May 02, 2023 Township Board

[00:01:35]

MIC] WE'RE RECORDING. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO START.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

[INAUDIBLE] I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. LEMASTER CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? THANK YOU.

[4. PRESENTATIONS]

THE FIRST WILL BE BEING SPONSORED BY OUR TOWNSHIP MANAGER, MR. WALSH, AND HE HAS INVITED THE INGHAM COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY JOHN DEWANE, TO JOIN US AND MEET THE BOARD AND THE TOWNSHIP FROM THIS [INAUDIBLE], MR. WALSH. YEAH. THANK YOU.

MR. DEWANE WILL COME UP IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE WE HAVE A HISTORY.

THIS COMMITTEE HAS A HISTORY WITH THE DEWANE FAMILY.

BACK IN 2015, WHEN OUR ATTORNEY'S FIRM, THE HUBBARD FIRM DISSOLVED QUICKLY, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AT THAT TIME ASKED ME TO OR ACTUALLY DIRECTED ME TO FIND AN ATTORNEY FOR US FOR A FIVE MONTH PERIOD UNTIL WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS.

AND DURING THAT TIME I SAID, WELL, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET A FIRM LOCAL BECAUSE TO GIVE THEM AN ADVANTAGE IN THE RFP PROCESS.

SO [INAUDIBLE] GET WHOEVER YOU WANT, WHO'S COMPETENT AND WILL DO A GOOD JOB FOR US.

ONE PERSON CAME TO MIND AND THAT WAS JUDGE JOHN DEWANE.

UM, PROSECUTED DEWANE'S LATE FATHER, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY JUDGE GRANHOLM IN 2008 AS A ATTORNEY IN BERRIEN COUNTY.

HE SERVED ON THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR 6 OR 7 YEARS AND VERY FOND OF THE LATE JUDGE.

AND I'M SURE YOU'LL ENJOY GETTING TO KNOW, UM, IF I DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

JOHN JR.

SO, PROSECUTOR DEWANE, COME ON UP.

APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME EVERYONE.

I APPRECIATE BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS KIND OF DO A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF MYSELF, TALK ABOUT A FEW POLICY CHANGES I MADE AT MY OFFICE.

[00:05:04]

SOME OF YOU HEARD THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE.

A FEW OF THE MEMBERS ON UP THERE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, SO BEAR WITH ME.

SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOHN DEWANE.

I WAS BORN IN SAINT JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ON THE WEST SIDE.

I'M CURRENTLY AGE 53, GRADUATED FROM SAINT JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL IN 1988.

AND FROM THERE I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM 1988 THROUGH 1992, WHERE I OBTAINED MY BA IN ENGLISH.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, I MOVED TO SEATTLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WORKED IN A LAW FIRM THERE.

CAME BACK TO THOMAS COOLEY LAW SCHOOL IN 1995 AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND GRADUATED IN 1998.

AFTER I PASSED THE BAR, I WENT BACK DOWN TO SAINT JOSEPH BENTON HARBOR, AND I WORKED IN LEGAL AID, REPRESENTING INDIGENT CLIENTS IN DIVORCE WORK, ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES. LANDLORD TENANT AND I DID THAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

AND THEN I WORKED FOR MY FATHER FOR ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF DOING CIVIL DEFENSE WORK AND SOME TOWNSHIP PROSECUTION CASES.

IN 2001, I WAS HIRED BY STUART DUNNINGS AS AN ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

I STARTED IN THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT DIVISION OF OUR OFFICE, MOVED UP TO DISTRICT COURT, WORKED IN THE CHILD'S AGAINST CRIME UNIT.

I HANDLED A CIRCUIT COURT DOCKET FOR EIGHT YEARS STRAIGHT, PROMOTED TO THE UNIT CHIEF OF OUR DISTRICT COURT, PROMOTED TO MY UNIT CHIEF OR TO THE UNIT CHIEF OF OUR CIRCUIT COURT. AND THEN IN 2012, MR. DUNNINGS APPOINTED ME AS DEPUTY CHIEF ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

I WORKED AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF UNDER THREE DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS, THAT BEING STUART DUNNINGS, GOVERNOR WHITMER AND CAROL SEAMAN.

THE LAST TEN YEARS AS DEPUTY CHIEF, I DID SOME ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, BUT MOSTLY MY MAIN FOCUS WAS HANDLING HOMICIDE CASES.

I'VE TRIED OVER 80 FELONY TRIALS, AT LEAST 20 OR MORE, OR EXCUSE ME, AT LEAST 20 OR MORE OF THOSE WERE MURDER TRIALS.

AS FAR AS MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, I WAS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THOMAS COOLEY LAW SCHOOL WHERE I TAUGHT TRIAL SKILLS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS.

I WAS ON THE INGHAM COUNTY SOBRIETY COURT FOUNDATION AS THEIR SECRETARY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

I WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS FOR FIVE YEARS, AND I COACHED MY BOTH OF MY SONS FOOTBALL, YOUTH, FOOTBALL AND WILLIAMSON FROM AGE WELL, THIRD GRADE THROUGH THEIR EIGHTH GRADE SEASONS.

I'M CURRENTLY MARRIED FOR 22 YEARS TO MY WIFE, JENNIFER, WHO IS A HEALTH CARE ATTORNEY.

I HAVE TWO SONS, ONE WHO JUST FINISHED UP AT U OF M AS A FRESHMAN AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER SON WHO IS A JUST FINISHED UP AS A SOPHOMORE AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

ON DECEMBER 22ND OF 2022, I WAS APPOINTED AS THE INTERIM PROSECUTOR BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE 30TH CIRCUIT JUDGES, AND I TOOK OFFICE ON JANUARY 3RD, 2023.

I AM RUNNING FOR ELECTION AS A DEMOCRAT IN 2024 TO BECOME THE ELECTED PROSECUTOR.

AS A FRONTLINE PROSECUTOR WHO'S REALLY ONLY HANDLED HOMICIDE CASES FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

I SAW A DISTURBING PATTERN IN OUR COMMUNITY IN INGHAM COUNTY, THAT BEING AN UPTICK IN GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME IN GENERAL.

GUN VIOLENCE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS IN INGHAM COUNTY IS AT AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL IN MY OPINION, AND MY OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF INGHAM COUNTY, THE RESIDENTS FROM THE UPSURGE OF THIS VIOLENCE.

AND SO FROM THE FIRST DAY I TOOK OFFICE, I CHANGED SOME POLICIES THAT WERE FORMERLY FROM PROSECUTOR SEAMAN, AND THOSE POLICIES TOOK EFFECT THE FIRST DAY I TOOK OFFICE.

FIRST I BEGAN TO HABITUALIZED REPEAT FELONY OFFENDERS.

I BELIEVE AN INDIVIDUAL'S PRIOR FELONY CRIMINAL HISTORY IS RELEVANT TO FUTURE CONDUCT AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

WHEN I LOOK AT A CASE AND WHAT I'M GOING TO CHARGE AS WELL AS POSSIBLE PLEA AGREEMENT.

I BELIEVE REPEAT OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFORM, CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, YET MANY CONTINUE TO COMMIT CRIMES.

AND I BELIEVE CHARGING HABITUAL OFFENDERS MAY DISCOURAGE FUTURE FELONY CONDUCT.

ONE OF THE OTHER CHANGES MY OFFICE MADE WAS WE BEGAN TO CHARGE FELONY FIREARM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO USE OR POSSESS A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME.

I BELIEVE THE USE OF A FIREARM MAKES A CRIME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING.

THAT IS A MANDATORY TWO YEARS IN PRISON ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THEY MAY SERVE ON THE UNDERLYING FELONY.

SO WHAT YOU OFTEN WILL SEE IS WE'LL CHARGE FELONY FIREARM IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME.

WE CONTINUE TO CHARGE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVICTED FELONS WHO POSSESS GUNS THAT HAVE NOT RESTORED THEIR GUN RIGHTS.

THAT'S A FIVE YEAR FELONY.

[00:10:03]

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO CARRY CONCEALED AS LONG AS THEY DO IT LEGALLY.

THAT IS, THEY'VE OBTAINED THEIR LICENSE.

THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK.

THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE COURSE.

WHAT I'M SEEING IN OUR COUNTY IS A REVOLVING DOOR OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CAUGHT WITH ILLEGAL GUNS, STOLEN GUNS, GUNS THAT HAVE THE SERIAL NUMBERS TAKEN OFF THEM, GUNS THAT ARE MADE IN BASEMENTS.

AND THEY'LL BE ARRESTED.

THEY'LL GET A PR BOND OR A LOW BOND.

THEY'LL COME RIGHT BACK OUT AND OBTAIN ANOTHER GUN.

SO I'VE TAKEN A HARD LINE STANCE ON THOSE CASES WHERE WE RARELY, IF EVER, PLEAD THOSE DOWN.

ANOTHER DISTURBING TREND I'VE BEEN SEEING IS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN JUVENILE OFFENDERS COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE AREN'T YOUR 18 YEAR OLD'S OR 17 YEAR OLD'S.

THESE ARE YOUR 13, 14, 15 AND 16 YEAR OLD'S WHO ARE CARRYING FIREARMS. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST YOUR GENERAL GLOCK.

I'M TALKING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AR 15 ASSAULT RIFLES, GUNS THAT HAVE CLIPS THAT HOLD 50 ROUNDS.

THIS IS WE'RE SEEING, AT LEAST IN LANSING, RETALIATORY VIOLENCE WHERE CHILDREN ARE SHOOTING AND KILLING EACH OTHER.

IF, AS YOU KNOW, AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS INDICATED IS GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY AT THIS TIME, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY POSITION IS WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL AND OBTAIN AN EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO HOLD PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TRUANT CHILDREN, MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.

WE NEED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON GUN VIOLENCE TO THESE YOUTH.

I CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK THE FIRST TWO DAYS ON THE JOB, I MET WITH EVERY CHIEF OF POLICE IN THIS COUNTY.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE JUDICIARY, COMMUNITY LEADERS, CITIZEN GROUPS.

I SUPPORT THE COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR WHITMER.

I SUPPORT A GROUP CALLED ADVANCE PEACE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S WORKING IN LANSING TO FOCUS ON GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY IDENTIFY THE MOST LETHAL INDIVIDUALS AT THE CENTER OF OUR GUN VIOLENCE.

THEY PROVIDE DAILY MENTORSHIP TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, AND THE GOAL IS TO END REOCCURRING AND RETALIATORY GUN VIOLENCE SO EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS ATTEMPT TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ALTHOUGH I TAKE A VERY STRONG STANCE ON A HARD LINE ON VIOLENT CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE IN GENERAL, I DO BELIEVE IN SPECIALTY COURTS AND TREATMENT COURTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF TREATMENT COURTS IN DISTRICT COURT AND CIRCUIT COURT.

WE HAVE SOBRIETY COURT.

WE HAVE A DRUG COURT.

WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

WE HAVE A VETERANS COURT. WE HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE A VARIETY OF TREATMENT SERVICES TO ADDRESS THEIR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR.

AND THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE RE-OFFENDING BEHAVIOR WITH TREATMENT, REDUCE OUR INCARCERATION RATES, AND TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH A SECOND CHANCE AND AN OPPORTUNITY.

MY OWN OFFICE HAS A DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, THEY CAN ENTER INTO THE PROGRAM.

IT HAS TO BE A NON ASSAULTIVE CRIME.

THEY'RE PUT ON SOME TYPE OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

THEY HAVE TO ADMIT GUILT TO THE CRIME THAT THEY COMMITTED.

THERE'S PROGRAMING, COMMUNITY SERVICE INVOLVED, RESTITUTION, FINES AND COSTS.

AND IF THEY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE OUR PROGRAM, WE NEVER ISSUE A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST.

THE CASE GOES AWAY.

LAST, I'LL TOUCH ON MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IN OUR STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SERVICES.

IF I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE FORENSIC CENTER FOR A COMPETENCY COMPETENCY EXAM OR CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT CAN TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS TO HAVE THAT PERSON SENT THERE AND BE EVALUATED AND GET AN OPINION BACK.

SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FUNDING NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED.

OVER 50% OF THE HOMICIDE TRIALS THAT I'VE HAD ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS AND SPECIFICALLY PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT.

[00:15:06]

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.

I AM ACCESSIBLE.

YOU CAN FIND MY EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS ON MY WEBSITE.

SO REACH OUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT. AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION THAT IS CHAMPIONED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

SHE WILL INFORM US AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU. BOARD.

WE HAVE THE MSU DODGEBALL CLUB TEAM HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

THEY ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AND THEY WENT UNDEFEATED.

I HAVE KNOWN THE COACH AND THE IS IT CO COACH, DO YOU SAY ASSISTANT COACH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY ACTUALLY KEVIN.

KEVIN I'M GOING TO SAY YOUR LAST NAME WRONG BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SAYING IT WRONG MY WHOLE LIFE.

YOU SAY IT ,NGUYEN, AND REBECCA WHO THEY GOT MARRIED LAST YEAR, RIGHT? SO CONGRATULATIONS.

KEVIN STARTED DODGEBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY SON AND THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH.

COACH SCHULTZ STARTED DODGEBALL WITH THESE KIDS, AND THEY JUST LOVED IT.

AND THEY FORMED A TEAM AFTER HIGH SCHOOL CALLED FINAL JUSTICE.

AND MY SON WAS THE PUNISHER.

KEVIN WAS SPIDER-MAN.

AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER THEY HAD THESE T SHIRTS ON AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THEY HAVE EVOLVED SINCE THEN, BUT BUT THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF OUR FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME.

AND KEVIN'S FAMILY ACTUALLY KNOWS RON STYKA'S FAMILY AS WELL.

SO IT IS A SMALL WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.

WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SO I WANTED TO BRING THEM OUT TONIGHT AND CONGRATULATE THEM.

I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DODGEBALL TEAM AND WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY DO SOME SPECIAL STUFF WITH YOU, TOO.

SO HAVE YOU COME UP? GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE TRAFFIC.

THANK YOU. I KNOW A LOT OF PATIENCE DRIVING DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL HAVE YOU GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE.

ALL RIGHT. I'M KEVIN NGUYEN. I'M THE HEAD COACH OF THE MICHIGAN STATE DODGEBALL TEAM, THE HEAD CAPTAIN OF THE SEMI-PRO EAST LANSING BASED DODGEBALL TEAM FOUND JUSTICE.

AND WE ALSO RUN THE AFTERSCHOOL DODGEBALL PROGRAM AT CHIPPEWA.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY, AND I'LL LET EVERYONE ELSE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

I AM REBECCA NGUYEN.

I AM THE ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE CLUB DODGEBALL TEAM AND THE HEAD COACH FOR THE WOMEN'S DIVISION.

I'M ALSO ON THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE DODGEBALL ASSOCIATION.

SO I OVERSEE ALL 26 DIVISION ONE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING TO STANDARD.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR LOVELY RECRUITS HERE, SO WE'LL HAVE THEM GO THROUGH.

I'M ALI PAUL. I'M THE HEAD CAPTAIN OF THE WOMEN'S TEAM.

I'M DAYQUAN MCLEAN OR DQ, LIKE DAIRY QUEEN.

I'M VICE PRESIDENT AS WELL AS ASSISTANT CAPTAIN OF THE DODGEBALL TEAM.

AND MY NAME IS JOSH KRAMER.

I'M THE HEAD CAPTAIN OF OUR TEAM AND ALSO THE TREASURER.

AND FOR THOSE WHO JUST MAYBE WANT TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DODGEBALL, I'M PROBABLY THE PERFECT PERSON TO ASK SINCE I OVERSEE EVERYBODY IN IT.

OUR PROGRAM IS COMPLETELY SELF FUNDED THROUGH MSU.

WE ARE ONE OF THE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED CLUB SPORTS FOR THEM THOUGH, 1 OF 27.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR ACTUALLY 20 YEARS, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE TEAM'S INCEPTION INTO THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE DODGEBALL ASSOCIATION WAS IN 2003.

EVER SINCE THEN, WE'VE GROWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE GROWING OVER WEST INTO GONZAGA, DOWN INTO UCF AND OTHER SOUTHERN TERRITORIES.

WE'RE CURRENTLY ON AN SEC EXPANSION.

SO THESE GUYS GET TO COMPETE AGAINST TEAMS LIKE GRAND VALLEY CENTRAL AND SAGINAW PRETTY REGULARLY, BUT WE GO OUT TO COMPETE AGAINST OTHER BIG TEN SCHOOLS.

AND THIS YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING 19 AND 0, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME A TEAM IN DIVISION ONE HAS GONE UNDEFEATED SINCE 2009.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL ALL-AMERICANS ACROSS THE BOARD THAT THEY ARE GETTING HONORED THIS WEEK.

SO I CAN'T SPOIL ANYTHING ON WHO GETS WHERE AND WHAT, BUT BUT THIS PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR AMAZING BOARD AND CAPTAINS TO BE ABLE TO GROW IT. WE HAVE SEVERAL DOZEN MEMBERS THAT COMPETE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON OUR TEAM AND GET TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

[00:20:04]

BUT YEAH.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? SO WITH THAT, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US.

I'LL PASS IT BACK [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

SO HERE IS CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR YOUR TEAM.

AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

WE DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, CLERK GUTHRIE.

ITEM FIVE ON OUR AGENDA IS CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON AGENDA ITEMS.

[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]

I HAVE ONE GREEN CARD FOR MARK [INAUDIBLE].

COME PLEASE COME AND CORRECT ME.

WE HAVE A LAST NAME CHALLENGE HERE TONIGHT.

SANTUCCI IS THAT RIGHT? PERFECT. OH, REALLY? THERE YOU GO. IF YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

MARK SANTUCCI 5909 BLYTHEFIELD DRIVE, EAST LANSING, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

ROADS. SIDEWALKS ARE BEING WORKED ON AS I SPEAK, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ADDRESSING YOU ABOUT.

ALTHOUGH I DID ENJOY THE DODGE BALL, I WAS PRETTY GOOD IN THIRD GRADE.

I DON'T THINK I PLAYED IT SINCE THEN.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE APPARENT LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE.

BACK IN EARLY JANUARY BEFORE I RETIRED TO FLORIDA.

I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE FINISHED SOMETIME IN APRIL.

WELL, IT'S MAY 2ND, AND AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME TO HIGHLIGHT WHY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE BUSINESSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARIJUANA BUSINESS, INCLUDING LANDHOLDERS LIKE MYSELF, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE TOWNSHIP EITHER.

TIME IS MONEY, ESPECIALLY IN BUSINESS.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF MARIJUANA IN MICHIGAN ANYWAYS, HAS DROPPED FROM ABOUT $2,500 A POUND TO ABOUT $700 A POUND.

SO THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS BACK DURING COVID TIME, WHEN IT APPEARED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD NOTHING ELSE TO DO, THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I THINK THE THOUGHT IS THAT THAT'S STILL THE CASE, BUT IT'S FAR FROM THE CASE NOW.

IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M INVOLVED BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BANKRUPTCIES IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AS A RESULT OF PEOPLE, I THINK, OVEREXTENDING THEMSELVES OR THINKING THAT THE HIGH PRICES WERE NEVER GOING TO END AND THEY DID.

SO NOW IT'S A MORE TYPICAL BUSINESS THAT'S VERY COMPETITIVE AND WE'LL HAVE SOME PEOPLE MAKING MONEY AND OTHER PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE BUSINESS.

AS A RESULT OF ALL THIS.

THE PRICE FOR LAND OR BUILDINGS HAVE DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY IN THAT.

I RECALL WHEN WE STARTED THIS AND WE DID THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA HERE, I GOT CALLS FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THE PRICES THEY WERE OFFERING FOR MY PROPERTY WERE ONE THAT MAKES ME DREAM OF A GOOD RETIREMENT.

THAT'S ALL GONE.

THE SITUATION NOW, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS [BEEPING].

DID I USE THREE MINUTES ALREADY? YES, SIR. HOLY MACRO.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I HAD A LOT MORE TO.

I HAD ABOUT TWO MINUTES WORTH TO SAY.

[00:25:02]

AND EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T DIRECTLY AFFECT US, IT KIND OF TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I MADE COPIES FOR EVERYONE.

OKAY. WE'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THOSE.

THANK YOU. AND I HOPE TO SEE SOME PROGRESS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU, MR. SANTUCCI.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AND WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ITEM EIGHT ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA [INAUDIBLE] OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. OPPOSED NO.

CHAIR VOTES YES.

AND THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM NINE, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

THE TYPICAL MANAGER'S BILLS A PERMIT APPLICATION FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN AND THEN RATIFICATION OF NEW POLICE OFFICER APPOINTMENTS FROM CHIEF PLAGA . MR. DESCHAINE.

I MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINKSI, TRUSTEE I MEAN CLERK GUTHRIE.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE TO THE APRIL 25TH REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETINGS IN THE MINUTES THAT IT TALKS ABOUT DEPUTY MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER'S PRESENTATION OF THE ROADS, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOG AND CHIP SEAL.

AND I THINK THAT THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PORTION OF HIS PRESENTATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THERE AND THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THOSE MONIES FOR THAT WORK TO BE DONE.

SO I WOULD LIKE IF I THINK THAT'S HOW I DO IT, IS TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION.

AN AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 25TH.

YES. MEETING.

MR. OPSOMMER YOU HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE ON THAT SUBJECT? YES, JUST IN SO MUCH AS IT WOULD HELP THE CLERK'S OFFICE, I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE A QUICK LITTLE SYNOPSIS FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE TOMORROW MORNING.

HAPPY TO ASSIST HOWEVER WE CAN.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY. MR. DESCHAINE.

I SUPPORT THE CLERKS AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT.

YES. I ALSO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES TO THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 25TH.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

SO SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT, WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I THINK WE NEED TO APPROVE THE, THE AMENDMENT FIRST.

OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.

EXCELLENT. THEN WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA IN TOTAL.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION CARRIED. SIX ZERO.

THANK YOU. ITEM TEN ON OUR AGENDA IS QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY.

[10. QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY]

WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.

ITEM 11.

ITEM 12 IS OUR LONE ACTION ITEM FOR TONIGHT.

[12. A. Ordinance 2023-04-Rezone 5677 Cade Street-PO to RB-Final Adoption]

MR. SCHMITT.

DIRECTOR SCHMITT MR.

[00:30:01]

JUST TO REFRESH THE BOARD'S MEMORY, THIS WAS A REQUEST THAT HOMEOWNER CAME TO STAFF WITH A REQUEST TO ADD ON TO THEIR HOUSE.

WE DISCOVERED IT WAS ZONED OFFICE AND THEREFORE COULDN'T EXPAND THE USE OF THE HOUSE.

AND SO STAFF ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO INITIATE THE REZONING REQUEST ADMINISTRATIVELY.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID REVIEW IT HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AS REQUIRED BY LAW, HAD NO MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD.

THE BOARD REVIEWED IT TWICE BEFORE.

IT HAS RAISED NO MAJOR CONCERNS AT THE BOARD'S DIRECTION.

WE DID PUBLISH THIS AFTER THE LAST MEETING IN ADVANCE, PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING.

SO WE ARE AT A POSITION THIS EVENING WHERE WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE OF ORDINANCE 2023-04.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS.

TRUSTEE WILSON.

THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING ORDINANCE 2023-04 AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY AT 5677 CADE STREET PARCEL ID NUMBER 33-02-02-11-304-031 FROM PO PROFESSIONAL OFFICE TO RB-1 FAMILY HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.

SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI, TRUSTEE WILSON.

THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

THIS BRINGS THE ZONING IN ALIGNMENT WITH ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND ALSO ALLOWS THE HOMEOWNER TO MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS THAT SHE'D LIKE TO DO.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.

OKAY, THAT'S PART OF THIS RESOLUTION.

TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

I WOULD AGREE WITH TRUSTEE WILSON MAKES SENSE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE WITH THE EXISTING ZONING ADJACENT ZONING.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? THEN MR. LEMASTER COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THIS FINAL ADOPTION MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 2023-04.

MOTION CARRIED SIX ZERO.

THANK YOU. MR..

SCHMITT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE NOW MOVE TO BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS UNDER AGENDA ITEM 13.

[13. A. Federal Policies & Procedures Manual Update]

MANUAL UPDATE, WHICH IS BEING BROUGHT TO US BY DIRECTOR GARBER.

THANK YOU. AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, A FEW MONTHS AGO, BACK IN DECEMBER, WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD THE FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM GUIDANCE, THAT REQUIRES THAT ALL ENTITIES ACCEPTING FEDERAL FUNDING MUST HAVE A MINIMUM WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND POLICIES ABOUT HOW THE INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCESSES WILL BE CONDUCTED OVER THE FEDERAL AWARDS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING OUR 2022 AUDIT AND OUR AUDITORS HAVE REVIEWED THE FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL AGAINST THE MOST RECENT FEDERAL GUIDELINES, AND THEY JUST HAVE ONE SUGGESTION TO ADD ONE SENTENCE ON PAGE EIGHT UNDER PROCUREMENT. AND THAT SENTENCE STATES THAT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD AVOID ACQUISITION OF UNNECESSARY OR DUPLICATIVE ITEMS. AND THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE I HAVE.

THIS. HOW MANY PAGES IN THIS DOCUMENT? UM. 12.

12. 12 PAGES AND ONE LINE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.

AND SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OR ANYTHING.

RIGHT? IT IS A BOARD APPROVED POLICY.

AND SO, TOO, WHAT WE ARE AMENDING IT.

SO IT WILL HAPPEN.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM.

SO WILL IT COME BACK TO US IN A MEETING FOR ACTUAL BOARD APPROVAL? YES. OKAY.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE OPEN FOR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNS? MR. DESCHAINE.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY GOOD NEWS THAT THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS CAME DOWN AND WE ONLY WANTED TO CHANGE ONE SENTENCE.

AND THE SENTENCE THEY'RE CHANGING IS JUST SO OBVIOUS.

[00:35:01]

DO NOT CLIMB LADDERS ONTO THE TOP RUNG AND STAND THERE WITHOUT HELP.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST SUCH AN OBVIOUS RULE, BUT THAT'S ALL THE CHANGE WE NEED TO MAKE.

OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT AND EXPENSING GRANTS IS PRETTY GOOD.

AND READING IT THROUGH IN FOUR YEARS OF TREASURY, I SEE THESE HAVE BEEN THE RULES WE HAVE FOLLOWED AND WE RECEIVED GRANTS DISPERSED THEM AND REPORTED BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD AGREE.

ONE SORRY.

SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR. YES, TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

I WOULD AGREE. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST AND ADDING THIS ONE STATEMENT ONLY SEEMS OBVIOUS.

ANYONE ELSE? THEN THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND MAKING THIS ADJUSTMENT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THE PRODUCT OF YOUR WORK AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

MAYBE. YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS. OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM IS INGHAM COUNTY.

[13. B. Ingham County Parks & Trails Millage-Multi-Jurisdictional River Clearing Grant]

ALL RIGHT. WHAT A NAME FOR A GRANT, HUH? YEAH. ANYWAY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF WILLIAMSTOWN AND WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE 24 YEARS AGO.

THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE THAT CAME KNOCKING ON MY DOOR WERE RIVER ENTHUSIASTS ASKING FOR A RIVER CLEARING PROJECT BECAUSE IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THE RED CEDAR WITH ALL THE LOG JAMS AND AND DEBRIS IN THE RIVER.

AND AND SO WE HAD ONE OF MY FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID HERE WAS TO HOST A VOLUNTEER EVENT, AND THAT WAS BACK IN 2000.

AND BUT NOW WE'VE GOT GREATER SUPPORT FOR THE RED CEDAR RIVER.

WE HAVE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE INVESTING MONEY IN PROVIDING AMENITIES FOR FOR UTILIZING THE RED CEDAR FOR FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

CITY OF WILLIAMSTOWN HAS A LITTLE WHITEWATER AREA IN THEIR CITY THAT THEY APPLIED FOR A DNR GRANT A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEY JUST INSTALLED A NEW CANOE LANDING AT AT MCCORMICK PARK.

WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP HAS RECEIVED A GRANT TO DO SOME RIVER CLEARING IN THEIR TOWNSHIP, AND THAT WAS DONE SUCCESSFULLY.

BUT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND METHODICALLY BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RIVER ONE STEP AT A TIME.

AND SO THE INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE, THEY'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS APPLICATION.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM AS WELL.

THEY'RE READY TO SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY ON THE BLUEWAY OR THE RIVER TRAIL AND THEY'RE ALSO FUNDING WAYFINDING SIGNAGE FOR THE RIVER AS WELL AS INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS FOR EACH OF THE STOPS ALONG THE RIVER FROM WILLIAMSTON ALL THE WAY THROUGH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

SO ANYWAY, WE PUT A GRANT APPLICATION TOGETHER.

WE REQUESTED $500,000 FOR UP TO THREE YEARS, SO IT'S $5,000 OR THREE YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

AND AS WE KNOW, THE RIVER CONDITIONS CHANGE ON A REGULAR BASIS DEPENDING ON THE WIND AND THE RAIN AND AND THE RIVERS LINED WITH TREES.

AND SO IT'S NOT A ONE AND DONE TYPE PROPOSITION HERE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S A START.

AND WE HAVE TONS OF SUPPORT FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE FRIENDS OF THE RED CEDAR THE MY CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME RIGHT NOW BUT RIVER STEWARDS IS ANOTHER WHOLE ORGANIZATION AS WELL.

SO ANYWAY, AT YOUR NEXT MEETING, THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION.

ZERO LOCAL DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS.

AND SO IF WE ARE AWARDED THIS, I'M GUESSING WE WILL PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH COMMUNITY AND THEN ANNUALLY DETERMINE THE PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE RIVER.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT'S WHAT THAT PROJECT IS.

OH, GREAT.

BOARD MEMBERS? MR. DESCHAINE. WELL, THIS IMPACTS RECREATION, BUT IT ALSO IMPACTS DEVELOPMENT ALONG IN SOME OTHER AREAS, I'M SURE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE WILSON MEMBERS THE DISCUSSION WHEN THE HANNAH FLATS AND LOFTS PLAZA DEVELOPMENT WAS PROPOSED AND THE INDIAN LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD WAS VEHEMENTLY AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF THE VERY HIGH LEVELS OF RIVER

[00:40:04]

AND AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE, I BELIEVE, BETWEEN THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER AND THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, THE I'VE FAMILY, TO CLEAR THE RIVER AND SEE IF THAT BROUGHT THE LEVEL DOWN.

AND IF IT DIDN'T BRING THE LEVEL DOWN, THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN STOPPED.

AND IT DID. THAT CLEARING THE RIVER ALLEVIATED MUCH OF THE FLOODING THAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

SO IT IMPACTS THE HUNDREDS OF OUR HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE INVESTED IN RIVERFRONT PROPERTY.

AND THOSE THESE LOGJAMS AREN'T CLEARED.

WE CAN'T USE IT FOR RECREATION AND IT CAUSES BACKUPS AND FLOODING.

SO THIS IS EXCITING NEWS.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WILSON AND ONE OF THE OTHER PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT IS THE ROTARY CLUB OF HASLETT OKEMOS.

PLUS FOR THE ROTARY CLUBS THAT ARE ALL GETTING INVOLVED IN CREATING A NAVIGABLE.

I CAN NEVER SAY THAT CORRECTLY.

THAT NAVIGABLE STRETCH FROM WILLIAMSTON ALL THE WAY TO THE CITY OF LANSING.

AND THAT WORK IS COMMENCING A WEEK FROM THURSDAY WITH A CLEANUP PROJECT THAT ROTARY IS UNDERTAKING STARTING AT 11 A.M.

THAT DAY. SO THERE'S LOTS OF INTEREST IN THIS.

THERE'S LOTS OF PARTNERS THAT WILL HELP.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

ANY COMMENTS? WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR FIGURING OUT HOW TO PUT THESE MANY INTERESTED PARTIES TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT SERVES THE REGION.

AND SO WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO, SO WE GET TO APPROVE THE GRANT APPLICATION OR WE GET TO APPROVE THE GRANT AWARD. WELL, BOTH.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST THING WILL BE, IN FACT, IT WAS THE DUE DATE WAS YESTERDAY.

SO IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

BUT WE STILL NEED RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT.

WE HAVE THE ONE FROM THE CITY OF WILLIAMSTOWN.

WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP IS TAKING CARE OF THEIRS THIS WEEK AND THEN WE'LL GET OURS IN.

AND REALLY WE JUST NEED IT IN PRIOR TO THEM AWARDING THE GRANT.

SO WE'RE FINE ON TIME TO GET THIS DONE, BUT IT WILL BE ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA FOR ACTION.

I THINK WE ALL WILL PROBABLY BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT WHEN IT COMES AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

ITEM 13 C IS CENTRAL PARK PAVILION RENOVATION UPDATE.

[13. C. Central Park Pavilion Renovation Update]

YES, I'M STILL HERE.

BACK IN 2014, THE PARK COMMISSION SUPPORTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ALL OF CENTRAL PARK AND IT INCLUDED CENTRAL PARK HERE, THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, NANCY MOORE PARK.

IT'S ALL ONE CONTIGUOUS PROPERTY.

AND AND PART OF THAT WAS RELOCATING THE FARMERS MARKET TO MARKETPLACE ON MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, WE'VE ADDED A NEW RESTROOM BUILDING NEAR THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE.

WE'VE PAVED A TRAIL FROM HERE ALL THE WAY OVER TO CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, ADDED A FISHING DOCK AT CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, A DOG PARK AT CENTRAL PARK SOUTH.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN THIS AREA.

ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS WAS A NEW PAVILION HERE IN CENTRAL PARK.

AND INITIALLY I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD JUST RENOVATE WHAT OUR EXISTING PAVILION WAS.

BUT SOME AND I'M SAYING NEW ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER, BUT IN THIS CASE IT IS.

SO WE'VE HAD AN EVALUATION DONE OF THE OF THE SUPPORT POSTS THAT THAT STRUCTURE WAS INSTALLED IN 1978 AND MANY OF THE SUPPORT POSTS ARE ROTTED AT THIS POINT.

SO WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO PUT MORE MONEY IN TO WHAT IS THERE.

THE CONCRETE PAD IS IN FANTASTIC CONDITION, NOT A CRACK IN IT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THAT WILL REMAIN, BUT IT APPEARS NOW WE WILL JUST LOOK AT A BRAND NEW PAVILION TO PUT THERE.

DON'T HAVE A DESIGN YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THAT.

BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE THINKING OF, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE BUILT THE NEW BATHROOM BUILDINGS, THE RESTROOMS WITH THE BRICK AND THAT WILL GO AWAY.

SO THEN THE VIEW IS OPEN TO THE PARK INSTEAD OF RIGHT NOW IT'S OPEN TO THE PARKING LOT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING VEGETATION BETWEEN THE PARKING LOT AND THE PAVILION TO SOFTEN UP THAT WHOLE SPACE.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE WE HAVE A PLAN NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE THAN JUST RENOVATE WHAT'S THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT A BRAND NEW PAVILION ON THE EXISTING PAD.

OKAY. SO THAT IS THE PLAN FOR THAT PAVILION.

IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL.

QUESTIONS COMMENTS? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR.

I'LL SAY WHEN I WAS ON PARK COMMISSION 2017, THIS WAS PART OF WAS PART OF THE PLAN.

[00:45:04]

[LAUGHTER] EXACTLY.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE PARK COMMISSION.

GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. DESCHAINE, I WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE PARK COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, WHEN THIS MASTER PLAN WAS APPROVED IN 2014.

IT WAS AN EXCITING UPDATE AND IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING HOW MUCH OF THAT PLAN WE HAVE ALREADY REALIZED.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 20 YEARS AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF IT DONE IN LESS THAN TEN.

UM, I'M I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST OF THIS RENOVATION VERSUS NEW CONSTRUCTION.

HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ON WHAT THE COST OF THIS NEW PAVILION WOULD BE? YOU KNOW, I DO NOT AT THIS TIME.

BUT WE DO HAVE $100,000 BUDGETED.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE.

I DO WANT TO ADD SOME BRICK WALLS, UM, JUST LIKE SEAT WALLS ON THE CORNERS TO KIND OF IDENTIFY THE SPACE.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THE PAVILION WILL BE AS LARGE AS IT IS NOW, AND IF WE MADE IT A LITTLE SMALLER, WE COULD CREATE A COUPLE PATIO AREAS ON EITHER SIDE UTILIZING THE SAME EXISTING PAD THAT'S THERE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE BUDGETARY WISE, BUT THIS IS A PARK VILLAGE PROJECT.

AND SO IF ONCE OUR NUMBERS COME IN AND IF MORE MONEY IS NEEDED, I WILL COME BACK AND REQUEST A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT THAT TIME.

BUT I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD BE PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO STILL COMPLETE THIS UNDER THE INITIAL BUDGET REQUEST.

OUR PAVILIONS GENERATE INCOME AS WELL FROM RENTALS, AND I IMAGINE THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS RENTED OUT OFTEN.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PAVILIONS AND MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE PARKING LOT AND PEOPLE LIKE TO MEET HERE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.

ALL OF OUR PAVILIONS BECAME SUPER POPULAR AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO TODAY.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THAT PROXIMITY TO THE PARKING LOT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK VERY FAR.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT HERE AND THERE'S A PLAYGROUND AND THERE'S FIELD AND THERE'S TRAILS.

AND THIS VILLAGE, THERE'S A LOT OF AMENITIES HERE.

IT'S REALLY IT IS.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST HIGHLY RENTED FACILITIES.

BOARD MEMBERS. LET ME JUST ASK.

SO SO THIS PAVILION HAS BEEN USED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING OUR FARMERS MARKET.

AND SO I'M WONDERING IN THE NEW DESIGN OR THE NEW CONCEPT ARE IS THE FUNCTIONALITY GOING TO CHANGE IN ANY WAY? IS IT PRIMARILY FOR SUPPORTING, I GUESS, OUTSIDE GATHERING AND SPORTS VIEWING, OR ARE THERE OTHER KINDS OF USES OR WINTER TIME USES? SURE. TO THE NEW DESIGN.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WHEN WHEN THIS PAVILION WAS CONSTRUCTED, IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO AN INTEREST TO HAVE A FARMER'S MARKET.

AND IN 1970, 1974, THE FIRST FARMERS MARKET TOOK PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP HALL IS A DIRT PARKING LOT AT THE TIME, AND THERE WERE FOUR FARMERS MARKET VENDORS AND THEY DID THAT ON A TRIAL BASIS JUST TO SEE IF THERE WOULD BE INTEREST IN HAVING A FARMER'S MARKET.

THERE WAS A COMMUNITY SURVEY DONE.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THERE WAS A GRANT OBTAINED AND A GRANT FUNDED THE EXISTING PAVILION.

THEY STILL WEREN'T SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SUSTAIN A FARMER'S MARKET FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

SO IT WAS BUILT AS A MULTI USE FACILITY.

IT'S NOT REALLY BUILT TO BE A FARMER'S MARKET, BUT THEY UTILIZED IT AS THAT AND PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE VISION TO THINK ABOUT HOW POPULAR IT WOULD BECOME IN THE FUTURE.

AND OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY THERE.

BUT IN OUR NEW FACILITY, I KNOW WE GET A LOT OF USE FOR MEETINGS, THE PLANT SALE FROM THE GARDEN CLUB AND I KNOW THEY ENJOY HAVING SOME OF THAT AREA ENCLOSED FOR PROTECTION.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH THOSE WALLS WILL COME DOWN AND WE JUST RECENTLY INSTALLED WINDSCREENS AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, AND MY THOUGHT WAS TO RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT THESE HEAVY PLASTIC TARPS THAT WE HANG UP AND THEY'RE NOT A VERY GOOD SHAPE ANYMORE.

SO MY WHOLE THOUGHT WAS WITH A NEW PAVILION, WE WOULD STILL ADD THESE WINDSCREENS AUTOMATIC WINDSCREENS AND SO WE COULD ENCLOSE IT FOR MEETINGS OR ON WINDY DAYS OR IF IT'S JUST A LITTLE CHILLY OUT, IT WOULD BLOCK SOME OF THAT WIND.

SO IT IS STILL GOING TO BE MULTIPURPOSE, BUT IT'LL BE LIKE MORE OPEN THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK TREASURER DESCHAINE ASKED ABOUT COSTS.

[00:50:06]

WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE BIDDING, PUTTING THE BIDS OUT, COMING UP WITH OUR DESIGN FIRST TO MAKE SURE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

AND THEN SO IT'LL PROBABLY BE SOMETHING THAT WON'T BE INSTALLED TILL NEAR THE END OF THE SUMMER.

OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT LIKELY TO SEE ANY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE UNTIL AFTER IT'S FINISHED.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE BECAUSE WE STILL ALSO NEED PROFESSIONALS TO HELP US WITH THE DEMO OF THE RESTROOM BUILDING.

AND THERE'S ALSO A LIFT STATION THERE BEHIND IT.

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE ALL OF THAT CAN STILL BE MAINTAINED, EVEN THOUGH OUR RESTROOM BUILDING WILL BE GONE. SO GREAT.

THERE'S A LOT TO DO YET FOR SURE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.

YOU BET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT UPDATE.

[13. D. Township Building Renovation Update]

GOOD EVENING. SO AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

THE WALLS OF THE FRONT HALLWAY AND THE LOBBY CEILING WERE PAINTED AT THE SERVICE CENTER IN EARLY APRIL.

NEW FLOORING WAS INSTALLED LAST WEEK IN THE FRONT LOBBY VESTIBULE ENTRANCE AREA AND THE FRONT HALLWAY.

AND IT IS OUR GOAL TO UPDATE THE FRONT COUNTER AT SOME POINT THIS SUMMER STILL WORKING ON FIGURING THAT OUT AND IT WOULD INCLUDE LOWERING A PORTION TO MAKE IT ADA COMPLIANT OVER THERE.

IN THIS BUILDING THE WEEK OF APRIL 17TH, WE ALL VACATED MINUS THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND THE HOMTV STUDIO.

AND SO NOW WE ARE LOCATED AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, THE SERVICE CENTER, AND THEN AT OUR RENTED SPACE, 2630 BENNETT ROAD, THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND A COUPLE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

THE PAINTERS STARTED LAST TUESDAY.

THEY'VE ALREADY REMOVED ALL THE WALLPAPER ON THE FIRST FLOOR, MINUS ONE ROOM, AND THEY STARTED TODAY ON DRYWALL REPAIR.

SO THAT WILL BE THE MOST LABOR INTENSIVE PART OF THEIR JOB ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

SO THAT'LL TAKE A WHILE.

WE'RE THINKING IT WILL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 72 TO 90 DAYS AT THIS POINT TO DO THE WHOLE BUILDING.

SO. THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR.

BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.

AT THIS POINT, THE WEEK OF MAY 8TH.

WE ARE WORKING ON REMOVING THE EXTERIOR FRONT ENTRANCE DOORS, THE MAIN ONES RIGHT HERE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE CEMENT SLABS OUT IN FRONT.

THERE'S JUST SOME DAMAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE NEW DOORS WOULD BE INSTALLED AND THAT WOULD BE COMPLETE PROBABLY AROUND MAY 26TH.

SO BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE SHOULD HAVE NEW DOORS IN.

AFTER ALL OF THAT, THE FLOORING WILL GET REPLACED.

WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED START DATE OF JUNE 9TH AND WE BELIEVE THE FIRST FLOOR SHOULD BE DONE AROUND JUNE 26TH AND THE SECOND FLOOR AROUND AUGUST 10TH.

AND THEN AFTER FLOORING WILL COME FURNITURE.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL START INSTALLATION SOMETIME IN JUNE AND HOPEFULLY COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER.

THAT'S DEPENDENT ON LEAD TIMES.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY DELAYS, BUT WE NEVER KNOW.

AND THEN WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO UPDATE THE FRONT COUNTER HERE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE LOWERING THE FRONT CORNER.

SO THAT IS ADA COMPLIANT AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.

BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE WILSON.

DO THE FIRST FLOOR RESTROOMS NEED TO BE MADE ADA COMPLIANT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT? THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS PROJECT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. DESCHAINE. HAVEN'T LIVED THROUGH THIS JUST HERE, BUT WATCH THE OTHERS MOVE OFF CAMPUS.

YOU'VE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB OF COORDINATING THIS.

ANTICIPATING PROBLEMS AND HAVING SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

WE WERE ALL FUNCTIONAL.

WE COULD GO MONDAY, THE DAY WE FIRST DAY HERE.

WE HAD A FEW HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY.

AS THE WEEK WENT ON, IT GOT BETTER AND START OF THIS WEEK HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FLAWLESS.

SO EXCELLENT WORK BY YOU.

THANK YOU. AND STEVEN AND DAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S GONE MUCH SMOOTHER THAN I THINK ANYONE EXPECTED.

AND IT TOOK A LOT OF COORDINATION AND PLANNING AND IT SHOWS.

SO THANK YOU. THANKS.

I EXPECTED IT.

[LAUGHTER] ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ITEM 13 E.

[13. E. Police Building Renovation Update]

YES. CHIEF PLAGA.

MADAM SUPERVISOR, BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WE WERE GRANTED FUNDING FOR ACCESS CONTROLS, LOCKER ROOMS AND FLOORING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ACCESS CONTROL, OUR VENDOR IS COMING IN BEGINNING NEXT WEEK TO START PULLING WIRE AND DROPS TO INSTALL THE ACCESS CONTROLS, WHICH WILL HAVE KEYPADS AS WELL

[00:55:01]

SO EVERY TIME SOMEBODY KEYS IN OR CODES INTO ACCESS THIS AREA, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT SNAPS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THEM SO THAT IF SOMEBODY'S KEY GETS STOLEN OR LOST, WE'LL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT BEING USED AND WHO IS USING THAT SO THAT WE'RE KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THAT AUDIT IS KIND OF IMPORTANT FOR US, ESPECIALLY IN OUR ACCREDITATION EFFORTS.

THE LOCKER ROOM PROJECT, THOSE LOCKER ROOM MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ORDERED.

ALL OF THOSE LOCKERS ARE MADE OF STEEL.

SUPPLY CHAIN AND STEEL PRODUCTS RIGHT NOW APPARENTLY ARE SLOW COMING.

THEY GAVE US A 12 TO 14 WEEK OR I'M SORRY, 12 TO 14 WEEK LEAD TIME.

THE ORDER IS IN. SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING END OF SUMMER.

AND THEN OUR FLOORING PROJECT, WE'RE KIND OF TRYING.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DIRECTOR MASSIE.

SHE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL HELP WORKING ON THE FLOORING PIECE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TEAR OUR FLOORS UP WHILE WE HAVE GUESTS IN OUR BUILDING.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE KIND OF BEEN UPROOTED FROM THEIR OFFICES AND MOVED INTO OUR DEPARTMENT, INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR US.

BUT WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING CONTRACTS SIGNED HERE PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.

AND DIRECTOR MASSIE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WORKING WITH THE SAME VENDOR THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS USED FOR THE FLOORING IN THIS BUILDING AND LEVERAGING STATE CONTRACT PRICES.

OKAY. QUESTIONS.

TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU, CHIEF PLAGA. I WAS WONDERING, SO THE THE LOCKERS THAT I KNOW SOME OF MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WEREN'T AS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, BUT I WAS WONDERING THAT THE REASON THAT I HAD VOTED AND SUPPORTED THAT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCREASE IN FEMALE OFFICERS AND YOU NEEDED THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A LOCKER AND EVERYBODY SOME PRIVACY.

SO I'M WONDERING, IS THAT IS THAT STILL ABLE TO HAPPEN GIVEN NOW WITH THE NEW LOCKERS? YES.

EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A LOCKER.

THERE WON'T BE A NEED FOR SHARING AND WE'LL HAVE SOME ROOM FOR GROWTH.

IT'S STILL A TIGHT FIT IN THIS BUILDING.

WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 92, I WOULD SAY THAT THE WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM IS A THIRD THE SIZE OF THE MEN'S LOCKER ROOM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T THAT FOR IT.

AND AS THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO GROW, I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

BUT SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO BECAUSE IN 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW .

YOU JUST SWITCH THEM. [LAUGHTER] RIGHT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY.

THAT IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY.

SO THANK YOU. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AROUND ADJUSTING THAT LOCKER ROOM AND MAKING IT MORE USEFUL BECAUSE THERE'S SOME TEMPORARY LOCKERS IN THERE THAT ALMOST DENY ACCESS TO THE SHOWER OR THE RESTROOMS. SO. GREAT.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? WELL, CHIEF PLAGA, AS AS ONE OF THE GUESTS IN YOUR BUILDING THESE DAYS, I'M VERY INTERESTED AND PLEASED WITH YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCESS CONTROL FEATURES, AND I'LL BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU. ITEM 13 F DEI EQUITY PLAN UPDATE.

[13. F. DEI Equity Plan Update]

SUPERVISOR BOARD.

IT'S LOVELY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

OKAY, SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HERE, WE'VE GOT THIS EQUITY PLAN THAT IS STILL IN DRAFT FORM TECHNICALLY, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT AND KEEP EVOLVING IT AND APPLYING IT AND ENJOYING AND CELEBRATING THE STEPS THAT WE'VE TAKEN ALONG THE WAY.

WE HAVE, WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH OUR TASK FORCE AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR HOW WE OPERATE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP AND AS WE SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.

SO WITH THIS, WE HAVE OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH TRUSTEE WISINSKI WAS WONDERFUL IN HELPING US DEVELOP.

AND THIS WAS, I THINK OVER A YEAR AGO NOW, AND WE HAVE STARTED TO REFINE OUR PURPOSE AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

SO BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE AN ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS.

SO AS WE LIVE AND WORK, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND EQUITABLE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND NOT TO MENTION THE ENJOYABLE FACTOR AND THE CONNECTEDNESS.

SO WE HAVE I MEAN, WE'VE GOT MANY THINGS TO CELEBRATE ALREADY.

WE ALREADY AS OF LAST YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, WE IMPLEMENTED THE, THE SANITARY HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND WE PUT THOSE INSTALLED THOSE IN THE PARKS AND IN ALL OF OUR TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS.

AND THAT WAS VERY WARMLY RECEIVED AND APPRECIATED.

[01:00:03]

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING STEADILY THROUGH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN OUR MANUALS AND JUST GOING THROUGH THEM NOW WITH OUR DEI LENS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STARTING TO UPDATE THOSE AS APPROPRIATE.

AND WE'VE MODIFIED ALL OF OUR SEVEN CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE WHERE APPROPRIATE.

THERE WERE A COUPLE, I BELIEVE, IN OUR POLICE AND FIRE THAT THERE ARE STILL DISTINGUISHING FACTORS BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE TIMING FOR CERTAIN TASKS THAT THEY DO THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO. SO THOSE ARE AS IS FOR RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED SEVERAL TRAININGS.

AND THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF PLAGA.

HE PARTICIPATED AND SIGNED US UP FOR A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE FROM A SOCIAL WORKER.

WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT ON A CALL AND THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S GOT SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEY NEED ASSISTANCE.

SO THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

AND THERE WAS UNCONSCIOUS BIAS TRAINING THAT THEY DO REGULARLY, AND THEY KINDLY ALSO INVITED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH THEY STARTED TAKING PART IN LAST YEAR.

AND LET'S SEE, WE'VE GOT ALL EMPLOYEE TRAINING IS PENDING.

WE HAD A DATE THAT WAS SET FOR APRIL, BUT THEN WE HAD A VERY EXCITING CHANGE WITH THE RENOVATION.

SO WE ARE GETTING INTO THAT.

AND AS YOU SEE, WE'RE ALL GETTING ESTABLISHED AND SETTLED AND FUNCTIONING VERY WELL.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO IT.

THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS THROUGH LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THEIR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

WE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE AND WHAT DATE, BUT THEY'RE CHOMPING AT THE BIT AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE US AND THEY CAN'T WAIT.

SO WE'LL GET FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE ALL THESE TERRIFIC TOWNSHIP EVENTS GOING ON, AND LATELY WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WHAT WE HAVE, OUR FIRST PRIDE EVENT. WE HAVE THAT COMING UP.

SO WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP OF US HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, GETTING ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW FOR THAT EVENT IN AUGUST.

WE HAVE OUR VERY FIRST HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO.

WE'VE GOT THAT COMING ON NEXT WEDNESDAY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WE HAVE. WELL, YEAH, THAT REMINDS ME OF MERIDIAN CARES AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THAT AGAIN, LEANS INTO OUR INCLUSIVITY AND I KEEP FEELING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MORE THAT WE TALK AND WE GET TOGETHER ON THESE SUBJECTS, THE MORE WE'RE REMEMBERING THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DOING.

AND WE NEED TO KEEP ON BUILDING ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS IN AND AROUND US KNOWS THAT THOSE THINGS ARE THERE FOR THEIR USE AND THEIR SUPPORT.

BUT GOING BACK TO EVENTS, WE HAVE OUR CHINESE NEW YEAR, WE HAVE OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.

AND DIRECTOR CLARK HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THE OH MY GOSH, I'M TOTALLY DRAWING A BLANK ON WHAT WE'RE CALLING.

WE HAVE THE ENTIRE WEEKEND DEDICATED TO OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS.

SO WE'VE GOT THE FREEDOM FEST.

YES. YES.

AND SO THAT IS COMING TOGETHER VERY NICELY.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATE MERIDIAN, WHICH WILL BE AGAIN, TERRIFIC AND ALL INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS MINDFUL OF AND LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO INCORPORATE INTO OUR TOWNSHIP BEING ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THAT IS THE OVERVIEW.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

ALL FULL OF COMMENTS. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

DIRECTOR TITHOF. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS JUST AN IDEA AT ONE POINT, AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO YOU COMING ON BOARD TO THIS WORKGROUP.

AND SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S JUST OUTSIDE OF YOUR REGULAR FULL TIME PLUS JOB.

YOU'VE MADE THIS HAPPEN. AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AND IT'S JUST NICE TO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT YOU THERE, ALWAYS LOOKING THROUGH THAT DEI LENS.

ALL OF THIS INTERNAL WORK THAT THE BOARD MAY NOT SEE.

