Sep 03, 2024 Township Board

>> CLERK GUTHRIE IS HERE. TREASURER DESCHAINE?

>> HERE.

>> I'M SORRY. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND IS NOT HERE.

THIS IS THE SIX BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT OUT OF SEVEN.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

[4. PRESENTATION]

>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4, PRESENTATIONS.

WE HAVE ONE THIS EVENING, OUR 2025 TOWNSHIP RECOMMENDED BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER, TIM SCHMIDT. MR. SCHMIDT?

>> THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THIS IS A CULMINATION OF A GREAT DEAL OF WORK OVER THE SUMMER FROM MYSELF AND MY TEAM.

I CAN'T, AGAIN, THANK ENOUGH THE M TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS, AND NOTABLY, ALSO, CAROL HASSE IN OUR HR DEPARTMENT, WHO ANSWERED A LOT OF WHAT I THOUGHT WERE SILLY QUESTIONS, BUT SHE HUMORED ME QUITE NICELY.

THIS IS YOUR 2025 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

TOP LINE IS THIS.

TOTAL BUDGET JUST OVER $65 MILLION.

GENERAL FUND REPRESENTS ABOUT $28 MILLION OF THAT, AND WE ARE BALANCED THIS YEAR AT ALMOST THE EXACT SAME LEVEL WE WERE BALANCED STARTING LAST YEAR.

WE'RE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THAT GOING TO NEXT YEAR.

SO FAR IN 2024, I'M A PLANNER I LIKE TO LOOK AHEAD, BUT A FEW THINGS FROM THE YEAR SO FAR.

THIS IS ACTUALLY FIRE TRAINING THAT WAS DONE UP IN LAKE LANSING EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THEY DID GET THE BOAT BACK UPRIGHT.

IT TOOK THEM A MINUTE, BUT THEY GOT THERE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, MOST IMPORTANT THING, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS POLICE AND FIRE.

THIS IS THE EPITOME OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND THE WHOLE ABOVE SELF.

WE DO IT REALLY WELL HERE AND PROUD TO STATE THAT WE ARE ABOUT FULLY STAFFED NOW.

WE HAVE A PLAN, THE FIRE AND PARAMEDICS ARE, AND THE POLICE HAS A PLAN TO BE FULLY STAFFED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE DECISIVE ACTION THE BOARD TOOK LAST YEAR TO HELP RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

IN NO SMALL PART, THE BOARD SHOULD TAKE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR ACTIONS THAT HELPED GET US HERE.

THIS IS A PICTURE FROM NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

I POINTED IT OUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S POLICE AND FIRE GETTING ALONG, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ALWAYS.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO REALLY WELL HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS PARKS AND PATHWAYS, AND THE TWO THINGS I WOULD HIGHLIGHT FROM THIS YEAR IS, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND USE MSU TO LAKE LANSING PHASE 1 BECAUSE IT WAS JUST BEFORE JANUARY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT.

PHASE 2 IS NOT OPEN YET.

PUBLIC, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO OUT THERE.

IT DOES NEED TOP CORKS PAVING.

WE WILL HAVE A GRAND OPENING FOR THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

PHASE 3 IS NOW IN DESIGN.

WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.

WE ALSO HAD GREAT INVESTMENTS IN A COUPLE OF OTHER FACILITIES THIS YEAR.

THE TWO THAT I WOULD POINT OUT ARE MARSHALL PARK.

AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD, WE DID REVAMP THE PLAYGROUND OUT THERE, AND WE'LL HAVE A GRAND OPENING FOR THAT AS SOON AS THE PARK'S COMMISSIONERS ARE ABLE TO SETTLE ON A DATE.

THE CENTRAL PARK PAVILION, WHICH HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST USED FACILITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP, WAS COMPLETELY REVAMPED THIS YEAR, AND IT LOOKS GREAT.

WE USED IT FOR SOME OF THE SENIOR CENTER LISTENING SESSIONS AND IT HAS LIGHTS,

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AND IT'S GOT DOORS TO BLOCK THE WIND, AND IT'S A GREAT LITTLE FACILITY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

LASTLY, A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT JUST GENERAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, SOME THINGS THAT MAY GO UNDER THE RADAR TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, BUT REALLY MAKE US THE PRIME COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE.

THIS IS NEW SIGNAGE AT OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES.

GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT HERE AT THE DEDICATION OF THE RONALD STYKA MEMORIAL PATHWAY.

THAT IS THE NEW BRAND STANDARD THAT APPEARS AT ALL OF OUR PARKS AND ENTRYWAYS TO THE TOWNSHIP.

COUNTY PARK NORTH LIFT STATION, WITHOUT IT, SEWAGE WOULD NOT FLOW PROPERLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LAKE.

IT'S THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR A PLACE TO RUN.

THE LAST ONE THAT WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO FINALIZING IS THE EMERGENCY WARNING SIREN PROGRAM.

WE'LL HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE FOR THE TOWNSHIP HERE REAL SOON, ONCE WE GET SOME FINAL INSPECTIONS DONE ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TEST THEM OUT.

SO IT'S THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY, BEHIND THE SCENES, THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T SEE OR KNOW ABOUT, BUT THIS IS WHAT MAKES US SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY, ARE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO REALLY WELL.

I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS A PICTURE FROM THE OKEMOS ROAD BRIDGE, REALLY IT'S A GREAT CONSTRUCTION PICTURE.

THOSE GUYS ARE GETTING AT IT IN THE CONCRETE IN THE COLD.

BUT WE'VE INVESTED OVER ABOUT $25 MILLION IN OUR LOCAL ROADS SINCE 2013.

WE CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR PASER RATING UP.

THE ROADS ARE GETTING NOTICEABLY BETTER.

WE'RE HITTING MORE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER, BUT 2024 HAS BEEN ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR ON THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.

WE STILL GOT MORE TO COME THIS YEAR.

I'LL HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SOLAR PROJECTS STILL TO COME AT THE NORTH FIRE STATION.

WE HAVE TWO FIRE TRUCKS COMING THIS YEAR STILL.

LASTLY, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE REMAINDER OF THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE REHABILITATION AND REBIRTH, AND SO WE ARE STILL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT OF THE GROUND THIS YEAR, OR AT LEAST IN THE GROUND.

WITH ALL THAT SIDE, THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2025.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF THESE ARE A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO ABSORB THOSE POLICE AND FIRE COSTS INTO THE BUDGET NOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PAID USING ARPA FUNDS.

WE HAVE DONE SO IN THIS BUDGET, AND WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE IT.

OUR PENSION DEBT, AS WITH ANY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, WE HAVE AN UNFUNDED LIABILITY FROM OUR PENSION, AND WE'VE DONE BETTER THAN A LOT.

THERE'S STILL A WAYS TO GO, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

OUR FLEET IS AGING, AND WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON THAT, AND I THINK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE IN THE MOTOR POOL. WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE NOW.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT THOUGH IS, I POINT OUT THE FIRE TRUCK LITIGATION, AS EVERYONE'S AWARE, FUNCTIONALLY, WE GOT A LEMON FROM COVID WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR LAST FIRE TRUCK, AND IT'S BEEN OUT OF SERVICE, ESSENTIALLY SINCE WE GOT IT.

WE ARE MOVING THROUGH LITIGATION WITH THAT, AND THAT IS AN UNKNOWN TO THE FUTURE THAT'S A BIG SEVEN FIGURE PRICE TAG.

WE JUST KEEP THAT OUT THERE AS A CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS NEXT YEAR.

LASTLY, OUR UNDER FUNDING OF INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN WE GET TO THE WATER AND SEWER IN A LITTLE BIT.

PENSION PERSPECTIVE, HIGH LEVEL, WE'RE AT 74% FUNDED.

IT'S THE SAME FUNDING LEVEL THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

WE'RE AT THE STATE AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE MADE GREAT BOUNDS IN THAT OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE PRETTY COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE'VE MADE THOSE INVESTMENTS IN THE PAST, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS, WHICH ARE THE LARGEST UNFUNDED PENSIONS.

I WILL POINT OUT THAT MRS DID CHANGE THE PROJECTED MARKET RETURN THIS YEAR FROM SEVEN TO 6.93% ON YOUR ARC PAYMENT, SO YOUR MINIMUM PAYMENT NECESSARY, THAT DID HAVE AN INCREASE ON THE MINIMUM PAYMENT NECESSARY, AND WE'VE ABSORBED THAT AS WELL.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DO SMARTLY, IN 2017, WE MODIFIED PLANS FOR CERTAIN GROUPS, AND THOSE ARE VERY WELL FUNDED, AND THOSE WILL BE THE PLANS GOING FORWARD THAT WE REALLY DO WELL AND HELP BRING UP OUR AVERAGES.

THE QUESTION EVERYONE ASKS, HOW DO WE GET TO 100%? THIS IS HOW YOU GET TO 100%.

IT'S ABOUT $100,000 MORE MONTHLY.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR? ABOUT JUST ABOUT $250,000 MORE ABOVE THAT REQUIRED ANNUAL FUNDING AMOUNT.

WE ARE PACING TOWARDS THAT 100% FUNDING, LED BY THE $1.5 MILLION THAT COME OUT OF THE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

THAT'S SOMEWHAT SACROSANCT IN THIS BUDGET.

THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO GET US TO FUNDING WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE PENSION FUNDS.

BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAVE A GROWING TAX BASE,

[00:10:01]

AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN, WE ARE A COMMUNITY PEOPLE WANT TO INVEST IN, AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST PER CAPITA TAX BASE IN THE REGION.

IT'S REALLY MORE OF A GUT FEELING, BUT WHEN YOU'RE WITHIN $500 MILLION OF LANSING AND THEY'RE OVER DOUBLE YOUR SIZE, THAT FEELS LIKE A PRETTY STRONG PER CAPITA TAX BASE.

OBVIOUSLY, DELTA TOWNSHIP WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONCE THE BATTERY PLANT IS FULLY ONLINE, BUT IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, SOMEONE PUSHING US.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR.

THERE'S LIMITED INVESTMENT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR AS IT WAS A PRETTY TIGHT BUDGET, BUT THERE ARE SOME TARGETED INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THIS BUDGET.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE TOWNSHIP LISTENING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO BUDGET TO CONTINUE THOSE.

THE COLUMBARIUM DESIGN IS PART OF THE CEMETERY OPERATIONS.

COLUMBARIUMS ARE WHERE YOU PUT REMAINS AFTER SOMEONE HAS CREMATED, AND THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR THEM.

THAT IS BECOMING A BIGGER AND BIGGER PART OF THE INDUSTRY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT FOR THE LONG TERM USE OF THE CEMETERY, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE GENERATIONS TO COME.

WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT NOW AND START TO GET A DESIGN TOGETHER FOR THAT.

WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE DESIGN ON THAT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A SERIES OF EQUIPMENT ITEMS THAT NEED TO COME ONLINE THIS YEAR, FROM RIFLE RATED SHIELDS, TO PISTOL RATED SHIELDS, BALLISTIC VEST, SPEED SIGNS, ELECTRONIC EAR PROTECTION, SPEED SIGNS.

I ACTUALLY MEANT TO SAY THE LED FLARES THERE.

BUT A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED THIS YEAR THAT ARE PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE.

THEY ALSO HAVE SOME OFFICE FURNITURE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO TRY AND FINISH MAKING THE UPGRADES TO THAT BUILDING THAT WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO.

PROBABLY THE BIG GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION THIS YEAR, THE BIGGEST NEW THING IS THE STRYKER CONTRACT, WHICH IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT RELATED TO THE AMBULANCES, AND IT'S THE THINGS THAT GET REPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE POWER CUTS, THE MONITORS.

THAT'S ABOUT A $215,000 ADDITION TO THE GENERAL FUND.

PREVIOUSLY, THAT WAS PAID FOR AT ARPA DOLLARS LAST YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT'S COMING ONLINE.

LASTLY, COMMUNICATIONS IS PROPOSING TO SLIGHTLY EXPAND THE PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE, BECAUSE IT'S STILL REALLY POPULAR.

A LOT OF PLACES HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THEIR PRINT MAGAZINES, BUT IT'S STILL REALLY POPULAR HERE, AND SO WE MIGHT AS WELL BUILD ON A GOOD THING.

WE HAVE LIMITED STAFFING CHANGES THIS YEAR.

ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE PROPOSING FOUR THINGS: A PART TIME HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR AND A FULL TIME SEWER UTILITY WORKER ARE THE TWO NEW POSITIONS, AND THEN TWO MODIFICATIONS, POLICE LIEUTENANT SO THAT WE CAN BALANCE OUT THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND GO ESSENTIALLY FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TWO CAPTAINS TO TWO LIEUTENANTS, AND TAKING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY A 32-HOUR WEEK FULL TIME POSITION, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, LEROY HARVEY, WHO'S RETIRING, AND TAKING THAT AND MAKING IT A FULL TIME ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND GETTING A LITTLE MORE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE THERE.

BUT LARGELY IN TOTAL, IT'S A TOTAL OF THREE POSITIONS WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP IN THE BUDGET.

LONG TERM THOUGH, AND I'VE TOLD EVERYONE THAT I'D SHARE THIS INFORMATION, THERE WERE OTHER ASKS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS ROUGHLY THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY GOT CUT FROM THE BUDGET AS I GOT INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO START LOOKING AT IN GREATER DETAIL NEXT YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

SPECIFICALLY, THE FIRE INSPECTOR AND THE UTILITY BILLING, WHETHER THAT'S A SUPERVISOR OR A SUPERINTENDENT, WE STILL NEED TO WORK OUT.

THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG ONES, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED ANOTHER IT PERSON.

AS WE STABILIZE THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS FURTHER, WE ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL UTILITY WORKERS IN THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE, AS I'VE SAID, BOTH IN THIS ROLE AND MY OTHER HAT ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, WE ARE MOVING FROM A COMMUNITY OF THIS GREENFIELD COMMUNITY THAT JUST BUILDS NEW AND LIVES OFF THAT GROWTH TO A BROWNFIELD COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE MORE AND MORE.

THAT'S WHERE UTILITY WORKERS ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.

TOWNSHIP BOARD POLICY FOR OUR FUND BALANCE IS 25%.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS AT 48%.

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, AND THE GENERAL FUND.

I JUST WANT TO HAMMER THIS POINT HOME BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINE ITEM, THE CURRENTLY EXISTS VERSUS THE NUMBERS IN THE LETTER AND THE NUMBERS IN THIS PRESENTATION, THEY DON'T QUITE MATCH BECAUSE THIS IS ASSUMING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE BOARD'S DIRECTION TO DO A THIRD QUARTER BUDGET AMENDMENT TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO THE MOTOR POOL TO PURCHASE

[00:15:03]

THE FIRE TRUCK THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED THIS DECEMBER.

YOU'LL SEE THAT OCTOBER, AND THEN ALL THESE NUMBERS WILL MAKE SENSE AGAIN, AND THEY'LL MATCH UP.

THIS IS WHAT THE MOTOR POOL WILL LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF PURCHASES.

ROUGHLY, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THIS YEAR FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.

THE BIG THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT HERE IS, THIS IS THE LAST FULL REPLACEMENT OF AN AMBULANCE.

AFTER THIS, THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT IS ACTUALLY RECHASSIS.

IT'S A SLIGHTLY A MORE AFFORDABLE PROGRAM THAT GETS US ADDITIONAL LIFE OUT OF OUR INITIAL INVESTMENT.

THIS IS ONE OF, I BELIEVE, THE LAST ONE BEFORE WE START RECHASSISING.

>> CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

THERE'S FOUR PROPOSALS OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THIS YEAR, SOLAR ARRAY AT THE HISTORIC VILLAGE, WHICH I AGAIN, WILL POINT OUT, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR BEST ONE FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, JUST GIVEN ALL THE SCHOOL GROUPS THAT COME THROUGH THERE.

VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

RENOVATION OF THE MUNICIPAL BATHROOMS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASN'T DONE WHEN WE DID THE BUILDING LAST YEAR, AND THEN GENERATOR AT THE SERVICE CENTER AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING ARE STILL AREAS THAT NEED PAINTED NOW THAT WE'VE DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE OVER THERE.

MEAT AND POTATOES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL ROADS.

THIS IS WHAT 2024 LOOKED LIKE WHEN WE BUDGETED FOR IT.

IT'S ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THIS, BECAUSE AS WE'VE EXPLAINED, WE'VE PULLED FORWARD SOME OF THE '25 ROADS TO THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM DONE.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT ALL THE CONCRETE FIXES FOR THOSE ROADS ARE DONE, SO NOW WE CAN START SCHEDULING THE ACTUAL PAVING OF THESE ROADS THAT WE PULLED FORWARD.

OUR CONCRETE CONTRACTOR IS PHENOMENAL, WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THE YEAR LOOK LIKE.

IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.

YOU HAVE 26, ESSENTIALLY, MILES OF MAINTENANCE, SO WE CAN MAINTAIN THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEN ABOUT SIX-AND-A-QUARTER MILES OF RECONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S WHERE WE TAKE THE WORST OF THE WORST OUT OF THE ROTATION.

REDO THEM, SO THEIR PASER RATING IS NOW 10, AND THEN WE MAINTAIN THEM IN FUTURE YEARS.

THIS IS WHAT 2025 IS EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE, ABOUT 13-14 MILES OF MAINTENANCE AND SIX-AND-A-THIRD MILES OF RECONSTRUCTION.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE FINAL PLAN FOR THE 2025 PAVING PROJECTS ONCE WE HAVE ENGINEERING DONE, AND WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO WORK IN THE BUDGET.

THAT USUALLY COMES LATER THIS YEAR.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE AIMING TOWARDS TO INCREASE OUR PASER RATING, GOAL OF TRYING TO GET TO AN EIGHT ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT MOST COMMUNITIES WANT IS TO GET TO AN EIGHT, BECAUSE THAT MEANS ALL OF YOUR ROADS ARE GENERALLY IN GOOD CONDITION, AND AT THAT POINT, YOU CAN REALLY FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE AND HIT THE WORST OF THE WORST WHEN YOU NEED TO HIT THEM.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

IT'S SLOWER THAN I THINK ANYONE WOULD LIKE, AND I THINK EVERYONE WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THE ASSOCIATED COST INCREASES REALLY HIT THIS PROGRAM HARD, BUT WE'RE STILL MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

I'M HAPPY WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE SEE EVERY DAY.

DO I HAVE A POTHOLE AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY? I'M DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROADS TO GET TO MY JOB? THIS IS ONE OF THE KEYS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AS A CHARTER TOWNSHIP, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR ROADS, AND I'M GLAD WE DO HERE BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE ON THAT ROLE AND NOT JUST PUNT IT OFF TO ANOTHER AGENCY AND TRY AND EXPLAIN TO OUR RESIDENTS WHY WE CAN'T GIVE THEM THAT SERVICE.

THE OTHER PIECE OF THE PAVING PUZZLE IS OUR PATHWAY PROJECTS.

WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL PATHWAY SYSTEM HERE, AND IT ONLY GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR.

THIS IS THE PHASE 1 OF MSU TO LAKE LANSING, THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE HERE.

PHASE 2, AS I MENTIONED, COMING VERY SHORTLY, AND IN 2025, WE HOPE TO BUILD PHASE 3.

IT'S CURRENTLY IN DESIGN AND EASEMENT DISCUSSION WHERE WE NEED THEM, AND SO IF WE CAN GET THAT TO THE POINT OF CONSTRUCTION, WE WILL BUILD IT, IF NOT, WE'LL PUSH IT OFF ONE MORE YEAR AND GET IT IN '26, BUT WE REALLY HOPE TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR.

AT THAT POINT, YOU HAVE A PATHWAY THAT CAN GET YOU FROM MSU'S CAMPUS, ALL THE WAY OUT TO LAKE LANSING PARK NORTH, NON-MOTORIZED.

THAT'S A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR ANY COMMUNITY AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD THAT THIS IDEA THAT PEOPLE HAD OVER A DECADE AGO, WE CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL NOW OF FINISHING A VERY LARGE PROJECT.

KUDOS TO THE TOWNSHIP.

WATER AND SEWER FUNDS, WE'RE PROPOSING A VERY SUBSTANTIVE INCREASE IN THE WATER SIDE OF THINGS WITH A MUCH SMALLER INCREASE ON THE SEWER SIDE OF THINGS AND AN OVERHAUL TO THE READY TO SERVE FEE.

THE READY TO SERVE FEE IS THE FEE THAT EVERYONE PAYS,

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AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE COST FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO YOU.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FLAT RATE ACROSS THE BOARD.

WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO MORE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE THOSE COSTS OVER THE LARGER USERS, IE, THE NON-RESIDENTIAL USERS THAT HAVE HUGE METERS, AND COST MORE TO SERVICE.

THE IDEA THAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME THE SAME TO SERVICE A FOUR-INCH METER AS A FIVE-INCH METER AT SOMEONE'S HOME IS JUST NOT REALISTIC.

THAT'S WHAT THE CHANGE TO THE READY SERVE FEE IS GOING TO BE TO MORE EQUITY TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE.

THIS WILL HELP PUT US ON A MORE SUSTAINABLE PATH IN THE LONG-TERM.

BUT AGAIN, WE ARE STILL EASILY THE LOWEST RATES IN THE REGION, AND I'M SORRY THAT THIS ISN'T BIGGER, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DATA ON HERE.

THE UPSHOT IS THE NEXT CLOSEST IS BATH TOWNSHIP, AND WE'RE STILL SOUTH 13 POINTS BELOW THEM, AND GRAND LEDGE IS OVER DOUBLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REGION.

WE'RE STILL WELL BELOW OUR PEERS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT EVERYONE DEALS WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

WE ALL GRAB FROM THE SAME POOL OF CONTRACTORS.

WHEN WE GET A BID, IT'S A SIMILAR BID TO WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GETTING.

ONLY THEY HAVE MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEIR RATES ARE HIGHER, AND SO WE'RE ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS, PAYING MORE MONEY, BUT DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS COMING IN TO SUPPORT THOSE RATES OF CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT THIS WILL GET US TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE PATH AND HOPEFULLY GET TO A LESSER AMOUNT OF INCREASES ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

THE BOARD DID HAVE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS FOR SOME POLICIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT WE'LL BRING FORWARD, HOPEFULLY STILL THIS YEAR, FOR HOW WE ADDRESS THIS ON A GO-FORWARD BASIS, TYING IT TO INFLATION, TYING IT TO HOW THE OTHER COMMUNITIES DO IT.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO THOSE AT THIS POINT.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ONLY TWO PROJECTS BUDGETED FOR WATER AND SEWER.

THAT'S THE FOREST HILLS LIFT STATION AND A PROJECT IN TOWER GARDENS.

I'VE LEFT THE GRAND RIVER GATE VALVE PROJECT DONE HERE OUT OF THE WATER FUND BECAUSE THAT IS A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED, AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND FIND A WAY TO FUND THAT AT SOME POINT.

BUT IT NEEDS TO STAY ON EVERYONE'S RADAR BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IT COULD LEAD US TO DOWN THE ROAD.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT IF WE CAN.

OUR PARK SYSTEM IS PROBABLY THE BEST PARK SYSTEM AROUND.

WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL PARK SYSTEM.

THEY'RE DOING NO SMALL PARKS, RETIRED DIRECTOR MAISNER'S LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

PEOPLE LOVE COMING HERE.

EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT SPORTIES FOR SHORTIES.

I LIKE BOBBERS WITH COPPERS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE OFFICIAL NAME OF.

THAT IS FISHING OFF OF THE DOCK THAT WE HAVE, IT'S IN ONE OF OUR PONDS.

IT'S FUN TO SEE KIDS CATCH THEIR FIRST FISH.

IT'S AN INTERESTING LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING NEXT YEAR FROM PARKS AND RECREATION PERSPECTIVE? WE'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE CRICKET IN THE TOWNSHIP.

IT'S A FAST GROWING SPORT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET THE MOST QUESTIONS ABOUT.

OBVIOUSLY, PICKLEBALL IS PROBABLY NUMBER 1 AT THIS POINT, BUT CRICKET IS HIGH UP THERE, SO IT'S TIME TO LOOK AND SEE IF IT'S DOABLE IN THE TOWNSHIP, OR IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH ONE OF OUR OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, COUNTY PARKS, TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

TOWNER PARK IS GETTING SOME LOVE THIS YEAR.

FIRST OFF, THE BASEBALL FIELD NEEDS RESTORED AND REJUVENATED TO KEEP IT IN ROTATION IN YEARS TO COME.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS, THOUGH, IS THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.

