Jun 02, 2026 Township Board

[00:00:29]

NO. HE'LL BE DONE. FOR PRIDE. I THOUGHT IT WAS.

NO, NO, NO. OH, NO. I'LL BE THERE FOR PRIDE YEAH.

YEAH. FOR SURE. SEE THIS IS WHY. [LAUGHTER] I SAID THE IMPORTANT STUFF I TRY.

I JUST BRIEFLY GLANCED AT IT AND I SAW VOLUNTEERS, SO I JUST ASSUMED.

SO YOU KNOW THAT CONSUMERS RIGHT? YEAH, I DID TWO LOADS OF LAUNDRY BETWEEN THAT TIME [LAUGHTER] AND THIS AFTERNOON.

OH DARN IT.

OKAY. SO READY UP HERE

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER ]

THIS IS THE JUNE 2ND, 2026 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN.

FIRST ON OUR AGENDA 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.

BY THE WAY, IT'S 31 ROLL CALL. WELL CLERK DEMAS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. HERE. CLERK DEMAS HERE.

TREASURER BURGHARDT. HERE. TRUSTEE LENTZ. HERE.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. HERE. TRUSTEE TREZISE. HERE.

TRUSTEE WILSON. HERE. SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4.A, AND WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.

[4. PRESENTATIONS ]

AND WE HAVE WITH US THE GENERAL MANAGER, DICK PEFFLEY.

WELCOME. TONIGHT WE HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, WHICH WILL GIVE AMPLE TIME FOR YOU TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY MATTERS.

SO MOST OF IT'S JUST A REVIEW BUT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE VOTERS LANSING PASSED A CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT REMOVED THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WEREN'T LANSING RESIDENTS AND PUT IN PLACE THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE WOULD ATTEND FOR MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

NOW, THAT BEING SAID, WITH SIX DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS OR EITHER OTHER CITIES OR TOWNSHIPS, THAT WOULD PUT ME BACK HERE IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

BUT THAT'S NOT OUR INTENTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS, YOU JUST CALL AND WE'LL BE AT THE PODIUM.

MYSELF FOR A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY ATTEMPT OR ANY ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BOARD OR LIGHTER EMAILS, AND WE'LL RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A QUICK REMINDER THAT EASY WAYS TO REPORT OUTAGES.

WE'RE HOPING YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM, OF COURSE, BUT WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN CALL THE OUTAGE LINE.

YOU CAN TEXT OUTAGE, YOU CAN VISIT OUTAGE CENTER APP, OR YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT TO YOUR SMARTPHONE.

IT'S ALL OF THEM ARE VERY USER FRIENDLY. AND WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RELIABILITY IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN RIGHT NOW WITH AN AVERAGE OUTAGE RESTORATION TIME OF ONE HOUR.

AND THEN WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN PAY YOUR BILL NOW.

WE CONTINUE TO YOU KNOW, TRY TO MAKE THAT CONVENIENT FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN VARIOUS WAYS ONLINE.

KIOSKS AT THE LOCAL QUALITY DAIRIES DROP BOX AND TALK TO OUR PEOPLE IN PERSON.

YOU CAN DROP IT OFF. WE GET AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME OUT AND TALK TO US, AND WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO DO THAT. AND THEN NEXT, WE DO HAVE A NEW REDESIGN BILL.

IT'S GOT SOME A LITTLE EASIER TO READ INFORMATION ON IT.

IT ALSO HAS SOME SAFETY REMINDERS, AND IT DOES COMPLY WITH THE NEW ADA STANDARDS THAT ARE COMING OUT FOR COLOR.

SO WE'VE TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT. AND THEN LASTLY HERE WE'VE GOT OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS.

IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT FOR THE 5K RUN THAT ALWAYS SELLS OUT.

WE JUST WRAPPED UP ADOPT A RIVER. WE'RE A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR ABOUT THE 15TH YEAR OR SO AND HELPED CLEAN UP THE RIVER AREA THERE.

AND WE DO A GOLF FOR CHARITY THAT'S RAISED $1.4 MILLION ALREADY SINCE WE STARTED THAT.

THE BOTH GOLF COURSES OUT THERE AT EAGLE EYE AND HAWK HOLLOW SELL OUT IN THE FIRST 15 MINUTES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO COME, YOU BETTER LOG ON PRETTY FAST.

[00:05:04]

AND THEN ALWAYS OUR SIGNATURE EVENT IS SILVER BELLS IN THE CITY, WHICH BROUGHT OUT 55,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR.

SO KIND OF A HIGH NOTE ON THE BOARD, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD AMPLE GIVE YOU AMPLE TIME ON QUESTIONS, ON ANYTHING GOING ON. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS? SURE YES. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO YOU AND YOUR BOARD FOR THE, THE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD WITH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND BWL.

YOU KNOW, WE HELPED WE WORKED TO NEGOTIATE OUR NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT NOT TOO LONG AGO.

AND THAT WAS ABOUT AS PAINLESS AS THOSE NEGOTIATIONS [LAUGHTER] CAN GO.

AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. NO, IT WENT VERY SMOOTH.

AND WE'RE ONE OF PROBABLY ONLY TWO THAT HAVE FRANCHISE FEES NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM THROUGH THEIR VOTERS OR.

BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND MERIDIAN IS A VERY VALUABLE CUSTOMER.

AND LIKE I SAID, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD, WHICH IN YOUR CASE ONLY CAME UP EVERY THREE YEARS, YOU HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO MY OFFICE. THANK YOU.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. AS DO WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE WHEN THERE ARE CONFLICTS OF RIGHT OF WAY OR TREE CLEARING OR WHATNOT. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE, THE CONTINUED OPEN COMMUNICATION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE WITH BWL.

AND CERTAINLY WE'VE HEARD VERY FEW COMPLAINTS, IF ANY, FROM OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS.

YES. AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT AS WELL.

I AM CURIOUS BECAUSE YOU DID ASK FOR QUESTIONS.

YES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME PRETTY LOFTY GOALS IN TERMS OF OUR TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN THE TOWNSHIP.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN GIVE US JUST A MOMENT AS TO SORT OF WHAT YOU MIGHT, WHAT EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY AT BWL.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY GOALS IN THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS FOR, YOU KNOW, GETTING TOWARD A MORE CLEANER ENERGY SOURCE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWABLES IS 50% BY 2030.

THE GOAL RIGHT NOW IS 15%. WE'RE AT 21%. SO WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GOAL, WHICH IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE BECAUSE OUR LAST THREE RENEWABLE PROJECTS, WHICH WERE LARGE, WERE TURNED DOWN BY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, DIDN'T WANT THEM IN THEIR BACKYARD.

SO IT'S GETTING VERY HARD. CITING WIND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOW.

WE USE WIND FOR CAPACITY. I DON'T LIKE WIND AS AN ENERGY SOURCE.

I LIKE SOLAR AND WE'RE BUILDING A LOT OF SOLAR.

SOLAR IS A LITTLE EASIER TO GET PERMITTED, BUT OF THOSE THREE POWER PROJECTS THAT WERE TURNED DOWN, TWO OF THEM WERE LARGE SOLAR PROJECTS. AND SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AROUND, BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING UP.

AND WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE GOALS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT CLEANER WAYS TO PRODUCE ENERGY.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOTTEN OUT OF THE COAL BUSINESS FIVE YEARS AGO. WE'VE BEEN 2 MILLION TONS OF COAL A YEAR AND WE DON'T BURN ANY.

WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR COMBINED CYCLE NATURAL GAS PLANTS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PROBABLY 3 TO 400, 300MW OF RENEWABLES. AND THEN WE BACK THOSE WITH PEAKING UNITS.

SO WHEN THE SUN ISN'T SHINING OR THE WIND ISN'T BLOWING WE USE THAT AND WE'RE, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN BATTERIES SO THAT WE COULD CHARGE IT AT NIGHT WHEN ENERGY RATES ARE CHEAPER AND DISCHARGE DURING THE DAY.