BUT NOW WE'RE MOVING EXTERNALLY, THANKS TO THE MANAGER SAYING YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT THERE, YOU'VE GOT TO SPREAD THE WORD.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.

AND WE REALLY I'VE TALKED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FULL TIME DIRECTORS THAT DO THIS WORK.

AND I FEEL THAT MERIDIAN HAS CONSISTENTLY MADE PROGRESS, THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES MAY HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TITHOF FOR YOUR REPORT.

WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM G.

[13. G. METRO ACT-Protecting Meridian (Part 1 of 2)]

ASSISTANT MANAGER.

DEPUTY MANAGER.

GOT IT. DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT HOW OUR METRO ACT

[01:05:07]

MR. OPSOMMER. GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS.

SO JUST TO BACK UP AND KIND OF GO RIGHT TO THE ROOT ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH POST-PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF FUNDING WAS APPROVED.

I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THESE UTILITIES ARE GAINING ACCESS TO IT.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, THERE WAS A HUGE PUSH FOR BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF NEW PROVIDERS COME INTO THE COMMUNITY.

NOT NECESSARILY WE'VE ONLY APPROVED ONE METRO ACT AGREEMENT WITH A NEW PROVIDER, WHICH WAS MCI METRO, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A SUBSIDIARY OF VERIZON WIRELESS.

BUT THE EXISTING METRO ACT PERMIT HOLDERS HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT MORE WORK.

SO THEY'RE WORKING IN THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY.

THEY'RE WORKING RIGHT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE DOING FULL CONSTRUCTION OR A FULL BUILDOUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO WHEN THEY COME IN, THE FIRST THING THAT OCCURS IS MISSED DIG FLAGS GO IN THE GROUND, RIGHT? WE DRIVE AROUND. WE OFTEN DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THEM WHEN WE'RE DRIVING ON OKEMOS ROAD OR OTHER MAIN ROADWAYS, COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS.

BUT WHEN THEY COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY DO DRAW ATTENTION.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT PEOPLE SEE FROM THERE, JUST SO THAT YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT METHODS ARE BEING UTILIZED.

THEY ARE BORING CONDUIT OR DRILLING CONDUIT.

SO THEY ARE NOT TRENCHING, BUT THEY WILL THEY USE A DITCH WITCH IT'S ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF AN ATV, A LARGE ATV, AND THEY USE THAT TO DIRECTIONAL BORE THE CONDUIT.

AND THEN THEY PULL THEIR FIBER OR THEIR COPPER THROUGH THE CONDUIT.

THEY WILL HAVE TO DIG DOWN.

SO THERE ARE SOME HOLES TO PUT JUNCTION BOXES, CABINETS, WHICH ARE THOSE SQUARE UTILITIES THAT YOU'LL SEE USUALLY SCREENED WITH SOME LANDSCAPING.

BUT IT REALLY KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO DIG DOWN USUALLY 2 TO 3FT DIAMETER HOLES TO VERIFY SOME UTILITIES THAT THEY HAVE TO PASS OVER OR UNDER.

SO TYPICALLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT, WE CALL IT POTHOLING.

THEY'RE VERIFYING THE DEPTH OF A GAS LINE OR A GAS MAIN THAT THEY HAVE TO PASS OVER OR UNDER.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW THE EXACT HEIGHT THAT THAT UTILITY IS AT.

THE MISS DIG FLAGS TELL THEM WHERE THE UTILITY IS.

THEY DON'T TELL THEM THE HEIGHT.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, JUST TO GIVE YOU THE LAY OF THE LAND.

IT'S DIFFERENT PROVIDERS AND THERE'S SOME EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN ONE SITUATION WITH THE OKEMOS PRESERVE SANCTUARY AND THE MEADOWS.

WE HAD AT&T SEND IN THEIR EAST LANSING AND LANSING CREW, BOTH ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE AND ON THE CONTRACTOR SIDE, SO THEY WERE NEW TO THE TOWNSHIP.

REASON BEING WAS THEY WERE LOOKING AT BUILDING OUT IN COLLEGE FIELDS AS WELL.

COLLEGE FIELDS IS TECHNICALLY THE CITY OF LANSING UNDER THE PUBLIC ACT 425 AGREEMENT.

BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY, THEY KIND OF SAID, LET'S BUILD OUT THESE OTHER THREE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE EAST SIDE OF HULETT ROAD.

THEY DID NOT PULL PERMITS.

WE ADDRESSED THAT. THE CONTRACTOR WAS GIVEN A CIVIL INFRACTION WHICH HAS BEEN PAID.

THEY DID APPLY FOR PERMITS.

BUT REALLY THE BIG FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THEY ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE, BUT THEY ARE NOT VERY EFFECTIVE AT THEIR MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT WORKED THROUGH THIS AND FIGURED THIS PROCESS OUT.

SUPERVISOR.

BEFORE YOU GO ON, THE ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHOSE YARDS THEY'RE DIGGING IN OR WITH THE TOWNSHIP? YEAH, THEY ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHOSE YARDS THEY'RE DIGGING IN.

FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW METRONET DOES MAIL A LETTER.

I GOT IT WHEN THEY BUILT OUT IN GEORGETOWN.

IT WAS MID OR LATE MARCH WHEN THEY DID THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT THEY SENT ME A LETTER IN THE MAIL, BUT IT'S IN A METRONET ENVELOPE.

I REALLY HAD NO INTEREST IN OPENING THAT ENVELOPE.

AND HERE'S KIND OF WHAT REALLY DRAWS THIS TO YOUR EYE.

WE GET NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONSUMERS UNLESS THEY START CUTTING TREES.

WE GET COMPLAINTS, BUT CONSUMERS, MAILS NOTICES, WE READ IT BECAUSE WE'RE A CUSTOMER, RIGHT? WE GET SOMETHING. WE SEE THE LOGO.

WE KNOW CONSUMERS.

WE KNOW THEY'RE THEIR CUSTOMER.

WE OPEN THE ENVELOPE OR IF IT'S A POST CARD WE WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO PICK IT UP AND READ IT.

IT'S NOT ONE OF THE OTHER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I START MY MAIL, I HAVE MY SPAM PILE, PEOPLE AND SERVICES THAT I DON'T KNOW AND DON'T CONTRACT WITH.

AND THEN I HAVE THE OTHER PILE.

RIGHT. WELL, METRONET'S LETTER WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE SPAM PILE IF I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE CONTENTS IN IT WERE DUE TO THE NATURE OF MY WORK.

SO I OPENED IT FOR THE PURPOSES OF JUST VERIFYING THAT IT WAS IN FACT WHAT THEY HAD STATED THEY WERE MAILING.

THEY ALSO SOME OF THEM USE DOOR HANGERS, SOME OF THEM USE YARD DARTS.

[01:10:04]

THERE'S STILL SOME THAT ARE SITTING NEXT TO MAILBOX POSTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

OVER A MONTH AFTER CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T READ IT AGAIN, THEY THINK IT'S A SOLICITATION, SO THEY'RE NOT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY.

THEY HAVEN'T EVER FIGURED THIS OUT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HONESTLY CARE THAT IT'S EFFECTIVE.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS COME UP WITH A WAY TO COMPEL THEM AS A CONDITION OF THEIR PERMIT BECAUSE THEY DO NEED TO GET A UTILITY PERMIT FROM US.

SO AS A CONDITION OF THAT, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO NOT ONLY MAIL A STANDARD NOTICE THAT WE WROTE ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT THEY WILL SPEAK IN FIRST PERSON.

SO WHEN THEY SAY WE, THEY MEAN AT&T.

IT WILL COME IN AN AT&T ENVELOPE.

THERE'S A SPOT DESIGNATED WHERE THEY WILL PUT THEIR LOGO, THEIR RETURN ADDRESS, ETCETERA.

BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A VERY IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER RIGHT BELOW THAT LOGO AND ADDRESS.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE USED IN VARIOUS PROFESSIONS WHERE I'VE NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE IN A NUMBER TEN ENVELOPE WHEN YOU MAIL SOMETHING IN IT, THERE'S AN OPEN RATE. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OPEN IT? 20? AND SO I'VE HAD TO COME UP IN VARIOUS CAREERS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE WITH WAYS TO GET PEOPLE TO OPEN THAT ENVELOPE AT GOOD RATES.

SO BASICALLY, WE HAVE DESIGNED THIS ENVELOPE TO A, GET THE OPEN RATE UP AND THEN WE'VE DESIGNED THE CONTENTS THAT THEY PUT IN IT TO ACTUALLY BE INFORMATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S COMING, WHAT TO EXPECT, AND PREDOMINANTLY WHAT THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE GET.

WHY ARE THESE FLAGS HERE? WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SPRINKLER SYSTEM INVISIBLE FENCE IS DAMAGED AND WHEN WILL MY LAWN BE RESTORED? IT ANSWERS ALL OF THOSE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND I THINK PRETTY CLEAR TERMS. WE'VE USED THIS LANGUAGE VIA EMAIL TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE.

NOW IT'S COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO GET PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.

AND THERE'S ALSO CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THIS IN THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO MAIL ME A COPY.

MY STAFF WILL RECEIVE A COPY, SO WE GET A COPY IN THE MAIL AS PART OF THE LARGER MAILING SO WE KNOW WHEN THESE NOTICES ARE ARRIVING IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY WILL HAVE TO SEND ME A PROOF OF THE LETTER WHEN THEY FILL IN THE BLANKS AND WE WILL APPROVE IT.

SO AND WE WILL GET THEIR MAILING LIST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR MAILING LIST IS NOT OVERLOOKING A HUGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION BEING IMPACTED BY THE PERMIT.

SO THAT MORE OR LESS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE BOARD ON APRIL 12TH, I BELIEVE, OF 2022, APPROVED THE TOWNSHIP TO COMPEL THE PERMIT HOLDERS TO PROVIDE A BOND.

WE'RE PROPOSING AN ANNUAL $10,000 BOND.

IT'S BASICALLY A BALANCE LIMIT THAT THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY NOT TO USE IT BECAUSE IT TAKES MY TIME, IT TAKES MY STAFF'S TIME, IT TAKES OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S TIME TO USE THAT MONEY.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO LET IT JUST SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND STILL COMPEL THEM TO CORRECT MATTERS.

USUALLY, THE ONLY INSTANCES WHERE I'VE INTERVENED IN THE PAST AND SPENT TOWNSHIP FUNDS AND THEN INVOICED TO BE REIMBURSED IS WHEN IT'S A WATER UTILITY OR SOMETHING CRITICAL LIKE THAT.

WE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WITHOUT WATER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND THEN WE HAD A SEWER LATERAL BOARD THROUGH RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

SO IN THE INTEREST OF NOT PUTTING THOSE RESIDENTS AT THE WHIMS OF THE UTILITY THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RESTORED SERVICE IMMEDIATELY.

SO WE HIRED THE CONTRACTOR AND OVERSAW THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS VERY EXPEDITIOUS.

SO FOR THE MOST PART, WE WILL STILL JUST COMPEL THE CONTRACTOR AND THE UTILITY TO PAY TO BRING SOMEONE IN TO FIX THAT IRRIGATION SYSTEM OR OTHER THING LIKE THAT.

BUT PREDOMINANTLY WE MAYBE IF 3 OR 4 NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WORKED IN, WE'LL HAVE ONE IRRIGATION SYSTEM DAMAGED OR MAYBE A CONCERN THAT ONE WAS DAMAGED BUT WASN'T IN FACT DAMAGED.

GROUNDWATER TABLE IS VERY HIGH AND THEY DO PUT WATER IN THE HOLES AS PART OF THE BORING PROCESS TO DEAL WITH FRICTION.

SO WE'VE HAD SOME FALSE FLAGS, FALSE POSITIVES ON IRRIGATION SYSTEMS BEING DAMAGED.

BUT PREDOMINANTLY IT'S WHY ARE THESE FLAGS HERE? HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE? ESPECIALLY AS THE GRASS IS GROWING.

I DO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE UTILITIES TO GET THROUGH THINGS.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME OF YEAR.

FEBRUARY TO, ANY TIME OF YEAR WHERE THE GRASS ISN'T GROWING IS A GOOD TIME OF YEAR FOR MISS DIG FLAG.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO DELAY THESE THIS INEVITABLE WORK TO JUNE WHEN THE GRASS IS GROWING RAPIDLY.

SO THAT'S A QUICK OVERVIEW.

MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT IS TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK.

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THIS?

[01:15:01]

LET ME START.

SURE. OKAY.

SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE METRO ACT? THE METRO ACT GOVERNS IT.

THE METRO ACT WAS.

VERY GOOD QUESTION SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

[LAUGHTER] THE METRO ACT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

THE METRO ACT IS WHEN LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT START ADOPTING ORDINANCES REGULATING IN A VERY CUSTOM FASHION FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES, HOW BUSINESS LIKE THIS IS CONDUCTED IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

WELL, THEN THESE INTERNET PROVIDERS SAY, WELL, WE HAVE ALL THESE PAC FUNDS AND RESOURCES.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE GOING TO LOBBY TO PREEMPT LOCAL CONTROL.

NOW, SOME OF WHAT'S IN HERE COULD POSSIBLY BE IN SOME GRAY AREAS.

BUT THE REALITY IS THESE UTILITIES WANT TO KEEP MOVING AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FIGHT THE LITTLE THINGS.

AND THEY'RE ALREADY DOING EVERYTHING IN HERE.

IT MAY THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT AND IT MAY TAKE TWO PHONE CALLS FROM ME, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT SO I CAN SAY WITH 100% CERTAINTY, EVERYONE WHO'S CONTACTED THE TOWNSHIP HAS HAD THEIR ISSUE RESOLVED TO SATISFACTION.

