESS WITH PAVEMENT.
INSTEAD OF JUST ADDING ANOTHER LITTLE BIT OF PAVEMENT TO GET THERE, THIS WOULD COME OFF THE PARKING LOT AND GO TO THE LEFT OF THE DOG PARK.
IT WOULD REAR ON THE LEFT AND THEN ACTUALLY TRAVEL ALL THE WAY AROUND SO PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY WALK OR BIKE OR ANYTHING FOR FITNESS ROLL ALL THE WAY AROUND.
WE WILL CONNECT INTO WHAT WE HAVE EXISTING STARTING AT THE FLAGPOLE.
>> WHEN IT COMES OUT AROUND, IT'LL END THERE BECAUSE OUR SIDEWALK COMING BACK UP TO THE PARKING ALREADY MEETS THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.
>> WILL THAT SIDEWALK ALSO GO TO THE PLAYGROUND? I KNOW IT'S A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE PLAYGROUND, BUT JUST THE ABILITY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE PLAYGROUND.
>> YES. SO WHEN THAT TRAIL COMES AROUND, THEN IT GOES TO THE PAVILION AND THEN IT GOES TO THE PLAYGROUND AND THEN BACK TO THE PARKING LOT.
THEN THERE'S ALSO AN EXISTING TRAIL THAT GOES UP TO THE MOCHE TRAIL THROUGH THE WOODS TO THE NORTH.
IT WILL CONNECT IN WITH THAT AS WELL.
THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS PART TOO, IS THAT IT'S ADJACENT TO THE MSU TO LAKE LANSING TRAIL.
THIS IS ANOTHER ROUTE PEOPLE COULD TAKE TEE IT UP THROUGH THE PARK.
>> TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON FIRST, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
[01:10:02]
SINCE WE'RE DISCUSSING WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE THE MOTION JUST SO WE'RE DOING THIS ABOUT THE TOPIC HERE.I'M OF TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A GRANT APPLICATION FOR ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN NANCY MOOR PARK THROUGH THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES FEDERAL SPARKS GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000.
>> SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A TERRIFIC GRANT TO A PLATFORM AND A NO-BRAINER FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE SINCE THERE'S NO LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED PERHAPS AT A LATER TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD GRANT APPLICATIONS, ASSUMING THAT THOSE COME OUT IN THE TIMELINE IDENTIFIED HERE.
BUT THIS IS AN EASY YES FOR ME TO GO FORWARD WITH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
>> EXCEPT I'D LOVE TO SEE THE NEW PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE IF THAT HAPPENS.
[LAUGHTER] A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT PROPOSAL LOOKS LIKE.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN SHOW A PHOTO OF THESE SYSTEM BY BRINGING IT UP ON GOOGLE MAPS.
CAN YOU DO THAT WITH THE SYSTEM? BECAUSE I TOO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME ENVISIONING WHAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A GRAPHIC. I APOLOGIZE.
>> ADDING TO WHAT'S THERE NOW.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF OUR NEW FACILITIES.
>> SOMEONE'S GOT TO MAKE JOKES. THERE WE GO.
>> HOW AM I GOING TO [LAUGHTER] OH, HERE. NEVER MIND. GOT IT.
THERE IS OUR NEW DOG PARK THAT'S RIGHT HERE ON THIS HILL.
WHAT THIS PATHWAY WILL DO IS FOLLOW HERE, ALL THE WAY AROUND HERE.
THEN OUR SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS ARE THERE, OUR PAVILION IS THERE A PLAYGROUND IS HERE AND CONTINUE TO THIS SPACE RIGHT HERE, BEGINS 10 FEET.
AGAIN, WE HAVE EIGHT FEET HERE.
THE FEDERAL STANDARDS, SINCE THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS, IS 10 FOOT WIDE.
WE WILL HAVE TO ACTUALLY AMEND THIS TO MAKE IT 10 FEET.
DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION, WE MAY JUST PULL IT UP AND PUT FRESH ASPHALT THERE.
BUT THIS WOULD ALL BE BRAND NEW.
THAT IS QUITE A BIT OUT THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WALKING IT.
I DON'T HAVE THE DISTANCE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL HAVE HERE SOON AS WHEN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, BUT A GREAT EXERCISE LOOP AND THEN TOTAL ACCESSIBILITY FROM THE PARKING LOT TO ANY OF THOSE.
THIS AREA HERE, HOUSES FLAG FOOTBALL FIELDS, SOCCER FIELDS, LACROSSE FIELDS.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE NORTH-SOUTH, SOMETIMES THEY'RE EAST-WEST.
THERE'S DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS EVERY SEASON, JUST FOR WEAR AND TEAR AS WELL.
THERE'S NOT ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO PUTTING A SET OF BLEACHERS IN CERTAIN PLACES, BUT WE WILL HAVE BLEACHERS THAT WILL JUST BE MOVABLE DEPENDING ON THE SEASON AND THE TIME OF YEAR.
IT'S A LOOP TRAIL AND THEN THE PLAYGROUND IS EXISTING HERE.
THIS WILL JUST COME OUT AND EXPAND.
>> I BELIEVE TRUSTEE WILSON IS NEXT AND THEN TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THIS WITH $400,000?
>> YOU'VE DONE ALL THE COSTING, OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. YES. WE ARE WORKING ON A COST ESTIMATES NOW, BUT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH 400,000.
I DO REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAYS PLAYING SOCCER FIELDS AND IT WOULD GET DARK OUT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY LIGHTING AROUND THAT SIDEWALK AREA?
[01:15:03]
OUR PARKS CLOSE AT DUSK, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE LIGHTING AT ANY TOWNSHIP PARK AND WITH TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE OUR PARKS ARE OPEN FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK.
>> WELL, I JUST REMEMBER THE SOCCER GAMES GAWKING OVER AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY PLAYING IN THE DARK, FINISHING UP THEIR SOCCER GAMES.
THEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY BACK TO THE PARKING LOT IN THE DARK AND THAT WAS NOT UNCOMMON.
JUST A SUGGESTION IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT THERE COULD BE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SPORADIC LIGHTING AROUND MAYBE AROUND THE TRAIL.
>> DO WE HAVE LIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT? I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE LIGHTS IN ANY OF OUR FACILITIES CURRENTLY.
WHEN WE SCHEDULE GAMES, WE'RE NOT AT NIGHT WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULING OUR GAMES, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
>> WELL, THIS WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
BUT WE WERE FAIRLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S A SUGGESTION WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
MAYBE THAT WOULD BE FUN IF SOMEBODY WHO WAS OUT, ESPECIALLY NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN SURPRISED, BUT I GET OUT AT 04:30 AT NIGHT SOMETIMES TO WALK AND I GO, WOW, IT'S DARK OUT.
MAYBE THERE SOMETHING A QUESTION THAT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE PARK COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> DOES NOT IN ANY WAY IMPACT, THIS ISSUE.
ANYONE ELSE? TRUSTEE DESCHAINE.
>> IF YOU COULD MOVE THE SCREEN SO WE CAN SEE THE END OF THE TRAILER ENDS AT THE CN RAILWAY LINE.
>> THIS IS REALLY NOT RELATED WITH THE GRANT, BUT SINCE WE'VE GOT YOU HERE.
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD TO DO IT ON THE[OVERLAPPING]. THERE WE GO.
>> YEAH IT'S RIGHT THERE, KEEP GOING.
ALL THE WAY INTO RAILROAD BED AND BULKY THERE. DRIVE IT MORE.
>> YOU WANT TO GO TO THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TRAIL ENDS AS IT GOES PAST THE MURKY RIGHT THERE.
FRIEND OF MINE WHO USED TO WORK FOR CN RAILROAD, AND HE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD THERE WITH PEOPLE CLIMBING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
IT'S AGAINST THE LAW BUT ISN'T KEEPING PEOPLE FROM DOING IT.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S BEEN ANY TALK OF THE PARK COMMISSION OF PUTTING A FENCE UP THERE, BETTER SIGNAGE TO SAY, DO NOT CROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND IT CAN BE FATAL.
IT'S A HUGE HAZARD AND SADLY IT'S VERY ACCESSIBLE STILL TO THIS DAY THAT SOMEONE COULD CLIMB UP IN ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE RAILROAD TRACK
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT. THAT PATHWAY WAS PUT IN BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I BELIEVE THEY ADDED THE STUB AND THE END THAT VEERS AWAY FROM, HOW DID YOU DO THAT DAN?
>> CLICK DOWN THE SCREEN AND DRAG IN WHICHEVER DIRECTION.
>> [NOISE] LET ME FIND THE TRAIL.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S A LITTLE STUB WHICH IS REALLY WAS PUT IN AS A TURNAROUND WHEN THE WATER SEWER DEPARTMENT INSTALLED THAT WHOLE PAVE TRAIL.
THAT WAS NOT PART OF A PARK PROJECT AT ALL AND SO REALLY IT'S JUST FOR ACCESS FOR UTILITY AND AN ABILITY TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THAT TRAIL, YOU COME TO A BRIDGE.
IT'S NOT THAT A VEHICLE COULD JUST DRIVE OFF AND GO ON THE MURKY AND BACK OUT TO MARSH ROAD.
THERE WAS A STUB PUT IN, BUT PEOPLE DO I THINK CROSS THE RAILROAD THERE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE HAVE THERE ACTUALLY AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND I'LL WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP DETER THAT.
I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME BARRIERS THERE.
BUT WHAT PEDESTRIANS THEY JUST WALKED THROUGH THEM.
>> WALKING AROUND THEM. THANK YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATE OF THE DISTANCE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING?
>> I JUST MET WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TODAY AND I WILL HAVE THOSE CALCULATIONS TOMORROW.
LIKE I SAID, I'M RIGHT IN THE THROES OF PUTTING THIS PROJECT TOGETHER.
I CAN'T FIND THE PARK [OVERLAPPING]
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE THE FIRST MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION.
DOES EVERYONE HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION?
[01:20:04]
THIS WOULD CALL FOR ASSISTANCE OF RESOLUTION.DOES IT CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE? APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION?
>> WELL THIS [OVERLAPPING] FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, SO I WOULD THINK IT WOULD NEED A ROLL CALL.
>> ACTUALLY, WE WERE NOT SURE IF IT WOULD BE OUR MONEY BUT THERE'S FINANCES INVOLVED I HAD JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 12 H BOARD OF REVIEW COMPENSATION.
[12.H. Board of Review Compensation]
THIS SESSION WILL BE PRESENTED TO US BY OUR SISTER MS. ASHLEY WINSTEAD.>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS MEMO AND THIS MOTION BEFORE YOU IS REALLY JUST TO DOCUMENT THE COMPENSATION THAT THE BOARD OF REVIEW RECEIVES.
WHEN I CAME TO THE TOWNSHIP NOTHING WAS REALLY DOCUMENTED AS TO WHAT AND WHY.
I KNOW THEY ARE PAID $50 PER MEETING.
THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW IS ABOUT 15 HOURS OVER THREE DAYS AND SOME PEOPLE COME FOR THREE DAYS OR THREE HOURS AND SOME COME FOR SIX AND THEY WERE ALL BEING PAID THE SAME AND SO REALLY THIS IS JUST TO CLEAN IT UP AND DOCUMENT WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> IN THE MEMO IT'S RECOMMENDING A PAY SCALE.
THE REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE, WHICH IS USUALLY 3-4 HOURS IS $75.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING HAPPENS IN MARCH, I'M RECOMMENDING A $50 PAY.
MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW, THAT'S THAT 15 HOURS.
USUALLY IN THREE-HOUR INCREMENTS AT $25 AN HOUR GIVES US AN ABILITY THAT IF SOMEBODY CAN'T MAKE IT OR HAS TO LEAVE, YOU CAN COMPENSATE THEM ACCORDINGLY, AND THEN JULY BOARD OF REVIEW AND DECEMBER BOARD OF REVIEW ARE MORE BRIEF MEETINGS ONE DAY FOR $50 EACH.
>> I'M LOOKING TO IMPROVE THE COMPENSATION FOR EACH BOARD OF REVIEW MEMBER AT $75 PER QUERY TRAINING, AND $50 FOR ORGANIZATIONAL, JULY AND DECEMBER, BOARD OF REVIEW MEANS IN $25 PER HOUR FOR MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW MEETINGS.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. MR. SHANK.
>> I'LL JUST SAY BOARD OF REVIEW VOLUNTEERS TO EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD WORK AND IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE EXHAUSTING WORK AS WELL.
MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS 50 YEARS AGO.
MY MOTHER SHOWED ME THE BOARD OF REVIEW FOR [INAUDIBLE] TOWNSHIP AND SHE'LL COME BACK FROM THOSE DAY-LONG SESSIONS SHE'S WIPED OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE HEARING STORY AFTER STORY AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT EITHER THEY LOSE THEIR HOME OR THEY ARE MAD AT THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY DON'T COME IN TO WISH YOU A HAPPY DAY.
