May 16, 2023 Township Board

I'VE ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED. CAPTAIN ROMICK, LIEUTENANT [INAUDIBLE] AND FIREFIGHTER COMMONS IS GOING TO BRING OUT THE STRETCHER.

WE HAVE PURCHASED FOUR OF THEM OR LEASED FOUR OF THEM.

EXCUSE ME. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THIS DOES ALL THE LIFTING FOR US.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY DID AN ERGONOMICS STUDY FOR EMS, AND THESE HAVE SHOWN REDUCED INJURIES BY 77%.

SO BEFORE THE STRETCHER WAS ALL THE WAY UP AND WE'D HAVE TO LIFT THE PATIENT UP TO THE STRETCHER AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO MANUALLY LIFT IT INTO THE AMBULANCE.

THIS DOES IT ALL FOR US.

NOW, NOT ONLY THAT, IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND.

SO OUR GREAT VOLUNTEER HERE IS GOING TO GET ON THE STRETCHER.

AND WE THANK TRUSTEE WISINSKI SO NORMALLY MODEL ONE, ONE FIREFIGHTER WOULD BE IN THE FRONT AND ONE FIREFIGHTER WOULD BE IN THE BACK AND WE'D HAVE TO LIFT TOGETHER.

COUNT OF THREE ONE, TWO, THREE, LIFT IT OFF.

NOW, THE STRETCHER DOES IT FOR US.

IT CAN LIFT UP TO 700 POUNDS.

A LOT OF SEATBELTS.

SHE WAS GETTING ON A ROLLER COASTER.

[LAUGHTER] SO NOW WE'LL JUST TOUCH ON ONE BUTTON.

THEY'LL LIFT IT FOR US AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE.

THE AMBULANCE IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE, THERE'S A POWER LOADER.

SO THESE HOOKS THAT HOOK ONTO IT AND WE HIT A BUTTON AGAIN AND THE HOOKS TAKE ALL THE WEIGHT, LIFT IT UP AND THEN IT LOADS UP FOR US, REDUCES ALL OF US LIFTING WITH NURSING HOME CALLS OR BEDS CAN GO UP TO OUR STRETCHER.

SO WE HAD TO LIFT THE PATIENTS, A LOT OF TIMES CREW MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE BED WITH THEM.

SO THIS REDUCES INJURIES TO US AND IT KEEPS THE PATIENT SAFER AND EVERYTHING.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO. [APPLAUSE] LET ME ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE IS WE HAVE HOW MANY AMBULANCES? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE AMBULANCES.

WE HAVE THREE. WE HAVE FOUR FRONT LINE, FOUR READY TO GO FOR SERVICE.

WE HAVE A BACKUP THAT IN CASE ONE OF THEM GOES DOWN, WE CAN MOVE EQUIPMENT OVER TO THEM.

THOSE FOUR THAT ARE READY FOR SERVICE HAVE THESE IN THEM.

OKAY. THE OTHER ONE DOES NOT.

OKAY. SO THE FOUR FRONT LINES ARE READY TO GO.

AND LIKE CHIEF HAMEL SAID, WE'RE GETTING MORE NEW EQUIPMENT.

OUR HEART MONITORS ARE OVER 15 YEARS OLD.

WE'RE GETTING HEART MONITORS REPLACED.

WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING REPLACED.

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE CURRENT.

SO IT'S A GREAT SYSTEM THAT YOU GUYS INVESTED IN FOR US.

AND ONE OTHER THING I REMEMBER IN YOUR INTRODUCING THIS IDEA TO US, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE AGREEMENTS, THE PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS YOU HAVE WITH DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND THE FACT THAT THESE TYPES OF CARTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE DIFFERENT SERVICES YOU WORK WITH.

[00:15:01]

EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT AROUND US HAS THIS EXACT SAME CART.

THEY'LL HAVE THE EXACT SAME MONITORS WE'RE GETTING, AND OUR CPR MACHINES, OUR LUCAS'S AND OUR STAIR CHAIRS.

SO ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING IN WHICH IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO EVERY ONE OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE MUTUAL AID WITH IN THE AREA HAS IT.

THIS IS REALLY NICE, ESPECIALLY IN A MASS CASUALTY.

THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WISINSKI, FOR SERVING AS OUR MODEL.

ITEM 5 ON OUR AGENDA IS CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON AGENDA ITEMS.

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

THERE WAS A QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT A GREEN CARD.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I HAVE ONE GREEN CARD AND IT'S FROM MARK SANTUCCI.

GOT IT THIS TIME. RIGHT.

PERFECT. SORRY, I'LL CLOSE THIS OFF A LITTLE.

THE MICROPHONE WENT OFF.

IS IT ON? IT'S ON.

OKAY. I'M MARK SANTUCCI, 5909 BLYTHEFIELD DRIVE.

WHERE I LEFT OFF AT THE LAST MEETING WAS TIME IS MONEY.

SO I'M GOING TO PICK UP WHERE I LEFT OFF.

THE PRICE OF FOR LAND OR BUILDINGS FOR USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE HAS DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY. THE OPPORTUNITY COST FOR WAITING IS INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP.

AND WITH RESPECT TO MY PROPERTY, I HAVE A BUILDING ON IT.

BUT IT'S NOT BEEN USED FOR THREE YEARS BECAUSE THREE YEARS AGO I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR FIRST MEDICAL MARIJUANA, THEN RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

SO THERE'S A COST TO THE NON USE, ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE MY GARDEN THERE.

SO IT DOES HAVE SOME USEFULNESS.

UNCERTAINTY IS THE ENEMY OF BUSINESS.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LEGAL OPERATORS ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE COMPETING WITH THE ILLEGAL OPERATORS.

IT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.

THE COSTS ARE MUCH GREATER AND THE COST BRING BENEFITS.

AND THAT IS YOU HAVE A PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND A PROCESS WHERE THERE'S NO BLACK MARKET.

HOPEFULLY YOU SHOULD NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL HINDER OR WIDEN THAT COMPETITIVE GAP EVEN MORE.

FINALLY, THIS IS WHAT I ADDED FOR TONIGHT WHEN LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE LEAVE IN THE ABILITY TO COMBINE A MICRO GROW WITH A RETAIL OPERATION.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS FOR MARKETING PURPOSES.

BY HAVING A SMALL GROW AT THE FACILITY THAT YOU CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB EXPLAINING WHAT EVERYTHING IS TO THE CUSTOMERS.

EXPLAINING THE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH.

AND FROM A PROFIT PERSPECTIVE, BY HAVING EVERYTHING IN ONE LOCATION, OR AT LEAST SOME OF IT IN ONE LOCATION, IT WILL HELP MAKE IT MORE PROFITABLE IN THIS COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THE OTHER THING IS WITH RESPECT TO HAVING A GROW, THERE'S I KNOW THERE'S A CONCERN WITH RESPECT TO THE SMELL THAT COULD ESCAPE FROM THE BUILDING.

REQUIRE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT NO SMELL ESCAPE FROM THE BUILDING.

AND IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS AND IF YOU FIND THAT THERE IS A SMELL, HAVE A FINE IN THERE TO FINE THE OPERATOR. AND IF THEY VIOLATED MORE THAN ONCE OR MORE THAN TWICE WHATEVER, THEN THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO GROW.

I THINK THAT'S A MUCH BETTER WAY OF DOING IT THAN JUST BY OUTLAWING IT RIGHT FROM THE START.

THE LAST THING IS DON'T ADD COMPLEXITY AND TIME TO THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS ORDINANCE COMPLETE AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE THERE.

AND I USED MY THREE MINUTES PERFECTLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER GREEN CARD.

IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THEN WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT.

[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT ]

[00:20:07]

MR. WALSH. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.

I'LL BE BRIEF. THE BUILDING RENOVATION WE'VE NOW ENDED.

WE'RE NEAR THE END OF OUR THIRD WEEK.

THIS PROJECT IS BEING MANAGED BY DIRECTOR MASSEY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MR. OPSOMMER. THE PROJECT IS GOING EXCEEDINGLY WELL.

STEPHEN'S DIRECTOR GEBES' TEAM ON THE IT SIDE, THE TWO OF THEM ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB BETWEEN ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, RELOCATED 53 PEOPLE AND WE'RE OPERATING, OF COURSE, OUT OF THIS TOWN HALL ROOM, WHICH IS WORKING OUT EXCEEDINGLY WELL.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED.

IT'S NOT AN EASY PROJECT, BUT EVERYONE'S WORKING TOGETHER AND A LOT OF PATIENCE.

OUR MUNICIPAL SIGNS, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF RECOGNITION FOR THE NEW SIGNS.

I KNOW AN ADJACENT COMMUNITY JUST REACHED OUT TO US AND WANTED THE PROCESS THAT WE USE TO PUT IN THE NEW SIGNS.

THE ONLY ENTRY SIGN THAT'S NOT IN IS THE ENTRY ON THE WESTERN POINT OVER BY DENNY'S, BY IHOP OVER THERE.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

AND DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE ON THE LOCATION SITES, AGAIN, ASSISTED BY DIRECTOR MASSEY.

THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB ON THAT PROJECT AND IT REALLY DATES BACK TO THEN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR GUTHRIE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, SO IT'S GOOD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY DOING IT.

BUT IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED IT.

THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE ARE WORKING, OF COURSE, WITH THAT PROCESS.

TRUSTEE WILSON IS CHAIRING THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN BUSY.

AND AGAIN, THE MISSION IS THE MISSION IS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE MISSION IS ONLY TO BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, IF AT ALL.

AND THAT'S DUE BY DECEMBER 1ST.

THAT'S A BOARD DIRECTIVE AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

AND WE JUST DID A VERY IMPACTFUL, I THINK, A VERY MEANINGFUL TOUR OF THE OCEOLA [INAUDIBLE], OCEOLA TOWNSHIP OVER BY HOWELL. AND WE SPENT SOME TIME THERE.

SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND TRUSTEE WILSON AND DIRECTOR MAISNER.

