[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:02:25]
IT IS SIX O'CLOCK AND WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS IS THE APRIL 21ST, 2026 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN.
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WILL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US FOR 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.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ROLL CALL.
WILL CLERK DEMAS PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON? HERE.
[4. PRESENTATIONS]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
PRESENTATION FROM OUR YOUTH COMMISSION AND WE HAVE THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF OUR YOUTH COMMISSION AUTUMN GABARA AND FINN REAGAN HERE COME ON UP HI EVERYONE MY NAME IS AUTUMN JABARA I'M THE CHAIR OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND MY NAME IS FINN REAGAN I'M THE VICE CHAIR CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS THIS PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO SO FAR WITHIN THE COMMISSION YOUTH COUNCIL.
SO FAR SINCE OUR COMMISSION STARTED, IT'S BEEN OUR INAUGURAL YEAR.
WE STARTED THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR US ALL AND WE APPRECIATE THIS LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID WAS SET UP A YOUTH SURVEY JUST ASKING THE YOUTH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND HOW WE CAN WORK TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE YOUTH.
ON THAT SURVEY, IT ASKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY WOULD LOOK FOR, LIKE EVENTS THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO PEOPLE OUR AGE.
AND SO FAR WE'VE GOTTEN A FEW RESPONSES, AND WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS SENT OUT TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF HAZLITT AND OAK MISS.
SECOND OF ALL, WE ARE PLANNING A COMMUNITY CLEANUP.
AND OUR SPRING CLEANUP INITIATIVE IS GOING TO BE FOR OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL AND HAZLITT HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:05:04]
AREAS THAT ARE TYPICALLY GETTING A LOT OF LITTER.STUDENTS ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER.
HAZLET STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GO TO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL OR GO TO OKEMOS AND TRY TO CLEAN UP LITTER THERE AND THEN HAZLET HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GOING OR OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GO TO HAZLET HIGH SCHOOL AND CLEAN UP LITTER THERE.
WE SEE THIS AS A WAY FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH TO GET INTO HAZLET AND TO GET INTO OKEMOS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT COMMONLY LIKE KNOWN THAT OKEMOS AND HAZLET ARE PART OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, LIKE WE'RE ONE.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A KNOWN AMOUNT OF ADULTS, BUT TYPICALLY PEOPLE OUR AGE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT.
SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT AND, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE US TO BE TOGETHER.
A FEW STRUGGLES THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AS OF RIGHT NOW IS JUST CONDITIONER ENGAGEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE KIDS, SO A LOT OF KIDS HAVE DIFFICULTY SHOWING UP SOMETIMES, AND THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY.
BUT IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO TRY AND PROCEED, ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY ONE MEETING A MONTH.
SO WE'RE CONSIDERING TRYING TO GET MAYBE TWO MEETINGS A MONTH OR EVERY OTHER WEEK, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, JUST SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TRY AND MAKE MORE IMPACT, ESPECIALLY AT TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE QUORUM.
SO THAT'S JUST LIKE ONE IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS OF RIGHT NOW.
SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OTHER BIG STRUGGLES, WHICH IS AWESOME.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF OUR PLANS FOR THE COMMISSION.
SO LIKE I TALKED ABOUT, THE LITTER SWAP DAY, THIS IS WHEN THE HAZLITT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL CLEAN UP LITTER.
WE ALSO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT OF OKEMOS, OF DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.
IT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AS OF RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NEW OWNERS OF THE DOWNTOWN.
AREA THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO BEAUTIFY WHICH WAS JUST GOING TO BE LIKE A FENCE WITH SOME RECYCLED ARTSY BEAUTIFICATION THAT WAS GOING TO GO ON BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW IT CANNOT HAPPEN SO THAT IS GOING TO BE POSTPONED FOR RIGHT NOW BUT WE WERE PLANNING THAT FOR A WHILE AND WE DO ALSO HAVE A PLAN OR WE HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT PAINTING THE SILO NEAR TOWN SQUARE OKAMISS WE'RE STILL PLANNING THAT AND IT'S WE TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE TIMES, BUT WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO FROM THERE.
AND ALSO WE WANTED TO HOST A BOOK DRIVE OR LIKE A RECYCLING DRIVE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE PUSHED AHEAD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS ANYMORE, AND WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECYCLE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE RECYCLING DRIVE COMING UP, SO WE DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THAT.
WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING A SUMMER SOCIAL ON JUNE 5TH.
FOR STUDENTS YOUNGER AND OLDER, AND NOT JUST STUDENTS, TO ATTEND.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO GAMES AND DRINKS AND FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS, SO IT WILL REQUIRE A BUDGET.
AND WE DO HAVE THE BREAKDOWN RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, SO WE'RE HOPING, IF THE BOARD WOULD, WE WOULD NEED ABOUT $500 FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT WOULD BE ABOUT $50 FOR THE PAVILION.
$250 FOR LIKE A RENTAL FOR THE DAY AND THEN WE'RE ASKING FOR ABOUT $200 FOR SNACKS, DRINKS, AND THEN ALSO SOME MONEY FOR SOME PRIZES TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED.
YEAH, WE WERE LOOKING TO HOST SOME GAMES AND JUST ENTERTAIN THE YOUNGER KIDS AS WELL AS THE OLDER KIDS.
I THINK WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT GETTING A BAND THERE, WHICH COULD BE COOL, JUST LIKE A WAY TO KICK START THE SUMMER WITH THE KIDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
YEAH, WE LOOKED AT LOCATIONS AND WE WERE LOOKING AT LAUNCH PARK.
SEEM TO BE AVAILABLE, SO WE'RE HOPING TO SECURE THAT.
AND IT WILL MOST LIKELY TAKE PLACE AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S A FRIDAY EVENING.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? THANK YOU.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? JUDGE BURKHARDT.
IF THIS COMMISSION IS SPONSORED THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IS THIS A 501C3 EVENT? THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONS.
WE ACTUALLY JUST ESTABLISHED IT LAST YEAR.
EARLIER THIS, I GUESS, LATE LAST YEAR.
THE MOST RECENT ACADEMIC YEAR.
SO THESE ARE OUR FIRST CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION.
THEY ARE BRAND NEW, BUT THEY ARE PART OF US.
OKAY, SO THIS WOULD BE THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET THEN? COOL.
I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WAIVE ANY PARK FEES FOR THE USAGE FOR THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.
SO WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MANAGER DEMPSEY ABOUT THAT SO THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THAT FEE.
AND THEN YOU GET IT DOWN TO FOOD AND BAND.
[00:10:01]
RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.YEAH, YOU GUYS ARE USUALLY APPOINTED FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS ON THE COMMISSION, IS THAT RIGHT? I BELIEVE IT'S ONE YEAR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO REDO THIS PROCESS THIS YEAR.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE LEAVING THE COMMISSION? BOTH OF US ARE JUNIORS, SO WE'LL BOTH BE HERE NEXT YEAR.
START THE RECRUITING FOR YOUR MEMBERS AS SOON AS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED? SO I THINK THE IDEAS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING ARE REALLY EXCITING, AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT DO IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED.
SO KUDOS ON THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON ALREADY.