BUT THE METRO ACT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

IT'S PREEMPTING US FROM HAVING CONTROLS.

IT'S TRYING TO LIMIT IT.

AND PREDOMINANTLY IT WAS WRITTEN BY THESE UTILITIES.

OVER THE RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

OKAY. IT'S TRYING TO THEY WILL PITCH IT TO LAWMAKERS AS UNIFORMITY.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T HAVE DIFFERENT RULES EVERY PLACE.

THE REALITY IS THEY GET DIFFERENT RULES.

THERE'S A REASON WHY THE LANSING EAST LANSING ARM OF AT&T CAME IN AND WASN'T BEHAVING THE SAME WAY THAT METRONET WAS. SO, I MEAN, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR METRONET TO GET THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? SUPERVISOR JACKSON? I THINK IT TOOK THEM ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

YEAH. SO THEY STARTED IN MANAGER WALSH'S NEIGHBOR, AT&T STARTED IN MANAGER WALSH'S NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE SAME TIME.

THEY'RE STILL THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO PREEMPT US, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK.

THERE'S WAYS TO COMPEL ALL THIS.

IT JUST TAKES TIME AND RESOURCES ON THE TOWNSHIP'S PART TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYONE ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

OKAY. ANOTHER QUESTION.

SO EVERYONE WHO SHOULD BE WHO IS WORKING IN THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD HAVE A PERMIT? YES. CAN YOU SAY THAT EVERYONE WHO IS WORKING IN THE TOWNSHIP HAS APPROPRIATELY GONE THROUGH OUR PERMITTING PROCESS? TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.

MISS DIG FLAGS STARTED GOING IN TODAY, FOR INSTANCE, IN INDIAN LAKES FOR AN AT&T BUILDOUT.

AND WE DO HAVE THEIR PERMIT AND WE ARE REVIEWING IT.

SO TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE PERMITS FOR ALL THE WORK.

THERE IS A DEARTH OF WORK OCCURRING.

OKAY. ESPECIALLY IN PREDOMINANTLY ON THE INTERNET FRONT.

OKAY. AND I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT WAS.

SO DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? TREASURER. MR. DESCHAINE. THANK YOU. WHAT BOND DO WE CURRENTLY, BEFORE THE BOARD ACTED, WHAT BOND DO WE REQUIRE OF THESE INSTALLERS OR THESE COMPANIES? WE DID NOT REQUIRE A BOND.

OKAY. AND SO YOU'RE PROPOSING TO START A BOND OR ARE WE CURRENTLY STILL NOT REQUIRING A BOND? IS THAT CORRECT? WE DID NOT IMPLEMENT IT.

WE ARE PROPOSING IT'S IN ITS DRAFT.

IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE UTILITY PERMIT, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

SO IT'S ITEM IF YOU GO TO PAGE FOUR.

ITEM 14 IS THE CASH BOND.

THAT'S A NEW PROVISION IN ITS ENTIRETY.

ITEM 15 IS NEW IN ITS ENTIRETY DEALING WITH THE NOTICE TO RESIDENTS.

AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO THAT NOTICE AT THE TOP OF THE STANDARD NOTICE THAT WE HAVE PREPARED.

AND THEN THE OTHER CRITICAL CHANGE WAS ITEM TEN RESTORATION.

AT THE END OF THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE WE ADDED WITHIN 72 HOURS.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS WE ARE DOING OR TRAINING SOME OF THE NEW FOLKS THAT HAVE COME IN TO DO SO A LOT OF THIS HAS KIND OF JUST BEEN MUTUALLY AGREED TO.

SO I DON'T REALLY EXPECT A TON OF PUSHBACK, EXPECT SOME MILD PUSHBACK.

BUT AS A FOLLOW UP REGARDING THE LETTER, I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO GIVE THEM THE FORMAT TO USE.

SOMEHOW I FEAR THEY'RE STILL GOING TO MESS IT UP.

OH, NO, BECAUSE WE WILL EITHER NOT GET A LETTER OR I WILL GET A LETTER AND IT'S NOT WHAT I APPROVED.

SO EITHER WAY, THEY MESSED UP.

THERE ARE COMPANIES WE USE ONE FOR A UTILITY BILLING, FOR EXAMPLE, [INAUDIBLE] MISS OUT, HE'S USING THEM FOR TAX NOTICE.

OR YOU YOU GIVE THEM A DIGITAL COPY OF THE LETTER IN THE ARTWORK AND THEY THEY PRODUCE THE ENTIRE THING AND YOU GIVE THEM YOUR MAILING LIST AND THE COST.

[01:20:04]

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING FURTHER CONTROL OF THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAILED TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKE SURE WE KNOW THE LETTER BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT.

THEY GET TO ADD THEIR LANGUAGE TO IT, THEIR LOGO TO IT, BUT IT WOULD ALSO BE UNIFORM IN THE WAY THAT WENT OUT AS WELL.

MAYBE THAT'S A SECOND STEP, IF THE FIRST STEP DOESN'T WORK WITH THEM.

BUT WE COULD ACTUALLY CONTROL THAT AND SIMPLY CHARGE THAT FEE.

EVERY PARTIAL OWNER IN THE AREA AFFECTED.

YOU'RE GOING TO ADD $2 OR EVEN $3 PER RESIDENT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE STAFF TIME TO REVIEW THAT LETTER AND SEND IT OUT TO THE MAILING HOUSE.

BUT WE CAN PRODUCE THAT WITHOUT ADDING MORE STAFF, BUT SIMPLY ADDING A PER PARCEL COST TO IT.

LET ME TAKE THAT IDEA BACK TO OUR ATTORNEYS AND SEE HOW SEE WHAT THE LEGALITIES ARE PERTAINING TO IT.

BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA.

THANK YOU. VERY GOOD IDEA.

THANK YOU, TREASURER DESCHAINE.

OTHERS. ONE MORE FOR ME.

SO THE CHANGES THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING ARE PART OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS? IT'S RIGHT NOW I'M PROPOSING CHANGES TO THE UTILITY PERMIT ITSELF.

SO THE PERMIT APPLICATION THAT THEY THAT EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO WORK IN THE RIGHT OF WAY HAS TO APPLY.

OKAY. IT'S ALSO A SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PERMIT.

SO RIGHT NOW I'M JUST PROPOSING CHANGES TO THAT.

WE ARE STILL SPEAKING TO THE ATTORNEYS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT LEGALLY WE COULD INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WE CAN IMPOSE.

RIGHT NOW IT'S $500 FOR A CIVIL INFRACTION, WHICH IS THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW THE METRO ACT IS INSUFFICIENT.

UNDER THE METRO ACT YES, I COULD GO AFTER THEM FOR UP TO A $20,000 FINE, BUT I HAVE TO BUILD A CASE AND GO TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND ALL OF MY GROUNDS HAVE TO BE COVERED UNDER THAT ACT.

THEY HAVE TO BE VIOLATING THAT ACT IN SOME FOR THE MOST PART, GROSSLY NEGLIGENT WAY, NOT THE STUFF THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WOULD NOT CARE AS WELL THE ACT WOULD NOT COVER THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT DOESN'T PRESCRIBE A RESTORATION TIMELINE AND WHAT A GOOD RESTORATION TIMELINE IS.

SO THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE DEFICIENCIES.

SO.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THIS BOARD? DO YOU NEED TO FOR THIS BOARD TO SANCTION IN SOME WAY CHANGE AN ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER SO THAT YOU CAN IMPOSE THOSE NEW RULES AND STANDARDS? NOTHING AT THIS TIME BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE CASH BOND, BECAUSE OUR ORDINANCE DID PRESCRIBE THAT THAT AUTHORITY IS VESTED WITH THE BOARD.

SO YOU HANDLED THAT IN 2022.

TONIGHT, WHAT I NEED IS ANY THOUGHTS OR ADDITIONAL IDEAS OR INPUT THAT YOU HAVE AND OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK ONE MORE TIME AND VET IT ONE MORE TIME.

SO TREASURER DESCHAINE'S IDEA IS A VERY GOOD ONE IN TERMS OF JUST QUALITY CONTROL.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING I WILL TAKE BACK TO THE ATTORNEYS AND SEE IF SOMEHOW WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE METRO ACT.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT MANAGER WALSH HAS DISCUSSED IS WITH YOU ALL, OF COURSE, IS DOING AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS, FROM THE BOARD TO THE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCING WHATEVER THE CONCLUSIONS ARE.

OKAY. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. JUST BECAUSE THE MANAGER ASKED FOR FEEDBACK, I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS AND OR FAMILY IN THE AREA THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FLAGS ARE IN THEIR YARD.

WHAT ARE THESE FLAGS? WHAT ARE THESE FLAGS? WELL THEY ARE MISS DIG FLAGS? BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR.

AND I JUST ASSUMED IT WAS METRONET.

SO SO JUST TO CONFIRM, THE FOLKS I TALKED TO ARE NOT BEING NOTIFIED.

OR IF THEY ARE, THEY'RE LIKE YOU SAID, NOT THEY'RE NOT READING THE INFORMATION.

I HAVE A HARD TIME COMING UP WITH A SCENARIO WHERE SOMEONE WOULD READ ONE OF THESE.

THE ONLY THINGS, THE YARD DARTS, MAYBE BECAUSE TYPICALLY PEOPLE WANT TO DECLUTTER THEIR YARD, BUT IT STILL REQUIRES THEM ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR RECYCLING BIN TO RECYCLE THIS PLASTIC THING THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THEY'D HAVE TO READ IT AND THEY COULD BE ON THE PHONE.

I MEAN, THEY COULD JUST NOT CARE.

BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE READING.

AS FAR AS THE MISS DIG FLAGS.

YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE DO WANT TO GOOGLE, YOU CAN GOOGLE MISS DIG AND FIND OUT WHAT EACH COLOR MEANS.

BLUE IS WATER. THE TOWNSHIP MARKS THE WATER AND THE SANITARY IN BLUE.

YELLOW IS.

[INAUDIBLE] YELLOW IS CONSUMERS.

SO THINK NATURAL GAS.

ORANGE AND RED ARE TELECOMS. CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

I WOULD ONLY MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION IN YOUR LETTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAGE THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED WE WILL BE INSTALLING INTERNET SERVICE USING DIRECTIONAL BORING, SO THERE'LL BE MINIMAL

[01:25:07]

WE WILL NOT BE TRENCHING ALONG THE ROADWAY.

WE'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES IN THE TOWNSHIP WHERE THEY TRENCHED THROUGH PEOPLE'S LAWNS ILLEGALLY TO GET THROUGH TO ANOTHER LAWN.

AND SO I WOULD IT'S NOT ONLY ALONG THE ROADWAY, IT'S ALSO THROUGH PEOPLE'S LAWNS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING CAN BE ADDED OR NOT.

THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION.

YEAH, THOSE ARE TOUGH BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S AN EASEMENT.

SOMETIMES WHAT PEOPLE THINK IS THEIR PROPERTY IS NOT THEIR PROPERTY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TOWNSHIP PROPERTY THAT'S ENCROACHED UPON OFTEN AND CONSUMERS ENERGY DOES AS WELL.

I MEAN I'VE SEEN SWIMMING POOLS IN CONSUMERS ENERGY'S RIGHT OF WAY.

SO THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS THAT WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT.

BUT CERTAINLY IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN, THEY SHOULD CONTACT US SO WE CAN LOOK AT THAT EXACT PROPERTY AND WHAT MAY BE OCCURRING AS IT RELATES TO THAT PROPERTY.

BUT I MEAN, TYPICALLY THEY'RE ALWAYS IN AN EASEMENT OF SOME KIND OR THE RIGHT OF WAY.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE. LIKE HIAWATHA ESTATES AT THE NORTH END OF IT, KIND OF ABUTTING THE COUNTY DOBIE ROAD MEDICAL FACILITY PROPERTY. I HAD A RESIDENT CONTACT ME BECAUSE THERE'S CONSUMER POLES BACK THERE AND METRONET WAS PUTTING THEIR AERIAL CABLES ON THOSE POLES AND THERE WERE EASEMENTS FOR THOSE POLES TO BE THERE.

SO IT'S WE REALLY HAVE TO CHECK WITH LIKE THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE TO LOOK AT ALL THE RECORDS ON FILE FOR A PARCEL.

IT'S NOT A QUICK PROCESS TO VERIFY ALL THAT, BUT WE DO WHEN WE GET A COMPLAINT.

ANYONE ELSE. MANAGER WALSH? YEAH. SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT (Part 1 of 2)]

I KNOW. SO I REALIZE IT NOW.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TAKE MY OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM NOT HAPPY.

SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE.

OUR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ARE BEING BASICALLY RAPED BY THESE CONTRACTORS.

I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU TO COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

SEVEN WEEKS.

AND THEY'RE TEARING UP RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE HOUSES.

AND THERE'S PILES OF DIRT EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE THERE THEN THEY'RE GONE FOR A FEW DAYS.

THEN THEY'RE BACK. OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, 126 HOMES HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

YEAH, THEY SEE THEY'RE SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THESE FLAGS AND KNOW, YEAH, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY US.

IN FACT, THEY CAME AND THEY WORKED WITHOUT A PERMIT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, SHUT THEM DOWN.

I GUESS THEY GOT A FINE INSIGNIFICANT TO THEM.

BUT SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE BECAUSE THEY'RE OPERATING SOMETIMES WITHOUT A PERMIT.

THEY'RE TEARING UP PEOPLE'S LAWNS.

YOU COME THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S AT LEAST A DOZEN LAWNS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE A HUGE PILE OF DIRT AND A HOLE, SOMETHING OVER THEM USUALLY.

PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA. THEY STILL DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

NO NOTIFICATION LAWNS BEING TORN UP FOR WEEKS.

AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO COME OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED AND USE THAT AS A BASIS TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

AND THEN I WOULD COMMUNICATE, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, PUT THIS IN A LETTER DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENTS.

THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE RENOVATION THAT WENT ON, BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY JUST COME OUT AND THEY THINK THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COME UP ONTO OUR PROPERTY AND TEAR UP WHATEVER THEY WANT TO.

AND THEY HAVE NO STAKE IN THIS COMMUNITY AT ALL.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL TAKE WHAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO YOU AND FURTHER WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONTROL.

I KNOW WE CAN'T DO A LOT, BUT WE CAN DO SOME AND THEN COMMUNICATE THAT IN A LETTER TO ALL THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT'S HAPPENING NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS, I THINK THE WORST CONTRACTORS ARE WORKING ON OUR SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY, LIKE THE METRONET, SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THE COMPANIES, AS I'VE NOTICED, THEY WORK IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY'VE DONE A DECENT JOB.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, COME OVER TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S SEVEN WEEKS THAT'S ONGOING NOW.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT'S GOING TO END.

THEY'RE STILL TODAY THEY WERE UP WITH THEIR, AS YOU CALL IT, ATV WITH THESE BIG, WIDE, LIKE SNOWMOBILE TREAD THINGS ON THEM AND STILL DRIVING RIGHT OVER LAWNS AND EVERYTHING.

IT'S A HOT MESS IS WHAT IT IS.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY UNHAPPY.

I WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M NOT ON THE HOA, BUT EVERY NIGHT STOPPED BY PEOPLE, ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND I HOPE THAT IT GETS ADDRESSED BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SINCE YOU ASKED ME ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD, FIRST OF ALL, I STARTED SEEING FLAGS AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS PUTTING THE

[13. G. METRO ACT-Protecting Meridian (Part 2 of 2)]

[01:30:02]

BUT I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT, WHEN THEY LEFT, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY'D BEEN THERE.

AND THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE.

AND NONE OF MY NEIGHBORS CAME TO ME ASKING, I CAN'T ATTEST TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LETTER BECAUSE I DON'T READ EVERYTHING.

BUT NO ONE CAME TO ME ASKING ME AND CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHY.

SO IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK THE PROCESS WENT VERY WELL AND PEOPLE BEHAVED AND RESTORED THE PROPERTY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL THAT THERE WERE HOLES DUG UP AND GRASS DUG UP AND LEFT UNREPAIRED IN THAT CASE.

DIFFERENT COMPANY. AND THAT CAME WITH A YEAR OF TRAINING METRONET AND THEIR CONTRACTOR AND BANNING ONE OF THEIR CONTRACTORS TO GET TO THAT POINT.

YES, IT'S A SEAMLESS PROCESS.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB, THEY'LL TAKE THEIR SHOVEL AND THEY'LL PUT THE SOD BACK, WHICH IS WHAT OUR GUYS ARE TRAINED TO DO TOO.

YOU KNOW, FOR THE SIGN PROJECT, WE HAD TO GO OUT AND LOCATE THE PROPERTY LINE.

ONE OF MY STAFF WAS OUT THERE WITH ME WORKING ON IT.

WELL, WE PUT THE SOD RIGHT BACK.

I MEAN, WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, WE SET THE SOD ASIDE, PUT THE SOIL IN A DIFFERENT PILE AND PUT THAT SOD GRASS UP SO THAT IT LOOKED RESTORED IMMEDIATELY.

AND METRONET HAS BEEN DOING THAT.

SO THAT'S A YEAR OF TRAINING.

I'M TIRED OF TRAINING THESE PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF ANYONE'S TIME OR ENERGY FOR THE TOWNSHIP, TO BE FRANK, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.

SO I'VE KIND OF TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF TO DEAL WITH THAT, ALONG WITH ROB MCKENZIE, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE PROTECTING OUR ASSETS AND PROTECTING EVERYONE'S WATER IS PARAMOUNT AS WELL.

SO AND BASED ON MANAGER WALSH'S COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO MAKE AT&T WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ME TOMORROW MORNING.

SO BUT YEAH, YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS POSITIVE BECAUSE OF TIME THAT WE INVESTED TRAINING METRONET AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY GOT A GOOD, RELIABLE CONTRACTOR, OR AT LEAST WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK.

OKAY. THE CONTRACTOR THAT'S IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MORE CAPACITY.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE FOR THEM TO BE TAKING THIS LONG.

SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, YOU'RE MOVING ON WITH YOUR PROCESS AND WITH THE SUGGESTIONS.

SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS TO, I GUESS, SANCTION THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE MAKING? IF YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IT BACK ON, WE COULD PUT IT BACK ON FOR ONE MORE DISCUSSION ITEM, JUST IF YOU'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO VISIT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE COULD PUT IT BACK ON FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING FORMAL TO APPROVE OR ADOPT.

OKAY. BUT I AM OPEN TO ANY AND ALL IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND INPUT.

WE WILL TAKE TREASURER DESCHAINE'S IDEA, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT ONE, BACK TO THE ATTORNEYS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WITHIN THE METRO ACT OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MAKE VIABLE.

SO I GUESS I'LL ASK THE BOARD IF YOU THINK YOU NEED TO HEAR ANOTHER UPDATE OR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE? I DON'T THINK SO. NO. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. IT JUST PROVOKED A THOUGHT DIGGING UP THE HOLES.

SO IN THIS PARTICULAR FRIENDS LAWN THAT HAS EVERY MISS DIG FLAG THERE WAS A HOLE QUITE BIG A TODDLER COULD EASILY FALL IN THAT HOLE.

IT WAS COVERED WITH A PIECE OF PLYWOOD, BUT THAT WAS IT.

SHE ALSO HAS DOGS, SO SHE HAD TO MAKE SURE THEIR DOGS WEREN'T THERE.

SO JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO CONVEY BACK TO YOU AS FAR AS FEEDBACK THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LIABILITY THAT MIGHT PUT THE TOWNSHIP IN.

AND OR, OF COURSE, IF ANYBODY WAS TO GET HURT OR? DO YOU KNOW WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD IT WAS? WARDCLIFF. OKAY. AND IT WAS LAST YEAR, 22? OH, NO, IT'S THEY JUST FILLED THE HOLE.

OKAY. AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S METRONET JUST BASED ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO I CAN GET SO IF YOU WANT TO SEND ME SOME MORE INFORMATION, I CAN INVESTIGATE IT.

BUT TYPICALLY WE REQUIRE THEM IF THEY HAVE TO LEAVE A HOLE OPEN OVERNIGHT, THEY NEED TO PUT SNOW FENCING AROUND IT, WHICH IS THE ORANGE FENCE, KIND OF RECTANGULAR. AND SO THEY'LL PUT U-CHANNEL POSTS IN ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, SNOW FENCE AROUND IT, PLYWOOD OVER THE HOLE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S OUR STANDARD AND THEY KNOW THAT.

[01:35:04]

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MR. OPSOMMER I THINK WE ARE CONFIDENT IN HOW YOU PLAN TO PROCEED MOVING FORWARD AND WE WELCOME ANY UPDATES YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HEAR.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS.

THANK YOU. THE ITEM 13 H IS BRIGHTLINE PROJECT UPDATE.

[13. H. Brightline Project Update]

GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

DIRECTOR GEBES. THANK YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO EXACTLY THAT WE WERE HERE WITH BRIGHTLINE, WHO PRESENTED BAKER'S DOZEN WORTH OF PROJECTS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED WE IMPLEMENT.

DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ARP FUNDS AND FUNDING OF OTHER ISSUES AND THE 2023 BUDGET OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS WE PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THAT AND WE BEGAN IN OCTOBER.

WE'VE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON SEVERAL OF THOSE PROJECTS.

AND I'M GOING TO BORROW YOUR COMPUTER FOR JUST A SECOND HERE, SIR.

I SEE. I'M GOING TO BORROW IT.

YEAH. AND ABOUT 80% OF THE PROJECTS HAVE BEGUN AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THEM AT THIS POINT.

FOR ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT HAVE NETWORK EQUIPMENT AND SOME THAT DIDN'T BEFORE, WE'VE ADDED NEW NETWORKING EQUIPMENT INSIDE THE BUILDING.

EVERYTHING IS INTEGRATED INTO A SINGLE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM THAT HAS WEB ACCESS FOR MY TEAM TO LOOK AT AND SEE PROBLEMS NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOWN AT 242 RIGHT NOW, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT PROBLEMS OR EVEN INTERESTING FACTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON TRAFFIC BETWEEN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.

WE'VE UPGRADED ALL OF OUR FIREWALLS FOR THIS FACILITY, AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING FIREWALLS FOR ALL OF THE REST OF OUR FACILITIES OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, THAT TOOK A BACK SEAT TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING FOR RELOCATIONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BUT IN OUR MEETING TODAY, WE'RE JUMPING RIGHT BACK INTO THAT.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET THAT GOING.

THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNOLOGIES WITH NEW WAYS TO CONNECT OUR SITES.

AND IN FACT, EVEN IF WE WERE TO HAVE A CABLE CUT HERE AT THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ROUTE AROUND WITH THE NEW HARDWARE AND THE NEW SOFTWARE NETWORKING SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO ROUTE AROUND THOSE KINDS OF OUTAGES INSIDE OF OUR OWN NETWORK WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO EXTERNAL TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES.

FOR THOSE, OUR BACKUP SYSTEMS ARE STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW WITH OUR OLDER HARDWARE.

BUT THE NEW DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, RIGHT NOW AS WE TALK, THERE ARE UPDATES HAPPENING FROM OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE NETWORK.

THOSE GO BACK TO OUR SERVERS RIGHT NOW THAT DATA IN REAL TIME IS BEING WRITTEN TO DATA SERVERS IN DETROIT AND CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES.

IF WE WERE TO LOSE EVERYTHING IN THIS BUILDING, WE CAN BRING OUR SERVERS BACK UP WITH A PLAYBOOK THAT'S THAT DATA REPLICATION IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF MAKING THAT FAILOVER WORK THE WAY THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CATCH UP TO DO FROM THE THE MINOR PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE 3 OR 4 PROJECTS THAT PROBABLY HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE BIT FROM THE MOVE.

BUT OUR ORIGINAL GOAL TO COMPLETE ALL OF THIS WORK WAS JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THAT.

SOME OF THE THE WORKSTATION REPLACEMENTS WAS A BIG COMPONENT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT, TALKED ABOUT LAST MAY, AND THAT WILL PROBABLY COME JUST IN TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE MOVING BACK INTO THIS FACILITY AND WILL PROBABLY BE TRYING TO COINCIDE THAT WITH THEM COMING BACK WHERE WE CAN LEAVE THEIR WORKSTATION WHERE IT WAS.

THEY'LL MOVE BACK TO A NEW WORKSTATION AND THEN WE'LL RECYCLE THEIR OLD WORKSTATIONS FROM THE POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S A QUICK 2 OR 3 MINUTE SUMMARY FROM THE IT GUY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE COMPUTER STUFF BECAUSE WE GET A LITTLE BIT EXCITED.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OR WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS, I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS.

OKAY, MR. DESCHAINE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT MUNICIPALITIES FACE IS A HIJACKING OF THEIR DATA AND IS HELD FOR RANSOM, IT HAS HAPPENED LOCALLY, I BELIEVE, INGHAM COUNTY.

IT'S HAPPENED TO GOVERNMENTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

WITH OUR REAL TIME BACKUPS AM I CORRECT THAT THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AT 10:00 TONIGHT, WE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL WE COULD RESTORE TO 10:00

[01:40:01]

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO THOSE BACKUPS AS THEY HAPPEN, THEY'RE IN REAL TIME.

AND THAT FAILOVER, THAT INSTANTANEOUS FAILOVER THAT WOULD PROTECT US FROM LIKE A FIRE OR A TORNADO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT COMING THROUGH AND TAKING OUT ALL OF OUR HARDWARE HERE, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SERVICE.

BUT A SECOND PART OF THE SERVICE IS TAKING A SNAPSHOT AT EVERY HOUR.

AND YOU'LL FORGIVE ME.

WE HAVE NOT WORKED OUT ALL THE DETAILS OF THAT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SITTING DOWN AND DOING RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT SNAPSHOT FROM MIDNIGHT FROM LAST FRIDAY, FROM A WEEK BEFORE.

SO NO MATTER WHEN SOMEBODY WERE TO GET IN, WE WILL HAVE SNAPSHOTS BACK IN TIME THAT WILL HAVE 100% OF THE DATA THAT'S BEING USED BY THE TOWNSHIP ABLE TO RESTORE TO THAT PARTICULAR POINT.

I WILL MENTION, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT, BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ALL OF OUR T'S CROSSED AND I'S DOTTED TO BE AS PROTECTED AS WE CAN WITH THOSE SYSTEMS. BUT YES, THAT SNAPSHOT OF DATA IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

AND SECONDARILY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE IS BELIEVED TO BE TRUE THAT THE WEAKEST LINK IN CYBER SECURITY ARE THE USERS WHO CAN CLICK ON THE WRONG LINK, WHO CAN ACCIDENTALLY GIVE AWAY THEIR CREDENTIALS AND LET THOSE PIRATES AND HIJACKERS IN AND EXPOSING OUR NETWORK. WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR STAFF IN THE MONTHS AHEAD? YEAH, THE DEPUTY MANAGER AND I ARE ON A TASK FORCE, A SMALL TEAM RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LOOKING AT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE DO HAVE TRAINING SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

WE HAD SEVERAL TRAINING EXERCISES LAST YEAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE DID NOT FOLLOW UP AS DILIGENTLY AS WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BASED ON SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THAT TIME.

