[00:01:04]
          IT'S GOT THAT NEW BUDGET SMELL. [LAUGHTER] LET'S SEE IF I CAN GO FIND THE CIP INDEX THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL OH, NO, NO IS 25. 
          [1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO WHAT HAVE I DONE? [LAUGHTER] TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 2ND 2025 IT IS 6:00. 
          AND THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN. 
          FIRST ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE,
PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US 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. 
          ITEM 3 ON OUR AGENDA IS ROLL CALL CLERK DEMAS. 
          PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. 
          HERE. CLERK DEMAS. HERE. TREASURER DESCHAINE. 
          HERE. TRUSTEE LENTZ. HERE. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. TRUSTEE TREZISE. 
          HERE. TRUSTEE WILSON. HERE. 6 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM 4.A IS PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. 
          [4.A. Introduction of New Firefighter – Caitlin Thomas]
WE HAVE A NEW FIREFIGHTER WITH US. WE HAVE CHIEF HAMEL HERE TO INTRODUCE HER. 
          WELL, I WAS A LITTLE OLDER THAN HER SHE'S ONLY 19 SO [LAUGHTER]. 
          SHE'S VERY ENERGETIC. THIS IS CAITLIN THOMAS. 
          CAITLIN WAS FROM GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP. SHE ACTUALLY TOOK HER EMT AND HER FIRE DURING HIGH
SCHOOL. 
          THEY OFFER A PROGRAM OUT THERE, AND SHE STARTED VERY YOUNG. 
          AND THEN AS SOON AS SHE GRADUATED, SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE STATE TEST AND GET CERTIFIED
AS A FIREFIGHTER EMT. 
          SO WHEN WE INTERVIEWED HER, SHE INTERVIEWED VERY WELL SHE VERY ENERGETIC AND JUST A LOT OF
BACKGROUND THAT WE LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO REALLY WANTS TO LEARN AND BE A PART OF A PROGRAM THAT'S YOU KNOW,
KIND OF ADVANCING AND TRYING TO GET BETTER EVERY DAY. 
          SO SHE PLAYED VOLLEYBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND A LITTLE BIT OF SOCCER. 
          RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER ME REFFING HER,
THOUGH, AND I KNOW I REFFED HER A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT [LAUGHTER]. BUT ANYWAY SHE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED IF I WOULD HAVE MADE A BAD CALL. 
          RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] BUT THIS IS CAITLIN, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HER,
SO. 
          WELCOME. THANK YOU, HI [LAUGHTER]. WELCOME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US [APPLAUSE]. 
          WELCOME TO THE TEAM. WELCOME WELCOME 
          [4.B. Consumers Energy – Renewable Energy Program]
          [00:05:06]
THIS ONE FROM CONSUMERS ENERGY. AND TO DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION,
WE HAVE DEPUTY MANAGER DAN OPSOMMER. 
          GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS. 
          SO TONIGHT CONSUMERS ENERGY, WE HAVE DAVE PATTERSON HERE. 
          I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM MOMENTARILY. DAVE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM. 
          THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. 
          AS THE STATE HAS CHANGED STATE LAW TO TRY TO SET NEW STANDARDS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
PRODUCTION STATEWIDE. 
          AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS GOVERNED BY THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. 
          JUST AS AN FYI AND AS DAVE WALKS YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION,
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. 
          ONE, THIS IS REALLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING. 
          SO KEEP THAT AT THE FOREFRONT AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO DAVE'S PRESENTATION. 
          RIGHT NOW WE ARE CONSTRUCTING OUR OWN SOLAR ARRAYS THAT GENERATE ENERGY THAT WE USE HERE
TO TRY TO GET TO NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS. RIGHT? OUR GOAL IN THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS TO ONE DAY,
OR AS THE PLAN STATES BY 2035, GENERATE 100% OF OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY. SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. 
          WE DO HAVE 31 LIFT STATIONS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP AND OUR STREET LIGHTS. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO GENERATE THE ENERGY FOR THOSE THOSE SOURCES. 
          RIGHT? OR LIFT STATIONS DON'T HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF LAND LOCATED NEXT TO THEM WHERE SOLAR
ARRAYS COULD BE CONSTRUCTED. 
          AND STREET LIGHTS, LIKE, LIKEWISE DO NOT HAVE LAND AVAILABLE NEAR THEM. 
          RIGHT? SO OUR FACILITIES ARE VERY EASY. IT GETS HARDER WHEN WE GET TO THOSE. 
          SO THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM. THAT WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING. 
          RIGHT? WE WOULD BE INVESTING IN SOLAR ARRAYS ELSEWHERE IN MICHIGAN AND OFFSETTING 100% OF
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. 
          WHEREAS TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT SOMEDAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN OFFSET MOST. 
          BUT OFFSETTING 100% OF OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT PROBABLY IS GOING TO BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. 
          WHEN YOU FACTOR IN SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES LIKE STREET LIGHTS AND LIFT STATIONS. 
          A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND. STAFF HAVE MET WITH CONSUMERS ENERGY. 
          THE EAST LANSING MERIDIAN WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY HAS ALSO MET WITH CONSUMERS ENERGY. 
          WE'VE ALSO MET WITH SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS OR SOME OF THE,
WELL, SOME OF THE CONSUMERS ENERGY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE OPTED IN ON THIS PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY STAFF ALSO HAVE SOME IDEAS AND SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW WE WOULD VET THIS. 
          DAVE WILL PROBABLY TALK TONIGHT ABOUT A SEPTEMBER DEADLINE THAT'S COMING UP FOR THE
CURRENT YEAR, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE AVAILABILITY AS WELL. 
          WE'RE NOT IN A RUSH. THE TOWNSHIP IS NOT. BUT TONIGHT'S. 
          THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEM IS SIMPLY TO INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT TO YOU ALL,
ENGAGE YOUR INITIAL FEEDBACK AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT US TO EXPLORE IT FURTHER. CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE. 
          SO THIS IS REALLY JUST THE JUMPING OFF POINT. THIS IS NOT A OPT IN OPT OUT SCENARIO. 
          THIS IS LET'S START EVALUATING THIS. SO ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? I THINK WE'LL HEAR FROM DAVE. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AT THE END THANK YOU. 
          DAVE TAKE IT AWAY. I THINK DAN SAID EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY GOOD EVENING BOARD MY NAME IS DAVE. MY NAME IS DAVE PATTERSON I'M WITH CONSUMERS ENERGY. 
          MY OFFICIAL TITLE IS SENIOR ENERGY SOLUTIONS MANAGER. 
          FANCY TITLE FOR ACCOUNT MANAGER. AND I HAVE THIS AREA. 
          THE TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. 
          AND IN MY JOB AT CONSUMERS ENERGY, THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE
COMMUNITY AND CONSUMERS ENERGY, AND THAT'S HANDLING EVERYTHING FROM ESCALATED CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INFORMING YOU OF OUR NEW
PROGRAMS, SUCH AS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM THAT DAN SPOKE ABOUT. 
          SO TODAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT. I HAVE A BRIEF POWERPOINT THAT I'LL SHARE WITH
YOU. 
          I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A LINE OF SIGHT TO A SCREEN. 
          SO AGAIN, RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM CONSUMERS ENERGY HAS AN INTERNAL GOAL TO BE CARBON
NEUTRAL BY 2035. 
          AND WHAT WE FOUND IS MANY TOWNSHIPS, CITIES,
BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES ALSO HAVE A GOAL TO BE CARBON FREE OR CARBON NEUTRAL BY A CERTAIN DATE. SO AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY,
WE'VE OPENED THE PROGRAM TO ALLOW TOWNSHIPS BUSINESSES TO PARTNER WITH US ON THE JOURNEY. 
          AND THROUGH THE PROGRAM, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. 
          SO LET ME GET MY READERS FIRST. MY APOLOGIES. 
          THAT'S TOO FAR AND THIS IS TOO CLOSE [LAUGHTER]. SO THIS WILL HELP ME OUT. 
          SO OUR PROGRAM WORKS BECAUSE IT'S LOCAL. SO BY PARTNERING WITH THE PROGRAM,
YOU'RE HELPING TO BUILD THE RENEWABLE GRID HERE IN MICHIGAN. 
          [00:10:09]
IT'S FLEXIBLE. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CAN ENROLL ANYWHERE FROM 1% TO 100% OF YOUR
ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS. 
          SO SAY YOU YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF 10% THAT ARE COMING FROM YOUR SOLAR
FIELD. 
          AND YOU SAID, HEY, WE JUST NEED TO OFFSET 90%. 
          THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR THAT PROGRAM IS VERY FLEXIBLE. 
          IT'S COST EFFECTIVE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER SOLUTIONS. 
          AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS. IT'S A SOLUTION ALTERNATIVE TO SOLAR FIELDS. 
          WIND FIELDS. YOU PUT A TURBINE IN YOUR FRONT YARD OR YOU BUILD A SOLAR FIELD THAT REQUIRES
A LARGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT, TYPICALLY UPFRONT. AND WHEN YOU VET THOSE IDEAS AND YOU LOOK AT THE ROI,
IT CAN BE A LONG TIME ON THE PAYBACK. 
          SO WITH OUR PROGRAM, IT'S A SUBSCRIPTION BASED PROGRAM. 
          YOU PAY MONTHLY. THERE'S NO UPFRONT CONSTRUCTION FEES AND IT'S FULLY MANAGED BY CONSUMERS
ENERGY. 
          SO WE MANAGE THE ASSET, WE HANDLE EVERYTHING AND YOU RECEIVE THE BENEFITS. 
          THE BENEFITS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING ARE CALLED RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES OR
CREDITS. 
          SO BASICALLY CARBON ACCOUNTING WHAT THAT DOES IS IT'S AN ATTESTATION. 
          IF YOU ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM AT 100% THAT THE TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN PURCHASED 100%
RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM CONSUMERS ENERGY, THAT ATTESTATION ALLOWS YOU TO SHARE IT WITH THE GOVERNMENT,
OTHER AGENCIES. 
          AS YOU ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THE TOWNSHIP, YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY,
HEY, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH CONSUMERS TO BUILD THE RENEWABLE GRID OF THE FUTURE, AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE DOING IT. SO WHAT THIS TALKS ABOUT IS THE PROCESS. 
          THE FIRST STEP IS ONE TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROGRAM,
WHICH YOU'LL DO TONIGHT. 
          VET THE PROGRAM. FIND OUT IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE TOWNSHIP. 
          ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT, WE ARE CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING SOLAR AND WIND DEVELOPMENTS. 
          THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE SIGNING PEOPLE UP OR PEOPLE ARE SUBSCRIBING TO IS COMING
ONLINE IN 2028. 
          YOU'LL SEE AT THE VERY END WHERE ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS ARE CURRENTLY. 
          BUT THAT'S THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE THAT WE VETTED THE COST AND YOU'LL SEE THE COST
BUILT IN HERE. 
          CONSUMERS ENERGY ENTERS INTO THE MISO MARKET. 
          SO MISO IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES OUR GRID. 
          THEY HAVE A REALLY COOL APP THAT ANYBODY CAN GO ONLINE,
GO TO THE APP STORE AND DOWNLOAD ON YOUR PHONE, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE. IT'S MICHIGAN AND 13 OTHER STATES AND MANITOBA. 
          SO WE ALL PARTNER IN PUSHING ENERGY TO THE GRID. 
          WE SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE WHEN THERE'S A NEED. 
          WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SO MY SOUL MANAGES THE PROGRAM. 
          AND AS DAN MENTIONED, THE PROGRAM IS UNDER MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. 
          SO VERY REGULATED. AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE END,
THE RECS ARE THE END. 
          THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY. HEY, THIS IS HOW WE PURCHASE RENEWABLE ENERGY. 
          SOMEONE MAY SAY, WELL, I CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU'RE PURCHASING IT FROM,
RIGHT? I DON'T SEE A WIND FARM OR I DON'T SEE A SOLAR PANEL. 
          WHAT YOU'LL DO IS YOU'LL SEE THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS. 
          SO DAN SPOKE OF OTHER CUSTOMERS, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO A
COUPLE. 
          BUT HERE AT THE BOTTOM, CURRENT CUSTOMERS ENROLLED THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. 
          KALAMAZOO, GRAND RAPIDS, EAST GRAND RAPIDS, FIREKEEPERS CASINO,
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, GENERAL MOTORS, AND WALMART. THESE ARE THE MORE RECENT ONES AND JUST TO NAME A FEW,
THERE ARE OTHERS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND I'LL STOP ANY QUESTIONS? I FEEL LIKE I'M MOVING FAST HERE, SO PLEASE STOP ME. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO THIS SLIDE HERE, WHAT IT SPEAKS TO? THROUGH THE PROGRAM YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL. 
          IS THAT REALLY SMALL? CAN YOU ALL SEE IT? FAIRLY DECENT? 10, 15 OR 20 YEARS. AND THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS YOU WOULD LEASE SPACE IN OUR
RENEWABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. SO RIGHT NOW, THE WAY WE HAVE IT FIGURED,
THE IT'S A LITTLE OVER 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS OF ENERGY FOR ALL OF THE ACCOUNTS IN THE TOWNSHIP. SO IF YOU GO IN AT 100%,
A MEGAWATT IS 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS. 
          YOU WOULD YOU WOULD ENROLL AT A MEGAWATT AND YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO LEASE IT FOR 5,
10, 15 OR 20 YEARS, WHATEVER MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR THE TOWNSHIP. 
          YOU PAY A SUBSCRIPTION FEE, WHICH IS AT THE TOP. 
          IT SAYS ESTIMATED SUBSCRIPTION FEE, WHICH IS $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR. 
          [00:15:03]
HOW WE CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION WAS WHEN WE BID OUT THE JOB,
THE COST OF ENERGY AND EVERYTHING THAT WENT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT IN 2028, THAT'S THE FIGURE THAT WE CAME TO FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE. 
          NOW, WHAT YOU SEE FOR THE YEARS ARE YEARS 1 THROUGH 20. 
          AND THIS IS ASSUMING YOU GO WITH THE 20 YEAR AGREEMENT. 
          AND I'LL MOVE THE SLIDE UP SO YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM. 
          IF YOU WERE TO TAKE YOUR USAGE THAT 1,034,635 AND MULTIPLY IT BY THE $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR. 
          YOU COME OUT WITH A $66,217 FOR PER YEAR FOR YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE. 