STARTING UP ANY NEW GROUP CAN ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGE AS FOLKS FIGURE OUT SORT OF WHAT DEFINES THE SCOPE.
RIGHT, OF WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO DO.
AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS.
YOUR QUORUM ISSUES THAT YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL RESOLVE ITSELF, I'M SURE.
I THINK BECAUSE IT WAS PASSED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, IF YOU DO WANT TO GO TO MORE MEETINGS, YOU'LL LIKELY HAVE TO COME TO US FOR A REQUEST TO CHANGE THAT, I THINK.
SO I THINK THE BEST THING, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGED FOR NEXT YEAR, WOULD BE TO...
EITHER PASS A RESOLUTION AND SEND IT TO THE BOARD, MAKING THE REQUEST FOR YOUR CHARTER TO CHANGE.
AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE THAT UP OVER THE SUMMER SO THAT IT'S AVAILABLE WHEN YOU GUYS RECONVENE IN THE FALL.
AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S LIKELY ENOUGH DISCRETIONARY BUDGET THAT WE CAN GO, AND IT'S A NUMBER THAT IS SMALL ENOUGH THAT WE CAN PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND ASK MANAGER DEMPSEY TO AUTHORIZE.
THE OUTLAY FOR THE SOCIAL EVENT THAT YOU'RE PLANNING.
I DON'T SUPPOSE THAT WOULD BE TOO MANY ISSUES.
NO, I THINK WE CAN WORK THAT OUT.
I ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF SWAPPING COMMUNITIES FOR THE CLEANUP.
IT'S NOT JUST YOUTH THAT ARE UNAWARE THAT I HAVE AN OFFICE ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY.
IN ONE MERIDIAN IS A GOOD THING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4B, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT.
WE HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, BERNADETTE BLONDIE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERVISOR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS.
WE RECEIVED THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.
THIS PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION IS FOR OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH IS JUST OUR AUDIT, FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2024.
SO THIS RECOGNITION HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1940S. IT'S WIDELY CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL REPORTING.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS THAT OUR AUDIT IT DOESN'T JUST MEET THE MINIMUM ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENT.
IT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, CLARITY, AND DISCLOSURE.
SO THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST YEAR ACHIEVING THIS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR ACHIEVING THIS RECOGNITION.
SO YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF WHY THIS MATTERS.
SO THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN AWARD.
IT SHOWS THAT OUR FINANCIAL REPORTS ARE ACCURATE.
IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY MEETING NATIONAL STANDARDS.
IT ALSO HELPS BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN HOW MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP MANAGES OUR PUBLIC FUNDS.
SO THE RECOGNITION REFLECTS THE WORK BEHIND IT.
IT SHOWS STRONG PROCESSES, TEAMWORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AND A LOT OF EFFORT FROM THE STAFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS OUR COMMITMENT TO DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
SO I WANT TO EXPRESS THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH A TEAM EFFORT FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SUPPORT FROM THE MANAGER, AND COOPERATION ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS GOING FORWARD.
YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE? YEAH.
I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY FOR HOW LOW-KEY WE ARE IN RESPONSE.
[00:15:01]
TO RECEIVING THIS RECOGNITION.IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THAT IS FRANKLY EXPECTED, AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE EXCELLENCE COMING OUT OF OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
I THINK OUR RESIDENTS CAN REST EASY KNOWING THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE IN GOOD HANDS, THEY'RE BEING MANAGED WELL, AND THAT WE PASS OUR AUDITS WITH FLYING COLORS.
SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS FOR ALLOWING US TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5, CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE'VE GOT TWO VETERAN COMMENTERS HERE.I'M GOING TO FOREGO THE RULES AND ASSUME THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
FIRST UP THIS EVENING IS JOSH NAHUM, AND THEN BARBARA, YOU'RE ON DECK.
HELLO, JOSH NEY, I'M 1517 RIVER TERRACE.
I JUST REALIZED I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SPIT UP ON MY SHIRT WHEN I GOT HERE.
YES, I'M A PROUD FATHER OF AN EIGHT-DAY-OLD BABY THEODINE RIGHT NOW.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE ALLIANCE OBSTETRICS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEALTH SPARROW HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS LANSING PEDIATRICS FOR THEIR PATIENTS.
EXPERTISE AND JUST GUIDANCE THROUGH AN INTERESTING PROCESS FOR A FIRST-TIME PARENT.
THE OTHER THING I WAS HOPING TO SPEAK ABOUT, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH POWER OVER THIS, IS, ONCE AGAIN, ENCOURAGING FOR MOVEMENT ON THE SENIOR CENTER DIRECTIVE.
MY IN-LAWS JUST MOVED IN, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA.
THEY'VE BEEN GOING TO BOTH OF THE YMCAS AND THE MAC AND LOOKING AROUND FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK HAVING A SENIOR CENTER FOR THEM TO GO TO WOULD BE AWESOME GOING INTO THE FUTURE, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M BARBARA O'KELLY OF WOODHILL AND OKEMOS.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET YOUR FOLKS ENGAGED.
I'M CO-PRESIDENT OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE SENIOR CENTER, AND LATER THIS EVENING, SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT I THINK WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, BUT I THINK THE UPDATE ON THE SEARCH FOR A NEW FACILITY FOR THE SENIOR CENTER WILL INDICATE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS PROBABLY REACHED A DEAD END WITH RESPECT TO THE $5 MILLION GRANT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT GIVEN THE CHANGE IN THE STATE RULES THAT IT HAS TO BE OCCUPIED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS EVER IN THE PLAN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH $5 MILLION OF SPENT MONEY THAT THE STATE WOULDN'T REIMBURSE.
SO THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE SENIOR CENTER NOW WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE TOWNSHIP AND THE TOWNSHIP STAFF TO FOCUS ON COLLABORATING.
WITH BOTH THE OKEMOS AND THE HAZLITT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO, FIRST OF ALL, FIND AN INTERIM FACILITY BECAUSE OUR DEADLINE FOR VACATING THE CURRENT SENIOR CENTER OF MAY 2028 IS STILL GOOD.
THEY SEEM TO BE ON SCHEDULE FOR CONSTRUCTION.
WE'VE MET WITH THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE OKEMOS SCHOOLS AS WELL AS...
WITH JOHN HOOD BEFORE HE RETIRED, AND THEY ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL NEED AN INTERIM FACILITY FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, HOPEFULLY INVOLVING THE ADVISORY LEVEL, INVOLVED WITH MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR CENTER, AND GET A CURRENT LOCATION, AND THEN CONCURRENTLY WORK ON PLANS TO DEVELOP A PERMANENT FACILITY.
AGAIN, WE HOPE FOR COLLABORATION AMONG ALL THREE ENTITIES AND ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OTHER GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE TO BECOME INVOLVED.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PURSUIT OF THIS.
NOW THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 6
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
17 P.M.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SIX, THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT.
FIRST, I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS TO BERNIE
[00:20:01]
BLUNT.ANDY FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK ON OUR FINANCIAL REPORT.
SHE CAME IN REALLY TO HANDLE THAT AT A PERIOD WHERE SHE WAS SORT OF NEW AGAIN TO THE ORGANIZATION.