THAT'S THE IDEA THAT ANYONE OF ANY ABILITY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT SPACE.

IT'S BECOMING A VERY POPULAR AND IMPORTANT THING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

LOOK ONLY TO LANSING AND THE ONE THAT WAS INSTALLED AT ADADO RIVERFRONT PARK TO SEE JUST HOW POPULAR THESE CAN BE, AND SO I THINK I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, THIS MAY BECOME THE NEW NORM.

THIS MIGHT BE HOW WE DO THINGS GOING FORWARD.

OTTAWA HILLS PARK IS A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT WILL GET RESTORED THIS YEAR.

MARSHALL PARK HAS SOME ADDITIONAL AMENITIES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

THE PARKS COMMISSION HAS VETTED ALL THESE PROJECTS AND RECOMMENDED THEM, BUT THE OKEMOS ROAD PROPERTY WILL BE PART OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEM THAT IS NOW GOING TO STRETCH FROM EAST TO WEST ACROSS THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.

LASTLY, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T POINT OUT THE RED CEDAR WATERWAY BECAUSE ONCE WE START GETTING IT CLEARED, WE GOT TO KEEP IT CLEARED.

IN SUMMARY, CLEARLY A YEAR OF NEEDS, NOT ONCE.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE WHERE IT'S AT.

BUT WE HAVE A VERY STABLE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.

IF WE KEEP GROWING OUR TAX BASE IN THE WAY WE HAVE THE LAST 3, 4,

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5 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, AND THAT IS SOLID GROWTH.

THAT'S NOT LIKE LIVING OFF OF A SUGAR HIGH AND GETTING ONE YEAR OF 100 NEW HOMES.

THAT'S CONSISTENT, STEADY GROWTH BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH PROPERTIES ON CAPPING THAT THE VALUES CONTINUE TO GO UP.

GENERALLY, I WOULD ARGUE THIS BUDGET REALLY GETS US TO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO ELIMINATE OUR LEGACY DEBT.

WE'RE CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY.

WE'RE CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE BEST TALENT, CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUR LOCAL ROADS, AND CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND PATHWAY SYSTEM.

THAT IS THE SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDED 2025 BUDGET.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD ON THIS LATER IN THE AGENDA.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BOTH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE DISCUSSION ITEM LATER ON OUR AGENDA ON THIS TOPIC.

NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5,

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

CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF GREEN CARDS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE.

IF THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO WISH TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS OR ANYTHING NOT ON OUR AGENDA, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AT OUR HEARING ON THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY TO THAT TOPIC, OR AT THE END OF THE MEETING ON ANY TOPIC.

THOSE WHO DO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, MUST COMPLETE A GREEN CARD, WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE TABLE NEAR THE DOOR, AND PRESENT THE CARD TO EITHER A BOARD MEMBER OR THE TOWNSHIP STAFF.

WHEN IT'S YOUR AT TURN, I'LL CALL YOU UP TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK TO THE TOPICS INDICATED.

WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED, IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MEETING MINUTES IF YOU DO GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRIOR TO YOUR COMMENTS SO THAT WE CAN RECORD THAT INFORMATION FOR THE MINUTES.

CITIZENS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME AND AN INDICATOR LIGHT AND BEEP WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DO VALUE COMMENT AND INPUT FROM OUR PUBLIC.

THE MEETING FORMAT AND RULES, HOWEVER, DO RESTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH COMMENTERS OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.

QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AT A LATER TIME OR REFERRED TO A MEMBER OF THE STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD OR THE BOARD'S CHAIR AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR TO OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE.

WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL GREEN CARDS, AS I MENTIONED.

FIRST UP THIS EVENING IS CHRIS CLOCK, AND THEN DEBRA MAJOR WILL BE ON DECK.

>> CHRIS CLOCK, 4538 SENECA DRIVE.

I'M HERE TO VOICE OPPOSITION TO THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH BEING REZONED AS MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

THIS AREA SHOULD REMAIN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

LOOKING AT THE CRITERIA THAT'S REQUIRED ON THE REASONS FOR REZONING REQUEST, IT ACTUALLY MEETS NONE OF THEM.

FIRST, THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY NEED.

ADDITIONAL RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE NOT NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHILE THE POPULATION GREW IN THE TOWNSHIP BY 4,228 FROM 2010-2020, THE US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATE FOR JULY OF 2023 SHOWED A SLIGHT DECREASE IN POPULATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

THE US CENSUS BUREAU ALSO SHOWS THE PERCENT OF OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING TO BE 57.5% IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS FAR LESS THAN THE 72.5 FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, 64.8 FOR THE UNITED STATES, AND 58.8% FOR INGHAM COUNTY.

THERE'S THREE LOCAL CLOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE VACANCIES, SO NONE OF THIS SUPPORTS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RENTAL PROPERTIES.

NUMBER 2, THE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER EXISTING USES SURROUNDING THE SITE.

THE LARGEST BORDERING AREA IS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON THE EAST AND THE WEST WITH A CHURCH TO THE SOUTH.

THE PROPERTY THAT DOES EXIST ON THE NORTHERN EDGE THAT IS MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, MAINTAINS A BUFFER OF TREES AND LANDSCAPE BETWEEN THEM AND THE SURROUNDING HOMES.

THIS MASSIVE MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT USES EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE 4.2 ACRES AND DOES NOT FIT THIS AREA AT ALL AND IS FAR TOO DENSE FOR THE LAND.

NUMBER 3, THE REQUESTED REZONING WOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC CIRCULATION, WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

AS FAR AS TRAFFIC, MDOT DATA FOR STATION 33-5056 DOBIE ROAD, SOUTH OF WEST GRAND RIVER NEAR NEMOKE TRAIL, HAS AN AVERAGE ANNUAL DAILY TOTAL OF 8,800 CARS.

USING ITE TRIP GENERATION DATA, 60 UNITS ALLOWED WOULD INCREASE TRAFFIC 140 CARS PER DAY, WHICH IS A 10% INCREASE ON A TWO-LANE ROAD THAT HAS NO RIGHT AND LEFT TURN LANE.

[00:30:01]

REPLACING ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND WITH 4.2 ACRES OF CONCRETE WILL IMPACT THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS NEGATIVELY.

IF REZONING IS APPROVED AND DRAINAGE ISSUES DEVELOP, WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXIST, THE RESPONSIBILITY WILL LIE SOLELY WITH THE REZONING.

NUMBER 4, THIS IS NOT IN THE MASTER PLAN.

2.8 ACRES OF THIS AREA IS IN THE MASTER PLAN.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE 1.4 ACRES THAT ARE NOT, SO INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT BY 50%, CHANGES THE SCOPE AND THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT SUFFICIENTLY AS TO RENDER IT INCONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

THIS REZONING ALSO DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH OTHER STATED GOALS OF THE MASTER PLAN, SUCH AS PRESERVING THE CHARACTER OF SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS ON PAGE 8 OF THE MASTER PLAN.

FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, REZONING TO MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SHOULD BE DENIED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEBRA MAJOR, AND THEN PEGGY ANDERSON IS ON DECK.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEBRA MAJOR, AND I RESIDE AT 4570 SENECA DRIVE, AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 24 YEARS.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THE REZONING LISTED TODAY AS ORDINANCE 2024-06, THE REZONING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LATER.

MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME PRESENTING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEY RECENTLY VOTED 4-1 AGAINST THIS REZONING IN JULY.

THIS SAME REZONING REQUEST WAS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 2019, AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THE COMMENTS, THE LETTERS, THE SIGNED PETITION FROM 72 OF MY NEIGHBORS OPPOSING THIS REZONING.

THIS LAND DOESN'T SUPPORT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

IT WOULD BE A BURDEN ON TRAFFIC, DRAINAGE, SAFETY, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL 2019 REQUEST TO THIS CURRENT REQUEST.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT UNBEKNOWNST TO THE NEIGHBORS, THIS REZONING WAS WRITTEN INTO THE MASTER PLAN, BUT AS STATED EARLIER, ONLY 2.8 ACRES.

IT WAS REQUESTED TO BE REZONED BY A VERY MOTIVATED SELLER, THE CHURCH, AND SUPPORTED BY A VERY EAGER BUYER, THE FIDAWAY COMPANY.

NONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WERE NOTIFIED IN ORDER TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE MASTER PLAN.

TIM SCHMITT TOLD ME AT A LISTENING SESSION IN JULY, THAT THE MASTER PLAN IS MERELY A SUGGESTION, HOWEVER.

THEREFORE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS REZONING BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A DETRIMENT TO THE EXISTING TRAFFIC, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. PEGGY ANDERSON, FOLLOWED BY JEAN MCDONALD.

>> PEGGY ANDERSON, 4504 SENECA DRIVE.

I'VE LIVED IN THIS HOME FOR 31 YEARS, AND MY HOME BACKS DIRECTLY ONTO FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH.

WHILE WE'VE MENTIONED THAT IN THE 2023 MASTER PLAN, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS IS TO PRESERVE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT'S US.

WE ARE AN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M A 1963 HOUSE.

I'M THE LAST HOUSE BUILT IN THAT NORTHERN PART OF THE SENECA DRIVE.

THAT'S A 1950, 1960S NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE NEVER HAVE AN EMPTY HOUSE.

YOU PUT A HOUSE UP FOR SALE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S GONE LIKE THAT.

THAT'S EVEN WITH THE CLOSING OF EDGEWOOD SCHOOL.

PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE ONE OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SECTION THAT'S ASKED TO BE REZONED FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO MULTI FAMILY, ON THREE SIDES OF A FOUR SIDED RECTANGLE, IT'S ALREADY SINGLE FAMILY.

WE'RE SINGLE FAMILY TO THE WEST, WE'RE SINGLE FAMILY TO THE EAST.

THERE'S LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BEING ADJACENT TO THE MULTI FAMILY APARTMENTS TO THE NORTH.

THAT'S ONE SIDE OF THE FOUR SIDES.

PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAVE TWO OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THE DENSITY OF THIS REZONING REQUEST.

ONE OF THEM THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS TRAFFIC.

I AM ASSUMING ALL OF YOU DRIVE DOWN DOBIE ROAD AT SOME POINT, SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS LIKE ON DOBIE ROAD.

YOU KNOW TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT CAN BE POTENTIAL TRAGEDY ON DOBIE.

BUT ON SENECA, WE'RE THE CUT THROUGH.

WE'RE THE TWO LANE WITH NO GUTTERS, NO SIDEWALKS, TWO BUS STOPS.

WHEN YOU COME DOWN HAMILTON TOWARD THAT LIGHT AT DOBIE, AND IT'S BACKED UP, YOU DRIVE DOWN SENECA, AND THEN YOU CUT THROUGH ON SHAKER.

IF YOU PUT MORE CARS COMING OUT OF THOSE DRIVES WHERE THAT REZONING WILL BE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS MORE PEOPLE DO THAT CUT.

SHAKER UP SENECA BACK TO HAMILTON AND THE REVERSE, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE AHEAD TO THE LIGHT THAT IT'S BACKED UP.

[00:35:02]

YOU CAN SEE AHEAD THAT IT'S BACKED UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TURNING IN AND OUT OF THOSE DRIVES ON THAT TWO LANE.

RIGHT NOW, WE ALREADY HAVE THE POLICE PUTTING UP THAT HERE'S YOUR SPEED LIMIT SIGN ON SENECA, NO THROUGH TRAFFIC SIGNS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HIT A CHILD ON A BIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO HIT SOMEBODY WAITING FOR A BUS.

I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT DRAINAGE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAD A REALLY GREAT STORM THE OTHER DAY WITH HEAVY RAIN.

MY PART OF SENECA, WHICH GOES TO THE LOW SPOT, IF YOU'VE NEVER DRIVEN DOWN IT, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS ELEVATION CHANGE ON SENECA.

AT THE LOW SPOT, YOU ALREADY HAVE AN EASEMENT WITH MAJOR DRAINS BUILT INTO THE EASEMENT, AND IT RUNS LIKE A RULER DOWN THROUGH MY FRONT YARD TO THAT EASEMENT.

WHERE THIS REZONING REQUEST IS WILL PUT ITS WATER RETENTION PONDS RIGHT ADJACENT TO WHERE THOSE DRAINS ALREADY EXIST IN EASEMENT.

I DON'T WANT MY BASEMENT FLOODED BECAUSE YOU HARDSCAPE WHAT'S NOT A HARD SCAPE RIGHT NOW.

I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. JEAN MCDONALD AND THEN DAVID BIOKY.

>> I'M STILL GIMPY. I HAD BOTH MY KNEES DONE, AND THEY HAVE NOT HEALED EQUALLY. JEAN MCDONALD.

I LIVE AT 2019 LOCH DUMONT AND HAZLETT, AND I SIT ON THE SENIOR CENTERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM YOU FOR THAT.

I GOT HERE EARLY SO THAT I COULD READ THE AGENDA.

I LIKE TO HAVE THAT.

AT 6:50 OR 5:50, THERE WAS STILL NO AGENDA.

I COMPLAINED TO THAT.

I THINK YOUR AGENDA SHOULD BE OUT AT LEAST A HALF AN HOUR AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME EARLY AND HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE AGENDA, GET A CHANCE TO READ THAT.

I HAVE ANOTHER SUGGESTION FOR YOU.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE BUDGET BEFORE.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE SENIOR CENTER ADVISORY BOARD HAS SEEN THAT.

WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO GIVE INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED, IT SAID, IT'S ONLINE, IT'S IN OVER 300 PAGES IN FINE PRINT.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FIND ALL THAT.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WHEN YOU DO THE BUDGET, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AGENCIES THAT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT YOU GIVE THEM A COPY OF THE BUDGET AND MAKE IT AT LEAST READABLE AND LARGER PRINT.

WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU DID THE YONKERS CHANGE TO BUY THAT, NONE OF US COULD EVEN READ SOME OF THE FINE PRINT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

MIGHT BE EVEN HELPFUL TO SHOW YOUR BUDGETS TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT IT AND GET KIDS INTERESTED AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? LET'S SEE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK IS MISSING GREATLY AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION, IS WHAT WILL THE CHANGES IN TAXES BE FOR THE THINGS THAT STILL NEED TO BE DONE AND IMPROVED ON? I SAT ON THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS.

YOU CANNOT TRUST ALL THE ENGINEERS.

WHEN WE WENT OUT ON THE JOBS TO LOOK AT THEM, THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THE ENGINEERS SAID VERSUS WHAT THE FARMERS SAID.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LIVED NEAR THE CORNER OF OKEMOS ROAD AND MOUNT HOPE.

YOU ARE NARROWING THE LANES.

I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY FROM PEOPLE TRYING TO SPEED UP BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY LANES ANYMORE, AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE NOW THAT THE STUDENTS AND THINGS ARE BACK.

I BEG YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER SOME OF OUR CONCERNS THAT WE GET OUR INFORMATION AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT INTERSECTION THERE.

I HATE TO SEE SOMEBODY REALLY GET HURT.

>> DAVID BIOKY. THIS IS OUR FINAL GREEN CARD.

IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE TURN IN THE GREEN CARD.

>> HELLO. I'M DAVE BIOKY.

>> BIOKY, I'M SORRY.

>> IT'S HARDER ONE TO GET. I LIVE AT 4512 SENECA.

I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO PEGGY.

THE CHURCH IS IN MY BACKYARD, AND THE DOBIE ROAD IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THAT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET TO THE NORTH.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DON'T WANT THE REZONING, AND I SUPPORT THAT, SO PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO HAVE ONE MORE GREEN CARD, BUT IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THIS PERSON WISHES TO SPEAK AGAIN AT THE END OF THE MEETING, SO WE'LL HOLD ON TO THAT UNTIL THE END.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK THIS EVENING?

[00:40:02]

SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT HAS CLOSED AT 6:40 PM.

[NOISE] NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT.

[6. INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]

MR. SCHMITT, DO YOU HAVE YOUR REPORT FOR US THIS EVENING?

>> I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE NO ONE NEEDS TO HEAR ME ANYMORE THAN I ALREADY HAVE SPOKEN.

FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE, OCTOBER 6TH, 1-5 DETAILS TO COME.

I HAVE MENTIONED THE FINAL PAVING ON LOCAL ROADS.

IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE REAL SOON.

JUST WAITING ON A COUPLE OF LAST DETAILS FOR THAT.

YOU MAY RECALL THE WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP POLICE CONTRACT IS UP AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

CHIEF GERR REACHED OUT TO SUPERVISOR BLOOMQUIST.

WE DO HAVE A DRAFT CIRCULATING WITH THE TOWNSHIP.

WE WILL HAVE THIS BACK FOR THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE PREDICATING ANY INCREASE IN SERVICE TO THEM ON US BEING FULLY STAFFED AT THIS POINT.

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT MORE WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT.

DEER CALL IS PROJECTED TO BE AT 300 DEER AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE ARE IN A STABLE TRAJECTORY, STILL TAKING THAT MANY DEER.

THAT TELLS US A LOT.

PIKE BREAKFAST, SATURDAY, 242 CHURCH, 8:00 TO 11:00.

I'LL BE THERE AT 8:00 BECAUSE WE HAVE SWIM LESSONS THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO, BUT WE NEED TO GET BREAKFAST IN BEFORE THAT.

CONSUMERS CREDIT UNION GRAND OPENING IS COMING SEPTEMBER 24TH.

WE'LL GET DETAILS OF THAT OUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE FINALIZED. THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP IS BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS TO REPORT? TREASURER DESCHAINE.

>> I WILL MAKE A COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE ROTARY ANNUAL HERO LUNCHEON IS THE WEEKENDS DAY.

IS 10TH SEPTEMBER AT NOON AT MARKETPLACE IN THE GREEN.

THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED. THE $25 DONATION REQUESTED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS TALK ABOUT HEROES IN THE TOWNSHIP.

ALSO, I'LL MAKE A NOTE THAT IN AUDIENCE TONIGHT IS TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE ELECT NICKOLAS LENTZ.

NICK, WELCOME, AND GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE AND OBSERVING THE BOARD IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? CLERK GUTHRIE.

>> REAL QUICK. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.

IT IS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION MONTH.

FOR ALL YOU RESIDENTS, VOTERS OUT THERE WHO ARE LISTENING, PLEASE CHECK IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION AT MICHIGAN.GOV/VOTE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR STATUS, ABOUT YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT, ABOUT IF YOU'VE MOVED, IF YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS, YOU CAN DO ALL OF THAT ON THE STATE OF MICHIGAN WEBSITE.

IF IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO, I KNOW SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE COMPUTERS AND GET IT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP.

CLERK'S OFFICE AT MERIDIAN.MI.US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? I WILL SIMPLY ADD THAT LAST WEEK, MY FAMILY WAS PLEASED TO TAKE PART IN SPORTIES FOR SHORTIES, WHICH IS A FABULOUS PROGRAM PUT ON BY OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

SHOUT OUT TO COACH MIKE, WHO HAS, I THINK, COACHED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS [LAUGHTER] AT THIS POINT IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

IF YOU'VE GOT KIDS 3-5, DO IT ONCE, DO IT TWICE, DO IT THREE TIMES A SUMMER.

IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET THE WIGGLES OUT FOR THE LITTLE ONES.

I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR SEARCH FIRM THIS MORNING AS THEY BEGIN THEIR INTERVIEWS FOR OUR NEXT TOWNSHIP MANAGER COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR.

WE'LL HAVE MORE TO COME ON THAT AS THE BOARD AND OTHERS ARE INTERVIEWED.

WE HOPE TO OPEN UP THE APPLICATION WINDOW SOMETIME IN EARLY OCTOBER.

GOOD CONVERSATIONS HAD.

SEEING NO OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 8,

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

WHICH IS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION FOR THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE WILSON.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.

ANY COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA, SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE AGENDA CARRIES.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 9, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, INCLUDING THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD.

OUR MINUTES FROM OUR AUGUST 20TH, 2024, REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MILLS AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN FIREFIGHTER TURNOUT GEAR GRANT APPROVAL.

THIS GRANT HAS NO MATCHING FUNDS, SO IT APPEARS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE WE WILL TAKE THIS GRANT.

[00:45:01]

[LAUGHTER] BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? TRUSTEE WILSON.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING?

>> I HAVE ONE COMMENT.

>> ON PAGE 14 OF THE MINUTES, THERE'S A TYPO.

UNDER ITEM B INITIAL 2025 BUDGET DISCUSSION, THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH STATES, TRUSTEE WILSON ASKED FOR MORE CLARITY.

[LAUGHTER] THAT SHOULD READ TRUSTEE WILSON.

UNLESS I NEED TO HAVE MY NAME BAG, THE OFFICE SIGN CHANGED.

OTHERWISE, THE MINUTES ARE VERY GOOD.

>> FABULOUS.

>> I HAVE A COMMENT TOO.

>> TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> ON PAGE 4 OF THE MINUTES OF PAGE 12 OF THE PACKET WITH REFERENCE TO A STATEMENT I MADE WITH REGARD TO CLOVITY INCORPORATED, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE APPLICANTS TO BE OUR SEARCH FIRM.

IT SAYS I INDICATED I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PROVIDE AN HOURLY RATE.

IN FACT, THAT'S ALL THEY PROVIDED.

THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A SUMMARY RATE, AND I FELT THAT WAS TOO MUCH OF A RISK, SO I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE CORRECTED.

>> TO SAY ONLY.

>> SURE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT TWO CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, WILL THE MOTION MAKER BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THOSE AS FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS?

>> YES. I MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS.

>> SUPPORT FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO NEED A RECORD ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.

CLERK GUTHRIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES, YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE?

>> YES TRUSTEE WILSON?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10 QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY. WE HAVE NONE.

>> MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

ITEM 11A IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2025 TOWNSHIP BUDGET.

[11.A. 2025 Township Budget]

WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANAGER SCHMITT ON THE 2025 BUDGET AND A SUMMARY PRESENTATION EARLIER IN THE MEETING THIS EVENING, AND WE DO HAVE A BOARD DISCUSSION ITEM ON THIS TOPIC LATER IN THE EVENING.

HOWEVER, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON IT.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:47 PM.

ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE 2025 TOWNSHIP BUDGET AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:47 PM.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12A,

[12.A. Special Use Permit #24-17-Haslett Gallery Inc-2119 A Haslett Road-Recreational Marijuana Retailer]

SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2417 HAZLETT GALLERY INC 2119 HAZLETT ROAD, [INAUDIBLE] MARIJUANA RETAILER.

WE HAVE INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON THIS TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS BACK IN FRONT OF YOU FOR ACTION THIS EVENING.

JUST TO RECAP, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PROPOSAL ON JUNE 24TH.

HAD NO COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC, AND THEY FURTHER DISCUSSED IT AT JULY 8TH AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE BOARD.

THE BOARD REVIEWED THE REQUESTS AT THE AUGUST 20TH MEETING AND RAISED NO SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS, NOR WAS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT TIME.

THE REQUEST IS TO BUILD OUT AN EXISTING SUITE, ABOUT 1,600 SQUARE FEET AT THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 2119 HAZLETT ROAD, SPECIFICALLY SUITE A.

SUBJECT PROPERTY IS ZONE C1, AND IT IS WITHIN THE MARIJUANA BUSINESS OVERLAY DISTRICT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES.

THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL PERMIT EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM THE BOARD CONDITIONALLY SUBJECT TO SUBMITTAL AND APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE APPROPRIATE 60 DAY TIME FRAME. IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED.

STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED NO MAJOR CONCERNS, NOR DID THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE PROVIDED A SAMPLE MOTION AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 204 OF YOUR PACKET FOR THIS AND A RESOLUTION ON THE NEXT PAGE.

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

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, THIS WAS INDEED BROUGHT BEFORE US AT OUR LAST MEETING FOR DISCUSSION.

HERE WE HAVE THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND RESOLUTION TO SUIT BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION FROM THAT MEETING.

ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE A MOTION OR DISCUSS THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING SPECIAL USE PERMIT 24-17, A REQUEST FROM HAZLETT GALLERY INCORPORATED TO ESTABLISH A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RETAILER AT 2119 HAZLETT ROAD SUITE A, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33-02-02-09-427-027.

[00:50:04]

THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS ZONED C1 COMMERCIAL AND THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE MARIJUANA BUSINESS OVERLAY DISTRICT.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE TREZISE. DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT?

>> I SECOND.

>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE MCCURTIS. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> I'LL SIMPLY POINT OUT THAT BASED ON THE SPECIAL USE CRITERIA WHICH WE USE TO REVIEW SUCH THINGS, IN MY OPINION, THIS APPLICANT DOES MEET ALL THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED OF THEM.