WE WERE READY TO PULL THAT TRIGGER. WE ACTUALLY GOT A $10 MILLION GRANT FROM THE MPSC, WHICH BAFFLES ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T REGULATE US.

BUT THE TARIFFS CAME ON AND PUSHED THE PRICE OF BATTERIES OUTSIDE OUR REACH.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT WILL ADJUST AND WE WILL GET BACK INTO THE STORAGE BUSINESS.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW UTILITIES THAT ARE LONG ON ENERGY.

SO WE SELL INTO THE MARKET ON A DAILY BASIS. AND ANY MONEY MADE OFF OF WHOLESALE ENERGY, WE SUBTRACT FUEL COSTS AND REFUND THAT DIRECTLY TO THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH A FUEL COST ADJUSTMENT THAT KEEPS OUR RATES VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE COMPARED TO SURROUNDING UTILITIES.

SO WE ARE MARCHING TOWARDS THE 50% BY 2030. AND THEN THERE'S A CLEAN ENERGY GOAL, WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, REQUIRES STORAGE. AND THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, 2040 GOAL THAT THE STATE HAS IN PLACE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE STAYING THERE. WE'D LIKE TO STAY A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THE REQUIREMENT, BUT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT THEY ARE MORE SENSITIVE NOW TO THE RATES THAN OVER COMPLYING. THEY WANT US TO COMPLY, BUT WE WERE AT 21%.

AND WE COULD HAVE JUMPED UP ON RENEWABLES TO MORE LIKE 30 WE'RE LOOKING AT.

BUT IT COMES AT A COST. YOU KNOW, OVERALL I THINK IT'S A GREAT COST BECAUSE IT'S SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

[00:10:02]

SO MOVING SLOWLY TOWARDS THAT. BUT WE WANT TO KEEP A GAP SO THAT WHEN WE DO RUN INTO THESE HURDLES, WE CAN'T GET SITING APPROVED, THAT WE'RE NOT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

WE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE TO BUY CREDITS LIKE A LOT OF UTILITIES DO.

WE WANT TO PRODUCE OUR OWN CLEAN ENERGY IN THE REGION.

GREAT. WELL THANK YOU. CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING AND EXCEEDING OUR GOALS.

WE'VE GOT SOME LOFTY ONES OF OUR OWN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AS WELL.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO, TO HELP AND SUPPORT AS WE CAN IN MEETING THOSE GOALS.

SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WE CREATED AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW, NEW EMPLOYEES AND SOME TRANSFERS, CARBON NEUTRALITY TO GET US THERE. SO WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES THERE.

WE'RE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN TO INDIVIDUALS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT IN OUR CUSTOMER OF THE VALUE SOLAR, WHAT IT CAN AND WHAT IT CAN'T DO SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE.

WE TALK ABOUT WIND AND BATTERY STORAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

PEOPLE CALL US ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, TOWNSHIPS JUST DID A BIG DEAL WITH LANSING SCHOOL SYSTEM.

DEAN TRANSPORTATION BROUGHT IN 20 BUSSES THAT ARE ELECTRIC.

SO WE WERE A PARTNER IN ALL THE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE PUTTING INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT NOW TO CHARGE THE NEW ELECTRIC PLANES THAT WILL BE COMING INTO LANSING HERE NEXT YEAR.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO COME EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU AND GIVE YOU UPDATES OR ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS WHENEVER THEY MAY ARISE.

TERRIFIC. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4.B FROM YEO & YEO.

WE HAVE ALI BARNES HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR ANNUAL AUDIT AND GIVE US OUR AUDIT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR 2025 AUDIT RESULTS.

OKAY. SO THE MAIN PURPOSE OF AN AUDIT IS FOR US TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION ON MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SO ESSENTIALLY THAT MEANS WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE ACCOUNTING RULES YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AND FACTORED IN THINGS LIKE MATERIALITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TO YOU AS A BOARD AND TO THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN DONE SO FAIRLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE RULES AND STANDARDS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'LL FIND WITHIN YOUR REPORTS.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE TOWARDS THE END.

SO WE'LL START WITH GENERAL FUND. HERE YOU CAN SEE YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR ABOUT THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

OVERALL REVENUE IS TRENDING UPWARDS. TOTAL REVENUE WAS ABOUT $31.6 MILLION.

IT DOESN'T GROW BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, BUT IN SOME AREAS IT DOES GROW STEADILY.

SO OVERALL REVENUE WAS UP JUST OVER $300,000 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

NOT TOO SIGNIFICANT OF A CHANGE IN MOST OF YOUR CATEGORY INFLOWS HERE.

PROPERTY TAXES WERE UP A LITTLE OVER 5%. NOT A SIGNIFICANT SWING IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL OR CHARGES FOR SERVICES OR LICENSES AND PERMITS. YOU WILL SEE THAT YOUR KIND OF ALL OTHER CATEGORY DID GO DOWN PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

THAT'S SIMPLY AN ACCOUNTING FUNCTION OF HAVING TO RECORD LEASE TRANSACTIONS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO THERE WERE SOME REVENUES THAT ESSENTIALLY ARE GROSS STUFF.

AND THEN EXPENDITURES ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT CATEGORY APPEARS TO BE DOWN THIS YEAR.

ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS CAME IN AT ABOUT $28 MILLION.

OVERALL THAT WAS DOWN ABOUT $2.8 MILLION. WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT HERE IN ANOTHER SLIDE.

BUT AGAIN YOU CAN SEE KIND OF A FIVE YEAR TREND OF WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR MONEY.

I TRY TO POINT OUT ON HERE FOR YOU A FEW ANOMALIES.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT CATEGORY BACK IN 2022 HAD SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR DRAIN ASSESSMENT.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF A ONE TIME ISSUE. YOU WILL SEE OVERALL GENERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING WAS DOWN IN 2025 VERSUS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THEN SAME FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AND LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAD THE LEAST REVENUE THAT GROSSED UP THE ALL OTHER CATEGORY.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WAS PUBLIC SAFETY IN 2024.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A DECLINE THERE. EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINED RELATIVELY STEADY DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN YOUR OPERATING TRANSFERS WAS DOWN LAST YEAR OR 2024.

YOU HAD MADE A MORE SIGNIFICANT TRANSFER OUT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

[00:15:04]

AND WE CAN SEE IT RELATIVE TO YOUR ANNUAL REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.

SO YOU WILL SEE THAT FUND BALANCE FOR 2025 INCREASED.

IT WAS UP OVER $3 MILLION. SO THE BLACK LINE IS TOTAL FUND BALANCE.

THAT CAME IN AT ABOUT $18.7 MILLION. AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT JUST THE UNASSIGNED PORTION, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE ACROSS THERE THAT CAME IN AT $15.4 MILLION AND WAS UP ABOUT $2.7 MILLION.

SO YOU MIGHT BE ASKING YOURSELF, WOW, WHERE DID.

WHERE DID ALL THE EXPENDITURES GO? AND WHY DO WE HAVE WHAT APPEARS TO BE SO MUCH REVENUE? REALLY, THIS YEAR WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY WHEN IT CAME TO TIMING OF THINGS.

SO ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THERE WAS AN ACCOUNTING POLICY CHANGE WHERE UNDER GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING, IF YOU DON'T COLLECT A RECEIVABLE WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS AFTER FISCAL YEAR END, YOU CAN'T COUNT IT AS REVENUE.

MOST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES HAVE USED 60 DAYS TO MEASURE THAT.

THE TOWNSHIP HAS USED 45 DAYS AND KIND OF GOT ON BOARD WITH THE 60 DAY RULE.

IT'S LITERALLY KNOWN ACROSS THE INDUSTRY AS THE 60 DAY RULE.

