Sep 02, 2026 Environmental Commission Meeting

[00:00:23]

NOW I'M WORRIED. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.

GREAT. THANKS. OKAY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2026 MEETING OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO ORDER. AND THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING.

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE YEAH, JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR TRUSTEE LENTZ. NOW THAT SUMMER IS KIND OF COMING TO AN END, LIKE MAYBE, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO A MORE STABLE SCHEDULE NOW.

SO YEAH, SO I THINK TODAY'S MEETING SHOULDN'T BE TOO LONG.

IT'S MOSTLY UPDATES. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS CALLING.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER ]

PRESENT, PRESENT. OUR VICE CHAIR, BILL MCCONNELL.

HERE, OUR COMMISSIONERS, RICHARD MIKSICEK. PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER TOM FRAIZER. HERE. COMMISSIONER LAURA BELISLE.

PRESENT. COMMISSIONER ALURU SHANMUKHA. PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER HARRISON BATTEN. HERE. COMMISSIONER BRUCE MORTIMER.

PRESENT. COMMISSIONER IKE IYIOKE. PRESENT. AND THE ONLY ONE WE DON'T HAVE IS TRUSTEE LENTZ.

OKAY, GREAT. THANKS. OKAY. NEXT THING WE DON'T ON THE AGENDA PRESENTATION.

[3. PRESENTATION ]

WE DON'T HAVE ONE, NEXT SESSION IN OCTOBER, WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST, ONE OF OUR FIRST GREEN GRANTERS COME IN FOR PRESENTATION.

OKAY. AND THE IDEA WILL BE TO FILL OUT NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AS WELL WITH MORE OF THOSE PROGRESS UPDATES AND PROGRESS PROJECT.

CONCLUSION. OKAY. UPDATES FROM THOSE GREEN GRANTERS.

THAT'D BE GREAT. OKAY. AND THEN COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, WHICH I DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HERE.

SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMUNICATIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY NO.

NO. OKAY. AND THEN NEXT IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.

[6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]

COMMISSIONER FRAIZER SECONDED. OKAY. ANY CHANGES, COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE AGENDA? OKAY. SO ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. NEXT IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 5TH,

[7. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – August 5th, 2026 REGULAR MEETING ]

IT LOOKED GOOD. I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION. THIS COULD BE WHAT WAS INTENDED, BUT IN VICE CHAIR MCCONNELL'S REPORT ON PLANNING COMMISSION DEVELOPMENTS AT THE END OF LIKE, I THINK IT'S A SECOND SENTENCE, CERTAIN BUILDING RESTRICTIONS. OH, I WONDERED IF THAT SHOULD BE REGULATIONS.

OH, NO. YOU FOUND A DIFFERENT ONE. BUT MAYBE IT IS RESTRICTIONS.

IT'S THE END OF YEAR REPORT FROM THE PLANNING DIVISION.

THEY'RE UP HIGHER. A FEW LINES ABOVE. I THINK RESTRICTIONS IS PROBABLY APPROPRIATE.

THEY ARE REGULATIONS THAT RESTRICT HOW HIGH YOU CAN BUILD A BUILDING, HOW BIG THE BUILDING CAN BE.

SO. OKAY. I PROBABLY SAID RESTRICTIONS. SOUNDS GOOD.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO GET ON THE FORMER VERIZON LOCATION ON OLD CHICAGO.

I DID WONDER ABOUT THAT ONE TOO. I SHOULD READ NEXT TO THE RIGHT.

[00:05:03]

YEP. I'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S CONGRUENT. THANK YOU.

GOOD CATCHES GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE? NOPE. OKAY, SO I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

OKAY. THE PREVIOUS MEETING. SECOND. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. NEXT IS CITIZENS AGENDA ITEMS OR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY ONE PRESENT FOR THAT. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS FOR TONIGHT OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS. SO NEXT IS THE REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[11. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ]

ALL RIGHT SO A FEW THINGS TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

I'M GOING TO PULL THIS UP. THIS MAY BE SOMETHING WE MAY BE A BIT FAMILIAR WITH.

THIS IS OUR CONCEPT DESIGN FOR OUR PROPOSED SOLAR ARRAY FOR OUR NORTH FIRE STATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HAD IN DEVELOPMENT FOR A BIT.

THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT THROUGH THE CM GRANT COMMUNITY ENERGY MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE STATE ADMINISTERED FEDERALLY.

THIS PARTICULAR SOLAR PROJECT HAS BEEN UNIQUELY OR A DIFFERENT APPROACH FROM SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS SOLAR PROJECTS WHERE WE JUST TRIED TO BUILD KIND OF WHAT WE COULD, WHERE WE COULD. THIS ONE HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY SIZED TO THE FACILITY.

SO WE CAN SEE AT THE VERY TOP HERE, WE'VE GOT THE SYSTEM THAT'S BEING BUILT VERSUS THE EXPECTED DEMANDS THERE OF THIS FIRE STATION.

THIS IS DIFFERENT IN THAT OUR OTHER FIRE STATION ROUTINELY PRODUCES MORE ENERGY THAN IT NEEDS, AND WE CURRENTLY GET THAT BACK AS A CREDIT THROUGH CONSUMERS.

PREVIOUSLY, BACK IN 2018-17, THEY ACTUALLY USED TO PAY US FOR EXCESS ELECTRICITY GENERATION, ALBEIT IT WAS A DISCOUNTED RATE, SOMETHING LIKE $0.50 ON THE DOLLAR.

SO THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR POLICY SINCE AND I THINK THEY JUST OFFER CREDITS NOW.

BUT WE WERE LOOKING TO NOT GET INTO THAT SAME SITUATION HERE AND TO INSTEAD JUST TRY TO FIT THE SOLAR EXACTLY TO THE FACILITY SO THAT WE'RE EXACTLY MEETING THE DEMANDS HERE AND WE'RE NOT OVERPRODUCING OR UNDERPRODUCING. SO JUST A LITTLE QUICK REFRESHER HISTORY ON KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

THIS MAY BE NEW NEWS TO SOME OF OUR NEW MEMBERS AS WELL.

THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN TRYING TO EXPAND ITS SOLAR FACILITIES IN LINE WITH OUR GREATER CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS OF ACHIEVING RENEWABLE ENERGY, HIGHER RENEWABLE, HIGHER RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTIONS FOR THE TOWNSHIP HERE, WITH A GOAL TO BE COMPLETELY RENEWABLE BY 2035. SO WE'VE HAD THIS WORKED UP. WE'VE CURRENTLY GOT A FEW DESIGNS OUT FOR THE STYLE OF CARPORTS WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HERE, AND THE EXACT PLACEMENT OF THESE TILES MAY SHIFT AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

JUST A CONCEPT DESIGN. THIS IS AGAIN OUR NORTH FIRE STATION.

THIS IS RIGHT ON OKEMOS AND NORTH OF GRAND RIVER, SO NOT TOO FAR FROM US.