I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST REVIEW PROCESS TO LOOK THROUGH THESE APPLICATIONS.

THIS STEP HERE IS THE FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REMAINING REVIEWS AND APPROVALS FROM THE STATE FOR THEIR LICENSURE AND, OF COURSE, ALL THE BUILDING PERMITS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PER ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT.

I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ACTION ITEM FOR THOSE REASONS.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? SEEING NONE.

THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO REQUIRE? THIS MUST REQUIRE A ROLL CALL.

[INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.

>> TREASURER DESCHAINE?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 12B,

>> MOTION CARRIES 6-0.

[12.B. Assistance to Firefighters Grant Approval]

THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT APPROVAL, AND THIS WILL BE FROM CHIEF HAMEL.

WE CAN DO THIS WHILE HE'S COMING UP TO THE PODIUM.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO CONSIDER THIS EVENING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS TIMELY.

IF SOMEONE WOULD BE WILLING TO ASK US TO SUSPEND OUR RULES, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> I MOVE TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND PUT THIS ON FOR ACTION THIS EVENING.

>> SUPPORT.

>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING OUR RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE WILL SUSPEND OUR RULES AND TAKE THIS UP THIS EVENING.

CHIEF HAMEL, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?

>> THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.

ANOTHER GRANT WE WERE GRACIOUSLY OFFERED THIS YEAR.

LAST FEBRUARY, MARCH, I WAS IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WAS APPROVED BY YOU BETWEEN US, EAST LANSING, NIESA WHICH IS WILLIAMSTON, AND DELHI FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO WRITE FOR WHAT'S CALLED A CASCADE SYSTEM.

THIS IS USED TO FILL OUR SCBA BOTTLES.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

TO MAKE IT A NUMBER 1 PRIORITY WITH THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT, YOU HAD TO DO IT AS A GROUP.

IF I WOULD HAVE DONE IT WITH MERIDIAN AS THE YEAR BEFORE, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IT BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THEY REALLY FUND WITH THEIR $350 MILLION, AND IT'S SO COMPETITIVE, IS NUMBER 1 PRIORITIES.

WE'RE LUCKY TO GET IT. WHILE I WAS OFF, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO US.

THE PRICE DID GO UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT WAS FEBRUARY WHEN I GOT THE QUOTE, AND IT DIDN'T GO UP A WHOLE LOT WHICH IS GOOD.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE GRANT WAS FOR 60,444.80 WITH THE MATCHING FUNDS OF 10% OF 5,494.62, OF WHICH WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

EVEN THOUGH OUR COST RECOVERY MONEY GOES TO GENERAL FUND, WE'RE GOING TO USE COST RECOVERY MONEY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ALLOCATE MONEY THAT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT COULD GO FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

SOME OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT IN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR, WE'LL USE THAT FOR MATCHING FUNDS IF YOU APPROVE THIS.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT THE COSTS WENT UP A LITTLE BIT, WHICH WE'RE ALSO GOING TO USE THE COST RECOVERY MONEY TO COVER.

THAT'S REALLY THE BENEFIT HERE.

THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WE'RE REPLACING THAT'S 25-YEARS-OLD.

WE HAD SOME MECHANICAL ISSUES OF LATE, AND SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY AMAZING BENEFIT FOR US TO RECEIVE THIS GRANT.

>> FABULOUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE A MOTION OR START A DISCUSSION THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR TOWNSHIP, PLEASE.

MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT FOR $60,440.80, AND USE COST RECOVERY FUNDS FOR THE REQUIRED MATCHING AMOUNT OF $5,494.62, AND THE PRICE INCREASE OF $938.79.

[00:55:05]

>> SUPPORT.

>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TIME? TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> VERY SIMPLY, SCBA STANDS FOR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES, SIR.

>> THAT IS THE AIR THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS USE WHEN ENTERING A BURNING BUILDING?

>> YES, SIR.

>> IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM FOR FILLING THOSE.

>> LUCKILY, WE RECEIVED A GRANT LATE LAST YEAR TO REPLACE ALL THOSE.

WE'VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL WITH GRANTS, SAVING OUR BUDGET, IT'S QUITE A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL SUPPORT THIS

>> MS. GUTHRIE.

IS THERE A REASON WHY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS THE ONLY ONE BEARING THE COST OF THE INCREASE, THE $938, OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE GETTING SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK FROM THE OTHER COMMUNITIES?

>> THEY DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR USING IT.

I DID IT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE WERE GOING TO GET THE GRANT.

NOW, IT'S OPEN FOR THEM TO USE IF THEY NEED.

LIKE WILLIAMSTON NIESA, THEY HAVE A PORTABLE UNIT THAT'S ON A TRAILER SO IT'S A LITTLE HARDER FOR USE.

EAST LANSING HAS A SIMILAR, AND DELHI HAS A UNIT IN-HOUSE, IT'S A LITTLE OLDER.

BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEIRS, THEY CAN ALWAYS COME OVER, WE ALL SHARE THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S WHY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? THIS IS AN EXCELLENT USE OF TIME GOING TO FIND ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT IS COMING OUTSIDE THE TOWNSHIP FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BENEFIT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR JOB TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS REMAIN SAFE IN THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO GO HUNT AND FIND THESE GRANTS.

CERTAINLY, IT MAKES OUR JOB A LITTLE BIT EASIER WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET TIME AS WE FIND OURSELVES HERE, AND SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS THIS WELL.

>> WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE A ROLL CALL FOR THIS ITEM AS IT DOESN'T FALL OF SMALL.

CLERK GUTHRIE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> TREASURER DESCHAINE?

>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.

MOTION CARRIES, 6-0.

>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I DO APPRECIATE IT AS ALWAYS.

>> WE'RE BACK TO ITEM 13A,

[13.A. 2025 Township Budget]

THE 2025 TOWNSHIP BUDGET, AND MR. SCHMITT HAS RETURNED TO US THIS TIME FOR BOARD DISCUSSION.

BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE THE 2025 BUDGET IN FRONT OF US, GLORIOUS 180 PAGES.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO KICK OFF THE DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE.

I WON'T TAKE UP ALL THE TIME, OF COURSE.

FOR THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE EARLIER, YOU HAD A LIST OF VACANCIES.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT BEAR WITH ME.

IN THE LIST OF VACANCIES, THERE IS A FIRE INSPECTOR THAT WAS VACANT.

WHAT IS THE COST FOR A FIRE INSPECTOR, AND WHO DOES IT NOW? DO WE CONTRACT IT OUT OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT'S NOT A VACANCY.

IT'S A NEW POSITION THAT WE WOULD LOOK TO CREATE.

CURRENTLY, OUR FIRE MARSHAL, TAVIS MILLEROV, HANDLES ALL THE INSPECTIONS.

I'M NOT SPEAKING OUT OF TURN WHEN I SAY THIS.

HAVING ANOTHER BODY WOULD HELP GET TO EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT A NEW THING.

WE'RE A GROWING COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS PULLING AT TAVIS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL, AND SO IF THERE'S A FIRE, HEAVEN FORBID, THAT A LOT OF TIME GOES INTO THAT INVESTIGATION AND THE WORK ON THAT.

IT'S JUST OTHER THINGS GET LEFT BEHIND.

HAVING A FIRE INSPECTOR ON BOARD WOULD HELP US KEEP UP ON SOME OF THOSE INSPECTION ISSUES.

TOTAL COST, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU.

TAKING ALL THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, IT WOULD LIKELY EXCEED $100,000.

>> THERE'S TWO MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE MAYOR'S PENSION.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR, THERE'S A AND I KNOW THERE'S NO FAULT OF OURS, BUT I WAS GRAPPLING WITH SUPPORTING OR PROVIDING THE FUNDS FOR PENSION.

I'M GOING TO ASK A VERY BASIC ELEMENTARY QUESTION.

HOW CAN WE CORRECT THAT?

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS BY CONTRIBUTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO CORRECT IT.

IF WE WEREN'T CONTRIBUTING THE ADDITIONAL 1.5-2.3 MILLION DEPENDING ON THE YEAR DOLLARS ABOVE OUR ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION, IT'S LIKE PAYING JUST THE INTEREST ON A CREDIT CARD.

[01:00:02]

I GOT YOU. YOU WOULD NEVER GET THERE.

IN THEORY, THEY'LL PROVIDE YOU THE CHART THAT SHOWS LIKE EVENTUALLY, YOU GET TO 100%.

BUT IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE AND EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THIS.

THESE ARE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE 20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO THAT WE JUST DIDN'T SET ASIDE ENOUGH MONEY AT THE TIME.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER.

PEOPLE ARE HAVING MORE ROBUST LIVES.

WHEN YOU'RE HAVING PEOPLE TAKING OUT OF THE SYSTEM FOR LONGER THAN YOU ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR, IT'S NATURALLY GOING TO HAVE A DRAW.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WOULD SCRATCH AND FIGHT US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY IS WHAT'S GETTING US TO THE FINISH LINE QUICKER.

BECAUSE WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, WE CAN SAY WE'RE 100% FUNDED, OUR CONTRIBUTION WILL PLUMMET.

IT'S LITERALLY A CLIFF IN THE CHARTS.

IT JUST DROPS TO ESSENTIALLY A MAINTENANCE LEVEL PAYMENT.

WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN DO.

SHORT OF BEING ABLE TO WRITE A 25-ISH MILLION DOLLAR CHECK TOMORROW. THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. YOU MENTIONED OTHER NEEDS FOR STAFFING, INCLUDING THIS. FIRE INSPECTOR.

APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY OF THOSE, DID YOU FIND TO BE VALID REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEADS THAT YOU REALLY HAD TO SAY NO TO BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO BRING US A BALANCED BUDGET?

>> I WOULD SAY, PROBABLY THE FIRE INSPECTOR OF THE IT TECH AND WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE UTILITY BUILDING SUPERVISOR, SUPERINTENDENT POSITIONS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SUBMITTED ANYTHING THIS YEAR THAT WAS OUT OF LINE.

I WOULD THANK THE M TEAM FOR NOT MAKING THIS ANY MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT NEEDED TO BE FOR ME THIS YEAR.

THEY DIDN'T THROW A BUNCH OF FLUFF AT ME.

THEY ALL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE TIGHT, AND THEY GAVE ME THE MINIMUM THEY THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO REALLY MAKE IT WORK.

>> AT LEAST THREE. YOU ALSO MENTIONED UTILITY WORKER WHERE WE NEEDED AS WELL.

>> THE UTILITY WORKERS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PHASE IN, BUT IT'S COMING.

WE ORIGINALLY, I THINK, STARTED WITH TWO THIS YEAR, CUT IT BACK TO ONE.

BUT THAT WILL START COMING AS WE STABILIZE THE FUNDS, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.

JUST ON A PER MILE BASIS, WE JUST DON'T LINE UP RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH TRUSTEE MCCURTIS MENTIONED TO THE MERSE FUND AS WELL AS THE $280,000 YOU PULLED OUT FROM LAST YEAR AND THE 280,000 WE PULLED OUT OUR ROADS.

WE DO SHOW A PLAN THAT IN 10 YEARS WILL BE CAUGHT UP.

BUT THE PROBLEM I'VE EXPERIENCED WITH BUDGETS AND PENSION ESTIMATION, THERE'S ALWAYS A 10-YEAR PLAN TO GET THERE.

THERE'S ALWAYS 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE DON'T TYPICALLY GO INTO THE SEVENTH YEAR AND SAY WE'RE THREE YEARS OUT.

INSTEAD, THAT NUMBER GETS RESET TO 10 MORE YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT I FEAR WE'RE DOING HERE.

IN 2017, WE PUT THE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE BEFORE THE VOTERS, AND THEY APPROVED IT 1.4 MILLS TO HELP US PAY DOWN THE PENSION, ADD TWO NEW POLICE OFFICERS, TWO NEW FIREFIGHTER AMTS, AS WELL AS THE NEW FIRE TRUCK.

WE'VE MADE GOOD PROGRESS, BUT WE HAD HOPED TO BE FURTHER ALONG THAN WE ARE ON THE PENSION DEBT BY THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THIS.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE 17 YEARS, WHEN WE PUT IT BEFORE THE BUDGET.

NOW WE'RE IN AT LEAST 17 YEARS.

WE HAVE $224,040 IN OUR PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.

I LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD SPREADS THIS IDEA.

I WANT TO SEE US TAKE THE 850,000 OUT OF THAT MONEY AND PUT IT BACK INTO THAT MONEY.

BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR IN EIGHT WE DID NOT PUT THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IN.

AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, THE MAGIC SAUCE AND GETTING AHEAD OF THIS IS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

WE'RE PUTTING THE 1.5 MILLION IN, WHICH IS WHAT THE VOTERS REQUIRE US TO DO AFTER THE 2017 POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE.

THE ADDITIONAL 850 WAS OUR GOODWILL TO THE VOTERS SAYING ONLY ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY YOU GAVE US.

WE'RE GOING TO FIND MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY THIS DOWN AS WELL.

IT WAS A TWO PRONGED APPROACH.

EVERY YEAR SINCE THE 2019, ROAD MILLAGE GOT APPROVED, WE PUT IN THIS EXTRA $280,000 INTO THE ROAD FUND, IT'S OUT OF THE FOUR MILLION THEY SPEND EVERY YEAR, IT'S 5, 6%.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN ACT OF FAITH BY THE BOARD TO SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ALL OF THIS ON THE BACKS OF THE VOTERS OF THE MILLAGE.

[01:05:02]

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT A LITTLE FURTHER, AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME GENERAL FUND MONEY TO BACK UP WHAT THE VOTERS ARE DOING TO FIX THE ROADS.

IF WE PUT THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY BACK IN, WHICH IS ABOUT $1,100,050 OR SO.

THAT STILL LEAVES WITH A 44% OF BUDGET FUND BALANCE.

THE BOARD REQUIRES 25%.

WE'RE AT 48% WITH THE BUDGET PROPOSED.

IF WE PUT THAT $130,000 BACK IN TO THE ROADS AND BUT PENSION, WE'RE STILL AT A COMFORTABLE PERCENTAGE WITH OUR FUND BALANCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR OTHER BARBERS THINK ON THIS, BUT I'M REALLY RELUCTANT TO PASS A BUDGET THAT PULLS BACK FROM THESE COMMITMENTS, WE MADE TO THE VOTERS TO GET THE PENSION PAID DOWN AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, AND TO FIX THE ROADS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE HAVING TO RENEW THE ROAD MILLAGE IN FIVE YEARS.

I THINK WE HAVE A STRONGER CASE TO THE VOTERS. WE STAT TO THEM.

WE PUT EVERY DOLLAR INTO ROADS, AND OVER THOSE 10 YEARS, WE FOUND WHAT WOULD BE $2,800,000, WHICH IS 10 YEARS OF $280,000.

WE CAN SAY TO THE VOTERS, WE PUSH GENERAL FUND MONEY IN THERE AS WELL.

THE SAME WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE MILAGE, WE'RE LIKELY TO NEED THAT TO BE EXTENDED IN 2027, BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE IT PAID OFF BY 2027.

THIS IS OUR ACTIVE FAITH WITH THE VOTERS TO SAY, WE FOUND GENERAL FUND MONEY TO ALSO FUND THESE PENSIONS.

WE'RE WITH YOU HERE ON TRYING TO PAY DOWN THIS DEBT.

THERE'S TWO KINDS OF DEBT. THERE'S GOOD IN A PERSONAL LEVEL, CREDIT CARD DEBT IS BAD, MORTGAGE DEBT IS GOOD.

THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL, PAYING DOWN THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION DEBT, THAT'S GOOD.

MS PENSION DEBT ISN'T GOOD DEBT.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, THESE WERE COMMITMENTS MADE DECADES AGO THAT WE'RE NOW HAVING TO CATCH UP AND PAY OFF.

THE LONGER WE PUT OFF PAYING THOSE OFF, THE BIGGER THE DEBT GETS.

THESE AREN'T EXACTLY CREDIT CARD RATES, BUT IT'S THE SAME IDEA, WE'RE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WE ALREADY SPENT.

THE SOONER WE CAN PAY OFF THAT BAD DEBT, THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE.

THOSE WERE MY, I THINK, TWO THINGS LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE BOARD ON.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK YOUR NARRATIVE IS VERY GOOD.

YOU EXPLAINED THE BUDGET WELL.

YOU REALLY BROUGHT US UP TO SPEED HERE, AND CONSIDERING YOU'VE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, THAT'S MOST ADMIRABLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.

I AGREE WITH THOSE LAST COMMENTS.

VERY GOOD PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE M TEAM FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

I WONDERED IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR PRESENTATION BACK UP TO THE PASER RATING PAGE.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR DEPUTY MANAGER HOSMER.

>> WHILE YOU'RE GOING UP TO THE PODIUM, I TOO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AS TREASURER DESCHAINE REGARDING THE PENSION AND THE ROADS, AND I TOO HAD A PENSION QUESTION, BUT I THINK TRUSTEE MCCURDY'S QUESTION ANSWERED THAT FOR ME.

WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CHART AND TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT IT, I FEEL LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO NUMBERS OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE ARE IS INCREASING.

LIKE IN 2024, IT'S 6.24 AND 5.7, IN 2025, IT'S 6.59 AND 5.87.

I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD GIVE US A SYNOPSIS ON WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THE ROADS, BECAUSE THEY LOOK GREAT.

THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE IS GOOD.

I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING HARD ON IT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT AS WELL.

I WONDERED IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THESE PASER RATINGS AND GIVE US A LITTLE SYNOPSIS ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH. THE TWO PRIMARY FACTORS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS ONE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU SEE THE GAP IN YEAR 1 BEING THE 2020 CONSTRUCTION YEAR.

THAT GAP IT DOUBLED THEN IN 2021, AND THEN IT'S TRIPLING IN 2022.

YOU'RE SEEING THAT ANNUAL GAP ACCUMULATE, AND SO THAT DIFFERENTIAL IS GROWING AS WE GO OUT CHRONOLOGICALLY.

THE OTHER FACTOR, WE HAVE ROUGHLY INCREASED OUR PASER RATING ABOUT 0.22 ANNUALLY.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE SPREADSHEET THIS MORNING, AND SOME YEARS IT'S 0.22, SOME YEARS IT'S 0.24, BUT ROUGHLY WE'RE ON THE UPWARD TRAJECTORY BY ABOUT 0.22 PER YEAR.

[01:10:06]

THE OTHER FACTOR THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE DATA IS THAT INFLATION THAT WE SAW FROM 2021-2022.

OUT OF THE 10 YEARS FOR THE MILEAGE, WE ONLY HAD TWO GOOD CONSTRUCTION SEASONS WITH UNIT PRICING THAT WE ANTICIPATED.

BUT THEN FROM '21-'22, THE PRICE PER TON OF ASPHALT WENT FROM 60-65 TO $90-$110 PER TON.

WE SAW THAT 50-60% INCREASE IN THE PRICE PER ASPHALT AND THEREFORE OUR MILEAGE WENT DOWN.

WHEN WE STARTED, MR. PERRY HAD US DOING 11-10 MILES PER YEAR.

WE CAN STILL DO THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF FUNDING EARLIER THAN WE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATE IF WE DO THAT.

>> HOW MANY MILES ARE WE DOING NOW A YEAR?

>> ROUGHLY 6 MILES.

COSTS CAN VARY WIDELY.

LIKE NEXT YEAR'S ROADS WILL BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE, EVEN THOUGH ROUGHLY WE'RE DOING THE SAME MILEAGE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE LAKE.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE DOING NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE LAKE.

THOSE ROADS ARE 16-18 FOOT WIDE VERSUS 28-32.

THERE'S A LOT LESS TONNAGE OF ASPHALT GOING DOWN.

>> THIS MILEAGE EXPIRES IN 2028?

>> 2029.

HOW MANY MORE MILES ARE THERE LEFT TO DO?

>> IT'LL TECHNICALLY BE THE WINTER 2028 TAX BILL IN TERMS OF WHEN IT GOES OUT, AND WE WILL COLLECT IT BY FEBRUARY 14TH OF 2029.

RESTATE YOUR SECOND QUESTION. SORRY.

>> HOW MANY MORE MILES ARE LEFT TO DO?

>> DO WE HAVE LEFT OR CAN WE DO?

>> DO YOU HAVE LEFT TO DO?

>> OH, MILES.

>> NOT THE REJUVENATION, NOT THAT [OVERLAPPING]

>> YEAH, JUST RECONSTRUCT MILEAGE.

>> THE RECONSTRUCT MILES, NOT THE RESURFACE MILES.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LENSES TO VIEW THE PROBLEM THROUGH.

WE HAVE 153 MILES OF LOCAL ROADS.

WE'RE DOING ABOUT 6 MILES PER YEAR.

THAT'S A REPLACEMENT CYCLE OF REPLACING EACH ROAD EVERY 25-30 YEARS.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM BASED ON CURRENT CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

IN TERMS OF THE IMMEDIATE LENS OF, HOW DO WE GET ALL THE ROADS UP TO AN EIGHT? LET'S TALK FOR A BRIEF SECOND ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN AVERAGE PASER RATING OF AN EIGHT.

THAT MEANS FOR EVERY 10 YOU HAVE, FOR EVERY MILE OF 10, MEANING A ROAD THAT WE JUST RECONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU HAVE THAT MANY MILES OF SIXES, AND YOU HAVE NOTHING BELOW A SIX ON A 1-10 SCALE WHEN THE CITY OF LANSING IS AVERAGING LIKE A 2.7.

THERE'S NOT A COMMUNITY IN THE STATE REALLY THAT HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL LOCAL ROAD PASER RATING OR PAVEMENT RATING, JUST BECAUSE THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROADS UNLESS YOU PASS A REALLY, REALLY ROBUST MILEAGE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET TO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SIX MORE MILES IN 25, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ROADS WE SELECT, BUT WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH TO DO ANOTHER SIX NEXT YEAR, AND THEN ABOUT 13-14 MILES, THE TWO FOLLOWING YEARS.

>> SO WE HAVE 153 MILES AND HOW MANY HAVE BEEN DONE? OUT ALL OF 153, HOW MANY ARE [OVERLAPPING]

>> THAT WAS IN THE NUMBERS THAT I JUST GAVE DR. SCHMIDT, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THE NUMBER I GAVE HIM WAS ABOUT 41 OR 42 MILES THAT WE HAVE DONE TO DATE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER 20 MILES AFTER THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE BALLPARK OF 50-60 MILES, CERTAINLY OVER 50 ON JUST RECONSTRUCTS, JUST THE ROADS THAT WE FULLY RECONSTRUCTED, MEANING WE REMOVED ALL EXISTING HMA AND PAVED A BRAND NEW ROAD.

>> THE PASER RATING GOAL IS EIGHT, IS THAT CORRECT FROM WHAT I REMEMBER?

>> THAT WAS THE GOAL, BUT WE'VE KNOWN SINCE FEBRUARY OF '22 WHEN WE GOT OUR BIDS IN THAT THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ATTAINABLE.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE THE SAME CONCERN WITH THE ROADS THAT I HAVE WITH THE PENSION.

THE PRICES ARE ONLY GOING TO INCREASE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COST OF PRODUCT.

I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PENSION AND I HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH MY BROTHER ALL THE TIME ABOUT MAKING EXTRA MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

YOU NEED TO MAKE AN EXTRA MORTGAGE PAYMENT TO DECREASE

[01:15:01]

YOUR PERCENTAGE THAT YOU OWE IN THE END AND DECREASE THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT YOU'RE SPENDING ON THIS THING.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT WAS PRUDENT, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TREASURER DESCHAINE SAID WE HAVE, AN OVER PERCENTAGE AMOUNT IN OUR FUND BALANCE.

I AGREE WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE THAT WE COULD ADD MONEY TOWARDS THESE TWO ITEMS. I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT UNTIL I SAW THE PRESENTATION, SO I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

IT REALLY POINTED THAT OUT TO ME MORE THAN BEFORE.

>> I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS AS WELL.

>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> NO. I'LL WAIT ON THOSE.

>> SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND AND PENSION VERSUS ROAD FUNDING, I HAD A SIMILAR BUT SLIGHTLY LESS AMBITIOUS IDEA MYSELF.

WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SET ASIDE THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND, WE DID SO SO THAT WE WOULD BE READY IN TIMES OF CRISIS TO STEP IN IF WE COULDN'T MEET SOME OF OUR MINIMUM OBLIGATIONS.