SO THAT ADVANCED A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE. BUT THE BIGGER PIECE REALLY COMES IN DELAYING SOME EXPENDITURES.

SO SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY INCORPORATED INTO YOUR BUDGET.

JUST DIDN'T END UP HAPPENING YET, BUT WILL. [LAUGHTER].

SO DON'T GET TOO EXCITED. OKAY WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES UP YOUR FUND BALANCE CATEGORIES, AS I MENTIONED, UNASSIGNED IS THE MAJORITY ABOUT $15.4 MILLION.

THAT BOTTOM DARK BLUE. YOU HAVE A TINY AMOUNT IN ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT $332,000.

THAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET YOU PASSED FOR 2026, YOU ANTICIPATED SPENDING FUND BALANCE.

SO THAT'S JUST SHOWING. HERE'S WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT SPEND DOWN.

THE NEXT CATEGORY UP IS YOUR COMMITTED FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S ABOUT $2.3 MILLION. AND IS RELATES TO THE PENSION STABILIZATION DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE.

AND THEN LASTLY, THERE'S ABOUT $600,000 THAT IS CONSIDERED NON SPENDABLE BECAUSE THE CASH HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN SPENT ALREADY FOR SOME PREPAID ITEMS. CHANGING GEARS HERE TO WATER AND SEWER ACTIVITY.

WE'LL START WITH THE WATER FUND. HERE WE CAN SEE OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

ONE THING TO POINT OUT, 2021 THROUGH 2023, THIS PARTICULAR FUND SAW OPERATING EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF OPERATING REVENUES, WHICH WE GENERALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE.

IT'S INDICATIVE OF RATES NOT BEING HIGH ENOUGH TO COVER OPERATING EXPENSES, INCLUDING YOUR DEPRECIATION, WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO HAPPEN WITHOUT GOING OUT AND BONDING FOR PROJECTS.

YOU'LL SEE IN 2024 THAT HAD FLIP FLOPPED. AND IN 2025, YOUR OPERATING REVENUES STILL OUTPACED OPERATING EXPENSES DUE TO THE RATE INCREASES THAT WERE APPROVED. SO TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES CAME IN ABOUT $9.9 MILLION VERSUS OPERATING EXPENSES OF $8.6 MILLION.

AND THEN KIND OF THE GAP IN BETWEEN THERE, I LIKE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH CAPITAL OUTLAY BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE, YOU'RE HOPING YOU HAVE MORE COMING IN SO YOU CAN PUT MONEY INTO SOME CAPITAL OUTLAY.

THERE WAS ABOUT $800,000 THERE. THEN ON THE SEWER SIDE, THIS FUND HAS HAD OPERATING REVENUES OUTPACING OPERATING EXPENSES BY A RELATIVELY HEAVY AMOUNT.

BUT I DID HEAR THAT THERE WERE NO 2026 FEE INCREASES KIND OF BECAUSE OF THIS GAP THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS, YOU'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE INTO CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS.

SO OVER $3 MILLION INTO THOSE DURING 2025.

CHANGING GEARS AND TALKING ABOUT SOME LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS.

OR ACTUALLY TONIGHT IT'S GOOD NEWS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS HAVE SLIPPED INTO ASSETS.

THE SINGLE EMPLOYER RETIREMENT PLAN AT THE END OF 2025 ACTUALLY ENDS UP IN A NET PENSION ASSET SITUATION.

SO THE DOLLARS THAT ARE SET ASIDE IN TRUST ACTUALLY EXCEED THE TOTAL PENSION LIABILITY THAT HAS BEEN CALCULATED BY ABOUT $165,000.

[00:20:02]

AND WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE TRUE GOING FORWARD.

THEN WE HAVE THE MERS SYSTEM, WHICH DOESN'T LOOK QUITE AS GOOD.

[LAUGHTER]. HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PEACH BARS ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

SO THE TOTAL PENSION LIABILITY IS INCREASING AND IN SOME YEARS THE ASSETS SET ASIDE ARE INCREASING AS WELL.

SO THOSE DID INCREASE FOR 2025 DO REMEMBER THIS PLAN LAGS AN ENTIRE YEAR BEHIND.

SO THIS IS ACTUALLY. 12/31/2024 NUMBERS. NONETHELESS THIS PLAN ENDED THE YEAR WITH ABOUT $26 MILLION IN NET PENSION LIABILITY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NET NUMBER IS DOWN ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF.

SO YOU ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS THERE. IT'S JUST SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE THESE CHARTS IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT.

OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE THE HEALTH BENEFIT SIDE OF THIS OR OPEB.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD NEWS SITUATION YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE BLUE BAR IS EXCEEDING WHAT'S IN PEACH THERE.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A NET OPEB ASSET OF ABOUT $900,000 AT THE END OF 2025.

SO THAT PLAN IS IN GOOD SHAPE. OKAY. CHANGING GEARS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE.

SO THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT WE LOOK AT VARIOUS AREAS OF INTERNAL CONTROLS AND DO VARIOUS COMPLIANCE TESTING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING STATE REGULATIONS AND BEING COMPLIANT WITH VARIOUS FUNDING THAT'S COMING IN.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT TONIGHT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.

AND WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY WRITTEN MANAGEMENT COMMENTS WHICH IS JUST EXCELLENT NEWS.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND HOW SHE OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW EVERYONE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS THEM TO BE DOING TO HAVE THESE KIND OF RESULTS.

SO EXCELLENT JOB BY, BY THOSE TEAMS. AS ALWAYS, WE TALK A LITTLE MORE INFORMALLY ABOUT MAYBE SOME BEST PRACTICES OR SOME THINGS THAT COULD GET TIDIED UP A LITTLE BIT OR IMPROVED UPON BASED ON MAYBE HOW WE SEE OTHER TOWNSHIPS OR EVEN CITIES HANDLING SOME THINGS.

SO WE DID HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, BUT NO FINDINGS OVERALL.

SO I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND HER TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID.

THEY'RE VERY COOPERATIVE. DO THEIR VERY BEST TO BE READY AND TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS TIMELY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION WE ASK FOR, BUT THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE LENTZ. COMMENT FOR BOARD MEMBERS. AS MUCH AS ANYONE INTERESTED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ELMSWA BOARD, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE ELMSWA IS A PART OF OUR PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.

AT LEAST THEY WORK ON A FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDS ON 6/30/26, WITH THEIR AUDIT PRESENTATION BEING AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE 3RD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT NOON.

I'LL HAPPILY REMIND BOARD MEMBERS IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, BUT CONSIDERING HOW MUCH OF OUR LIVES ARE SURROUNDED BY WATER [LAUGHTER] WE WILL I'LL, I. HAPPY TO SEE THESE NUMBERS. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT IN A DIGESTIBLE FORMAT.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT AS KEENLY AWARE OF EVERYTHING AS, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTOR BLONDE DOES ON A DAILY BASIS.

TRUSTEE WILSON. AS A FORMAL. FORMER AUDITOR IN MY WORK LIFE THESE ARE REALLY WONDERFUL RESULTS.

AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE A BIG HAND [APPLAUSE] TO BERNIE FOR THAT WORK OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU, ALI FOR COMING AND PRESENTING THIS EVENING.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH AT THE END OF 2024 AND THEN ALSO 2025 FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR'S WORK TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN FINANCIAL REPORTING AS WELL, WHICH IS IN THE, THE FULL VERSION OF THE AUDIT THAT YOU PROVIDED THIS EVENING.

AND I THINK THE LACK OF ADDITIONAL COMMENT THIS MAY, IT MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE I JOINED THE BOARD THAT THERE WEREN'T EVEN EVEN SMALL COMMENTS ON THE AUDIT. AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

[00:25:05]

AND I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF 55% OR 56% SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT, JUST 10, 12 YEARS AGO.

AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH GROWTH AND HOW MUCH.

HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TOWARD THAT GOAL.