THEY COME IN BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A REAL CASE TO MAKE OR THEY'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM AND THE BOARD OF REVIEW, IT'S UP TO THEM TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS IMPORTANT CASE BEFORE THEM.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN WHAT THEY DO, AND IT'S ALL VOLUNTEERS, THEY'RE ALL CITIZENS SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HAVING A PAY SCALE AND PAYING THEM A DECENT WAGE FOR THEIR TIME. THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> YES AND I AGREE WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A REALLY SPECIFIC SKILL SET TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF ORGAN.
I NOTICED MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE LONGTIME REALTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY KNOW OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT THE PROPERTY VALUES ARE.
I THINK WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THESE FOLKS SERVE AT THIS RATE OF PAY.
THEN THIS TOO IT WILL INVOLVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, MR. LEMASTER.
[12.I. Poverty Exemption Guidelines]
POVERTY EXEMPTION GUIDELINES MS. WINSTEAD WILL LEAD US IN THAT DISCUSSION AS WELL.>> FOR THIS MOTION AND MEMO PRESENTED, REALLY, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LAST YEAR DISCUSSING THIS AND IMPROVING OUR POVERTY EXEMPTION GUIDELINES.
THE STATE SAYS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GRANT 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION,
[01:25:06]
YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE DOING A PARTIAL EXEMPTION AND SO LAST YEAR WE APPROVED A 50 PERCENT EXEMPTION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE OVER THE INCOME AND ASSET GUIDELINES OF OUR 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION, KIND OF OPENING THE DOOR AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO MORE RESIDENTS, AND SO WE WENT THROUGH THAT LAST YEAR, WE CAME UP WITH A REALLY GOOD POLICY AND THE WAY THAT WORKS IS IF YOU ARE UNDER 1.35 TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES COME OUT EVERY YEAR.IF YOU'RE UNDER THAT WITH YOUR INCOME AND ASSETS, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 100 PERCENT POVERTY EXEMPTION.
THEN THERE'S A SECOND TIER THAT IF YOU'RE OVER THAT, BUT UNDER 1.85 TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION SO WE TOOK CARE OF THAT LAST YEAR.
ALL THIS MEMO DOES IS OUR MOTION LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY SAID FOR 2022.
I'D LIKE THIS MOTION TO REMOVE THE YEAR SO THAT IT CAN BE CARRIED FROM YEAR TO YEAR BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES ARE UPDATED EVERY YEAR.
THAT WAY I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BRING IT BEFORE THE BOARD AS LONG AS THE STATE ISN'T MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THE POLICIES.
>> TRUSTEE WILSON MOVE TO APPROVE THE INCOME AND ASSET LIMITS FOR 100 PERCENT AND 50 PERCENT POVERTY EXEMPTIONS AS FOLLOWS.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME AND ASSETS AT OR BELOW 1.35 TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME OR ASSETS ABOVE 1.35 TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, BUT WITH INCOME AND ASSETS AT OR BELOW 1.8 PERCENT TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 50 PERCENT EXEMPTIONS.
>> SUPPORT BUDGET, TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE IT'S 1.85 TIMES THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
>> WE WILL ALL ACCEPT THE CORRECTION AND TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> TO ME, THIS IS A MINISTERIAL ACTIVITY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO UNDERTAKE, THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN PAST YEARS, AS RECENTLY AS 2022, AND NOW YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO INCORPORATE IT INTO YOUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SO THAT IT WILL CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR FOLLOWING THOSE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
>> I WOULD JUST AS YOU MENTIONED, TRUSTEE WILSON, THIS ISN'T A NEW POLICY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
IT ADDS TO ONE OF OUR GOALS IN HELPING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THANK YOU, TREASURER EUGENE, I DID GET MY TAX BILL.
[LAUGHTER] I COULD SEE WHERE THAT COULD BE IMPEDING ON SOME FOLKS THAT MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ALL COMMENTS, TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I THINK THERE'S ANY CHANCE LAST YEAR'S TARGET FROM 100 PERCENT GO ON 1.35.
CAN WE FIND WE HAD MORE FAMILIES ELIGIBLE BY INCREASING TO THE 1.35 PERCENT?
>> I THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THERE ARE MORE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.
HOWEVER, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR THIS THREE TIMES A YEAR.
MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW, JULY, BOARD OF REVIEW IN DECEMBER.
WE HAVE OUR DECEMBER BOARD OF REVIEW NEXT WEEK.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ONE APPLICANT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY QUALIFY POSSIBLY FOR THAT AND WE'RE STILL DIGGING INTO THAT ONE.
BUT THE SIX THAT WERE GRANTED THIS YEAR QUALIFIED AT 100 PERCENT.
IT'S LIKELY MORE PEOPLE MAY QUALIFY BUT HAVEN'T APPLIED.
MAYBE IN FUTURE YEARS THAT CHANGES.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY THAT QUALIFY FOR THE 50 PERCENT REDUCTION?
>> NO EVERYONE QUALIFIED AT 100 PERCENT REDUCTION.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE FOUND ARE THE COMMUNITIES HAD DONE IS THAT THERE'S AN ACID LIMITATION THAT IF YOUR ASSETS ARE 135 OR 100 PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED.
SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE RAISED THAT ASM THEM AT 1, 2, 3 IN WASHINGTON COUNTY I REMEMBER I HAD EIGHT TIMES THE ASSETS OF THE POVERTY, SO WE DIDN'T KICK ON THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD A CAR OR OTHER NECESSARY ASSETS TOO THERE.
DO YOU THINK OUR CURRENT ASSET LIMITATION THAT BEING THE STANDARD OF THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES IS KEEPING ANYONE FROM APPLYING?
>> I'M CERTAIN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAY QUALIFY IF THEY WERE RAISED.
ON AVERAGE, WE PROBABLY DENY 1-2 APPLICATIONS A YEAR FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE OVER THE INCOME OR ASSET TEST.
THE MORE WE OPEN IT UP, OBVIOUSLY,
[01:30:02]
MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO QUALIFY WHETHER THEY APPLY OR NOT I DON'T KNOW.I WOULD ALMOST BE CURIOUS TO SEE ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO BEFORE WE OPEN IT MORE WHEN THERE'S LESS GOVERNMENT STIMULATION IN THE ACADEMY, IF WE MIGHT SEE MORE APPLICANTS, I'M CURIOUS IF WE'D SEE MORE APPLICANTS QUALIFIED UNDER THESE GUIDELINES IN 2023.
>> FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, THIS REALLY DOES FIT WITH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FROM A GOITER, WHICH IS MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE HERE IN MERIDIAN AND KEEPING PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DROPPING INCOME IN THEIR HOMES.
I GET CALLS QUITE OFTEN FROM TAXPAYERS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING THEIR HOMES AND WE DO REFER THEM TO THIS PROGRAM.
SOMETHING THAT'S PERMANENT WANT TO LOOK AT IN FUTURE YEARS OF ADDING TO OUR TOOLKIT OF MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
IF YOU CAN TRACK THIS DATA FOR US EVEN MORE CLOSELY IN THE YEAR AHEAD SO THIS BOARD CAN GET AN IDEA OF HOW MODIFYING THE FUTURE MIGHT ALLOW IT TO CAPTURE MORE IMMEDIATE ELIGIBLE FAMILIES THAT NEED THIS IN ORDER TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL FOR ME AT LEAST AND I THINK THE ENTIRE BOARD.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM SUPERVISOR.
YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME FOR SOME OF THE BASIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THIS CAME UP LAST YEAR.
BUT THESE ARE ALL BASED ON THE FEDERAL POVERTY CALCULATION, THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH BY MY GOOGLING OF THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR IS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR $27,750.
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, IT'S 13,590.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCOME AND ASSETS OF 1.35 TIMES THAT RATE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR TO CLARIFY, FOR THE 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION, THEIR INCOME AND ASSETS IF $37,462 OR LESS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR TO OBTAIN THE EXEMPTION.
THEN FOR THE 50 PERCENT EXEMPTION AT THE 1.85, THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I THINK THE POINT THAT TREASURER TO SHANE MAKES IS A GOOD ONE, WHICH IS THE ASSETS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
ASSETS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET ABOVE THAT NUMBER IN ALMOST EVERY CASE.
THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU SAID SIX AT 100 PERCENT LEVEL AND NONE AT THE 50 PERCENT LEVEL.
HOW MANY HOMES OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES DO WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP?
>> OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IS ROUGHLY 11,000.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WITH AN ASSET LIMIT.
LIKE THE ONE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, THAT'S VERY SMALL.
I THINK I AGREE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DATA OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANOTHER STIMULUS COMING LIKELY THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
I CERTAINLY HAVE NO ISSUE WITH APPROVING WHAT WE'VE DONE LAST YEAR TONIGHT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S WORTH EXPLORING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE ASSET LIMIT NEXT YEAR.
BECAUSE THIS IS, I THINK PROHIBITIVELY REMOVING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE QUALIFY BY KEEPING THAT ASSET LIMITS SO LOW.
INCOME LIMITS ARE SET IN UNDERSTANDING THE ANSWERS TO THE INCOME THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE ASSETS IN EXCESS OF THE INCOME LIMITS.
>> YEAH. THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE TESTS.
YOU HAVE TO BE UNDER THE INCOME AND THEN IF YOU'RE UNDER THE INCOME NOW WE LOOK AT THE ASSETS UNRELATED TO THE INCOME.
ASSETS WOULD BE BANK ACCOUNTS, RETIREMENTS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
[OVERLAPPING] NO BY LAW YOU CANNOT COUNT ON VALUE.
[01:35:01]
>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY COUNT THE LAND VALUE IF THEY OWN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY THAT COULD BE SOLD.
>> DOES THAT CLARIFY THE ISSUE FOR YOU?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THEN THE MOTION IS TO ESSENTIALLY REPEATING OURSELVES TO IMPROVE THE INCOME AND ASSET LIMITS AND THE STANDARDS FOR MEETING THIS OPPORTUNITY WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL VOTES, SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> PLEDGE NO. SHEAR WAS YES AND I ASSUME THE MOTION PASSES.
CAN WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK? YOU HERE AT 7:40?
>> 13A IS OUR FIRST BOARD DISCUSSION ITEM,
[13.A. SUP 22-091 – Grand Reserve – Buildings greater than 25,000 sq. ft.]
THIS HAS TO DO WITH SUP 22-09.1 GRAND RESERVES BUILDINGS GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET.>> BETWEEN POWELL ROAD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND CENTRAL PARK DRIVE ON THE LEFT.
THIS IS THE WILLOWS PROPERTY, SO IT'S JUST SOUTH OF THE WILLOWS.
THIS IS THE OLD NARROW ROADSIDE SO NORTHEAST OF THAT.
THIS STARTED AS A REZONING REQUEST IN 2020, WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2021.
THERE ARE SIX CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THIS PROPERTY.
BRIEFLY, GIVEN THAT WE DO HAVE NEW MEMBERS SINCE THEN, I WILL GO THROUGH THAT.
ALL THE PARCELS SHALL BE LIMITED TO NO GREATER THAN 220 UNITS.
THE DEVELOPMENT SHALL INCLUDE NO FEWER THAN 25 SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOMES.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE NO BUILDINGS GREATER THAN TWO STORIES IN HEIGHT.
AN ENCLOSED GARAGE SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR EVERY UNIT.
THE REZONING SHALL BE CONDITIONED ON THE APPROVAL WITHIN TWO YEARS OF AN SUP AND A WETLAND USE PERMIT FOR THE CURRENT OWNER OR THE ZONING WILL REVERT AND THE EASTERN 11 ACRES OF THE 31.63 ACRE PARCEL SHALL BE DEVELOPED TO SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOME.
THAT'S THE BACKDROP FOR THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DENSE THAN WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING NOW.
THIS IS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT IS UNDER REVIEW.
THIS WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR LAST MEETING BY 71 VOTE.
THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 55 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, 60 DUPLEXES IN THIS PROPOSAL.
THERE'S NO BUILDINGS WITH MORE THAN TWO UNITS IN THEM, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION FROM DENSITY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PROVED AS PART OF THE CONDITIONAL REZONING.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A CLUBHOUSE LOCATED TO THE FAR WEST END OF THE DEVELOPMENT, JUST OFF OF CENTRAL PARK DRIVE.
ACCESS TO THE PROJECT IS FROM CENTRAL PARK DRIVE AND POWELL ROAD WITH A SECONDARY ACCESS POINT COMING OFF OF THE WILLOWS DRIVE AS WELL.
THE CUL-DE-SACS AND THE HAMMERHEADS DO NOT CONNECT TO THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
THERE ARE NO WETLAND IMPACTS PROPOSED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THE DEVELOPER HAS MODIFIED THE PLANS COMPLETELY AVOIDING THE WETLAND IMPACTS.
