[00:01:14]
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER ]
IT IS SIX O'CLOCK, AND WE WILL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO ORDER.FIRST ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WILL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS A ROLL CALL.
WILL CLERK DEMAS PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> TRUSTEE WILSON? FIVE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS PRESENTATION.
[4.A. Introduction of New Firefighter/Paramedic ]
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.THE FIRST IS INTRODUCTION OF A NEW FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC.
FOR THAT, WE HAVE CHIEF HAMEL AND HALF OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. WELCOME.
>> [LAUGHTER] NOT QUITE YET, BUT CLOSE.
AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, INTRODUCTION OF A NEW EMPLOYEE THAT'S GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF YEARS HERE IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME.
>> I ALWAYS WANT TO THROW THAT R IN THE WRONG PLACE, I DON'T KNOW WHY.
BUT HE COMES TO US FROM ACTUALLY ARIZONA.
IRONICALLY, WE WERE GETTING READY TO START OUR APPLICATION PROCESS AND I GOT A PHONE CALL INQUIRING FROM JONATHAN.
HE AND HIS WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN WANTED TO RELOCATE BACK CLOSER TO THIS AREA.
ORIGINALLY, I BELIEVE THEY WERE FROM THE CHICAGO LAND AREA, AS HE CALLS IT, AND WITH SOME TIES IN THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA, I BELIEVE, ON HIS WIFE'S SIDE OF THE EQUATION HERE.
BUT HE COMES TO US WITH A LOT OF BACKGROUND TRAINING, NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC.
HE'S ACTUALLY A LICENSED CHAPLAIN AND A PEER REVIEW, SOME PEER SUPPORT.
LOOKING AT OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD THAT PROGRAM A LITTLE STRONGER THAN IT IS, SO I'M GOING TO LOOK TOWARDS HIM IN THE FUTURE.
HE DOESN'T REALIZE IT YET, BUT NOW HE DOES.
BUT JUST A TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL, HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM, VERY DEDICATED, EXCITED TO BE HERE, DROVE A SMALL JEEP THOUSANDS OF MILES TO GET HERE WHEN HE RELOCATED, AND THEY'RE GETTING READY TO CLOSE ON A HOUSE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, CLOSE TO GRAND RAPIDS, BUT HE PICKED US OVER A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
HE DID HIS RESEARCH AND LIKED WHAT HE SAW.
FOR ME, I'M JUST EXCITED TO HAVE JONATHAN ON THE TEAM, AND I'LL LET HIM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. JONATHAN.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HELP SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
LIKE CHIEF SAID, I DO COME FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOWN IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE, I CAN SEE MEXICO FROM MY HOUSE.
BUT WE ARE COMING UP, FAMILY REASONS, GET CLOSER TO MY WIFE'S FAMILY.
I DO HAVE FOUR KIDS, 04, 3, 2, AND 4 MONTHS.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE A BUSY FAMILY, BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO RAISE A FAMILY IN THIS AREA AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND BE PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU.
[00:05:03]
>> NOW, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO RUN OUT? [LAUGHTER]
OUR NEXT PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IS ITEM 4B FROM OUR GREEN BURIAL COMMITTEE,
[4.B. Green Burial Committee ]
AND WE HAVE BRUCE PEFFERS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.>> HELLO. THIS IS GREEN BURIAL COMMITTEE, AND MY NAME IS SARAH ALLEN, 4421 SATINWOOD.
>> BRUCE PEFFERS, 4932 SIOUX WAY IN OKEMOS.
>> KIM PETERS, 5643 MONTEREY IN HASLETT.
>> HELLO. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT GREEN BURIAL.
OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO BRING A GREEN BURIAL OPTION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WILLIAMSTON HAS ONE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE HERE AS WELL.
OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS A LOT OF GREEN OPPORTUNITIES GOING ON.
WE HAVE WETLAND EDUCATION HAPPENING, WE HAVE MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS THAT IS OFTENTIMES DOING THINGS LIKE INVASIVE PLANT CLEAN-UP OR GATHERING THAT UP.
WE HAVE A GREEN TEAM THAT DOES RECYCLING DAYS THAT WE JUST HAD.
WE HAD AN ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DAY THAT HAD OVER 500 CARS, LOTS AND LOTS, AND ABSOLUTELY FULL SEMI.
WE WERE AT THE LAST MINUTE TRYING TO GET IT ALL ON.
WE DO GREEN EVENTS EVERY MONTH AT THE FARMERS MARKET.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN DO GREEN EVENTS AND TRYING TO EDUCATE AND SHARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE ENERGY TEAM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S ENCOURAGING SOLAR, DOING SOLAR MEETINGS, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THAT IN THEIR HOMES AND ALSO BUSINESSES.
WE FEEL, AS OUR COMMITTEE, THAT THIS IS A NATURAL STEP TO MOVE TOWARDS ALSO OFFERING A GREEN BURIAL.
WHAT IS GREEN BURIAL? GREEN BURIAL IS A WAY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF US AT THE END OF OUR LIVES IN A WAY THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.
IT IS A NO EMBALMING, NO CONCRETE VAULT, AND ALSO THE USE OF BIODEGRADABLE CHEMICALS.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A CASKET THAT WOULD BE WOOD THAT WOULD GO INTO THAT VAULT THAT IS PRETTY TYPICAL NOW, YOU WOULD HAVE A CASKET THAT WOULD BE SOME PINE BOX OR A SHROUD, SOMETHING THAT IS BIODEGRADABLE BY THE TIME WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET PUT INTO THE GROUND.
IT ALSO IS AN ELIMINATION OF CREMATION CHEMICALS BECAUSE THE CHEMICALS AND THE ENERGY THAT ARE USED IN CREMATION IS INCREDIBLY INTENSE OF ENERGY, TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY FOR THAT.
GREEN BURIAL IS JUST A REALLY GREAT WAY, AN OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE CARING AND THINKING ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THAT WAY.
HOW WE FEEL AS HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS GOAL IS AS WE HAVE SPENT TIME GOING AROUND TO DIFFERENT CEMETERIES IN OUR AREA, WE FEEL AS THOUGH GLENDALE, SECTION 7 IS OUR BEST OPTION.
IF YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE HERE THAT WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN, THIS IS A VIEW OF IT.
GREEN BURIAL IS LIMITED MAINTENANCE.
YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO MOW IT ALL THE TIME.
IT CAN BE MADE INTO A NATURAL PRAIRIE.
THERE'S ALREADY EQUIPMENT THERE ON THAT SITE.
AT THIS TIME, NO PLOTS HAVE BEEN SOLD, AND SO IT IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND AVAILABLE.
OTHER CEMETERIES IN OUR TOWNSHIP ARE FULL AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
THEN THE EAST LAWN MEMORIAL THAT'S ON MEMORIAL GARDENS THAT'S ON BENNETT, IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED, SO IT'S NOT AN OPTION.
WE WENT OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THAT IN TERMS OF BEING RESIDENTS.
PART OF THE TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN, ONE OF THE FIVE GOALS OF THE TOWNSHIP FOR 2025 IS GOAL 2, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
[00:10:07]
THE GREEN TEAM, GREEN BURIAL, AND GREEN DIALOGUE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP THAT MEET REGULARLY AND ARE IN DISCUSSION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS, WE'RE ABLE TO INSTRUMENTALLY BE ABLE TO GET THAT ONTO THE MASTER PLAN.WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN, IT NOW SAYS, "WORK WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO DETERMINE IF A GREEN BURIAL PROGRAM IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S CEMETERIES." THIS COMMITTEE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT THERE IS TO KEEP MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> I'M GOING TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST CEMETERY ORDINANCES AND PRACTICES BETWEEN GLENDALE CEMETERY HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND SUMMIT CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP.
JUST TO START WITH, WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP, SUMMIT CEMETERY, SAY THAT FAST THREE TIMES, [LAUGHTER] HAS WHAT WE CALL A HYBRID CEMETERY.
THEY HAVE THE ORIGINAL BURIAL VAULT, CONCRETE VAULT CEMETERY IN THE FRONT.
THEN IN THE BACK SECTION, THEY DEVELOPED A GREEN BURIAL CEMETERY.
WELL, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OF COUNTING, PLANNING, AND FILTER AND THE VARIOUS THINGS THEY HAD TO DO TO PREPARE THAT BACK SECTION.
BUT THEY STARTED UTILIZING THE PLOTS BACK THERE IN 2024.
THEY'VE ALREADY SOLD 28 PLOTS.
THEY'VE HAD, I THINK WAS IT FIVE? I THINK FIVE ACTUAL BURIALS SO FAR.
WE'VE LEANED HEAVILY ON THEM FOR INFORMATION, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, WHAT SHOULD WE DEFINITELY NOT DO, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
WITH REGARD TO THE ORDINANCES, THE WEBSITE FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WITH REGARD TO THE CEMETERIES, HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED, WHOEVER DID THAT.
IT'S A LOT EASIER TO FIND THINGS.
THEY'VE GOT PRIMARY CONTACT IS DPW.
RECORDS ARE KEPT BY THE TOWNSHIP CLERK.
THE FUNDING FOR THE CEMETERY IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
IN SUMMIT CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP, IT'S AN ACTUAL ALLOCATION.
THEY GET $15,000 A YEAR FROM THE CITY OF WILLIAMSTOWN, AND THEN THEY HAVE OTHER FUND RAISERS TO MAINTAIN THE CEMETERY THAT THEY HAVE.
BUT IT'S NOT A LINE ITEM THING THAT CAN BE CROSSED OFF.
IT'S A PERPETUAL FUND, MAINTENANCE FUND.
GLENDALE REQUIRES CEMENT VAULTS OR ROUGH BOXES, THEY SOMETIMES CALL THEM.
THE PRICE LIST IN CHARGES IS ON A LINK ON THE CEMETERY PAGE.
