Jan 07, 2025 Township Board

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[INAUDIBLE].

WELL, THIS IS JUST SORT OF A NOTICE OF THE SCHEDULE AS THE COMMUNICATION.

[INAUDIBLE].

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

[INAUDIBLE].

[1. CALL MEETING TOORDER]

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE JANUARY 7TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO ORDER.

FIRST ON OUR AGENDA IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR ALL WHO ARE ABLE.

PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

. AT THIS TIME, WE'D ASK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THE PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.

THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM THREE.

ROLL CALL. WILL CLERK DAVIS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? EVERYONE IS HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[4. PRESENTATION]

WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.

THE FIRST WILL BE FROM CHIEF GRILLO, AN INTRODUCTION OF OUR NEW POLICE OFFICER.

GOOD EVENING. GREAT WAY TO START 2025 IS WITH THE HIRING OF ONE OF OUR NEWEST RECRUITS, ABBEY GORDON.

ABBY IS FROM FLUSHING, MICHIGAN ORIGINALLY, AND SHE'S BEEN INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE SHE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND SHE HAS FAMILY THAT KNOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DID A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THE TYPE OF AGENCY THAT SHE WANTED TO WORK FOR.

AND FOUND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT SHE DID.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM U OF M FLINT.

SHE WAS ON THE DEAN'S LIST PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE TIME THAT SHE WAS THERE.

SHE MAJORED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITH A MINOR IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE? YES. AND DID A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US THROUGHOUT THE POLICE ACADEMY.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE WITH US TODAY.

HI EVERYONE.

JUST AS THE CHIEF SAID, I'VE WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED AND THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

ABBY, YOU WANT TO COME? TRY TO FOLLOW THE RULES HERE.

WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. WELCOME AND CHIEF GRILLO, IT REMAINS BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL GOOD NEWS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I DO? YES. I BROUGHT A WHOLE BUNCH OF FRIENDS WITH ME TODAY.

THANK GOODNESS. PROMOTIONS.

ANOTHER GREAT WAY FOR US TO START 2025.

ONE OF OUR NEEDS AS WE STARTED FILLING OUR RANKS, BECAME VERY APPARENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION FUNCTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ACCREDITATION AND THE TRAINING AND

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IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR US TO HAVE TO DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS DIVISION AND PROMOTE A LIEUTENANT TO OVERSEE THE DIVISION.

SO OUR CHOICE FOR THE PROMOTION WAS LIEUTENANT ED BESTON.

SO ED STARTED WITH US BACK IN 2006.

I WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS.

WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

HE HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE ASSET TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

VERY UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL IN HIS TRAINING.

HE'S A USE OF FORCE INSTRUCTOR.

HE IS OUR ACTIVE VIOLENCE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND JUST BUILDING SECURITY.

BUT HE ALSO TEACHES A CLASS CALLED VERBAL DEFENSE AND INFLUENCE, WHICH IS A DE-ESCALATION CLASS.

SO YOU THINK OF THE TWO KIND OF EXTREMES, THE USE OF FORCE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DE-ESCALATION AND HE MIXES BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER WHEN HE DOES HIS TRAINING.

SO IT'S VERY UNIQUE AND IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL TO US.

HE'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE ASSET TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE HIS PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT.

THE OTHER OFFICER I BROUGHT WITH ME IS SERGEANT DOUG STRAUSS.

DOUG STARTED WITH US ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

HE CAME TO US FROM SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, WHERE HE BEGAN HIS CAREER.

AND FUN FACT, THESE TWO ACTUALLY WENT TO THE SAME POLICE ACADEMY AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THEY OBVIOUSLY THEIR CAREERS OR CROSSED PATHS A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD HERE.

BUT DOUG'S BEEN WITH US FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW.

AGAIN, A VERY UNIQUE SKILL SET.

HE IS A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.

HE'S BEEN OUR ONE OF OUR GO TO FTOS.

SO ONE OF OUR FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS FOR MANY YEARS, BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR, AND WAS RECENTLY PUT INTO OUR INVESTIGATIONS UNIT WHERE HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

SO VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE BOTH SERGEANT DOUG STRAUSS AND LIEUTENANT ED BASTIAN.

DOES IT MAKE YOU TALK? YOU WOULDN'T ANYWAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

CHIEF. AM I DONE? I'M SORRY. YOU'RE ALL SET.

I MEAN, UNLESS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4C, AN UPDATE FROM THE SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER TASK FORCE AND WITH US THIS EVENING, WE HAVE STEVE VAGNOZZI, WHO SITS ON THAT TASK FORCE TO GIVE US OUR SCHEDULED REPORT.

OUR LAST MEETING OF THE TASK FORCE WAS ON NOVEMBER 19TH AND AT THAT MEETING WE GOT A PRESENTATION ON A NEEDS ASSESSMENT SESSION THAT WAS HELD.

ACTUALLY, THERE WERE MULTIPLE SESSIONS HELD.

ONE WAS SPECIFICALLY HELD FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.

30 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THAT SESSION.

GOT GOOD FEEDBACK AND WE ALSO LOOKED AT COMPARISON OF THE SENIOR SLASH COMMUNITY CENTERS IN SIMILAR IN THE, LANSING AREA AND ALSO FURTHER AWAY IN CENTERS IN TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS THAT WERE THAT WERE MORE LIKE OUR LIKE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND THEN WE IN THAT SPREADSHEET, THERE WAS INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND THE HOURS PER DAY.

TYPICALLY A FULL BLOWN COMMUNITY.

CENTERS HAVE MORE DAYS.

MORE HOURS.

THEN WE LOOKED AT JUST SOME OPERATIONAL COST FIGURES, AND I'M GOING TO SIMPLIFY IT BY SAYING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A BALLPARK FIGURE OF $25 PER SQUARE FOOT PER YEAR TO AS AN OPERATIONAL COST.

OBVIOUSLY, FACTORS CAN IMPACT THAT.

AND THEN LOOKING AT AN APPROXIMATE COST BASED ON THE PRIOR PROPOSAL TO REPURPOSE THE ANCHORS STORE.

LOOKING AT A, WHERE THE ESTIMATE OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THAT BUILDING WAS ABOUT $400 A SQUARE FOOT.

WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT SET OF COSTS STARTING FROM SCRATCH BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE EXTERIOR WALLS TO LEVERAGE AND THEN WE ARE WHAT WE.

THIS WAS A SUGGESTION BY SUPERVISOR HENDERSON THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT CALCULATING OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR TWO

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WHAT'S COMING UP IS WE HAVE THIS VERY EXTENSIVE INVENTORY OF WANTS AND DESIRES AND STARTING AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL BE IN THREE WEEKS.

TUESDAY THE 28TH.

WE'RE GOING TO START WEEDING OUR WAY THROUGH BASED ON THE CONSULTANT'S COST ESTIMATES AND BASICALLY COMING UP WITH WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM BOTH A SERVICE AND A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE AND JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THAT MEETING IS A IS A PUBLIC MEETING AND LIKE, TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETINGS CITIZENS CAN ADDRESS THE TASK FORCE AT THE START OF EACH MEETING.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THE HARD WORK IS LEFT.

IS COMING. IT SURE IS.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE THE REPORT.

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

CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA AGENDA ITEMS. IF YOU ARE HOPING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

NOW IS THE TIME. THERE ARE GREEN SHEETS OVER ON THE TABLE BY THE DOOR.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO FILL ONE OF THOSE OUT, AND YOU CAN HAND THOSE TO EITHER OUR STAFF OR TO ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEY'LL MAKE SURE THEY MAKE THEM UP TO ME.

THOSE WHO DO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SHOULD KNOW THAT CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.

