Jun 05, 2024 Environmental Commission Meeting

[00:00:24]

MIC] WELL, I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE THUMBS UP BY STAFF THAT WE'RE READY TO GO LIVE.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

EVERYTHING IS ORDERED TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT OF US.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY DURING OUR MEETING THIS EVENING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ITEMS ON OR

[2. PUBLIC REMARKS]

AND THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE BUSINESS SECTION OF OUR MEETING FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, IDENTIFY YOURSELF, YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND TELL US WHY WE CAN ENJOY YOUR PRESENCE THIS EVENING.

I JUST GOT SOME PRETTY BASIC QUESTIONS.

I MEAN, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE.

MY NAME IS ROGER TAYLOR, 6089 EAST LAKE DRIVE.

THANK YOU. AND I'VE BEEN NOTICING A LOT OF SOLAR PANELS GOING UP AROUND THE TOWNSHIP, AND THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. DO WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE SOLAR PANELS ON THE ENVIRONMENT? HAVE WE DID A NEEDS ANALYSIS BEFORE WE SET THOSE UP, OR ARE WE PLANNING TO DO MORE AND IS THAT THE RIGHT DECISION, DO YOU THINK, TO PUT UP SOLAR PANELS? ARE WE CHANGING OUR EXISTING GRID OVER TO TO ELECTRIFY BY USING THE SOLAR PANELS WITH THE INVERTERS AND STUFF FROM OUR ORIGINAL ELECTRICAL GRID? SO I JUST WANT TO THROW SOME QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS A BIAS OF MINE IS SUBJECTED SOLAR PANELS AND WIND IS IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR ME.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST MY SUBJECTIVE BECAUSE THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE ON IT.

SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT HELP ME OR LET ME ASK YOU WHAT YOUR BUSINESS CASE IS FOR SOLAR AND WIND POWER.

AND LIKE I SAID THE NEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING AROUND HERE, I'M JUST AFRAID THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED MORE IF THESE SOLAR PANELS ARE DENIGRATING AND FALLING TO THE, THE GROUNDWATER AND INTO THE SOIL.

SO THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO EMAIL ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO LEAVE MY EMAIL AND, AND YOU CAN ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. IT'S OUR POLICY GENERALLY IN THE TOWNSHIP TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ADDRESS THOSE WHEN APPROPRIATE DURING OUR AGENDA.

AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE MOMENTS DURING OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING WHEN THAT TOPIC CAN BE ADDRESSED.

ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND I'LL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.

BRUCE [INAUDIBLE] 4932 SUE WAY IN OKEMOS.

ACTUALLY I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GREEN BURIAL COMMITTEE, AND WE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL AT YOUR LAST MEETING FOR GREEN GRANT FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND I RECEIVED FEEDBACK THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS NOW OR WAIT TILL LATER IN YOUR IN YOUR AGENDA.

YEAH. THANK YOU, BRUCE, FOR COMING THIS EVENING.

WE WILL HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IF IT'S APPROVED PROPOSALS FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY RELATED FUNDING.

AND THAT TOPIC WILL BE AMONG THEM.

SO STICK AROUND AND WE'LL GET TO THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. WE'LL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.

[3. CHANGES TO/APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

[00:05:09]

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

AND A SECOND I SEE FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

ANY DISCUSSION? I KNOW THERE WERE SOME TYPOGRAPHICAL SUGGESTIONS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FRAIZER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THOSE AT THIS TIME? I CAN OR I CAN DEFER TO STAFF.

MOST OF THEM WERE JUST MINOR TYPOGRAPHICAL TYPE ISSUES.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS WHERE SENTENCES WEREN'T COMPLETED.

SO I'M ASSUMING THAT STAFF CAN HELP OUT IN, IN COMPLETING THOSE SENTENCES TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF MINUTES.

SO IF YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE, I CAN.

BUT AGAIN, THERE WERE MAINLY JUST TYPOGRAPHICAL TYPE ISSUES.

MAYBE WE COULD START WITH THE TWO MORE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES.

I BELIEVE ONE WAS ON THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD DISCUSSION.

I DID MAKE THE CORRECTIONS IN THE PACKET THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, SO THAT SHOULD BE THE CORRECTED VERSION WITH THE BLANKS FILLED OUT.

AND THAT'S THE SAME ONE IN THE AUDIENCE.

SO. LET'S SEE.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE ITEM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THAT LAST SENTENCE IT LOOKS LIKE HAS BEEN REMOVED. THE INCOMPLETE SENTENCE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

LOOKS THAT WAY. IN THE FOLLOWING TWO PARAGRAPHS LATER, LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.

EXCUSE ME. YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP.

I SEE THAT THERE MAY.

IT'S RIGHT AFTER DOG POOP.

SORRY. SHE SAYS THAT? YEAH. SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHANGES YEAH. ALL RIGHT, THAT MAKES SENSE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR OTHER TYPOGRAPHICAL SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN DULY INCORPORATED? I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE BEEN.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE REVISED MINUTES AS THEY'RE IN FRONT OF US? I HAD ONE REQUEST.

REQUEST IF I MIGHT, ON THE SECOND PAGE IN THE DISCUSSION OF THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING UNDER NEXT STEPS, WHICH IS THE LAST SUBSECTION OF THAT PART OF THE MINUTES.

I WOULD HAVE CALLED THAT SECTION DISCUSSION.

AND IF WE COULD MAYBE JUST BULLET THE INDIVIDUAL MOTIONS THAT WERE MADE DURING THAT DISCUSSION SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH AND SAY, FOR INSTANCE SARVER MOVED THAT WE APPROVE THE SIGNAGE AT THE RECYCLING CENTER.

SECOND BULLET COLBY MOVED THAT THE COMPOSTING JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE CLEARER THAT THERE WERE MOTIONS THAT WERE VOTES, THERE WAS APPROVAL.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I'M TRYING TO RETIRE FROM COPY EDITING, BUT IT'S KIND OF BAKED IN.

