[4:53] Good evening. It is August 18th, 2026. I am now calling the Ross Township Board

[5:00] regular meeting to order. All rise for the pledge of allegiance.

[5:07] I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[5:13] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[5:19] justice for all.

[5:25] » Thank you. >> Clerk, you may proceed with the roll

[5:29] call. >> Trusty Harmon

[5:32] » here. Treasure Wearsma absent with cause.

[5:37] Clerk Stage here. Supervisor Hutchings >> here.

[5:41] » Trusty Langshaw here. >> Trusty Beaks

[5:43] » here. >> Trusty White

[5:45] » here. >> Robthall attorney is present.

[5:48] » Thank you. Next, I'd be seeking an approval of the agenda as presented.

[5:52] » Make that motion. >> Second.

[5:54] » We have a motion in support to accept the approval as or accept the agenda as

[5:58] presented. Is there any further discussion?

[6:01] » All those in favor? I I >> opposed. None. Motion carries. Moving

[6:07] forward, I am seeking a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented.

[6:11] » So moved. >> We have a motion and support.

[6:16] Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I I uh for the galley, there are stats

[6:22] for public safety over on the ledge. Just so everybody knows, there's a lot

[6:25] of handouts over there. Um >> I'm sorry. All in favor? I

[6:31] » I >> unanimous. Thank you.

[6:34] Moving into citizen comment. It is 6:03 p.m. And let me get my threem minute

[6:40] timer here.

[6:57] So headed into citizen comment. Please speak up. This meeting is being recorded

[7:01] for YouTube. We would appreciate if you clearly state and spell your last name

[7:05] for the minutes. Please do not give us your street address. Comments are

[7:09] strictly limited to three minutes per one citizen. Citizen comment is designed

[7:14] for one-way commentary to address the board. All citizens providing comments

[7:19] should address their remarks to the supervisor board chair who may respond

[7:23] to provide brief and factual information. Board members will refrain

[7:27] from speaking during citizen comment. If citizens need specific assistance,

[7:31] please contact Ross Township during business hours for additional guidance

[7:35] or information. Who would like to lead us off with

[7:38] public comment?

[7:44] » Good evening. My name is Ryanber.

[7:49] I'm here to my support for updating the >> Ryan. Could you please put that right

[7:53] up? Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm here to voice my support for

[7:58] updating the township ordinance to include solar. Last month I spoke about

[8:04] the risk cyber attack for our critical infrastructure.

[8:10] » Y

[8:16] I sound like I can hear it now. Start over. Okay. Uh my name is Ryan Vosberg.

[8:20] Uh which vos bur. I'm here to voice my support for updating the township

[8:25] ordinance to include provisions for groundmounted solar. Last month, I spoke

[8:29] about the risks cyber attacks pose to our critical infrastructure and how

[8:34] significantly they could disrupt our day-to-day lives. Since then, that risk

[8:38] became a reality and hit much closer to home. Michigan and Minnesota reported

[8:42] coordinated cyber attacks targeting municipal water and wastewater treatment

[8:46] systems as confirmed by the FBI and reported across Michigan news outlets.

[8:51] The intrusion intrusions affected at least nine facilities in Michigan and

[8:56] more than 30 in Minnesota. Thankfully, the attempt itself, excuse me,

[9:01] thankfully officials confirm drinking water safety and quality remain

[9:05] uncompromised, but the attempt itself shows our

[9:08] potential vulnerability and the will of our adversaries to attack our crit

[9:12] critical infrastructure. Attacks like these on the power grid, if successful,

[9:16] could be catastrophic for our country and our local community. Fortunately, we

[9:20] have a way to make ourselves less vulnerable. Solar panels. Reducing our

[9:26] vulnerability to de debilitating cyber attacks and lowering the continually

[9:30] rising cost of electric bills make ground mounted solar an excellent option

[9:35] for the residents of Ross Township. I'm humbly asking, especially on behalf of

[9:40] those unable to take advantage of roof mounted solar, that the board update the

[9:45] ordinance to include ground mounted solar so as many residents as possible

[9:48] may take advantage of the benefits. Thank you, and I'm happy to answer any

[9:52] questions.

[9:58] » So board, as you'll know, that is a uh discussion point under new business,

[10:02] solar for residential purposes. That is something that we'll be taking up later.

[10:07] in the meeting. Next for public comment, you got to run.