WE DO APPRECIATE AND VALUE COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

THE MEETING FORMAT AND THE RULES, HOWEVER, DO RESTRICT US FROM RESPONDING DIRECTLY OR ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH COMMENTERS.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THEY MAY BE ADDRESSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AT A LATER TIME, OR COULD BE REFERRED TO TOWNSHIP STAFF AT THIS TIME.

I'VE GOT ONE GREEN CARD FROM MARK KLAUS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK KLAUS.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF I DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

SOME VERY FAMILIAR FACES THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, MYRNA.

THOSE OF YOU WHO, I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET, I LOOK FORWARD TO TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MINUTES HERE.

THIS EVENING, I'VE ASKED AMBER TO PUT THE DRAWING UP ON THE BORDER.

AN AERIAL FROM GOOGLE EARTH.

WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH STACY AND HER HUSBAND THAT ARE LOOKING TO PLACE A NEW RESTAURANT AT THE HANNAH CENTER.

THE HANNAH PLAZA AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO LOCATE IN THE SPACE THAT'S BEEN VACANT FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

THAT WAS THE FORMER HOME OF GOURMET VILLAGE.

IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAZA, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST UP TO HAGADORN ROAD IN THE L SHAPED BUILDING.

AS I MENTIONED, THAT SPACE HAS BEEN VACANT FOR TWO YEARS, AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING WORK WITH OUTSIDE BROKERS AND WITHIN OUR OWN ORGANIZATION FOR AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THAT SPACE, ONE THAT WOULD COMPLEMENT THE OTHER USES IN THE PLAZA AND THINGS THAT AREN'T READILY AVAILABLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR WITHIN THAT PLAZA AREA AND WE FELT AFTER MEETING WITH A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THAT SPACE, THAT STACY AND MATT'S CONCEPT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THAT. IT MEETS A STANDARD OR A NEED THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN THAT PLAZA NOW, AND WOULD COMPLEMENT THE OTHER USES.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND I'M SURE YOU SAW IT IN YOUR PACKET THERE.

BUSINESS IS DEPENDENT UPON OBTAINING A LIQUOR LICENSE.

IT IS A CONDITION OF THEIR LEASE.

IN OTHER WORDS, OUR LEASE WITH THEM, OUR AGREEMENT WILL NOT WILL BE VOID IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE ONE AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS AN ADD ON OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AN AMENITY IF YOU WILL, FOR THEM, BUT IT IS A NECESSITY FOR THEM AND THEREFORE I'D ASK YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND LISTEN TO STACY AS SHE HAS, I THINK, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU DURING THE TIME THAT YOU'LL HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION.

I DID VIEW A LITTLE BIT OF THE MEETING BACK IN DECEMBER, WHEN THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LIQUOR LICENSES AND THE DISCUSSION, THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SIX LICENSES IN ABOUT A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THIS LOCATION.

I QUESTIONED THAT IN MY MIND AS, I WAS LISTENING TO IT, AND I WATCHED THE MATERIALS AND A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.

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THE RESTAURANT, I BELIEVE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONE THAT ANY OF US GO TO UNLESS YOU ARE A MEMBER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THERE FOR PROBABLY 15 YEARS SINCE MY MEMBERSHIP LAPSED.

THE RESIDENCE INN IS NOT DOES NOT HAVE A BAR.

THEY DON'T SERVE ALCOHOL.

THEY HAVE A LICENSE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY SELL IT.

SELL A BOTTLE OF WINE OR A BOTTLE OF OR A CAN OF BEER AND THEIR MICRO STORE, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THEIR CHECK IN SPACE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST FOR THE USE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING AT THE HOTEL.

HANNAH LOFTS IS NOT A RESTAURANT OR ANYTHING, IT IS A CONVENIENCE STORE.

I ACTUALLY STOPPED IN THERE TODAY MYSELF AND IT IS VERY WELL STOCKED.

BUT IT IS A LIQUOR STORE AND IT IS A CONVENIENCE STORE.

THE PIZZA HOUSE HAS BEEN TERRIFIC ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IS LOCATED THERE.

SINDHU IS AN INDIAN RESTAURANT THAT I'M SURE SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, AND IT ALSO SERVES ALCOHOL, AS DOES SANJU.

IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK ALSO IMPORTANT, AND PROBABLY TO THE POINT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ON HERE IN FRONT OF THE, ON THE CAMERA IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS LITTLE SPACE AND THERE'S. ABOUT A 300 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND.

INCLUDING GLENWOOD APARTMENTS, WHICH USED TO BE THE TWICKENHAM, AS MANY OF US MAY KNOW.

THERE ARE 787 APARTMENT UNITS WITHIN THAT AREA.

THERE ARE 180 HOTEL ROOMS. WITHIN THAT AREA, THERE IS 438,000FT² OF OFFICE AND MEDICAL FACILITIES WITHIN THAT AREA.

THE MAC IS 220,000 SQUARE FOOT OF RECREATIONAL FACILITY THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND BRINGS PEOPLE TO THIS LOCATION, AND THE ICE ARENA IS JUST UNDER 90,000 SQUARE FEET.

SO IT'S A GREAT DEAL OF USERS IN HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THAT AREA AND HAVING SOME OF THE LICENSES WITHIN THE PLAZA IS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMING INTO IT, AND IT IS CERTAINLY A A DESTINATION SPOT FOR MANY OF US WHO GO OUT FOR DINNER AND NOT QUITE SURE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT UNTIL YOU GET THERE.

SO APPRECIATE THE LEEWAY HERE AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WELCOMING STACY AND MATT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 6:16PM.

[6. INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS THIS EVENING FOR YOU.

FIRE TRUCK NUMBER ONE HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN DELIVERED.

IT IS CURRENTLY BEING PUT THROUGH ITS PACES AND EVERYONE GETTING TRAINING ON IT SO IT CAN BE FORMALLY PUT INTO USE.

FIRE TRUCK TWO WILL BE INSPECTED LATER THIS MONTH AND THEN DELIVERED IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

GIVEN THAT THEY ARE SISTER TRUCKS, THE TRAINING IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD FOR THE SECOND TRUCK WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER AND WE ALTHOUGH WE WILL PUT THEM INTO SERVICE, WE WILL ALSO OFFICIALLY HAVE A CEREMONY ONCE IT'S WARMER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT BY THE THE FIRE GODS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER LEMON OF A TRUCK.

WE HAVE TWO MAJOR POSITIONS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WE ARE GOING TO START.

WE ARE GOING TO INTERVIEW FOR THE BUILDING OFFICIAL POSITION NEXT WEEK.

HOPE TO HAVE A CANDIDATE OUT OF THAT AND DIRECTOR TITOFF AND I ARE TALKING LATER THIS WEEK ABOUT NEXT STEPS ON THE FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION, WITH AN INTENTION TO TRY AND HAVE INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED FOR THAT EARLY IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AFTER THE NEW MANAGER STARTS.

THE DEER CALL IS ALMOST EXACTLY TO THE NUMBER ON TRACK WITH WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.

IT'S KIND OF ODD THAT IT'S THAT CLOSE.

IT'S WITHIN 1 OR 2, AS I RECALL OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO TURN IT OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FINISH THINGS OFF.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE AND PEOPLE THAT ALLOW US TO UTILIZE THEIR LAND.

IT IS A GREAT IN THE END, A VERY GREAT CHARITABLE EVENT BECAUSE ALL OF THE VENISON DOES GET DONATED TO CHARITY AND SO THAT'S A LOT OF MEAT THAT GOES INTO PEOPLE'S FREEZERS THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE IT AND LASTLY, IF YOU'RE WATCHING AMY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHMIDT? I HAVE A QUESTION.

