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[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
WELCOME TO THE APRIL 4TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD.TRY TO JOIN ME WITH THE OPENING ALLEGIANCE.
>> THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. MR. LAMAR, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU. IN THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT WE HAVE FOUR.
[4. PRESENTATION]
THE FIRST WILL BE A REPORT ON THE MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW BY [NOISE] , I'M SORRY [LAUGHTER] DIRECTOR ASHLEY WINSTEAD.>> NO PROBLEM. [LAUGHTER] YOU WERE CALLING THE ABBEY EARLIER AND THERE'S A LOT OF AMYS HERE SO I STOPPED YOU FOR A MINUTE.
[OVERLAPPING] I KNOW YOU WANTED TO SAY ABBEY.
GOOD EVENING. I JUST WANTED TO ATTEND TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT AN UPDATE ON THE MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW THIS YEAR.
AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, THIS IS A RECORD YEAR OF INFLATION.
WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE WERE WALKING TO IN OUR OFFICE WHEN IT CAME TO THE ASSESSORS REVIEW AND THE BOARD OF REVIEW.
IT WENT WELL, IT REALLY DID AND IT WAS EDUCATION SESSION FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS.
BUT OVERALL, I WOULD SAY IT WENT VERY WELL.
THERE IS A HANDOUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH IT ALL, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW UPDATES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1994 WHEN PROPOSAL A WAS ENACTED THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HIT THE INFLATION CAP THAT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN HAS PLACED.
ACTUAL INFLATION RATE FOR TWO-YEAR STUDY WAS 7.9 PERCENT.
BUT THE STATE CAPS IT AT FIVE PERCENT.
WHEN YOU GO INTO MARCH BOARD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF MAYBE COMPLAINTS, JUST A LOT OF TRAFFIC, A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO WHY ARE TAXES INCREASING AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE DID OUR ASSESSOR'S REVIEW, WHICH IS ACTUALLY OPTIONAL.
THE TOWNSHIP THE PREVIOUS ASSESSOR, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE DID AND I'VE KEPT THAT GOING.
WHERE IF A RESIDENT HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THEIR ASSESSMENT, THEY CAN COME IN AND THEY CAN TALK TO US.
IT'S A VERY INFORMAL OPPORTUNITY.
PREVIOUSLY IN '22, WE HAD 40 PEOPLE ATTEND. THIS YEAR WE HAD 72.
NEARLY DOUBLE. MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONS WERE, IF YOU LOOKED AT YOUR CHANGE NOTICE THERE WAS A BOX ON THE TOP LEFT-HAND CORNER THAT SAID HOW MUCH YOUR TAXES WERE INCREASING.
MOST PEOPLE NOTICE THAT WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT THEY'RE USED TO SEEING AND MOST OF THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE CAME IN AND SAID, THIS IS CRAZY, THIS IS TOO MUCH.
THEN WE WOULD EXPLAIN THAT IT'S A FORMULA, IT'S A RECORD YEAR.
THIS IS WHERE WE GOT IT AND I WOULD SAY IN OUR OFFICE, BUT WE DO IS WE DETERMINE THE ASSESSED VALUE, 50 PERCENT OF YOUR PROPERTY VALUE.
IN MOST CASES AS WELL, I AGREE WITH THE VALUE YOU SET.
IT'S JUST MY TAXES WENT UP A LOT.
AFTER THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT PROCESS, WENT ABOUT THEIR DAY AND COMMENTS. WELL, I DISAGREE.
I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR NUMBERS CAME FROM. THANK YOU.
THAT'S WHERE I WAS GETTING AT WITH THE EDUCATION PIECE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.
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THAT WAS HELD THE WEEK OF MARCH 13TH, ON THREE DAYS.THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FORMAL PROCESS WHERE YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT A PETITION.
YOU MEET WITH A BOARD OF THREE MEMBERS.
IT'S INTIMIDATING FOR SOME, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WE OFFER THE ASSESSORS REVIEW.
BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY COME AND APPEAL YOUR VALUES.
PUT IN YOUR EVIDENCE EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THE ASSESSMENT WE DID, WE GOT IT WRONG.
IF THEY HAVE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, ON OCCASIONALLY THE BOARD MADE A CHANGE.
IN MOST CASES, PEOPLE WANTED TO COME IN AND DISCUSS TAXABLE VALUE.
THE BOARD OF REVIEW CAN'T JUST CHANGE TAXABLE VALUE.
THE ONLY WHETHER NEW CHANGE YOUR TAXABLE VALUE IS IF YOU'RE ASSESSED VALUE IS LOWER BELOW THAT NUMBER.
AND IN MOST CASES, HOMEOWNERS ESPECIALLY HAVE BEING IN THEIR HOME A LONG TIME.
THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS.
THEY DIDN'T OFTEN SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR TAXES.
BUT IN PREVIOUS YEARS, IN 2022, WE HAD 32 PEOPLE ATTEND THE BOARD OF REVIEW THAT EXCLUDES THINGS LIKE VETERANS EXEMPTION, SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTIONS, JUST ACTUAL APPEALS.
WE HAVE 32, THIS YEAR WE HAD 57.
BUT AGAIN, THE BOARD, WE'RE MOSTLY HEARING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAXES AND WE KNOW THAT'S A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DIFFERENT INFLATION.
THE ASSESSED VALUE OVERALL FOR THE TOWNSHIP IS, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE ON YOUR HANDOUT, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LISTENING, THE ASSESSED VALUE IS ROUGHLY 2.5 BILLION FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
WHEREAS THE TAXABLE VALUE, THE AMOUNT YOU'RE PAYING TAX ON AS A WHOLE IS ROUGHLY 2.1 BILLION.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, PERSONAL PROPERTY.
WE HAVE 15,549 PARCELS IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND ABOUT 14,000 OF THOSE ARE REAL PROPERTY, THINGS THAT AREN'T PERSONAL PROPERTY.
OVERALL, AS I MENTIONED, PEOPLE WANTED TO DISCUSS TAXES AND OTHER THING THAT WE HEARD OFTEN WAS THAT INFLATION RATES ARE UP VALUES OR DOWN.
OUR OFFICE, WE STUDY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MARKET AND JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE'VE REALLY NOTICED IS THAT PREVIOUSLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOUSES WERE SELLING IN DAYS, HOURS, EVEN.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN A REDUCTION IN VALUE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BUT WE HAVE SEEN HOUSES ON THE MARKET A LITTLE LONGER, MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO, WHICH IS WHIRLING NORMAL TO WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING IN YEARS PRIOR TO COVID EVEN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? MR. HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I'M CURIOUS.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE APPEALS WERE SUCCESSFUL?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER OFF HAND, BUT I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 20 PERCENT.
WHEN YOU SAY SUCCESSFULLY ASSUMING THAT THEY REDUCED IT.
THE VALUE WAS REDUCED TO WHERE THEY THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE. YEAH.
>> BEFORE THEY GO FOR THE TOWNSHIP, I WAS ACTUALLY BEFORE THE BOARD OF REVIEW AFTER A HOUSE I'D BOUGHT, I THOUGHT IT WAS NOT TAXED PROPERLY FOR THE BOARD IT WAS A VERY PLEASANT PROCESS, IT WAS GOOD.
I THINK WE DO A GREAT JOB TRAINING OUR BOARD OF REVIEW PEOPLE.
I TELL PEOPLE TO CALL OUR OFFICE, GO TO THE BOARD OF REVIEW IT'S A GROUP OF CITIZENS.
YOU CAN TALK TO THEM AND MAKE YOUR CASE.
IT'S NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF OR INTIMIDATED BY.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSESSED VALUE AND TAX ADVISORS ABOUT 15 PERCENT.
FOR MOST HOMEOWNERS A TIME THAT THOSE TWO VALUES ARE GOING TO BE CLOSEST IN VALUE AS RIGHT AFTER A HOUSE PURCHASED ARE BUILT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. EXCUSE ME, CORRECT.
IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, WHENEVER YOU PURCHASE A HOME THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE SAY UNCAPPED, MEANING IF THOSE TWO NUMBERS DON'T MATCH, THE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, THEY'RE SET TO MATCH.
THAT'S BASED ON CALENDAR YEAR.
>> THEY'VE BEEN TRAVELING CONSIDERABLY SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION WHEN THOSE VALUES GREATLY SEPARATED AND VALUES HAVE GONE UP.
SINCE 2008/2009 TAX VALUES ONLY WENT UP BY THE RATE OF INFLATION. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S WHERE I'M SAYING WE'RE AT THAT RECORD.
THE STATE HAS KEPT IT AT FIVE PERCENT.
HISTORICALLY, IT'S A LOT CLOSER TO ONE, MAYBE TWO PERCENT.
IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A NEGATIVE NUMBER.
>> FOR ME IS TOWNSHIP EMERGENCY SIREN OF DATES AND OUR PRESENTER IS SHE TOWN FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE. EXCUSE ME.
WE INSTALLED OUR 12TH SIREN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO ON BEING ADDED JUST SOUTH OF GRAND RIVER.
WE'VE GOT THREE MORE TO GO IN THE PROJECT,
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SO THIS PROJECT STARTED ABOUT IN 2013.I GAVE YOU THE LIST ALSO AT YOUR DESKS, AND AN ESTIMATED IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE NEXT THREE.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT I INHERITED. IT'S A GREAT PROJECT.
WHOEVER CAME UP WITH, I'M SURE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND MR. WALSH ALL WERE A PART OF THAT PROCESS A FEW YEARS AGO PRIOR TO MYSELF AND I INHERITED IT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CARRY IT FORWARD EVERY YEAR TO GET THE TOWNSHIP COMPLETELY COVERED WITH THE AMOUNT OF SIRENS WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS DURING TIMES OF NEED SUCH AS A TORNADO.
LASTLY, OUR NEXT THREE AREAS I PUT ON THE LEFT, THIS IS THE COVERAGE MAP.
YOU CAN SEE THE GOLD OR AREAS OR THE NEXT THREE THAT WILL BE INSTALLED.
RUSH SHOWS WHO WE BUY THE FINDINGS FROM, THEIR LOANS THAT CAME UP WITH THE PLAN AND THE TOWNSHIP ON HOW TO COVER IT.
THEN I HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET COOLER AS CONSUMERS ENERGY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN AN ELECTRICITY TO THEM AFTER WESTSHORE AND SELLS THEM.
THEY DON'T CHARGE US FOR THE MOST PART, SO THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT HELP.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PROJECT.
IT'S GREAT PROJECT, AND WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
IN THREE YEARS, WE'LL BE DONE. [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
>> IT APPEARS TO BE A GAP HERE ALONG SOUTH AND GRAND RIVER, THE PONS CO-OPERATIVE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT BOULDER BELOW AND A LITTLE BIT TO THE NORTH OF IT?
>> THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST THAT.
THAT'S JUST A GENERALIZED AREA RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.
PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAVE TO GO TO AREAS THAT THERE'S NOT ISSUES WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE NOW ON THE COUNTRY WERE GOOD, BUT IN OTHER AREAS WE'VE HAD TO MOVE THEM BASED ON DRAINS.
IN SOME ELECTRICAL LIKE LAST YEAR, WE WERE TRYING TO GET BUT WE DID BENNETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GO CLOSER TO HAGADONE, BUT IT JUST WASN'T GOING TO WORK.
IT HAS TO BE WITHIN I THINK IT'S 30 FEET FROM A TRANSFORMER ON A POLE.
WE'RE LIMITED, BUT ONCE WE TWEET THAT AND MOVE IT, THEY'LL BE COVERAGE.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
AS YOU SAID, SHE'S WORKING AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I REMEMBER ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO, KENTUCKY HAD A HUGE TORNADO COME THROUGH AND THERE WAS NO WARNING SYSTEM AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FATALITIES BECAUSE OF THAT, SO THIS IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR THOUGHT AND WORK ON IT.
>> CHIEF HAMILL, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SIREN TESTING, THE MONTHLY TESTING OF THE SYSTEM?
>> SURE. SO ACTUALLY, THEY DO A SIREN TEST EVERY SATURDAY, AND THEN ON THE FIRST SET OR EVERY MONTH THEY DO THE 15-SECOND LOUD TEST.
WHAT THAT DOES IS IT GIVES A REPORT BACK TO EVERYBODY WHO OWNS A SIREN ON WHICH SIRENS ARE WORKING ON.
WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THE BENNETT ROAD WASN'T WORKING [NOISE] , EXCUSE ME, A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE'VE HAD IN TEXT WE GET THEM CHECKED ANNUALLY.
WE PAY ABOUT $2,500 A YEAR JUST TO GET THEM CHECKED ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL GOOD.
WELL, WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF THE SIREN GOES OFF AT SOME TIME OTHER THAN THE TESTING PERIOD?
>> ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE RADIO IN THE NEWS IF YOU CAN TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, WATCH A WARNING, AND IF THERE IS ACTUALLY A TORNADO THERE.
I'LL TELL YOU IN THIS AREA WE'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY WHERE THE NEWS IS REALLY QUICK, AND SAME THING WITH OUR DISPATCH BECAUSE THEY MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
ACTUALLY, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS BULLETINS AND PRIOR TO OUR LOCAL NEWS PICKING UP ON IT, OUR DISPATCH ACTUALLY SET OFF THE SIRENS.
THEY HAD SOME FUNNEL CLOUDS THAT WERE LOCATED.
IT'S LISTENING TO NEWS, GO YOUR BASEMENTS OR IF YOU'RE IN BUILDING LIKE THIS, GO TO AREAS WITH NO WINDOWS, LIKE THE VAULT, IF YOU CAN GET IN THEIR BATHROOMS AND EVEN OFFICES WITH NO WINDOWS AND HUNKER DOWN AND GOES BACK QUICK [LAUGHTER].
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? QUICK DOCTOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
CHIEF HAMILL ON THE UPPER ON THE TOWER RACK AREA, NORTH WEST CORNER OF THE TOWNSHIP, IS THERE A FUTURE PLAN FOR A SIREN UP THERE?
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NORTHEAST OR NORTH WEST BY THE PURPOSE?
>> YEAH, BY THE PERK BETWEEN THESE LINKS [OVERLAPPING] OUT OF THE APPELLANT.
>> IT'S OUT OF THE TOWNSHIPS SO I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.
>> THAT LITTLE AREA RIGHT DOWN SHOULD BE ALL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I BELIEVE IT'S OUT OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THE PURPLE ONE IS EAST LANSING.
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>> THAT SECTION IN THERE IS NOT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WHERE I SEE THOSE ROADS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK FOR YOU.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION, GFOA, FINANCE DIRECTOR, AMANDA GARR.
>> THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE JUST RECEIVED WORD, I THINK A WEEK OR TWO AGO THAT WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR 2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT PROGRAM.
THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ESTABLISH THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING IN 1945 TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
I GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES IN PREPARING THEIR ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THIS IS ALSO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE, AND TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENTS THAT SUCCEED IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL.
THE GOAL PROGRAM IS NOT TO ACCESS FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE GOVERNMENTS, BUT RATHER TO ENSURE THAT THE USERS OF THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DO THAT THEMSELVES.
SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE TO CONTAIN AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION THAT INCLUDES A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. [BACKGROUND] THE FINANCIAL SECTION INCLUDES MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION ANALYSIS, THE REPORT FROM THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDING THE NOTES, AND STATISTICAL SECTION.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME AUDIT REQUIREMENTS AS TO THE AUDIT OPINION HAS TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.
THE SCOPE OF THE AUDIT HAS TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE ENTITY, INCLUDING ALL THE FUNDS COMPONENT UNITS.
ALSO, IN MOST CASES, A MODIFIED OPINION OR DISCLAIMER OF OPINION WOULD BE INELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD.
YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED IF YOU PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND THE PRIOR YEAR TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THE PRIOR YEAR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
STARTING MARCH OF 2022, YOU ALSO NOW HAVE TO INCLUDE A DETAILED CALCULATION OF THE NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS THAT'S REPORTED IN THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE STATEMENTS.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS NO EARLIER THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL YEAR-END.
