[0:00] check and posted it in January. >> I mean, the other the post date

[0:03] » it was for December. >> Oh, we didn't look it up today.

[0:06] » The other thing I see in the >> We're missing December.

[0:08] » Should say this during the bills, but >> I see there's two payments to the

[0:12] assessor. >> All right, we can begin. So, must be

[0:15] » call our meeting to order and we'll begin with the pledge of allegiance.

[0:21] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:27] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:32] justice for all. Ed, would you like to lead us in our prayer?

[0:36] » Sure. Certainly. >> Okay.

[0:38] » A quick prayer. >> Sure.

[0:40] » Lord God, Father in heaven, we thank you for this day.

[0:46] Help us to make good decisions this evening as a board and represent our

[0:50] community. Be with us this day and this month.

[0:55] Protect us and grant us strength, hope, and joy.

[0:59] » Amen. >> Amen.

[1:00] » Amen. >> Could we have a roll call of officers,

[1:04] please? >> Hey, Ed here.

[1:06] » Ron Byer >> here.

[1:07] » Dana Moran >> here.

[1:09] » Sharon Martin here. Dan Kirk, >> present.

[1:12] » Linda Schwehuffer >> here.

[1:14] » Lauren Martin here. >> Yeah. So it was just one for

[1:16] » all present. Okay. Uh under persons wishing to address the board, we have

[1:21] with us tonight uh deputies Ford and he's going to give us a presentation on

[1:26] the calls.

[1:33] » Well, good evening.

[1:37] Hope everybody's doing well with the freezing weather. U introduce myself. My

[1:41] name is Jim Spanifer. I'm the owner sheriff here in Sler County. I've been

[1:44] here about 25 years and I've been coming on and off these board meetings as much

[1:48] as I can. If I can, maybe usually we have some type of representative come

[1:50] here about once every quarter to kind of just talk about the numbers or any

[1:53] questions you may have. Um, I looked today before I came there was a steady

[1:56] increase in this last quarter of of call volume or calls for service, we'll call

[2:00] it. Um, that was pretty consistent with the prior years and and if I looked

[2:04] forward a little bit, you can see January and February they increase a

[2:06] little bit too. And I just don't know if that's weather related or if it's, you

[2:10] know, some other things. you get a bunch of accidents snow and that could

[2:13] increase cost for service as well. So there's multiple factors where they

[2:15] could increase or decrease and some of it is weather related and we've had

[2:18] quite a bit of snow quite a bit of accidents. So I'm going to wager event

[2:22] that it's going up a little bit. Uh what's through for the sheriff's office

[2:25] in 2026 we do our shift bid every year and what that means is our employees

[2:28] that are patrol officers we are able to bid shifts um and assignments. The two

[2:33] deputies that you have here and I know you guys have already met them um is

[2:35] Deputy Hansen and Deputy Forester. Uh both been with the department for a

[2:39] while. Deputy Hansen has a little different experience because he started

[2:41] in the jail. So he has the correction side and now he came to the roadside

[2:44] several several years ago and Deputy Forester was hired right out of college

[2:48] many years ago. He did get the correction side but he also has the

[2:50] education side too. So you got two very highly trained officers that'll do very

[2:54] well for you guys. And keep in mind when they're not here, we'll back fill them

[2:57] with other deputies and those deputies may be unfamiliar faces, but they're not

[3:01] permanent. They won't be here an extended period of time. They'll just be

[3:03] here probably for the day or two the other deputies come back on vacation or

[3:06] have their time off. Yeah, we appreciate it and they really do a professional job

[3:12] for us. Um, they do come in every day, so we get to see their face and if we

[3:17] have any questions or concerns, we can give them to them then. Uh, we encourage

[3:22] them, you know, cuz they're going to travel between the two communities, uh,

[3:26] to, you know, to do the same if they wish that over there. And if he happens

[3:30] to see people out, stop, say hello. Just let we know that they're out on our back

[3:36] roads. And that's important. >> Yeah. I can tell you there's one little

[3:38] project we I worked on for at this place was body camera downloads. So, they

[3:43] didn't necessarily have to leave to go get a download or come to the sheriff's

[3:45] office. And there's a way to do it from this facility.

[3:48] » Well, our our body cameras are up for for bid coming up. So, we're going to

[3:52] probably upgrade them. Maybe same company, but they'll be a little

[3:54] different. So, that project's kind of on hold until we can solidify our contract

[3:58] and then we'll be able to figure some things out just through your internet to

[4:00] be able to download them. So, then they don't have to, you know, leave the

[4:02] township to go do that for an hour or so and come back. And a lot of times

[4:05] they're doing paperwork and other stuff, but it's nice to just have

[4:07] » That's been going on quite a while, hasn't it? Trying to get us to be able

[4:11] to do that for you. And >> so the equipment was scarce for a while.

[4:13] We had a really hard time getting it. >> And then when we did, we had another

[4:16] equipment break down. So we replaced it with that. So now the equipment seems to

[4:20] be in, >> but the question is, will this work with

[4:22] these new cameras we're going to get? So it's it's it's really way over what how

[4:25] I think technological wise. Um, but we're going to try to put that together

[4:28] here in the first quarter of the year and get that happen.

[4:30] » Okay. >> That would really be efficient.

[4:32] Absolutely. Save them a lot of time. >> Yep. Save time. Save us time. Save you

[4:35] guys time. I spend more time in your hurry and that's it.

[4:37] » Okay. Uh, anyone at the board have any questions or anything for

[4:41] » No, we appreciate your service. My girls and I went and met one of your officers

[4:46] on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. So, uh, he was very sweet.

[4:50] » We try to do a lot of outreach. That's that's good with us to show up to a lot

[4:53] of these events. I know I go to a lot of them. The sheriff goes to a lot of them.

[4:56] We can't make them. We make sure our deputies show up. It's always good to

[4:58] see faces that you see out here in the community as well all the time. Mhm.

[5:02] » Well, we thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you.

[5:04] » Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, sir.

[5:09] » Okay. Are there any uh people wishing to address the board regarding any items

[5:15] that are in the agenda at this time? If not, then we will there's always time

[5:22] to comment again at the end of the meeting for anyone who wishes. Um, the

[5:27] next item would be approval of the agenda of the board meeting.

[5:31] » I I've got a couple things I think should be added.

[5:35] » Okay. >> Um, one

[5:38] uh there's I think Linda put out a copy of a letter that uh was kind of

[5:46] questioning what went on here. I think >> Yeah, everybody I put it on your table

[5:50] in front of you right today. Um, and I believe that was already forwarded to

[5:54] Chris, but >> in an email.

[5:56] » I I think um >> that should be put on the agenda just to

[6:00] have a motion to have Chris answer that. >> Okay.

[6:03] » In in a letter. >> Okay.

[6:05] » Um instead of us trying to do anything. So, we can do that under uh

[6:10] » would be Yeah. And then under M, um, uh, a month or two ago, if you

[6:16] remember, we made a motion to have a contractor,

[6:21] um, do all the connections in China as people wanted to hook into water and

[6:26] sewer. What we didn't do is we didn't update

[6:30] our water ordinance and our sewer ordinance, which needs to be done,

[6:34] right? >> So, I'd like to put that under uh, M,

[6:38] » utilities ordinance. utilities ordinance.