HEARING NO OBJECTIONS OR OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR AMENDMENTS WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

MOVING TO NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA AN APPLICATION FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL

[New Application from Cynthia Peterson. High School Science Teacher in Haslett.]

IF YOU'RE HERE AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT IN THE WORLD ATTRACTS YOU TO THIS? SO NAME AND ADDRESS AND A FEW MINUTES TO A HIGHLIGHT WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE? SURE. I'M CYNTHIA PETERSON, 6285 RIDGE STREET, HASLETT.

I HAVE A A BACKGROUND IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

I TEACH CHEMISTRY AND AP CHEMISTRY AT HASLETT HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, AND I JUST AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF IN MY COMMUNITY.

AND I HAVE KNOWN LEROY FOR A WHILE AND TRYING TO GET MY STUDENT GROUP THE.

[00:10:10]

I'M TRYING TO GET THEM MORE INVOLVED, AND I FINALLY DECIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE BE A PART OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, WOULD FIT WELL WITH MY INTERESTS AND BE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY EVEN MORE.

SUPER. THANK YOU.

ANY COMMISSIONERS WANT TO WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR ISSUES? I CAN PERSONALLY SAY THAT WE'VE IN MY TIME ON THE COMMISSION, WE'VE SEEN A PRETTY STRONG CONNECTION WITH THE OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, AND ESPECIALLY AS THE GREEN GRANTS PROGRAM EVOLVES, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING GREATER CONNECTIONS TO THE HASLETT COMMUNITY.

BUT I KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT VALUE IN THE TOWNSHIP TO BRING BOTH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES ON BOARD.

SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE STRENGTH OF YOUR OF YOUR INTEREST.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO? I THINK OUR ROLE IN THIS MATTER IS PRIMARILY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THE SUPERVISOR ON RECOMMENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD FOR THIS COMMISSION.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IS FOR US TO CONSULT WITH WITH THE MANAGER AND THE SUPERVISOR ON MAKING SUGGESTIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION.

SURE. BUT WE VERY MUCH WELCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ENGAGED AND HAVE INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE IN THIS REALM.

OKAY. YEAH.

AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID, BILL, ABOUT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A REAL STRONG INTEREST IN KEEPING INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOLS.

AND SO YOU BEING A HASLETT TEACHER, I THINK WOULD BE A REAL ASSET TO THE COMMISSION AND NOT AND OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE GOT SOME VERY GOOD ACADEMIC BACKGROUND TO AND SOME TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT WE WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE STRONG CONNECTIONS TO OUR TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

OKAY. GREAT.

GREAT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STICK AROUND FOR AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS YOU CAN STOMACH OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BILL.

YES. OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS THE 18TH.

SO IF YOU GET INTO THREE MINUTES TO GET INTO TIM SCHMITT OR SCOTT.

OKAY, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA.

WE'LL DO NOTE FOR STAFF.

PUT THAT IN THE MINUTES. STAFF WILL CONTACT YOU.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER NEW BUSINESS WE'LL MOVE ON TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE PROPOSAL FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY RELATED FUNDING.

[Proposals for Climate Sustainability-Related Funding]

AND MY READING OF THE MINUTES, IF, IF I MIGHT, IS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE GREEN BURIAL PROPOSAL.

AND I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION SINCE OUR LAST MEETING WITHIN TOWNSHIP AND MAYBE AMONG THE BOARD ON THE TOPIC. SO THIS IS MORE OR LESS AN OPEN AGENDA ITEM THAT COULD BE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME LEVEL OF FUNDING TO THE DEGREE THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE OR TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION.

BUT WE CAN OPEN THE DISCUSSION AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

AND I KNOW THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE.

AND IF EVERYBODY'S OKAY, MAYBE INVITE HIM UP TO THE PODIUM AGAIN TO ADDRESS US. I'LL START WITH ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD HEARD WAS THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY A DESIRE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP FOR A GREEN BURIAL OPTION.

SO I DID A SHORT SURVEY OF FARMERS MARKET ATTENDEES THIS PAST SATURDAY, AND I RECEIVED 50 RESPONSES.

ALL WERE HIGHLY IN FAVOR OF A GREEN BURIAL OPTION.

SURPRISINGLY ABOUT LET'S SEE, 78% OF THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY THEY WANTED TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP.

[00:15:03]

SO IT WAS OPTIONAL, BUT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE GAVE ME THEIR EMAIL AND CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY WERE AWARE OF WHAT GREEN BURIAL IS.

AND THE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF THAT SUBGROUP SAID THAT THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE THE IDEA OF ONE WOMAN EVEN SAID THAT SHE IS PUT IT IN HER WILL THAT SHE WOULD BE BURIED IN A GREEN FASHION. SO THERE THERE IS A DESIRE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP FOR THIS KIND OF AN OPTION.

THE WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON IS THE VACANT SECTION OF GLENDALE CEMETERY ON MOUNT HOPE ROAD, WHICH IS SECTION SEVEN.

IT'S WAY BACK IN THE LET'S SEE, THAT'S THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE OF THE CEMETERY.

AND I'VE RECENTLY HEARD FROM LEROY, WHO'S ALSO SPOKEN TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THAT THAT SECTION HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR DECADES AS A DEPOSITORY FOR TREE WASTE LEAVES, MULCH LOGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEY RAISED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE UTILIZATION OF THAT SECTION FOR FOR THIS KIND OF BURIAL OR FOR BURIALS IN GENERAL JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT COULD BE UNDERNEATH THE SOIL.

THE REASON WE WERE LOOKING AT AT GLENDALE IS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EASIEST WAY FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO GET INTO A GREEN BURIAL OPTION UTILIZING AN EXISTING CEMETERY.

AND IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED ESSENTIALLY JUST A CHANGE IN THE CEMETERY ORDINANCES TO DO AWAY WITH THE NECESSITY FOR CONCRETE VAULTS IN THAT ONE SECTION.

AND AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE OF THAT AREA, IT WOULD BE TYPICALLY THOSE ARE PUT INTO A NATURAL LANDSCAPE TYPE OF A GROUND COVER.