WE HAVE THROUGH SOUND INVESTING, THANK YOU FOR TREASURER DESCHAINE AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN HIGH YIELD ACCOUNTS, WE HAVE RAISED SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF $225,000 SIMPLY IN INTEREST SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT FUND.

MY THOUGHT WAS NOT TO DIP TOO FAR INTO IT BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S WISE TO RETAIN THAT RAINY DAY FUND IN CASE THINGS GET TRULY BAD.

TO INSTEAD OF PULLING $850,000 OUT, TO INSTEAD PULL THE $225,000 IN INTEREST THAT WE'VE ACCRUED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND ADD THAT AS AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT TO THE MASS PENSION CONTRIBUTION.

THIS IS BASICALLY MONEY THAT WE'VE HAD JUST BY HAVING MONEY, AND IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO GROW, AND IF WE LEAVE THIS IN THESE INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS, THEN WE'LL HAVE THIS MONEY AND YOU'LL HAVE SIMILAR INTEREST ACCRUAL IN THE FUTURE.

IF WE DIP SO FAR DOWN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE QUITE A WHILE TO GET BACK UP TO US.

IT'S JUST HOW INTEREST WORKS.

YOU GET INTEREST ON THE BIGGER NUMBER, MORE INTEREST COMING IN.

MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO LEAVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

WE DECIDED THAT 1.2 MILLION WAS THE AMOUNT WE WANTED IN THERE.

DIP THE INTEREST OFF THE TOP AND PUT THAT TOWARD THE PENSIONS THIS YEAR.

IT DOESN'T MAKE UP FOR THE FULL $850,000 THAT WE PULLED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT IT IS SHOWING THAT, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A TIGHT GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES AND WE CAN GET CREATIVE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE DONATIONS, EVEN IF IT WASN'T TO THAT SAME LEVEL TO OUR PENSION FUND.

I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE ROAD MONEY, WE HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY PUT MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND INTO THAT, AND THAT MAY HAVE EVEN EXTENDED, I THINK, WAIVERS OUR HISTORIAN HERE, MIGHT HAVE EXTENDED PRIOR TO MILEAGE EVEN WHEN THE COUNTY WAS ONLY PUTTING IN $100,000 TOWARD ROAD.

I THINK WE WERE PUTTING MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR IT AT THAT TIME.

THAT EVEN PREDATED THE MILEAGE.

THIS BOARD HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO OUR ROADS FROM OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS OUTSIDE OF THE ROAD MILEAGE AS WELL.

WE PUT NORTH OF $2 MILLION OF OUR ARP MONEY ALREADY INTO OUR LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.

WE'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO THAT.

IF YOU WERE COUNTING HOW MANY, THAT WOULD BE NINE YEARS OF OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION MADE ALL AT ONCE IN THAT ONE ARP DECISION.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SHOWN THAT, IN FACT, WE DO HAVE OUR INTEREST IN SEEING THIS AND MAKING THAT CONTRIBUTION.

WE'VE DONE A LOT ALREADY TO PUT MONEY TOWARD THE ROADS.

THE ROAD MILEAGE IS ONE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE AND DONE, WE GET OUR ROADS UP TO AN EIGHT THIS FIRST 10 YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER PROGRAM THAN THAT.

[01:20:03]

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MILES OF ROAD.

THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP, AND YES, WE ARE CERTAINLY WILLING TO MAKE A LOT OF CONTRIBUTIONS INTO THIS AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE THAT CERTAINLY IN MY TIME ON THE BOARD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT DIPPING INTO THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND FOR THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE USE FOR THE ROAD MONEY AT THIS TIME, GIVEN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE INTO IT.

THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD INTENDED EVEN WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED.

I WOULD BE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT PULLING SOME MONEY OFF OF THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND TO PUT TOWARD ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TOWARD THE PENSIONS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT 850, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD DO THAT PERSONALLY. TRUSTEE WILSON.

>> DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, INTERIM MANAGER SCHMIDT.

>> I RESPOND TO ANYTHING. [LAUGHTER]

>> YOU'LL ANSWER TO ANYTHING.

DID YOU DO THE ANALYSIS OF THE ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE REMAINING?

>> WE HAVE. CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET, THEY ARE PARKED IN A LINE ITEM FOR, I BELIEVE ROADS.

WE PUT THEM IN JUST TO HAVE THEM IN THERE.

CONVERSATION WAS STILL GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER OUR LAST MEETING AS TO EXACTLY HOW TO DIRECT THOSE FUNDS.

FUNCTIONALLY, WE'RE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME PLACE WE WERE BEFORE.

IT'S $260,000 FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE USED.

THERE'S A PORTION OF THE SOFTWARE FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE USED, AND THEN HOW WE ALLOCATE THESE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER FUNDS GIVEN THE TIMING THAT WE'RE UNDER.

THE PLAN WAS, FROM A STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, ONCE WE GET BUDGET FINALIZED, IS TO GO BACK AND RE-ANALYZE THAT, FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR TIMING CONSTRAINTS ARE AND WHERE THAT BACKS TO MAKE SENSE WITHIN THOSE TIMING CONSTRAINTS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE GENERATOR CAME UP, PAYING FOR THE GENERATOR RATHER, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD MEET THE DEADLINES UNDER THE ARPA FUNDING FOR THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO ANALYZE THOSE DEADLINES AND THEN BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION.

CERTAINLY, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO SIMPLY ALLOCATE THE REST OF THE FUNDS TO THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM, WE CAN MOVE ON AND BE DONE WITH IT, OR SOME OTHER THING WE'VE ALREADY LINED UP, BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON BRINGING BACK A CONVERSATION AFTER THE BUDGET FOR THAT.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S NORTH OF $200,000?

>> IT IS. I KNOW THAT IT'S NORTH OF $200,000.

>> I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND THE TREASURER THAT I DID NOT LIKE TO SEE THE $280,000 CONTRIBUTION COME OFF THE ROADS THIS YEAR.

I DO THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO FIND A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT, AND SO MY IMMEDIATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ANALYSIS LOOKED AT UPDATING THE MUNICIPAL BATHROOMS FOR $320,000.

ARE THERE MECHANICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BATHROOMS?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT AS WE GO.

BUT I THINK THE ISSUE WE MAY HAVE WITH THAT AS WELL IS SIMPLY GETTING IT DONE IN TIME.

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THE TIMING ON THAT AS WELL.

>> DONE IT TIME FOR?

>> HAVING THE MONEY UNDER CONTRACT.

>> OH, NO. IT'S NOT ARPA. IS IT ARPA?

>> IF WE WERE GOING TO CONVERT IT TO ARPA.

>> IF?

>> IF, YES.

>> I THINK BETWEEN THE ARPA FUNDS AND THIS PROPOSED RENOVATION, WHICH I WOULD SUGGEST, WE MIGHT WANT TO DEFER INTO 2026 IF WE DO NOT HAVE MECHANICAL ISSUES BECAUSE THOSE RESTROOMS WHICH WE USE ARE FUNCTIONING AND WOULD WORK, AND WE COULD GET THROUGH THIS YEAR, AND I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO A CONVERSION OF THE FUNDS THAT WE WOULD SPEND ON THOSE BATHROOMS TO FUND THE $280,000 FOR THE ROADS, THAT CONTRIBUTION THAT WE'VE BEEN HISTORICALLY MAKING UP UNTIL THIS YEAR.

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT.

>> I HAVE SOME OTHER TOPICS, BUT LET'S CLOSE THIS ONE.

>> YEAH, LET'S CLOSE THIS ONE FIRST IF WE CAN.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ON THAT? CLERK GUTHRIE?

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD CONCUR WITH THE PROPOSED AMOUNTS FROM SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON FOR THE PENSION, AND TRUSTEE WILSON FOR REALLOCATING THE FUNDS FROM THE BATHROOMS, WHICH I BELIEVE HAVE BEEN DONE WITHIN THE 10 YEARS FROM LOOKING AT.

[01:25:08]

SAM, HAVE YOU BEEN HERE THAT LONG SINCE THE BATHROOMS HAVE BEEN RUNNING? I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING.

>> MORE JUDGMENT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH BOTH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING.

>> THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S TWO PROPOSALS FOR PENSION, ONE AT 850 OUT OF THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND, ONE AT 224,000 OUT OF THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.

AND THEN REALLOCATING THE 320,000 OF THE BATHROOM RENOVATION PROJECT FROM THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND INTO WHATEVER, THE $250,000, IS IT? 280 FOR THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.

>> AND PERHAPS THE DIFFERENCE COULD GO TOWARD THE PENSION STABILIZATION.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A WAY TO [OVERLAPPING].

>> SO IT'S EXISTING FUNDS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

THE DIFFERENCE WOULD JUST STAY IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AT THIS POINT.

>> YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE TO ALLOCATE IT.

DO WE HAVE GENERAL CONSENSUS OR AGREEMENT ON THAT APPROACH? HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THAT? TRUSTEE TREZISE?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT APPROACH TO CONTRIBUTE TO BOTH THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING, OR YOU'VE JUST BEEN DISCUSSING AND GO FORWARD ON THAT BASIS.

>> I LIKE THAT. SORRY, GO AHEAD.

>> NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I LIKE THAT AS WELL.

>> TREASURER DESCHAINE, CAN YOU BE OKAY WITH THAT?

>> ON THE ROAD OR THE PENSION?

>> BOTH.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PENSION.

WE HAVE $14.5 MILLION IN OUR RESERVE ACCOUNTS.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE INTEREST FROM ALL OF THOSE FUNDS THAT, OUR CURRENT RATE IS AROUND 4%, YOU COME UP WITH A FIGURE OF ABOUT JUST SHY OF $600,000.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF INTEREST, I WOULD MAKE IT A REAL ONE.

$200,000 TO THE PENSION, TO ME, IS JUST LIP SERVICE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT MONEY INTO, WE SHOULD PUT REAL MONEY INTO IT.

AND TO ME, THE 2.4 MILLION WE'VE GOT IN THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND IS EXACTLY FOR MAKING UP THE SHORTFALL, BECAUSE THIS IS THE COMMITMENT THIS BOARD HAS MADE FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

WE SETUP A PENSION STABILIZATION FUND FOR TIGHT YEARS.

I REALLY BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO PUT ALL $850,000 BACK INTO THAT.

WE'VE GOT A BIG DEBT, AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

AND TO BE SITTING ON $14.5 MILLION IN RESERVE FUNDS AND NOT MAKING THE CONTRIBUTION WE MADE THE PREVIOUS SEVEN YEARS, IT'S LIKE HAVING A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OVER HERE AND THEN PAYING HUGE INTEREST RATES ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS.

IT MAKES SENSE TO PAY DOWN THE CREDIT CARDS, TAKING THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

I REALLY DON'T SUPPORT ANYTHING LESS THAN $850,000 FOR IT.

AGAIN, THIS IS IN A GOOD FAITH AGREEMENT WITH THE VOTERS WHEN WE PASSED THE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE IN 2017, AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO STAY WITH IT CERTAINLY FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS UNTIL THE MILLAGE RUNS OUT AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH MERS LIABILITY.

>> TRUSTEE WILSON?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME TO SOME KIND OF A COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, BECAUSE I DO SHARE SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON'S CONCERNS THAT THIS IS OUR RAINY DAY FUND.

IF WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT IS AS SEVERE AS 2008, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR MINIMUM PAYMENTS INTO THE PENSION FUND, AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS THIS RESERVE THERE.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE DO HAVE $14 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES.

SO I THINK THERE'S MAYBE SOME ROOM THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT TO COME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE $225,000, WHICH IS INTEREST ONLY, AND THE $850,000, WHICH I THINK IS A BIT MORE THAN WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO AT THIS TIME.

>> SO SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE PUTS US AT ABOUT 500 K?

>> 537 IS ACTUALLY EXACTLY HALF.

[LAUGHTER] I WAS ASSUMING THE QUESTION.

>> INTERIM MANAGER HAS DECIDED THAT COMPROMISE IS INDEED THE BETTER PART OF VALOR.

TRUSTEE MCCURTIS, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, CAN WE SPLIT IT DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND YOU ALREADY SAID IT.

>> WELL, TREASURER DESCHAINE, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE ADAMANT ABOUT 850, BUT 537 IS 300 MORE THAN JUST [OVERLAPPING].

[01:30:03]

>> THREE HUNDRED MORE THAN YOUR CHEAPSKATE NUMBER, BUT YEAH I UNDERSTAND.

>> COMPROMISE IS GOOD.

>> THIS BOARD NEEDS TO ACT AS A WHOLE AND SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.

I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT I CAN LIVE WITH THE 537.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> GREAT.

>> I HEARD NO DISAGREEMENT ON THE BATHROOM RENOVATION COMING OFF AND USING THAT FOR THE ROAD FUNDING.

ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?

>> I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AS WELL.

>> THOSE ARE SOME TWO CONCRETE DIRECTIONS.

LOOK AT THAT, WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS HERE.

THAT WAS ITEM NUMBER 1.

[LAUGHTER]

>> GOSH.

>> I HAVE 1,000 NOTES, BUT I WILL HAND THINGS OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE, AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF MINE GET TAKEN BEFORE IT GETS BACK TO ME.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS?

>> WATER.

>> YES, TRUSTEE WILSON ON THE WATER AND SEWER, I PRESUME.

>> YES. I RECOGNIZE HOW SERIOUS OUR SITUATION IS HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR WAY LONGER THAN ANY OF US HAVE BEEN SITTING UP HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET AND START ADDRESSING THAT.

THAT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE.

WHAT CONCERNS ME, THE PRIMARY THING, I CAN LIVE WITH THE WATER RATE INCREASE.

BUT THE READY TO SERVE PORTION, WHERE WE HAD A ZERO FEE TWO YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT ALL TAXPAYERS PAY, AND THEN WENT TO A $12 FEE, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO A MINIMUM $24 FEE WITH THE SLIDING SCALE, WHICH I 100% AGREE WITH.

BUT THAT NOW IS A 200% INCREASE FOR OUR TAXPAYERS IN TERMS JUST GETTING THE WATER BILL, WHICH THEY GET EVERY TWO MONTHS, IS THAT CORRECT, TREASURER DESCHAINE?

>> THEY GET IT EVERY THREE MONTHS.

THEY GET QUARTERLY BILLS, EXCEPT FOR OUR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS THAT ARE BILLED MORE FREQUENTLY.

>> SO FOUR TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN.

I THINK IT'S A BIG BITE TO SWALLOW.

I'D LIKE TO SEE US DEUCE AGAIN SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE ON THAT READY TO SERVE FEE.

THAT WAS TO ME THE MOST EGREGIOUS PORTION OF WHAT WE TOOK A LOOK AT. GO AHEAD.

>> SO I'LL GIVE EVERYONE JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO START.

OUR READY TO SERVE FEE BEGAN WHEN MR. PERRY WAS HERE, BUT WE WERE NOT AT ZERO.

WE DID NOT JUST CREATE A READY TO SERVE FEE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

HOWEVER, IN THE 2022 BUDGET, ACTUALLY, NO, THE 2023 BUDGET, WHICH WE PUT TOGETHER IN 2022, WE DID INCREASE IT FROM $5 TO $12.

SO WE DID MORE THAN DOUBLE IT.

BUT WHAT I WOULD NOTE, EVEN WITH WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, WHICH WOULD BE TO DOUBLE IT FROM $12 TO $24, WE ARE 233-913% BELOW EVERY OTHER SYSTEM IN THIS REGION FOR THAT PORTION, THE FIXED READY TO SERVE FEE PORTION OF THE BILL.

WE HAVE THAT ALL COMPILED IN SPREADSHEETS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHARED WITH THE SUPERVISOR.

AND THERE WERE TWO TRAINS OF THOUGHT.

WE CAN JUST INCREASE THE CONSUMPTION FEES CONSIDERABLY THIS TIME.

WHAT I WOULD ADVISE IS THAT THE READY TO SERVE FEE OFTEN GETS CONFUSED WITH A BILLING FEE.

AND SO WHEN YOU INCREASE THAT, PEOPLE THINK IT'S EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LITTLE ASTERIX ON IT ON OUR BILL, AND WE HAVE A BRIEF, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPACE LEFT ON A WATER BILL TO PUT WORD COUNT, BUT WE DO HAVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION TO TRY TO CONVEY WHAT THAT IS FOR.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, PEOPLE WILL HAVE A VISCERAL REACTION.

AND SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE IT KNOWING THAT WE ARE WOEFULLY BELOW ALL OF OUR OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE REGION, AGAIN, 233-913%, IF YOU TOUCH IT, YOU WANT TO MAKE IT COUNT, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EMPLOYEE HOURS THAT GET SPENT JUST EXPLAINING THAT FEE TO RESIDENTS.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHEN YOU TOUCH IT, MAKE IT WORTH OUR WHILE, AND THEN DON'T TOUCH IT FOR A WHILE.

SO LIKE NEXT YEAR, I WOULD PROBABLY NOT RECOMMEND ANYTHING IN THAT AREA AND JUST RECOMMEND INCREASING THE CONSUMPTION RATES.

BUT EVEN WITH THE BWL, WE CAN GO TO THAT CHART, THE BWL IS DOING 9.5% INCREASES FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

[01:35:05]

AND THEY'RE WAY ABOVE US.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM BROKEN OUT, BUT BATH TOWNSHIP IS BWL FOR WATER.

FOR INSTANCE, AND SO IS DELTA TOWNSHIP AND DELHI TOWNSHIP.

SO EVEN WITH THEM HAVING SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES THAN WE DO, THEY'RE DOING 9.5% INCREASES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THE READY TO SERVE FEE IS JUST A TRICKY ONE, BECAUSE IT UPSETS PEOPLE, BUT REALLY, IT'S A FAIRNESS FACTOR, BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ONLY CONSUMES, LET'S SAY, IT'S A SINGLE PERSON LIVING IN A HOME BY THEMSELVES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ONLY CONSUMING 4,000 GALLONS, THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE WATER MAIN IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME ANY LESS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE.

IT'S STILL $270 PER LINEAR FOOT.

IT DOESN'T MAKE THE LIFT STATION THAT PUMPS THEIR RAW WASTE UPHILL ANY CHEAPER TO REPLACE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE THE WATER TOWER ANY CHEAPER TO REPLACE OR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT OR THE WATER PLANT.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT JUST GETS DIFFICULT.

WE NEED A READY TO SERVE FEE THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT COST TO REPLACING THE SYSTEM REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY GALLONS ONE CONSUMES THROUGH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SO YOU THINK IT'S A BETTER APPROACH RATHER THAN SCALING IT IN AT, SAY, $18 THIS YEAR, AND $24 NEXT YEAR IS TO JUST GIVE 100% INCREASE?

>> I THINK IT'S BETTER TO GO BIG AND THEN GIVE A YEAR OR TWO OF GRACE AND THEN COME BACK AT IT.

BUT AGAIN, WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM HERE WHERE WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE HAD A MORE DELIBERATIVE CONVERSATION IN THE LATE '90S.

AND YOU LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, YES, WE'RE STILL GROWING AT 10%, 11% ON POPULATION ON THE CENSUS TRACKS, BUT OUR REAL GROWTH, THE SUBSTANTIVE GROWTH, WAS THE '70S, '80S, AND '90S.

AND THEN WE GOT THE BOARDS OF NO GROWTH OR PLANNED GROWTH, RIGHT, AND THINGS HAVE JUST CHANGED.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BACK AT THAT TIME, AND NOW WE'RE SUFFERING FROM THAT.

BUT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

WE DON'T HAVE A MAGIC BULLET, AND WE DON'T KNOW SOMETHING THAT ALL THESE OTHER WATER SYSTEMS ACROSS THE REGION DO KNOW OR DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T HAVE A MAGIC BULLET THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

THERE IS A COST TO MAINTAINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE LONG TERM, AND EVEN HAVING A SLIGHTLY YOUNGER SYSTEM THAN MOST OF THEM DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF OUR OWN FAILINGS.

WE HAVE 31 LIFT STATIONS.

EAST LANSING HAS TWO.

SO WE MAY NOT HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF LEAD SERVICE LINES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE WAY MORE WATER METERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS, AND SO THOSE TYPICALLY ONLY HAVE ONE METER ON THEM.

SO WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE WATER METERS ONCE EVERY 20 YEARS, WE BEAR A LOT MORE COSTS BECAUSE WE HAVE 15,000 TO THEIR 9,000.

LIFT STATIONS, THEY WERE BUILT OUT SYSTEMATICALLY, WHEREAS WE WERE BUILT OUT IN PHASES.

AND SO WE WEREN'T ALWAYS ABLE TO PLAN FOR HAVING FALL IN THE SANITARY SYSTEM.

THEN THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO HAVE PUMPS.

WHERE WE DON'T HAVE FALL ANYMORE, WE GOT TO PUMP IT UPHILL SO THAT IT CAN FALL BACK DOWNHILL USING GRAVITY, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE PUMPING STATIONS THAN THE CITY.

AND SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S THE CONVERSATION PROBABLY SHOULD SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD TWO DECADES AGO, AND WE'RE HAVING IT NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE'RE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT ONE.

BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE'LL EXPLAIN TO OUR RESIDENTS WITH PATIENCE.

I JUST THINK WITH THE READY TO SERVE FEE, IF WE DO IT, WE SHOULD DO IT SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THEN GIVE PEOPLE A YEAR OR TWO OFF ON THE READY TO SERVE FEE.

>> IF YOU GO TO THIS HIGHER FEE AT $24 PER HOUSEHOLD MINIMUM, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE GRAND RIVER GATES VALVE PROJECT?

>> I THINK SO, AND THE SUPERVISOR AND I WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THIS ABOUT, WE COULD EVEN LOOK AT THE ARPA FUNDING FOR THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT IS A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE THE RFP DONE.

WE DID PUT IT OUT TO BID IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER OF 2023, AND WE ONLY HAD ONE BIDDER.

SO THAT'S ONE WHERE WE FELT IF WE TOOK OUR TIME, PUT IT BACK OUT TO BID AT A MORE IDEAL CYCLE IN THE SEASON WHEN THE CONTRACTORS AREN'T AS BUSY, WE MIGHT GET BIDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY LOWER.

SO I THINK WITH THIS REVENUE AND MAYBE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE ARPA FUNDS, YEAH, WE COULD PUT THAT OUT.

>> I JUST THINK IF WE'RE SHOWING THAT IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO SELL SUCH AN INCREASE.

[01:40:05]

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S MY WATER COMMENT.

>> I GOT MORE.

>> ON THE WATER ISSUE, OUR OFFICE IS ADJACENT UTILITY BILLING, AND I THINK THE UTILITY BILLING PEOPLE IN OUR TOWNSHIP HAVE THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE TOWNSHIP.

THEY GET CALLS ALL DAY FROM RESIDENTS UPSET ABOUT THEIR WATER CONSUMPTION, WHATEVER IT IS.

PEOPLE THINK THAT THEIR WATER BILL IS NEGOTIABLE, BUT THEIR TAXES THEY GOT TO PAY, BUT THEY NEGOTIATE THEIR WATER BILL AND OF COURSE, THEY CAN'T.

HAVING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT RADIO SURF ONE YEAR RATHER THAN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, I SUPPORT THAT.

I THINK THE SECOND THING ABOUT THIS CHART IS EAST LANSING RATES ARE 76% HIGHER THAN OURS.

WE CO-OWN THE WATER PLANT WITH THEM, CORRECT?

>> YES, AND THE WORTH WHERE OUR WASTEWATER GOES.

>> FOR THOSE TWO PLANTS, WE HAVE THE SAME COSTS?

>> YOU'RE TELLING ME WE HAVE 20 MORE LIFT STATIONS THAN THEY DO, AND THEY HAVE FEWER METERS THAN WE DO.

SOMETIMES, I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT, BUT I THINK SOME COMMUNITIES MIGHT USE THEIR WATER AND SEWER FEES AS A REVENUE SOURCE OUTSIDE OF WATER AND SEWER.

CLEARLY, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PAY FOR THE COST OF IT.

BUT USING THE SAME PLANTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, WHERE OUR RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN EAST LANSING.

THAT TO ME, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT US TRYING TO KEEP THESE RATES AS LOW AS WE CAN IN COMPARISON TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY ONE THAT USES THE SAME WATER AND SEWER THAT WE DO.

>> IN EAST LANSING THEY HAD TO RECOMBINE THEIR STORM WATER AND SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS PORTIONS OF IT.

THAT'S ONE OF THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COSTS, BUT JUST BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM'S NEWER DOESN'T MAKE US IMMUNE FROM HAVING SOME AREAS OF EXTRAORDINARY COST.

>> THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? CLERK GUTHRIE.

I TOO WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS.

I FEEL AS IF I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS TOWNSHIP SINCE 1996, AND I FEEL THAT EVERY BOARD MEETING I'VE EVER WATCHED, EVERY BUDGET DISCUSSION IS ABOUT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAVING LOWER WATER AND SEWER RATES AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A PROGRAM TO INCREASE IT.

MY HOPE IS REALLY, I GUESS, THIS REALLY ISN'T A QUESTION, MORE OF A COMMENT IS THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED TO, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO PAY WATER AND SEWER, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO LOOK AT THIS CHART, AND I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS I'VE EVER HEARD ABOUT IT SINCE I'VE BEEN AT THE TOWNSHIP HASN'T REALLY MOVED A WHOLE LOT IN COMPARISON TO HOW MANY TIMES IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH LOWER WE ARE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK I HEARD INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT SAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE COMING UP WITH A GRADUAL WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE PROGRAM.

>> ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THE BOARD ASKED US TO LOOK INTO AND WE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT FORWARD OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WAS THE IDEA OF PEGGING A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF AUTOMATIC INCREASE TO INFLATION SO THAT THERE'S AT LEAST SOME GROWTH IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE I THINK TO YOUR POINT, PART OF THE REASON WE'RE NOT REALLY CATCHING UP IS BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS INCREASING IN THEIR RATES, TOO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEEDS THAT THEY NEED TO FUND AND SO IF WE DO A 5% INCREASE THIS YEAR, YOU CAN LOOK ON THE CHART AND SEE IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE INCREASES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED THAT WE'RE AWARE OF AROUND THE REGION, WE WOULD FALL FURTHER BEHIND AT THAT POINT.

FUNCTIONALLY, THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'VE NEVER REALLY CLAWED BACK BECAUSE ANY MODEST INCREASE WE EVER HAD WAS DWARFED BY SOME OF THE LARGE INCREASES THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING.

BUT TO THE QUESTION, YES.

THE BOARD HAS ASKED US TO LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT POLICIES OF HOW WE ADDRESS THESE ON A MORE SYSTEMATIC BASIS GOING FORWARD, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

ONE IS TYING IT TO INFLATION.

THE OTHER WAS LOOKING AT, IT'S WRITTEN ON MY WHITE BOARD, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT SAYS NOW, BUT THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT POLICIES THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TO BRING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> THANK YOU. I HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS OBVIOUSLY AS WELL.

WE'RE MAKING UP FOR A HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING, AND WE'RE STARTING TO WITH THIS.

BOARDS DECADES AGO HAVE TALKED AND TALKED AROUND IT, AND IT FALLS TO US TO DO A DIFFICULT THING HERE,

[01:45:01]

WHICH IS PASSING ALONG RATE INCREASES.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING.

WE HAVE MAJOR PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON.

I'M LOOKING AT THE THE CIP FOR THE NEAR FUTURE AND, I GOT TO STRUGGLE TO PULL IT UP NOW, IN THE 2026 BUDGET, WHICH IS ALL OF US ONE YEAR FROM NOW.

WE'VE GOT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AT LEAST 6-8 MAJOR WATER PROJECTS, I DIDN'T ADD THEM UP, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE TOTALS HERE.

IT'S LOOKING IN THE BALLPARK OF 1 MILLION TO $1.5 MILLION JUST IN 2026.

WE'RE APPROACHING CRISIS LEVEL OF UNDERFUNDING HERE.

THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN THE WATER FUND BALANCE DECREASE.

WE'VE BEEN RUNNING A DEFICIT AT THE WATER FUND, AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

WE HAVE TO ACT.

I WOULD ASK, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK US TO CHANGE WHAT WAS PROPOSED, HOWEVER, I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO BRING IN AN OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY TO REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS OF OUR WATER AND SEWER RATES AND HOW WE ADDRESS THEM YEAR OVER YEAR.

I THINK HAVING SOMEONE WHO'S DONE THIS ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WOULD ALLOW US TO PLAN OUT.

THIS IS VERY HELPFUL. THE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGIONS, BUT REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, LET'S CHART OUT THE NEXT 25 YEARS OF WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING FROM WATER REPLACEMENT AND SEWER REPLACEMENT AND SET OUR RATES ACCORDINGLY.

I THINK CERTAINLY THE INFLATIONARY COMPONENT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE TIME, SIMPLY BECAUSE THINGS GET MORE EXPENSIVE AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT OUR WATER RATES HAVEN'T.

WE SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK AT THE INFLATIONARY COMPONENT IN THE VERY SHORT TERM.

I ALSO THINK THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING AND MAYBE CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AGE USAGE BY TYPE.

COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING ONLY A COUPLE HOURS A DAY, EIGHT HOURS A DAY, COMPARED TO HOMES WHICH ARE OCCUPIED ALL THE TIME, YET THEY PAY THE SAME RATES AND THEIR PIPES COST EXACTLY AS MUCH DIFFERING BY TYPE.

MAYBE WE CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY WE CHARGE COMMERCIAL METERS VERSUS RESIDENTIAL METERS, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

PERHAPS, IF WE DO GO FORWARD WITH SOME KIND OF STUDY THERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL US IF ANYONE IN THE STATE IS DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

JUST THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, THINK CREATIVELY.

IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, WELL, WE'VE GOT THE LOWEST RATES IN THE COUNTY.

BUT IS THERE A WAY WE CAN DO IT SMARTER? IS THERE A WAY WE CAN BE LEADERS ON THIS? NOT ONLY JUST BECAUSE OUR RATES ARE LOWER THAN EVERYONE ELSE IS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE MAYBE WE FIND A MAGIC BULLET. YOU NEVER KNOW.

STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO US.

OURS IS TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS HERE AND BE ANSWERABLE TO THEM AND SO WE MUST.

BUT LET'S MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO ADDRESS THE LONGER RANGING PROBLEMS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE JARRING INCREASES EVERY SO OFTEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY. POINT WHILE IT'S TAKEN, I THINK THAT THERE'S A FEW THINGS FLOATING AROUND IN MY HEAD ALREADY, SO WE'VE GOT SOME WORK OUT OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS TOPIC? MOVING ON.

ANYONE ELSE GOT OTHER ITEMS TO BRING UP? TRUSTEE WILSON. I SEE MORE STICKY NOTES.

>> YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR BUDGET, UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THERE WAS A LINE CALLED MISCELLANEOUS FOR $10,000 A YEAR.

I'D LIKE A BETTER EXPLANATION OF WHAT IS MISCELLANEOUS FOR $10,000.

I DIDN'T SEE THAT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET.

THAT WAS A CONCERN.

[01:50:03]

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE $100,000 THAT IS THE SET ASIDE IN PARKS AND RACK TO DO A STUDY.

GO AHEAD, DANTE, IF YOU WANT TO.

>> YEAH, THAT $10,000 IN MISCELLANEOUS IS FOR THE EDC IS, I THINK, PARTIALLY FOR REIMBURSE IT FOR BOND ISSUANCE COSTS AT BURCHAM HILLS.

THAT'S WHAT THAT $10,000 LINE ITEM IS.

>> WOULD WE BE MORE SPECIFIC THAN IN THE LINE ITEM?

>> I CAN ADJUST IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS LISTED LAST YEAR, SO I GOT TO CONTINUE TO FORWARD FROM THE WAY IT WAS LISTED PREVIOUSLY.

>> I GOT YOU.

>> I CAN CHANGE THE DISRUPTION.

>> I JUST THINK IT'S TOO VAGUE.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS.

>> NO. ACTUALLY, IT'S FUNNY WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER AND SHORKEY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO AND THEN UPCOMING YEAR IS, KIND OF CLARIFY AND CONSOLIDATE SOME OF OUR LINE ITEMS BECAUSE IN SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SAY THE SAME THING.

CHIEF BILL AND I RAN INTO THIS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT THE TEASERS, ACTUALLY.

I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS IN GENERAL IN OUR BUDGET. THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

>> GREAT. I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN TERMS OF LIQUOR LICENSE COSTS, CEMETERY RELATED FEES THAT SEEMS TO GO OFF $100 A YEAR EVERY YEAR.

THE RENTAL FEE, INSPECTION, AND SO ON.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA IN MISSED APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS A FACTOR AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE.

>> IT'S DRIVING US CRAZY RIGHT NOW.

>> I'M SURE IT IS BECAUSE YES, I OBSERVE THAT.

I WANTED TO KNOW, AND I DO LIKE THE PARKING TICKET FINES.

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CHIEF BILL, YOU CAME UP WITH THAT, CORRECT?

>> DID WE NOT HAVE FINES FOR PARKING?

>> NEVER HAVE.

>> YES, MA'AM. THOSE WERE A LONG TIME COMING.

WE BOUGHT ABOUT 40,000 COPIES OF PARKING TICKETS BACK IN THE 1900S THAT ARE STILL IN USE TODAY.

THEY LOOK TERRIBLE.

WE HAVE TO CROSS OUT THE FINES, AND HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROPER SCHEDULE, SO THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

>> THEY'RE ALL REASONABLE THINGS.

DON'T PARK NEXT TO FIRE HYDRANT, THAT KIND OF THING. I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT.

UNDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT A STUDY MIGHT COST $100,000.

THAT SEEMED EXCESSIVE TO ME.

JUST TO STUDY CRICKET.

>> IS THAT IT?

>> IT IS CRICKET. YEAH.

>> YEAH, IT'S CRICKET. WHAT DID I SAY?

>> JUST A STUDY.

>> SORRY. THE STUDY FOR CRICKET.

>> GOOD EVENING, COURTNEY PARKS AND RACK DIRECTOR.

IT WOULD NOT BE A STUDY.

IT'S AN ASSESSMENT OF A FEASIBILITY.

WE HAVE BOTH THE PARK, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE CRICKET COMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU KNOW MR. WILSON.

OUR PARK COMMISSION HAS TASKED US WITH FINDING A PERMANENT SPACE FOR THE CRICKET FIELD.

AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH OUR CRICKET COMMUNITY AND SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT IT TAKES, IT'S AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE FIELD.

THINK ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SOCCER OR FOOTBALL FIELD.

TO DO THAT, WE WOULD PLAN TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING COMPANY, IDENTIFY SOME SITES THAT COULD POSSIBLY ACCOMMODATE THAT SIZE AND THEN DO AN ENGINEERING STUDY TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN FEASIBLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER, NOT JUST THE FIELD ITSELF, BUT ALSO PARKING AMENITIES.

THIS IS A FAMILY STYLE SPORT SO IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE QUITE A BIT OF THINKING ON PICNICKING AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NEED IN AN AREA THAT'S NOT EXISTING FULL PARK AREA.

STUDY IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WORD FOR IT, BUT MORE OF AN ASSESSMENT OF FEASIBILITY. THAT HELP?

>> YEAH, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE COST OF WHAT WE SPENT TO DO ALL THE WORK ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

I THINK WE WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 70,000, AND THAT WAS VERY EXTENSIVE WORK SO I WAS THINKING THAT 100,000 SEEMED A LITTLE HIGH.

MAYBE THAT COULD BE REVISED AND HAVE A LITTLE SAVINGS ON THAT.

YEAH YOU MIND YOU UP HERE.

COULD WE TALK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO AT MARSHALL PARK BECAUSE WE JUST SPENT A $150,000 THERE? I'M GOING TO WRITE THIS DOWN A MOMENT.

>> YEAH, SURE.

>> TRUSTEE WILSON DID WELL.

SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON CAN CONFIRM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK A GOOD COST TO BEGIN A ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT?

[01:55:02]

>> YOU WANT TO GET IT ALL DONE AT 2025 SO THAT YOU'RE SHOVEL READY.

>> THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.

>> I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE IN UP TO, BUT I THINK THERE PROBABLY SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE THAT WE CAN RECOVER.

A PORTION OF THAT 100,000.

I JUST THINK YOU CAN DO IT. I CARE LESS.

>> I THINK MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IS CERTAINLY THE BOARD HAS FINAL AND THE PARKS COMMISSION AND HAVE FINAL SAY ON THE CONTRACT.

I THINK KNOWING THIS, I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO LET'S GO OUT TO RFP AND SEE WHAT OUR NUMBERS COME BACK AT KNOWING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT LEVEL.

THAT WAY, BOTH PARKS AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD CAN REVIEW IT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION PROBABLY JOINTLY ABOUT WHAT THEIR LEVEL LOOKS LIKE OF COMMITMENT TO THIS NEXT YEAR.

IF WE JUST LEAVE IT 100,000 NOW THAT WAY, IT'S THERE, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT KNOWING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AT BOTH BOARDS, IT WON'T BE SPENT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT PLACE.

>> THANK YOU, MANAGER SMITH.

SECOND QUESTION. NEXT IDEAS FOR MARSHALL PARK.

MARSHALL PARK WAS ORIGINALLY ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OUR CIP FOR 2026. WE PUSHED IT UP.

AT THAT TIME, WE HAD ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER AMENITIES THERE.

IN THE PRIOR TO THE STRUCTURE BEING CONSTRUCTED, WE DID A COMMUNITY SURVEY OF FOLKS WITHIN A GENERAL AREA.

OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM DID THAT FOR US, AND WITH THAT, WE HAD ABOUT 50 RESPONDENTS AND OF THOSE RESPONDENTS, WE ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THAT PARK.

LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER AMENITIES, IT WAS PRETTY HIGH CONSENSUS WAS NATIVE PLANNING HELP REDUCE WITH THE WATER THAT SITS IN THAT AREA.

BOTH THOSE ARE COINCIDE.

ADDITIONAL WALKING PATHS.

LOT OF PEOPLE USE IT FOR WALKING.

THEN ALSO ADDITIONAL PICNIC AREAS AND SHADE AREAS AS A RESULT OF THE PLAY STRUCTURE.

PEOPLE LOVE IT. BUT WHENEVER I GO OUT THERE, IT IS REALLY HOT IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL PICNIC AND SHADE, BUT ALSO THE PARKING LOT WE'RE GOING TO RESURFACE.

THE BASKETBALL COURT IS WELL USED, AND YET IS IN REALLY POOR CONDITION SO WE'LL LOOK AT DOING THAT AS WELL.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AT TOWNER PARK AT $300,000? THAT TO ME IS MORE OF A WANT THAN A NEED.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED AT ITS PLACEMENT WAY OUT AT THE EDGE OF THE TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE TO DRIVE THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, OTHER THAN THE NEW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, THE NEW APARTMENT AREA IS REALLY THE ONLY WALKABLE IN THOSE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES UP THERE. OFFICER SAGINAW.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THE TOWNER ROAD INCLUSIVE PLAY WAS INCLUDED IN THE CIP.

I TOOK THAT 300,000 THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CIP, AND JUST THAT'S WHAT WE PUT IN FOR THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

I CAN TALK TO THE INCLUSIVE PLAY AT MARSHALL PARK.

IT WAS APPROPRIATED 150,000 BY THE BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BUT IT ENDED UP COSTING US ABOUT 165,000.

THAT SIZE OF A PLAYGROUND, JUST HAVE THAT IN MIND.

PRETTY LARGE, PRETTY INCLUSIVE.

AT TOWNER ROAD, NOT A LOT OF WALKING TRAFFIC, BUT TOWNER ROAD PARK IS HIGHLY USED.

THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH PARKING.

WE'VE GOT PICKLEBALL, YOU'VE GOT BASKETBALL.

YOU'VE GOT ALL SPORTS HAPPENING THERE.

THAT'S THE INTENT OF THAT PARTICULAR PARK.

THE NEED IS FOR THOSE LITTLE SIBS.

SOMETHING FOR THOSE LITTLE SIBS TO DO WHILE THE OTHERS ARE PLAYING OR WHILE PEOPLE ARE PLAYING PICKLE BALL.

THE INCLUSIVE TYPE OF PLAYGROUNDS ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

DO WE HAVE TO SPEND UP TO 300,000? I'LL TAKE THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD FOR SURE.

WE COULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WHERE WE PUT IT OUT TO BID, DECIDE WHAT WE WANT, AND THEN SEE WHAT THOSE PRICES MIGHT COME IN AND COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THAT.

>> AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET, AND I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD EVALUATE WHAT REALLY WANTS TO BE THERE,

[02:00:04]

WHAT YOU WANT TO BE THERE.

>> SORRY. BEFORE WE JUMP ON, WE HAVE BEEN LETTING OTHERS WEIGH IN ON DIFFERENT AREAS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISH TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE PARKS ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED THUS FAR? I DON'T SEE ANY RAISING HANDS.

MY ONLY QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THEM WAS THE CRICKET STUDY.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO PUT THIS SOMEWHERE WHERE NOTHING EXISTS CURRENTLY? ARE YOU LOOKING TO USE EXISTING PARK FACILITIES AND TRANSFORM? WHAT'S THE HOPE?

>> IT'S TRICKY, SUPERVISOR.

IT WOULD BE IDEAL IF WE COULD USE AN EXISTING PARK.

IT'S ALREADY THERE. IT'S ALREADY FLAT.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT AMENITIES.

BUT OUR PARKS, OUR FIELDS ARE WELL OVER USED.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THEIR CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE HAVING TO MANIPULATE SOME PARKS, TOO.

WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU OVERUSE A PARK, AND THEN YOUR TURF DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO REST.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT BOTH, WHETHER IT BE AN EXISTING FIELD OR IF IT BE A NEW FACILITY IN TALKS WITH THE PARK COMMISSION, WILL LIKELY CHOOSE AN EXISTING FIELD TO PUT IN A TEMPORARY PITCH WHILE WE WORK ON THIS LONGER TERM PLAN.

WE'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SPACE THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE CRICKET THAT STARTS IN APRIL, DOESN'T GET DONE UNTIL LATE OCTOBER, EVERY DAY, AND EVERY WEEKEND WITH OUR EXISTING FACILITY.

I DO BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE TO END UP WITH A LONG TERM NEW FACILITY IN AN EXISTING PARK.

>> THAT'S TERRIFIC. THERE'S SO MUCH INTEREST IN EVERY DAY FOR SIX MONTHS.

THAT'S A LOT. IT'S GOOD THAT THERE'S THAT MUCH EXCITEMENT.

>> IT IS. TRUSTEE WILSON AND I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND A MEETING.

CRICKET IS MEN'S LEAGUES, WOMEN'S LEAGUES, KIDS LEAGUES, INTRAMURAL LEAGUES.

IT WAS AN ENTIRE DAY OF CELEBRATING CRICKET AMONGST JUST IN MICHIGAN.

IT'S A VERY LARGE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE REALLY MISSING THAT COMPONENT HERE IN MID MICHIGAN.

>> TRUSTEE MCKESSON AND TREASURY DAN.

>> TWO QUESTIONS.

IN TERMS OF CRICKET, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF POPULARITY, ARE WE TALKING OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP OR MID MICHIGAN? THE SECOND QUESTION IS, THIS PLACE HAPPENS AND IT COMES TO FRUITION AND IT'S A PERMANENT SPOT.

ARE WE LOOKING AT LEAGUES, WHERE WE OFFER IT JUST LIKE WE DO FLAG FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL AND THAT THING, TOO, OR IS IT JUST FOR LACHER OR BOTH?

>> GOOD QUESTIONS. FIRST QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO RESIDENTS.

IT WOULD MOSTLY BE MERIDIAN RESIDENTS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR AN AREA TO PLAY MOSTLY TO PRACTICE FOR LEAGUES.

THERE'S ALREADY LEAGUES ACROSS MICHIGAN, AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS, THIS IS BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD AND TALKED WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT.

BUT THERE'S LEAGUES ACROSS MICHIGAN.

MERIDIAN OR CENTRAL MICHIGAN HAS SEVERAL LEAGUES.

MANY OF THEM LIVE IN MERIDIAN.

CLOSEST CRICKET FIELD WE HAVE IS DELTA TOWNSHIP.

THE OTHER CRICKET FIELDS ARE EITHER IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN OR ON THE WEST SIDE IN THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA.

THERE'S NOTHING IN BETWEEN.

THEY'RE TRAVELING EVERY WEEKEND BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE STATE IN NOWHERE TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OLD BASEBALL FIELDS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT NOTHING FORMAL OUTSIDE OF DELTA.

WHEN TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, EVEN DELTA, WHICH IS MUCH CLOSER THAN GRAND RAPIDS, OR, LET'S SAY, BIRMINGHAM, IT'S STILL IF YOU'RE PRACTICING EVERY DAY AND YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND YOU'RE WORKING, IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE THAT TREK BACK AND FORTH EVERY DAY.

IT'S A COMMITTED COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO CRICKET COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS YOUR FIRST QUESTION.

SECOND QUESTION ABOUT LEAGUES.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING PARKS AND RECS AS A DEPARTMENT WOULD WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S VARIABLE DEPENDING ON THE SPORT ON WHO RUNS THOSE LEAGUES.

FOR EXAMPLE, PICKLEBALL, WE DON'T RUN LEAGUES, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT MANAGE THOSE COURTS THAT HELP RUN LEAGUES WITHIN THERE.

WE WORK TOGETHER, BUT IT DOESN'T DIRECTLY COME OUT OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING OF A HYBRID BE SIMILAR WITH CRICKET, WHERE THESE LEAGUES ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

WE JUST WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE ON HOW DO WE GET YOU THE AMENITIES YOU NEED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

THERE WAS A THIRD QUESTION.

>> NO, THAT WAS IT.

>> THAT WAS IT.

>> I REALLY SUPPORT EXPLORING THIS CRICKET OPPORTUNITY.

>> TREASURY THE SAME.

[02:05:02]

I THINK CRICKETS WHERE SOCCER WAS 50 YEARS AGO.

IT'S TAKEN THIS DIRECTION, I THINK IS REALLY A GOOD MOVE TOWARDS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BECAUSE IT'S NOT A NATIVE SPORT TO UNITED STATES, BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT INDIAN POPULATION HERE AND PROVIDING A SPORT THAT THEY ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND PRACTICE AND WANT TO PLAY HERE.

IT IS GREAT. SEEMS TO ME THAT NANCY MOORE PARK WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION.

I'VE BEEN BY THERE JOGGING THROUGH THERE ON A SUNDAY MORNING AND THERE WAS A CRICKET MATCH GOING ON.

ARE THEY USING THAT AS A TEMPORARY PITCH SOMETIMES?

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY TEMPORARY PITCH.

A TEMPORARY PITCH IS AN ACTUAL STRUCTURE AND CAN BE REMOVED AND MOVED BACK.

THEY'RE LIKELY USING THOSE FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY USE AS MANY AS THEY CAN AROUND.

LOOKING AT PLANNING FOR 2025, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THESE FIELDS A LOT CLOSER, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR COORDINATION WITH OAKMO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOW WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WHILE WE GET NEW FACILITIES THERE BECAUSE WE DO SHARE ALL OF OUR FACILITIES.

IN SPEAKING WITH MY REC SPECIALIST, NANCY MOORE, IT ALSO HOUSES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SPORTS.

AGAIN, LETTING THE FIELDS REST.

TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S CONSISTENT, WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE THAT ISN'T BEING PLAYED BY FOOTBALL, BY SOCCER, BY BASEBALL, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I COULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE FURTHER.

>> IT SEEMS THAT AREA NORTH IS A LOOP THERE BEFORE THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

IT'S A BIG OPEN FIELD RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE PLAYING.

>> THAT'S OUR FOOTBALL AND OUR SOCCER FIELDS.

BUT I WILL LOOK INTO THE SCHEDULING COMPONENT OF THAT, FOR SURE.

SOMETHING TEMPORARY OR THINKING LONG TERM.

>> A LONG TERM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER DISCUSSION POINTS. I'VE GOT A FEW.

YOU'RE ORGANIZED BY HAGE.

THAT'S OKAY. THE MOTOR POOL.

I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE MAKING SOME CHANGES TO HOW THAT'S FUNDED SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THE ONGOING SOLVENCY OF THAT FUND.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT I'VE MADE A SIMILAR COMMENT AT SEVERAL BUDGETS NOW.

I WOULD LIKE US TO BEGIN TO EXPLORE THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES THROUGHOUT OUR FLEET.

I UNDERSTAND THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS COME A LONG WAY, AND SPECIFICALLY THAT THOSE VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE IN EV ARE NOW BECOMING AVAILABLE, SPECIFICALLY POLICE CRUISERS.

OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO POKE AT THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT THIS IS, I THINK, A LONG TERM GOAL THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE AND HOPEFULLY GET FURTHER STUDY ON THE BOOKS AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR 2026 BUDGET AND LOOK AT WHETHER WE CAN BEGIN THAT TRANSITION.