SO THIS IS ALL THIS GRANT IS WAS PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE FIRST APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT, IT WAS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP, AS WELL AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND AN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS FOR THE TOWNSHIP. SINCE WE RECEIVED THIS GRANT, WE HAVE ENTERED A SEPARATE PROGRAM.

THIS CFI GROUP IT'S A GROUP CALLED NEXT ENERGY AND IT'S A PROGRAM CALLED CHARGING AND FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM WITH KIND OF OUR SURROUNDING AREA AS WELL.

EAST LANSING, WILLIAMSTON, THE LANSING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL IN A GREAT COLLECTIVE THERE TO INSTALL CHARGERS ACROSS MID-MICHIGAN WITH THE IDEA THERE BEING TO KIND OF REDUCE RANGE ANXIETY THAT MAY BE FELT BY EV OWNERS WHO MAY BE TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE STATE, BUT MAY WORRY, CAN I MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THERE? WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND A SPOT TO PULL OFF AND CHARGE? THIS PROJECT IS LOOKING TO GO AFTER ALL THE MAJOR CORRIDORS IN MICHIGAN AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SUFFICIENT CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THOSE TO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE TRAVEL. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.

THIS IS ALSO A GRANT FUNDED INITIATIVE TO DO OUR EV CHARGERS.

AND I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT SIX RIGHT NOW FOR THE TOWNSHIP.

SO WE'VE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE GRANT PROVIDER HERE TO ASK TO KIND OF REALLOCATE SOME OF THIS FUNDING,

[00:10:02]

SO THEY'RE OKAY WITH US REALLOCATING THIS, REDISTRIBUTING THIS INTO BEING A SOLAR GRANT INSTEAD.

BUT THEY STILL HAD, WE STILL HAD A COMPONENT OF THIS GRANT WAS STILL BASED ON SOME OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES WE WERE GOING TO MAKE TO THE TOWNSHIP.

SO BEFORE WE'RE ALLOWED TO COMPLETELY CONVERT THIS OVER FROM AN EV AND EV CHARGING GRANT INTO A SOLAR GRANT, WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLETE THE INITIATIVES WE HAD SET UP AS CONTINGENT INTO THIS GRANT, AND WILL BE SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS WE GO AFTER, IN A WAY, TO KIND OF UNLOCK THE REST OF THE GRANT FUNDING.

THE FIRST STEP WILL BE TO ACCOMPLISH A MAJORITY OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY GOALS THAT WE HAD OUTLINED WHEN WE FIRST APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT.

SO I'M GOING TO GO OVER A FEW OF THESE HERE, THE ONES THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO ADDRESS, AND JUST GET THE KIND OF THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION A LITTLE MORE UP TO DATE ON OUR INITIATIVE THAT WAY.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, I'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THEM.

SO THIS PROJECT WAS IN COORDINATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THEY'VE GOT A WHOLE INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT TEAM THAT WORKS WITH FACILITIES IN THE REGION TO COME UP WITH BETTER STRATEGIES FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND ULTIMATELY REDUCING THEIR FOOTPRINTS.

SO WE WERE LOOKING, WE WORKED WITH THEM. THEY CAME THROUGH THIS BUILDING AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, AND KIND OF LOOKED AT ALL THE THINGS THAT CONSUME ENERGY AND TRIED TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THAT CONSUMPTION, EITHER THROUGH PHYSICAL HARDWARE CHANGES OR WE'LL CALL IT ENGINEERING CONTROLS, LIKE CHANGING BEHAVIOR PRACTICES ON SOME OF THESE WITH AN OVERALL GOAL OF REDUCING OUR ELECTRICAL DEMAND IN ORDER TO KIND OF BE MORE SUITED, MORE LINED UP TO MEET THAT DEMAND THROUGH RENEWABLES.

SO LET'S SEE, WE'VE GOT, I THINK, NINE OF THESE GOALS.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THE FIRST ONE. A COUPLE OF THEM ARE RELATED TO THE LIGHTS.

SO THERE'S A MECHANICAL CHANGE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND REPLACING SOME OF THE FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS WITH LED BULBS.

THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD. THIS IS A I THINK A LOT OF INDUSTRIES ARE KIND OF MOVING THIS WAY.

JUST HIGHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY, LESS REPLACEMENTS.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE OVERALL LIGHTING BY REDUCING THE PHYSICAL NUMBER OF BULBS PER LAMP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S FOUR BULBS IN ONE OF THESE OVERHEAD LIGHTS, TAKING IT DOWN TO TWO, IF THERE'S TWO, TAKING IT DOWN TO ONE AND JUST KIND OF SEEING WHAT THAT EFFECT FEELS LIKE WITH, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY 50% ENERGY REDUCTION AND HOPEFULLY NOT TOO MUCH IMPACT ON WORKING CONDITIONS.

I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS GIVE ME A HEADACHE IF I STARE AT THEM FOR TOO LONG. SO I WOULD BE VERY IN FAVOR OF DIMMING THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

IN THAT VEIN, WE ALSO HAVE UPSTAIRS, WE HAVE A LOT OF WINDOWS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING AND WE HAVE A PREVIOUS FLOOR PLAN THAT DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER THAT, BUT WE DID SOME RENOVATIONS A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FLOOR PLAN UPSTAIRS. SO THE IDEA OR A STRATEGY INVOLVING THE LIGHTING IN THAT WOULD BE TO RE RIG THE ELECTRICAL SWITCHES TO CONTROL THE INTERIOR BANKS OF LIGHTS SEPARATE FROM THE EXTERIOR PERIMETER BANKS OF LIGHTS, SO THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS COULD BE TURNED OFF DURING THE DAY AND LET ALL THE NATURAL DAYLIGHT IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND JUST HAVE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON FOR THE MORE ENCLOSED SPACES. THAT AGAIN, MORE NATURAL LIGHT, LESS ELECTRICITY DEMAND, AND I THINK PROBABLY BETTER ON HUMAN EYES AND WORKING CONDITIONS THERE.

SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT IDEA. I THINK IT'S THE LAST NOTE ON LIGHTING IS ANOTHER RATHER SIMPLE ONE TO GO THROUGH AND REPLACE ALL OF OUR EXIT SIGNS WITH LED MORE EFFICIENT EXIT SIGNS.

REPLACE ALL THE STANDARD ONES WITH LED ONES. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR IMPACT MUCH.

I THINK THAT ALSO RELATES TO HOW WE'D BE LOOKING AT WHAT OUR EMERGENCY LIGHTING LOOKS LIKE.

IF THERE WAS LIKE A TOTAL POWER LOSS TO THE BUILDING, I THINK WE WOULD ALSO NEED LIKE SOME KIND OF GUIDANCE LIGHTS, OR AT LEAST SOME BASIC NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS TO KIND OF GET PEOPLE OUT.

SO THAT WOULD ALL BE KIND OF TIED TOGETHER. BUT THAT'S IN THAT SPIRIT OF MOVING FROM INCANDESCENT BULBS TO LED BULBS.