76 MAY NOT SEEM LIKE YOU KNOW, AN A PLUS IN SOME WORLDS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AND WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF CLOSING THAT GAP PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH NOT JUST THE FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP THAT THIS BOARD HAS PUT FORTH, BUT ALSO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR VOTERS WHO VOTED AT AN EXTRA MILLAGE TO SUPPORT POLICE AND FIRE AND THE POST-EMPLOYMENT LIABILITIES THAT COME ALONG WITH THOSE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE TO OUR VOTERS AS WELL, WHO HAVE MADE THIS A PRIORITY AND ALLOWED MADE GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP A PRIORITY AND HAVE HELPED US TO MAKE THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEND THE WEEKEND [LAUGHTER] TAKING A LOOK AT TAKING A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD FINANCIALLY IN AS MUCH DETAIL.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT AND YOUR HARD WORK.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU

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

SO I WILL TRUNCATE MY SPEECH AND SAY YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, AS YOU'VE HAD AT OUR LAST MEETING.

IF YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS, WE'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. FIRST UP IS EVERETT ROOT YES, 928 RIVER DRIVE AND HASLETT. AND I'M JUST HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM J ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

THE SENATE BILL 999, SUBMITTED BY SENATOR SINGH.

MAY TO. MAY 21ST. THAT WILL ASSIST AND WILL CREATE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR STATEWIDE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT.

HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

I PLAN TO BE HERE THROUGH THAT PART OF THE AGENDA IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S IN THERE.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. ERICA [INAUDIBLE].

SHE IS THE CURRENT MISSILE PROGRAM MANAGER, AND SHE STOPPED OUT TO OBSERVE THE FESTIVITIES TONIGHT.

AND WE'LL BE HERE TO MAKE SURE I ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS CORRECTLY.

AND AGAIN, SHE'S THE MANAGER OR PROJECT MANAGER OF THIS.

AND SO THESE FUNDS ARE ALL GOING TO BE WELL STEWARDED AND IN EXCELLENT SHAPE OR EXCELLENT USED WITH EXCELLENT CARE.

SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS ALL I HAD FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 6:27 P.M. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 6.

[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT ]

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR, AND GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

SO THE FIRST ONE I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS TO BERNADETTE BLONDE, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND HER TEAM FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A DAY IN AND DAY OUT THING, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF ALL THE DIRECTORS AND STAFF ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION THAT TAKE THE FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE TOWNSHIP SERIOUSLY AND DO THE WORK THAT HAS TO GET DONE TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

SO THANKS TO THEM, AND THANKS TO ALI BARNES AND HER TEAM AT YEO & YEO, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM AS OUR AUDITORS.

SO THANKS ALL AROUND ON THAT. I WANT TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN UPDATE ON A PROJECT SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT. SO BACK WHEN THE SPARROW ER FACILITY ON JOLLY ROAD WAS CONSTRUCTED, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY AGREED TO OR THEY ACTUALLY PRESENTED, I BELIEVE IN THE TOWNSHIP WORKED OUT AN ARRANGEMENT WAS TO PROVIDE EXTENDED WATER MAIN TO THE HOMES ON KANSAS ROAD, AS WELL AS $10,000 PER HOME TO CONNECT TO THAT WATER MAIN.

SO OUT OF THE 14 PROPERTIES THAT COULD CONNECT, 9 HAVE CONNECTED THAT PROGRAM.

TIMELINE IS NOW SORT OF ENDED, BUT WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

A NUMBER OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS SIMPLY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND I THINK ONLY ONE PROPERTY OWNER HAD TO PAY SOME DOLLARS ABOVE THAT $10,000.

SO A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO CONNECT THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.

SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT IT'S COME TO A CONCLUSION THERE AND THAT THOSE OWNERS WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SO A GOOD BENEFIT OF THAT OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

[00:30:03]

SO LOTS OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. TOMORROW NIGHT KICKS OFF THE CONCERT SUMMER SERIES AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN AT 6:30 P.M.

WITH SEA CRUISERS. THERE ARE 50, 60, 70'S BAND.

THEY HAVE A BIG FOLLOWING IN THE AREA, SO I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

IT ALSO OVERLAPS WITH THE WEDNESDAY FARMER'S MARKET.

IT GOES FROM 3:00 TO 7:00. SO AGAIN FARMER'S MARKET 3:00 TO 7:00.

CONCERT STARTS AT 6:30. AND WE'LL OBVIOUSLY GO PAST 7:00.

BUT I ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO GO DOWN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT EVENT SO AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER DEMPSEY? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING?

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ]

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T ALWAYS IMPROVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT.

SO TIM, I KNOW IS AWARE OF IT. SO WE'LL HAVE ROOM FOR ANY AND ALL TO COME INTO THAT MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHERS WITH? YES, TRUSTEE WILSON.

A NUMBER OF US ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE AT GLENDALE CEMETERY THIS PAST MONDAY, AND IT WAS LOVELY AND EMOTIONAL, AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE BEING AT THAT TO HONOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE REALLY STOOD UP FOR OUR COUNTRY.

AND THE OTHER THING I ATTENDED LAST WEEK WAS THE POLICE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS MEETING.

THEY HAVE THIS QUARTERLY, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HEARD OF NO CRIME.

AND THE ONLY A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE TRAFFIC OFFICERS THAT ARE OUT THAT PROBABLY ALL OF YOU SEE FREQUENTLY MORE FREQUENTLY NOW, AND THAT WE HAVE REALLY IMPROVED THAT PROGRAM FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CLERK DEMAS. BALLOTS ARE AVAILABLE 40 DAYS PRIOR TO THE AUGUST 4TH PRIMARY ELECTION, SO BALLOTS WILL BE GOING OUT JUNE 25TH.

TERRIFIC TO BE LOOKING FOR YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

OTHERS? I WILL ADD I ALSO ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION ON THE 25TH. AND I'LL ADD MY THANKS TO CLERK DEMAS FOR ORGANIZING IT.

AS HAS BECOME TRADITION FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS.

AND ALSO, OF COURSE, TO OUR STAFF WHO HELPED TO SET UP AND THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT AND GAVE A NICE TALK.

AND OF COURSE, THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY BAND, WHO EVERY YEAR IS TREMENDOUS.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND HELPED TO MAKE THAT EVENT HAPPEN.

TO TRUSTEE WILSON'S POINT ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY WE HAVE WORD FROM CHIEF GRILLO THAT YOU'LL LIKELY BE SEEING A FEW MORE CARS ON THE STREET OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. WITH SCHOOL'S OUT OF SESSION ARE OUR FOLKS WHO ARE ASSIGNED AS OFFICERS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY LIAISONS WILL BE ALSO HELPING OUT ON THE ROADS. SO YOU MIGHT BE SEEING A FEW MORE POLICE CARS, SO ADJUST YOUR SPEEDS ACCORDINGLY.

AND THEN THE BIGGEST NEWS I THINK PERHAPS I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS OUT THERE WHO HAD BEEN FOLLOWING, THE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES PROJECT WITH ITC. FOR THOSE WHO ARE YOU KNOW, THEY CAME BACK IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

WE TOOK A STANCE AGAINST THAT VIA RESOLUTION.

AND A NUMBER OF US ALSO WENT AND LODGED PERSONAL COMMENTS AT THEIR LISTENING SESSION.

TURNS OUT THAT WE WERE WELL REPRESENTED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AREA.

THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE MERIDIAN WILLIAMSTOWN SEGMENT OF THE LINE IN OPPOSITION.

AND AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, THEY PUBLISHED THEIR MAP, WHICH WAS REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ROUTES THAT WE INITIALLY SAW TO THE NEXT,

[00:35:04]

AND SO WE ARE VIEWING THAT AS THAT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT TO BE THE SELECTED ROUTE GOING FORWARD.

AND SO JUST WANT TO, TO THANK OUR RESIDENTS WHO ORGANIZED AND MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD BOTH TO US AND ALSO TO ITC.