[6:42] » Yeah. >> Do you have that with you or No,

[6:46] » no, I don't. And it really isn't going to it's not going to take a lot of

[6:50] discussion. It's just >> you have the rates and all.

[6:54] » No, that they're coming in March, I believe.

[6:59] » Okay. >> But that's not not to do with this.

[7:02] » All right. >> There really isn't any uh paperwork to

[7:06] do with that. That's just a short discussion and action. Okay,

[7:10] » I make a motion to >> Okay.

[7:11] » approve the agenda with the newly added items support.

[7:14] » Okay. Moved by Ed and supported by Dan to approve the agenda with those

[7:18] additions. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? There being none, that motion

[7:23] will carry. The next item would be the approval of

[7:27] the minutes of the China Township Board meeting of December 15th. We all have

[7:32] those. Had an opportunity to read them. Are there any corrections or additions

[7:37] that need to be made to those minutes?

[7:42] Hearing none. >> If there's none, I'll make a motion to

[7:45] approve them as presented. >> I would support that.

[7:48] » Okay. Moved by Ron, supported by Dan to accept as presented. All those in favor?

[7:55] I. Are there any opposed? There being none, that motion will carry. Consent

[7:59] agenda. You have the items here. are um is there a motion to approve those?

[8:05] » I'll do the motion to approve the consent agenda as presented.

[8:07] » And I'll support. So, it's been moved by Dan, supported by myself, to accept the

[8:12] consent agenda as presented. All those in favor?

[8:15] » I. Are there any opposed? There being none, that motion will carry. We're

[8:20] ready to pay the bills and DNI look to you. I would make the motion to approve

[8:25] the payments of payroll for $26,9758,

[8:30] the tax fund of $26,68023,

[8:35] and the general fund in the amount of $113,55945.

[8:42] » Okay. Okay. Moved by Diana. >> I've got a couple questions on that. And

[8:48] just I I see in your payments here out of the tax fund, you had some

[8:51] individuals. >> What what happened there?

[8:54] » There was board of review. So there were some changes. There was a few veterans

[8:59] that um were now exempt um that had paid uh some summers tax and they had to be

[9:06] reimbursed. >> Okay. All right.

[9:08] » I have a question. I'm not sure if this is the right time to do it, but why do

[9:12] we have so many different DTE bills? Oh,

[9:16] » they have it broken down for >> uh down at the park that we have the

[9:21] lighting there. Um we have the garage, we have the accessory building, but this

[9:27] building all those items are separate budgetary items too.

[9:31] » Yeah. >> Does it take into account like the

[9:33] corners where where there are lights or No,

[9:36] » they have it broken down. >> They haven't broken. Street lights are

[9:38] one area, the garage is another. We're sharing a bill with

[9:42] » what they like. I I tried looking like it wasn't addresses or it didn't say

[9:46] street lights or something like that. So, I was trying to differentiate what

[9:49] » Good look. >> All right. Okay.

[9:52] » But it's a real pain in the neck. >> There's a lot of them for the accounts

[9:55] payable. >> Some street lights

[9:56] » and some are due before and they have to be prepaid and um

[9:59] » and then the journal entries, they're all different. You have to

[10:03] » I just wasn't sure why there were so many in.

[10:05] » Okay. So, there was a motion to pay the bills uh in those amounts, the

[10:09] 113,55945. Deanna made the motion.

[10:12] » I will support that. >> No, Ron already did. Correct. Yes. Okay.

[10:16] All those in favor? >> I I.

[10:19] » Any opposed? There being none, the motion carries. And then the unpaid.

[10:23] » I would make a motion to pay the unpaid bills in the amount of $50,54147.

[10:31] » Support. >> Okay. Moved by Deanna, supported by Ron.

[10:34] Any questions on any of those? If not, all those in favor?

[10:40] » I. Are there any opposed? None. That motion will carry. We'll move

[10:45] into new business. Item A, resolution 2026-1,

[10:50] the first of the year. Permit of the St. Clair County Road Commission. This is

[10:54] just a standard um request. We um it's in working in the road right away. So,

[11:02] » I will do the motion to adopt resolution 2026-1.

[11:08] » Okay, >> I'd second that.

[11:09] » Okay. Moved by uh Dan, supported by Ed. And we do need to have a roll call.

[11:15] » Okay, here we go. Moran, >> yes.

[11:18] » Sharon Martin, yes. Brier, >> yes.

[11:20] » Nean, >> yes.

[11:22] » Lauren Martin, >> yes.

[11:23] » Tur uh Dan Turk, >> yes.

[11:25] » Schwehoffer, >> yes.

[11:28] » All eyes. I see I heard no nays. So,

[11:34] all those in favor? >> I Well,

[11:37] » and well, we have it. So, you it just needs to be filled in and when you need

[11:41] » Yep. Right here. I got it. We'll >> Okay, we'll take care of that.

[11:44] » Sign that. Okay. Then that one is taken care of. And then we go to item B, which

[11:48] is resolution two. >> That's a typo.

[11:52] » Yeah, it should be 26. >> Yeah, I typed on the agenda. It's 2

[11:56] 2026-2 and it's the adoption of the millage the

[12:01] mileage increase for reimbursement. Uh it went up slightly and again this would

[12:06] um need a roll call. >> I will do the motion same way to adopt

[12:10] resolution 2026-2 adoption of mileage increase for

[12:14] reimbursement. >> Okay.

[12:17] » Okay. And supported by Lauren. >> And then we'll do the roll call.

[12:21] » Okay. Schwever. >> Yes.

[12:24] » Turk. Yes. >> S. Martin. Yes. Neman.

[12:26] » Yes. >> Frier.

[12:27] » Yes. >> Al Martin.

[12:29] » Yes. >> Moran.

[12:30] » Yes. >> Everybody.

[12:33] » Oh. Yes. All All eyes. >> Okay. Again, then it would be uh filling

[12:39] that out and getting it ready. Okay. Item C, increase in pay for deputy clerk

[12:46] to $17 an hour. We are currently at 15. And then um I believe the clerk is

[12:54] asking for $20 an hour during the voting season starting 6 weeks before elections

[13:00] ending 2 weeks after elections. And that came from you, Sharon.

[13:04] » Yes, it did. Yep. >> Okay.

[13:06] » So, yeah, that's pretty much cut and dry.

[13:09] » Yeah. Does anyone have any questions about that?

[13:11] » Did we had that already allocated in the budget, didn't we?

[13:14] » Yes. >> Okay. And I'll do the motion for the

[13:16] increase of pay for the deputy court for $17 an hour during in 20 during the

[13:21] voting season starting six weeks before the election ending two weeks after the

[13:25] election. >> Okay. Do we have support?

[13:27] » Support. >> Okay. Moved by Dan, supported by Ron.

[13:30] Any questions on that from anyone? >> Yeah, I have some questions. Um

[13:36] » I obviously sent out an email today. I don't know if everybody saw it and I

[13:40] don't expect to I didn't expect to have um answers back before the meeting, but

[13:45] um >> I gave you that sheet though, Lauren, do

[13:47] you see? >> Yeah, but this doesn't include the um

[13:51] deputy clerk and the deputy treasurer's responsib

[13:59] » the treasurer does. So if you look at our

[14:03] my Indiana's or the clerk and the treasures responsibilities, they have to

[14:08] step in and do that in case something horrible should happen to one of us.

