[0:03] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America to the republic
[0:10] of nation.
[0:18] » Thank you. Roll call, please.
>> Here
[0:27] » clerk here. Anybody
on? No. On zero on Zoom.
[0:34] » Zero on Zoom for the record there at
seven tonight.
[0:38] » Thank you. Uh
before we call for approval of the
[0:42] meeting agenda, I do have one addition
to the agenda. It'll be number 16. It
[0:47] will be the master plan. Master plan
seminar.
[0:54] Is there any other board member that
wishes to make an addition or a
[0:57] correction to the agenda? this evening.
[1:05] » Delete anything.
>> Pardon?
[1:06] » I'm just looking at this one. Are we
deleting anything?
[1:10] » No, we'll table those when we come.
Okay.
[1:12] » Okay. All right. Not hearing any. Um all
those please. I need to call for the
[1:18] approval of the agenda.
>> So moved.
[1:21] » Moved by uh clerk Squire to approve it.
>> Ordered by Trustee Oling. Any further
[1:26] discussion? Board. All those in favor
indicate by saying I.
[1:30] » I.
>> I.
[1:31] » Same. That motion carries. Thank you.
With the addition of 16.
[1:36] We are on to the approval of the consent
agenda. I would entertain a motion um to
[1:41] place the con to approve the consent
agenda as presented.
[1:46] » I'll make that motion.
>> Thank you. Trustee
[1:50] support.
Trustee Oling. Any further discussion
[1:55] about anything on the consent agenda
board?
[1:59] Hearing none, all those in favor
indicate saying I.
[2:02] » I oppose the same. That motion carries.
Thank you.
[2:07] And to the elected officials report, I
would entertain a motion that we that we
[2:12] acknowledge them, accept them, and place
them on file. They're on the back table,
[2:17] and they're also out on the internet for
the consumption of the public. Do I have
[2:21] a motion to uh accept and place those on
file, please?
[2:25] » So moved. Moved by Treasure Anderson. We
have any support.
[2:29] » Support.
>> Support by clerk Squires. Any further
[2:32] discussion? Board.
Hearing none. All those in favor in the
[2:36] case of saying I
>> oppos the same. Motion carries. We're at
[2:41] the first portion. Public comments uh on
the agend
[2:47] listed. Um so any public comment on any
of those items particularly now would be
[2:54] the time to make your comment.
[3:00] We have no one on Zoom. So it would be
in the room.
[3:05] Okay. Not seeing any. We're going to
move on into our agenda. Uh the new
[3:10] business. Um, we had the pleasure
tonight to start our meeting off uh with
[3:16] honoring a fellow from our community who
has uh given lots of his time and effort
[3:22] and dedication and uh with an act now
community service award presentation and
[3:27] I will turn this over to you folks.
[3:36] » Julie, are you doing the speaking?
>> Yeah, I'm pretty loud though. Do I still
[3:39] need to talk?
>> Well, just make sure you can hear.
[3:42] That's all. The YouTube audience later.
So,
[3:46] » okay.
We're just going to introduce ourselves
[3:50] real quick. If you do not know who we
are, we we serve many roles in the
[3:54] community on different boards. Um, Chief
Mishensky is on our ACT now board as a
[3:59] non- voting advisory member. John Ellis
is our chairperson. I'm Julie Hill. I am
[4:06] our um secretary.
and Mike Briggs is our uh co-chair. So,
[4:14] real quickly, ACT Now, if you're not
familiar with it, we have been in
[4:17] existence since 1999. We're a nonprofit
501c3 organization that works in
[4:24] coordination with the police department
to basically raise money and hold all
[4:29] kinds of wonderful community events. Um,
there is some brochures on the back
[4:33] table back there if you'd like to pick
one up. It talks more about what we are
[4:37] and who we are and our mission and our
different uh event schedule is in there.
[4:42] Also,
um if you'd like to join and get on our
[4:46] mailing list, let me or one of us know
and we can add you to our group email so
[4:51] you can receive our uh newsletters and
our uh communications. Um tonight we
[4:57] would like to uh present uh a community
service award to Ralph Roland. He has
[5:03] served on our You can come on up, Ralph.
He has served on our executive board for
[5:08] six years as a representative,
but even prior to that, he volunteered
[5:14] many years and participated in many of
our events that we hold every year, like
[5:18] our trunk or treat, um our scholarship
program, which he was really fond of,
[5:24] our annual golf outing, our bowling
fundraiser, shop with a cop. Um so um on
[5:31] behalf of ACT now we would like to
present this award to Ralph
[5:36] and it just says uh in recognition and
appreciation presented Ralph Roland.
[5:42] Thank you for your dedicated service and
commitment to act now in the Garish
[5:46] Township community.
>> Thank you.
[5:54] » We appreciate you.
[6:00] pictures.
[6:08] » Here. Right here, Rob.
>> Come in the middle.
[6:12] » There you go.
[6:22] » Not mine.
[6:25] » Thank you.
Thank you.
[6:46] » Thank you guys very much for the
opportunity to uh sit in on this and
[6:50] honor Ralph at our regular board
meeting. ACT Now is definitely
[6:55] integrated very much into our community
and without good volunteers um like
[7:00] Ralph um and the rest of those folks on
the executive board um I don't know what
[7:06] we would do um with our community
between our cert and our act now. Um
[7:11] it's a force multiplier and thank you
all very much on behalf of the board.
[7:15] Thank you.
Now, if there was anybody here
[7:20] specifically for that and you didn't
feel like you really wanted to sit
[7:24] through the meeting, you do not offend
the board if you did want to leave. I
[7:28] want you to know that we do have a
rather long agenda this evening. So,
[7:34] okay. Uh we are on to number two. Um,
and number two is the proposed uh
[7:42] conditional hire of a Garris Township
Police Department full-time patrol
[7:45] officer, Rich Cahoun.
And uh, I would entertain a motion by
[7:52] the board to approve the conditional
offer of employment to Rich Cahoun for a
[7:58] full-time police officer pending.