WE WANT TO ALSO THANK ITC FOR TAKING THOSE COMMENTS AND IMPLEMENTING DOING SOMETHING WITH THAT INFORMATION.

CERTAINLY THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THE PROCESS IS INTENDED TO FUNCTION AND WE APPRECIATE THEM.

THEY'LL BE COMING BACK TO THIS MEETING IN TWO WEEKS TO GIVE US A MORE FORMAL UPDATE.

SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT, BUT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.

AND THAT IF THERE'S NO OTHER REPORTS, WE'LL MOVE ON.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? TREASURER BURGHARDT.

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 9.

CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE THE BILLS, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PRIDE MONTH, RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FLAG DAY, RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF JUNETEENTH. A LOT OF THINGS TO CELEBRATE THIS MONTH.

WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION FOR TWO ORDINANCES. ONE IS THE 1745 MACK REZONING, WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT AT OUR LAST MEETING.

THE NEXT IS OUR PARKING ORDINANCE UPDATE. THIS IS OUR THIRD ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST MEETING.

WE HAVE A BLOCK TIME CONTRACT WITH BRIGHTLINE TECHNOLOGIES, THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SENATOR SINGH'S AERIAL IMAGERY LEGISLATION THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENTER MENTIONED. THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE, SWIFT CURRENT GRANT AGREEMENT AND AN APPOINTMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

WHEW! CLERK DEMAS. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I NOTICED A SPELLING ERROR ON THE MAY 19TH, 2026 REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES. DIRECTOR SCHMITT NAME WAS SPELLED INCORRECTLY, SO I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE SPELLING ERROR CORRECTED TO THE MAY 19TH, 2026, REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY CLERK DEMAS WITH AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE A SUPPORT.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, CLERK DEMAS PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. CLERK DEMAS, YES.

TREASURER BURGHARDT. YES. TRUSTEE LENTZ. YES.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. TRUSTEE WILSON.

YES. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. YES. MOTION CARRIES 7-0.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IN RELATION TO THE LISTENING SESSION MINUTES THAT WE DID JUST APPROVE.

I'LL ALSO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE LISTENING SESSION, THERE IS A SUMMARY AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS MERIDIAN.MI.US. YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO TAKE A LOOK.

LOTS OF QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND ANSWERED AND SUMMARIZED FOR POSTERITY'S SAKE ON THE WEBSITE.

SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT IF YOU'RE SO INTERESTED.

NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10.A AUGUST EARLY VOTING PLANS.

[10.A. August Early Voting Plans]

MADAM CLERK. [LAUGHTER]. I'M GOING TO GO THERE, IF THAT'S OKAY.

SURE, YEAH.

HELLO, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR AUGUST EARLY VOTING PLANS.

SO OUR EARLY VOTING PLANS FOR 2026 HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND SENT TO THE COUNTY.

HOWEVER, WE DID NOTICE THAT CELEBRATE MERIDIAN IS SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DAY AS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING.

EARLY VOTING WILL BE FOR 9 DAYS. AS IN ACCORDANCE TO MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW.

SO BECAUSE OF THIS, WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THESE PLANS.

NOW WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO LOOK AT.

THE FIRST OPTION IS THE EASIEST ONE. EARLY VOTING WILL BE FROM 9:00 A.M.

TO 5:00 P.M. FOR ALL 9 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING FOR BOTH AUGUST AND NOVEMBER WITH CELEBRATE MERIDIAN STARTING AT 4:00 P.M., WE ARE LOOKING TO ADJUST THESE HOURS TO BE FROM 7:00 A.M.

TO 3:00 P.M. THIS WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EIGHT HOURS OF EARLY VOTING.

ENSURE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO VOTE DURING THESE HOURS WITHOUT DISRUPTION.

[00:40:02]

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE THIS.

THE SECOND OPTION WOULD BE TO RELOCATE EARLY VOTING TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS FOR ALL 9 DAYS, AND ALL 33.

OVER 33,000 REGISTERED VOTERS WOULD BE NOTIFIED.

THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY STAFF DUE TO HOW COSTLY THIS WOULD BE.

THIS WOULD BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF POSTAGE ALONE AND A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS OF RENTAL FEES.

SO THAT IS WHY STAFF HAS COME UP WITH THIS PLAN.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD OR ANY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

YEAH, I THINK PROPOSAL ONE MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

IT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED THAT THE ALTERED VOTING TIMES FROM 7:00 TO 3:00 IS ON THE FIRST DAY ONLY, AND THE OTHER 8 DAYS ARE THE REGULAR 9:00 TO 5:00.

YES. SO IT IMPACTS ONE DAY OF VOTING AND NOT ALL 9.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN USUALLY THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BUSIEST.

SO [LAUGHTER] HOPEFULLY THIS WILL NOT BE TERRIBLY DISRUPTIVE TO OUR VOTERS OR THE PEOPLE ATTENDING.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS NOTIFIED OF THESE CHANGES.

SO WE'RE HAVING A, WE'RE CREATING A BROCHURE THAT HAS MORE THAN JUST EARLY VOTING INFORMATION, BUT IT WILL ALSO MENTION THE EARLY VOTING CHANGES AND THAT THERE WILL BE A ROAD CLOSURE FOR CENTRAL PARK DRIVE JUST SO PEOPLE ARE NOTIFIED.

THIS WILL GO TO REGISTERED HOUSEHOLDS WHICH WILL SAVE US ON POSTAGE AND WE'LL INFORM OUR VOTERS.

THANK YOU. AS FOR EARLY VOTING PLANS. WE WOULD RESUBMIT OUR PLANS TO THE COUNTY.

TERRIFIC. OTHER QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE WILSON. I HAVE A COMMENT THAT I.

THIS IS THE LOGICAL CHOICE TO HOLD EARLY VOTING THAT FIRST DAY ONLY FROM 7:00 TO 3:00 AT THE LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE EXPECT IT.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION PREPARED NECESSARILY AS THE BOARD DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE ACTION.

OKAY. BUT WE DO APPRECIATE SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD.

WE WORKED WITH SEVERAL DIRECTOR HEADS. WE HAVE DIRECTOR WISINSKI HERE.

SO NO FORMAL MOTIONS NEED TO BE MADE AT THIS TIME.

I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT PARKING. SO WE WERE LOOKING AT PARKING PLANS.

IF WE COULD PULL UP THAT MAP. AND OUR ORIGINAL PLAN IS TO CUT THE PARKING LOT IN HALF.

SO THE PARKING LOT RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ENSURE THAT OUR VOTERS COULD USE THAT PARKING FROM 7:00 A.M.

TO 3:00 P.M. A LITTLE BIT AFTER. FOR THE PURPOSE OF EARLY VOTING, IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CUT PARKING A BIT MORE IN HALF SO THAT WE CAN HAVE BETTER BARRICADES.

SO WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT. IS THERE ANY WAY I COULD, LIKE MOVE THE MOUSE TO SHOW PEOPLE? THIS THIS PARKING LOT RIGHT HERE. SO THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT ENTRANCE PARKING LOT.

LOOKING FORWARD AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. THIS IS 17 PARKING SPACES WITH TWO HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE.

NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT IS LIMITED PARKING. SO BECAUSE OF THIS WHILE TALKING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SUGGESTED OPENING UP A CORNER OVER HERE TO USE FOR PARKING.

THESE ARE TENTATIVE PLANS AND CAN BE CHANGED UP UNTIL EARLY VOTING AS LONG AS THE LOCATION REMAINS HERE AND WE UPDATE THE TIME.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BOARD MEMBERS ARE AWARE AND COULD GIVE THEIR TWO CENTS.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR SUGGESTIONS REGARDING OUR PARKING SITUATION.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE IT SEEMED FROM THE, THE DIAGRAM THAT WAS IN THE PACKET THAT EVERYTHING CLOSER TO THE BUILDING FROM THE ORANGE LINE WAS GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE. YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY IT'S ACTUALLY A SMALLER CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT? IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO SO.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T. WE CAN MAKE WHAT THE PLANS ARE BEING PROPOSED.

WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK IF THAT IS THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION.

[00:45:02]

YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SORT OF BE FLEXIBLE ON THAT DAY AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I THINK PROBABLY I WOULD TAKE THE WHOLE ROW THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE GRASS MEDIAN THERE AND AND CUT OFF FROM THE PARKING SPACES DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THAT, EVEN ON THE ONE SIDE OF THE WHITE LINE JUST TO HAVE POSSIBLE OVERFLOW. IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY KEEP FOLKS DECENTLY CONTAINED ON ONE SIDE FOR VENDORS AND WHATNOT.

JUST YOU NEVER KNOW, RIGHT? IT'S A IT'S GOING TO BE A THERE'S A PLENTY THAT'S ON THE BALLOT IN AUGUST.

YOU MIGHT SEE PEOPLE COMING OUT IN HIGHER NUMBERS THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHEN THERE WASN'T SUCH A CONTENTIOUS SET OF PRIMARIES ON THE BALLOT.

MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO, TO DO TO BE CAREFUL AND BE SAFE ABOUT THAT.

ALTERNATIVELY, IF YOU WANT TO JUST DO THAT ONE CORNER, IF YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS ON SPEED DIAL WHO CAN MOVE THE BARRIERS TO ADD A FEW EXTRA SPACES IF THINGS GET HAIRY. THAT'S A PERFECTLY FINE OPTION TOO.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST WORTHWHILE TO CONSIDER WHAT EXPANDING THAT MIGHT REQUIRE.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT RECOMMENDATION. THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

I MEAN, AS MUCH PARKING AS WE CAN HAVE ON THAT DAY IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE PARKING HERE FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN AND THEN BE TOLD THEY HAVE TO MOVE THEIR CARS.

SO AND THEN WE'LL HAVE VOTERS WAITING TO BE ABLE TO PARK TO, TO GO TO VOTE.

SO YEAH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS. FOR NOW THIS IS THE PLAN.

DIRECTOR WISINSKI, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARKING? YEAH, I JUST I WANT TO ADD THAT WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY LAID OUT IS THAT GIVES THE ENTIRE LOOP FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN AND OUT.

SO AND WE WANT TO BLOCK IT. WE'RE NOT HAVING VENDORS ON THE WEST SIDE, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE CHILDREN'S AREA IS.

SO WE JUST WANT TO GIVE ENOUGH BUFFER FOR THAT.

SO YEAH, WE CAN WORK TO MAKE SURE ALL THE LOGISTICS ARE THERE.

BUT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE HARD BARRIERS AT THE NOKOMIS VILLAGE AREA.

JUST SO THAT WE JUST PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND THEN GO OUT.

YEAH. AND NOT REALLY HAVE BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OFF OF CENTRAL PARK.

IT WILL ONLY BE AN ENTRANCE OFF MARSH. I THINK THE OTHER THING YOU'RE LIKELY GOING TO NEED TO CONTEND WITH IS, ARE YOU HOPING TO HAVE THAT THE REST OF THAT PARKING LOT SPACE AVAILABLE FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN AFTER THE EARLY VOTE SITE CLOSES.

AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMEONE DECIDES, HEY, I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE AND, YOU KNOW, AND TRY TO GO ENJOY THE, YOU KNOW, THE EVENT AS WELL.

SO, SO OUR PLAN WAS TO HARD BLOCK THE MARSH ROAD ENTRANCE AFTER EARLY VOTING.

SURE. THE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE WHO'S OUR PEOPLE WHO.

BUT IT WILL TELL YOU THAT GETS REALLY TROUBLING AT CELEBRATE BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WANT TO PARK THERE.

SURE. SO HAVING SAFETY PERSONNEL OUT AT THAT ENTRANCE.

AND HELP GUIDING TOO BECAUSE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO NATURALLY COME IN CENTRAL PARK.

SO TRYING TO GET THAT WITH THE WORD OUT, THE PAMPHLETS, A FANTASTIC IDEA.

SO YEAH, THE LITTLE LOGISTICS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST LEAVING THAT WHOLE HALF OF THE PARKING LOT OPEN.

IT KEEPS THE SAFE BUFFER FROM THE KIDS AREA AND FROM NOKOMIS AND THE VILLAGE, WHICH ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN CELEBRATE.

SO BUT YES, CLERK DEMAS AND I CAN FIGURE OUT THE, THE VERY FINE [LAUGHTER] MINUTE DETAILS FOR SURE.

FOR SURE. AND I'LL ECHO THAT. THIS SEEMS LIKE CERTAINLY THE BEST OPTION COMPARED TO HAVING TO MOVE IT RENT A SPACE AND ALSO YOU KNOW, CONTEND WITH NOTIFYING RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR EARLY VOTING HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP HALL FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND A COUPLE OF CYCLES NOW. TRUSTEE TREZISE, I SAW YOU HAD A QUESTION.

I FORGET WHAT IT WAS. [LAUGHTER] FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN.

WE DON'T NORMALLY ALLOW PARKING IN THERE ANYWAY, DO WE? NO WE DON'T. SO IT'S ONLY ACCESS TO THE VOTERS.

SO SOMEHOW WE'LL HAVE TO SCREEN THEM AT ENTRY AS WELL AS.

YES. MAKE SURE THEY GET OUT OF THERE. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, DOES THIS NEED TO GO TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION BEFORE IT GOES TO THE TOWNSHIP? TO THE COUNTY? LET ME GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.

[00:50:02]

I WOULD JUST HAVE TO VERIFY IF WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ELECTION COMMISSION, BECAUSE WE DID NOT PREVIOUSLY FOR OUR EARLY VOTING PLANS.

BUT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL JUST TO HAVE THE ELECTION COMMISSION DISCUSS IT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

OKAY. I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE DON'T HAVE VENDORS IN THAT SECTION.

SO I THINK LEAVING IT AS IS MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

AND I SHOULD MENTION WE WILL BE HAVING PART TIME STAFF LOOKING OUT FOR VOTERS [LAUGHTER].

GENTLY PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT THIS IS FOR EARLY VOTING PARKING ONLY AND SHOWING THEM WHERE, WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO LEAVE AND WHERE THE PARKING IS FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN.

I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF PARKING FOR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN, SO I KNOW THAT PEOPLE MAY FEEL REALLY ENCOURAGED TO PARK AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE MALL DOES HAVE AMPLE PARKING.

SURE YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? TERRIFIC. TRUSTEE LENTZ.

QUESTION DIRECTOR WISINSKI. SORRY, I SAW YOU GOING BACK AND FORTH AND BACK.

CELEBRATE MERIDIAN. IS THERE ANY WAY TO. THIS IS MY MEMORY FROM LAST YEAR, BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE EASTERN SIDE OF CENTRAL PARK DRIVE WAS OPEN.

IS THAT NOT AN OPTION FOR PUTTING A, YOU KNOW, STAGE THERE FOR THAT, OR IS THAT NOT REALLY A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION? NO, NO, I HADN'T, I HADN'T CONSIDERED IN CENTRAL PARK ITSELF MOVING IT FROM THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING HERE CLOSER TO THE STAGE, WE HAVE MUSIC HAPPENING. SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT IT TO CONFLICT.

BUT WHAT WE PLAN TO DO FOR THIS YEAR IS TO HAVE A CULTURAL DAY.

SO WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER CELEBRATION THAT WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE PERFORMERS, BUT MAYBE BE ABLE TO ADD TO IT WITH FOOD AND YOU KNOW, DRESS AND, AND ATTIRE SO. FOR THIS YEAR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL STILL CONTINUE, WE'LL STILL KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.