[14:12] Gotcha. Okay. So, I called around different townships in

[14:18] neighboring townships because but prior to having this sheet here tonight, it

[14:23] would I felt it was difficult to set a

[14:29] pay for somebody when I don't know what it is that they're doing. And so, this

[14:34] is very helpful um to to see this. And one of my things that um when I called

[14:41] Kotchville and I talked to them, they had mentioned that they put together or

[14:44] are putting together a compensation committee. Um so

[14:49] » well that would be the board, wouldn't it? How we do it now?

[14:52] » Correct. Yeah. So but their job they would be tasked with figuring out what

[14:57] every what it is of everybody's job in in the office or not and then

[15:03] setting their pay obviously. So, so I guess to me I wanted this information. I

[15:09] am not ready to make a decision, but I guess I can't motion to table it if we

[15:14] already have a motion to do it. Right. >> It's correct.

[15:17] » Okay. >> Yeah. Uh the other thing I was going to

[15:19] say too, um as a charter township, >> it really does stay right here at the

[15:25] board. You know, other townships do it differently, right? Um and that's maybe

[15:30] why they they're have that compensation. They're just trying to pass the buck and

[15:34] say it's not us. >> Oh, yeah. Maybe.

[15:36] » Right. That's what I'm thinking. >> This But this does help clarify.

[15:40] » This does help clarify. My other question was historically,

[15:45] how many hours does the deputy clerk or treasurer outside of the election

[15:49] because I know that that's a different thing with the N.

[15:51] » Well, each department is different. Deanna's super busy for taxes. So,

[15:56] there's all that. I mean, we got the window probably, I'm not kidding, 30

[16:01] times from 12:00 to 5:00 for tax people paying.

[16:04] » So, one of us has to stamp chitchat a little and be kind, you know,

[16:09] » and so that takes a lot of time. So, that's when we can use Terry Lynn

[16:14] » because during the day it then it would fall on Linda to do uh whoever if

[16:19] sometimes accounts payable admin's not there, they only work 20 hours a week,

[16:24] » right? And so somebody else is grabbing the window. So then their job

[16:29] » I just, >> you know, that's why they're thinking we

[16:31] need someone during the busy times. >> I feel that consistently

[16:36] there's issues with people not being able to get their jobs done because they

[16:41] have to get pulled in so many directions and somebody needs help or somebody's at

[16:45] the window. And all of the other townships all have an administrative

[16:51] assistant or they have an office manager or they have somebody that's dedicated

[16:56] to right >> handing off

[16:59] » but then it's you know it's more money for the township. That's what we're

[17:03] trying to have Terry Lynn who's already familiar with the building the way the

[17:07] process is. She's my election manager. she's our deputy treasurer to f to fill

[17:14] in when we are struggling with taxes or all those ballots coming in. Then I have

[17:20] to pull that because she's my deputy. >> And not only that,

[17:24] » so then Terry Lynn could fill in, which would be awesome to get the phone the

[17:27] door window or what have you. >> Another thing that really helps out.

[17:31] Well, that's what >> it helps out Brandy, too, because she's

[17:34] working with Nick and the building department and Terry Lynn can do a lot

[17:38] of, you know, the the window and things like that,

[17:41] » which which isn't going to be necessarily deputy hours. You know,

[17:45] she's doing something outside. >> Yeah, we're kind of jumped ahead. That's

[17:50] my next agenda item is deputy treasurer, >> right? But the only thing I'd like to

[17:55] add to that is this is all the the two deputies are subject to the budget. So

[18:00] we've budgeted dollars. >> Okay.

[18:03] » So it's kind of and they've stayed within that, you know, or they've said,

[18:08] "H, can we have another thousand or whatever?"

[18:11] » So So they just can't go and work so many hours a week and all of a sudden,

[18:15] » sure, >> a whole lot cheaper than hiring a whole

[18:18] another body, >> right?

[18:19] » Well, you know, part-time, whatever. I just think that we've been approached

[18:23] for more hours and more pay last year and this year and I I I want to be able

[18:29] to justify >> Yeah. the deputies they have been at 15

[18:35] for many many many years. >> Well, I thought we increased it last

[18:38] year. >> So, was it just the accounts receivable

[18:41] that we >> 17? Yeah. And the regular mark all the

[18:46] Mark Brandy and um the admin got erased, >> right? as a whole

[18:52] » accounts payable, >> right? We don't now.

[18:54] » Used to be Maryanne, now it's Debb Nton, our person that sits at the front desk.

[19:00] » Linda. >> Yes.

[19:01] » Um, as far as duties of a deputy, treasurer, deputy clerk, they have to

[19:07] absorb all the responsibilities of the clerk or the treasurer in case they are

[19:12] incapacity. God forbid if they the treasurer or the clerk ripped a tag off

[19:17] a pillow and got imprisoned or something like that. They have to carry all the

[19:21] duties of the office but they don't have the voting ability at the table.

[19:26] » Correct. >> So they have to handle those office no

[19:28] matter how many hours it is. >> That's what they have to do.

[19:32] » Yeah. Well, we do have a motion on the floor. It's been supported.

[19:36] » That's for C, right? >> Yes, that would be for C. And um we've

[19:40] had some discussion. Um, we're ready to I think we're ready to vote on it. All

[19:45] those in favor? >> I I Are there any opposed?

[19:49] » Nay. And can I just say because I wish I had more time to

[19:53] » Okay, that motion carries. We're going to move on to D. This is increase in pay

[19:58] for deputy treasurer to $17 an hour. Again, it's currently 15 and it's been

[20:04] at 15 for quite some time. Am I correct, D?

[20:07] » Correct. >> Okay. Are we prepared to do that? I'll

[20:10] make a motion to >> to uh approve the increase in paying the

[20:14] deputy treasur for 17 as well. >> Support.

[20:17] » Okay. Moved by Dan, supported by Ron to do that to increase by the $2. Um any

[20:23] discussion on that one? >> If not, then we'll vote on that. All

[20:28] those in favor? >> I. Are there any opposed?

[20:32] » Okay. And we understand why. Okay. Motion carries. Uh next item, office

[20:38] help. approval to hire current deputy treasurer and election manager to do the

[20:44] various department jobs at the same wage as deputy treasurer. The board can

[20:49] decide the hours per week and the GL account for hours worked and for how

[20:54] many months. Well, when I see here for how many months, I would like to see it

[20:57] be a a an ongoing thing. Not that they're working, you know, 20 hours a

[21:03] week. They're not. Uh, but it, you know, a few hours each day gets us through.

[21:08] What do you say, Diana? >> I, uh, I spoke with Brandy asking about

[21:12] like what did she need? Um, and she's thinking up to 10 hours is what she's

[21:18] thinking to help get the phones, maybe even fold water bills, maybe even, you

[21:25] know, um, post some water bills and stuff like that. So, she's thinking up

[21:30] to 10. Um, but only as needed. So it'll it'll kind of be like maybe if there's

[21:35] no water bells, she might not need any. >> You just tell her you just you don't

[21:39] have to come in or you know you can be here for 2 hours and then you know then

[21:43] you're on your way. >> She's thinking at her busiest time

[21:45] probably 10 hours a week would be max of what she would need.

