1 00:00:36,660 --> 00:00:49,360 . . . . . . . . . . . 2 00:00:56,420 --> 00:01:11,280 We're on live, but we're live right now, but the mics are disabled, so yeah. 3 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:37,820 Thank you for 4 00:02:40,570 --> 00:02:45,350 coming this evening and I have maybe 30 seconds before 6 o'clock. 5 00:02:51,090 --> 00:02:51,690 I would 6 00:02:51,690 --> 00:02:57,350 I now have six o'clock. So again, I want to welcome you to the town hall meeting for Flint 7 00:02:57,350 --> 00:03:03,630 Township. This is an informal town hall meeting. We'll present some information and we 8 00:03:03,630 --> 00:03:08,250 have provided sheets of paper for you to ask your questions. We won't have a traditional 9 00:03:08,250 --> 00:03:14,690 public comment. The township is not doing any business this evening. Like I said, it's 10 00:03:14,690 --> 00:03:19,250 going to be an informal meeting and I would like to keep it to an hour. So I hope to have 11 00:03:19,250 --> 00:03:23,510 this wrapped up by seven o'clock not to use up too much of your time and start 12 00:03:23,510 --> 00:03:26,170 the meeting if we could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance if you're 13 00:03:26,170 --> 00:03:26,570 able to. 14 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:36,820 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the 15 00:03:36,820 --> 00:03:43,320 Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and 16 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:51,320 justice for all. Thank you. So I didn't introduce myself my name's Karen Miller if 17 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:58,540 If you don't know me, I'm the township supervisor and we'll start with an introduction to 18 00:03:58,540 --> 00:04:00,420 the committee, the name change committee. 19 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:02,040 I want to introduce Jerry Preston. 20 00:04:02,660 --> 00:04:08,220 He was asked to chair the name change committee starting back I think in 2016 and the reason 21 00:04:08,220 --> 00:04:13,260 I asked him to do that is because he's a certified registered parliamentarian and the best way 22 00:04:13,260 --> 00:04:17,720 to get something done in a meeting is orderly and efficiently and he was able to do that. 23 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:24,460 So I'm going to ask Jerry to take over and just give you the highlights from what the committee came up with. 24 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:31,540 You know, this was a really fun exercise I had. I'm going to take you on a little journey about how it all came together. 25 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:40,860 And when the supervisor first asked me to chair this committee, I looked back and found out that four other times the township has tried to change their name. 26 00:04:40,860 --> 00:04:46,940 back in the fifties they tried to create the city of West Haven and the closest 27 00:04:46,940 --> 00:04:51,380 that ever came was in the subsidies when the city of Grandview Heights was 28 00:04:51,380 --> 00:04:56,720 being proposed. The charter was put on the ballot and Ted Mansour, the then 29 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:02,700 township supervisor, was running for mayor. Well, Ted Mansour got elected but the 30 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:08,840 charter failed. So he got elected to a city that didn't exist. So there was 31 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:14,560 another committee formed in May of 2012 and it had a couple of meetings and it kind of fizzled. 32 00:05:15,460 --> 00:05:21,060 And so when the supervisor was running for election clear back in 2016, a lot of 33 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:26,260 businesses and township residents said, you know, this Flint water thing's a problem. 34 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,620 We don't have Flint water. We've never had Flint water, but they had big signs as you'll remember 35 00:05:30,620 --> 00:05:35,400 in front of restaurants and hotels and things like that saying, we don't have Flint water. 36 00:05:36,020 --> 00:05:40,120 And so when she asked me to chair this committee, I said, well, who do you want on the committee? 37 00:05:40,180 --> 00:05:42,700 She says, let's hold a meeting and see who shows up. 38 00:05:43,340 --> 00:05:49,240 About 100 people showed up and at that time, Trustee Leverts wasn't a Trustee at the time, 39 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:51,200 but he was a good member of our committee. 40 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,700 And there are several other committees out here that they came along and became part of the process. 41 00:05:56,580 --> 00:06:00,760 And we called ourselves the blank committee because we didn't want to predispose that we're 42 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:02,100 going to create a city or whatever. 43 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:09,380 We just called it the blank committee until finally, and I think it was your suggestion, trustee, that it'd be called the suggestion committee. 44 00:06:10,660 --> 00:06:13,280 Anyway, that's what we end up calling ourselves. 45 00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:19,480 We ended up having nine meetings, and of course, I made sure these meetings were quite efficient. 46 00:06:19,740 --> 00:06:26,040 They addressed everything from insurance rates, zip codes, whether we wanted to create a city or not. 47 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,920 And ultimately 103 names were finally submitted. 48 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,620 And we didn't just ask for the name. 49 00:06:31,620 --> 00:06:34,320 We wanted them to tell us the background of the name, 50 00:06:34,540 --> 00:06:36,840 the etymology of the name, and all of that sort of thing. 51 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,280 Of those names, we bowed them down and created a list 52 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:41,160 of the top 10. 53 00:06:41,620 --> 00:06:44,480 Those top 10 we did in an hour through a process 54 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,200 that I set up to do that. 55 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,820 And bottom line, the committee decided we did not 56 00:06:49,820 --> 00:06:50,880 want to become a city. 57 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,520 They were concerned that a city might create increased taxes 58 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:56,400 and things like that. 59 00:06:56,820 --> 00:06:58,540 But we did want to change the name 60 00:06:58,540 --> 00:07:04,460 and that time a name got changed that was well we know Auburn Hills and what happened 61 00:07:04,460 --> 00:07:08,780 upon the act township became Auburn Hills and we know the success they had and if you 62 00:07:08,780 --> 00:07:13,540 go back and think about it why was the city trying to change why was the township I'm 63 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:18,800 sorry trying to change its name back in the 50s and 70s the city of front had a pretty 64 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:25,400 aggressive annexation program at the time and the airport and GM got annexed to the city 65 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:33,100 taken out of the townships tax base and at that time cities had that power of just taking them 66 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:37,920 over. And even Swartz Creek took a little bit out of the side that is a GM plant down there. 67 00:07:38,820 --> 00:07:45,260 And so what resulted of that is the Burton Township became the city of Burton because that way 68 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:50,660 they couldn't be annexed. Well finally charter townships were enabled by the Michigan legislature and 69 00:07:50,660 --> 00:07:53,240 no longer could cities take over and in 70 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:58,240 X various processes and so they were the 71 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,860 committee then after work came up with 72 00:08:00,860 --> 00:08:02,980 Carmen Hills. That was the recommended 73 00:08:02,980 --> 00:08:06,480 name on a May and March 30th of 2017. 74 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:08,940 Now this is how long ago this was. The 75 00:08:08,940 --> 00:08:10,640 committee reported the trustees to 76 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,420 recommend that name change not to become 77 00:08:12,420 --> 00:08:16,940 a city but just want to become a name 78 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:18,980 change no change in government no change 79 00:08:18,980 --> 00:08:25,820 and how things work, etc. Well, the trustees wanted more information. They wanted to know about the marketability and branding of the name. 80 00:08:26,860 --> 00:08:34,920 And that time, I happen to be on the governor's appointee as the travel commissioner and we created pure Michigan. 81 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:41,260 You all know the name pure Michigan. One of the best brands in the world right now as far as travel promotion. 82 00:08:41,260 --> 00:08:48,240 We hired the guy that created pure Michigan, the DDA, through Tracy's work, hired Eric Boe to conduct a survey. 