[00:00:26]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT.
IS IT REALLY WELL, THE BOY SCOUTS OKAY.
OH, THERE IT IS. AND THAT TELLS PEOPLE HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE.
I'M NOT SURE. WE ARE MAGICIANS.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS? WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MAKING IT WORK.
WELL GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT IS 6:02 P.M..
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
WE WILL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO ORDER.FIRST ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WILL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
CLERK GUTHRIE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
HERE. ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
NOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
[4. PRESENTATION]
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE FOR OUR PANCAKE BREAKFAST.BOOMS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TED FERRIS FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA UP TO THE PODIUM TO PRESENT ON WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY A VERY WELL ATTENDED AND SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE HAVE TWO OH. I'M SORRY. THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO I GUESS I'LL LEAD OFF.
I'M TED FERRIS. I WORKED WITH THE SCOUTS IN THIS AREA SINCE 2001.
AND IN 2017, WE GOT THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST STARTED, SO WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THEN.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCOUT CAMPERSHIPS AND SCOUT SCHOLARSHIPS.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH SCOUTS.
[00:05:02]
WHEN I GOT STARTED BACK INTO THIS [INAUDIBLE] IN 2001, I TOOK WHAT'S CALLED WOOD BADGE.AND AS A FACULTY MEMBER AT MICHIGAN STATE, THIS WAS MUCH HIGHER ELEVATION TRAINING ON TEAM BUILDING.
YOU LEARN THE FOUR STAGES THE FORMING, NORMING, STORMING, PERFORMING.
THE YOUTH LEADER TRAINING DOES THE SAME THING.
IT'S A WEEK LONG ACTIVITY, SO IT'S REALLY ONE THAT WE ARE PROMOTING FOR OUR KIDS TO TAKE BECAUSE THEY LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER IN A GROUP SETTING, THEY LEARN HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOOD AT WHAT AND WHEN YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE GOAL THERE.
SO BUT SO THAT'S WHERE OUR MONEY GOES.
THIS YEAR THEY DID SOMETHING ELSE.
AND COME TO FIND OUT, THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAD GONE OFF.
AND FORTUNATELY IT WAS ONLY LETTING WATER DOWN IN THE HALLWAY WHERE THE OFFICES WERE.
IT WASN'T IN THE BIG AREA WHERE WE WERE DOING THE BREAKFAST OR IN THE KITCHEN.
SO AMANDA SHOWS UP WITH THE WHOLE CREW TO PUT OUT WHATEVER.
FORTUNATELY, THEY HAD A KEY TO THE DOOR BECAUSE WE AT THAT POINT WE WEREN'T IN YET.
WE COULD JUST WATCH THE LIGHTS.
SO THEY GOT THAT THAT RESOLVED.
AND THEN THE FIREFIGHTERS EVERY YEAR COOKED THE BREAKFAST.
THE SCOUTS SERVE THE BREAKFAST AND BUSED THE TABLES.
SO WE HAVE SCOUTS FROM THREE TROOPS HERE.
SO TROOP 97, STAND UP, TROOP 164 STAND UP, AND TROOP 12.
STAND UP. AND THEN WE HAVE I KNOW ONE GENTLEMAN FROM PACK 264 IS ONE OF OUR CUB SCOUTS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE CAMPERSHIPS.
AND MAKE SURE THIS THING HAPPENS.
SO WE APPRECIATE THEIR HELP AS WELL AS THE FIREFIGHTERS.
AND TJ'S NOT HERE BUT ANYWAY SO HE'S GOT GOOD REPRESENTATION.
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THE HARD PART IS PRESENT THE CHECKS OUT.
AND THAT'S NOT MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AG IT'S MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF THE DONOR OR THE RECIPIENT FROM THE FIREFIGHTERS ALONG WITH THE SCOUTS.
SO YEAH I JUST WANTED TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TROOPS FOR AS MANY YEARS AS I'VE BEEN ON.
IT'S A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S FUN TO WORK WITH THE KIDS AND WE GET TO COOK PANCAKES, AND THAT'S ALWAYS FUN TOO.
LET'S GO TO THE TROOPS OVER THERE.
YEP. SOMEONE WANT TO COME UP? COUPLE OF GUYS. SCOUTS OVER HERE? YEAH, YEAH, A COUPLE OF SCOUTS.
COME ON UP. ANYONE AND THE CUB SCOUT 264.
COME ON. YEAH! YOU GUYS OVER HERE.
NICE. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, EVERYONE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT? YEAH, I'LL DO THAT.
OH, YOU CAN [INAUDIBLE] CAMERA.
RIGHT HERE. THEY STEP IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM.
CAN YOU STEP IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM? ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAY, THAT WON'T BE IN THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE PICTURE.
YEAH. LET'S GO UP AND OVER THAT MEDIA BACKGROUND.
NEXT UP IS A VERY SPECIAL PORTION OF THE EVENING AS WELL.
WE HAVE A RECOGNITION OF TWO AMAZING VOLUNTEERS HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
AND TO RECOGNIZE THEM, WE HAVE INTERIM MANAGER TIM SCHMITT AND DEPUTY MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER.
NOT SURE IN WHICH ORDER YOU PLAN TO GO, BUT I WILL LEAVE YOU TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS.
SO I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
THIS RECIPIENT CHAIRS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BODIES THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS TO CHAIR.
[00:10:05]
AND IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST THANKLESS TASKS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IF NOT THE MOST THANKLESS TASK.AND THAT IS CHAIRPERSON ALEXIA MANSOUR, CHAIR OF OUR ZBA.
SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE OR WATCHING FROM HOME, THE ZBA TAKES UP CASES WHERE A PROPERTY OWNER, WHETHER IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY OWNER OR A BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNER, MAY WANT TO HAVE A SLIGHT VARIANCE FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S ZONING ORDINANCE THAT COULD BE BUILDING YOUR DECK 1 TO 2FT CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
AND OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE MATTERS THAT ARE VERY PERSONAL TO FOLKS.
THEY'RE INVESTING IN THEIR PROPERTY.
THEY'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND THAT THOUGHT THAT THEY'VE PUT INTO THAT HASN'T ALWAYS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION ANY ORDINANCES THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS TO GOVERN WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO IT CAN BE A VERY CHALLENGING MEETING.
AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS GREAT LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE CHAIR MANSOUR WHO ALWAYS GOVERNS THAT MEETING AND CHAIRS THAT MEETING WITH EMPATHY, PROFESSIONALISM, BUT ALSO JUST VERY CLEAR COMMUNICATION.
RIGHT. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.
NOT EVERYONE WALKED IN KNOWING WHAT THAT BODY NEEDED TO DO AND WHAT STANDARDS IT WAS GOING TO USE.
BUT CHAIR MANSOUR ALWAYS MAKES SURE THAT EVERYONE LEAVES THE ROOM WITH A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WHAT THE STANDARDS OF REVIEW WERE FOR THAT APPLICANT. UNDER CHAIR MANSOUR'S LEADERSHIP, WE'VE ALSO HAD PROACTIVE UPDATES TO OUR POLICIES.
I THINK THAT WAS 3 OR 4 DECADES IN THE MAKING.
SO IN 2022, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARD A TOTAL OF 14 DIFFERENT REQUESTS.
THOSE 18 REQUESTS THAT THEY HAD THAT YEAR COVERED EVERYTHING FROM COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE TO RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES SUCH AS DECKS AND ADDITIONS, INCLUDING THE MSU LAKE LANSING PATHWAY, WHICH WE NOW HAVE PHASES ONE AND TWO CONSTRUCTED.
THERE WAS ONE DENIAL THAT YEAR AFTER VARIOUS FACT FINDING WAS CONDUCTED BY STAFF.
IN WHICH CASE WORK WAS DONE WITHOUT A PERMIT.
ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE DENIED AFTER INVESTING SIGNIFICANT SUMS OF MONEY.
SO JUST ANOTHER CASE OF HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP AT THE ZBA.
2023, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARD A TOTAL OF 11 DIFFERENT REQUESTS.
THEY DENIED TWO OF THOSE REQUESTS, ONE FOR A LOT SPLIT AND ONE FOR A WETLAND SETBACK WHERE IT WOULD HAVE INFRINGED ON THE WETLAND SETBACK REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
AND THEN IN 2024, THE ZBA HEARD TEN CASES.
WELL, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE HEARD TEN CASES COVERING ANYTHING FROM DECKS TO OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS TO SIGNAGE ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ONE OF THOSE RECURRING THINGS THAT COMES BEFORE THE ZBA.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST 2024 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT, CHAIR OF THE ZBA, ALEXIA MANSOUR.
[APPLAUSE] WELL, I WASN'T REALLY EXPECTING ALL THAT, BUT I DO THANK DAN BECAUSE DAN HAS SERVED ON THE ZBA WITH ME.
[00:15:01]
HOPEFULLY HE'S SOMEWHERE WATCHING, I HOPE.BUT HE WAS A EXCELLENT KIND OF MENTOR FOR ME TO LEARN WHAT THE ZBA IS ABOUT.
IN 2018, I JOINED THE ZBA BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO GIVE BACK AND TO PARTICIPATE AND TO SHOW MY GIRLS OVER THERE THAT YOU SHOULD BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU.
AND ANYTHING YOU DO IS GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
WE HAVE HAD SOME TRICKY MEETINGS.
SCOTT WAS WITH ME ON A FEW OF THOSE.
THIS IS A HUGE HONOR, AND I DID NOT EXPECT SUCH A GLOWING SPEECH FROM DAN.