BY REVIEW PROCESS, THERE IS A REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT COMPRISE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCIAL REPORTING, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARERS, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS, ACADEMICS, AND OTHER FINANCE PROFESSIONALS.
A MAJORITY OF THAT GROUP HAS TO COME TO CONSENSUS IN ORDER FOR THIS AWARD TO BE SELECTED FOR THE ENTITY.
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I LOOKED BACK IN THE TOWNSHIP, FIRST RECEIVED THE AWARD FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN 1997, SO THIS MARKS THE 20TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THE AWARD.
FOR 2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS ONE OF 88 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN TO RECEIVE THE AWARD.
>> WE ALSO RECEIVED THIS PLACARD.
I HAVEN'T YET RECEIVED THE 2021, BUT IT'S COMING.
4D IS A SUMMARY OF THE 2022-2023 DEER MANAGEMENT SUMMARY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM SUPERVISOR AND TOWNSHIP BOARD.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE 12TH SEASON OF THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
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EMMA CAMPBELL HERE.SHE IS OUR STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR AND SHE WAS THE LEADER OF THIS EFFORT.
THEREFORE, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO EMMA AND LET HER SHARE ALL THE WONDERFUL INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LOUIS AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THE SLIDES ARE REALLY JUST FOR THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING CLOSER.
THEIR GRAPHS CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT ON PAPER [LAUGHTER] I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF COORDINATING THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2020.
THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM IS A DIRECT RESULT OF ALL THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND POLICE, TOGETHER WITH OUR 70 VOLUNTEER, OUR TREE HUNTERS, AS WELL AS THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILDLIFE DIVISION, WHO REALLY HELPS ADVISE US IN ALL THESE THINGS [LAUGHTER] OF DEER MANAGEMENT, AND OF COURSE AMERICAN SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER.
I JUST THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT LIST OF ENTITIES TO BE WORKING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING AND SOMETHING THAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL AND SUCCESSFUL.
THE COMBINATION OF THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN 356 DEER HARVESTED AND 7,964 POUNDS OF VENISON DONATED TO 16 DIFFERENT LOCAL FOOD BANKS IN OUR AREA FOR THE 2020-2023 MANAGEMENT YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A 32% REDUCTION IN REPORTED CAR ACCIDENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE 2010.
WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM IN 2020, WE FIGURED THE DATA WOULD BE A LITTLE OFF BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE AT DRIVING AROUND AS MUCH, BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE AND I THINK IT'S THE SECOND TO LAST SLIDE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THAT DECREASE.
I WANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK OUR 17 MERIDIAN RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DONATED ALMOST 4,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND SUCCESSFULLY HARVESTED 156 DEER FROM OVER 42 TOWNSHIP PROPERTIES AND 22 PRIVATE PROPERTIES, DONATING 1,900 POUNDS OF VENISON TOTAL.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT A DEER CALL FROM JANUARY 2ND TO FEBRUARY 6TH AND HARVESTED 200 DEER TOTAL, DONATING 6,052 POUNDS OF VENISON TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS, THEIR PROFESSIONALISM IN THE FIELDS, AND MOVING AROUND THEIR SCHEDULES TO COMPLETE THIS JOB.
IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK AT ALL.
I'D LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK MIKE ALICE FROM THE DTW DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS AMERICAN SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER.
AMERICAN SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER COVERS THE PROCESSING COSTS FOR ALL OF OUR DONATED DEER, WHICH CAME OUT TO BE 260 YEARS TOTAL.
IF YOU TAKE A PROCESSING FEES INTO ACCOUNT, THAT'S ABOUT $24,700.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY'RE VERY INTEGRAL TO OUR PROGRAM'S SUCCESS.
THIS DONATION ALSO PROVIDED OVER 32,000 SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY MEALS LOCALLY TO THOSE IN NEED ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN IT'S VERY HARD FOR FOOD BANKS TO RECEIVE A SOURCE OF PROTEIN AT SOMETHING THEY CAN AFFORD.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW MANDATORY REPORTING THAT THE MICHIGAN DNR EXECUTED THIS YEAR, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS ALMOST SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE DEER MANAGEMENT IN OUR AREA.
THERE IS ABOUT 20 TAGS THAT HAD BEEN REPORTED FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DIDN'T REPORT WITH US OR ANYTHING.
THE MDNR PERSONALLY INFORMED US THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND THE FACT THAT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION IN THIS AREA.
A TOTAL OF 4,800 DEER WERE HARVESTED AND INGHAM COUNTY ALONE THIS YEAR, DURING OUR TRAIN RIFLES SEASON.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WHITE-TAILED DEER ARE HUGELY AFFECTED BY URBAN SPRAWL AND ARE NOW LACK OF PREDATORS.
WITHOUT OUR EFFORTS, THE DEER HERD WOULD BE MUCH MORE OVERPOPULATED AND WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY DISEASES LIKE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, WHICH WE WERE GROUND 04.
WE KNOW THAT WHILE IN THIS AREA AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT SINCE 2016, SO WE KNOW OUR EFFORTS ARE REALLY HELPING IN THAT AREA.
THIS PROGRAM NOT ONLY DECREASES OUR DEER CAR COLLISIONS AND DAMAGE TO OUR NATURAL AREAS AND OF COURSE TO LANDSCAPING, BUT COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES AMONG DEER ALSO DECREASES.
IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
OUR GOAL FOR THE FUTURE IS TO DECREASE THE ANNUAL DEER CAR COLLISIONS TO 100.
[00:25:01]
THAT'S THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SET IN MIND.UNTIL WE HAVE REACHED THAT GOAL, THE MDNR HAS INFORMED US TO CONTINUE WITH HARVESTING ABOUT 300 DEER EACH YEAR FROM THE POPULATION.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS, INCLUDING THE MDNR TO UNDERSTAND EXACT NUMBERS.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WITH WHAT THOSE WITH HOW MANY FUNDS THEY ARE GOING TO PRODUCE EACH YEAR THAT THIS IS A GOOD NUMBER UNTIL WE CAN REACH THAT GOAL OF 100 DEER CAR COLLISIONS, WHICH WE DID SEE IN 2020.
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T TOTALLY TAKE THAT YEAR INTO ACCOUNT.
WE DO PLAN TO REACH THAT GOAL IN THE 2023-2024 SEASON BY PARTNERING MORE WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE HAVE REALLY GOOD COVERAGE IN OUR TOWNSHIP AREAS AND OUR HUNTERS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS AND WERE BEING EFFECTIVE.
NOW WE'RE TURNING TO THE COMMUNITY.
IF THEY DO WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH US, WE ALREADY HAVE 22 LANDOWNERS WHO DO THAT AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
I THINK A PART OF THAT, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM TOTAL IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMMUNICATING AND WORKING TOGETHER THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE OR WORK TOGETHER.
WITH OUR VOLUNTEER HUNTERS, WE'RE GETTING A WHOLE GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CONSERVATIONISTS AND OUTDOORS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO AREN'T ALWAYS A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN AREA.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY'RE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PROFESSORS AND JUST LOCAL PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN A PART OF THE TOWNSHIP FOREVER.
IT'S A VERY GREAT COMMUNITY EFFORT AND IT'S A VERY UNIQUE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND FROM OTHER STATES CONTACTING ME ABOUT HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE MOVING PARTS AND WORKING PIECES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LOVE TO ANSWER THEM [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE, WOW, LOOK AT ALL THE RESULTS AND LOVES DEAR VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
BUT I HAVE NOTICED IN MY OWN BACKYARD, THE DEER ARE GONE AND I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY PLANT HOSTAS THIS YEAR.
>> CAN I RECOMMEND AGAINST DOING THAT.
>> BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND WE'LL GO ON TO SAY TOO, THAT WE DID COME OUT WITH A NATIVE PLANT GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND ONE OF THE DESIGNS IN THERE IS FOR A DEER RESISTANT GARDENS.
WE DO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD RECOMMENDING THOSE TO PEOPLE.
IF YOU DO WANT SOME IDEAS, LET ME KNOW.
>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I HEARD YOU MENTIONED DOSE IS IT ONLY DOSE OR ARE DOSE AND BUCKS HARVESTED AND THAT'S NOT WHY ONLY DOSE?
WHEN CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE WAS PRESENT IN THIS AREA, WE OPERATED UNDER DIFFERENT PERMITS, WHICH BASICALLY ALLOWED US TO HARVEST ANY THING WHETHER IT WAS A DOLL OR BUCK.
BUT NOW THAT WE'RE NOT A PRIORITY, CWD AREA, WE USE D MAPS WHICH ARE A DEER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT PERMIT.
NOW THOSE ARE ONLY FOR ANTLERLESS DEER, WHICH DOESN'T COMPLETELY DISCOUNT MALE DEER.
MOSTLY THOSE FALL UNDER THAT BUT ALSO WE CALL THEM BUTTON BUCKS OR BUCKS THAT HAVE ANTLERS THAT ARE THREE INCHES AND UNDER.
MALE DEER CAN BE TAKEN UNDER THOSE PERMITS, BUT THEY'RE MUCH YOUNGER AND THE VOLUNTEER ARTERY HUNTERS ARE ABLE TO FULFILL TWO PERSONAL BUCK TAGS, BUT THAT'S THEIR OWN THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE STATE GETS FOR RIFLE AND ARCHERY SEASON.
OUR NUMBERS BASICALLY COME OUT TO BE ABOUT 70, 30 FEMALE TO MALE, WHICH THE DNR JUST AS THRILLED WITH I MEAN THOSE WE COULDN'T PLAN THAT PART ANY BETTER.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION ENTIRELY.
IS THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD EVERY YEAR FOR APPROVAL TO DO THE UPCOMING YEAR OR IS THIS A MULTIYEAR APPROVAL PROCESS?
>> NO, I AM NOT 100% SURE IF I REMEMBER COMING TO THE BOARD EACH YEAR [LAUGHTER].
I DO KNOW THAT WE REPORT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
DIDN'T KNOW SOMEBODY BEHIND ME KNEW THAT.
>> THE WAY IS WAS WALKING TOWARDS YOU.
[00:30:02]
>> JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM AND IT'S NOT AN ACTIVITY THAT IS TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN A PARKER LAND PRESERVE.
WE DO COME TO THE BOARD ON A REGULAR BASIS JUST EVEN FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES OF NOTHING ELSE BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM AND MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND I KNOW OUR TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE, LEARNER WILSON'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FOOD DONATION BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE FOOD DONATION OF FOOD BANKS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
FRONTIER AT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOOD PANTRY IN DOWNTOWN LANSING, WHICH HOUSES PROBABLY ONE OF THE POOREST GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE FEED DAILY BASIS FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF OVER 1,100 POUNDS OF DEER MEAT.
MIKE ELLIS CAME IN THE TRUCK AND WE LOADED UP OUR FREEZERS AND WE'RE STILL GIVING AWAY THAT VENISON.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IT IS EASE THE BURDEN OF TRYING TO GET MEAT.
IT'S VERY HARD TO GET MEAT RIGHT NOW FOR INDIVIDUALS SO WE CAN'T RELY ON THE FOOD BANK.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO GIVE OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
YES, MIKE ELLIS LITERALLY HAND DELIVERS EVERY SINGLE POUNDS AND WE WERE JUST GOING TO DROP EVERYTHING AT LANSING FOOD BANK WHEN WE STARTED THIS AND HE SAID, NO, I'M GOING TO HAND DELIVER OUT TO [LAUGHTER] EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THEY GET IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT.
IT'S A VERY HEALTHY SOURCE OF PROTEIN TOO. ITS VERY LEAN.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE WHERE IT'S NOT ONLY PROTEIN AND MEAT, BUT IT IS REALLY HEALTHY NO HERBICIDES NO ANTIBIOTICS, NO FILLERS, SO THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.
ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE METRICS.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THE IDEAL METRIC IS LESS THAN 100 COLLISIONS AS OPPOSED TO PULLING NUMBERS FROM DNR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT IS THE METRIC AND HOW THAT RELATES?
>> THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE METRIC FOR EVERYONE.
IT'S DEFINITELY VERY INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE TOWNSHIP OR THE ENTITY OR WHOEVER'S MAKING A MANAGEMENT DECISION.
BUT WHAT THE DNR HAS INFORMED US IS THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO CHOOSE A METRIC THAT'S ONLY BASED ON THE DEER POPULATION.
BECAUSE EVEN IF WE GO OUT AND DO A HELICOPTER SURVEY.
TO BE REAL ABOUT IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO TACKLE EVERY DEER AND TAP REALLY UNDERSTAND, [LAUGHTER] WHICH COULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST VOLUNTEER EVENTS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT PART IS REALLY HARD AND HELICOPTER SURVEYS AREN'T EVEN ACCURATE FOR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU ARE PUTTING INTO THEM.
THEY TOLD US, THINK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR PROGRAM, THAT YOU CAN MEASURE BY A NUMBER AND REALLY STICK TO THAT.
FOR THEM IF WE MANAGE THE DEER TO BE PERFECTLY HISTORICAL NATURALLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT SO MANY IN THE POPULATION.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE DEER HERD HERE, WHERE IT MAKES SENSE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.
WHERE WE KNOW IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND SO WE HAVE A NUMBER TO BASE ALL OF THAT OFF OF.
BECAUSE THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY TOLD US YOUR MANAGEMENT NUMBER WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER IF YOU ONLY WANTED TO HAVE HISTORICAL NUMBERS OF DEER, WHICH BY THE WAY USED TO BE 20 DEER PER SQUARE MILE IF YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE THAT.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE, WE'RE REALLY CHOOSING A NUMBER THAT OUR POLICE CALL IS REALLY DRIVEN BY THOSE DEER CAR COLLISIONS AND WHERE THEY SET UP THEIR SPOTS IS BASED ON THOSE DEER CAR COLLISIONS.
THEY USE THOSE HEAT DENSITY MAPS TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOR THAT YEAR.
WE FIGURED THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE [LAUGHTER] TO GO THAT WAY.
OF COURSE, SOMETHING ON MY END OF THINGS AS A STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR IS I'M DOING A LOT MORE PLANTS INVENTORY THIS YEAR AND HAVING JUST MORE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH BEHIND HOW THOSE AREAS ARE BEING AFFECTED AS WE DO GET TO MANAGE THE DEER MORE SUCCESSFULLY.
WE REALLY WANT TO START ACCUMULATING MORE NUMBERS AND RESEARCH.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS AND THE GREAT PROGRAM.
I LOVE HOW YOU INVOLVE SOME OF YOUR TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEERS.
THE VOLUNTEER HUNTERS. EXCELLENT PROGRAM THROUGH AND THROUGH.
YOU MENTIONED 20 PER SQUARE MILE, THE GOAL.
WE HAVE 34 SQUARE MILES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST NUMBER FOR WHAT YOU THINK DEER PER SQUARE MILE WE HAVE?
[00:35:04]
>> I'M REALLY HESITANT TO SAY A NUMBER.
[LAUGHTER] ON TV. BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT IS REALLY HARD TO REACH THAT NUMBER.
I DO THINK THAT'S MORE OF A QUESTION FOR A DNR PERSON, BUT PROBABLY MORE LIKE WHAT WE END UP MANAGING BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
BUT IT'S ESTIMATED THAT WE HAVE, AGAIN, IT'S AN ESTIMATION, BETWEEN 800-1200 DEER.
US BEING ABLE TO GET DOWN TO JUST A FEW HUNDRED WOULD BE A HUGE EFFORT.
AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO GO SO LOW IN OUR DEER POPULATION THAT WE DON'T EVER SEE THEM.
THEY'RE VERY VALUABLE WILDLIFE TO US, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHIER.
WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND.
>> TRUSTEE SUNDLAND IS NOT SEEMING DEER UP AND EVERY FARMS EVER.
THERE'S A LOT IN [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW.
MY WIFE AND MOTHER-IN-LAW COUNTED 14 DEER IN OUR BACKYARD TWO WEEKS AGO.