THEY DO HAVE A SMALL AREA OF WETLAND BUFFER IMPACT LOCATED RIGHT HERE.
IT'S ROUGHLY A SQUARE PINCHES IN RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S NO WAY TO AVOID IT AND PROVIDE THE PROPER FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.
THEY WILL BE REQUESTING ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VARIANCE FOR THAT.
WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY WAS A TWO-PART REQUESTS.
ONE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD ON THE BUILDINGS GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR.
THE SECOND WAS THE PROJECT IN GENERAL, THE SINGLE-FAMILY USE IN A MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICT REQUIRES A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AS DOES THE CLUBHOUSE IN A MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT.
THOSE WERE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AGAIN AS A 71 VOTE, SUBJECT TO A SERIES OF 10 CONDITIONS WHICH ARE IN THE RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING.
FUNCTIONALLY, THE ONLY THING THAT THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING IS
[01:40:05]
THE GROUP OF BUILDINGS ON A SINGLE PARCEL OF GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET.THE APPLICANT IS HERE AND I BELIEVE WE'D LIKE TO GIVE SOME BRIEF REMARKS AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHEN THE TIME ARISES.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JOE [INAUDIBLE].
I'M HERE REPRESENTING DTN MANAGEMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE DTN OWNERSHIP TEAM AND OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM ARE HERE, AS WELL AS MATT [INAUDIBLE], OUR PROJECT ENGINEER.
MR. SCHMIDT GAVE YOU A GOOD SUMMARY OF THE SITE.
JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
THIS SITE IS 32 ACRES IN SIZE.
WE ARE PROVIDING OVER 20 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE OR NEARLY 64 PERCENT OF THE SITE.
THE PLAN FEATURES SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD, A DOG PARK, WALKING PATHS, COMMUNITY GARDENS THROUGHOUT, AND AMENITIES THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND ALL ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT ARE WITH THE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND ALSO IT HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF APPEAL TO THE MARKETPLACE IN TERMS OF WHO WILL BE USING THE SITE, WHO WILL BE TENANTS IN THE SITE, INCLUDING EMPTY NESTERS, YOUNG FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD FIX THIS, MATT, BUT IT'S GOT A WIDE APPEAL TO A WIDE VARIETY OF THE MARKETPLACE.
WE TARGETED IT FOR A VARIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES AND IT'S A SITE THAT, AS MR. SCHMIDT MENTIONED, WAS APPROVED FOR 220 UNITS, WE'RE PROPOSING 115 UNITS.
THAT BEING SAID, WE JUST BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR THE MARKET AT THE RIGHT TIME.
PARTICULARLY WITH CHALLENGES IN HOUSING, INTEREST RATES, LENDER DEMANDS.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE PROJECT FOR THE NEAR FUTURE AND WHAT THE BROAD DEMOGRAPHIC APPEAL THAT WE HAVE HERE.
>> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE.
>> I'M HAPPY TO COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW THAT THIS CAME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> WOULD YOU GIVE US YOU NAME?
>> I'M SO SORRY, MY NAME IS RAJI UPPAL WITH DTN MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, NOW LIVE IN DEWITT AND LIVING IN ONE OF THESE COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY THAT WE'RE BUILDING HERE TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER PLACE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS TIME GOES ON.
I'M CURRENTLY LIVING THERE OFF THE CLARK ROAD IN COREY VILLAGE.
BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS THAT I KNOW WE CAME BACK AND TALK TO YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WE TRIED TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT THIS BOARD WAS TELLING US.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT KEEPING EVERYTHING OFF THE WETLANDS.
THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THERE AND THIS PRODUCT WE REALLY BELIEVE IS SOMETHING THAT IS BECOMING VERY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND IT'S A RENDER BY CHOICE AND IT'S SOMEONE WHO WANTS THE SAME AMENITIES THAT ALL OF US WHO HAVE A HOME THEY WANT, BUT MAY NOT WANT IT FOR THE SAME DURATION OR MAY HAVE ISSUES WITH QUALIFYING WITH THE HIGH INTEREST RATES AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND HOPEFULLY WE ACCOMMODATED ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ASKED FOR.
I KNOW THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO DO SO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEW NOTES, MR. SCHMIDT? [NOISE] BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? AS MR. SCHMIDT INDICATED, THE PRIMARY THING BEFORE US IS PERMISSION TO BUILD 115 UNITS [NOISE] TOTALING MORE THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I'M WONDERING IF ONE OF YOU GENTLEMEN COULD SHOW US ON THE MAP THE PORTION OF POWELL ROAD THAT YOU INTEND TO PAVE.
I'M REFERRING TO THE RESPONSE TO THE HOMEOWNER, DAUNTER KIRK, IN WHICH YOU SAID YOU WOULD PAVE POWELL ROAD TO THE NORTHERN END OF THE PROPERTY.
I'D LIKE YOU TO JUST SHOW US THAT, PLEASE.
[01:45:02]
>> HI, I'M MATT DIFFEN THE CIVIL ENGINEER FOR THE PROJECT.
[NOISE] THE ROAD COMMISSION IS REQUIRING THAT WE PAVED POWELL ROAD ALONG OUR WHOLE FRONTAGE.
YOU CAN SEE THE RED LINE HERE AT THE NORTH END.
THE NEW PAVEMENT WILL STOP THERE.
THIS AREA WE'RE HERE, THERE'S A NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE ROAD AND THIS IS BRAND NEW PAVEMENT ALL THE WAY UP TO HERE, THIS SECTION HERE, A PROPERTY THAT ACTUALLY GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTH END HERE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NAME OF THIS NEW ROAD IS [NOISE] AT THE SOUTH END [OVERLAPPING] BUT IT'S A NEW PAVEMENT TO HERE, AND THEN WE'LL BE EXTENDING THE PAVEMENT ALL THE WAY TO OUR NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE TO HERE.
>> YEAH. THERE'S PROBABLY ENOUGH ROOM HERE FOR ONE HOUSE AND THEN THE REST OF IT IS WOODSON WETLANDS.
>> YOU DON'T INTEND TO PAVE BEYOND THAT?
>> YOU'RE GOING TO STOP WHERE YOU DEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY.
YEAH, AND THE POWELL ROAD AT ONE TIME WAS PAVED, AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROAD COMMISSION GROUND OFF THE TOP OF THE ROAD.
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRAVELED OUT, BUT IT'S IT'S STILL GOT PAVEMENT THERE.
I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER TO WHAT THEIR INTENT IS IF THEY'RE GOING TO REOVERLAY THAT SOMETIME SOON OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.
BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE OBLIGATING US TO AT LEAST WIDEN IT TO THEIR NEW STANDARD AND PAVE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THAT PROPERTY LINE.
>> MATT SUPERVISOR, THESE ARE QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE SITE PLAN, NOT THE SUP PHASE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE IN NOW, BUT I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET ON THE RECORD.
THE SECOND ITEM SIR IS RELATED TO THE PARKING.
THERE'S A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 5, 2022 FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL STATING THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY STREET PARKING WHATSOEVER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT.
I CAME IN AND MET WITH MR. SCHMIDT TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS.
NOW THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME QUESTION RELATED TO IT.
IT'S FOR SAFETY REASONS AND IT IS THAT THE FIRE ENGINE HAVE CLEARANCE TO GET INTO ANY ONE OF THESE STREETS, THESE COLDERCEX TYPE STREETS.
>> YEAH, THE FIRE CODE REQUIRES A CLEAR AREA OF 26 FT. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY EVERYWHERE.
THAT'S SO THEY CAN LOWER THEIR BOOMS AND STUFF IN CERTAIN SPOTS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT 28 FT OF CLEAR PAVEMENT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE ROW OF STACKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
WHAT WE'RE SHOWING RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE GOT 28 FT FROM BACA CURB TO BACA CURB.
WE'RE A HALF A FOOT OFF FROM COMPLYING WITH WHAT THE FIRE MARSHAL NEEDS.
WE'LL JUST WIDEN THE ROADS THAT EXTRA HALF A FOOT TO MAKE IT COMPLIANT THROUGHOUT THE SITE, AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL TO DECIDE WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD HE FEELS IS SAFER, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH TRAFFIC IN WHICH WAY HIS VEHICLES CAN GET IN AND OUT, WHICH SIDE WILL GET THE PARKING SIGN, NO PARKING SIGNS, AND WHICH SIDE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE PARKING, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX INCHES, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE PLAN, IT'LL GO THROUGH ENGINEERING AND WE'LL MAKE THAT REVISION AND IT'LL GET APPROVED WITH PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED BECAUSE THE OFF-SITE PARKING GRANTED, YOU HAVE TWO SPACES AND A GARAGE, TWO SPACES IN A DRIVEWAY.
THAT MEETS OUR STANDARDS WITH NO PROBLEM.
BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT THE BARBECUES ON THE WEEKEND ON THAT NORTHERN CUL DE SAC AND THE GUY CARRYING A POT OF BEANS FROM WAY DOWN HERE ALL THE WAY UP THE STREET.
>> WE'D ALWAYS INTENDED TO HAVE ONE AND WE'D WORK WITH STAFF.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE WENT IN AND DIMENSIONED IT, WE'RE A LITTLE OFF FROM WHAT THE ACTUAL STANDARD IS STILL.
IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT WILL FIX IT ON THE FINAL SITE PLAN A LITTLE.
>> YOU'RE AGREEING THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE THAT CLEAR ACCESS FOR OUR FIRE ENGINES?
>> OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO BE SURE OF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU INITIALLY PROPOSED, I REALLY LIKED THE FACT THAT WE'VE REDUCED THE DENSITY.
IT WAS MUCH MORE DENSE AND IT WAS AFFECTING THE WETLANDS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THAT THOUGHT INTO THAT. THANK YOU.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION AND YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS ANSWER, BUT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO IT OR MAYBE DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, ON POWELL ROAD WHERE THEY DID THE NEW PAVEMENT FOR SILVER STONE, THERE WERE SEVERAL TREES THAT WERE LARGE AND OLD TREES THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED.
CAN WE DO AN ASSESSMENT AND DO WHAT WE HAVE
[01:50:03]
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY OF THE SIGNIFICANT TREES?>> ON OUR SIDE OF THE ROAD WE'VE DONE A TREE SURVEY AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PLANS.
IN THE ENTRANCE WAY AS IT'S SHOWN THAT HAVE TO COME OUT.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE ROAD COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE WERE THEY DUG A DEEP DITCH AND THEY CLEARED OUT ALL THE TREES AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
THE ROAD COMMISSION HAS AGREED THAT WE'D PUT A CURVE ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF POWELL ROAD INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DIG DITCHES AND REMOVE TREES BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS THE NATURAL ROAD FEATURE THAT IT IS NOW, AND THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT TREES IN A BERM THERE.
THEY'VE AGREED AND IT SEEMS TO WORK OUT WELL THAT IF WE PUT A CURB ALONG THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT THE TREES CAN STAY FOR NOW, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY, I BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL PROPERTY, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY GO TO DO SOMETHING ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY WON'T HAVE TO TAKE TREES OUT, BUT WE'RE NOT INTENDING ON TAKING A LOT OF TREES OUT IN THAT AREA.
THEN WE'RE ADDING A ROW OF PINE TREES AND OTHER TREES ALONG POWELL TOO TO MEET THE INTENT OF WHAT WAS REQUIRED IN THE ZONING.
>> EXCELLENT, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION OF, I THINK WE NEED TO GO MOVE SOUTH A LITTLE BIT, BUT THERE IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA OUT THERE.
I THINK, AND SOUNDS LIKE TRUSTEE WILSON KNOWS ALL THE COMMENTS THAT CAME IN, BUT THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BUFFER.
>> WE SAW MANY TREES, WE'VE GOT A NATURAL PATH THROUGH HERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR RAISED GARDEN AREAS HERE, BUT WE'RE NOWHERE ELSE NEAR.
>> IT'S [INAUDIBLE] TO THE NORTH THAT CUT-OUT.
>> WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS PERSON. AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A LARGE GARDEN AREA.
I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THIS DISTANCE IS TO THIS NEAREST HOUSE, BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE ZONING.
IT'S WELL OVER 100 AND SOME FEET.
THEN THE OTHER HOUSE IS A WETLAND BUFFER WITH THE TREES THAT ARE STILL THERE, THAT NONE OF THAT'S GETTING DISTURBED AT ALL.
THAT'S A VERY LARGE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THEIR PROPERTY TOO.
THEN WE ADDED A WHOLE ROW OF EVERGREENS RIGHT ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE HERE.
IT DOESN'T REFLECT ON THIS PLAN, BUT ON OUR CURRENT PLAN AGAIN, TO TRY TO APPEASE THAT NEIGHBOR.