AND ALSO FOR TIM SCHMIDT AND HIS STEWARDSHIP DURING THE TIME IN 2024 OVERSEEING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
SO AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS A TEAM EFFORT AND ALL THE DIRECTORS ARE.
REALLY GOOD ABOUT HELPING TO MANAGE FINANCES, WHICH MAKES THAT PROCESS EASIER AS A WHOLE.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY ON THAT FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ALL OF THE LOCAL ROADS IN THE TOWNSHIP ARE NOW REOPENED AFTER THE FLOODING.
SO THIS IS OUR SECOND ROUND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SPRING TO DO THAT.
I DO HAVE TO EXTEND SOME THANKS TO THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW AT TIMES WE CAN GET A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THERE, BUT THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, UM BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN RESPONSIVENESS AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
IT SHOWED ON THESE CLOSURES AND REOPENINGS THEY'VE BEEN REALLY QUICK TO GET THEM ACCOMPLISHED SO WE APPRECIATE THAT WORK.
AND THEN THE PHASE 1 MSU TO LAKE LANSING TRAIL SEGMENT THAT HAD TO BE CLOSED WILL BE REOPENED TOMORROW MORNING SO THAT'LL BE DONE AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT DRIER WEATHER HERE GOING FORWARD.
I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED A $10,000 GRANT FROM THE DELMAC FUND.
SO A NUMBER OF YOU I KNOW ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DALMEC BIKE, NOT RACE, BUT RIGHT TOURS.
YEAH, AND THERE'S MULTIPLE ROUTES NOW THAT THEY TAKE FROM LANSING TO THE MACKINAC BRIDGE.
SO THEY HAVE A FUND THAT PROVIDES GRANT MONEY TO VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ARE CONNECTED BACK TO CYCLING.
SO THE $10,000 IS GOING TO BE A CONTRIBUTION FOR THE NANCY MOORE TRAILHEAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING.
SO WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A...
NATURAL TRUST FUND GRANT FROM THE STATE, THAT'S $350,000, AND THEN THIS $10,000 WILL HELP SUPPORT THAT PROJECT AS WELL.
THEY HAD OVER $400,000 IN REQUESTS, SO I THINK A PRETTY GOOD AWARD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE RELATIVE NUMBERS.
THE PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE IS AT MAILBOXES.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU OR SOME OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT NOW OR SHOULD BE RECEIVING IT.
SO OUR RESIDENTS CAN LOOK OUT FOR THAT.
THERE'S A DIGITAL VERSION ONLINE FOR ANYBODY THAT HASN'T GOTTEN IT IN THEIR MAILBOX OR WANTS TO SHARE THE DIGITAL VERSION.
AND THEN THE FIRST OF THREE TOWNSHIP BOARD LISTENING SESSIONS IS COMING UP.
SO OUR FIRST ONE WILL BE TUESDAY, MAY 12TH AT 6 P.M.
SO THAT'S NOT THE CHURCH, BUT THE CENTER AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF BENNETT AND HEWLETT ROADS.
OF COURSE, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE JULY 28TH HERE AT THE PAVILION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.
THERE'S INFORMATION IN PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE.
AND WE ALSO SEND OUT POSTCARDS TO THE AREA OF THE TOWNSHIP THAT WE'RE TARGETING FOR THAT PARTICULAR SESSION.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A GOOD TURNOUT OF OUR RESIDENTS AT THAT AS WELL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS EVENING.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? MANAGER DEMPSEY, ARE WE, AGAIN THIS TIME, ALLOWING FOLKS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, AND WILL WE BE PROVIDING THE SUMMARY AFTER THE FACT? YES, WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME AS WE DID PREVIOUSLY.
IF SOMEBODY CAN'T ATTEND, THEY CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS BEFORE, AND THEN WE'LL, OF COURSE, DO A SUMMARY THAT WE'LL POST ONLINE.
AND ALL PRIOR SESSIONS ARE STILL ON THE TOWNSHIPS WEBSITE FROM LAST YEAR AND YEARS PRIOR.
SO REALLY A PRETTY GOOD FAQ DOCUMENT GOING THERE REALLY FOR OUR OFFERING SESSIONS.
I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP THERE IN OTHER VENUES AND OTHER FORMATS.
WE'RE BUILDING SORT OF AN INTERESTING KNOWLEDGE BASE HAVING HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT COMING UP ON MAY 12TH.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SEVEN, BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS TO GIVE? PRESIDENT BURGHARDT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT A WEEK AGO I ATTENDED THE CAPITAL AREA TREASURERS MEETING, AND WE WERE GIVEN A BRIEF PRESENTATION BY ALAN FOX, THE INGHAM COUNTY TREASURER, ABOUT LEGISLATION, HOUSE LEGISLATION, THAT PERTAINS TO POSTMARKS AND TAX PAYMENTS BY MAIL.
OF THAT LEGISLATION AND ANY MOVEMENT ON IT.
IT'S NOW IN ITS FOURTH GENERATION, FOURTH VERSION.
IT'S ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, BUT IT HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE IN, WHAT, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
[00:25:02]
FIVE MONTHS AND IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR LOCAL TREASURERS.SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
AND NEXT WEEK I AM GOING TO BE AT THE MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL TREASURERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.
AND SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I LEARNED FROM THERE.
WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR PUBLIC LOGIC AND ACCURACY TEST ON FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH AT 2 P.M.
WE'VE BEEN HOLDING ELECTION INSPECTOR TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH.
STARTING TODAY, VOTER REGISTRATION MUST BE DONE AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE WITH PROOF OF RESIDENCY.
AND THEN I WANTED TO PROVIDE MORE ELECTION UPDATES, SO OUR UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTION IS ON TUESDAY, MAY 5TH.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE OFFERING EARLY VOTING FRIDAY, MAY 1ST THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 3RD FROM 9 A.M.
SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL OFFICE HOURS OFFERED THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE ELECTION, WHICH IS SATURDAY, MAY 2ND AND SUNDAY, MAY 3RD FROM 8 A.M.
AND ALSO THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS OFFICIALLY NOW FULL STAFF.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION OF QUICK DIMAS.
HAVE THE VOTER ID CARDS GONE OUT YET? SO WE ORDERED THE VOTER ID CARDS A MONTH AGO, MARCH 20TH, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR VENDOR TO GET THEM ISSUED OUT.
SO WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CHECK GOING THROUGH, SO WE'VE BEEN DELIVERING MULTIPLE CHECKS TO MAKE SURE.
WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
THERE HAVE BEEN UPDATES THAT WERE MADE PREVIOUS TO MARCH 20TH, BUT IT WAS PLACED DURING THAT TIME.
WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE, THERE'S SO MANY CHANGES THIS YEAR, WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE THOSE WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF OUR VOTERS? I MEAN, I WOULD ANTICIPATE IT WOULD BE THIS WEEK.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD SAY.
WE HAVE TO ACCEPT OUR PAYMENT.
AND I HAVE A QUICK NOTE ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION.
I JOINED SEVERAL OTHER ROTARIANS AND THE BOY SCOUT TROOP, I THINK IT'S 125 LAST NIGHT.
WE PUT DOWN MULCH ALL OVER MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, SO IT'S LOOKING A LOT BETTER.