[10:16] » Well, I I don't have a a marine voice, first of all, but my name is Mark Rogers

[10:21] and my last name is spelled R O D G E RS. Um, I issued you guys an email

[10:28] asking residents on Sherman Lake Special Assessment District receive a credit and

[10:34] I'd like to hand that email to you. I also did some calculations on what I

[10:39] thought that credit should be.

[10:44] The next thing I'd like to talk about is this uh citizen advisory panel. Um, I

[10:52] really haven't I just gave this a cursory look, so I'm kind of flying by

[10:56] the seat of my pants here. Just some off-the- cuff questions here. I'd really

[11:00] like to see the board um talk about this today, but not make a motion to to pass

[11:07] it. Whatever you're going to pass, I don't understand

[11:10] uh what the intent of a motion would be today. Um I think this is a wonderful

[11:15] start there. A lot lot of good work went into this. it it covers a lot of good uh

[11:20] details. Um I think there's some open questions. There's always open

[11:24] questions. So, as I said, um these may be stupid questions, but in my three

[11:29] minutes I have, I'm just going to ask some. Okay. Is this like a legal um

[11:34] improvement board or is this something different than that? And uh what's the

[11:40] purpose of it? Um I believe the purpose is for Ross Township to respond to what

[11:45] we've asked. we have asked you to take ownership of the SAD. So I think that is

[11:50] wonderful. Um but this is the main purpose for this board to to dive in do

[11:56] a real deep dive into weed control and everything else on Sherman Lake and to

[12:01] make a detailed proposal to the board for the board to approve. I mean who

[12:05] makes the ultimate call? Is it the Ross board? I believe it is. I don't know.

[12:11] And I I see in here there's discussion about looking at the tail end of the

[12:15] current SAD and then it's going to leap into the next SAD. Is is that are you

[12:20] going to look at both SADs? I I've asked for some credit. Is this panel going to

[12:26] look into the credit and see if uh it's justified? I I don't know who's going to

[12:30] do that. Um if I didn't know much about the SAD, I would make a list similar to

[12:35] this to bring me up to speed on on Sherman Lake. you know, PLM,

[12:41] uh, John Tui's aation company, Dr. Jones company, Eagle representative, and so

[12:46] forth. Um, but this is not going to be the people necessarily that are on the

[12:51] panel. Is that correct? I I I don't know who's and and then who's going to select

[12:57] who are the candidates for the panel and who's going to decide?

[13:02] Um, I believe this is a leasan group. I see leasan in here. I think that means

[13:06] it's lay us on between the township, the lake board, and the residents. Um I I

[13:13] might want to see a little bit more detail on that. Um

[13:18] and then a a big question that the late board has been wrestling with for a

[13:22] while now. Is the next SAD going to be two years? Is it going to be seven

[13:25] years? So I think that's something that this this uh panel would decide.

[13:30] » Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Time out. Okay. >> You did great though. Thank you.

[13:36] Thank you. >> Next up,

[13:48] » good evening. My name is Michael Moore, M [clears throat] O R E, and for the

[13:52] purposes of total transparency, I am a member of the Ross Township Planning

[13:57] Commission, and I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of not only Mr. of

[14:02] Rossberg, but others in the township that may have a situation where

[14:06] groundmounted solar would be the best idea for them due to the way of their

[14:11] land, the design of their home, or whatever that cause may be. And as a

[14:16] point of history, it was not that long ago, I don't have the exact date. I'm

[14:21] sorry. I tried to look it up, but I couldn't find it. Uh we were asked by

[14:24] this board, we being the planning commission were asked by this board to

[14:30] look over the ordinance that was currently in effect and do any tweaking

[14:35] to it that we thought was necessary, which we did. spent quite a lot of time

[14:40] going over it, looking at all the different causes and effects and how

[14:44] does that react with other ordinances in the township where where things are

[14:48] planted, how close are they planted to here or to there in this front yard or

[14:52] the backyard, whatever the case may be. And we came up with what we thought was

[14:55] a very good ordinance and we sent it up to this board. And after their review,

[15:01] they decided to, you know, adjust that and remove ground

[15:08] mounted solar panels from residential applications.

[15:12] And that really surprised us at the time. And I think it uh really kind of

[15:18] put a bad light on people trying to do like Mr. Vossberg, you know, get to be a

[15:24] little bit more independent from utilities. It's definitely clean power.