AND YEAH, WE HAD A REALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD LEARNING PROCESS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH THE LOCAL ROADS FOR 24, WORKING ON OUR LIST RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE SELECTION OF OUR ENGINEER WHO'S GOING TO LEAD OUR PROJECT GOING FORWARD.

WE'VE NOT WE'VE HAD SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS WE'VE NOT GOTTEN OVER THE HUMP OF.

WE HAVE, BUT IT OUR ADJACENT TEAM MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE] HAVE NOT.

AND THAT IS COMING UP WITH A LIST OF ROADS IN THE SUMMER AND GETTING THEM BID IN THE FALL BEFORE DECEMBER.

SO WE GET BETTER PRICING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'VE DONE OUR JOBS AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN ENGINEERING COMPANY THAT WANTS TO JOIN US IN THAT.

AND THAT PROCESS IS I THINK WE RECEIVED 7 OR 9 BIDS FROM COMPANIES TO DO THAT.

WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH SOME DIRECTOR GEBES AND MANAGER OPSOMMER ARE WORKING ON SOME CYBERSECURITY TRAINING AND WE'VE HAD SOME REAL SERIOUS PHISHING ATTEMPTS HERE IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS AND WE KNOW WE HAVE A TWO WAY AUTHORIZATION TO GET INTO.

WE HAVE STUFF SET UP, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOME TRAINING TO MAKE SURE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SET UP IS WORKING.

SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT.

WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE BANKING PROCESS.

THE TREASURER IS LEADING US AND MR. OPSOMMER IS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF LOOKING AT WHERE OUR FUNDS SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT AND SO WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND THE POTENTIAL OF EVEN HAVING A FINANCIAL MANAGER COME IN AND ASSIST US, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MILLIONS OF INVESTMENTS.

ARE WE INVESTING? WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL.

AND WHAT THE FINANCIAL MANAGER MAY TELL US IS THAT YOU'RE DOING REALLY WELL.

BUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS, IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN.

SO I MET TODAY WITH DIRECTOR GARBER, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND THE TREASURER DESCHAINE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THIS PROCESS IS BEING LED BY THE TREASURER, THE CHIP AND FOG, YOU MAY RECALL, WE SAID MID-MAY TO THE END OF MAY, WE WILL HAVE THE DATES TOMORROW THAT WE WILL BE STARTING THE PROCESS TO FIX THE CHIP AND FOG STREETS.

IT'S NINE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'LL KEEP OUR PROMISE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST WORK THAT WE DO IN 2023 AND WE HAVE THAT FUNDED TO DO THAT.

ALSO, YOU MAY RECALL, IF YOU WERE AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES BROUGHT UP FROM THE OLD ENGLISH ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE WERE SOME COMMITMENTS MADE THAT WE WOULD GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

WE DID HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM, ABONMARCHE, OUT OF BENTON HARBOR, AND THEY CAME IN AND INSPECTED THOSE AREAS AND CAME UP WITH SOME AREAS THAT WE DO NEED TO DO SOME WORK IN BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND FIX THE CHIP AND FOG.

SO THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY.

[00:25:04]

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO OFFER ANY COMMENTS OTHER THAN TO THANK THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED, TOO MANY PEOPLE TO SIT AND THANK TONIGHT.

BUT I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE WILSON FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON THAT EVENT.

A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THAT AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT EVENING.

AND FINALLY, THE CELEBRATE MERIDIAN, JUNE 24TH, DIRECTOR MAISNER'S TEAM IS WORKING HARD TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AND THAT'S MY REPORT.

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE YOU'LL SEE A BUDGET SCHEDULE, RIGHT? WE START IN JULY, SO YOU'LL SEE A BUDGET SCHEDULE COMING UP NEXT MONTH.

OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

HONORED TO SERVE HERE.

LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE SERVING.

BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE ARE PREPARED FOR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ]

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

ON WEDNESDAY OF LAST WEEK, I, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, PARTICIPATED IN THE MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU EVENT, AND I TOO, WISH TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO TRUSTEE WILSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON PUTTING THAT EVENT TOGETHER, AS WELL AS ESPECIALLY AS MANAGER WALSH POINTED OUT, A LOT OF HANDS WENT INTO MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY SUPERVISOR JACKSON, MANAGER WALSH, DIRECTOR MAISNER, AND CHIEF PLAGA, WHO WERE ALL INSTRUMENTAL AS WELL AS OUR OUTSIDE PARTNERS, IN MAKING SURE THAT EVENT WAS A SUCCESS.

SO A LOT OF CONGRATULATIONS TO BE HAD.

THERE ALSO WAS AT THE TUESDAY COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS DEVELOPMENT AND WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE A NUMBER OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THERE AS WELL, AS WELL AS HEALTHY NUMBER OF FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME OUT TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY THE DEVELOPERS OF THAT PROJECT.

AND WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO OFFER SOME CLARITY AS TO WHEN THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PROJECT.

THANK YOU. NEXT.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. DESCHAINE? THANK YOU.

REAL BRIEFLY, THE EDC MEETING ON MAY 5TH.

THAT SAME DAY EXCUSE ME, MAY 4TH.

THE SAME DAY WAS THE SENIOR CENTER LUNCHEON HONORING FORMER SUPERVISOR RON STYKA.

IT WAS A VERY NICE LUNCH AND IT WAS SPONSORED BY FRANK AND [INAUDIBLE] AND PROVIDED LUNCH FOR THE SENIORS AND ANY OTHER OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS MANAGERS HERE AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES OF RON AND THE GREAT WORK HE DID FOR FOR DECADES IN THIS TOWNSHIP.

FIRST ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THEN NINE YEARS ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ALSO ATTENDED THE THE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS MEETING WITH SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS HERE.

I REALLY HOPE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR THEY COME BACK WITH US WITH CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND NOT A NEW LITANY OF EXCUSES FOR WHY THEY CAN'T BUILD NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.

AND AGAIN, I WANT TO CALL OUT FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPO ORGANIZED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

IT WAS A FIRST OF ITS KIND EVENT, WELL ATTENDED, 500 OR MORE PEOPLE THERE AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CITIZENS INVOLVEMENT AND CONNECTIONS THERE. I WAS ONLY THERE FOR THE FIRST HALF AND EVERY VENDOR HAD SOMEONE TALKING WITH THEM.

A LOT OF TRAFFIC BACK AND FORTH AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE COOKED HOT DOGS FOR EVERYONE AS WELL.

SO IT WAS A VERY NICE COMMUNITY EVENT.

THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THAT.

THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. TRUSTEE WILSON.

WELL, I ATTENDED ALL THE STUFF THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT.

[LAUGHTER] AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, IT'S A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY WE HAD BETWEEN WE THINK MAYBE 3 TO 400 PEOPLE CAME.

WE HAD WONDERFUL COVERAGE FROM THE MEDIA THAT HELPED TO PULL PEOPLE OUT.

AND IT WAS SUCH A GROUP EFFORT TO PULL IT TOGETHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF THANKS TO BE HAD ALL AROUND THE ROOM.

SO IF WE DO IT AGAIN, WHICH I HOPE WE WILL, WE'LL EXPAND IT AND HAVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AT THE EVENT.

BECAUSE WE DID HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO SAID, I'D REALLY LIKE TO BRING MY FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS INTO THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY, TOO.

SO THANKS TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? TRUSTEE WISINSKI THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

JUST A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THE LGBTQI PLUS CELEBRATION IS MOVING ALONG AND HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE BOARD, BUT ALSO OUR STAFF, MR. BRIAN SHORKEY HAS AGREED TO PROJECT MANAGE THAT AND HAS BEEN WORKING HARD.

SO CELEBRATE ON AUGUST 26TH FROM 4 TO 11.

KEEP YOU POSTED.

OTHER THAN THAT, NOT TOO MANY OTHER UPDATES.

[00:30:02]

THANK YOU. CLERK GUTHRIE.

I HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ONE IS THE TRIBUTE FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS.

IT'S ON MAY 29TH, ON MEMORIAL DAY AT 11 A.M.

AT GLENDALE CEMETERY.

THE SCOUT TROOPS TWO SCOUT TROOPS WILL BE LEADING THE COLOR GUARD.

AND WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY PASTOR TREVOR SUTTON FROM SAINT LUKE'S CHURCH AND ARMY VETERAN DENNIS CARPENTER, WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY UNCLE.

SO I'M KIND OF EXCITED, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, TO HEAR THAT.

AND THEN ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT IS MEDICINE COLLECTION AT THE MARKET ON MAY 20TH, AND THAT IS FROM 8 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

AND INFORMATION WENT OUT FROM OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IS ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.

I ACTUALLY RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS ABOUT THIS, SO I THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN BRING YOUR MEDICINE, TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR BOTTLES WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND EVERYTHING ON IT, UNLESS IT'S LIQUID, KEEP IT, KEEP LIQUID IN THE CONTAINER, PUT IT IN A ZIPLOC BAGGIE AND BRING IT OVER TO THE MARKET AT THAT TIME.

BUT THERE'S SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE ABOUT THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? WELL, I'LL JUST ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE WILSON FOR THE EXPO AND HER LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THAT EXPO TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

I WOULD WANT TO ADD THAT IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO USHER IN REAL SPRING AND TO GATHER PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR A REALLY ENJOYABLE EVENING.

AND THE SECOND THING I WANT TO ADD IS SO YOU GATHER THAT I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF PLACES, SO I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF THAT.

BUT THE SECOND THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND IN THIS BUILDING LAST WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE AT THIS TIME PLANNING FOR BUILDING ERECTION IN 2024.

SO I THOUGHT EVERYBODY ELSE MIGHT LIKE TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.

ANYTHING ELSE? THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR ITEM 8, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]

MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AND MR. DESCHAINE SUPPORTS.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. OPPOSED? NO. THE CHAIR VOTES YES AND THE MOTION PASSES.

ITEM 9 IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A SCHEDULE FOR

[9. CONSENT AGENDA ]

CONCERTS AT THE MARKETPLACE STARTING IN JUNE.