83 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:54,040 Well, no sooner did we get him hired than the township attorney on March 25 said, 84 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,880 there's no provision allowing townships to change the name. 85 00:08:57,540 --> 00:08:58,380 You can't do it. 86 00:08:58,560 --> 00:08:59,660 I said, what do you mean? 87 00:09:00,260 --> 00:09:04,840 Villages can, counties can, cities can, why can't we change? 88 00:09:05,260 --> 00:09:10,660 And in fact, I went back and looked and found out that originally in 1836 89 00:09:10,660 --> 00:09:13,600 This township was called Garland Township. 90 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:18,020 It was named to that after James Smith's son-in-law, 91 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,000 who was a military general, and James Smith 92 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:21,920 was the founder of Flint. 93 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,000 And so six months after that happened, 94 00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:27,960 they decided to change their name to Flint Township 95 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:29,900 because of this settlement along the river 96 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:31,920 that was calling itself Flint 97 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,300 because of the arrowheads they found in the river. 98 00:09:34,660 --> 00:09:36,180 And they thought that that settlement 99 00:09:36,180 --> 00:09:39,500 might be kind of the seat for Flint Township 100 00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:41,620 because it was all part of Fentany's challenge up. 101 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,260 Well, in 1855, they decided they wanted 102 00:09:45,260 --> 00:09:46,780 a professional fire department. 103 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:49,880 And so they created the City of Flint's fire department 104 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,760 and created the City of Flint so they could do that. 105 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,520 So they're not the Flint City fire department 106 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:58,060 and the Flint City are both have a birthday of 1855. 107 00:09:58,780 --> 00:10:01,240 19 years after the township was formed. 108 00:10:03,140 --> 00:10:06,200 So I called the state elections, 109 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,240 Secretary of State and said, wait a minute, you tell us you can't change the name, but 110 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:17,760 how did this happen clear back in 1855 that we went from Garland Township to Flint 111 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:22,960 Township. She said, I don't know, but you just can't do it. Okay fine, we can't do it. 112 00:10:23,020 --> 00:10:29,000 We have to have legislation. So on October 4th, 2017, I got our State Representative 113 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:34,520 Phil Phelps to introduce House Bill 5056. This House Bill would provide the way that 114 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:35,880 the townships could change their name. 115 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,520 It was sent to the local government committee 116 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,420 chaired by Republican and didn't get out of committee. 117 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,240 The same old R.D. stuff that we got going on today 118 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:45,920 happened then. 119 00:10:46,660 --> 00:10:50,860 So, two years later, our representative, John Cherry, 120 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:51,900 you know that name. 121 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:53,800 Obviously the lieutenant governor's son 122 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,020 introduced House Bill 4612. 123 00:10:56,900 --> 00:10:59,300 Same fate, the Democrat reduced the bill 124 00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:00,420 and didn't get out of committee. 125 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:02,700 So I got a little smart. 126 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:13,200 I said we got a Republican state legislator on the other side of the county. His name is Dave Martin. I had him introduce the bill on January 18th, 2020. 127 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:21,600 And House bill I'm sorry April 24, 2021 House bill 4637 was introduced by Representative Martin. 128 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:26,200 It was co-signed by where I was in a sherry hall of Lysia, Bricksey, Whitsitt. 129 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,760 So we had a lot of co-signers behind this thing. 130 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:34,360 It passed out a committee right along party lines, passed the House with a strong majority 131 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:41,040 94 to 10, passed the Senate unanimously, signed by the governor seven days later. 132 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,780 So public act 97, which is what we're under now, becomes the state law son of die in 19 and 133 00:11:46,780 --> 00:11:47,260 2021. 134 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,300 And so we turned the survey back on. 135 00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:57,640 You know, we had hired this guy six years earlier and so he went out and did the survey and he looked at the ten names that we had 136 00:11:58,140 --> 00:12:01,040 And he said old kills is the name we probably should have 137 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,620 Why did he select that as opposed to the others 138 00:12:04,140 --> 00:12:06,300 It has no negatives to it 139 00:12:06,740 --> 00:12:10,780 All the other names are associated with a person or an individual or another city 140 00:12:10,780 --> 00:12:12,520 I mean, I like garland a little bit 141 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:16,880 But you know, we got garland in Texas garland Missouri garland golf courses all that sort of stuff 142 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,760 But there's no other old kills city 143 00:12:20,300 --> 00:12:21,380 in the United States. 144 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,240 Now, just to be straight, don't Google it right away 145 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,300 because some of these presentations are going to say, 146 00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:27,680 hey, there's all kills California. 147 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,120 There are five unincorporated census districts 148 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,580 that I've found, which are named all kills. 149 00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:36,580 There's also some grade yards and some golf courses 150 00:12:36,580 --> 00:12:38,600 and things like that, but there's no other municipal 151 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,700 government named all kills. 152 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,880 And so that's the name that was preferred to the trustees. 153 00:12:46,060 --> 00:12:49,180 Now, the bill that was passed said that 154 00:12:49,180 --> 00:12:57,640 but if two-thirds of the trustees pick a name and put it on the November ballot and if 155 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:03,940 the people by majority approve that name, the trustees may, they're not required, approve 156 00:13:03,940 --> 00:13:09,760 that name. And so that's where we're at. This is on the ballot in November and you're 157 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:17,900 going to be asked to vote, yes or no on that ballot. Now, in April 10, 2022, we put that 158 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:22,120 request before the trustees and unfortunately they voted it down four to three. 159 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:28,440 And so recently the supervisor and I've been getting a lot of people saying whatever happened 160 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:29,100 to the name change. 161 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:30,540 I sure like to see that happen. 162 00:13:30,660 --> 00:13:35,140 There's a lot of stuff that's percolating and causing people to rethink this and want 163 00:13:35,140 --> 00:13:36,760 to do something about making the name change. 164 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:44,620 And so the supervisor called a special meeting on July 20th of 2026 and at that special meeting 165 00:13:44,620 --> 00:13:51,100 the trustees approved putting this name all kills on the ballot by a five-to-one vote. 166 00:13:51,860 --> 00:13:53,960 Now on the ballot, can you hand me that? 167 00:13:59,890 --> 00:14:05,130 Here's a sample ballot, and believe it or not, there are six different ballot initiatives 168 00:14:05,130 --> 00:14:07,010 on here for you to vote yes or no on. 169 00:14:07,750 --> 00:14:08,850 Two of them are for state. 170 00:14:09,410 --> 00:14:13,070 There's con con and the money out of politics issue. 