LET'S SEE. ANOTHER COUPLE PROJECTS HERE OR ANOTHER COUPLE INITIATIVES WOULD BE TO

[00:15:08]

SO THE IDEA THERE WOULD BE TO SHUT OFF ALL THE HVAC SYSTEMS AFTER BUSINESS HOURS, ESSENTIALLY, AND JUST LET THE UPSTAIRS DO ITS THING UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN ALL THAT FIRES BACK UP.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'D HAVE TO CONDITION THIS IN THE WINTER.

YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE PIPES AND WHATNOT UP THERE.

WE'D HAVE TO WORK AROUND THAT. BUT IN THE SUMMER, THIS MAY BE A WAY TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE, SAY, HALF OF THE HVAC DEMAND. VERY SIMILAR TO THAT NOTE IS THE IDEA TO INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS OR CARBON DIOXIDE DETECTORS IN THIS ROOM.

OUR STUDIO ROOM, WHICH IS WHERE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FILMED SOME OF OUR MORE LIKE OUR INTERVIEWS AND OUR MORE I DON'T KNOW, GOVERNMENTAL KIND OF PROGRAMS. IT ONLY REALLY GETS USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES ONLY A FEW TIMES A MONTH, AS WELL. AS FOR THE THIRD ROOM, THERE'S A TRAINING ROOM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR I'M SORRY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, THAT'S ON THE SECOND LEVEL THAT REALLY ONLY GETS UTILIZED MAYBE A FEW TIMES A MONTH FOR BIG GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS.

SO THE IDEA HERE IS TO INSTALL CARBON DIOXIDE DETECTORS IN THIS ROOM, THE STUDIO AND THE TRAINING ROOM SO THAT THE HVAC, THE VENTILATION, THE HEATING, THE COOLING IN THESE ROOMS ONLY TRIGGERS AND ACTIVATES WHEN THERE ARE BODIES IN HERE, WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE BREATHING, EXHALING CARBON DIOXIDE.

SO IT'S IT'S A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MORE WHOLESALE APPROACH OF CUTTING OFF AN ENTIRE FLOOR FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

AND THERE'S A MORE KIND OF SURGICAL APPROACH OF CREATING LIKE A MORE ON DEMAND KIND OF SYSTEM FOR THE ROOMS THAT AREN'T USED, UTILIZED VERY OFTEN. SIMILAR TO THAT NOTE, WE ALSO HAVE THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING OCCUPANCY SENSORS THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE RIGGED TO THE LIGHTS, THE LIGHT SWITCHES, BUT THOSE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS.

PROBABLY PEOPLE SITTING DOWN FOR TOO LONG AND LIGHTS GOING OFF, YOU KNOW, ABOVE THEM AND DOING SOME KIND OF DANCE TO TRY TO GET THOSE BACK ON.

THAT'S NEVER A LOT OF FUN. SO THERE WERE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE LIGHTS FROM THE OCCUPANCY SENSORS.

HOWEVER, THE SENSORS ARE STILL THERE. SO THE IDEA WOULD BE TO REUTILIZE THOSE AND RIG THEM TO THE HVAC, THE VENTILATION INSTEAD. SO THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE THERE, YOU FLICK THE SWITCH, THE LIGHTS STAY ON. BUT IF YOU LEAVE FOR A WHILE OR YOU'RE NOT MOVING FOR A WHILE, THEN MAYBE THE HEAT OR THE AIR MIGHT TURN OFF IN THAT SPOT.

SO AGAIN, IT'S A NEAT IDEA, I THINK, TO UTILIZE SOME EXISTING TECHNOLOGY THAT'S PREVIOUSLY ALREADY THERE IN THE BUILDING THAT'S CURRENTLY NOT DOING ANYTHING AND WOULD GIVE IT A MORE FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE THAT COULD IMPROVE OUR OVERALL EFFICIENCY THERE.

SO A COUPLE STRATEGIES THAT WAY ON SOME OF OUR VENTILATION, HEATING AND COOLING COUPLE STRATEGIES ON LIGHTS.

THERE'S A CALL FOR OCCUPANCY SENSORS TO BE INSTALLED IN THE BATHROOMS. THAT MAY BE THE ONLY SPOT WHERE THAT GOES THROUGH.

I THINK WE ALREADY DO HAVE THOSE OVER AT THE SERVICE CENTER.

SO THERE'S SOME PRECEDENTS FOR THAT. ALTHOUGH I WOULD ALMOST WANT TO HAVE LIKE SOME KIND OF CLAPPER OPTION IN THERE TOO, BECAUSE HAVING THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE YOU'RE IN THE BATHROOM IS NEVER A GOOD TIME EITHER, SO HOPEFULLY SOME BACKUPS OR CONTINGENCIES COULD BE INSTALLED THERE.

AND FINALLY, WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE MAINTENANCE KIND OF APPROACHES TO DO SOME BETTER INSULATION OF SOME OF THE PIPES IN OUR BOILER ROOM AND SOME OF OUR ATTIC RAFTERS COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL INSULATION STAPLED OR MOUNTED UP, UP INTO THE CEILING UP THERE.

SO BASICALLY JUST KIND OF A BIG BASKET FULL OF REASONABLE APPROACHES TO REDUCE OUR HVAC USAGE, OUR LIGHTING USAGE, OVERALL ENERGY COSTS REDUCTION.

SOME OF THESE ARE ACCOMPLISHABLE JUST THROUGH SOME MAN HOURS AND SOME A TRIP TO THE HARDWARE STORE VERSUS SOME OF THESE WOULD INVOLVE HIRING AN ELECTRICIAN TO COME IN AND INSTALL SOME MONITORING DEVICES, LIKE THOSE CO2 MONITORS OR WHATEVER WORK WOULD BE REQUIRED TO RERIG SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES, WHICH WOULD, IN A SENSE, WORK TO OUR FAVOR, BECAUSE THE GRANT DOES ASK US TO PROVIDE SOME MATCH FUNDING.

SO ANY FUNDING WE SPENT ON AN ELECTRICIAN OR ON SOME OF THESE UPGRADES WOULD GO INTO THE GRANT WOULD BE CONSIDERED MATCH FUNDING FOR THAT GRANT.

SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO PROCEED WITH THE SOLAR PART OF THE GRANT,

[00:20:04]

SO JUST A FEW IDEAS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THERE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THAT? RICHARD. I'LL ASK A QUESTION. SO I SEE THAT THE TOTAL PRICE OR PRICE ON THE VISUAL THAT YOU PRODUCE HERE IS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $85,000.

THAT WAS BASED UPON THE ORIGINAL COST ESTIMATES THAT INCLUDED THE CHARGING STATION AND SOLAR.

THIS WOULD JUST BE FOR THE SOLAR, FOR THE FIRE STATION.

SO FREEING UP THE CHARGING STATION. HOW, HOW MUCH IN FUNDS DID THAT FREE UP? JUST. JUST HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS $30,000. WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OVER THAT WOULD HAVE PREVIOUSLY GONE TOWARDS AN EV CHARGING STATION IN A VEHICLE THAT CAN NOW BE.

AND IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, SOME OF THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.