[21:49] » And we are getting caught. It's starting to get better in the building

[21:53] department. I mean Nick is new and he's doing a great job. I'm I'm really

[21:57] pleased with the the work performance we're getting from Nick. Um, but there

[22:02] are some things here that needed to be kind of cleaned up and we have been

[22:06] busy. >> I think also once Deb learns her job and

[22:11] she gets, you know, more efficient and I don't know that we would need the deputy

[22:18] treasurer as much, but that's just >> for right now. Yeah.

[22:23] Then the auditors are coming in in the spring and

[22:25] » yeah, there's all >> that's another learning curve for the

[22:28] » Yeah, it is >> admin person.

[22:31] » Um, so yeah, it's going to be a busy year this year, I think, with the two

[22:35] voting cuz I got to use Deb for that part. So Terry Lynn, I think I'll be

[22:40] stepping in possibly more than 10 hours, maybe 10 for Brandy and then the deputy

[22:45] treasurer is separate tax time, right? Then myself with elections, she's my

[22:52] manager. She'll be working those nine days of voting twice.

[22:55] » But that's but that's budgeted under, >> right? It is. I'm just saying we're

[22:59] going to see her face a lot. >> Yeah. That's and that's okay. It's going

[23:03] to take some time. So >> So what we're what we're voting on here,

[23:07] I guess, is, you know, the like the maximum number of hours. I don't want

[23:13] to, you know, key it down to like a couple months a year. I think that it

[23:16] could be an ongoing help here in the office at a reasonable rate of money.

[23:21] So, I don't make the motion, but are we ready to make a motion for this?

[23:26] » My my question to that is should it be, you know, should it be so much a week or

[23:33] should it be so much a month? And maybe some weeks there's more, maybe some

[23:37] weeks there isn't any, you know, would it be better or doesn't it matter with

[23:42] 10 hours a week? I mean, if it's 10 hours a week, we're thinking 40 a month

[23:46] to help Brandy and then some where needed. Like if Linda calls in sick, we

[23:53] need someone doing the desk at 8, >> you know?

[23:57] » Yeah. >> So, it's going to be like a kind of an

[23:59] on call job, but for sure say 8 to 10 hours helping bring.

[24:04] » And this is going to be the same person that's doing the deputy treasurer and

[24:08] the accounts receivable. >> Yeah, cuz she's just been she's been on

[24:12] » and the election manager. Yes. >> And she's going to do this position

[24:15] also. >> Well, that's what they're asking,

[24:17] » right? Okay. I'm just keep >> Yeah. She'll wear many hats and many

[24:21] accounts that pay hits. So, it it does involve

[24:23] » paid differently for each one. >> No, we want the same amount. That's what

[24:28] we're asking. The same amount. >> Gotcha.

[24:30] » Which we decided to bump up to 17. Next year. Minimum wage is 15.

[24:35] » Is that what she gets for election managing, too?

[24:37] » That's what she would get all straight aboard. Straight.

[24:40] » What does she currently get for election? 16. 16,

[24:43] » but minimum wages went up a buck. So, everybody's going to get more. So, we

[24:47] got to give the manager, we got to give the precinct table, what I don't know

[24:52] what you call them, precinct managers more. The people who close at the end of

[24:56] the night, who goes through all the receiving board, they can't just make

[25:00] minimum wage. Their responsibility is huge. I wish I could give them way more.

[25:05] They work 17 hours and then those well whatever 8 to 6 8 to um what time is it

[25:13] closed? 8 6 What time is it open? My brain went 7

[25:18] » 7 to 8 and then we're here to 1 >> finishing up.

[25:21] » That receiving board's been here since you know 7:30 in the morning. So

[25:26] » that's that's something for another >> I'm just letting Lauren know so she can

[25:32] » you're trying to figure out the hours to make the motion. Correct.

[25:35] » I am not. No, >> no, no. Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron. No. So, I'll

[25:39] I'll make I'll make that motion that uh um that the current deputy well, I won't

[25:48] say current, that the deputy treasurer um

[25:53] that she can work up to 10 hours a week and I'll say or so, but not to go over

[26:01] 40 hours uh a month at uh to do various jobs for the township at her.

[26:09] » Well, is this various jobs or I thought >> Well, I just want to say various. I

[26:14] mean, she's going to do stuff for Brandy at various

[26:16] » because it might be over 40 is what I'm saying.

[26:19] » Well, >> they were saying 40 just for Brandy.

[26:21] » He's explaining just for this what you're talking about just for the office

[26:25] help. >> Yeah.

[26:27] » And then what account number? >> So, if there's a week she's here 12, but

[26:31] next week she's here six. I'm I'm saying >> right. Right. Okay. That's pretty

[26:35] average of 40. Okay. >> Right. but but you know to keep it under

[26:39] 40 >> okay

[26:40] » um per month at her uh deputy treasurer wage

[26:46] » and I would support that any questions >> I do

[26:53] go ahead >> go ahead

[26:55] » go ahead I just want to clarify >> 40 hours a week

[26:59] » no 40 hours a month up 10 hours a weekish

[27:04] » but no more than 40 a month which average

[27:06] » 12 months at $17 an hour is $8,000. I'm just curious where does that money come

[27:11] from if we've never budgeted. >> Well, we might have to

[27:15] » You may have um amend the budget. We have wages in

[27:21] under uh >> Yeah. There her

[27:24] » We have some We have every pay though.

[27:28] » Yeah. Under I and and let me just bring up

[27:31] » where I need to know. I just went over these yellow sheets just to see where we

[27:36] ended up 2024 >> and we were, you know, 30,000 over and

[27:43] above to the good what we were going to take out of the police and fire fund.

[27:47] So, we don't need to take that out. There's another 30 grand. What's it

[27:50] going to be next year? >> Who knows? Yeah,

[27:52] » I I don't know. But just to say for last year, we were good,

[27:57] » right? >> So, is there is there money there? Yeah,

[28:00] that's there's money there. Are we are we going to have to amend the budget at

[28:03] some point? >> Probably.

[28:04] » We we may, but the but the money's there to do this. We you know there they need

[28:10] help in the office here. And I' I've had that discussion with Brandy and Brandy

[28:15] said, "Man, it's great." She'll watch the door and people will say, "Oh, no. I

[28:19] got to go talk to Brandy." And she's like, "No, you're not going to do that

[28:23] here. What do you need a wall there? I'll take care of it for you." And and

[28:26] Brandy said, "Man, she can get so much more done." But just with her,

[28:30] especially on the Tuesdays and Thursdays when Nick's here,

[28:33] » right? >> You know,

[28:34] » Yeah. Right. Right. >> When we did budget, we kind of saw this

[28:37] coming. So that's we put that little bit more in deputy treasure, too. So we have

[28:44] a little bit that can move from the >> Any other questions? I uh the motion was

[28:50] made by Ron, supported by me. If there are no other discussion or questions,

[28:55] all those in favor? >> I. Are there any opposed?