SURE. ONE POSITION YOU DIDN'T MENTION WAS THE UTILITY BILLING SUPERVISOR.

IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVEN'T QUITE ATTRACTED THE CANDIDATE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? CANDIDATE. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT? YEAH. NO, I WAS ONLY WE HAD.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS RIGHT NOW.

I WAS TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE HIGH LEVEL, BUT YEAH, WE HAVE NOT ATTRACTED TYPE OF CANDIDATE.

WE, I THINK WE'RE HOPING FOR AND SO WE CONTINUE THAT SEARCH.

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SO I WOULD SUGGEST WE INCREASE THE SALARY AND SEE IF WE DON'T ATTRACT THE KIND OF CALIBER OF CANDIDATE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

YEAH. NOT TO GET TOO FAR INTO DETAILS, BUT.

YEAH, HOPING TO TRYING TO STAY WITHIN THE UNION CONTRACTS AND NOT CAUSE TOO MUCH OF A WAVE HERE AT THE END OF MY TERM.

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.

THANK YOU. SEEING NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SEVEN.

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES ANDANNOUNCEMENTS]

ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS TO REPORT.

CLERK DAVIS. YEAH.

SO YESTERDAY I HAD THE HONOR OF SWEARING IN OFFICER GORDON, AS WELL AS LIEUTENANT BENSON AND SERGEANT STRAUSS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

I ATTENDED MY FIRST COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING AS A BOARD MEMBER AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.

YES, INDEED.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

SEEING WELL, IT'S BEEN A HOLIDAY, YOU KNOW, GIVING OUR STAFF A BREAK HERE, I GUESS.

I WILL JUST REPORT THAT AS PER THE BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION I DID MEET VIRTUALLY WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND DIRECTOR.

TEED OFF. A LOT OF EMAILS BACK AND FORTH AND I'M PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU IN THE PACKET THIS EVENING WITH A CONTRACT AS NEGOTIATED WITH MR. DEMPSEY.

SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET THERE.

BUT THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF MY ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

TRUSTEE WILSON. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE AGENDA IS PASSED.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE'VE GOT A FULL CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.

WE HAVE OUR MINUTES FROM OUR DECEMBER 17TH REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING.

AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX SETS OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES FOR OUR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

BOARD MEMBERS, YOU WILL FIND THOSE AT YOUR PLACES IN FOLDERS.

WE'D ASK, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, BEFORE THE MEETING TO PLEASE TAKE A PEEK AT THOSE.

AND THEN, IF WE ARE AGREEABLE TO THEM, THEN WE WILL TURN THOSE, APPROVE THEM, AND THEN TURN THEM BACK INTO CLERK DEMAS FOR HER TO LOCK THEM IN A CABINET FOREVER.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE BILLS.

WE HAVE A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY.

WE HAVE OUR APPOINTMENT OF OUR SUPERVISOR PRO TEM, WHICH WE HAD DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST MEETING AND WE HAVE SOME BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, APPOINTMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND ONE TO THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS AND TO OUR MOTION MAKER, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE.

WE DID GET A NOTE THAT THERE WAS A AN INCORRECT NAME ON OUR IN OUR PACKETS FOR AGENDA ITEM NINE F, AND THAT OUR BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBER IS ACTUALLY TODD WEST, NOT JEFF WEST.

SO WHOEVER MAKES THAT MOTION, IF WE COULD ADJUST THAT TO BE CORRECT THERE, IT'S TODD WEST.

TODD WEST? YES.

SO THAT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE WILSON, MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ONE CORRECTION TO THE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD.

IT'S THE BOARD OF REVIEW.

BUILDING BOARD. THANK YOU.

OF TODD WEST IS THE CORRECT NAME.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

REPORT SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE. CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? . MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU'LL PLEASE PASS ME YOUR CLOSED SESSION MINUTES OR PASS THEM DOWN.

WE'LL TURN ALL THOSE IN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE STACK OF FOLDERS NOW.

ALRIGHTY. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM TEN QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY.

WE HAVE NONE.

ITEM 11 HEARINGS.

[12.A. Text Amendment 2024-19-RN-Village of Nemoka Update-Final Adoption]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS THE LAST STEP IN THE ORDINANCE PROCESS FOR 202409.

AGAIN, TO REITERATE, THIS IS A CLEANUP ORDINANCE FOR THE RN DISTRICT.

AS STAFF WAS REVIEWING A PROJECT IN LATE 2023 OR EARLY 2024, WE NOTICED A NUMBER OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, ORDINANCE REFERENCE ERRORS, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT

[00:25:10]

PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS BACK IN MARCH, AND APRIL, MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD HAS REVIEWED THIS AT THEIR LAST TWO MEETINGS AND RAISED NO MAJOR CONCERNS.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS.

ANY DISCUSSION OR MOTIONS TO BE MADE ON THIS ITEM? TRUSTEE LENTZ.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THE EXAMPLE I CAN THINK OF WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF WHAT GOOD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN BE, A ZONING DISCREPANCY THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, AND IT LEADS TO PEOPLE HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE STAFF FOR FINDING THAT.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

I MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING TEXT AMENDMENT NUMBER 2024-09 TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AT SECTION 86-377 TO UPDATE THE STANDARDS FOR THE VILLAGE OF ZONING DISTRICT.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.

WE HAVE A SECOND, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? NO, I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS.

THE FORMER ORDINANCE WAS CONFUSING AND CONTRADICTORY, TO SAY THE LEAST.

SO I THINK CLEANING IT UP IS LONG SINCE OVERDUE, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR STAFF AND OUR PLANNING PEOPLE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD GO FORWARD THIS AS A FIRST STEP TO HANDLING ALL OF THE ZONING ISSUES AROUND THE LAKE, WHICH WILL BE A HERCULEAN PROJECT.

ANYONE ELSE? I AGREE, THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME TALKING ABOUT IT THAT I CAN RECALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, AS TRUSTEE LENTZ POINTED OUT, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SIMPLIFY OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, SIMPLIFY OUR ZONING ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY, AND MAKE IT MORE COMPREHENSIBLE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RULES GOVERN THEIR PROPERTY. AND SO THIS IS AN EASY, AN EASY YES FOR ME.

SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION.

CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 13 OR SORRY, 12 B I HEART MAC AND CHEESE CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE AND WE HAVE DIRECTOR

[12.B. I Heart Mac N Cheese Class C Liquor License]

GOOD EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.

THE DECEMBER 17TH, A BOARD MEETING, WE DISCUSSED THE APPLICATION CLASS C ON PREMISE LIQUOR LICENSE FROM I HEART MAC AND CHEESE I HEART MAC AND CHEESE IS A NEW BUSINESS THAT'S GOING INTO 4790 SOUTH.

HAGEDORN SUITE 158 PROVIDES A LA CARTE MAC AND CHEESE.

I DID EXPECT THE APPLICANT TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

THEY ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT, SO I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY POSSIBLY HAVE THAT I CAN'T ANSWER.

BUT AS FAR AS THE LAST DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD REGARDING THIS APPLICATION, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES.

IT IS STILL A REQUEST CLASS C FOR THIS LOCATION, WHICH IS NOT A POTENTIAL INTENSITY CHANGE AREA.

AND AS THE BOARD KNOWS, WE HAVE ELECTED TO USE THE LIQUOR LICENSES AS AN INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT OR INCENTIVE FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE I HEART MAC AND CHEESE APPLICATION.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

I HAD HOPED TO GIVE THE APPLICANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, SINCE THEY DIDN'T TAKE THAT ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE LAST MEETING, SO.

I TOO AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE APPLICANT IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE PRESS ON.

THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWNSHIP DOESN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR DISCUSSION.