          NOW, THE ENERGY THAT'S GENERATED ON YOUR BEHALF,
THAT MEGAWATT OF ENERGY IN OUR DEVELOPMENT, YOU PAY A SUBSCRIPTION FEE. CONSUMERS ENERGY,
ON YOUR BEHALF, SELLS IT INTO THE MISO ENERGY MARKET. 
          THE REVENUE THAT COMES BACK GOES TO OFFSET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE. 
          SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN THAT SAYS SAVINGS ENERGY CAPACITY AND CREDITS,
THAT'S THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE FORECASTING. 
          AND I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW WE FORECAST THAT WILL COME IN IN EACH YEAR. 
          THE COLUMN IN RED, THIS ANNUAL NET SAVINGS RED IS WHERE YOU WOULD PAY A PREMIUM. 
          BLACK IS WHERE YOU WOULD RECEIVE A CREDIT. SO IF YOU MOVE TO THE VERY BOTTOM WHERE IT'S
AT, BOTTOM LEFT FOR ME, WHERE IT SAYS 20 YEARS, IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE NET SAVINGS
OVER A TERM OF 20 YEARS, IF YOU WERE TO ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM AT 100%,
YOU WOULD RECEIVE A CREDIT OF $82,000, SO YOU WOULD NOT PAY OVERALL TO BE IN THE PROGRAM. NOW I'LL GO BACK UP. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE YEARS,
YEARS ONE THROUGH 20, THERE ARE YEARS WHERE YOU WOULD PAY, RIGHT? SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST YEAR, I BELIEVE IT'S $4,252. 
          SO IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 12 MONTHS, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WOULD PAY TO BE IN THE
PROGRAM A LITTLE LESS THAN $400 A MONTH AMONGST ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS THAT YOU HAVE. NOW,
GOING BACK TO THE BOTTOM, THE NUMBER OF YEARS, THE TERMS, THE AGREEMENT YOU HAVE 15 YEARS, 10 YEARS AND 5 YEARS. 
          SO I'LL LOOK AT 20 AND I'LL LOOK AT 5. YOU CAN KIND OF LOOK IN BETWEEN. 
          SO 5 MAY BE FOR A TOWNSHIP OR A BUSINESS THAT JUST WANTS TO BRIDGE THE GAP. 
          RIGHT? MAYBE THEY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE,
BUT THEY NEED TO MEET THIS TO REACH THEIR INTERNAL GOALS. 
          SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE 5 YEAR PLAN, IF YOU MOVE OVER,
OVER. 
          I'M SORRY TO THE NET SAVINGS OR THE PREMIUM TO BE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM FOR 5 YEARS,
YOU WOULD PAY A NET PREMIUM OF $11,000. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 60 MONTHS,
IT COMES OUT TO $193 A MONTH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. SO I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY THE THE MEAT. 
          AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A DECENT UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY
HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW. 
          SO I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. TREASURER DESCHAINE. 
          IT APPEARS THE SAVINGS REALLY HAPPENED YEARS 14 THROUGH 20 ARE THE BENEFIT TO US. 
          BUT THERE'S ALSO EARLY YEARS AND MIDDLE YEARS WHERE IT'S NOT A PROGRESSIVE CHART. 
          YEAH. WHY DO THESE NUMBERS JUMP AROUND LIKE THAT? DAN ASKED THE VERY SAME QUESTION SO THIS WILL TAKE ME TO THE FORECASTING AGENCIES THAT WE USE. 
          WE USE SIEMENS, WE USE IHS AND ARGUS A-R-G-U-S. 
          THESE ARE THE INDUSTRY LEADING ENERGY FORECASTING AGENCIES. 
          SO THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEY BELIEVE. THE DEMAND FOR ENERGY WILL BE THE ENTRY OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLES INTO THE MARKET, THE COST OF NATURAL GAS NOW AND WHAT IS WHAT IS FORECASTED TO BE IN THE FUTURE. 
          SO I CAN'T SPEAK DIRECTLY TO, BUT I CAN SHARE AN EMAIL ON THEIR FORECASTING IN CERTAIN
YEARS. 
          THEY BELIEVE IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND A LOT OF NATURAL GAS,
WHICH WAS THE CASE FOR DOING COVER FROM 2020 TO 2024. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT FACTOR IN. 
          SO MY APOLOGIES THAT I CAN'T ANSWER IT DIRECTLY,
BUT SIEMENS IS AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME TO HOLD A MEETING WITH THE TOWNSHIP TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO HOW THEY FORECAST. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS A FORECAST. 
          AND WHAT CONSUMERS HAS DONE IS WE'VE MOVED ON THE VERY CONSERVATIVE SIDE,
RIGHT? AS OPPOSED TO NUMBERS THAT SHOW A LARGE CREDIT BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS CAN CHANGE. 
          SO WE TOOK A CONSERVATIVE STANCE. AS WE KNOW TOWNSHIPS HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET. 
          BUSINESSES YOU'RE FORECASTING. RIGHT? SO 5, 10,
15, 20 YEARS. 
          [00:20:05]
WE WANT TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WE CAN'T BE EXACT,
BUT TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF FORECASTING AND CONSUMERS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. WE'RE REGULATED. 
          AND CERTAINLY OUR GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE ANYONE TO OVERPAY. 
          SO WE TRY TO FORECAST AS CLOSELY TO WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY. 
          AND THEN OUR INTERNAL ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT. GREAT IN TERMS OF THE KILOWATT HOUR SUBSCRIBE
20,000. 
          JUST LIKE ABOUT 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS. 1,034,000. 
          YEAH. HOW MUCH DO WE GENERATE CURRENTLY, DAN,
WITH OUR CURRENT SOLAR ARRAYS? I DO NOT HAVE THAT ANSWER RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          BUT THE 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS THAT YOU SEE THERE IS THE CURRENT DEMAND. 
          SO THOSE ARE THE KILOWATT HOURS THAT WE'RE PURCHASING DIRECTLY FROM CONSUMERS. 
          WE'VE OFFSET ABOUT, I BELIEVE, 35%. OKAY OF OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION SO ABOUT 350,000 KILOWATT HOURS. 
          THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT BUT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRAM. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE FOR SURE. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE AN AGGREGATE ENERGY DEMAND OF 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS IN ORDER TO ENROLL
IN THIS PROGRAM. 
          SO WE ARE LIKE THE MINIMUM SIZED CUSTOMER THAT CAN ENROLL BY AGGREGATE. 
          I MEAN, YOU'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS, ALL THE STREETLIGHT ACCOUNTS,
THE WELCOME SIGNS DOWN TO THE FACILITIES. 
          RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT MILLION, 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS,
THAT'S ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS AGGREGATED. 
          THEN THE QUESTION THAT I'LL KICK TO DAVE HERE IN A MOMENT IS,
CAN WE ENTER IN AT A PERCENTAGE BASIS? SO COULD WE ENTER IN AT 20%? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER MAY BE NO,
BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DAVE TO ANSWER THAT ONE. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. SO DAN MENTIONED THAT THE THRESHOLD OR THE MINIMUM IS 1,000,000 KILOWATT
HOUR. 
          SO SO YOU'RE RIGHT THERE AND THAT'S AGGREGATED. 
          SO THAT'S TAKING THE MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE, THE LIFT STATIONS AND THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS
AND ADDING THOSE UP. 
          SO YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THE PROGRAM AT AT LEAST 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS. 
          NOW THE PROGRAM IS FLEXIBLE. IT GROWS AND SHRINKS WITH YOU. 
          RIGHT? SO THE GOAL IS FOR YOU TO BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. 
          SO AS YOU MOVE ON YOUR JOURNEY, YOU ENROLL AT 1,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS. 
          AND YOU DO RENOVATIONS HERE, RIGHT? YOU GET NEW LED LIGHTING AND YOU DROP UNDER 1,000,000
KILOWATT HOURS. 
          THAT'S GREAT. RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU'RE USING LESS ENERGY. 
          YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS SMALLER. IT'S GREAT FOR EVERYBODY. 
          BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CONSUMERS ENERGY WANTS PEOPLE TO USE LESS ENERGY,
RIGHT? IT'S. I'VE BEEN HERE 4 YEARS, AND YOU COULD NOT HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE. 
          I THOUGHT, HEY, THE MORE ENERGY, THE MORE MONEY WE MAKE. 
          BUT IT'S WE MAKE OUR MONEY A DIFFERENT WAY OFF OF THE ASSETS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          SO MY JOB, A BIG PART OF MY JOB IS TO MEET WITH TOWNSHIPS AND BUSINESSES TO SAY,
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU BECOME MORE EFFICIENT? SO I HOPE THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YOU CAN'T ENTER IN AT 20% OF THE 1 MILLION YOU HAVE TO ENTER IN BUT AGAIN, IF YOU SHRINK, IT'S GREAT. NOW, IF FOR SOME INSTANCE,
FOR SOME REASON YOU GROW SUBSTANTIALLY, WE HAVE TO MONITOR THAT BECAUSE WE TRY TO SIZE ENROLLMENT EXACTLY. 
          RIGHT? SO AT THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT OF $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR,
IF YOU'RE IN AT A MILLION, ANOTHER CITY IS IN AT A MILLION. AND THAT DEVELOPMENT IS FULL. 
          IF THERE'S SPACE IN THE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S THE SAME PRICE. 
          WE'LL CERTAINLY PLACE YOU THERE. BUT IF NOT,
YOU MAY ROLL TO ANOTHER PROJECT WITH MUCH, WHICH MAY BE AT A DIFFERENT PRICE, BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD,
CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THINGS MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD INCREASE, WILL INCREASE, AND SO MAY THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE. 
          ONE LAST QUESTION. IF WE HAVE A COMPLETELY BATTERY POWERED FLEET RIGHT NOW,
HAVE YOU ESTIMATED HOW MANY HOURS THAT WOULD TAKE TO POWER ALL OF OUR VEHICLES? IF TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE ALL COMPLETELY ELECTRIC? I CANNOT, BUT I CAN TAKE THAT AND PUT IT IN MY PARKING LOT AND RESPOND TO EVERYONE HERE
WITH AN ANSWER. 
          I AM VERY BIG ON NOT GIVING INFORMATION THAT I AM UNSURE OF,
AND THAT'S THE ANSWER THAT I DO NOT KNOW OFFHAND. 
          MY APOLOGIES, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE. AND I DON'T HAVE MY PEN. 
          BUT I'LL GET YOU. YOU HAVE A BATTERY POWERED FLEET EV,
AND YOU SAID YOU WANT TO KNOW IN TEN YEARS? WHAT IT WOULD? HOW MANY KILOWATT HOURS IT WOULD TAKE TO POWER THAT FLEET? AND I CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION ON THE SIZE OF OUR FLEET AND SO FORTH. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL SLIDE THAT I DID. 
          [00:25:02]
I DO THINK WE HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FROM TRUSTEE LENTZ HERE. 
          YES I'M SORRY, MR. LENTZ. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO GOING OFF OF THE QUESTION BY TREASURER
DESCHAINE HERE, LET'S SAY WE DO, COMPLETELY ELECTRIFY OUR FLEET AT A NEW BUILDING. 
          WE'RE CURRENTLY AT THAT 1 MILLION CAP. DOES THIS CONTRACT SIGN. 
          DOES SIGNING ON THAT DOTTED LINE PUT US AT THAT 1 MILLION AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED
SO THAT WHEN WE ELECTRIFY THAT WHOLE FLEET, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO JOIN IN AT A HIGHER CONTRACT AMOUNT POTENTIALLY? OR CAN, YOU KNOW, CAN WE START RIGHT NOW AT 100%? AND THEN AS WE GROW, MAYBE AT THE END OF THIS 20 YEAR CYCLE,
WE'RE STILL OFFSETTING THAT MILLION KILOWATT HOUR, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOW ONLY 50% OF OUR USAGE? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I BELIEVE IT, IT DOES. I'M GOING TO TAKE A STAB [LAUGHTER] AT I'M
GOING TO TAKE A STAB AT ANSWERING IT. 
          SO TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF YOUR QUESTION,
IF YOU ELECTRIFY YOUR FLEET, YOU'RE GOING TO USE MORE ENERGY, RIGHT? SO IF YOU ENROLL AT A MILLION, AGAIN,
AS WE TRY TO RIGHTSIZE CUSTOMERS GOING INTO THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN ENROLL. IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH SPACE THERE IS LEFT
IN THE PROGRAM. 
          WE CAN'T RESERVE SPACE UP FRONT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. 
          SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, ARE WE ABLE TO IF WE WANTED TO JUST SAY WE ARE GOOD WITH THE
MILLION WE THAT ACHIEVES OUR GOALS NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE CONTINUE AT ONLY 1 MILLION JUST USING ROUND NUMBERS,
OF COURSE. 
          YEAH, YEAH, YOU COULD DO THAT. BUT IF YOU ARE USING MORE ENERGY,
YOU WOULD STILL HAVE A CARBON FOOTPRINT, RIGHT? THAT YOU WOULD SOMEHOW WANT TO OFFSET. 
          IDEALLY, YES, I WOULD IMAGINE WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE SUBSCRIPTION COSTS WHEN THAT
WOULD COME UP. 
          BUT OKAY, THAT DOES ANSWER MY QUESTION THANK YOU. 
          SO AS SORT OF A COROLLARY TO THAT, THIS JUST TO CLARIFY,
WOULD REPLACE A USAGE BASED BILLING SYSTEM ESSENTIALLY RIGHT? GREAT QUESTION. I'M MOVING TO THAT ONE NEXT. OKAY I'LL LET YOU DO THAT THEN. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          SO YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE YOUR NORMAL BILL WHATEVER RATES YOU'RE IN. 
          WE DO WHAT WE CALL YEARLY RATE ANALYSIS. WE DID OUR FIRST ONE THIS YEAR WHERE I'LL MEET
WITH THE TEAM AND SAY, HEY, OUR RATES HAVE CHANGED. THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING WAS ON A PRIMARY RATE OR A SECONDARY
RATE. 
          HERE'S A BETTER RATE. RIGHT? WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR. 
          WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU'LL HAVE YOUR NORMAL CHARGES. 
          AS YOU SEE IN THE BLUE. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR THE PROGRAM,
WHICH WOULD BE THIS AREA HERE. 
          THIS WILL BE AN ADD ON I'M SORRY IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY CURSOR,
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU CAN. 
          AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE THE ENERGY CREDITS AND THE CAPACITY CREDITS. 
          SO THE MATH WILL COME BETWEEN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE AND THE ENERGY AND CAPACITY CREDITS. 
          AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE CHARGES WHETHER THERE WILL BE A PREMIUM,
MEANING YOU WOULD PAY THAT PARTICULAR MONTH FOR THE PROGRAM OR WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A CREDIT SO YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PAY YOUR NORMAL BILL EVERY MONTH. 
          THIS IS AN ADD ON, ON TOP OF YOUR BILL. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DEFINITELY ANSWERED MY QUESTION YES. OKAY. 
          THE LAST SLIDE IF WE SUBSCRIBE AT THE MILLION, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A SOLAR ARRAY
AT OUR NORTH FIRE STATION. 
          IT'S NOT ONLINE YET IT WILL BE. WE ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
MONTHS, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR OR SO. AND WHEN WE DO,
THAT WILL BRING OUR KILOWATT HOURS DOWN. 
          OKAY? DOES OUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE DECREASE COMMENSURATE WITH THE ACTUAL USAGE ONCE THAT
COMES ONLINE? IT WILL HOWEVER, REMEMBER THE THRESHOLD IS A MILLION. 
          YEAH, BUT WE CAME IN AT A MILLION. YEAH YES A SOLAR ARRAY, AND NOW WE'RE LESS THAN A MILLION. 
          THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE COMES DOWN WITH THE ACTUAL KILOWATT USAGE RESERVED. 
          RIGHT? IT DOES. IT SHRINKS. IT SHRINKS WITH YOU. 
          SO IF IT GOES TO 950,000 INSTEAD OF A MILLION,
YOU'VE ALREADY MET THE THRESHOLD. 
          YOU'VE ENTERED THE PROGRAM. NOW, YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FEE WILL BE $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR TIMES
950 KILOWATT HOURS INSTEAD OF A MILLION AND WHATEVER THE NUMBER WAS THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
THESE SAVINGS THAT YOU'VE PROJECTED ON THAT, SORRY, THE AGENCIES HAVE PROJECTED ON THE TABLE THAT YOU WERE SHOWING US A MOMENT AGO. 
          YEAH. THEY'RE PROJECTIONS. ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT? AND THEY ARE VICTIM TO MARKET FORCES, AS ANY ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS ARE. 
          WHEREAS THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE IS NOT. YEAH THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE IS SET 
          [00:30:07]
MORE COMMUNITIES COME ONLINE AND SUPPLY OF THE ENERGY IS VASTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU WHAT
PERHAPS YOU MAY BE INTENDED OR EXPECTED? OKAY, AND LET ME ACTUALLY STEP BACK TO THE $64 PER MEGAWATT HOUR. 
          SO THAT PRICE IS SET FOR YOUR AGREEMENT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING IS
RECONCILED. 
          IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE LOWER, YOU'LL GET CHARGED A LOWER PRICE. 
          IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE, AND I FORGET THE EXACT NUMBER,
I'LL GET IT TO YOU. 
          HIGHER THERE'S AN OUT FOR YOU IN THE ACTUAL PROGRAM. 
          SO IF THAT'S $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR, IF WE'RE OFF ON THAT,
AND THAT'S HIGHER BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, YOU HAVE AN OUT OF THE PROGRAM. BUT IF IT'S LOWER,
YOU GET THE LOWER PRICE. 
          SURE. AND THEN THE SECOND PART, COULD YOU REPEAT THE SECOND PART TO YOUR QUESTION. SO IF
THE SAVINGS PROJECTIONS ARE ACTUALLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED, WHAT THEN? SO AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A RISK INVOLVED,
RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T GUARANTEE WHAT THEY WILL BE. SO IF IT MOVES HIGHER YOU WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
PAYING A PREMIUM. 
          IF IT'S LOWER, YOU WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A CREDIT. 
          OKAY. SO THAT THAT IS SUBJECT TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE FLUCTUATIONS OF THE MARKET. 
          IT IS I LIKEN IT TO A 401K OR A SIMILAR PROGRAM WHERE WE WHERE WE INVEST AND WE TRY TO USE
ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AT HAND TO BEST JUDGE WHAT THE RETURNS WILL BE WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE. BUT WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN. 
          YEAH I GUESS MY, MY CURIOSITY WOULD BE AROUND,
YOU KNOW, HOW SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AFFECTS THE COST ON THE ENERGY MARKET? DOES IT WORK IN THE WAY THAT EVERYTHING ELSE DOES? IT DOES. AND ACTUALLY, I HAVE AN EMAIL THAT I'LL SHARE WITH THE OKAY TO SHARE THE EMAIL
YOU SENT. 
          I CAN SHARE WITH THE TEAM WHERE WE IT SPEAKS TO YEARS 1 THROUGH 10 AND WHY WE BELIEVE THE
FORECAST. 
          WHY SIEMENS BELIEVE THE FORECASTING WILL BE SUCH. 
          AND IT SPEAKS TO INFLATION OR THE ENTRY OF EVS INTO THE MARKET. 
          IT SPEAKS TO THE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WOULD ADJUST OR CAUSE IT TO GO UP OR DOWN. 
          YEAH I GUESS MY CONCERN WOULD BE WE EXPECT YOUR PROGRAM TO BE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. 
          LET'S SAY YOU GET A TON OF COMMUNITIES AND A TON OF BUSINESSES ON BOARD WITH SIGNING UP
FOR THIS. 
          NOW YOU'RE IN PRODUCTION ON A TON OF NEW RENEWABLE. 
          YOU KNOW, FARMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ENERGY SUPPLY THAT YOU'RE SELLING
INTO. 
          MISO? YEAH MISO IS WAY UP. ECONOMICS TELLS US THAT THAT PUSHES THE PRICE DOWN. 
          AND SO MY CONCERN WOULD BE THE SAVINGS THAT YOU GET FOR HAVING DONE THAT WOULD BE
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER OVER TIME, BECAUSE YOU'RE EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF SUPPLY THAT YOU'VE GOT. 
          SO THE MPSC MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ONLY ALLOWS US TO BUILD AS WE RECEIVE
SUBSCRIBERSHIP, RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T GO OUT AND OVERBUILD IF WE DON'T HAVE CUSTOMERS TO FILL THE PROGRAM. 
          SO THAT'S KEEPING US HONEST. NOT THAT WE WOULD BE HONEST ANYWAY,
BUT WE CAN ONLY SUBSCRIBE TO WHAT WE HAVE BUILT, RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T GO OUT AND BUILD THREE NEW SOLAR FIELDS,
AND WE DON'T HAVE THE CUSTOMERS TO FILL IT. 
          DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IF THAT KIND OF HELPS,
MAYBE I DON'T THINK FULLY ADDRESSES WHAT MY CONCERN IS,
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THAT SO THANK YOU. AND MY APOLOGIES. 
          I'LL, I'LL GET WITH YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION AND GET YOU AN ANSWER FOR THAT. 
          OKAY. YEP. DAVE ONE SECOND, REAL QUICK. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON JUST TO CLARIFY TOO,
WHEN DAVE WAS REFERRING TO THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE AND THE OPT OUT. SO THAT'S THE PROJECT HASN'T BEEN BIDDED YET,
RIGHT? SO THE SOLAR PROJECT IS GOING TO BE BIDDED PROBABLY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS,
THEN ALL OF THE COST WILL BE KNOWN, RIGHT? SO JUST LIKE A DRAIN PROJECT OR THE LAKE LANSING DAM. 
          ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE COSTS, THEN THAT SUBSCRIPTION FEE WILL BE FINALIZED. 
          BUT IF WE WERE TO OPT IN, RIGHT, LET'S SAY WE SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE,
WE'RE OPTED IN. 
          THERE IS AN OPT OUT. IF THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE WERE TO ECLIPSE A 10% INCREASE ON THE $64 PER
MEGAWATT HOUR. 
          THAT'S THE OPT OUT. AND MY CONCERN IS, I BELIEVE,
BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE, THAT THE THINGS THAT CONSUMERS CAN CONTROL, WE ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD STANDING FOR IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO EXIT IF WE HAVE TO. 
          MY CONCERN IS WE'RE BEING PITCHED SOMETHING THAT COSTS X AND WILL GAIN US BENEFIT Y COSTS. 
          THERE'S THERE ARE OUTS FOR? YEP IT'S SIMPLY WELL THE MARKET CHANGED. AND MY CONCERN IS,
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE BEING TOLD OH WELL WE'VE JUST PAID THIS $66,000. 
          IN YEAR 20 WILL BE MAKING $17,000. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE OF THAT BECAUSE THE
FORECASTS CAN CHANGE. 
          [00:35:04]
THE MARKET CAN CHANGE A LOT IN 20 YEARS. YEAH AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE PROJECTIONS. I MEAN,
YOU CAN ALSO PROJECT THAT THE STOCK MARKET WILL NEVER GO DOWN. 
          BUT WE'VE SEEN THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. AND YOU'VE ZEROED IN EXACTLY ON WHAT STAFF ARE
GOING TO DO MORE DUE DILIGENCE ON. 
          AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE TOPIC OF ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THEIR SUBSCRIBERS. 
          RIGHT? SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE OUR THOUGHT PROCESS IS AS WELL. 
          THE ONE THING AS I'VE REFLECTED ON THOSE INITIAL MEETINGS THE SUBSCRIPTION COST OVER 20
YEARS BEING 1.3 MILLION. 
          THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FISCAL RISK IN THIS PROGRAM. 
          IT WOULD COST THAT MUCH JUST TO FINISH JUST TO CONSTRUCT SOLAR ARRAYS FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY BUILDING WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING AND THIS BUILDING. 
          RIGHT? JUST TO FINISH BUILDING OUT THESE TWO FACILITIES WOULD COST THAT MUCH. 
          SO EVEN IF WE GOT ZERO ENERGY CREDITS, IF WE ACHIEVE OUR GOAL AND WE ELIMINATE 400 AND 431 METRIC TONS OF CO2, RIGHT? OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT,
WE HAVE ACHIEVED A GOAL. 
          SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND, RIGHT. THE DOWNSIDE RISK RELATIVE TO CONSTRUCTING
ASSETS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY. 
          RIGHT? SOLAR PANELS HAVE ABOUT 20 YEARS FOR THEIR LIFECYCLE,
NOT VERY LONG. 
          WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT 2037 BEING THE REPLACEMENT YEAR. 
          AND THAT'D BE THE VERY END OF THE LIFECYCLE,
RIGHT? FOR THE ARRAY OR FIRST ARRAY AT CENTRAL PARK IN MARCH. 
          SO JUST KIND OF THE BIG HOLISTIC PICTURE AS I THOUGHT MORE THROUGH THIS. 
          THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL OUTLAY COST. 
          SO THE ECONOMY OF SCALE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THROUGH HAVE PAID FOR 100% RENEWABLE. YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT,
YOU KNOW, ARE WE RECEIVING ANY FISCAL BENEFIT FOR HAVING DONE SO? AND THIS IS ON TOP OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING IN OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION ANYWAY. 
          YEAH. AND SO WE'RE ASKING BASICALLY, YOU KNOW,
I THINK THERE'S A PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THERE'S A VALUE IN BEING ABLE TO SAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE ARE GENERATING IT HERE. AND IT'S BEING USED TO BOTH CLEAN OUR ENERGY FOR WHAT WE USE
AND ALSO DEFRAY OUR COSTS, YOU KNOW, IN THE OVER TIME FOR THE ACTUAL CONSUMPTION OF THAT ENERGY. 
          BUT YEAH. AND I FIGURED THAT WOULD BE THE CRUX OF THIS ENTIRE DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT WE PROCEED OR NOT. 
          THOSE ARE WE'VE ALREADY HIT ON ALL THE KEY FACTORS,
RIGHT? THANK YOU. THANKS, DAN THIS IS WHERE WE LAND BASICALLY WHAT YOU MENTIONED. 
          SO THE BENEFITS ARE MICHIGAN BASED ENERGY AND PRODUCTION. 
          YOU CAN ALL READ HERE. BUT REALLY WHAT YOU LOOK AT IS THE BLUE,
RIGHT? YOU JUST MENTIONED IT. RESOURCES ARE NOT ON SITE,
BUT AGAIN, HOW THE ENERGY MARKET IN LARGE WORKS ARE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES. 
          IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP. 
          THIS IS REALLY HOW THE TRANSACTIONS ARE MADE. 
          AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION IS AS YOU MENTIONED,
IS MARKET RISK, RIGHT? WE CAN'T I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE NUMBERS WILL HOLD TRUE. 
          WE CAN JUST USE THE BEST INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND THAT THE EXPERTS HAVE GIVEN US TO
FORECAST THE INFORMATION. 
          SO AS I MENTIONED HERE, THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS BID AT,
WELL, PROJECTED TO BE AT A $64 A MEGAWATT HOUR. 
          AS DAN MENTIONED, ONCE EVERYTHING COMES IN AND THE COST IS SHORED UP,
THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT AND OR RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF ADDITIONAL SAVINGS IF IT COMES IN LOWER. THAT PROGRAM ENROLLMENT ENDS IN SEPTEMBER. 
          WE ARE NOT FULLY SUBSCRIBED TO THE PROGRAM NOW,
BUT THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY GUARANTEE IS TO GET IN BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER. 
          BUT WE DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL SPACE LEFT OVER AFTER. 
          AND AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE WAY FORWARD. 
          THIS IS WHAT CONSUMERS ENERGY'S CLEAN ENERGY PLAN STATES. 
          THIS IS OUR PATH FORWARD. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL PARTNER WITH US. 
          AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU DID WE COMPLETELY ANSWER YOURS OR? I THINK I'VE GOT WHAT I NEED THANK YOU. 
          YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEED OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5. 
          [5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT TONIGHT'S MEETING. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS OUR AGENDA, OR ANY ITEM NOT ON OUR AGENDA, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AS WELL AS NEAR THE END OF THE MEETING. THOSE
WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE A GREEN CARD, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON THE TABLE BY THE DOOR. WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN,
I'LL CALL YOU UP TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK TO THE TOPICS INDICATED. 
          [00:40:04]
WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED, IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MEETING MINUTES IF YOU PROVIDE
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS. CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE
TIME AND AN INDICATOR LIGHT WILL. 
          AN AUDIBLE BEEP WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          MEMBERS OF THE BOARD VALUE PUBLIC COMMENT AND INPUT FROM OUR PUBLIC. 