Michigan Commission law enforcement
[8:02] standards required paperwork, physical
and drug testing and background check
[8:07] and for that hire to be immediately when
that's concluded. Does anybody want to
[8:12] make that motion?
>> So move. Moved by treasurer Anderson. We
[8:15] have a support.
Trustee Oling.
[8:20] Is there any further discussion? Board
>> hearing? None. All those in favor
[8:25] indicate saying I. I
>> I
[8:28] » oppose the same motion carried. Thank
you.
[8:33] » Number three, we have a resignation from
the board of review from Brad Gibson. Um
[8:42] Brad will be leaving us on December 31st
to 26 to actually travel as retired.
[8:49] It's my understanding. uh during that
time of year in which that's pressing.
[8:53] We we are going to have two open
positions on the board of review. One
[8:58] would be an alternate and one to replace
uh Brad who would be was a just stepped
[9:06] up to being on as a regular. So, um look
forward to that announcement out there
[9:12] throwing it out there to see if we can
get anybody. It's a very important board
[9:16] uh very important board to listen to the
taxpayers's concern and it's a check and
[9:21] balance for the assessor's office. So um
so I would entertain a motion that the
[9:26] board approve that resignation from uh
Garris Township Board of Review
[9:30] effective 1231 of 26 from Brad Gibson.
>> So moved.
[9:34] » Moved by Clerk Squires.
[9:39] » Support Treasury Anderson with regret.
>> Yeah, absolutely.
[9:44] All right, we have a motion and a second
on the floor. Any further discussion?
[9:49] Hearing none, all those uh in favor
indicate by saying I.
[9:53] » I oppose the same motion carry. He will
he will be a loss
[9:59] for sure.
Okay. And we're on to number four.
[10:05] Number four is the authorization
authorize uh uh the supervisor to sign a
[10:12] professional service agreement with
Psyduck Incorporated for services that
[10:16] would be related to uh proposed
improvements to recreation maintenance
[10:22] facilities uh at the Garris Township
Municipal Center uh property here uh
[10:28] right here. So, um, we talked about this
obviously been talking about it for over
[10:32] a year actually and now it's time to
move forward in finding out what the
[10:36] dollars might be and get some conceptual
renderings and proposals and costs. So,
[10:42] uh, I would entertain a motion that the
board approve Supervisor Hill to sign
[10:48] that professional service agreement with
Psyduck Incorporated for services
[10:52] related to proposed improvements to
recreation/maintenance
[10:56] facilities at the Garris Township
Municipal Property.
[11:00] » So moved.
>> Moved by
[11:03] Trustee Oling. Is it supported?
>> I'll support that.
[11:06] » Boarded by Trustee Poppy.
Any further discussion board?
[11:13] Hearing none, all those in favor
indicate by saying I.
[11:16] » I oppose the same.
That motion carries. Thank you.
[11:23] We are now to number
five.
[11:31] This is uh something we do each year
this time of year in September in order
[11:35] to send the figures to the county for
the tax pieces. And so I will read uh
[11:44] what needs to go here. Uh and we have to
uh be willing to
[11:51] determine this particular statement. So,
the board determines police protection
[11:56] to be in the best interest of the
township and that a special assessment
[11:59] district to be created under the
provisions of public act 81 of 1989 in
[12:05] which the cost of service shall be
assessed according to benefits. The
[12:09] total budget for the police protection
for 2027 2028 has been determined to be
[12:14] 1,329,189
[12:19] including $283,000
in carryover. The special assessment
[12:25] district shall contain all the taxable
property within the township and with a
[12:29] millage rate to be 2.39 mills with no
increase from previous year to yield
[12:36] $1,46,189.
[12:40] Do I have a motion to
>> I'll make that motion.
[12:45] » Do I have a motion?
>> You do. Cliffwires, you'll make that
[12:48] motion.
>> Yes, sir.
[12:50] » As read.
>> Yes, sir.
[12:51] » All right. Do we have support? support
>> board treasure Anderson. Is there any
[12:57] further discussion? Board
hearing none. Roll call, please.
[13:03] » Bill,
>> yes.
[13:05] » Yes.
>> Treasure Anderson,
[13:08] » yes.
>> Trusty,
[13:10] » yes.
>> Trusty,
[13:12] » yes.
>> Five yeses or yays and no naysay that I
[13:16] declare the motion passed.
[13:23] Number six
[13:27] is actually the Garris Township by the
agenda. Garris Township sanitation
[13:32] assessment per parcel $235.
>> I
[13:38] think I know that I have not to do that
and I did it anyways.
[13:43] » I have on the agenda township sanitation
assessment and we'll do it. I'll come
[13:49] back to her. I see they're they're out
of order.
[13:51] » Yes, they are. I'm going to put it back
up. I'm going to go in order of the
[13:54] agenda. Garris Township sanitation
assessment per parcel $235.
[14:00] Um, so I would entertain a motion that
the board approve the sanitation special
[14:04] assessment at $235 per parcel for the
upcoming taxable year. Motion. So moved.
[14:11] Moved
>> by Treasur Anderson. Do we have support?
[14:14] Support. Support. Trustee Oling. Any
further discussion?
[14:20] I just point out that this is a
three-year average.
[14:23] » Yeah, this is the same amount as it was
the prior year.
[14:26] » We're in the second year. Three year.
>> Yep. Thank you for the point of order on
[14:31] the discussion.
>> That doesn't call for a roll call. I'm
[14:35] going to ask for one. Gotcha. Um, so we
had we have a motion and we have support
[14:40] and I would like a a roll call, please.
>> Anderson.
[14:45] » Yes. Trusty Oling,
>> yes.
[14:49] » Trusty Abby,
>> yes.
[14:51] » Supervisor Hill,
>> yes.
[14:54] » Yes.
>> Okay, that's five
[15:00] yeses and nos. And I'll declare that
motion passed.