INCLUDED IN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MINUTES OF OUR MAY 2ND, 2023 REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING.

THE MANAGER'S BILLS AND A APPROVAL FOR THE MERIDIAN PRIDE OUTDOOR GATHERING AND PLANNED FOR AUGUST.

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

AND BECAUSE BILLS WERE INCLUDED, WE NEED A ROLL CALL.

VOTE. SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. YES.

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON. YES.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. YES.

YES. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

ITEM TEN IS QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY.

SEVEN ZERO. THANK YOU.

WE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY TONIGHT.

WE DON'T HAVE A HEARING SCHEDULED, WHICH IS ITEM 11.

AND WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM 12 ACTION ITEMS.

[12.A. Final Plat #03012 – Sierra Ridge Phase 4 ]

12 A IS THE FINAL PLAT FOR NUMBER 03012 SIERRA RIDGE PHASE 4, DIRECTOR SCHMITT WILL LEAD US.

IN FRONT OF THIS EVENING IS THE FINAL PLAT APPROVAL FOR PHASE FOUR OF SIERRA RIDGE.

SO JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, PRELIMINARY PLAT WAS APPROVED ON JULY 1ST, 2003.

[00:35:04]

THERE HAVE BEEN FINAL PLAT APPROVALS FOR THREE PREVIOUS PHASES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AND THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIONS OF THE PRELIMINARY PLAT EVERY TWO YEARS, CONSISTENT WITH BOTH STATE LAW AND LOCAL ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THAT ORIGINAL APPROVAL.

THE FINAL PLAT IS A BIT PERFUNCTORY.

FINAL PLAT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS INSTALLED THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY.

SO THESE PLANS ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THOSE THAT WERE APPROVED IN 2003.

THERE ARE A COUPLE ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS THAT SHOWED UP AS A RESULT OF THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S FINAL REVIEW.

SOME OF THERE'S BEEN SOME MINOR, VERY MINOR CHANGES TO DIMENSIONS THAT ONCE THEY GOT OUT AND ACTUALLY SURVEYED THINGS AND PUT THE STAKES IN THE GROUND, YOU GOT THE ACTUAL THIS IS WHAT IS IN THE GROUND.

SO THIS IS A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD REVIEW.

THERE'S ONE OUTSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THAT I WILL POINT OUT IS THAT THERE IS A SIDEWALK, TWO PIECES OF SIDEWALK ALONG NEWTON ROAD THAT CAN'T BE INSTALLED YET BECAUSE OF A STORMWATER PROJECT.

THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, RATHER THAN INSTALL IT NOW AND THEN HAVE IT RIPPED OUT AND HAVE TO PUT IT BACK WE'VE OPTED TO LET THEM WAIT UNTIL THE STORMWATER PROJECT IS COMPLETED.

BUT GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE 14 LOTS HERE TO BUILD AND ANOTHER PHASE POTENTIALLY, WE'RE NOT CONCERNED THAT IT WON'T GET INSTALLED.

WE WILL ADDRESS THAT.

THE INDIVIDUAL SIDEWALKS AND STREET TREES ALONG THE CUL DE SAC WILL BE INSTALLED AS THE INDIVIDUAL LOTS ARE BUILT UPON.

THAT'S HOW WE'VE DONE IT THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

UNDER THE STATE LAND DIVISION ACT.

WE HAVE A 20 DAY REVIEW PERIOD ONCE A COMPLETE SUBMITTAL IS MADE.

TODAY IS THE 20TH DAY, SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE FINAL PLAT.

AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED NO MAJOR CONCERNS AND THIS WILL BE THE SECOND WELL, THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE MORE FINAL PLAT APPROVAL FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT COVERING THE CUL DE SAC TO THE EAST.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE.

OKAY. TRUSTEE I'M SORRY.

CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE IS THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION SHOWED AROUND 99 HOMES BEING BUILT IN TOTAL FOR THIS PROJECT.

IS THAT THE SAME AS WHAT IT IS TODAY, OR HAS IT CHANGED? NUMBER OF UNITS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.

OKAY. AND THEN ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE DEVELOPER BEING AMENABLE TO A BARN BEING RELOCATED.

DO WE KNOW WHAT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DID HAPPEN A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.

OKAY. TREASURER DESCHAINE.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DEVELOPER.

MR. FEDEWA. WOULD YOU MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM? MAYBE WE SHOULD GET A MOTION ON THE TABLE BEFORE WE GET THAT DEEP INTO THE DISCUSSION.

I'D BE GLAD TO MAKE THE MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR FINAL PLAT NUMBER 03012 GS FEDEWA BUILDERS FOR PHASE 4 OF SIERRA RIDGE.

A PHASE OF SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION CONSISTING OF 14 LOTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF NEWTON ROAD, NORTH OF LAKE LANSING ROAD.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY? CLERK GUTHRIE. CLERK GUTHRIE.

OKAY. I HAVE A BACKGROUND QUESTION THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THIS PLAT, BUT ALL THE SUBDIVISION THAT YOU BUILT.

LOOKING AT THE LAYOUT HERE IN THE ROADS, THE CURBS, THE SIDEWALK, THE WATER, THE SEWER, WHO PAYS FOR THAT BEFORE YOUR LOTS ARE SOLD? THE DEVELOPER.

OKAY. ANY BALLPARK FIGURE OF WHAT THAT COST IS FOR THESE 14 LOTS? YEAH, IT'S BETWEEN 1 MILLION AND $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT.

SO CLOSE TO $100,000.

CLOSE TO $100,000.

PER LOT? FOR A LOT COST.

THE REASON I ASK YOU IS WE WERE TOLD LAST WEEK BY THE DEVELOPER THAT THAT THE BUILDERS NEVER ASKED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD PAY FOR THAT FOR DOWNTOWN OKEMOS. AND I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE 14,000 HOMES IN THIS TOWNSHIP.

AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WOULD YOU SAY WERE BUILT WITH THAT SIMILAR MODEL WHERE THE DEVELOPER HAD TO BUILD THE ROAD, THE SEWER, THE WATER AND SO FORTH? HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN THE MODEL? I THINK THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THAT PAID FOR ALL OF IT.

THE DEVELOPER IS IN A POSITION TO PROFIT HOPEFULLY FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD EXPECT THE TOWNSHIP TO PAY FOR ANY OF IT.

YOU KNOW, SO BASICALLY WE INSTALL FIRST OF ALL, WE INSTALLED A LIFT

[00:40:06]

STATION FOR ABOUT $300,000 IN PHASE ONE.

AND THEN THROUGH THE PHASES WE'RE ON PHASE 4 AND 13 OR 14 LOTS.

AND THE BUILDING, THE ROADS, FIRST OF ALL, BUILDING WE INSTALL THE WATER AND THE SEWER AND THEN WE PAY A PERMIT OR FEE TO DO THAT.

AND THEN WE PAY A FEE TO CONNECT THE WATER AND SEWER TO THE HOUSE, PAY THE TOWNSHIP A FEE TO DO THAT.

AND THEN FROM THAT POINT, THE TOWNSHIP TAKES THE THEY MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE WATER AND SEWER PLANT AND CHARGE THE HOMEOWNER.

IT ALL SEEMS TO BE FAIR.

ALL SEEMS TO WORK.

HAVE YOU DONE ANY MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS? YES, WE'RE ON OUR WE'VE DONE FOUR.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WE'VE GOT A FIFTH THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

DOES ANY OF THESE COSTS NOT APPLY IN A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT OR IS IT THE SAME? NO. IT'S THE SAME PLAN.

THE SAME COSTS ARE INVOLVED.

BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS INSTALLED BY THE DEVELOPER.

BUT THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THOSE FACILITIES ARE DEDICATED TO THE TOWNSHIP AFTER ONE YEAR.

AND THEN FROM THAT POINT ON, THE TOWNSHIP MAINTAINS THE WATER AND THE SEWER.

THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION OR THE ROAD DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS THE COST OF THE ROAD THROUGH THE TAX BASE THAT THEY COLLECT. YOU KNOW, A HOUSE THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT THERE NOW, $15,000 A YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES.

YES. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

AND SO DO THE SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESSES IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND THE DEVELOPERS.

THE REASON I BRING THIS UP ISN'T SPECIFIC TO THIS PROJECT.

I WILL GET TO YOUR PROJECT IN A SECOND, BUT JUST THAT I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR DEVELOPERS SAY DEVELOPERS ARE NEVER ASKED TO PAY INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS WHEN IT SEEMED TO ME THE MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALMOST EVERY HOME IN THE TOWNSHIP APPEARS IS EXACTLY THE CONTRARY TO THAT.

WHEN YOU BUY A LOT. I DON'T THINK IT'S DIFFERENT ANYWHERE ELSE WE'VE BUILT IN DEWITT.

WE'VE BUILT ALL AROUND, IF THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE THE INCENTIVE FOR THE MUNICIPALITY TO PUT INSTALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE? OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH.

REGARDING THIS PROJECT HERE, YOU BUILD EXCELLENT HOMES AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A VERY ATTRACTIVE PLOT AND I THINK IT WILL BE WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. WE DO STILL WANT TO GET THE MISSING MIDDLE.

IS THERE AGAIN A LITTLE BIT OFF TRACK TO THIS TOPIC? BUT YOU ARE ONE OF OUR LARGER DEVELOPERS IN THE TOWNSHIP.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT HERE IN MERIDIAN OR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP? WELL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TO TAKE OUT A BUILDING PERMIT.

IT'S LIKE WE PAY $7,400 FOR A WATER AND A SEWER PERMIT, AND THEN OUR AVERAGE BUILDING PERMIT IS LIKE $5,000.

SO WE'LL HAVE $12,000 FOR THIS TOWNSHIP JUST FOR PERMITTING PURPOSES.

AND SO TO WHEN I JUST TOLD YOU THE COST OF THE $100,000 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS, YOU KNOW, USUALLY THE DEVELOPMENT COST IS LIKE ONE FIFTH OF THE COST OF WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS.

SO THAT'S $500,000.