TREASURER DESCHAINE I THINK WE REACHED A PRETTY CLEAR CONSENSUS LAST MEETING THAT THE BOARD WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THIS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN OUR IN OUR AREA, WE ONLY HAVE 2 OR 3 AVAILABLE LIQUOR LICENSES.

IS THAT CORRECT? I WOULD COUNT IT AS TWO.

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS ISSUED TWO OF THE FOUR AVAILABLE.

[00:30:01]

AND AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, WE GOT ANOTHER APPLICATION FOR LIQUOR LICENSE.

THERE ARE SEVEN OF VARIOUS USES IN THAT REGION.

THAT AREA IS BOOMING OVER THERE OFF OF HANNAH BOULEVARD AND HAGEDORN.

IT'S REALLY DOING WELL.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST FOR THIS.

IT'S JUST NOT IN THIS BOARD MEMBERS OPINION WHERE WE SHOULD BE APPLYING THESE VERY SCARCE LIQUOR LICENSES.

WOULD YOU TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO PURCHASE A LIQUOR LICENSE IN THE OPEN MARKET? THAT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR THEM.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

ANY LICENSE. SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE ALLOCATES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF LICENSES PER COMMUNITY, I REALLY LOOK AT IT AS, LONG AS IT'S ISSUED IN THE COUNTY.

ANY LICENSE ISSUED IN THE COUNTY IS TRANSFERABLE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

ESCROW LICENSES THAT EXIST IN LANSING, EAST LANSING, DEWITT.

ANYWHERE IN INGHAM COUNTY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW MANY ESCROW LICENSES THERE MAY BE IN INGHAM COUNTY? NO. I CAN TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THERE'S AT LEAST SIX THAT ORIGINATE FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, MEANING SOMEBODY HOLDS A LICENSE FOR A BUSINESS THAT EXISTED IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND THEY'VE ESCROWED IT.

SO THAT'S JUST MERIDIAN.

THERE'S PROBABLY ESCROW.

THERE'S ESCROW LICENSES FOR BOTH.

THERE'S ESCROW LICENSES FOR LANSING.

IT'S FAIRLY EASY PROCESS TO GO ON THE STATE'S WEBSITE AS A CATEGORY AND PICK ESCROW LICENSE PER COUNTY.

AND THEY LIST THEM ALL TO YOU AND THE CONTACT FOR THE PERSON IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SOLICITING.

INTERESTING. THANK YOU.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

TRUSTEE WILSON. AMBER.

THE TWO LICENSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, DISCRETIONARY LICENSES.

QUOTA LICENSES ARE ALL UNTIL 2030.

CORRECT. I BELIEVE YOU TOLD US AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT THOSE ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2030.

THERE'S NO DEADLINE FOR ISSUING.

SO ONCE THE STATE ALLOCATES A NUMBER OF LICENSES TO US, IT'S UP TO THE BOARD WHEN YOU ISSUE.

THERE'S NO DEADLINE.

THE 2030 TIMELINE IS RELATED TO IF WE INCREASE OUR POPULATION ABOVE 4000 RESIDENTS, THAT'S WHEN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS GOING TO LOOK AGAIN AT OUR POPULATION AND DETERMINE, DO WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE OF LIQUOR LICENSES? OR IF WE HAVE A DECREASE IN POPULATION, MAYBE THEY SHOULD TAKE ONE AWAY? YEAH. SO I THINK THIS BOARD HAS REALLY WORKED HARD TO LOOK AT OUR INTENSE DEVELOPMENT AREAS, MEANING THE DOWNTOWNS OF HASLETT AND OKEMOS LOOKING TO BRING BUSINESSES INTO THOSE AREAS AND SINCE WE ONLY HAVE THESE TWO LICENSES, I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF NOT GRANTING THIS PARTICULAR LICENSE BECAUSE THERE ARE LICENSES AVAILABLE ON THE OPEN MARKET.

WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD DETER THIS PARTICULAR ENTITY FROM COMING IN OR ANY OTHER ENTITY BEHIND IT.

BUT I THINK THAT WE MADE CLEAR THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS AND HAVE, AS AN INCENTIVE, A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR OUR TWO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS, SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.

OKAY. I DID HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

IT APPEARED I WAS OVER THERE THE OTHER DAY.

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THEY'VE GOT SIGNAGE.

THEY'VE GOT INTERIOR. ARE THEY OPEN? THEY'VE BEEN GRANTED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

SO FROM THE TOWNSHIP STANDARDS, THEY'VE MET EVERYTHING AND THEY'RE CAPABLE OF OPENING.

I HAD HEARD THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO THE OWNER THAT THEY WERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM OPENING.

OKAY. YEP. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

OTHER TRUSTEE I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, I THINK IT WAS SAID I CAN'T REMEMBER BY WHICH BOARD MEMBER LAST MEETING, BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL THAT THIS BUSINESS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED THIS LIQUOR LICENSE IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.

I AND WITH THAT SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO BE ALLOCATING ONE OF THOSE TWO REMAINING LICENSES FOR, LIKE TRUSTEE WILSON SAID, CONSIDERING THERE ISN'T OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THE TREASURER DESCHAINE I MOVED TO DENY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR A QUOTA CLASS C ON PREMISES WITH SUNDAY AM AND PM SALES.

LIQUOR LICENSE TO PAUL HAMBY OF I HEART MAC AND CHEESE, EAST LANSING AT 479O SOUTH HAGADORN ROAD, SUITE 158. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE SUPPORT, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? TREASURER DESCHAINE. NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.

OKAY, SO THIS IS A MOTION TO DENY.

SO A YES VOTE ON THIS MOTION DOES INDICATE A YOU SUPPORT DENYING THIS APPLICATION.

JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE ALL GO THROUGH THIS.

[00:35:01]

MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DIRECTOR, CLARK. THANK YOU.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING.

[12.C. Ordinance 2025-02-Youth Commission Establishment-Introduction]

AND THIS IS FOR INTRODUCTION.

OH, YOUTH COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN A DIFFERENT TONE OF VOICE.

A DIFFERENT TONE OF VOICE, YES.

SO AT THE DECEMBER 17TH TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, WE INTRODUCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A YOUTH COMMISSION.

THE IDEA CAME FROM OUR OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CENTER [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY IF I SAID THAT INAPPROPRIATELY.

HE CAN YELL AT ME LATER.

HE WAS VERY POWERFUL AND CONVINCING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THOSE AGED 14 TO 19.

THOSE WONDERFUL YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE DID DO SOME RESEARCH PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, THE GENERAL ESTABLISHMENT AND TYPICALLY THE BOARD WILL ESTABLISH A COMMISSION THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AND ALSO THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION.

SO YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS ON THE AGENDA AND ON THE MEMO PACKET.

TODAY IS ONE IS THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE YOUTH COMMISSION, AND THE OTHER IS AN INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE YOUTH COMMISSION.

I SPOKE WITH SAID HE'S VERY EXCITED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS A SENIOR THOUGH.

SO I STARTED TALKING TO HIM ABOUT MAKING PLANS AND I'M LIKE, OH MAN, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MORE SET OF EXAMS TO GO THROUGH.

SO SOME FAST WORK MAY NEED TO BE CONDUCTED ON OUR SIDE OF THINGS, BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE PREPARED BY THE AUGUST INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR ROUND.

RIGHT? SO BY THE TIME THAT WE GET ALL OF OUR ELEMENTS DECIDED WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION, IT SHOULD BE READY FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.

I HAVE NOT MADE ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES AND SO IT'S FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS AND MOVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ONE ITEM I DO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AS WELL.

WAS THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS AT THE SUGGESTION OF TREASURER DESCHAINE.

THERE IS A SUNSET THAT'S BEEN ADDED.

