[0:51] Welcome board uh and welcome members of the public who came tonight. Appreciate

[0:56] you being here. We are going to call this meeting to order at this time of

[0:59] the Georgetown Township Board of Trustees. And we'd like to begin always

[1:04] with a prayer of dedication for guidance. And so we'll look to uh to

[1:09] Jean tonight. >> Thank you, Jim. Pray.

[1:14] Thank you, Lord, for bringing us together tonight. Lord, we ask for

[1:18] guidance and wisdom as we go through this agenda and meeting that we have.

[1:22] [clears throat] We ask you, Lord, to continue to be with our township, be

[1:26] with our employees, Lord, and the hard work that they do. We ask that you just

[1:29] continue to guide them. Also, our firefighters and policemen, Lord, keep

[1:34] them safe. They can go home to their families.

[1:36] Lord, we thank you for this beautiful day that we had today and we thank you

[1:41] for your many blessings bestowed upon all of us and we just love you Jesus.

[1:46] Amen. >> Amen. Thank you.

[1:48] » Stand for our pledge of allegiance.

[1:56] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[2:02] [clears throat] republic >> for which it stands, one nation under

[2:06] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[2:11] » Thank you. May be seated. Ask our clerk to acknowledge the role.

[2:17] » They're all present. >> Wonderful. [clears throat]

[2:21] And how about a motion to approve tonight's agenda? So move

[2:24] » support. >> Who's supported? Any questions,

[2:28] concerns? Hearing none. All in favor say I.

[2:33] » I. >> Any opposed? Our agenda is approved

[2:36] tonight. So we thought we would squeeze in. We saw Representative Slaw here

[2:41] tonight and uh he'd like a chance to just give us an update from Lancing.

[2:46] We'll squeeze him in on the front end here if we can. appreciate you comingate

[2:51] » that you'd be willing to squeeze me in at the beginning. So, thank you for

[2:53] doing that. >> Yeah, no problem.

[2:56] » So, in Lancing, uh been really light in having to be there. There's just not

[3:01] been much call to be there that based on what's going on with um first the

[3:05] primary election, then other stuff happening. Um, this last weekend, I'm

[3:11] sure most of you guys were uh aware that the uh uh the nominating convention

[3:17] happened for the Republican party and so that took a bunch of the air out of uh

[3:22] and time out of things. Um, probably for my experience, that was uh probably the

[3:28] nicest, most friendly, congenial uh statewide convent nominating

[3:33] convention I've been to in all the years that I've been in uh political world. um

[3:38] which was way more fun to walk away from that because I feel like oh maybe

[3:41] there's a different kind of uh face that's being put on the party which is a

[3:45] good thing. Um there are several things that are that are out there though that

[3:48] you guys might be interested in. One is the and they're related to well the

[3:52] first two are related to the citizen petition drives. Uh there's a drive to

[3:57] it's called money out of politics. So, MLP um and the the goal is to keep uh

[4:06] large organizations from be able to put money in to try and influence elections.

[4:10] Specifically though, it it details that it would be any organization that has a

[4:16] government contract that has $250,000 in revenue or more in a year. um or uh

[4:25] utilities so DTE consumers energy they and um it includes uh because it's the

[4:32] the contract kind of stuff so uh Blue Cross Blue Shield would be

[4:37] affected and what would happen is there if this goes if the petition drive goes

[4:43] through is that there'd be um you'd have so just lost words here. So,

[4:52] um you'd have uh the inability for those organizations to be able to put money

[4:57] into political things. So, anything that's that could smack us politics, you

[5:02] they would not be able to put money into it. Interestingly, um it does not

[5:06] include unions or any of those kind of things. So, we're wondering why and

[5:10] what's happening with the with the whole process. Um it it would be interesting.

[5:16] It's a freedom of speech thing for me. So, let's just say that Gary worked for

[5:21] um uh DTE. He would not be able to give money even personally to anybody that's

[5:29] doing political stuff. So, he wouldn't be able to write a check to any of you.

[5:32] Um and we just think that's a freedom of speech issue and it will be contested,

[5:36] I'm sure. Uh there's also a citizenonly voting um thing ballot proposal that's

[5:42] out there. Um, and the ballot review committee is saying, "Oh, you they don't

[5:48] have enough signatures to be able to put that on the ballot." And they're talking

[5:53] seven signatures out of 700,000 that they collected that they're short, seven

[6:00] valid signatures. Um, so we're questioning how does that all fall and

[6:05] and who's doing it. Um there is there will definitely be lawsuits related to

[6:09] this when it comes out just based on the way that uh we believe it's going to

[6:13] fall. Um PA233 continues to be in the news. Um that's where it's the township

[6:21] zoning and planning is put it set aside by three people in Lancing who can

[6:28] decide where a a solar field goes, where a wind turbine system gets set up, where

[6:34] a data center gets set up. Um, and so we're concerned about that as well.

[6:38] We'll continue to work on trying to find a way to to take that out. It was that

[6:43] PA233 was put in place when it was a Democrat trifecta. So they had the

[6:48] legislature, the executive branch um and they they pushed [clears throat] it

[6:52] through and uh obviously that's making an impact in Zealand Township, Jamestown

[6:57] as close as your doors uh next door neighbors. Anyway, those just a couple

[7:02] updates and uh we're back in session again tomorrow. So, I'll be in Lancing.

[7:07] Happy to answer any questions now or later.

[7:10] » Questions? >> I have two. What's your thoughts on

[7:15] opening up the constitution for the state?