[15:28] And I do know that at the time he was planning to build his home and I have

[15:32] some personal experience with that. I was the electrical inspector in the

[15:36] township at the time and was out there inspected his home when he was in the

[15:39] process of building it. And he had planned from the get-go, his home was

[15:44] totally electric. He was going to have solar panels out there for him to power

[15:49] his home and stay off of that grid and any of the problems that come along with

[15:54] it. Well, in the meantime, while the home is being built is when that

[15:58] ordinance got changed. And I think it's very unfair if solar panels are going to

[16:04] be allowed in residential areas, which I definitely hope that they are for those

[16:09] that want to utilize it and have the good opportunity for it. It's I think in

[16:14] my mind it's not really fair to limit it to roof mounted only because not

[16:20] everybody's roof faces in the right direction. being an electrician in the

[16:24] trade for 50 years, it uh it all depends on location, location, and location

[16:31] where you put your panels. And by not being able to use ground mounted solar

[16:36] panels, you're hog tying a large amount of the people. So, I hope that you take

[16:41] this into consideration when you're reviewing u possible changes that you

[16:46] may make. And thank you so much for the job that you guys do. I appreciate it.

[16:50] » We appreciate you. Thank you.

[17:02] My name is Nancy Boyd, B O Y D. I'm here today to talk about some documents that

[17:08] this board has received over the past few months from two Sherman Lake

[17:11] residents. They pit neighbor against neighbor in an effort to destroy the

[17:15] Sherman Lake water quality initiatives. In a recent foyer, I discovered that the

[17:19] two of them have sent 86 pages of documentation to the township just since

[17:24] June 1st. The documents were sent to try to convince you that the SLR is

[17:29] incapable of managing our own water quality program. As president of the

[17:33] SLR, my name is slandered in these documents several times and a lot of the

[17:37] information is misrepresented. These documents are in addition to the foyer

[17:41] requests and the hundreds of pages of complaints sent to both the township and

[17:44] the residents over the past several years. These two both have a long

[17:48] history of slandering their neighbors, accusing the township of illegal

[17:51] activity, and questioning the integrity of our vendors. Their rhetoric is

[17:54] inflammatory and unproductive. Our water quality program was created by the

[17:58] residents over a 20-year period for the greater good and represents the

[18:02] majority. We have asked the township to help us fund the program through an SAD,

[18:06] and thankfully you do. We encourage residents to join and participate in

[18:10] decision-making. Um, but instead of volunteering, these two habitually

[18:15] boycott the SLR meetings and then demand that we provide all the information

[18:19] discussed at those meetings in a format more to their liking. If we don't do it,

[18:24] they submit foyers to the township and then take individual facts and

[18:27] incorporate them into false narratives. One of them created a series of home

[18:30] videos recently and posted them on the internet. She even admits on the video

[18:34] that she speaks prior to factchecking, so it's all just rumors. The same

[18:39] resident has contacted area lake management companies and told them how

[18:42] awful she believes our current program is and requested bids from them, but she

[18:46] couldn't even articulate what they should bid on. Her actions and requests

[18:49] were very unprofessional and the lake management community is small, so the

[18:53] news got back to me. Her actions may have actually jeopardized our

[18:56] relationship with some of our vendors and with Egle. The other resident has

[19:00] done his fair share of vendor bashing in the past, almost driving our aation

[19:04] specialist out of business. I'm concerned that some vendors won't want

[19:08] to work with us in the future because of them. If I worked for Egle, I would hope

[19:11] I'd never heard from either one of them again. The cost of the township and the

[19:15] residents of Ross Township is high. One of them recently sued the township. She

[19:19] lost in court and the township had to pay $5,000 in attorney fees. She led a

[19:23] group of residents in a costly lawsuit against the township concerning the

[19:26] public sewer mandate and lost. The township supervisor and I were both

[19:30] subpoenaed to court for that. The other resident called for an SAD tax tribunal

[19:34] tribunal and subpoenaed our past president. He lost. All three court

[19:39] cases cost the township time and money. If the lawsuits continue, insurance

[19:42] costs will rise and the township's ability to buy competitive priced

[19:46] insurance will be in jeopardy. They submit FOYA after FOYA, sometimes daily,

[19:50] and encourage others to do the same. The fees to the town that the township

[19:54] charges do not cover the total cost, so we pay for it. After disrespecting town

[19:59] fish township officials and tarnishing Sherman Lakes's reputation time and

[20:02] again, they now want you to take over our program. When making a final

[20:06] decision regarding the future of the SAD, please keep in mind that these two

[20:10] represent a minority. >> Thank you. Thank you very much.