171 00:14:13,530 --> 00:14:15,850 There's two county renewal millages on here. 172 00:14:15,850 --> 00:14:25,170 There's a mock community college rule in the million, but the fifth one down is the is the a vote to vote. Yes for all kills and so 173 00:14:30,010 --> 00:14:35,050 Okay, yes or no, yeah, you can check either box. We hope you'll check the right one 174 00:14:35,050 --> 00:14:40,070 So anyway part of the reason we want to do this is there's confusion 175 00:14:40,590 --> 00:14:46,570 Within the township you saw those little questions stuff. I gave you I listed the four zip code 176 00:14:46,570 --> 00:14:48,770 I mean, the seven zip codes with four different names there. 177 00:14:49,370 --> 00:14:52,570 You know, I've made some presentations of rotary clubs and things like that. 178 00:14:52,650 --> 00:14:56,430 And I asked people who lives in foot township and several people raise their hand. 179 00:14:56,430 --> 00:14:57,790 And I said, well, how do you approve that? 180 00:14:58,790 --> 00:14:59,910 So, take your driver's license. 181 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:29,640 That's your government issued an idea and some guy said, I'm from flushing it says here. I'm from Swartz Creek, somebody else says. It doesn't say Flint Township for me. So that's why it is. And so water wasn't the only thing that was confusing. When when mayor weaver was up for recall, over 100 people, 100 voters from Flint Township, tried, they called the election clerk here and said, there's no place on the ballot for me to vote for mayor. 182 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,720 Weaver. How come?" He said, because you live in Flint, township. That's why. It says, 183 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,980 Flint on my driver's license, why can't I vote? 184 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,360 Interestingly enough, I thought it might 185 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:47,200 have been the confusion with the supervisor's name and the mayor's name, Karen and Karen, 186 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:54,600 but at the same time that happened, the supervisor in Davidson's township's name was Karen Miller, 187 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,660 or identical to hers spelled a little differently, first name. 188 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,180 But nobody in Davis in township had any confusion, right? 189 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,800 Because it's Davis in township, not quote, 190 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:04,440 from a township. 191 00:16:05,340 --> 00:16:06,440 The other thing is kind of interesting 192 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,760 in the last primary, there were several people 193 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,520 that tried to vote in Swartz Creek from Flint, Township, 194 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:12,920 because that's what it's said in their license. 195 00:16:13,420 --> 00:16:14,420 And they got turned back. 196 00:16:15,860 --> 00:16:18,560 So that's a background of how we got here today. 197 00:16:19,180 --> 00:16:20,480 The measure is on the ballot. 198 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:27,080 But just to be sure that you understand, the only thing that will happen if you vote 199 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:32,220 for it and if the trustees approve it is that wherever you see Flint Township written, 200 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:33,960 that will get changed. 201 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:36,900 Your postal address will not change. 202 00:16:37,380 --> 00:16:42,400 What we intend to do because the post office, you know, would have done this for us before, 203 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,140 but that's one of the things we talked about in the committee is trying to get the post office 204 00:16:46,140 --> 00:16:47,900 to figure out something about these zip codes. 205 00:16:48,580 --> 00:16:59,900 what we will do is we will work with our US congressman to change the post offices name and then work with the post office to try and get the zip codes fixed. 206 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:08,280 And the simplest way that the post office can do that, frankly, is keep the numbers the same but change the name in front of it. 207 00:17:08,980 --> 00:17:15,300 And if you look on that little slip of paper that I gave you with the question thing, you'll see there are two zip codes that have two names. 208 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:19,520 The first name is what the post office says is the preferred name for that zip code. 209 00:17:20,020 --> 00:17:22,580 The second name is an alternative name that they recognize. 210 00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:27,400 So there are two zip codes that already have been modified or fixed in. 211 00:17:27,540 --> 00:17:29,600 And I think we will have some success in doing that. 212 00:17:31,140 --> 00:17:34,380 So that's what I think helps bring us to this point. 213 00:17:34,540 --> 00:17:37,420 Are we ready for your questions or? 214 00:17:39,140 --> 00:17:40,440 I see a few questions. 215 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,540 You didn't speak about the cost. 216 00:17:42,540 --> 00:17:45,980 Well, I can, let me have the, I got a little form here. 217 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,500 On these questions, you've got a little shoot of paper. 218 00:17:51,660 --> 00:17:55,400 I'll just go over these with you real quick, like the first point is, 219 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,360 there's a clear positive identity for our community. 220 00:17:57,420 --> 00:18:00,560 There's no confusion if we can, as we said, 221 00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:01,480 O'Kill's is not there. 222 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,200 It was identified by marketing experts. 223 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:06,200 You know, people said, how did you come up with the name O'Kill's? 224 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,660 Well, the committee actually came up with the name, 225 00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:11,560 but the marketing branding people have come up with O'Kill's 226 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:16,980 is the one. You know, you see many products that go through a brand change or name change 227 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:21,300 in the brand. This is no different. We're going to change the brand of the township. 228 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:28,220 It will not increase your taxes. Nothing will change about the form of government that we have 229 00:18:28,220 --> 00:18:35,060 and the processes for living taxes. It will not increase your taxes. And in fact, if we're 230 00:18:35,060 --> 00:18:40,820 successful from an economic development standpoint, the tax base will be broader and may end up 231 00:18:40,820 --> 00:18:43,320 reducing your taxes if we have a broader tax base. 232 00:18:44,020 --> 00:18:47,180 You know, when Flint took the airport and GM out, 233 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:50,420 that critically hurt the tax base for Flint Township, 234 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:51,340 if you think about it. 235 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,520 And if you look at the map of Flint Township, 236 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,460 you'll see this great big chunk of real estate 237 00:18:56,460 --> 00:18:58,980 taken out of it, and that happened way back then. 238 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:03,100 What the Supervisor was talking about is the cost is manageable. 239 00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:06,640 When originally we did this, the fire department, 240 00:19:06,660 --> 00:19:08,520 police department, signs around the township. 241 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,380 we estimate that not more than $150,000. 242 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,540 The chief and the fire chief have both come 243 00:19:15,540 --> 00:19:16,960 over another estimate for me. 244 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,460 And now it's about 200,000 or less. 245 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,240 Actually, it's about 160, so they can 246 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,380 with a total plus maybe 15 or 21 science around the township. 247 00:19:25,820 --> 00:19:28,060 It'll be less than 200 township actual cost. 248 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:32,200 And if the supervisors approve or the trustees approve 249 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,420 this name and accept our recommendation, 250 00:19:34,420 --> 00:19:36,360 we're recommending that if they approve it, 251 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,460 that it become effective January 1st, 2028, 252 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,180 giving us a whole year to make that transition. 253 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:47,240 This will allow the forms and all that sort of stuff 254 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,320 that's got Flint Township to be done over normal attrition. 255 00:19:50,580 --> 00:19:51,940 Every year you print new forms, 256 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:53,960 every year you print new envelopes or whatever. 