SO IT WOULD BE PRAIRIE OR WILDFLOWERS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THE ONLY MAINTENANCE WOULD BE THE MAINTAINING A PATHWAYS THAT GO THROUGH THE THAT SECTION.

SO FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE LESS THAN WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

I DID RECEIVE A QUOTE OR NOT A QUOTE A PROPOSAL FROM WENDY FRYE, FRYE ASSOCIATES, WHICH IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN CEMETERIES.

AND THEY ACTUALLY TOOK PART IN DESIGNING THE SUMMIT CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP THAT HAS JUST RECENTLY BEGUN SELLING PLOTS.

AND WE HAD INITIALLY TALKED WITH HER ABOUT GLENDALE, AND THAT IS WHAT WHAT THE QUOTE OR THE PROPOSAL THAT SHE SENT WAS FOR, AND THAT WAS THE $10,000 THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR A GREEN GRANT TO SUPPLY. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK WE'LL TREAT THIS AS WE NORMALLY WOULD, A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAVE AN APPLICANT BEFORE US LOOKING FOR FUNDING FROM A PROGRAM, AND WE'LL ENGAGE IN QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE APPLICANT OR STAFF.

AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THAT PORTION AND TURN TO DISCUSSION IF THERE'S A MOTION TO BE MADE.

SO WE'LL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT AT THIS POINT, PLEASE.

I HAVE A COUPLE.

THE FIRST ONE, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE GREEN BURIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY IS SPECIFICALLY JUST LANDSCAPING.

LIKE IT'S NOT CONSIDERING THE CEMETERY.

THE MONEY IS FOR THE LANDSCAPING.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR GLENDALE.

THAT ONE SECTION.

IF IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, LANDSCAPING THE SECTION, IT'S NOT LIKE IS IT FEASIBLE TO HAVE A GREEN BURIAL THERE WITH THE LOGS AND WHAT YOU DISCUSSED EARLIER? IT'S THE QUOTE FOR THE LANDSCAPING OF THE GREEN BURIAL SECTION.

NO. THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO QUITE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

SO READ OUT WHAT SHE'S GOT HERE.

[00:20:01]

AND THERE WOULD BE A DESIGN CHARRETTE WHICH WOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMING, CONCEPTUAL DESIGN.

SO WHAT WE WOULD END UP WITH AT THE END WOULD BE LIKE AN ARTIST'S RENDERING OF WHAT THAT SECTION WOULD LOOK LIKE AS A GREEN BURIAL. OH.

I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT LEROY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING A COLUMBARIUM THERE, WHICH IS A BUILDING OR SOME KIND OF A STRUCTURE TO HOUSE CREMATED REMAINS.

AND TYPICALLY THOSE CAN BE ADDED IN JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF EITHER THE EXISTING BURIAL SECTIONS OR IN THE AS PART OF THE GREEN BURIAL SECTION ITSELF.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR SPECIFYING THE FEASIBILITY PART.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE LANDSCAPING THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO EARLIER, THE QUOTE THAT YOU HAVE FOR THAT, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE MONEY THAT YOU REQUESTED FROM THE COMMISSION, OR IS THAT ALL COMBINED INTO ONE? THAT'S ALL COMBINED INTO ONE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. BRUCE HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ABOUT GREEN BURIAL YET? I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE BOARD YET.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE WELL, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GUESS I HAVE IS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP KIND OF IN EXPLORING THE OPTION.

IS YOU ARE YOU THINKING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THIS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF COMMUNICATE TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY WHAT THIS THING WOULD LOOK LIKE? AND THAT'S THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE A, A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN THAT I COULD TAKE TO THE BOARD AND SAY THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

I GUESS THAT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH SOME MAYBE SOME PHOTOSHOP AND A FEW THINGS OF THE EXISTING SITE JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK THE WAY IT IS OR THE WAY IT WOULD BE.

IS THERE A I GUESS THAT LEADS TO MY QUESTION BECAUSE THE BUDGET WAS $7,500 TO $10,000.

IS THERE A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION THAT WOULD KIND OF TAKE US KIND OF FORWARD AND EXPLORING THIS OPTION? OR IS IT REALLY LIKE YOU WOULD NEED THE $7,500, FOR EXAMPLE, TO KIND OF TAKE THE NEXT STEP? IS THERE SOMETHING LESS YOU COULD DO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL? IN ORDER TO MEET THE THE DEADLINE FOR SETTING A PROPOSAL, I ASKED WENDY FOR A JUST A A BALLPARK QUOTE.

AND THAT'S WHERE $7,500 TO $10,000 CAME WITH.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK, SHE ACTUALLY SENT THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS FOR $10,000.

SO IT WAS AT THE HIGH END OF THE OF THAT RANGE.

WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER LANDSCAPE FIRMS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THIS KIND OF THING THAT WE COULD ASK FOR QUOTES FROM THEM AS WELL AND POSSIBLY LOWER THE COST IS I'M NOT SURE.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS SIDE? WELL, I THINK MY QUESTION HAS JUST BEEN ANSWERED, BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE $7,500 TO $10,000 AS WELL. BUT I GUESS I GUESS MAYBE THE NEXT QUESTION IS, IS IS THERE A CHANCE THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR LESS THAN THE $10,000? I CAN CERTAINLY CONTACT HER AND FIND OUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN PARE DOWN TO GET TO THAT TO GET TO THAT POINT YOU KNOW, SHE WAS EXCITED TO TO HEAR FROM THE TOWNSHIP.

SHE ACTUALLY SPOKE TO OUR GREEN DIALOGS GROUP ON WEDNESDAY OF I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I THINK REGARDING THIS AND SHE WAS EXCITED TO HEAR BACK AND THAT WE WERE STILL PURSUING THIS.

[00:25:08]

I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

I'M NOT AVERSE TO GREEN BURIAL, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT EXPENDING THIS MONEY NOW, RATHER THAN BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD WITH SOME GENERAL IDEAS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ORDINANCE CHANGES.

IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE NOT JUST THAT SECTION OF THE CEMETERY, BUT THAT HAS IMPACTS ON THE ENTIRE CEMETERY FROM A GROWTH STANDPOINT AND AVAILABILITY.

SO I THINK THOSE THINGS PROBABLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AT LEAST IN THEORY WITH THE BOARD PRIOR TO DOING A FULL STUDY.

NOW, IF THERE ARE SOME SOME RESEARCH PIECES THAT COULD BE DONE SHOWING OTHER GREEN BURIAL SITES AND HOW THEY LOOK AND HOW THEY FIT IN WITH THE CEMETERY, THAT WOULD GIVE US ON THE BOARD MORE INFORMATION WITHOUT SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY AND THEN HAVING THE BOARD SAY, WELL, THIS DOESN'T FIT WITH WHAT OUR FUTURE USE THERE AND ALL THAT IS AND DOWN THE DRAIN.

SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN THE LAST TIME.

WE MAY BE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE IN THIS WAY.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TALK TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND THE SUPERVISOR AND SEE IF WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM TO GIVE YOU SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHERE THE TOWNSHIP IS LIKELY TO GO.

I JUST THINK THAT'S SMARTER THAN ASSUMING THAT IT WOULD BE APPROVED WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD THAT WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE THE AMENDMENTS, BUT I AM NOT A VOTING MEMBER OF THIS BOARD SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WISH.

IT'S JUST MY CONCERNS THAT I RAISED WITH THEM LAST TIME.

NOW, IDEALLY WHAT WE'D IF WE COULD HAVE OUR WISHES GRANTED, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A SECTION OF LAND THAT'S NOT PART OF THE EXISTING CEMETERY SOMEPLACE THAT IS EITHER IN A NATURAL STATE OR CAN BE EASILY TURNED INTO A NATURAL OR NATURAL STATE. I HAD SPOKEN TO THE LAND PRESERVATION GROUP ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE OF THE THE PRESERVE LANDS BEING PUT TO THIS USE.

AND THOSE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE TOWNSHIP WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER POTENTIAL PRESERVE SPOT.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE TOWNSHIP DOESN'T OWN PROPERTY OTHER THAN WHERE OUR BUILDINGS ARE AND OUR PARKS ARE, SO AND THE CEMETERIES.

YES. SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION IS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

BUT AGAIN, IF THE BOARD WISHES TO DO OTHERWISE, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

YEAH. IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON UTILIZING GLENDALE JUST FOR LOGISTICAL CONCERNS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK AGAINST IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHETHER IT WOULD FIT OR NOT.

AND SO THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, BECAUSE I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR FIVE MONTHS.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEEN BEFORE THEM IN THE PAST ON THIS, IF ANYTHING.

SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN WHEN I WAS HERE LAST TIME.

RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I SAW ONE OTHER HAND OVER HERE AND THEN AFTER.

I THINK SHE HAS A QUESTION TOO.

BUT SOMETHING THAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WAS, I GUESS THIS WOULD BE PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD DO A BREAKDOWN OF THE COSTS, BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU LISTED LIKE A NUMBER OF THINGS FOR THE HOW THE $10,000 WOULD BE USED COST TO THE TOWNSHIP.

AND NO, LIKE THE $10,000 THAT YOU REQUESTED, YOU GAVE ME A LIST OF THINGS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER IT.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU WOULD HAVE THE GRAPHICS THAT WOULD BE DRAWN UP.

THE WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN I CAN FORWARD THE PROPOSAL THAT FRYE ASSOCIATES SENT TO ME.

I CAN SEND IT TO LEROY, AND HE CAN DISPERSE IT TO YOU ALL TO LOOK AT AND IT GIVES A QUITE A BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION. ALSO QUITE A FEW SHOTS OF CEMETERIES THAT SHE SAW ALREADY WORKED SO THAT MIGHT BE THE QUICKEST WAY TO DO IT.

IT COULD BE. YEAH.

IF I MAY, I THINK I CAN TRY TO SUMMARIZE THE COMMISSION'S RESPONSE AS IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE DETAIL ON THE [INAUDIBLE] IN

[00:30:03]

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE PARTNERS NEXT DOOR IN WILLIAMSTON WHO ARE FARTHER ALONG ON THIS.

AND I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMMEND THAT ENGAGING WITH OUR, OUR PARTNERS IN WILLIAMSTON, WHO HAVE GIVEN MORE THOUGHT TO THIS MAY HELP THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THIS COMMISSION UNDERSTAND WHAT HOW THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHERE THEY'RE HEADED AND WHERE THEY'VE WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR.

THEY WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY HAD GREEN BURIAL AS PART OF THEIR MASTER PLAN.

SO I ASKED THEIR SUPERVISOR WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET THIS TO GO.

AND SHE SAID IT WAS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN, SO [INAUDIBLE] SKIDS WERE GREASED AND THE WAY WE WENT THEY ACTUALLY HAD THEIR FIRST GREEN BURIAL LAST WEEK.

ONE OF ONE OF THE COUPLES THAT I TALKED TO AT THE FARMER'S MARKET HAD ATTENDED THAT BURIAL, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THEY JUST LOVED IT.

SO THAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE KIND OF THING THAT COULD HELP FOLKS WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS TO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT IT IS THAT'S THAT'S MOTIVATING THE REQUEST. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HOST THAT HERE AS A DISCUSSION.

AND IT'S IT'S TELEVISED, IT CAN BE RECORDED, IT CAN BE SHARED.

AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD PRESENTATIONS FROM YOU FOLKS AT PRIOR MEETINGS.

MY SENSE IS THAT THOSE WERE MAINLY PROSPECTIVE.

BUT HAVING ESTABLISHED SOMETHING ALREADY NEXT DOOR AND HEARING FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT, I FEEL LIKE MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

SO I GIVE YOU USEFUL GUIDANCE.

DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION OR SUGGESTION? WELL, NOT A QUESTION.