SO THE MIDDLE IS I THINK IT'S NOT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

I THINK IT'S IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY WHERE THE COSTS ARE NOT AS EXORBITANT AS THEY ARE, COSTS ARE HIGHER TO BUILD. PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.

BUT IF WE WOULD LOWER THOSE DEVELOPMENT COSTS, THE BUILDING PERMITS AND OTHER UPFRONT, IF YOU WILL, BUILT IN COSTS THAT WE COLLECT FROM YOU, WOULD THAT CHANGE THE MARKET FOR MIDDLE HOUSING? WELL, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS THAT WE DID OUR LAST PLAT LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO AND THE COSTS ARE ABOUT DOUBLE . THE COST OF ALL OF THE PRODUCTS THAT GO IN THE GROUND, ALL OF THE COST OF THE LABOR THAT'S GOING ON IN FIVE YEARS HAS PROBABLY NEARLY DOUBLED IN COSTS.

SO THAT MIDDLE NOW I JUST I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MIDDLE IS FOR US.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS.

OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS. WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE FINAL PLAT FOR

[00:45:01]

NUMBER 03012 GS FOR FEDEWA BUILDERS, FOR PHASE 4 OF SIERRA RIDGE, A PHASE OF A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION CONSISTING OF 14 LOTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF NEWTON ROAD, NORTH OF LAKE LANSING ROAD.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE SINCE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

UNLESS THERE ARE FURTHER COMMENTS THAT I'VE MISSED.

SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

YES. TRUSTEE WILSON.

YES. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

THANK YOU. AND MR. FEDEWA, THANK YOU FOR YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, RIGHT.

SEVEN ZERO. THANK YOU.

YES, CAN I.

I'LL ALLOW IT IF YOU'LL COME BACK TO THE MICROPHONE.

AS I GOT SET BACK DOWN IN MY SEAT, MY SON GREG FEDEWA HAD POINTED OUT TO ME THAT AS FAR AS THE MISSING MIDDLE, WE ARE BIDDING ON A CITY OF LANSING PROJECT THAT IS A LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT, AND IT'S THE START OF SUPPOSEDLY MANY PROJECTS.

THIS IS A FIVE UNIT PROJECT, FIVE UNITS, FIVE UNITS IN DOWNTOWN LANSING, AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO KEEP THE COSTS DOWN.

AND SO THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING ARE GOING TO SELL FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEY'RE USING THE CITY OR THEY HAVE MONIES FROM SOMEWHERE.

WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM WHERE WE PUT THE PROJECT TOGETHER AND THERE'S OTHER BIDDERS THAT ARE BUILDING OR BIDDING IT. WE PUT TOGETHER THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL, THE SURVEY PROPOSAL, ALL THE DIFFERENT BID PACKETS SO THEY CAN IN TURN SEND IT OUT FOR BIDDING AND THEY JUST SENT IT OUT FOR BIDDING A SHORT WHILE AGO, BIDS ARE DUE JUNE 2ND.

AND WE'RE HOPING AND THEY TELL US THAT'S THE START OF MANY, MANY MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE'S HELP EDUCATING US ON THE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER'S PERSPECTIVE.

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, I THINK.

[12.B. Resolution to Support Anonymous Gun Drop Off ]

IT'S 12 B, IT'S A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT ANONYMOUS GUN DROP OFF PROGRAM.

THIS IS A PARTICULAR IDEA IS CHAMPIONED BY SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

MR. HENDRICKSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS IDEA? THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

SO I'LL START BY MOVING TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE ANONYMOUS GUN DROP OFF PROGRAM SUPPORT.

SUPPORT. SO THIS RESOLUTION IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD BY MYSELF, TRUSTEE WISINSKI, AND CLERK GUTHRIE.

AND IT WAS SORT OF THE BRAINCHILD OF THE THREE OF US AFTER WE HAD EXPERIENCED A COUPLE OF EVENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, SPECIFICALLY THE SWATTING INCIDENT AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE MASS SHOOTING AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON WITH THOSE TWO INCIDENTS, WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT THE TOWNSHIP COULD HELP FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE A GUN IN THEIR HOME THAT THEY DON'T WISH TO HAVE ANYMORE.

AND SO WE BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CHIEF PLAGA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LET US KNOW THAT, IN FACT, THEY ALREADY DO THIS VERY PROGRAM AND THAT THEY ALREADY ACCEPT ANONYMOUSLY ANY GUNS THAT THE RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP DO NOT WISH AND SEND THEM FOR DESTRUCTION. AND SO THIS RESOLUTION IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD IN SUPPORT OF THAT PROGRAM WITH THE HOPE THAT BY TAKING BOARD ACTION ON IT TONIGHT, WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND SHINE A LIGHT ON SOME OF THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING THAT RESIDENTS MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT.

AND SO BASICALLY AND PERHAPS I'LL LET CHIEF PLAGA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK.

BUT THIS RESOLUTION IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

[00:50:02]

ALSO, PART OF THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE THE FIRST FRIDAY OF JUNE EVERY YEAR IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS RECOGNIZED THAT EACH YEAR SINCE 2020.

AND SO THIS ALSO IS A WAY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND SUPPORT THAT IMPORTANT DAY SINCE GUN VIOLENCE IS CONTINUING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT PLAGUES THIS COUNTRY.

AND SO FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF PLAGA TO PRESENT THOSE TO US.

OKAY. CHIEF PLAGA.

SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

FOR YEARS WE HAVE TAKEN FIREARMS, UNWANTED FIREARMS INTO OUR PROGRAM AT THE OFFICE.

WE SEE IF THEY ARE STOLEN OR WERE USED IN A CRIME.

IF NOT, THEN WE DESTROY THOSE FIREARMS UTILIZING THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS KIND OF BROUGHT FORWARD IS AND REALLY IT WAS ALSO KIND OF A MERIDIAN CARES ABOUT YOU EVENT IS THERE ARE SO MANY SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT AWARE OF AND TRYING TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.

AND SO WHEN THE QUESTION CAME, WOULD WE TAKE GUNS FOR DESTRUCTION, WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WE ALREADY DO THAT.

THEN THERE WAS, WELL, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A SERVICE THAT'S PROVIDED? SO WE'VE PREPARED AN OUTLINED INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOLKS THAT IF THEY DO WANT TO IT'S ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.

THERE'LL BE OTHER WAYS TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION TO BRING A FIREARM INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE THAT FOR DESTRUCTION.

SOME PEOPLE DO WANT TO LEAVE THEIR NAMES SO THEY CAN.

THERE'S A REPORT THAT SAID THAT THEY DID TURN A GUN IN SO THAT THEIR CONCERN OF THAT GUN TURNING UP SOMEWHERE ELSE DOWN THE ROAD, THEY HAVE THAT REPORT NUMBER.

OTHER PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THEIR NAMES AND THAT'S OKAY, TOO.

ANONYMOUS DROP OFF IS FINE.

WE ENSURE THAT THE GUN ISN'T STOLEN OR USED IN A CRIME.

AND IF NOT, THEN WE TURN IT OVER TO THE STATE POLICE FOR DESTRUCTION.

AND WE DESTROY, FOR DROP OFF WE PROBABLY DO IT RANGES IT VARIES.

BUT BETWEEN 10 AND 15 FIREARMS ANNUALLY.

BUT AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DESTROY PROBABLY AROUND BETWEEN 50 AND 100, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR.

FIRST OF ALL, DO THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM? CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

DOES THIS KEEP THE MERIDIAN OFFICERS SAFER OUT ON THE STREETS WHEN PEOPLE ARE TURNING IN THEIR FIREARMS? I MEAN, DOES IT HELP? YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A GUN REGISTRATION QUESTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GUNS OR NOT? WELL, I HATE WHAT IT DOES IS IT REDUCES THE AVAILABILITY OF A NUMBER OF GUNS.

RIGHT. IF SOMEBODY'S HOUSE GETS BROKEN INTO AND YOU HAVE FIREARMS THAT YOU'RE NOT USED TO TAKING PROPER CARE, LOCKING THEM UP SAFELY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY CAN GET STOLEN AND THEN THEY'RE ON THE STREET AND GETTING INTO THE WRONG HANDS AND CAN BE USED IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME.

BAD PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE GUNS, FIND GUNS.

SO THIS MAY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND THOSE GUNS.

BUT I CAN'T PUT, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT MORE SAFER BECAUSE BAD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS.

ANYONE ELSE. I WOULD JUST NOTE ONE THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN OBSERVING NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY SINCE 2020.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU, HOW LONG HAVE HAS THE TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD THIS PROGRAM? ROUGHLY. I CAN GO BACK FOR AS LONG AS I'VE WORKED HERE AND WE HAVE TAKEN FIREARMS IN FOR AS LONG AS I'VE WORKED HERE, WHICH IS ALMOST 28 YEARS NOW.

MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU BRING A FIREARM TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WILL TAKE THE GUN IN FOR DESTRUCTION.

IF YOU NO LONGER WANT THAT FIREARM AND YOU WANT IT DESTROYED.

MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS, IT'S JUST NOT PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. DESCHAINE. LISTENING TO THE NEWS.

WATCHING THE NEWS. READING THE NEWS.

YOU SEE A LOT. I'M SEEING A LOT MORE GUN VIOLENCE IN THE NEWS LATELY.

IT SEEMS ESPECIALLY SO SINCE, DURING AND SINCE COVID.

ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP OVER, SAY, THE PAST FIVE YEARS? I WASN'T PREPARED WITH STATISTICS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU OFF THE CUFF THAT WE'VE HAD RECKLESS DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS. WE GO ON SHOTS FIRED CALLS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE MORE PREVALENT.

AND THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF REASONS FOR THAT.

IF I COULD ASK A FOLLOW UP, WHAT DO YOU AS THE CHIEF DO TO PREPARE YOUR OFFICERS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SOCIETY THAT IS TOLERATING OR EXPERIENCING MORE GUN VIOLENCE? SO WE PROVIDE.

SO PART OF OUR CITIZENS ACADEMY THAT WE EDUCATE CITIZENS ON SAFE GUN STORAGE, SAFE GUN USE, SAFE GUN HANDLING.