[7:18] » Um, I I think there's some really valid reasons. We've got some we've put a lot

[7:22] of stuff in place over the years that has changed the flavor of some of that

[7:26] constitutional language. Um, so that part is good. there's um some concerns

[7:33] about what gets opened up and how much and do you want everything open at at

[7:38] any given time. So there's still questions about how are we going to do

[7:42] that and how how best does it work. >> Second question is and I predicted this

[7:47] about a year ago. My fear is that and I seen that uh the state is getting with U

[7:53] of M for a data center and if that's the case will they be able to circumvent

[7:59] where data centers go because you know as well as I do colleges and schools can

[8:03] do whatever they want to they do not go by zoning they don't go by building code

[8:07] they go by state so I'm curious if that's a loophole that data centers are

[8:13] going to be able to use by partnering up with a college or a university and build

[8:17] a data center under education So the answer is I believe you're right

[8:21] that there is a possibility of making that happen. Um with the advent of PA233

[8:26] they probably can do it um maybe even under better cover than they would have

[8:32] by themselves. They can do it now with this PA233 which will help them and uh

[8:36] enable them to make that happen. >> That was my fear. I I said right away

[8:41] that's that's going to be what's going to happen. I see in the news U of M is

[8:45] already targeting it. So >> you open the door and there's

[8:48] something's going to stick its head in there, right?

[8:50] » Mhm. >> Well, the problem is has been the

[8:54] schools can do whatever they want. They don't even follow zoning laws. They

[8:57] follow setbacks. They do whatever they want. They're not they don't they're not

[9:00] they're not under any township organization. You look at even our old

[9:04] local schools, they don't build according to setbacks. They got

[9:07] buildings too close to the road. They just do what they want and they don't

[9:10] have any oversight. So if they don't have oversight and the data centers

[9:14] figure that out, they can turn around and say, "We'll call an education. We

[9:17] can do that >> and they can circumvent property taxes

[9:22] too. >> So that's something to watch."

[9:27] » Brad, question on that ballot initiative regarding voting. You said, you know,

[9:32] they're saying that they had fallen seven short. I'm presuming they

[9:35] submitted many more over whatever the requirement was and the state is saying

[9:38] hey we've examined and knocked out these certain signatures to the point where

[9:41] it's just below the threshold. Is that correct?

[9:43] » That is correct. >> So the litigation that would be ongoing

[9:47] is it intended to be and would it be accelerated such that there'd be a

[9:51] decision one way or another before it's too late for the November primary or

[9:55] general election? >> Yes, you are absolutely correct. That's

[9:58] the that would be the goal. they would um you'd put it out there and try and

[10:01] get directly into the state's uh Supreme Court work at at it from the top because

[10:07] you got to get you have to get there really quickly.

[10:10] » Yeah. And if somehow that didn't happen, that is it didn't go quickly enough. It

[10:15] was specifically targeted for this election cycle, meaning you'd have to

[10:18] start over again if you tried to do it for the following cycle. Right.

[10:22] » That is you are absolutely correct. >> Okay.

[10:25] » Turned in roughly 725,000 signatures. They needed 480.

[10:30] » Okay. So, they're saying that 245,000 >> of those signatures are invalid.

[10:36] Slightly more than that. >> Correct.

[10:38] » Okay. >> Wow.

[10:39] » That and that number is significantly different than some of the other

[10:43] proposals that have come along um in the past where they've you know so the

[10:50] question is is it is it right? Is it fair?

[10:54] » Okay. Meaning is it right or is it fair as to which signatures are valid or is

[10:58] it right or is it fair as to what the actual proposal is?

[11:01] » No, it's that the signatures would be valid.

[11:04] » Okay. >> I mean you over here you'd think it

[11:08] would be almost mathematical in sense of these are the rules and it either

[11:13] complies with those rules or it doesn't. >> Right. But that they're complying with

[11:18] the rules would make sense if the ones before this all doveetailed into what

[11:23] you're seeing now. >> Yeah,

[11:25] » that's not how it is. The ones before this had much more leniency than what's

[11:29] happening with this. >> You know what's really interesting about

[11:31] that, Brad? I'm sure it's being argued, but that's the exact opposite of what's

[11:34] happening with voting generally, meaning we've relaxed the rules since co to

[11:39] where certain things are allowed to be examined again. That signature isn't

[11:43] just right or you miss something, you can correct your ballot or I mean, it's

[11:47] all been in the in the direction of either leniency or corrective action.

[11:51] This would seem to mitigate the opposite direction. You're

[11:55] » absolutely correct. >> Yeah. Well,

[11:58] we'll watch that. Good. >> Anybody else?

[12:02] Okay, hearing none. We appreciate that. >> Thanks for having me on first.

[12:06] » Thank you. It's good seeing you. >> All right, item six on our agenda

[12:10] tonight is communication letters and reports which have been received for

[12:13] information. And item seven, I look to the general public here public comment

[12:17] on the items of tonight's agenda, of which it's a it's a shorter agenda than

[12:21] most. So, we've got an item regarding the master plan. We've got an item

[12:25] regarding um assessing. And so is there anyone here tonight who's looking to

[12:30] speak to those particular items? If not, you'll get another opportunity here

[12:34] toward the end of the meeting to speak to whatever you wish. So,

[12:39] welcome to step forward. Yes, sir.

[12:46] » Hey, my name is Kevin [clears throat] Hzinger, 2669 Tamarak Drive. Um, I just

[12:52] wanted to get some clarification or I guess put it on record in the video. Um,

[12:58] I just had concerns. Um, I am not an attorney by any means. Um, but I did

[13:03] notice that one of the uh land uses for future and current land use is

[13:08] explicitly church. Um, and I agree that probably most of the township uh would

[13:14] only ever attend a church. Um, but I kind of feel that that's a little bit uh

[13:23] specific and uh could kind of maybe set the township up uh for some legal

[13:29] ramifications potentially um if another religious institution that doesn't call

[13:33] itself a church wanted to come in. Um I also noticed that that's also used in

[13:39] the zoning ordinance um specifically. So, I would uh kind of think that that

[13:45] could also get looked at by uh legal counsel just to make sure that no one's

[13:51] uh being set up to potentially have the township be sued over any type of

[13:55] religious freedoms or anything like that. Thanks.