AND MAYBE THIS IS TOO EARLY TO SUGGEST THIS, BUT I WONDER IF WE COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE GRANT REQUEST PENDING DISCUSSION WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.

AND THAT IF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD WAS FAVORABLE FOR MOVING FORWARD, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE APPROVAL FOR THE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY BY US IN PLACE TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.

JUST A THOUGHT. THAT SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE A MOTION.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO FORMULATE THAT INTO A MOTION, I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN IT.

SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND SOMETIMES THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DOES IS TO ENGAGE IN A STRAW POLL, WHICH IS AN INFORMAL POLL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR COMMISSION ABOUT THEIR INTEREST IN SUPPORTING A PROPOSAL, AN APPLICATION, WITHOUT COMMITTING TO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WOULD THAT WORK? SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO PROPOSE AS A STRAW POLL T HAT OF THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THE NOTION AND ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT PRIOR EXPERIENCE NEXT DOOR AND IN OTHER PLACES IN ORDER TO COME TO A CONCLUSION ABOUT SUPPORTING SOME LEVEL OF FUNDING, ALONG WITH THE DETAILS OF WHAT LEVELS OF FUNDING MIGHT ACHIEVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES.

DOES THAT SUMMARIZE OUR DISCUSSION PRETTY WELL? IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT STRAW POLL? ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT? DOES THAT GIVE YOU GUIDANCE? DOES THAT HELP YOU FIND A WAY FORWARD? I THINK SO. SUPER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE NOTION AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS.

YEAH, AND I'M NOT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS.

I JUST THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THIS IS, THAT SUPPORT IT.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.

RIGHT. AND SO SINCE THIS WILL IMPACT THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP, IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE SOLD TO THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.

AND SO THAT'S A PROCESS THAT GETS YOU THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY QUITE SOON ON OUR AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT OR ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRUCE, FOR COMING THIS EVENING.

SO WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM SEVEN, REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BEGINNING WITH STAFF.

[7. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ]

[00:35:06]

AND I GOT QUESTIONS.

I THINK YOU DIDN'T READ THE LATEST ONE.

I WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I DID IT AT 7:05.

NO, I DIDN'T SEE THAT.

MAYBE IT ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS.

WHAT ARE YOUR HIGHLIGHTS? WHAT ARE WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THERE? WELL, YOU GOT ME OFF GUARD HERE.

YEAH. WELL, THE THING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION FROM THE LAST ONE WAS A CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP IN A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY, SOMETHING IN THAT DEADLINE PASSED.

OKAY, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.

SO COUNTYWIDE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR I MEAN THERE'S REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE LAW FOR WHAT TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE ON.

THEY HAVE TO BE SOME WASTE HAULERS.

THEY HAVE TO BE THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER AND SOME OF THE OTHERS INCLUDED OR ONE OF THEM WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ELECTED TOWNSHIP OR GOVERNMENTAL UNIT.

NOW THEY'RE NOT SAYING EVERYBODY GETS A MEMBER, RIGHT, BUT THEY WERE SEEKING PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THAT POSITION.

AND THE BOARD ALREADY TALKED INTO ONE OF OUR TRUSTEES TO APPLY FOR THIS.

SO I THINK IT'S I THINK MARNA WILSON'S OKAY.

IS HAS APPLIED FOR IT.

AND JUST FOR OH, IT'S ACTUALLY OUR TREASURER PHIL DESCHAINE.

DESCHAINE DID. THAT'S RIGHT.

PHIL. YEAH. AND JUST FOR BACKGROUND, THE STATE LEGISLATURE UPDATED THE RULES ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, REQUIRING EVERY COUNTY TO PLAN.

SO THIS IS PART OF BUILDING A SET OF STAKEHOLDERS TO COME UP WITH OUR COUNTY'S PLAN, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO DIVERTING ORGANIC WASTES FROM OUR LANDFILLS.

WHAT ELSE FROM THE STAFF? OKAY, THAT WAS FROM MAY'S STAFF REPORT.

SO. YES. OKAY.

OKAY. WELL THE JUNE STAFF REPORT, I THINK THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE UPCOMING WEEKEND WITH THE COMPOST BIN AND THE RAIN BARREL DISTRIBUTION.

NOT TO STEAL ANY THUNDER FROM BRUCE.

BRUCE IS ALSO ON OUR GREEN TEAM, AND HE'S GOING TO BE THERE BASICALLY GIVING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT COMPOSTING.

JOHN BIRNBAUM'S GOING TO BE THERE.

HOPEFULLY HE'S NOT 100% COMMITTED, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE DOING A COMPOST DEMONSTRATION.

WE DO HAVE A FEW RAIN BARRELS AND COMPOST BINS LEFT FOR SALE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO BUY A PRESENT FOR A LOVED ONE AND WE'RE ALSO GLEN OR EXCUSE ME NED JACKSON IS GOING TO DO A BICYCLE TOUR AT 11:00.

JUST DO A LITTLE CIRCLE THROUGH THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE PARKS AND POINT OUT THE NEW TRAIL EXTENSION AND SOME OTHER GREEN FEATURES ALONG THE WAY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A BIKER.

I'M SURE HE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

IF THERE'S SOME REALLY INTERESTED BIKERS, THEY MIGHT GO A LITTLE FURTHER AND EXPLORE MUD LAKE OR LAKE LANSING, NATURAL SHORELINE, THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

THE STAFF REPORT IS LINKED IN THE IN THE UPDATE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE ITEMS, FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO TEAMS ENERGY ENERGY TEAM.

WELL, WE HAD A WE DID HAVE A MEETING THIS PAST MONTH, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE EV CHARGING AND THE SOLARIZE PROGRAM.

AND TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE SOLARIZE PROGRAM YOU KNOW, THE THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS A AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTION, WHICH INCLUDES TWO PARTS.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH TOWNSHIP FACILITIES IN THE PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE NOW, 2017 THE TOWNSHIP IS COMMITTED TO GET 100% OF THE ELECTRICITY FOR ITS OWN OPERATIONS FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

SO THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN ACTUALLY INSTALLING QUITE A FEW SOLAR ARRAYS ON VARIOUS TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS.