[15:05] We're on to the Garris Township Fire and
EMS. I will read that statement again,
[15:10] required statement for it, and look for
somebody to make that motion. The board
[15:14] determines the fire protection and
emergency medical services to be in the
[15:17] best interest of the township and that a
special assessment district be created
[15:22] under the provision of public act 81 of
1989 in which costs of such service
[15:28] shall be assessed according to benefits.
The total expenditures for fire
[15:32] protection emergency medical services
for 202728
[15:37] fiscal year have been determined to be
$1,785,250
[15:43] with a capital equipment carryover of
$754,326.
[15:50] Durable equipment carryover $165
$165,63
[15:57] with $263,49
in capital project carryover and in
[16:03] parentheses facilities and $19,232
in durable equipment EMS carryover. The
[16:11] special assessment district shall
contain all taxable property within the
[16:14] township with a millage rate to be 3.03
03 mills no increase from the prior rate
[16:21] to yield 1,352,863.
[16:26] I would entertain that motion to move.
Moved by Treasury Anderson.
[16:33] » Supported by clerk Squireers. Any
further discussion?
[16:38] Roll call.
>> Yes.
[16:42] » Hill.
>> Yes.
[16:44] » Trusty A.
>> Yes. As
[16:46] a
>> yes,
[16:47] » treasure Anderson.
>> Yes.
[16:50] » Five yays and no nays. That declare that
motion as passed.
[17:00] » No fire.
>> Are any puzzled looks out in the
[17:04] audience at all there? There's that's
after a couple public hearings how all
[17:08] that got devised just so that you know.
Okay, we are on to number eight on your
[17:15] agenda. The Garris Township Fire and uh
EMS uh captain
[17:20] appointment to Mike Bentley. And so I
would entertain a motion that board
[17:25] approve the recommendation of Chief
Gilliam to promote Mike Bentley to the
[17:30] rank of captain for the Garris Township
Fire Department and EMS.
[17:35] » I'll make that motion. Uh trustee Appy
>> I'll support
[17:41] » support clerk Squireers any further
discussion board about that wisdom
[17:48] hearing none all those in favor indicate
by saying I
[17:51] » I oppose the same motion carries thank
you
[17:58] congratulation to Mike
[18:02] we number nine is Garris Township fire
and EMS lieutenant appointment Josh
[18:06] Sanford. And so I would entertain a
motion to approve the recommendation of
[18:11] Chief Gilliam to promote Josh Sanford to
the rank of lieutenant for the Gartown
[18:16] Chief Fire Department and EMS. Anybody
make
[18:19] » Thank Squires Sport Trustee Oling.
Any further discussion board
[18:28] hearing? None. All those in favor
indicator saying I I oppose the same
[18:33] motion carries. Thank you.
[18:40] that comes after a some uh
reorganization by the new chief uh
[18:44] within the department.
Uh number uh 10, Garris Township Parks
[18:51] and Recreation appointment of Mike
Dystra to the one-year term. I would
[18:56] entertain uh that the board approve the
appointment of Mike Dystra to the parks
[19:01] and reccks committee effective
immediately to fulfill a vacant one-year
[19:06] term that actually ends April 1 of 27
and then we'll have to do it again if he
[19:10] wants to stay on because it's been a
vacant uh situation there. Everybody
[19:16] understand that? All right. Who would
like to make that motion?
[19:20] » So moved.
>> Treasure Anderson and I think Clerk
[19:24] Squires.
>> You bet. Okay. Uh, any further
[19:27] discussion on Mr. Dyster's appointment?
Hearing none.
[19:33] All those in favor indicate by saying I.
>> I oppose the same. Motion carries. Thank
[19:38] you. 10.
Number 11 is another parks and recrecks
[19:44] appointment or shall I say reappointment
of Dan Simon to the one-year term. Dan
[19:49] somehow slipped through the cracks and
didn't get reappointed is what I best I
[19:53] can tell. But he stayed involved.
>> What's that?
[19:55] » He's contined involved, but it was just
under procedure there. And I I think the
[20:00] everybody knows now that when those
things are, so they can just get them to
[20:04] us when that happens
>> from the from the parks and reccks
[20:07] committee. So this is just kind of
straighten it up, shall I say, the
[20:10] books? I'll speak.
>> So, I would entertain a motion to board
[20:13] reappoint approve the reappoint of Dan
Simon to the parks and reccks committee
[20:18] effective immediately to fulfill a
one-year term ending April 1 of 2027.
[20:25] » So, moved.
>> Uh, okay. Get moved by Trustee Oling.
[20:28] » No support.
>> Uh, trustee Oppy.
[20:32] Any further discussion?
All those in favor indicate by saying I.
[20:37] » I.
>> I. I. Oppose. the same.
[20:40] That motion carries. Um, Susan, can you
clarify the last name spelling of Mr.
[20:46] Simon? Is it S I M O N or is it S Y M O
N?
[20:51] S I
S Simmon.
[20:55] Oh,
>> say it's SI though
[20:58] » with one M.
>> It's SI.
[21:00] » Yeah.
>> And it's Simmon.
[21:02] » I knew I was remembering something
there. I apologize.
[21:04] » One M.
>> Okay. It is SI. Is it with one M though?
[21:10] » Okay. So, it's S.
>> It's Simon, not Simon,
[21:14] » right? Pronounced.
>> Well, we're not misspelling paychecks
[21:17] because it's a volunteer position.
>> No,
[21:20] » if anybody might be wondering.
>> Okay.
[21:23] » All right. Very good. I'm gonna try and
commit that one to memory.
[21:26] » Very good.
>> All right. We are on to uh number 12. Uh
[21:31] number 12 tonight. Uh we intended to
have a doc the document from the Higgins
[21:36] Lake Foundation. The history behind it
is is they had given uh we had applied
[21:42] for a $10,000 grant uh for our health of
Higgins Lake folks uh for the Southern
[21:48] Park project process, excuse me,
>> project easy. And when Mr. Oling went to
[21:55] do the presentation,
um they actually gave him 16,500. But we
[22:00] need a document from the HLF for an
addendum of some nature that that's
[22:06] indeed what we would receive here
>> for our books here. So I'm going to ask
[22:10] that we table that uh this evening and
uh we'll put it on for the next
[22:18] » time we're all together.