[13:58] » Thanks for coming.

[14:02] » Anyone else?

[14:06] » All right. Seeing none, we'll close that initial public comment period. Item

[14:09] number eight on your agenda tonight is your consent agenda. Is there a motion

[14:13] to approve tonight's fairly short consent agenda?

[14:16] » Some move. >> Okay. Any comments?

[14:20] » All in favor say I. >> I.

[14:23] » Any opposed? Passes. Item nine then, master plan

[14:27] update. And I thank you that we've got Tanya here from Wayman Works tonight.

[14:32] The Ala Varia. Is that how I say the last name, Tanya? Is that okay? Yeah.

[14:36] Say my last name. Maybe you can get me back. Okay. Well, that's perfect.

[14:40] Actually, you grew up Granville, though. Yeah, there you go. [laughter]

[14:44] Uh, thank you, uh, Tanya, for being here. As this board well knows, we spent

[14:48] considerable time this past um, meeting uh, running through the master plan as

[14:55] that have been presented to us by the planning commission. It went back to the

[14:58] planning commission with the various comments that were made both verbally

[15:01] and in in writing. Um, I know Ryan worked on this. I know Manette worked on

[15:07] this. I know Tanya worked on this. I know the planning commission worked on

[15:10] this as well. And they're meeting this p past Wednesday and they have submitted

[15:13] and you've seen it as links in your agenda tonight um an updated version.

[15:19] And so uh tonight what we expect will happen is that there will be a master

[15:24] plan resolution that we'll vote upon uh so that the next steps in the process

[15:30] can occur and we can bring this to a conclusion. Um, and I want Tanya in a

[15:36] moment to be able to talk about at a 30,000 foot view. This is what remains

[15:41] to be done and here's when it becomes official, assuming all goes as planned.

[15:46] So, um, with that in mind, I'll I'll simply make the comment that I went

[15:52] through after you all went through and and did the work you did to see that the

[15:57] things that were discussed this past meeting that were forwarded to the

[15:59] planning commission were incorporated. And from my review, point by point, they

[16:04] all seem to be incorporated. So, I I don't see an omission in that respect.

[16:09] Um, and I appreciate that. And I want to say further on the record, I said it

[16:13] last week, but Tanya weren't here, how much we appreciate the amount of time

[16:17] that you and the planning commission and Ryan in particular have spent on this

[16:24] process for now 18 months. Um, and that's just a whole lot of time and

[16:29] hours and, you know, public input and debate and discussion and we had a

[16:34] couple of joint meetings as you know with you and just there's a lot a lot a

[16:37] lot that went into this process this time. And we don't anticipate that every

[16:41] time, but it had been a couple of decades and and so it was a very

[16:46] significant undertaking. I just want to say on the record again how much we

[16:49] appreciate the time and the effort you put in. Gary, you're the only one who

[16:53] was on both sides. So I arguably, you might say maybe between you and Ryan.

[16:57] Um, >> no, most time. I don't know.

[16:59] » Ryan did a whole lot more than I did. [laughter]

[17:01] » I just cheerleaded Ryan. It's all I did. Came came in at a boy and pat him on the

[17:06] back and good job. Good job, Ryan. Good job. So we we thank you and and there's

[17:12] there's a lot of creativity and thought that's gone into this, there are some

[17:15] changes that we call somewhat material to what previous master plan was, but we

[17:20] felt like confined within the goals as they're shared among the leadership of

[17:25] the township. And and I want to say, I think I said this last meeting as well,

[17:28] but um there's not a one person on this planning commission or on this

[17:32] particular board right here, our Georgetown board, who has anything but

[17:38] the desire to see this township uh succeed and be a place that they love to

[17:43] call their home because that's where we live, right? And so I I think

[17:48] motivation-wise in all, it's just been um strong for the township uh across

[17:54] both boards. And that doesn't mean, as we well know, that means that doesn't

[17:59] mean unonymity, but it does mean that we're coming from the same place of

[18:04] desire to make things better for our residents. So, I appreciate that fact

[18:09] and that we can reach a consensus that doesn't give everybody everything they

[18:14] wished, but um results in a good collaboration that we can all feel like

[18:19] has advanced, you know, the township and in this important document that helps to

[18:24] guide future policy. Um, I want to say one more thing also. I I think I

[18:29] misspoke somewhat in the last meeting in terms of how I represented Josiah

[18:33] Sammy's view of when I was talking about some of the more rural areas and the

[18:37] wish to protect some of that um for green space and for you know buffer and

[18:42] just beauty and and all the rest and um if I misspoken that way I apologize

[18:47] because uh he and I would say the planning commission as a whole and of

[18:50] course Tonnie you spent a lot of time with him on this but uh every one of

[18:54] them would say we love and appreciate the fact that we don't want one kind of

[18:59] thing happening everywhere. And I know for a fact, for example, with Josiah,

[19:03] that he appreciates uh the the buffering, the the the you know, open

[19:08] natural space and and farmland and rural residential and some of those things.