>> EXCELLENT. I MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS.
[OVERLAPPING] THE ONE WETLANDS THAT THE BUFFER IS GOING TO AFFECT.
MY CONCERN IS THIS IS ASPHALT WE'RE PUTTING IN.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF HYDROCARBONS THAT COME UP ASPHALT.
IS THERE A WAY THERE'S A FILTER THAT WE CAN PUT IT INTO?
>> THIS WATER IS NOT GOING IN THE WETLAND, IT'S GOING INTO THE STORM DRAIN AND THEN IT GETS FILTERED BEFORE IT GOES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR. MY QUESTION I THINK STARTS WITH DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, WHICH IS THIS PROPERTY WAS REZONED TO RD RIGHT BACK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THAT WAS WHERE IT ACTUALLY WENT TOO?
>> THE PLAN, AS PRESENTED HERE, DO THE HOMES AND THEIR LAYOUTS MEET THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS OF AN RD ZONING?
>> THEY DO BECAUSE THEY ONLY SETBACKS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A DISTRICT LIKE THAT OR THE EXTERIOR PROPERTY LINES, THERE ARE NO INTERIOR PROPERTY LINES BEING PROPOSED.
BECAUSE IT'S RUN PROPERTY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO RESPECT SIDE YARD SETBACKS? CORRECT. THERE'S STILL SEPARATE MISSION REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT STANDARD.
>> GOT IT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT STANDARD IS?
>> OFF THE TOP MY HEAD, I BELIEVE IT'S 10 FT.
>> IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PLAN HAS PROVIDED MEETS THOSE STANDARDS?
>> AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> COMMENTS FOR RAJ AND MATT AND I'M SORRY, I MISSED YOUR NAME.
>> JOE. FIRST OF ALL, I TOO LIKE THE REDUCED DENSITY.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT 60 REPRESENT NATURAL AREA.
THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT WE SAW BEFORE.
EVERY APARTMENT COMPLEX CALL THEMSELVES A RENTAL COMMUNITY BUT ALMOST NONE OF THEM REALLY INVEST IN MAKING THEIR COMMUNITY.
BY YOUR PREVIOUS PROJECTS AND THIS ONE, YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR MONEY BEHIND THAT SLOGAN WITH A NATURE TRAIL, THE SWIMMING POOL, THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE DOG PARK.
PICKLEBALL COURT SHOULD HAD A GRAND SLAM HERE [LAUGHTER] FOUR OUT OF FIVE AIN'T BAD.
BUT I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] PICKLEBALL BECAUSE THAT WILL REDUCE YOUR GREEN SPACE AS WELL.
BUT PICKLEBALL IS REALLY BIG. I JUST LIKE THAT YOU GUYS KNOW THAT.
[01:55:03]
THEY'RE GOING TO LIKE ABOUT THIS.I THINK OF THIS BEING WEST OF POWER IS AN INFRA DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD BACK SOME ECONOMIC BARS FOR DOWNTOWN OKEMOS, DOWNTOWN HALE AND WE DON'T GET THAT BY BUILDING THE SOUTHWEST OR SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THIS IS THE CENTER FOR THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT HERE AND I LIKE THE FACT THIS IS VERY CLOSER.
IT'S WALKABLE, IF YOU WILL, TO MANY INITIAL BUSINESS CLOSE BY.
THIS CAN BE [INAUDIBLE] IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED ALONG CENTRAL PARK DRIVE AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKING.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME STREET PARKING IN THIS CASE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] WITH COMMUNITY PEOPLE WE'RE STILL A CAR-BASED COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING CARS TO VISIT PEOPLE AND SO FORTH SO.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE CHANGES TO THIS PLAN FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
I REMEMBER YOU BEING HERE BEFORE AND THE BOARD BEING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WETLANDS AND HOW MANY UNITS WERE BEING BUILT THERE.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR DOWNSIZING THAT FROM 220 TO 115.
THIS IS NOT WHERE WE'RE SEEING A PROJECT BECAUSE THE BOARD DID METICULOUSLY REVIEW THESE PLANS, LOOK THE SILVER, DISCUSS IT, GIVE FEEDBACK.
THE STAFF HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THIS AND I COMMEND DTM FOR WORKING ON THIS AS WELL BEFORE BRINGING THIS BACK TO THE BOARD.
I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY ABOUT NOT BILLING IN THE WETLANDS ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE WHERE THESE TRAILS ARE GOING THROUGH HERE AND IF THERE'S ANY WETLAND PERMITS THAT'S REQUIRED.
WELL I'M LOOKING AT WHERE THESE NATURAL TRAILS ARE GOING, ESPECIALLY THE ONES BY THE WILLOWS.
THAT'S PROBABLY MY ONLY QUESTION.
THEN I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS BUILT IN THE MID-80S.
WE'VE GOT A POOL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE GOT A TENNIS COURT, WE'VE GOT A BASKETBALL COURT.
THERE'S A NATURAL TRAIL THAT GOES BACK THERE.
IT'S IN MOSQUITOVILLE LAND AND IT'S FINE.
WE GET ON OUR FEET AND WE [LAUGHTER] WALK OVER THERE AND WE USE THOSE COURTS AND FACILITIES.
WHEN I GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND VISIT MY KIDS AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRAVELS WHEREVER MY HUSBAND'S WORK TAKES SOME I SEE THESE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS BUILT EVERYWHERE.
I'M EXCITED. I FEEL WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD BEING BUILT IN THE MID 80S.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COME HERE AND SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S HEADING.
I ONLY HAVE THAT ONE QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR SCHMIDT IN REGARDS TO THE NATURAL TRAILS AND IF WETLAND PERMITS NEED TO BE FOR THOSE.
IN THE END, THEY WILL MODIFY THE PLANTS TO NOT REQUIRE A WETLAND PERMIT.
>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT REQUESTED ONE NOW AND ONE NEEDS TO BE GRANTED BY FEBRUARY 6TH OF 2023 OR THE ZONING REVERTS BACK.
>> THE NATURE TRAILS GO THROUGH YOUR GRADING SETBACK, NOT WITHIN THE WETLANDS, AND YOU HAVE EXEMPTIONS IN YOUR ORDINANCE FOR NATURE TRAILS IN GRADING SETBACKS SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE WETLANDS WITH THOSE TRAILS.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> THE REDUCTION FROM 220 UNITS TO 115 UNITS.
>> A HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE UNITS.
>> A HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FIFTY FIVE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, 60 DUPLEXES.
>> A HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN TOTAL.
>> A HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN TOTAL.
MY APOLOGIES FOR SAYING 175 EARLIER.
>> OKAY. WAS THAT MADE BY MINOR AMENDMENT?
>> IT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER THE THRESHOLD THAT WAS IN THE ZONING.
[02:00:04]
THE CONDITIONAL REZONING WAS DONE AS A MAXIMUM NUMBER.
>> AS LONG AS THEY COME IN UNDER THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT OF ANY SORT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DOESN'T REQUIRE AMENDMENT. GOING TO THAT I'M ONE WHO'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE LOSS OF THE MULTIPLEXERS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHY THEY WOULD DROPPED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> ORIGINALLY, WE HAD HOPED THAT WE COULD FIT SOME OF THESE LARGER BUILDINGS IN HERE IF WE'RE HONEST.
WHEN YOU PUT A CLUB ALSO THE SIZE AND STUFF I WAS TELLING YOU THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN HERE THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF IT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT IN ADDITION, TOWARDS SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSION, INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSION THAT TALKED ABOUT RETAINING YOUR WATER ON THE SITE BEFORE IT GOES INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S SITE.
EVEN IF OUR WATER IN THE PAST HAD ROLLED OFF TO A SITE AND ME, I COULD BE SAYING THIS A LITTLE WRONG SO SOMEONE WITH BETTER EXPERTISE SHOULD SAY IT'S A VETERAN IF ANYONE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY WHAT IF MY INTERPRETATION.
WHAT THE CONCERN WAS IS THAT THEY WANT US TO RETAIN THE WATER BEFORE IT GOES OFF INTO OTHER PLACES.
AS PART OF THAT, THAT MEANT I HAD TO PUT DRAINAGE DITCHES THROUGHOUT THIS AREA.
ONCE I HAD TO PUT THE DRAINAGE DITCHES THROUGHOUT THE AREA, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS ALLOWING THESE LARGER BUILDINGS TO FIT IN THERE. THAT'S ONE.
TWO, THESE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS WHERE IT IS A SINGLE-FAMILY WENT TO, I FORGET WHAT THE RIGHT, THEY HAVE A LITTLE ANALOGY.
THESE ARE BECOMING VERY COMMON INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NATION.
WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE SAT IN A CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS WHERE THEY'RE DOING THIS NATIONWIDE.
THIS TYPE OF HOUSING IS VERY RELEVANT TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
ONE, PHYSICALLY BECAME DIFFICULT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSION OR WHAT I INTERPRETED THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER WANT US TO DO AND DELIVER THOSE BIGGER BUILDINGS SO I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
ONCE WE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, WE STARTED TO ALSO HEAR ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE GOT EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT AND THE PRODUCT AND WE THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOVING HERE.
THE EXAMPLES I'LL USE IS THE F FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
HOPEFULLY THE BATTERY PLANTS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE EAST SIDE OF THE STATE.
WE ENVISIONED THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO LIVE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
WE HAVE TREMENDOUS SCHOOLS HERE.
I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE PRETTY MUCH I GOT WAS IN CALIFORNIA FOR ACTUALLY 12 YEARS.
BUT IN GENERAL, I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE UNTIL I MOVED TO DEWITT.
WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO.
THE THINGS THAT BRING US ALL HERE TODAY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BRING THESE PEOPLE HERE TOO, AND I THINK THEY NEED A PLACE TO LIVE WHERE THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO BUY.
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENED IS SOMETIMES I GET REMORSEFUL ABOUT BECAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL THAT LIFE HAS BECOME TRANSACTIONAL AND IT SHOULD BE RELATIONSHIP-BASED.
BUT THE REALITY IS JOBS ARE A LITTLE MORE TRANSACTIONAL THAN THEY USED TO BE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT MY JOB, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHAT'S THE PENSION? WHERE'S THAT [LAUGHTER] ANYMORE? PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED OVER THE TIME PERIOD FROM WHEN I'VE GOT MY FIRST JOB TO TODAY.
WITH THIS TYPE OF LIFESTYLE WE THINK IS REALLY GOING TO ACCOMMODATE IT.
WE BUILT THEM WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY THREE BEDROOMS IN ALMOST ALL CASES, IF NOT ALL CASES.
WHAT WE FOUND WHEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, IS THAT PEOPLE DO WORK FROM HOME.
ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS GREAT TO WORK FROM HOME, BUT WHEN THE DOG RUNS BEHIND YOU OR THE CHILDREN RUN BEHIND YOU, OR MAYBE YOUR SPOUSE RUNS FROM BEHIND YOU OR YOUR FRIEND OR YOUR PARTNER.
POINT OF ALL THIS IS THAT YOU SOMETIMES NEED YOUR OWN LITTLE SPACES.
THESE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE BASEMENTS.
THEY'RE UNFINISHED AT THE MOMENT, BUT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIFESTYLES.
BUT THE CATALYST IS WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU, WHICH IS I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
ONCE BEING COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER STARTED INSTITUTING SOME OF THESE [OVERLAPPING] MORE STRINGENT PLACES ON OTHER PROJECTS.
WHEN WE STARTED HEARING ABOUT IT, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OURS AND SO THEREFORE, WE WANTED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ASKED 150 TIMES, BUT WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND TRIED TO FIT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES THAT WE UNDERSTOOD.
>> IT'S A REASONABLE ASSUMPTION OR EXTENSION THAT THE SINGLE-FAMILY IS MORE ATTRACTIVE IN THIS CONTEXT TO YOU.
ASIDE FROM THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSION? [OVERLAPPING]
[02:05:01]
>> YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I WAS JUST IN LIFE IN GENERAL.
YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT IS IN VOGUE AND THIS IS VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IN THE SOUTHWEST, IN THE SOUTH.
SOUTHEAST, TEXAS, FLORIDA, YOU'RE SEEING THESE HAPPEN ALL OVER THE PLACE SO YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING BUT I ALSO FELT AS THOUGH I ALSO HAD SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION ARISES ABOUT THE LENGTH OF YOUR TYPICAL RENTAL AGREEMENT, OR RENTAL STAY REALLY BEEN ABOUT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CASPER MEMBERS WHO BASICALLY CALLED RENTERS TRANSIENTS.
THE MORE THAT WE HAVE FOUR PERCENT OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE IN RENTAL COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW.
THE RENTAL MARKET HAS CHANGED AND IT'S CHANGING EVEN MORE NOW AS BEING A CHOICE IN OUR ECONOMIC NECESSITY.
WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL LENGTH OF RENT?
>> I WOULD MAYBE OVER SPEAKING A TOUCH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN GENERAL, I KNOW THAT I'M HAVING 60, 70 PERCENT RENEWAL RATES, SO PEOPLE ARE STAYING FOR A LONG TIME.
NOW AND THIS IS ASPEN LAKES AND QUERY IS WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THESE PLACES, IF I WAS TALKING ABOUT A COURSE STUDENT, IT'D BE A DIFFERENT NUMBER, AND WE DO MANAGE SOME COURTS STUDENT PROPERTIES, SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DURATION, BUT WHAT WE DO FIND WHEN THEY'RE IN THE HOUSES AND EVEN GREG LIVES IN ONE OF OUR HOUSES DOWN IN ASPEN LAKES.
THE PEOPLE THERE STICK AND THE REASON I SAY THEY'RE STICKING, THEY'RE BUILDING OUT THEIR GARAGES, THEY'RE FIXING THEIR BASEMENTS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE INVESTING IN MAKING IT A HOME.
PART OF THE REASON WE DID ALL BASEMENTS IS WE THINK THAT THE BASEMENT MADE IT MORE STICKY, SO WE BUILT SOME WITH BASEMENTS, SOME WITHOUT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE, HEY, THERE'S AN EXTRA COST, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T SPEND THAT MONEY.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO LOWER THE RENT THAN IT IS TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
BUT WHAT WE STARTED TO FIND WHEN WE PUT THESE BASEMENTS IN IS IT MADE IT STICKY, IT MADE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY.
I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I LIVED ON LAKE LANSING, I LIVED IN A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
WE ARE IN A TWO-BEDROOM RANCH WITH A FINISHED BASEMENT, ANOTHER BEDROOM, AND A BATHROOM DOWN THERE AND IT HAS SOME STORAGE AREA.
ALL OF THE STUFF CAME FROM THAT HOUSE, AND I HAD 4,000-SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE, PRETTY MUCH FIT IN THERE.
ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ONE STORAGE UNIT.
I DO, BUT IT PRETTY MUCH ALL FIT IN THERE AND MY FAMILY OF FOUR WAS VERY COMFORTABLE, AND I'M NOT SETTLING IT AS MUCH AS I'LL JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I LIKED IT BETTER. IT'S A DIFFERENT LIVING.
I USED TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW AM I TAKING THE DOCK OUT, HOW AM I PUTTING THE DOCK IN, AND THEN MY PARENTS SAID [LAUGHTER] I SAW THAT YOU'RE DOING ALL THIS STUFF AND IT'S SOMETIMES NICE JUST TO COME HOME AND LIVE VERSUS DO AND REALIZE YOU ARE PAYING TAXES AND OTHER THINGS.
WHEN YOU START HEARING WHAT OUR RENTS ARE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOME OF THE EXPENSES OF ACTUALLY OWNING A HOME TOO, WHICH MAKES THOSE NUMBERS MUCH MORE SIMILAR THAN PEOPLE THINK OF AT FIRST GLANCE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MR. SCHMIDT, WE SHOULD EXPECT THIS TO COME BACK TO US AT OUR NEXT MEETING FOR THE SUP?
>> YES, MA'AM. WE WILL BRING US BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR FINAL ACTION.
>> IS THAT EVERYONE'S MEETS EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[13.B. Ordinance 2022-16 – Sign Ordinance Update]
I SEE MR. SCHMIDT DOES NOT MOVE BECAUSE 13B IS A BIGGIE.[LAUGHTER] ORDINANCE 2022-16, SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE, MR. SCHMIDT.
>> I'M GOING TO BE EMINENTLY BRIEF THIS EVENING.
I WANTED TO GET THIS IN FRONT OF YOU SO YOU CAN START TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST THIS.
THIS IS A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE.
IT IMPACTS NEARLY EVERY SECTION.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION BEING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SECTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO EXEMPT CITY-SPONSORED SIGNAGE.
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING CHANGED AGAIN.
THIS TOUCHES ON EVERY OTHER SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS THAT WORKED ON THIS AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WORKED ON THIS AND MY STAFF AND THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE HELP.
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING THAT COMPLETELY REDOES THE WAY WE LOOK AT SIGNAGE.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE REED VERSUS GILBERT SUPREME COURT CASE.
WE WERE ALSO INFORMED BY A RECENT CASE OUT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT ACTUALLY POPPED UP TOWARDS THE END AND WE UTILIZED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE.
[02:10:06]
SOME OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT DECISION TO ALLOW US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON TEMPORARY SIGNAGE AND HOW WE ADDRESS IT.WHAT I WANT TO DO THIS EVENING IS JUST GET THIS IN FRONT OF YOU, GIVE YOU TIME TO DIGEST IT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOOK MULTIPLE MEETINGS TO REVIEW THIS, ULTIMATELY MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION ON IT.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL COME BACK IN JANUARY.
I HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION MEETING WHERE I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THEN WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTION LATE JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW.
BUT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT READING FOR YOU OVER THE HOLIDAY. [LAUGHTER].
>> OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRPERSON, AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCHMIDT AND THE SUBCOMMITTEES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TAKING ON A VERY LARGE AND CUMBERSOME TASK, A VERY INTERESTING TOPIC.
YOU POINTED OUT THE SUPREME COURT CASE, THIS IS WHAT BASICALLY REQUIRES US TO BE CONTENT-NEUTRAL.
>> THIS IS THE CONTENT-NEUTRAL DISCUSSION.
MOST COMMUNITIES HAVE WAITED FOR SOME TIME AND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU'VE STARTED TO SEE PEOPLE DIVE IN TO ADDRESS IT.
THERE HASN'T BEEN ANOTHER WHITE KNIGHT CASE TO COME ALONG TO FIX AN OBVIOUSLY FLAWED OPINION FROM JUSTICE THOMAS, AND SO NOW WE'RE LEFT TO DEAL WITH IT. [LAUGHTER]. SURE.
>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN EFFORT TO BECOME CONTENT-NEUTRAL.
I APPRECIATE YOURS AND THE LAWYER'S GYMNASTICS TO FIND A WAY TO BE CONTENT-NEUTRAL, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SPOTS I NOTICED THAT I WANTED TO JUST TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.
ALSO SO I CAN MAKE SURE I'VE REQUESTED THIS OFFICIALLY.
THAT'S THE FINAL VERSION, NOT REDLINED.
JUST BECAUSE I FIND THE RED LINING VERY HARD TO PARSE SOMETIMES.
>> THE CLEAN VERSION STARTS ON PAGE 191 OF YOUR [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL FIND IN THIS. HARD TO READ IT TWICE, SO THAT'S GOOD.
THE POINTS I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ARE A COUPLE OF SPOTS WHERE I WORRY HAVE WE FULFILLED OUR ABILITY TO BE CONTENT-NEUTRAL.
THE FIRST IS WITHOUT OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURES IN THE DEFINITION SECTION, IT SAYS WHICH MAY BE ERECTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADVERTISING BUSINESSES.
I GUESS HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT WITHOUT SEEING THE CONTENT OF THE SIGN?
>> ADVERTISING STRUCTURE IS REGULATED DIFFERENTLY THAN A SIGN.
>> THOSE ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF COURT CASES THAT HAVE GONE ON OVER THE YEARS ADDRESSING HOW THEY'RE REGULATED.
SORRY, I'VE GOT A FEW COMMENTS ON MY DOCUMENT.
I'M JUST SCROLLING THROUGH HERE.
A SIGN THAT DISEASES AND SIGN OFF PREMISES.
A SIGN THAT DISPLAYS A MESSAGE DIRECTING ATTENTION TO A BUSINESS PRODUCT SERVICE PROFESSION.
IS THAT THE SAME THING THAT WE SAW UNDER THE BILLBOARDS?
>> THAT ACTUALLY COMES OUT OF THE BILLBOARD CASE IN AUSTIN THAT CAME DOWN RECENTLY.
THAT ALLOWS US SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REFERENCE A BUSINESS IN THEORY AND IN DEFINITION.
>> THEN IN SECTION 13, YOU SAY, REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF ALL SIGNS.
I'LL DO A PLACEMENT SIGNS FOR ANY STRUCTURE, PROPERTY, OR USE SHALL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE.
>> GOT IT. THAT IS ONLY FOR PERMANENT SIGNS, YES?
>> VERY GOOD. WERE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS INCLUDED IN THE AUSTIN CASE AS WELL?
>> THEY WERE NOT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ATTORNEYS AND I IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WENT AROUND A LITTLE BIT ON, AND WE BELIEVE THIS MEETS WITH THE INTENT BECAUSE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS ARE NOT ADVERTISING.
THEY'RE REALLY CLOSER TO TRAFFIC SIGNS WHICH ARE FUNCTIONALLY EXEMPT.
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL THE INITIAL QUESTIONS I HAD.
WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING FOR A 24 PAGE DRAFT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN SO WE CAN GET THAT PARTICULAR MONKEY OFF HER BACK.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
HAVE MANY PEOPLE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IN THEIR ORDINANCES?
[02:15:07]
>> A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES HAVE STARTED GOING DOWN THE PATH OF UPDATING THEIR SIGN ORDINANCE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYBODY THAT'S UPDATED THEIR ORDINANCE AND GOTTEN SUED YET.
INEVITABLY IT WILL HAPPEN, SOMEBODY WILL FIND THE LINE.
BUT GENERALLY, I THINK, THERE'S ENOUGH LEGAL OPINION OUT THERE.
THERE'S ENOUGH DRAFT ORDINANCES AND GOOD PRACTICE THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT BY THE VARIOUS AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH SIGNAGE AND PERMITTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT GENERALLY, I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHERE SIGN REGULATION IS HEADING NOW.
AGAIN, THE AUSTIN CASE GAVE US ALL A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO BREATHE AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO REFERENCE A BUSINESS.
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS EXERCISE.
>> WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
>> THIS IS NOT ONE WE WANT TO BE EARLY ON.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> THERE'S THE ISSUE OF NEW SIGN ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD APPLY TO ANYTHING NEW, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF PRECEDENCE WHERE YOU HAVE AS AN ESTABLISHED, SAY A SIGN ON A BUILDING THAT MAYBE WAS MADE WHEN THE SIGNAGE ORDINANCE WAS A LOT LOOSER.
THEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN AND SAY, OH NO, YOU ESTABLISH PRECEDENCE, BUT I WANT TO EMULATE THAT SAME SIGN, AND YOU'VE ALREADY ALLOWED IT.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR ANY NEW SIGN. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. ONCE THIS IS IN PLACE, THIS IS THE LAW IN THE TOWNSHIP FOR SIGNAGE.
ANYONE CAN ASK FOR A VARIANCE.
IT'S MUCH LIKE FILING A LAWSUIT, IF YOU FILL THE RIGHT PAPERWORK AND GIVE ME THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU CAN DO IT.
HOWEVER, JUSTIFICATION FOR A VARIANCE, WELL, MY NEIGHBOR HAS IT, IS NOT A VERY GOOD JUSTIFICATION.
EXISTING SIGNAGE OBVIOUSLY WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN PERPETUITY.
IN FACT, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT CAN BE REBUILT WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION.
BUT TO COMMENT UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE AND REQUEST THE OLD STANDARDS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> JUST WANT TO BE SURE. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE? WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR.
>> WHEN WE GET THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS.
IN THE INTERIM, OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF SOMETHING POPS UP, SHOOT ME AN EMAIL.
I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND WALK THROUGH ANYTHING AS WELL.
>> ITEM 13D, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.
>> I'M SORRY. 13C. CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, MR. WALSH.
[Items 13C, 13D, & 13F]
>> THANK YOU. I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO PRESENT THIS AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TOO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR TO INCORPORATE 13C, D, AND F TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL ONE DISCUSSION.
THE PENSION FUND, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, BECAUSE THEY ALL CORRELATE TOGETHER.
IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO APPROACH THIS AS ONE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE DISCUSSED IT AT THE LAST MEETING.
>> THIS IS AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE AGENDA.
WE CAN TAKE A MOTION TO AGAIN AMEND THE AGENDA AND PERMIT MR. WALSH TO TALK ABOUT ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS IN THE SAME CONTEXT.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SUPPORTED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? WAIT, NO. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY, SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE NOT MAKING A DECISION AND THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO COMBINE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS 13 C, D, AND F PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSE NO? CHAIR VOTES YES.
THE MOTION PASSES, MR. WALSH, PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE ASKED DIRECTOR MASSEY TO JOIN ME BECAUSE SHE'S HAD A LOT OF THE INPUT ON IN LEADING THE AARP FUNDING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
TO START WITH THE FACTS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED 25 PERCENT FUND BALANCE POLICY. THAT'S A FACT.