WE PROVIDE LITERATURE AND SUPPORT TO FOLKS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FIREARMS.

[00:55:02]

A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL GET INFORMATION ABOUT QUESTIONS AND LITERATURE THEY DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW? SO WE TRY THE EDUCATION PIECE TRAINING OUR OFFICERS.

OUR OFFICERS ARE WELL TRAINED.

WE MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF TRAINING AT THE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT ONLY DE-ESCALATION, BUT ALSO DEALING WITH CRITICAL INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT OCCURRED AT MSU. OUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND WE TRAIN ANNUALLY.

IT'S NOT JUST TO TRAIN ONCE AND FORGET IT.

IT'S WE TRAIN EVERY YEAR ON USE OF FORCE AND ACTIVE CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE.

THANK YOU. I WOULD SUGGEST, TOO, THAT YOUR ADHERENCE TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNITY POLICING PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU DO TO MANAGE.

I WILL SAY THAT OUR OFFICERS CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY LEADERS MAKES A VERY STRONG IMPACT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THOSE WHO WE SERVE.

PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING AND ASKING US, AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT HURDLE TO GET OVER, IS THAT FEAR OF POLICE.

I WAS AT A DARE GRADUATION TODAY AT RALEIGH ELEMENTARY.

WE GRADUATED OVER 100 KIDS THROUGH THE DARE PROGRAM TODAY.

AND WE RECEIVED HUGS AND PICTURES AND AND COOKIES AND THAT KIND OF INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY IS THE PIECE THAT BUILDS THAT RELATIONSHIP.

SO. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE COMMENTS.

THEN WITH THE RESOLUTION, WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES.

YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.

YES. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

YES. TRUSTEE WILSON.

YES. TRUSTEE. WISINSKI.

YES. SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

SEVEN ZERO. THANK YOU ALL.

ITEM 12 C FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL UPDATE.

[12.C. Federal Policies & Procedures Manual Update ]

THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR AMANDA GARBER OR MR. WALSH. YEAH.

DIRECTOR GARBER HAS TWO LITTLE KIDS AT HOME, AND I THOUGHT THIS ONE SENTENCE, SHE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ME TODAY AND SAID, I THINK YOU COULD HANDLE THIS.

[LAUGHTER] I TOOK THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

ANYWAY, YOU HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS AT YOUR LAST MEETING.

IT'S THE FEDERAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS IF YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND OUR AUDITOR HAS REVIEWED THIS AND HAS MADE A STRONG SUGGESTION THAT ON PAGE EIGHT WE SIMPLY ADD THE SENTENCE ABOUT AVOIDING ACQUISITION OF UNNECESSARY OR DUPLICATE ITEMS, AND THAT'S LISTED ON PAGE EIGHT BULLET POINT NUMBER ONE AT THE END OF THAT, UNDER PROCEDURES, THE AUDITOR STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT WE DO THIS TO MEET FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

TREASURER DESCHAINE.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

FURTHER COMMENTS.

MR. DESCHAINE I THINK THE SALIENT THING IS THAT OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE ITEM, WHICH IS QUITE REMARKABLE. IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THESE RULES BEFORE WE'RE TOLD WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES, WHICH SHOWS GOOD MANAGEMENT AND GOOD PROCEDURES HERE AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

THE SAME REASONS, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DIRECT STATEMENT THAT'S BEING ADDED THAT IS A NO BRAINER.

YEAH. ANYONE ELSE? SO BY VOICE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE UPDATED TOWNSHIP FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO.

CHAIR VOTES. YES.

AND WE MOVE FORWARD TO ITEM 12 D INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE GRANT, A MULTI JURISDICTIONAL

[12.D. Ingham County Parks & Trails Millage-Multi-Jurisdictional River Clearing Grant ]

RIVER CLEARING GRANT TO BE DISCUSSED WITH US BY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, LUANN MAISNER, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.

APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

EARLIER TODAY I HAD A MEETING WITH CHRISTIAN FAIRBANKS AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HASLETT OKEMOS ROTARY CLUB AND THE ROTARY CLUB HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN CREATING FUNDING INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS ALONG THE RED CEDAR RIVER ONE AT HARRIS NATURE CENTER, ONE FOR WALSH PARK, AS WELL AS CANOE KAYAK LAUNCHES AT THOSE LOCATIONS.

[01:00:01]

AND THE ROTARY CLUBS IN WILLIAMSTOWN AND WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP ARE ALSO TAKING AN INTEREST TO DO SOME OF THESE SAME THINGS IN THEIR SECTIONS OF THE RIVER.

AND I KNOW THAT THE HASLETT OKEMOS ROTARY JUST HAD A RIVER CLEARING RIVER CLEANUP PROJECT LAST WEEK AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED A GRANT APPLICATION TO INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE TO FUND PROJECTS TO CLEAR THE LOG JAMS FROM THE RIVER, 15 MILES OF RIVER FROM WILLIAMSTON AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT THERE'S SUCH AN EMPHASIS RIGHT NOW ON AN INTEREST ON IMPROVING THE RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THE RED CEDAR RIVER, AND IT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

AND SO THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS DUE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR A WEEK AGO, BUT WE STILL WOULD NEED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION TO THE INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE.

THE AMOUNT WAS $500,000.

THERE'S NO LOCAL MATCH NEEDED OR REQUESTED OR PROVIDED AND WE WILL HEAR MORE TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO THESE PROJECTS WOULD BEGIN IN 2024.

OKAY. AND THERE'S A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE RED CEDAR RIVER MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL CLEARING PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION TO THE INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF WILLIAMSTON, WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, OFFERING NO LOCAL MATCH.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

TRUSTEE WILSON. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORKS.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT WRONG.

NAVIGABLE. THANK YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT.

[LAUGHTER] WATERCOURSE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IT HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION THAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE. SO THERE WAS A DAY OF SERVICE LAST THURSDAY WITH HASLETT OKEMOS ROTARY IN CONJUNCTION WITH BOTH OF THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ROTARY CLUBS, AND THEY CLEARED, WE HEARD THEY CLEARED AND CLEARED TRUCKLOADS OF DEBRIS OUT OF THE RIVER TO MAKE THAT A PATHWAY THROUGH THERE. THERE STILL ARE GOING TO BE PORTAGE AREAS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME VERY MASSIVE TREES THAT HAVE FALLEN INTO THE RIVER THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE EQUIPMENT WELL BEYOND A TRACTOR AND SOME CHAIN.

SO IT'S COMING AND IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO THE ASSETS OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAM.

SO I'M TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS PROJECT AND THE ROTARY CLUBS WILL CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED.

AND THE SECONDER.

I'M SORRY. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

I ALSO AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL FEATURE WITHIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, THE RED CEDAR RIVER THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN OUR PARKS ADJOINING IT AND BEING ABLE TO VIEW IT, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR NAVIGABLE.

[LAUGHTER] AND BEING THAT I AM A KAYAKER, I AM REALLY EXCITED TO GET MY KAYAK FROM DRUMMOND ISLAND AND BRING IT BACK TO MERIDIAN.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR MAISNER.

OTHER COMMENTS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.

I TOO FULLY SUPPORT THIS GRANT APPLICATION AND AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE HASLETT OKEMOS ROTARY CLUB.

I'M PROUD THAT OUR CLUB HAS GOTTEN BEHIND US.

IN FACT, WE HAD A SERVICE PROJECT THAT WAS LAST THURSDAY LED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.

AND SO CLEAN UP WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN ON THE RIVER BY VOLUNTEERS.

THERE'S MUCH MORE TO GO.

AND HE REPORTED, AS TRUSTEE WILSON SAID, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR LOGS AND TREES TO BE REMOVED.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

BUT IN TERMS OF TRASH AND OTHER DEBRIS THAT CAN IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND NAVIGABILITY THAT WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN BEING DONE BY VOLUNTEERS.

SO IT'S AN EXCITING PROJECT.

THE NUMBER OF PORTAGES ONE HAS TO TAKE FROM WILLIAMSTON TO LANSING WILL SAY, AND ALONG RED CEDAR HAS BEEN REDUCED ALREADY.

WE HOPE TO GET THAT NUMBER DOWN AS FAR AS WE CAN, BUT SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME MAJOR EQUIPMENT AND BIG INVESTMENT AND THE $500,000 GRANT WILL BE A BIG STEP TOWARDS THAT.

FOR THAT REASON I'LL SUPPORT IT.

ANYONE ELSE? I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE ONE QUESTION.

I THINK WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A $500,000 GRANT FOR WORK OVER THREE YEARS.

CORRECT. AND THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I'M PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR

[01:05:09]

NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER ON SOMETHING THAT IS THAT WE SHARE AND THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SHARE THE CLEAN UP FOR.

OTHER COMMENTS. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

YES, THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR. I'M JUST CURIOUS, AFTER THE THREE YEARS GRANT, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE.

DO THEY PREPARE IN ADVANCE? LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE THREE YEAR GRANT, BUT DO THEY START THINKING ABOUT AN ONGOING.

I'M JUST WONDERING.

OKAY. SO I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

PLEASE DO. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE GREATEST ANSWER, BUT.

ANY ANSWER WOULD WORK. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND BRINGS UP AN EXCELLENT POINT, IS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING SITUATION WITH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TREE LINED RIVER.

IT RAINS, THERE'S WIND, THERE'S EROSION.

THE TREES FALL IN THE RIVER.

BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT WE CAN INVEST $500,000 IN THIS 15 MILE STRETCH.

AND ALSO WE HAVE THE USE OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS IN BETWEEN AND BEYOND.

WE CAN GET A GOOD HANDLE ON WHERE THINGS ARE AND HOPEFULLY KEEP UP WITH SOME THINGS AS THEY HAPPEN WHERE NOW IT'S JUST GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN'T NOBODY REALLY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE THIS FINANCIAL INVESTMENT TO AT LEAST START US DOWN THE RIGHT PATH.