[19:12] And so, um I didn't want to I didn't want to pit it as one view or another,

[19:17] but I think it's really something that is a shared view and uh sometimes it's

[19:22] more in how do you express it and what else do you offset that with? that I

[19:25] feel like the planning commission believes they've offset that strength

[19:29] that's come out of this master plan related to our value of farmland and and

[19:33] rural residential with uh new creative type of opportunities in different

[19:41] pockets within the township for what we might want to see happen in the future

[19:46] uh with development and the like. And so I I do think there's a there's a

[19:50] trade-off there, right? that that I'd say most probably fall some on each

[19:54] side, even if they favor one more one side than another. So, I just wanted to

[19:59] to make that clear in case I misspoke last time. So, the the floor is open um

[20:04] among ourselves. If there's anything more that wasn't said before that you

[20:07] want to say, now is a good time to do so. Um after which we'll have Tanya just

[20:12] briefly address sort of what would happen next and then we could have a

[20:16] roll call vote. Well, I'll just say which I said the

[20:20] last meeting, but Tanya was there. I appreciated her work and um I felt that

[20:26] you didn't come agenda driven, which I really appreciated. You you we asked

[20:30] questions, you gave if you didn't have an answer, I'll find out. You came back,

[20:34] you did that, and I think you did a really good job. I appreciated your work

[20:38] on it. So, yeah.

[20:43] I I had a chance to talk to Ryan this morning and just very um

[20:50] casual and I said that was probably the most productive meeting

[20:56] um but we as a board collaborated um that I've ever ever participated in.

[21:04] it uh was done incredibly well and Ryan had shared with me that Manette had said

[21:11] the same thing that as she watched it um she thought it was incredibly productive

[21:19] and you alluded to this before Jim that uh

[21:24] every 5 years sometimes it's almost I don't say rubber stamp but very few

[21:28] changes are made and this was much more significant

[21:34] And the world is changing. The power in Lancing has changed dramatically where

[21:39] they pulled power away from local municipalities.

[21:44] And I think this is a way to uh address that.

[21:48] And in 5 years, another board things can shift. But u I thought it was done

[21:54] incredibly well and I felt very comfortable. I think everyone else did.

[22:00] Michan, >> you covered a lot of ground last time,

[22:03] so I feel very comfortable with all the work that everybody has done, uh,

[22:07] especially behind the scenes and, you know, all your efforts. So, thank you.

[22:12] Kudos.

[22:16] » Excuse [clears throat] me. Do we have a copy now that is has the changes on it?

[22:24] » Okay. >> Do you have it on there?

[22:31] Can I speak >> everything that everything that we

[22:35] » have written down the yellow things will be changed and I just

[22:39] » I guess just my own satisfaction just like to see it just to see what the

[22:43] wording was or whatever. >> Other than that I have no problem

[22:46] » wasn't one of the the attachments and the links here as I went through it. It

[22:49] was an August 18 version which was a day before their meeting on the 19th which

[22:54] then out of that came like a page of additional. So the combination thereof,

[22:57] you're right, we've not seen that final last integration. And maybe we could

[23:01] even say and understand for the record, so to speak, that assuming this were to

[23:05] be um advanced or I think the the resolution, correct me if I'm wrong,

[23:09] Kelly, is more or less, you know, it is our intent, right? It's our intent to do

[23:13] thus and such is not the final vote, >> right? There's still a lot of steps to

[23:16] take. >> Yeah. So that if there was something

[23:18] that got missed, >> we can clean that up, right?

[23:21] » Don't anticipate it, but we can do that. Yeah. No problem. Y

[23:26] We've all said it a few different ways, but I'll just uh I think clarify my

[23:31] feelings on it and selfishly take a little bit of credit because I I feel

[23:36] like I this was something that was really important to me to use a

[23:40] reputable company to do a master plan this goound. Um, and it wasn't my sole

[23:45] decision, but I pushed really hard for it because you can see through the data

[23:50] that we are sort of reaching the end of our our growth boom. And that's not to

[23:55] say that we don't still have yet a lot of growth and development on the

[23:58] horizon, but we're slowing down a bit. And so we're really at this interesting

[24:03] crux of we still feel like we're in this growth mindset. But the reality is is

[24:09] we're kind of shifting into a slower and steadier growth and now it becomes even

[24:13] more important for us to curate that and exactly where we want the last bits of

[24:17] developable land to be. And I do feel like it was important to work with a

[24:22] company like Williams and Works. Tony did a great job. I just think that it

[24:25] really captured what was important to our board, what was important to the

[24:29] planning commission. I think there was a lot of uh compromise and really good

[24:33] discussion by both parties. Um, and I'm I use this phrase a lot. We deserve nice

[24:39] things and this is a a wonderful master plan that will, I think, really guide

[24:44] the future of our our township moving forward. So, thank you for all of your

[24:48] work. Everybody, Ryan and Tanya and Planning Commission. I really appreciate

[24:52] it. >> Well put. Um this would be a good time

[24:56] Tanya if you want to come forward and just address it again a high level view

[24:59] it gets published to whom and then when do we actually officially go okay it's

[25:03] adopted. >> Sure.

[25:04] » So um the wrong file but I I know that we have

[25:10] addressed all the edits. So, I will make sure that Ryan and Justin get that final

[25:15] draft um that um the planning commission, the board have gone back and

[25:20] forth about and collaborated on. So, I'll just say that. Um so, from here, um

[25:25] after tonight's meeting, um there is a formal 63-day review period that, uh the

[25:29] plan must go through, uh to meet the Michigan Planning Enabling Act. And that

[25:34] allows any member of your community, anybody um but as well as uh your uh

[25:39] neighboring communities, your adjacent communities, um you know, utilities,

[25:44] MDOT, there's a specific list of agencies that get a formal uh letter

[25:48] that says the draft plan is out for review. Um at that point, then uh the

[25:53] public is welcome to provide comments. We will also be having an open house

[25:57] that I will be later coordinating with um Justin and Ryan to make sure that the

[26:02] public has not only just, you know, an opportunity because it's online, but we