WE'RE OFTEN YOUR HATCH BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW THAT AREA VERY WELL. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT CAN'T BE 100. THAT'S THE ISSUE, AND THEY REALLY ARE THRIVING THERE AND THEY'RE MOVE IN LARGE PACKS, THOSE MANY HUNDREDS OF DEERS IN THAT COUPLE OF SQUARE MILES.
>> THEY'RE VERY SMART ANIMALS.
THAT IS THE ISSUE IS THAT AS WE BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL, THEY'RE GOING TO REDISTRIBUTE INTO DIFFERENT AREAS.
BUT THAT'S WHY ONE OF OUR BIG GOALS IS MOVING MORE INTO PRIVATE PROPERTIES.
BEFORE WE ONLY THOUGHT IT WAS MANAGEABLE TO BE PUTTING VOLUNTEERS ON THREE ACRES OR MORE.
NOW WE'RE REALIZING THEY CAN DO MUCH SMALLER PARCELS SUCCESSFULLY.
BUT THOSE AREN'T THE BIG NUMBERS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GETTING A BUNCH OF DEER OFF THOSE PROPERTIES, BUT HAVING THE PRESENCE OF A HUNTER, IT SIMULATES LIKE A PREDATOR AND IT SIMULATES THAT THIS AREA ISN'T SAFE.
I DEFINITELY HAVE HAD PEOPLE CALL ME AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO SCARE DEER BECAUSE THEY WALK WITH THEM AT NIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] THEY'RE LIKE DOGS NOW.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S ALL PART OF THAT WILDLIFE PUBLIC INTERFACE.
TO BE FRANK, THAT'S A PROBLEM WE'VE CREATED, BUT WE CAN DO THINGS TO HELP THAT AND MAKE THE DEER MORE WILD AGAIN [LAUGHTER] WE DEFINITELY ARE TRYING TO GET WHERE WE CAN AND HELP THOSE AREAS THAT WE CAN.
BUT THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT BECAUSE THE WAY THEY'RE SET UP, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE DOOMED THAN OTHERS.
>> ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO THIN THEM WITHOUT FIREARMS LIKE INFERTILITY DRUG, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE COULD USE TO TRY AND CALL THE DEER WITHOUT USING FIREARMS?
>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY PLACES THAT ARE UTILIZING INFERTILITY.
IT IS A REALLY LARGE EXPENSE AS FAR AS I KNOW.
IT'S ANOTHER ETHICAL QUESTION.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DOES BRING UP ETHICAL QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT IS HARD.
TAKING AWAY SOMETHING THAT A WILD ANIMALS SOLE PURPOSE IS TO DO, I THINK IS DIFFICULT TOO.
THAT IS AN OPTION, I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WAY CERTAINLY.
BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW WE'RE DOING THINGS NOW.
SINCE 2020, THIS IS REALLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WE'VE BEEN.
WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
I WILL SAY THAT OFFICER MCCREADY, WHO WAS ON ALL THE POLICE CALL ON NIGHTS HE HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE A LOT OF CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET OUR REACH FURTHER.
[LAUGHTER] WE REALLY ARE HOPING TO GET INTO SOME OF THOSE AREAS.
THAT'S WHAT IS BENEFICIAL ABOUT ARCHERY IS WE CAN SAFELY, AS LONG AS THEY THINK IT'S SAFE, THE ACTUAL HUNTER, THEY CAN GET INTO VERY SMALL AREAS.
AS WE GET BETTER AT THAT PART OF OUR PROGRAM, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP OUT SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BETTER.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY, CAN YOU SIT ON MY PORCH? [LAUGHTER] WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE OUR REACH MORE EFFICIENT AND VERY SAFE TOO WE WANT IT TO BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
>> I'M SURE THE SAFETY OF THE PROGRAM IS A MEASURE OF YOUR SUCCESS AS WELL.
>> YES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES CORRECTLY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ACCIDENTS CAN 100 PERCENT HAPPEN.
BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPEN,
[00:40:06]
IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY SURPRISED THAT WE KEEP PARKS AND PRESERVES OPEN DURING THIS TIME.THE FACT THAT WE DON'T EVEN CLOSE DOWN THOSE AREAS, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WEIGHS VERY HEAVY ON OUR VOLUNTEERS AND WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL MEETING WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THAT AND THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN DO IT VERY SAFELY AND THEY DO CARE A LOT.
I DO THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT OUR SUCCESS THAT IS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING SAFETY-WISE GO OUT OF CONTROL OR ANYTHING.
>> IT IS. THANK YOU, LEIGHS, VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT.
>> WE NOW COME TO ITEM 5 ON OUR AGENDA,
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE GREEN CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.IS THERE ANYONE IN OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE, FILL OUT ONE OF THE GREEN CARDS FOR US.
>> MY NAME IS HEATHER. LAST NAME IS GODDARD.
I LIVE ON 5690 BABBITT STREET IN HASLETT.
A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS TODAY ARE BASICALLY ABOUT TRAFFIC AND SPEED BASICALLY.
I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TWO TOPICS.
ONE IS THE SPEED OF TRAVELING ON HASLETT ROAD.
THIS ROAD HAS BEEN A VICTIM TO OBNOXIOUS SPEEDS FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME.
PEOPLE GOING WELL OVER 25 MILES AN HOUR.
MY HUSBAND'S ACTUALLY A POLICE OFFICER.
HE DOESN'T EVEN LAST WALKED ON HASLETT ROAD BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HITS 35 AND THEN YOU HIT 25.
I KNOW THEY HAD PUT UP TRAFFIC WHERE THEY TRIED TO CATCH THE TRAFFIC SPEEDS OR WHATNOT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST NOT HELPFUL.
I'VE ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL TO SIMPLY JUST PLACE A STOP SIGN OVER BY RIDGWAY DRIVE, WHICH IS WHERE THE TRAFFIC GOES FROM 35 TO 25, TO HELP SLOW THAT TRAFFIC DOWN THROUGH THAT AREA.
BECAUSE GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY JUST BULLDOZE DOWN THAT AREA, GOING 35 RIGHT UP UNTIL THEY HIT THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THEN THEY SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S RAILROAD TRACKS THERE USUALLY.
I THINK IT WOULD JUST EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE SPEED DOWN HASLETT ROAD.
IT BASICALLY WOULD FORCE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO STOP AND SLOW DOWN AND HAVE TO GET BACK ON AGAIN.
MY NEXT CONCERN IS TRAFFIC DOWN OUR STREET.
WE LIVE DOWN BABBITT STREET AND OFTEN WE'LL JUST PARK OUR CARS IN THE STREET TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC.
THAT'S USUALLY JUST HOW WE DO IT.
WHILE WE HAVE THREE KIDS ACTUALLY COMING UP, THERE'S TWO LITTLE ONES THAT MOVED ACROSS THE ROAD, AND THEN NEXT TO THEM, THEY HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE ONE THAT OUR TWO NEW PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY MOVED IN.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE KIDS ON OUR STREET NOW.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD BOY DOWN THE ROAD FROM US A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T STOP.
WHEN IT TURNS TO BABBITT TO FRANKLIN, THEY RUN THAT STOP SIGN.
I ALMOST TOOK A VIDEO THE OTHER DAY AND I WISH I DID, BUT I COULD SHOW YOU GUYS JUST LIKE THERE WAS 10 CARS THAT JUST ALL RAN THAT STOP SIGN RIGHT THERE. NOBODY STOPPED.
THEY JUST BULLDOZED RIGHT THROUGH.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SCHOOL RIGHT THERE WHICH WILL CREATE EXTRA TRAFFIC FOR US.
BUT A MAJORITY OF THE TRAFFIC THAT I SEE IS NOT ONLY DURING SCHOOL HOURS, I SEE IT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY CUT THROUGH THIS AREA TO MISS TWO TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
IF YOU'RE GOING SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS FRANKLIN STREET, THEY'LL CUT THROUGH, THEY'LL MISS THE TRAIN, AND THEN THEY'LL MISS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT UP BY MARSH ROAD.
THEN THEY'LL MISS THE OTHER TRAFFIC LIGHT IF YOU'RE GOING SOUTHBOUND AND THEY'LL COME OUT AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY BASICALLY JUST SPEED DOWN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY HAD DONE TRAFFIC WHERE THEY HAD LOGGED THE TRAFFIC.
WE ONLY HAVE 20 HOUSES ON OUR STREET, BUT SHOWED 135 CAR ACTUALLY GOING SOUTHBOUND PER DAY, AND THEN NORTHBOUND WAS 412 CARS TO MAKE A TOTAL OF 547 CARS DOWN OUR LITTLE 20 HOUSE [NOISE] STREET A DAY.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE JUST THEY DON'T CARE,
[00:45:04]
THEY DON'T SLOW DOWN, THEY DON'T GET OVER.PEOPLE TEXT AND DRIVE ALL THE TIME DOWN OUR STREET AND REALLY NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
I'M HERE TO PROPOSE MAYBE SOME TEMPORARY SPEED BUMPS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO THROW UP TO SEE IF IT'LL EVEN WORK.
>> I WOULD ASK YOU I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> WE DID. THEY'RE DOING ANOTHER SPEED STUDY, IT SHOULD BE SOON, ACTUALLY.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THEN WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 6,
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT. MR. WALSH.>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
WHEN DIRECTOR GARBER TALKS ABOUT THE AWARD AND 25 YEARS IN A ROW, WELL, JUST EXPECTED, AND THEN WHILE YOU HEAR THAT ONLY 88 COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN HAVE IT, I ALSO WANT YOU TO REWIND THE TAPE AND GO BACK, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT RECALL A YEAR AGO.
I KNOW I CERTAINLY YOU FEEL YOU DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS.
WE ARE MIRRORED IN A REAL SITUATION HERE WITH OUR AUDIT AND TIMING, AND SO THAT I THINK ONLY ACCELERATES OR SPOTLIGHTS THE AWARD DIRECTOR GARBER AND THE TEAM HERE RECEIVE.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
ALSO, WE'RE COMING UP ON, NEXT WEEK IS THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN TALK ABOUT WHETHER IN MICHIGAN, WE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS.
BUT IF YOU GO BACK, IT WAS ACTUALLY RIGHT BEFORE I WAS BORN APRIL 11TH OF '65, THE PALM SUNDAY TORNADOES.
WE'RE COMING UP ON THE 58TH ANNIVERSARY.
THERE'S A NEW BOOK OUT ABOUT THAT.
IT TALKS ABOUT 370 PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED IN THE MIDWEST AND IN MICHIGAN.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MICHIGAN, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT TORNADOES VERY OFTEN, BUT THE PALM SUNDAY TORNADO AND OF COURSE THE BIG TORNADO IN FLINT, I THINK WHICH WAS AN E5, THE MOST DEADLY ON THE SCALE.
IT DOES HAPPEN IN MICHIGAN AND I CREDIT CHIEF HAMILL, BUT ALL THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE, CHIEF HAMILL ON THE BOARD AND OUR MANAGER RICHARDS AND DIRECTOR MAISNER, THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWAY BEFORE I ARRIVED.
I THINK WHEN I ARRIVED, WE WERE PUTTING UP THE FOURTH OR THIRD ONE AT WATCH PARK.
SUCCESS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE BEFORE US.
THIS THURSDAY NIGHT IN THIS ROOM, SIX O'CLOCK, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE CHIP AND FOG ISSUE THAT WE HAVE.
WE TRIED PREVENTATIVE PLACEMENT ON OUR ROADS AND ABOUT EIGHT MILES OF ROADS IN THE TOP, IT DID NOT WORK.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT SITUATION.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN HERE.
EVERYONE'S BEEN SENT A LETTER.
IN FACT, IT WAS DISCUSSED AT ROTARY TODAY.
SO SIX O'CLOCK IN THIS ROOM TO DISCUSS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE'VE HIRED A STREET EXPERT TO COME IN, WHO'S COMING OVER FROM BENTON HARBOR.
MR. DRUZE HAS BEEN WORKING ON STREETS AS A PE FOR 30 YEARS AND HE'LL HELP US GET THROUGH THIS.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE NOTICED THAT NEW SIGNS THAT HAVE GONE UP.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME.
NOW THEY'RE UP AND I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR MASSIE AND DEPUTY MANAGER [INAUDIBLE] FOR FURTHER WORK ON IT.
THE BRIDGE RENOVATION IS HERE.
YOUR NEXT MEETING THAT YOU HAVE IN HERE WILL BE UNDER RENOVATION.
JUST AGAIN, EVERY CITIZEN IN THE TOWNSHIP TODAY, I BELIEVE OR TOMORROW WILL RECEIVE A LETTER EXPLAINING EVERYTHING AND WHERE YOU NEED TO GO, THE TIMING, THE WHOLE BIT.
HOPEFULLY THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT HERE, BUT THIS BUILDING IS OVER A HALF CENTURY OLD.
NEEDS A LOT OF TLC, AND THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.
AGAIN, A PROJECT THAT'S PAID FOR BY CASH.
THIS BOARD HAS SET ASIDE FUNDS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THAT PROJECT WILL BEGIN APRIL 24TH, WILL BE DISPERSED OUT.
THE TOWN HALL WILL REMAIN OPEN THE ENTIRE TIME TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME TO THE TOWN HALL ROOM TO BE SERVED AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SERVE 80 OR 90 PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.
THE MAIN FEATURE OF THIS ROOM WILL BE THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND ALL OF OUR UTILITY AND TAX COLLECTION.
OUR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN ON JUNE 24TH, OUR JUNETEENTH EVENT THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN ON DIRECTOR CLARK'S WORK AND HER GROUP,16TH, 17TH, AND 18TH OF JUNE.
OUR PRIDE EVENT, OUR FIRST-EVER AUGUST 26TH.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU REMEMBER THE BOARD APPROVED UPGRADES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE AT NOW, THROWING AND SOME LOCKERS AND OTHER THINGS, SAFETY SYSTEM.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ONGOING OR UPCOMING, ESPECIALLY THE THROWING.
YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO, VILLAGE OF ALCHEMIST.
[00:50:05]
TOMORROW AT NOON, WE MEET VIA ZOOM WITH DEVELOPERS OF VILLAGE OF ALCHEMISTS WILL FIND OUT WHERE WE'RE AT.WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY IN PLACE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE BOARD BASED ON THAT MEETING, WHICH I WON'T GO INTO TONIGHT BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THE RESULTS ARE TOMORROW.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION PLANNED FOR MAY 9TH.
WE'RE WORKING WITH EAGLE TO GET THE GRANT LOAN EXTENDED, WHICH THEY'VE HAD FOUR EXTENSIONS.
THEY WERE TERMINATED ON THAT THROUGH SOME WORK OF A TOWNSHIP.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET EAGLE TO EXTEND THAT A FIFTH TIME.
THAT EXTENSION GOES UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST.
WE'LL BE BRINGING SOME INFORMATION TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD DO WITH ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT IS ON THE TABLE FROM THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH, LET'S KEEP IN MIND, LET'S REMEMBER, IT'S MORE THAN ANY PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN OFFERED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR THAT.
BEEN ABLE TO DO THE PERMITS FOR ALL THE SCHOOL PROJECTS IS IN PLACE.
THE ACTION OF DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
THAT MEANS ABOUT $788,000 TO THE TOWNSHIP AND BUILDING FUNDS OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT HIS EFFORT.
AGAIN, DIRECTOR SCHMIDT AND HIS TEAM ARE LEADING THE EFFORT ON THE MASTER PLAN, WORKING ON GETTING THAT GOING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
CHIEF PLAGA IS WORKING WITH THE TWO SCOOPER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, ALCHEMISTS, AND [INAUDIBLE] ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.
THEY'VE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THAT.
BUT OF COURSE, THAT IS A POLICY DECISION THAT WILL COME TO THE BOARD ON WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THAT OR NOT.
THE FAMILY FUN GUIDE, DIRECTOR MAISNER THERE AND HER TEAM AND ALSO SAND AND THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, A FAMILY FUN GUIDE.
I DON T THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT SINCE 2018 OR 19? IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
YOU'LL BE ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVE A FAMILY FUND GUIDE HERE, MORE MATERIALLY, PROBABLY THE NEXT 7-10 DAYS.