FOR THE COMMISSION FOR DECEMBER OF 2026.

SO ASSUMING THAT WE THIS IS A ROUSING SUCCESS AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THIS IN THE 26, 27 SCHOOL YEAR, WE'LL NEED TO EXTEND THE SUNSET AT THAT TIME.

SO THAT JUST TO BE MENTIONED ON THE RECORD, SO THAT WE DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'LL BE.

YES. WITH THAT SAID, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? TREASURER DESCHAINE THIS IDEA FIRST CAME OUT, IT WASN'T REAL CRAZY ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH TO DO ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT IS THAT YOUTH, THESE ACTIVITIES, DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES APPEAL TO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE YOUTH, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY VERY LITTLE COST TO US TO CREATE THIS AND IF IT INVOLVES ANOTHER DOZEN OR TWO DOZEN YOUTH IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, IT'S A WIN RIGHT THERE.

PAST TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE ADVISOR FOR THE OKEMOS KEY CLUB, WHICH IS A SERVICE CLUB THAT'S PART OF THE SPONSORED BY THE KIWANIS CLUB.

AND THOSE MEETINGS JUST AMAZE ME.

THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ORGANIZE THEIR OWN MEETINGS.

THEY ELECT OFFICERS.

THEY SET OUT SERVICE PROJECTS.

THEY CARRY OUT THE SERVICE PROJECTS.

THEY REPORT BACK, THEY RAISE MONEY.

THEY THEY'RE REALLY QUITE AMAZING WHAT THEY WILL DO, GIVEN SOME PARAMETERS FOR SERVICE AND GIVING OBJECTIVES AND THEY'LL GO OUT AND GET IT DONE.

OF COURSE, IT'S GREAT LIFE TRAINING FOR THEM AS WELL.

SO I'M GOING TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS AND APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS BEFORE US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

I AGREE WITH WHAT TREASURER DESCHAINE SAID, AND ALSO ADD THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US BY A STUDENT.

I HOPE IT WORKS.

WELL. I THINK WE DESERVE.

OR WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR VALUE TO THEMSELVES AND TO THE TOWNSHIP IN THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE.

SO I WILL ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEE ROBERTS.

AGREEING WITH BOTH TRUSTEE AND TREASURER, I WOULD SAY I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF THAT SUNSET CLAUSE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT BOARD AND END IT IF IT NEEDS TO BE.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE AS ENGAGED AS POSSIBLE WITH THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

CONSIDERING HOW MUCH SAY THAT AS WE KNOW, THIS BOARD HAS OVER THE DAY TO DAY LIVES OF TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AS AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO, AS I THINK A GREAT TESTAMENT TO WHAT WE CAN DO HERE.

[00:40:04]

DENNIS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THOROUGHLY SUPPORT ESTABLISHING A YOUTH COMMISSION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO MOVE.

MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A YOUTH COMMISSION IN AND FOR THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AND THEN WE GOT TO DO THAT ONE MORE TIME.

OKAY. GOT IT. DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT FOR THAT? SUPPORT SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.

I BELIEVE SINCE WE'RE CHANGING OUR ORDINANCE OR ADOPTING, WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO A ROLL CALL, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CLERK.

. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND NOW, IF YOU WOULD MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER.

OH, WAIT. I'M SORRY, I THINK I MESSED UP INTRODUCED.

WE CAN ADOPT IT RIGHT NOW.

CAN WE? MOTION INTRODUCED.

YES. SORRY.

IT SHOULD. YEAH, IT DOES SAY THAT.

SORRY. OKAY.

MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025-02, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MERIDIAN CHARTER TOWNSHIP YOUTH COMMISSION, SUPPORTED BY CLERK DEMAS, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT, I'LL SIMPLY ADD.

OH, GO AHEAD. TRUSTEE. OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I AGREE.

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET OUR YOUTH INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AT AN EARLY STAGE AND GET THEM ACTIVE IS JUST AWESOME.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU. YEAH AND I DO WANT TO I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.

MR. NAGISETTY DID REACH OUT TODAY TO APOLOGIZE THAT HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO TO THIS MEETING.

BUT HE HAS BEEN A VERY ENERGETIC, ENERGETIC PROPONENT OF THIS.

AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE HIM COMING FORWARD AND AND BRINGING THIS NOTION TO US.

CERTAINLY I EXPECT THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE YOU KNOW, PASSIONATE YOUTH LIKE HIM THAT WILL GET INVOLVED AT THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO SORT OF HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AROUND YOU.

AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AS WELL.

SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM CLERK DIMAS, A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

THE CLERK WILL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO WE WILL SEE THIS BACK ONE MORE TIME FOR FINAL ADOPTION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 D 2025 TOWNSHIP GOALS.

[12.D. Board 2025 Goals]

YEAH. SO THIS IS JUST A REWORK BASED ON THE LAST CONVERSATION.

WE CUT IT BACK DOWN TO FIVE.

TRY TO INCORPORATE AS MUCH OF THE FEEDBACK AS WE COULD AND STILL MADE THEM READABLE.

OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T INCORPORATE EVERYBODY'S FEEDBACK, SO EVERYONE SHOULD BE A LITTLE UPSET, WHICH IS THE PERFECT FORM OF COMPROMISE.

BUT THIS REALLY, I THINK I CAPTURED PRETTY MUCH NEARLY EVERYTHING AS I LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER THIS EVENING.

BUT THIS IS THE TIME IN WHICH WE WOULD NORMALLY BE ADOPTING THESE AND TO MOVE US FORWARD FOR THE NEXT, FOR THE YEAR TO COME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? TRUSTEE TREZISE, I CONGRATULATE YOU ON SYNTHESIZING THE THOUGHTS THAT COME OUT OF THIS, POURED INTO THESE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OR GOALS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND ALSO SUPPORT THE RESULTS.

THANK YOU TREASURER DESCHAINE I DO APPRECIATE THE CONSOLIDATION AND HEARKENS BACK TO MANY YEARS AGO IN THE ZBA.

YOU TOOK US DOWN FROM 12 OR 15 CRITERIA TO FIVE AND THEN MADE THE ZBA A LOT, A LOT EASIER TO WORK WITH AND STILL MET THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WAS REQUIRED.

SO THANK YOU FOR USING THOSE SKILLS TO BOIL THESE DOWN AS WELL.

MY ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD BE WE TAKE THE FIRST ONE, TELL OUR STORY AND MOVE IT TO THE END.

THE OTHER ONES ARE ALL THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND IT MAKES SENSE.

AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS. WE TELL THAT STORY OR TELL IT THROUGHOUT.

BUT I THINK IT.

I JUST WOULD PREFER IF IT WERE MOVED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST RATHER THAN THE TOP, BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT PROVIDING.

THE NEXT ONE REALLY IS PROVIDING EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND IT'S 165 EMPLOYEES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

[00:45:03]

I HAD A QUESTION.

IS THIS HOW THE BOARD GOALS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC? SO GENERALLY IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

I CAN SHOW YOU HOW THIS YEAR'S ARE.

SO GENERALLY, THIS IS SORT OF HOW IT'S SET UP.

THIS YEAR, THESE ARE ACTUALLY NOT THE BOARD GOALS.

THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL GOALS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED.

THE BOARD GOALS ARE ACTUALLY RIGHT HERE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

I'M SORRY I CLICKED ON THE WRONG ONE.

THIS IS THE BOARD GOALS FOR THIS YEAR AND SO WE WILL PROBABLY FORMAT IT SIMILAR TO THIS.

PUT A HEADING ON EACH ONE AND TRY AND KEEP IT ON ONE PAGE TO MAKE IT AS IMPACT MORE IMPACTFUL, AND PROBABLY MAKE THEM A LITTLE EASIER TO FIND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

OH, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE NOT QUITE READY TO DO THIS.