PAGE 40 IN OUR BUDGET IS RELATING TO ASSESSING, I BELIEVE.

YES. IN 2023, WE PAID $860 IN OUTSIDE SERVICES.

IN 2024, WE BUDGETED AND PAID 28,500, AND IN 2025, WE'RE LOOKING TO SPEND 40,000.

THE ONLY EXPLANATION IT SAYS IS FOR OUTSIDE APPRAISALS AND EXPERT WITNESSES.

ARE WE GOING TO COURT THAT MUCH MORE?

>> WE HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL APPEALS THAT HAVE SLOWLY TRICKLED IN THIS YEAR.

NOTHING THAT WE'RE TOO WORRIED ABOUT, BUT TO ASSESSOR WIN SETS CREDIT, THEY'RE NOT EASY ONES AS A GENERAL RULE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF NEEDING AN APPRAISAL AND NEEDING AN EXPERT WITNESS.

IF WE NEEDED IT, THIS IS WHERE WE GO.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE BASED ON MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS YEAR WE'LL REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY NEXT YEAR, ASSUMING THAT WE END UP WITH ONE MORE APPEAL THAN WE HAD THIS YEAR THAT GOES THAT FAR.

WE ALWAYS ASSUME ONE OR TWO ARE GOING TO REALLY PUSH FOR A WHILE.

[02:10:04]

THIS IS ASSUMING THREE, BECAUSE WE GOT A COUPLE EXTRA APPEALS LATE IN THE YEAR.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE SAFE HERE.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE WE'LL SPEND IT, BUT THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THAT LINE ITEM.

>> THANK YOU. ON PAGE 42, CLERK, ELECTIONS, AN AREA OF INTEREST FOR ME.

WE HAVE BUDGETED ZERO IN 2025.

I HAVE FOUND IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THERE IS ALMOST NEVER A YEAR WHEN WE HAVE ZERO ELECTIONS.

THE COUNTY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TRY TO PUT SOMETHING ON OR IF THEY DON'T, A SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TRY TO PUT SOMETHING ON.

DO WE BELIEVE IT'S WISE TO BUDGET ZERO.

>> I CERTAINLY CAN INCREASE.

WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY AND FIND A YEAR OF COMPARISON THAT WOULD GIVE US A NUMBER TO INCLUDE FOR PERSONNEL COSTS THERE.

>> I WOULD URGE US TO CONSIDER THAT, CLARK CUTTER YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE TO WEIGH IN ON IN THIS REGARD SINCE.

THIS IS INDEED YOUR DAY JOB.

BUT IT JUMPED OUT AT ME GIVEN THAT 2023 WAS ALSO NOT AN EVEN YEAR ELECTION YEAR, AND YET WE HAD $82,000 IN EXPENSES THEN AS WELL.

TO REDUCE IT DOWN MAKES ME WORRIED THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE WILL FIND OURSELVES WITH A LOT OF CHAGRIN IF WE PASS THIS WITH ZERO.

BUT CLARK CUTTER PERHAPS YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THAT.

>> I AGREE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.

I WAS ON MY LIST, AND I'VE CROSSED IT OFF MY LIST OF THE QUESTIONS.

I THINK MAYBE 2023 PERSONNEL COSTS IS A GOOD MEASURE, AND I WOULD KEEP THAT 5,000, BUT I THINK THE OPERATING COSTS AND PERSONNEL COSTS FROM 2023 IN AN ODD YEAR WHERE I DID SPEAK TO THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY DID STATE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOMETHING FOR NEXT YEAR.

I DID ASK PRIOR TO MEETING WITH DIRECTOR HONEY ABOUT THIS.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THE COUNTY COULD HAVE SOMETHING COME UP, THE TOWNSHIP COULD HAVE SOMETHING COME UP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO ADD SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS BACK, AND IN 2023, THOSE TWO PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COSTS ARE PROBABLY A GOOD GAUGE.

>> IF WE CAN DO THAT, IF YOU PLEASE?

>> I THINK I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> ON PAGE 73 AND 74 OF THE BUDGET.

SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS IN THE PACKET, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE PATHWAY AND MILLAGE FUND.

IT WAS STATED EARLIER IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE HAD PHASE 3 OF THE MSU TO LAKE LANSING PATHWAY FUNDED FULLY THROUGH GRANT FUNDING.

MAYBE THIS IS JUST ME NOT READING THIS CORRECTLY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOWS AN INCOMING OF TWO MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENTS OTHER, AND AN OUTGOING OF $2.7 MILLION IN CAPITAL, WHICH I THINK, IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, IS INDEED THE PHASE 3 OF LAKE LANSING.

IS THAT ACCURATE OR AM I READING THAT WRONG?

>> ACCURATE TO A POINT.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, AND TECHNICALLY, IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT, SO WE DON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS IN HAND.

WE WILL GET THEM AS SOON AS WE ARE CONSTRUCTING IT.

WE DO HAVE OUR INITIAL DEPOSIT.

I THINK IT'S 33% IS WHAT THEY GIVE US INITIALLY.

BUT OUR GRANT FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY TRAILS AND PARKS MILLAGE WAS 2.025 MILLION.

OUR MATCH WAS 10% ON THAT TOTAL.

THEN WE ALSO TYPICALLY DO ABOUT 400,000 IN SMALL GAP PROJECTS AND JUST PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, GETTING RID OF TRIP HAZARDS AND OTHER THINGS.

THAT GAP THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS APPROXIMATELY 400,000, AND THAT WOULD JUST BE OUR NORMAL MAINTENANCE ON THE SYSTEM THAT YEAR.

>> THE MSC TO LAKE LANSING PATHWAY IS NOT ACTUALLY 100% GRANT-FUNDED.

>> NO.

>> IT'S 70% GRANT-FUNDED OR THEREABOUTS.

>> NINETY-10.

>> THE TOWNSHIP PUT UP 10% FROM THE PATHWAY MILLAGE.

WE GET POINT SCORING FOR JUST ACHIEVING A 10% MATCH ON THE COUNTY TRAILS AND PARKS MILLAGE SCORING CRITERIA.

>> ON PAGE 79, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE RESTRICTED DESIGNATED FUND.

[02:15:09]

CAPITAL ITEMS SHOW IPAD FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL OFFICER FOR USE IN THE FIELD, BUT BUDGETED AMOUNT SHOWS ZERO.

>> THAT WAS DRUG FORFEITURE FUNDS, CORRECT? THAT WAS DRUG FORFEITURE FUNDS, AND SO THAT WAS A ONE-TIME EXPENSE THAT WE HAD DRUG FORFEITURE FUNDS COME IN AND WE SPENT THEM ON IPADS.

>> HAD PREVIOUS?

>> THEN PERHAPS WE JUST HAVE AN ANTIQUATED DESCRIPTION IN THE CAPITAL ITEMS BECAUSE THAT'S LISTED SPECIFICALLY IN THE CAPITAL ITEMS.

>> YOU CAUGHT A CARRYOVER TYPO FROM LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS A '24 EXPENDITURE, WAS THE IPADS.

THAT SHOULD BE STRUCK FROM THE '25 BUDGET.

>> FABULOUS. PAGE 81, COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND.

I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE RATE AT WHICH THEY ARE OPERATING AT A DEFICIT.

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THEY WERE OPERATING AT A $30,000 FUND BALANCE DEFICIT IN 2024, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED TO ALMOST $35,000 DEFICIT IN 2025.

MY CONCERN WOULD BE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND.

CAN YOU TALK TO THAT AT ALL?

>> NO, I AGREE. I BELIEVE IT ALSO GOES BACK TO '23, AND SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN '22.

THERE ARE MORE NEEDS OUT THERE THAN FUNDS COMING IN, AND SO AT SOME POINT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS GOING FORWARD AS WE ARE ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE PATH.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MAKING MAJOR CUTS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE OF ANY BENEFIT.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS START SEARCHING OUT ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING ON A GO FORWARD BASIS.

>> AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET TO WORK ON THAT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE THROUGH 2026 IF THEY DON'T HAVE A [OVERLAPPING]

>> THEN I'VE ONLY GOT TWO MORE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

PAGE 89, THIS IS JUST THE CAPITAL. SORRY.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THOSE, COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND WHILE YOU'RE ON THAT TOPIC? WHAT IS SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND? IS THAT FUND RAISING? I DON'T SEE FUNDRAISING.

WE USED TO DO FUND RAISING. I'M THINKING.

>> I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A NOTE ON THAT INTERESTINGLY.

UNLESS MY FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS THAT ANSWER, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

THEY GOT ME. [LAUGHTER].

>> OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THINGS LIKE SPECIAL FUND RAISERS.

I THINK IN 2023, LET ME SEE, THEY HAD A SPECIAL GRANT.

I KNOW THEY GOT ONE YEAR.

THIS COULD BE SPECIAL GRANT FUNDING, BUT I HAVE TO LOOK BACK IN MY NOTES FOR ADDITIONAL DETAIL OR ANYTHING THAT WENT INTO THAT.

USUALLY, I TRY TO GIVE SOME DETAIL IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THAT BUDGET CLASSIFICATION, BUT IF I HAVEN'T, I CAN ADD THAT IN.

>> THANK YOU. IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING UNDERNEATH EXPLAINING WHAT THE SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENDITURE WAS, AND I CAN'T TELL FROM THIS IF IT'S FUND RAISING EVENT OR IF IT'S BACKPACKING EVENT OR WHAT?

>> ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION ARE BELOW THE NOTES.

>> TRUSTEE WILSON. WE GOT A $15,000 GRANT FOR HOLIDAY BASKETS.

IT COULD BE THAT.

>> THIS IS IN THE EXPENDITURES AREA, THOUGH.

>> THIS IS AN EXPENDITURE.

>> WE'LL FOLLOW IT.

>> I THINK IT'S OFFSET, THE $15,000 GRANT THAT THEY GOT.

>> PAGE 89, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING.

>> OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE SPEND THE MONEY ON.

MY QUESTION IS, HAVE WE GIVEN A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHT TO HOW WE REPLENISH THIS FUND OVER TIME? OBVIOUSLY, WE PUT A TRANCHE OF FUNDING IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

[02:20:07]

EVENTUALLY, IF WE CONTINUE ON THE WAY WE'RE GOING, IT WILL SIMPLY GO AWAY OVER TIME AS WE COME UP WITH MORE PROJECTS AND FUND THEM THROUGH THIS FUND.

WE'RE MAKING A MODEST AMOUNT OF INTEREST EACH YEAR, BUT WHAT IS THE TYPICAL FUNDING MECHANISM TO REPLENISH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> WELL, I WOULD ARGUE NOT MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY FUND THEIR CAPITAL GENERALLY OUT OF THEIR GENERAL FUND.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE DID SET ASIDE FUNDING TO SPECIFICALLY GO TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FUND THIS IS THROUGH GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION, BY AND LARGE.

CERTAINLY, I THINK THE SUSTAINABLE WAY TO FUND IT IS TO FIND A LEVEL OF GROWTH THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IN THE GENERAL FUND AND SIPHON OFF A PERCENTAGE OF THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY TAKES AWAY FROM OTHER PRIORITIES POTENTIALLY.

IT'S REALLY A WEIGHING OF PRIORITIES.

IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE, AND DON'T OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR, IF THE BOARD WOULD PREFER NOT TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A TAX MECHANISM OR SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO DIRECTLY REPLENISH THIS.

IT'S A GENERAL FUND FUNCTION.

>> GOT IT. WELL, THAT DOES ANSWER THE QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE THAT AS WE CONSIDER WHAT TO DO IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A LOOSER BUDGET MOVING SOME OVER INTO THIS AREA, I SUPPOSE, WOULD BE A FINE WAY TO DO THAT.

I DID NOTICE VERY EARLY ON THAT THERE WAS A $1.3 MILLION TRANSFER TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE IN 2023, BUT WAS NOT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> IT WAS 2024, AND WE'RE SHOWING NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS BUDGETED FOR.

IT WAS IN THE BUDGET MESSAGE, BUT NOT ACTUALLY IN THE LINE ITEM IN OUR REVIEW.

>> REALLY?

>> THE MANAGERIAL BUDGET MESSAGE FOR THE 2024 BUDGET MESSAGE SAID WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFER 1.3 MILLION AND WASN'T ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

>> I CAN GO BACK AND TRIPLE CHECK THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS WHERE WE LANDED WHEN WE ANALYZED THAT.

>> CAN WE FOLLOW UP ON THAT, PLEASE?

>> WE CAN.

>> THEN I THINK THE LAST THING MAY HAVE BEEN AT LEAST PARTIALLY COVERED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, AND IT'S REGARDING THE EDC.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 10,000 MISCELLANEOUS IN REVENUE? CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE 25,000 IN COMMUNITY PROMOTION AND WHY THAT IS WHERE IT IS? ONE HUNDRED AND TEN.

>> ONE HUNDRED AND TEN. IN 2023, THE ACTUAL WAS 11,804.

WE MORE THAN DOUBLED THAT IN 2024 TO ALMOST 25,000, AND WE'RE RETAINING THAT LEVEL DESPITE OPERATING AT A DEFICIT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SEEMS TO ME YOU REDUCED THAT DOWN TO $10,000 OR ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE IN 2023, AND WE DON'T RUN A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

>> UNDERSTOOD. I'M GOING TO NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY NOTES ON THAT ONE EITHER.

>> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THAT IS FOLLOWED BY NOTES.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> YES. I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 129 OF THE BUDGET.

IT'S 163 ON THE PACKET, THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM FOR 2024.

WE BUDGETED $30,000 FOR THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY.

IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $30,000, BUT HAVING BEEN ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSE TO THAT IN 2024.

BUT IT DOESN'T INDICATE ANYTHING FOR 2025.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT PUTTING MORE INTO THAT, BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT THE CARRY OVER WOULD BE FOR 2025.

[02:25:09]

>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NOTHING FUNDED FOR THE 2025 BUDGET.

WE DO HAVE PLANS THIS YEAR.

WE'VE MADE SOME PURCHASES TO HELP THE GLEANING TEAM AT THE MARKETPLACE, POP UP TENT, TABLE THROW COVER, SOME VARIOUS OFFICE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEEDED.

WE ARE PLANNING TO DO AN RFP TO DO SOME TREE PLANTING ALONG CARLTON AND HICKORY ISLAND WHERE WE HAD TO REMOVE SOME TREES FOR A LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM PROJECT IN ORDER TO GET THE EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT BECAUSE OF HOW NARROW THE ROADS ARE.

SO WE HAVE A DRAFT RFP THAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THAT.

THEN EMMA AND LEROY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR AND MAN PRESERVATION STEWARD COORDINATOR, ALSO HAD A ROUGH OUTLINE OF A PLAN, BUT CORRECT, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE SPENDING THE WHOLE 30,000 THIS YEAR.

WE COULD LOOK AT ROLLING FORWARD WHAT WE LAPSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

I THINK WE JUST NEED MORE TIME AT THIS POINT.

>> I THOUGHT THOSE WERE GOING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WHATEVER THE EXPENDITURES WERE, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN SOME OF THEM WHILE SITTING ON THE COMMISSION.

THE TREE PLANTING, I DON'T BELIEVE CAME THROUGH THERE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT OR SUSTAINABILITY GRANT.

YOU MAY WANT TO BRING THAT INFORMATION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'VE GOT LEFT IN THEIR BUDGET.

THEY'RE MEETING TOMORROW, [LAUGHTER] SO AT LEAST LET LEROY KNOW WHAT OTHER EXPENDITURES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE CHARGED FROM THAT FUND SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING FORWARD.

>> CERTAINLY.

>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. CLERK GUTHRIE.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR [INAUDIBLE] SORRY. IF YOU COULD GO BACK UP.

[LAUGHTER] THE CEMETERY RATES IN THE CEMETERY.

ON PAGE 82 OF THE PACKET, IT HAS THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE CEMETERY, AND THEN ON PAGE 51, IT HAS THE CEMETERY RATES WITH THE RATE INCREASES.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE EXPENDITURES OF THE CEMETERY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT IS AN AREA WHERE WE'RE NOT COVERING OUR COSTS.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY PUBLIC CEMETERY IN THE STATE THAT'S ACTUALLY COVERING AND RECOUPING THEIR COSTS.

BUT OUR COSTS THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 37,000 ANNUALLY JUST TO MOW AND REWET THE CEMETERY.

THAT'S 26 MOWS PER CALENDAR YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 1,400 PER MOW ON OUR CONTRACT.

THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO ALL SEVEN MAJOR FACILITIES THAT ARE NON-PARK FACILITIES, THE BUILDINGS, THE GROUNDS, AND THEN ALSO THE CEMETERIES.

PART OF THOSE TWO EMPLOYEE SALARIES COMES OUT OF THE CEMETERY.

THEN, PREDOMINANTLY ASIDE FROM THAT, IT'S PAYING THE NATURAL GAS BILL AND OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BASIC OPERATING SUPPLIES FOR THE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES.

>> MAINTENANCING THE BACKHOE THAT WE HAVE DEVOTED TO THE CEMETERY WHEN NECESSARY.

BUT I FORGET OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, ALL THE NUMBERS THAT YOU AND I DISCUSSED EARLIER, CLERK GUTHRIE, BUT IT DOES OPERATE AT A LOSS, AND THERE'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BE A SCENARIO IN WHICH IT DOESN'T OPERATE AT A LOSS.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO CEMETERIES, ONE OF WHICH IS FULL, THE RIVERSIDE CEMETERY NEAR SMALL ACRES LANE AND GRAND RIVER AVENUE.

THEN WE WILL INHERIT A THIRD CEMETERY ON BENNETT ROAD.

BECAUSE UNDER STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO ASSUME ALL PRIVATE CEMETERIES, WE ASSUME CONTROL OF THEM ONCE THEY HAVE FILLED UP, AND THE PROPRIETOR CAN NO LONGER PROFIT OFF THE LAND SO WE WILL BE INCURRING A THIRD CEMETERY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THIS IS LAST YEAR, WE TOOK A BREAK ON INCREASES TO THE CEMETERY RATES, AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE PROPOSED SOME MEANINGFUL INCREASES AS WE DID IN THE 2023 BUDGET AS WELL.

>. IN LOOKING AT THESE RATES AND IN KNOWING THAT STATEMENT THAT WE'LL NEVER RECOUP OUR COSTS, I JUST FOUND SOME OF THESE RATES ODD.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY WERE COME UP WITH,

[02:30:02]

BUT $1,430 FOR A NON-RESIDENT FOR AN ADULT BURIAL SPACE SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE ROUNDED UP TO 1,500.

INSTEAD OF 1,430, YOU ROUNDED DOWN TO 1,400, SO YOU STILL MAINTAIN THAT $300 DIFFERENCE.

I JUST FOUND, OH MY GOSH, I HAVE A POP UP, JUST A SECOND.

I JUST FOUND IN THESE RATES HERE THAT SOME OF THEM COULD INCREASE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT'S ON THERE TO MAYBE SOME EVEN NUMBERS AND LIKE I SAID, I PARTICULARLY FOUND THAT BURIAL SPACE FOR AN ADULT VERY ODD.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A CEMETERY ORDINANCE, AND THAT WILL BE COMING TO THE BOARD.

ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THAT IS, I'M TRYING TO FIND IT IN HERE, IS THE CEMETERY D BUYBACK AND IN OUR BUDGET, IT SAYS, PRICE OF PURCHASE.

I'M PRETTY SURE IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY THAT THE ATTORNEYS WROTE 65% BUYBACK, WHICH IS WEIRD.

YOU CAN CHANGE IT IN THE ORDINANCE, THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU BOUGHT IT FOR $1 IN 1,900, THAT WE WOULD BUY IT FOR 5% BACK OF THAT DOLLAR.

I JUST WANT TO RAISE THAT THAT IT'S IN THERE.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD.

IT NEEDS TO MATCH WHAT'S IN HERE IN THIS BUDGET.

>> GOING IN ORDER. TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, CLERK GUTHRIE, THE RATES DO COME OUT TO WHAT SOME COULD ARGUE ARE STRANGE NUMBERS, BUT IT WAS JUST 10% ACROSS THE BOARD SO 1,000 PER RESIDENT FOR A TOWNSHIP RESIDENT WAS INCREASED TO 1,100, 1,300 FOR A NON-RESIDENT FOR ONE ADULT SPACE WAS INCREASED TO 1,430, SO JUST A 10%, AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL THE RATES.

THEY ALL INCREASED 10% WITH MAYBE LIKE ONE EXCEPTION WHERE IT WAS GOING TO BE A VERY STRANGE NUMBER AND I WENT WITH SOME KIND OF ROUNDING OFF, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH 10% ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> YOU'RE SATISFIED WITH THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE?

>> THAT'S SIGNIFICANT. WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE A YEAR OFF AGAIN AND THEN COME BACK AND LOOK AT DOING ANOTHER, 10-15% INCREASE TO TRY TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE NOT SUBSIDIZING THE CEMETERY TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S SINS OF OUR FATHERS.

WE CAN'T CHANGE DECADES OF RATE SETTING.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER OTHER CEMETERIES IN THE REGION AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PRICING FOLKS OUT EITHER.

>> THEN WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

PAGE 59 OF THE PACKET, WHICH IS PAGE 59 OF THE PACKET.

IN HERE UNDER THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, YOU HAVE, GET TO A POSITION WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY READ IT, ELECTRONIC DOOR CONTROL SYSTEMS BUDGETED FOR 2027 AND YOU HAVE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS BUDGETED FOR 2028.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THOSE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ARE PRIOR TO ME MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.

>> YES. THE 400,000 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 WOULD BE THE SWIPE CARD ACCESS SYSTEM FOR THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, SPECIFICALLY.

CENTRAL FIRE IS OUTFITTED WITH ONE FROM ITS ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION, AND WE RETROFITTED ONE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING LAST YEAR USING SOME OF THE ARPA FUNDS.

THE SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE STATE HAD MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, WHICH WOULD BE A COUNTER TO CEILING GLASS AT OUR FRONT COUNTERS, PANIC BUTTONS FOR CLOSING THE MAIN ENTRANCES TO THE BUILDING AND LOCKING THEM DOWN.

>> IT'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM.

>> YEAH, WE PUT PANIC BUTTONS AS A SEPARATE.

>> YEAH. YOU DID PUT THE PANIC BUTTONS AS A SEPARATE.

>> IT'S THE ONE THING THAT'S SEPARATE. SORRY.

>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THAT STUDY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW FEASIBLE THIS IS BECAUSE IT MAY INVOLVE OTHER LINE ITEMS, BUT 2028 IS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR AND I WOULD MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT WORK IS DONE IN 2027, NOT 2028.

[02:35:01]

WE HAVE TWO VERY HEATED PEOPLE TODAY IN THE BUILDING THAT HAD TO BE KICKED OUT AND PEOPLE ARE CONTINUALLY GETTING MORE HEATED AND STAFF IS VULNERABLE AT THE COUNTER AND I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE COME IN AND ARE YELLING AT A VERY NICE STAFF, WHO'S JUST TRYING TO HELP THEM PAY THEIR BILL.

TREASURER DESCHAINE CAN ATTEST TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN HERE YELLING AT OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

I CAN HEAR IT.

IT'S ALL DAY LONG, EVERY DAY, AND TO HAVE SOME PROTECTION FOR THEM, I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

WITH 2028 BEING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, I WOULD RATHER SEE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN BEFORE 2028.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS IN THE CIP, AND SO THIS IS MORE OF A PLANNING DOCUMENT AS OPPOSED TO WRITTEN IN STONE.

THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY NOT EVEN WRITTEN IN STONE IN THE CIP IS THE 2025 SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MOVE THOSE UP TO '27 MAKES TOTAL SENSE.

TO THE POINT EARLIER ABOUT THE NUMBER OF WATER PROJECTS THAT ARE SHOWN FOR '26, EVERYTHING OUT OF '25 IS FUNCTIONALLY FUNGIBLE HERE.

THE POINT OF THE CIP IS TO SHOW THAT THE NEED EXISTS, AND WE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

MOST OF THEM ARE NOT NECESSARILY PRIORITIZED.

SOME OF THEM ARE PRIORITIZED IN ORDER OF THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE PARKS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO PULL MARSHALL PARK FORWARD, AND SO THAT CAUSED SOME COSTS FOR NEXT YEAR TO MARSHALL PARK.

WE THREW SOME OTHER THINGS AROUND.