[20:22] » Hi, my name is Tom Boyd BYD. I'm just in support of what Mrs. As Boyd just said,

[20:28] the the SL represents a lot of people on the lake. We had a community picnic

[20:33] yesterday for the Sherman Lake Residents Association. We had more than 70

[20:37] residents in attendance. It was a potluck. We had a great time, but

[20:42] there's a lot of support what's been done on this lake and for the local

[20:45] community. I did have a chance to look at your CAP um initial read and

[20:52] appreciate all the work that's gone into it. I do encourage you though before you

[20:56] think about setting goals and results. Um some of these things have to go to

[21:00] Egle for approval in order to be part of the SAD and many of the things you have

[21:06] listed here are not things that Egle either a is interested in nor b we can

[21:11] commit to because either it's it's immeasurable over time or Egle won't

[21:16] recognize that it's a benefit to the lake. So I would just say make sure that

[21:20] we know what we're talking whoever does this make sure what they know they're

[21:24] talking about going forward before you put these goals in writing and on paper

[21:28] because Egle will be holding us accountable and some of these things are

[21:33] unobtainable or irasurable and our our limnologist can give you that

[21:37] information as you go forward as a committee if that's what you choose to

[21:41] do. Um and that's really all I have to say. Thank you.

[21:45] » Thank you.

[21:56] My name is Tom Sad, S A. I just want to reiterate on some of the things that

[22:01] have been said along the way. Uh there was a question raised about who gave the

[22:06] uh Sherman Lake board to uh the authority to make decisions uh for the

[22:12] lake management. Uh I want to remind those who made that accusation to know

[22:17] and remind them that the current SAD was approved by over 70% of the residents

[22:23] and uh they also the residents were asked at one time I'm it's documented in

[22:28] our meeting somewhere if they wanted to be consulted on every decision we made

[22:32] about lake management and the vast majority of them said that no we could

[22:36] they they they gave that uh to us that that decision was ours they trusted our

[22:42] judgment in that and so they did not want to be called or uh ma emailed or

[22:48] whatever on every single decision that was made. Contrary to what uh these

[22:53] people are saying, we are not enemies of the lake. We are volunteers. A lot of us

[22:58] are professionals that have other jobs and other uh you know uh

[23:01] responsibilities, but we take the time to put in all the time and effort to

[23:07] benefit the lake. Um several members of this SA uh the uh SLRA have gone uh

[23:14] several times to the annual Michigan Lakes and Streams annual conference in

[23:19] Moskegan at our own expense. You pay tuition, hotel, etc. Transportation just

[23:26] to learn about lake management and to educate our residents about lake

[23:29] management. And lastly, I would like to challenge these people to tell us one

[23:34] thing that they have done to benefit the lake. I I I I open openly challenge all

[23:40] all free people that have been doing this uh because they haven't. I think

[23:44] all they've done is pit people against each other and create nothing but

[23:48] problems and you know uh hatred and you know I don't have to talk about the the

[23:54] posts that they've that we've seen because I think we've all seen them.

[23:58] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[24:05] Next.

[24:20] Please.

[24:29] » [snorts]

[24:33] » My name is Christina Hutchkins and I am here because attorney ths indicated this

[24:38] is the only way I can speak is as a citizen.

[24:41] I received the citizen advisory panel uh spreadsheet that everybody else received

[24:47] on Thursday. I received it from attorney thaw. So this is the first time I've

[24:51] been able to look at it. There are certain people that are on this board

[24:54] that worked with me as a volunteer a long time ago for the law enforcement

[24:58] committee. Um, I had to apply for the position to be on the law enforcement

[25:04] committee. I had to distri um I had to display my background in law

[25:09] enforcement, my knowledge in law enforcement, and I had to write how I

[25:12] was going to be committed to finding the best law enforcement for Ross Township.

[25:17] I believe that if we move forward with the citizen advisory panel that

[25:21] individuals that want to volunteer and partner with Ross Township need to be

[25:24] put through nothing less. Individuals that sit and slander the board and do

[25:29] nothing to support the lake quality of Sherman Lake should not be sitting on

[25:32] the citizen advisory panel and having an input at the table. I was expected to

[25:39] behave in a professional manner and do what's right for Ross Township citizens.