CORRECT? YEAH. I'M NOT THAT NOT OF THAT 30,000.

THE OVERALL GRANT IS FOR 100,000. SO 30,000 OF THAT WAS FOR EVS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND THEN 70,000 WAS FOR THE BUILDING UPGRADES AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. SO IT'S NOW BEING COMPLETELY SCRUNCHED INTO JUST 100,000 FOR CONTRACTUAL UPGRADES. THAT WILL INCLUDE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES WE TALKED ABOUT AND THE SOLAR PANELS.

THANK YOU. SURE. WAS THIS MAYBE I'M CONFUSING THE TWO, BUT I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GRANT THAT WE PUT IN THAT WAS THROUGH THE LIKE IT WAS A SENATOR OR SOME.

THERE IS ANOTHER GRANT IN THE WORKS FOR SOLAR.

THAT'S THROUGH SLOTKIN'S OFFICE. YEAH. SO THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM.

THAT'S DIFFERENT. YEAH. AND I THINK THAT ONE I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT ONE YET ON IF THAT'S GONE THROUGH OR NOT.

SO WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS THAT ONE FOR? I THOUGHT THAT WAS ALSO FOR THE FIREHOUSE. NO.

THAT WAS FOR I'D HAVE TO I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON WHAT WE'RE THINKING FOR THAT ONE.

MAYBE IT WAS FOR HERE. I CAN'T REMEMBER. AS I RECALL, IT WAS FOR ADDITIONAL SOLAR PANELS IN HERE.

PUBLIC SAFETY BILL. I BELIEVE IT WAS TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT BECAUSE I THINK, YEAH, WE HAD SET IT UP IN A WAY TO WHERE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY NEW INSTALLATIONS.

I THINK THAT WAS WE WERE TRYING TO USE THAT AS A FAVORABLE TOKEN IN THAT GRANT APPLICATION, WAS THAT NO NEW INFRASTRUCTURE HAD TO BE BUILT, JUST EXPANDING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO YEAH, IT WAS TO DO MORE CARPORT SOLAR AND MORE PUBLIC SAFETY SOLAR.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY THERE. I'LL PICK THIS BACK UP OVER HERE. AND I BROUGHT THEM WITH ME, DIDN'T I? COOL. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT FOR THAT NOTE ON TOWNSHIP ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.

OKAY. SO ARE WE READY TO MOVE TO THE REPORT LIAISON REPORTS? WE CAN. AND NORMALLY I BELIEVE WE. YEAH. YEAH.

TOWNSHIP BOARD. SO SINCE TRUSTEE LENTZ IS NOT HERE SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

REAL QUICK. I'LL JUST YEAH I DON'T HAVE I, I WON'T PRESUME TO BE NICK OR HAVE HIS FULL DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE ON OUR TOWNSHIP BOARD, BUT I DID JUST CHECK INTO A FEW THINGS THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT FOR US.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AT THE BOARD MEETING.

IT'S GOING TO GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW.

BUT AT THE FIRST LOOK I SAW, IT APPEARS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE OUR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING KIND OF SLATED FOR WELLHEAD PROTECTION SET UP FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE OUR GREEN GRANT FUNDING IS SECURE FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

OKAY. IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE'RE SEEING ANY CHANGE IN THAT.

SO IT WAS A TOUGH BUDGET DISCUSSION. IT SOUNDED LIKE FROM WHAT I HEARD.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE STILL INTACT.

DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR BOTH OF THOSE? YEAH.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 20,000 FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING SLASH WELLHEAD PROTECTION.

[00:25:03]

THIS IS ALL PENDING PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW YET, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THE PUBLIC IS IN FAVOR OF THESE.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE AREN'T QUESTIONS THERE.

SO THAT'LL BE MY VERY SMALL UPDATE IN PLACE OF NICK'S USUAL REPORT.

GREAT. THAT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR. SORRY. PLANNING COMMISSION.

OKAY. YEAH. IN THE MINUTES RECALL A DISCUSSION ABOUT CONCERNS ON CONSTRUCTION OF A GAS STATION NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREA.

AND I HAD MENTIONED AT THAT TIME THAT THE APPLICANTS WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH THEY DID IN PRETTY GOOD DETAIL, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT CONCERN OPERATION OF GAS STATIONS IN TERMS OF EMISSIONS, BOTH WHEN REFILLING THEIR TANKS OR DELIVERING FUEL TO CARS.

AND THEIR ENGINEER EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN THAT THE COMPANY USES TO CAPTURE ANY VAPORS THAT MAY ESCAPE.

AND THOSE THAT INFORMATION SATISFIED THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THE RISK TO THE NEIGHBORING RESIDENTIAL AREA WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO DENY THE APPLICATION. IT WAS A SPLIT VOTE.

AFTER THAT TIME, I HAPPENED TO GO PAST A GAS STATION.

AND I'VE BEEN GOING PAST FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT HAPPENED TO BE FILLING THEIR TANKS AND WOW, IT FILLED THE CAR WITH FUMES. AND IT REMINDED ME THAT THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE AT THAT STATION.

AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT. IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE IT WAS MORE AN ISSUE OF OPERATOR ERROR THAN INSUFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY.

BUT THAT MADE ME REALIZE THAT WE BY APPROVING A GAS STATION NEAR A RESIDENTIAL AREA WE WERE COUNTING ON THE PEOPLE REFILLING THE TANKS TO BE PERFORMING PROPERLY.

AND THAT MAY BE A HEROIC ASSUMPTION. AGAIN, DIFFICULT.

I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, WHO HAD TO APPROVE A VARIANCE FOR SOME OF THE SETBACKS, INCLUDING THE SETBACK TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

AND THEY DID APPROVE THAT VARIANCE. SO THAT GAS STATION CONSTRUCTION WILL PROCEED.

DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE WERE PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT SOME COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING SOME QUITE NEARBY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF GAS STATIONS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARE CONSIDERING A PAUSE TO RECONSIDER THE ORDINANCE AND SEE IF WE'RE ADEQUATELY REGULATING THAT PARTICULAR USE.

IT CAME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE GAS STATIONS REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN CONCERNS.

SO THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. DO YOU KNOW DO YOU KNOW IF JUST CURIOSITY, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT LIKE IF A GAS STATION GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, DO THEY LIKE THEN, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING EVERYTHING AND THEN LIKE REMEDIATING THE SITE OR? I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED EXACTLY, BUT THE ANSWER IS YES, EVENTUALLY.

IF THE OWNER WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT HISTORICALLY THERE HAVE BEEN GAS STATIONS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY REMEDIATED WHEN THEY WERE ABANDONED AND THOSE BECOME BROWNFIELD SITES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BROWNFIELD FUNDING TO HELP NEW PROPERTY OWNERS, USUALLY TO CLEAN UP THE MESS OF THEIR PREDECESSOR, THE PERSON THEY BOUGHT IT FROM. WE ASKED IF THERE HAVE BEEN FUEL STATION ABANDONMENT IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND OUR PLANNERS CAN'T RECALL THAT HAPPENING IN THE LAST IN LIVING MEMORY OR STAFF MEMORY.