LET'S SEE, WE'RE I THINK WE HAVE FIVE AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO NUMBER SIX, I THINK THIS YEAR THE NORTH FIRE STATION.

THE SOLARIZE PROGRAM, THOUGH, IS OUR COMMUNITY EFFORT, WHICH IS AN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT.

AND WE'VE BEEN WE'RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR NOW THAT NOW THAT'S A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM THAT'S ENCOURAGED BY THE TOWNSHIP.

IT BASICALLY PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS EXPLAIN SOLAR AND THE BENEFITS.

AND THEN IT IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GROUP DISCOUNT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO ARE AT THE MEETING WHO

[00:40:02]

THEY GET AT LEAST A 5% DISCOUNT FROM THE SOLAR INSTALLER.

BUT THEN IF YOU GET ADDITIONAL BEYOND FIVE PARTICIPANTS, LET'S SAY YOU'VE GOT EIGHT PARTICIPANTS, THEY WOULD ALL GET AN 8% DISCOUNT ON TOP OF THE 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT.

NOW, WE JUST HAD OUR MEETING IN WILLIAMSTON.

AND WE HAD A MEETING HERE AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HALL, TOO, AND THE WILLIAMSTON MEETING.

[INAUDIBLE] WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP MEETING.

I COUNTED ABOUT TEN FOLKS THERE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM.

I WAS TOLD, THOUGH, THAT THERE'S ABOUT 20 POTENTIALLY IN THE GROUP.

AND THE ABSOLUTE SOLAR, THE SOLAR INSTALLER IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE ON SITE VISITS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH PROPOSALS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO THIS.

THE NEXT MEETING WHICH IS REALLY HOSTED BY THE CITY OF EAST LANSING, WILL BE JULY 10TH AT THE EAST LANSING PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 7:00. AND WE DO ANTICIPATE HAVING A ANOTHER MEETING IN LANSING IN SEPTEMBER.

SO THE PROGRAM IS GOING ALONG WELL PEOPLE GO AND THEY FIND OUT ABOUT SOLAR, GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. AND THEN THEY CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO, TO PROCEED AND POTENTIALLY.

WELL, THEY WILL GET AT LEAST A 5% DISCOUNT, BUT COULD GET UP TO 15% DISCOUNT.

WE ALSO DISCUSSED EV CHARGING.

WE HAVEN'T GOT A UP TO DATE BRIEFING YET AND KIND OF WHERE THINGS ARE AT, BUT THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP HALL THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO HAVE THE EV CHARGING.

ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP AT THE ENERGY TEAM MEETING WAS THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR CONSUMERS ENERGY INCENTIVE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT DEPENDS ON THE TOWNSHIP HAVING AT LEAST PURCHASED ONE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. AND WE'RE NOT AWARE THAT THAT'S IN THE PLANS THAT THERE'S ANY PLAN TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE A VEHICLE, WHICH DOES RAISE THE QUESTION OF ARE WE GOING TO LOSE OUT ON THE CONSUMER'S ENERGY INCENTIVE? SO THAT'S WE HAD A A GOOD DISCUSSION.

I GUESS WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

LET ME I GUESS I COULD DO IT BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY REPORT TOO.

BUT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENERGY STUFF? WE WILL HAVE ON OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO IF YOU CAN HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THEN.

OKAY, MOVING ON TO THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY.

I, I VOLUNTEERED TO BE ON THAT KIND OF THINKING THAT NOT MUCH WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT WAS NED. GOTCHA.

I WAS WRONG BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENED? AND I LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT THIS AT THAT LAST MEETING, WAS THAT APPARENTLY THE LAW RELATED TO BROWNFIELD AUTHORITIES WAS AMENDED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO INCLUDE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTION.

AND AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE THING WITH THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY HAS TO DO WITH PROVIDING TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING. AND APPARENTLY NOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TIF TWO.

AND OF COURSE, ALL OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AT THE TOWNSHIP HAVE TO DO WITH BROWNFIELDS POLLUTION, YOU KNOW, CLEANING UP THE POLLUTION.

WELL, NOW THERE'S A WHOLE NEW PROGRAM THAT THE AMBER CLARK AND THE STAFF THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SIGNIFICANT INTEREST.

AND SO IT WOULD ENTAIL ALL THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO HOW TO PLUG IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND APPARENTLY THE STATE LAW GIVES THE LOCAL JURISDICTION QUITE A BIT OF FLEXIBILITY.

SO THAT'S THERE'S NEEDLESS TO SAY, A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND ISSUES ABOUT WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT. THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE.

DO YOU HAVE FURTHER ON THAT? OH, YEAH.

AMBER CAME TO US ON THE BOARD AND SHOWED THIS, AND THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

[00:45:03]

WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW, TO MANY OF THEM, AND MANY OF THEM ARE SUBJECT TO THE TOWNSHIP OR THE GOVERNING BODY'S DECISION ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM IF THEY DO.

THIS IS A [INAUDIBLE] BROWNFIELD TIF, BUT IT PAYS.

SO WHAT IS SET UP IS FOR ANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT EITHER SINGLE FAMILY OR THEIR, THE TOWNSHIP DECIDES WHO APPLIES TO OR MULTIFAMILY.

IF THEY DESIGNATE A CERTAIN NUMBER, SAY TEN UNITS ARE GOING TO BE BELOW MARKET LEVEL.

BY SUCH AND SUCH A NUMBER OF DOLLARS, THE TOWNSHIP WOULD PAY THE DEVELOPER BACK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARKET VALUE RENT AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO RENT FOR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICHEVER THE WHATEVER THE TOWNSHIP SAID.

BUT THERE REALLY IS NO EASY WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT'S GETTING HOW'S THE MONEY GETTING TO THE TOWNSHIP? I MEAN, WITH THE TAX INCREMENT, YOU KNOW, THE TAXES WENT UP SO YOU CAN GIVE BACK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IT, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE, THIS ONE THERE'S NO REPAYMENT TYPE FUNCTION.