[25:42] And I have that same expectation when I read the citizen advisory panel.

[25:47] I've lived on the Sherman Lake since 2002. I've gone through my own special

[25:52] assessment districts when we had to get a timber bridge and we partnered with uh

[25:57] Paul Dyster at the time to get our own special assessment district. Um Roger

[26:02] used to come to my house and sit with me and we talked about the very first

[26:05] special assessment district and the cry at the time was the channel needs

[26:09] something different than the lake. That cry is still the same today. I believe

[26:14] in citizens gathering together to sign that they want to have self-directed

[26:18] money go towards their own special assessment district. We've seen it done

[26:21] in Lebell. We've seen it done in Island Cove acres for the bridge. We're seeing

[26:25] it now with Sherman Lake. What I don't want is a complete takeover because the

[26:30] subject matter experts are people that live on the lake. The subject matter

[26:33] experts are people that put together the sub the SLR SAD. We work with the

[26:39] vendors. We live it. It affects our property values. We're the subject

[26:44] matter experts. What I want to see is a partnership. I like everything about the

[26:48] citizen advisory panel and I think you did a great job. Um, I love the fact

[26:54] that we have a partnership that exists. I think you really got in the weeds on

[26:58] this. I think we need to take it one step at a time. Let's assign somebody to

[27:03] listen, ask questions, and begin to move forward together as a partnership.

[27:09] We as citizens want a partnership with Ross Township when we have an SAD. We as

[27:16] citizens need you to help us pay for things. That's why we come to you and we

[27:20] have petitions and we say, "I'm willing to pony up the money. We want you to

[27:24] help us make everybody else pay their fair share because the honest truth is

[27:28] people don't want to pay." They want to reap the benefits, but they don't want

[27:31] to pay. I like the partnership. I am behind this. I want the partnership.

[27:36] » Thank you. >> And that's all I have to say. Thank you.

[27:40] [clears throat]

[27:48] » Anybody else?

[27:54] » That is now closed.

[27:57] » Moving forward into various committee updates. Doug, you're in high demand. I

[28:01] heard your beeper already go off again. Do you want to lead us off?

[28:04] » Sure.

[28:09] So July was probably I think that's probably the busiest month we ever had.

[28:14] We had 71 calls, which is my math is over two calls a day. Um so that puts us

[28:21] at um

[28:27] we'd responded to 346 calls. Uh last year we So we're about responded to 300.

[28:33] So we're 46 calls ahead of last year and this month has been a little bit slower

[28:39] but not much. So, [clears throat] so response totals, we had a structure

[28:43] fire, two structure fires, >> [snorts]

[28:45] » uh, vehicle fire like usual. The medical calls are 36 calls, couple accidents,

[28:51] injuries, no injuries, fire alarms. Um, by area, Ross Township had 55, village

[28:56] of Augusta had 11, out of township, five for the mutual aid. uh Fort Kuster area,

[29:03] our G Avenue 96 call, another one at Fort Kuster, two uh structure fires that

[29:10] we assisted Richland on. So we received no mutual aid for the uh for the month.

[29:17] So

[29:20] um we of course we participated in the

[29:24] Fourth of July parade. Um we also took our ebikes up there. We responded on one

[29:30] medical emergency during the parade with our with our bubike. Um we've done a

[29:36] couple other um u events to the um one at the school. Um

[29:45] we did also a spray down at the McKay library picnic. Um we did our car show

[29:51] here couple weeks ago uh which was a good

[29:55] success. Um,

[30:00] I've got a couple things here. I got it. So, I

[30:05] which way we want to start. No. So, I I Mr. Dy. So, I talked to him.

[30:11] » I need to send pictures. I talked to Jeff Lansky today. I He needs pictures.

[30:15] » Oh, this is the driveway guy. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

[30:17] » He needs to see pictures and our report number and that kind of stuff. So, I'm

[30:21] Jake's working on that for me right now. Uh so we can send that to him.

[30:26] » Good. >> Um he's by the pictures his driveway did

[30:29] get damaged. So it's unfortunate but it did get damaged. So what it's going to

[30:34] » what it's going to amount to but that's what we have insurance for.