So I need a motion to table that.
[22:24] » So make I'll make the motion.
>> Okay. And then do we have support to
[22:28] table work by trustee
lastly?
[22:33] Any further discussion about tableabling
that hearing? None. All those in favor
[22:37] indicate by saying I
>> I oppose the same. Motion carries. Thank
[22:42] you.
>> Also in line with that number 13 is the
[22:47] FL Vanderbrink professional services
agreement. Uh and
[22:53] um until we get that straight
straightened away and uh Jim want to
[22:58] check a couple more things on the
agreement.
[23:00] » Yeah, there's just u there's just a
couple of line items that that need
[23:04] further clarification and um I haven't
heard back from them as of today. So I
[23:10] will uh make that happen and when it's
ready I'll get it back to the board.
[23:13] » Okay. I would make a motion that we
table that professional service
[23:17] agreement discussion and the signature
of it. I'll support that.
[23:21] » Okay. Uh any further discussion board?
All those in favor to table that item
[23:28] indicate saying I.
>> I.
[23:30] » I. The same. Motion carries. Thank you.
>> Number 14 is the L4029
[23:37] which is the document that we um have to
send off to the county assessor.
[23:45] Assessing
>> is it or is it the
[23:47] » equalization?
>> Equalization. her exact title.
[23:50] » Yep.
And uh so the book the board needs to
[23:54] approve both the supervisor and the
clerk to sign on behalf of the township
[24:00] the L4029 for the year presenting to
millages and special assessments as
[24:05] presented. Do we have a motion?
>> Make that motion.
[24:09] » Okay. Trusty Oling or excuse me,
we have support.
[24:15] » Second. Treasure Anderson. Any further
discussion? Hearing
[24:20] none. All those in favor indicate by
saying I I oppose the same. Motion
[24:26] carries. Thank you.
>> So you two sign this.
[24:29] » Yep. I have it right here.
>> If you could I
[24:31] » today. I'm going to get it done tonight.
I'm going to copy you on it. I'm going
[24:35] to send it.
>> Perfect.
[24:37] » In the morning.
>> It's due by September 30th, I believe.
[24:40] » Doesn't matter. He expected it
yesterday. Oh,
[24:46] okay.
Um number 15 um the Garish Township
[24:53] clerk uh as she had presented um would
like the board to entertain uh hiring
[25:00] the part-time a part-time uh office uh
help uh for training to replace our
[25:07] deputy clerk who will be leaving um soon
I guess uh and we talked about that at
[25:14] the work session obviously and So, um,
the motion here would be to approve
[25:21] Clerk Squires to hire Alexis Marches.
>> Mar,
[25:25] » is it Mari?
>> I don't know if I say it wrong. Mar, I
[25:29] don't know if it's
>> M A R C H E S E
[25:31] » like Marchy but with March.
>> I don't know.
[25:36] » She hasn't corrected me. So,
>> as a part-time office employee to train
[25:39] as a replacement for the soontobe vacant
deputy clerk position. Do I have a
[25:44] motion?
I'll make that motion.
[25:48] » Clerk Squires, do we have support?
>> Second.
[25:52] » Treasure Anderson, any further
discussion?
[25:56] » These are to fill some training days
basically. So, um, any other discussion?
[26:03] All those in favor indicate by saying I
>> I oppose the same. Motion carries.
[26:10] And number 16, the master plan. Um, as
you all heard at our work session, um,
[26:16] our job is to kind of move this thing,
if you will, forward for a 63-day public
[26:21] comment section. Um, and, uh, so that is
what's before us. I would entertain a a
[26:29] motion that the board approve the
distribution of the draft master plan
[26:32] dated August 26, 2026 for public comment
per the requirements of public act 33 of
[26:39] 2008 as amended Michigan planning
enabling act. I would entertain that
[26:45] motion. So moved by treasurer Anderson
support
[26:49] » I'll support
>> support by clerk Squires. Any further
[26:52] discussion about that topic
[26:56] hearing? None. All those in favor and
you kept saying I
[26:59] » I
>> I
[27:01] » oppose the same. Motion carried. It was
all a little slow there, but that's
[27:04] okay. We got them. I think um
>> it it is it it is there. It's available.
[27:11] There's several different ways. You go
on our face page of our website and
[27:14] you'll see the different ways to access
to be able to read the document and
[27:19] obtain the document and to comment. uh
during that 63-day period, we will
[27:25] compile those comments and um through
our leazison, get them back to the
[27:30] planning commission. Um they at a later
date would have to do a public hearing
[27:35] and uh so they can review that stuff um
as their time frame. So, yep.
[27:43] » All right. Thank you. We've now come to
the uh last part of the agenda, which
[27:46] are our regular announcements.
Oop, excuse me.
[27:52] comments.
>> You just did an offerive.
[27:54] » I'm sorry.
>> In the
[27:55] » That's right. back and forth.
>> Yeah. We're on to the public comment
[28:00] section. Public comment. Yes, sir. Come
on up.
[28:07] » Please state your name so that they can
get it for the record.
[28:10] » For anybody who doesn't know you,
>> I know everybody here, but
[28:14] » for anybody that doesn't, Ken Melvin,
thank you. veteran and longtime Ross
[28:19] Common County and Garish Township
resident.
[28:23] Um,
first of all, I'd like to thank all of
[28:27] you for the job that you've been doing.
Mary Joe,
[28:31] Michelle,
our wonderful deputy clerk, Brian, Jim,
[28:35] Jim, Chief Mashinsky.