TRUSTEE WENTZ? YEAH, A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE FOUNDATION FOR HAZLITT'S SCHOOLS IS HOSTING ITS FIRST EVER BLUE AND GOLD 5K ON MAY 9TH.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT FUNDING, GRANTS FOR TEACHERS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.
THEY'RE HOPING TO RAISE $7,500.
AND NOW THAT OUR PARKS DIRECTOR IS HERE, I'LL GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT FOR HELPING THEM WITH ROUTE DESIGN AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THROWING A FIRST-TIME EVENT.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT ON FOUNDATIONFORHAZARDSCHOOLS.ORG.
GREAT PROGRAM HELPING SCHOOLS HERE IN MERIDIAN.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO THANK EMMA AND THE LAND STEWARD PROGRAM FOR THE VERNAL POOL DISCOVERY WALK ON APRIL 11TH.
IN THE MIDDLE OF NANCY MOORE PARK, YOU CAN SCOOP UP A BUCKET AND FIND ALL TYPES OF LIFE IN THERE.
VERY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE PH LEVEL OF WATER THAT CAN ACTUALLY LEAD TO MORE MOSQUITOES IN OUR PARKS.
SO EXTRA INCENTIVE FOR ALL OF US WHO MAINTAIN ANY SORT OF LAWN TO CHECK INTO WHAT WE ARE PLANTING.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO MANAGER DEMPSEY AND DIRECTOR CLARK FOR PASSING ALONG THE INFO ON THE...
REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITIES, LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE MEDC TO ALL OF US AS BOARD MEMBERS.
I'VE SIGNED UP AND WITH THE SECOND CLASS BEING OFFERED TOMORROW AT NOON, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO EFFECTIVELY ENSURE WE CAN BUILD THE MERIDIAN OF THE FUTURE.
AND WHILE THE DIRECTOR HAS LEFT, PLEASE LET HER KNOW I APPRECIATE IT.
ANYONE ELSE? WELL, IF YOU DISCOVER, IF THERE'S AN ANSWER TO PREVENTING MOSQUITOES, I THINK WE NEED TO GET HER IN HERE TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT THAT IS.
IT WAS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE LEAVES FALL AND IT CHANGES THE WHOLE BIOME OF LIKE NANCY MOORE PARK, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO'S WALKED THROUGH THERE MORE TIMES THAN THEY CAN COUNT, AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY NOTICE WHEN THE MOSQUITOES ARE
[00:30:01]
BAD.YOU KNOW, I WISH I HAD BROUGHT A NOTEPAD, BUT ALSO I DID FALL INTO THE WATER, SO I DON'T KNOW IF MY NOTES WOULD HAVE STAYED DRY.
I HOPE CORTLAND WAS ON SITE FOR THAT EVENT TO GET SOME PARAGRAPHS TOGETHER.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
ALL RIGHT.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM EIGHT, APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? THE MOVE BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.
ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NINE, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD.
TWO SETS OF MINUTES, ONE FROM OUR REGULAR MEETING ON APRIL 7TH, ONE FROM OUR CLOSED SESSION ON APRIL 7TH, WHICH YOU'LL FIND IN FRONT OF YOU AT YOUR PLACES.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THAT.
WE HAVE THE FIRST QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT FROM TREASURER BURKHART.
WE HAVE THE INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 202601.
THIS IS THE CONDITIONAL REZONING THAT WE TOOK UP AT OUR LAST MEETING FOR IADE CAPSTONE ON HANNA BOULEVARD.
WE HAVE THE INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 202602, WHICH IS THE TEKCHANDANI REZONING ON JOLLY ROAD THAT WE ALSO TOOK UP AT OUR LAST MEETING.
AND WE HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY CONTRACT AWARD.
AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION FROM THAT AT OUR PLACES.
THAT IS THE EXTREMELY LONG PIECE OF PAPER ALONG WITH DEPUTY MANAGER OPSMER'S COVER MEMO THERE AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? I MOVE.
DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.
CLERK, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, TRUSTEE CHESAIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TREASURER FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORT, THE INVESTMENT REPORT.
APPRECIATE THE CLARITY OF THAT.
DOING FAIRLY GOOD WITH OUR CASH RESERVES.
I WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT, BUT IT'S OUR INVESTMENT FIRM.
THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL, AND THEY'RE ALSO VERY INFORMATIVE.
SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? CLERK DEMAS, YES.
AND BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE PASS YOUR MANILA FOLDERS TO THE CLERK SO SHE HAS THOSE.
[10.A First Quarter Budget Amendments]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10A FOR ACTION.AND WITH US TO WALK US THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS, WE HAVE MS. DR.
SO I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE REQUEST FOR OUR FIRST QUARTER OF 26 BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE DETAILED IN YOUR PACKET.
TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, THESE AMENDMENTS REFLECT THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT WERE NOT KNOWN DURING OUR ORIGINAL BUDGETING PROCESS.
FOR THE GENERAL FUND, REVENUES HAVE INCREASED MOST NOTABLY FROM THE STATE MARIJUANA TAX DISTRIBUTIONS, WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, ALONG WITH THE CDBG GRANT FUNDS, WHICH IS THE CHILL GRANT.
AND THEN WE HAVE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED LOCAL REVENUES THAT WE RECEIVED.
FOR THE EXPENDITURE INCREASES, THEY'RE LARGELY DUE TO THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS UNDER THE RECENTLY RATIFIED PROSUIT UNION CONTRACT.
AND THEN WE HAVE RETROACTIVE PAY FOR FINALIZED LETTER AGREEMENTS FOR PARK POSITIONS, AND THEN ALSO THE CHILD GRANT EXPENDITURES THAT WOULD MATCH OUR REVENUES THAT WE RECEIVED OR WILL RECEIVE.
AND THEN ALONG WITH SOME OF THE 2025 BUDGETED ITEMS, THEY WERE ORDERED IN 25 BUT RECEIVED IN 26, SO WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN THE PROPER YEAR.
AND THEN, SO FOR OVERALL, THESE AMENDMENTS WILL RESULT IN A NET DECREASE TO FUND BALANCE OF AROUND $61,000, BRINGING OUR TOTAL PROJECTED DECREASE.
TO THE YEAR-END FUND BALANCE BY 393,000 SO THIS WILL PLACE OUR PROJECTED GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT APPROXIMATELY 15.1 MILLION AT YEAR-END AND THAT PROVIDES US WITH A FUND BALANCE EQUAL TO ABOUT FIVE POINT TWO SIX MONTHS OF EXPENDITURES OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS.
THANK YOU I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU OR MAYBE FOR DAN, WHO I SAW STEP UP.
[00:35:02]
UNDER LOCAL ROAD FUND, I DID HAVE A QUESTION THAT SAYS SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTION RECEIVED IN 26 FOR 25 WORK.THE PRESENTATION THAT DAN HAD GIVEN US INCLUDED THE NUMBER $335,000, AND IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, IT'S $248,000 THAT WE RECEIVED AS THEIR ONGOING WORK.
NO, THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT TO IT.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THE TYPE OF WORK.
BUT WE COVERED THE COST, OR THEY COVERED THE COST, OF SOMETHING THAT WAS NON-BUDGETED IN THAT AGREEMENT, AND SO IT KIND OF COVERED THAT.