AND KEEP DOING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP US HAVE THE BEST BOARD THAT WE CAN HAVE ALSO.
SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING OUR SECOND VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE INTRODUCED BOTH BECAUSE I'VE INTERACTED WITH BOTH OF THEM IN MY TIME HERE, AND I'M GLAD THAT DAN WAS THE ONE TO INTRODUCE ALEXIA, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE FOCUSED ENTIRELY ON THOSE DENIALS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE EASILY THE MOST DIFFICULT THING THAT WE DO AS A PUBLIC AT THE ZBA DOING A DENIAL, BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST ALL THE TIME GOING TO PUT YOU IN A COURT.
BUT I HAVE DOCTOR BILL MCCONNELL AS AS THE SECOND VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY GO THROUGH HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE HAS SERVED, YOU KNOW, FOR AT LEAST 16 YEARS, CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, HAS SERVED ON OTHER BOARDS ALONG THE WAY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL SCIENCES IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
MULTIPLE PUBLISHED RESEARCH PAPERS ON SUSTAINABILITY, LAND USE, LAND COVER CHANGE STUFF THAT NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MY AREA OF FOCUS HAD I GONE INTO ACADEMICS. SO THIS IS TALKING MY BREAD AND BUTTER HERE.
RECENTLY RETIRED, BUT STILL VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH CAMPUS THROUGH HIS WORK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS HELPED LEAD THE CHARGE IN UPDATING ARGUABLY TWO OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PLANNING DOCUMENTS THE COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN ON THE PLANNING SIDE AND THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE.
REALLY TWO OF THE FOCUSES OF THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? IF YOU THINK ABOUT US AS A COMMUNITY, VERY STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS, VERY SMART, INTELLIGENT GROWTH FOCUS WHEN WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO DOCTOR MCCONNELL HAS HAD A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN BOTH OF THOSE.
AND I THINK WHAT I REALLY WANT TO RELAY HERE IS HOW WELL SUITED HE HAS BEEN TO THE JOB IN HIS TIME.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND USE DECISIONS, INHERENTLY THERE IS A CONFLICT IN MANY WAYS WITH ENVIRONMENTALISM, RIGHT? AND NEW ENVIRONMENT.
NEW BUILT ENVIRONMENT OFTEN CONFLICTS WITH EXISTING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, AS WE MOVE INTO MORE REDEVELOPMENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHICH IS WHERE OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS GOING, AND BILL HAS HELPED PUSHING IT THAT WAY THROUGH THE LAST TWO UPDATES, THERE'S LESS CONFLICT.
BUT EVEN IN THOSE CASES BILL ALWAYS COMES AT THE PROBLEM FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH LEGALLY TO KEEP US SOLID.
AND HE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO GET THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT AND THE BEST LAND USE PROJECT AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT? FOR ANY GIVEN PROJECT.
AND THAT'S A VERY TOUGH THING TO BALANCE.
AND IT HAPPENS TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND I THINK THAT, TO ME IS REALLY THE HEART AS TO WHY BILL HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL MEMBER OF OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS.
I MEAN, THAT DECISION POINT COMES UP SO REGULARLY, AND HE HAS BEEN AT THE TOUCH POINT OF THAT SO MANY TIMES, AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF REALLY BALANCING THOSE THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND REALLY PUSHING US IN A GOOD DIRECTION AS A COMMUNITY WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR THE GROWTH WE NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE
[00:20:10]
UNDER MICHIGAN'S TAXATION SYSTEM.[APPLAUSE] WELL, IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE WITH YOU ALL AGAIN HERE TONIGHT.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION AND THE KIND WORDS THAT TIM HAS OFFERED.
SO FOR ME, IT FEELS VERY NATURAL.
SO WHEN I LANDED IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, I FOUND A VERY NATURAL HOME, VERY FERTILE GROUND.
A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING STUFF WAS GETTING GOING JUST AS I GOT HERE.
SO IT JUST HELPED TO ENCOURAGE ME TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT US IN TAKING ON THESE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, OR MAYBE JUST WANTING US OUT OF THE HOUSE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'VE CERTAINLY BENEFITED BY THAT, AND I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE FOLKS THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING FOLKS HERE AT THE DAIS WHO HAVE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE OF COMMITTING THEIR TIME AND ENERGIES AND INTELLECT TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THE COMMUNITY CALLED THEM.
I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO NAME MY HEROES, BECAUSE I MIGHT SKIP ONE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I MEET THEM OUT IN THE WILD TODAY.
AND IT'S WHILE I CERTAINLY DON'T AGREE WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S POLICY POSITIONS OR THEIR PRIORITIES OR THEIR OPINIONS, BUT I CAN'T RECALL AN INSTANCE OF QUESTIONING ANOTHER COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS MOTIVES. YEAH, THERE'S BEEN SOME HARSH WORDS OR BICKERING AT TIMES, BUT IN THIS TOWNSHIP, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS SUCH A STRONG MOTIVATION TO MOVE TOGETHER THROUGH CONSENSUS THAT IT'S VERY REASSURING.
I'M ALSO VERY MOTIVATED BY THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A STATE, AS A NATION AND AS A PLANET TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE HAPPENING AROUND US.
AND THE WISEST VOICES I HEAR RESPONDING TO THAT ARE TELLING ME, REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS AT BUILDING COMMUNITY AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU CAN HOWEVER, YOU CAN, FIND COMMON GROUND, IDENTIFY SOME SHARED VISIONS, AND PURSUE THEM.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS I'VE SERVED WITH HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING.
I DID ALSO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT SINCE WE GOT THE TELEVISION ON TO OUR LONG SERVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR LEROY HARVEY, WHO'S FACED SOME PARTICULAR CHALLENGES RECENTLY AND WE ALL WISH HIM THE BEST.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STEPPING BACK UP HERE SO WE CAN GET A COUPLE OF PICTURES.
I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
OH, YEAH. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PLAQUE.
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
AND I KNOW THAT LUANN MAISNER WAS ON OUR CALENDAR TO JOIN US AS WELL.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT THIS EVENING.
[00:25:08]
ABSOLUTELY. THANKS FOR THE TIME.GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.
WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS SO FAR.
BUT GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT, THE TASK FORCE HAS MET TWICE SO FAR.
NOW ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, ON OCTOBER 22ND AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY.
THE MEETING ON THE 24TH WAS REALLY MOSTLY A INTRODUCTORY MEETING FOR THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, BUT ALSO TO START THE PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE SITE LOCATIONS FOR THE SENIOR COMMUNITY, SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATION.
WE DID A NICE SITE REVIEW AT A HIGH LEVEL THANKS TO CHAIR HENDRICKSON AND OTHERS AS WELL FROM THE TOWNSHIP, WHO WERE ABLE TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW ON OCTOBER 22ND, THOUGH, WE REALLY DOVE IN VERY DEEP INTO ALL THE PROPERTIES, ALL THE LOCATIONS, SO TO SPEAK, TOTALITY.
WE REVIEWED TEN OF THEM, AND WE SET OURSELVES A GOAL FOR THAT MEETING ON THE 22ND TO TAKE THAT LIST OF TEN LOCATIONS AND DWINDLE THAT DOWN AS FAR AS WE COULD TO REALLY HONING IN ON THE BEST PROSPECT FOR THE CENTER.
WE WERE ABLE TO WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OUR LIST OF TEN, AND WE DROPPED IT TO THREE.
AND I WILL GIVE YOU A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF THOSE THREE.
I'LL START WITH THE MOST PROBABLY RECENT AND KIND OF MEMORABLE LOCATION.
AND THAT IS THE YONKERS SITE LOCATION WITH THE MERIDIAN MALL.
ONE OF THEM WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD AS A BACKUP IS THAT YONKERS SITE LOCATION, JUST GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME, STAFF, EFFORT, RESOURCES, REVIEW, DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD GONE INTO THAT, THE OTHER TWO LOCATIONS, I WILL SAY HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF FROM OUR TASK FORCE, A LOT OF ATTENTION AND PRAISE AND EXCITEMENT.
WE HAVE THE OTHER TWO LOCATIONS.
SO THE FIRST PROPERTY OR LOCATION IS REFERENCED AS THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP CENTRAL FIRE STATION.
THAT'S JUST BEHIND THE FIRE STATION THERE AT THAT CORNER.
IT'S NEARLY TEN ACRES IN SIZE OF BUILDABLE, SIZE.
LIKE I MENTIONED, IT'S ALREADY OWNED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
AND ANOTHER ADVANTAGEOUS ASPECT OF THIS PROPERTY IS THAT ITS LOCATION TO THE TOWNSHIP, OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE MAKING IT VERY COHESIVE WITH CELEBRATION EVENTS OR TOWNSHIP EVENTS IN THE AREA.
SO CADL LOCATIONS, CADL STOPS, PARKING LOCATIONS.
SO FIRST ONE AGAIN, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP CENTRAL FIRE STATION.
SITTING BEHIND THE FIRE STATION ITSELF.
IT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED AS A DRIVING RANGE AND IT IS NEARLY 21 ACRES IN SIZE.
IT IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN THE MARKET.
OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER ASPECT OF IT.
SO IT COULD BE A REALLY NEAT PROPERTY FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S PERSPECTIVE OF MORE USE.
AND THEN AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE YONKERS SITE, SO WE KIND OF HAVE ALL THREE MEETING NEXT WEEK, I THINK, TO UNDER CHAIR HENDRICKSON TO KIND OF HAMMER DOWN ON THOSE DETAILS TO ULTIMATELY HOPEFULLY GET CLOSER TO THE ONE WITH THAT.