BUT WE ARE REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS.

WE WILL GO BACK IN.

THAT CAN BE TIED WITH THE SYSTEM OF TRAINING THAT WE HAVE HAS BUILT INTO IT TESTING SYSTEM FOR MALWARE, PHISHING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THERE ARE TRAINING COURSES SET UP TO RESPOND SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE WHO CLICKED ON LINKS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE.

ALL THOSE TOOLS ARE THERE.

WE ARE REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THAT PUSHED OUT TO THE END USER AND WE'LL FOLLOW THROUGH VERY DILIGENTLY THIS TIME AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE USERS ARE COMPLETING THOSE COURSES.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IT SEEMS EVERYBODY IS COMPLETELY ASSURED OF HOW THEY'RE USING THE NEW SYSTEM.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. SO THAT COMPLETES OUR LIST OF OF DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR TONIGHT. I REALIZED THAT I SKIPPED TWO ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA EARLIER, SO WE HAVE NOT HAD A MANAGER'S REPORT TONIGHT OR BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

MR. WALSH, WOULD YOU?

[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT (Part 2 of 2)]

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

JUST AN UPDATE ON THE SENIOR CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER COMMITTEE THAT THE BOARD ESTABLISHED WHICH TRUSTEE WILSON IS CHAIRING.

WE VISITED PORTAGE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

THE PORTAGE SENIOR CENTER.

AND ON MAY 12TH, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OVER TO HAL TO SEE THEIR SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL.

THE PRIDE EVENT HAS BEEN MENTIONED.

TODAY, SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND I SPENT AN HOUR IN A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER MARK GREBNER UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF CATA AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS INVOLVING CATA.

IT WAS A REALLY FRUITFUL DISCUSSION.

I KNOW I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

I LEARNED A LOT, DID A LOT OF LISTENING AND TOOK A LOT OF THAT IN AND MADE A LOT OF NOTES.

ALSO SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND I HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH RESIDENT LYNN PAGE ABOUT THE MARIJUANA ISSUE AND OUR FILES AND WHERE WE ARE ON THAT ISSUE.

AND WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION WITH WITH MS. PAGE AND WE APPRECIATE HER TIME.

VILLAGE OF OKEMOS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION IS A WEEK FROM TONIGHT IN THIS ROOM AT 6:00.

WE HOPE THIS VENUE WORKS FOR THE CROWD THAT WE ANTICIPATE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS DURING THE RENOVATION, THE CHIP AND FOG WAS MENTIONED BY THE CLERK.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE MORE THAN A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.

WE HAVE OUR REPUTATION ON THE LINE BECAUSE WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS AND TRUST.

AND THAT'S FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING.

AND SO WE WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS, MR. OPSOMMER HAS MET WITH THE CONTRACTOR WHO WILL BE PERFORMING THAT WORK.

WE'LL HAVE DATES WITHIN 48 HOURS.

[01:45:01]

THERE'S A COUPLE OF AREAS IN ONE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS SOME AREAS THAT NEED TO BE REVIEWED PRIOR TO US DOING THE WORK, AND WE'RE COMMITTING TO DO THAT.

AND WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING FIRM, AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING FIRM, THAT'S DOING THAT, THAT'S NOT INVOLVED WITH OUR ROAD PROJECT AT ALL.

WE MENTIONED THAT LARRY MERRILL THE FACILITATION, THERE WAS SOME EMAILS EXCHANGED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY A THREE NIGHT TRAINING, LIKE A TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY TRAINING COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AGAIN, WE'LL CONFIRM THAT DATE WITH THE BOARD BEFORE WE GO FORWARD.

POLICE SWEARING IN AS MONDAY AT 3:00 WILL BE A COUPLE OF NEW OFFICERS WILL BE SWORN IN AT THAT TIME.

AND THE WINDSCREENS WERE ALREADY MENTIONED.

HAD I MADE THESE COMMENTS EARLIER IN THE MEETING, THEY WERE REALLY GOING TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE TEAM THAT WAS HERE.

OBVIOUSLY, MOST OF THEM HAVE WENT HOME TO ENJOY THE EVENING, BUT I'LL JUST MAKE MY COMMENTS VERY CONCISE THEN.

BUT WE'RE REALLY, REALLY FORTUNATE HERE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE.

AND YOU NOTICE THE NEW SIGNS THAT HAVE GONE UP NOW AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE AND THE EAST ENTRANCE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE MARKETPLACE, THE NEW FIRE STATION, THE ROADS, THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE TO THE BUILDINGS, ALL OF THAT, ALL OF THAT WITHOUT ANY DEBT.

AND WE'RE REALLY MAKING SOME GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO, I READ A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THE WAY THE GOVERNING BODIES ACT AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES.

AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AS A STAFF TO HAVE A BOARD THAT WORKS DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T DISAGREE FROM TIME TO TIME.

YOU SHOULD DISAGREE FROM TIME TO TIME.

BUT AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW FOR THREE BOARDS, SO I CAN SPEAK ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THIS.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A STAFF, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD WE HAVE, THE WAY THAT YOU WORK TOGETHER AND IT MAKES FOR A GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

A LOT OF GREAT STUFF GOING ON.

I ENJOYED ALL THE PRESENTATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

SO HOW ABOUT ITEM 7 BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS?

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON OUR INAUGURAL MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO, WHICH IS HAPPENING ONE WEEK AND ONE DAY FROM TONIGHT.

IT'S GOING TO BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH FROM 5:00 UNTIL 8:00 PM AT THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.

WE HAVE 21 DIFFERENT VENDORS COMING.

EMERGENCY SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES, ALL FREE OPTIONS THAT OUR COMMUNITY MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.

SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING YOU TO COME AND MEET WITH THESE PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BE SET UP AT DIFFERENT BOOTHS ALL THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE WITH THE ADDITION OF POLICE AND FIRE, COOKING A BUNCH OF HOT DOGS.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ICE CREAM AND MUSIC AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A FUN NIGHT.

SO WE'RE JUST ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO COME NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A WEEK FROM WEDNESDAY.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR TWO QUICK UPDATES.

I ATTENDED THE ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT MSU LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY LIAISON BENEFIT FOR THE TOWNSHIP AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR EFFORTS.

AND THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAD CONTRIBUTED TO WAS THE SANITARY PRODUCTS IN ALL TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS AND PARK BUILDINGS, BATHROOMS. SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.

IT WAS A SMALL ATTENDANCE, BUT I'M A ALUMNI AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAD THIS WHOLE GOVERNMENT OFFICE NOT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, A BOARD, BUT IT'S GOT MULTIPLE, IT'S MULTIFACETED.

SO THIS WAS REALLY EXCITING.

THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE WORKED WITH US.

THEY'RE EXCITED THAT WE AS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WANT TO WORK ON A REGIONAL LEVEL AND THAT THAT'S MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.

SO I MET SOME FOLKS FROM LANSING AS WELL.

SO THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING.

I PASSED OUT MY CARD, ASKED THEM TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE COULD HELP WITH.

THE OTHER QUICK UPDATE WAS AS FAR AS OUR GREEN GRANTS, THERE [INAUDIBLE] ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THROUGH OUR BUDGET, WE ISSUED FOUR GREEN GRANTS. WE STILL HAVE A BUDGET COMING IN FOR ANOTHER ONE.

BUT ONE OF THE ONE OF THE GREEN GRANTS THAT WAS ALREADY AWARDED HAS ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR PROJECT, AND IT WAS HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH WHO HAD

[01:50:06]

THEY HAVE AN EXCELLENT GREEN TEAM WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY OF THEIR CHURCH AND THEY PULLED IN ALL THE EXPERTS AND MANY THINGS I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED AND WE DID A DEDICATION.

LEROY HARVEY WAS THERE AS WELL, DID A DEDICATION ON SUNDAY FOR THAT NEW GARDEN.

SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN HASLETT ROAD, TAKE A LOOK.

IT'S STILL PRETTY SHORT NOW, BUT THERE'S A BIG PLAQUE OUT FRONT THAT THEY HAD MADE AND THEY INSTALLED.

SO IN ADDITION TO THEIR OTHER GREEN ACTIVITIES, SOLAR, OTHER RAIN GARDENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY GAINING INTEREST IN THESE GREEN GRANTS.

AND PEOPLE ARE THE WORD IS MOVING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

SO VERY EXCITING.

THANK YOU. MR. DESCHAINE. THANK YOU.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALL SAW EACH OTHER MOST NIGHTS LAST WEEK.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAD LOTS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.

FRIDAY NIGHT CAPPED THAT FOR ME.

I WAS AT THE CATA 25TH EXCUSE ME, THE CADL 25TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY DOWNTOWN BRANCH.

AND WE WERE CALLED OUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES BY CADL AND OTHER PEOPLE FOR OUR SUPPORT OF THE CADL LIBRARY SYSTEM.

AND AS WELL THEY SHOULD.

WE REPRESENT 7% OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF INGHAM COUNTY, BUT WE PROVIDE 22% OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR CADL AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.

WE ARE VERY MUCH A DONOR COMMUNITY AND WE WE MAKE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO COUNTYWIDE SERVICES LIKE THE CADL LIBRARY.

AND WE SAW FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING OUR USERS AND CIRCULATION NUMBERS ARE OFF THE CHARTS IN TERMS OF OTHER LIBRARIES.

SO OUR RESIDENTS ARE USING THE CADL LIBRARY SYSTEM, PROBABLY NOT REAL EXCITED ABOUT THE FACILITIES, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION.

BUT THEY ARE USING THEM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SKYROCKETED WITH CADL HAS BEEN THE ONLINE USAGE OF DIGITAL BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS AND OTHER DIGITAL RESOURCES.

AND SO IT'S ALLOWED OUR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS THE CADL BOOKS AND RESOURCES WITHOUT HAVING TO VISIT A BRANCH EVEN.

THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OTHERS. MR. WALSH. YEAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

COME TO THE MICROPHONE. YEAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE COURTESY.

A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WATCHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP THE GRANTS, IT REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING I MEANT TO TELL YOU A WHILE AGO.

[LAUGHTER] THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THE GREEN GRANT PROGRAM.

IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, YOU WERE LIKE 5 OR 10,000 THAT YOU MIGHT YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF GREAT ENTRIES.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING.

SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

I MEANT TO TELL YOU THAT AFTER WATCHING YOUR MEETING, SO.

THANK YOU MANAGER WALSH THAT'S A CRACKED DOOR WAITING FOR THOSE EXTRA BUDGETS TO COME IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE OTHER VERY COMPETITIVE GRANTS, WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A COMPETITIVE GRANT.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUND IF WE'VE GOT THE INTEREST AND THEY'VE GOT THE PROPOSAL, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOWS THAT IT COULD BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK.

YEAH. AND I KNOW THE BACKGROUND OF THIS BOARD AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD.

AND I DON'T TRY TO EVER SPEAK FOR THE BOARD, BUT IF WE WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

SO AND SECOND OF ALL, I'VE BEEN REMISS AS WELL.

THERE WERE 1200 PEOPLE UP IN TRAVERSE CITY TOWNSHIP, OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK THERE WERE 350 TOWNSHIPS REPRESENTED THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, SUPERVISOR JACKSON WAS ABLE TO CARRY THE FLAG AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED UP THERE THAT REALLY WE SHOULD MENTION, AND THAT IS ONLY 5 OR 6 INDIVIDUALS OF THE ENTIRE 1200 THAT WERE UP THERE WERE BROUGHT UP ON THE STAGE FOR AND I'M NOT SURE I HAVE THE RIGHT TERM.

AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IF I CAME UP HERE.

BUT THE PASSING OR THE GETTING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR PASSING THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AS A BOARD MEMBER THROUGH THE MTA AND VERY FEW PEOPLE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.

AND TREASURER PHIL DESCHAINE WAS ACTUALLY THE SECOND PERSON WHO TOOK THE STAGE UP IN TRAVERSE CITY FOR GETTING RECOGNIZED BY THE MTA FOR THAT.

AND THAT WAS A PROUD MOMENT.

THE FLAG WAS GREAT TOO, BUT IT WAS REALLY A SPECIAL MOMENT.

[LAUGHTER] SO THANK YOU FOR THE INDULGENCE THIS EVENING.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. DESCHAINE.

THANK YOU. THE EXACT TERM IS TOWNSHIP GOVERNANCE ACADEMY.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. AS I UNDERSTAND, AT LEAST TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED UP TO COMPLETE THE COURSEWORK.

IT'S AROUND 80 HOURS OF COURSEWORK IN A PROJECT, AND IT'S AN EXCELLENT WAY FOR THOSE OF US WHO SERVE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF COURSES AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT MEANS AND HOW TO BEST PRACTICE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MR. OPSOMMER.

IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR ONE MOMENT, ONE ITEM ON THE RENOVATION PROJECT THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING IN 2023 THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP TONIGHT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT.

[01:55:05]

SO ALL OF THE RECENT INFLATION THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE BOARD IS NOT IMPACTING THE RENOVATION PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO FLOORING AND FURNITURE.

AND SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING THE ONE THING THAT WE DID DO WHEN WE LEARNED OF THIS IS MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTRACTED FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AHEAD OF THE JUNE EXPIRATION.

THOSE CONTRACTS EXPIRE AND SOMETIME IN MID JUNE.

SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE GOT OUT AHEAD OF THAT EXPIRATION DATE AND DIDN'T FALL SUBJECT TO THE INFLATIONARY INCREASES THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE 2019.

SO JUST ONE OTHER NOTE THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH.

THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE.

THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SUPPORT.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND SUPPORTS THE MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. CHAIR VOTES YES.

ALL OPPOSED.

NO. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.