          THE MEETING FORMAT AND RULES, HOWEVER, DO RESTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM ENGAGING IN
CONVERSATION WITH COMMENTERS OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. 
          QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AT A LATER TIME OR MAY BE
REFERRED TO A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON. 
          PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND OR THE BOARD'S CHAIR,
AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR TO OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE. 
          WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL GREEN CARDS THIS EVENING. FIRST UP IS PAULETTE GRACE
AND THEN RAMON S IS ON DECK. 
          WE ASK THAT YOU GO ONE AT A TIME, IF YOU COULD. 
          PAULETTE? GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS PAULETTE GRACE AND I RESIDE AT 4824 NASSAU STREET IN
CENTRAL PARK ESTATES. 
          MY COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT CENTRAL PARK
ESTATES BY CONTINENTAL PROPERTIES. 
          IN MY OPINION, THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S MASTER PLAN AS OUTLINED IN
2023. 
          THE MASTER PLAN EMPHASIZES SEVERAL OBJECTIVES PRESERVING THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          INVESTIGATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WOODLANDS ORDINANCE TO PROTECT LOCAL WOODLOTS. 
          ENHANCING WALKABILITY WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND DEVELOPMENTS. 
          ELIMINATING THE WOODED AREAS AT CENTRAL PARK ESTATES WOULD NOT MAINTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER. 
          PROTECT CURRENT WOODLOTS, WOODLOTS, AND WILDLIFE HABITATS,
OR PROMOTE WALKABILITY. 
          IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC WILL EXACERBATE EXISTING
CONGESTION AND SAFETY CONCERNS. 
          UNLESS A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS MADE,
AND THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, INSERTING OVER 300 UNITS, ALONG WITH NEW PARKING AND AMENITIES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY,
UNDOUBTEDLY NEGATIVELY AFFECT COMMUNITY SAFETY, SECURITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IN ADDITION,
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT MEET HIGH STANDARDS FOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION OR ESTHETIC COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING AREAS. WHILE THE DEVELOPER HAS PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED
HIGHER QUALITY PROJECTS IN EXECUTIVE LEVEL PROJECTS ELSEWHERE, THEY HAVE ELECTED NOT TO DO SO IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. 
          ACCORDING TO THE MASTER PLAN, RESIDENTS FACE PLACED HIGH VALUE ON THE COMMUNITY'S NATURAL
FEATURES, INCLUDING WETLANDS, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LAKES AND PRESERVED OPEN SPACES,
ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE TOWNSHIP'S REPUTATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT
REFLECT THESE VALUES AND FOR DENYING TO APPROVE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THEM. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE TOWNSHIP'S INTEREST IN ACCOMMODATING NEW
DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE MANY OTHER SUITABLE SITES THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED. 
          INCREASING RESIDENTIAL DENSITY AT THIS LOCATION CONFLICTS DIRECTLY WITH THE EXPRESSED
DESIRES OF TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. 
          I URGE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION TO UPHOLD THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MASTER
PLAN AND DENY APPROVAL FOR THIS PROJECT THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, RAMON S AND THEN MICHAEL INGA. 
          HELLO EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US. 
          I AGREE WITH WHATEVER SHE SAID. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THREE MAIN POINTS HERE WHICH ARE
IMPORTANT. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE VARIANCE HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES. 
          IT WAS A PROFESSIONAL IN OFFICE, A DESIGNATED AREA. 
          THEN IT MOVED FROM THERE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND SO THESE VARIANCES BASICALLY SLOWLY AND
STEADILY ARE CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE ON THAT LAND. 
          AND IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC ISSUES, WHICH SHE MENTIONED WE DO HAVE BASICALLY IT'S KIND OF
MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES. ALL THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT AREA IS NOT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. 
          I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME LIKE IT'S NOT LIKE SO CLOSE. 
          AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT IS ALSO WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT. 
          AND I THINK WE ALL SENT EMAILS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN ALL THOSE. 
          AND THEY ARE VALID OBJECTIONS. AGAIN, I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER CAREFULLY
THIS THIS REQUEST 
          [00:45:01]
AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHAEL INGA AND THAT'S THE LAST GREEN CARD I HAVE. 
          IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TURN A GREEN CARD INTO THE
STAFF AND THEY'LL BRING IT UP TO US IF YOU WOULD JUST HAND IT TO SOMEONE BACK THERE. 
          HELLO HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MICHAEL INGA. 
          I'M A FORMER RESIDENT OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. MY ADDRESS IS 903 NORTH SYCAMORE IN LANSING
NOW AND SO I AM HERE AGAIN TO FOLLOW UP ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE I RAISED A FEW WEEKS AGO. MY PREVIOUS FOIA REQUEST WAS FOR PUBLIC RECORDS THAT COULD CONFIRM
THE SUSPICION OF YOUR OWN CODE OFFICIAL REGARDING A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN. 
          CROSS-CONTAMINATION AT MY FORMER APARTMENT COMPLEX. 
          WHILE I HAVE RECEIVED SOME DOCUMENTS AFTER A SERIES OF IGNORED EMAILS AND DENIAL OF
REQUESTED DOCUMENTS THROUGH FOIA, I FILED FORMAL APPEALS. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER,
THE HIGHEST ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL IN THIS TOWNSHIP, STATING THAT MY REQUEST HAS BEEN FULFILLED. HOWEVER,
DESPITE THIS OFFICIAL LETTER, CRUCIAL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING PLUMBING SCHEMATICS, HAVE STILL NOT BEEN PROVIDED. 
          A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH MULTIPLE APPEALS AND RECEIVE A
LEGALESE FILLED LETTER FROM THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER TO GET A CLEAR ANSWER ON A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. THIS RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND
PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          I HAVE DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF MY FOIA REQUESTS,
AN OFFICIAL FROM THE COMMUNITY PLANNING DIVISION CONTACTED THE LANDLORD ABOUT THE CROSS CONTAMINATION ISSUE. THIS ACTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A NEW DOCUMENT THAT CONTRADICTS THE
ORIGINAL REPORT, RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP'S IMPARTIALITY,
AND IT CAUSES THE LANDLORD TO INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES. 
          AND THEY FOUND THEMSELVES THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. FURTHERMORE,
MY ELECTRICAL COMPLAINT AT THAT SAME PROPERTY WAS LEFT WITH A PARTIALLY COMPLIED STATUS FOR OVER A YEAR. WITHOUT ANY APPARENT FINES OR CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CORPORATE LANDLORD. 
          THIS APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT GRANTS SPECIAL TREATMENT TO A CORPORATE
ENTITY. TREATMENT THAT HOMEOWNERS AND SMALLER LANDLORDS IN THIS COMMUNITY DO NOT RECEIVE. 
          WHILE I HAVE BEEN PURSUING ANSWERS TO THESE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS,
YOUR COMMUNITY PLANNING DIRECTOR HAS BEEN SPENDING TIME AND TAXPAYER RESOURCES ON MATTERS LIKE ROOSTER LEGISLATION. THE TOWNSHIP'S CONDUCT IN THIS MATTER SHOWS A DISTURBING PATTERN
OF OBSTRUCTING A CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO INFORMATION. 
          THIS IS NOT JUST A CLERICAL ERROR. IT'S A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE
HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 
          I AM HERE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURE SURE THIS IS NO LONGER IGNORED THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT IS VINCENT TAMANIKA. AND THAT'S THE LAST GREEN CARD I'VE GOT. 
          IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD,
NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO FILL OUT THOSE GREEN CARDS. I HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT TOPICS HERE. 
          HAS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD CONSIDERED THE IMPACT UPON LOCAL SCHOOLS? MY CHILD ATTENDS CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE REPORTS TO ME THAT THE TEACHER STUDENT RATIO
IS APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 1 IN THE CLASSES IN THE CLASS. 
          IN ONE CLASS, THE RATIO IS 45 TO 1. AS A TEACHER MYSELF,
I KNOW THESE ARE HIGH RATIOS AND THE SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ON ANY ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO ENTER THE DISTRICT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. 
          OKEMOS DOES NOT NEED MORE POPULATION IN THIS AREA AND CAN ONLY SUSTAIN IT BY WEAKENING OUR
EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME. 
          WHEN WE MOVED OKEMOS, TWO THINGS THAT DREW US HERE,
AS HAS DRAWN MANY PEOPLE HERE, IS NOT ONLY THE ESTHETIC OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE PRESERVES, THE WILDLIFE PRESERVES,
BUT ALSO THE SCHOOLS. 
          YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL, THE OKEMOS SCHOOLS ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME AND MORE
POPULATION IS GOING TO WEAKEN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME. 
          THE SCHOOLS REALISTICALLY CANNOT SUSTAIN WAVE AFTER WAVE OF ADDITIONAL STUDENTS. 
          THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO ABSORB THE STUDENTS FROM THE VERY BIG CONDO COMPLEX THAT
IS OPENING A QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF CENTRAL PARK ESTATES, OFF MARSH ROAD. I THINK IT'S CALLED GRAND RESERVE. 
          THE PROPOSED 300 UNIT AUTHENTIC APARTMENTS WOULD ADD MANY MORE STUDENTS TO ALREADY CROWDED
SCHOOLS. 
          THE NEW INFLUX OF RESIDENTS WOULD ALSO COMPLICATE A TRAFFIC SITUATION,
WHICH WHICH IS ALREADY OVERLY CONGESTED AND ARGUABLY DANGEROUS. 
          AT THE VERY SPOT WHERE AUTHENTIC OKEMOS IS PROPOSED TO BE BUILT,
EVERYONE AT CPE THAT'S THE ACRONYM FOR CENTRAL PARK ESTATES, IS AWARE OF THE ACCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES AT THE BEND IN CENTRAL PARK DRIVE,
WHERE MSU CREDIT UNION IS LOCATED, AND THE TURN OFFS INTO WALMART AND THE CENTRAL AND THE OTHER THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT'S
DOWN THAT LITTLE SIDE ROAD, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE TRAFFIC STUDY, WHATEVER IT MIGHT SHOW,
WE AT CPE KNOW THE SITUATION IS ALREADY TREACHEROUS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT BUILDING AUTHENTIC OKEMOS WOULD,
AT THE VERY LEAST MAKE THE DRIVING DANGEROUS. 
          AND FOR SOME UNLUCKY DRIVERS, CATASTROPHIC. MY SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT THAT CORNER,
AND THAT WAS WELL BEFORE ALL THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS BUILT. 
          A CAR SMASHED INTO THE VEHICLE HE WAS IN. MOREOVER,
THE TWO LANE ROAD CANNOT BE WIDENED WITH A PROTECTED 
          [00:50:01]
WOODLOT ON THE EAST AND AUTHENTIC OKEMOS ON THE WEST. 
          AND THERE'S NO BACK DOOR OUT OF CENTRAL PARK ESTATES,
SO WE WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE INTO THE CHAOS. 
          THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES. I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE BROUGHT SOME OF THEM UP,
BUT ONE OF THEM IS, I NOTICED REGARDING THE MAP, THAT THE THAT AUTHENTIC OAK,
THAT KIND OF CONTINENTAL PROPERTIES HAS SHOWN AT THAT CONFERENCE AT THE LIBRARY IS IT REPLACES WETLANDS WITH. 
          WHAT'S THE NAME OF? WHAT'S THEY CALL IT THESE LITTLE? DETENTION AREAS? WATER. I WAS LOOKING AT SIMILAR DETENTION AREAS AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES LIKE TODAY. 
          I WAS AT ONE ACROSS THE STREET FROM FRANDOR,
WHERE IT'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WETLANDS TO MAKE A SHORT STORY. 
          IT'S VERY STERILE ENVIRONMENT. ESTHETICALLY,
IT'S. 
          THERE'S NO COMPARISON TO WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT'S ALREADY THERE RIGHT NOW. 
          AND A QUICK LITTLE NOTE, CONTINENTAL DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE AWARE WHEN I TALK TO THEM AT
THE THAT CONFERENCE IN THE LIBRARY, WOULD THERE BE THE WETLANDS THEY'D BE REPLACING? BECAUSE A BUILDING SITS ON THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL WETLANDS BETWEEN BELVEDERE AND COLUMBUS
AND THE REP I TALKED TO DIDN'T, WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE PUBLIC COMMENT IS
CLOSED AT 6:50 P.M. 
          NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 6, THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT,
MANAGER DEMPSEY. 
          [6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON AND GOOD EVENING,
BOARD MEMBERS. JUST A FEW THINGS TO REPORT ON THIS EVENING. 
          ONE IS A REMINDER THAT THE NEXT BOARD LISTENING SESSION IS COMING UP AT THE END OF THE
MONTH. 
          SO ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH AT SAINT LUKE SAINT LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH ON VAN ATTA ROAD
FROM 6:00 P.M. 
          TO 7:30 P.M. WE'LL HAVE OUR SECOND OF THREE LISTENING SESSIONS THIS YEAR. 
          NOTICES FOR THOSE WILL BE GOING OUT SHORTLY TO RESIDENTS,
BUT WE, OF COURSE, ENCOURAGE RESIDENT PARTICIPATION AND HOPE THAT THEY CAN JOIN US FOR THAT. LABOR DAY, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS SORT OF THE UNOFFICIAL END TO SUMMER,
BUT NOT THE END OF SUMMER FUN. 
          SO THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES CONTINUES THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24TH
ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 6:30 P.M. 
          TO 8:30 P.M. SOME OVERLAP THERE WITH THE WEDNESDAY MARKET DAY,
SO THOSE ARE ON WEDNESDAYS. 
          SO WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY SOME CONCERTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE OFFICIAL
SUMMER SEASON. 
          AND THEN THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, OUR TOWNSHIP FIREFIGHTER LOCAL 1600,
ALONG WITH THE BOY SCOUTS, WILL BE SPONSORING THE 8 ANNUAL PANCAKE FUNDRAISER. 
          SO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT FOR ALL YOU CAN EAT $7. 
          WHERE CAN YOU HAVE A BREAKFAST THAT CHEAP THESE DAYS? AND THE PROCEEDS WILL BE FOR TWO GOOD REASONS. 
          ONE WILL BE THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR THE SCOUTS,
AND THE OTHER ONE IS FOR THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION SO HOPE TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE THERE AS WELL. WHERE IS OH, YES THANK YOU I'M SORRY [LAUGHTER]. THAT'S AT 242 COMMUNITY CHURCH ON BENNETT ROAD. 