[28:59] » If not, then that motion carries. Item F, uh, the appointing of two trustees to

[29:04] the election commission for 2026 elections. It has to be the clerk and it

[29:09] has to be two trustees. We've had men in the past, but I I know that Lauren had

[29:15] an interest. Did you talk to uh Sharon? >> Yeah, there's a handout on F. If

[29:20] everybody didn't see it, it's kind of goes through what's the responsibilities

[29:24] and this is off of MTA or the Bureau of Elections and we're a charter township.

[29:30] So, I circled mine cuz that's where you get the two trustees and the township

[29:36] clerk. Other organizations or um not charter townships don't have to have

[29:41] that. They have like the supervisor and whatnot. And then it just says that we

[29:45] have to um when they come and check the tabulators and put garbage in and make

[29:51] sure garbage comes out and we have to sign a form that we witnessed it and

[29:55] Ron's been my one person for years and so it's not a lot. There's some things

[30:02] we have to agree on like these are my election workers and as a three board we

[30:06] have to agree and say yeah that's great and you know we'll do minutes and all

[30:12] that. >> Right. Right. But They're very brief

[30:14] meetings. >> Oh, yeah. They're like five minutes.

[30:17] » Yeah, they're not bad. >> Unless there's questions or something.

[30:19] » Okay. So, then we need to have two people two people that we're going to

[30:22] that you will appoint. >> I think a number of us have done it in

[30:25] the past. I don't mind doing it. >> I I would like to do it, but

[30:29] » yeah, I know you had mentioned something about a

[30:32] » Well, Cara County just said there could be a conflict of interest. Now,

[30:37] okay, say Lauren doesn't like this election worker. I'll approve everybody

[30:41] but that woman. I don't like her now. She's not going to do that. You know

[30:44] what I'm saying? >> How is it? I mean, they're saying that

[30:46] trustees has to >> has to be on it. So, I don't know any.

[30:50] » They're just saying if you do elections, it might

[30:53] » You mean because I I choose to work the elections and I'm not on the ballot

[30:56] » because you know all the election workers and you could persuade them. But

[30:59] it's a three of us and two have to say yes. One had to say no, right?

[31:03] » I don't really see a problem with it, >> but I just need two. So, we have Ed.

[31:10] » Ron, you sure you don't want to do it? That's okay. Lauren can

[31:13] » Do you want to do it, Lauren? So, I usually do it.

[31:15] » It'll be educational for her. >> 15 minutes before the board meeting.

[31:19] Usually, we try to do it on the same night.

[31:22] » Okay. So, let's make let's make the motion. You want to make the motion? Go

[31:25] ahead. >> Oh, I can make the Well, no, I don't

[31:27] make the motion. You can. >> You can.

[31:31] » I can't. You go ahead. >> I will make the motion.

[31:34] » Okay, you do it. Sharon Martin, Lauren Martin, and Ed Neman will be appointed

[31:39] to the election commission for 2026. >> Support.

[31:43] » Okay. Moved by Lauren, uh, supported by Dan. It will be the clerk, and it will

[31:49] be Ed and it will be Lauren. All those in favor? I

[31:52] » I. Any opposed? There being none, motion carries. Next item, G. We're back to the

[31:57] surface preservation program. We know we have $107,000

[32:02] which is free gratus coming and it appears as though unless they really go

[32:07] stupid at the state we will have that we're going to have money like this

[32:11] every year to do surface preservation. So, um we talked about it before. Um I I

[32:19] was asked to uh involve um Dan Engles who is our uh foreman for the road

[32:25] commission for our area and also uh we got some input from Jennifer Nelson up

[32:31] at the county and they helped and they we did sort of a the bad roads first,

[32:38] you know, our paved ones and the one that needs to be addressed this year

[32:43] would be that one mile of Indian trail between Putty Gut and Sinclair highway.

[32:47] Um, when I talked to Jennifer today, she said they would be able to do as much

[32:52] rubbering as needed and any kind of prep work that needed to be done on that

[32:57] mile, including the chip and seal. And that would about take care of that money

[33:02] right there. So, >> items one through six are a priority

[33:05] list. And correct, >> whenever we run out of money, we're just

[33:07] going to do the priorities first. >> Well,

[33:10] what what it means is next year when we get say another 107,

[33:14] » we'll put that onto the list. >> Yep. We'll move down to putty gut we

[33:17] » I will do the motion to approve the surface preservation program for

[33:21] $107,000 on the list from Mr. Dan Les.

[33:26] » Okay. Um so I'll support that. Uh is there any other are there any other

[33:31] questions or any inflict from anyone on that?

[33:34] » Just to clarify the 107,000 is only going to include number one.

[33:38] » Correct. Okay. It'll take all of that. >> And you might want some clarification in

[33:43] the in the motion. We're not doing everything. We're just doing

[33:46] » just that one mile >> Indian Trail

[33:50] on my motion. >> Okay.

[33:51] » Okay. >> You're amending it to include that one

[33:55] mile. >> Yes. Correct.

[33:56] » Okay. >> Okay. Well, it's been moved by Dan,

[34:01] supported by me to go ahead and do the one mile of Putty Gut, uh, one mile of

[34:06] Indian Trail between Putty Gut and Sinclair Highway. Do the rubbering, do

[34:10] the chip seal, use that money this year. >> All those in favor? I

[34:14] » I Are there any opposed? There being none, that motion carries and I will

[34:18] call Jennifer tomorrow and tell her what we have come up with. Okay. Item H, the

[34:24] sign for the bike path. In all that bad, slippery, snowy, awful weather, um, we

[34:29] had the two signs on the bike path get wiped out. You see the pictures of what

[34:34] they look like. I did get a quote from the road commission sign department and

[34:38] you see the amount there. The 35819 would be for the two signs and post

[34:44] including installation which helps take care of that because we really don't

[34:49] have you know a particular person who would be able to do that for us. Do we

[34:54] have acceptance of that? >> I'd make that motion.

[34:56] » Okay. Support. >> Okay. Moved by Ed, supported by Ron to

[35:00] go ahead uh with getting the signs for the bike path through the county.

[35:05] » How did they get wiped out? >> They they I don't know. They got slammed

[35:09] in accident. Took them out. >> That's usually the insurance company of

[35:13] whoever whomever hit it >> was supposed to take care of something.

[35:16] » Yeah, but guess what? They just lied the poop.

[35:20] » Yeah, we don't Yeah. >> Yeah, we don't know who it was.

[35:23] » Did you get support on that? >> We do. And And now I just need to ask

[35:27] all those in favor. >> I Any opposed? Being none, that motion

[35:31] carries. Item I um Sinclair County Road Commission 2026 annual meeting. They

[35:39] would like to know um what which session we'd like to attend. I know that I can't

[35:45] do anything in the morning because of a doctor's appointment and that is the

[35:50] night of our February meeting. Uh I would recommend the 3:15 to 4:30 and I

[35:56] can let them know. Um does anyone have a problem with that? the uh 12:45 to 2 is

[36:01] all filled. She told me that. So, the only other slot would be 2 to 3:15. Um,

[36:08] anyone, >> you better call right away. Huh?

[36:10] » I'm going to first thing tomorrow. >> Is this something we all go to?

[36:13] » Everyone is invited from the board. We don't always have a full roster

[36:18] attendance, but we've tried to do it when they had evening ones, thinking

[36:22] more people might attend, and uh-uh, you get maybe two or three will go. I'd love

[36:27] to see everybody come, but I know people have other jobs and things going on.