THE CIP IS JUST TRYING TO SHOW THAT THIS IS COMING AND SO YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL PUSH THAT ONE FORWARD AND GET IT OUT OF A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, AND SO IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION.

MAKE SURE ALL THIS STUFF IS.

ONE FOR TREASURER DESCHAINE AND I HAVE ONE FOR DIRECTOR WISNIEWSKI.

ON DIRECTOR WISNIEWSKI, I LOST THE PAGE WHERE IT'S ON.

I'LL SAY WHAT IT IS. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME FIND IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PAGE 110, LAND PRESERVATION.

YES. THANK YOU.

THE ESTIMATED AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 IS $3.4 MILLION.

WAIT FOR YOU TO GET THERE. IT'S PAGE 110 OF THE PACKET AND PAGE 76.

>> AT THE BOTTOM PAGE 76, THE PDF PAGE 110.

>> I'M HERE. THANK YOU. I GOT TO GET BACK THERE.

>> THIS IS THE ACQUISITION FUND.

>> PURCHASER.

>> YES. THE LAND PRESERVATION RESERVE FUND IN THAT STATEMENT OF FUND BALANCE, IT SAYS $3.4 MILLION.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT MONEY AND WHAT IS DONE WITH THAT, WHERE IT GOES.

IS THERE A PLAN?

>> IT'S RESTRICTED.

>> I KNOW IT'S RESTRICTED.

>> IT IS RESTRICTED.

>> I MADE A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAND PRESERVATION PURCHASE OFF FANANDA ROAD WITH THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION MASONER.

AND I KNOW SHE LOOKED INTO IT AND SAID THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE SELLING IT, WERE INTERESTED KIND OF THING.

IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY THE BOARD CAN WORK WITH LAND PRESERVE OR THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT TO DO WITH THAT, AND I KNOW WE DECREASED THE MILLAGE FOR IT, AND I DON'T WANT IT COMPLETELY DEPLETED.

I KNOW WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PRESERVES AS WELL.

>> THIS IS ACQUISITION FUNDING.

STORAGE HIP FUNDING COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THAT MILLAGE.

THIS IS JUST FOR ACQUISITIONS, AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE MOVED IS MUCH LESS ACQUISITION IN OUR FOCUS ON STEWARDSHIP.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OVER 1,000 ACRES OF

[02:40:02]

LAND PRESERVES THAT ARE RUN BY ONE PERSON IN THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FANTASTIC SEASONAL HELP.

MSU HELPS A LOT. WHERE FOCUS IS ON THE EXISTING PIECES OF VERY ECOLOGICALLY VALUABLE LAND, AND HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT LAND.

FOR EXAMPLE, PRIOR TO ME STEPPING IN THIS ROLE, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT.

THAT MEANS OUT OF ALL THOUSAND ACRES, THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT CONSISTENTLY BEING COMPLETED ON WHERE OUR INVASIVE SPECIES ARE, WHERE OUR NATIVE SPECIES, HOW CAN WE MANAGE THAT? THESE LAND PRESERVES ARE ACTUALLY OF ECOLOGICAL VALUE, NOT ONLY TO THAT'S AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, BUT FOR THE FLORA, THE FAUNA, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE WANT TO BE ECOLOGICALLY IMPACTING IN MERIDIAN.

NOT TO SAY THAT THE PRESERVATION BOARD AND/OR THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EVER SAY NO TO A PROPERTY LOOKING AT WHAT COULD BE ECOLOGICALLY CONTRIBUTING, BUT BEING VERY STRATEGIC WITH WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE MAINTAINED MOVING FORWARD.

THAT FUND REALLY, THE LAST PARCEL THAT WE PURCHASED WAS ON CORNELL ROAD ACROSS FROM CORNELL WOODS, AND THOSE BUYERS CAME TO THE PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, LANE PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, ASKING TO SEE IF WE WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE MANAGER WHILE WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO IDEAS, BUT WE JUST WANT TO BE VERY STRATEGIC SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE AT THE BEST VALUE.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ADVERTISE OR WOULD PUT IN PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE, OR IS THAT SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE TOO STRATEGIC JUST TO PUT A BLANKET STATEMENT OUT THERE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SELLING, OR WOULD THAT JUST MAKE THE PRICE SKYROCKET?

THIS 3.4 MILLION, IS THERE ANY PERCENTAGE OF THE LAND PRESERVATION MILLAGE THAT IS USED TO MAINTAIN THE LAND PRESERVES?

>> OKAY. LAST PART.

>> CORRECT. YES.

>> IS THAT PERCENTAGE 25%? DOES MY MEMORY SERVE ME CORRECTLY OR SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE?

>> I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT, WHICH I CAN DO.

>> CAN THE PERCENTAGE BE INCREASED, OR DOES THE ACQUISITION HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, AND WE CAN'T TAKE AWAY THAT PERCENTAGE AT ALL?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT BASED ON THE MILLAGE LANGUAGE, THAT IS CORRECT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

>> WELL, I'LL COMMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT, WHICH IS THIS BOARD HAS STATED A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT WE MAY BE AT OUR MAX CAPACITY FOR LAND PRESERVE.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE $3.4 MILLION SITTING THERE THAT MAY WELL SIT THERE UNTIL THE END OF TIME.

THIS IS RESTRICTED.

UNLESS BOARDS PRESENT OR FUTURE CHANGE OUR STANCE ON THAT, THERE MAY NOT BE ANYTHING THAT WE SPEND THAT MONEY ON.

I THINK THE COROLLARY TO THAT CONVERSATION IS WE HAVE $4.3 MILLION IN OUR LAND PRESERVATION MILLAGE FUND, THE UNRESTRICTED FUND AND SOME PORTION OF THAT CERTAINLY IS USED FOR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND WHATNOT.

BUT EVEN IN THE 2025 BUDGET, WE'RE BRINGING IN 320,000 AND SPENDING 260,000.

ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW THAT FUND BY $61,000.

WE COULD NOT COLLECT THAT MILLAGE FOR 20 YEARS, THEREABOUTS, AND STILL HAVE MONEY IN OUR LAND PRESERVE MILLAGE FUND.

I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION IN MY MIND, WHETHER WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT THAT AT ITS FULL RATE.

ALBEIT THE VOTERS DID VOTE FOR IT, AND I RESPECT THEIR WISHES, BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN DEGREE TO WHICH THIS IS MONEY THAT WE ARE TAKING IN THAT WE REALLY DO NOT NEED, NOT IN THE SHORT TERM.

I DON'T BELIEVE OUR VOTERS ARE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT.

WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND EITHER DECREASE THIS AT THE NEXT RENEWAL OR NOT LEVY IT AS MUCH AND THEN BRING IT BACK AT RENEWAL TIME.

I THINK FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TAX BURDEN, THIS IS NOT A BIG MILLAGE,

[02:45:02]

BUT IT IS SOMETHING, AND EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS AND THIS IS ONE WHERE I THINK THE TOWNSHIP MAY CONSIDER EXPLORING WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO CHARGE THEM FOR IN THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM.

>> THANK YOU. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY PRUDENT OF THE BOARD TO REASSESS THIS AND LOOK AT THIS MONEY COMING IN.

THEN I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR TREASURER DESCHAINE, I BELIEVE.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND IT.

>> IS IT REGARDING THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR?

>> THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN DELINQUENT TAXES.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND IT.

I JUST WONDERED WHAT THAT WAS.

GOING THERE. CAN'T MAKE THIS BUDGET PACKET SECTION SO BIG.

IT WOULDN'T TAKE SO LONG TO FIND ALL THIS STUFF.

>> MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES.

[LAUGHTER]

>> ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE LINE ITEM BUDGET?

>> I WROTE IT DOWN AND NOW I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

MAYBE WE NEED TO COME BACK TO ME UNTIL I FIND IT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT IS.

BECAUSE I WROTE THE PAGE DOWN.

SORRY, MY APOLOGIES.

>> OR YOU CAN EMAIL ME TOMORROW AND CAN FIND THE WHOLE BOARD.

>> [LAUGHTER] OF COURSE. THANK YOU.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS. HAVE WE TALKED OURSELVES OUT? I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD DISCUSSION HERE.

A LOT OF INTERESTING POINTS RAISED.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO TWEAK AND CHANGE.

MR. SCHMIDT, ARE YOU RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S BEEN ASKED OF YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS FOR THE FINAL BUDGET.

>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO OUR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING VERY PATIENTLY.

[BACKGROUND] I WILL ASK WE TAKE A VERY BRIEF RECESS.

LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT TO THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AT 8:50.

WE'LL BRING US BACK TO ORDER.

IT IS 8:53.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 13B,

[13.B. Ordinance 2024-06-Rezone 4.28 Acres of Vacant Land on Dobie Road from RAA, Single Family Low Density Residential to RC, Multiple Family]

ORDINANCE 2024-06 TO REZONE 4.28 ACRES THAT VACANT LAND ON DOBIE ROAD, FROM RA TO SINGLE FAMILY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO RC MULTIPLE FAMILY.

MR. SCHMIDT IS HERE AS A NUMBER OF OUR DEDICATED RESIDENTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE.

MR. SCHMIDT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?

>> THANK YOU. THIS AS GOOD A MAP AS ANY.

THE REQUESTS IN FRONT YOU THIS EVENING REZONE THIS NORTHERN PIECE OF THE HIGHLIGHTED RED FROM ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION OF RAA TO RC.

THE PROPERTY WAS PREVIOUSLY A PORTION OF THE FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH PARCEL.

IT WAS SPLIT OFF EARLIER THIS YEAR AND SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE WAS FINALIZED LAST YEAR.

THE REQUEST PREVIOUS ZONING RA IS CONSISTENT WITH THE USE OF THE PROPERTIES AT CHURCH, AS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THE WEST.

THE RC IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPERTY TO THE NORTH AND THE NORTHEAST, AS THOSE ARE BOTH APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

THIS IS A CLASSIC EDGE PARCEL.

THIS IS A CLASSIC TRANSITION PARCEL FROM A ZONING PERSPECTIVE.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THIS DISCUSSION.

PLANNING COMMISSION DID HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER ON JUNE 10 AND HAS AND RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OPPOSITION FEEDBACK, AND THEY DID END UP RECOMMENDING DENIAL BY A VOTE OF 4-1 TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DUE LARGELY TO THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE WAS A MEETING HELD BY THE APPLICANT WITH THE NEIGHBORS ON AUGUST 22.

STAFF WAS THERE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORT ON BOTH PARTIES, TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

BUT THERE WAS NO MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE BACK IN FRONT OF THIS EVENING IS THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO DISCUSS IT.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR FOLLOW UP ON ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.

[02:50:02]

WHAT I CAN SAY THAT IT IS, AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN BECAUSE THE MASTER PLAN WAS CHANGED FOR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S AN INTERESTING CONUNDRUM, A LOT OF TIMES WITH MASTER PLANS.

SOME COMMUNITIES DON'T PUT PARCEL LINES ON THEIR MASTER PLANS BECAUSE THEY'RE INTENDED TO BE MORE AMORPHOUS BOUNDARIES, AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE, WHERE THERE WAS NO PARCEL LINE THERE BEFORE.

THE INTENT OF THE PLAN WAS CLEARLY JUST A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TO BE FOR MULTIFAMILY USE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IS, IS THIS TOO MUCH? IS THIS WHAT WE ANTICIPATED OR NOT IN TERMS OF THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE? BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY A PORTION OF IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE MASTER PLAN, THEY WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THERE.

ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC AND DRAINAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS ALSO NOT A CONTRACT ZONING PROPOSAL.

THE APPLICANT DID PROPOSE PRESENT A RUDIMENTARY CONCEPT PLAN IN THEIR PACKET.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT IS UNLIKELY TO BE WHAT GETS BUILT JUST FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT SPECIFIC SITE RELATED ITEMS ONLY GET ADDRESSED LIKE DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC ONCE WE GET TO THE ACTUAL SITE PLAN REVIEW.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REZONING THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPLICANT HERE THIS EVENING?

>> THERE IS NOT. WE APPEAR TO HAVE GOTTEN SOME WIRES CROSSED. IT APPEARS.

>> THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION.

THERE WILL BE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM THIS EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS, WISHING TO MAKE DISCUSSION. TRUSTEE MCCOOK.

>> I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST, YOU SAID A SECOND AGO THAT PORTION OF IT IS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT ANOTHER PORTION OF IT IS NOT?

>> YEAH. WHEN THE MASTER PLAN IS UPDATED, LET ME SCROLL DOWN HERE. I'LL SHOW YOU.

THIS IS A FAIR ROUGH REPRESENTATION OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WHEN THE PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED, THIS WAS ALL ONE PARCEL.

NOW WE'RE PROPOSING A SPLIT THAT'S ROUGHLY IN THIS AREA.

THIS PORTION WAS DESIGNATED ON THE MASTER PLAN IS MULTIFAMILY, WHILE THIS PORTION WAS STILL LEFT BEHIND.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SURVEYS, NOR SHOULD WE HAVE SURVEYS DURING THE TIME OF THE MASTER PLAN DISCUSSION.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SPECIFICS AS TO WHERE THAT LINE SHOULD GO.

THE DISCUSSION WAS THE ROUGHLY NORTHERN THIRD OF THE PROPERTY TO BE REZONED.

THAT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

THE RED OUTLINE THAT YOU SEE HERE, LET ME ZOOM A LITTLE, I CAN'T ZOOM IN ANY CLOSER.

THAT RED OUTLINE IS ROUGHLY WHAT WAS SPLIT OFF.

IT'S SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN I THINK WE MAY HAVE ANTICIPATED.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WAS ON STREET CENTRAL PARK.

THEN IT TURNS INTO ADOBE.

I WAS ON CENTRAL PARK LOOKING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN TODAY ON GRAND RIVER.

EVEN WITH THE TURN ARROW, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC LIKE AROUND THAT I'M GOING TO SAY IT IS AROUND 4:45, FIVE O'CLOCK.

I SAY THAT TOO BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS WHO WERE HERE EARLIER AND STILL HERE NOW TALKED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND THE CONCERN WITH THE DENSITY OF THE TRAFFIC.

I SHARE THAT SAME CONCERN BECAUSE I TAKE THAT ROAD SOMETIMES.

I SAY THAT'S TWO ADDS TO THIS.

IT SAYS IT WAS, I TOOK SOME NOTES, 14 DWELLING UNITS. I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

I DIDN'T SEE IT.

MAYBE I MISSED IT. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IF IT'S 14 UNITS?

>> IN THEORY, THERE'S NO MAXIMUM BECAUSE WE DON'T, TWO PEOPLE THERE CAN BE 12 PEOPLE.

>> SITE COULD DROP 10.

>> NO. THIS IS WHERE I PUT MY BUILDING HAT ON FOR A SECOND.

IN THEORY, UNDER THE BUILDING CODE, THERE'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT CAN BE IN ANY UNIT BASED ON THE SIZE OF BEDROOMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT EVEN THAT, ONCE YOU GET INTO A FAMILY SITUATION CAN BE.

FAIR ESTIMATE TWO BEDROOM UNIT, THREE PEOPLE.

[02:55:01]

THAT'S A REASONABLE ESTIMATE BECAUSE THE CENSUS DATA WOULD TELL US THAT OUR AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS BETWEEN TWO AND THREE.

I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

>> I'M SAYING, SO YOU GOT 14 UNITS AND [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT 14 UNITS PER ACRE, AND THIS SITE IS 4.28 ACRES, WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT 60 UNITS.

>> IT'S EVEN MORE?

>> YEAH. IT'S 60 POSSIBLE.

IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE ON THE SITE, BUT IN TERMS OF THE DENSITY OF POSSIBLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

I DID READ IT WRONG, BUT I READ IT WRONG IN A CRAZY WAY.

NOW WITH THAT ENLIGHTENMENT, THAT'S EVEN MORE RESIDENCE THAT COULD BE HERE ON THAT SITE THAT COULD CREATE EVEN MORE OF A TRAFFIC HIGH DENSITY SITUATION RIGHT THERE.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT CRITERIA, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD TO DO WITH THE SAME THING.

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE DENSITY AND THE POTENTIAL HIGH TRAFFIC AND THAT SORT OF THING.

CAN YOU TALK OR SPEAK TO THAT? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT QUESTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY. PAGE 294 OF YOUR PACKET IS THE STANDARDS FOR REZONING THAT WE UTILIZE IN THE TOWNSHIP.

IT'S ACTUALLY JUST BEFORE THIS.

>> I SAW THE CRITERIA 2 FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

>> THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE'RE UTILIZING HERE FOR HOW WE REVIEW THESE.

SPECIFICALLY TO TRAFFIC, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE, B4 OR POTENTIALLY MAYBE UNDER B6 AS TO WHERE YOU'D HAVE A NEGATIVE FINDING.

>> BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TRAFFIC.

>> IT'S REALLY B4 IS THE BIG ONE.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT IT'S ADDING A TON OF TRAFFIC.

IT'S THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CIRCULATION.

>> THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSION ITEMS I HAD. THANK YOU.

>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASURE TO SHAME.

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP BEING CHANGED WITH THE 2023 MASTER PLAN TO MAKE THIS MULTI FAMILY.

SOUND LIKE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT WERE PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCH. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S FAIR. DESPITE STAFF'S BEST EFFORTS, DID NOT GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THE MASTER PLAN, AND SO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ADVOCATING ADVOCATED HARD FOR THEIR POSITIONS.

>> THREE DIFFERENT TIMES DOES I UNDERSTAND.

>> I WAS MORE THAN THE THIRD ALMOST EVERY MEETING WHERE IT WAS DISCUSSED.

>> IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE IT MADE SENSE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

IT WAS MORE THEY KEPT COMING BACK AND PUT ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE PLANING COMMISSION.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION EVENTUALLY ACQUIESCED TO THE [OVERLAPPING]

>> NO, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT. I THINK THAT THE PLAN COMMISSION SAW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMMON SENSE IN THE CHANGE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A PRESSURE CAMPAIGN BY ANY STRETCH.

PLANNING COMMISSION HAS CERTAINLY BEEN ABLE TO SAY NO TO PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS REQUEST CAME UP FROM THE CHURCH, AND ONE OF THE FEEDBACK ITEMS THAT THE CHURCH GOT WHEN IT WAS DENIED PREVIOUSLY WAS THAT WAS BECAUSE OF SIGNED COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASTER PLAN.

THE CHURCH ENGAGED AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE TO HAVE THEIR PROPERTY CHANGED.

THAT'S PART OF HOW THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS WORKS.

>> THE PLANING COMMISSION TURNED THIS DOWN RECENTLY 4-1, AND THEN THEY EARLIER VOTED SEVEN AGAINST THIS BACK WHEN IT HAD THE OTHER DESIGNATION OF RCC, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS CONCEPT OF THIS PLAN HAS BEEN TURNED DOWN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TWICE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> NOT THE PLAN, JUST THE ZONING.

CANDIDLY, THE PREVIOUS ZONING, IF I HAD BEEN THE DIRECTOR, I WOULD NOT HAVE ADVISED THEM TO EVEN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, IT'S AN EASY ANSWER.

IT'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASTER PLAN'S SIMPLE DENIAL.

I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD AT THAT TIME TO DENY IT UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SUPPORT REZONING THIS FROM OUR A A TO RC.

YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS HIGHER DENSITY OF THE NORTH, BUT TRAFFIC CONCERNS, THE WAY THIS WOULD BACK UP ON SENECA,

[03:00:04]

IT JUST DOESN'T FIT.

I LIVE OFF DOBIE ROAD. DOBIE ROAD HAS A TON OF TRAFFIC ALREADY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT MANY HOURS OF THE DAY TO GET IN AND OFF OF IT.

TURNING AT GRAND RIVER IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT FIT.

I APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS THAT COME OUT HERE.

WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, I HEARD FROM MANY OF THE RESIDENTS, AND THEY'VE WORKED HARD ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY'VE INVESTIGATED THE TRAFFIC AND THE IMPACT OF IT.

THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN.

THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS TO OPPOSE THIS.

I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF GOING AGAINST THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO REZONE THIS PROPERTY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TRUSTEE TRIZIS?

>> AT LEAST TWO OF US WERE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION ONE.

IT WAS TURNED DOWN IN 2017.

AT THE TIME, THE PROPOSAL WHAT REQUIRED A ZONING CHANGE AS WELL AS SITE REVIEW, AND WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US INVOLVED A SMALLER PIECE OF PROPERTY THAN HERE PROPOSED AND CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE DENSITY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT WENT TO 14 PER ACRE, BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECIDED THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE FROM A ZONING STANDPOINT AND FROM A UTILIZATION STANDPOINT, SO IT WAS TURNED DOWN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY APPEALED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, AND SO IT STAYED THAT WAY.

THE CHURCH HAS CONSISTENTLY COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION REQUESTING A CHANGE IN ZONING INITIALLY AND THEN A CHANGE IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS THE TOP THIRD OF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE IT WAS UNUSABLE TO THEM, AND FRANKLY, THEY WANTED TO SELL IT AND NEEDED THE MONEY.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF BIDDERS WHEN THIS WAS ZONED AT RAA BECAUSE IT'S A STRANGE PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM A SIZE STANDPOINT.

THE PROPOSAL HERE, I WOULD NOT SUPPORT PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET WITH THE THE MASTER PLAN ENTIRELY, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S GOTTEN A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED.

I COULD SEE MAKING THIS ALLOWING SOME MULTI FAMILY HOUSES ON HERE OR BUILDINGS ON HERE.

BUT 14 PER ACRE IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR THE SPACE.

I DON'T SEE A REASON TO OVERTURN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THIS TIME.

>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WILSON.

>> I'M AT 4-1 VOTE, WHEN WAS THAT TAKEN AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION?

>> IT WAS TWO WEEKS, THREE. THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS STILL IN JULY. BECAUSE THEN WE PAUSED IT SO THEY COULD SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC MEETING. IT WAS THE SECOND MEETING IN JULY.

>> AT THAT TIME, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TURNED IT DOWN FOR WHAT REASONS?

>> THEY WERE LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE PUBLIC AND HAD CONCERNS WITH THE DENSITY AND THE TRAFFIC.

>> WE HAVE A REAL CONUNDRUM HERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PORTION OF IT IN THE MASTER PLAN IS MULTI, AND WE HAVE A PORTION OF IT, NOT IN THE MASTER PLAN, AND IT'S STILL SINGLE FAMILY.

SINCE WE DON'T SPLIT PARCELS OR THAT CERTAINLY IS THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO, I BELIEVE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I WOULD AGREE. YES.

>> I THINK THERE ARE ONLY FIVE PARCELS IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SPLIT ZONING.

MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.

[NOISE] I'M REALLY CHALLENGED.

MY SAME THEME OF A COMPROMISE.

IS THERE ANY MULTIFAMILY DENSITY LESS THAN RC?

>> ABSOLUTELY. RC IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO RD OR RDD AT EIGHT AND FIVE UNITS PER ACRE, RESPECTIVELY.

>> RD AND RDD?

>> RD IS EIGHT PER ACRE, RDD IS FIVE PER ACRE.

>> IS AGAIN, EIGHT AND FIVE?

>> RD IS EIGHT, RDD IS FIVE.

>> GIVEN THE CHALLENGE OF THIS PARCEL, MAYBE WE COULD LOOK TO A LOWER DENSITY THAN THE 14 UNITS PER ACRE.

I THOUGHT UNTIL SITE PLAN REVIEW,

[03:05:02]

WE REALLY DON'T LOOK AT TRAFFIC.

>> TRAFFIC CAN PLAY A ROLE IN A REZONING.

>> IT CAN.

>> BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT HOW THE REQUEST WILL IMPACT THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS.

BUT USUALLY AT THE REZONING LEVEL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT AS A ROUGH OUTLINE STAGE.

WE THINK IT'S FOUR ACRES, MAXIMUM DENSITY IS X, AND SO YOU HAVE THIS WORST CASE SCENARIO.

>> I WOULD CONCUR AN RC DENSITY IS, I THINK, TOO HIGH FOR THIS AREA, AND I'M REALLY CHALLENGED BY THE FACT THAT A PORTION IN THE MASTER PLAN IS MULTI AND A PORTION IS SINGLE FAMILY.

>> INSTITUTIONAL, ACTUALLY.

>> IT'S INSTITUTIONAL, WHICH IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

>> INSTITUTIONAL, YEAH.

>> I THINK I CONCUR THAT THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING REZONING.

I SHARED THE THOUGHT ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD LOOK TO A LESS DENSE REZONING, WHICH MAY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE AND MAKE NOBODY HAPPY, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS THE BEST FORM OF COMPROMISE.