OR ARE WE FORMATTING IT DIFFERENTLY OR.

I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY LEAVE THE FORMATTING TO THIS AS LONG AS WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE WORDING OF THE GOALS.

OKAY. WE CAN PROBABLY PROCEED.

AND ONE MINOR ISSUE.

YEAH. IT'S GOALS AND NOT GOALS.

MOTION TO ADOPT.

OH, YEAH. WE'LL HAVE TO. WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE READ THAT READ THAT THE RIGHT WAY WHEN WE MAKE THE MOTION.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. I DO ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO TO TAKE SEVEN SOMETIMES COMPETING OPINIONS AND TURN IT INTO A LEGIBLE AND IDEALISTIC SET OF GOALS.

IT'S NOT EASY, BUT I THINK SO LONG AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, I THINK, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT THIS EVENING.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE GOALS THIS EVENING FOR THE G.

TREASURER DESCHAINE, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2025 MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP GOALS.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS ITEM 12 E, THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER CONTRACT.

[12.E. Township Manager Contract]

IT WAS A VERY SMOOTH AND EASY PROCESS AS NEGOTIATIONS GO.

WE WERE VERY CLOSE ON MANY OF OUR POINTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

I THINK AT THIS POINT, THE DOCUMENT IN THE PACKET HERE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF LARGELY.

BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT OUR ATTORNEYS FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE EMPLOYEE AGREEMENT.

MR. DEMPSEY IS AGREEABLE TO IT AS WELL.

AND I WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT HE HAS ASKED US TO, YOU KNOW, THE START DATE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS JANUARY 27TH OF 2025, IN ORDER TO MEET THAT START DATE.

HE HAS ASKED US TO SUSPEND OUR RULES IF WE ARE WILLING, AND PASS THE CONTRACT THIS EVENING SO THAT HE CAN GIVE HIS CURRENT EMPLOYER PROPER NOTICE BEFORE COMING TO WORK FOR US AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL LEAVE THAT OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS OR THE PROCESS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE FOR YOU AS WE GO THROUGH.

TRUSTEE I HAVE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'S A VERY FAIR AND UNDERSTANDABLE CONTRACT.

IT ALSO RELIES MORE THAN SOME OTHERS THAT I'VE SEEN.

AS TO THE PAY SCALES AND CONTRACTS WITH OUR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, I THINK IT'S REASONABLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD AND I THINK WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THIS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT.

ALONG WITH ABBY'S AND MISS MILLS EFFORT, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD CONTRACT THAT WE CAN LIVE

[00:50:05]

THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

TRUSTEE WILSON, I CONCUR WITH OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, TRUSTEE, WHICH IS A GOOD IDEA.

I'M A RECOVERING ATTORNEY.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. YEAH.

I COMMEND YOU AND DIRECTOR TITOV AND ATTORNEY MILLS FOR THIS CONTRACT.

IT'S VERY CLEAN, DIRECT.

IT'S EASY TO READ THROUGH AND UNDERSTAND.

VERY LITTLE AMBIGUITY COULD RESULT FROM THIS.

I WOULD HOPE SO.

I, TOO, WILL SUPPORT IT AND TO THAT END, I GET THIS.

LET'S GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND TAKE ACTION ON THIS CONTRACT TONIGHT.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

GO AHEAD. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE TO SUSPEND OUR RULES.

ANY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE SUSPENSION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE THE GETTING THROUGH THE ADMINISTRIVIA OF THAT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONTRACT? THEN DO WE HAVE A MOTION? TRUSTEE WILSON, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AND TIMOTHY DEMPSEY FOR TOWNSHIP MANAGER FOR A TERM OF JANUARY 27TH, 2025 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2027.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON SUPPORT, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE AS THIS DOES HAVE AN OUTLAY OF CASH, WE'LL ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHTY.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM 13, A EL CAMINOS

[13.A. El Camino Liquor License]

REQUEST FOR A CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE AND DIRECTOR CLARK IS BACK IN FRONT OF US AGAIN.

GREAT. GREAT DAY.

THREE TIMES A MONTH. THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY YOU'LL BE ON BOARD WITH ME.

SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE HANNAH PLAZA BEFORE.

I KNOW THIS MIGHT SEEM JUST TO GO OVER IT TO ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THE PACKET IN THE PUBLIC OR FOR THE BOARD.

THIS WAS TWO DIFFERENT LIQUOR LICENSES.

IS THE COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE, AS WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SITE.

SO IT IS QUITE LARGE.

IT'S GOT SEVERAL COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACES AND OUTFITTED IN IT.

AND WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FROM EL CAMINOS GARAGE FOR 4790 HAGEDORN, SUITE 102 TO BRING A FULL BAR.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT REQUEST.

IT'S A FULL BAR RESTAURANT AS PROPOSED INTO THE HANNAH, HAGEDORN LOCATION.

AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A POTENTIAL INTENSITY CHANGE AREA.

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, BASED OFF THE 2017 AND 2023 MASTER PLAN, THAT IS NOT AN AREA FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND SO SIMILARLY, FROM THE LAST MEMO THE NUMBER OF ON PREMISE LICENSES ALLOWED IN THE TOWNSHIP IS ALL THE SAME AND THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO ISSUE IS ONLY TWO.

AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE TONIGHT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE APPLICATION WAS VERY DETAILED.

IT DEFINITELY WENT INTO MORE ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BUSINESS, ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEUR'S HISTORY, ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO FINANCE A PROJECT, ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF STAFF AND TO REGULATE THIS INDUSTRY.

WHICH RESTAURANTS ARE HARD? VERY DIFFICULT TO REGULATE AND TO GET INTO.

WE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS SO WITH THE APPLICANT ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT IN THE TOWNSHIP.

I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THEM A HAPPY HOME IN HASLETT.

THIS IS A LOCATION THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED FOR THIS APPLICATION, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I WILL GO INTO THAT.

OTHERWISE I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.

OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR CLARK BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT.

MY NAME IS STACY WESTLOCK, AND I DID EMAIL THE BOARD YESTERDAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BRIEF HISTORY WITH THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, JUST TO KIND OF NOT BORE EVERYONE WITH THAT. THE REASON WHY WE'RE SO ATTRACTED TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS VERY APPARENT AFTER SITTING THROUGH THIS MEETING.

YOU GUYS CARE ABOUT YOUR YOUTH POPULATION.

YOU CARE ABOUT THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A BOUNTY OF THINGS THAT REALLY ATTRACTED MY HUSBAND AND I TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HANNAH PLAZA IS NOT

[00:55:05]

BUT I DO FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF YOU WOULD PERHAPS RECONSIDER THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE COULD GROW THE POPULATION BY HAVING ANOTHER ASSET, AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WE RESEARCHED QUITE THOROUGHLY.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING REALLY FOR THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO DO AFTER 9:00 PM.

AFTER COVID, A MAJORITY OF, YOU KNOW, NIGHTCLUBS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTAURANTS ARE VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP AFLOAT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN HARDER WITH THE TIP CREDIT.

SO WE'VE KIND OF FIGURED IN A WAY TO COMBAT THAT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE AIMING TO DO IN THAT SPOT.

SO AGAIN, I'VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS.

I'VE ESTABLISHED FIVE DIFFERENT BRAND NEW OPENINGS, OR I'VE LAUNCHED NEW BARS, AND THEN I'VE DONE A NIGHTCLUB.

I'VE DONE AN EVENT CENTER.

WELL, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FOR ME TO DO THAT.

I REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE THE TIME TO FOCUS ON MY FAMILY AND BUILD A LEGACY FOR THEM.