[36:31] » Yeah, I'm working that day. It's a Tuesday.

[36:33] » Okay. So, does the 3:15 to 4:30 seem okay?

[36:37] » If that's good for you, Linda. >> Okay.

[36:40] » I can't attend. I have to work. >> Okay. So, um I could I could just I

[36:46] don't know that it needs a motion. I I could just go ahead and let her know

[36:49] that though. I call first thing tomorrow >> so that we get on the on the

[36:54] » and then just let us know. Yeah. you know that that's the time.

[36:58] » Yeah, she said there were openings for these other ones. No problem. So I I

[37:03] would kind of make book on that. >> Okay.

[37:05] » All right. 3:15 >> to 4:30 on February 17th. It's a

[37:10] Tuesday. >> Okay. Good. Are we good to go on that?

[37:14] » Okay. Um Jay, Michigan Association of Planning Classes and Webinar webinars

[37:20] and they are at various costs. Um, we usually allow this for um, well, I know

[37:26] we do for the county um, workshops that they have. I don't know what we do on

[37:31] these >> Well, usually

[37:36] we allow it. I don't know. Let's, you know, we should look at the highest

[37:40] price and we allow it and then it's up to them to go and submit their expense

[37:47] for it >> and that's it. I think the highest one

[37:51] would be the one in >> some are free.

[37:54] » Yeah. But the there's a planning and zoning essentials and that's over in

[37:57] Frankenmouth and that's 135. >> Yeah. I don't know if you're going to

[38:00] get anybody >> going that far

[38:02] » going going up there but a lot of these are Zoom so you can do it right from

[38:08] your >> right okay

[38:09] » right from your home. But I would make that motion that

[38:12] » cuz some of these maybe you got board members that even want to do them. So,

[38:16] any board members, planning commission members, or ZBA members that want to

[38:20] take advantage of any of these events that the the board would pay the the fee

[38:27] plus mileage if they wanted to drive to one of them. Okay, that's the motion. Do

[38:32] we have support? >> Oh, okay. Supported by Deanna. Moved by

[38:35] Ron supported by Deanna for um to approve the attendance to those classes

[38:40] not only for planning ZBA and board members.

[38:46] » All those in favor? >> I I any opposed? That motion will carry.

[38:51] Uh the next one is the MTA board of review classes uh various classes and

[38:56] costs. Um you know I was thinking about this before and I didn't get a chance to

[39:00] talk to Christine our assessor. Um, sometimes they have these classes in

[39:05] Fort Yorn and they're very good. Does anyone know if those are going on this

[39:09] year again? Got

[39:13] » I haven't seen the notice. >> Nothing yet.

[39:15] » No. >> Okay. Then um I guess they do if they're

[39:20] new or if they haven't had it in a while, they do have to keep updated on,

[39:25] you know, the latest things um rules and things going on with that. So I I do

[39:31] believe we'd have to approve. >> Well, so this is looks like it's both in

[39:36] person and online. >> So um they could also take the training.

[39:42] A lot of meetings are starting to do that.

[39:44] » Mhm. >> That they're not only you can go in

[39:47] person, but you can also do them online. I know Michigan State Extension does

[39:52] that a lot. >> So you don't have to drive halfway

[39:54] across the state. You can just stay home and

[39:57] » and do them. But I would make the same motion that that any board of review

[40:01] members that want to take training um if it involves uh going and in

[40:08] mileage I don't know is there a fee on here?

[40:11] » Was there a fee >> for mileage? No, not for mileage.

[40:14] » Yeah. Early bird rate 100 regular rate 20 plus mileage

[40:18] » that the township paid the rate plus plus mileage if they actually wanted to

[40:23] go to where it was presented. >> Okay. And that so it's been moved by Ron

[40:27] » support >> and supported by Dan. Any questions from

[40:30] anyone? If not, all those in favor? I >> I. Any opposed?

[40:36] » None. That motion will carry. Um and item L.

[40:40] » Okay, everybody in front of them, there was a there was a email here that had

[40:47] some questions um from Mr. Parrot that's sitting out

[40:52] here. And I think the best way to handle this is to have our attorney

[40:59] send him a letter kind of replying to this letter. Um, and I would I'd make a

[41:06] motion to that effect. I support. >> Okay. Motion by Ron uh to have our

[41:11] attorney answer this in a letter form uh supported by Lauren. Any other

[41:15] questions? If not, all those in favor? I. Any opposed?

[41:21] » There being none, that motion will carry. And item M.

[41:24] » Okay. M. Um, like I stated when I put it on the agenda, we we have a contract

[41:30] that's to do all the connections for water and sewer. Um, we need to update

[41:35] our ordinance that says that. Ordinance says something different. So, I talked

[41:39] to the planner at the planning commission meeting. She kind of said, "I

[41:44] think it'd be better if your attorney did that." Chris happened to be there

[41:47] because of a public hearing we had. Um, and Chris said, "Yeah, she could do it,

[41:53] but you know, I said she'd probably want to get a hold of Linda first." And she

[41:56] was going to call Linda, which I don't know that she's done.

[41:59] » Haven't heard from her yet, >> but the board should be approving that

[42:02] because there's going to be some some costs there. Um, so I'll make that

[42:07] motion, too, that uh that we paid the attorney to update our utility ordinance

[42:13] that deals with water and sewer to update that. We have a a contractor now

[42:20] for both connections. >> Okay. So, that's Ron's motion. Uh any

[42:26] support? >> I'll support that.

[42:27] » Okay. Supported by Dan. Uh any other questions from the board on that? It was

[42:33] pretty self-explanatory. Um if there are none, um all those in

[42:38] favor >> I I

[42:40] » Any opposed? There being none. Okay, that motion will carry. We're into

[42:44] unfinished business. Data centers. Uh if we have any discussion on that. Um I

[42:50] know Dan presented some sample ordinances and they have been forward to

[42:55] the planning commission. Correct. >> Yeah. So okay. So the planning

[42:59] commission did get these and uh we did have a public hearing set for next month

[43:08] with what we had. What we did is we uh cancelled that public hearing to a

[43:14] future date so we could go over these and and we told the uh planner um to go

[43:20] over these and kind of delineate what is already covered in our ordinance

[43:27] kind of what Chris said we couldn't do and what we could add to our ordinance.

[43:32] Um so that's kind of where we're at. But what I what I think would work best, and

[43:38] I don't know if the board wants to do this, I think there should be a work

[43:40] session at some point between the planning commission, the board, have the

[43:44] planner there, and have the attorney there. That way, if there's any

[43:47] questions, um, we can get this worked out one way,

[43:52] one way or another. I don't know if that's the direction the board wants to

[43:55] go in. >> Well, I think I think that's a great

[43:58] idea. I think, you know, cuz I have some concerns over the current

[44:05] data center ordinance as it stands. >> Well, it's it's really not a data

[44:10] center. It's a like under special land use. I mean, it's not it's not a

[44:14] standalone ordinance.