It's too often you you you hear all the
[28:42] bad stuff or something. You don't you
know I was I I was public office, too. I
[28:46] was elected official and it's, you know,
disappointing when you don't you receive
[28:50] any support or any recognition for the
the job that you're doing. The pay
[28:55] doesn't cover it. You're not doing it
for the pay. You're not doing it for
[28:57] fame. You're doing it because you want
to continue serving the township. So,
[29:01] thank you very much for that. And
the commissioner in the back there, Kim
[29:08] Morick. Jim Marley. She's in my opinion
she's doing an excellent job
[29:14] representing the township on the county
board. She's very conscientious. She
[29:19] doesn't sherk her duties. She does she
goes beyond and above and
[29:27] thank you for the service you're
providing to the township from the
[29:31] county. And the other reason I'm here is
I live on Oakwood Drive, a short piece
[29:36] of road that hasn't had any maintenance
for a long time and it's deteriorating.
[29:40] I've seen the road plan now tonight.
It's not on the road plan for anything
[29:44] in the future, but there's been a
millage passed and maybe there's going
[29:49] to be some funds. So, anything that can
be done from the township end to get
[29:56] some consideration on that, get it on
the plan or master plan or something
[30:00] there. And then I'll I I imagine then
probably go to the road commission
[30:05] meeting
and then talk to them too. I've talked
[30:08] to them once, just the supervisor and
the guys out there on the road when they
[30:12] were there one day, but I'll go over to
one of their formal meetings. And
[30:16] hopefully I don't get uh you're
>> I said I was never going back to another
[30:20] road commission meeting after they
gabbled me in public comment.
[30:26] » It wasn't a time limit. They just didn't
like hearing what I was saying.
[30:30] That's
>> and you know, excuse me. You know, the
[30:35] the supervisor is going to gabble me in
public comment because he doesn't like
[30:38] what I'm saying. Is there a limit on the
public comment? Is there
[30:42] » There is three minutes.
>> Three minutes. Okay. I'm sorry.
[30:44] » Hey, Ken, you're talking about from 103.
Does does that in fact
[30:51] » it goes to the burdell corner, right? It
still hasn't gone around very Okay. All
[30:57] right.
>> It was a really nice
[31:00] Yep.
>> Some maintenance, but there hasn't been
[31:02] for a long time.
>> So, it's north to
[31:05] » Bernell.
We don't get some seal over that this
[31:11] winter. It's I I'd hate to see what it's
going to be like in the springtime, but
[31:15] » may not happen, but we can make we can
do for you, Ken.
[31:18] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[31:21] » You contact
[31:26] Roger.
>> His friend. His friend Roger.
[31:29] move right along.
[31:34] » I can ask
for uh Jeff Presc
[31:41] back back on Oakwood Drive.
Um I've been installing fiber optic
[31:47] cable for the past three years around
Northern Michigan.
[31:53] Some pretty rural areas have been
getting their highspeed internet. We
[31:58] have nothing on Oakwood. Natural gas
highspeed internet.
[32:05] And I I'm just wondering if there's
something that can be done about it.
[32:09] There's eight full-time residents there.
[32:14] » I don't know how to answer that. I can,
you know, and Kim might know better and
[32:19] I do, but you know, we're considered out
in this area underserved
[32:24] and and uh I know the problem you got
because I live in the woods and I end up
[32:31] getting Starlink to get my internet
because it's the only way I could get it
[32:36] because when I called Verizon
twice over a 10-year period, the quote
[32:41] that I got to go down my driveway was
over $10,000. dollars
[32:46] » to put, you know, cable down there. So,
>> um, there's supposedly money out there
[32:53] that, and there was a I don't know, Kim,
if you could address this later, but I
[32:58] know there was a group out of Traverse
City was supposedly
[33:02] » SH capital moving this direction. They
talked to us even
[33:07] » about that, but it just seemed like I
don't know if the money went dry or the
[33:11] initiative went dry, but
>> well, there was a kaibos put to the
[33:15] infrastructure money that was
>> being involved in that, but I know you
[33:19] had to get the paperwork in everything
where all be done. I mean, Mount Morreny
[33:23] County, we spent a lot of time up there.
Gets pretty rural. We run
[33:27] » real rural.
>> We we run fiber optic to a hunting camp
[33:31] back. I mean, like two miles back in
>> Yeah.
[33:34] Well, I do know that Cherry Capital um a
neighbor called over on County Road 200
[33:39] this past week and there was some
marking done for Cherry Capital and it
[33:45] was supposedly of course marked on
somebody's property and and it really
[33:49] was in the road easement piece there.
So, I think they may still be around,
[33:54] but I don't know to what totality that
they're fulfilling.
[33:57] » On the border of Marquy Township, like
>> Well, this one was on Coner 200 by
[34:02] President's Boulevard uh over there just
north of the country corners. They
[34:07] » Well, it just it kind of makes me wonder
with the the populace of this township
[34:12] and county, you know, how come we
weren't involved in this?
[34:16] » Great question.
>> It's just uh Sure. It's
[34:20] with our tax base and everything. Why
are we being left behind?
[34:25] » Great question.
>> Very good.
[34:29] » Y
that's about it.
[34:32] » Thank you.
>> Appreciate you coming.
[34:34] » Thanks, Jeff.
>> Thanks, Jeff.
[34:44] You have anybody on?
>> I have you. We're in the room first as
[34:49] we always do
>> that question to see if I can
[34:53] » Well, I just know that that initiative
was at the county level. It was for
[34:57] broad years ago.
>> I don't I've lost track years. I think
[35:01] it's been a while. Sure.
>> It's been a while.
[35:02] » Um
>> I might have a connection with Cherry
[35:05] Capital that I can try to look into on
that one.
[35:09] » Great. I know Spectrum just announced
that they put more cable for TV stuff
[35:15] and internet in four of our counties.
Marky, Ros Common,
[35:21] » Lion Townships.
>> Yeah. So, I know that's coming. But, you
[35:25] know, I understand I live out uh on 40
acres and I have to stream with
[35:31] T-Mobile, but hey, I was the only person
who had in our county building really
[35:37] that had internet during the ice storm.