257 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:56,400 Well, you've got a year to make that transition 258 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,440 and it may come into the regular cost 259 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,240 of printing more pieces in paper. 260 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:02,380 Okay, you let me. 261 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:06,440 Well, that's the cost of the township. 262 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:14,180 And so then, as I said, it wouldn't change your post address and the ballot language is 263 00:20:14,180 --> 00:20:14,980 on this sheet of paper. 264 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:17,820 You can see exactly what it says on the ballot and how you vote, yes or no. 265 00:20:18,460 --> 00:20:22,140 So the supervisor said, we're not going to take questions with the audience but we'd like 266 00:20:22,140 --> 00:20:26,140 you to write the questions and so are we ready for that or are you having any more you want? 267 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:32,600 Yes, there's a couple of questions about the name itself, that's the cost hold on. 268 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:36,960 What is the value to the name change and what is the cost so that's part of that? 269 00:20:37,580 --> 00:20:45,320 I wanted to mention something about the law that was passed by our Michigan State Legislature. 270 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:52,120 Michigan Township Association is an association that all townships within Michigan belong to. 271 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:58,240 They help leading guide us and they hopefully teach us a lot of things too but they help sponsor 272 00:20:58,240 --> 00:20:58,660 the bill. 273 00:20:58,660 --> 00:21:11,020 And part of the law and it was a contingency on them sponsoring the bill was that all the residents of the township could vote so that they insisted on that. 274 00:21:11,820 --> 00:21:16,240 Two is that the law says it can only be done once every 25 years. 275 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:23,620 And three, we couldn't go out and ask the residents, do you want to change the name and then come up with the name. 276 00:21:23,620 --> 00:21:28,620 The law states that the name had to be provided on the ballot initiative. 277 00:21:29,340 --> 00:21:34,020 So that's why the survey was done, and they came up with a name. 278 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,680 I know there's a lot of people who ask questions, where are the hills? 279 00:21:38,540 --> 00:21:39,760 Why do you choose that name? 280 00:21:41,140 --> 00:21:46,360 And that was a name that came out of the Name Change Committee that rose to the top in 281 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:46,840 the survey. 282 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:53,260 A lot of people had their own preference, but having taken the survey, that survey had 283 00:21:53,260 --> 00:21:58,960 And several questions, I don't know how many exactly, but the first question was, are 284 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,560 you interested in changing the name of the township? 285 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:05,240 And if you voted no, then you were done with the survey. 286 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,900 And then they asked several other questions because many people had their own preference 287 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:16,100 on the name, but that name rose to the top as being referred to the township board. 288 00:22:16,780 --> 00:22:19,340 So I hope that answers the question on. 289 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:20,100 If I could. 290 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:26,580 But what this is, it becomes a non-binding survey, literally, of the residents. 291 00:22:27,180 --> 00:22:30,200 You know, businesses are some of the ones that are driving this thing because they want 292 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,020 to have a different atmosphere for their business other than Flint. 293 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,160 They're driving it, but they don't get to vote. 294 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,640 It's only the residents that get to vote, so this becomes a non-binding referendum. 295 00:22:41,460 --> 00:22:45,760 And so then the trustees will look at that vote and decide whether they want to go forward 296 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:46,860 or not. 297 00:22:46,860 --> 00:22:51,700 But if the people voted down, the trustees can't do anything. 298 00:22:53,780 --> 00:22:57,980 So the next question was, oh, I already mentioned it, where are the hills? 299 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:00,500 This name has zero connection to the community. 300 00:23:01,820 --> 00:23:04,340 There had to be a name chosen to be put on the ballot. 301 00:23:05,140 --> 00:23:06,660 And we had over, how many? 302 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:07,080 103? 303 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:08,700 104 names. 304 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:11,080 There were 103 names submitted, as I said. 305 00:23:11,460 --> 00:23:15,460 We had asked for the ademology of the name, where else to use, well, it down to 10. 306 00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:17,100 and this was number seven on the list. 307 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:18,980 ours was Carmen Hills is what we picked. 308 00:23:19,420 --> 00:23:20,400 But he went down through the list 309 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,500 and there were negatives associated with each of those 310 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:23,820 till they got to old kills. 311 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,820 I think it was also said that they didn't want to use 312 00:23:27,820 --> 00:23:30,280 one of the names to pick one over another 313 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,900 and Elijah Carmen was one of the founders. 314 00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:35,540 Here's another question. 315 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:37,220 Who brought up the idea? 316 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,900 Who brought up idea of name change? 317 00:23:40,260 --> 00:23:40,860 Who does it benefit? 318 00:23:40,860 --> 00:23:50,240 So as Jerry said, back in 2016, you know, at the peak of the water crisis, it was a lot 319 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:55,780 of the township businesses who would come and ask, hey, can we look at this again? 320 00:23:56,540 --> 00:24:02,660 There was a few residents when I was knocking on doors, but there was more businesses than 321 00:24:02,660 --> 00:24:07,460 residents who brought this up, but that's where the initiative came from. 322 00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:11,320 You show the cost of the name change for the township. 323 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,860 What about cost of business, police, fire, uniforms? 324 00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:24,500 So, as Jerry said, we just got an update from the police department on the cost of what it would take to update everything. 325 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:28,940 And I think from you and Chief Wingler, it was 99,000. 326 00:24:29,780 --> 00:24:35,840 It's tough to get an exact dollar amount on some things because some people won't give you. 327 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:43,100 I can't get a firm quote on patches until we make a patch and then submit it for design. 328 00:24:43,660 --> 00:24:51,780 A more intricate patch is going to cost more money, so roughly $5 a patch, two patches per uniform, six shirts per officer. 329 00:24:51,980 --> 00:24:53,420 So I can give you rough numbers. 330 00:24:54,380 --> 00:25:02,180 So, you know, in our breakdown, if you've been to a police department, we have Flint Township across the front. 331 00:25:02,180 --> 00:25:06,220 We estimated $15,000 in the change that I just talked to the science by 332 00:25:06,220 --> 00:25:08,380 creating that's now closer to $10,000. 333 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,720 So the numbers have fluctuated just since two days ago. 334 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:16,420 So these are estimates based on how many hats we have, how many patches we need. 335 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:21,380 And again, it's tough to get exact dollar figures because people won't give you the quotes 336 00:25:21,380 --> 00:25:23,940 unless you give them a final product. 337 00:25:24,460 --> 00:25:29,400 So it's a rough number. Probably not to exceed that, but I hate to tell you to 338 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,040 I mean it won't exceed it and then it does. 339 00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:36,300 So roughly, excuse me, but what's not the best part of that? 340 00:25:36,460 --> 00:25:36,980 Well, I'll get to that. 341 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:42,520 The fire department gave me an estimate of 39,000. 342 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,980 So if you put those together, that's under 150. 343 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:47,180 Or 150, I'm sorry. 