BUT I, WE'LL JUST DO IT FOR THE, FOR THE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES SPECIFICALLY.

GREAT. YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE, I WAS. I GUESS I SHOULD SAY LAST YEAR, I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BY HOW FULL THAT STAGE WAS WITH VARIOUS PERFORMANCES SPEAKERS]. I MEAN, IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE MANY CULTURES OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP REPRESENTED SO THANK YOU.

YEAH. AND WE HAD A 20 BY 30 TENT THAT WAS FULL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION. IT GETS VERY HOT ON THE ASPHALT. YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] AND MOST PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW, CROWDING NEXT TO THE STAGE TO TRY TO GET SOME SHADE. SO THE TENT WAS FULL LAST YEAR. SO THAT WAS IT WAS VERY EXCITING.

YEAH. LAST YEAR WAS A WARM DAY SO. [LAUGHTER]. BUT I CONCUR WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S CHOICE ON OPTIONS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

I WILL PLUG JUST SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CELEBRATE MERIDIAN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN ADDRESS THAT HERE AT THE, AT THE TABLE.

THAT I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS REACH OUT ABOUT THE CHANGE IN DATE.

I KNOW THAT FOR MANY CELEBRATE MERIDIAN IS BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO DE FACTO 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. AND I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS EXPRESS SOME DISMAY AT MOVING THE DATE THIS FAR INTO JULY, WHICH OF COURSE ALSO HAS CAUSED THE CONFLICT WITH EARLY VOTING YOU KNOW, INADVERTENTLY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST I THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE CONSIDERING IN THE FUTURE AS WE PLAN THIS EVENT PERHAPS WE COULD CONSIDER MOVING IT BACK TOWARD TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE, WHERE IT HAD BEEN FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

AND THAT ALSO HELPS TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT WITH EARLY VOTING, WHICH BY LAW HAS TO BE 9 DAYS ALWAYS IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER AND EVEN YEARS.

SO JUST SOMETHING WORTH MENTIONING, I THINK. BUT I THINK THIS IS A SOLID PLAN TO GET AROUND POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH EARLY VOTING THIS YEAR. ALL RIGHT WELL, THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WISINSKI AND MANAGER DEMPSEY FOR WORKING ON THIS EARLY VOTING PLANS.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10.B. POLLING LOCATION CHANGES.

[10.B. Polling Location Changes ]

ALL RIGHT SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH TWO POLLING LOCATIONS.

[00:55:01]

PREVIOUSLY I DID SUBMIT A MEMO THAT HAD A BIT MORE CHANGES THAN THIS.

AND WE DID HAVE A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE BECAUSE ONE OF OUR POLLING LOCATIONS.

THE FACILITIES THAT WE WERE LOOKING INTO DID ACCEPT OUR PROPOSAL.

SO YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT WE PRESENT TWO OPTIONS TO THE BOARD.

OPTION 1 ADDRESSES THE REQUIRED CHANGES ONLY WHILE OPTION 2 INCLUDES STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES.

SO PRECINCT 2 FOR OPTION 1 WILL BE RELOCATED TO HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR THE AUGUST 4TH, 2026 ELECTION AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS. HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH IS CURRENTLY A POLLING LOCATION FOR PRECINCT 4, AND EARLIER TODAY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY AND TALK TO THE CHURCH AND STAFF THERE, AND THEY DID SAY THAT WE COULD ADD ANOTHER POLLING LOCATION TO THIS FACILITY.

THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING WE WERE CONSIDERING BEFORE DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE WILSON FOR GOING TO MY STAFF AND LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WE STOPPED BY TODAY AND THEY SEEMED OPEN TO THIS.

SO I HAVE UPDATED THE BOARD PACKET [LAUGHTER] TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES.

PRECINCT 3 FOR OPTION 2 WOULD BE TEMPORARILY, TEMPORARILY RELOCATED TO HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE AUGUST 4TH, 2026 ELECTION AND THEN REMAIN AT HASLETT COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOR SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.

NOW, THIS HAPPENS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT WE USE HASLETT COMMUNITY EDUCATION AS A POLLING LOCATION BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR MAY AND NOVEMBER. FOR AUGUST, EVEN IF THEY HAVE IT SO IN THE PAST IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY HASLETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE, I BELIEVE, CHILDCARE DURING THAT TIME.

SO THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH RESCHEDULING.

AND SO WHAT WE DID FOR LAST YEAR'S ELECTION FOR THAT AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2025 WAS WE USE HASLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE SENT OUT TEMPORARY CHANGE NOTIFICATIONS TO OUR REGISTERED VOTERS.

THAT WOULD BE OPTION 1. THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD DO.

THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE TO THIS POLLING LOCATION EXCEPT A TEMPORARY NOTICE THAT WOULD GO OUT.

AND THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY ANY CHANGE HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE THEY ALREADY WOULD BE AWARE OF THEIR POLLING LOCATION.

OPTION 2. WE WOULD STILL RELOCATE PRECINCT 2 TO HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH.

BUT PRECINCT 3, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO BE RELOCATED AT SAINT LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH SO THAT WE CAN AVOID ALL OF THESE NOTICES TO OUR VOTERS AND HAVE A PERMANENT LOCATION.

THIS WOULD BE FOR THE AUGUST 4TH, 2026 ELECTION AND ALL SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.

SAINT LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH USED TO HOUSE PRECINCT 1 AND 2 PRIOR TO PRECINCT CONSOLIDATION.

AND WHILE WE WOULD BE EXPECTING MORE VOTERS THIS TIME, WE WOULD HAVE THE SPACE TO HAVE VOTERS PARK AND TO VOTE IN THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE OUR POLLING LOCATION AT.

SO THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS. I'VE INCLUDED MAPS TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES.

AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS. TRUSTEE WILSON. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO HANDLE THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH THE AUGUST ELECTION. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE, AND I THINK WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH BOARD THIS MORNING AND FACILITATE GETTING THAT PRECINCT ADDED IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING PRECINCT.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND NOT ONLY A VOTER, A NEW VOTING IDENTIFICATION CARD TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO SEND A LETTER TO THESE TWO PRECINCTS THAT ARE AFFECTED SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE TEMPORARY MOVE FROM OKEMOS, I'M SORRY, FROM HASLETT COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ALSO THE PERMANENT MOVE TO HASLETT COMMUNITY CHURCH. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT, THAT WE SEND A LETTER ALONG WITH THE VOTING ID CARD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF YOU ARE, BUT WHEN I GET A VOTING ID CARD, I DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT.

[LAUGHTER]. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ONCE THESE TWO ELECTIONS OCCUR, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A VERY DIFFERENT ELECTION SITUATION FOR 2028. WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A RECORD TURNOUT IS WHAT MY GUESS WOULD BE.

[01:00:06]

AND JUST LOOK AT THE OVERALL, THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HOW WE HAVE OUR POLLING PLACES.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CLERK TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THAT AND TO UNDERTAKE THAT ACTIVITY SOMETIME IN 2027.

SO WE'RE PREPARED FOR 2028. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY IF THE BOARD IS LOOKING. SEEKING TO GO FORWARD WITH OPTION 2, IT WOULD NOT BE A TEMPORARY MOVE AND THEN A PERMANENT MOVE.

THAT WOULD BE JUST TWO PERMANENT MOVES WE SUSPECT.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE IN EFFECT FOR BOTH OF THE 2026 ELECTIONS THAT REMAIN? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS SLIGHTLY LESS CONFUSING.

I DON'T DISAGREE. YES. I THINK MORE BOARD COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS BETTER.

IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. FOR MY PART I WOULD SUPPORT OPTION 2 OVER, OVER OPTION 1.

I THINK THE FEWER NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE HAVE FOLKS MOVE TO DIFFERENT POLLING PLACES, THE BETTER.