BUT DAN CAN EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THE AGREEMENT WAS.
YES, YEP, IT WAS A GREAT AMOUNT.
EVEN IF IT WASN'T NECESSARILY BUDGETARILY EXPECTED.
AND 26 WILL RECEIVE THAT FULL AMOUNT.
I DO SEE HIM COMING AND I WOULDN'T MIND IF I COULD HEAR THAT EXPLANATION.
THE DISCREPANCY IN WHAT WAS RECEIVED BY ANGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT AS COMPARED TO THE $335,000 THAT WAS EXPECTED.
I WAS CURIOUS WHAT THAT DISCREPANCY IS.
RELATED TO? VERY GOOD QUESTION, TRUSTEE LENZ.
SO HOW THE CONTRACT WORKS, IF WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT'S CREW TO PERFORM SOME WORK, THAT IS DEDUCTED FROM THE $335,000.
SO FOR THAT AMOUNT, YOU KNOW, THE NET DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE $335,000 AND THE FIGURE THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, $248,000 AND CHANGE.
FOR THAT AMOUNT, WE DID THE OVERLAY PAVING ON CORNELL ROAD FROM GRAND RIVER AVENUE ABOUT 500 FEET NORTH.
DOUBLE-CHIP SEALED CORNELL ROAD, DOUBLE-CHIP SEALED TY HART ROAD TO TWINGING, AND THEN SINGLE-CHIPPED POWELL ROAD, THE NORTHERN PAVED PORTION OF POWELL, AND THE PAVED PORTION OF TY HART.
AND WE ACTUALLY, THE WAY THAT THE CONTRACT WORKS, THEY ESTIMATE IT, BUT THEN UNDER THE CONTRACT, IF THEIR ESTIMATE IS ON THE LOW END AND THE WORK AND THE MATERIAL ENDS UP COSTING MORE THAN THEY ESTIMATED, THEY CAN ONLY INCREASE OUR COST 10%.
AND THEY EXCEEDED THAT 10% IN TRUE COST.
SO WE ACTUALLY GOT A PRETTY GOOD DEAL IN 2025 AS A RESULT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
I THINK THAT ELIMINATING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKINGS IS INTERESTING FOR SOMETHING WE ALL DRIVE ON EVERY DAY.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE USE OF FUND BALANCE IS NOT WHAT WE HOPE FOR.
BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BY AND LARGE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, YOU KNOW, ARE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REASONABLY EXPECTED GIVEN THAT WE HAD A NEW.
I'M NOT PARTICULARLY WORRIED BY ANY OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT I'VE SEEN HERE, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS TO VOTE IN A MOMENT.
ANYONE WILLING TO TAKE ON A PARAGRAPH LONG MOTION, TRUSTEE LARSON? I WILL DO SO.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FIRST QUARTER 2026 BUDGET AMENDMENTS WITH A DECREASE IN BUDGET AND FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,482, WHICH PROJECTS A DECREASE IN YEAR-END FUND BALANCE OF $393,254. BASED ON 2025 RESULTS, THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2026, WILL BE $15,117,662. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WILL CLERK DEMAS PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? TRUSTEE BURKHART? YES.
[10.B Legal Services Proposals]
CLERK DEMAS? YES.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10B, LEGAL SERVICES PROPOSALS.
WE HAVE MANAGER DEMPSEY HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.
SO BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A MEMO REGARDING THE RESPONSES TO THE LEGAL SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AS WE HAD DISCUSSED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
[00:40:01]
WHEN WE LAID OUT THE PROPOSAL.WE SOLICITED PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED LAW FIRMS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAD GOOD MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE.
WE RECEIVED FOUR PROPOSALS IN TOTAL.
CLARK HILL, FAHEY, SCHULTZ, BERZICH, AND RHODES, OUR CURRENT LAW FIRM, GIAMARCO, MULLINS, AND HORTON, OR GMH AND MAVACY.
OUT OF THOSE FOUR SUBCOMMITTEE, INCLUDING TRUSTEE TREZISE AND MYSELF, REVIEWED THOSE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TWO THAT REALLY STOOD OUT AND WERE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION, SORT OF GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE MATTERS THAT OUR ATTORNEYS TYPICALLY HANDLE AND THAT OUR STAFF IS WORKING ON ON A DAILY BASIS, THE TWO FIRMS THAT MET THAT WERE CLARK HILL AND VAHEY SCHULTZ, AS FAR AS POTENTIAL CONSIDERATION.
WHILE WE APPRECIATED THE RESPONSES OF THE OTHER FIRMS, WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WERE NECESSARILY THE IDEAL FIT, GIVEN, AGAIN, THEIR EXPERIENCE VERSUS WHAT WE SORT OF RUN INTO.
WE ALSO SORT OF CONCLUDED THAT REALLY AT THIS STAGE, THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN RECOMMENDING RENEWING WITH FAHY SCHULTZ, BUT WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD'S ATTORNEYS, RIGHT? AND BESIDES...
THE MANAGER, THIS IS THE OTHER ENTITY THAT THE BOARD HIRES DIRECTLY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THE BOARD HAD INTEREST IN BRINGING FORWARD BOTH FIRMS FOR INTERVIEWS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO THAT AS WELL.
AS I NOTED IN THE MEMO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENTIATORS BETWEEN THE TWO, OF COURSE, IS COST.
CLARK HILL IS OBVIOUSLY A MUCH LARGER FIRM OVERALL.
THEY HAVE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, BUT OFTEN THE CASE WITH LARGER FIRMS IS THE BILLABLE HOURS ARE HIGHER.
SO FOR THEIR MEMBERS, THEIR MOST SENIOR ATTORNEYS, THOSE RATES ARE $335 TO $350 AN HOUR, WHEREAS FAHEY SCHULTZ IS AT $230 IN THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN RAMPING THAT UP TO $240 AND $250 IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
THE OTHER DIFFERENCE, OF COURSE, COURSE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A VAHEY FIRM NOW FOR ALMOST A DECADE THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TOWNSHIP WHICH OBVIOUSLY HELPS IN TERMS OF JUST INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND THE ABILITY TO JUMP IN TO PROJECTS AS WELL SO THAT WAS SORT OF THE OTHER DIFFERENTIATOR BUT WITH THAT HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE IN TERMS OF THE RFP PROCESS ITSELF OR THE REVIEW AND I'M SURE TRUSTEE TREZISE CAN OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS THAT I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OFF IN TERMS OF OUR REVIEW PROCESS.
TRUSTEE TREZIS, ANYTHING TO ADD? YEAH, I WOULD ADD THAT I'VE HAD LEGAL DEALINGS WITH THREE OF THESE FOUR FIRMS. THEY'RE QUALIFIED.
AND MY FOLKS, THE TWO THAT WE HAVE.
PUT FORWARD HERE OR PROVIDE YOU WITH PHASE FORCES THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP AND UH CLARK KILL IS THROUGH OTHER LAWSUITS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH WITH OTHER ENTITIES UH WHICH WERE NOT THEY WERE SCHOOL BOARDS SO BUT THEY'RE BOTH HIGHLY QUALIFIED UM ONE THING IN BOTH THEIR FAVORS IS THEY'RE LOCAL AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE SEEN FROM FAITH WORKS IS THEIR AVAILABILITY AND I'M SURE THAT FARTHROW WOULD BE THE SAME.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE WORK OF FAYE SCHULTZ.