SPEAKING OF THE PONS, YOU REMEMBER THAT THE LAWSUIT THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH WITH THE PONS, THE FIRST HEARING ON THAT IS THE 13TH, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WEDNESDAY.
WEDNESDAY IN FRONT OF JUDGE STOKES.
WE WILL BE THERE AT 08:30 IN THE MORNING.
OUR WOODWARD WAY ABOUT READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WOODWARD WAY.
I THINK IT STARTED WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE YEARS AGO.
WE'RE READY TO MAKE A CELEBRATION THERE.
THE EFFORTS ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND A SENIOR CENTER.
TRUSTEE WILSON IS CHAIRING THAT GROUP.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND INVESTIGATING THE WHOLE THING.
IT'S GOT TO BE A SLOW PROCESS.
REMEMBER WHERE WE'RE CHARGED WITH BRINGING BACK A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU BY DECEMBER 1, WHICH WE CERTAINLY PLAN TO DO.
I KNOW IT'S LENGTHY, BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING OUT OF THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF STUFF JUST BESIDES THAT WE'RE SHUTTING THE BUILDING DOWN AND MOVING OUT TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER STUFF GOING ON, BUT THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MR. HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU. MANAGER WALSH, I KNOW THAT WE'VE SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET, THE ALCHEMIST BRIDGE HAS REOPENED, WHICH IS EXCITING, AND THERE ARE SOME CONSTRUCTION UPDATES COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH REGARD TO THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.
DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHEN WE MIGHT HEAR WHAT THE 2023 LOCAL LAW PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE?
>> GOOD QUESTION, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
ALSO WITH THAT, YOU RAISED THE BRIDGE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE CLEAN UP OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS THAT IS AT THE CORNER OF HAMILTON AND OKEMOS ROAD.
DIRECTOR CLARK AND DIRECTORS SCHMIDT ARE INVOLVED IN MOVING THAT FORWARD.
YES. YOU'LL SEE THE 2023 LISTS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY CAME IN FAVORABLY.
ASPHALT COSTS ARE DOWN ABOUT 12 PERCENT FROM 2022.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS TO PRESENT YOU WITH A LIST OF 2023 WITHOUT DILUTING THAT.
ALSO, I'M COMING UP WITH IT AND COMING UP WITH A FIX FOR THE CHIP AND FOG ALL OF THAT WITHOUT DIPPING INTO ANY FUNDS FOR '24 AND '25 OR HAVING TO COME BACK TO YOU AND ASK YOU FOR MONEY.
YOU WILL SEE A LIST THE BIDS ARE AT.
YOU'LL SEE A LIST, PROBABLY WHAT MANAGER [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] , IS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I WOULD EXPECT THE LIST POTENTIALLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS APRIL 25TH, THREE WEEKS FROM TONIGHT AND WE'RE NOT MEETING ON THE 18TH.
I WILL ALSO TOMORROW NIGHT OR THURSDAY NIGHT HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE OTHER EIGHT OR NINE MILES.
BUT WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST.
I BELIEVE WE'RE DOING COMBINED BECAUSE THERE'S SOME WORK.
[00:55:01]
REMEMBER YOU APPROVED FUNDS FOR WELLINGTON LAST YEAR.SOUNDBITE DIDN'T GET DONE BECAUSE A CONTRACTOR SCHEDULES.
WE HAVE BAY SHORE UP IN THE HAZEL AREA.
ALL THOSE ARE BEING DONE IN '23 THAT ARE PREVIOUS YEAR'S PROJECTS.
SO WE HAVE TYPICALLY ABOUT $4 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.
BUT THIS YEAR, ALL IN, ADDING IN THE CHIP AND FOG FIXED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT $6.5 MILLION IN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE THAT WE DIDN'T USE, PLUS THE 700 FROM THE ARP PLUS OUR 2023 POD.
WE HAVE ALL THE CASH WE NEED TO PAY FOR THIS WITHOUT DIPPING INTO FUTURE YEARS.
WRONG ANSWER, BUT I WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE TOP PICTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
SPEAKING OF THE BRIDGE, WHEN I DRIVE OVER ALL THESE YEARS, WE'RE USED TO THE SEPARATION WITH NOTHING IN THE METAL DOWN TO THE RIVER.
THE CONES AT LEAST THIS MORNING WHEN I DROVE BY, THE CONES WERE STILL UP IN THE MIDDLE.
IS THERE A PLAN TO BREAK UP THE TRAFFIC GOING IN EITHER DIRECTION AS THERE'S SOMETHING PLANNED FOR THE METAL LIKE TO ELONGATE THE GRASS OR SOMETHING?
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A LEFT-HAND TURN LANE, THAT'S WHERE THE CONES ARE INSIDE.
THERE'S A LEFT-HAND TURN LANE IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO WATCH PARK.
THEN I UNDERSTAND TO THE NORTH OF THAT, NORTH OF THE RIVER, THAT BIG OPEN GREEN SPACE.
THAT'S A SPACE FOR FUTURE PLANTINGS AND FLOWERS AND TO GREEN THAT SPACE UP.
BUT THAT WILL BE DONE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL BE THIS YEAR.
BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WORK ON IT.
WE'VE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK, YES.
TO YOUR POINT, CLARK GUTHRIE, WE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK MORE THAN TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THAT, "IT'S GREAT.
IT'S WONDERFUL. IT LOOKS GREAT." BUT HOW DO WE SPRUCE THIS UP? HOW DO WE GREEN IT UP AND MAKE IT SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE APPEALING TO THE EYE? WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THAT.
[OVERLAPPING]. YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH FLOWERS AND BRIDGES AND ALL STUFF.
[INAUDIBLE] IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
>> ON THE COMMENT, QUESTION. THANK YOU, MR. WALSH.
>> WE NOW COME TO ITEM 7: PROBLEM AND REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. JUSTINE WILSON.>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THERE ARE TWO BIG THINGS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD.
THE FIRST IS MERIDIAN CARES FOR YOU, HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO, THAT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON A RESOLUTION FOR TONIGHT.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ON MAY 10TH FROM 5:00-8:00 IN THE EVENING.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT, AND THAT'S POLICE CHIEF PLAGA, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, KATIE CAVANAUGH FROM THE OKEMOS SCHOOL BOARD.
WE'RE THE FOUR THAT PUT THIS THING TOGETHER, AND THEN WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR AND FROM DIRECTOR WALSH AND DWAYNE MEISNER.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITINGLY, WE HAVE 19 VENDORS THAT HAVE COMMITTED TO BEING THERE.
>> ALSO, WE ARE CONTINUING IN OUR QUEST TO COME UP WITH A CONCEPT FOR A COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER.
WE ARE MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK AND WE HAVE MET SINCE THE LAST MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
WE HAD A WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM MEETING TODAY.
I THINK EMMA'S ALREADY GONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOMAN DOES EVERYTHING SHE DOES.
BUT WE HAVE A MAILER THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SENDING TO HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE LOCATED ADJACENT TO A WETLAND WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.
GIVEN THAT IT'S SPRING TIME, I WANTED IT TO BE SOMEWHAT TIMELY.
IT'S PLANTING TIME, SO PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS.
THERE WILL BE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL, TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
THINKING ABOUT HERBICIDES OR OTHER CHEMICALS WE MAY BE USING ON THE LAWNS WE'LL PROVIDE SOME EDUCATION FOR THAT.
THEN OF COURSE MOST RECENTLY AS RECENT AS YESTERDAY, THE FLOODING IN THE AREA OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, THANK YOU SAM, HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE WEBSITE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WEBSITE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN THE WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THERE REGARDING HOW TO MANAGE YOUR PROPERTY THAT IS CONSISTENT AND SAFE WITH WETLANDS.
I WOULDN'T CALL IT A BROCHURE, IT'S MORE LIKE A BOOK AND IT IS FANTASTIC.
[LAUGHTER] THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING THAT TOGETHER,
[01:00:03]
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO GO TO THE WEBSITE TO LOOK AT THAT.WE DO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING TOMORROW, BUT I DO KNOW WORKING ON THE GREEN GRANTS TEAM THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FIVE APPLICATIONS FOR GREEN GRANTS THIS YEAR.
THE WORD IS GETTING OUT, IT'S VERY EXCITING.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF SCORING AND WE'LL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS HERE PROBABLY AFTER OUR NEXT MEETING TOMORROW. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
IN REGARDS TO MANAGER WALSH'S REPORT ABOUT THE UPDATES TO THE BUILDING, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL BE LOCATED IN THE BUILDING NEXT TO 242 CHURCH ON BENNETT BETWEEN APRIL 24TH AND OCTOBER 1ST OR WHENEVER THE PROJECT WRAPS UP.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING THE LETTER TO ALL THE HOMES TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE.
IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE, THAT WHERE WE'LL BE LOCATED.
WE ARE BUSY THIS YEAR IN THE OFF SEASON WITH VOTING RECORDS AND ONGOING EMPLOYEE ELECTIONS, TRAINING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND OUR SKILLS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO ELECTION LAW AND CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW.
WITH THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSAL 2, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR OFFICE NEEDS TO DO IS HAVE A BALLOT BOX FOR ABSENTEE APPLICATIONS AND BALLOTS FOR EVERY 15,000 PEOPLE, AND THOSE NEED TO BE SPREAD OUT EVENLY IN THE TOWNSHIP.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO GET TWO MORE BOXES AND HAVE ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES, AND HAVE ONE LOCATED IN THE SOUTH AND ONE IN THE NORTH.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO MANAGER WALSH ABOUT IT AND WITH FIRE CHIEF HAMILL ABOUT PLACING A BALLOT BOX IN THE NORTH FIRE STATION, AND IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER FOR WHERE WE POSSIBLY COULD PUT THE OTHER BALLOT BOX IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THOSE BOXES ARE PAID FOR BY THE STATE, THANK GOODNESS, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE CAMERA SURVEILLANCE ON THOSE AND PICKING UP THE BALLOTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.
THAT'S SOME OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE CHIEF REGARDING DEVELOPING A CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN.
THE CHIEF IS WORKING ON THAT WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS.
I THINK HE MAY HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
WE'RE WORKING ON OUR DRAFT AND HOW OUR CONTINUED PERFORMANCE OF THESE MINIMUM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS WILL HAPPEN IF THERE WERE TO BE A DISRUPTION AND WE'LL HAVE OUR DRAFT TO THE FIRE CHIEF NEXT MONTH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH.
I DO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN IS HOLDING AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPRING VOLUNTEER.
THE MEETING IS TOMORROW ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 5TH AT 1:30 AT THE VILLAGE CHAPEL.
IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER, I KNOW I AM, YOU CAN ASSIST WITH VARIOUS SCHOOL TRIPS OR EVENTS PLAYING AT THE VILLAGE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING SEASON.
YOU LIKE AND YOU REACH OUT TO ME AND/OR ANYONE AT THE VILLAGE.
I'M GOING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED.
BUT THAT IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5TH AT 1:30 IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED.
THEN I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE OKEMOS HIGH GRAD ROBIN [INAUDIBLE] WHO IS NOW [INAUDIBLE] WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MSU BASKETBALL COACH REPLACING SUZY MERCHANT.
SHE JOINS THE RANKS OF FORMER OKEMOS BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO WAS MY HERO, KRISTEN RASMUSSEN, WHO PLAYED FOR MSU FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND SHE WENT TO THE WNBA AND THEN SHE BECAME AN OKEMOS HIGH BASKETBALL COACH BEFORE SHE AND HER FAMILY MOVED.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBIN OKEMOS HIGH GRADS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE GOT A LOT OF CALLS IN THEIR OFFICE ASKING FOR THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX THAT PEOPLE PAID INTO 2022 FOR THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN.
IT'S A GOOD CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THE POVERTY EXEMPTIONS THAT THIS BOARD PASSED.
IF THE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IS AT OR BELOW 30,000 PER YEAR WHICH IS THE POVERTY GUIDELINE YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR 100% PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT. THIS BOARD EXTENDED THAT TO 150% TO BE ABOUT $45,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR TO RECEIVE 50% TAX REDUCTION.
[01:05:02]
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE CLOSE TO THOSE LIMITS, PLEASE GIVE MY OFFICE A CALL 853-4140 OR ALL THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND CALL IT 853-4400 AND WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT APPLY FOR THAT.WE THINK THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, SO I'M SPEAKING OUT TONIGHT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE PLEASE HAVE THEM COME TO OUR OFFICE.
PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS EXEMPTION SHOULD GET IT AND WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE TO GET THAT EXEMPTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL. NO FURTHER COMMENTS WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 8 WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA. MR. DESCHAINE.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
>> I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? IS THAT YOU?
>> ON FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> [INAUDIBLE] NO. CHAIR VOTES.
ITEM 9 IS THE CONSENT AGENDA IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT,
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
OUR COMMUNICATIONS MINUTES FROM OUR MARCH 21, 23 REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, THE MANAGERS BILLS AND ITEM 9D IS DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS VEHICLES WHERE THE STAFF IS LOOKING FOR AUTHORIZATION.>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I MOVED THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE. MR. LOMARSON
>> THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'LL MOVE NOW [NOISE] TO ITEM 10 QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY OF WHICH THERE ARE NONE.
ITEM 11, WE HAVE NO HEARINGS TONIGHT AND ITEM 12 OR ACTION ITEMS. WELL FIRST, 12 A IS ORDINANCE 2022-16,
[12.A. Ordinance 2022-16-Sign Ordinance Update-Introduction]
SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE FOR INTRODUCTION.>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR. I WILL BE BRIEF.
AS WE'VE MADE LIMITED CHANGES SINCE LAST WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE TYPES OF ATTORNEY A CRUCIAL IS HERE THIS EVENING WE SO HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING WITH RESPECT TO SIGNAGE THE ONLY CHANGE THAT WAS MADE FROM THE DRAFT THAT YOU SAW WAS AN ADDITION OF A DEFINITION FOR ABANDONED SIGN; TECHNICALLY SIGN, ABANDONED, AND ADDITION OF PROVISIONS FOR HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE SIGNS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH I BELIEVE IS SECTION 14 OF THE DRAFT.
THE REMAINING REMNANTS IS THE SAME AS WHAT YOU SAW PREVIOUSLY.
STAFF IS PRETTY HAPPY WITH HOW THIS HAS TURNED OUT AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT THIS SHOULD THE BOARD CHOOSE TO INTRODUCE IT TONIGHT AND MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS ADOPTION.
>> IS THERE SOMEONE WHO'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR INTRODUCTION, MR. HENDRICKSON?
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION ZONING AMENDMENT 2022-16 TO AMEND ARTICLE 7 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE IN THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP MERIDIAN TO UPDATE THE SIGN REGULATIONS FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
>> SUPPORTED BY CLARK GUTHRIE.
>> THIS ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION REPRESENTS A LOT OF PERSON HOURS WORTH OF WORK FROM THE STAFF AS WELL AS OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND THIS BOARD HAS SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME AS WELL CONSIDERING THESE CHANGES I THINK BY LARGE FOR SOMETHING WE'RE FORCED TO DO BY SUPREME COURT ORDER NOT TO US SPECIFICALLY BUT TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES THAT OUR STAFF HAS TAKEN THIS ON AND HAS PROVIDED US WITH AN EXCELLENT DRAFT OF SUPREME COURT-COMPLIANT LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH.
I DON'T BELIEVE BY ANY STRETCH THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE'LL SEE THIS ORDINANCE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS THEY'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE TWEAKS THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO ADDRESS THINGS THAT COME UP AS ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE GOES FORWARD BUT I THINK THIS IS
[01:10:01]
A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR US AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON AND HIS COMMENTS.
ALSO I THANK DIRECTOR SCHMIDT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND FOR RAISING THIS AND BRINGING THIS TO US IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS YOU SPENT ON THIS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
I APPRECIATE DIRECTOR SCHMIDT LISTENING TO THE BOARD'S COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES.