          SO HOPE TO SEE US AND THERE'S INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE EVENTS,
OF COURSE, ON THE TOWNSHIP'S WEBSITE. 
          THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER? SEEING NONE. 
          [7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM 7. 
          BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH REPORTS OF
ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING? CLERK DEMAS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE EMILY, WHO SERVED AS OUR DEPUTY CLERK. SHE JUST RECENTLY STEPPED DOWN TO PURSUE ANOTHER JOB
OPPORTUNITY. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL HER WORK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND WISH HER THE BEST. 
          WITH HER LEAVE THIS MEANS THAT THE DEPUTY CLERK POSITION IS OPEN. 
          SO IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ELECTION ADMINISTRATION,
IT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRUSTEE LENTZ. THANK YOU. 
          TWO THINGS. ONE IT IS NOT MY ACTIVITY. I WILL NOT BE OUT THERE SOIL TESTING AND PAVING,
BUT TYLER HART ROAD, AN AREA THAT MANY RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER AS ONE OF THE ONLY NON PAVED ROADS
IN THE TOWNSHIP IS RECEIVING TREATMENT THIS WEEK AND I'M EXCITED TO TELL MY FRIENDS WHO I KNOW LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND APARTMENTS RIGHT
THERE. 
          YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT AREA IS GOING TO BE A BIT SAFER FOR THEM. 
          SO FOR THOSE LOOKING OUT, I DO APPRECIATE MR. OPSOMMER FOR EXPLAINING THE INTRICACIES OF WHAT KIND OF SURFACE WE CAN EXPECT THERE
BECAUSE IT IS SOMEWHAT NOVEL. 
          I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS TO EVERYONE WHO IS CAME HERE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND
ISSUES. 
          AND EVERYONE IN MERIDIAN IS PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. 
          WHILE OUR MEETING TOMORROW IS CANCELED, WE DO HAVE A MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
MEETING THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO COME TO AND SEE WHAT THE TOWNSHIP IS DOING. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR TOWNSHIP ENVIRONMENTALLY, 
          [00:55:05]
IN OUR 2000 ACRES OF PARKS AND LAND PRESERVE SO. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS? EXCUSE ME 
          [8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
EVENING? SO MOVED. SUPPORT. MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE SAY AYE. 
          AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. AND I WILL POINT OUT I GRABBED THIS OFF OF THE TABLE
THERE, AND WE HAVE ONE LESS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM THAN WHAT'S LISTED ON THE AGENDAS THAT WERE ON
THE TABLE. 
          SO ITEM 9.F HAS BEEN REMOVED PRIOR TO IT COMING TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL ACTION HERE. 
          SO NOW WE HAVE THE MAC LEGENDS INDOOR GOLF LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFER HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT. 
          [9. CONSENT AGENDA]
WITH THAT SAID, WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 9,
WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. 
          ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS,
INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD. THE MINUTES FROM OUR AUGUST 19TH REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING. THE BILLS AND AUTHORIZATION TO CHANGE FOR CHANGE IN CONSUMERS
ENERGY STANDARD LIGHTING CONTRACT FOR SOME STREET LIGHTS ON CLINTON TO MOUNT HOPE. WE HAVE 9 APPOINTMENTS TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION. 
          THIS IS OUR INAUGURAL SET OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE YOUTH COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE 2025
NEWTON ROAD PARK PATHWAY CONTRACT. 
          AND I DID HAVE ONE ITEM TO ADDRESS IN THE MINUTES FOR WHOEVER WISHES TO MAKE THAT MOTION. 
          ON PAGE TWO, WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ROOSTER REGULATION INTRODUCTION. 
          AND IT'S BEEN THERE'S A SMALL TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. 
          WE LOST THE T IN ROOSTER. SO IT JUST SAYS ROOSER REGULATION INTRODUCTION. 
          SO IT HAS THAT WE HAVE SOME SPELLING CHANGE NOTED IN THE MOTION,
IF WE COULD. 
          WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. 
          MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. SUPPORT ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, WELL CLERK DEMAS PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. CLERK DEMAS. 
          YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE. YES. TRUSTEE LENTZ. 
          YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. TRUSTEE WILSON. YES. 
          SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10.A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT 25-12-3560
HULETT ROAD. 
          [10.A. Planned Unit Development 25-012 – 3560 Hulett Road]
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE EVENING. AND SO WE HAVE AS A BRIEF TO GIVE A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION FOR THIS ONE. 
          OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,
TIM SCHMITT. 
          GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR AND BOARD MEMBERS. THE REQUEST IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING IS
SIMILAR, IN FACT, IDENTICAL TO THE ONE YOU SAW IN 2022 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET
FROM OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE NETZLOFF FARMS. IT WOULD CREATE FIVE NEW BUILDABLE LOTS ON THE
PROPERTY, LEAVING THE SINGLE-FAMILY FARMHOUSE INTACT TO BE SOLD. 
          NOTHING HAS CHANGED ULTIMATELY. THE DEVELOPER MISTIMED THE APPLICATION AND ALLOWED THE
PREVIOUS APPLICATION TO EXPIRE ACCIDENTALLY. 
          AND SO WE ARE RUNNING THIS BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS. 
          BUT AGAIN, IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROCESS OR PROPERTY PROJECT THAT WAS PROPOSED ON THIS
PROPERTY IN 2022 AND APPROVED. 
          AND SO WE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAILS NOW OR LATER DEPENDING ON THE BOARD'S CHOICE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO THIS TOPIC SPECIFICALLY MAY DO SO AT THIS
TIME. 
          ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THIS TOPIC? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:57 P.M. 
          [11.A. Ordinance 2025-07 Parking Lot Landscaping Standards Updates – Introduction]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 11 FOR ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS ITEM 11.A TEXT AMENDMENT 2025-07
PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING STANDARDS FOR INTRODUCTION. 
          WE HAVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,
TIM SCHMITT. THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR. THIS REQUEST IS BACK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. 
          AFTER OUR DISCUSSION AT THE AUGUST 19TH MEETING WHERE NO MAJOR CONCERNS WERE RAISED. 
          AT THIS POINT, THE BOARD IF THEY CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT,
WOULD, WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE AFTER FORMALLY APPROVING IT FOR INTRODUCTION THIS EVENING. AGAIN, TO REITERATE,
THIS WOULD UPDATE THE LANDSCAPING STANDARDS IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE. 
          THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE THREE PARTS OF THE PARKING ORDINANCE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
UPDATING. AND STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE THIRD PART WITH AN EYE TOWARDS BRINGING IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION LATER THIS YEAR. AND GET US ABOUT 3/8 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE
ZONING ORDINANCE AT THAT POINT BEING UPDATED. 
          [01:00:05]
TERRIFIC TRUSTEE TREZISE. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION TEXT AMENDMENT
2025-07 TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AT SECTION 86-758 TO UPDATE THE
STANDARDS FOR PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING IN THE TOWNSHIP. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE. 
          DOES IT HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORT ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? TRUSTEE TREZISE I THINK WE WENT THROUGH THIS A COUPLE OF
TIMES IN SOME DETAIL. 
          I'M HAPPY WITH THE PROPOSAL. I THINK IT WILL CLARIFY AND SIMPLIFY THE PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE THEM CONSIDERABLY OVER WHAT HAS BEEN IN
PLACE. 
          THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? AGREED AS SOMEONE WITH A VERY BROWN THUMB I WENT HOME AND ENCOURAGED SAID THAT OUR FAMILY MAYBE
SHOULD CONSIDER A XERISCAPE RIGHT THERE AT HOME [LAUGHTER]. 
          BECAUSE I FOUND I FIND A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, NOT KEEP ANY PLANTS ALIVE. 
          AND SO I APPRECIATE AGAIN THAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT OVERALL,
THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY SIMPLE SET OF CHANGES. 
          NOT THAT IT WON'T BE GOOD TO HAVE MADE THEM,
BUT CERTAINLY IT WILL HELP TO CLARIFY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN PARKING LOTS AND UPDATING PARKING LOTS,
THAT WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR SET OF STANDARDS FOR THEM. 
          AND WE'LL HAVE A MORE UNIFORM LOOK AND FEEL ACROSS THE TOWNSHIP FOR THOSE LOTS. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK. BOTH OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OUR TOWNSHIP
STAFF TO PREPARE THIS FOR US. 
          AND I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS ENACTED AT OUR NEXT MEETING. 
          ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLERK DEMAS. 
          PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. TREASURER DESCHAINE. YES. 
          TRUSTEE LENTZ. YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. TRUSTEE WILSON. 
          YES. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. YES. CLERK DEMAS. 
          YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          [11.B. Ordinance 2025-06 Rooster Regulations – Adoption]
NEXT ACTION ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS ORDINANCE 2025-06 ROOSTER REGULATIONS FOR
FINAL ADOPTION DIRECTOR SCHMITT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR SO THIS REQUEST THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE
PLANNING COMMISSION, BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, AND AS DIRECTED AT THE LAST MEETING. 
          WE DID PUBLISH THIS PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S MEETING INTENDING FOR INTRODUCTION. 
          SO YOU ARE AT A POSITION THIS EVENING IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO ADOPT THESE REGULATIONS. 
          I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE TWO PROBLEM BIRDS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. 
          THE OTHER ONE WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM IN A WHILE,
SO WE EXPECT THAT THAT ONE IS GONE AS WELL. BUT THIS WILL BE A GOOD CHANGE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MORE QUICKLY ADDRESS CITIZENS CONCERNS IN THE FUTURE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS, TRUSTEE LENTZ. 
          I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING TEXT AMENDMENT 2025-06 TO AMEND THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AT SECTION 86-368 TO UPDATE THE REGULATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF ROOSTERS IN THE TOWNSHIP. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ. DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORT ROOSTER CLOSE TO LAKE LANSING. IS THAT OR IS THAT THE ONE THAT WE'VE NOT HEARD FROM? THE LAKE LANSING ONE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. OKAY I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. 
          JUST ON ANOTHER NOTE, I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OTHER MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FOLKS IN THE
AREA, AND THEY WERE ALL VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HAD THIS BEFORE US,
AS THEY'VE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AND THIS FEELS PRETTY PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR OUR TOWNSHIP GOALS. 
          SO I'M HAPPY TO BE MAKING THIS MOTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE TREZISE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS DOES NOT PROHIBIT ROOSTERS IN
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. 
          IT JUST PROHIBITS WHERE THEY CAN BE AND KEEP THEM OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND PLACES WHERE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVE CLOSE TOGETHER AS OPPOSED TO ON A RURAL SITE THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOUNDARY SPECIFICALLY WHICH EASTERN THIRD OF OUR TOWNSHIP ENJOYS THE RURAL CHARACTER OF
THEIR AREA VERY MUCH. 
          [01:05:01]
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT AT LENGTH DURING OUR MASTER. 
          OUR MASTER PLAN DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER TIMES AND THIS WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT ON,
YOU KNOW, THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE AND KEEP ROOSTERS. THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THE AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP
THAT ARE RESIDENTIALLY ZONED. 
          AND I THINK IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AS WE TRY TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO ONE ANOTHER,
AS I'M SURE MANY FOLKS IN MERIDIAN HOPE TO DO. 
          THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO ADOPT A TEXT AMENDMENT TO OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES ABOUT TO
UPDATE THE REGULATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF ROOSTERS. 
          CLERK DEMAS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. TRUSTEE LENTZ. 
          YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. TRUSTEE WILSON. YES. 
          SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. YES. CLERK DEMAS. YES. 
          TREASURER DESCHAINE. YES. MOTION CARRIES 6-0. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12.A. 
          [12.A. Planned Unit Development 25-012 – 3560 Hulett Road]
THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT 25-012 - 3560 HULETT ROAD,
DIRECTOR SCHMITT. 
          THANK YOU MR. SUPERVISOR, MANAGER DEMPSEY COULD YOU DO WE HAVE THE BACK IT UP? YEAH MY MOUSE ISN'T WORKING. SO IF YOU JUST JUMP TO PAGE 219 THAT'D BE SWEET. 
          IF IT'S OPEN, IF NOT, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. 
          GO AHEAD I CAN PULL IT UP. SO BRIEFLY, JUST TO REITERATE,
THIS IS A 6-UNIT DEVELOPMENT ON HULETT ROAD, JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL. 
          PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN 2022 BY BOTH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          THE PLANNING COMMISSION THEN REVIEWED THIS IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND AGREED THAT THERE HAS
NOT BEEN SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE AREA OR CONDITIONS IN THE AREA THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN. IT'S PAGE 219. 
          OR CHANGES TO THE CONDITIONS AND THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. 
          BACK TO THE BOARD. SO TO REITERATE, IT IS SIX UNITS. 
          ONE OF THE UNITS HAS THE EXISTING FARMHOUSE ON IT,
AND APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE PROPERTY IS SET ASIDE IN COMMON OPEN SPACE AS PER THE PUD ORDINANCE. THEY WILL DO THEY DO NEED TO FINALIZE THE DRAINAGE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY'VE GOT AN INITIAL COMMENTS FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER IN THE INTERVENING THREE
YEARS THAT THEY ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO DOING DURING THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE LAST PAGE FOR ANY PROJECT LIKE THIS. 
          AND SO FROM A PUD PERSPECTIVE, THIS CERTAINLY MEETS ALL OF OUR STANDARDS. 
          WE'VE GOT NO COMMENT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OTHER THAN ENSURING THAT THE DRAINAGE IS NOT
NOT A CONCERN, WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT. 
          WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET FOR THIS PROJECT. SO THIS WOULD REINSTITUTE THE APPROVAL
AND ALLOW THEM TO GET MOVING ON CONSTRUCTION HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR. 
          I THINK IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE, YOU SEE A SIGN UP READY FOR READY FOR LOT SALES,
HOPEFULLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE THE BOARD MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. 
          AND I KNOW THE DEVELOPER IS HERE THIS EVENING SHOULD ANY QUESTIONS ARISE. OKAY,
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE WILSON. I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. 
          I DO HAVE A COMMENT THAT THIS WENT THROUGH A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW THREE YEARS AGO. 
          I RECALL IT WELL BECAUSE IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPURPOSE THAT 1800S FARMHOUSE FOR A
RESIDENCE AS PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. SO I FOUND THAT VERY INTERESTING. 