344 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:52,840 And then the township, we have a couple of signs 345 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:57,680 want it on Bristol at I-69 and want on Corona Road, 346 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:06,360 welcoming people. We have some signs that welcome you to the business district that would come from those are $50 a sign those come from 347 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:12,060 Genesee County Road Commission those signs that are on the ground per me 348 00:26:13,420 --> 00:26:14,840 Those would be 349 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:19,420 But I think you've got a quote were they to change? 350 00:26:27,020 --> 00:26:27,660 Sorry 351 00:26:27,660 --> 00:26:33,740 dollars to make change of all the signage around the township. Now that's why I say maybe 200,000 352 00:26:33,740 --> 00:26:40,700 is the number that I mean it's in that ballpark. It's not a half million dollars like some people 353 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:47,760 are saying or a million dollars it's in the 200,000 ballpark. So you asked about the businesses and 354 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:54,000 I've driven around the township and I haven't seen a lot of signs that have the name Flint Township 355 00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:01,760 underneath the business name and I've talked to a few business owners and a lot 356 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:07,160 of them don't use letterhead. They use electronic stuff so I don't have an 357 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:11,680 exact amount to tell you how much it would cost a business but I know that 358 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,940 there's several businesses who are interested in having this done well 359 00:27:25,220 --> 00:27:26,060 what 360 00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:28,880 are they changing their postal address no 361 00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:42,980 the checking account has their has 362 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:44,200 Flint township on it? 363 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:55,580 So I think just like what Grand Blank did, the zip code 48507, 364 00:27:56,300 --> 00:28:02,100 Grand Blank Township has a mailing zip code that used to say you'd mail it to Grand Blank 365 00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:09,620 Township at Flint, Michigan. So now if there's a zip code on the letter that has 48507, 366 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,700 it will go to Flint or it will go to Grand Blank Township. So now I can send a letter 367 00:28:14,700 --> 00:28:20,660 or payment, whatever, to grand blank township hall, and it'll say grand blank Michigan. 368 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:28,980 So if the zip codes are changed, and the process was explained, it would have City of Flint, 369 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:30,580 and then it would also have Oak Hills. 370 00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:38,860 So if someone, I live in 48532, if it says Flint, it would, it possibly could say Oak Hills, 371 00:28:38,980 --> 00:28:42,860 so either one of them, those names would get it to your zip code. 372 00:28:42,860 --> 00:28:47,980 So the next question is what is the position of our elected officials on the name 373 00:28:47,980 --> 00:28:54,260 change? That's for us to know and you to find out. Actually, I do know the 374 00:28:54,260 --> 00:29:00,320 vote that night we had six of our members at the meeting that night and the 375 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:07,500 vote that night was five to one to put on the ballot. I will say this though. 376 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:12,840 I 377 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:20,260 changing the name, the last time that this question came to the board, it was a four to 378 00:29:20,260 --> 00:29:23,580 two vote because there was a member missing that evening. 379 00:29:24,260 --> 00:29:28,620 So four people decided that we weren't going to put it on the ballot and ask our residents. 380 00:29:29,340 --> 00:29:34,960 So this time, you're being asked for your input and if you vote yes, it doesn't automatically 381 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,560 mean that the name is going to change because it will come back to the board. 382 00:29:39,220 --> 00:29:44,660 I think it would be, at this point because the law changed, we can't change the name 383 00:29:44,660 --> 00:29:45,920 without the input of the residents. 384 00:29:46,340 --> 00:29:47,920 We need to know what you want to do. 385 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,860 So I think that answers that question. 386 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:59,320 Can you read through the Oak Hills Info Sheet and discuss each section? 387 00:29:59,320 --> 00:29:59,980 I think we just 388 00:30:02,810 --> 00:30:31,930 One thing that has been said is property value will increase, but many young people have already priced out of home. Oh, there's more of that ownership. And Flint Township is an affordable option in Genesee County has this thought has this been thought about. So I realize that our taxes, they seem high. I did look up who has the highest taxes in all the counties. 389 00:30:31,930 --> 00:30:35,970 counties in the state of Michigan, that's Oakland Hills. 390 00:30:36,630 --> 00:30:39,490 So our taxes aren't the highest, but we do have high taxes. 391 00:30:40,210 --> 00:30:40,330 Now, 392 00:30:42,930 --> 00:30:48,150 our levy, that we levy on the tax base for Flint 393 00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:52,210 Township, that was rolled back this year to 4.626. 394 00:30:53,270 --> 00:30:54,950 For the rest of the time that I've been here, 395 00:30:54,990 --> 00:30:58,870 it's been 4.6423, so it's gone down a little bit 396 00:30:58,870 --> 00:31:05,650 because of the Hedley amendment which protects the taxpayer when your value of the property 397 00:31:05,650 --> 00:31:12,350 or the rate of inflation or when that changes they're trying to watch out for the taxpayer 398 00:31:12,350 --> 00:31:17,270 by rolling that back. So that happened this year, that's the first time I've seen that happen. 399 00:31:18,810 --> 00:31:25,430 But we don't intend on raising the taxes but if the value of the property go up then you know 400 00:31:25,430 --> 00:31:33,550 that tax base is multiplied by the value of your property, so it may go up and maybe with 401 00:31:33,550 --> 00:31:40,030 an additional tax base by drawing other people for economic development maybe it shares 402 00:31:40,030 --> 00:31:48,150 the board burden more. But I don't have any other comments on that. I just know that there's 403 00:31:48,150 --> 00:31:53,450 not been any, there's been zero discussion on us raising the taxes. As long as I've been 404 00:31:53,450 --> 00:32:03,510 in office, the tax levy was 4.6, 423 until this year it went down to 4.626 on our operating 405 00:32:03,510 --> 00:32:10,330 millage. Next question is what steps are we to do to change still security consumers, 406 00:32:10,570 --> 00:32:22,910 drivers license bank, statement medic? Okay, so again, I believe that's going to be on the 407 00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:27,090 The ballot gives the trustees the answers that we're looking for. 408 00:32:27,650 --> 00:32:29,470 Do our residents want to change their name? 409 00:32:30,410 --> 00:32:35,810 It doesn't tell us what the businesses want to do in their big taxpayers, but this initiative 410 00:32:35,810 --> 00:32:37,670 is a vote of the residents. 411 00:32:37,670 --> 00:32:39,890 We want to know what you want to do. 412 00:32:40,450 --> 00:32:42,890 And then it still has to be approved by the board. 413 00:32:43,570 --> 00:32:46,030 And then after that, we take the steps. 414 00:32:46,230 --> 00:32:51,770 If it passes, I'm not sure it'll pass, but if it passes, then we take the steps to 415 00:32:51,770 --> 00:32:58,950 look at the changing the name of the post office and then the zip codes. And if the 416 00:32:58,950 --> 00:33:05,190 the Grand Blank was able to do it and they have one zip code for the two different 417 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:12,030 names, I'm sure that that will be the same here. The 48532, the 48507 would 418 00:33:12,030 --> 00:33:18,390 say Flint and well it goes to Grand Blank and then it could be Oak Hills. So I don't 419 00:33:18,390 --> 00:33:22,750 expect that all these different things, so security, consumers, drivers, 420 00:33:22,850 --> 00:33:25,470 license, I don't expect that that would have to change. 421 00:33:28,650 --> 00:33:29,290 Go ahead. 422 00:33:31,940 --> 00:33:38,480 Just a real quick, for you that live in 48532, almost 90% of the residents in 423 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,380 Zipcode 48532 are Flint Township residents. 424 00:33:42,380 --> 00:33:47,120 There's a very few on the east side that are Flint and a very few on the west side 425 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:51,620 that are Clayton Tonship, but they're all that Flint zip code would be very easy for 426 00:33:51,620 --> 00:33:57,000 the post office part, just to strike out Flint and put in old kills if that became the case. 427 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:04,020 The other thing that we did in our committee was look at what that zip code might have on 428 00:34:04,020 --> 00:34:09,200 insurance rates. And frankly, just to be honest with you, insurance companies wouldn't commit. 