IN ADDITION TO THE COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HE RECEIVED FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAKING THOSE CHANGES AND I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THIS SIGN ORDINANCE AND THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT IT.
>> OTHER COMMENTS MR. DESCHAINE.
>> JUST TO RECAP FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE COME TO THIS DISCUSSION LATE, THE BIGGEST CHANGE HERE IS THEY'RE SAYING ORDINANCES NOW CONTENT-NEUTRAL FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
I HAVE RATHER COMMUNITIES TAKING AND CHANGING THEIR SIGN ARE NECESSARY LARGEST TWO OF THE COMMUNITIES.
ANY GUESS AS TO HOW MANY ARE THOSE?
>> I COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO GUESS.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING SIGN ORDINANCES FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, SO THAT'S AT LEAST TWO COMMUNITIES.
[LAUGHTER] I CAN TELL YOU [NOISE] THE BIGGER COMMUNITIES, IT REALLY BECOMES MORE OF A PIECEMEAL THING GENERALLY, THAT AS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU ATTACK IT.
TRYING TO DO THIS IN AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING, JUST GIVEN THE SHEER VOLUME OF ZONING REGULATION THAT A CITY THAT SIZE HAS.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY STATISTICS OUT THERE THAT SAY HOW MANY HAVE DONE IT, BUT IT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE.
I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS CONFIDENT IN WHERE WE CAN GO, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CLARIFICATION FROM THE THIRD WORLD CASE OUT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, THEY WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, WERE EVEN MORE CONFIDENT IN HOW TO ATTACK THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP FROM REED VERSUS GILBERT [NOISE].
IN THE NEWS THAT HAVE CHANGED YOUR ORDINANCE, HAVE THEY FACED ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THEM THAT, YOU KNOW OF?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CHALLENGES TO ANY CONTENT-NEUTRAL ORDINANCE AT THIS TIME.
>> ANY ONE ELSE? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND ATTENTION THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS.
I AM IMPRESSED THAT WE TOOK TIME AND CARE TO REASSURE EXISTING USERS ABOUT HOW THESE CHANGES WILL APPEAR IN OUR TOWNSHIP.
I HAVE JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.
SINCE MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SCIENCE [NOISE] IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND UP AT THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, I WONDER IF OUR ZONING BOARD HAS SEEN THIS UPDATE AND COMMENTED.
>> I BELIEVE WE GAVE THEM AN EARLY DRAFT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD COMMONLY SEEN AND GENERALLY, ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT SOMETHING TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS THAT ADDRESSES A COMMONLY REVIEWED VARIANCE THEY'RE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING IT FORWARD.
>> IN THE SAVING ZBA FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A SINGLE SIGN VARIANCE COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
I KNOW STAFF ARE DOING BETTER JOB OF REDIRECTING [LAUGHTER] OR WHATEVER, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGN.
MY FIRST STINT WITH YOU, SUPERVISOR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE SAW LOTS OF SIGN VARIANCES COMING FOR THE ZBA NOT SO MANY RECENTLY THOUGH.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY IS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FORWARD ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY OR THAT WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE, WERE GENERALLY IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION WE WERE HEADED WITH THE ORDINANCE UPDATE.
THE CORNER TENANT ISSUE WHERE YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A SIGN ON THIS WALL BUT NOT THIS WALL.
FUNCTION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE, LOOK, YOU CAN GO AND TRY, BUT YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS ALREADY SUPPORTIVE OF AND THERE'S NO REALISTIC REASON THAT THIS WOULD COME OUT OF THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK, THAT WAS PART OF IT IS THAT YOU HAD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO GO TO THE ZBA, BUT ALSO SAW A POTENTIAL EASIER PATH COMING.
[01:15:02]
>> ONE FINAL QUESTION. FOR BUSINESSES LIKE NOTHING BUT CAKES OR SOMEONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE WANTED TO PUT THAT SIGN ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THEIR CORNER BUSINESS AND TENANT, DO YOU NOTIFY THEM THAT WE HAVE THIS NEW ORDINANCE THAT OR HOW DO THEY KNOW, WELL, NOW I GET TO PUT UP THE SIGN?
>> INEVITABLY WE WILL GET A PHONE CALL FROM BUSINESSES ASKING ABOUT, HEY, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A SIGN ON THIS SIDE AND NOW WE'LL TELL THEM.
YOU CAN'T NOW. WE WOULDN'T REACH OUT AND NOTIFY THEM [OVERLAPPING].
>> INEVITABLY, WE'D MISS SOMEONE, THERE'S SO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THIS WILL APPLY THAT IT'LL JUST BE EASIER FOR US WHEN THEY WANT TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT, WHEN THEY CALL US, WE'LL SAY, YEAH.
>> THE MOTION IS TO ADAPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION THE ZONING AMENDMENT, FOOT 2022-16, TO MAIN ARTICLE 7 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP TO UPDATE THE SIGN REGULATIONS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD, [NOISE] MR. SCHMIDT, THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENS IS WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY ADOPT.
>> ADOPTION WILL BE ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A PURCHASING POLICY UPDATE.
[12.B. Purchasing Policy Update]
THIS DISCUSSION WILL BE LED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR AMANDA GARBER.>> THANK YOU. AS TALKED ABOUT LAST BOARD MEETING, THIS UPDATE IS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES RELATED TO THE APPROVAL AND PAYMENT OF SMALL PURCHASES THAT ARE LESS THAN $1,000, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THIS IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER BY NOT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE FULL PURCHASE ORDER PROCESS AS WE DO NOW.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES MADE SINCE THE LAST MEETING, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY. NEED A MOTION TO START A DISCUSSION. CLARK GUTHRIE.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PURCHASING POLICY.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'M SO SORRY. [LAUGHTER] CLARK GUTHRIE.
>> I'M SORRY THANK YOU MA'AM. I'M SO SORRY SIR.
I THINK TREASURER DESCHAINE AND I BEING BOARD MEMBERS ON DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CARE THAT DIRECTOR GARBER HAS TAKEN TO ALIGN THE PURCHASING POLICY FOR CREDIT CARDS WITH THE POS SYSTEM AND HAVING THOSE TO WAYS IN WHICH WE RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR PURCHASES BE SIMILAR AND LESS CONFUSING TO STAFF AND MORE EFFICIENT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THAT OVERSIGHT AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT STAFF NEEDS APPROVAL, SO IT DOESN'T NEGATE HAVING TO HAVE APPROVAL OR FOLLOWING PURCHASING POLICY PROCEDURES, AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCES AT THE TOWNSHIP, IT STREAMLINES THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
THAT IS WHY I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS PURCHASING POLICY PROCEDURE THAT YOU PRESENTED WITH US TONIGHT.
>> I AGREE WITH THE FIRST COMMENTS.
THIS WAS STREAMLINE PURCHASES FOR SMALLER AMOUNTS AND IT WAS SAID THE LAST MEETING, EMPLOYEES WOULD RUN ANY PURCHASE THROUGH A DEPARTMENT HEAD IN THIS TOWNSHIP, EMPLOYEE DON'T GO OFF BUYING THINGS WITHOUT HAVING A DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVE IT, WHO THEN WOULD REPORT TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER OR A FINANCE DIRECTOR IF THERE WERE ANY WAY CONTROVERSIAL OR OUT OF ORDINARY PURCHASE.
SO THIS IS FOLLOWING EXISTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHICH SIMPLY STREAMLINE IN RAISING THE LIMIT WITHOUT, THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE APPEAL.
IT'S A STREAMLINED PROCESS WITH THE SAME PROCEDURES WE FOLLOWED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW TO MAKE SURE ALL PURCHASES ARE VETTED AND PRUDENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION FROM LAST TIME WE SAW THIS,
[01:20:04]
BUT I'VE HAD A LITTLE TIME TO CONSIDER IT.IF I COULD POSE TO YOU A HYPOTHETICAL AND YOU COULD TELL ME HOW THE PROCESS WOULD FUNCTION FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S PERSPECTIVE, LET'S JUST SAY I WANT TO GO OUT AND BUY A $750 GOOD OF SOME KIND, AND I DON'T HAVE A PROCUREMENT CARD, A P CARD.
HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT DOING THAT UNDER THE NEW POLICY?
>> YES. THE EMPLOYEE WOULD TALK TO THEIR SUPERVISOR OR DIRECTOR AND ASK IF THEY CAN PURCHASE THIS ITEM.
ONCE THEY GOT THAT APPROVAL VERBALLY FROM THAT PERSON, THEY WOULD GO ON AND PURCHASE IT, AND THEN THEY WOULD SUBMIT THE INVOICE THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESS, AND IT WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE APPROVALS OF THE SUPERVISOR OR DIRECTOR AND THEN ONTO FINANCE.
>> I GUESS WHAT'S INCONGRUOUS WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID IN THE MEMO, IS THAT THE MEMO THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED WITH RELATION TO THE PURCHASING POLICY DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT STEP OF GETTING APPROVAL FROM YOUR SUPERVISOR OR DEPARTMENT HEAD PRIOR TO MAKING THAT PURCHASE.
I'M LOOKING AT THE MEMO AND IT SAYS THAT ESSENTIALLY APPROVAL AND PAYMENT, BLAH BLAH BLAH, PURCHASE THAT'S BEEN ALREADY PAID BY CREDIT CARD OR RECEIVING AN INVOICE THAT WOULD BE APPROVED THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESS.
IF INVOICE IS REQUESTED THE ITEM WOULD BE REQUESTED FROM THE VENDOR.
THE ITEM IS SHIPPED OR SERVICE PERFORMED, THE TOWNSHIP PERCEIVES THE INVOICE AND THEN STEP 4 IS THE INVOICE GOES THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE APPROVAL PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUPERVISOR, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING, AND FINANCE.
MY ISSUE, WHICH IS THE SAME AS IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO, WAS THAT WE CAN SAY THAT IT REQUIRES DEPARTMENTAL HEAD APPROVAL.
BUT THIS MEMO AND THE POLICY TO MY READ OF IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE.
>> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE GOING THROUGH THIS WAY IT'S MORE OF AN INFORMAL, AHEAD OF TIME WITH THE PURCHASE.
IT'S MORE OF A VERBAL OR JUST LIKE AN EMAIL BACK-AND-FORTH WITH THE DIRECTOR, CAN I PURCHASE THIS AND GETTING APPROVAL FOR IT? WHEREAS RIGHT NOW, LIKE USING RPO SYSTEM, THERE'S AN ACTUAL DOCUMENTED APPROVAL.
>> I HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT NOT SAYING IT ANYWHERE IN THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMAL APPROVAL PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE.
BECAUSE IN SOME CASES, CATCHING SOMETHING AFTER THE FACT MAY BE TOO LATE AND SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE, AND I'M GOING TO PULL YOU TO AN ACTUAL PAGE NUMBER OF THE POLICY, WHICH IS PAGE 67 OF THE PACKET.
THIS IS UNDER CHAPTER 2, SMALL PURCHASES.
REQUIRED APPROVALS, ALL SMALL PURCHASES SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR PRIOR TO PURCHASE.
THOSE LAST THREE WORDS ARE THE THREE WORDS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THIS POLICY.
WE CAN EITHER DO THAT VIA A MOTION TO AMEND OR VIA TAKING THIS BACK AND SEEING IT AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ON ADDING THOSE THREE WORDS.
IT WOULD READ, UNDER THE REQUIRED APPROVALS, ALL SMALL PURCHASES SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR PRIOR TO PURCHASE.
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM DIRECTOR GARBER THAT EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING PRIOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO MAKING THESE PURCHASES.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, OR IF THAT'S THE FACT, THERE SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE WITH ADDING THOSE THREE WORDS.
>> I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.
I DON'T FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE LIKE FORMAL APPEAL PROCESS, BUT IT COULD JUST BE A DOCUMENTED EMAIL, JUST SOMETHING IN WRITING.
GIVEN THAT IT PROTECTS THE PERSON, IT ALSO PROTECTS THE DIRECTOR WHO IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PURCHASE.
[01:25:04]
IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN THE POLICY THEN WE CAN'T ENFORCE IT. THANK YOU.>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM THERE, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I'D GET ANOTHER IS WE HAVE A POLICY LIKE THAT NOW.
I WOULD PREFERABLY SAY APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISOR OR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SUPERVISOR JACKSON REALLY BUSY [LAUGHTER] WITH A LOT OF PURCHASE APPROVALS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
>> WHAT I'M SUGGESTING BASED ON TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON IS THAT WE CHANGE THE OUTLINE TO BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISOR OR DIRECTOR PRIOR TO PURCHASE.
>> [LAUGHTER] TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
WITH THE WAY THE WIND SEEMS TO BE BLOWING, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT I MOVED TO AMEND [INAUDIBLE] MOTION TO UPDATE THE PURCHASING POLICY ON PAGE 6, REQUIRED APPROVALS TO READ AS FOLLOWS, ALL SMALL PURCHASES SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISOR OR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR PRIOR TO PURCHASE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE POINT AND THE BOARD CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT, IT'S YOUR POLICY.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WE TRUST AND I GET WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, SO I WANT BUY SOME SPARK PLUGS FOR $9 FOR ONE OF THE VEHICLES.
BEFORE I DO THAT, NOW I'VE GOT TO GO FIND SOMEONE AND GET APPROVAL TO BUY THE SPARK PLUGS FOR THE CAR THAT I'M FIXING.
THIS THING TRICKLES DOWN TO A LOT OF REALLY NONSENSE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY DETAILED CREDIT CARD POLICY, WE AUDIT.
WE AUDIT NOW, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING YEARS AGO.
YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE CREDIT CARDS AND THE PURCHASING.
BY ADDING THIS LANGUAGE, I THINK IN MY OPINION, YOU'RE DIMINISHING THE ROLE OF OUR TEAM.
THEY NEED TO BE TRUSTED TO DO THEIR JOBS AND IF SOMETHING'S OVER $1,000, IF THEY'RE ABUSING IT, THEY'RE GOING TO GET TERMINATED.
YOU'RE CAUSING PEOPLE FOR THE MOST MUNDANE PURCHASES TO GO GET SOMEONE'S APPROVAL BEFORE THEY DO IT AND IT MAY NOT EVEN BE IN THE SAME BUILDING, AND I'VE GOT TO EITHER TRACK THAT PERSON DOWN OR SEND AN EMAIL, WAIT FOR THEM.
I FULLY RESPECT WHERE YOU'RE GOING, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, BUT I WANT YOU TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE DILUTING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
OUR TEAM CAN BE TRUSTED TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE UNDER $10,000, LET ALONE $1,000 AND I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED THIS LEVEL OF AFFIRM FROM THE DIRECTORS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND BUY SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER $1,000, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET AUDITED AND IF YOU'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE AND HAVE DONE SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE, IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT'S BEEN TESTED HERE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
I WOULD CAUTION YOU NOT TO WATER DOWN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, WE CAN GO BACK TO JUST DOING THE PPO BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE SAME THING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>>TRUSTEE WISINSKI, DID I SEE YOU?
>> I HAVE A SEPARATE QUESTION.
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT, LET'S DEAL WITH THIS.
>> TO THE MANAGER'S POINT, IF WE'VE GOT A ROBUST CREDIT CARD POLICY THAT WE HAVE A STRICTER CODE OF CONDUCT PERHAPS THAN WE WOULD WITH, I'M WONDERING, PERHAPS IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL TO BIFURCATE THIS SO THAT WE ALLOW FOR THOSE SMALLER PURCHASES ON THE P CARDS SINCE THOSE ARE MORE EASILY TRACKED AND COME WITH SIMPLE STRINGENT PROCESS, I DON'T KNOW.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MANAGER IS SUGGESTING HERE AND THE POINT IS WELL-TAKEN.
I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT.
>> I THINK TRUSTEE WILSON HARIANA FIRST.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST?
>> I'D BE GLAD TO. WE GOT TO REMEMBER GETTING BACK TO OUR BOARD RETREAT, THAT WE ARE A POLICY GOVERNANCE BOARD.