[26:06] will have um an open house where people can come and talk to us and view and ask

[26:09] questions specifically. Um during that 63-day review period, comments may come

[26:14] in. Usually, they don't. And uh >> yeah,

[26:17] » if there is, that's that's great. Um Brian and I will and Justin will address

[26:21] those. if there's anything like significant um or to note, we will kind

[26:26] of or go through those and um let the planning commission know and and and

[26:31] whatnot. I don't anticipate anything. However, you know, you never know. Um

[26:36] and the comments will be coming to the township uh from that after the 63-day

[26:40] review period closes. Um then it goes the draft plan then goes to uh public

[26:46] hearing during the planning commission and um the then the planning commission

[26:50] recommends that the draft or plan become the approved plan by the township board

[26:55] and then the township board um would then uh approve adopt the final master

[27:02] plan. Again, if there's any comments uh that come in from the public that are um

[27:06] substantial, we'll go through that. That may um warrant further discussion and if

[27:11] we need to make adjustments, we'll kind of do that at the end or after the

[27:14] 63-day review period. But at this point, all the hard work has been done. Um it

[27:19] may take, you know, in 63 days, we also like to give a little cushion and buffer

[27:24] because of mail and all that sort of stuff. So, it's really like roughly, you

[27:28] know, five, six months from now, which sounds like a long time, but because of

[27:32] everything, it it's just process really at this point. Um, again though, the

[27:37] public will have opportunity for public comment and um, you know, uh, for them

[27:42] to weigh in as well as what they see in the plan. Once the, uh, final plan is

[27:46] adopted, it's your current master plan and away you guys go for the next five

[27:51] years. Um and uh the master plan process um the of the document itself is

[27:58] complete but then it's actually on to implementing the plan which is the real

[28:02] work. >> I need to clarify when you said that

[28:03] five to six months a moment ago um I envisioned that there would be something

[28:08] probably coming back in front of us in November

[28:11] » that possibly called a vote on or not. So, um I'm not going to do the math in

[28:15] my head like >> after the 63 days,

[28:17] » but kind of at the basically at either the end of 2026, [clears throat] early

[28:20] 2027. It kind of depends on, you know, uh where those 63 days, you know, plus a

[28:26] week or two buffer on either side and, you know, when you're when the planning

[28:29] commission meets when the board township >> I've done that math and that would still

[28:34] fit within this year. But then you said something about five or six months. So

[28:38] like kind of roughly from now if I tell you four months you know and it's five

[28:42] months then you're going to be well Tanya it was it was you said four

[28:45] months. Yeah. So >> my question was is that something beyond

[28:48] the 63 day and the plan? >> No no no that's just giving roughly

[28:52] roughly 6 months from now. Maybe it lands more like four or five months.

[28:56] Maybe it's more like five or six. I'm telling you six to kind of give in just

[28:59] a little bit of cushion. >> But my naive to think of you know 63

[29:02] days from now is like October 26. And then let's say they meet for the

[29:07] first meeting for planning commission in November and they go, "All right, you

[29:10] know, here's what we're going to do." And then maybe it's too late to get it

[29:14] to our November meeting. So the first meeting in December, we look at I mean,

[29:17] wouldn't it still likely be this year? >> I mean, it'd either be like December or

[29:23] January. So when I say like the end of this year, it's only because the way the

[29:27] calendar falls. And again, like 63 days is the statuto thing, but I'm also

[29:33] looking out for you for any potential future lawsuits. And even though it says

[29:37] 63 days, uh our um our kind of our best planning practices, it's 63 days from

[29:42] the time your letter gets received by the municipality.

[29:47] So, you know, unless you drop, you have to drop the and it's by mail that

[29:52] because the U Michigan planning and so there's there's minutia, right? Like I

[29:55] can talk to you about that minutia here. No problem. Um I will work after the

[30:00] meeting is done tonight and I um I'm getting the flavor that you would pass

[30:04] the resolution. I will talk with Ryan and Justin and we'll have a much better

[30:08] understanding of when that actual 63-day period plus a couple weeks and kind of

[30:14] start to look at um you know when the next planning commission would be after

[30:17] that and then when the next township board would meet after that.

[30:20] » The reason I'm kind of interested in that is it would it would tend to

[30:24] coincide with the end of our moratorum. Yes. That'd be nice, right? To have

[30:27] that. >> Yep.

[30:28] » I am I am trying to balance again the in the uh in the future you could uh

[30:34] potentially get sued on master plan process, right? And so because of the we

[30:40] want to make sure you're following the process and not like if somebody sends

[30:43] out the letter and you don't give them like a full week to get that letter and

[30:47] so on and so forth. just trying to give you a little bit of buffer rather than

[30:52] exactly 63 days and then let's say the letter doesn't get out on time and all

[30:55] that because of US mail the I'm sure Justin and Ryan will email stuff but

[31:00] again because the Michigan Planning Enabling Act was written per

[31:04] [clears throat] like USPS you know US mail so

[31:08] » um that has been our planning practice and that has stood us by goodstead and

[31:12] that's kind of what you're also hiring us for is to kind of look out for those

[31:15] little kind of gray areas those contingencies not because it's uh

[31:20] unimportant but because we are actually trying to keep your best interest and

[31:24] everything kind of the margins clear moving forward so you don't have to

[31:27] worry about you know if master plan stuff comes into play and during a

[31:32] development you know and go through FOYA they'll see that they through this

[31:36] process we met the Michigan planning enabling act plan master plan process

[31:40] and we weren't short by a week and so all all of a sudden they got you on a

[31:43] process so that's what that's about Mhm. Okay.

[31:50] » Thank you. >> Thank you guys very much.