429 00:34:09,620 --> 00:34:14,940 They said that would be redlining if they did anything like that, but it sort of seemed 430 00:34:14,940 --> 00:34:20,280 like there may be a different adjustment on insurance rates for both cars and probably. 431 00:34:22,450 --> 00:34:27,170 This question is, is this going to cause us to change everything we use for personal 432 00:34:27,170 --> 00:34:34,670 business checks, utilities, insurance credit cards? I feel this is a monumental task. So again, 433 00:34:35,270 --> 00:34:41,970 if the zip codes that are in place now, and you saw on the sheet, the zip codes that we have, 434 00:34:41,970 --> 00:34:47,170 of 48433 is flushing 48473 is Swartz Creek. 435 00:34:47,630 --> 00:34:50,870 I think those will remain because they're 436 00:34:51,710 --> 00:34:53,590 flushing the city, Swartz Creek is a city. 437 00:34:54,950 --> 00:34:59,770 48503 is Flint, 48504 is Flint, 48507 is Flint, 438 00:35:00,010 --> 00:35:01,190 slash Grand Blank. 439 00:35:02,670 --> 00:35:04,790 48529 is Burton, slash Flint, 440 00:35:05,130 --> 00:35:07,290 and 48532 is Flint. 441 00:35:08,330 --> 00:35:11,010 And I know that Clayton Township, 442 00:35:11,010 --> 00:35:14,490 But on the other side of Elms Road is 4853 also. 443 00:35:14,950 --> 00:35:19,970 So if that were to change to O-Kills, I don't know if it would remain flint. 444 00:35:22,510 --> 00:35:27,630 If you look up a zip code with the US Postal, they will tell you the preferred name and 445 00:35:27,630 --> 00:35:30,070 in some cases they'll tell you an alternate name. 446 00:35:30,830 --> 00:35:36,190 Worst case, hopefully we can also get an alternate name on all of our zip codes if they don't 447 00:35:36,190 --> 00:35:36,970 change the zip code. 448 00:35:37,290 --> 00:35:41,750 Ideally, they'd make a whole brand new zip code for all of us and what are the crazy part 449 00:35:41,750 --> 00:35:47,170 about all of this is is that zip codes are out of date. When you use your GPS, you don't 450 00:35:47,170 --> 00:35:51,170 put in the zip code, you put the name of the address in there. The postal department 451 00:35:51,170 --> 00:35:56,110 created zip codes because that was the area that a single postal carrier could carry in 452 00:35:56,110 --> 00:36:00,310 the day. That was his route. Everything within that zip code was his route, whether it be a 453 00:36:00,310 --> 00:36:05,330 motor route or a hand-carried route. That's adequate and hopefully the postal will also get 454 00:36:05,330 --> 00:36:09,130 around to not even have zip codes anymore because they're not necessary. 455 00:36:10,210 --> 00:36:14,290 There's a question about a Swartz Creek address, will they keep their Swartz Creek 456 00:36:14,290 --> 00:36:14,650 address? 457 00:36:15,810 --> 00:36:16,290 Yes. 458 00:36:17,750 --> 00:36:23,190 Could be, hopefully the Swartz Creek zip code will be Swartz Creek slant or kills, worst 459 00:36:23,190 --> 00:36:23,470 case. 460 00:36:25,470 --> 00:36:26,390 So it would have both. 461 00:36:26,830 --> 00:36:27,370 It would have both. 462 00:36:27,690 --> 00:36:31,150 And that makes it easier in your case where you've got to change stationery and things like 463 00:36:31,150 --> 00:36:36,250 that, that would allow for the old name and the new name at the same time, if that's what 464 00:36:36,250 --> 00:36:36,810 it works out. 465 00:36:38,610 --> 00:36:42,690 So, that was all the questions from people in the audience. 466 00:36:42,910 --> 00:36:44,510 I hope we've answered your questions. 467 00:36:47,170 --> 00:36:49,230 Can you write it down, please, and submit it? 468 00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:55,610 Ms. Trustee Leverett next to me has asked if we, the trustees are going to get to speak 469 00:36:55,610 --> 00:36:56,350 on the name change. 470 00:36:56,990 --> 00:37:04,410 So this is an informal township meeting, and we are not going to be expressing our whether 471 00:37:04,410 --> 00:37:05,990 we're for it or against it. 472 00:37:05,990 --> 00:37:12,370 So unless you had some informational item you want to share, we're not going to be sharing 473 00:37:12,370 --> 00:37:14,670 our personal opinions, okay? 474 00:37:15,370 --> 00:37:20,910 And now you're walking away, Tracy, but I know you have two questions that were asked 475 00:37:20,910 --> 00:37:21,290 about. 476 00:37:22,290 --> 00:37:23,030 Yeah, I saw it. 477 00:37:38,140 --> 00:37:45,580 So every year in our budget, we budget for replacing items such as, thank you very much, such 478 00:37:45,580 --> 00:37:53,120 which is cars. We buy three to four police vehicles. Well, please, you can answer. 479 00:37:53,680 --> 00:38:02,480 Oh, so yes. So in the budget every year, there's money for like patrol vehicles uniform, but those are bought on an as needed 480 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:07,300 basis. So if I tear this uniform shirt, I'll put in a request to buy one new shirt. 481 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,960 We explored the idea if we do this name change, we have to make a new patch. 482 00:38:12,580 --> 00:38:15,000 These are all these patches are sewn in. 483 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:18,600 We tried very carefully with a razor cutting each one out. 484 00:38:19,260 --> 00:38:20,660 It just destroys a shirt. 485 00:38:20,740 --> 00:38:23,300 We can't cut these out and repatch them. 486 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:27,540 Even if we get the same style patch, it won't sew in 487 00:38:27,540 --> 00:38:29,200 because the shirt is so destroyed. 488 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:32,500 So we have no choice but to get all new shirts. 489 00:38:32,780 --> 00:38:34,580 So that's three long sleeve, three short sleeve, 490 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:36,140 and all new jackets. 491 00:38:36,540 --> 00:38:37,940 So that is a 492 00:38:39,220 --> 00:38:41,120 that would partially be in the budget, right? 493 00:38:41,220 --> 00:38:42,740 Because there is money in there for replacement, 494 00:38:42,740 --> 00:38:44,620 but there's not enough in there 495 00:38:44,620 --> 00:38:48,300 because we don't budget to buy new uniforms for everybody, 496 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:50,300 every single year that'd be an egregious amount of money. 497 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:52,600 They've put every single year into a budget. 498 00:38:52,740 --> 00:38:54,240 So yeah, there's money in there for uniforms, 499 00:38:54,620 --> 00:38:56,200 there's money in there for patrol vehicles 500 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:57,500 and again, some of these are estimates. 501 00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:01,240 Everything in our breakdown, there's money in the budget, 502 00:39:01,580 --> 00:39:04,100 but when we put together the budget, 503 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:06,140 it's for replacement and repair. 504 00:39:06,140 --> 00:39:16,220 It's not for buying all new stuff, so yes, the dollar figure is roughly a hundred, but of that, I don't want to put a number out there. 505 00:39:16,300 --> 00:39:21,380 How much is already in the budget because I don't want to give you bad information, but it's not a all new expense. 506 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:25,400 Part of the money is in the budget, just not this much, if that makes sense. 507 00:39:27,790 --> 00:39:32,950 There's a question, it says voting question mark, ballots, was this from you? 508 00:39:35,310 --> 00:39:39,670 This question is on the November general election ballot. 509 00:39:40,430 --> 00:39:46,690 So as it was explained in, well that's just regular paper, but on your voting ballot, 510 00:39:47,070 --> 00:39:52,470 that you'll get, whether you vote absentee or you come in and do the early voting or you 511 00:39:52,470 --> 00:39:56,510 go to your polling place for voting at your precinct. 512 00:39:57,330 --> 00:40:02,070 There's what, six different questions, two or state 513 00:40:02,070 --> 00:40:06,030 questions for the Constitutional Constitution. 514 00:40:06,490 --> 00:40:06,790 Is that right? 515 00:40:08,610 --> 00:40:12,570 One is a Mott College Renewal. 516 00:40:14,110 --> 00:40:16,650 There's a Genesee County Millage Renewal 517 00:40:16,650 --> 00:40:18,970 proposal for the Animal Care Shelter. 518 00:40:18,970 --> 00:40:24,870 and health services. 519 00:40:25,370 --> 00:40:28,130 So ours is one of the six. 520 00:40:28,350 --> 00:40:32,350 Like I said, two state questions about the state constitution. 521 00:40:33,250 --> 00:40:37,150 One is a MOT community college renewal proposition. 522 00:40:37,890 --> 00:40:42,550 One is for the animal care shelter and that's a renewal. 523 00:40:42,850 --> 00:40:47,390 And another renewal is for the Genesee County Health Care Services Millage Renewal. 524 00:40:47,390 --> 00:40:55,270 So, it would be on the November ballot, and like I said, you can get it by signing up for absentee ballot. 525 00:40:55,550 --> 00:40:58,370 Come in nine days, ten days of early voting. 526 00:40:58,610 --> 00:41:01,610 Our clerk's hiding in the audience over there. 527 00:41:02,530 --> 00:41:03,310 Manny, how many days? 528 00:41:03,670 --> 00:41:04,230 Ten days. 529 00:41:04,470 --> 00:41:05,550 Ten days early voting. 