ANYWAY BUT WE DO KNOW THAT FOR INSTANCE, THE MEYER GAS STATION ON OKEMOS AND I'M SORRY, ON GRAND RIVER AND MARSH WAS RECENTLY UPGRADED AND THEY REPLACED ALL OF THEIR TANKS AND THEY PUT IN ALL THE NEW PUMPS WITH ALL THE NEW VAPOR RECOVERY STUFF.

SO THAT, IN MY VIEW, IS AN UPGRADE TO AN EXISTING SYSTEM THAT WASN'T AS EFFICIENT.

[00:30:03]

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS. SO IT'S I THINK IT'S OLD SCHOOL STUFF, BUT I AGAIN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT.

I DO RECALL THAT IN THE OKEMOS FOUR CORNERS DEVELOPMENT, THE OLD DRY CLEANER SITE WAS ACTUALLY PURCHASED BY DEVELOPERS WITH A DEED RESTRICTION DISCLAIMING THE POLLUTION ON THE PROPERTY, WHICH WAS AN INTERESTING FACT TO ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD PURCHASE A PROPERTY THAT THEY KNEW HAD A REAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM ON IT, AND THEN SEEK EVERYBODY ELSE'S HELP TO CLEAN IT UP.

BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE THERE AND THAT SITE WAS REMEDIATED.

THE PLUME IS NO LONGER MOVING TOWARDS THE RED CEDAR RIVER.

IT'S A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND. I SEE IT AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A GAS STATION ON THAT SITE AS WELL THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND STUFF.

ANYWAY. OKAY, SO SO THERE CURRENTLY ARE NO, LIKE, THERE'S NO LIKE PLAN OR LIKE A RESTRICTION FOR HOW MANY GAS STATIONS ARE ON THE TOWNSHIP, SOUNDS LIKE. THERE IS NOT. WE DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER.

AND IN SOME COMMUNITIES THEY'VE KIND OF DONE COMMUNITY WIDE MORATORIA WHILE THEY REWORK THE CODE.

THERE'S SOME THOUGHT THAT IF WE WERE TO PURSUE THAT HERE, WE MIGHT CONSIDER A MORE NUANCED APPROACH AND MAYBE FOCUS ON THE GRAND RIVER CORRIDOR, WHICH IS THE SITE OF THREE JUST BANG, BANG, BANG, AND MAYBE WE NEED TO COOL OUR JETS AND, BUT NOT NECESSARILY RESTRICT THEM ON SAGINAW OR OTHER MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE.

IT DOES SEEM LIKELY GIVEN SOME OF THE COMPANY CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EXISTING GAS STATIONS AND NEW ONES AND LOCATIONS THAT ONE, A BRAND NEW STATION GOES IN ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE OTHER ONE MAYBE DOESN'T OR DISAPPEARS OR IT GETS REDEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING ELSE. BUT THAT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO PREDICT.

IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WENT AROUND, DID A STUDY AND SAID THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GAS STATIONS THERE.

AND EVERYBODY SAW IT AND SAID, OH, I'LL GO. AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY ALL GOT TO US.

AND YEAH. AND CAR WASHES, AS I SAID LAST TIME, IS A SIMILAR SORT OF THING.

BUT SO THE CONVERSION OF THE CAR WASH NEXT TO THE OLD VERIZON SITE TO A CONVENIENCE STATION WITH A CAR WASH NOW CONSTRUCTED UP MARSH ROAD.

THAT'S A BRAND NEW MODERN CAR WASH WITH ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS AND REPLACING ONE THAT'S MORE VINTAGE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS. THANKS. OKAY. FOR LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, WE DID MEET ON AUGUST 12TH.

AND JACK CAME AND GAVE US A REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION AND TALKED TO THE THE BOARD ABOUT NEEDING TO GET LIKE A, LIKE A, I DON'T KNOW, AN APPROVAL FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN OR SOMEHOW BE ABLE TO ACCESS A SEWER THAT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. LOOKING TO DO SOME SEWER REHABILITATION HERE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

WE HAD A COLLAPSE NEAR ONE OF OUR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

THAT KIND OF PUT US INTO A BIT OF A PANIC TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR OTHER UTILITIES CROSSING RAILWAYS ARE SECURE AND IN GOOD SHAPE.

AND WE FOUND ONE THAT'S IN A LAND PRESERVE AREA.

SO WE, TOWNSHIP HAD TO GO TO THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD AND ASK FOR THEIR PERMISSION AND BLESSING TO CLEAR SOME TREES, TO MAKE ROOM SO THAT OUR TRUCKS CAN GET TO THE SEWER SYSTEM TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN IT.

YEAH. YEAH, I THINK THAT WENT WELL. YEAH. IT WAS IT WAS DEFINITELY REALLY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT THAT AND HOW WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN WITH THIS SORT OF FEELING NEXT TO A RAILROAD.

SO AND THEN EMMA CAMPBELL WE ARE, SHE IS LOSING SOME STAFF MEMBERS FOR THE FOR THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM THERE, BUT I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HIRE AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON AND FILL SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS. SHE'S GETTING READY FOR THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND THE DEER CALL THEN WHICH,

[00:35:01]

AND JUST TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PIKE CROSSING, WHICH CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ENCROACHMENT THERE.

SO IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN PIKE CROSSING.

HE AGREED TO TO TALK WITH YOU. ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, ISSUE THERE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE, I THINK, TRYING TO SCHEDULE A SITE VISIT, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE A LOOK AT A PROPERTY.

AND I KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WAS INVITED OR AT LEAST NOTIFIED OR INVITED TO ATTEND THE SITE VISIT FOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL PROPERTY THAT WE ARE EVALUATING FOR, YOU KNOW, TO SEE IF WE MIGHT YOU KNOW, WANT TO ACQUIRE IT. AND SO I THINK WE WILL, I THINK WE WILL LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THEN WHEN WE SCHEDULE THAT SITE VISIT.

SO IF FOLKS WANT TO COME FOR THAT AND PROVIDE HELP PROVIDE INPUT.

YEAH. AND THE OTHER THING I MENTIONED IS THAT SHE IS STARTING TO ALSO WORK ON TREE OF HEAVEN.

THEY'RE REALLY WORKING, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON PHRAGMITES, TO TRY TO REALLY GET RID OF PHRAGMITES ON TOWNSHIP LAND, BUT THEY'RE ALSO STARTING TO REALLY WORK ON TREE OF HEAVEN.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY TREE OF HEAVEN OR KNOW WHERE SOME TREE OF HEAVEN ARE, LET EM KNOW.

AND THEY ALSO PASS ALONG YOUR KUDOS ABOUT HER SITE VISIT.

AND SO SHE WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO NEXT IS BROWNFIELD. YEAH, THE BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DID MEET IN AUGUST.

AND THEY DID APPROVE OR WE DID APPROVE A BROWNFIELD PLAN FOR THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OKEMOS ROAD AND HAMILTON, WHICH IS BASICALLY DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.