THEY'VE GOT A MAP THAT'S GOT A GIS OPTION, SO YOU CAN LOCATE GRAVES AND YOU CAN PUT IN THE PERSON'S NAME OR YOU CAN PUT IN A DATE, AND LOCATE ANY GRAVE IN THE CEMETERY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY COULDN'T FIND MUCH ON, AS FAR AS REGULATIONS REGARDING THE CEMETERY, WAS ANY TYPE OF ORDINANCE THAT EXPLICITLY SPELLED EVERYTHING OUT.
IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IS A FOUR-PAGE SHEET, HALF OF WHICH PERTAINS TO LANDSCAPING, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DETAIL IN THERE.
IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP, THEIR ORDINANCE HAS 27 SECTIONS.
THEY'VE GOT RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THEY'VE GOT A CLEARLY DEFINED REG PAGE, WHICH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ALSO HAS THE REG PAGE.
THEY'VE GOT A SPECIFIC ORDINANCE AND SECTION THAT YOU CAN PEEL OUT OF THE REGULATIONS REGARDING GREEN BURIAL, SO EVERYTHING IS LAID OUT IN BLACK AND WHITE.
THE FRONT PART OF THE CEMETERY, AS I SAID, IS TRADITIONAL BURIAL WITH CASKET AND CEMENT VAULTS.
THE BACK SECTION, AGAIN, OPENED IN 2024, IS GREEN BURIAL OR BURIED CREMATED REMAINS.
[00:15:01]
>> IT IS PLANTED WITH WILD FLOWERS LIKE A PRAIRIE.
ALL THEY DO IS MOW A PATH BACK THROUGH THERE SO PEOPLE CAN WALK BACK THROUGH THERE.
THEY'VE GOT POST STICKING IN THE GROUND THAT HAVE A LITTLE MARK AROUND THEM THAT DENOTES WHICH GRAVE SITE IS WHICH.
THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY DETAILED MAP SO THAT YOU CAN LOCATE THE PERSON YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
BUT THERE'S VERY LITTLE MAINTENANCE OTHER THAN MOWING THE PATHS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUTTING A BODY IN THE GROUND WITH A GREEN BURIAL AS OPPOSED TO A TRADITIONAL BURIAL.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT BACK THERE.
YOU CAN'T DRIVE BACK THERE WITH A HEARSE.
THE BODIES HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED ON A TRUNDLE BOARD OR SOME KIND OF CART.
IT'S BEST IF THEY'RE LOWERED INTO THE GROUND BY HAND RATHER THAN TRYING TO PUT MACHINERY OUT THERE.
THE ONLY OTHER DIFFERENCE IS THE GRAVE SIZE.
FOR GREEN BURIAL OR FOR TRADITIONAL BURIAL, THE GRAVES ARE USUALLY FOUR FEET APART.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT VAULT TO MAINTAIN THE GROUND.
FOR GREEN BURIAL, THEY RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE A FIVE-FOOT PATH RATHER THAN A FOUR SO THAT YOU CAN SHORE UP THE EDGES OF THE GRAVE BEFORE YOU PUT THE BODY IN.
THE OTHER DIFFERENCE IS WITHOUT THE CASKET AND THE VAULT, THE BODIES ARE BURIED FOUR FEET DEEP, AND THAT PROMOTES DECAY AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEY'RE DEEP ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET DUG UP BY ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT ALLOWS THE BODY TO DEGRADE NATURALLY.
AS FAR AS WITH A COUPLE OF CONCERNS HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, EVEN IF YOU DON'T GO FOR GREEN BURIAL.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE FUND ON THE CEMETERY.
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY DRY, IT SHOULD BE SET ASIDE, AND IT SHOULD BE PERPETUAL.
YOU CAN HAVE FUNDRAISERS, YOU CAN DO HISTORICAL WALKS THROUGH THE VARIOUS CEMETERIES.
BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE IT CAN'T JUST BE WRITTEN OFF THE BUDGET.
IT NEEDS TO BE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED.
THE OTHER THING IS, THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF NOT NECESSARILY A BOARD, BUT LIKE SOMEONE FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE, SOMEONE FROM DPW.
IF YOU GO WITH GREEN BURIAL, SOMEONE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THAT GET TOGETHER PERIODICALLY TO GO OVER ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED AT THE CEMETERY IF YOU HAVE A GREEN BURIAL OPTION.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE CARE OF FINDING WHAT PLANTS WORK BEST AND GETTING THOSE STARTED.
DPW IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE, AS THEY ARE NOW, FOR DIGGING THE HOLES, AND THEN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, OF COURSE, HAS THE TOWNSHIP RECORDS OR THE BURIAL RECORDS.
GLENDALE BURIAL RECORDS ARE ONLINE, RIVERSIDE OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN THE WORKS OR NOT. NO.
>> THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR OUR DPW DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD IMAGINE. I THINK THEY ARE THE ONES THE CATALOGING OF THAT KIND OF THING.
>> OKAY. BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE A GREEN BURIAL OPTION IN THE BACK AND GIVE THAT AS AN OPTION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING INTERESTED IN GREEN BURIAL.
THE CEMETERIES ARE NEVER GOING TO BE A MONEY MAKER IN THE TOWNSHIP, BUT THEY COULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IF YOU MAKE THEM A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE BURIED.
ONE OTHER THING WITH REGARD TO THE BURIAL PLOTS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER, IS ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS, THEY CAN ONLY BE TRANSFERRED TO A FAMILY MEMBER WITH WHAT WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP HAS DONE IS THEY'VE ALLOWED THOSE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANYONE,
[00:20:03]
WHETHER THEY'RE FAMILY OR NOT, AND THEY ALSO HAVE AN OPTION IN THERE WHERE THE TOWNSHIP CAN BUY BACK THE BURIAL PLOT SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE OPEN SPACES FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT THEM.THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
>> I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT. THERE WE GO.
BEN FRANKLIN SAID, SHOW ME YOUR CEMETERIES AND I'LL SHOW YOU THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WHAT I THINK THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE IS THAT A COMMUNITY THAT CARES FOR ITS PUBLIC SPACES, INCLUDING CEMETERIES, IT SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE A DEEP CONCERN FOR THEIR PUBLIC SPACES.
MARION TOWNSHIP DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THEIR PARKS AND PRESERVES.
I DON'T THINK THAT OUR CEMETERIES RIGHT NOW ARE LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
IN 2024, THE MDY OR THE MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION TOWNSHIP FOCUS, PUBLISHED A STORY CALLED CEMETERIES AS A COMMUNITY ASSET.
AND IN THAT, IT DETAILS WHAT SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS HAVE DONE TO MAKE THEIR CEMETERIES MORE USER-FRIENDLY.
HISTORICALLY, CEMETERIES USED TO BE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO ON SUNDAY, THEY WOULD HAVE PICNICS.
AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING A COMMUNITY ASSET.
OUR CURRENT CEMETERY ORDINANCE, AS KIMON SAID, WOULD NEED SOME REVISIONS.
WE WOULD NEED, WE BELIEVE A SEXTON.
WE WOULD NEED CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE AND DEDICATED FINANCING.
THERE IS A STRONG INTEREST IN THE TOWNSHIP IN GREEN BURIALS.
LAST SUMMER, I GOT A TABLE AT THE TOWNSHIP FARMERS MARKET, AND I PULLED MARKET GOERS TO SEE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT GREEN BURIALS.
OF THE RESPONSES THAT I GOT, 100% WERE FOR GREEN BURIAL OPTION.
AND ABOUT 80% OF THOSE PEOPLE ACTUALLY FELT STRONGLY ENOUGH THAT THEY GAVE ME EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT I COULD KEEP THEM POSTED ON THE PROGRESS OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THE WEAK OF WOMEN VOTERS IN 2022, I BELIEVE, THEY HOSTED A GABBY MEYER, WHO DID A PRESENTATION ON GREEN BURIALS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR TOWNSHIP YOUTUBE PAGE.
YOU CAN GO THERE AND WATCH THE PRESENTATION.
BUT THAT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY.
THERE WAS QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THERE.
THAT'S ANOTHER INDICATION THAT IT'S VERY VERY POPULAR IDEA FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
OUR ULTIMATE GOAL, IF WE REALLY HAD A MAGIC WAND, WOULD BE A PRESERVE TYPE SETTING.
THAT'S A STANDALONE FOR GREEN BURIAL OPTION.
BUT THAT WOULD INVOLVE FINDING THE LAND, JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER CEMETERY.
THE BEST WAY, AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, TO GET STARTED IN VERDI TOWNSHIP, WOULD BE SECTION SEVEN OF GLENDALE CEMETERY.
SECTION SEVEN IS ALL ALREADY PART OF A CURRENT CEMETERY.
SO, IN ESSENCE, IF WE WERE TO CONVERT THAT, WE WOULD BECOME A HYBRID CEMETERY AS WELL AS SIMILAR TO SUMMIT CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTOWN TOWNSHIP.
[00:25:03]
THE SECTION IS PLATTED OUT RIGHT NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS DIAGRAM.THIS IS FROM THE TOWNSHIP, THE OLD CEMETERY WEBSITE.
BUT NONE OF THOSE PLOTS ARE FOR SALE CURRENTLY.
RIGHT NOW, IT IS USED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS AS A SPOILS AND LANDSCAPE WASTE DEPOSITORY.
IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THIS OVER, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME CLEANUP.
IT WOULD REQUIRE CHANGES TO ONE MINOR CHANGE TO THE CEMETERY AUDIENCE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE, WHICH WOULD BE FOR THE GREEN SECTION, CONCRETE VAULTS WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED.
THAT WOULD BE THE MINIMUM CHANGE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THERE.
IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO READY THE LANDSCAPE.
THERE ARE TREES WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED.
THERE'S A LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES THAT ARE GOING BACK THERE, AND OF COURSE THE SPOILS PILES WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED AS WELL.
BUT ONCE IT ESTABLISHED WITH THE PLANTING OF EITHER NATIVE GRASSES OR WILDFLOWERS, THE MAINTENANCE, AS KIM SAID, WOULD BE BASIC AND ARE MINIMAL.