>> T-Mobile survived. I don't know how
[35:41] because their cell service is not great,
but anyway, but I will try to see if I
[35:46] can't find out what I know from a county
level where that went because that was
[35:49] prior to me. Yeah, I will add that to my
list. Um, a couple, well, several
[35:55] updates because I haven't been able to
come in one of the last meetings. So,
[35:58] just as a reminder, if you haven't seen
it already, the Gypsy Moth program has
[36:03] changed for this upcoming year. A lot of
litigation has been going around
[36:08] different topics of it, but really
around personal property privacy. And
[36:13] so, because of that, we now have to ask
for permission in advance. So, in the
[36:18] past, if you were at your house when
they showed up to either survey or to
[36:22] spray, they ask still, but now they
can't go there at all until you have
[36:29] given permission. So, um I have a copy
of the card. Those postcards are getting
[36:34] mailed out to everyone in the county and
that way, but you have to do that every
[36:41] time this comes around. It's not a
one-time permission. So, it's going to
[36:44] be a little bit more leg work and a
little more expense, but that's what we
[36:49] have today.
>> Did I get that? That
[36:51] » you got to have that card signed before
they'll come to your house to
[36:55] » to chat about it. You don't
>> walk up to your door and see if they're
[36:58] knocking on the door and
>> they may if they know somebody's there.
[37:02] » But the problem is is that's risky every
time they start to go out. So, they're
[37:06] trying to get a
>> to not have to worry if you're home or
[37:09] not. But if you're there and they show
up, you can say no or you can say yes.
[37:14] » So, um, emergency management, um, I just
wanted to remind people that because of
[37:20] those emergency managements that we had,
there is still an SBA loan that's
[37:26] available for businesses and nonprofits
that, you know, disa for disaster
[37:32] relief. And I have a flyer on when the
deadline for that is, so I can I'll give
[37:36] those to you as well.
Um we are um Commissioner Milbour is
[37:42] doing a 911 remembrance. I know uh Chief
Gileiam has been very helpful in that
[37:47] too. So thank her. So that will be on
I've got a flyer for that'll be at 8:15
[37:52] on September 11th coming up.
serving on the Northern Lakes Community
[37:58] Mental Health and I know I've talked a
little bit about them in the past, but
[38:02] with the changes that are coming down
from the feds around
[38:06] Medicaid eligibility and trying to clean
that up.
[38:12] That is 90% of all of our mental health
funds that we use. And so, and there's
[38:18] really strict requirements on what you
can use that for and what you can't. So,
[38:22] the general fund, which is part of what
we try to contribute to as a county, can
[38:26] only be used for certain things as well.
Um, it's a long there's a lot to it, but
[38:31] I wanted to let you guys know that there
might be a request to the county to
[38:35] increase a one-time amount of the fund
that we give. Back by law, that amount
[38:40] that we have contributed has not changed
for decades. It was written into law
[38:44] that you can't go more. And so, now it
could be a different scenario going
[38:50] forward. trying not to abuse the mental
health code. Real disparency between how
[38:57] they fund and what the public health
code requires o over the years. So, um
[39:02] just to give you an idea because one of
the things I've told you before we're
[39:06] really trying to work on is saying if
you want more what is it doing to us and
[39:10] are we paying
I don't say equal but commensurate to
[39:15] the surrounding counties. So we average
in Ross Common County, we serve about
[39:19] 300 people a month with Northern Lakes
Community Mental Health Programs.
[39:25] We pay them 57,000 a year. It's the way
it's been forever.
[39:30] But when you look at that,
>> say that again.
[39:33] » What is it? 57,000 a year.
>> 7,000 a year
[39:38] » for 300 a month. Is that average?
>> That's the average. So that's that's
[39:44] about$,583 a person a month.
Now Crawford only serves 190. They pay
[39:53] 35,000.
Msaki is at 35,000 and they do 137
[40:00] average a month. Waxford is 535 people a
month and they pay more than us 76,000.
[40:06] So we're the calculation is I can't
describe that calculation. And I just
[40:11] know that when you look at the volume
based upon what's been going on. So we
[40:15] have had very strong conversations with
the new CEO about what does that look
[40:19] like. One of the things we cannot do
well like we did in the past is the
[40:24] services that are in the jail. That is
not a statutory thing. So that is a big
[40:30] need for us. So if we're going to do a
one-time additional sum, what would that
[40:36] do for us? I don't know what that answer
is today, but I just want to give you a
[40:38] heads up because I think mental health
has been one of the things we've combed
[40:42] for years obviously and how it's being
funded is being severely hurt from the
[40:47] state and the feds. So what are we going
to do to
[40:50] » keep those things?
>> Hopefully reach the patients if it's not
[40:54] in the jail.
>> The formula is I mean it's
[40:57] » I don't know the formula of how they
created that number
[41:00] » decades ago. So I don't know that
where do they get served because they
[41:06] you can come in without the jail.
>> No, I know you can, but I know the jail
[41:10] was a usually
um always under the gun
[41:16] » because you know obviously there's
movement not to incarcerate and it's
[41:20] been that way for dozens of years. The
part that I from what I have heard today
[41:25] and what's happened over the last
several years or couple is it's the
[41:30] service in the jail to give them
um if you were suicidal let's just not
[41:36] give you an iPad and say go play like
you need somebody that is qualified to
[41:40] come into the jail to do that. That's
the part that we are missing today.
[41:44] » So there's still a lot to uncover. I
think Northern Lakes I will give them a
[41:48] lot of credit of every agency that we
donate money to. They have reduced
[41:52] staff. They they have done everything to
make their finances work. They sold
[41:58] assets which used to be able to they
would do interest in some of those
[42:01] things and use those to fund stuff and
they can't do that anymore because they
[42:05] have to become whole and not be in a
deficit like they had been forever.