[44:18] » No, >> no. It's it's it's a it's an ordinance

[44:22] that goes under special land use. We already have an industrial and heavy

[44:28] industrial ordinance that that kind of directs, okay, if you have development,

[44:33] here's the things you have to do. Some of these two ordinances I can see

[44:40] if communities were going to allow them in a residential district, you wanted to

[44:45] be a lot more thorough because that isn't a agricultural use. That's not

[44:51] where we're putting it. So, we already have things in our ordinance to deal

[44:56] with a lot of things that were in here. One of the things I noticed for both of

[45:01] these that their decibel levels were higher notic than what we current have.

[45:05] » Yeah, I noticed that >> in our ordinance.

[45:07] » Yeah, I noticed that it was 68. >> So, that's why, you know, I thought as a

[45:12] planning commissioner, let's have the planner look at it. Let's have her

[45:17] delineate those three items and then they can be discussed. Okay. And if

[45:23] Chris is >> Yeah. How does the board feel about

[45:25] having a workshop? >> That sounds fair enough.

[45:27] » I I think so. I I like that idea. >> So So the next thing is in

[45:36] in March, we're going to pick up a public hearing that we tabled. So So we,

[45:42] you know, we can't do it at the planning commission meeting. any other time. It's

[45:47] just a question of getting both those boards together and picking a time and

[45:50] date and where it'll work for everybody and and Chris and the planner.

[45:55] » Yeah. Maybe get some dates even from them because they're going to be the

[46:00] hard >> from there because I I know when we move

[46:03] our meeting forward in December one week and Karen said, "No, I've got a

[46:09] different planning commission meeting, another community I got to go to. I

[46:12] can't come here." So, um, whether it's on a Thursday, whether you want to try

[46:17] to do it on a Monday, but right, I guess I would maybe start with the planner and

[46:21] the attorney to try to find a date and then I don't know if there's a certain

[46:25] day that's better for everybody or >> who all has to attend that, right?

[46:30] » What would be our whole board? >> The board planning and

[46:33] » what happens if it's a open meetings or does or would it be

[46:36] » Well, that's going to be an open >> anything. Yeah. Anything we do, we do in

[46:40] front of the public. So, we have a workshop. It's okay that we're all Oh,

[46:43] yeah. Great. That'll be That'll be even though it's a kind of a work session,

[46:47] that's going to be a >> public meeting. Do you need a motion for

[46:51] that to empower the supervisor to initiate that meeting?

[46:53] » Yeah, that'd probably be better to to to,

[46:58] you know, try to get everybody together on on that page for that date, whatever

[47:02] that is. >> I'll do a motion to empower the

[47:04] supervisor to engage a workshop for data center workings.

[47:09] » I'll support that. >> Okay. moved by Dan, supported by Ron to

[47:13] allow me to get this thing going and it >> it'll be it'll take a little doing, but

[47:19] we'll get it done. It'll get it we'll get it done.

[47:21] » It's understandable. There's a lot of parties to get together.

[47:23] » Yeah. And and and we ideally we want a 100% participation, but you know, with

[47:28] that many people, we're going to lose some of them along the way, but we'll do

[47:32] our best. Okay. >> Um so, all those in favor?

[47:37] » I. Any opposed? then that motion will carry and I'll get going on it. Okay. Um

[47:42] the next item under unfinished Lindsay Road drainage. Um I just you have the

[47:47] email here. I just wanted to report that um Chris had been advised by Mr. Moore.

[47:53] That would be Mr. Marshall's attorney that um informed her that he Mr.

[47:59] Marshall has two estimates and he's looking for a third and that's good

[48:04] news. So, you know, we wait to hear the next the next move, but um that's

[48:10] something that I can report out on that. Um under water and sewer, you see the

[48:15] amounts uh and under C, is there any report on water sewer authority tonight?

[48:21] » Um no, we've we're kind of in between uh meetings. We'll have one next month. We

[48:27] had a special meeting here about a uh about a week ago. there were some things

[48:32] that that came up that needed to be replaced where we needed a special

[48:37] meeting. Um, we took care of that. You know, like I've said before, we we set

[48:42] money aside in a water plant fund, a sewer plant

[48:46] fund, so when these things come up and you need 50 or $80,000, we just pull it

[48:52] out of that particular fund. So there's not a bill coming back to the local

[48:56] community. >> So that's that's all that was. And so

[49:00] next month we'll have another meeting. >> Okay. Uh under announcements, uh the

[49:04] next township board meeting will be held.

[49:08] It's going to be a Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, uh at 7:00 p.m. And that's

[49:14] because again, next month, that Monday is the president's. It's the holidays.

[49:19] So we'll be meeting here on on a Tuesday instead. Uh light up the township. The

[49:24] winners will be announced hopefully. Uh we'll be able to have Mr. Whitman from

[49:28] DTE here at our February February meeting so that he can make the

[49:32] presentations cuz um they sponsor the prizes. So we'll stay tuned. We hope we

[49:38] can get that accomplished. Snowman contest goes now. It's on through the

[49:44] 20th of April and people can drop a picture off or they can submit it. uh

[49:50] there will be judging and again there will be a first, second and third prize

[49:53] and that comes generally from ITC the people you know from the transmission

[49:59] line. Um board member reports uh I guess uh I was informed by uh Dan Engles our

[50:06] district foreman that uh he wanted to know would be we be doing any limestone

[50:12] this year and I said not to my knowledge. So, he just wanted us to know

[50:17] because, you know, then they would start ordering and I said, "No." Um, they'll

[50:21] have the limes uh the chloride prices. We'll probably be hearing about that at

[50:26] the annual meeting as we usually do. Um, it's just been really busy. It's it's

[50:31] just kind of like a welloiled machine. There's a lot going on here and um I'm

[50:37] I'm happy and I'm excited. So, that's pretty much all I have to report right

[50:42] now. um treasure. >> Um well, yeah, you're right. It's been

[50:49] super busy. It's year end now, so um we have a lot of loose ends to tie up, a

[50:55] lot of catching up from the holidays, and

[50:58] we're just going to put in as many hours as we can,

[51:02] » getting the job done. There you go. No, good job. Uh clerk.

[51:06] » Sure. >> Um okay. Well, it was fun couple months

[51:09] training and learning. Um, the admin job in accounts payable. It actually was a

[51:16] benefit to me because when the previous administrator accounts payable was in, I

[51:21] wasn't able to really see the flow. It just didn't work with our arrangement,

[51:27] her and I. And now that I had to do it, I feel more confident in a lot of the

[51:33] areas here. the just seeing the flow how it goes and so that's been beneficial

[51:39] and then voting I'm ordering next month we'll see quotes for envelopes and

[51:45] secrecy sleeves and cost of stamps so we'll be approving those and it's

[51:53] already started so good luck right >> yeah and I I would like to also say uh I

[51:59] think it's working out really nice with uh with Deb you know she's she's you

[52:04] know, just wants to do anything she can to help and she

[52:07] » Yeah, she's great. >> Yeah. And and enjoying Terry Lynn as

[52:10] well. >> Yeah.

[52:11] » Uh now our trustees, Dan. >> Oh, I don't have much. Uh the holidays

[52:17] are over with. I must have not have been upsetting to everybody. I didn't get any

[52:20] coal in my socks, so that was a good sign. Uh CO is going around again. Be

[52:25] careful, everyone. You know, mindful of shared surfaces and things like that.