THERE WE GO. HERE'S THE PICTURES OF DIFFERENT VIEWS OF SECTION SEVEN FROM THE FIRST PICTURE THAT WE SHOWED YOU EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE SPOILS PILES MOUNDED UP.
BEHIND THE TREES, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THOSE PAPER LAND OR GUARD WASTE BAGS THAT ARE TOSSED BACK THERE.
IT DOES NOT MATCH THE CHARACTER OF THE REST OF THE CEMETERY AT ALL.
SO THOSE TREES THAT YOU SEE THERE ARE RED PIE AND THEY'RE VERY OLD AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE SPAN.
SO MOST OF THEM ARE IN PRETTY TOUGH SHAPE.
AND EVERYTHING GREEN THAT YOU SEE THERE IS BASICALLY HONEY CYCLE, WHICH IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES.
AND BEHIND THAT IS A SLIGHT DIP THAT IS IN THE SPRING IS JUST CHOCK FULL OF GARLIC MUSTARD, WHICH IS ANOTHER INVASIVE SPECIES.
SO THERE'D BE SOME WORK TO CLEAN IT UP, BUT IT WOULD TURN INTO A VERY NICE LANDSCAPE.
I'M SORRY. THERE. WE AS A GREEN BUR COMMITTEE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF LEG WORK ALREADY ON THIS.
AND IF YOU WISH WE COULD GET INTO MORE DETAILS IN ANOTHER PRESENTATION.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS AND WITH THE TOWNSHIP TO DO THE LEG WORK TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE GREEN BURIAL OPTION FOR THE TOWNSHIP AND MEET THAT GOAL THAT WE HAVE STATED IN OUR MASTER PLAN.
SO NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR GREEN BURIAL COMMITTEE? CURT DIMAS.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING I DEFINITELY WANT TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CEMETERIES AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, CEMETERY RECORDS, PLEASE FREE TO REACH OUT TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST.
JUST TO THANK YOU AS WELL, AS BOARD LEADS ON TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WE RECEIVE SOMEWHAT REGULAR UPDATES FROM THE GREEN BURIAL TEAM.
SO THIS IS A NICE ENCAPSULATION OF ALL ABOUT WORK THAT I KNOW YOU DO THAT I DON'T SEE EVERY BIT OF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'M CERTAIN THAT AS YOU SAW IN THE MASTER PLAN, IT WOULD BE, I THINK MOST HELPFUL FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEPUTY MANAGER OSIMER AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AS YOU TRY TO MOVE THIS ENDEAVOR FORWARD.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM FIVE,
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
WHICH IS CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NOT AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT TONIGHT'S MEETING.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS OUR AGENDA OR ANY ITEM NOT ON OUR AGENDA.
[00:30:02]
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING NOW, AS WELL AS NEAR THE END OF THE MEETING.THOSE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE A GREEN CARD, WHICH ARE LOCATED AT THE TABLE NEAR THE DOOR AND PRESENT THAT CARD TO THE BOARD OR MEMBERS STAFF.
SUPERVISOR. THAT'S ME. I'LL CALL YOU UP TO THIS PODIUM TO SPEAK TO THE TOPICS INDICATED.
WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED, IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MEETING MINUTES, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS.
CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES.
AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM KEEPS TRACK OF THE TIME IN AN INDICATOR LIGHT, AND AUDIBLE BEEP WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING AND WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD VALUE COMMENTS 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 TO FOLLOW UP ON. PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND OR THE BOARD'S CHAIR AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR TO OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE.
THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL GREEN CARDS THIS EVENING.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE BINGHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONER MONICA SCHAFFER, AND THEN BETH BACTERON DECK.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR IN COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I REPRESENT DISTRICT 6, 7, AND 22.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS, AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING THE VOICE.
SO I LOVE BEING INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I LOVE GETTING TO KNOW EVERYBODY.
I LOVE GOING TO THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND JUST UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT BECAUSE I AM THEIR VOICE AT THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS YOUR VOICE AT THE COUNTY.
A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I SERVE ON JUST TO GET PEOPLE FAMILIAR IS THAT I SERVE ON THE LAWN COURTS COMMITTEE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR ANYTHING 911, ANIMAL CONTROL, ALL OF THAT.
I ALSO REPRESENT THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ON OUR HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE THAT HAD COME UP ON IT, AND THAT IS RELEVANT TO ME, AND IS RELEVANT TO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AT OUR LAST HUMAN SERVICES, ACTUALLY, TWO HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEES AGO.
WE HAVE SOME BUDGET CONCERNS BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON OUR 2026 BUDGET.
SOME OF THOSE BUDGET CONCERNS IS ONE AREA THAT WE ARE GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE CUTTING BACK AS A COUNTY, IN WHICH I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, BUT THAT IS IN OUR MSU EXTENSION PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT $110 MILLION GENERAL BUDGET.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY $326 MILLION BUDGET OVERALL.
THIS TAKES INTO EFFECT ABOUT $400,000 OF THAT BUDGET.
BUT WE'VE GOT IT KIND OF NARROWED DOWN, WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH MSU, AND IT'S AT A MUCH LOWER LEVEL.
BUT WE STILL ARE LOOKING FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT.
DURING OUR HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING, WE HAD 2.5 HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT IN OUR LAW AND COURTS MEETING OR OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, 2.5 HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT OF PEOPLE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT HERE AND PEOPLE WITHIN INGHAM COUNTY.
IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME TO THOSE MEETINGS AND STAND UP AND STEP UP AND FIGHT FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT THAT REALLY AFFECTS THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY, AND AFFECTS THEIR FAMILIES, AFFECTS THEIR LIVES, AFFECTS THREE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT ME AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER CAN COME AND STEP UP AND FIGHT FOR THEM AND USE THEIR VOICE AS WELL.
WHAT I'M ASKING HERE FOR IN MY LAST 30 SECONDS IS I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU REACH OUT TO SOME OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND YOU EXPRESS SUPPORT, TOO, BECAUSE THIS IMPACTS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP DRAMATICALLY.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS HERE THAT ARE THAT HAVE BEEN FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GENERATION FOR IT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF MASTER GARDENING PROGRAM RECIPIENTS IN THIS AREA.
IT'S NOT ONLY THAT IT'S YOUR HEALTH, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE MSU EXTENSION TAKES INTO ACCOUNT.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT I LOOK AT IS IN THE MASTER GARDENING PROGRAM.
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE GO TO LESS FORTUNATE PEOPLE.
BUT I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING YOUR COMMISSIONER THAT REPRESENTS THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
BETH BETO, AND THEN JADE SHI IS ON DECK.
>> DEAR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU ARE FISCALLY AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBLE WHEN APPROVING THE 2026 MERIDIAN AND TOWNSHIP BUDGET.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS PAY ONE OF THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXES OUT OF 1,240 MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS, BECAUSE INGHAM COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX RATE OUT OF 83 MICHIGAN COUNTIES, AND SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY TAXES ALSO GO TO THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ET CETERA.
[00:35:01]
IN THIS CURRENT TIME WITH VERY HIGH INTEREST RATES, INFLATIONS, TARIFFS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT MANY RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING TO MAKE ENDS MEET TO PAY FOR BASIC LIFE NECESSITY.AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, STAFF PRESENTED THAT PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUES ARE BUDGETED AND FORECASTED TO INCREASE BY 3.7% IN 2026 CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH ANNUAL INCREASE FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFLATION RATE MULTIPLIER FOR PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUES WAS 3.3% IN 2022, THE MAXIMUM 5% IN 2023 AND 24, 3.1% IN 2025, AND NOW 3.7% IN 2026 WHICH CALCULATES JUST THESE LAST FIVE YEARS TO A TOTAL OF 20.1 INCREASE IN THE INFLATION RATE MULTIPLIER FOR PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUES.
THESE INCREASES ARE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING AND THIS SKYROCKETING PACE IS NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE FOR RESIDENTS.
TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE AND FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, PLEASE NOTE THAT HISTORICALLY, THE PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUES, INFLATION RATE MULTIPLIER FOR 2021 AND ALMOST 10 YEARS PRIOR WAS ANNUALLY AVERAGING ONLY 1%-2%.
WITH THIS CURRENT REALITY, OUR YOUNG ADULTS MAY NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A HOME.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS ARE REPORTING THEY ARE NOT SELLING HOMES TO ADULTS THAT ARE YOUNGER THAN AGE 35, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOUNG ADULTS CAN AFFORD THE MONTHLY HOME MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY THE EVER INCREASING ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH PROPERTY, HIGH PROPERTY TAXES, AND HOME INSURANCE.
WHEN IMPROVING THE 2026 BUDGET, PLEASE ENSURE FISCAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY MINIMIZING COST, ELIMINATING WASTEFUL SPENDING, AND ELIMINATING LUXURY EXPENSES SUCH AS THE DECEMBER 14, 2024 CREDIT CARD EXPENSES, TOTALING ALMOST $2,000 AT GO KARTING ENTERTAINMENT, ELIMINATING FREQUENT CREDIT CARD EXPENSES AT LOCAL DONUT SHOPS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA.
TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS NEED YOUR FISCAL AND FINANCIAL HELP, REDUCING COST AND EXPENSES NOW MORE THAN EVER.
AGAIN, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS BE FISCALLY AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH ALL DETAILS PERTAINING TO THE 2026 BUDGET.
PLEASE KEEP PRIMARY AND FOREMOST IN YOUR MINDS THE CURRENT CHALLENGING TIMES THAT THE TOWNSHIP PROPERTY TAXPAYERS ARE FACING AND ENDURING NOW AND IN THE FUTURE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.
AND THEN DIANNA CAVALIER IS ON DECK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SHARE MY CONCERNS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE AUTHENTIC PROJECT PROPOSED BY INTENT CONTINENTAL AS A DEVELOPER.
I EMAILED THE BOARD, THE TOWNSHIP LAST WEEK.
I THINK EITHER I OR THE CONTINENTAL, THE DEVELOPER, THEY HAVE, LIKE, CONDUCTED THE IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS LAST WEEK, WITHOUT THE PROJECT BEING APPROVED.