[31:53] » Thank you. I want to say before we have the resolution vote to the public that's

[31:56] here, um public input that you're describing, Tanya, is additional public

[32:01] input, meaning there's already been significant public input, probably more

[32:04] than we've had maybe ever. Uh and so much of what you'd see in the in the

[32:08] master plan itself, the last 75 pages maybe or 50 pages is public input. Uh

[32:15] and so certainly there's been a a a terrific opportunity for the public to

[32:19] give input thus far and there will be one last chance if you will. So all

[32:24] right. Well, this is a roll call vote and again u we need to have a a motion

[32:33] to approve. Me just pull this up here. And we were

[32:37] given a draft resolution. If someone whoever is looking to make

[32:42] the motion uh would like to phrase that here, it's

[32:46] it's it's an approval, but it's it's an intent to adopt basically. So, is there

[32:50] someone who' like to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve a

[32:54] resolution approving the mass draft master plan for distribution asserting

[32:58] the township board's right to adopt such a master plan.

[33:02] » Okay. >> As written,

[33:04] » move supported by Kelly. Okay. Uh, all right.

[33:09] Everyone had their their say last time this time. Okay, it's a roll call vote.

[33:13] Uh, >> wearing

[33:15] » yes. >> Schwam,

[33:16] » yes. >> Grassman,

[33:18] » yes. Beldink, >> yes.

[33:20] » Yes. >> Kelly,

[33:22] » yes. >> Yes. All in favor?

[33:26] » All right. Thank you. Item number 10 tonight, interlocal

[33:31] agreement. Um, is there a motion to approve the interlocal agreement for

[33:35] Ottawa County to approve the designated assessor for the period beginning

[33:39] January 1, 2027? >> So move.

[33:42] » Support and supported. All right. Discussion among the board.

[33:52] Again, for the benefit of our public tonight, either watching or here in

[33:54] person, um, this is not a choice of of who we

[33:59] want as our assessor. We have our assess our assessing um being conducted by the

[34:04] county. Uh this is more the question of if there were to be a failure of an

[34:08] audit by the state and I think even a second failure. Does it take two? Yeah.

[34:12] There has to be somebody to whom you have to get a new assessor. So you

[34:15] either hire one you have this designated assessor as has been proposed here or

[34:20] the state will choose yours. So I think their hope is tell me Justin if I'm

[34:25] right that every municipality in the in the county would say yes. You know,

[34:29] Brian Busher would be the the person, >> correct?

[34:33] » Be the designated. Yeah. >> Correct.

[34:35] » And has been, right? >> Correct.

[34:37] » Yeah. So, continuing. >> Correct.

[34:39] » Yeah. Any questions, concerns?

[34:45] All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I.

[34:50] » I. I. >> Any opposed? All right. It passes.

[34:56] Well, already to our second public comment period. Uh, as I said, it's a

[35:00] shorter agenda tonight. So, this is your opportunity as a member of the public

[35:04] either speak to the issues we've just gone over or anything that's on your

[35:07] mind.

[35:13] » F1482 Winterfred. Facebook isn't always accurate, but uh, if it is, happy

[35:19] birthday, Jim. >> That's [laughter] funny.

[35:21] » Accurate on that one. >> Was it accurate or was

[35:24] » it was accurate? Yeah. Started my day with a dead battery. It's been getting

[35:27] » your birthday. Congratulations. Appreciate it. Um, [laughter] we're

[35:30] pretty light nature here, Justin. I'm very happy with the uh young men and

[35:34] women working at 8 Street checking the ID.

[35:37] » And the the thing to me that is most important that tells me they're doing a

[35:41] great job is when I come in the second time, they go, "Oh, yeah. I know you're

[35:43] good to go." So, I don't have to even show the ID there. Great work with uh

[35:47] the park over there with the the basketball court

[35:51] uh pickle ball and stuff. that looks like it's going outstanding. Uh the

[35:55] geese issue doesn't seem to be as bad at 8 Street Park there. So, congratulations

[36:00] as that as well. Uh, one thing about budget stuff coming up with fire

[36:05] department issues. Again, I I do think we're still understaffed at the fire

[36:09] department. And in my humble opinion, moving

[36:14] forward, maybe instead of excuse me, not buying land, maybe spend some more money

[36:19] to get some more people working at the fire department.

[36:23] The I mean, the very basics of government are here, and this is as low

[36:29] level of government as you can get. We're talking building roads, water,

[36:33] sewer, fire, safety. I'm looking in the library budget in the senior center is

[36:38] more. I believe we're right at the same amount we're spending on the fire

[36:41] department. And right now, I believe we have two people maybe working 8 to five

[36:44] full-time, which is an improvement, but they also have to handle calls now for

[36:49] uh potential medical emergencies as well. And I don't know if you've seen

[36:54] it, probably have. There's a video from probably about eight years ago where a

[36:58] house burned down in Georgetown Township and before they could even get there, it

[37:01] was almost burning down the house next to it. They had to spray it down. The

[37:04] the shingles and stuff were going there. So, I don't know how much it would cost

[37:09] to get at least maybe two people at all the stations because, you know, somebody

[37:13] lives over on Kenno and you have two firefighters maybe at the branch that's

[37:16] down over there on that side there. If they get called, you got to go through

[37:21] lights, potential traffic. it could be easily 15 minutes before they get there

[37:26] even with two people working there. And it's very important

[37:30] uh that they get there soon as possible to try to mitigate damages and stuff

[37:34] like that. So that's just something to consider uh in my opinion as the budget

[37:39] comes up. Thank you. >> Thanks Sean.

[37:41] » Thanks Sean.