WE HAVE A ROUND OF 13 MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE, GIVE OR TAKE, COULD BE 14 MILLION IF WE DON'T END UP SPENDING THE REDEVELOPMENT FUND.
[02:20:04]
SETTING ASIDE 6.25 MILLION OR 6.5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FUND BALANCE IS THE FIRST STEP.THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED OR APPROPRIATED BY THE BOARD.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHEN WE LOOK AT AARP FUNDING AND JUST A BRIEF HISTORY, 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS AT AARP, THE BOARD APPROPRIATED 1.3 BILLION TO ROADS, 900 AND SOME THOUSAND FOR IT, AND ABOUT 250,000 FOR ELECTRIC CUTS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT LEAVES JUST OVER 2,006,000 DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE SECOND ROUND OF AARP FUNDING.
THEN YOU GET INTO WHAT ARE ALL OF OUR NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND WHAT REALLY SHOULD BECOME AARP FUNDING.
BUT THEN WHEN WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE NEED TO DO THAT REALLY DON'T FALL INTO THE AARP FUNDING AND HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THAT? I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE FORMER COMMUNITY THAT I SERVED FOR 17 YEARS, WE ALWAYS HAD REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE'D TAKE THE REVENUES AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT WERE APPROPRIATED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD GO INTO THEIR CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AND THEN THE CITY COMMISSION WILL THEN LOOK AT A LIST OF PROJECTS IN DETERMINING WHAT WERE GOING TO DO.
OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, AS THIS BOARD AND THE FORMER BOARDS HAVE BEEN WISE AND PRUDENT TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT, WE ARE NOW ENTERING INTO THAT PHASE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT, IMPROVE, ENHANCE, IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND BALANCE OF 25 PERCENT OR 6.5 MILLION DOLLARS IS SET ASIDE.
THEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S OUT THERE? [NOISE] WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING IS THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AND THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.
I THINK I'LL START WITH THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS? WELL, THE MERS, THE MICHIGAN RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE CHIPPED AWAY AT OUR DEBT, WE'VE IMPROVED OUR FUNDING OF BALANCE, THAT'S ALL, WE ALL KNOW THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE BASING THEIR RATE OF RETURN ON 7.35 RATE OF RETURN, WHICH IS UP HERE. IT'S ROSIE.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN BY THE WAY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO MEET OUR ARC, OUR ACTUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ON THE OTHER HAND HAS SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THAT TRAP.
WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A FIVE PERCENT RATE OF RETURN, WHICH IS A HUGE COST TO THE TOWNSHIP.
IN DOING THAT, WE'VE NOW MADE OUR PAYMENTS AT FIVE PERCENT.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAD AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THREE YEARS FROM NOW OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THAT FIVE PERCENT? THESE THREE MILLION DOLLARS, I WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR, IT'S NOT USED TOWARDS NEXT YEAR'S AARP OR THE YEAR AFTER.
IT'S A SET ASIDE RAINY DAY FUND OF THREE MILLION DOLLARS THAT ANY EVENT OF FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE CAN'T MAKE OUR PAYMENT, WE'RE 184,000 SHORT, THE BOARD AT THAT TIME COULD DIP INTO THAT FUND TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT.
RAINY DAY FUND TO SUPPORT THE MERS PENSION. THAT'S NUMBER 1.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND THREE MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT REMAINING SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS OR SO TO GO INTO A STABILIZATION FUND FOR MERS PENSION, THEN YOU GET TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 3.5 OR 3.7 MILLION DOLLARS TODAY, IT PROBABLY WILL GROW.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FIRE BOND FROM 2012-2028.
WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO PAY OFF THIS FIRE STATION BY 2028 WHEN WE DO THAT WITH A POINT TWO MILL, WHICH TODAY GENERATES AROUND 404,000 A YEAR.
BUT BECAUSE OF OUR STEADY GROWTH, THE REVENUES HAVE EXCEEDED WHAT WE NEED IN THE EXPENDITURES.
TODAY WE DID AN ANALYSIS WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THAT FIRE STATION BOND NOT IN 2028 OR 2027 OR 2026, BUT IN 2025.
THEREFORE, THAT WOULD BE A MARRIAGE THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO LEVY OR HAVE TO LEVY BECAUSE WE WOULD BE PAYING OFF OUR DEBT THREE YEARS EARLY.
I TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE IT ALSO EXTRAPOLATES INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
WE MAY THINK OUR REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE HERE, BUT THEY MAY BE HERE.
WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.
NOW, WE PIVOT TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
AT THE MEETING THAT THE BOARD HAD AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THE BOARD HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AT ART FUNDING MANY HOURS ON THIS DISCUSSION.
YOU CHARGED MYSELF AND OUR TEAM DURING THE LAST MEET TO COME UP AND DELINEATE WHAT WE'D FIND OUT A CAPITAL PROJECTS AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT OF ART.
YOU REMEMBER YOU HAD LOTS OF IDEAS THAT NIGHT.
WE TRY TO TAKE THAT BACK AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE PLAN.
[02:25:03]
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TANKS.I KNOW YOU HAD THESE DOCUMENTS.
I KNOW THAT YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH.
JUST TO BE BRIEF ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS, IT WOULD BE $900,000 FOR THIS BUILDING AND SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE STREET AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A LITTLE BIT OVER AT THE SERVICE CENTER.
PART OF THIS BUILDING IS 50 YEARS OLD AND THE REST OF IT IS 1992, I THINK SO THE REST OF IT IS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD.
BUT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT IN THIS BUILDING, THE CARPET AND THE PAINTING OF THE WALLS.
WE WOULD TRY TO MODERNIZE THE BUILDING.
WE SPENT $2 MILLION ON THE HVAC TWO YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THIS BUILDING, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST EXPENDITURES IN THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND, AND THE ONLY OTHER ONE WOULD BE THE CONTROL ACCESS SYSTEM AND THE FLOORING UPGRADES.
WE HAVE A FLOOR WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ROLL ANYTHING DOWN BECAUSE YOU'D NEVER SEE IT AGAIN.
WE'VE GOT SOME REAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MAIN IMPROVEMENTS HAPPENED WITH A TWO-FOUR CHURCH HERE THIS PAST WEEKEND.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO REQUESTS AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
IF YOU END UP APPROVING THOSE LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD, WE WOULD STILL MAINTAIN A TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE IN THAT FUND FOR FUTURE YEARS.
THAT WE WOULD ALSO GREATLY ENHANCE OUR FACILITIES IF WE DO THAT.
PENSION FUND OF 3 MILLION, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AND THAT'LL BE THE $900,000 FOR THE BUILDING AND THE $300,000 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A $1.2 MILLION EXPENDITURES, STILL LEAVING A TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ARP. ARP, YOU HAVE JUST OVER $2 MILLION IN REQUEST.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICKLY.
I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM BECAUSE WE'VE GONE OVER AND OVER THIS.
BUT IT WOULD BE THE DIGITAL BUILDING AND FIRE PLAN REVIEW AT $60,000 FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
THE WINDSCREENS FOR THE MARKETPLACE, THE WEST SIDE OF THE MARKETPLACE.
SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
RIGHT NOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT DEI, RIGHT NOW, WE CAN HIRE MORE FEMALE OFFICERS, BUT WE CAN'T ADEQUATELY HIRE MORE FEMALE OFFICERS.
WE DON'T HAVE LOCKER SPACE FOR IT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FEMALES SHARING LOCKERS WITH OTHER FEMALES.
WE'RE GOING TO ENHANCE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT LOCKER ROOMS, WHICH IF YOU GO IN AND LOOK AT THEM, WHICH I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO LOOK LIKE 1970 FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOMS FROM TIME-BOUND ON, THEY REALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
THE LOCAL ROW PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD MANY TIMES, INFLATION ROADS NOT KEEPING UP WITH EACH OTHER.
THERE'LL BE 700,000 SET ASIDE FOR ROADS AND NEW SENIOR IN COMMUNITY CENTER.
THIS IS $500,000 TO START REVIEWING. THIS IT'S NOT MONEY.
THIS IS NOT THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR, MAY END UP BEING THAT'S UP TO YOU.
BUT IT'S THE INITIAL CORPUS TO REVIEW ON LOCATION, DRAWINGS, WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
THIS IS SEED MONEY TO START LOOKING AT THIS IN 2013.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROMISE OF BRINGING A RECOMMENDATION A YEAR FROM NOW TO THIS BOARD.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE.
THIS CAME FROM TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
THIS IS NOT TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR ME TO TOUCH IT, WE DON'T DO THAT.
BUT WHAT IT WOULD BE IS IF SOMEONE CAME ALONG, WANTED TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HAD A CONCEPT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THERE'S SOME SHORTFALL, THE BOARD COULD LOOK AT PARTNERING WITH THE DEVELOPER WITH THESE FUNDS.
FINALLY, THE MR. EDDIE IN HISTORICAL VILLAGE, $150,000.
IT'S NOT THE PARK COMMISSION. IT'S US.
OURS. OF COURSE WE'RE ONE TEAM.
BUT THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY HERE FOR FUNDING.
WE HAVE $150,000 SET ASIDE FOR THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE.
THAT IS 1,988,000, WHICH FALLS JUST ABOUT $12,000 UNDER THE $2 MILLION SET ASIDE.
THAT'S OUR BEST PRESENTATION BASED ON ALL THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
PETRA STABILIZATION FUND, WE RECOMMEND.
WE RECOMMEND THIS CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND THESE TWO PROJECTS AND THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND FOR ART FUNDING AND ALL THE INPUT THAT DIRECTOR MASSEY HAS GENERATED FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
SORRY FOR THE LONG-WINDED OVERVIEW.
BUT THAT'S THE THREE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT YOU ASKED FOR THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR YOU R ATTENTION.
[02:30:02]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU TO MANAGER WALSH AND EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE FINANCES BEFORE US.
I THINK THAT THE OVERALL STRATEGIC DIRECTION THAT'S BEING PRESENTED HERE IS A GOOD THING.
I THINK THAT KEEPING MONEY ASIDE IN CASE OF A RAINY DAY FOR PENSION STABILIZATION IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS TO KEEP THE 25 PERCENT ASIDE FOR THE FUND BALANCE.
CAPITAL PROJECTS, I THINK IS LONG OVERDUE IN TERMS OF THE NAMING THIS FUND, WHAT IT IS AND SETTING ASIDE THE MONEY TO DO SO.
WITH REGARDS TO SPECIFICS, I THINK THERE WAS A GOOD DELINEATION MADE HERE FOR THE MOST PART OF THE MONIES THAT WOULD FALL INTO THE ARP FUNDING VERSUS THE MONIES THAT WOULD FALL INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAD IN MY PERSONAL REVIEW IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY WAS THE LOCKER ROOMS WHICH I THINK SHOULD FALL WITHIN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, NOT THE ARP, UNLESS THERE'S A COMPELLING REASON TO PUT IT THERE.
IT'S AN UPDATE TO OUR FACILITIES.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE NOT TO OCCLUDE IT TO ME IN THE CAPITAL OUTLAY.
NOW, SOMEONE MIGHT LOOK AT THIS LIST AND SAY, WELL, HEY, YOU'VE SPENT 10 YEARS BUILDING UP YOUR FUND BALANCE AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND 1,000,003 IF WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS MOVED ON PROJECTS THIS YEAR, TO WHICH I WILL SAY WE'VE MAPPED ON SPENDING THIS MONEY ON CAPITAL PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE STAFF, FROM MANAGER WALSH THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE LONG OVERDUE.
I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE PERSONALLY WITH EXPENDING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
NOW, BEYOND THAT, I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WITH THE REST OF IT IN MY OPINION.
AT THE END OF THIS, IF APPROVED AS REQUESTED, WE WILL HAVE PUT $2 MILLION OUT OF THE FOUR-AND-A-HALF OUT OF THE ARP INTO THE ROADS.
THAT'S ROUGHLY HALF. A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF, BUT ROUGHLY HALF.
THAT ALLOWS US TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS AND OUR PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THE RISING INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THE WINDSCREENS AT THE MARKETPLACE ARE GREAT.
THAT'LL HELP TO MAKE THAT A MORE USABLE FACILITY.
I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT THE ROTATING FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK DIRECTOR CLARK HAD MENTIONED BACK IN APRIL WHEN THE FIRST DISCUSSION ABOUT ARP WHEN IT CAME UP AND I WAS SAD TO SEE THAT NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL LIST OF OPTIONS THIS TIME ROUND AND I'M GLAD THAT WE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT COME BACK.
THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN THIS AREA.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UNTIL THAT POINT, I JUST SPOKE TO A LOT OF MANAGERS IN MICHIGAN, WELL, EIGHT OR 10 BEFORE I PUT THIS LIST TOGETHER AND REALLY DETERMINED THAT A NUMBER OF THEM WERE TRYING TO DO SOME SORT OF DEI INITIATIVE WITH THEIR FUNDS.