AND SO I COULD NOT SEE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN COST, A STRONG REASON TO CHANGE AND THEN GO THROUGH THE TRANSITION PROCESS, COMING UP TO SPEED.
ALL OF THAT WOULD COST MONEY FOR US TO BE BUILT TO GET FROM UP TO SPEED.
SUMMARIZED OUR DISCUSSION QUITE WELL.
BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WILLIAMS. THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
TRUSTEE TREZISE, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT I WAS PLANNING ON ASKING.
IS IT CORRECT THAT IF WE WERE TO SWITCH THAT FAMILIARITY PROCESS, ARE ALL BILLABLE HOURS THAT CLARK HILL WOULD CHARGE? WELL, I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAW FIRMS BILL BY THE HOUR.
THE LIKELIHOOD IS WE WOULD GET
[00:45:02]
KILLED.AND WE MIGHT ALSO HAVE TRANSITION BILLS FROM FAYE SCHULTZ ANYWAY TO FACILITATE THAT TRANSITION.
SO UNLESS THERE WAS A STRONG REASON TO MOVE, I SAW NO REASON TO IMPROVE THOSE AD COSTS.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY FAIR STATEMENT.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I WOULD ASK TO BOTH OF YOU IS ANY NOTABLE CHANGES FROM...
PREVIOUS FAHEY-SCHULTZ CONTRACT TO THIS ONE THAT I SAW A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTED NOTES, BUT I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WERE ANYTHING IN LOOKING LINE BY LINE.
I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR OR FROM OUR PRIOR CONTRACTS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE A MONTHLY PAYMENT THAT WE MAKE REGULARLY TO THEM, AS WELL AS BILLABLE HOURS FOR ITEMS OUTSIDE THE GENERAL LEGAL ADVICE TO US.
I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP.
SIGNIFICANTLY AND THEY ARE GIVING US A DISCOUNT ON THE BILL OF HOURS OVER THEIR REGULAR CALL I THINK FINANCIALLY IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTIONS BEING ANSWERED JUST SO I THINK I REMEMBER YES ALL RIGHT OR ITEMS IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO COURT IF THEY HAVE PARTICULARLY DETAILED WORK TO DO, ORDINANCE REVISIONS, MAJOR POLICY REVISIONS FOR LITIGATION, ALL OF THAT.
IS THIS FOR THREE YEARS? IS THIS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, CORRECT.
NOW, WE COULD CERTAINLY NEGOTIATE THE DIFFERENT TIME LENGTH OF CONTRACT IF DESIRED, BUT THAT'S THEIR PROPOSAL.
A NEW BOARD MEMBER HAVING AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS CLERK, ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS AND COORDINATING FOIA REQUESTS.
I'VE RECEIVED EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM FAHEY SCHULTZ AND ASSISTANCE.
AND I ALSO THINK GIVEN FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH CONTINUING OUR SERVICES WITH FAHEY SCHULTZ.
THERE WAS ONE OTHER PIECE THAT WAS PART OF THEIR PROPOSAL, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE HAS BEEN SO IN THE PAST, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE UP TO TWO TRAINING SESSIONS FOR OUR STAFF AND VARIOUS ISSUES THAT WE ASK THEM FOR AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
AND WE USED THEM LAST YEAR ON AT LEAST ONE TRAINING SESSION FOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS, AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT WE COULD RELY ON THEIR EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE WHOEVER IT WOULD IMPROVE.
THE ABILITIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE HAD A FOIA TRAINING WITH THEM AS WELL.
TRUSTEE WILSON? IN REVIEWING BOTH OF THESE PROPOSALS, I FOUND THAT THEY WERE VERY SIMILAR IN WHAT THE OFFERING WAS.
SO ULTIMATELY, IT CAME DOWN TO THE COST DIFFERENTIAL, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.
SO, AND ALSO THE FAMILIARITY OF FAHEY SCHULTZ WITH OUR OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED EXCELLENT SERVICE IN MY TIME ON THE BOARD FROM FAHEY SCHULTZ.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
THEY ARE LOCAL TO THE TOWNSHIP.
AND THEY HAVE SHOWN AN ADEPT...
AND DEEP KNOWLEDGE ON ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO BRING TO THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT CLARK HILL IS A BIGGER FIRM, BUT UNLESS OUR NEEDS BECOME MUCH BIGGER, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO GO FOR A 45% INCREASE IN COST, PLUS THE TRANSITION PERIOD, PLUS HAVING TO BRING THEM ALL UP TO SCALE.
TRANSITION PERIOD FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO HAVING TO SPEND OUR TIME TO SHARE WITH THEM ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT ONGOING MATTERS.
IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE, I THINK, TO CONTINUE ON.
THE TERM OF THIS WOULD BE FROM JULY 26 TO JULY, SORRY, JULY 1, 26 TO JUNE 30, 29.
I THINK THAT ALSO MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
WE HAD SPECIFICALLY PUSHED FOR A SMALL EXTENSION THE LAST TIME THIS CAME BEFORE US TO GIVE THE NEW BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A LAW FIRM THAT MADE
[00:50:01]
SENSE FOR THEM.HAVING THIS GO THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2029 ALSO GIVES THE NEXT BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SIX-MONTH WINDOW OF LEGAL SERVICES WHERE THEY'RE COVERED, AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO CONTINUE FORWARD AFTER A NEW BOARD IS PUT INTO PLACE AFTER THE 2028 ELECTION.
AND SO I DO THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE THREE-YEAR EXTENSION AS WELL.
SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A MOTION TO SELECT FAHEY, SCHULTZ, BURCHICK, AND RHODES.
I AM READY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
I MAKE A MOTION TO SELECT FAHEY, SCHULTZ, BURCHICK, AND RHODES AS THE TOWNSHIP'S LEGAL COUNSEL AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERVISOR AND THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.
ANY FINAL DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER? SEAT NUMBER, CLERK DEMAS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[11.A Senior Center Update]
MOTION CARRIES 7-0.NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 11A, SENIOR CENTER UPDATE.
MANAGER DEMPSEY WILL REMAIN AT THE PODIUM.
SO FIRST I WANT TO THANK MS. O'KELLY FOR TEEING THIS UP QUITE NICELY.
I GUESS I CAN CUT TO THE CHASE ON THE STATE GRANT.
SHE WAS ACCURATE IN STATING THAT WE ARE AT SORT OF THE END OF THE ROPE WHEN IT COMES TO THE $5 MILLION, UNFORTUNATELY.
YOU NEVER WANT TO DELIVER THAT NEWS, BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS MONEY THAT IS ACTUALLY FEDERAL MONEY, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING THAT HAS TO BE FULLY EXPENDED BY THE END OF...
SEPTEMBER, HOWEVER, THE STATE DID CLARIFY WITH US A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND I HAD SHARED WITH THE BOARD, THAT THEIR INTERPRETATION OF ARPA RULES IS SUCH THAT THE CENTER WOULD HAVE TO BE OPEN AND OPERATING BY THAT DATE, NOT JUST SORT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED OR OUT THE DOOR EVEN.
THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO HAVE THAT FACILITY OPERATING.
SO THAT MADE IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
I THINK THEY HAD A PRIOR STAFF MEMBER WHO HAD A...
DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF THAT FEDERAL REGULATION, BUT WE HEARD THAT DIRECTLY NOT FROM THE GRANTING AGENCY, WHICH WAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, BUT ACTUALLY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, WHICH HAS THE PRIMARY COMPLIANCE OFFICER WHO OVERSEES THE ARPA FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE STATES.
SO WE ALSO MADE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, AND THANKS TO SENATOR SINGH'S OFFICE, TO REALLY PUSH.
TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO MOVING THOSE DOLLARS AROUND AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE DOLLARS AND THE CHALLENGES WITH THOSE TYPES OF, YOU KNOW, MONEY SHIFTS IN TERMS OF STATE APPROPRIATIONS AND DOLLARS AND THE CHALLENGES WITH THE LEGISLATURE THESE DAYS, IT JUST WASN'T GOING TO BE A FEASIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT DOES BEHOOVE US AS RECIPIENTS OF THE GRANT DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE STATE THAT YES, INDEED, YOU KNOW, WE'D RATHER AT THIS POINT INDICATE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE EXPENDING THESE DOLLARS SO THE STATE HAS SOME TIME TO AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO TRY TO SPEND THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE BEFORE THEY HAVE TO RETURN THAT MONEY BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT, THAT'S SORT OF ON THEM, BUT AT LEAST THEY WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND WITH THE GRANT DOLLARS.
IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PROJECT, THOUGH, AND THE SENIOR CENTER.
YOU KNOW, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH SUPERINTENDENT HOOD BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, HE OBVIOUSLY WAS WORKING ON THE TASK FORCE TO TRY TO FIND, YOU KNOW, SOLUTIONS AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WAS SUPERINTENDENT MALLEY FROM HASLOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
YOU KNOW, BOTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CERTAINLY VERY MUCH OPEN TO WORKING WITH US, WHETHER IT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION OR IT'S THE LONG-TERM PERMANENT SOLUTION.
SO I KNOW THAT THE OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE HAVING A SUBCOMMITTEE AGAIN ON FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT ADDING ANOTHER POTENTIALLY ANOTHER NEW SCHOOL BUILDING TO THEIR OVERALL FACILITIES.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE US PARTICIPATE AND WORK WITH THEM ON THAT FACILITY COMMITTEE.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THEM UP ON THAT AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
SUPERINTENDENT MALLEE IS ALSO.
OPEN TO CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR FACILITY ANALYSIS CURRENTLY, SO THEY'RE REALLY TAKING A HARD
[00:55:02]
LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO.BE AND I THINK THEY'LL HAVE SOME THEY MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME SPACE AVAILABLE AS WELL COMING UP AGAIN WHETHER IT'S TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BOTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FIND A SOLUTION WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY YOU KNOW THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE US FROM FINDING THAT PROPERTY OR YOU KNOW HAVING SOMEBODY DECIDE THEY WANT TO BE VERY GENEROUS ONE DAY AND EITHER DONATE OR CONTRIBUTE A BUILDING AT LOW OR NO COST.
THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT FANCIFUL THINKING, BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING TO BE OPEN TO THOSE OTHER OPTIONS AS WELL.
SO STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, DIRECTOR ROSINSKI, AND DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMER, THE THREE OF WHICH HAVE DONE A TON OF WORK IN THIS AREA, CARRIED A BIG TORCH FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE.
THE BOARD HAS DONE A TON OF WORK ON THIS.
FORCE AND ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROGRESS CONTINUES, THAT WE IDENTIFY A SITE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, THE SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THEIR INPUT AND FEEDBACK WILL BE IMPORTANT AS WELL, AS IS THE LARGER COMMUNITIES AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO NOT THE BEST MOVES ON THE GRANT, BUT STILL A VERY FIRM COMMITMENT.
I THINK ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF AND I'M SURE BOARD MEMBERS.
WILL WEIGH IN HERE SHORTLY BUT I KNOW THAT COLLECTIVELY WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THE SENIOR CENTER HAS A HOME FOR A LONG TIME TO COME PAUSE THERE AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR QUESTIONS THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOARD MEMBERS TRUSTEE ONCE BECAUSE THIS IS A FINANCIAL DECISION TO RETURN THE MONEY TO THE STATE DOES THAT IT REQUIRES BOARD ACTION OR IS IT AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS THAT YOU CAN SAY WE'RE UNABLE TO FULFILL THE AGREEMENT THAT THE DECISION WAS BASED OFF OF AND THEREFORE WE CAN TURN IT BACK? YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF DIRECTOR SCHMIDT DOES.
I KNOW WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SORT OF AN INITIAL INDICATION, BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL ACTION, I DON'T RECALL IF THE YEAH, SO THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE CHILL GRANT, ACTUALLY.
SO WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY SUBMITTED FOR ANY OF THE PAPERWORK TO EVEN START THE BALL ROLLING.
SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE RECEIVE NO MONEY.
ALL WE NEED TO DO IS THERE'S A FORM WE'LL END UP FILLING OUT INDICATING THAT WE WON'T BE WE'LL FILL OUT THE UNDERSPEND FORM MOST LIKELY IS WHAT THEY'LL HAVE US DO, WHICH WE WILL UNDERSPEND BY $5 MILLION.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? COURT VENUS.
MANAGER DEMPSEY, WHEN YOU SAY THERE'S POTENTIALLY AN OPTION TO WORK WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? FINANCIALLY, SPECIFICALLY.
YEAH, FOR THE OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY, AGAIN, ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER POTENTIAL NEW SCHOOL FACILITY THAT COULD INVOLVE MOVING CURRENT SCHOOLS TO DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT COULD FREE UP SPACE WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
SO IT MIGHT BE TRYING TO UTILIZE EXISTING FACILITY, POTENTIALLY A PORTION THEREOF OF A FACILITY.
THERE COULD BE THE OPTION OF BEING PART OF A NEW FACILITY.
THE CHALLENGE THERE WILL BE COST, RIGHT? LIKE WHAT WILL THAT COST? I THINK THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE $750,000 THAT THEY HAD SORT OF SET ASIDE OR MAYBE ALLOCATED OR AT LEAST EARMARKED FOR THIS HAS BEEN EXPENSIVE.
SPENDED OR IS BEING EXPENDED WITH CURRENT FACILITIES.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT HAS DOLLARS TODAY TO SAY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS TOWARDS IT.
I'VE NOT HEARD THAT COMMITMENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO HAZELY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I THINK IT'S SIMILAR, AS THEY LOOK AT REEVALUATING THEIR LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND DOING SOME FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, SORT OF LOOKING AT EXISTING FACILITIES.
COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIKELY, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE LIBRARY? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BUILDING.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME POSITIVES TO THAT SITE.
THERE'S ALSO SOME NEGATIVES, LIKE THERE ARE WITH ANY POTENTIAL SITE.
BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT, AT LEAST AT A CONCEPTUAL LEVEL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO ASK THIS.
WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ANOTHER MILLAGE WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE TOWNSHIP REGARDING A SENIOR CENTER? YOU KNOW, THAT WILL REALLY
[01:00:01]
DEPEND ON WHERE WE THINK WE CAN LAND.AND IN TERMS OF A FACILITY, WHAT FACILITY WE SORT OF HONE IN ON IN TERMS OF THE PERMANENT LOCATION, I THINK WE WOULD, IF WE NEED TO RELOCATE THE CENTER IN THE SHORT TERM, WE WOULD TRY TO DO THAT WITHIN THE EXISTING OPERATIONAL BUDGETS.
IT WOULD ONLY BE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A PERMANENT LOCATION THAT WOULD NEED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT WE WOULD POTENTIALLY BRING A PROPOSAL BACK TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ADDITIONAL MILLAGE.
THAT WOULD BE DOWN THE ROAD QUITE A WAYS AS WE'VE BEEN DOING ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE VERY MUCH AN ITERATIVE PROCESS WITH THE BOARD SO THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS ON ANY SORT OF CONCEPT PLAN BOTH IN TERMS OF SITE BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF FINANCING AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, US WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GO OFF AND COME UP WITH SOME PLAN AND DROP IT ON THE BOARD.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERACTIVE PROCESS.
AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO.
OTHER QUESTIONS? SO MS. O'KELLEY MENTIONED IN HER PUBLIC COMMENTS THE NEED FOR A THREE-YEAR INTERIM LOCATION.
AND THREE YEARS CAUGHT ME AS SORT OF AN INTERESTING TIME FRAME.
I'M CURIOUS IF IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS YOU CAN TELL ME.
WHY THREE YEARS IS THE PERIOD OF TIME AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER? YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN YEAR FOUR.
SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT THREE YEARS THAT MAKES SENSE? WELL, YOU KNOW, IF I LOOK AT THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY THE TIME FRAME BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SORRY, IT MADE IT SEEM LIKE THE THREE YEARS BEGAN.
IN MAY OF 2028 AND WENT TO 31.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
SO BACK TO THE, SO WE HAVE TWO YEARS AND THEN IF WE'RE ADDING THE THREE, RIGHT, THAT'S FIVE YEARS OUT.
SO THAT TIMELINE CERTAINLY IS MORE EXTENDED THAN WHAT I WOULD POTENTIALLY IMAGINE, DEPENDING ON, AGAIN, LOCATION.
BECAUSE IF WE IDENTIFY AN EXISTING FACILITY THAT WE CAN UTILIZE, LET'S SAY ONE OF THE DISTRICTS.
THERE MIGHT BE POTENTIAL FOR BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THAT FACILITY IN TWO YEARS OUT, RIGHT? SO THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A TEMPORARY STOPGAP.
NOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEW CONSTRUCTION FACILITY AND IT'S PAIRED WITH THE OKEMOS SCHOOL DISTRICT, GIVEN WHERE THEY'RE AT, ASSUMING THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A MILLAGE NEXT YEAR, THE TIMING, PLANNING, ETC., THAT COULD PUT US FIVE YEARS OUT.
RIGHT, AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES THERE.
SO THE TIMELINE COULD MAKE SENSE IN ONE RESPECT, BUT IN OTHER OPTIONS IT MIGHT BE SHORTER THAN THAT.
JUST DEPENDS ON WHICH, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY WHICH DISTRICT COULD, THAT COULD INFLUENCE IT, AND WHETHER IT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION OR IT'S IN THE REHAB OF AN EXISTING FACILITY.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY HONESTLY, IT IS A SHAME HAVING TO TURN THE MONEY BACK.
I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY TERRIBLE FINANCIAL SPOT IF ANY OF OUR PREVIOUS ITERATIONS HAD GONE FORWARD, AND WE WERE WORKING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT MONEY HAD TO BE ENCUMBERED BY THAT DATE, AS OPPOSED TO...
YOU KNOW, OPEN AND OPERATING BY THAT DATE.
THERE'S A WORLD IN WHICH IF WE HAD MOVED FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS PLANS THAT WE HAD THE BUILDING HALFWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, FOUND OUT AT THIS POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO BE OPERATING BY SEPTEMBER AND FOUND OURSELVES IN A VERY DICEY SPOT WHERE WE COULDN'T GET REIMBURSED FOR MONEY THAT WE HAD ALREADY SPENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ME TRYING TO LOOK AT IT WITH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, PERHAPS, BUT I THINK WE ACTUALLY MAY HAVE FOUND OURSELVES LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T, THAT WE WERE NOT WORKING UNDER A FAULTY ASSUMPTION AND LEFT OURSELVES OPEN TO POSSIBLY HAVING TO BE OUT $5 MILLION.
SO IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO TURN IT BACK OR NOT ACCEPT IT, I GUESS, IS THE BETTER WAY OF THINKING OF IT AT THIS POINT.
AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION OF SOME KIND
[01:05:01]
FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD THAT END.
IT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP FIVE GOALS THAT WE'VE ADOPTED FOR OURSELVES, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
SO WHILE IT IS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO TURN THIS BACK, I THINK IT DOESN'T WAVER MY COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT WE FIND A SOLUTION.
I BELIEVE I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE UP HERE WHEN I SAY THAT.
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS IN THE AREA BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
AND IF I CAN JUST ADD ONE COMMENT, TOO, WITH REGARD TO THE STATE.
THE FOLKS AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND EVEN THE DTMB FOLKS, STEVE-O.
WERE VERY ACCOMMODATING AND HELPFUL.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY TRIED TO MAKE IT WORK, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE ARPA GUIDELINES ARE COMPLICATED.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HAD, YOU KNOW, WE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE RIGHT SITE, WE COULD HAVE WENT AHEAD AND SPENT IT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING THE JOB THEY NEED TO DO, BUT THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND VERY ACCOMMODATING AND PATIENT WITH US. SO WE APPRECIATED THAT SUPPORT. WE APPRECIATED THAT HELP. AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE GET DOWN THE ROAD.
THE STATE GETS IN A BETTER FISCAL POSITION HERE IN A COUPLE YEARS, AND IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM SEEKING ADDITIONAL GRANT DOLLARS AT SOME POINT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE FIND OURSELVES NOW BACK AT COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS THIS EVENING? SEEING NO ONE RUSHING TO THE PODIUM, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 7.04 P.M. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS TONIGHT? OKAY. ALL
[14. CLOSED SESSION-Motion to enter closed session pursuant to MCL 15.268(1)(d) to discuss the Township’s purchase or lease of property]
RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION IN OUR PACKET. TRUSTEE TREZISE. I MOVE THAT WE ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO MICHIGAN 5 LAWS 15.268, PER N 1, CLOSE PER N, PER N D, CLOSE PER N, TO DISCUSS TOWNSHIPS, PURCHASE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY. SUPPORT. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE AND SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? TRUSTEE THUNLAND? YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE? YES. TRUSTEE WILSON? YES. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON? YES. CLERK DEMAS? YES.
TRUSTEE LENTZ? YES. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOLKS. WE ARE ENTERING CLOSED SESSION. IF YOU'LL PLEASE CLEAR THE ROOM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.