IT'S FOR THREE BUILDINGS THAT CURRENTLY ARE ON THAT SITE.

ALL THE BUILDINGS WILL REMAIN, BUT THE INTERIORS WILL BE REDONE AND THE FINAL PROJECT WILL INCLUDE SEVEN APARTMENTS AS WELL AS 11 COMMERCIAL SPACES. THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROJECT IS ABOUT $5.3 MILLION, AND ABOUT 900,000 OF THAT WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE DEVELOPER THROUGH THE BROWNFIELD PROGRAM.

THERE IS A HOUSING COMPONENT, AS I MENTIONED, THE SEVEN APARTMENTS.

AND THREE OF THOSE WILL BE RENT REGULATED, IF YOU WILL, TO 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. AND AND THE OTHER THING, THAT OTHER MAIN THING THAT WAS DONE AT THAT MEETING IS WE DID APPROVE THE 2027 BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BUDGET. SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS.

DOES THAT, SO WILL THERE, WILL THEY BE BE PUTTING IN OR IS THAT THE AREA ALREADY? LIKE PREPARED TO HANDLE, YOU KNOW, HAVING ALL THAT ADDITIONAL LIKE SEWER AND, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH ALL OF THAT? I BELIEVE SO BECAUSE ALL, ALL THE BUILDINGS CURRENTLY EXIST.

SO THAT DIDN'T COME UP DURING THE DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE THE CASE BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY OCCUPIED. SO I'M SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE TO MEET THOSE DEMANDS.

ALL THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

BUT YEAH, I THINK THERE WILL NOT BE ANY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AS FAR AS SEWER IS CONCERNED. ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

COULD YOU POINT OUT THOSE BUILDINGS ON THE ON THE MAP.

[00:40:04]

AND THEN THE BUILDING RIGHT IN THE CORNER THERE AT THE INTERSECTION.

TWO OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY MIXED USE. SO THERE ARE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.

AND ONE OF THEM IS SOLELY COMMERCIAL CURRENTLY.

OH. SO THESE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO TURN INTO COMMERCIAL WITH RESIDENTIAL.

I'M SORRY. WELL RESIDENTIAL UPSTAIRS. OKAY. WHICH IS BEEN RESIDENTIAL UPSTAIRS IN THE PAST.

THEY'RE JUST IN GREAT NEED OF REHABILITATION AND UPGRADING.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S THE AREA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I DRIVE BY THIS UPSIDE DOWN PARKING SIGN ALMOST EVERY DAY [LAUGHS] YOU HAVE TO PARK UPSIDE DOWN.

FLIP YOUR CAR. RIGHT. AND I THINK, AS EVERYBODY'S PROBABLY AWARE, THAT WHOLE DOWNTOWN AREA HAS BEEN A REAL FOCUS FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND REDEVELOPMENT, AND STAFF HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT.

BUT AT LEAST THIS ONE PARTICULAR CORNER OF THAT INTERSECTION WILL SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. SO THE PARKING IS THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THEM.

THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WOULD PARK FOR THOSE COMMERCIAL OR? YEAH. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO BE UPGRADED AS WELL.

BUT IT'S IT'S CURRENTLY EXISTING PARKING. SORRY, I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.

FUN FACTOID. CELEBRATE MERIDIAN STARTED OUT AS CELEBRATE OKEMOS AND IT WAS IN THAT PARKING LOT.

IT FIT. SO ARE THEY GOING TO TEAR THOSE BUILDINGS DOWN? NO. NO. OKAY. THE, THE FACADES WILL BASICALLY REMAIN THE SAME.

IT'S THE INTERIOR THAT WILL BE KIND OF GUTTED AND REBUILT.

OKAY. BUT THE APPEARANCE ON THE OUTSIDE WILL REMAIN RELATIVELY THE SAME.

AND THE CURRENT BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THERE THAT ARE THEY? ARE THOSE OR. THOSE ARE ALL EMPTY. MOST OF THEM ARE EMPTY RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE THE BARBER SHOP IS STILL OPERATING OR NOT.

THEY MOVED. THEY MOVED. OKAY. SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT IT'S ALL VACANT AT THIS POINT.

TAYLOR'S ARE STILL THERE. OKAY.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. NEXT IS PARKS COMMISSION PARK COMMISSION.

SO I WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE LAST MEETING OCCURRED, WHICH WAS ON AUGUST 11TH, BUT I CONTACTED HANNAH, STAFF, AND THE PARK COMMISSION AND GOT A COPY OF THEIR DRAFT MINUTES REPORT.

ON THE BASIS OF THOSE AT THAT MEETING, DIRECTOR WISINSKI DISTRIBUTED A DRAFT BUDGET FOR THE 2027 CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION. IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES FOR THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FOR THE NANCY MOORE PARK PLAYGROUND, A BIKE TRAIL HUB AT OKEMOS ROAD, PARKING LOT EXPANSION AT NORTH MERIDIAN PARK ROAD, WHERE THERE'S INSUFFICIENT PARKING CURRENTLY.

TO MEET THE VISITATION STATISTICS AND INSTALLATION OF AN ACCESSIBLE CANOE LAUNCH AT WATCH PARK THAT IS A CARRYOVER FROM 2026. THEY DID SOME RETHINKING ON THAT.

THEY'RE CONSIDERING RELOCATING IT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, AND THAT WILL COMPLETE 2026. AND THE COMMISSIONERS ALSO BATTED AROUND THE IDEA OF ADDING SOLAR PANELS TO THE FARMERS MARKET. IS THAT SOMETHING WE MAY HEAR ABOUT IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS? CLEARLY NO DECISION ON IT AT THIS POINT. AND THEY ALSO DISCUSSED SUBSEQUENT YEARS 2027 AND 2028.

[00:45:10]

DIRECTOR WISINSKI SHARED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, WHICH WAS APPROVED AT A PREVIOUS TRUSTEES MEETING FOR THE UPCOMING MILLAGE PARKS MILLAGE PROPOSAL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION.

AND DIRECTOR WISINSKI AND THE COMMISSION STRESSED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A RENEWAL, A NEW TAX, AND THEY'RE STRATEGIZING ON HOW TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO HELP INFORM AND EDUCATE VOTERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FOR THE, FOR THE PARK SYSTEM. AND THEN FINALLY, THE COMMISSIONERS MET WITH MIKE HOFFMEISTER OF MANIC SMITH CONSULTING ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, WHICH I THINK WILL BE FINALIZED NEXT YEAR.

ADDITIONAL DATA WAS BEING COLLECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH AUGUST.

I THINK IT WAS A LISTENING SESSION MID-AUGUST.

SO ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND THE PARKS ARE BEING CONSOLIDATED BY A CONSULTANT AND SHOULD BE COMPILED IN SEPTEMBER. SO THAT'S IT FROM THE PARK COMMISSION.

THE NEXT MEETING IS NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH.