THAT'S MY UPDATE, SHORT AND SWEET.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU TONIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, IF THERE ARE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE INTERESTED YOU KNOW, WE DO MEET AT 6:00.
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF.
AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO WATCH AND JOIN IN.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE DETAILS ON THAT.
[00:30:01]
SO THANK YOU TO JOSH FOR STOPPING BY AND GIVING US AN UPDATE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE.
SO, CHIEF HAMEL, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR US? THANK YOU SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU, BOARD.
VERY EXCITING TIMES THAT WE COMPLETED A PROJECT.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE COMPLETING PROJECTS.
SO LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY BEFORE I GET TOO MUCH INTO THIS.
WELL, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT PRESENTATION I'M UP FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO VIEW.
SO I STARTED WORKING WITH SIRENS BACK IN ABOUT 2006, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE LAST TIME LANSING HAD A TORNADO, AND I WAS WORKING THERE AT THE TIME. AND THEN WE HAD ONE IN WILLIAMSTOWN SHORTLY AFTER THAT, AND WE STARTED REVAMPING OUR SIREN PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS WHAT WE USED TO DO IS FOR EVERY TORNADO THAT CAME, WE'D SET EVERY SIREN OFF IN THE COUNTY.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE REVAMPED IT, WORKING WITH INGHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, LANSING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE 91 CENTER IS WE DID FOUR QUADRANTS, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY. AND THEN WE PUT ONE IN THE MIDDLE SO THE SIREN GETS ACTIVATED ONLY IN AREAS IT NEEDS TO BE, BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD OBVIOUSLY PANIC AND REACT WHEN THERE WAS NO NEED TO.
WHAT THAT LED TO ALSO IS ADDITIONAL SIRENS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND IT BECAME A PROJECT FOR MOST MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTY PROJECTS WHEN WE HAD LOTS OF HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY BEFORE THAT DRIED UP.
AND THEN SOMETIMES MITIGATION DOLLARS AFTER A DECLARATION OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF YOU GO BACK TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, IT ACTUALLY CHIEF COWPER, BACK IN 2012, WE HAD FIVE SIRENS.
HE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OF ONE.
HE ASKED FOR FIXING TWO OF THEM.
AND SO THAT WAS SIX SIRENS FOR THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.
IN 2017, PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL, A YEAR AND A HALF, CHIEF COWPER AND ALL OF YOU, MANY OF YOU OR SOME OF YOU SORRY, WITH THE MANAGER LOOKED AT INCREASING THIS PROJECT TO 15 TOTAL SIRENS, AND THEN WE MISSED AFTER I STARTED TREASURER DESCHAINE POINTED OUT THE LITTLE CORNER TOP LEFT THAT I THOUGHT WAS EAST LANSING.
AND SO WE ADDED THAT TO THE PROJECT.
AND THEN, LO AND BEHOLD, IN 2023 AUGUST CAME THE THE STORM WITH 80 MILE AN HOUR WINDS AND THE TORNADO THAT TOUCHED DOWN ON I-96 AND ROLLED OVER A BUNCH OF SEMIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN WITH THE MANAGER AND US TALKING AND YOUR SUPPORT, YOU DECIDED LET'S JUST DO THE LAST FOR NOW.
AND SO OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE LAST FOUR HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
IT'S ABOUT A $300,000 PROJECT THAT YOU ALL APPROVED OVER THE MANY YEARS.
AND I THINK IT'S A TREMENDOUS USE OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO PROTECT THEM.
THE BIG THING THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ON THE SLIDE ONE AND SLIDE TWO IS, WHAT DO WE DO DURING A SIREN? WELL, THE SIRENS ARE NOT MADE FOR YOU TO HEAR INSIDE, ALTHOUGH IT'S POSSIBLE YOU CAN HEAR THEM INSIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN YOUR PARKING LOT OR NEAR YOUR HOUSE.
BUT THE INTENT IS TO GET INSIDE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M SORRY ON THE FIRST PAGE, SLIDE TWO GET IN LOWER LEVELS.
WE DON'T USE THIS ROOM BECAUSE IT'S TOO BIG AND IT'S EASILY COLLAPSED.
OBVIOUSLY YOU COULD USE YOUR PHONE BECAUSE WE CAN GET EVERYTHING ON OUR PHONE.
AND THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE IT PROTECTS OUR TOWNSHIP.
AND AGAIN, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING PROJECT.
16 TOTAL SIRENS, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE STILL TRYING.
$30,000 A PIECE IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT.
COUNTY STRUGGLES DOING THEIRS.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE LAST PAGE, BASICALLY I WANT TO THANK WEST SHORE.
[00:35:02]
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK CONSUMERS.CONSUMERS INSTALLED ALL THESE FOR FREE.
SO LET ME KIND OF BREAK THAT DOWN.
WEST SHORE INSTALLED THEM, CONSUMERS WIRED THEM TO THEIR POWER.
AND SO AND THEN OVER OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR, MELISSA MASSEY, OUR PROJECT MANAGER, RAN WITH THE PROJECT WHILE I WAS OFF ON MEDICAL LEAVE AND DID A GREAT JOB AND FINALIZED THIS PROJECT OF THE FOUR THIS YEAR.
SO JUST EXCITING TO FINALLY BE DONE WITH IT.
IT'S A GREAT PROJECT AND NOW I GOT TO FIND ANOTHER PROJECT TO DO ANNUALLY.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES. ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? YES.
JUST REAL QUICK. IN TERMS OF THE SIRENS THEMSELVES, WHAT IS A TYPICAL LIFESPAN OF THE SIRENS AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU TEST THEM? SO GREAT GREAT GREAT QUESTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE TRULY IS A LIFESPAN OF THE SIREN ITSELF.
THE BATTERIES HAVE A 4 TO 6 YEAR LIFESPAN AND THEY LIKE TO REPLACE THEM IN FOUR.
SO WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS I BELIEVE IT IS.
THE SIRENS THEMSELVES WILL LAST FOREVER IT'S PIECES AND PARTS.
AND SO, YEAH, IT'S REALLY THE MAINTENANCE, THE UPKEEP AND THE BATTERIES AND THE LITTLE THINGS.
OH, YEAH. I'M SORRY. AND THAT'S ON HERE.
AND I FORGOT TO BRING IT UP. SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY TESTED WEEKLY.
WE KNOW THE LOAD TEST IS DONE THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 1:00, 1:00.
BUT THEY DO WHAT THEY CALL A SILENT TEST EVERY SATURDAY TO MAKE SURE.
ALL RIGHT. FOR THESE NEXT TWO, I GET TO PRESENT TRANSITION OVER TO THE PODIUM.
SO THIS EVENING IS A BITTERSWEET NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT, OBVIOUSLY, TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE EXCELLENT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT WE ALSO TONIGHT HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE.
OUR FINAL MEETING WITH TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
AND SHE HAS BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2024 ELECTION, JUST JUST RECENTLY.
AND SO TONIGHT, WE OFFER A TRIBUTE OF APPRECIATION TO CLERK GUTHRIE FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ IT.
DEBORAH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME JOIN ME UP HERE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAND IT TO YOU AT THE END AS WELL.
SO WHEREAS DEBORAH GUTHRIE WORKED FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR 22 YEARS, STARTING IN 1997 AS AN INTERN AND WORKING HER WAY UP TO COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, A LONG AND STORIED CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS, DURING HER TENURE AS CLERK, DEBORAH HAS ABLY REPRESENTED THE INTERESTS OF THE BOARD AND CITIZENS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ON THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ELECTION COMMISSION, AND TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND WHEREAS, CLERK GUTHRIE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADVANCE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD, SELFLESSLY CONTRIBUTING VALUABLE FOCUS, PERSPECTIVE, INSIGHT AND ENERGY TO OUR MOST CHALLENGING EFFORTS AND SUBSEQUENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
[00:40:05]
IMPROVING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, SETTING THE TABLE FOR FUTURE ELECTED CLERKS TO SUCCEED BASED ON HER WORK OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTERED TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN WISHES PUBLICLY TO RECOGNIZE, COMMEND AND THANK DEBORAH GUTHRIE FOR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND IMPACTS ON THE WORK OF THIS BOARD AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
DO YOU WANT US IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
I BEGAN AS AN UNPAID INTERN IN 1996 AND TO PURSUE A CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM FOR SPORTS.
AND AS I WAS PURSUING THAT, AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP HERE AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND I WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY HERE FOR A FULL TIME POSITION.
AND MY HUSBAND SAID, YOU NEED TO TAKE IT.
AND I SAID, REALLY? ARE YOU SURE? HE SAID, YES.
AND SO I DID. AND IT WAS THE BEST ADVICE AND ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I EVER MADE IN MY LIFE.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN MY SECOND HOME.
I LOVE EVERY SINGLE JOB I'VE EVER HAD HERE.
THE GOOD, THE BAD EVERYTHING'S ENJOYABLE.
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH ME AND STAYED WITH IT KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO BRING THE CLERK'S OFFICE UP TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED.
AND SO I'M MOST PROUD OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND ESPECIALLY PHIL DESCHAINE BEING MY NEIGHBOR INSIDE THE BUILDING AND BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT NOT THINGS ON THE AGENDA, BUT BOARD STUFF WITH SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY STAFF.
SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO BOUNCE THINGS OFF WITH ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER.