THEY HAVE ALREADY CUTTING DOWN THE TREES AND ALSO TOOK THE SOIL SAMPLING, LIKE ALL THOSE, LIKE UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS.
THAT'S A STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THEY MAY CONDUCT MORE HARMFUL AND RECKLESS ACTIONS IF THE PROJECT IS APPROVED.
I'M HERE TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROJECT, AND ALSO THE DEVELOPER WROTE AN LETTER BACK TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT OUR CONCERNS.
THEY ASSUME THAT THE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CPE RESIDENTS. I DISAGREE.
BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL USE LAND WOULD BE A LOT MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE CPE RESIDENTS AND ALSO THE WHOLE TOWNSHIP.
THEY HAVE NEVER CONDUCT ANY, LIKE, SURVEYS OR INTERVIEWS WITH THE CPE RESIDENTS, BUT THEY HAVE MADE THE DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS THERE.
I WONDER IF THE TOWNSHIP OR THE DEVELOPER HAVE DONE THE DRAINAGE ANALYSIS AND THE STUDIES, AND ALSO HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR RESIDENCE BASEMENTS WILL BE VERY LIKELY TO AFFECT IT BECAUSE OF THE LOSE OF THE LAND AND ALSO THE GREEN SPACE.
THAT'S THE OTHER REASON, AND ALSO THE SAFETY AND THE SECURITY CONCERNS.
THEIR PROPOSAL SAID THERE WILL BE LIKE 300 UNITS BEING BUILT,
[00:40:01]
WHICH MEANS THAT'S POSSIBLY GOING TO BE LIKE 600 PLUS PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT A CROWDED SPACE.THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD APARTMENTS FOR RENTING.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEY WILL HAVE A VERY HIGH TURNOVER RATE.
WE WILL LIKELY TO SEE AN UNSTABLE PROFILE LIVING IN THAT PROPERTY.
THAT WILL PUT THE CPE RESIDENTS AND ALSO THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AT RISK [NOISE], AND FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS.
ALSO NOT TO MENTION THE TRAFFIC AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED AND MENTIONED. THANK YOU.
I LIVE AT 1508 BELVEDERE, AND I ALSO AM EXPRESSING THE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT IN CENTRAL PARK.
I THINK THAT TO HER POINT, 300 UNITS, SO 600 PLUS PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT CONDENSED AREA ON THE CURVE OF A TWO LANE ROAD IS REALLY A RECIPE FOR DISASTER AS FAR AS TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT WILL INCREASE POTENTIALLY PRESSURE ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH I HAVE A CHILD THAT GOES TO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE ALREADY SHORT TEACHERS AND AT CAPACITY FOR CLASSROOMS. I THINK IT COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE INCIDENCE OF CRIME.
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SETTING A CERTAIN RATE FOR THE RENTALS RIGHT NOW, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IF THOSE DON'T FILL UP, WILL THEY THEN DROP THE RENTAL RATES AND POTENTIALLY WE DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE MOVING INTO THAT AREA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THERE IS THE NEW DEVELOPMENT SOUTH OF THERE, WHICH HAS NOT FILLED UP YET, BUT I'M ALREADY SEEN TRAFFIC FROM THAT, AND IT'S NOT FULL.
I THINK THAT SADLY, I LIKE THE GREEN SPACE THERE AND SEEN THE DEER AND THE TURKEYS, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE SAD TO SEE ALL OF THAT GO AWAY WHEN THEY CLEAR IT AND PUT UP APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THEN TO HER POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN A DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT DONE, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WAS BUILT, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENDED UP HAVING DRAINAGE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WENT IN.
THOSE ARE MY MAIN POINTS, I GUESS.
>> EDDIE-DUH, THEN THAT'S THE LAST GREEN CARD I HAVE.
VON ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
NOW WOULD BE A TIME TO FILL OUT THAT GREEN CARD. SIR.
>> HI. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND NEIGHBORS.
MY NAME IS EDDIE-DUH AND I LIVE IN 1572 MAIDEN LANE IN CP.
AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP LAST YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE HOW DISAPPOINTED WE ARE THAT WE HEARD THE NEW PROJECT COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
LAST WEEK, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE CONTINENTAL PROPERTY.
THEY'RE CLAIMING THAT CHANGING THE CURRENT COMMERCIAL ZONING TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS 14 UNIT PER ACRE, WHICH IS VERY HIGH IN OUR TOWNSHIP, I WOULD SAY.
THEY SAID THERE WILL BE BENEFITS FOR THE RESIDENTS LOCALLY, AND I STRONGLY DISAGREE.
MANY OF US HAVE ALREADY HAVE A FIRM OPPOSED THIS PROJECT.
IF THE LAND IS CLEARED FOR DENSE APARTMENT, WE WON'T JUST LOSE OPEN SPACE.
WE'LL ALSO LOSE REPLACEABLE WETLAND HABITAT.
ONCE THOSE WETLAND AND WOODLAND ARE DISTURBED, THE WILDLIFE WILL NEVER RETURN, WHICH IS PERMANENT LOSE FOR THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME CONCERN OF THE TOWNSHIP ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGE FROM A LARGE DEVELOPER ID, WHICH I HEARD FROM MR. SCHMIDT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT FOR THE BOARD OF THE TOWNSHIP, BUT PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER THAT BED BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY VALUE LOSS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CPE COMMUNITY ARE ALSO FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOWNSHIP.
FOR THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED REZONING AND PRESERVE THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL ZONING AND LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONING OF EIGHT UNIT PER ACRE FOR THAT PARCEL.
[00:45:05]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE PUBLIC COMMENT HAS CLOSED AT 6:44 P.M. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 6,
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT MANAGER, DEMPSEY.>> YES. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
THE FIRST ONE IS, FOR THOSE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE LISTENING SESSION LAST WEEK THAT THE BOARD HELP, WE'LL BE COMPILING OR ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING THE SUMMARY FROM THAT.
WE SHOULD HAVE THAT ONLINE NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, MAYBE EVEN AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE WEEK.
ONCE IT'S OUT THERE, WELL, WE'LL BE SURE TO COMMUNICATE THAT.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WHAT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, AND THEN THE RESPONSES TO ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT COMING OUT.
THEN I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE LAST WEEK WE HAD THE RETIREMENT OF BATTALION CHIEF RUDY GONZALEZ AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SO WE WANT TO THANK HIM FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR TOWNSHIP AND ITS RESIDENTS.
THANKS, AND WE WISH HIM THE BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OF MANAGER DEMPSEY? SEEING NONE, WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 7,
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ]
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS REPORTS THIS AFTERNOON.
>> ON SATURDAY, I ATTENDED A SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL.
THEN MY NEXT MONTHLY DEMOCRACY CLASS WILL BE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH AT 6:00 PM LOCATED AT OKEMOS LIBRARY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TRUSTEE LENZ.
>> I HAVE A FEW. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND WATCH THE CAPITAL BASEBALL CLUB OF LANSING PERFORM A VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME.
NO GLOVES, DIFFERENT SIZE BALL, DIFFERENT RULES.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO LEARN ABOUT SO I REALLY ENJOYED THAT.
IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING, WE GOT TO SEE SOME OF OUR GREEN GRANTS BEING UTILIZED IN THE WAY OF CREATING A NEW PATH FOR STUDENTS TO WALK BEHIND THE MONASTERY SCHOOL.
THE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEM THERE CREATE THEIR OWN HANDMADE SIGNS OF THE LUMBER TYPE AND PUT IT ON THE TREES THAT THEY HAVE RESEARCHED.
IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING PRESENTATION AND VERY COOL TO SEE THOSE TOWNSHIP DOLLARS PUT TO WORK.
AS I JOKINGLY TOLD OUR PARKS DIRECTOR THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR, STARTED ON OCTOBER 1ST, OUR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE SEE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 50% OUR CAR DEER COLLISIONS FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT.
I RECOMMEND GOING ON OUR WEBSITE, DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IF YOU WOULD SEARCH IT UNDER.
IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM.
LASTLY, AT THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL TO ACCEPT AND THEN UTILIZE GRANT DOLLARS FOR GIS SERVICE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES IN OUR REGION.
ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN CREATING PROJECTS CAN SEE HIGH LEVEL REGIONAL DATA ON TRANSPORTATION PATTERNS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH I THINK CAN ONLY STAND TO BENEFIT SOMEONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO COME AND MAKE THIS PLACE A GOOD HOME. ENCOURAGING STUFF.
>> JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, I ATTENDED THE HEWLETT ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ALONG WITH TRUSTEE SUNDERLAND AND MANAGER DEMPSEY.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC BOOKS TO PUT IN CALMING ISLANDS AS PART OF THE REBUILD FOR HEWLETT ROAD AS OPPOSED TO SPEED BUMPS.
GOT SOME INTERESTING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THAT, AND WE'LL BE HEARING MORE SOON.
>> I DID ATTEND THAT MEETING AS WELL.
IT WAS VERY FASCINATING TO JUST THINK ABOUT NO BUMPS.
YOU JUST GO AROUND AND THEY'RE WELL MARKED AND SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
I ATTENDED THE MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE SEPTEMBER 16TH THROUGH 18TH.
THERE'S ALWAYS SO MANY IDEAS ON NETWORKING AND REDEVELOPMENT.
IT JUST WAS A VERY UNOFFICIAL MEETING. THANK YOU.
[00:50:01]
>> GOOD. I'LL WRAP UP SEEING NO OTHER HANDS FLYING UP THAT ALL OF US HERE ATTENDED THE LISTENING SESSION THAT MANAGER DEMPSEY ALLUDED TO.
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM I THINK WE HAVE ALMOST 50 PEOPLE THERE.
COME AND ASK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS ON A VERY WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, GAVE OUR STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I'LL TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO JUST THANK OUR STAFF AND OUR RESIDENTS FOR ALL PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
IT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS, HEAR WHAT ISSUES ARE ON THEIR MINDS.