[42:10] » So, um it's just a lot of moving parts
for to me a very very important
[42:14] component to to keep our eyes on. I'll
keep you posted. I don't know where
[42:18] that's going to go. It may stay at the
number that we've been told to do for
[42:22] decades. I don't know that, but we'll
see. Um,
[42:26] oh, another piece on that, just if if
you're thinking of watching some of your
[42:30] legislators, Representative John Roth
came to the meeting actually to speak to
[42:35] the group. First time I've ever had a
legislator come to one of those agencies
[42:38] and actually have a meeting, not just a
meet and greet. So, he is the chair of
[42:43] appropriations for DHHS, which is part
of where that funding starts coming
[42:47] from. He said that this was a piece that
they are going to try to work on in the
[42:51] next three months before they get a
whole new batch of legislators to say
[42:56] what can we do to equalize the money
that comes from the state to all the
[43:01] different counties and those regional
entities. He believes that's important.
[43:06] Um I asked okay of your leadership team
what are their top three priorities over
[43:11] the next three months? This wasn't
listed. So then I questioned then how
[43:17] important and how confident do you think
you can get something done if the
[43:20] leadership in your house is not making
that a priority? That was a little bit
[43:25] of a skirted answer but at least he was
pretty aware of the groups that are
[43:29] saying you need to make this import
important. So anyway, okay, on them on
[43:35] Thursday, September 10th, which is right
around the corner, um 11 to 1, Northern
[43:40] Lakes always has to have their annual
public hearing and and and information
[43:46] game. It's going to start from 11 at
11:00. They're going to stream in from
[43:51] Traverse City each of the sites. So
you'll hear the big overview of the
[43:55] challenges, what's happened, what's
changed, what are the things they've
[43:58] done, and then we're going to break out
and if you go to your respective
[44:01] location, I will be at the Hotton Lake
location on that day to help facilitate,
[44:05] get information, that information will
go back to when we have our board, I
[44:10] don't say retreat, but get together to
go where do we focus? If we have money,
[44:15] if things change with the state and we
can do services, what would they need to
[44:19] be? So, um, big push with this CEO to
start pushing on our legislators for a
[44:27] change, but we know that's not going to
happen tomorrow. So, we're going to see
[44:30] what we can do. That was a lot. Budget.
Um, we have completed all the department
[44:35] head reports um that they have done. The
only things we have left right now is
[44:39] drain commissioner, our board of
commissioners budget, which is very
[44:44] small, uh, the controller and
administrator's budget, and then any of
[44:47] the funds. So once we have all that, we
will start to wrap up any of the needs,
[44:52] the wants, things that we'd like to stay
committed to to our employees, like
[44:56] maybe fully funding our HSA still, don't
know, and see where we're at from a fund
[45:01] balance perspective. This has been a
much longer process than we have done in
[45:05] the past because we have met
individually with them and really
[45:09] reviewed every request all the money and
put them all and only um commissioner u
[45:14] or our chair censor and myself are the
only two commissioners working through
[45:17] this instead of dividing and conquering
and not everybody knowing the what
[45:21] everyone said. So at least the
controller and us two have taken notes
[45:25] written everything down so we can
compare properly.
[45:29] Also looking at our capital projects
reviews, it really looks like the boiler
[45:33] project, which has been on this docket
for probably another 10 years, has not
[45:38] been fixed. And so it looks like there
will be money in the fund balance to
[45:42] help get that going so it's not cold in
one room and hot in another and things
[45:46] leaking and stuff. So, um, kudos to
Justin Man. He has done a great job as
[45:51] our new maintenance guy trying to really
work through that. Um, a little bit of
[45:55] an update on the lake because I know we
love talking about Higgins Lake at this
[45:59] group. Um, towards the end of August,
these are just the facts that I might
[46:03] want to make sure people kind of
understand of what has actually been
[46:06] done. So towards the end of August, a
little over 3.36 over the summer legal
[46:14] level. So it started to get pretty heavy
rains and so there got to be about over
[46:19] an inch and so one gate got pulled
pushed pulled out for about 50% of it.
[46:26] So then um it didn't seem to be going
down so they opened up that gate 100%.
[46:33] As of today because of the other new
rain and more f future rain the to they
[46:39] were requesting to put another gate
open.
[46:42] So hopefully we can try to balance the
as the statute allows weather and
[46:49] recreational need at this point in time.
But if anybody has any questions that
[46:54] they have about that, I highly suggest
that they email our chair and ask those
[46:59] questions in that format because it's
easier to respond and then we can get
[47:03] other information out word for word,
verbatim, and not this is what I think I
[47:08] heard. But those are the facts of what's
happened.
[47:11] Um, a little shout out our new
prosecuting attorney, Susan Dylan. Um,
[47:17] we had a huge backlog when she came on
board. Stacks. I'm not kidding. Stacks
[47:22] papers. Um, backlogs done.
>> Oh,
[47:27] » yeah.
>> Um, to give you an idea of the number of
[47:29] cases and what happened in just 2025,
January through December, 654 cases.
[47:36] That's about 15 a month. in her time,
January through the end of August, 634
[47:42] cases. That's 24 cases a month. So, she
is just moving hard. Her team has worked
[47:50] really well together. They're doing
good. Two of the oldest cases from 2023
[47:54] and 2024 have also been cleared. So, we
are now,
[47:59] » but we are also seeing much more volume
of taking them to court and moving it.
[48:05] So we don't see that there's going to be
a huge slowdown, but at least the
[48:08] backlog is done. So
>> anytime you have backlog, especially
[48:13] criminal complaints, you have backlogs,
warrants get issued, and then it puts
[48:16] pressure on the trial side on the other.
So she is amazing. I will I concur with
[48:22] you.
>> Her team has worked incredibly hard to
[48:26] fix what what they walked into. I have
copies of all those that I just talked
[48:30] to you about. I'll leave those with you.
Other than Cherry Capital for internet
[48:34] stuff, anything else I can take back for
our meeting tomorrow?