THANKS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION I THOUGHT IS NOT NECESSARILY MAYBE FOR YOU OR FOR THE PARKS COMMISSIONER, MAYBE FOR JACK, BUT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOLAR AND ALL THAT STUFF, IS THERE, IS THERE A DISCUSSION THAT ALSO BRINGS IN NOT JUST FOR THE BUILDINGS, BUT LIKE THE PARKS AND EVERYTHING? I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT THAT THE FARMERS MARKET IS THINKING ABOUT.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAS THAT BEEN TALKED ABOUT TO LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ENERGY THESE PARKS REALLY USE, BUT. [INAUDIBLE] NATURE CENTER HAS. I THINK WE'VE.

YEAH, WE'VE WE'VE LOOKED AT IT WHEN WE DID A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF ALL THE TOWNSHIP FACILITIES, I THINK. WE TRIED TO LOOK AT ALL THE PARKS AND WHATNOT AND LIFT STATIONS AND OTHER THINGS, TOO. OKAY. AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION OF NON GRID CONNECTED SOLAR PANELS, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ISOLATED RESTROOM FACILITIES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THAT MIGHT BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE.

YEAH THAT'D BE GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING.

OKAY. SO UPDATES ON THE TEAM'S ENERGY TEAM. YES.

I WILL REPORT ON THE LAST ENERGY TEAM MEETING, WHICH WAS ALWAYS ZOOM MEETINGS.

THIS ONE WAS ON AUGUST 13TH. AND FIRST ITEM IS THAT THERE WAS A SOLARIZE EVENT FOR INGHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT WAS HELD AT BRISTOL DISTILLERY. ON AUGUST 20TH. I DID THAT MYSELF.

SO I, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT THE ATTENDANCE WAS LIKE.

AND IT USUALLY TAKES A FEW WEEKS FOR ATTENDEES TO THINK ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF INSTALLING A SOLAR PANEL, EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL NONPROFIT SETTING, TO LOOK THROUGH THE FINANCES AND THEN EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO COMMIT TO SOLAR PROJECT. SO IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS OR MONTHS, WE'LL PROBABLY BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF THAT.

BUT IT WAS THE TIME TO BE COMING SO BROADER THAN JUST THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM JOHN SARVER PRESENTED THE DATA WHICH I CIRCULATED ON THIS SHEET, WHICH INCLUDES DATA CUMULATIVE DATA ON SOLAR INSTALLATIONS TOWNSHIP WIDE.

THEY'RE COLLECTED BY THE TOWNSHIP ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT AND ANGELA RYAN SHARED THIS WITH THE ENERGY TEAM.

AND IT SHOWS FAIRLY STEADY GROWTH IN BOTH NUMBER OF SOLAR INSTALLATIONS, WHICH IS NOW, AS OF THE END OF 2025, UP TO 212 SOLAR INSTALLATIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.

INCLUDES BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, AND I THINK ALSO THE GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS.

THIS ADDS UP TO A CUMULATIVE GENERATION CAPACITY OF ALMOST 2.2 MILLION.

SO IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE GROWTH OVER THE NEXT PRIMARILY THAT REACHES BACK.

[00:50:01]

THE SOLAR INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT WAS INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE ENERGY POLICY ACT, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH IN 2005. SO THAT FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR OVER TWO DECADES, THE 30% TAX CREDIT BECAME AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2006.

THE CREDIT POLICY WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO SUNSET FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH WAS EXTENDED IN 2008 AND IN 2022 BY THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. AND SO [INAUDIBLE] CREDIT [INAUDIBLE] AND RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ARE SIMPLY BY CONGRESS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS PART OF [INAUDIBLE] 2025.

30% TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS IS STILL IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AND INTO 2027. SO THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES [INAUDIBLE] TO BENEFIT FROM THE GREEN ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS AND BOTH TYPES OF GREEN ENERGY CREDITS BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, WERE ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH 2032.

SO THE PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF THOSE CREDITS [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] FOR GRADUALLY PHASE OUT BETWEEN 2032 AND 2034. THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] SO THAT'S IT FOR THE ENERGY TEAM.

AND THIS IS [INAUDIBLE]. AND I WOULD INVITE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS, PARTICULARLY THE NEW COMMISSIONERS AND THE INTERESTED THE GREEN ENERGY ISSUES [INAUDIBLE]THAT'S IT FROM THE ENERGY TEAM.

THAT'S EXCELLENT. IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE. THAT WHOLE GROWTH IN THE.

YEAH, THE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS AND EVERYTHING IN THE TOWNSHIP.

SO. CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THE OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND US [LAUGHS] ARE DOING. OKAY. GREEN TEAM. YEAH. GREEN TEAM. OUR NEXT BIG EVENT IS COMING UP LATER THIS MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, WHICH IS A SATURDAY.

IT'S OUR ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT. IT'S ALWAYS VERY POPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THAT'LL BE FROM 9 TO 1. IT'LL BE AT THE MERIDIAN MALL, KIND OF AT THE OTHER END OF THE MALL THEN.

OUR SPRING EVENT, IT'S NEAR THE CHILI'S OLIVE GARDEN AREA, AND WE'LL BE TAKING IN ELECTRONICS PRETTY MUCH OF ALL KINDS. WE'RE ALSO COLLECTING COATS FOR THE WINTER.

THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH MERIDIAN CARES EITHER NEW OR GENTLY USED COATS AND THEN CONSUMERS ENERGY WILL ALSO BE PARTICIPATING TO TAKE BACK SMALL APPLIANCES AND PROVIDE A REBATE FOR CUSTOMERS THAT BRING IN THOSE APPLIANCES THAT ARE STILL WORKING BUT ARE NO LONGER ENERGY EFFICIENT.

SO IF RESIDENTS WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DO SO.

AND THE GREEN TEAM IS SCHEDULED TO MEET NEXT THURSDAY.

OUR NORMAL MONTHLY MEETING TO PUT WORK ON FINAL DETAILS FOR THE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT. SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT UNLESS OTHER MEMBERS HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? OR QUESTIONS? SURE. WHAT TIME IS THE LIKE? ARE THE GREEN TEAM MEETINGS USUALLY?

[00:55:04]

YEAH, AND WE MADE IT TO SCHULER'S BOOKS IN THE MERIDIAN MALL IN THE CAFE AREA THERE.

OH, ONE ONE LAST THING I SHOULD MENTION IS THAT WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE THE DAY OF THE EVENT.

IT'S VERY VOLUNTEER DEPENDENT. AND YOU CAN SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR THAT EVENT AND THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. I GUESS I CAN NOTE TOO, THAT WE HAD OUR LAST FARMER'S MARKET EVENT ON AUGUST THERE. IT WAS FOCUSED ON GREEN COMMUTING AND EXPLORING SOME OF THE WATERWAYS AND PATHWAYS AROUND THE TOWNSHIP.

I WAS THERE FOR THE EVENT AND I FELT LIKE IT WENT WELL.

I THINK I CLOCKED OVER 50 PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO OUR AREA FOR INFORMATION OR FOR SOME EDUCATION ON GREEN LIVING.

SO I THINK OVERALL THAT WENT REALLY WELL. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED SUPPORT THAT.