          IT'S A SINGLE ACCESS POINT, BUT FOR SIX LOTS,
THAT'S SUFFICIENT. 
          I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROPOSAL. IT WENT THROUGH FULL APPROVAL UNANIMOUSLY THREE YEARS AGO,
SO I SEE NO REASON NOT TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME. 
          OKAY THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FILL IN THE GAP OF THAT PATHWAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF HULETT ROAD. 
          THAT'S ON THEIR FRONTAGE, WOULD THEY NOT? ABSOLUTELY AS SHOWN ON THEIR PLANS. 
          TERRIFIC THANK YOU I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ANCILLARY BENEFIT THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD GET
FROM THAT BECAUSE CURRENTLY IT'S A END POINT ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT PROPERTY. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD THING. THE ROAD DEPARTMENT I PRESUME HAS NO ISSUE,
AS TRUSTEE WILSON ALLUDED TO, WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SLIGHTLY OFFSET FROM THE SCHOOL DRIVEWAY AND JUST DOWN THE
ROAD FROM LUPINE. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE STREET, BUT THAT IS A TO BE DETERMINED WITH THE ROAD DEPARTMENT. 
          FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, I MEAN, CANDIDLY, I WILL ALWAYS PUSH FOR PUBLIC STREETS BECAUSE
I'VE BEEN IN THE SITUATION WHERE 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THERE IS NO ABILITY TO REPAVE THE STREET. AND WE HAD A PROJECT IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY I WAS IN WHERE THE ROAD WAS ESSENTIALLY
GOING BACK TO GRAVEL BECAUSE IT THERE WAS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR IT. 
          SO BUT WITH THAT SAID, I DO BELIEVE THIS WILL END UP BEING A PRIVATE STREET,
JUST FOR PURPOSES OF MEETING THE ROAD DEPARTMENT'S APPROVALS. 
          INTERESTING. THEY DON'T LIKE LITTLE CUL DE SACS. 
          SURE. OKAY 
          [01:10:03]
RIGHT YEAH. OKAY THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? BOARD MEMBERS, ARE WE FEELING RELATIVELY AMENABLE TO THE PROPOSAL AS IS? I ONLY HEARD FROM A COUPLE FOLKS, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK BEFORE US AT SOME
POINT IN THE FUTURE, AND THE STAFF WILL NEED DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. 
          DO WE SEE ANY NODDING HEADS? I SEE NODDING HEADS IN AGREEMENT. 
          I THINK WE'RE ON A GOOD PATH HERE. THEN WE'LL BE BACK THE NEXT MEETING FOR FINAL ADOPTION. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU I THINK BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, IF WE COULD TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS IT'S 7:10,
SO WE'LL BE BACK AT 7:15. 
          WE'LL STAND AT RECESS UNTIL 7:15. SEVEN DAYS ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, IT IS SIX SEVEN NO, 7:17. 
          AND WE ARE CALLING OURSELVES BACK FROM RECESS,
AND WE HAVE ITEM 12.B, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET, 
          [12.B. 2026 Budget Introduction]
MANAGER DEMPSEY. YES GOOD EVENING AGAIN. SO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT,
YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE AT YOUR PLACES THE BINDER WITH THE BUDGET. 
          SO THIS EVENING, THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF,
BECAUSE AT YOUR NEXT MEETING WILL PROVIDE A FULL PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND GO INTO IT IN MORE DETAIL. TONIGHT WAS JUST TO INTRODUCE IT,
OBVIOUSLY. 
          SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES. 
          SO YOU'RE BOTH FAMILIAR WITH THE CURRENT FORMAT THAT WE USED AGAIN THIS YEAR AS WELL AS
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. 
          BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS FOR THE
FIRST TIME. 
          AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE BUDGET BOOK PROVIDES TO YOU IS,
NUMBER ONE, AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET. 
          SO THERE'S A SUBMITTAL LETTER THAT'S PROVIDED FROM ME THAT SORT OF SUMMARIZES ALL OF THE
KEY FUNDS OF THE TOWNSHIP AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE. 
          AND I'LL COME BACK TO SOME OF THE THEMES IN THE MOMENT. 
          AND THEN IT STEPS THROUGH DIFFERENT TABLES OF AN OVERVIEW OF OUR REVENUE AS WELL AS OUR
EXPENSES, AND THEN PROVIDES A BASICALLY A ONE PAGE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE SEPARATE FUNDS THAT A
SUMMARY LEVEL. 
          AND AS YOU GO FURTHER INTO THE DOCUMENT, YOU'LL SEE THINGS LIKE OUR CIP PLAN AND OTHER
DATA. 
          AND THEN AT THE VERY END THERE IS A DETAILED TABLE. 
          THAT'S THE LINE ITEM BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET. 
          SO IT'S IN TOTAL 179 PAGES. SO IT'S A FAIRLY LENGTHY DOCUMENT. 
          AND I APPRECIATE I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, TO RECOGNIZE THE M TEAM AND THEIR EFFORTS IN
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. 
          ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE RAN INTO THIS YEAR,
OF COURSE, IS THAT COSTS KEEP GOING UP. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES OUT IN THE ECONOMY,
ONE OF WHICH IS THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE, THE IMPACT OF THAT, A 12% INCREASE. WE SEE SOME GROWTH IN TAXABLE VALUE,
WHICH IS GREAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO LIMITED BECAUSE OF PROPOSAL A AND SO WE HAVE THOSE CONSTRAINTS. SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR INITIAL BUDGET THIS YEAR,
WHAT I WOULD CALL THE STATUS QUO BUDGET. 
          SO NOT REALLY ADJUSTING FOR ANY NEW POSITIONS,
NOT LOOKING AT ANY SIGNIFICANT PROMOTIONS OR CHANGES IN ROLES. 
          WE RECOGNIZE THAT FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAD $1.6 MILLION DEFICIT. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, OUR EXPENSES WERE EXCEEDING OUR REVENUES BY THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT. 
          SO THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER. EVERY DEPARTMENT YOU KNOW,
WE HAD A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CUTS THAT WE TOOK FROM THAT, AND WE'VE LAID SOME OF THAT OUT IN MORE DETAIL IN THE DESCRIPTION,
AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK. 
          I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE M TEAM FOR THEIR WORK,
BUT I REALLY ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE BERNADETTE BLONDE, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR. BERNIE DID A GREAT JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. 
          NOT JUST THE NUMBERS AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS,
BUT LITERALLY PUTTING THE BINDER TOGETHER TOO [LAUGHTER], YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS IMPRESSES ME IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT I'VE
WORKED IN. 
          MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS NO DIFFERENT. MANAGERS ARE WORKING MANAGERS,
RIGHT? THEY DON'T JUST DIRECT PEOPLE, RIGHT? THEY DO THE WORK. 
          THEY DO THE WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THEY STEP UP AND DO THAT. 
          AND BERNIE WAS EXEMPLARY IN DOING THAT AND PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, I THINK, A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT BOTH BERNIE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
IN THE FUTURE AS WE LOOK FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRESENT IT AND HOW IT'S COMPILED,
ETC. 
          TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE READABLE AND MORE USABLE. 
          BUT ALL THE DATA IS HERE, RIGHT? THIS IS A TRANSPARENT BUDGET TO HAVE A LINE ITEM BUDGET. 
          IT'S ALL HERE AND WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT AND WORK WITH YOU ON THE QUESTIONS OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL MEETINGS AS NEEDED TO DO THAT, WHICH WE PLAN TO DO. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TEAM. 
          [01:15:03]
YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION HERE. WE'RE HAPPY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THIS EVENING,
THAT'S GREAT. 
          IF YOU DON'T, THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE REALIZE WE JUST DROPPED IN YOUR LAP TONIGHT. 
          BUT IF THERE ARE AREAS YOU WANT US TO FOCUS ON FOR NEXT WEEK,
YOU CAN LET US KNOW ANYTIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. 
          BUT WE'LL OBVIOUSLY PREPARE THAT IF THERE ARE FOCUS AREAS THAT YOU WANT US TO HONE IN ON,
BUT OTHERWISE WE'LL GIVE AGAIN A MORE DETAILED OVERVIEW NEXT WEEK. BUT THIS IS A THIS IS THE START OF IT AND FOR YOU. 
          AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AND THE QUESTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO CLARIFY
WHERE WE CAN AND TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S IMPORTANT AS YOU MAKE THIS DECISION, AS I INDICATED IN MY BUDGET LETTER,
REALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU LOOK AT STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS ALWAYS REALLY THE MOST SORT OF CRITICAL OF ROLES,
AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU TAKE THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY YOU KNOW, SERIOUSLY. AND WE'VE DONE THAT AS STAFF,
AND WE KNOW THE BOARD WILL DO THAT IN YOUR DECISION AS WE GO FORWARD. 
          SETTING A BALANCED BUDGET IS REALLY A CRITICAL THING,
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS FOR THE 2026 BUDGET. 
          SO WITH THAT, I'LL STOP. AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY INITIAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I'M HAPPY TO ENGAGE. 
          BUT OTHERWISE PLAN ON MORE DETAILS FOR THE MEETING IN TWO WEEKS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE TREZISE. 
          YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT DID YOU USE FOR REVENUE SHARING YEAH. SO THE REVENUE SHARING IS ESSENTIALLY WHERE WE'VE BEEN AT,
RIGHT? IT'S SORT OF THAT CONSISTENT LEVEL. THERE'S,
YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WHERE SORT OF 25 HAS BEEN AT, YOU KNOW, OUR INCLINATION WAS A SMALL SORT OF INCREASE,
AS I'VE INDICATED, I THINK, IN A COMMUNICATION LAST WEEK. 
          RIGHT NOW IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 
          RIGHT? THE HOUSE HAS PROPOSED A DOUBLE DIGIT DECREASE. 
          THE SENATE WAS A 10% INCREASE. THE GOVERNOR WAS A 4% INCREASE. 
          YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH MORE OF AN INFLATIONARY APPROACH TO THAT. 
          BUT I THINK THE ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT THOSE PERCENTAGES,
THE GOOD THING, I GUESS, FOR US IS THAT ON THAT PERCENTAGE SIDE OF IT, THAT'S FOR STATUTORY REVENUE SHARING. THAT'S A VERY SMALL PIECE RELATIVE TO OUR OVERALL
PRIMARILY CONSTITUTIONAL. 
          SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT NUMBER. 
          AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OVER $4 MILLION. 
          THE STATUTORY SIDE IS CLOSER TO 250, 260 NUMBER. 
          OKAY YEAH IN THAT REGARD, LAST YEAR, ALL 14 OR 1240 TOWNSHIPS GOT STATUTORY REVENUE SHARING IN
THE HOUSE BUDGET THAT PASSED TOOK ALL THAT AWAY. 
          BUT IT DIDN'T IMPACT CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED TO US. 
          THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET. I MEAN, IT'S A VERY TIGHT BUDGET. 
          I WORK WITH YOU FROM MY DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS DID. 
          AND IT'S NOT EASY TO BUDGET WHEN YOU START OFF WITH A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLAR DEFICIT. 
          I KNOW YOU WORKED REALLY HARD ON EVERY POSITION AND EVERY LINE ITEM IN THIS,
AND I DID THE ENTIRE M TEAM. 
          DO YOU NOTICE THAT OVERALL WE'RE REDUCING TEMPORARY WORKERS BY 10 POSITIONS? 6 OF THOSE ARE CROSSING GUARDS. WHO'S FUNDING THE CROSSING GUARDS AT THIS YEAH SO THE CROSSING GUARD AREAS SORT OF A POTENTIAL SHIFT IN PHILOSOPHY. 
          SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THERE IS TO MOVE THAT TO A CONTRACT BASED SYSTEM. 
          SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS STRUGGLED WITH IS THE INABILITY TO
HIRE PEOPLE FOR THOSE ROLES. 
          SO THERE'S A CONTRACTOR THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WILL PROVIDE SORT OF MINIMUM STAFFING. 
          THEY'LL WORK WITH OUR CURRENT CROSSING GUARDS AND BRING THEM ON BOARD,
AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO DO THAT. 
          WE'VE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THAT OVER THE YEARS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES,
AS YOU KNOW, IS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A CROSSING GUARD SHOW UP OR WE CAN'T FILL THAT ROLE, THEN WE HAVE TO SEND OUT EITHER A CADET OR AN OFFICER. 
          SO IF IT'S AN OFFICER, IT'S TAKING SOMEONE OUT OF A PATROL VEHICLE,
WHICH AT THAT TIME OF DAY HAS BEEN VERY CRITICAL BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS. SO WE PROPOSED TO GO TO THIS MODEL WHERE WE CONTRACT AT LEAST FOR ONE YEAR
TO TRY IT. 
          SO IT WOULD REDUCE THEN STAFF BUT WE DO HAVE COST,
OF COURSE, ON THE CONTRACTING SIDE. 
          AND THE SAME NUMBER OF FULL TIME POSITIONS, 174 ACROSS THE BOARD. 
          AND THAT'S DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR POPULATION IS INCREASING,
AS WE KNOW FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OPENED UP. 
          AT LEAST 25 TO 26 WILL GO UP THAT MUCH WITH ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS. 
          THAT MEANS THE EMPLOYEES WE HAVE HAVE TO DO THAT MUCH MORE TO FULFILL THE NEEDS OF OUR
RESIDENTS. 
          THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE VERY COMMITTED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE EXTRA
EFFORT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. 
          [01:20:01]
SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE WORKFORCE WE DO IN THIS TOWNSHIP. 
          BUT ANYWAY, OVERALL GOOD. I LOOK OVER THE BUDGET AND YOU'VE DONE A FINE JOB WITH THIS IN A
VERY CONSTRAINED BUDGET YEAR. 
          THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M GOING TO LAY A COUPLE ON YOU. I DON'T NEED ANY OF THESE TO BE ANSWERED NECESSARILY
RIGHT IN THIS MOMENT, BUT MAYBE A GOOD DISCUSSION FOR THE NEXT MEETING. 
          SO A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON OUR FUND BALANCE. FIRST OF ALL,
HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT REMAINS AT ABOUT 43%, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE WHAT THE TOWNSHIP HAD SET ASIDE OR HAD REQUESTED BY POLICY TO SET
ASIDE IN OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 25% I DID NOTICE THAT THIS BUDGET DOES USE A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THAT WE
HAD SET ASIDE AND THAT WAS A SORT OF A ONE TIME PULL OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK. 