IN A LOT OF CASES, WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO SOME IMMEDIATE ACTIONS AND IMMEDIATE ANSWERS, AND WE'RE ALWAYS THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DIRECT CONTACT AND MAKE SOME CHANGES AS A RESULT.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT AND THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR COMING AND ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS FROM OUR RESIDENTS.
THEN, I'LL TAKE THIS MOMENT ALSO TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A COUPLE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS, WHICH WAS THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN ON THE I CONTINENTAL PROPERTY.
THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID AND OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND HAVE BEGUN TO ISSUE VIOLATIONS BASED ON THOSE ACTIONS.
I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT AND WATCHING THIS ISSUE CLOSELY, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PROPERTY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT THE TOWNSHIP TAKES THESE MATTERS VERY SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, AND THOSE VIOLATIONS WILL BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN.
THEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE IT'S IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 13TH AND SO IT'S AT 6:00 IN THIS ROOM.
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME AND VOICE YOUR OPINIONS THERE ON THIS PROJECT.
IT WILL EVENTUALLY, OF COURSE, COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
IT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT AND SO WE'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO BECOME A PART OF THEIR PROCESS AS WELL.
WITH THAT SAID, THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 8 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? TRUSTEE WILSON.>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE JOSIUS ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 9 OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA ]
ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA, THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, TWO SETS OF MINUTES FROM OUR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND OUR LISTENING SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 30TH? THE BILLS, A 2025 INGHAM COUNTY HOUSING AND HOMELESS MILLAGE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT AGREEMENT.ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO EVERY YEAR, SETTING THE HOURS FOR TRICK OR TREATING SO THAT OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES KNOW WHEN TRICK OR TREATING WILL BE HAPPENING, AS WELL AS AN APPOINTMENT OF MR. JOSH NAM TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING?
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, CURT DIMAS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
CURT DIMAS. YES. TRUSTEE LENZ?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 10.
[10.A. 2026 Budget ]
THIS IS OUR ACTION ITEMS. FIRST ON OUR ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING, WE HAVE THE 2026 BUDGET AND FOR ASSEMBLY OF THE CHANGES SINCE OUR LAST MEETING PRESENTATION, WE HAVE MANAGER DEMPSEY.>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, AND WE'LL BE ME FLYING SOLO THIS EVENING AS DIRECTOR VLANDI IS ON LEAVE UNTIL EARLY JANUARY, BUT DOING WELL.
I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THE CHANGES AND THE UPDATES, OBVIOUSLY AT THE LAST MEETING.
WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET VERY THOROUGHLY IN TERMS OF OUR PRESENTATION, AND THEN BASED ON QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK AND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO CLARIFY.
WE HAVE MADE SOME I THINK WHAT ARE RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGES RELATIVE TO THE OVERALL BUDGET, WHICH AGAIN, FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS AROUND 29 MILLION AND FOR THE OVERALL BUDGET JUST UNDER 70 MILLION FOR THE CONTEXT.
[00:55:02]
THE FIRST CHANGE IS THAT THE 2025 REVENUE PROJECTION ACTUALLY WILL PUT OUR USE OF FUND BALANCE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN PROJECTED SO THAT'S A POSITIVE.WE'RE GOING TO BE AT ABOUT 152 VERSUS THE 174 WE ORIGINALLY PROJECTED.
FOR 2026 GENERAL FUND ADJUSTMENTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO WALK THROUGH EACH OF THESE SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF ALL THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, BUT THE NET CHANGE HERE FOR USE OF FUND BALANCE IS A SLIGHT INCREASE OF ABOUT $7,400.
INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECTED 324,000, WE'LL BE AT ABOUT 331,000.
THOSE INCLUDE SOME CHANGES IN RETIREMENT PAYOUTS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, REVISED PAY RATE FOR A POSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN A COUPLE OF REVENUE CHANGES.
ONE THOUGH THAT I DID WANT TO NOTE THERE, IS THE COMPONENT UNITS.
OUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND OUR BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
LIKE A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE ARE TAKING THE APPROACH GOING INTO 2026, WHERE WE REALLY HAVE THOSE ENTITIES COVER THE COST OF STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PERFORM.
THEY DO GENERATE THEIR OWN REVENUE TO THE TIF DOLLARS.
THAT IS A REDIRECTION SO WE THINK THAT'S A SMART USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN 26 CONSISTENT WITH A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THE OTHER CHANGES ARE RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND BECAUSE OF THE GRANT DOLLARS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FOR INGHAM COUNTY, SO WE WANT TO THANK, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SUPPORTING US THE $80,000 THAT WE'RE RECEIVING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT REVENUE AND AGAIN, THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE FOR [INAUDIBLE] CARES AND THE ABILITY TO ENHANCE WE DO ALREADY AND THAT'S HELPING PROVIDE ESSENTIALLY EVICTION OR PREVENTION.
WE'RE MORE PROACTIVE SIDE OF THE HOMELESS SITUATION OR SOLUTIONS.
THEN THE OTHER ONE IS THE ARPA FUND.
THE CHILL GRANT THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED THROUGH MISTA RECOGNIZING THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING EXPENDED THERE FOR THAT ASPECT OF THE GRANT DOLLARS.
BUT AGAIN, GRANT FUNDED MONIES THAT DON'T IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN ALL THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WERE IN THERE WERE SORT OF MINOR CLARIFICATIONS AND TYPOS THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT.
THAT DOCUMENT HAS BEEN UPDATED THE LINK TO THAT DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
THE ONE THING THAT'S NOT IN THE MEMO ARE THE TWO OUTSTANDING ITEMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME THAT ARE LOOMING OUT THERE THAT ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE FIRST ONE, WE DO HAVE SOME CLARITY ON NOW, THE STATE HAS ADOPTED ITS BUDGET, ALTHOUGH THE CLARITY IS NOT 100% AND THAT'S ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REVENUE SHARING.
WE KNOW THAT ONE IS GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE SAME FORMULA, SO THAT MONEY WILL BE FLAT.
THAT WAS THE AREA THAT WE EXPECTED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CUT.
WHAT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNEXPECTED, ALTHOUGH NOT TOTALLY SURPRISING IS THE CHANGE THE CONSTITUTIONAL, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST PORTION OF OUR $5 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE.
THAT MONEY IS NOW GOING TO BE IMPACTED BECAUSE OF THE ROAD FUNDING DEAL [NOISE] SO THE SALES TAX AT THE PUMP IS GOING TO BE SHIFTED TO A FUEL TAX TO HELP FUND THE ROAD DEAL ACROSS THE STATE.
THAT WILL REDUCE CONSTITUTIONAL REVENUE SHARING.
FOR US, WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW, BASED ON THE MOST CURRENT ESTIMATES, ROUGHLY AROUND $200,000 DECREASE.
BUT THAT ALSO ASSUMES THAT SALES TAX PROJECTIONS PLAY OUT, AS THEY TYPICALLY DO.
WE KNOW THAT THOSE CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THE ECONOMY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED AROUND $75,000.
THE NET IMPACT TO US, WE THINK, WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE NATURE OF 125,000 PLUS OR MINUS, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S PRELIMINARY.
WE DID NOT WANT TO INCORPORATE THAT INFORMATION INTO THE BUDGET YET UNTIL WE GET THE FINAL CALCULATIONS, WE PREFER TO GET THAT DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.
THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW ARE COMING FROM THE HOUSE FISCAL AGENCY AND THE SENATE FISCAL AGENCY, AND THOSE ANALYSES DON'T NECESSARILY LINE UP EXACTLY YET, BECAUSE THEY USE SOME DIFFERENT SOURCES AT TIME.
AS WE GET CLARITY, WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
IF THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT SWING IN ANY WAY, WE WOULD LOOK AT A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE COULD EVEN DO THAT PRIOR TO THE BUDGET YEAR, OF COURSE BUT RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE OUR ESTIMATES WHERE THOSE ESTIMATES ARE GOING TO BE THAT HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE MUCH OF A VARIANCE OVERALL.
THE BIGGER OUTSTANDING ISSUE IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE MATTER.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH OUR BIDS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL BIDS.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'D LIKE TO COME IN AND SAY, THOSE BIDS REALLY CAME IN WELL BELOW.
[01:00:01]
WE'VE SEEN ALREADY, BUT THEY HAVEN'T LINING UP WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY AROUND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR WITHOUT DRAMATIC CHANGES.
AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE YET GOING TO PROPOSE DRAMATIC CHANGES, JUST GIVEN THE CHALLENGES OF EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND TRYING TO PRESERVE BENEFITS.
WE'LL BE BACK HERE, PROBABLY AT THE NEXT MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
BUT AGAIN, AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T WANT TO ADJUST THE BUDGET WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT IT AS IS WITH THOSE SMALL MODIFICATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT AND THEN AS WE GET CLARITY AROUND THE HEALTH CARE ISSUE, AGAIN, WE CAN COME BACK WITH A SINGLE LINE ITEM, OR IF THE REVENUE SHARING IS ALSO PART OF IT, A TWO LINE ITEM ADJUSTMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT PRIOR TO THE 2026 START.
AT THIS POINT, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE ON THOSE UNTIL WE GET THAT CLARITY.
BUT AGAIN, THIS EVENING ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT APPROVING THE BUDGET, AS HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY MODIFIED FROM YOUR LAST MEETING.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE'S STILL REMAINING ITEMS AROUND ANYTHING THAT I LAID OUT OR ANY PRIOR ITEMS THAT WE PRESENTED.
THE FIGHT YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE PROJECTING A $500,000 INCREASE IN THE HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURES.
WHAT INCREASE HAD WE BUDGETED FOR?
>> WE BUDGETED FOR ABOUT A 12% INCREASE ON HEALTH CARE.
THE $500,000 INCREASE IS CLOSER TO ABOUT A 25% INCREASE SO WE BUDGETED FOR ABOUT HALF OF THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
OUR NET CHANGE IS ROUGHLY HALF.
>> THANK YOU. THEN THERE WAS, AS I RECALL, IN THERE A $300,000 MATCH FOR A FEDERAL CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING REQUEST THAT WE MADE WITH SENATOR PETERS OFFICE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. FOR THE SOLAR PROJECT?