GREAT. THAT'S AWESOME. YEAH, THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

THAT'S A GREAT EVENT. THE RECYCLING. SO OKAY.

GREEN BURIAL TEAM. IS THERE ANY UPDATE ON THAT? YEAH, THERE REALLY ISN'T. I THINK THINGS HAVE KIND OF SLOWED DOWN A BIT, SO NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ACTIVITY THERE.

OKAY. AND THEN DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES FROM OUR WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GO FIRST? WELL, FOR US, NOT NOT MUCH HAS REALLY STARTED YET AT OUR SCHOOL, LIKE IN TERMS OF LIKE CLUBS, EVERYTHING STARTING LIKE THIS WEEK. AND OUR EARTH CLUB IS HAVING SOME ISSUES ON LIKE OUR ADVISORS AND STUFF BECAUSE LIKE TEACHERS HAVE MOVED AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO ONCE ALL OF THAT GETS SETTLED, LIKE I'M SURE LIKE EARTH CLUB MEETINGS WILL START RAMPING UP AND THERE HAVE BEEN LIKE MORE THAN ONE EARTH CLUBS THAT ARE LIKE COMING OUT, WHICH I THINK IS LIKE REALLY COOL.

LIKE MORE PEOPLE ARE LIKE TAKING INITIATIVE AND DOING STUFF LIKE THAT.

YEAH. OKAY, GREAT. SIMILAR SITUATION FOR HASLETT.

OUR FIRST WEEK WAS LAST WEEK, SO IT HASN'T BEEN VERY LONG.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY CLUB, WHICH IS, I'M PRETTY SURE YOUR VERSION OF EARTH CLUB, WE MET YESTERDAY AND IT WAS JUST OUR PRELIMINARY MEETING OF, YOU KNOW, TELLING OUR NEW MEMBERS KIND OF WHAT WE DO WHEN AND SUCH.

WE'RE STARTING TO PLAN THINGS FOR THE YEAR. KEEPING UP WITH OUR OUR SAME TRADITIONS, RECYCLING AROUND THE SCHOOL AND SUCH.

IN AUGUST ME AND SOME OTHER LIKE MINDED PEOPLE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL MET UP AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF.

AND SO THAT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE SOME PEOPLE OVER THE SUMMER AND START PLANNING WHAT WE WANT TO DO OVER THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AN EXPANSION OF STUFF TO OTHER SCHOOLS SHARING WHAT WE'VE DONE AT HASLETT FOR, FOR GREEN SCHOOLING AND, AND WHATEVER IT MAY BE. EARTH CLUB, I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF PLANNING FOR THAT.

ME AND THE OTHER ADVISORS, OUR EARTH CLUB IS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THAT'S THE ONE I'VE PRESENTED ON BEFORE AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY COOL THINGS PLANNED, BUT YEAH, NOT TOO MUCH.

COOL. GREAT, THANKS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AS THE SCHOOL YEAR GOES INTO FULL SWING.

SO ANY OTHER MATTERS OR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS?

[12. OTHER MATTERS AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS ]

TO SHOWCASE SOME OF THE NEW ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS THEY'VE MADE.

SO WE ARE ALL INVITED TO THAT GRACIOUSLY TO COME ATTEND AND SEE.

YES, I'LL ADD TO THAT, SINCE I'M IN PART OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

SO AS YOU MAY RECALL, WILDER LAKES WAS THE RECIPIENT OF ONE OF THE GREEN GRANTS.

SO ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, BETWEEN 10 A.M. AND 1 P.M..

IT'S A SUNDAY. EXCUSE ME. SATURDAY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH.

THERE'S AN OPEN INVITATION. YOU CAN DROP IN AT ANY TIME, BUT WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND COMMEMORATIONS AT 10:30.

[01:00:01]

AND THERE ARE, THERE'S A FLAG ON THE TABLE ON THE WAY OUT IF YOU WANT TO CATCH THAT.

SOME DETAILS ABOUT THAT. OKAY. I DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT.

I RECALL LAST MONTH'S MEETING. THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT BIRD CITY, MICHIGAN.

OH, YEAH. I CHECKED INTO THAT. AND YES, INDEED, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP OUR APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AUDUBON SOCIETY WHICH WE APPLIED FOR IN 2025, WAS APPROVED.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ONE OF NOW 12 CITY MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES, AND IF YOU GOOGLE AND MOST OF THAT IS THINGS THAT WERE DRAWN FROM THE APPLICATION THAT WE'LL PUT TOGETHER AS PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THE OTHER 12 MEMBERS, I'LL QUICKLY RATTLE THEM OFF.

HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN THE ROCHESTER U OF M, DEARBORN, IOSCO COUNTY TOWNSHIP, ALPENA, STERLING HEIGHTS, ANN ARBOR, OAKLAND COUNTY, VILLAGE OF ROSCOMMON, ETC..

GRADIENT. TOWNSHIPS. GREAT. AWESOME. SO WILL THERE BE.

DO YOU KNOW, LIKE, WILL THERE BE SOME LIKE ADDITIONAL EITHER EVENTS OR THINGS THAT THE TOWNSHIP WOULD LIKE TO DO AS PART OF THIS? YES. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS TO HOLD AT LEAST ONE EVENT AND IT'S USUALLY IT'S IN THE APRIL MAY TIME FRAME IN CONJUNCTION WITH, I THINK THE AMOUNT OF BACKYARD BIRD. OH, OKAY.

ISN'T IT? THERE IS A CHRISTMAS, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT THAT OCCURS IN APRIL MAY BE PLANNING SOMETHING AS PART OF THAT.

OKAY. AND THEN HARRIS NATURE CENTER VERY OFTEN HAS BIRD WALKS.

ADVERTISEMENT [INAUDIBLE] TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. OTHER TYPES OF NATURE WALKS IN NATURE CENTER AND SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS AND PRESERVES.

AND MOST OF THOSE SHOULD EITHER BE POSTED ON THE MICHIGAN WEBSITE [INAUDIBLE] POSTED ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE.

OKAY. IS IT ALSO ON THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WEBSITE THEN? IS THERE [INAUDIBLE] SO IF WE HAVE A LINK. IF WE DON'T, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP WITH THAT WE CAN ADD THAT TO OUR PAGE.

IT SHOULD BE ON THE PAGE, RIGHT? YEAH I AGREE.

YEAH. JUST CURIOUS, IS THERE ANY SIGNAGE INVOLVED WITH THAT DESIGNATION? THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLAQUES. I THINK WE CAN ATTACH TO OUR WELCOME SIGNS.

YES, YES. AND THAT HASN'T OCCURRED YET. BUT WHEN THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

SURE. YEAH. IT'S A GOOD, GOOD POINT. GOOD REMINDER.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT YOU GET TO PROMOTE.

YEAH, YOU'RE IN BIRD CITY. I KNOW IT'S SO QUIET LIKE THIS APPROVAL.

LIKE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR SOMETHING. SO GREAT.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE THEN? OH, AWESOME. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THEN WITH THAT, I THINK WE CAN ADJOURN THE MEETING.

THANKS, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.