[30:36] » We'll figure it out. >> Um

[30:40] the combi tool it was okay. So we can go ahead. I haven't purchased yet but it's

[30:44] okay. We >> I signed it. It's in your basket. We'll

[30:47] go ahead and do that. Go to town. >> We'll go ahead and do that. Um,

[30:52] we've ordered hose and nozzles for the new truck. So, that stuff is will be

[30:56] here hopefully. I >> checked with the fire US fire. They're

[31:01] working on but they haven't got any pictures to us yet. So, they'll be doing

[31:03] that here hopefully this month sometime they'll have

[31:05] » of our rig. >> Yes. Good.

[31:07] » So, hopefully they'll have that. >> Um, Pavilion Township is inquired about

[31:12] our truck that we will be getting rid of. So, um I going to try to show it to

[31:17] him because we host the chief's meeting here on the second up here. So, I'm

[31:22] going to try to have that truck I'll have that truck up. I'm not going to try

[31:26] to I'm going to have the truck up here so he can look at it unless he wants to

[31:28] look at it beforehand and see what kind of price he thinks. I've got an idea in

[31:33] my head what it's worth. See what he comes up with and see if we're pretty

[31:36] close and do it that way. Um,

[31:42] our one truck over here, 412, the Spartan, they're coming to fix that

[31:46] tomorrow that's got a water pump issue. I don't have I don't have a price, but I

[31:50] wouldn't be surprised. It's going to be probably four or 5,000 bucks, but I'm

[31:54] not positive. So, >> we need water. So, that's got to be

[31:57] fixed. It's got to be fixed. It's leaking anifreeze.

[31:59] » Uh, and then the second truck is got a anac brake issue. So, they're going to

[32:04] check that out and then give me what it's going to need for that one. Is that

[32:07] a newer truck? Is that one under warranty? That's the old one. Okay.

[32:10] » Yeah, nothing's under warranty. >> Okay.

[32:12] » So, uh Okay, let me skip around here. Number five. Um so, I talked about

[32:19] uh tonight we have the three new applicants are coming trying to get

[32:22] onboarded. >> Good.

[32:24] » Uh with gear and pagers and that kind of stuff. They passed their physicals. One

[32:29] had a little issue and just had to get an update on it from his doctor. So uh

[32:34] so his doctor sent me that note which I so I got include sent that got sent back

[32:39] to Bioare. Um then today we participated in the uh uh

[32:48] wall the heels procession. So um and it's open to the public starting I think

[32:54] Thursday. Uh I highly recommend anybody that would want to go. It's open 24

[32:59] hours a day. So and then they also do taps at 9:00. So, um, I highly recommend

[33:04] anybody going to see it. It's pretty pretty

[33:07] amazing. So, uh, anybody that's had anybody that's been in the service

[33:11] anywhere. So, >> thanks, Chief.

[33:15] » So, any questions? >> Um, just a real quick question. This is

[33:19] for attorney Th So, he has a thought on how much he

[33:23] wants to sell the truck for. He knows better than all of us. I'm assuming he

[33:27] can do the deal with Pavilion Township and then tell us what he sold it for. Is

[33:30] that a correct assumption? [clears throat]

[33:33] » No, he needs >> uh he would need to get uh authority

[33:37] from the board to sell. >> Okay.

[33:39] » Yeah. What property? >> I'm just going to go ahead. I don't have

[33:41] a title anyway, so I'm not just going to >> Well, we've got the title, but I mean,

[33:44] does he he would choose the pricing or we have to approve it first? And what

[33:47] does that look like? >> The price just has to be um a fair

[33:51] » Yeah, I've got fair value for value. >> I've got an idea in my mind. I want to

[33:55] see what Carl from Pavilion has and see if we're somewhat close. And then

[33:59] » how do you how do you validate that that that's

[34:03] » what what the value is? >> That's a that's a fair market value for

[34:06] » I mean so Rob did a little checking through AI and the prices he came up

[34:11] with were less than what I thought it was going to be worth. So it's kind of

[34:15] we we'll we'll kind of see where we're if we meet in the middle or

[34:18] » and when are they going to be here to look at it?

[34:21] » Uh September 2nd which is the first Wednesday in September. So we have I

[34:26] host a chief's meeting up here. So, >> so would there be time to just bring it

[34:30] to the September board meeting and maybe bring whatever backup that you know the

[34:35] AI search and here's what we found and here's what we settled on.