[01:30:02]
WE JUDGE THE MANAGER, AND RESULTS, THE ACTUAL MECHANICS OF GETTING THAT DONE WE TRUST THE MANAGER AND THE M TEAM DO THAT.I'M RELUCTANT TO GET TOO EVOLVE AND CRAFTING SPECIFIC POLICIES BECAUSE OUR LANGUAGE FOR PROCEDURES LIKE THIS, WE SET THE POLICY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS AND ALL TRANSACTIONS ARE TRACKED AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
WE LEAVE IT TO THE MANAGER AND THE M TEAM WILL DO THE REST OF IT.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE STEPPING OVER THAT LINE TO SAY, WELL, HERE'S EXACTLY HOW YOU SHOULD DO IT.
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHY WE HIRED A MANAGER TO TELL HIM HOW EXACTLY TO DO IT, BUT RATHER WE SET THE POLICY AND WE JUDGE IT BASED ON HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.
>> YES. FOR THE SAME REASON I HAD NOT MADE A COMMENT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GETTING TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS.
I THINK THAT A SUPERVISOR COULD SAY TO A TRUSTED EMPLOYEE, YOU HAVE BLANKET PERMISSION TO PURCHASE THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND THEN EMPLOY ACTS ON THAT BLANKET PERMISSION.
WHEREAS I THINK IT WOULD PUT THIS CLAUSE IN, IT'S GOING TO IMPLY THAT EACH TRANSACTION HAS TO BE APPROVED.
I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I WOULD CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE WILSON AND TREASURER DESCHAINE, IT IS THE JOB OF THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER TO MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
THESE LITTLE INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTIONS ARE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS THAT HE WORKS WITH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO OVERSEE THESE PURCHASES.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE THIS IS WHAT I SAID THE LAST TIME AT THE LAST MEETING OF EVERY TIME ZACH OR MASTER NEEDS TO MAKE A PURCHASE TO FOUR ELECTIONS TO OPERATE ELECTIONS THAT EVERY LITTLE THING HE NEEDS TO OPERATE ELECTIONS, HE'S GOT ASK ME TO DO IT.
WHEN THE BOARD'S ALREADY APPROVED X AMOUNT FOR ELECTIONS OR WE HAVE TO DO IT ACCORDING TO STATE LAW ANYWAY, SO WE HAVE TO GET UP AND A STATE LAW CHANGES, WE HAVE TO PURCHASE THAT ANYWAYS.
FOR THOSE REASONS I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT EITHER.
>> I WILL SPEAK TO THIS POINT.
I DO ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT MANAGER WALSH JUST SAY.
I DEPOSE, BUT I AGREE THAT IT CAN BE VERY MINOR PURCHASES AND IT CAN BE VERY CUMBERSOME.
GIVEN THAT THERE IS AN AUDIT SCHEDULE, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH DRAWING MY SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
AT THIS TIME I'LL WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR ROLE IN THIS PROCESS.
THIS POLICY WAS BROUGHT BEFORE US FOR REVIEW, FOR APPROVAL, AND FOR COMMENTS.
IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL THAT THEY NEEDED BOARD APPROVAL OF THIS POLICY, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT IT TO US.
I STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE PROACTIVE MECHANISM AHEAD OF PURCHASE.
PERHAPS IT'S NOT AS INELEGANT AS MY ORIGINAL MOTION WAS.
PERHAPS THERE'S SOME MORE NUANCED WAY TO APPROACH IT.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL AS ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE JUDGED IF THE TOWNSHIP DOLLARS ARE NOT SPENT APPROPRIATELY.
I FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THAT SIGNIFICANTLY AS I'M SURE EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE AND MANAGER WALSH DOES.
WE'RE ALL STRIVING FOR THE SAME GOAL HERE, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE TOWNSHIP TAX DOLLARS.
I BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT CREATING SUCH AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD, I BELIEVE THERE IS A PATH SOMEHOW TO A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THAT OVERSIGHT SO THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING OUT ABOUT IT A QUARTER LATER WHEN AN AUDIT TAKES PLACE.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT IN THAT TIMEFRAME BEFORE IT'S CAUGHT. IT WOULD GET CAUGHT.
TO MANAGER WALSH'S POINT, THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD BE TERMINATED.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
[01:35:02]
BUT IF A PRIOR APPROVAL PROCESS OF SOME KIND COULD CATCH THAT BEFORE IT HAPPENS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE TIME WELL SPENT.BUT I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A $3 SPARK PLUG OR WHATEVER IT COST TO PURCHASE IS A BIT OF A STEP TOO FAR.
I'LL WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT TO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE POLICY AS A WHOLE WITHOUT SOME PROACTIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTED AGAINST THAT BAD BEHAVIOR.
THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT I DO NOT TRUST OUR TEAM, MANAGER WALSH TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEM.
IS THE COMMON SENSE PROTECTION THAT I WOULD PUT IN PLACE AT ANY ORGANIZATION THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED WITH THAT FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP OF.
I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION AND THE MANAGER'S COMMENTS, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS THAT YOU WITHDRAWN THE MOTION?
>> WITHDRAWING MY AMENDMENTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION?
>> OTHER COMMENTS? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> I'M IN BETWEEN CAN I ASK YOU? TO DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] I WAS, I HAD THIS HERE, WONDERING, IT SEEMS FOR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, YOU HAD INDICATED WILL FOLLOW THE IRS'S REIMBURSEMENT SCHEDULE.
FOR MORE REIMBURSEMENTS, AND WE SOMEWHAT HAD A CONVERSATION LAST TIME, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
>> WE'LL HOLD THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WHEN WE USE SUPERVISOR, THAT I THINK SOMEONE SUGGESTED LOWERCASE, WHAT WE ACTUALLY MEAN IS THE EMPLOYEE'S IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR.
>> I THINK THAT MIGHT BE MORE CLEAR AND APPROPRIATE.
IN ALL CASES, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE PERSON THAT IS BEING REFERRED TO AS OPPOSED TO THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR.
>> YES, THAT WAS THE INTENTION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, SOMEWHERE.
ARE YOU READY TO ADJUST THE MOTION?
>> FOCUS FOR ME THE MOTION I SUPPORTED IT.
>> WE CAN DO THIS BY VOICE VOTE.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE POLICY AS PRESENTED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.
[12.C. Travel Policy Update]
WHICH IS THE TRAVEL POLICY UPDATE, AND [LAUGHTER] DIRECTOR GARBER WILL ALSO PRESENT THIS TO US.>> THANK YOU. AS TALKED ABOUT LAST BOARD MEETING, THIS IS TO UPDATE OUR TRAVEL AND EXPENSE POLICY.
THE MAIN REASON WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS WAS BECAUSE WE REALIZED OUR MEAL REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNTS WERE IN LINE WITH OUR PRACTICE AND THEN WE ALSO UPDATE A FEW OTHER ITEMS LIMITING CASH ADVANCES FOR TRAVEL PASSES.
A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION AROUND THE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES, CLARIFICATION OF THE RECEIPT DOCUMENTATION TO BE PROVIDED TO THE TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING MAPS OF TRAVEL ROUTES AND DOCUMENTATION FOR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT AND THEN THE ELIMINATION OF PETTY CASH REIMBURSEMENT.
I ALSO DID TAKE THE SUGGESTION OF LOOKING AT THE IRS OR THE GSA RATES FOR THE MEAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT CORRECTLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE BUYING MEALS, WHICH WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE CUMBERSOME FOR THE ADMIN STAFF THAT ARE PUTTING THESE
[01:40:04]
TOGETHER AND THE FINANCE STAFF FOR REVIEWING SO WE LEFT THOSE REIMBURSEMENT RATES THE SAME AS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW IT.HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WE NEED A MOTION TO DISCUSS TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE UPDATED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TRAVEL AND EXPENSE POLICY.
>> SUPPORT. TRUSTEE WILSON, YOU HAVE COMMENTS?
>> I DO. I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF STREAMLINING THINGS AND GETTING RID OF THINGS LIKE PETTY CASH SO I THINK THAT WHAT YOU SPEND TIME ON IS VERY THOUGHTFUL AND YOU PROVIDE A STRUCTURE THAT'S VERY CLEAR ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR MILEAGE, REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEALS, REIMBURSEMENT FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL, AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR GARBER. YOU MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT MY QUESTION IS, WITHIN OUR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, IT APPEARS THAT THE POLICY SAYS WELL, WE'LL JUST USE THE IRS AS REIMBURSABLE RATE?
>> I'M WONDERING WHY WE WOULDN'T DO SIMILAR FOR MEAL REIMBURSEMENTS AND I SAY THAT SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE UPDATED GIVEN THAT IT HAS FLUCTUATED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT COULD YOU EXPAND, PLEASE?
>> YEAH SO I LOOKED INTO IT AND THEY UPDATE THOSE RATES EVERY YEAR JUST LIKE THE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENTS, BUT IT'S BASED ON LOCATION.
LIKE THE LANSING AREA HAS THEIR OWN REIMBURSEMENT RATES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM FLINT AND IT'S USUALLY BASED ON LIKE LARGER METROPOLITAN AREAS SO IF SOMEBODY FALLS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THE TWO, WELL, WHICH ONE DO WE PICK? IT'S THAT THOUGHT?
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IT'S CUMBERSOME FOR STAFF BECAUSE THEY'D HAVE TO FIND WHAT THOSE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR THOSE METROPOLITAN AREAS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IF SOMEBODY WHO WASN'T IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, BUT THEY WERE IN-BETWEEN TWO WHICH ONE DO YOU GO WITH?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
ALSO AT THE LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT IS THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE CURRENTLY IS $59.
IF YOU DID A PER DIEM FOR THE DAY, WHEREAS THE MAXIMUM IN YOUR POLICIES IS 51 SO IF YOU WERE TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE EVERY YEAR LIKE YOU DO THE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, CITIES IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE YES, DETROIT IS $72 RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S MANY OTHER PLACES THAT ARE $62 OR $54, BUT THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE IS $59.
IF THE TOWNSHIP STOPPED WITH THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE OF $59 PER MEAL AND REIMBURSEMENT PER DIEM FOR THE DAY.
THERE'S A LOT LESS TIME THAT STAFF HAS TO SPEND.
OH I SPENT $10 FOR THIS BREAKFAST, $22 TO THIS DINER LOVE.
IT'S A LOT OF TIME TO HAVE TO GO INTO THOSE INDIVIDUAL THINGS WHEN YOU CAN JUST SAY, WE HAD $59 SMASHING THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE RATHER THAN 51 AND THEN EVERY YEAR, WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE IS, YOU JUST PUT OUT THE EMAIL TO EMPLOYEES LIKE YOU CURRENTLY DO FOR MILEAGE AND SAY THIS YEAR IS FEDERAL MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT IS 65.5 CENTS PER MILE.
THIS YEARS MEAL REIMBURSEMENT IS $59 PER DIEM AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT IT'S THE MEALS ARE PROVIDED BY THE CONFERENCE AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT AMOUNT.
THAT WAS MY SUGGESTION THAT THE LAST MEETING REGARDING PER DIEM RATES BASED OFF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS ARE.
THEN THE OTHER COMMENT I HAD IN REGARDS TO THIS POLICY AT THE LAST MEETING WAS THAT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHOULD BE SIGNING OFF ON THESE TRAVEL EXPENSES, NOT THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR.
I HAD REQUESTED THAT THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR NOT BE ON THERE AS THE PERSON WHO DOES THE REIMBURSEMENT.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT MEAL RATE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 1, PAGE 80 OF THE PACKET, IT SAYS THAT THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR APPROVES IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR MY EXPERIENCE HAS AN APPROVED AND MAYBE THIS IS A SUPER OLD POLICY AND IT REFERRED TO LIKE DEPARTMENT'S SUPERVISORS OR SOMETHING,
[01:45:02]
BUT TO SUPERVISORS JACKSON'S POINT AND THE OTHER ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED, IT SAID TALKING ABOUT IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR OR THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT'S APPROVING THESE TRAVEL EXPENSES, MEAL REIMBURSEMENT SO I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED SO WE'RE NOT THINKING IT'S THE ELECTED TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR, WHO'S ACTUALLY APPROVING ALL OF THIS STUFF BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.THOSE ARE MY TWO ITEMS ON THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
>> WHAT I'M READING IS MILEAGE TRAVEL TO TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS IS FOR THE SUPERVISOR. I'M SORRY.
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS SHALL APPROVE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHALL REIMBURSE EXPENSES OF THE SUPERVISOR AND THE EMPLOYEES.
>> IT SAYS THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS SHALL APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
ONE HAS THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR EVER APPROVED REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS?
>> HE NEVER REIMBURSED [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> THE LAST MEETING AND THE ANSWER WAS NEVER.
>> IT WAS MY SUGGESTION BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER WORKS FOR US AND WE ALL REPORT THE SUPERVISOR SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME STRUCTURE IN PLACE THAT DOESN'T HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE APPROVING OUR EXPENSES.
YOU SEE THE INHERENT CONFLICT OF INTERESTS FOR THE MANAGER SO THIS WAY.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
>> WELL, WE'RE CLARIFYING THE POLICY NOW TO MAKE IT MORE IN LINE WITH HOW WE ARE OPERATING.
THE SUPERVISOR IS IN CHARGE OF THE BOARD AND THEREFORE, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TRAVEL RELATED EXPENSES, THEY SHOULD BE RUN BY THE SUPERVISOR BEFORE THEY'RE APPROVED RATHER THAN A MANAGER.
>> MR. WALLACE, YOU WOULD LIKE TO [LAUGHTER] SPEAK ON THIS QUESTION?
>> THERE'S TWO ISSUES HERE THAT I WANT TO JUST BRING OUT ONE I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
I CAN SHARE WITH YOU REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.
HERE'S THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT.
I'VE LIVED THIS SO IF YOU HAVE A SUPERVISOR WHO ENJOYS A LOT OF TRAVEL, AND I WON'T GO ANY FURTHER THAN THAT BUT A REAL ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS WHOLE THING.
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, I TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE A BOARD MEMBER OR SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK ALL EXPENSES SHOULD GO THROUGH ME BECAUSE I'M THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BUDGET WITH, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GO TO THE SUPERVISOR AND SHE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET SHE HAS TO TAKE ALL THAT TIME TO GO SEE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ME, HEY, DOES IT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS PERSON TO DO THIS OR THAT AND I THINK YOU'RE PUTTING PLUS YOU'RE PUTTING THE SUPERVISOR THEN IN A VERY DIFFICULT ROLE.
I THINK ALL EXPENSES FOR TRAVEL SHOULD COME THROUGH ME.
I'M MORE COMFORTABLE THAT WAY.
THE SECOND PART ABOUT THIS, THE PER DIEM THING.
THIS IS A REAL-LIFE STORY THAT I'VE SEEN HAPPEN IS SOMEWHAT TERMINATED OVER THIS.
GETTING BACK TO THE TERMINATION THING SO HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOU HAVE A PER DIEM OF WHATEVER IT IS, BUT YOU GO TO THE CONFERENCE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THE CONFERENCES, THEY PROVIDE MEALS.
YOU GET $59 A DAY OR WHATEVER IT IS OR $72.
BUT THE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ARE PROVIDED AT THE CONFERENCE.
THAT MEANS TO THIS EMPLOYEE WHERE THIS HAPPENED, HE WENT OUT AND HAD $70 STEAK DINNER, WHILE THE CITY RESIDENTS THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY ABSURD, THAT SOMEBODY COULD GO OUT ON A TAXPAYER DIEM HAD $70 DINNER, BUT IT FIT WITHIN THE PER DIEM PER DAY.
WELL, NOT REALLY BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE COSTS, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING POINT AND SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK CLARK GUTHRIE, IT'S A GOOD ISSUE TO RAISE.
BUT I'VE SEEN THE PER DIEM THING CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES IN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CONFERENCES, BECAUSE A LOT OF YOUR MEALS ARE ALREADY THERE, SO NOW YOU HAVE THAT AMOUNT FOR THE ONE MEAL.