          AND IT'S BEEN USED TO GREAT EFFECT ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. 
          AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE SLATED IN THIS BUDGET IS NO DIFFERENT. 
          AND IN FACT, $300,000 OF WHAT WAS PROJECTED MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN IF WE DON'T GET THE
STATE APPROPRIATION GRANT MATCH. 
          HOWEVER, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT EITHER IN THIS BUDGET OR AT SOME POINT,
AS WE PUT TOGETHER A FIVE YEAR PLAN AS A PART OF OUR 2026 GOALS TO IDENTIFY HOW WE REPLENISH THAT BUCKET. BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WOULD
EVENTUALLY NEED TO SEE IS LIKELY NOT GOING TO DECREASE OVER TIME. 
          AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A FUNDING MECHANISM BY WHICH WE CAN SLOWLY START
TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, SO WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES WITHOUT THAT IF WE NEED IT AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND REMAINS RELATIVELY STATIC. 
          LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, I SUPPOSE, WE PAID OUT ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THAT. 
          BUT IN 26, WE CHOSE NOT TO. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT? YEAH SO, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BERNIE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS JUST THE SORT OF THE
INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND, AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND. 
          RIGHT? BECAUSE ALTOGETHER IT'S PART OF THE FUND BALANCE EQUATION. 
          AND THE GENERAL FUND, AND I NOTE THIS IN THE LETTER,
IS NOW, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER COMPARED TO THE TARGET OF $7.5 MILLION, RIGHT? SO IT'S SORT OF A REBALANCING MAYBE REQUIRED. 
          RIGHT? AT SOME POINT. SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE AND
DISCUSSION I THINK YOU KNOW, WE PLAYED IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVELY HERE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET US TO A
BALANCED BUDGET, WE ARE PROPOSING A USE OF $325,000 SOME IN GENERAL FUND,
FUND BALANCE. 
          SO THERE IS A USE OF THAT, ALTHOUGH RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL. 
          BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS AGAIN,
HOW DO WE THEN SORT OF REBALANCE THOSE DOLLARS WHERE THEY'RE ALLOCATED WITHIN EACH. 
          AND THEN WHAT THAT SORT OF INTENTION IS WITH THE DOLLARS. 
          BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS, AGAIN, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS,
YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT AND HAVE AN ANALYSIS OF WOULD WE BE BETTER OFF, YOU KNOW, MOVING THE BULK OF THE PENSION STABILIZATION FUND INTO THE ACCOUNTS? RIGHT. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL ON SORT OF WHAT WE'RE EARNING VERSUS THEN WHAT DOES THAT
LEAVE OUR BALANCE AT? AND HOW MUCH RISK DO WE THINK WE HAVE? YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, IT'S SORT OF MORE OF AN INVESTMENT DECISION, RIGHT. DO WE LEAVE IT IN OUR ACCOUNTS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY,
OR DO WE PUT IT INTO THE FUND, SEND IT ON TO MERS TO GET IT INVESTED AT A SOONER TIMELINE,
RIGHT? AND THEN THINKING ABOUT SORT OF WHAT THE CALCULUS WAS HISTORICALLY AND THE INTENT OF
HAVING THAT AS A SEPARATE FUND. 
          SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT THERE. AND I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS THAT IN MORE DETAIL. 
          I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MY MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT AT THE VERY MINIMUM,
WE COULD PUT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS INTEREST AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE'RE KEEPING IT A IT'S ONLY $50,000 OR $60,000, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE CONTINUING TO,
TO KEEP SOMETHING FLOWING AT A BARE MINIMUM. 
          IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO MOVE MORE OF IT AT ANY GIVEN TIME YOU KNOW, IN ONE SWOOP VERSUS, YOU KNOW, THE ADDED FLEXIBILITY IS AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION TO HAVE. 
          YEAH AND CERTAINLY ONE, I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST NEXT YEAR,
PROBABLY MORE PERTINENT TO THAT NECESSARILY, 
          [01:25:01]
THAN MAYBE HAVING A DEFINITIVE RECOMMENDATION TO ALTER OUR PLAN HERE THIS YEAR,
OTHER THAN MAYBE THE INTEREST AMOUNT. 
          RIGHT? OKAY THE PARKS AND RECREATION THE $50,000 THAT WAS BEING SUGGESTED FOR THE CRICKET FIELD. 
          YES. WHAT IS THAT ACTUALLY BEING USED FOR? YEAH SO THERE WOULD BE A COUPLE ASPECTS TO
THAT. 
          SO DEPENDING ON WHERE THE FIELDS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED ONE OF THE PRELIMINARY SITES FOR
INSTANCE, THEY WERE DOING A WETLAND DELINEATION TO DETERMINE WHERE THE BOUNDARY MIGHT BE. 
          BUT THEN LIKELY FIELD IMPROVEMENTS. RIGHT? TO GET IT UP TO PLAYING LEVEL QUALITY. 
          SO DEPENDING ON THAT SITE THAT COULD BE ADDITIONAL SORT OF GRADING TO THE SITE COULD BE,
YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING SOD ISSUES AND THEN RIGHT? MAKING IT A SORT OF A USABLE SURFACE ULTIMATELY. 
          I ASK BECAUSE IT SEEMED AS THOUGH FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING PREVIOUS
YEARS ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE A SUITABLE SITE AVAILABLE FOR THAT. 
          AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION WOULD BE, DO WE HAVE AN ACTIVE SITE THAT WE'RE PURSUING,
OR IS THIS SORT OF JUST PROJECTING? HOPEFULLY WE FIND SOMETHING. WELL THERE IS THERE HAS BEEN A SITE THAT I THINK DIRECTOR
WISINSKI HAS BEEN HONING IN ON A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          IT'S STILL NOT A CERTAINTY. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET DOLLARS,
WE KNEW THAT THIS YEAR WE WOULDN'T BE SPENDING WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. SO WE REDUCED THAT SUBSTANTIALLY. I THINK INITIALLY IT WAS $100,000 BUDGET ITEM. 
          WE WE HALVED IT, RECOGNIZING THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO
HAPPEN BUT. 
          GOT IT OKAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE CROSSING GUARDS. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. 
          BUT THERE WAS ALSO I THINK IT'S NOT 33 SORRY IT'S 34. THERE IS A 64% DECREASE IN THE EXPENDITURES EXPECTED FROM THE RECYCLING CENTER. AND THEN SIMILARLY, IN PARKS AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION,
THERE'S A 45% DECREASE IN EXPENDITURES. 
          ANY IDEA WHY THAT IS? YEAH, WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THOSE SPECIFICALLY. 
          BUT A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF OUR LINE ITEMS, THOSE REVENUE DOLLARS ARE IN ABSOLUTE TERMS
RATHER SMALL. 
          SO IT COULD BE A CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING ISSUE. 
          BUT WE'LL. YEAH. DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT. OKAY [LAUGHTER]. 
          WE'LL HAVE A FOR PARKS AND REC. SO THOSE JUST JUMPED OUT,
AS YOU KNOW. 
          WHOA. ARE WE? I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING CHANGING IN THE STAFFING PLAN,
NECESSARILY. 
          SO. YEAH AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A TYPO OR IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE I'M NOT
UNDERSTANDING FULLY, BUT IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IN THE ACCOUNTING BUDGETING SECTION OF THE GENERAL FUND,
WE'RE GOING FROM SIX STAFF TO THREE AND A HALF. 
          AND I MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING FULLY. I THOUGHT WE WERE ADDING A BOOKKEEPER IN THIS
BUDGET. 
          YEAH SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE THE TOWNSHIP HAS DONE IS THAT OUR UTILITY BILLING
STAFF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ALLOCATED FULLY TO THAT DIVISION BECAUSE WE'RE REALLOCATING THEM OR HALF THEIR TIME TO WATER AND SEWER FUND,
AND THEN THE OTHER HALF TO GENERAL FUND VERSUS 100% GENERAL FUND. WE CREATED NEW DIVISIONS WHERE THOSE POSITIONS ARE ALLOCATED. 
          SO YOU'LL SEE THE ADDITION OF THOSE DIVISIONS LATER IN THE DOCUMENT. 
          GOT IT THANK YOU OKAY. AND THEN THE ARPA FUND SHOWS A FUND BALANCE OF $155,000 AT THE END OF 2026. WE HAVE TO EXPEND THAT, DON'T WE? BY SEPTEMBER 30TH SO I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL THE INTEREST THAT WE'VE EARNED OFF OF IT. 
          THAT'S NO LONGER ANY OF THE REMAINING BASE, SO THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT IN TERMS
OF WHEN WE EXPEND IT AND HOW THAT'S EXPENDED, THAT'S EXCLUDED. THE INTEREST EARNED IS EXCLUDED FROM THE INITIAL GRANT DOLLARS THAT WERE
DIRECT FROM THE FEDS. 
          OKAY YES THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING THAT. CORRECT. DIFFUSING 
          [01:30:06]
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YEAH. THAT'S A I BELIEVE THAT'S PROBABLY FROM THE ARBITRAGE ON THE BONDS. 
          I THINK WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF THE TREASURER RECALLS THE RESTRICTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE OR NOT,
BUT WE'LL GET AN ANSWER ON THAT. 
          THANK YOU. WE TRACKED ARBITRAGE ON THE ROAD FUNDS,
BUT THE FIRE STATION BONDS WERE ISSUED IN 2000 AND 11 (2011) OR 12 (2012) AND BEFORE MY TIME. BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE IF WE NEED TO
CALCULATE ARBITRAGE. 
          ANY INTEREST YOU EARN IN EXCESS OF YOUR COSTS,
YOU HAVE TO REBATE BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT YOU CAN'T ALSO JUST SIT ON THE MONEY AND NOT EARN INTEREST. THEY'LL FIND YOU THAT WAY
AS WELL. SO YOU GOT TO ACTIVELY INVEST IT. AND THEN ANYTHING EXCESS YOU GOT TO GIVE BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S AN ACCOUNTING MESS. WE WE HIRED A FIRM THAT'S DONE IT FOR
US FOR THE ROAD BONDS. 
          WE MAY NEED TO INVOLVE THEM FOR NOW THAT WE'VE PAID OFF THE FIRE STATION. 
          GOT IT THANK YOU. YEAH OVERALL, A REALLY GOOD JOB IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT YEAR'S IS LIKELY GOING TO BE JUST AS DIFFICULT COMING UP,
BUT I THINK THIS DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF, OF KEEPING OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR WHILE MAINTAINING A LEVEL OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY THAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT. 
          OKAY AND THEN IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ONES FROM THE BOARD,
PLEASE LET US KNOW AHEAD OF TIME. 
          AND WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME IN TWO WEEKS TO DISCUSS IT IN MORE DETAIL. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE LET MANAGER DEMPSEY GO HERE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY THANK YOU. 
          I'VE GOT TO SWITCH PDFS ON MY THING HERE OKAY. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12.C A TREASURER APPOINTMENT PROCESS. 
          [12.C. Treasurer Appointment Process]
SO BOARD MEMBERS AS WE HEARD AT OUR LAST MEETING,
TREASURER DESCHAINE HAS ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION AND IT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD TO ACCEPT HIS RESIGNATION, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 20TH. 
          SEPTEMBER 16TH. OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE ADVISED US THAT THE 45-DAY WINDOW TO FILL THAT POSITION
BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH. SO BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME,
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE, BUT THAT IS WHEN THAT BEGINS. 
          SO WHAT I'VE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD THIS EVENING WOULD BE THE TOWNSHIP TREASURER
APPOINTMENT REVIEW PROCESS. 
          SO WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO PATHS THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PATH,
THE PROCESS THAT IS LAID OUT IN THE MEMORANDUM HERE IS WHAT THE BOARD HAS ELECTED TO DO IN SEVERAL CASES,
INCLUDING WITH THE APPOINTMENTS OF A NUMBER OF TRUSTEES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND TREASURER DESCHAINE WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED BACK IN 2018. 
          AND THAT GENERALLY INCLUDES OPENING TO THE PUBLIC A OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THE TREASURER
POSITION PROVIDING A REFERENCES THE QUESTIONNAIRES RESUME,
ETC. 
          THROUGH AN ONLINE APPLICATION. A 3 MEMBER PANEL OF BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD
BEING APPOINTED TO REVIEW ANY APPLICANTS THAT CHOOSE TO APPLY. AFTER THE TWO WEEK WINDOW CLOSES. 
          THAT SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD RECOMMEND THREE MEMBERS TO THREE APPLICANTS RATHER TO THE BOARD
FOR INTERVIEW. 
          AND WE WOULD CONDUCT THOSE INTERVIEWS PRIOR TO OUR OCTOBER 7TH MEETING. 
          AND WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE ON OUR AGENDA FOR THAT OCTOBER 7TH MEETING FOR ACTION. 
          THE APPOINTMENT OF A TOWNSHIP TREASURER. THE CALENDAR THAT I'VE JUST LAID OUT WOULD MEET
THE 45-DAY CRITERIA THAT'S REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW AND WOULD ALLOW A TREASURER TO TAKE OFFICE PRIOR TO OUR OCTOBER 21ST,
2025 BOARD MEETING. 
          THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO IF THERE'S A CANDIDATE WILLING TO SERVE AND THE BOARD CHOOSES
TO APPOINT THAT INDIVIDUAL IMMEDIATELY WE CAN DO SO. 
          THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR THAT AS WELL. THAT'S HOW I WAS APPOINTED TO SUPERVISOR IN 2024,
AND SUPERVISOR JACKSON WAS APPOINTED THAT WAY AS WELL IN 2022. 
          WHICHEVER PATH THE BOARD CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WE MUST APPOINT A TREASURER BY OCTOBER
31ST, 2025. IF WE DO NOT, THE COUNTY CLERK IS REQUIRED UNDER STATUTE TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION. 
          AND AT THAT TIME WE WOULD HAVE TO FILL THE VACANCY. 
          [01:35:02]
WELL, THE VACANCY WOULD BE FILLED THAT WAY. CANDIDATES WOULD BE HAVING WOULD HAVE TO PUT
THEIR NAME IN AND RUN FOR OFFICE, ESSENTIALLY. IT IS ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT THAT DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE VACANCY,
IF PRIOR TO HALFWAY THROUGH THE TERM WHOEVER IS APPOINTED TREASURER WOULD HAVE TO RUN IN 2026 FOR ELECTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE PARTIAL TERM. 