[34:40] » Well, I mean because that'll be September 2nd. So the board meeting in

[34:45] September will be I mean but >> would that be not be fast enough? I mean

[34:48] if he wants it on the second he's you want

[34:50] » to sell it until we have our other truck anyway. I mean so it's going to be

[34:54] supposedly our truck is still on on schedule for the middle to end of

[34:59] October. So >> So we're not gonna that truck won't be

[35:02] going anywhere until that happens. >> So I think it's se I'm not calendar

[35:06] September 15th I think is the >> is the meeting. So I mean would that be

[35:11] soon enough if he um well he wants to kind of know because Sel Pavilion has

[35:18] taken over Brady or Weshma or whatever it is. So

[35:23] they want they need a truck to fill that station. So they want to know kind of he

[35:29] wants to know kind of fairly soon because otherwise then they're going to

[35:31] look somewhere else and and so they have a truck ready to go. I I think he'll

[35:36] wait. If he knows that it he can have it in in October. But if it's going to be

[35:41] if we decide we're not going to leave him hanging then he's going to uh pursue

[35:47] other options. So because he's got to have something coming up because they're

[35:50] taking over another township even though it's pavilion. So they're kind of

[35:54] running. >> So do you do you have the information

[35:58] that I mean you could go get the information, bring it into us and and

[36:03] say here's what we found online. You know they're running this and and then

[36:08] we could potentially look at giving you a a range

[36:13] » to operate within that. No, you know, no less. Well, I guess there would be no

[36:16] just a bottom range. We don't care how high you go, but uh just a bottom range

[36:20] that not to go below this based on what what you found.

[36:26] » I mean, because like the one truck we sold about 20 years ago, we only got

[36:31] five we actually we didn't even get $5,000 for it, but Bittery gave us made

[36:36] sure we got 5,000. Now, the last pumper that we sold, I think we got 25. And

[36:41] then the tanker that we sold, I think we got I'd have to go back through the

[36:45] records. I think we got 44 um four or five years ago and that didn't have a

[36:50] pump. So in that area, that's the range is what I'm thinking is in the $40,000

[36:57] range with the equipment that's on it. But [clears throat]

[37:02] that's kind of what I'm and then the what Rob came up with for the AI shows

[37:06] that it was less than that. But we'll see. I mean, that's kind of what I'm

[37:10] thinking, though. >> What we really want to see is bid before

[37:13] we put in meeting minutes and have it on TV that says, "Oh, hey, we'll take 35."

[37:18] Right. >> It's kind of a

[37:21] » Huh. >> That's an issue like you can't,

[37:23] » right? Right. >> So, somebody

[37:27] But I guess what I guess what I would suggest is get your bid and if you're

[37:32] happy with it, bring it into the September 15th meeting because it's

[37:36] early in September. bring us the third Tuesday

[37:39] » and if we approve >> you can let them know right then you can

[37:42] have his truck when our new one comes in.

[37:43] » Right. Yeah. And that's kind of what I told him. I said

[37:46] » I'll bring it up for our the fire chief's meeting. You look at it if it's

[37:49] something that you even still want to want. Right.

[37:51] » And then >> you come up with an idea on what you

[37:54] think it you want to what you can spend or what you want. I don't know. I don't

[37:57] know how he's working it for sure. But >> Right.

[37:58] » And and if you're happy with what you're seeing, write it up. Get it to us in

[38:03] advance so we can look at it ahead of time. It'll be a threem minute

[38:06] conversation. >> Okay.

[38:09] » Thanks, Chief. >> Good.

[38:10] » Appreciate you. >> Next.

[38:21] » Hello. >> Lori Phillips, Lifeare Ambulance. Um, I

[38:25] provided the report early on for you, so I hope you have that. Uh last month um

[38:31] we ran 27 licensed siren responses and 17 non-licensed siren responses. Um and

[38:38] we transported all but four patients. So that was a high transport month. Uh to

[38:43] give you an idea, it's up 40% from last year in July. So uh we did have a busy

[38:48] month. We only had one respon or one um call where we transported to the

[38:52] hospital with license siren. So um that falls well within what we're looking

[38:55] for. Our average response time for party one which is the licensed sirens is 10

[38:59] minutes 4 seconds or 10.4 minutes and for the non-licensed sirens is 11.5

[39:05] minutes. Uh we received mutual aid from life EMS helped us out on two calls and

[39:10] we um provided them with mutual aid on eight calls this last month. Um

[39:16] as you can see Beacon Calamazoo seems to be where we're transporting the most of

[39:19] the time um with Bronson Battle Creek um being the last. And then our staffing um

[39:25] 100% for the day truck. The night truck is at 93% and the gentleman who was on a

[39:30] medical uh leave of absence is returning here next week I believe it is. So um

[39:36] that should go up again and we're going to meet the beginning of September to

[39:41] start negotiation for the next contract. Any questions?