I ALSO AGREE WITH TRUSTEE WILSON'S COMMENTS ON LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, SOME CHANGES.

IT'S NEVER MADE. AND THIS HAS BEEN TRUE LONG BEFORE CLERK DEMAS WAS HERE.

IT'S NEVER BEEN CLEAR TO ME WHY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A POLLING LOCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS THAT IS WITHIN LOCATED WITHIN PRECINCT 14.

AND YET WE SEND FOLKS FROM PRECINCT 14 OVER INTO PRECINCT 13 TO VOTE.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE ALL THE THERE'S THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS, THE POPULATION IN PRECINCT 7 IS EQUALLY CLOSE TO FAITH LUTHERAN, WHICH IS HOUSED A NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES IN THE PAST.

AND I THINK YOU CAN SOLVE BOTH OF THE TWO PROBLEMS I SUGGESTED BY MOVING PRECINCT 7 INTO PRECINCT 8'S POLLING LOCATION AND SPLITTING 14 OVER TO WHERE? INTO THE INGHAM COUNTY REHAB FACILITY.

JUST ONE OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK WOULD HELP PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEIR POLLING PLACE'S NEARBY.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE FOR THE MOMENT.

[LAUGHTER]. FOR THE MOMENT, IT'S A QUESTION OF SOLVING THE ISSUE OF POLLING LOCATIONS IN PRECINCTS 2 AND 3.

AND I THINK THAT OPTION TWO PROVIDES A VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND, EASY TO COMMUNICATE SOLUTION FOR OUR VOTERS IN THOSE TWO PRECINCTS. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT THIS EVENING.

TRUSTEE TREZISE. AND I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THE MOVES THIS YEAR.

AND I THINK OPTION 2 MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE, BUT I BEFORE 2028, I WOULD LIKE TO SEARCH HIGH AND LOW TO FIND A VOTING SITE FOR PRECINCT 2, WHICH IS CLOSER TO PRECINCT 2.

I KNOW THERE'S A CHURCH UP ON TOWNER ROAD THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE CHECKED WITH EVERYBODY THERE, BUT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF LARGE BUILDINGS THERE, SO IT DOES MAKE IT PROBLEMATIC.

BUT I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOWNSHIP.

YEAH AND MANAGER DEMPSEY JUST TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WE WOULD HAVE.

ANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ANY COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A POLLING LOCATION CLOSER TO PRECINCT 2, WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE CHURCHES THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF EAST LANSING THEIR DISTRICT, AS LONG AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF CHURCHES. I DON'T HAVE THE LIST IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IF YOU NAME A PLACE, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE [LAUGHTER] WE'VE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND IN SOME PLACES HAVE TURNED US DOWN DUE TO SECURITY.

AND JUST NOT THE, THE RIGHT TIME, BUT WE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE CHECK EVERY LOCATION WE CAN BECAUSE WE NEED IT TO BE CLOSER. SURE. OKAY THANK YOU. THE ONE PLACE I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU REACHED OUT TO WAS THE PARKWOOD YMCA.

I KNOW THAT THEY ARE. THEY'RE TECHNICALLY IN PRECINCT 3, BUT THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER TO PRECINCT 2 WHERE THE POPULATION LIVES.

AND THEY MIGHT, THEY PROBABLY GOT A GYM FACILITY THAT WE COULD USE FOR A DAY IF NEEDED.

WERE YOU ABLE TO CONTACT THEM AT ALL? THAT IS THE ONE LOCATION WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED OUT TO.

IT WAS SUGGESTED BY MY DEPUTY CLERK. SOME YMCA YOU COULD RENT IT OUT FOR A DAY, BUT WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO IT OVERNIGHT SO WE CAN DROP OFF AND PICK UP EQUIPMENT.

SO AS LONG AS THE FEES WOULDN'T BE TOO HIGH TO, TO DO SO WE ARE DEFINITELY OPEN TO REACHING OUT TO THEM.

[01:05:08]

YEAH. AND OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE SNELL TOWAR FACILITY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WE TURNED DOWN.

WAS IT BECAUSE OF SPACE OR PARKING FOR THAT? PARKING.

IT WAS ACCESSIBLE. BUT IT HAD, I BELIEVE 12 PARKING SPACES WITH ONE ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND ACCESSIBLE PARKING.

I MEAN, WE CAN CREATE HANDICAPPED SO THERE JUST IS NOT ENOUGH PARKING FOR PRECINCT 2.

YEAH, I SUSPECTED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN WORK OUT SOMETHING WITH THE Y IN THE FUTURE THAT MAKES THAT AN OPTION.

AND IF IT'S LIKE, IF IT'S A GYM FACILITY, YOU MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO PUT 2 AND 3 IN THERE.

THAT WOULD BE OF COURSE IDEAL SINCE 3 IS RIGHT THERE ANYWAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I DID JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

SO I KNOW THAT WE JUST GOT THIS UPDATED VERSION OF OUR AGENDA ITEM, BUT THE PACKET THAT WE HAD INVOLVED CHANGES TO 5, 09, 10, AND 12. SO THAT IS COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE AS EITHER OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2.

CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. THAT OPTION WAS A HAIL MARY THAT WE WERE LOOKING INTO BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD SOME CONCERNS WITH PRECINCTS 10 AND 12.

THEY ARE ONE OF OUR SMALLEST PRECINCT LOCATION, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

BUT AGAIN, AS WE ARE LOOKING FOR 2028 AND EVEN 2027 ELECTIONS, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CHANGING OUR POLLING LOCATIONS.

I AM NOT GOING TO PROMISE ANY CHANGES JUST BECAUSE THE POLLING LOCATIONS WE HAVE THE BETTER FOR COST AND TIME.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR VOTERS CAN GET TO THEIR POLLING LOCATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SURE EITHER OF THE TWO OPTIONS. SOUNDS LIKE PERHAPS THERE'S MORE INCLINATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION 2 IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.

TRUSTEE TREZISE. I MOVE TO APPROVE OPTION TWO AS PRESENTED BY THE TOWNSHIP CLERK MEMORANDUM DATED JUNE 2ND, 2026, AND THE OPTION TO MAP ESTABLISHED POLLING LOCATIONS FOR ALL PRECINCTS IN THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN FOR AUGUST 4TH, 2026. PRIMARY ELECTION NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION AND FUTURE ELECTIONS AS REQUIRED IN MCLA 168.662, SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT AS NECESSARY BY THE TOWNSHIP CLERK.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP IS AGENDA. ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE NONE THIS EVENING. AND SO WE BRING OURSELVES BACK TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 7:07 P.M.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 13. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. ANY OTHER MATTERS OR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE AN ITEM 14. CLOSED SESSION. AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING?

[14. CLOSED SESSION-Motion to enter closed session under MCL 15.268(1)(h) to consult with the Township attorney regarding a confidential written legal opinion. ]

TO CONSULT WITH THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY REGARDING A CONFIDENTIAL WRITTEN LEGAL OPINION.

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

OH, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE. CLERK DEMAS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? TREASURER BURGHARDT.

YES. TRUSTEE LENTZ. YES. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. YES.

TRUSTEE TREZISE. YES. TRUSTEE WILSON. YES. CLERK DEMAS, YES.

SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON. YES. MOTION CARRIES 7-0.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE ENTERING CLOSED SESSION, WILL YOU PLEASE CLEAR THE ROOM EXCEPT FOR OUR ATTORNEYS AND STAFF WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO BE HERE.

OKAY. WE NEED A WAY TO PIPE SAM DIRECTLY INTO THE THING SO SHE CAN BE LIKE, WE'RE GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] WE ARE LOOKING AT UPGRADES. OKAY, THAT MIGHT BE ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL REENTER OPEN SESSION AT 8:41 P.M. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 15.

ADJOURNMENT. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE LENTZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. WE STAND ADJOURNED. 8:41 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.