[37:50] My name is Nancy Pan. My last name is spelled P and Paul. O C H R O N. I live

[37:56] at 6402 36th Avenue. Um first of all, I'd like to thank the EMTs. We I

[38:04] personally had to call 911 on 88 and um along with the Ottawa County Sheriff's

[38:10] Department and uh the EMTs uh that program is working. And secondly, I

[38:17] would like to start uh I've been kind of away from things due to a family

[38:21] emergency, but my concerns have to do with the speeds in the township. We I I

[38:27] mean, mind you, the Baldwin area is is is is quite a concern since there have

[38:33] been several fatalities, but over by where we live at 36th and Port Sheldon

[38:39] and Alward School is there, we we don't even have a speed limit on

[38:45] 36th Avenue. Once once you cross in from Hudsonville into Georgetown Township,

[38:51] there's not even a speed limit sign there. And uh um I'm just afraid that we

[38:58] need to kind of revisit and I don't know if the road commission has something to

[39:02] do with it or it's just something of a concern within our own township

[39:07] community because people aren't paying attention. They're

[39:12] they're driving faster than even I mean I was even shocked to see that the

[39:16] posted speed limit between 28th Avenue and 20th on on Rosewood is 50 miles an

[39:23] hour. And that's a very heavily residential

[39:27] area with a lot of children. I mean, there's Rosewood schools right over

[39:31] there if my memory serves me correct. So, I just wanted to make a comment to

[39:36] see if there's anything being considered about that because I think the speeds in

[39:40] our township are too high. >> Thank you.

[39:45] » Thank you. Thank you.

[39:49] » Anyone else?

[39:57] Evan Hzinger, 2669 Tamarack Drive. Um, after last or the meeting two weeks ago,

[40:05] um, I kind of felt like Justin kind of got a little bit of a short end of the

[40:08] stick with the whole water billing fiasco, whatever that might have been,

[40:13] Facebook. Um, but I just kind of wanted to say that I feel like he's pretty

[40:19] awesome from everything that I've seen. um when he went over the budget at that

[40:22] meeting um and just his communication and that he's open to answering

[40:28] questions um and that I think it's pretty clear

[40:32] that he's here to serve the public and not to serve himself. Um so I feel like

[40:36] he kind of got the short end of the stick a little bit at that meeting. Um

[40:40] so I want to put in a good word for him. >> Thanks Kevin.

[40:43] » Thank you. >> Very nice.

[40:44] » We agree. >> How much you paying them? [laughter]

[40:51] Just wondering else.

[40:56] » All right. Going once, twice.

[41:01] We'll close that second public comment period. Uh item 12, discussion and

[41:04] general information among the board. So looking to my right, I guess. Uh,

[41:10] anybody >> just uh quickly with uh NY's comment

[41:13] about the uh speed limits and we're very concerned about that too

[41:20] far down on Rosewood. Um,

[41:25] yeah, I believe it was 5055 and uh we had we got the the local,

[41:32] excuse me, our local representatives involved

[41:35] and uh basically the Michigan State Police decide and they put they monitor

[41:42] it and then the the problem is as they monitor it other sections then may get

[41:48] kicked up and unfortunately we have very little power on that type

[41:53] of thing. And that's why you see many many communities where it it it jumps up

[41:58] and it's scary how fast the cars are going, but locally we have very little

[42:03] authority at all.

[42:07] » But we

[42:10] thank >> one of the things we'll appreciate too

[42:14] in the new budget is there's discussion we'll have to consider about adding an

[42:18] additional deputy with a traffic focus. Um, and then we're looking at other

[42:23] possibilities beyond that, whether it be another deputy or whether it be some

[42:26] form of overtime. But, um, those who are hopeful of more policing in that

[42:31] respect, I think, are going to have their wish

[42:34] » with that, you know, I think with that budget. So, we'll see.

[42:38] » I have I have noticed in the last couple months there's more police presence in

[42:42] Georgetown there's been a while. I get around the township a lot and I ride and

[42:47] I have jobs going from Grand Haven to Jamestown and I've seen more presence

[42:53] lately in Georgetown Township I've had in a year. So I don't know if the new

[42:59] quadrant system you guys got going is working and that's the reason why. But I

[43:05] have seen more presence which is good >> that's that's key. Presence is key.

[43:11] » By the way, Sheriff Dbor will be at our next meeting I believe. Is that right?

[43:15] » Yeah. Next meeting. >> I just wanted to say one thing. I didn't

[43:18] I didn't want to say it at the last meeting because I think the emotions

[43:23] were running high over that uh Facebook debacle and the the water

[43:30] billing issue. But I just want to say for the record a friendly reminder that

[43:35] uh Facebook is not an accurate place to get your news. that the township board

[43:40] is easily available and accessible via email. All of our emails are on the

[43:46] website. I point that out because the Facebook posts will get hundreds of

[43:50] comments and I don't have a single email from a resident and eight people will

[43:56] public comment here at a meeting. But yet Facebook generates hundreds of

[44:00] comments. And I just want to make clear that Facebook is not the source of

[44:05] truth. That there are seven members here plus Justin, plus other staff people.

[44:10] Our job is to serve the community. And we want to be able to do that. And so I

[44:15] would just encourage people um to it takes just as long to write an email to

[44:21] the board as it does to make a post on Facebook. So I just think that we should

[44:25] encourage folks to do a better job of coming to the source of truth. we're all

[44:29] here and and able to speak to any of the issues that that might come up and I

[44:35] know that we're all willing to do that. So, just wanted to put that out there.

[44:40] » Yeah. >> Thanks, Kelly.