MARNA HAS BEEN MY ROCK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
I SHOWED UP AT HER DOORSTEP ASKING FOR ADVICE, AND SHE'S BEEN TREMENDOUS WORKING WITH PETER ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND WE WERE LIKE, WE JUST BARRELED THROUGH IT AND GOT THAT THOSE POLICIES DONE.
AND JUST SCOTT, TREMENDOUS PERSON WHO'S HAD MY BACK AND ADVICE GIVER FOR ELECTIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
AND SAME WITH KATHY AND JAMES.
AND JUST THE ENTIRE BOARD HAS BEEN GREAT, EVEN THE PAST BOARD MEMBERS.
BUT IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO SERVE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND TO WORK HERE.
AND I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
AND I'M GOING ON SABBATICAL UNTIL I FIGURE OUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NEXT.
[LAUGHTER] SO FOR NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE REPRIEVE.
2 IN 1 EVENING REALLY ISN'T FAIR.
BUT I'M HERE NOW TO OFFER A TRIBUTE OF APPRECIATION TO TRUSTEE JAMES MCCURTIS.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE COME AND JOIN ME AS WELL.
WE KNEW WHEN TRUSTEE MCCURTIS JOINED US THAT IT WOULD BE FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD COMING AFTER THE NOMINATION, THE FILING DEADLINE FOR TRUSTEE AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT THING THAT WAS ASKED OF TRUSTEE MCCURTIS, WHICH WAS TO COME UP TO SPEED ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE BOARD DOES AND TO CONTRIBUTE RIGHT AWAY.
AND HE MET THAT CHALLENGE WITH FLYING COLORS.
[00:45:02]
TO HELP US THROUGH SOME OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES THAT I'VE DEALT WITH WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD.WHEREAS AFTER HE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, JAMES MCCURTIS MOVED TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN 2001, SERVING AS A REPORTER WITH THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL COVERING MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEREAS, MR. MCCURTIS BEGAN HIS SERVICE TO THE INTERESTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN 2023 WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WHEREAS, UPON A VACANCY IN THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, MR. MCCURTIS SOUGHT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN HIS SERVICE TO THE TOWNSHIP AND WAS APPOINTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN JUNE OF 2024.
AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS TENURE AS TRUSTEE TRUSTEE MCCURTIS HAS ABLY REPRESENTED THE INTERESTS OF THE BOARD AND CITIZENS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, HELPING TO ADOPT A BALANCED BUDGET, NAVIGATING CHALLENGING AND PRESSING ISSUES, AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE SELECTION OF THE NEW TOWNSHIP MANAGER.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, WE WISH PUBLICLY TO RECOGNIZE, COMMEND AND THANK JAMES MCCURTIS FOR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND IMPACTS ON THE WORK OF THIS BOARD AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, WE'VE LEARNED OUR LESSON NOW COME OVER HERE.
GREAT JOB. PLEASE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
SO MY CAREER OR WHAT HAVE YOU WITH THE TOWNSHIP IS NOT THAT SHORT LIVED.
I PLAN ON SERVING THE COMMISSION OR SERVING THE TOWNSHIP IN OTHER CAPACITIES.
I, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL HEARD, I WAS A REPORTER AT THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL.
SO I'VE BEEN IN THIS TOWNSHIP FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS RAISED MY THREE SONS HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, TOO IN MOBILE FOOD PANTRY AND ALL THAT TO RESIDENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP, BUT WE WERE APPROACHED TO HAVE A FUNDRAISER FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, AND THAT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
SO MY WIFE, CYNTHIA, AND I HELD A FUNDRAISER AT MY HOUSE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME AND SUPPORTED THAT, AND THAT GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION TO REALLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT WAS TANGIBLE, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN AND REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND RAISE MONEY TO HELP WITH OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
SO WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, I STARTED TO APPLY FOR, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND AGAIN, GOT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THIS CAME ABOUT, REALLY WANTING TO SERVE AND ONE OF THE HIGHEST CAPACITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND MY WORK ISN'T DONE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING MORE.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS ON THE BOARD, WHO IS ON THE BOARD WITH HELPING ME TO GET ACCLIMATED AND GET CAUGHT UP ON ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD. YOU'VE ALL BEEN GREAT, AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL OF YOU, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE IN OTHER CAPACITIES WITH THE TOWNSHIP.
[APPLAUSE] OKAY. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE TOWNSHIP BUSINESS MUST CONTINUE ON SADLY THAT IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
OUR CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANY CITIZENS ARE WISHING TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD THIS EVENING, IF YOU COULD PLEASE FILL OUT A GREEN CARD AND HAND THAT TO ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
WE'D VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? I DO HAVE ONE GREEN CARD FROM BARBARA O'KELLY WHO APPEARS TO HAVE STEPPED OUT PERHAPS.
[00:50:03]
NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SIX, INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT.[6. INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER SCHMITT IS HERE TO GIVE IT.THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR. SO DIRECTOR MASSEY AND CHIEF HAMEL ARE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY AED PROGRAM, AND THIS WILL COME FORWARD TO THE BOARD WITH SOME MORE DETAILS IN THE FUTURE.
I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF KICK IT OFF, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF THESE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR STRIKER CONTRACT, WE GET BETTER PRICING. AND SO WE'RE DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM TO ESSENTIALLY RUN IT THROUGH US TO HELP BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM AT A REDUCED RATE. THIS ALSO GETS US FURTHER ALONG TOWARDS A HEART SAFE COMMUNITY DESIGNATION, WHICH IS A GOAL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS THIS IS HOW YOU SAVE LIVES.
AND SO CHIEF HAMEL HAS PRESENTED THIS TO THE EDC, WHICH IS ACTING AS THE FIDUCIARY FOR THE PROJECT AND WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD DETAILS OF THIS AT THE NEAR FUTURE WITH SPECIFICS ON THE PROJECT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO CURRENTLY GOING, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN EXPAND THIS GREATLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE THROUGHOUT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
EXCUSE ME ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP IS ON BOARD WITH OUR PROPOSAL.
EXCUSE ME FOR UTILIZING OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THEIR BUILDING SERVICES.
SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT CONTRACT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE JUST HAVE TO FINISH UP THE LANGUAGE ON THAT.
SPEAKING OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, WE HAVE POSTED FOR OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE MR. HECKAMAN TO STAY ON MUCH LONGER.
HE HAS SERVED THIS TOWNSHIP ABLY FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS AND IS A PHENOMENAL BUILDING OFFICIAL.
HUGE LOSS FOR US, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME RECRUITING HERE.
PLANTE MORAN IS CURRENTLY ON BOARD WORKING THROUGH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE PLANTE MORAN GROUP, LED BY KARI SHEA.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO HELP US OUT HERE.
JUST A REMINDER ON A COUPLE OF THINGS COMING UP.
FARMERS MARKET MURAL DEDICATION IS THE 23RD AFTER THE MARKET.
AND SO PROBABLY ABOUT 2:30 WILL BE THE DEDICATION.
AND THEN THE SWEARING IN FOR THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR THE PARKS COMMISSION.
WE'LL BE ON THE 20TH HERE IN TOWN HALL ROOM AT ABOUT NOON, SINCE THAT'S WHEN THE TERM STARTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BOTH PHENOMENAL PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING UNDER YOU AND FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER SCHMITT? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT UP IS BOARD MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES ANDANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE REPORTS THIS EVENING? TREASURER DESCHAINE. THANK YOU.HELLO. TRUSTEE WILSON, I THINK I HAD HER HAND UP FIRST.
DOESN'T MATTER. I OFTEN GO FIRST.
PLEASE GO FIRST. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WILSON.
I ATTENDED THE CRC COMMUNITY RESOURCE COMMISSION LAST WEEK.
THEY RECEIVED A $10,000 AMENDMENT TO THEIR BUDGET, SO THEY HAD $50,000 TO SPEND THIS YEAR.
THEY HAVE ALREADY SPENT 44,000, SO THEY ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO FULLY UTILIZING THEIR BUDGET.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON COLLECTING MONEY CONTRIBUTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN OFFER HOLIDAY BASKETS TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEY HAVE ASSEMBLED A SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO FEED ABOUT 280 FAMILIES FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
SO I'M REALLY THRILLED TO BRING YOU THAT NEWS.
THANK YOU. THE THEME OF THIS MEETING IS COMMITMENT TO OUR MERIDIAN COMMUNITY.
TED FERRIS WAS HERE EARLIER, AND ANOTHER LONGTIME SCOUT LEADER, JIM WINSAN, IS HERE.
YOU KNOW, SCOUTING REALLY BUILDS COMMUNITY.
[00:55:02]
AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THESE ADULTS THAT GIVE COUNTLESS HOURS TO MAKE SCOUTING WORK.AND SCOUTING NOW INCLUDES YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG MEN.
SO THERE ARE, IN FACT, SOME YOUNG WOMEN ARE PART OF THE SCOUTING USA MOVEMENT HERE EARLIER.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO THANK ALEXIS MANSOUR AND BILL MCCONNELL FOR THEIR SUPERB SERVICE.
I SERVED UNDER THE ZBA WITH ALEXIA, AND SHE WAS A VERY GOOD AS DESCRIBED BY DAN AND OTHERS.
IT'S A TOUGH JOB. AND SHE DID IT VERY, VERY WELL.
AND BILL WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING LEADER.
YOU REALLY HAVE TURNED THE OFFICE AROUND IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THANK YOU. AND, JAMES, MY GOSH, THE JOB YOU'VE DONE IN SIX MONTHS HERE PUT THE REST OF US TO SHAME.