530 00:41:06,230 --> 00:41:10,190 And I also see Tunisia. She's one of our trustees also hiding next door. 531 00:41:11,570 --> 00:41:13,070 The absentee ballots. 532 00:41:13,070 --> 00:41:18,990 I believe by the 24th next we haven't received ballot shot though so in about a week 533 00:41:19,910 --> 00:41:22,030 So did that answer the question? 534 00:41:22,630 --> 00:41:23,230 Yes 535 00:41:25,540 --> 00:41:27,640 There's another question that came in 536 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:33,980 Who are the marketing experts that prepared the report of data and why now as 537 00:41:36,570 --> 00:41:38,050 I indicated in my earlier presentation 538 00:41:38,050 --> 00:41:44,750 I was fortunate enough to be a governor grand homo pointee to the travel commission the travel commission was looking at the 539 00:41:44,750 --> 00:41:48,530 the branding for the state and wanted to improve the branding. 540 00:41:49,250 --> 00:41:52,870 And we hired a company that used to do a lot of work for GM and others. 541 00:41:53,130 --> 00:41:59,830 But the individual that came up with pure Michigan, this is the brand that is now universal 542 00:41:59,830 --> 00:42:00,730 and really. 543 00:42:02,410 --> 00:42:05,330 We were totally blown away about how well that's worked. 544 00:42:05,690 --> 00:42:07,530 And it's lasted for a long time. 545 00:42:07,750 --> 00:42:12,730 I mean, it's been around for, we celebrated the 21st anniversary of pure Michigan last week. 546 00:42:13,210 --> 00:42:18,390 And his name was Eric Bowes, and he was the one that came in and the DDA hired him and 547 00:42:18,390 --> 00:42:23,010 paid him to do this work of surveying and determining and measuring that brand. 548 00:42:23,770 --> 00:42:25,850 And that's the brand that's come off. 549 00:42:26,190 --> 00:42:29,610 And the second question was on this was why now? 550 00:42:30,410 --> 00:42:31,090 Why now? 551 00:42:32,810 --> 00:42:35,570 Because it's November, and it could be on the ballot, I guess. 552 00:42:36,130 --> 00:42:38,730 Part of the law was that it had to be on a November ballot. 553 00:42:38,730 --> 00:42:43,910 Yes. So the last time this question came up to the trustees was four years ago, 554 00:42:45,250 --> 00:42:51,470 and when we put a ballot initiative on the ballot, when there's another election, 555 00:42:52,250 --> 00:42:56,990 we're not paying additional for that. So we didn't do something in the interim. 556 00:42:57,450 --> 00:43:04,150 So why now is because we can? Yeah, and one of the things I think you should look at, 557 00:43:04,150 --> 00:43:10,330 there was a whole book written on Auburn Hills, Pontiac's Township Conversion to Auburn Hills, 558 00:43:10,670 --> 00:43:14,390 and it talks about what happened to their tax rates, and what happened to their insurance 559 00:43:14,390 --> 00:43:19,550 rates, and things like that. And it was all positive stuff. And that's probably the best example 560 00:43:19,550 --> 00:43:25,390 we could use. Now granted, they changed from a township to a city-former government, 561 00:43:25,930 --> 00:43:31,650 same with East Point. East Point was East Detroit and changed from a one-former city government 562 00:43:31,650 --> 00:43:36,410 to another former city government but there's several examples of these sort of things but the 563 00:43:36,410 --> 00:43:40,310 best one is all in hills and you can go online and they'll give you the information. 564 00:43:41,550 --> 00:43:47,870 There was a couple of questions that had to do with business development in the mall, right? 565 00:43:48,350 --> 00:43:53,770 Tracy Tucker is our economic enhancement director. She's also the deputy clerk. She's got 566 00:43:53,770 --> 00:43:58,590 to know. A lot of knowledge. Yeah. I'm the DDA director as well. But the 567 00:43:58,590 --> 00:44:07,870 Genesee Valley Center sits in the DDA. The question was aside from changing the 568 00:44:07,870 --> 00:44:12,850 name, is there a plan to bring more businesses to the area? We're continually 569 00:44:12,850 --> 00:44:18,770 working on that type of thing. We just had a report today that I gave the DDA that 570 00:44:18,770 --> 00:44:28,330 in the DDA area, when we created the TIFF plan that started in 2018, they set a goal for 30 years 571 00:44:28,330 --> 00:44:39,210 of each how much we should get in investment. Our goal at the end of 2026 was, yeah, 2026 was 572 00:44:39,210 --> 00:44:47,050 to be at 25 million. We are at 40 million in new investment just in the DDA area. Our CIA areas, 573 00:44:47,050 --> 00:44:53,570 which are Beecher Road CIA and then Bristol Road CIA both are the same, they're above those numbers. 574 00:44:54,110 --> 00:44:58,770 We are consistently working with people to bring them in, developers to bring them in. 575 00:44:59,150 --> 00:44:59,970 Some of the bigger things. 576 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,980 As we have going on right now, is we're working with somebody to bring them into the Kruger that's closing on or closed on Corona Road. We're also working with a new investor that's already presented a site plan and has been approved to go into the Rafe Theatre. And we have other projects going on. Ground effects is doing an expansion, but we have some other things that are in the works pioneer cabinetry one in the old Sears warehouse on 577 00:45:29,980 --> 00:45:36,320 and Lyndon Road. One of the things, and the other question up here is the same question, 578 00:45:36,460 --> 00:45:37,780 but it adds in Janice Valley. 579 00:45:41,740 --> 00:45:45,440 Janice Valley, for many of you that have lived here a long 580 00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:49,900 time, we have very fun memories of that, and I tell you, I've lived here all my life, 581 00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:55,960 and it hurts my heart to go by there and see what's going on with that place. That being 582 00:45:55,960 --> 00:46:03,080 side, we are working on co-enforcement with them and those types of things, but we're 583 00:46:03,080 --> 00:46:09,540 actively entertaining site developers and investors trying to get somebody in there 584 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:12,940 to buy that piece of property because we don't own it. 585 00:46:13,060 --> 00:46:15,680 It's a privately owned business, right? 586 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:21,560 And we are, again, actively working with site developers and investors. 587 00:46:21,560 --> 00:46:34,460 I actually have somebody who is a very serious investor right now who's looking at it, but we have to get somebody in there that cares about what goes on in our community. 588 00:46:35,740 --> 00:46:37,920 And I don't see that right now with what's there. 589 00:46:39,080 --> 00:46:39,820 Thank you. 590 00:46:39,820 --> 00:46:51,640 Another question that's been asked, not here tonight, but I've seen is, why don't you take that money and not waste it on a name change and use it for other projects. 591 00:46:52,500 --> 00:47:03,640 Well, I can tell you that the township residents voted to take 0.5 mills that they were paying toward a bond for, was it sewer water? 592 00:47:03,640 --> 00:47:10,440 It was in 2006 with Doug Carlton, the previous supervisor, and they put it toward the 593 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:10,720 roads. 594 00:47:11,580 --> 00:47:19,240 And so I can tell you that every year since 2006, John Whiteside is a chairman, the secretary 595 00:47:19,240 --> 00:47:22,700 of the Flint Township Road Advisory Committee. 596 00:47:23,240 --> 00:47:28,260 He served on that committee for 20 years now, and we have spent over a half a million dollars 597 00:47:28,260 --> 00:47:31,340 every year on repairing township roads. 598 00:47:31,340 --> 00:47:36,540 We have a road advisor committee that works with the road commission, with the PASER ratings, 599 00:47:36,920 --> 00:47:41,660 with visual inspection, and decides a road improvement plan. 600 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:46,020 So that's a lot of money for the last 20 years, half a million dollars each year. 601 00:47:46,220 --> 00:47:50,240 We have a lot of projects going on for a road repair this year. 602 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:55,880 We've done 10 special assessment districts for commercial road improvement. 603 00:47:55,880 --> 00:48:10,200 and we just finished a subdivision specialist assessment road improvement, which is quite a lot more than road repair that we would do with the Millage Money, this Municipal Street Fund. 604 00:48:10,980 --> 00:48:21,260 And then we have plans in our capital improvement plan for sewer and water to replace two pump stations this year in 2027 coming up. 605 00:48:21,260 --> 00:48:28,580 we're planning it this year and repair two of them to the cost of that's going to be 606 00:48:28,580 --> 00:48:34,320 about $4 million. And then we're replacing two water lines, which is going to be 3 million. 607 00:48:34,540 --> 00:48:44,480 So there's $7 million in repair. We've been doing a lot of repairing of roads and other 608 00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:51,240 infrastructure lately I can tell you that in our budget that more than 50% of 609 00:48:51,240 --> 00:48:56,080 the money that we spend whether it's general fund or with public safety is 610 00:48:56,080 --> 00:49:00,600 spent on police and fire. I would I would venture to say I speak for all the 611 00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:05,800 trustees that are our highest and and and most greatest concern is public 612 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:11,540 safety and I think we have a great police department and fire department and 613 00:49:11,540 --> 00:49:16,800 they're very responsive in and they do a very good job and like I said I 614 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:20,960 think it's 54% of our general fund budget that goes to fund police and 615 00:49:20,960 --> 00:49:28,380 fire. I think that Trustee Leverett would like to say something here and I'm 616 00:49:28,380 --> 00:49:34,120 not sure but we're not going to express our opinion one way or another so if 617 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:37,340 you had some factual information here you are. Oh you want to go to the podium? 