NOT A LOT OF THEM, BUT A PORTION OF THEIR FUNDS.
I REALLY SEE IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BILLING IMPROVEMENTS AT 900,000, 100,000 FOR THE LOCKER ROOMS, IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS, 10 PER CENT FROM THE ARP AND 90 PERCENT FROM CAPITAL PROJECT FUND.
I REALLY SEE THIS AS A DEI INITIATIVE.
THAT IF WE'RE REALLY GOING AFTER TRYING TO GET 30 BY 30, 30 PERCENT BY 2030, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND I THINK IT'S CLEARLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO.
IN MY OPINION, WE SHOULD BE DOING OUT OF THE ARP FUNDING.
>> I'M ROBERT, JUST BECAUSE ALL THREE AT ONCE IS VOR INTEGRATED AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT RANGE OF OPTION STAFF HAS DONE ON THIS.
THIS DOES REFLECT THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD GAVE STAFF THE MONTH OR WEEK AGO.
[02:35:02]
I LIKE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND A LOT.IT'S OVERDUE. PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.
WE'VE REALLY HAD ANY WAY WE'RE JUST NOW CALLING THAT CHUNK OF MONEY THAT'S THERE.
IT IS THERE AND THE OUT FUNDING.
I AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. HENDRICKSON, I THINK WE SPENT $700,000 THE FIRST TIME AROUND ON ROADS. IS THAT CORRECT?
THIS IS WHERE WE GET THE 2 MILLION DOLLAR.
OTHER QUESTION I WOULD HAVE FOR A MANAGER IS JUST GOING TO FILL THE GAP YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IN 2023 WITH THE ROADS OR HOW CLOSE WERE WE TO MEETING THAT NUMBER?
>> ROUGHLY THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO ADD ABOUT A MILE.
DEPENDING ON WHICH ROAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ANYWHERE FROM 650 TO 950,000 WOULD BE THE COST TO RECONSTRUCT A MILE DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THAT ONE MILE STRETCH.
IT'S GOING TO ADVANCE THE 700,000 THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS EVENING.
WE'LL PUSH EVERYONE'S ROAD UP ONE MILE OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE PROGRAM. IT DOESN'T CLOSE.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE SIX TO SEVEN MILE RANGE, SIX AT THE LOW END.
THIS MIGHT HELP US GET TO ABOUT SEVEN MILES IN AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BUT WE WERE DOING 10 TO12 PRIOR TO THE INFLATION THAT CAME ABOUT THIS YEAR.
IT DOESN'T CLOSE THE WHOLE GAP, BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND EVERYBODY GETS THEIR ROAD DONE ONE MILE SOONER.
>> CUMULATIVELY, WHAT IS THE ROAD INFLATION COSTS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST TWO YEARS?
>> ABOUT 50 PERCENT INCREASE, 2021 TO 2022.
WE DID NOT SEE ASTRONOMICAL INFLATION.
WE DID OVER 10 MILES OF ROADWAY IN 2021.
WE USED THE 1.3, ROUGHLY HALF OF THAT WENT TO JUST NOT ELIMINATING ROADS ONCE WE GOT OUR BIDS IN THE SPRING, 650,000 OF THAT [NOISE] WENT TO JUST FULFILLING THE ROADS THAT WE HAD PROMISED PREVIOUSLY IN JANUARY OF 2022.
THE OTHER 650 WENT TO ADDING WELLINGTON ESTATES, WHICH WAS 1.03 MILES.
>> WE SAW SIMILAR SPIKE IN LUMBER PRICES, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND SOME OF THOSE PRICES HAVE COME BACK DOWN.
DO YOU EXPECT ANY OF THAT TO RETURN TO THE MEAN WITH ROADS?
>> NO, IF I WAS GOING TO GRAPH IT FOR YOU.
IF WE WERE LOOKING AT A GRAPH AND THIS IS THE Y-AXIS AND THIS IS THE X-AXIS FOR YOU.
WE'RE GOING LIKE THIS AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO LEVEL OFF.
THEN HAVE A MORE LINEAR TRADITIONAL INFLATION OF THREE TO10 PERCENT.
>> I DON'T SEE IT COMING DOWN JUST BECAUSE OF THE LABOR.
WE'RE DEALING WITH CONCRETE SHORTAGES.
THAT'S BEEN SOME OF THE DELAYS THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE LARGER PROJECTS.
THAT'S CAUSED BY SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, BUT ALSO JUST BY ALL OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S REFERRING HOW MUCH DEMAND HAS RISEN.
ALL THIS ARP MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, EAST LANSING GOT THREE TIMES AS MUCH.
OTHER COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN GOT THREE TIMES AS MUCH MORE CAPITAL.
THAT'S CAUSING DEMAND TO SKYROCKET FOR CONCRETE.
AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S LABOR SHORTAGES AND THERE'S BEEN AGGREGATE SHORTAGES IN MICHIGAN FOR SOME TIME, TO SOME EXTENT.
YOU'VE GOT BOTH ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WORKING AGAINST US.
>> A LOT OF FINITE AMOUNT OF ROAD-BUILDING CAPE CAPABILITY HASN'T EXPANDED AT ALL IN MICHIGAN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS OUR ROAD BUILDING CAPACITY.
> WE HAVE ADDED ONE CONTRACTOR, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT.
BUT WHEN WE WERE AT TWO BIDDERS, WE'VE INCREASED OUR BIDDERS BY 50 PERCENT, AND THAT NEW BIDDER ACTUALLY RECEIVED OUR CONTRACT THIS YEAR [NOISE] THEY WERE THE LOWER BID.
FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE PROGRAM, MICHIGAN PAVING WAS OUR CONTRACTOR.
THIS YEAR IS CAPITAL ASPHALT, AND THEY'RE OUT OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
THEY DID TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
>> THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU [NOISE]
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US THAT OUR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 29TH, I THINK IT REALLY GAVE US ALL PAUSE TO REALLY THINK THROUGH THE PURPOSE OF THE ARP FUNDS VERSUS THE CAPITAL LOT LIFE FUNDS.
I WILL SAY THAT I SHARE AND CAME TO THIS OPINION INDEPENDENTLY.
I SHARED TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON'S CONCERN ABOUT HAVING THE $135,000 FOR THE LOCKERS IN THE ARP FUNDING WENT IN FACT TO ME ON ITS FACE, IT LOOKS LIKE A CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECT.
I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT IT MAKES MORE SENSE NOW TO ME HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING OUR FUNDING.
I'M REALLY [NOISE] PLEASED ABOUT ADDING IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE.
[02:40:07]
I THINK THAT'S REALLY A CRITICAL THING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING AROUND UPSTAIRS IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AREA AND ALSO TALKING TO EACH OTHER.THIS IS SOMETHING WE REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME PRIVATE PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE INTERESTED [NOISE] AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC INTERESTS.
I'M REALLY DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT.
I STILL HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT SEGREGATING OUT ALL [NOISE] THEIR CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS THAT ARE WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER CAPITAL OUTLAY.
BUT LEAVING THE $135 FOR LOCKERS IN THE ARP FUNDING [NOISE]
I ALSO WANT TO THANK JOSH AND TEAM FOR LISTENING TO US.
I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED WHEN I'M LIKE, OH FUCK [LAUGHTER] HE DID.
NOT SURPRISE BUT I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL.
I WOULD SAY I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.
I THINK WE CAN LOOK INTO THIS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE SEED FUNDING AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPITAL OUTLAY AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARP.
INITIALLY WITH THE LOCKERS, I WAS THINKING IT IS CAPITAL ONLY.
IS IT BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE? THAT'S HOW IT'S DELINEATING THE TWO.
HOWEVER, AFTER HEARING WHAT CHIEF PLAGA HAD MENTIONED ABOUT RETAINING OUR FEMALE OFFICERS AND PROVIDING THE EQUITABLE SPACE FOR OUR FEMALE OFFICERS, IT MADE ME THINK A LITTLE BIT HARDER ABOUT THAT COULD BE COMMUNITY-BASED.
YOU DID BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE DEI.
WE DO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IF WE DO WANT TO GET TO 30 FEMALE OFFICERS BY 2030, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE AMENITIES THERE FOR THEM.
I WOULD SAY I'M LEANING MORE TOWARDS THAT BEING AN ACTUAL ARP PROJECT THAT COULD FALL WITHIN LIKE YOU SAID, RETAINING AND THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION [NOISE] I'M LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE WAY NOW AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU.
>> YOU DIDN'T SEE MY HAND GOING UP AND DOWN BEHIND THE MONITOR [LAUGHTER].
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAME UP WITH $500,000 FOR SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER FEASIBILITY AND $350,000 FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE? WHAT PROMPTED THOSE TWO NUMBERS FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS? HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT?
>> WELL, I COULD GIVE YOU A REAL ACADEMIA ANSWER AND PULL THAT OUT OF THE EAR AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT.
I CONTACTED THE CITY OF PORTAGE AND ASKED THEM WHAT DID THEY REALLY NEED FOR SEED MONEY IN THEIR FIRST YEAR TO START TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR PROJECT, AND IT WAS A HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS.
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. THE 350, THERE'S NOTHING TO THAT NUMBER EXCEPT FOR I WANTED TO MAKE IT A MEANINGFUL NUMBER, AND I DIDN'T THINK 75 OR A 100 WAS MEANINGFUL SO I JUST PICKED 350.
THERE WAS SUBSTANCE BEHIND THE 500, THERE WAS NO DATA BEHIND THE 350 OTHER THAN TRY TO MAKE IT A MEANINGFUL NUMBER.
>> THE $500,000 WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SEED MONEY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE? I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE $500,000 OF SEED MONEY.
BECAUSE IN MY MIND I'M THINKING, YES, WE NEED A SENIOR CENTER OR DO I NEED $500,000 TO FIGURE OUT THAT I NEED A SENIOR CENTER? BUT MAYBE I'M THINKING ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY.
I'M OBVIOUSLY MISSING SOMETHING.
>> NO. YOU'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING, I THINK YOU ARE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN A BABY STEP YET.
[02:45:01]
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, THIS NUMBER COULD BE $200,000.I WENT WITH WHAT ANOTHER COMMUNITY HAS DONE, AND WHAT WOULD COME OUT OF HERE IS POTENTIALLY SITE SELECTION COULD COME OUT OF HERE.
WE COULD GET TO ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS.
I CAN'T NAIL IT DOWN BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THE BOARD WANTS TO GO.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN, FIND THE DONOR THAT I THINK WE MAY BE ABLE TO.
WE MAY NOT NEED ALL OF THIS, WE MAY NEED MORE.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT WHAT SPEED WE GO AT AND WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO, WHERE'S THE LOCATION AT, I'M NOT GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY I KNOW WHERE ALL THIS IS GOING TO GO, I DON'T.
I JUST THINK IT'S ENOUGH TO COVER THE SOFT COST.
>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BEING SPENT THIS YEAR.
>> IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN 2023.
THAT'S UPON THE DIRECTION THE BOARD GOES.
>> THEN THE $350,000 FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EXPANDED TO SOME BUSINESSES? WHEN I LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE AND I READ I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE PORTION OF THIS MONEY.
WHEN I LOOK AT HOMEOWNER REHABILITATION PROGRAM THERE ARE OLDER BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE DOOR THAT YOU CAN GET INTO OR THERE'S TWO DOORWAYS CLOSE TOGETHER.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THIS CAN BE EXPANDED TO REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AND CAN BE COMEBACK IN OTHER WAYS.
>> THIS 350, IF IT'S APPROVED, CAN GO IN ANY DIRECTION WELL, LEGAL DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO GO WITH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
I'M NOT STANDING UP FOR PROFESSING ANSWERS TONIGHT.
THIS WAS A CONCEPT THAT WAS DERIVED LAST WEEK.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS, I'M GOING TO LEARN AND TRY TO LISTEN TO THE BOARD AND TRY TO MANEUVER WITH YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
I SEE THIS AS FOR INSTANCE, WOODWARD WAY COMES, ANOTHER WOODWARD WAY COMES HERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER 50 UNITS BUT THEY NEED HELP WITH SEWER LINES, WATER LINES, STREETS, STREET LIGHTS, SOMETHING, AND THEY COME TO US AND SAY, "WOULD YOU PARTNER WITH US IF WE CAME TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP?" THE BOARD SAYS, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE 350,000 TOWARDS YOURS AND OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO FULFILL TO GET THAT, WOULD BE A REIMBURSEMENT.
BUT THIS WILL BE MORE AS I SEE IT AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DEVELOPERS.
>> IT MAY BE CLERK, IT MAY END UP BEING THAT.