>> RIGHT. WE'VE THUS FAR BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, AND OF COURSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PASSED A BUDGET YET FOR NEXT YEAR AND IF THAT DOES NOT GET INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT - THAT $300,000 IS SUDDENLY NOT BUDGETED? COULD THEORETICALLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR BUDGET PURPOSES AS IT STANDS TODAY, IT COULD BE REALLOCATED FOR THIS EXPENSE.
>> IF IT HAD TO BE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK AND SAY, WE NEED TO REQUEST THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT TO COME OUT OF FUND BALANCE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE IF THAT WASN'T FUNDED.
>> I'LL LET OTHERS TAKE THE REINS FOR A MOMENT HERE, TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT WITH THE DROP IN MUNICIPAL REVENUE SHARING, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER ENDS UP BEING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 125,000 AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE THAT IS SO SUBSTANTIAL AT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, WOULD YOU LOOK TO THE FUND BALANCE TO FUND THOSE OR WOULD WE LOOK TO CUTS?
>> I THINK OUR INITIAL DISCUSSION ON IT, AT LEAST WITH STAFF IS TO LOOK POTENTIALLY AT FUND BALANCE AND FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS, IF YOU RECALL OUR EARLY CONVERSATIONS ON THE BUDGET, A STATUS QUO BUDGET WITH LOOKING AT ALL THE CAPITAL, INVESTMENT, ET CETERA, WAS SHORT ABOUT 1.6 MILLION.
WE DID A FAIR AMOUNT TO REALLY PAIR THAT BACK TO BE RESPONSIBLE INCLUDING ELIMINATING A POSITION IN THE GENERAL FUND AT THE DIRECTOR LEVEL.
DOING THINGS LIKE THAT THEY WERE SUBSTANTIAL PUTTING OFF SOME EXPENDITURES.
I THINK FROM OUR STANDPOINT, IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT FURTHER CUTS, IT COULD BE PRETTY DIFFICULT AT THIS STAGE, LOOKING AT OUR FUND BALANCE AND THE HEALTH OF THE FUND BALANCE OVERALL THAT'S REALLY IN PART WHAT IT'S INTENDED FOR.
NOW, THE CHALLENGE, OF COURSE, IS THE PREFERENCE WOULD BE KNOWING THAT THAT'S A ONE TIME THING.
AS WE KNOW, HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE NOT.
THAT PRICE WILL GO UP THIS YEAR AT 24, 25%.
HOPEFULLY WE WON'T SEE THAT LEVEL OF INCREASE NEXT YEAR, BUT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
WE KNOW THAT HEALTH CARE COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP.
HOPEFULLY THAT IMPACT WILL BE LESSENED AND WE CAN LOOK MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS, I THINK, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AS WE TALKED BEFORE WITH OUR GOALS AND STRATEGY FOR THE BOARD WE'RE PLACING SOME EMPHASIS NEXT YEAR ON DOING A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT MORE OF THOSE LONG TERM PRESSURES TO REALLY BALANCE OUT, WHAT CAN WE DO ON THE REVENUE SIDE? BUT WHAT MIGHT WE HAVE TO DO ON THE EXPENSE SIDE?
[01:05:02]
BUT BEFORE THAT, I'D BE A LITTLE BIT HESITANT TO DO ADDITIONAL CUTS IF WE COULD AVOID IT AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER YEAR.BARRING SOMETHING LIKE HAVING 300,000 AVAILABLE FROM A GRANT PROGRAM THAT TO FRUITION, AT THIS POINT INITIALLY LEANING AT FUND BALANCE FOR THOSE REASONS.
BUT CERTAINLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S YOUR DECISION AS THE BOARD ON THE BUDGET AND IF THERE'S OTHER THOUGHTS OR IDEAS WHERE STAFF IS, OF COURSE, OPEN TO ENTERTAINING THOSE AND CONSIDERING THOSE.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS JUMPING UP.
I THINK WE'VE ALL EXPRESSED A SIMILAR SENTIMENT THAT IS NOT A HAPPY DAY.
THIS IS THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF WORK BY MANAGER DEMPSEY, BY DIRECTOR BLONDE AND BY ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS BUDGET.
CERTAINLY COMPARED TO THE OTHER SEVERAL BUDGETS THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY TIME ON THE BOARD, THIS IS THE MOST CONSTRAINED THAT WE'VE BEEN.
THERE'S NO, BIG CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE'RE NOT INSTALLING SOLAR ARRAYS IN VARIOUS FACILITIES UNLESS WE GET A MASSIVE GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THIS IS THE TOUGH PART OF THE JOB.
THIS IS TRYING TO DECIDE HOW WE KEEP OURSELVES FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER, A BALANCED BUDGET ON TIME FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND ALSO, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING PRUDENT WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
I THINK THIS BUDGET IS A REFLECTION OF THOSE VALUES AND SO I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE WHOLE TEAM THAT WAS INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
THIS IS LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST CHALLENGING BUDGET THAT WE FACE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
BUT THIS IS, I THINK GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THAT AND ADDRESS SOME OF THESE LONG TERM COSTS ONCE WE HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL HOLD.
THANK YOU, MANAGER DEMPSEY AND DIRECTOR BLONDE AND EVERYONE HERE WHO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I DON'T SEE A MOTION IN THE MEMO, BUT I BELIEVE WE JUST SIMPLY NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE 2026 BUDGET AS PRESENTED. TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION, AND I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE 2026 BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
ALWAYS SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT AS NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE, TO GET A PLACE TO START.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET.
HOPEFULLY IT'S BETTER THAN WE THINK.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TREZISE, DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> IT'S SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET?
>> SINCE THERE WERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, ARE WE ONLY MOVING THE 2026 BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED?
>> WHICH IS HOW IT IS PRESENTED?
>> THOSE ARE ALL FULLY INCORPORATED NOW TO THE ADVICE DOCUMENT.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?
>> JUST A SECOND TO THANK YOU MY SUPERVISOR FOR YOU SAW HOW MANY COMMENTS I HAD.
WHEN YOU FIRST PRESENTED THIS, I APPRECIATE YOU WALKING ME THROUGH ALL THIS.
I THINK IT SHOWS OUR VALUES AS A TOWNSHIP TO HAVE THIS BALANCED BUDGET.
>> I'LL ALSO ADD THAT OUR ABILITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FINAL BUDGET WITH RELATIVELY MINIMAL COMMENTARY IS, I THINK REFLECTIVE OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOARD FROM THE OUTSET AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
I THINK THAT WAS VALUABLE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE CAN CONTINUE THAT PROCESS SO THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THAT AS AN ONGOING THING.
THIS DOES REQUIRE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> YES. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING,
[10.B. Treasurer Appointment ]
WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A TOWNSHIP TREASURER.[01:10:01]
AS EVERYONE WHO'S UP HERE KNOWS, WE MET AT 4:30 THIS AFTERNOON TO INTERVIEW OUR CANDIDATES FOR TOWNSHIP TREASURER.WE HAD ONE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT HAVING ONE CANDIDATE DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE, WHICH WE ABSOLUTELY DID.
SHE CAME AND ACQUITTED HERSELF VERY WELL, ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, STILL HAD THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND I THINK HER ANSWERS WERE EXEMPLARY AND I BELIEVE SHE WILL MAKE A FINE TOWNSHIP TREASURER AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING HER UP HERE AT THE DIAS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
WITH THAT SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER WE GIVE OURSELVES SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND PUSH THIS OFF TO OCTOBER 21ST.
BUT GIVEN THAT WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE, MY RECOMMENDATION AS A PART OF THIS MEMO HERE WOULD BE TO MOVE TO APPOINT SOMEONE THIS EVENING.
THAT OF THE BOARD, WOULD SOMEONE TAKE A MOMENT TO MAKE THAT MOTION? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> I BELIEVE THE FIRST MOTION IS TO WAIVE OUR GENERAL POLICY TO TAKE ACTION ON THE FIRST IS PRESENTED TO US.
>> YES. IT'S A MOTION TO SUSPEND [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT FOR THAT?
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, TO SUSPEND OUR RULES FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF THIS ACTION ITEM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US TO REMEMBER TO KEEP THAT ADMINS AHEAD OF US.
THEN MOTION THIS AGENDA ITEM ANYONE WHO WANT TO MAKE THAT. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> MOVE TO APPOINT LINDA BURKHART TO THE POSITION OF TOWNSHIP TREASURER EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 TO SERVE THROUGH THE NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION CYCLE.
>> BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY CLERK DEMAS.
THE MOTION BEFORE US IS TO APPOINT LINDA BURKHART, THE POSITION OF TOWNSHIP TREASURER EFFECTIVE THIS EVENING TO SERVE THROUGH THE NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION CYCLE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? TRUSTEE WILSON?
>> I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS CANDIDATE.
SHE HAD CLEARLY DONE HER HOMEWORK IN PREPARATION FOR THIS.
I THINK IT SHOWS THAT SHE WILL BE THE CALIBER OF TREASURER THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, SO I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ACTION.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT. ALSO, HER BACKGROUND IS VERY STRONG FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT.
SHE'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE POSITIONS PRIMARILY WITH NON PROFITS, MANAGING THEM, RUNNING THEM, SERVING ON BOARDS, AND I THINK SHE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THIS BOARD, AS WELL AS OPERATE THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT VERY WELL.
>> I REALLY HOW PREPARED THIS CANDIDATE WAS, AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A GREAT TREASURE.
I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER AND SHE CAME PREPARED AND SHE HAD REALLY GOOD ANSWERS.
I HOPE THAT SHE ATTENDS A LOT OF OUR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT SHE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREASURE POSITION.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THAT SHE WILL BEST REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE MET LINDA PRIOR IN THAT NONPROFIT CAPACITY MENTIONED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE, AND CONSIDERING WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS FIRST IN THIS POSITION.