[44:41] » Well said. Well said. I I want to mention this past uh Friday uh John and

[44:46] Justin and I attended a Ottawa County leadership summit which was hosted in

[44:50] Allenale and had all of the pretty much all the supervisors or mayors uh within

[44:56] Ottawa County and several of the Ottawa County officials there and it was a good

[45:01] discussion. It's just eye opening sometimes when you hear from other

[45:05] cities and townships who are so busy. Of course, you you've got your own

[45:08] responsibility right here, but when you hear from others and you realize some of

[45:11] the things they struggle with, um whether it be the things we're obviously

[45:14] aware of in Blendin or in Jamestown where they're kind of having their own

[45:17] battle with some things of land use, um water availability, and even to hear a

[45:24] couple of them say, "We've got mostly dirt roads yet and we have no budget for

[45:28] roads." It's like, wow, we are uh pretty blessed that way to go virtually every

[45:35] road with the exception of a section of Jackson. Um, right, is is paved and on a

[45:41] on a schedule. It's like, yeah, some of those things you maybe take for granted.

[45:45] You see, wow, that's going way back in time to the point where this township

[45:49] would have ever been where some of these are, and you realize that's there's a

[45:52] lot of building ahead of them. That's going to be tough work, you know. Um,

[45:56] and it's just nice to be to appreciate, you know, even though we strive for for

[46:01] bettering things to realize how far things have come. So,

[46:06] » it's a good uh good meeting, >> Jim. There was laughter about taxes

[46:11] because as because all of them as they collect their taxes, people come in and

[46:15] they say, "I am paying so much." and they'll say, "But that's going to the

[46:19] schools and it's going to Ottawa County and our percentage is well under 10%."

[46:26] And people think we're getting by far the

[46:31] majority of it. And we're and as Gary says frequently, we're 7 8% and all the

[46:37] taxes that are collected for the summer, we don't get any of that. We collect it

[46:42] so they think that this is where the money is at. And I'll have people say to

[46:47] me, "We should kick in and help the schools."

[46:52] Yet the schools, I believe, are about 65% or more.

[46:55] » More >> 77

[46:57] » 77%. >> Right across the room from me at that

[47:01] meeting was the Howland Township Supervisor, last name Tla. I wanted to

[47:05] ask him if he's related to Isaac. He probably is.

[47:07] » He's his uncle. >> He's his uncle. Okay. Uh but to sit

[47:10] there and they So they're the next largest population

[47:13] center in Ottaw County to us. I think they're around 35ish. So roughly, don't

[47:18] quote me, but about 20,000 behind us. >> Is it 18 point something mills or 21

[47:23] point something mills for them? He mills their their rate. You don't remember?

[47:29] » Okay. You don't want to get my numbers. I'll I'll throw my numbers out there.

[47:32] Huh? >> You're it's close.

[47:33] » It was I'll call it the lower of the two. It was like 18 point something

[47:37] mills and we're at 2.25. Whoa. Um it was I mean I understand we're two different

[47:44] municipalities but yeah just >> the other the other thing we don't

[47:48] realize in the finance part of it is that because we get no taxes in the

[47:52] summer the money we collect in the winter has to last us all year and so

[47:58] you have to have you have to have a certain amount of backup funds to pay

[48:04] your bills. You know, like if I only paid you once a

[48:08] year, you got to be able to you got to be able to gauge that money all year,

[48:15] » which most people can't, >> right?

[48:17] » And and so you have to have an additional amount of funds to pay your

[48:22] bills until you get paid again if if that's how you're running things. And

[48:26] then you have to depend on the state to share revenue sharing. So there's a

[48:30] there's a lot more behind the scenes when you're doing your budgets. And I

[48:34] appreciate Justin and how he does budgets because I talked to him too. I

[48:38] was like, you people don't realize you got to have either a line of credit or

[48:41] you got to have the cash available either way.

[48:45] » And around township district. So, >> Yep.

[48:49] » It's a good point. [snorts]

[48:52] » Okay. Anyone else? >> Um, I did go to another historical

[48:55] meeting last Thursday. Um, the sign at Rosewood Park was kind of misunderstood.

[49:02] It was supposed to go in the 20th, but I think the email got confused a little

[49:07] bit. So, now they're still in the fabrication process, we heard. So, we're

[49:12] still hoping it'll come out here first part of September and they want to have

[49:15] some kind of little unveiling or something. Um, I think he's going to

[49:19] work with Justin Randy on a date on that that that if the board members want to

[49:23] get involved. And then uh when the newsletter comes out for the historic

[49:28] society and I think Georgetown this latest thing I talked about last week

[49:32] with um trying to get community involvement with u first aid and 911 250

[49:39] that kind of thing that they're got a whole program and that's uh you almost

[49:43] got to read it all because there's quite a few uh programs that they institute

[49:47] out there that they'd like people get involved with. So,

[49:50] » those should be coming up that you can be able to read and get involved in if

[49:53] as you want want to and see you need to. So,

[49:56] » you know, I love how you promote them and stay involved. Appreciate it.

[50:00] » Um, you reminded me that we've got and you guys remember a week from today, I

[50:04] think 4 p.m. You can make it if you choose to make it out to Grand River

[50:08] Park, there's a a grand reopening. I don't say Grandreek.

[50:13] » I'm sorry. Rush Creek. Did I say Grand River? Yeah, Rush Creek.

[50:15] » Rush Creek. >> What would you call that? a

[50:18] » uh ribbon cutting for >> ribbon cutting for new improvements.

[50:21] » We're going to have bubbles. It's going to be We're have popsicles. It's going

[50:24] to be a great time. >> Pops or something. Yeah,

[50:26] » I love it. >> Nice. Spread the word. Okay. Is there a

[50:30] motion to adjurnn? Move. Support. >> All in favor say I. I. Opposed. We

[50:35] adjourn.

Georgetown Township Board Meeting 08/24/26

Transcript