YOU JUST PAY THE DIFFERENCE.

AND IT ALSO DOESN'T APPEAR TO REQUIRE THEM TO BE MARKETED TO PEOPLE WHO NEED LOW INCOME HOUSING.

SO IT'S DEVELOPING THE LOW INCOME HOUSING.

BUT YOU COULD HAVE, AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE, SOMEONE THAT IS EXTREMELY WEALTHY WHO JUST GOT DISCOUNTED RENT FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS SO THAT WE CAN PAY THE DEVELOPER FOR MAKING THOSE MARKET LEVEL RENTS.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

YOU'RE MAKING MY HEAD EXPLODE.

YEAH. AND I'LL BET YOU FELT THE SAME WAY AFTER AMBER TALKED TO YOU.

I SURE DID.

SO WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE.

OH, OKAY. A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

OKAY, BEFORE WE DO THAT, AND WE ALMOST HAVE TO HAVE AMBER AND HER STAFF DEVELOP PROPOSED GUIDELINES, APPLICABILITY AND WHATEVER BEFORE WE CAN REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WELL, WILL THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY BE REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MAKES ITS DECISION? NO. OKAY.

THERE'S THERE'S WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING IT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING ANY REQUESTS FOR THAT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO PROGRAM THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY FOR GUIDANCE.

THE STAFF WILL PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE.

AMBER AND OTHER STAFF, THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY MAY HAVE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT IT AT SOME POINT.

YEAH, BUT AND THEY MAY BE CONSULTED BEFORE AS TO THESE ARE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS PROBLEMS ON YOUR END.

BUT THE STAFF WILL BE DOING MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT WORK AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

WELL, I'M SURE IT'LL BE VERY EDUCATIONAL FOR ME.

IT WILL BE EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL OF US, I BELIEVE.

IN THE COMMISSION, THEY CAN TAKE OVER THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

THOSE ARE MY REPORTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH.

JUST TO WEIGH IN BRIEFLY, IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE A PLANNING COMMISSION TOWNSHIP BOARD ISSUE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING HOUSING.

YES, BUT OBVIOUSLY TO THE DEGREE THAT IT IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, IT FALLS WITHIN OUR.

SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

WELL, THIS THIS IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT REALLY A BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THAT LAW IS DESIGNED TO COVER POLLUTION BELOW THE GROUND, E SSENTIALLY THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT POLLUTION AT ALL.

THIS IS TALKING ABOUT HOUSING.

OKAY. YEAH. EVEN MORE TEAM. YEAH, I THINK ROUND OF GREEN GO.

OKAY. IT CAN BE BRIEF BECAUSE I THINK LEROY JUST GAVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE GREEN TEAM.

WE DO HAVE AN EVENT AT THE MARKET ON SATURDAY, SO WE'LL BE DISTRIBUTING RAIN BARRELS AND COMPOST BINS FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PURCHASED THOSE AND ALSO HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

AND IT GETS JUST LONGER TERM, LOOKING AHEAD A LITTLE BIT, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN OUR ELECTRONICS

[00:50:01]

SO IF YOU HAVE ELECTRONICS TO GET RID OF, THAT WILL BE THE DATE.

AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR ME.

REMIND US WITH ELECTRONICS, ARE THERE CHARGES FOR CERTAIN ITEMS? THERE ARE CHARGES FOR LARGE SCREEN, LIKE OLD TVS.

BUT MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE TAKEN AT NO COST.

IF THERE'S REFRIGERANT, THEN THAT'S A THERE IS A CHARGE.

WELL, FRIDGES AND FREEZERS AND DEHUMIDIFIERS, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY.

IS THAT REALLY ELECTRONICS OR IS THAT MORE IN THE METAL COLLECTION.

THAT'S MORE OF THE METAL COLLECTION I THINK WHICH WE HAD JUST IN THE SPRING.

SO. RIGHT. DID YOU HAVE A BORDERLINE ISSUE? IF CONSUMERS IS INVOLVED, WE MAY BE ABLE TO WAIVE THAT FREE ON FEE LIKE WE DID IN THE SPRING.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS ON SATURDAY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IT IN AN HOUR AT THE GREEN TEAM BOOTH, HELP WITH THE DISTRIBUTION.

I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT EARLIER, BUT TOM WILL BE THERE.

BRUCE WILL BE THERE.

MAYBE. KIM, YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED YOUR LIST LATELY, HAVE YOU? NO. OH, AWESOME.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU.

GOT IT? YEP. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T SEE A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR FOOD GROUP PRESENT, AND I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY UPDATES.

IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT UPDATES IN THAT REALM, PLEASE SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.

MOVING ON.

ANY OTHER.

MAYBE JUST REAL QUICK.

AT THE EVENT ON SATURDAY THERE WILL BE FLYERS ON COMPOSTING FOOD COMPOSTING, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO PICK UP THE BIODEGRADABLE COMPOST FOOD COMPOST BAGS AT THE MARKET.

SO. GREAT.

WELL. THANK YOU.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL? ANYTHING GOING ON IN THAT REALM? SO NOW THAT THE YEAR'S ENDED, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGING HANDS FOR WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THINGS.

SO I'M OFFICIALLY GRADUATED.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE HEAD OF THE EARTH CLUB AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO GRADUATED, STELLA CHAN AND SARA LEE.

SO I CAN TRY AND FIND OUT IF THE ELECTIONS FOR WHOEVER'S GOING TO REPLACE THEM ARE GOING TO BE HELD ALREADY, WHICH I WOULD, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN, OR NEXT YEAR.

AND IF THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN HELD, I CAN TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE GREENHOUSE HAS BEEN CLEARED OUT.

THERE WAS A SORT OF JOINT EVENT BETWEEN ACTION AND NHS TO CLEAN IT OUT FOR NEXT YEAR'S CLASS.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE SORT OF HORTICULTURE CLASS IS STILL IN PLANNING TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S KIND OF IT. YEAH.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING MORE ENGAGING OR ENGAGEMENT FROM HASLETT STUDENTS BECAUSE I KNOW TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVEN'T HAD A STUDENT COMMISSIONER FROM HASLETT IN A BIT.