IT TOOK ME YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU FIGURED OUT IN JUST A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
SO YOU WERE GREAT. AND I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CLOSE.
YOU SEE, FROM THE PICTURES UP THERE, WE DO HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TURNOVER ON THIS BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] AND WE HOPE YOU'LL BE AROUND, BECAUSE I KNOW IF THERE WAS ANOTHER APPOINTMENT THAT THIS BOARD HAD TO MAKE, YOU WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF MY LIST. SO THANKS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
OKAY. I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
AND WE HAD A HUGE PRESENTATION ON THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PARK SAFE PROGRAM.
SO YOU ALL JUST KIND OF HEARD FROM CHIEF HAMEL TONIGHT ABOUT THE CARDIAC AWARENESS, THE AEDS THAT ARE BEING PUT INTO THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS SAVING LIVES.
SO ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR SPONSORSHIP OR WE'RE GOING TO SPONSOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AT THE MERIDIAN MALL.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2ND.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A COLORFUL ENJOYABLE EVENT OF CULTURE.
SO AND WE JUST DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, THE CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR AND THE BUDGET.
SO THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT FOR THE EDC MEETING THIS MONTH.
CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
SO FURTHER ON ON THE AGENDA IS THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.
AND SO SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.
AND SO THAT TOOK QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO RESEARCH IT.
AND IT ENDED UP BEING LIKE A TEN MINUTE SPECIAL FEATURE PIECE.
AND THEN IRONICALLY, ONE OF THE LAST ITEMS THAT I DID WAS A RESOLUTION AND FEATURE OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AS PART OF THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY THAT WE DID.
HISTORY IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
TRANSITIONS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.
AND SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO NOKOMIS.ORG.
THEY DO HAVE WEEKLY LESSONS ON THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE.
THEY HAVE NATIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, AND THEY HAVE NATIVE CRAFTING CLASSES THAT ARE COMING UP THIS NOVEMBER AND IN DECEMBER, AND THEY DO HAVE SALE OF ITEMS THERE THAT HELP SUPPORT THE NOKOMIS THE NOKOMIS CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER.
I'M SO USED TO SAYING WHAT THEIR NAME USED TO BE.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEIR NEW NAME IS.
SO PLEASE DO SUPPORT THEM AND THE RICH CULTURE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
OTHER THAN THAT ELECTIONS, I DO HAVE SOME ELECTION RESULT NUMBERS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
THE RESULTS BY PRECINCT AND SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND IN THE INGHAM COUNTY WEBSITE, OF COURSE.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAD A 97% RETURN RATE ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
ALMOST 15,000 ABSENTEE BALLOTS WERE ISSUED.
SO IMAGINE ELECTION WORKERS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE BACK IN THE A.V.
[01:00:10]
VOTERS, IT TOOK QUITE AN ENDEAVOR.AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THAT.
WE ALMOST WE HAD ALMOST 5500 EARLY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, SUPER SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE HAD LESS THAN 500 IN FEBRUARY, AND WE HAD LESS THAN 400 IN AUGUST. AND IN NOVEMBER WE HAD ALMOST 5500 BLEW US AWAY HOW MANY EARLY VOTERS THAT WE HAD IN HERE? THE LOBBY WAS PACKED.
SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHAT THE LOBBY CAPACITY WAS.
[LAUGHTER] THERE'S NOTHING LISTED FOR THE LOBBY, SO WE'RE OKAY.
MAYBE THAT'S A FUTURE PROJECT, CHIEF HAMEL, I HEARD YOU SAYING YOU WANTED SOMETHING TO WORK ON.
WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 6000 VOTERS WHO VOTED AT THE POLLS.
SO WE HAD OVER IN COMBINATION OF EARLY ABSENTEE AND VOTERS AT THE POLL, WE HAD OVER 26,000 VOTERS OUT OF ALMOST 31,000, A LITTLE BIT OVER 31,000 VERIFIED VOTERS, WHICH IS 84% PARTICIPATION RATE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS FANTASTIC VOTERS.
WE HAVE THEY'RE LIKE, SUPER POLITE.
THEY ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND I JUST I THINK MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS THE BEST THE BEST PUBLIC RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ELECTION WORKERS. DAWN ORR IS HERE.
SHE'S BEEN ONE OF OUR ELECTION WORKERS FOR YEARS.
I'M SUPER APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR TIME THAT YOU SPENT.
AND YOU WERE HERE FOR EARLY VOTING ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT.
THE ELECTION WORKERS WERE STUCK.
SO WE HAD TO ORDER FOOD FOR EVERYONE AND SAY, PLEASE GO EAT.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TAKE A BREATH.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS HERE FOR EARLY VOTING, BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT.
SO DEFINITELY PROUD OF THE ELECTION SECURITY MEASURES THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE.
AND I KNOW THAT THE TWO CHIEFS WILL WORK WITH THE NEXT CLERK ON CONTINUING THE ELECTION SECURITY MEASURES, AND I'M MEETING WITH THE NEW CLERK THIS FRIDAY, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER MEETINGS WITH HER AS WELL TO TRANSITION THE POSITION OVER.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, AND HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HER TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH AT THE DIFFERENT POLLING LOCATIONS AND SOME OF OUR ELECTION WORKERS AS WELL.
I'M WILLING. MY CALENDAR IS OPEN, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
MAY I PIGGYBACK ONTO CLERK GUTHRIE? AS A FOUNDER OF THE OKEMOS LEARNING CENTER WITH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN 1988, I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE NOKOMIS HOLIDAY GIFT SALE WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER.
SO IT'S TWO SATURDAYS AND I BELIEVE IT'S SUNDAY FROM TEN UNTIL FIVE AT THE CENTER.
IT'D BE WONDERFUL IF YOU COULD SUPPORT THEM.
I WANT TO THANK DEB FOR THE ELECTION SHE RAN THIS YEAR.
THE ELECTIONS SHE RAN THIS YEAR.
I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE NUMBERS THAT TURNED OUT THE EARLY VOTING, BUT I THINK YOU FORGOT TO MENTION ONE UNIQUE ACTIVITY THAT THE CLERK DID THIS YEAR.
AND THAT WAS SETTING UP A REMOTE SATELLITE OFFICE AT MSU WITH THEIR EARLY VOTING CENTER.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND STUDENTS AT MSU WHO THINK THEY VOTE AT MSU OR IN EAST LANSING, AND ACTUALLY OUR MERIDIAN RESIDENTS, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO INTERCEPT A NUMBER OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YOU MAY HAVE REGISTERED, GIVEN THEM ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AND THAT CONTRIBUTED TO OUR VOTE OUTCOME AND OUR VOTE TOTALS. AND IT WAS A NICE ADDITION.
AND I'M SURE IN ALL YOUR SPARE TIME LEADING UP TO THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE ELECTION, SPENDING THREE DAYS OR SENDING YOUR STAFF FOR THREE DAYS OVER TO MSU TO REGISTER VOTERS WAS AN IMPOSITION, BUT IT WAS A VERY GOOD ONE.
WE HAD ABOUT 25 AT THE SATELLITE OFFICE REGISTER ON ELECTION DAY AND GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
[01:05:01]
THERE WAS 230 OR SO.SO OVER 200 OF THEM WERE HERE AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE ON ELECTION DAY THAT WE REGISTERED.
WONDERFUL. JUST TO GIVE YOU THAT NUMBER.
THANK YOU. I'LL ADD MY REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL.
I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH TOWNSHIP PROSECUTOR CULLEN HARKNESS.
HIS CONTRACT IS COMING UP IN APRIL.
SO WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO BE HEARING FROM HIM IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS HERE AS HE'S PREPARING FOR THAT.
I MET WITH THE SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER TASK FORCE AS MR. ROBINSON PRESENTED ON THIS EVENING.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME OF THESE SITES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME MORE POSITIVE MOMENTUM ON THAT.
IS WE ARE CONDUCTING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR PROGRESSIVE AE.
SO THEY'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR CURRENT SENIOR CENTER AND EXPANDING ALSO, I BELIEVE, INTO OTHER SENIOR GROUPS IN THE AREA TO IDENTIFY WHAT WE CAN BRING INTO THIS FACILITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE.
I DID WANT TO ADD YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT ALEXIA HAS LEFT, BUT I DID SERVE ON THE ZBA WITH ALEXIA MANSOUR AS WELL FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ZBA.
AND ALL OF THE PLAUDITS THAT SHE WAS GIVEN THIS EVENING ARE DEFINITELY WELL EARNED.
THOSE MEETINGS ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.
AND HER EVEN KEELED TEMPERAMENT FROM THE CHAIR SEAT ON THAT COMMISSION IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE REASONS OR MAYBE THE REASON THAT THAT BODY HAS CONTINUED TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT HAS.
BUT CERTAINLY THOSE WERE CHANGES THAT WERE NECESSARY AND HAVE IMPROVED AND STREAMLINED THAT BODY.
AND CHAIRMAN MANSOUR WAS A BIG PART IN HELPING TO MAKE THAT ALL HAPPEN.
AND SO I WANTED TO ADD MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO HER AS WELL.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, BILL MCCONNELL, WHO I SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT BILL MCCONNELL.
THE SHEER ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AND DRIVE AND PASSION THAT HE BRINGS TO NOT JUST THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
YOU CAN FEEL HIS EXCITEMENT WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE ON THE BOARD, WE GET TO HEAR IT.