BUT GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN APPLICANT HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD EVEN BE INTERESTED IN SUCH A COMPROMISE, I SEE NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD EVEN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING, AND HOPEFULLY TRY TO GET THEM TO COME BACK AT A LATER MEETING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS SINCE THE BOARD SEEMS LIKE, JUST BASED ON THE TENOR OF THE CONVERSATION, IS NOT WILLING TO SIMPLY THROW THIS IN FOR A STRAIGHT APPROVAL.

I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR FUTURE OPTIONS ARE.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN GET THE APPLICANT TO REMEMBER WHAT DAY OUR MEETING IS NEXT TIME AROUND?

>> I'VE ALREADY EMAILED THEM.

>> ARE WE UNDER TIME CONSTRAINT HERE?

>> WE'RE NOT UNDER IT.

>> WE'RE UNDER NO TIME CONSTRAINT.

>> LET'S BRING THIS BACK ONCE MORE FOR DISCUSSION, I THINK [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY.

>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR, HENDRICKSON.

>> FOR THAT SPLIT ZONING, CAN IT BE UNSPLIT? CAN THAT INSTITUTIONAL PORTION BE REZONED? CAN THERE BE A REZONING FOR BOTH THOSE PIECES?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PARCEL THAT WAS SPLIT OFF, THE MASTER PLAN BOUNDARY DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES.

THAT'S THE CONUNDRUM HERE.

THEN CERTAINLY, YOU COULD REZONE THE ENTIRE PARCEL TO WHATEVER DESIGNATION IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE, WHETHER IT'S RC OR WHETHER IT'S RR.

AS LONG AS THERE'S JUSTIFICATION UNDER THE STANDARDS AND THERE'S SUPPORT UNDER THE MASTER PLAN.

CHANGING THE SPLIT DESIGNATION UNDER THE MASTER PLAN RIGHT NOW IS A MORE COMPLICATED PROCESS, AND WE WON'T BE UNDERTAKING THAT UNTIL OUR NEXT MASTER PLAN UPDATE.

YES, IT WILL BE FIXED IN THE NEXT MASTER PLAN UPDATE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

>> YOU COULDN'T DO THAT FOR THESE TWO PARCELS THAT ARE DIFFERENT?

>> NO. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST CHANGING.

REZONING IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, MAKE A DECISION.

THE MASTER PLAN REQUIRES 63 DAYS OF PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO PLAN, AND THEN PLAN NEEDS 63 DAYS NOTICE OF INTENT TO CHANGE, AND THEN A PUBLIC HEARING, RECOMMENDATION.

IT'S A SIX-MONTH PROCESS JUST TO MAKE THAT ONE CHANGE.

>> BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE MASTER PLAN, A CHANGE TO THE ZONING.

>> YOU COULD REZONE THIS WITH THE MASTER PLAN AS IT IS.

THE MASTER PLAN IS MEANT TO GUIDE US TO HOW WE ZONE.

IT'S NOT SPLIT ZONING THAT WE WOULD BE DOING.

PART OF THE PARCEL WOULD BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASTER PLAN IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DETAILING OF THE FULL PROCESS.

>> THANKS. GOT IT.

THEN IF I COULD, I WANTED TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR COMING OUT AS WELL.

MY GRANDPA BUILT A HOUSE ON DOBIE ROAD, AND MY FRIEND LIVED ON SENECA DRIVE, AND MY FRIEND AND I WOULD CROSS DOBIE ROAD ALL THE TIME.

MY MOM'S DOG WAS KILLED ON DOBIE ROAD WHILE SHE WAS GROWING UP.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.

[03:10:01]

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT THE HOUSES BEHIND ARROW TREE HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND MAYBE THEY STILL HAVE IT.

I DON'T KNOW, WITH TRASH THAT WAS BEING DUMPED IN THE BACK AND BEING DUMPED OVER THE FENCE.

WE'RE TALKING IN THE '70S, SO IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA.

YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH.

YOU PROBABLY EVEN KNOW THE FAMILY THAT LIVED ON SENECA.

I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE I LIVED THERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS.

MY GRANDMA LIVED THERE FOREVER, AND SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TRAFFIC THERE AND TRYING TO CROSS THE STREETS, TRYING TO GET IN OUT OF THE CHURCH AREA, THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXISTED WITH THE MULTIPLE DWELLING UNITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE, WITH THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE THERE, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING ALL OF THAT WITH THE BOARD BECAUSE I SHARE IN THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL.

>> I SUGGEST WE BRING THIS BACK FOR ACTION.

THE FACT THAT MR. FEDOA DIDN'T MAKE THIS MEETING, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PUT THIS OFF FOR ANOTHER WEEK OF DISCUSSION, ANOTHER WEEK OF DECISION.

HE CAN COME NEXT MEETING.

IF HE WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT, HE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT THESE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN HERE 3.5 HOURS WAITING FOR THIS DISCUSSION AND IF WE PLAY IT ALL NEXT WEEK, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET THE MEETING DATE RIGHT, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.

PLUS, LOOK AT THIS, WE'RE AT 9:15 NOW.

WE'VE GOT OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WE NEED TO WORK AT KEEPING OUR MEETINGS AS NOT PATTERN MEETINGS BY TAKING SOMETHING UP FOR DISCUSSION TWICE BECAUSE THE APPLICANT MISSED THE MEETING.

>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

IF WE BRING IT BACK FOR ACTION NEXT TIME, THE STAFF WILL HAVE TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO EITHER APPROVE THE DENIAL OR REJECT THE DENIAL OR WHATEVER IT IS.

IF THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND TO BE HAD, WE'LL BE HAVING IT BACK A THIRD TIME ANYWAY.

>> I THINK THEY'VE TRIED TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND.

STAFF HELD A MEETING WITH THE APPLICANT AND THE RESIDENTS AND THEY GOT NOWHERE, SO THEY'VE ALREADY TAKEN THAT STEP.

IF THEY WANT TO BRING BACK A THIRD PROPOSAL AT SOME FUTURE POINT WITH A DIFFERENT ZONING, THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION HERE.

WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A SPECIFIC REQUEST HERE TO GO FROM.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. WE ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THEIR PROPOSAL AT THE BOARD LEVEL, ARE WE NOT, TIM?

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T MIND BRINGING IT BACK FOR ACTION WITH THE MOTION TO DENY THE REZONING, MAYBE THAT LIGHTS A FIRE UNDER MR. FEDOA TO [LAUGHTER] COME BACK BEFORE US, AND MAYBE HE FINDS IT WITHIN HIMSELF TO HAVE A MORE AGREEABLE CONVERSATION WITH THE RESIDENTS IN THE MEANTIME.

I WOULD NOT APPROVE IT IF IT WERE PUT BEFORE US AS IT WERE TODAY.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHY, SO I GUESS AT THIS POINT, LET'S BRING A MOTION FOR DENIAL, THAT MR. FEDOA WOULD KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 17TH, AND HE'S WELCOME TO COME AND PRESENT TO US A LITTLE BIT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FRACTION, NOT DISCUSSION, AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. UNDERSTOOD.

>> TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, IF IT WAS THAT IMPORTANT, IT SEEMED LIKE HE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

>> MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION ON OUR PART.

BUT WE'LL ADDRESS THAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS STICKING WITH US AS WE SAID.

[13.C. Donation of Fire Equipment]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 13(C), DONATION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT, CHIEF HAMEL.

>> SUPERVISOR, BOARD. THANK YOU.

POST COVID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STARTED HAPPENING ACROSS MICHIGAN IS THERE WAS A BIG PUSH FROM A GROUP TO ANY OLD EQUIPMENT THAT FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE WILLING TO POTENTIALLY DONATE TO A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS IN NEED UP IN THE UP MAINLY.

IN FACT, THERE WAS SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WAS SENT TO MEXICO AS WELL AS UKRAINE, JUST LAST YEAR.

EAST LANSING SPEARHEADED THAT ONE TO UKRAINE.

A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S SENT IS LIKE PPE, STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTER GEAR THAT'S CLOSE TO THE END OF ITS 10 YEARS, BUT HASN'T MET IT YET, AND SCBAS, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, A SMALL DEPARTMENT WITH NOT MUCH OF A BUDGET IN THE UP, SET OF FIREFIGHTER GEARS, 3,500 BUCKS.

[03:15:02]

SCBA IS $9,000 TODAY.

ALL THE STUFF THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO DO THEIR JOB. WE'RE LUCKY HERE.

I'VE GOT A GREAT BOARD THAT SUPPORTS US.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS US.

LAST YEAR, LANSING TOWNSHIP DONATED A ENGINE TO REBAR, WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN CHIPPEWA NEAR THE DEPARTMENT THAT ACTUALLY IS LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY TAKING A DONATION FROM US.

THEY'RE IN THE EASTERN UP I75 AND M28 AREA.

DAFTER IS THE TOWNSHIP THAT'S INTERESTED IN OUR ENGINE, AND THEY HAVE A POPULATION OF 1,263 PEOPLE.

IT'S A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY CAME DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT, AUGUST 12TH.

WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THEY HEARD US TALKING ABOUT REPLACING OUR CASCADE.

THEY ACTUALLY DRIVE 45 MINUTES TODAY TO FILL THEIR BOTTLES IF THEY HAVE A FIRE.

THAT'S THE CLOSEST PLACE.

I SAID, "I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU ANYTHING.

I'LL TAKE IT TO THE BOARD TO TALK TO MY BOSS FIRST AND SEE IF THE BOARD WOULD ENTERTAIN DOING THIS." LIKE I SAID, LANSING TOWNSHIP, THEY DONATED AN ENGINE A YEAR AGO. SAME CONCEPT.

IF WE WERE TO AUCTION IT OFF, I THINK THE LADDER TRUCK WHEN WE AUCTION THAT OFF, WE GOT A LITTLE OVER 2,000.

IT'S MONEY IN THE POCKET, I GET IT, BUT I ALSO HAVE OBVIOUSLY A HEART FOR SMALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITH NOT MUCH TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.

THEY'RE USING A 1985 PUMPER TODAY THAT THEY WERE GIVEN FROM THE DNR.

THIS IS AN UPGRADE TO A 1992, I THINK IS WHAT IT IS.

[LAUGHTER] BUT IT IS DEFINITELY AN UPGRADE, AND THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S COMING WITH ISSUES, AND THESE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY VERY RESOURCEFUL.

THEY MANAGE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT PRETTY WELL.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY.

IF YOU'RE AT ALL INTERESTED IN MAKING THESE DONATIONS OR A DONATION THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE, WHAT YOU THOUGHT IF YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN OR NOT, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SORRY.

>> TREASURER DESCHAINE. THIS WOULD MAKE ME FEEL GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD, BUT WE CAN'T REALLY DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS.

WE OWN EQUIPMENT, AND WE CAN'T JUST GIVE IT TO A UP DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY BECAUSE IT'S AN ASSET, NOT OWNED BY THE BOARD, BUT OWNED BY THE TOWNSHIP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE USEFUL FOR ME IF YOU CAME BACK WITH A FAIR MARKET APPRAISAL OF THE FIRE [OVERLAPPING]

>> WELL, THE APPRAISAL WILL BE AT AN AUCTION.

WE DON'T HAVE AN APPRAISAL.

IT'S 25-YEARS-OLD.

>> THERE'S NO ONE THAT CAN GIVE YOU WHAT THE TRUCK IS WORTH?

>> I GUESS I COULD ASK ROB MCKENZIE TO DO THAT.

>> WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING WORTH TO IT, AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DRIVEN IT DOWN HERE FOR IT.

I THINK WE CAN SELL IT TO HIM FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, BUT WE JUST CAN'T GIVE AWAY TOWNSHIP ASSETS BECAUSE IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD.

LANSING TOWNSHIP HAS HAD A TON OF PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW AND TO ME, THEY'RE THE LAST TOWNSHIP SHOULD BE GIVING AWAY ASSETS, EITHER.

THIS IS WHERE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN COMES IN.

I'VE GOT TO THINK, WE GET GRANTS FROM THE STATE.

THIS TOWNSHIP BELIEVES IN REGIONALISM.

WE SUPPORT CARTER EVEN THOUGH WE USE A SMALL PORTION OF THE CARTER SERVICES.

WE SUPPORT THE CARTER LIBRARY SYSTEM, AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE VERY GENEROUS, BUT I THINK THIS CROSSES THE LINE WHEN IT'S SOMETHING IN THE UP.

I JUST NOT COMFORTABLE GIVING AWAY AN ASSET THAT HAS SOME VALUE, A, UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT IT'S WORTH, AND B, IF WE FOUND OUT IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY US FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

AGAIN, IT MIGHT MAKE US FEEL GOOD TO DO IT, BUT OUR JOB AS TRUSTEES OF THE TOWNSHIP IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR ASSETS AND GET FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THEM, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT MAKE US FEEL.

RESPECTFULLY. THIS TOWNSHIP HAS DONATED EQUIPMENT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BEFORE.

I DISAGREE.

I KNOW BECAUSE WE HAD OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS OF NO USE TO US AND NO VALUE, SO I UNDERSTAND WANTING TO KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS EQUIPMENT TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT JUST BECAUSE WE UPGRADED EQUIPMENT, AND WHEN YOU UPGRADE EQUIPMENT, IF IT'S OBSOLETE, AND YOU CAN NO LONGER USE IT, AND YOU CAN'T SELL IT, AND NOBODY ELSE IS BUYING IT BECAUSE THAT STUFF IS OUT OF DATE, THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO DONATE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE, AND WE DONATED A BUNCH OF EDITING EQUIPMENT YEARS AGO TO WILLIAMSTON SCHOOLS.

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD APPROVED IT, AND THEY USED THAT EQUIPMENT FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT THEY WERE SUPER APPRECIATIVE.

THEY SENT US A THANK YOU LETTER.

I KNOW THAT THIS TOWNSHIP HAS DONATED EQUIPMENT AND OTHER THINGS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES WHEN IT HAS BECOME OBSOLETE TO THIS TOWNSHIP,

[03:20:03]

AND THERE IS NO VALUE ANY LONGER.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ASSESSMENT THAT'S DONE WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF WHEN SOMETHING IS OF NO VALUE, AND WE CAN DONATE IT AT THAT POINT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THAT ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN MADE IN ORDER FOR THIS BOARD TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I THINK IT'S NOT JUST TO FEEL GOOD, BUT IT'S A COOPERATIVE THING TO DO WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'VE CERTAINLY RECEIVED, THIS TOWNSHIP, OUR CLERK'S DEPARTMENT, HAS RECEIVED DONATED ITEMS FROM EAST LANSING TO PUT SOME OF OUR ELECTION EQUIPMENT AND THEY GAVE US A BUNCH OF CASES ONE YEAR, WORTH A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES DO THAT, AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING THAT IN THIS SITUATION.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

>> TRUSTEE MCCURTIS, IS YOUR HAND UP?

>> YES, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF DOES IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER IT.

BUT IN TERMS OF MAKING A DONATION, IS THERE AN INCENTIVE TAX WRITE-OFF OR ANYTHING FOR A TOWNSHIP? CAN WE DO THAT?

>> WE DON'T PAY TAXES.

>> THAT'S TRUE. THE ANSWER IS THAT.

>> GOOD ANSWER.

>> THAT'S MY GOOD QUESTION.

>> TRUSTEE TREZISE.

>> I KNOW THE STATE HAS A PROGRAM FOR TAKING SURPLUS AND DISPOSING OF IT, SOMETIMES THROUGH SALE AUCTION, SOMETIMES THROUGH DELIVERY TO ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY.

I WOULD LOOK INTO HOW THAT WOULD WORK IN THIS SITUATION AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT WE CAN'T USE AS MINIMAL VALUE FROM OUR STANDPOINT AND SURPLUS TO US, IF WE CAN FIND ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT HAS A NEED FOR IT THAT WE CAN TRANSFER TO, I'M ALL FOR THAT.

IF THERE HAS TO BE A SMALL FEE, IF IT'S SOMETHING, TO ADDRESS TREASURER DESCHAINE'S POINT, IF WE HAVE TO SAY, IT'S SURPLUS TO US, WE FEEL IT AS A VALUE OF $500, WE'LL SELL IT TO YOU FOR $500, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

I DON'T NEED A FULL APPRAISAL ON A 25-YEAR-OLD PUMPER WHICH MAY STOP WORKING TOMORROW, OR THE CASCADE SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE OTHER THING YOU HIT HERE THAT IS EVEN OLDER, I BELIEVE.

>> IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AGE.

>> IS IT? SOMEHOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY APPRAISAL WOULD BE VERY INFORMATIVE AT THAT AGE, SO I WOULD SUPPORT THIS IF WE CAN DO THIS LEGALLY.

>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WILSON.

>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ASCERTAIN A VALUE.

IF IT'S $2,000, THEN I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOLD FOR $2,000.

I WOULD ASSUME THEY COULD AFFORD THAT AND THEY'RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL.

>> I DID ASK THE COMPANY THAT WERE BUYING THE NEW CASCADE SYSTEM IF THEY COULD GIVE ME A VALUE ON IT, THIS ONE, AND THEY WON'T GIVE ME ONE.

THEY SAID, WE CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT'S WORTH $1, THEY JUST SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT.

>> MAYBE YOU AND ROB COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

>> I WILL DEFINITELY TALK TO ROB ON THAT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT BE SEEING YOU BACK WITH A FEW EXTRA NUMBERS, PERHAPS.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PUT AWAY FOREVER, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD EXPLORE.

I AGREE WITH THE TREASURER THAT IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO JUST GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH.

BUT MAYBE A FULL APPRAISAL IS NOT WORTH THE COST AND TIMES DEAL, BUT, IT IS ILLUMINATING ON THE LAST ONE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR ONE. [LAUGHTER]

>> FOR SURE.

>> CERTAINLY, IF IT'S IN THAT BALLPARK, I'D BE MUCH MORE AMENABLE TO TRYING TO FIND A SMALL ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM TO DO THAT, BUT LET'S AT LEAST DO OUR HOMEWORK, MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR FINANCIAL, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND TALK AGAIN SOON.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE TILL THE END OF DECEMBER, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE TWO NEW ENGINE SOMETIME THE FIRST PART OF DECEMBER, SO THEY WON'T EVEN BE IN SERVICE FOR PROBABLY THREE WEEKS.

>> ONE MORE QUESTION. IS THIS TRUCK IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW?

>> YES. IT'S IT'S OUR RESERVE, BUT IT'S IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW WITH THE TRUCK BEING OUT.

>> CLERK GUTHRIE, YOU HAD A QUESTION AS WELL.

>> I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THE BOARD,

[03:25:01]

WHAT THE FINANCIAL POLICY IS ON DONATING EQUIPMENT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I'M SURE WE HAVE A FINANCE POLICY ON THAT.

>> MAYBE MR. SCHMIDT CAN HELP TO FIND THAT OUT AS WELL.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 14,

[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

WHICH IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

I DO HAVE ONE GREEN CARD HERE THAT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY.

FIRST UP IS CHRIS CLOCK.

THE SAME RULES DO APPLY IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WE'D APPRECIATE.

>> SURE. CHRIS CLOCK 4538, SENECA DRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK AGAIN.

DURING THE DISCUSSION, ADDITIONAL POINTS CAME UP THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE A HISTORY.

I DID COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION BACK IN 2019, YOU'RE CORRECT.

IT WASN'T JUST DENIED BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE MASTER PLAN, THERE WERE MULTIPLE REASONS FOR THE DENIAL.

AGAIN, IN JULY 2024, IT WAS DENIED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THERE ARE VOLUMES OF LETTERS, EMAILS, PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SEE THE PASSION BEHIND THAT.

WE ALSO CANVAS, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY, WE WENT AND SPOKE WITH SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE GOT OVER 70 SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THIS.

WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE KEPT GOING AND GOTTEN MANY MORE SIGNATURES THAN WE DID.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT GOT ADDED TO THE MASTER PLAN, WE FEEL LIKE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT WAS ADDED TO THE MASTER PLAN.

THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS BEING ADDED TO THE MASTER PLAN.

LET'S JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THERE IS A SELF-DESCRIBED GOVERNMENTAL LIAISON FOR THE CHURCH, WHO ALSO WORKS FOR THE TOWNSHIP, WHO GOT IT ADDED TO THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF THE CHURCH SO THEY COULD HAVE THEIR MORTGAGE BURNING PARTY.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, OR TRUST ME, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

WE DID ALSO, AND IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

WE'RE NOT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT.

IF YOU IF THERE WERE HOMES BUILT THERE TOMORROW, WONDERFUL, WE WOULD WELCOME THEM.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS, FOR EMPTY NESTERS, FOR YOUNG FAMILIES. WE WELCOME THAT.

IF THEY BUILT TOMORROW, WE WOULD BE THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT AT ALL.

IT'S THE DENSITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

WE DID MEET WITH THE BUILDER ON AUGUST 22ND, HAD A DISCUSSION.

THE SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU SAW TODAY IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US, SO THERE WAS NOTHING DIFFERENT.

THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING TO RD OR RDD DESIGNATION BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.

THAT WAS WHERE WE LEFT IT AND THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS AT THAT MEETING BECAUSE IT WAS JUST THE SAME THING THAT YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH TODAY.

JUST A LITTLE BIT BACKGROUND. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEBORAH MAJOR.

THEN THAT IS THE LAST GREEN CARD, IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE SUBMIT A GREEN CARD NOW.

>> WELL, MY DEAR NEIGHBOR HAS SPOKEN OF MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I JOTTED DOWN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE, AGAIN, MY NAME IS DEBORAH MAJOR.

I LIVE AT 45, I CAN'T SPEAK, IT'S ACTUALLY PAST MY BEDTIME, 4570, SENECA DRIVE FOR 24 YEARS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOTE NO RIGHT NOW, AND SHOULD YOU HEAR FROM MR. FEDEWA, REALLY, AM CONCERNED THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WE WERE TOLD BY BRIAN SHARKEY THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD PRESENTED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE GIVEN TO YOU IN A PACKET AND THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GO OVER THEM.

IT FELT LIKE, THEREFORE, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO REITERATE EVERYTHING.

BUT TONIGHT, IT SEEMS AS IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, AND SO WE FEEL THE NEED TO REITERATE JUST YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.

IF YOU DO CONSIDER REZONING ANY PORTION OF THAT, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ OUR THINGS FIRST BECAUSE ALL OF THE CONCERNS, THE CONCERNS IN 2024 AND THE CONCERNS IN 2019, BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE, ARE STILL VALID BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED TO MAKE THAT A MORE VIABLE PLACE TO BUILD MULTI-DENSITY HOUSING.

IN FACT, IT HAS BECOME LESS DESIRABLE DUE TO THE INCREASE OF TRAFFIC.

ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, BRAD SHAW AND ESTHER SHAW, WHO LIVE RIGHT THERE ON DOBIE ROAD, THEY ARE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PROPERTY,

[03:30:03]

AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS OR SLIDE OFF INTO THEIR FRONT YARD BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS SLIPPERY ROADS, THERE'S NO PLACE TO STOP EXCEPT IN THEIR FRONT YARD, SO THEY HAVE WITNESSED THAT FIRSTHAND.

YOU CAN'T WIDEN THAT ROAD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST AT THE MERCY OF WHAT WE HAVE WITH MORE CARS.

I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THAT.

JUST TO REITERATE THE POINT ABOUT MEETING WITH MR. FEDEWA WELL, WE DID THAT IN GOOD FAITH.

HE INVITED US BY EMAIL.

HE HAD OUR EMAILS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BOARD, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND HE INVITED US AND WE WENT IN GOOD FAITH, THERE WERE ABOUT 12 OF US NEIGHBORS, AS WELL AS MR. SHARKEY WAS THERE AND MR. FEDEWA AND HIS SONS.

AGAIN, THEY PRESENTED US WITH THE SAME PROPOSAL.

WE DON'T DOUBT THAT THEY'RE GREAT BUILDERS, I DON'T KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND, BUT WE'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS.

WE'RE NOT QUESTIONING THEIR ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSES AND THEIR QUALITY, WE'RE QUESTIONING THE VIABILITY OF THAT PARTICULAR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY NEXT TO ALL OF OUR HOMES.

IT JUST DOESN'T FIT.

WE LISTENED THINKING THAT WE WOULD HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND WE WERE DISAPPOINTED NOT TO.

WE SUPPORT THESE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, AND WE'RE VERY NEIGHBORLY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 9:37 PM.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 15 OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BOARD MEMBERS.

[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]