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

I UNDERSTAND I HEARD YOU TO SAY YOU'RE GRADUATING.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND ARE YOU GOING TO BE STAYING LOCALLY? ARE YOU GOING TO BE STICKING AROUND WITH US, OR ARE YOU MOVING ON TO GREENER PASTURES? SO I'LL BE AT CALTECH NEXT YEAR.

SO. SANDY DESERTS.

OKAY. BUT I WON'T BE STAYING LOCALLY.

SO THIS IS ALSO MY LAST MEETING WITH THE COMMISSION, SO.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US DURING THIS TIME, AND BEST WISHES FOR YOUR FUTURE IN THE SANDS OF OF THE DESERT THAT PART OF THE WORLD. ANY OTHER REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? HEARING NONE. THIS IS OUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC REMARKS.

[8. PUBLIC REMARKS ]

AND WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE SOME MORE COMMENTS, PLEASE COME UP AND MAKE THEM NOW.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND OFF YOU GO.

HI, I'M KIM PETERS AND I LIVE AT 5643 MONTEREY IN HASLETT.

I AM ANOTHER THIRD OF THE GREEN BURIAL COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH BRUCE AND SARAH ALLEN.

QUESTION ABOUT THE CEMETERY.

DOES MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAVE A SEXTANT? NO. WHY NOT? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

[00:55:03]

I'VE SEEN SOME COMMUNICATION ABOUT TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CEMETERY, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OR THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE TOWNSHIP CLERK MAINTAINS THE RECORDS OF THE CEMETERIES, SALES PLOTS, ALL OF THAT STUFF, THE DEEDS, AND I BELIEVE THE DO THEY ALSO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF THE PLOTS AND SO FORTH? YES. AND ARRANGE THE BURIALS.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S BEEN MOVED OVER TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THAT'S THE BURIALS.

ONE OF THE SHE'S TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE RECORDS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE IT KIND OF THINGS GOT MESSED UP BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.

SO OKAY, SO THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SEXTANT FOR THE CEMETERY.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE EVER HAD EXPERTISE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TERM IS.

I DON'T I'M UNABLE UNABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN BRING THIS AGENDA, KEEP WE WILL KEEP THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.

AND IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR STAFF THAT CAN EXPLORE WHAT HOW THE TOWNSHIP MANAGES PROPERTIES, WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK FOR A REPORT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S PART OF THIS COMMISSION'S ROLE, BUT I'M SURE THAT IF YOU SET UP A MEETING WITH DEB GUTHRIE, SHE CAN EXPLAIN HOW THE SYSTEM IS HANDLED.

SO THE CEMETERIES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A MAINTENANCE FUND IN PERPETUITY SO THAT THE GRAVE, YOU KNOW, CEMETERIES AREN'T JUST WALKED AWAY FROM.

YEAH. AND THAT AND I WAS USUALLY THAT FALLS UNDER THE SEXTANT.

THEY TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE RECORDS.

THEY TAKE CARE OF THE FINANCES.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, THE FUND FOR PRIVATE CEMETERIES AT LEAST.

WELL, WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP HAS A SEXTANT.

THAT'S TRUE. AND SOME DO.

BUT I KNOW THAT PRIVATE SECTOR CEMETERIES WOULD.

BUT THE TOWNSHIP CAN MANAGE THEIR CEMETERIES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND BUT I THINK YOUR BEST WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS TO SET UP A MEETING WITH DEB GUTHRIE, BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S DEEP INTO IT AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. AND SHE'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU.

ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING THIS EVENING.

ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

THE GREEN BURIAL.

I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

SO I GOT ONE QUESTION.

YOU GOT $10,000 FOR A PRICE ON THAT, BUT WHAT, HOW BIG A LAND ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THERE? THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

AND WE ONLY GOT ONE VENDOR DOING THAT BID.

AND THAT'S MY QUESTION TO YOU.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION.

OH, OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU.

HE'S, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT AT THIS MOMENT WE'RE IN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

SO I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE, TO DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION.

THANK YOU. OKAY. SO ALL RIGHT, WHATEVER I SAID TO HIM, I DIRECT TO YOU THEN.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ON THIS SOLAR AND WIND YOU SEEM TO BE MORE DIRECTED TO GO ON THIS SOLAR PANEL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHY YOU GOT THAT DIRECTION FROM WHAT BUSINESS CASE YOU GOT, BUT FROM ME FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS OF LEARNING ABOUT SOLAR AND WIND, IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN.

DIMINISHINGLY. THE NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY MCNAIR CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT FOR FREE ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PARTNERED WITH MACKINAC CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT THEY'RE POLICY MAKERS.

WELL, THEY DID A ENERGY REPORT CARD, AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A REAL QUICK PARAGRAPH ON WHAT THEY FINISHED UP ON US.

THEY GAVE NATURAL GAS THE BEST ENERGY SOURCE FOR PERFORMANCE AND COMPETITIVE COST [INAUDIBLE] REDUCING EMISSIONS.

SOLAR AND WIND RECEIVED A F, ACCORDING TO THESE POLICY MAKERS, BOTH REQUIRE MINING VAST QUANTITIES OF MINERALS AND METALS LIKE

[01:00:04]

THEY ENDURE INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS OF ENERGY SOURCES REQUIRED TO BUILD WIND AND SOLAR CAPACITY, RAISE THE DOUBTS THAT THESE SOURCES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED RENEWABLE OR CLEAN AT ALL.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LISTENING TO ME TONIGHT, AND I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT MY EMAIL IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS TO THIS.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME? HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.

SO MOVED I MOVE I HAVE I HAVE TWO MOTIONS WHICH COUNTS AS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

I THINK WERE YOU THINKING OF STICKING AROUND AND MAYBE ENGAGE ON THAT TOPIC A LITTLE BIT MORE? OH, SURE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.