[48:39] » Not that I can think of.
>> I have something I want to talk to you
[48:43] about, but this isn't the forum.
>> Well, you just have to tease me with
[48:47] that right here. Right. It's all good.
All right. I'll be around for a little
[48:50] bit afterwards anyway. Anything else?
>> Great. Thank you for coming.
[48:54] » Thank you very much. You bet.
>> Thanks. Anybody else in the room?
[49:00] Thank you.
Not seeing anybody. Do we have anybody
[49:04] on Zoom? Amanda for a comment or a
comment. You said no. Okay.
[49:16] Okay. Very good. Not hearing any. Um and
so we're off to announcements. Uh
[49:22] Trusty, an announcement of any nature?
>> Um
[49:28] I don't think so. I mean, the parks are
going to be starting to, you know, clean
[49:32] up for the winter and and that uh whole
pro process. Um, I appreciate
[49:39] everybody's uh being okay about my lack
of ability right now and the time time
[49:46] we heal. No, I don't have anything else.
Thank you.
[49:49] » All right. Very good. Thank you. Uh,
clerk Squire, anything on announcement?
[49:54] » I feel like I was just here. We have the
uh
[49:57] » we were
>> the
[50:00] the the the
>> runch
[50:06] run's coming up
uh
[50:08] » on the sign out front.
>> It's on the police department.
[50:13] » Yep.
>> Registration at 505.
[50:16] » Y
>> outstanding. That's a run or a walk,
[50:19] right?
>> Or a bike.
[50:20] » Or a bike. Run, walk, bike.
>> And bring your dog.
[50:24] » Bring your dog.
Or if you just want to contribute and
[50:27] buy a shirt, that's good, too.
>> What year is it now for that? Do you
[50:32] remember
>> 17th or something?
[50:38] » 18 going on 18th year.
>> Who knows for special?
[50:42] » Yep.
>> Fabulous.
[50:43] » I got nothing on you guys.
>> Okay. Trusty. Uh also
[50:48] » I don't think anything um the uh
compost sites
[50:54] you got talked about that or there's
nothing to talk about I guess but that's
[50:57] been
>> relatively calm and it's going to start
[51:00] picking up again now as the season goes.
Um
[51:03] » lots of lots and lots of stuff going on
at the health of Higgins Lake. I don't
[51:07] have anything particular to talk about I
guess. So,
[51:12] » got a couple of grants that were like I
we mentioned earlier they were finishing
[51:16] up the details on and so things are
good.
[51:19] » We're good. Uh, Treasure Anderson,
>> uh, just something that's noteworthy,
[51:27] those of that were involved in the, you
know, that we talked about special
[51:31] assessment for the, uh, sanitation, and
it's based on the
[51:39] costs that were provided to us at the
time that we uh, we're working this all
[51:44] out.
There is a clause in that agreement. If
[51:50] the fuel prices diesel gets above $5 a
gallon,
[51:54] » there'll be a search charge, which
>> we did get.
[51:57] » Yeah. So, you know, that may muddy up
our calculations if that's for an
[52:03] extended period of time.
>> So, just something to keep in the back
[52:07] of your mind.
>> Yeah. After this,
[52:11] » I think we were charged a month or a
month.
[52:15] one month or two months this this year
that we were charged that for search
[52:20] charge.
>> Well, I don't know when the diesel
[52:24] prices will come down, but if it stays
above $5 a gallon, you will will be
[52:29] paying that sir charge. So,
>> just something to think about. Uh taxes
[52:36] uh the 14th is the last day to pay
without a penalty. We'll be open till
[52:40] 5:00 that day. and a lot of people are
coming in right now. So, it's been very
[52:46] busy. Uh the septic ordinance, uh the
planning commission will be meeting
[52:52] Thursday night and uh that is our
primary topic. Uh I sat in with your
[53:01] committee today. They drugged me in
there and uh so uh but it was it was
[53:07] worthwhile because it did give me some
more perspective. Uh, but we're going to
[53:12] be working diligently on that. I don't
know when that'll have a actual draft,
[53:18] but your committee would was shooting
for February. I'm not sure. I mean, for
[53:24] passing the ordinance, and I'm not sure
that's reasonable at this point, but
[53:29] we'll see. And then of course the master
plan is uh now available and we've got
[53:35] roughly two months to to uh respond if
you for the public if you would like to
[53:41] add or make comment to it. We actually
when you put it on the site today there
[53:46] was somebody that already commented on
it. So they're they're they're coming
[53:51] in.
>> Um that's it.
[53:54] » Okay. Um I don't have any other
announcements or otherwise. So I would
[53:59] entertain a motion
>> to
[54:03] No, you put that on the website today.
>> Is there a place at the end of it for
[54:08] them to comment or
>> your comment either you're going to
[54:12] click and comment directly with McKenna
or you can create a comment and turn it
[54:17] in here.
>> Okay.
[54:18] » And emails right right now currently the
receptionist email on it.
[54:23] » Okay. and she is going to um she's going
to print those off and put them in a
[54:28] file for our leazison Jim be able to go
back and they came here.
[54:33] » We won't be compiling them but can but
we'll once we get this thing rolled out
[54:39] uh I'll work out with Ashley who is our
new uh leazison and then she'll tell me
[54:46] how often or how and how to supply. get
a hard copy and I've got a hard copy
[54:53] printed. I'll get it in a binder and out
if somebody wants to come in and see it.
[54:57] » Yeah.
>> Okay.
[55:00] » Thank you.
>> All right. So, I would entertain a
[55:02] motion to during this meeting at 7:55.
>> Second that.
[55:09] » Well, I'd entertain a motion. Is that
first? First. All right. I'll second.
[55:15] » Well, Mary Joe had it, so
>> All right. Very good. Any further
[55:19] discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor
[55:22] indicate by saying I. I. I.
>> Oppos same. Motion carried. Thank you
[55:26] very much everybody for joining.
>> Copy.