SO IS IT, IS THIS A ONE AND DONE? AND ONCE WE DO THIS, WE'RE ALL GOOD.

HECK, NO. BUT WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT START.

I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND ANYONE TO VISIT THE FRIENDS OF THE RED CEDAR FACEBOOK PAGE, BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY OF WILDLIFE ON THE RIVER, BUT A LOT OF COMMUNICATION GOING ON AND GOOD, GROUP OF FOLKS THERE.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, DOES THIS ACTUALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY. I BELIEVE TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON IS NEXT.

CAN YOU THINK OF DIRECTOR MAISNER ANY INVESTMENT TO THIS EXTENT THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS? ON THE RED CEDAR RIVER? NO, NOT AT ALL.

I ASK THAT PARTIALLY TO TRUSTEE SUNDLAND POINT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT BEEN A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN CLEANING UP THIS RIVER IN QUITE SOME TIME.

AND YES, WE'RE CERTAINLY MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME IF THIS GETS APPROVED BY THE INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THIS IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL TAKE.

IT'LL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THAT AND DO THAT AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE DOING SMALL OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ALONG THE WAY.

SO THAT'S THE HOPE. AND I GUESS I NEED TO GO BACK TO MY ANSWER IS THAT THE DRAIN OFFICE, INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE HAS DONE SOME WORK, BUT THAT'S EXPENSIVE WORK.

AND OF COURSE IT'S ASSESSED TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT WORK BEING DONE.

AND HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP KEEP THINGS OPEN AND CLEAR AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE REQUESTS, THOSE MONIES BACK FROM THE RESIDENTS.

SO WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY DRAIN OFFICE AS WELL.

THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT US MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AND WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THEM MOVING FORWARD.

CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

SO, AND I'LL JUST USE THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL AS AN EXAMPLE, SINCE IT'S A NATIONAL TRAIL AND THEY RAISE MONEY TO PURCHASE ITEMS, TO FIX BOARDWALKS, REPLACE BOARDWALKS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT THE VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK NON-PAID BASIS TO FIX THIS 4700 MILE TRAIL.

AND I KNOW WE MENTIONED THE ROTARY CLUB AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE RED CEDAR RIVER GROUP AND THE PICTURES THAT THEY TAKE, BUT THEY ALSO SHARE A LOT OF IMAGES OF THE CLEARING OF THE RIVER AS WELL AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE STRENGTH OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CLEARING THIS RIVER? LIKE, HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW? HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY GROUPS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE? BECAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A HUGE VOLUNTEER EFFORT AND I DON'T WANT TO BE REMISS.

AND THE WORK RIGHT THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR REGIONAL GROUPS ARE PUTTING INTO THIS PRIOR TO.

WELL, I'VE BEEN AT THIS 24 YEARS AND I DON'T THINK FACEBOOK WAS AROUND WHEN I FIRST STARTED, BUT THE FIRST GROUP THAT I ENGAGED WITH WAS THE

[01:10:09]

LANSING ORAM PADDLE CLUB, AND WE ORGANIZED RIVER CLEARING PROJECTS STARTING 24 YEARS AGO, ONCE A YEAR.

FROM THE STRETCH, I THINK PROBABLY STARTING AT THE GRAND RIVER AVENUE, MERIDIAN ROAD AT THE ROADSIDE PARK AND THEN THEY WOULD TRY TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO FERGUSON PARK.

AND THEY ACTUALLY WE DID THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN ALSO INCLUDED NEIGHBORS ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHORELINE PROPERTY WHO WOULD ALSO ENGAGE IN SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS.

AND THEN NOW WE HAVE THE FRIENDS OF THE RED CEDAR RIVER.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY CONDUCT A LOT OF PROJECTS.

WE'VE DONE A HANDFUL OF RIVER CLEARINGS OVER THE YEARS, BUT A LOT OF IT'S DONE BY THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO HAVE VOLUNTEER DAYS AND DO SOME MINOR CLEARING HERE AND THERE.

AND IT COULD BE JUST CUTTING AND OPENING OF THREE FEET TO BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE THROUGH SOMETHING.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING WHERE THEY'RE REMOVING TOTAL FALLEN TREES.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS? I DO NOT. IS IT HUNDREDS? IS IT 50? TEN? I WOULD SAY OVER 100.

OKAY. WELL OVER A HUNDRED.

THAT'S GREAT. MR. DESCHAINE, PROCEDURALLY, SINCE THIS IS ON OUR DISCUSSION ITEM, I THINK WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO TAKE ACTION ON IT TONIGHT.

AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 13 A FROM DISCUSSION TO ACTION TONIGHT, SINCE THIS WILL IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT THE.

I THINK WE ARE ON 12 D ACTUALLY.

WE'RE ON 12. B. ON 12 D AS IN DOG.

THERE'S A SECOND UNDER DISCUSSION.

I'M THAT'S OKAY.

LOST MY PLACE ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU.

SO WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR THIS SUBJECT.

YES THERE IS. AND IF I COULD ADD ONE THING AND JUST AHEAD OF DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER IS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND YOUR AGENDA HERE COMING UP, THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALSO APPLYING TO INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE FOR A TRAIL PROJECT.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SENDS A LOT OF MONEY TO INGHAM COUNTY FOR THIS MILLAGE AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CONFLICT WITH US SUBMITTING TWO SEPARATE GRANT APPLICATIONS.

I THINK WE'RE DOING STAFF IS DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND TRYING TO SEEK THOSE MONIES AND BRING THEM BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT HAVING TWO APPLICATIONS GO IN TO THE SAME GRANTING AGENCY IS A CONFLICT IN ANY WAY.

OKAY, GREAT.

ANYONE ELSE. I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT YOU ARE HAVE RECEIVED OR ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE THE SIMILAR KIND OF RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE WILLIAMSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PARTICULAR GRANT APPLICATION.

CORRECT. THE CITY OF WILLIAMSTON HAS ALREADY SUBMITTED AND I'M WAITING ON WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP AND THEY MEET THIS WEEK AS WELL.

SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE SUBMITTED BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

OKAY. THIS IS A.

RESOLUTION NOW, THIS IS NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

THIS IS WE CAN DO A VOICE VOTE FOR THIS.

I BELIEVE SO, YES.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION TO THE PARKS INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAIL MILLAGE GRANT.

PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. OPPOSED NO.

THE CHAIR VOTES YES.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ITEM 12E IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FOR THE HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[12.E. School Resource Officer-Haslett Public Schools ]

THIS INVOLVES AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, MR. PLAGA, AND THE HASLETT SCHOOLS.

WOULD YOU EXPLAIN? SO THE HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVED A GRANT THROUGH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN TO SUPPORT THE COST OF HAVING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER? THAT WOULD BE AN OFFICER THAT WAS DEDICATED JUST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMPLETELY WORK INSIDE, MAINLY THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

THEY APPROACHED OUR AGENCY AND REQUESTED THAT WE PROVIDE THAT OFFICER.

AND LAST BOARD MEETING I BROUGHT A DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO THE BOARD, WHICH WE DISCUSSED, AND THEN COUNCIL HAS REVIEWED THAT MEMORANDUM AND MADE NON-SUBSTANTIVE LANGUAGE AND LAWYER TALK CHANGES.

[LAUGHTER] AND SO IT'S THE BILLABLE HOURS HAVE PROVEN THAT THE MOU IS ACCEPTABLE TO COUNCIL AND SO WE BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD

[01:15:01]

FOR ADOPTION. THE ONE THING THAT IT WOULD DO IS WE WOULD REQUEST THAT OUR AUTHORIZED STAFFING LEVEL GO FROM CURRENTLY, WHICH IS 41 TO 42, TO SUPPORT THAT OFFICER BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ROAD PATROL OR INVESTIGATIVE DUTIES OTHER THAN IN THE DISTRICT.

OKAY. SO SO THAT CONSIDERATION IS INCLUDED IN THE MOTION BEFORE US? YES. QUESTIONS.

COMMENTS. MOTION, PLEASE? TRUSTEE WILSON. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TOWNSHIP FOR ONE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AND INCREASE AUTHORIZED SWORN OFFICERS TO 42 ANNUALLY.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

TRUSTEE WILSON. I THINK THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE HERE ARE THAT HASLETT SCHOOLS WILL PAY FOR THIS OFFICER, AND THIS IS A THREE YEAR GRANT.

YES. CLERK GUTHRIE I WILL JUST ADD THAT I THINK THAT THIS ALSO FURTHERS AND ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY POLICING EFFORTS THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO SUCH A GOOD JOB AT.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. OTHER COMMENTS.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, IS THIS GOING TO LEAVE US SHORT STAFFED FOR THE REST OF THE TOWNSHIP HAVING TO SEND AN OFFICER THERE OR WILL THIS BE THE CURRENT OFFICER THAT'S ALREADY SERVING AS A RESOURCE OFFICER IN HASLETT? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER, AN OFFICER THAT IS ASSIGNED, TEACHES THE DARE PROGRAM, PROVIDES SOME CURRICULUM IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL, BUT IT IS NOT A FULL TIME POSITION. THEY STILL OUR HOPES ARE WE HAVE SOME FOLKS IN THE PIPELINE FOR HIRING, SO WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL BE BACK TO THE POSITION WHERE IT WON'T PUT TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON PATROL.

THE OTHER NICE THING IS THAT THIS OFFICER IS ON DUTY AND THE SCHOOL UNDERSTANDS THAT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, THAT OFFICER IS AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO, YOU KNOW, IN PROGRESS CRIMES.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT IS PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

GREAT. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY OFFICER AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL.

IS THAT CORRECT? WE HAVE A LIAISON OFFICER THERE.

THEY'RE THERE A FEW HOURS A DAY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

YES. THANK YOU.

I HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL WITH OUR LIAISON OFFICER.

AND I WILL SAY IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLY SCARY SITUATION.

IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION.

BUT OFFICER COLE WAS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

SHE MADE SURE I HAD UPDATES AS WELL AS AND THIS IS AS A PARENT, NOT AS A TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL.