AND SHOW MY CHILDREN WHY I'M PUTTING FORTH THIS MUCH EFFORT.

SO SORRY, I KIND OF I'M GOING TO LOOK AT MY NOTES.

I AM A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT IN HOSPITALITY, IT'S MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCE WE PROVIDE FOR GUESTS.

AND I MET A NEAR AND DEAR FRIEND AND WORKING AT TIN CAN.

HIS NAME WAS PHILIPPE PESSINA, AND HE PASSED AWAY IN 2022.

SO PART OF THIS BAR THAT WE WANT TO OPEN IS IN HONOR OF HIM.

SO HE WAS MORE THAN A FAMILY FRIEND.

HE, YOU KNOW, EMBODIED KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY AND HE REALLY CARED ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY.

HE WAS A PARTNER AT HANDY'S MEXICAN MARKET AND DELI, WHICH IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LANSING.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1971, I BELIEVE.

AND HE MADE IT A MISSION TO GIVE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.

SO HE DONATED TO WAVERLY ROBOTICS, WHICH IS A PROGRAM.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

THAT HELPS YOUTH DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE BATTLEBOTS, THAT KIND OF THING.

HE ALSO DID A LOT OF DONATIONS TOWARDS CRISTO REY COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS A IT IS A CHURCH, BUT IT IS NON-DENOMINATIONAL.

SINCE HIS PASSING, I'VE REALLY TRIED TO UPHOLD EVERYTHING THAT HE'S TAUGHT ME OVER THE YEARS.

AND SO OUR PAST CHRISTMAS PARTY, WE DONATED $600 TOWARDS WAVERLY ROBOTICS.

THE DONATIONS WILL HELP TOWARDS FUNDING, YOU KNOW, MEETS THAT KIND OF THING.

OR SPONSORING KIDS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY THE $50 ENTRY FEE TO BE ENROLLED.

SO WHY I PICKED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP? WHY I PICKED HANNAH PLAZA IS THAT I NOTICED THAT YOU GUYS CARE ABOUT YOU CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY.

YOU CARE ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

LIKE, AS I WALK IN, YOU KNOW, HERE.

NOT TODAY, BUT THERE'S A COMMUNITY PANTRY.

SO WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT TO OPEN A PLACE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE BUSINESSES AND THOSE CHARITIES ARE NOT IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BUT I SPOKE TO AMBER ABOUT REACHING OUT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS WE COULD HELP AND KIND OF ALIGN.

SO OUR RESTAURANT WILL NOT ONLY SERVE AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE, BUT WILL BE A GATHERING PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME.

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT, WHERE YOU CAN CELEBRATE, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE I SAID, THE PASSING OF HIM WAS A HUGE HIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO STRIVE TO HONOR HIS LEGACY, HIS COMPASSION FOR GIVING AND HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHT LOCAL ARTISTS, LOCAL CHARITIES BY BEING A PROUD MEMBER OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

SO IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT I LEFT OUT? THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR APPLICANT THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE]? YEAH.

I WANT TO SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING IN RESTAURANTS, I APPRECIATE THE LEAP YOU WERE MAKING TO BEING ON THIS SIDE OF THIS AND ME ON MY SIDE. AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO BE IN RESTAURANTS AND THINK LONG TERM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY COVID.

SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.

I CAN'T SAY I AM FEELING STRONGLY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THIS DECISION RIGHT NOW, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND EXCUSE ME BRINGING FORWARD THIS OPPORTUNITY.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL GO INTO OUR DISCUSSION.

OKAY. SO THIS ITEM IS BEFORE US FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC AT THIS TIME?

[01:00:03]

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

I CERTAINLY SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY.

FOOD PANTRIES AND THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.

WHAT CRISTO REY DOES.

SO I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

GIVE BACK. BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION BEFORE US IS THE SAME QUESTION WE HAD WITH I HEART MAC AND CHEESE.

WE. THIS IS ANOTHER REQUEST FOR A LIQUOR LICENSE WITHIN A VERY SMALL CONTAINED AREA.

THAT IS NOT REALLY NOT SUBJECT TO ZAMBIA SAID TO REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT IS A VERY VIABLE, VIBRANT AREA RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MICHIGAN STATE.

SO MY POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED.

I THINK WHEN WE ONLY HAVE TWO LICENSES, DISCRETIONARY LICENSES AVAILABLE TO US, I THINK WE WANT TO FOCUS THOSE LICENSES IN OUR AREAS THAT WE REALLY ARE ENCOURAGING REDEVELOPMENT.

AND JUST WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN, THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN LICENSES THROUGH SOME OTHER MECHANISM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

TRUSTEE TREZISE.

I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT TRUSTEE WILSON SAID.

THIS IS A LIMITED RESOURCE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS.

WE HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS NEEDS IN OTHER AREAS.

WHERE THIS MIGHT BE AN INCENTIVE TO DEVELOP.

SINCE AND ONCE THEY'RE GRANTED, THEY'RE GONE.

SO I AM UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THIS LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PLACE TO OPEN A BUSINESS AND TO AND YOUR BUSINESS SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT GRANTING ONE OF OUR LAST TWO LIQUOR LICENSES, WHICH ARE UNDER OUR CONTROL TO THIS RESTAURANT AND I'M SORRY THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT AT THIS POINT. TREASURER DESCHAINE I AGREE WITH TRUSTEE WILSON AND TREZISE AS WELL.

WHILE THIS IS A MORE NATURAL FIT FOR OUR LIQUOR LICENSE THAN THE I HEART MAC AND CHEESE IS, IT STILL FACES THE FUNDAMENTAL HURDLE THAT IT'S NOT IN OUR AREAS. WE CAN'T GO OUT AND BRING IN NEW BUSINESS INTO OUR AREAS.

ALL WE CAN DO IS OFFER TAX INCENTIVES AND IN THIS CASE, ONE OF OUR TWO LIQUOR LICENSES THAT ARE LEFT TO SELL TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS THERE.

DIRECTOR CLARK, I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO GET THE APPLICANT TO CONSIDER THE FOUR CORNERS AND HOW ARE THE POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FOUR CORNERS IN OKEMOS? I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS.

THAT'S WHERE OUR NEED IS.

I MEAN, THIS I COMMEND THE COMPANY AND MARK AND YOUR TEAM.

YOU GUYS HAVE DEVELOPED THAT AREA FABULOUSLY.

IT'S REALLY A DYNAMIC AREA.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND IT PROVIDES TREMENDOUS TAX REVENUE FOR THE TOWNSHIP.

BUT THE CENTER OF THE TOWNSHIP, PARTICULARLY THE FOUR CORNERS OF HASLETT AND THE DDA AREA OF OKEMOS, IS THE AREA THAT'S REALLY HURTING RIGHT NOW AND WE ALL WENT DOOR TO DOOR, KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOORS THIS SUMMER UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT COMMENTS I HEARD WAS, WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.

OUR RESIDENTS LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE EMBARRASSED BY THE FOUR CORNERS IN OKEMOS.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE WE HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA AND SO I'LL BE OPPOSING THIS LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THAT REASON AS WELL.

OKAY. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

TRUSTEE LENTZ, I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE WHAT EACH OF EACH OF YOU HAVE OFFERED AND YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T A FUN DECISION TO HAVE TO MAKE.

BUT WITH DESIRE TO WORK ON BOTH OF THOSE DOWNTOWN AREAS, AND I TRUST.

EXCUSE ME, TREASURER DESCHAINE IS CORRECT IN THAT WE DID HEAR PLENTY OF COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE DOWNTOWN AREAS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THOSE COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

FURTHER [INAUDIBLE].