WHATEVER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU SAID.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH A THREE MEALS AND IT'S A MUCH BETTER PROCESS AND I THINK ALL EXPENSES SHOULD GO THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE OR LESS THE SUPERVISOR WANTS TO TAKE THAT ON.
BUT THE FIRST THING I THINK SUPERVISOR JACKSON WOULD DO IF SHE GETS A PHONE FROM SOMEBODY IS I THINK YOU'D WALK OUT OF MY OFFICE AND SAY, HEY, IS THERE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS? IT'S JUST ANOTHER STEP AND I WOULD EITHER SAY YES OR NO BASED ON THE BUDGET SO THOSE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM JUST SOME REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES PER DIEMS CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM.
THEY CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES WITHIN A COMMUNITY IF SOMEBODY ABUSES IT, BUT DOESN'T REALLY ABUSE IT BECAUSE IT FITS WITHIN THE PER DIEM PER DAY. THANK YOU.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR CLARIFICATION.
WHEN YOU SAID THE GSA RATES ARE BASED ON CITY,
[01:50:01]
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES OR ADMINISTRATION, CORRECT? THAT'S FEDERAL RATES?>> THAT'S WHERE THE FEDERAL RATE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON DIFFERENT CITIES IN DIFFERENT REIMBURSEMENTS.
THE NUMBERS THAT YOU DID USE, DO THEY MIMIC STATE RATES?
>> WHERE DID THOSE NUMBERS COME FROM? [LAUGHTER]
>> CORRECT. THE $16 AND THE 22, THEY'RE UP UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND CLERK, YOU ALL KNOW THIS.
UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO I THINK IT WAS FIVE DOLLARS FOR BREAKFAST AND NINE DOLLARS FOR LUNCH, AND WE JUST INCREASED THOSE AMOUNTS IN THE LAST 12-15 MONTHS.
THEY WERE JUST INCREASED WHETHER THE RED, THE WHITE LEVEL OR NOT, THAT'S UP FOR YOU TO DECIDE.
BUT YEAH, WE JUST HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THEM IN THE LAST YEAR.
>> WHAT WAS THE BASIS OF THE INCREASE?
>> THE BASIS FOR IT, WAS JUST TRYING TO BRING IN AND I LOOKED AT WHAT SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES WERE DOING IN THE STATE AND JUST AVERAGED IT OUT.
I THINK WE BROUGHT IT UP FROM 5-9 FOR BREAKFAST, 12-16 FOR LUNCH.
IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD INCREASE.
>> SUPERVISOR, ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> THEN IN THE BODY OF THE POLICY ITSELF, UNDER OFFICIAL'S BUSINESS, WE ARE MISSTATING HERE IF WE DO NOT TAKE OUT THE SEGMENT THAT TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR SHALL APPROVE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
DO WE MEAN TO SAY THAT OR DO WE MEAN TO SAY THAT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER WILL REVIEW ALL EXPENDITURES BASED ON THE BUDGET?
>> ULTIMATELY, THAT'S UP TO THE BOARD.
I CAN'T CHANGE THAT WHEN I'M HERE.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST WE MAKE THAT CHANGE.
>> WAIT A MINUTE. I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT WITH A MOTION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSION, MR. SHANE.
>> I TOO I'M A LITTLE BIT SUSPICIOUS OF PER DIEMS. I'VE WORKED IN SALES FOR MANY YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN SALES PEOPLE TERMINATED FOR ABUSE OF PER DIEMS. AT THE SAME TIME WE DO NEED TO KEEP THESE AMOUNTS CURRENT.
IF WE ADOPT THESE AMOUNTS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE MANAGER TO BRING THESE BACK TO US AT THE START OF EACH YEAR TO LOOK UP WHAT THE NEXT YEAR LOOKING, THIS TIME WE'RE STILL RUNNING 78% INFLATION.
A YEAR FROM NOW THESE NUMBERS MIGHT BE OUT OF DATE.
BUT PER DIEM I THINK WILL NOT LIKELY BE USED, AND CERTAINLY BY ANY OF THIS TABLE BECAUSE WE'RE LIKELY TO BE AT CONFERENCES WHERE THERE ARE SOME MEALS PAID FOR AND THE MEALS THAT AREN'T WE WOULD PAY THOSE INDIVIDUALLY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THESE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER ADDS UP TO THIS DAILY MAXIMUM OF $51.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE AN INCREASE IN THESE SO THAT THE DAILY MAXIMUM IS REFLECTIVE OF THE FEDERAL AMOUNT RATHER THAN $51.
THE FEDERAL AMOUNT IS $59, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT FROM MY RECENT CONFERENCE IN MOUNT PLEASANT THAT I HAD A SIMPLE SALAD FOR LUNCH, IT WAS $13 OR $14 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS, INCLUDING GRATUITIES, MAXIMUM OF $16.
YOU CANNOT TIP SOMEBODY WITH GRATUITIES FOR A SIMPLE SALAD AT [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S NOT JUST ME, THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF EVERYONE WHO GOES TO A CONFERENCE.
I THINK THAT'S TO THE MANAGER'S POINT OF WHY THESE WERE INCREASED IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EAT.
EVEN TO NARROW THE OTHER DAY, I GOT SOUP SALAD AND IT WAS $13 FOR SOUP SALAD.
>> IF YOUR POINT [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS WHY THIS IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
IF YOU WANT TO ADJUST THOSE DOLLARS REAL QUICKLY TO TOTAL 59, THAT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING.
IF THAT'S WHAT MAKES SENSE TO THE BOARD.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MAXIMUM REFLECTIVE OF THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE OF $59 RATHER THAN $51.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE STAFF PAYING FOR THEIR MEALS OUT OF THEIR POCKETS AND GRATUITIES OUT OF THEIR POCKETS.
>> THAT CHANGE WILL REQUIRE A MOTION AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION AS WELL.
[01:55:01]
MR. HENDRICKSON.>> I THINK ALSO IT'D BE HELPFUL IF THE CLERK HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR WHICH NUMBERS TO INCREASE INDIVIDUALLY TO GET UP TO THAT MAXIMUM.
THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR OUR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE TO WORKING THAT OUT, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT HOW PER DIEMS ARE USED.
IF YOU'RE GIVEN A PER DIEM, AND I'VE NEVER WORKED UNDER THOSE KINDS OF CONDITIONS, SO IF YOU'RE GIVEN A PER DIEM AND WHAT WAS IT, $51, DO YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND JUSTIFY THAT WITH RECEIPTS AND REPORTS?
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
>> THERE'S TWO WAYS THEY WORK.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE UP IN TRAVERSE CITY THREE DAYS, AND REIMBURSABLE OR THE SHEET THAT YOU SUBMIT TO THE MANAGER, [INAUDIBLE] YOU ARE IN, YOU PUT IN 59, 59, AND 59.
THEN $77 IS JUST PROVIDED TO YOU.
YOU GET THAT USER IS YOUR PER DIEM.
THE OTHER WAY IT'S DONE IS THAT YOU COME BACK AND IT'S LAID OUT, YOU GET $18 FOR BREAKFAST, $26 FOR LUNCH, AND $30 FOR DINNER OR WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE THE TOP OF 59, YOU COME BACK AND YOU CAN PROVIDE RECEIPTS.
BUT IN THAT CASE, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE BREAKFAST OR LUNCH, YOU CAN HAVE $59 DINNER AND SUBMIT THAT, AND BECAUSE IT'S UNDER THE PER DIEM PER DAY.
THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS IT'S DONE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU GET INTO TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY HAD MORE THAN A VALUE OF $59 FOR THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY HAD A BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROVIDED BY THE CONFERENCE WHICH ULTIMATELY THE COMMITTEE HAS PAID FOR.
>> THEN YOU GET THE 59, 59, AND 59 AHEAD OF TIME, AND THEY ARE GIVEN THAT AS A PER DIEM BUT MOST OF THEIR MEALS ARE PAID FOR.
VERY DICEY. WE'RE GIVING THEM FUNDS TO USE FOR MEALS THAT ARE BEING PAID FOR ALREADY BY THE TOWNSHIP.
THAT'S WHY TO THE CLERK'S POINT, IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF YOU THINK THE NUMBERS 59 ARE JUST THOSE THREE NUMBERS, MAKE THEM 59 AND MOVE ON.
IT'S PART OF THE BEST WAY TO GO TO PROTECT THE TOWNSHIP'S INTEREST.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
TO TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON'S POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BREAKFAST INCREASED BY TWO DOLLARS, LUNCH INCREASED BY THREE DOLLARS, AND DINNER INCREASED BY THREE DOLLARS.
THAT WOULD EQUAL $59 WHICH IS THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE.
>> BUT THAT ALSO ACCOMPLISHES TWO ACTIONS.
THE FIRST ACTION IS ADOPTING THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MAXIMUM, AND THEN ADJUSTING THE INDIVIDUAL.
>> IT WOULD READ $15 FOR BREAKFAST, $19 FOR LAUNCH, $25 FOR DINNER WITH A DAILY MAXIMUM OF $59.
IT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO WHAT WE SEE RIGHT HERE.
IT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION FOR THE AMOUNT OF REAL MEAL REIMBURSEMENT.
>> THAT'S YOU MOTION? SAY IT AGAIN.
>> IT WOULD BE INCREASE OF $15 FOR BREAKFAST, $19 FOR LUNCH, $25 FOR DINNER WITH THE DAILY MAXIMUM OF $59.
>> TWENTY FIVE, FOR MAXIMUM OF?
>> JUSTINE WILSON, WHERE DID THE $59 COME FROM?
>> BECAUSE THE GSA GUIDELINES ARE BASED ON THE LOCATION, YOU HAVE TO LOOK IT UP EACH TIME.
THE US DEPARTMENT LABOR ALLOWS $59, BUT THAT IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING INTO THE H-2A EMPLOYERS.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE BASE WHERE THAT $59 IS COMING FROM.
I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME RESOURCE THAT WE GO TO BECAUSE GSA DOES VARY, AMANDA IS RIGHT.
THAT'S THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, WHICH I WOULD ASSUME WE WOULD GO BY.
[02:00:02]
>> THE POINT IS THAT THE MOTION HAS TO [NOISE] GO INTO THE MAX AND WHERE THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO COME FROM?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SOME BASIS FOR MAKING IT TO THE MAX WHATEVER THAT MAX IS OR WHATEVER THE RATE IS, BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THESE GOVERNMENTAL UNITS HAVE DIFFERENT RATES.
>> A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE GUIDELINES IS $59 PER DIEM.
>> BUT WE CAN HAVE AMANDA, DIRECTOR GERBER, YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT, AND TOWNSHIP MANAGER WALSH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND COME BACK WITH THIS IF WE'D LIKE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> I CAN MAYBE HELP WITH THAT.
>> I JUST DID A QUICK SEARCH OF THE GSAS PER DIEM AND MEALS AND INCIDENTALS.
FOR THE EAST LANSING LANSING REGION LOCATION, THEY HAVE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST OR BREAKFAST AT $14, LUNCH AT $16, AND DINNER AT $29, WHICH TOTALS CONVENIENTLY $59.
>> THAT'S THE SAME WHERE YOU'RE TRAVELING FROM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SIDE YOU'RE GOING TO.
>> I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT THAT MAY BE WHERE THAT NUMBER IS GENERATED AND THAT NUMBER, BY THE WAY, IS TRUE WITHIN A DOLLAR OR TWO FOR MOST OF MICHIGAN, IT APPEARS.
MACKINAW IS MORE EXPENSIVE [LAUGHTER].
>> BUT 59 APPEARS TO BE RELATIVELY CONSISTENT.
THAT'S DETROIT, LANSING, GRAND RAPIDS, KALAMAZOO, MUSKEGON, PETOSKEY, THOSE ARE THE RATES,14, 16, AND 29 FOR ALL OF THOSE LOCATIONS.
[NOISE] MACKINAW LOOKS A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE.
>> IN THE FACE OF THE MOTION BEFORE US, WE ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING SEVERAL AMENDMENTS, AND WE'LL NEED TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE MOTIONS TO AFFECT EACH ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS? YES, MS.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT TO $14 FOR BREAKFAST, $16 FOR LAUNCH, AND $29 FOR DINNER WITH THE DAILY MAXIMUM OF $51 BASED OFF OF THE AVERAGE GSA ACROSS THE STATE.
>> FIFTY NINE DOLLARS, SORRY. [LAUGHTER]
>> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT LOOKING AT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE GENERAL MICHIGAN PER DIEM, IS $59.
>> MICHIGAN WAS $14 FOR BREAKFAST?
MIKE, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US TO CHANGE THE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT TO TOTAL $59 FIRST WITH PER MEAL ADJUSTMENTS OF 14 FOR BREAKFAST, 16 FOR LUNCH, AND $29 FOR DINNER.
>> THAT WOULD BE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOUR MOTION DOESN'T INCLUDE THE WORD PER DIEM.
YOU'RE JUST LISTED A TOTAL FOR THE DAY, CORRECT?
>> NOW YOU'RE REDUCING PER DIEMS?
>> YOU DIDN'T, YOU JUST CLARIFYING THE MOTION.
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE?
>> I'M SORRY, MADAM SUPERVISOR, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE QUANDARY OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND WHO IS APPROVING.
>> WE CAN MAKE A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THAT.
>> THAT'S THE SECOND AMENDMENT
[02:05:01]
>> DO YOU NEED A ROLL CALL FOR THIS?
>> THE NEXT CHANGE, TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> THE NEXT CHANGE WOULD BE IN THE BODY OF THE TRAVEL AND EXPENSE POLICY UNDER OFFICIALS BUSINESS.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD SUGGESTS THAT WE REMOVE THE STATEMENT IS THIRD SENTENCE, "THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR SHALL APPROVE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS." THEN WE WOULD ADD TO THE LAST STATEMENT, "THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND OR FINANCE DIRECTOR SHALL APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES OF TOWNSHIP BOARD, TOWNSHIP COMMISSION, AND TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES.
>> TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, SUPPORTS.
TRUSTEE WILSON, FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> I AGREE. I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT CHANGE TO MAKE.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I THINK WE COULD CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT BY JUST SAYING THAT TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHALL APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION AND STAFF AND STRIKE THE LAST TWO SENTENCES.
BUT I'M ALSO GOOD WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WILSON SAID TOO.
>> I BELIEVE WE WERE TAKING ALL THE TOWNSHIPS AROUND?
>> I THINK THAT'S FINE, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO LEAD THE SECOND TO THE LAST STATEMENT.
THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHALL APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES OF THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR OR ARE YOU SAYING THE ENTIRE BOARD'S EXPENSES WOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE MANAGER?
>> I'M SAYING THAT IT COULD SAY THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER SHALL APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES.
>> TO NOT LEAVE OUT, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, COULD JUST SAY UNDER FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THEN YOU COMBINE THOSE THREE SENTENCES INTO ONE.
>> THERE IS A BIG HAILSTORM COMING IN FROM PORTLAND.
YOU GUYS MIGHT WANT TO MOVE YOUR CARS.
WE WILL SUSPEND OUR ACTIONS FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE MR. WALSH HAS INFORMED ME THERE IS A BIG HAILSTORM COMING FROM PORTLAND, IT'S GOING TO BE HERE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND HE SUGGESTS WE MIGHT WANT TO MOVE OUR VEHICLES TO THE CARPORT.
>> THEN I THINK I NEED A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR MEETING FOR 20 MINUTES.
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION?
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE BACK TO ITEM 12C, FOR THE TRAVEL POLICY UPDATE.
I DON'T THINK A MOTION HAD REACHED THE FLOOR YET.
HAD THE MOTION REACHED THE FLOOR?
>> THE MOTION, I BELIEVE, HAD REACHED THE FLOOR AND THEN WE WERE DOING SOME CHANGES [OVERLAPPING]
>> WOULD YOU REMIND US OF THE MOTION AGAIN?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TRAVEL AND EXPENSE POLICY OF THE MOTION.
WE HAD A MOTION FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT RELATED TO WHO APPROVES REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES.
I THOUGHT YOU OFFERED THAT AMENDMENT.