MAYBE AND THAT'S WHERE THE BOARD DECIDES TO GO, OR A PORTION OF THAT, MAYBE THEY PUT 50,000 INTO IMPROVEMENTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THEN IN REGARDS TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WAS THIS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT, OR IS THERE A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS? OR IS THIS 900,000 THE INITIAL PLAN TO DO SOME REAL BEAUTIFICATION IN THIS BUILDING AND A FEW OTHER THINGS? I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK LONG TERM.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING AT LENGTH AND TALKED ABOUT HAVING A PLAN MOVING FORWARD WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING MONEY INTO IT, AND I THINK TRUSTEE WILSON SAID IT BEST AT OUR LAST MEETING.
I JUST WONDERED, WHAT IS THE FUTURE PLAN FOR PUTTING MONEY INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS?
>> WELL THE WAY THAT IT WORKS BEST, SO LET'S PRACTICE THIS; WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET IN '23 FOR '24, IF WE HAVE REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES OF $323,000, THAT 323 WOULD BE APPROPRIATED TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ON EVERY YEAR YOU PUT IN REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES INTO THIS FUND.
THAT'S HOW THEY CONTINUE TO FUND IT.
THAT'S WHY THE RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO ONLY TAKE IT DOWN TO TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE IS A SOLID CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND THEN USE THAT EVERY YEAR AND HAVE A VISION FOR 3-5 YEARS OUT, BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SO DEBT WRITTEN HERE.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
I CAN GIVE YOU FOR INSTANCE, IN 2023, OUR PAYMENT FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE IS $32,000, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO? $475,000.
[02:50:01]
THAT AS I'VE SAID ALL ALONG START PAYING OFF YOUR DEBTS, GET RID OF THESE ANNUAL PAYMENTS AND WHEN YOU START FREEING THIS UP, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS ANSWERED OR IF I'M NOT ASKING IT THE RIGHT WAY IS I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ASKING IT THE RIGHT WAY, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S MONEY ANNUALLY IN CAPITAL PROJECTS?
>> THE BEST WAY TO FUND IT, THE ONLY WAY TO FUND IT IS TO TAKE WHATEVER MONIES YOU HAVE LEFTOVER EVERY OTHER YEAR AND PUT THAT INTO THE FUND TO KEEP PUTTING SEED MONEY INTO IT.
IF YOU GET INTO TOUGH BUDGET TIMES, THERE WILL BE REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES AND YOU WON'T BE CONTRIBUTING TO IT AND YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING LIST WILL GO DOWN.
IT'S GOT A LOT TO DEPEND UPON THE ECONOMY.
RIGHT NOW IF YOU GO TO YOUR BUDGET, YOU GO TO THE END OF IT, CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE BEING FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE DO, WE JUST STICK SOMETHING IN THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH CLEANER PROCESS, IT WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS BE FUNDING IN THERE BECAUSE IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW WE DO BUDGET-WISE EVERY YEAR.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> TO ME, IT ALMOST SOUNDS THE SAME.
IT SOUNDS THE SAME WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT CURRENTLY, IT DOESN'T SOUND ANY DIFFERENT.
>> IT'S VERY DIFFERENT. RIGHT NOW AT THE BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE JUST THROW THINGS IN THERE AND WE FUND IT, AND IT FITS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN WE HAVE MONIES LEFT OVER, WE'VE BEEN GROWING OUR FUND BALANCE FROM $5.2 MILLION IN 2013 TO $13 MILLION TODAY, PLUS WE'VE BEEN PAYING OFF OUR DEBT.
NOW WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION, WE DON'T JUST HAVE TO THROW A NICKEL UP IN THE AIR AND FUND SOMETHING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WE HAVE A PLAN OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OUR FUNDING ON, WE NOW HAVE A SET POT OF MONEY TO DRAW FROM.
WE CAN USE OUR VISION, HAVE A PLAN AND DRAW FROM A FUND.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST WILLY-NILLY WHATEVER WE FIT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
FOR ME, IT EXPLAINED IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THAT LAST TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND HAVING MANAGER WALSH EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
FROM HERE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS THAT NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE WE ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY OF THIS.
ONE OF THEM IS TO DEFINE EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT FUNDS OR THESE TWO FUNDS [NOISE] AND ESTABLISH CERTAIN PARAMETERS AND STANDARDS ABOUT HOW THEY SET UP AND HOW THEY USE.
FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WE HAVE FUN, WE HAVE A WAY OF BUILDING THAT FUND, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A WAY OF USING THAT FUND, [NOISE] WE PROBABLY COULD PUT STANDARDS ON THAT IN TERMS OF HOW LOW WE'LL LET IT GO BEFORE ETC.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PITCH AND STABILIZATION FUND, IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO IT AND WE'RE PUTTING IT OFF TO THE SIDE JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WITHIN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION FOR ME, DO WE GO ON WITH THAT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER AT THAT CORNER IN CASE THE FINANCIAL SITUATION DOESN'T HAPPEN AS YOU EXPECT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT FUND? IS IT STILL BE HERE AND IS IT GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS UNLESS SOMEBODY DECIDES, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THERE ANYMORE? I WANT TO USE IT.
>> I'M NOT REALLY ASKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SET UP, BUT DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROCESS TO SET THESE RULES AND ESTABLISH THESE PROCESSES BEFORE WE ACTUALLY PUT MONEY IN AND START SPENDING.
>> I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO DO THAT.
[02:55:02]
YOU WILL SET ASIDE THE PATCH AND STABILIZATION FUND AND IT WILL BE THERE AND IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE AT 72 PERCENT RIGHT NOW.ARE WE 84 IN TWO YEARS OR ARE WE 60? IF WE'RE 84, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE TAKING A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THAT AND MOVING IT TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER FUNDED.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE JUST HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.
TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUND.
ARE WE GOING TO NEED THE FUND IN 2024 [NOISE] YEAR'S BUDGET? I SURE HOPE NOT.
THE ARP FUNDING, ONCE YOU CONSIDER THIS NEXT WEEK, WE'LL FINISH TALKING ABOUT THE ARP FUNDING.
WHATEVER IS NOT ALLOCATED OR SPENT BY THE SUMMER OF '25, BECAUSE THEN WE'D ONLY HAVE ONE YEAR TO SPEND IT, IT WOULD WILL ROLL OVER TO ROADS IN 2025, IF YOU HAVEN'T APPROPRIATED IT.
AS FAR AS THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS, IT JUST RUNS OUT.
YOU'LL HAVE THIS FUND I HOPE, BECAUSE YOU HOPE YOU'LL STAY SOLVENT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
YOU'LL HAVE THIS FUND 10 YEARS FROM NOW AND YOU'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT ALL THE PROJECTS YOU ACCOMPLISHED BY DOING THIS.
BUT JUST SETS UP A MINDSET OF REALLY GOOD PLANNING AND VISION TO DO IT THIS WAY.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PATCHES STABILIZATION FUND AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ARP FUNDING.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUND GOING FORWARD.
TRUST ME, WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET TIME, IT WILL MAKE YOUR PROCESS MUCH CLEANER.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR SESSION LAST WEEK, WAS LOOKING AT FUNDS LIKE THIS AT THE SAME TIME AND THEN HOW TO USE THEM AT THE SAME TIME WE PREPARE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
I WONDER IF ALL OF THAT DOESN'T SUGGEST DELIBERATE LONGER-TERM BUDGETING.
WE DO BUDGETING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, BUT WHEN SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING BUDGETING FOR 10 YEARS OR FIVE YEARS, PARTICULARLY WITH VILLAGERS, BUT IS THERE ANY VALUE IN EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF [NOISE] OUR BUDGETING OUTLOOK EVERY YEAR?
THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT THEY LIKE THIS TWO OR THREE.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF MULTI-YEAR BUDGETING.
I THINK THERE'S TOO MANY UNKNOWNS THAT COME UP, BECAUSE YOU TELL ME, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A RECESSION? I CAN BUDGET ALL I WANT FOR THREE YEARS, WAS THERE A RECESSION COMING? A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME IN MY MIND.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR-TO-YEAR.
TEN YEARS AGO WE WERE DEBT RIDDEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE NEEDED TO PAY FOR OUR FIRE STATION.
THAT CHANGES WHAT YOU DO FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
THE NEXT DECADE HERE IS GOING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AND START RE-INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND SHOULD REALLY ENABLE THE BOARD TO DO SOME MULTIYEAR.
NOW, WOULD YOU DO MULTIYEAR PLANNING OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND? ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
BUT TO TAKE ALL THE TIME IT TAKES TO PUT A BUDGET TOGETHER AND START FORECASTING FOR THREE YEARS, SOMEBODY WILL STAND UP HERE AND TELL YOU THEY'D ENJOY SITTING AROUND DOING THAT THING ALL THE TIME.
IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE THREE YEARS FROM NOW. IT'S A GUESS.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR [NOISE] REVIEW WAS AN APPRECIATION OF THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE IN WHICH YOU APPROACH TOWNSHIP FINANCES AND BUDGETING.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION.
SO WHAT DO WE TO EXPECT IN OUR NEXT MEETING?
>> THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO THREE THINGS NEXT WEEK, APPROVE THIS ARP FUNDING AS PRESENTED, UNLESS IT'S CHANGED BY THE BOARD OR MODIFIED.
I WOULD JUST LEAVE YOU WITH ONE OTHER THOUGHT.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF WE THINK THAT THE LOCKER ROOMS SHOULDN'T BE FUNDED BECAUSE IT'S A CAPITAL EXPENSE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE MARKETPLACE IS A CAPITAL EXPENSE.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT FIXING THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE IS A CAP.
WE'RE DOING LOT'S OF STUFF, IT'S CAPITAL EXPENSE.
THE FACT THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING ON OUR OWN, I THINK IT MAKES A WHOLE SENSE TO DO THAT.
THREE THINGS NEXT WEEK, ARP FUNDING AS PRESENTED, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, THE CREATION OF ONE, AND THE APPROPRIATION OF ONLY THESE TWO PROJECTS UNLESS YOU MOVE THE OTHER ONE, THAT IT WOULD BE THREE.
THEN THE CREATION OF THE PAGEANT STABILIZATION FUND.
[03:00:02]
THAT'S ALL, THESE THREE THINGS NEXT WEEK.>> I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR INSIGHT AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU THREW OUR WAY LAST WEEK, I HOPE YOU FEEL THAT THEY ARE ALL LISTENED TO AND INCORPORATED INTO THIS DOCUMENT.
IF THERE'S THINGS YOU WANT TO CHANGE NEXT WEEK, WE CAN DO THAT.
IT'S THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR ATTENTION.
[13.E. Federal Policies and Procedures]
FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.WE WILL HEAR FROM DIRECTOR GARBER ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU. PIGGYBACKING OFF THE ARP DISCUSSION WITH ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S COMING DOWN.
IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY OUR AUDITORS AND IT'S ALSO GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE WRITTEN FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN REGARDS TO ALL THE FEDERAL MONEY WE ARE RECEIVING.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE'S THEIR OWN SET OF GUIDELINES ON TOP OF THE STATE AND LOCAL GUIDELINES AND THEY CALL THOSE ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE.
FOR GUIDANCE, IT REQUIRES THAT ALL ENTITIES ACCEPTING FEDERAL FUNDING MUST HAVE A MINIMUM WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCESSES SURROUNDING THE FEDERAL FUNDS.
THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE IS A GOVERNMENT-WIDE FRAMEWORK FOR GRANT MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDES A SET OF RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARDS.
IN THIS MANUAL IN FRONT OF YOU, WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE FIVE ITEMS LISTED.
A LIABILITY OF COSTS, CASH MANAGEMENT, EQUIPMENT AND REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, SUB RECIPIENT MONITORING AND TECHNICAL EVALUATIONS.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE ITEMS THAT THE AUDITOR SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> HAVE YOU RUN THIS PROPOSED MANUAL PAST THE AUDITORS?
>> I HAVE NOT, BUT I CAN SEND IT TO THEM.
>> I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ONE MORE SET OF EYES ON IT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND I'VE WORKED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS, SO THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF RULES. THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> WE CLEARLY HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE AFFECTING THIS ALREADY, ARE THEY IN CONFLICT OR COMPLIMENTARY TO OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES?
>> WE'RE ALREADY DOING PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THESE PROCEDURES.
IT'S JUST THEY'RE NOT WRITTEN DOWN, SO IN THE AUDITORS EYES, THEY DON'T EXIST.
>> TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> NO, I JUST REQUIRE SOME WATER.
>> ALL YOU NEED FROM US IS FOR US TO READ IT.
IS IT NEXT WEEK THAT WE'LL ADOPT THEM AS THE TOWNSHIP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES?
>> THEN WE'LL SEE NO FURTHER CONCERNS.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT NEXT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC AND SO I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO ASK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
ITEM 15 IS OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, I WILL SEEK A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE SHANE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO SAY YES.
>> ALL NO? WE ARE OUT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.