SO I WILL SAY IT'S A REALLY AS A PARENT, IT WAS A REALLY COMFORTING FEELING WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER THAT CAN BE THERE TO ASSIST IN SOME OF THOSE SCHOOL ISSUES.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT I HAVE ONE QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS CONTRACT.

HAS THE HASLETT PARENTS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS CONTRACT? AND HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PARENTS ON POTENTIALLY ANY CONFLICTS OR ANY CONCERNS THEY MIGHT HAVE.

SO THERE'S BEEN? I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTIFIED PARENTS.

THE SCHOOL BOARD IS AWARE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GET PERMISSION TO GO FORWARD WITH APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT.

THERE'S WE HAVE A VERY WARM WELCOME IN THE HASLETT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE EXCITED TO HAVE US.

THEY'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS EXPANSION AND RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY APPREHENSION AT ALL.

EXCELLENT. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

SO THE HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ASKED FOR THIS AND THEY WILL BE THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, PAYING FOR THIS.

AND SO I SEE NO REASON WHY WE WOULD NOT FULFILL THIS REQUEST.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A TRAINED OFFICER ON SITE AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT COMMUNITY POLICING TO THE HASLETT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I WILL REITERATE A POINT THAT I MADE THE LAST TIME THIS WAS BEFORE US, WHICH IS THAT I AM CONCERNED SLIGHTLY, SLIGHTLY THAT THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECT OF RAISING THE NUMBER OF SWORN OFFICERS TO 42 MAY COME INTO AN ISSUE IF AND WHEN THE GRANT FUNDING IS NO LONGER CONTINUED THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

I WOULD HATE TO BRING SOMEONE INTO THE DEPARTMENT, TRAIN THEM, PLACE THEM, AND THEN FIND US IN A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SORT OF BACKDOORED INTO AN ISSUE WITH THAT OFFICER.

SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE UPPING IT.

[01:20:03]

UPPING THE NUMBER TOTAL IN TOTAL FROM 41 TO 42.

I THINK THAT COVERS THE NEED.

I'M WORKING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY GET TO FULL STAFF AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE FOR PERHAPS MANAGER WALSH, WHICH IS ARE WE CONCERNED FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE FOR THAT POSSIBLE EVENTUALITY? OR IS IT TOO SOON TO THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD? YES. YEAH.

I COULD COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU A TWISTED TWIRLY ANSWER, BUT I REALLY AM NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT.

WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT 2027.

AND SO I JUST I WOULD HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'D FACE AT THAT POINT.

I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS, I'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN AT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER IN ALL MY TIME HERE. SO I HOPE WE GET THERE.

AND IF WE DO, THAT'D BE A GOOD BRIDGE TO CROSS.

BUT ONE OTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, GOING BACK JUST PRIOR TO 2017, WE WERE AT 39 AND 30, SO WE WERE AT 69 OFF POLICE AND FIRE.

RIGHT. AND IF THIS IS APPROVED, WE'LL BE AT 42 AND 34.

SO WE'LL BE AT 70.

SO WE'LL BE UP 76.

WE'LL BE UP 10%.

AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE FUNDING OUR POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL IN JUST FIVE YEARS, 10%.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER FOR SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU BUDGETARY WISE TRUSTEE.

THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS.

QUESTIONS? I HAVE JUST ONE.

I HAVE A COMMENT FIRST.

THERE'S A VERY DEFINITE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCHOOL SCHOOL LIAISON AND A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

IT'S THE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES OF AN OFFICER DEDICATED TO THAT SCHOOL.

AND IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY OPERATE OR RELATE TO BOTH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM? SO THEY MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY FOLLOW ALL OUR RULES, REGULATIONS AND GENERAL ORDERS.

THEY RECEIVE THEIR INSTRUCTION FROM US.

WE WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP.

THE ONE THING THAT THEY WILL, THEY'LL HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN THEY DO NOW.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S PROVIDING CURRICULUM AND TEACHING AND SOME MINIMAL SECURITY TRAINING AND PRACTICES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTED NOW TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS, SCHOOL SECURITY ASSESSMENTS.

WE'VE ALREADY SENT ONE OF OUR OFFICERS TO THE FIRST SCHOOL RESOURCE.

THERE'S MORE TRAINING INVOLVED.

I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IT'S LIKE GOING FROM DELIVERING NEWSPAPERS TO BEING THE WRITER.

SO THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT'S THERE IS JUST YOU'RE HERE AND THEN YOU GO UP HERE.

OKAY? AND MY SECOND COMMENT IS I WOULD PERSONALLY ENCOURAGE EVERY PERSON, EVERY PARENT WHERE A SCHOOL IS CONSIDERING OR ACTUALLY IS A PART OF THIS AGREEMENT TO READ THE AGREEMENT AND TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ESSENTIAL THIS CONTRACT AS WELL. I THINK WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER INFORMED AND MAY IN SOME CASES BE BETTER, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA IF WE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

OKAY. OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THIS YET.

NO. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TOWNSHIP FOR ONE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AND INCREASE AUTHORIZED SWORN OFFICERS IN THE TOWNSHIP TO 42 ANNUALLY.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS.

WE NEED A ROLL CALL BECAUSE WE ARE INCREASING OFFICERS.

OKAY, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.

CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

YES. SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. YES.

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON. YES.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. YES.

TRUSTEE WISINSKI. YES.

MOTION CARRIES. SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. AND NOW WE MOVE TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.

[13.A. Resolution in Support of Ingham County Trail Grant ]

ITEM 13 A IS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE INGHAM COUNTY TRAIL GRANT, EASTERN THIRD REGIONAL TRAIL, PHASE ONE.

[01:25:09]

AND THIS IS BEING BROUGHT TO US BY DEPUTY TOWNSHIP MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS.

SO VERY PLEASED TO BE PRESENTING TO YOU TONIGHT A NEW TRAIL.

THIS WAS A 2021 PATHWAY MASTER PLAN UPDATE ADDITION.

SO THIS WAS AMONG 6 OR 7 ADDITIONS THAT OCCURRED IN 2021 WHEN WE LAST UPDATED THE PATHWAY MASTER PLAN.

TREASURER DESCHAINE HAD A HAND IN THE DESIRE FOR THIS TRAIL.

THERE HAD LONG BEEN WE HAD LONG TALKED ABOUT INSTALLING A PATHWAY ON CORNELL ROAD.

NOW, FOR MANY REASONS THAT IS VERY INFEASIBLE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE TREES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED AND ALSO THE WETLANDS.

BUT THAT DESIRE TO HAVE THAT PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MULTI-MODAL CONNECTIVITY ON THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS MUCH MORE RURAL, NEVERTHELESS MADE US LOOK VERY CLOSELY WITHIN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT THE VARIOUS PARCELS AND RIGHT OF WAY THAT EXISTS IN THE EASTERN THIRD.

AND WE STUMBLED UPON THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH RUNS FROM HASLETT ROAD NEAR THE GREEN ROAD FORK, AND IT RUNS SOUTH UNTIL IT HITS LAKE PARK, AT WHICH POINT IT DOES TWO 45 DEGREE TURNS, AND THEN IT PROCEEDS WEST TO OKEMOS ROAD.

AND THIS EASTERN, THIS EAST WEST SECTION OF THIS RIGHT OF WAY ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF LANSING.

AND THAT'S IF YOU GO TO THE MAP TO SHOW REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY.

THIS IS THAT EAST WEST CONNECTION ALL THE WAY TO THE LANSING RIVER TRAIL.

SO THIS IS ALL CONSUMERS ENERGY RIGHT OF WAY.

THERE'S NO LAND ACQUISITION REQUIRED.

THERE ARE NO EASEMENTS REQUIRED EXCEPT FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE TO ENTER INTO FOR CONSUMERS ENERGY, THIS IS A STANDARD TYPE OF AGREEMENT.

THEY ARE ALWAYS MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE OUR TRAIL FACILITY BECAUSE WE WILL BUILD IT TO THE SPECIFICATION THAT THEY CAN DRIVE ON IT.

AND SO IT'LL MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR THEM TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY TO MAINTAIN THEIR UTILITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE IN THE SPRING OR ANY TIME IN WHICH THE SOILS ARE WET, RIGHT? SO THEY SEE A BENEFIT TO IT AT NO COST TO THEM.

THE INTERURBAN IS CONSTRUCTED IN A CONSUMER'S ENERGY RIGHT OF WAY.

YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S CONSTRUCTED IN THE CN RAILROAD, RIGHT OF WAY.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT OF WAY.

SO THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THIS TRAIL.

AND WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PHASE ONE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING AT THE NORTHERN SECTION.

SO ON THE PLANS HERE, THIS IS HASLETT ROAD TURNING AND THIS LITTLE STUB RIGHT HERE IS GREEN ROAD THAT FORKS OFF TRAVELING NORTH EAST.

AND SO THE TRAIL WILL ACTUALLY START HERE AND IT'LL CROSS CLIFFDALE RIGHT THERE AND THEN IT'LL PROCEED DOWN HERE.

AND THIS IS KIND OF THE ONE PORTION OF THE TRAIL THUS FAR THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE THE CONSUMERS ENERGY RIGHT OF WAY.

A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THIS, IT APPEARS, BUT WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO CONSUMERS YET.

BUT THIS PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, IT APPEARS THERE MIGHT ALREADY BE AN AGREEMENT FOR FARMING.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE'S AGRICULTURAL CROPS GROWING IN THE CONSUMERS RIGHT OF WAY RIGHT HERE.

BUT WE OWN THE TIHART PRESERVE THANKS TO A PARTIAL DONATION FROM JUDY [INAUDIBLE] SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO.

I WANT TO SAY, AND WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHIPPEWA HOA ABOUT DOING AN EASEMENT TO CROSS THEIR HOA PROPERTY RIGHT HERE. REASON BEING IS THAT THERE'S AN EXISTING LAND BRIDGE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE USE OF FOR CROSSING A DRAIN.