ONCE A YEAR WHEN HE COMES IN AND PRESENTS AT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING.
AND SO I THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE'RE NOT LETTING GO OF YOU YET.
AT THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.
WE ARE HAVING A DEDICATION FOR THE NEW FARMER'S MARKET MURAL.
SO FEEL FREE TO STOP BY AND TAKE A PEEK AT THAT.
THAT'S 2 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 23RD.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
SO MOVED. SECOND.SUPPORT MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
ANY CHANGES OR UPDATES TO THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 9 COMMUNICATIONS.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
SORRY. CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.
INCLUDING THIS COMMUNICATIONS.
THE MINUTES FROM OUR OCTOBER 15TH MEETING.
THE BILLS, A RESOLUTION TO SET A SPECIAL MEETING DATE FOR A RETREAT ON NOVEMBER 23RD.
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH INGHAM COUNTY FOR THE FIRE EMERGENCY BOAT LAUNCH.
THE INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER FROM 2024.
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.
[01:10:01]
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.AND THE PLACEMENT OF DELINQUENT SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, DELINQUENT UTILITIES, FALSE ALARMS, UNPAID LAWN LOT MOWING, CODE VIOLATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES ONTO THE WINTER TAX ROLL FOR 2024. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO YOU HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORT.
SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? TREASURER DESCHAINE. THANK YOU.
INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT, COULD YOU BRING UP THE BOARD PACKET ON THE SCREEN FOR US AND TURN TO PAGE 53? THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT IS INCLUDED HERE.
AND SINCE IT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $42 MILLION, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE A MINUTE.
SO I'M PASSING OUT THE OLD FORMAT, AND I WANT TO AT LEAST TIE BACK SOME NUMBERS FOR YOU.
ON PAGE 43 IF YOU LOOK AT ELECTRONICALLY ON THE PACKET.
YEAH, THERE'S THE COVER AND THEN TABLE OF CONTENTS.
AND THEN THIS SCREEN HERE IS A BIT OF A DASHBOARD AND YOU'LL SEE THAT PORTFOLIO VALUE 42192791, WHICH RELATES TO THE TOTALS ON THE PAGE THAT YOU'RE USED TO GETTING OF ALL FIXED AND NON-FIXED INVESTMENTS.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT NUMBER TIES BACK.
THE GOAL IS IF YOU'RE BUSY, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE IN DETAIL.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS ONE SCREEN AND GET A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF IT SHOWS YOU HOW MANY DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS WERE INVESTED IN PURCHASE YIELD, WHICH GO BACK UP FOR A SECOND.
AS LONG AS RATES STAY HIGH AND THEY HAVE STAYED HIGH, WE'LL BE WELL SERVED BY THAT AVERAGE COUPON AVERAGE INTEREST RATE ON THEM AND THE MATURITY ONE AND A HALF YEARS. MOVING OVER TO THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE HOW IT'S WHAT THE INVESTMENTS ARE FOR MOST OF IT'S A GENERAL FUND INVESTMENTS THOUGH A LOT OF IT IS ENCUMBERED GENERAL FUNDS, INVESTMENTS.
WE WISH TO SEE IN THE MONEY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH.
IT'S DOWN TO $19,700,000 NOW, THIS IS VERY TYPICAL.
WE GET ALL OF OUR MONEY IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND WE SPEND IT DOWN UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER.
SO WE'RE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE FOR THAT.
MICHIGAN CLASS IS AN INVESTMENT POOL AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MICHIGAN.
IT'S VERY LIQUID. WE CAN GET ALL THAT CASH AS QUICKLY AS WE NEED, SAME DAY IF WE NEED TO, BUT IT PAYS THE SAME RATE AS A FOUR YEAR CD OR SORRY, FOUR YEAR TREASURY. ON THE BOTTOM IT HAS MBS THAT STANDS FOR MULTI-BANK SECURITIES, AND THAT'S AN AGGREGATOR OF ABOUT A HALF DOZEN DIFFERENT FANNIE MAE FEDERAL TREASURIES AND OTHER BONDS THAT WE HOLD.
AND THEN SOME MONEY IS ALSO IN CHECKING ACCOUNTS, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE FORM OF CDS.
SO THAT'S A QUICK SNAPSHOT TYING IT BACK HERE TO THE OLD FORMAT.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER DOZEN PAGES OF DETAIL THERE.
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO REFINE IT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT ROBINSON CAPITAL.
THEY ARE OUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR.
THEY PULL ALL THIS MONEY OFF OF OUR CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT AT HUNTINGTON BANK.
OKAY. THE AUDITORS WOULD EVENTUALLY CUT IT.
OKAY. BUT NONETHELESS, THE BOARD REPORT CAME FROM THE BOARD.
IN THIS CASE, ROBINSON CAPITAL.
SO ANYWAY, PLEASE SEND ME SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS IF YOU LIKE IT.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO REFINE IT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT.
IT IS MUCH EASIER TO READ THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE.
[01:15:03]
WE AREN'T WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR FINGERS IN THERE.SET A DATE THAT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED FOR OCTOBER.
I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER 23RD, TEN IN THE MORNING.
OH. YES, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT.
YEAH, WE'VE HAD IT AT THE FIRE STATION IN THE PAST, I THINK.
YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AVAILABLE.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO EITHER LOCATION.
UNLESS THE CHIEF TELLS ME IN THE NEXT FEW SECONDS HERE THAT HE IS AWARE.
I DON'T REALLY NEED TO KNOW THE PLACE RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS AN OPEN MEETING TO THE PUBLIC.
YES, IT WILL BE POSTED AT LEAST SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE.
SO THE LOCATION CAN BE PUT THEN.
YES. LET US CONFIRM INTERNALLY THEIR THE BENEFITS OF THIS ROOM.
OBVIOUSLY IF WE NEED TO PULL SOMETHING UP, WE CAN PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN.
I GOT ACCESS TO THE NETWORK BENEFIT OF THE FIRE STATIONS.
A LITTLE BETTER ROOM TO HAVE THAT KIND OF MEETING IN.
SO WE'LL DISCUSS IT INTERNALLY TOMORROW AND WE'LL GET WITH THE BOARD IN OUR FRIDAY UPDATE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE, WILL CLERK GUTHRIE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
YES. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM TEN.
QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY. WE HAVE NONE.
[12.A. Williamstown Township Police Agreement ]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.ALSO, OUTSIDE OF THOSE 80 HOURS, WE RESPOND TO CALLS AS WELL.
SO THE CURRENT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WRITTEN UP PROVIDES 40 HOURS OF PATROL SERVICE UNTIL APRIL OF 25, AT WHICH TIME I ANTICIPATE I WILL HAVE THE STAFFING NUMBERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH UP TO 60 HOURS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS FOR.
I TOOK THIS AGREEMENT TO WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD TWO WEEKS AGO AND THEY APPROVED IT.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT IT.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
WE DISCUSSED THIS AT SOME LENGTH AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENT.
TRUSTEE WILSON. THERE'S A NEW SUPERVISOR OF WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP, EFFECTIVE LAST TUESDAY.
HAVE YOU HAD COMMUNICATION WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL? I HAVE NOT, BUT I COMMUNICATED WITH SUPERVISOR BLOOMQUIST LAST WEEK REGARDING SETTING UP A MEETING.
[01:20:04]
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SET UP A DAY FOR THAT.IT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE'LL HAVE BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE DISCUSSION.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGE IN POLICY OR STRUCTURE OR.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR A MOTION? [INAUDIBLE] SCROLL SCROLL SCROLL.
TRUSTEE TREZISE. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2027 FOR EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSES OUTSIDE THE 60 HOURS OF WEEKLY PATROL, AND TO AUTHORIZE A SUPERVISOR AND CLERK TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
SUPPORT. MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
WILL CLERK GUTHRIE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
TRUSTEE TREZISE. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 B, THE PA 152 HEALTH CARE COSTS.
[12.B. PA 152 Health Care Costs]
AND FOR THIS WE HAVE INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT.SO THIS IS ONE HALF OF THE DISCUSSION WE PREVIOUSLY HAD AT THE LAST MEETING, THE BOARD INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO WAIVE THE HARD CAP UNDER PA 152 TO ALLOW THE TOWNSHIP TO PICK UP THE APPROXIMATELY $134,000 OVER THE HARD CAP. BY WAY OF REMINDER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN UNDER THE HARD CAP SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
ON AVERAGE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S 200.
WE'VE BEEN UNDER $212,000 ON AVERAGE.
AND IT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAP ONLY WENT UP 2/10 OF 1%.
WE HAD IT GONE UP AT A NORMAL RATE.
STILL SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS THERE IS A CHANCE THIS IS A ONE TIME WAIVER.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SHOULD THE BOARD CHOOSE TO MAKE THIS PIECE OF THE REQUEST APPROVED.
ONCE WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME MORE MATH AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK, AND WE'LL BRING THAT DISCUSSION BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. OKAY.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION OR A MOTION TO BE MADE? TRUSTEE WILSON.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE ANNUAL EXEMPTION OPTION.
SECTION 8 AS SET FORTH IN 2011.
PUBLIC ACT 152, THE PUBLICLY FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION ACT.
BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
ANY DISCUSSION? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ADOPTED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TRUSTEE TREZISE? YES. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS.
MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S A SURPRISE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CONTINUE TO BE FACED WITH THE CAP GOING FORWARD, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTINUE THIS FOREVER.
IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF THEIR INSURANCE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S PROBABLY EXTREMELY UNUSUAL THAT.