          SO THAT WOULD BE IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER OF 2026. 
          AND THAT TERM OF OFFICE WOULD RUN THROUGH 2028 WHEN THE REST OF US ARE BACK UP FOR
REELECTION. 
          SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, ANTICIPATING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO GO WITH THE
INTERVIEW PROCESS, I PRESENTED THE MEMORANDUM WITH A MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING A NEW TOWNSHIP
TREASURER, INCLUDING A SUBCOMMITTEE OF MYSELF, CLERK DEMAS AND TRUSTEE WILSON FOR AS THE APPLICATION
REVIEW COMMITTEE AND ADOPTING THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT YOU'LL FIND ON PAGE 233 AND 234 OF THE PACKET AS THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT THE
RESPONDENTS WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE. AND SO IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS THIS EVENING,
WELL, I GUESS THE BOARD WOULD WOULD HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS THIS EVENING IN ORDER FOR THE
SCHEDULE THAT I LAID OUT TO, TO MAKE SENSE. 
          AND SO IF WE ARE INTERESTED IN DOING SO RATHER THAN APPOINTING SOMEONE RIGHT NOW,
THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT. SO WITH THAT, I OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. 
          AND I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU ALL. TRUSTEE WILSON. 
          I THINK THE AVENUE TO GO WOULD BE TO HAVE THE OPEN PROCESS OF ADVERTISING THAT THIS
POSITION IS OPEN AND THEN ACCEPTING RESUMES AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AND HAVING A SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          THE ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE IS THAT WE BRING UP TO THREE CANDIDATES TO THE
BOARD BECAUSE WE IT'S A PRETTY UNIQUE SITUATION. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO HAVE MANAGERIAL SKILLS,
SOME FINANCIAL BACKGROUND, BUT THAT'S JUST HALF THE JOB. THE OTHER HALF OF THE JOB IS BEING ON OUR TEAM OF THE BOARD. 
          SO WE NEED SOMEONE WHO'S GOT SOME EXPERIENCE AT THIS TYPE OF A LEVEL IN AN ORGANIZATION. 
          SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD CHANGE IS CHANGE THE LANGUAGE TO UP TO THREE CANDIDATES. 
          OTHERWISE I'M HAPPY WITH THE PROCESS AS OUTLINED. 
          YES THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE PROCESS ACTUALLY JUST SAYS THE TOP
APPLICANTS. 
          THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. OKAY GREAT WITH THE SKILLS THAT ARE REQUIRED. AND SO I THINK OPENING IT UP TO THE PUBLIC TO APPLY AND
DOING IT OPENLY IS THE WAY TO GO TRUSTEE LENTZ. QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR. 
          IF THE RIGHT CANDIDATE IS NOT SELECTED IN THE TIMELINE NECESSARY,
THAT IT BECOMES THE COUNTY CLERK'S JOB TO ISSUE A SPECIAL ELECTION. THAT ELECTION WOULD NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL MAY,
CORRECT? I THINK THAT'S THE CASE. I THINK WE PROBABLY BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A MAY ELECTION IN THAT CASE. 
          OKAY I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. GOTCHA I AND YOU KNOW, ECHOING THE THOUGHTS OF THE OTHER TRUSTEES WHO HAVE SPOKEN,
I'M IN FAVOR OF OPENING AND OPENING IT UP TO THE PUBLIC. 
          YOU KNOW, WITH US CHOOSING SOMEONE TO JOIN THIS TEAM,
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS DONE SO THAT THE CITIZENS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AREN'T WITHOUT A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION FOR THEIR NO LOCAL TAX COLLECTION. 
          AND SO WITH THAT, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OF THIS PROCESS. 
          CLERK DEMAS. WELL, I AGREE WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
          MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET APPLICANTS REVIEW THEM. 
          AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE,
AS I DO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE SERVING AS CLERK. 
          SO I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THAT IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE. 
          [01:40:02]
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROCESS MAKES SENSE. I WILL LOOK INTO IF WE DO EXCEED THAT 45 DAYS. 
          I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VERIFY. AND ALSO MAKING SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING EVERYTHING
CORRECTLY, MAYBE GETTING LEGAL COUNSEL ADVICE AS WELL. I DO I WILL ALSO SAY,
YOU KNOW REGARDLESS OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD THIS EVENING AND I APPRECIATE TREASURER DESCHAINE BEING WILLING TO PUT OFF RETIREMENT UNTIL
AFTER SUMMER SUMMER TAX COLLECTION IS OVER. BECAUSE THERE IS A BIT OF A, YOU KNOW,
NEED IF THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN TREASURERS FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OUR DUCKS IN A ROW IN TERMS OF WHERE THE,
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TREASURER WOULD TYPICALLY HOLD GET DISPERSED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH WE ARE WITHOUT A TREASURER. 
          AND SO I MENTIONED IT TO SAY THAT LIKELY AFTER THAT,
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE SEEING A RESOLUTION TO ASSIGN THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES TEMPORARILY. IN THE CASE OF THE VACANCY TO SOMEONE ELSE. 
          AND SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT AS YOU'RE PREPARING FOR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW THAT THAT'S LIKELY
GOING TO BE ON OUR AGENDA AS WELL. 
          ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? TREASURER DESCHAINE. HAVING IT'S A DIVERSE POSITION. FINANCIAL BACKGROUND IS HELPFUL,
BUT ACTUALLY BEING A GOOD TEAM PLAYER, BOTH WITH THE BOARD AND WITH THE TEAM SHE OR HE WILL WORK WITH IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CLERK, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPUTY TREASURER AND BOOKKEEPER. 
          WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE UB. MANY DAYS THE TREASURER IS EFFECTIVELY THE SUPERVISOR FOR ALL
FOUR OF THOSE POSITIONS. 
          WHAT MAY BECOME FIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE COVERING THE COUNTER AND HELPING OUT UB WHEN
NECESSARY, AND UB HELPS OUT THE TREASURER'S STAFF WHEN NECESSARY. 
          SO BEING A REALLY GOOD TEAM PLAYER AND GOOD MANAGER OF PEOPLE IS IMPORTANT. 
          ALSO THAT PERSON NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE
TREASURER IS THE FACE OF THE OF THE TOWNSHIP, AS IS THE CLERK. WE'RE HERE 40 HOURS A WEEK AND PEOPLE COME AND THEY WANT TO TALK TO US. 
          THEY ARE UPSET. THEY'RE HAVE QUESTIONS AND BE ABLE TO APPROACH THEM UNHESITANTLY TO ANSWER
THEIR QUESTIONS AND NEVER SHY AWAY FROM THOSE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE OF THE JOB. 
          YOU'VE REALLY GOT GOT TO LIKE THE PUBLIC. YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE GOVERNMENT AND BE ABLE TO
STAND UP FOR IT AND BE PROUD OF WHAT WE DO HERE AND NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR IT. 
          YOU CAN APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT TAXES ARE HIGH,
BUT AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, 80% OF THOSE TAXES COME FROM OUTSIDE OUR DOMAIN. 
          THEY'RE THE COUNTY'S TAXES. THAT WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM. 
          BUT THE IMPORTANT THIS PERSON BE EXTREMELY GOOD WITH PEOPLE AND HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING
WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S THE CORE COMPONENT OF THE JOB IS MANAGING PEOPLE, WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC. THE FINANCIAL BACKGROUND WE'VE GOT A VERY CAPABLE BOOKKEEPER AND
BOOKKEEPERS IN OUR CURRENT STAFF. 
          WE'VE GOT ROBERTSON CAPITAL TO MANAGE OUR INVESTMENT FUNDS SO THAT THE HEAVY LIFTING,
IF YOU WILL, IS DONE BY PAID STAFF OR CONSULTANTS. PART OF THE REASON I RECOMMENDED ROBERTSON CAPITAL A
YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO WAS JUST FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE HERE, AND THE ONLY QUALIFICATION TO BE A TREASURER IS TO
GET MORE VOTES THAN THE PERSON WHO FINISHED SECOND [LAUGHTER]. 
          AND YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME SAFEGUARDS, SOME SAFETY NET THERE FOR THAT POSITION TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE MONEY IS ALWAYS BEING WATCHED AND ACCOUNTED FOR IN A SENTENCE, WHICH ROBINSON OUR INVESTMENT FUNDS ARE AUDITED EVERY MONTH. 
          THEY'RE CHECKING THE BALANCES, REPORTING TO THE TREASURER. 
          THE BOARD COULD GET MONTHLY REPORTS FROM ROBINSON IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO ALSO WORKING WITH
THE. 
          WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE WE HAVE A FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE WHO MAKES THE JOB OF BEING TREASURER
A LOT EASIER THAN MOST TOWNSHIP TREASURERS HAVE. 
          YOU ARE THE AGAIN DAILY AUDITOR, IF YOU WILL,
FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. 
          THAT'S ESSENTIAL SAFEGUARD AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT,
BERNIE. 
          SO I DIDN'T HEAR ANY DISAGREEMENT WITH WITH THE PROPOSED PLAN TO TO MAKE A PUBLIC PROCESS. 
          DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES THIS EVENING? I MOVE, WE SUSPEND THE RULES AND TAKE US UP FOR ACTION. 
          SUPPORT. MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING OUR RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. SO WE MAY TAKE THIS UP FOR ACTION THIS EVENING. 
          DO WE HAVE A MOTION? TRUSTEE TREZISE. I MOVE THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ADOPTS THE PROCESS
FOR APPOINTING A NEW TOWNSHIP TREASURER, INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON,
CLERK DEMAS AND TRUSTEE WILSON AS THE APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE AND ADOPTS THE APPLICATION FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TREASURER CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE. 
          SUPPORT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR,
PLEASE SAY AYE. 
          [01:45:01]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. SO, MR. DEMPSEY? YES. WE HAVE ADOPTED THE PROCEDURE AS PROPOSED THERE. 
          I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME ACTION FOR DIRECTOR TITHOF TO MAKE AN APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE, AND THAT'LL BE COMING UP TOMORROW. YES, THAT'LL BE ONLINE TOMORROW. 
          IT'S ALREADY BEEN PREPARED IN THE EVENT THAT YOU CHOSE TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION. 
          SO WE CAN MOVE EXPEDIENTLY SO THAT WEBSITE WILL BE LIVE. 
          AND THEN IT FOLLOWS THE THREE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED AS ATTACHMENTS TO THAT. 
          SO WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD AND THEN WE'LL GET THE WORD OUT AND YOU KNOW,
DO A PRESS RELEASE AND HAVE OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO PROMOTE IT AS WELL. 
          GREAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE TOWNSHIP BOARD [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A TREASURER POSITION THAT'S
ABOUT TO BECOME AVAILABLE, AND YOU CAN FIND THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS ON OUR WEBSITE STARTING TOMORROW. 
          SO WITH THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 13. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. 
          [13. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]
I DID RECEIVE ONE NEW GREEN CARD THIS EVENING FROM JOSH NAHUM. 
          DOCTOR JOSH NAHUM, 1517 RIVER TERRACE, EAST LANSING ADDRESSED BUT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP
RESIDENT I SWEAR [LAUGHTER]. 
          I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR TREASURER DESCHAINE
WORK. 
          I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE MORE CIVICALLY ENGAGED,
COMING TO A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THE DETAIL ORIENTEDNESS OF TREASURER DESCHAINE. MANY TIMES I'M SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE GOING LIKE,
OH, I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION. 
          AND I WOULD HEAR THAT. YOU KNOW, VOICED BY THE TREASURER. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GAVE. I DON'T
ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU DECIDE ON, BUT ALMOST ALWAYS DO. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, DISINTERESTED, SITTING AND OBSERVING EVENTS, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN,
AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU MADE TO THE BOARD SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH SEEING NONE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 7:53 P.M. 
          NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 14. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. 
          [14. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
ANY OTHER MATTERS ON BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS THIS EVENING? TREASURER DESCHAINE I MAY NOT BE
HERE FOR THE END OF THIS CONSUMERS POWER DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK THAT PROPOSAL TODAY IS REALLY EXCITING. IT WOULD ALLOW THE BOARD TO PUT INTO ACTION OUR TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY
AND ACHIEVE THE GOAL WE SET TO BE 100% CARBON FREE BY 2030. 
          FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT, $65,000 IS ABOUT 2/10 OF 1% OF OUR TOTAL $30 MILLION
BUDGET. 
          I THINK CASH IS GOING TO BE TIGHT IN THE YEARS AHEAD,
AND CAPITAL OUTLAYS FOR MORE SOLAR ARRAYS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO PAY FOR. SO IT IS A COST UPFRONT. BUT WE WOULD ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. 
          WE'VE BEEN PROMISING FOR THE 9 YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD,
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOFTY GOAL. 
          I DON'T THINK IT WOULD GET ANY PUSHBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO MANY OF THEM,
MOST OF WHOM SHARE THAT OUR SAME GOAL TO BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL. 
          IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO FREE UP CASH FOR OTHER THINGS. 
          AND SURE, THERE'S SOME. IT COULD BE THE RETURN COULD BE LESS,
THE COST COULD BE GREATER. 
          THERE'S SOME UNKNOWNS TO IT, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO ACHIEVE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT GOAL OF
BEING CARBON NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE CAPITAL OUTLAYS. 
          AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF CAPITAL OUTLAYS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOWNSHIP IN
THE YEARS AHEAD. 
          NO, WE'RE NOT PRODUCING OUR OWN SOLAR POWER,
BUT WE DON'T PRODUCE OUR OWN ELECTRICITY HERE EITHER. OKAY, WE DO PRODUCE OUR OWN WATER, BUT WE DON'T MANAGE OUR OWN SEWER THAT GETS SHIPPED TO [LAUGHTER] EAST LANSING FOR THAT
PROCESSING PLANT. 
          SO WE'D LIKE TO BE. WE LIKE TO BE SELF-CONTAINED WHERE WE CAN. 
          I THINK IN THIS CASE, WE ARE ALREADY PRODUCING 30% SOLAR POWER. 
          I THINK THE 70% LEFT THAT CONSUMERS OPPORTUNITY IS A GREAT ONE. 
          I HOPE THE BOARD AT FUTURE MEETINGS WILL ADOPT IT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 15 ADJOURNMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO
MOVED. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ ANY SECONDS? SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES. WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 7:55 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.