HAVING THAT BACKGROUND OF SERVICE IS CRUCIAL TO HAVING A GOOD TREASURE OR SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
>> I WAS ALSO IMPRESSED BY THE BACKGROUND THAT SHE BRINGS.
SHE'S GOT A LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.
SHE HAS ALL THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND THE KNOWLEDGE TO BRING IT TO THIS POSITION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM VERY EXCITED FOR LINDA TO JOIN THE BOARD HERE IN SHORT ORDER.
I AGREE THAT SHE CAME VERY PREPARED AND SEEMS TO HAVE A VERY GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SHE'LL BE STEPPING INTO RIGHT AWAY.
I THINK THAT A STEADY HAND AT THE HELM OF OUR FINANCES IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER AND
[01:15:02]
I THINK THAT SHE BRINGS A WEALTH OF CAREER EXPERIENCE INTO A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE LEADING A TEAM INTO THIS POSITION.I THINK THAT HER INPUT AND HER INSIGHT WILL BENEFIT THIS BOARD GREATLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE, THAT THE REASON WHY THIS POSITION IS BEING APPOINTED TO SERVE THROUGH THE NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION CYCLE IS DUE TO THE MICHIGAN STATUTE REGARDING APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THIS APPOINTMENT TAKES EFFECT PRIOR TO APRIL OF AN EVEN YEAR MID TERM, WHOEVER IS APPOINTED, WELL, I GUESS, ANYONE WOULD HAVE TO ANYONE COULD RUN FOR THE TREASURER POSITION IN 2026.
WHILE OUR TERMS RUN THROUGH 28, OUR APPOINTMENT IS THROUGH 2026, AND WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION IN 2026 TO FILL THE REMAINING TWO YEARS.
ONE OF THE SCREENING QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED ABOUT WHEN WE SOLICITED APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION WAS, ARE YOU WILLING TO RUN IN 2026? WHICH IS, OF COURSE, NOT A BINDING STATEMENT, BUT LINDA DID INDICATE THAT SHE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING ON FOR THEIR FULL TERM THROUGH 2028.
AGAIN, THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE FOR HER QUALIFICATIONS, BUT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF THAT THAT POSITION WILL AGAIN BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2026.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND A VERY GOOD STEWARD FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S FINANCES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HER JOINING THIS BOARD AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
THE MOTION BEFORE US THIS EVENING IS TO APPOINT LINDA BURKHART TO THE POSITION OF TOWNSHIP TREASURER, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7TH, 2025, TO SERVE THROUGH THE NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION CYCLE.
THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE A VOICE CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK DEMAS. YES. TRUSTEE LENTZ?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDA.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 11 BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[11.A. Meridian Senior Center Operations Agreement ]
FIRST UP IS THE MERIDIAN SENIOR CENTER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OPERATIONS AGREEMENT. YES.>> POINT OF ORDER. I CERTAINLY HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I WILL TAKE A SEAT IN THE AUDIENCE AND WANT YOU GUYS TO DELIBERATE.
>> I BELIEVE I STARING AT OUR ATTORNEY IN THE BACK, WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE TO ALLOW YOU TO RECUSE YOURSELF.
>> THEN WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO ALLOW TRUSTEE TREZISE TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THIS MATTER, TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> I MOVE TO ALLOW TRUSTEE TREZISE TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM ACTION ON THE MERIDIAN SENIOR CENTER OPERATIONS AGREEMENT.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING. I HAVE DIRECTOR WISINSKI WITH ME AS WELL.
SHE'S MUCH MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CENTER.
BUT THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS FOR THE EXISTING SENIOR CENTER.
I THINK THERE IS SOME CONFUSION THAT SOMEHOW PERTAINS TO THE FUTURE CENTER IF THERE IS TO BE ONE, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
THIS IS SIMPLY FOR OPERATIONS OF THE EXISTING SENIOR CENTER.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT ACTUALLY DATES TO 2011 AND ARGUABLY ISN'T EVEN NECESSARILY IN EFFECT.
BUT IT WAS RECOGNIZED GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL NEW CENTER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THIS WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT NEEDED TO BE RECONSTITUTED, PUT INTO PLACE.
OUR STAFF HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF TO FORMULATE THAT, AS WELL AS OUR RESPECTIVE LEGAL TEAMS SO NOW WE HAVE THIS AGREEMENT FOR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.
ESSENTIALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, JUST TRYING TO PUT AN AGREEMENT THAT LAYS OUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITIES, THE TOWNSHIPS RESPONSIBILITIES, BOTH FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, BUT THEN ALSO SOME OF THE LEGAL MATTERS COVERING THINGS LIKE INSURANCE.
CLARIFYING RESPONSIBILITY AROUND THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER AND THE FACT THAT THAT PERSON REPORTS TO
[01:20:01]
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWNSHIP AS IT STANDS.PROVIDING A LOT OF THAT DETAIL IN HERE.
WE DID GET SOME INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM THE SENIOR CENTER ADVISORY BOARD.
>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ON PAGE 2, SECTION 2B FOR THE TOWNSHIP, PROBABLY CAN USE SOME CLARITY HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME ACTIVITIES THAT THE STAFF OF THE CENTER PERFORM, NOT NECESSARILY THE ADVISORY BOARD.
WE'LL LIKELY TWEAK SOME OF THAT TO FALL IN BETTER ALIGNMENT.
I DO WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS ARE LIKELY WATCHING THE MEETING SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THAT WILL GET ADDRESSED.
BUT BESIDES THAT, THE AGREEMENT, WE THINK, AGAIN, IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, LAYS OUT SOME THINGS AND DOES HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE THAT DOES COINCIDE WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE CENTER IN MAY OF 2028.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE ISN'T AN ARRANGEMENT THAT GOES BEYOND THAT.
BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES HERE TO TRY TO KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AND AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS POSSIBLE, YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS A CLEAN ENDING DATE.
AS WE PROGRESS IN THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT VERSION OF THE SENIOR CENTER MIGHT LOOK LIKE, WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THERE'S STILL A PARTNER TO REVISE AMEND AND OTHERWISE ADDRESS THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS AGAIN, TRYING TO DEFINE SOMETHING THAT HADN'T BEEN IN PLACE PREVIOUSLY SO THAT WE HAVE SOME CLARITY AROUND ALL THE ROLES WITH THE CURRENT FACILITY.
I'LL PAUSE THERE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
THEN, AGAIN, DIRECTOR BZINSKI IS HERE TOO, IF THERE ARE ONES THAT SHE COULD BETTER ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST CHANGES IS THE SUPERVISION OF THE SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR.
AS I CURRENTLY UNDERSTAND THE ARRANGEMENT, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT IS PARKS DIRECTOR IS THE DIRECT SUPERVISOR OF THE SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE INDEED AN OPEN PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, IS THAT ACCURATE?
THE ROLE THAT I ASSUMED WAS, I DO APPROVE TIME OFF.
I DO APPROVE ANY VACATION TIME.
I ALSO PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION FOR TIME SHEETS, AND THEN OF COURSE, PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAMMING.
CURRENTLY, I AM THE ONE THAT IS APPROVING HER TIME MOST SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT OVERSEES HER PROGRAMMING.
THERE IS A CHANGE IN MAKING THOSE TYPES OF DELINEATIONS FOR THAT REASON.
>> THE REASON I ASK WITH THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WHETHER THEY VIEW THE SENIOR CENTER AS THE MERIAN TOWNSHIP SENIOR CENTER? OBVIOUSLY. CORRECTLY SO.
HOW WAS THAT GOING TO WORK, IN MISS OF ONE OR TWO PERSON AND A HALF 1.5 PERSON OPERATION HERE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
ARE THEY GOING TO COMMUNICATE CLOSURES DIRECTLY TO YOU WHEN SOMEONE IS SICK, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> THE CLOSURES, WORKING WITH OUR HR, WORKING WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION AND THEN OPS ADMINISTRATION, THEY WILL ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITIES OVER THEIR EMPLOYEES.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE CENTER ITSELF, IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION.
CURRENTLY, WE REPORT OUT ON WHEN SENIOR CENTER HAS TO CLOSE, IMPLEMENT WEATHER OR VACANCIES.
AS A TOWNSHIP, WE REPORT THAT OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THAT WOULD BE A DECISION BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.
>> INTERESTING. IT GIVES ME CONCERN BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDING COMPLEXITY INTO IT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S PLENTY OF COMPLEXITY IN THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT, BUT IT HAS AT LEAST THE VIRTUE OF THE ARRANGEMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE HOPING TO SHIFT A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS WAY.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CONFUSION AND DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS THAT DOING SO WILL HAVE ON THE PROGRAMMING.
IT ALSO LEAVES YOU IN THE CHALLENGING POSITION OF IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE PROGRAMMING, YOU HAVE NO LEVER FROM AN EMPLOYMENT STANDPOINT OR A SUPERVISORY STANDPOINT TO ACTUALLY MAKE ANY CHANGE.
[01:25:01]
HEY, I'M YOUR SUPERVISOR, AND WE WANT TO SEE X HAPPEN UP ANY STRIPE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY ANYMORE.THAT'S WHERE I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE THOSE TO SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO FLOW FROM YOU TO THEM DOWN TO THEIR EMPLOYEE, AND THEY MIGHT DISAGREE.
WHERE DO WE FIND OURSELVES IF THAT'S THE CASE? IT'S JUST LOGISTICALLY, IT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
>> I THINK IT'S THE TRADE OFFS.
BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE SUPERVISING SOMEBODY ELSE'S EMPLOYEE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT IT FROM EMPLOYMENT LAW ISSUES AND IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES THERE, WE COULD REALLY GET INTO A PRETTY STICKY MESS.
I THINK SAVING GRACE HERE IS THAT WE DO HAVE AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM.
DIRECTOR BZINSKI HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT DIRECTOR.
WE WORKED WITH THEM REALLY WELL, AND I THINK WE CAN OVERCOME THOSE SHORTCOMINGS WHILE ADDRESSING THE OTHER ONES, WHICH COULD ALSO BE PROBLEMATIC.
FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE WAY YOU HAVE TWO ENTITIES WORKING ON THIS RIGHT NOW IS REALLY NOT THE IDEAL SCENARIO.
IF YOU WERE TO CREATE THIS FROM SCRATCH, YOU WOULD DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
IT WOULD BE ONE ENTITY, WOULD HAVE CONTROL REALLY OF ALL OF IT.
MUCH LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE POTENTIAL COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER, THAT WAS THE MODEL WE'D BE MOVING FORWARD, AND STAFF WILL CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THAT AS WE LOOK TO THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE SENIOR CENTER WHERE WE'D HAVE MORE OF THAT CONTROL.
AGREED, IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT WE THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST SCENARIO FOR A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU. AS WE ALL SAW OVER THE LAST, I GUESS, NOW, TWO YEARS, WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE SENIOR POPULATION WHO CARE ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THIS FACILITY.
ALONG THOSE LINES OF THE TWO ENTITIES CO-MANAGING, I GUESS I'M CURIOUS IN LAYING OUT A SCENARIO.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF THOSE SENIOR CENTER MEMBERS HAS A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN, LIKE HAVING TO PARK ON DIRT TO ACCESS THEIR FACILITY BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION THERE.
HOW DOES THAT GET RESOLVED? IS THAT THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP SPECIFICALLY OR IS THAT DIRECTLY THROUGH OPS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BEST SERVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TRUSTEE LUTS.
CURRENTLY, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE EASIEST CUT AND DRY, IS ANYTHING FACILITY RELATED OKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NOW, DOESN'T SAY THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS MIGHT COME TO ME AND ASK FOR MY ASSISTANCE.
THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, I WORK THROUGH OUR ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE.
BUT THE FACILITY USAGE AND MAINTENANCE IS PRETTY CUT AND DRY BETWEEN OKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> CAN WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE INTO THIS AGREEMENT THAT GOES THAT IDENTIFIES A NOTICE PROCESS FOR DIRECTOR BZINSKI TO BE NOTIFIED OF CLOSURES OR ACTIVITY UPCOMING OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IF YOU READ THIS, ALL YOU READ IS THAT OPS IS IN CHARGE.
I UNDERSTAND THE HR RAMIFICATIONS THAT WE WANT TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THAT, IT DOESN'T FUNCTION VERY WELL.
BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WAY THAT YOU GET NOTICE AND SUFFICIENT NOTICE THAT YOU CAN REACT FROM A PROGRAMMING STANDPOINT.
>> I THINK THAT'S VERY DOABLE.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CODIFY SOME OF THE SOFT SQUISHY BITS OF THIS SO THAT WE PROTECT OURSELVES BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO CALL YOU.
IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, THEY'RE GOING TO CALL YOU BECAUSE IT'S A MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PROBLEM, RIGHT? IT'S MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SENIOR CENTER.
FINDING A WAY TO SORT OF LAY OUT, MAYBE THE CONTRACT ISN'T THE RIGHT PLACE TO LAY OUT A PROCEDURE FOR HOW TO HANDLE SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED BEYOND THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LIKE, WE WANT AN ADDITIONAL CLASS OF A CERTAIN KIND.
WE'RE IN CHARGE OF PROGRAMMING, BUT WE'VE GOT TO ESSENTIALLY CLEAR IT THROUGH.
[01:30:01]
I UNDERSTAND THAT LIKE FUNCTIONALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR.THEORETICALLY ON ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU AGREE ON OR, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PROBLEMS HERE.
BUT IT'S A QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR ON A MATTER OF PROGRAMMING, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> SURE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, I COULD PUT TOGETHER A SMALL, BUT DISTINGUISHED LIST OF THINGS THAT WOULD COME INTO THAT PLAY, WHICH WOULD BE SENIOR CLOSURE.
IT COULD BE PROGRAMMING ISSUES OR COMPLAINTS.
MAYBE WE CAN WE COULD LAY THOSE OUT IN A SUPPLEMENTAL OF SOME PROCEDURE.
>> IMPORTANT TO CODIFY THOSE ISSUES AND PUT THEM IN THE MOU.
>> HAS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT ALL REVIEWED OR WEIGHED IN ON THIS YET?
>> CERTAINLY THEIR LEGAL TEAM HAS FROM THAT ANGLE IN ADMINISTRATION, BUT THEY WERE HAVING SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS ON THEIR END.
WE EXPECT TO GET FEEDBACK PRETTY QUICK HERE.
>> I ASSUME THAT WE WILL HOLD ACTION UNTIL THEIR SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES IT?
>> YES, AT LEAST UNTIL WE HAVE A VERSION THAT WE'RE WILLING TO APPROVE AND THERE RIGHT.
WE'LL MAKE SOME REVISIONS HERE, PRESENT THOSE BACK TO THEM, AND THEN I THINK ONCE WE KNOW THAT BOTH PARTIES CONCUR, AND WE CAN GET THEM ON THE AGENDAS FOR APPROVAL.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> TRUSTEE JOSE, COME ON BACK.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 11 B,
[11.B. Appointment to Ingham County Materials Management Planning Committee]
THE APPOINTMENT TO THE INGHAM COUNTY MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE.WE HAVE DEPUTY MANAGER OMER HERE TO TALK ABOUT WELL, RECYCLING, ONE WOULD THINK AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PROCESSES.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON AND BOARD MEMBERS.
IF YOU RECALL, LAST SPRING, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD APPOINTED TREASURER DE SHANE TO SERVE AS OUR APPLICANT TO THE NEW M MPC AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
THIS BODY STEMS FROM CHANGES IN STATE LAW TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT IN 2022.
THE PURPOSE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS TO STATE LAW WERE TO OVERHAUL THE STATE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND TO REQUIRE ALL THE COUNTIES TO ADOPT NEW MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT ACCOUNT FOR SUSTAINABILITY, NAMELY RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING.
THIS BODY DOES HAVE ONE SEAT FOR A TOWNSHIP ELECTED OFFICIAL, BEING THAT TREASURER DE SHANE IS NO LONGER A TOWNSHIP ELECTED OFFICIAL, HE NO LONGER CAN SERVE ON THIS BODY.
I KNOW HE WAS INTERESTED IN CONTINUING HIS SERVICE ON THIS BODY IF IT WERE FEASIBLE, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
THE TOWNSHIP BEING THE LARGEST TOWNSHIP IN THE COUNTY.
WE DID WANT TO BRING THIS BACK TO THE BOARD TO SEE IF ANY OF THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OR THE NEWLY APPOINTED TREASURER WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS POSITION.
THE APPLICATION WINDOW TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE IS STILL NOT OPEN.
WE'VE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION THAT IT IS.
THE M MPC WILL MEET ON OCTOBER 21.
COUNTY STAFF DID ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED THAT THEY CAN COME AND ATTEND THE MEETING, GET AWAY OF THE LAND AND SEE HOW THE COMMITTEE OPERATES AND MEET SOME OF YOUR PROSPECTIVE FUTURE COLLEAGUES.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT A DIRECT APPOINTMENT.
THIS WOULD BE AN APPOINTMENT BY THE BOARD TO BE THE APPLICANT FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
THEN THERE COULD BE COMPETING APPLICANTS FROM OTHER TOWNSHIPS IN THE COUNTY.
WITH THAT, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
AGAIN, NO RECOMMENDATION OR WE'RE NOT ASKING THAT THE BOARD TAKE ANY ACTION TONIGHT.
WE WOULD BRING THIS BACK ON NOVEMBER 6 FOR ACTION.
>> BOARD NUMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DEPUTY MANAGER OFFICER? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THE MEETING SCHEDULE IS OR THE COMMITMENT IS?
>> YES, I DO. VERY GOOD QUESTION.
THE COMMITTEE GENERALLY MEETS ON THE THIRD TWO DAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 3:30 P.M. AT THE MERIDIAN COUNTY BUILDING DOWN ON CEDAR STREET IN CONFERENCE ROOM A.
[01:35:02]
IT IS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY TREASURER DE SHANE TOOK THIS APPOINTMENT.
IT'S NOT THE MOST TIMELY MEETING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A DAY JOB.
>> UNLESS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
>> WELL, BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK AT THIS POINT, CHEW ON WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE YOUR HAND FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL SINCE OUR NEWLY APPOINTED TREASURER HAS IS NOT HERE WITH US AT THE MOMENT FOR HER TO BE BRIEFED ON THIS PROBABLY PRIOR TO THAT MEETING JUST SO THAT SHE'S AWARE AND CAN THINK ABOUT THAT TOO.
BUT WE'LL BE TAKING VOLUNTEERS.
IF ANYONE LIKE TO DO SO, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO DAN AND TIM ABOUT THAT.
>> ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THE MEETING, THE DUTIES, EXPECTATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES POSITION ENTAILS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I BELIEVE CARTER D SHANE WAS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, WAS HE NOT? I DON'T THINK THAT'S A TRANSFERABLE REQUIREMENT CHAIRING, BUT PERHAPS.
>> WELL, HE'S DENT CHAIR, BUT YOU DO SECRETARY TREASURER.
CORRECT. ANYWAYS. WE'LL SEE YOU BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT ONE, OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
AN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
SEEING THEN, WE CALL PUBLIC COMMENT AT 7:35 P.M.
>> ANY OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION,
[14. CLOSED SESSION]
WHICH WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION AND HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE TO ENTER INTO, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD MOTION TO MAKE THAT MOTION THIS EVENING. TRUSTEE TREZISE.>> I MOVE TO ENTER CLOSED SECOND UNDER MICHIGAN COMPILED LAW 15.2 68M1 CS H CLOSE BRIN TO CONSULT WITH TOTE REGARDING A CONFIDENTIAL WRITTEN LEGAL OPINION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
[INAUDIBLE] WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK LET'S TAKE A MOMENT AND REFILL OUR WATERS AND WHATNOT, AS WE GO THE ROOM, AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED.
>> CLOSED? CARRIS WE STAND ADJOURN AT 8:44 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.