BUT SINCE WE HAVE BEEN BELOW THE CAP FOR MANY YEARS I'M OKAY WITH DOING THIS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SHOCK TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
BUT IN THE FUTURE, I'M NOT COMMITTING TO DO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN CONTINUE.
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE COST OF INSURANCE OTHER THAN NEGOTIATING DIFFERENT COVERAGES WHICH THE EMPLOYEES WOULD FACE LIMITATIONS ON THAT.
JUST WANT TO LET OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT THIS I DON'T SEE THIS AS A ETERNAL COMMITMENT.
[01:25:01]
THAT'S ALL. BOARD MEMBERS.YEAH. I'LL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THIS AT THIS TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WE SHOULDN'T PULL THE RUG OUT ON FOLKS IN THIS WAY.
I MEAN, IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT.
IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR, AND IT WOULD NOT BE IN GOOD FAITH TO DO SO.
CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN A BOON TO OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT CAME AT NO COST.
MOST MUNICIPALITIES, I'D WAGER TO SAY THE MAJORITY OF MUNICIPALITIES, GO THROUGH THIS SAME PROCESS EVERY YEAR AND ARE NOT ABLE TO COVER THE COSTS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT WOULDN'T BE COVERED OVER THE HARD CAP.
AND SO CERTAINLY WE SHOULDN'T PULL THE RUG OUT.
BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS THIS EVENING.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. SEEING NONE, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
YES. AND CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES.
THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 C THE MANAGER REVIEW PROCESS.
[12.C. Township Manager Performance Review Process]
AND THIS ONE I WILL PRESENT.AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
THIS PROCESS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE LOOKED TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO.
AND WHAT'S BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS THE PROCESS THAT I HAVE CREATED IN CONSULTATION WITH DIRECTOR TITHOF AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
THE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES ESSENTIALLY WOULD ALLOW FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SEVERAL OF THEM EACH YEAR PICKED AT RANDOM FROM THE VARIOUS BARGAINING UNITS AS WELL AS OUR AT WILL EMPLOYEES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS OF OFFERING FEEDBACK, ON THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE IN TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, WHICH WILL ASSIST US WITH DRAFTING THE ANNUAL MANAGER'S REVIEW.
THE DETAILS ARE ALL IN THE PROCESS DOCUMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU IN YOUR BOARD PACKETS.
AND SO WE DID DISCUSS THIS, I BELIEVE, TWO MEETINGS AGO, MAYBE THREE, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE.
AND SO THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE IS PRESENTED HERE FOR YOUR REVIEW.
GIVEN THE TIMING OF IT, WE MAY IMPLEMENT IT FIRST OF NEXT YEAR.
ANY BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE MCCURTIS. NO QUESTIONS.
I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. PLEASE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? TRUSTEE TREZISE. I'VE BEEN THROUGH SEEMS LIKE DOZENS OF THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVALUATIONS FOR IN VARIOUS POSITIONS.
AND THIS ISN'T PERFECT, BUT IT IS A REAL GOOD STEP TOWARDS BEING BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.
I THINK BRINGING OUR EMPLOYEES INVOLVED AS A PART OF THE PROCESS IS A PLUS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THROUGH WITH THIS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PREPARING THIS, ALONG WITH DIRECTOR TITHOF.
TRUSTEE MCCURTIS. I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT TRUSTEE TREZISE SAYS.
TO HAVE THAT BUY IN MAKES EVERYONE FEEL LIKE THEY WERE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.
AND SO I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
[01:30:03]
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WITH COMMENTS TO SHARE? CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU.I TOO COMMEND YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO HAVE THE RULES AND PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FOR THE BOARD AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES THAT THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE WORKED SO HARD ON IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE WORK DONE ON THE MANAGER'S CONTRACT FOR ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON AND HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH STAFF TO IMPROVE THE INTERNAL CULTURE HERE AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE SUPERVISOR TO WORK WITH THE INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER TO GET THE OTHER POLICIES THAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE COMPLETED TWO, THREE, THREE MONTHS AGO IN FRONT OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO HAVE THOSE APPROVED AS WELL TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.
TREASURER DESCHAINE. I DO LIKE THE NEW FORM.
ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHER HANDS RAISED, THIS DOES NOT REALLY HAVE ANY MONEY ATTACHED TO IT.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE A ROLL CALL IS NECESSARY.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. LASTLY, ON OUR ACTION ITEMS AGENDA THIS EVENING IS ITEM 12 D THE CATA REDI-RIDE
[12.D. CATA Redi-Ride Millage]
MILLAGE. TREASURER DESCHAINE HAS PRESENTED MATERIAL TO US AT OUR PLACES HERE, WHICH I'M SURE WE WILL MAKE SURE IT FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE ELECTRONIC PACKET FOR THIS IN PERPETUITY.TREASURER DESCHAINE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT? THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT WE WERE GIVING IT TO YOU AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND WE'RE NOT SO TIME SENSITIVE.
IN 2019 MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP VOTERS APPROVED OF THE CATA REDI-RIDE MILLAGE MERIDIAN REDI-RIDE MILLAGE TO PAY FOR REDI-RIDE PARATRANSIT AT A COST OF 0.1971 OR 2 MILLS, OR ABOUT $27 PER HOUSEHOLD, OR $433,000 A YEAR FOR ALL MERIDIAN TAXPAYERS.
CATA ALSO COLLECTS A REGULAR MILLAGE OF 2.989 MILLS, ALMOST THREE $410 PER HOUSEHOLD.
THAT'S THE CATA STANDARD SERVICE CATEGORY RECENTLY APPROVED THEIR NEW BUDGET.
CATA AT THE SAME TIME, HAS TOLD US THEY'RE WILLING TO SIGN A NEW SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH US.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF REDI-RIDE SERVICE WITHOUT THE MILLAGE.
YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT? WELL, THE KEY IS THIS NUMBER UP ABOVE 6.5, $6,576,000.
THAT'S WHAT WE PAY CATA EVERY YEAR.
CATA KNOWS VERY WELL WE DON'T USE $6.5 MILLION OF SERVICES.
AND SO, AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF MERIDIAN VOTERS WHO JUST VOTED TO RENEW THE CATA MILLAGE, BY THE WAY, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTY DID. THEY'VE AGREED TO REMOVE THE CATA REDI-RIDE MILLAGE.
IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING.
AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM CATA.
SO THAT'S THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF IT.
THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING THIS MONEY.
AND YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT THE TOP OF THE LAST PAGE OF THIS PACKET, HE SAYS, PHIL, BASED ON THEIR COMPLETE REWRITE OF OUR LETTER, IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE BOARD SHOULD NOT REMOVE THE CATA REDI-RIDE MILLAGE.
MATT'S CONCERN WAS, WHAT IF BRAD LEAVES? WHAT IF BRAD'S GONE? WE HAVEN'T ASSESSED THIS MILLAGE, AND NOW WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR IT.
I SPOKE WITH BRAD AND SAID, BRAD, WE APPRECIATE THE GESTURE, BUT WE CAN'T ACT ON IT UNTIL WE HAVE A NEW LETTER FROM YOU OR A SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION FROM YOUR ATTORNEY THAT STATES THAT YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING THAT THE MILLAGE IN 20 AT THE END OF 2024 THE UPCOMING
[01:35:11]
TAX BILLS. AND IF YOU TURN TO THE SECOND PAGE, THE BRAD WRITES CONFIRMATION FROM LINDSAY THAT THE MILLAGE NEED NOT BE LEVIED AND THEN THEIR LEGAL LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT.SO WE'VE GOT THE PRACTICAL SIDE CATA IS NOT EXPECTING THIS MONEY ADMINISTRATION.
AND NOW THE LEGAL COUNSEL CONFIRMS IT WITH THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE 2024 2025 BUDGET. SO WE'RE I THINK MATT BELIEVES WE'RE IN THE CLEAR NOT TO ASSESS THE REDI-RIDE MILLAGE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
SAYS SHE WOULD LIKE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD THAT STATES THAT WE ARE ACTING AFFIRMATIVELY NOT TO COLLECT THE MILLAGE, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE THE FIFTH AND FINAL YEAR OF THE MILLAGE THAT WE TO BE COLLECTED.
FOR EITHER WAY, CATA WILL CONTINUE NEXT YEAR PROVIDING REDI-RIDE WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL MILLAGE.
SO AND THAT SERVICE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT IS UNDERWAY AND WE'LL HAVE IT SIGNED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S A LOT TO GIVE YOU HERE.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE STAND WITH IT REDI-RIDE.
AND BY THE WAY, IS BEING USED BY SENIORS, BEING USED BY PEOPLE WHO NEED PARATRANSIT OR NEED ASSISTED HELP, BUT IT'S ALSO BEING USED BY LOTS OF FAMILIES ALLOWING THEIR KIDS TO GO INTO TO AND FROM SPORTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OTHER WAYS.
SO IT'S REALLY BEING USED BY A BROADER PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED THE REDI-RIDE REACH.
IT GOES UP TO THE AQUATIC CENTER.
IT GOES TO THE MSU SERVICE CENTER.
THERE'S EVEN A PROPOSAL TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO MCLAREN.
SO WHATEVER WE TELL CATA, WE WANT THE REDI-RIDE TO GO.
IT WILL GO. SO THEY'RE VERY AGREEABLE TO IT.
SO THEY'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE WITH THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M PRESENTING TO YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE WILSON. SO ALL OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN JUST THE LAST SIX DAYS.