SO IN ALL PHASE ONE, GOING FROM HASLETT ROAD TO TIHART ROAD WITH CHAMELEON, WE ARE LOOKING AT APPLYING WITH A 10% MATCH. WHILE WE HAVE APPLIED, I SHOULD SAY, WITH A 10% MATCH.

OF THAT $120,000 MATCH, 30 WOULD BE IN-KIND SERVICES, 90 WOULD BE CASH MATCH FROM THE LOCAL PATHWAY MILLAGE. SO FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST, IF THIS GRANT APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFUL, WE WOULD GET $10 IN RETURN.

THIS IS THE STANDARD FORMULA THAT WE HAVE USED FOR THE MSU TO LAKE LANSING TRAILS AND ALSO THE BOARDWALK OKEMOS ROAD BOARDWALK THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AS WELL.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

OBVIOUSLY AT THE REGIONAL MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD WITH ALL OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, THIS CAME UP AND OUR COUNTERPARTS OVER IN EAST LANSING AND LANSING WERE VERY EXCITED TO LEARN OF THIS AS WELL BECAUSE IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO CARRY THIS TRAIL FROM HAGADORN ROAD WESTWARD TOWARD THE LANSING RIVER TRAIL.

OKAY. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

[01:30:02]

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS A TERRIFIC PROPOSAL.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH CONNECTING IN WHAT FEELS LIKE A BIG LOOP AND SO VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS.

I'M CURIOUS, IT APPEARS THAT THE FOR THE LATER PHASES THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED HERE IN OUR FUTURE STATE ARE MUCH LARGER THAN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PLANNING IN PHASE ONE.

ARE WE EXPECTING PHASE ONE TO BE SMALLER BECAUSE IT'S SOMEHOW MORE EXPENSIVE OR BECAUSE IT COVERS A WETTER AREA? WHAT'S THE RATIONALE THERE? A COUPLE OF RATIONALES. ONE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF PHASE THREE, AND WE ARE ALSO STILL WORKING ON EASEMENT ACQUISITION FOR THE TOWER PATHWAY PROJECT.

SO TRYING NOT TO OVERWHELM US FROM AN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, BUT PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE INGHAM COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS MILLAGE WAS FIRST APPROVED IN 2014.

IT WAS RENEWED IN 2020.

SO IT'S UP IN 2026.

WE PROBABLY WON'T GET FUNDING IMMEDIATELY.

I SUSPECT WE WILL STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE AT BEING APPROVED FOR FUNDING.

BUT THE QUESTION WILL BE WHEN WILL WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE FUNDING? BECAUSE AS OF LAST YEAR THEY HAD OBLIGATED THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF THE MILLAGE REVENUE THROUGH THE CURRENT MILLAGE THAT EXPIRES IN 2026.

SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO GO WITH A SMALLER ASK.

WE HEMMED AND HAWED AT GOING TO GRAND RIVER FOR PHASE ONE AND ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO TAKE A SMALLER BITE AT THE APPLE IN HOPES OF POSSIBLY GETTING FUNDING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

BUT WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO DESIGN THIS.

BUT THIS IS A RELATIVELY EASY TRAIL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE LAND ACQUISITION OR EASEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIKE WE DID WITH PHASE ONE OF THE MSU TO LAKE LANSING TRAIL OR FOR INSTANCE, THE TOWER PATHWAY PROJECT.

THOSE ARE EXCEEDINGLY COMPLEX PROJECTS, WHEREAS THIS WOULD BE FAR MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND STREAMLINED.

AND THEN THE AREA THAT YOU'VE SHADED IN PINK AND THE CONNECTION TO THE LANSING RIVER TRAIL, A PORTION OF THAT IS TOWNSHIP PROPERTY.

NOT TOWNSHIP SORRY, NOT TOWNSHIP PROPERTY, BUT IT IS PROPERTY THAT IS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.

CORRECT. AND THAT FOLLOWS THE CONSUMERS.

THERE'S NO PATH THERE RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT ACCURATE? ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THERE.

WEST OF HULETT.

I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE IS, BUT HOLD ON REAL QUICK.

I CAN ENVISION IT FROM HULETT TO OKEMOS ROAD.

I JUST CAN'T PUT MY HEAD ON THE SECTION TO THE WEST.

SO WE HAVE THE CONNECTION TO HULETT HERE.

IT ACTUALLY WRAPS THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE OKEMOS PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN THIS SECTION DOES NEED TO BE CONSTRUCTED FROM HULETT TO HAGADORN ROAD RIGHT HERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE AN OBLIGATION TO THE TOWNSHIP AS WELL AT SOME POINT.

CORRECT? OKAY.

GOT IT. AND TECHNICALLY, THAT FIRST STRETCH ON THE MSU CAMPUS IS TOWNSHIP PROPERTY AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO THAT WOULD BE THERE WOULD BE A PARTIAL PROJECT WITH MSU HERE, AT WHICH POINT IT WOULD BECOME EAST LANSING AND MSU.

OKAY. YEAH, I THINK THIS IS TERRIFIC.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THE EFFORTS TO CREATE THIS KIND OF AMENITY FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.

MR. DESCHAINE.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE BOARD AND BRINGING THIS APPLICATION TOGETHER.

THIS IS EXCITING.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ONE MERIDIAN, YET WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD PATHWAY BIKEWAY BETWEEN HASLETT AND OKEMOS, AND THIS WOULD BRIDGE THAT GAP AND BRING THOSE BIKERS, WALKERS, RUNNERS TO THE PRETTIEST SECTION OF THE TOWNSHIP, THE UNDEVELOPED NATURAL AREAS AND IN OUR URBAN SERVICES BOUNDARY.

I MEAN CORNELL ROAD IS BEAUTIFUL.

BUT AS YOU MOVE FURTHER EAST, YOU GET MORE NATURAL AREAS AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE ATTACHMENT A ON PAGE 91 REGARDING THE TRAILS REVENUE AND WHERE THE MONEY HAS COME FROM.

AND YOU CAN SEE THERE WE REPRESENT 22.3% OF ALL THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN PAID INTO THAT MILLAGE, ALMOST $5 MILLION DOLLARS.

DO YOU. I KNOW THAT THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF THIS YOU WERE NOT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS? BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW MUCH WE'VE GOTTEN ALREADY FROM THE TRAILS MILLAGE? YEAH, I FIGURED I WOULD GET THAT QUESTION.

SO I DID A CURSORY NUMBER, BUT THIS IS NOT ACCURATE.

[LAUGHTER] I WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR SPREADSHEETS AND GET THE PRECISE NUMBER, BUT BALLPARK, I WOULD SAY ABOUT 4.1 MILLION.

[01:35:01]

OKAY. AND I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK HOW MUCH REVENUE WE'VE SENT BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T SOUND QUITE RIGHT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW TODAY IT'S 0.5 MIL, SO IT'S A HALF MIL LEVY.

SO TODAY, WITH A $2.1 BILLION DOLLAR TAX BASE, WE WOULD BE SENDING 1.05 MILLION.

SO MY GUESS IS OVER THE TEN YEARS THAT THE MILLAGE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE, WE'VE SPENT ABOUT 800 TO 850,000 ON AVERAGE WOULD BE MY GUESS, WHICH COMES TO.

YEAH. SO WE'VE, ONLY CAPTURED ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE'VE SENT THEM TO DATE, I WOULD SAY ROUGHLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THESE TWO GRANT APPLICATIONS, WE WOULD CLOSE THAT GAP, BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF PATHWAY PROJECTS TO APPLY FOR.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SO, MR. OPSOMMER, THIS IS A YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AUTHORIZATION OR PERMISSION ENCOURAGEMENT TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY MILLAGE.

AND I NOTE THAT YOU INCLUDED A RESOLUTION.

CORRECT. ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN A DECISION TONIGHT ON THAT RESOLUTION? WE DO NOT NEED ACTION FROM THE BOARD TONIGHT.

THIS IS JUST DUE BY LATE SUMMER.

THEY WANT TO GET ALL THE APPS IN BY AROUND, I THINK, JULY OR AUGUST.

SO WE DO NOT NEED A DECISION TONIGHT IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS COME BACK MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE IT COME BACK.

IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO ACT TONIGHT, MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THE RESOLUTION AND SEND IT OVER TO THE COUNTY.

OKAY. BOARD YOUR PLEASURE.

WELL, WE WILL.

IT APPEARS THAT EVERYONE IS IN ACCORD AND WE'LL EXPECT TO SEE IT COME BACK IN THE NEXT MONTH.

HOW'S THAT. TRUSTEE WILSON? OH, THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

I WOULD MAKE A SUGGESTION BECAUSE WE ARE IN ACCORD THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON IT TONIGHT.

THEN I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

I SEE NO REASON WHY NOT.

BUT I THINK I NEED FROM YOU A MOTION FIRST TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND THEN TO VOTE ON THAT TONIGHT.

OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.

SUPPORT.

SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT ISSUE? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? PLEASE SAY YES.

YES. YES. OPPOSE NO.

CHAIR VOTES YES.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

AND SO THE MOTION IS ACTUALLY.

HAVE WE HAD THE MOTION YET? NO. OKAY.

SO. WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.

TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

I'LL TAKE NOTES. THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP'S APPLICATION TO THE INGHAM COUNTY TRAILS AND PARKS MILLAGE PROGRAM FOR PHASE ONE OF THE EASTERN THIRD REGIONAL TRAIL.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE SAY YES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW, THE ITEM 14 ON OUR AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, ARE THERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AT THIS TIME ? NO. THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 15 OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

SEEING NONE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 16.

ITEM 16.

[16. CLOSED SESSION ]

TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.

I MOVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE WRITTEN CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL OPINION FROM THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY REGARDING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

SUPPORT. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

ALL RIGHT. DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? NO. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? YES, WE DO. I DO NEED A ROLL CALL.

SORRY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. [LAUGHTER] ATTORNEYS KEEP US STRAIGHT.

[01:40:01]

WE DO NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR JACKSON.

YES. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.

TREASURER DESCHAINE.

YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

YES. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.

YES. AND TRUSTEE WILSON.