618 00:49:37,340 --> 00:49:37,980 Okay. 619 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:50,960 Good evening. I thought that we were going to run out of time and I wasn't 620 00:49:50,960 --> 00:49:58,980 going to have opportunity. I think many of you saw the meeting and how we voted. 621 00:49:59,900 --> 00:50:07,660 But I wanted to just explain about what's going to take place with the language that we have. 622 00:50:07,660 --> 00:50:12,520 Now, we didn't heard all this information about everything that we're trying to do about 623 00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:15,120 changing the name to O'Kill. 624 00:50:16,780 --> 00:50:22,600 I am looking at this here and I read this here language that's going to be on the ballot. 625 00:50:23,880 --> 00:50:31,080 And the only reason I voted what I voted was because of the factor that the 626 00:50:34,370 --> 00:50:36,790 language in 627 00:50:36,790 --> 00:50:43,410 the manner that it was used and it's going to read on there, do you want to change the 628 00:50:43,410 --> 00:51:00,330 name to O'Heal? So my information point is that if we say yes, then that means it's got to go 629 00:51:00,330 --> 00:51:07,570 back to the board but that's okay but if we say no that means we're getting the same 630 00:51:07,570 --> 00:51:14,850 rights that everyone else is going to have okay this says yes okay so I'm looking at 631 00:51:15,510 --> 00:51:19,790 let's make sure that we read this here information on what we're going to vote for. 632 00:51:20,730 --> 00:51:26,690 We don't you got you got some people that don't want the name to be changed to anything they 633 00:51:26,690 --> 00:51:36,650 want to stay as is. So this is not the right language that I see, that we should, the people 634 00:51:36,650 --> 00:51:41,130 that don't want to change should have the same right. And it should have been recognized 635 00:51:41,130 --> 00:51:48,830 in the last time that we voted, trustees voted, that we should have had, they had ten 636 00:51:48,830 --> 00:51:56,170 names down there. And we should have had the same right to say, we had ten names, we should 637 00:51:56,170 --> 00:52:04,190 had a blank at the bottom of those 10 names that we don't want to change, okay. So that's 638 00:52:04,190 --> 00:52:07,710 the only information that I was trying to provide to everyone. I wasn't trying to tell 639 00:52:07,710 --> 00:52:13,930 everybody how to vote, but I'm just asking us to realize and look at the language that's 640 00:52:13,930 --> 00:52:24,830 there, because as far as I'm concerned, we have the greatest name as the Charter Plant Township. 641 00:52:24,830 --> 00:52:25,730 And 642 00:52:27,750 --> 00:52:32,230 I thought that we should, I see that we got this meeting going on, but it was kind 643 00:52:32,230 --> 00:52:36,710 of a last minute thing for us to know or for me to know. 644 00:52:37,210 --> 00:52:43,930 And I thought that we should have the same opportunity as what's going on right now. 645 00:52:44,250 --> 00:52:45,630 Maybe we don't have to call another meeting. 646 00:52:46,070 --> 00:52:49,350 But thank you for your ear and do what you have to do. 647 00:52:49,910 --> 00:52:54,510 But nevertheless, make sure that you read that information correctly. 648 00:52:54,510 --> 00:52:57,550 and that way we can do whatever needs to be done. 649 00:52:58,070 --> 00:52:58,570 Thank you. 650 00:52:59,150 --> 00:53:02,190 I'm glad to see everyone out this evening. 651 00:53:02,870 --> 00:53:06,410 So just to reiterate, when the survey was done, 652 00:53:07,110 --> 00:53:08,990 the first question that was asked is, 653 00:53:09,750 --> 00:53:11,690 do you want to change the name of the township? 654 00:53:12,030 --> 00:53:14,030 And you had the opportunity to vote yes or no. 655 00:53:14,270 --> 00:53:15,830 And if you voted no, you were done 656 00:53:15,830 --> 00:53:20,130 because then there was no more answer, questions to answer. 657 00:53:20,670 --> 00:53:23,250 So then if you wanted to change it, 658 00:53:23,250 --> 00:53:24,270 then you answer the questions. 659 00:53:24,750 --> 00:53:27,830 On the ballot, we're asking our residents, 660 00:53:28,470 --> 00:53:30,630 do you want to change the name of the township? 661 00:53:31,450 --> 00:53:33,070 You vote yes if you want to vote yes 662 00:53:33,070 --> 00:53:35,070 and know if you don't want it to change. 663 00:53:35,530 --> 00:53:37,590 So I think that's pretty clear. 664 00:53:38,410 --> 00:53:40,390 I don't know that we have any other questions 665 00:53:41,790 --> 00:53:44,790 and oh, Tracy, can you grab that? 666 00:53:44,870 --> 00:53:45,930 There's another question in the box. 667 00:53:46,390 --> 00:53:47,450 Oh, thank you. 668 00:53:56,130 --> 00:53:56,690 Thank you. 669 00:53:57,570 --> 00:54:02,030 You stated the city of Flint, annexed Bishop Airport and Chevrolet. 670 00:54:02,670 --> 00:54:08,170 If a name change happened, what's to stop Flint from annexing Oak Hills for more tax 671 00:54:08,170 --> 00:54:08,450 base? 672 00:54:11,160 --> 00:54:17,860 If I may answer that, what happened is that back in the 70s, cities had power to annex 673 00:54:17,860 --> 00:54:20,320 anything that was not already a city. 674 00:54:21,540 --> 00:54:27,400 late in the 70s, the law got changed and they created charter townships. 675 00:54:27,900 --> 00:54:30,840 You have general law townships and you have charter townships. 676 00:54:31,200 --> 00:54:33,880 Charter townships have the same power as cities. 677 00:54:34,200 --> 00:54:39,360 They could annex as well if there's something beside them that's not a city 678 00:54:39,360 --> 00:54:42,800 or a law township, for example. 679 00:54:44,020 --> 00:54:47,180 If there was a township next to us, that was a general law township. 680 00:54:47,180 --> 00:54:53,200 we could annex some of that stuff. But chartered law caused townships to be as powerful as cities 681 00:54:53,200 --> 00:54:56,300 so that neither one could take over the other. 682 00:54:59,410 --> 00:55:02,650 So I looked up the date on Google. It says that 683 00:55:02,650 --> 00:55:09,470 Flint Township officially incorporated the chartered township on July 17, 1978. So since we are a 684 00:55:09,470 --> 00:55:16,630 chartered township, whether the name remains Flint or changes to Oak Hills because we are a chartered 685 00:55:16,630 --> 00:55:23,450 township, they can't annex any more property, real estate, yes, so that answers that question. 686 00:55:25,390 --> 00:55:30,530 We called this media, I mentioned we'd have an informal town hall meeting at our meeting, 687 00:55:30,810 --> 00:55:34,010 was it Monday? No, last, when was it? Last Monday. 688 00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:41,920 Last Tuesday, so it was September 8th. And I thought it was important that we can answer 689 00:55:42,500 --> 00:55:47,540 informational questions before the absentee ballots go out, which would be next week. 690 00:55:48,400 --> 00:55:53,200 We have recorded this meeting, and I believe it's live streamed, and I see that the new 691 00:55:53,200 --> 00:55:53,980 stations are here. 692 00:55:54,120 --> 00:55:56,500 I think we've answered a lot of the questions. 693 00:55:57,220 --> 00:56:01,700 I mean, the basic question is, if you're interested in changing the name or not, and we ask 694 00:56:01,700 --> 00:56:09,420 that you would please participate in voting on the general election, we want your input 695 00:56:09,420 --> 00:56:15,880 because you live here. And we're really interested in knowing what you want to do. That's why we're 696 00:56:15,880 --> 00:56:21,440 elected was to represent you. I want to thank everyone for coming and for showing your interest. 697 00:56:21,820 --> 00:56:27,080 If you have any further questions you can stay and we can try and answer the questions or you can 698 00:56:27,080 --> 00:56:35,760 email us at the township or you can call us at our numbers 810-732-1350. We've received a few 699 00:56:35,760 --> 00:56:42,780 phone calls about questions about the name change. And just we do, we ask that I'll reiterate 700 00:56:42,780 --> 00:56:51,280 it. You can early vote 10 days before the November election. You can sign up for absentee 701 00:56:51,280 --> 00:56:57,020 ballot voting. So you can have the ballot delivered to your house or you can come here and get 702 00:56:57,020 --> 00:57:01,860 the ballot and vote here if that's easiest for you. There's a lot of ways to vote. And then 703 00:57:01,860 --> 00:57:06,060 And you know where you voted before at your polling place and you're precinct. 704 00:57:06,420 --> 00:57:10,080 If you have any questions, the clerk, Deputy Clerk, would be glad to answer those for 705 00:57:10,080 --> 00:57:13,140 you when it comes to exercising your right to vote. 706 00:57:13,260 --> 00:57:14,540 But we do want to hear from you. 707 00:57:14,680 --> 00:57:19,700 So thank you very much for taking your time this evening to come out and participate in this 708 00:57:19,700 --> 00:57:20,280 Town Hall Meeting.