YES. THERE'S A LETTER AT THE BACK OF THIS DATED OCTOBER 11TH.
CATA WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REDI-RIDE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SERVICES.
AND THIS IS SIGNED BY THE CHAIR OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CATA.
SHOULD WE NOT EXPECT ANOTHER LETTER FROM CATA THAT CONFIRMS THEIR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO GO? THROUGH THIS LETTER, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET SIGNED? THIS WAS A YOU DON'T SEE IT.
I SEE THAT. IT WAS A DRAFT AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED SIGNED.
SO THEN THAT LED TO THIS CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MATT AND I, ABOUT WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THEM TO TAKE IT OFF THE BALLOT? AND THEN THAT'S WHEN MATT BEGAN SPEAKING WITH THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL.
I ASKED MATT THE SAME QUESTION DO WE NEED A LETTER? HE SAYS WE DO NOT NEED A LETTER.
I SPOKE WITH THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING IT.
AND ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE US A FORMAL LETTER.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE LEGAL COUNSEL HAS INFORMED US THAT WE HAVE NO NEED TO COLLECT IT.
THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING IT, AND THEY WILL SIGN A NEW SERVICE AGREEMENT WITHOUT IT.
I'D BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A LETTER AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY I STARTED ASKING FOR THAT.
WE'RE IN THE CLEAR LEGALLY TO NOT COLLECT IT.
NOW BOARDS CAN CHANGE AND THE CEO CAN CHANGE THERE.
AND SO THAT'S MY CONCERN ON A GO FORWARD BASIS.
THAT WAS MATT'S CONCERN AS WELL.
BUT AND THAT'S WHY HE HAD THE DISCUSSION WITH THEIR ATTORNEY.
SO THEY COULDN'T COME BACK WITH US YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY, YOU SHOULD HAVE COLLECTED THIS.
SO WE COULD PUT RELIANCE ON THIS CHAIN OF EMAILS.
ACCORDING TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, WE CAN.
YEAH. SO HE WAS SKEPTICAL AS WELL UNTIL HE WAS SPEAKING WITH HER DIRECTLY.
IT JUST MAKES ME UNEASY NOT TO HAVE A FORMAL AGREEMENT.
[01:40:01]
I WOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE EITHER.BUT IN THIS CASE, HE SAID, WE'RE IN THE CLEAR AND WE DON'T NEED TO COLLECT IT.
YEAH. I THINK I'D POINT TO THE EMAIL OF NOVEMBER 12TH FROM THE ATTORNEY FOR CATA, DESIREE DIMOCK, AS A CATA BOARD APPROVED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP MILLAGE OF 0.2 MILLS PURSUANT TO OUR SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2019 SERVICE AGREEMENT WILL EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 AND NOT RENEW PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH TWO OF OUR AGREEMENT, CATA HAS RECEIVED ITS LAST MILLAGE PAYMENT FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP DOES NOT NEED TO LEVY ANY FURTHER TO FULFILL THE AGREEMENT.
ASKING THE QUESTION, IS THIS SUFFICIENT AND IS THERE AGREEMENT? YES. IT'S SUFFICIENT.
YES. AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND JUST TO CONFIRM, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR FIFTH PAGE OF THE PROVIDED MATERIALS, THAT THEY CONFIRMED THEIR INTENT TO HAVE A NEW SERVICE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF A DOLLAR.
YEAH. TO BASICALLY COMMEMORATE WHAT'S PRESENT HERE.
RIGHT ON A GO FORWARD BASIS FOR TWO YEARS.
I'M FEELING OKAY. TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, BUT IT APPEARS THAT WITH OUR ATTORNEY AND THEIR ATTORNEY THAT THESE EMAILS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A FORMAL LETTER, IS LEGALLY BINDING.
THAT'S. ITS LEGALLY BINDING? WITH THOSE WITH THE TWO COUNSELORS IN AGREEMENT AND THE EMAIL BEING A, YOU KNOW, A WRITTEN A WRITTEN DOCUMENT.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT WE CAN GET THE MINUTES FROM THIS CATA BOARD MEETING.
WHERE THEY STATE THAT THEY, THEY WILL NOT BE NEEDING ANY MORE MILLAGE SO WE CAN GET THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR TOWNSHIP, OUR INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER, OR YOU CAN ASK CATA FOR THESE MINUTES THAT WOULD THAT WE HAVE IT ON RECORD HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP THAT THEY AGREED TO THIS.
ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY PULLED THOSE MINUTES DOWN HIMSELF.
MAKES ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS, ARE WE COMFORTABLE MAKING A MOTION THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE OUR RULES.
OH, YES, THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THIS.
AND ALLOW US TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT TO SUSPEND OUR RULES? SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
SO WE HAVE SET ASIDE OUR RULES FOR THE EVENING TO TAKE THIS UP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS? TRUSTEE TREZISE. I'LL PROPOSE THE MOTION THAT THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD REMOVES THE REDI-RIDE MILLAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1971 MILLS FROM THE WINTER 2024 TAX ROLL.
SUPPORT. SUPPORT BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OF COURSE. YES.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. IN TERMS OF THE MILLAGE OR NOT? THE MILLAGE, BUT REDI-RIDE MILLAGE.
MY SON USED TO TAKE IT TO WHEN HE WENT TO AND FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
DOES THE COST OF IT CHANGE AT ALL GIVEN THE GIVEN THIS AGREEMENT? IT DOES NOT. IT IS STILL A STANDARD 250 RIDE, A DOLLAR AND A QUARTER, I BELIEVE, FOR STUDENTS AND HALF THAT FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
IN FACT, MERIDIAN CARES DIRECTOR, OUR MANAGER KATIE LOVES, TAKES UP, PASSES AND SELLS SEVERAL DOZEN A MONTH AT GRANGE ACRES AND OTHER SENIOR HOUSING FACILITIES AT $0.60 A RIDE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL SIMPLY ADD MY THANKS TO TREASURER DESCHAINE FOR KEEPING ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE.
[01:45:07]
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE, IT WAS A PIE IN THE SKY IDEA A COUPLE OF, YOU KNOW, A WHILE AGO HERE.IT'S NOT OFTEN WE GET TO TAKE A VOTE TO THAT HAS AN ACTUAL AND IMMEDIATE IMPACT TO REDUCE OUR RESIDENTS TAX BURDEN, BUT HERE WE ARE. AND IT'S THAT KIND OF FINANCIAL SCRUTINY AND, AND GOOD PUBLIC POLICY THAT WE'VE COME TO APPRECIATE FROM TREASURER DESCHAINE WORK.
TRUSTEE TREZISE. THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE IS THE MOTION THAT I PROPOSED.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 0.2 MILLS, AND I PUT IT DOWN AT 0.1971.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF A [INAUDIBLE]ROLLBACK.
CORRECT. SO IF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS OR LISTENING TO US AND ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE, THAT'S WHY WE WILL WE WILL NOT BE LEVYING ANY MILLAGE FOR REDI-RIDE IF THIS PASSES.
WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 13, THE BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE NONE. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM 15.
OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBERCOMMENTS]
ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO DISCUSS? I HAVE TWO ITEMS TO BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.ONE IS OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED WHETHER WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MANAGERIAL INTERVIEWS TELEVISED AS THAT IS A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE BOARD.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE DO DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A PUBLIC THEY'RE THE SAME INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE.
WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC RECEPTION THAT EVENING.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION FROM BOARD MEMBERS ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. ALSO NOTE TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, OR PERHAPS THEY'RE WATCHING AND HAVE ALREADY NOTED THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD MAKE ABOUT THAT.
I AGREE IT SHOULD BE TELEVISED.
RIGHT. SO WE WILL ASK THEM TO RESPECT THAT.
YES. AS WE DO WITH OUR AS WE HAVE WITH OUR BOARD INTERVIEWS AS WELL.
AND THEN JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
WILL THEY BE TELEVISED LIVE LIKE.
I HAVE A QUESTION. TRUSTEE WILSON.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY THAT APPLICANTS HAVE ASKED FOR.
I BELIEVE ONCE THEY GET TO THAT STAGE, THE CONFIDENTIALITY IS WAIVED AS A FINALIST.
FOR THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT REQUIREMENT AT THAT POINT.
YES. AND WE HAVE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE CANDIDATES IN OPEN SESSION FOR INTERVIEWS.
OKAY, GREAT. AND THE LAST BIT IS THE BOARD HAS BEEN CIRCULATED A NUMBER OF MATERIALS FROM AMY CELL TALENT. I'M HOPING THAT EVERYONE DID RECEIVE THOSE.
AND I DID FORWARD THOSE ALONG TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS SO THEY COULD BEGIN TO REVIEW THOSE AS WELL.
AND COME UP WITH IDEAS TO THAT MEETING AS WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE ANY CHANGES.
TRUSTEE WILSON. CAN I COMMENT? IF YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE 17 PROPOSED CANDIDATES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE US, IT WILL TAKE YOU PROBABLY AN HOUR TO REVIEW EVERY INDIVIDUAL.
SO DO SET ASIDE THAT TIME TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW PER CANDIDATE.
I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH TIME IT TOOK, AND I'M ABOUT TWO THIRDS THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THERE'S LOTS OF LOTS OF EXCITING MATERIAL TO REVIEW.
THAT'S RIGHT. SO ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS OR MATTERS? SEEING NONE, THE LAST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS TO ADJOURN.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SUPPORT. MOVED BY TRUSTEE MCCURTIS, SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.
[01:50:04]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 7:49 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.