>> I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT THAT WE DROP IT UNDER OFFICIALS BUSINESS.
WE DROP THE FOURTH SENTENCE, WHICH MAKES THE FIFTH AND LAST STATEMENT, ''THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR SHALL
[02:10:04]
APPROVE THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES OF TOWNSHIP BOARD, COMMISSIONS, AND EMPLOYEES.''>> SUPPORT THAT MOTION IF IT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SUPPORTED.
>> IT WAS SUPPORTED I'M SORRY BY WHOM?
>> TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HENDRICKSON. TRUSTEE WILSON WAS COMMENTING ON PRISON?
>> BECAUSE YOU ALSO CHANGED THE MOTION, BUT THAT'S OKAY. [LAUGHTER] TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> YEAH. I THINK THIS MAKE SENSE TO PUT THE MANAGER IN CHARGE OF ALL TOWNSHIP BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO HIS CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TOWNSHIP STAFF.
>> I THINK ONE PLACE TO HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION FLOWING IS A GOOD THING.
>> OKAY. OTHER COMMENTS? [NOISE] THIS TOO PROBABLY SHOULD REQUIRE A ROLL-CALL VOTE, MR. RAMASTER.
>> WAS THERE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED YET? THE SUPERVISOR TO IMMEDIATE EMPLOYEE'S, IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR AS A SECRETARIAL CHANGE.
ANYTHING ELSE? THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION WHICH WAS TO APPROVE THE POLICY UPDATE, I BELIEVE. I CAN'T FIND IT.
>> YES. THAT MOTION WAS MADE BY THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
>> CLARK GUTHRIE AND TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> CLARK GUTHRIE AND TREASURER DESCHAINE.
WILL HAVE A ROLL-CALL VOTE FOR THIS AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. ARE WE FINISHED WITH THAT? [LAUGHTER]
ITEM 12D, IS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT
[12.D. Resolution in Support of the Meridian Cares About You: Health and Safety Expo]
OF THE MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO.COULD WE ASK TRUSTEE WILSON TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR THAT RESOLUTION?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND SUPPORTED THE MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THIS CONCEPT OF HAVING A HEALTH AND SAFETY EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY AROSE FROM ALL OF THE VIOLENT EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BOTH IN THIS TOWNSHIP AND ALSO AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
WE'VE HAD A TRAGIC FATAL FIRE.
WE HAD A SUICIDE ON THE GROUNDS OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE HAD A HOAX SHOOTING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN WE HAD THE MSU SHOOTINGS.
TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON AND I STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS AND TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON WAS COMING FROM AN APPROACH OF WE NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT GUN SAFETY, INCLUDING AWARENESS OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, BUT GUN LOCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN I GOT A CALL FROM KATIE CAVANAUGH, WHO WAS ONE OF MY FRIENDS ON OKEMOS SCHOOL BOARD AND SHE SAID, WE AT OKEMOS SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HAVING SOME AN EVENT.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN JOINING US FOR SOMETHING? THAT'S HOW THIS WHOLE THING DEVELOPED.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF HAZEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ARE CO-HOSTING A ONE-NIGHT EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH.
[02:15:06]
IT WILL BE 5-8 PM AT THE MARKETPLACE.WE HAVE ASKED GROUPS TO JOIN US THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE WORKED WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT SAFETY, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, MENTAL HEALTH AND SO WE NOW HAVE ENGAGED 19 PARTNERS TO COME TO THIS EXPO AND HAVE A BOOTH AT THE EXPO TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR SERVICES THAT THEY COULD OFFER TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.
THE SCHOOLS WILL ADVERTISE THIS THROUGH THEIR CHANNELS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SAM ABOUT USING OUR CHANNELS TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE WANT TO REALLY HAVE A GOOD CROWD.
MANAGER WALSH SAID, WHY DON'T WE HAVE FREE FOOD? WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
WE'LL BE COOKING HOTDOGS AND VEGAN BURGERS OF SOME TYPE.
WE'LL HAVE MUSIC AND WE JUST CONFIRM SCHOOL OF ROCK IS GOING TO GET INVOLVED THIS AFTERNOON.
I SPOKE TO THEM THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING FORWARD PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EMERGENCY SERVICES.
WE'LL HAVE AN AMBULANCE HERE, THE FIRE TRUCK, THE LIGHTER TRUCK, POLICE CAR.
INGHAM COUNTY IS GOING TO BRING THEIR MOBILE HEALTH VAN.
I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN AND THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.
EVERYBODY WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN TALKING TO ONE OF THE SERVICES WILL HAVE SOME PRIVACY.
THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO SET THIS UP, WE'LL HAVE SOME PRIVACY FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO TALK TO MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS OR DOMESTIC ASSAULT EXPERTS, THAT THING.
I JUST THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TELL THE TOWNSHIP THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WE CARE ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
THAT'S WHAT THIS EVENT IS ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
ALL CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE TO TRUSTEE WILSON, CHIEF PLAGA AND NUMBER OF OTHER TOWNSHIP STAFF FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THIS ALL COME TOGETHER SO SMOOTHLY.
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEM.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT THAT THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE HAD ON EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW BETTER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL AS WELL.
THAT INCLUDES KEEPING YOUR HOME WITH SAFE WITH RESPECTIVE WEAPONS.
BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE HAVING FOLKS FROM RED CROSS AND THE GREATER LANSING FOOD BANK AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXCELLENT SERVICES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF OUR TOWNSHIP THAT MIGHT GET SOME WIDER VISIBILITY AND PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IS ALREADY OFFERED TO THEM.
I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EACH REACH OUT TO OUR PERSONAL NETWORKS, RESIDENTS THAT WE KNOW IN THE AREA, AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THIS EVENT.
I THINK THIS EVENT WILL BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE MAKE IT.
THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET OUT THERE, THE MORE BURGERS WE CAN HAVE CHIEF PLUG-IN FLIP, THE BETTER WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE OFF FOR IT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE OKEMOS SCHOOL BOARD, THE OKEMOS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE HAZLET SCHOOL BOARD AND THE HAZLET SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY TO PROMOTE THIS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN SO IMPACTED BY THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT THIS EVENT WILL BE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS THAT WE CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I THINK IT'S TIMELY NOW THAT WE TAKE THIS RESOLUTION UP, IT'S TIME WE NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS EVENT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AND HEAL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BEING REPORTING SUCCESS.
>> THE MOTION IS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT FOR THE MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> THOSE NO. CHAIR, MOTION PASSES.
[02:20:05]
ITEM 12E, CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY REAPPOINTING.[12.E. Corridor Improvement Authority Reappointment]
IN THIS INSTANCE, I AM RECOMMENDING REAPPOINTMENT OF BARRY GETS TO THE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY FOR FOUR-YEAR TERM ENDING 12-31-2027.I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION. DID I? [LAUGHTER] I WILL NOTE FOR YOU INFORMATION THAT MR. GETS HAS SERVED ON THE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY IS APPOINTMENT TO HIS PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT.
I THINK IT EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND HE IS INTERESTED, PARTICULARLY IN REAPPOINTMENT.
ALL IN FAVOR UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER COMMENTS.
>> ANYONE ELSE? ALL IN FAVOR IN MOTION TO REAPPOINT BARRY GETS TO THE CIA, PLEASE SAY YES.
CHAIR VOTES YES AND THE MOTION PASSES.
ITEM 12F IS AN APPOINTMENT TO THE DDA.
[12.F. Downtown Development Authority Appointment]
I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE MAKE THE MOTION.>> I MOVE TO APPOINT DON ROMAIN TO A DOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR [INAUDIBLE] IN 12 31 2025.
>> THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SEAT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD BY SCOTT WEAVER AND DOUGLAS CHAVESTY IS VERY IMPORTANT ANCHOR TENANT IN THE DDA AND SO WE'LL CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE THEIR INPUT AND APPOINTING DON ROMAIN ON THAT MAKES SENSE TO MAKE WE GET DOUGLAS J'S PERSPECTIVE ON ANYTHING WE DO IN THE DDA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I'VE WORKED WITH DON ROMAIN IN THE PAST AND ON THE COMMITTEE FIRST, CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS AND CELEBRATE MERIDIAN AND SO HE'S BEEN A VOLUNTEER IN OUR COMMUNITY, HELPING US CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE AND OUR PAST AND OUR PRESENT AND SO I THINK HE'S GREAT ADDITION TO THE DDA.
>> THEN THE MOTION IS TO APPOINT DON ROMAIN TO THE DDA FOR A TERM ENDING 12, 31, 25.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THE CHAIR VOTES YES AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 12 G.
[12.G. Resolution in Support of the FY 2024 CPF Application for the Village of Okemos Workforce Housing Mixed-Use Development]
THE DISCUSSION WILL BE LED BY A DIRECTOR CLARK [LAUGHTER] AND THIS IS FOR A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CPF APPLICATION FOR THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS WORKFORCE HOUSING. MS. CLARK.>> GOOD EVENING. THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS FUND IS A FEDERAL FUND AND IN OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES SLOTKIN HAS THE ALLOCATION FOR OUR REGION.
OUR COMMUNITY SUBMITTED A ONE-PAGE REQUEST IN SUPPORT OF THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON MARCH 14TH, AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THE FULL APPLICATION FOR THE CPS WITH REPRESENTATIVE SLOTKIN AND OUR FULL APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
MARCH 29TH, IT'S THE LAST WEDNESDAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THEIR OFFICE.
THE PROJECT NAME AS SUBMITTED INITIALLY WAS VILLAGE OF OKEMOS MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT, WE INCLUDED THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS CONFIRMED THAT FROM YEARS 0- 5 103 OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WHO MEET 80- 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND FOR YEARS 6-10 25% SO 49 UNITS WILL REMAIN AT THOSE RENTAL RATES.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS A PART OF NECESSARILY AN AMENITY REQUIREMENT OR A VARIANCE REQUIREMENT SO WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND THE TOWNSHIP FOR THOSE RENTAL RATES.
HOWEVER, THE PROJECT WAS REQUESTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS AN ELEMENT.
SINCE THIS WAS A FORMALLY SUBMITTED PROJECT AND PROJECT NAME, THEY WERE REQUESTING THAT WE AMEND OUR PROJECT NAME TO SAY VILLAGE OF OKEMOS, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND INCLUDE THOSE METRICS. THAT IS IT FOR YOU TODAY.
>> MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
[02:25:01]
THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CPF APPLICATION FOR THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE MUSSORGSKY.
>> THIS APPEARS TO BE JUST A NAME CHANGE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE OUR APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FROM REPRESENTATIVES SLOTKIN'S OFFICE, USE OF HER FEDERAL FUNDS.
I THINK THIS IS THE THING TO DO. THANK YOU.
I THINK REPRESENTATIVE SLOTKIN CAN CALL IT WHAT SHE WANTS.
WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024?
>> [NOISE] THE CPI PROGRAM HAS BEEN AVAILABLE IN MICHIGAN SINCE 2021.
THE FISCAL YEAR MEANS THAT IS WHEN THE ALLOCATION AND WHEN WE HAVE TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS.
THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO SAY, NOTING THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN 23, BUT THE FUNDING WOULDN'T APPEAR UNTIL 24.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CPF APPLICATION.
>> NAME CHANGE FOR THE PROJECT APPLICATION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> VOTES NO? CHAIR VOTES YES AND MOTION PASSES.
>> THIRTEEN ON OUR AGENDA WERE DISCUSSION ITEMS ON THIS 2023-04 HAS TO
[13.A. Ordinance 2023-04 – Rezone 5677 Cade Street – PO to RB]
DO WITH THE RESILIENTING OF 5677 CAGE STREET FROM A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE TO RB.>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
FEW MONTHS AGO, OUR STAFF WAS CONTACTED BY THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY RIGHT HERE.
WHERE THE CURSOR IS ON YOUR SCREEN, WANTED TO ADD UNDER OUR HOUSE.
WE TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] IT'S OWN OFFICE AND WE ALL LOOKED EACH OTHER.
WE'RE LIKE, WELL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND SO WE TOOK HER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND MENTIONED THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEY AGREED.
YEAH, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE INITIATED AN ADMINISTRATIVE REZONING TO CHANGE IT TO RB TO ALLOW HER TO USE HER HOUSE AS A HOUSE AND ADD ONTO IT.
IT DOES NOT FULLY BRING THE PROPERTY IN THE COMPLIANCE BECAUSE IT IS A SMALL LOT CONSISTENT WITH PROPERTIES IN THE AREA.
BUT RB ZONING WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING ZONING AND GIVEN THAT IT'S RESIDENTIAL USE, WE BELIEVE THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE REZONING, RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGE TO HELP OUT A RESONANT IN THIS OPTION.
WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WAS THIS A ONE TIME RESIDENTIAL THAT WAS CHANGED TO PROFESSIONAL OFFICE TO ACCOMMODATE A DENTIST OR SOME PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BECAUSE IT'S ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH. NOT THAT WE CAN TELL.
WE BELIEVE IT WAS SIMPLY LOOPED IN WHEN THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES WERE REZONED AT SOME POINT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I DID VISIT THE SITE IT COMPLETELY MAKES SENSE TO CHANGE THIS.
IS THE BARN PART OF THIS PROPERTY OR IS THAT PART OF THE PO PROPERTY? IT'S CONFUSED BY THE DRIVEWAYS AND HER PROPERTY WHERE IT ENDED.
>> IT'S JUST A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE.
>> DO NOT BELIEVE THE BARN IS INVOLVED.
IS THIS PROPERTY AT THE BACK OF A PARCEL THAT FRONTS ON HASLETT ROAD?
>> YES. ACTUALLY, I CAN PULL UP AN AERIAL PHOTO HERE REAL QUICK.
>> THIS HOUSE, 5677 AND THIS IS THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY THAT IS ON FRONTS ON HASLETT ROAD BUT HAS ACCESS OFF K STREET.
IT'S THIS ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE.
>> IS THAT FARM PROPERTY AN OFFICE BUILDING? WAS IT A YOGA STUDIO OR SOMETHING AT ONE POINT?
>> I BELIEVE THE YOGA STUDIOS ACROSS THE STREET AND I DON'T RECALL WHAT IT IS NOW. BUT I CAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> IS IT LIKE A DENTIST OR SOMETHING?
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING.
[02:30:01]
>> YEAH. FORMALLY CHIROPRACTOR I BELIEVE.
>> THAT PROPERTY TO THE NORTH IS A ZONE PO.
>> YES CORRECT. IT IS THAT PROPERTY RIGHT THERE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO JUST A REGULAR HOUSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT ISN'T AN EXISTING HOUSE SHE WANTS TO ADD ONTO THE HOUSE AND TO DO SO, SHE NEEDS A RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
>> IF SHE NO LONGER IS GOING TO HAVE THAT BUSINESS THERE.
IT'S THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE AFTER THE PROPERTY.
>> IS SHE GOING TO REQUIRE ZONING VARIANCES BECAUSE THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, IF SHE WANTS TO ADD ON?
>> SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADD ON TO THE PROPERTY WITHOUT NEEDING VARIANCES.
THE ISSUES WITH THE NON-CONFORMITY ARE EXISTING AND WOULD NOT BE CHANGED BY THE PROPOSED ADDITION.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. SUPERVISOR, THIS TO ME FEELS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
RESIDENT HAS AN ISSUE BASED ON VERY ODD ZONING IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, AND IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS AN EASY ACCOMMODATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT STAFF TOOK TO ADDRESS THIS WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO BRING THIS TO US.
>> WE CAN NOW. WE DO HAVE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT IS OUTSTANDING ORDINANCE.
>> SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS ON OUR NEXT [INAUDIBLE].
>> AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE COME TO ITEM 14.
I'M LOOKING FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
SEEING NONE, WE MOVE TO ITEM 15, OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, WE MOVE TO ITEM 16.
[16. CLOSED SESSION]
MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSE SESSION.>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I MOVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS OUR WRITTEN CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL OPINION FROM THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY REGARDING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
I BELIEVE I MADE A ROLL CALL [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.