YEAH, I AGREE WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WILSON AND TREASURER DESCHAINE HAVE SAID, ESPECIALLY WITH US KNOCKING DOORS AND HEARING ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT IN THOSE TWO AREAS.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT DECISION JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS LIQUOR LICENSE.

BUT I HOPE THAT THEY SEEK OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE A LIQUOR LICENSE AND I THANK THEM FOR SPEAKING TO THE BOARD.

[01:05:02]

BUT AS I SEE IT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO MAJOR AREAS THAT WE SEEK TO DEVELOP AND REDEVELOP IN HASLETT AND OKEMOS AND TWO LICENSES TO GIVE AND THE NATURAL CONCLUSION I DRAW MYSELF TO IS THAT WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY ONE FOR EACH OF THOSE AREAS.

AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE TOTALLY WOWED, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SOME AMAZING APPLICATION THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ASSET THAT WE HAVE TO USE WISELY.

AND I DO APPRECIATE, MR. KLAUS, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE YOUR COMMENTARY ON THE THE, THE OTHER LIQUOR LICENSES THAT WERE REFERENCED IN OUR MEMO AND THEIR COMPARATIVE NATURE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACTUALLY ARE INDEED YOU KNOW, LICENSES THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH THIS ONE.

BUT EVEN WITHOUT THAT, THIS IS STILL A GOAL OF THE BOARD.

ONE OF OUR GOALS THAT WE PASSED THIS EVENING IS TO LOOK AT THOSE AREAS AS WELL.

AND IN MY OPINION, THOSE LIQUOR LICENSES WOULD BE BETTER SPENT TRYING TO BRING THOSE FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS TO THOSE TWO AREAS AND SO WHILE I CERTAINLY WILL PATRONIZE THIS ESTABLISHMENT IF IT EVER OPENS I DON'T BELIEVE I CAN SUPPORT THE LIQUOR LICENSE REQUEST THAT'S BEFORE US.

OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DIRECTOR CLARK. I THINK THAT GIVES YOU SOME DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT DOES. WE'LL COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR APPLICANTS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

SAME RULES AS BEFORE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD SUBMIT A GREEN CARD, OR IF YOU'RE COMING BACK, YOU CAN.

THAT'S FINE. COME ON, BACK UP.

JUST DO A REPEAT ON THAT CARD FOR ME.

YEAH. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

IT'S MARK KLAUS.

I OBVIOUSLY STAYED A BIT LONGER THAN I PLANNED ON, AND I WANTED TO HEAR THE COMMENTS ON THIS, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

I MEAN, AS A DEVELOPER OR A DEVELOPER, WE LOOK TO COMMUNITIES FOR INCENTIVES AT CERTAIN TIMES WHEN WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.

AND THE IN ALL HONESTY, I THINK THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN OKEMOS, THE DOWNTOWN HASLETT AREA AS BEING A FORMER RESIDENT OF THIS AREA, LIVING IN CLOSE TO BOTH AREAS, AS THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE DOWNTOWN HASLETT AREA WHEN I LIVED ON LAKE LANSING, AND THAT'S ALL GONE.

I MEAN, I DRIVE BY THERE.

IN FACT, I EARLIER TODAY, I WAS HERE AND DROVE THROUGH THERE AND IT WAS LIKE, IT JUST IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH DIFFERENT IT IS AND WHAT'S NOT THERE.

OWNING AND RUNNING A RESTAURANT TODAY IS DIFFICULT, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE TRUSTEES IS FAMILIAR WITH DIRECTLY.

WE SEE THE CHANGES HAPPENING IN THE EMPLOYMENT ISSUES FOR THOSE WORKING THERE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATING FOR THEM.

SO FOR SOMEONE WISHING TO DO THAT, I GIVE GREAT ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION FOR THAT BECAUSE I LIKE TO GO TO THEM.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN OUR OFFICE TODAY, MANY OF US, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT BE ABUSERS OF ALCOHOL, BUT WE CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE A COCKTAIL WHEN WE'RE HAVING DINNER. SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.

BUT WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT THOSE AREAS OF DOWNTOWN, BOTH THE DOWNTOWN HASLETT AREA AND DOWNTOWN OKEMOS AREA, ARE HUGE UNDERTAKINGS THERE.

IT'S A 50,000 $60,000 LIQUOR LICENSE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE AND CHANGE THAT.

THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.

YOU HAVE THOSE. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

YOU'VE HAD SOME HUGE ISSUES TALKED ABOUT FOR DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.

GIVING SOMEONE A LIQUOR LICENSE IS NOT GOING TO HELP REDEVELOPMENT, IN MY OPINION.

AND I THINK AS YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S NOT IT.

WHERE THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS FOR A PRIVATELY OWNED, LOCALLY OWNED, NOT A FRANCHISE, NOT A CORPORATELY OWNED OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE OR CHILI'S OR SOMETHING COMING IN WHERE THE BUYING OF A LIQUOR LICENSE FROM THE COMMUNITY IS NOT A BIG DEAL.

IT'S A BLIP ON THEIR BUDGET HERE.

[01:10:02]

HAVING ANOTHER OUTBACK SOMEPLACE OR HAVING ANOTHER CHILI'S, EVEN THOUGH I'D LIKE TO GO TO THOSE PLACES AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THAT.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH A SMALL, FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THOSE FLOURISH IN THE AREA, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU NEED TO ECONOMICALLY SUPPORT.

NOT TRYING TO USE A $50,000 OR WHATEVER THEY COST ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW TO DEVELOP A DOWNTOWN AREA.

I WISH THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THOSE ITEMS AND THINK ABOUT THOSE BEFORE YOU VOTE NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

SEEING NONE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 710.

[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBERCOMMENTS]

OTHER MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS, OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

[INAUDIBLE]. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES. TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE], I DID WANT TO POINT OUT IN THE SCHEDULE FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD THAT WAS PROVIDED WITH THIS PACKET, THERE IS A DATE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF INTERFERES IS THE RIGHT WORD, BUT THE MEETING THAT IT WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1ST IS IT WOULD OVERLAP WITH THE MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, WHICH I KNOW SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING.

SO I'D LIKE TO JUST POINT THAT OUT FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING THAT MEETING IN SOME WAY.

YEAH, I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAVE A CONFLICT ON A TUESDAY, WE HAVE MOVED IT FORWARD TWO DAYS TO APRIL TO THE THURSDAY.

THE CONFERENCE RUNS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THROUGH APRIL 3RD, WHICH WOULD BE A LONG DAY, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT WOULD IT BE THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO BRING BACK A CHANGE TO MOVE IT TO APRIL 3RD? I SEE SOME NODDING HEADS.

YES. PERHAPS, MR. SCHMIDT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND DRAFTING A CHANGE TO THAT CALENDAR TO MOVE APRIL 1ST TO APRIL 3RD, ASSUMING THE ROOM IS AVAILABLE.

I SEE NODDING HEADS.

WOULDN'T WE HAVE TO DO THAT ON THE RECORD? YES. YEAH, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A THERE'LL BE A MOTION.

YEAH. BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.

YEAH. ASSUMING WE'RE ALL OKAY WITH THAT.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. IN REVIEWING THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE, THE MEETING ON THE THIRD IS A VERY SHORT ANNUAL MEETING, AND MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WILL LEAVE THE NIGHT BEFORE FOR THAT REASON. THE HEART OF THE CONFERENCE IS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND THIS WILL BE THURSDAY.

TERRIFIC. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. YOU TWO, BRINGING THAT TO US.

I ALWAYS CAN'T CATCH EVERYTHING WHEN WE MAKE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FULL YEAR AND FULL YEAR.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER MATTERS AND COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 16, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE SUPPORT, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 7:12PM.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.