[52:29] Stay warm and dry, folks. >> Very good, Ed. Uh just kind of an

[52:35] update. Last fire department meeting there in in January or late earlier this

[52:39] month, uh we we looked at the equipment, the new equipment at in the apparatus

[52:44] bay. We just purchased last year as a squad a new squad truck. Uh a lot of

[52:50] nice equipment sitting in there. You know, a big shout out and thanks to the

[52:54] fire department, a volunteer system that on both ends of the communities, both

[52:58] Marine City and St. Clair, but they always do a great job.

[53:02] um cold weather, uh stay warm, uh be willing to help folks that need help.

[53:08] And I guess lastly, I heard the other day, it's it's always it's always the

[53:13] right time to do the right thing. That was MLK.

[53:18] » Yeah, that's right. Right. >> Very good. Um, and I also like to give a

[53:23] shout out to our Marine City Area Fire Authority, too, because u we have a

[53:27] meeting tomorrow night, so we'll be there and um they do a really good job

[53:32] maintaining. And you know what? We couldn't do any better by having these

[53:36] volunteer fire departments and just being a part of them rather than try to

[53:42] start out from scratch and a whole new fire department in the hall and all the

[53:45] equipment. It would be phenomenal the cost. So, we're really it's a cost

[53:50] saving to our township to be a partner with them. Uh Ron,

[53:56] » uh we just had a planning commission meeting last week. We had two public

[53:59] hearings. Um the first public hearing was for uh the Speedy Q gas station on

[54:06] King and Fred Moore. They want to put in uh four electrical charging units for

[54:12] electric vehicles. Um they came in with their site plan. Everything looked good.

[54:17] So, so that that was approved because they are a special approval use. They

[54:23] had to come in through the special approval use process and and get that

[54:28] done again um to update their site plan. The other one was for 6905

[54:36] um Springborn Road. They came in for a they wanted a special land use for a

[54:42] church. Um, we ended up tableabling that. We

[54:48] needed our engineer to look at the site plan, which he hadn't done.

[54:53] » Um, plus there's some things that applicant

[54:58] wants to go into the ZBA um, and get a variance for certain

[55:03] requirements of the ordinance. So, that'll reconvene. and that's the

[55:08] one that's going to reconvene in at our meeting in March unless for some reason

[55:14] it it gets pushed back. Outside of that, we're always working on

[55:20] something little where somebody brings it up about an ordinance. Do we need to

[55:23] tweak it or whatever? But, uh, those were the two main things at the planning

[55:27] commission meeting. >> They're a busy group. They are a busy

[55:30] group. Yeah. And they do a good job. So, I it's a shout out to them, too. Yeah,

[55:36] » Lauren. >> Um, well, I saw today that I had an

[55:40] email about a ZBA, but I did not get a chance to look at it. So, I'm assuming

[55:43] that's possibly what it is, but looking forward to it. ZBA has been a while

[55:46] since we've met, so I'm looking forward to seeing that group. Um, parks and

[55:51] wreck unfortunately did not have enough members to do a meeting in January. So,

[55:57] there I think we had two or three that were available and that's obviously not

[56:00] a quorum. So, um, we're going to try again in February. Hopefully, we'll have

[56:05] enough in February. And then I also wanted to apologize for um the sound on

[56:12] the meeting last month. Yet again, I have made another mistake. I'm not sure

[56:16] what I I'm not sure how, but there was no sound on the video. I tested it today

[56:22] twice with my kids to make sure that the microphones are working. So, I'm really

[56:25] hoping that there is not a problem. Um but I apologize to everybody that it was

[56:30] broke or not working last month. But that's it. Okay. Okay. One more.

[56:35] » You know, one other question talking about the planning commission. I see we

[56:38] had a letter of resignation, but that wasn't on our

[56:42] » umformational in the next next month. It'll be on because um you know, we are

[56:47] we're still going to put out for you know, we have we have maybe one, I don't

[56:51] know, but we're going to go ahead and I think you did put it on.

[56:54] » Yeah. It's on the sign, I think, and on the website. So, we can we'll deal with

[56:59] it. So, we'll take care of that. One last thing, Linda. I want to publicly

[57:02] congratulate Pastor Anthony there for his newly uh county appointed position

[57:08] that he he >> Oh, I haven't heard.

[57:11] » Oh, yay. >> The health advisory board.

[57:14] » Um, no, the mental health board. >> Oh, nice.

[57:18] » Yes. Thank you so much. >> Oh, that's great. It's

[57:20] » an honor to be there. >> You'll be an asset.

[57:24] » Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Well, now we're coming to the

[57:27] close of our uh business meeting and we have an opportunity for public comment

[57:32] on anything. I would just remind uh we have guidelines that were adopted. State

[57:38] your name, come to the podium. You have a fivem minute limit. Uh indicate if

[57:43] you're speaking for yourself, your family or a group. Uh this is an

[57:47] opportunity for your thoughts, not ours. So, we want to listen. Um it's not a

[57:54] time of discussion or debate. Um it's also not a time when the board would be

[57:59] responding. Uh you'll be treated with respect. You have a right to speak. Um

[58:05] and of course wouldn't expect anyone to speak negatively about anyone because

[58:09] that would not be nice. So having said that, is there anybody still here who

[58:15] wants to just address the board? >> Yeah, of course.

[58:19] » Okay. I need to go to the podium.

[58:22] » Great. >> Well, obviously you added on to the

[58:27] agenda. Everybody got the email, right? >> Yeah.

[58:29] » Okay. I have a print out of it if anybody needs another one. Um, so just

[58:34] thank you. Obviously with the email you read, it's pretty lengthy and

[58:40] bit of a lack communication, discrepancies in the ordinances, and I

[58:43] just want to make sure we're doing it the right way. I just want to make sure

[58:47] everything's done the right legal procedural way to make sure it's done.

[58:51] Obviously, I'm not giving up on my dream. That's why I keep coming back to

[58:54] these. Okay. So, I'm going to continue and I just my attorney and I and

[58:58] everybody I've been talking to just we just got to make sure it's done the

[59:02] right way cuz clearly it kind of hasn't been so far. So, here I am and look

[59:07] forward to the next meeting. Thanks so much. Sorry. Derek, 5957 Polygard Road

[59:13] and I speaking on behalf of myself. Okay.

[59:16] » Thank you. Anyone else?

[59:23] » Anthony Freer and I'm just clarifying uh I think I've heard the update that the

[59:28] uh public hearing is being delayed on the data center ordinances and so I'll

[59:33] just talk with you afterwards to get caught up on the latest with that. That

[59:38] of course is a strong concern for myself and those within my church and

[59:43] community. So appreciate your diligence on that and uh uh so I'll catch up on

[59:49] the details uh with the ongoing drama of the data center. Thank you so much.

[59:54] » Thank you. Anyone else? Nothing. Okay. All right.

[1:00:00] Well then that would conclude our meeting and we would need a motion to

[1:00:04] adjourn. Motion to journ at 8:01 p.m. >> Is it supported by

[1:00:10] » Ed? >> Ed. Okay. All those in favor?

[1:00:12] » I. >> Good job.

[1:00:14] » Have a good night. >> Perfect.

[1:00:19] » Yes. >> Thank you.

[1:00:22] » It's a nice addition, isn't it? be better with

January 20, 2026 Board Meeting

Transcript