[39:46] » Thank you. >> Thank you Lori.

[39:56] Good evening, folks. Um, no real surprises here. We had our first

[40:01] boat accident on the water this month of July. Nothing significant, just minor

[40:07] damage. Um, as you can see, Marine Patrol hours, 40 police officer hours,

[40:13] 10 on the water this month. Um, we've had a very good month. Uh if you

[40:20] look at the ticket numbers, you see the final C uh numbers for the month of

[40:26] July. Um 65 tickets, 39 warnings. >> Where's that? I don't have that.

[40:37] » Oh, on your Oh, right here. Yeah, >> I was excited. Thanks.

[40:40] » Um so far the month of August, 18 tickets, 14 warnings. uh program seems

[40:47] to be doing what I intended it to do. Um and we'll be on track uh

[40:56] in next month giving you some more numbers and uh in October giving you the

[41:01] 90 days that you asked for so that you can uh make a determination on the uh

[41:07] success of this program. >> Any questions?

[41:12] » Are the 65 tickets in July? Yes. >> How many are they? Uh you like I got a

[41:19] ticket now I'm complaining that I shouldn't have a ticket and I'm taking

[41:22] it to court. How many is that happening there?

[41:24] » Um one. >> Just one out of the 65.

[41:27] » Yes sir. >> Thank you.

[41:30] » The nice thing about that um is the way the technology has changed. When I was

[41:37] doing this, it was a drudgery to head down in the courtroom. Now it's all done

[41:41] by phone. Um, so the officer can be out writing

[41:46] tickets and be in court at the same time. It's pretty slick.

[41:50] » So curious that one, how fast was that person going?

[41:54] » Uh, >> do you recall?

[41:57] » He was I pulled it just pulled it today because we got it today. Um,

[42:02] he was 10 miles over. So um, he rode him for 10. he was actually doing more than

[42:09] that, but I couldn't tell you the exact number right now

[42:12] » sitting back on my desk there. >> Are there any um you know part of this

[42:17] it's kind of that you know the broken window concept where when you're taking

[42:22] care of the little things sometimes [clears throat] you find some bigger

[42:24] things. Have there been any other um in the process of writing a ticket? We

[42:29] » just one arrest for warrants out of the Kalazoo. Um

[42:34] you know, nobody off the FBI 10 most wanted yet, but we're working on that.

[42:38] They have a tendency not come through our township.

[42:41] » That's the way we like it. >> Yep.

[42:43] » Yeah. So, um other than that, we're doing good.

[42:49] » Great job, Chief. Oh, one last. What's the expected lag in like we wrote these

[42:54] many tickets in July, revenues from those would be in in August or they

[43:00] what's the delay estimated? >> It should they have 10 days to deal with

[43:05] it which means either pay it or ask for a court date. Um, so

[43:13] the July tickets we should get the first week of uh they come once

[43:20] a month to the treasurer. Um, I'm not sure what day of the week it it shows

[43:26] up, but you know by September we should have a good an idea of how quick those

[43:34] are coming in. >> Okay. But [clears throat] you know they

[43:38] have 10 days from the date of the issuance to either ask for a court date

[43:42] or pay it. >> All right. Thank you.

[43:46] » So >> thanks chief.

[43:47] » Yep.

[43:54] » I don't see anybody else from the road commission.

[43:58] Nope. Okay.

[44:02] Um a review of old business. Amanda is not here. She's at a conference. Um, so

[44:07] we're going to gloss over the neighborhood streetlight special

[44:10] assessment. I think you guys have to do a public hearing, don't you?

[44:14] » Yeah, we'll end up with uh public hearings probably September, October.

[44:19] It's just got to be accomplished no later than the end of November so it can

[44:23] be build out on the December tax bill. So hopefully September, October, it's

[44:28] taken care of.

[44:33] » Thank you for that. And Lori already did the new business update, the ambulance

[44:38] services agreement. We are maintenance September. So we're gonna begin to look

[44:41] at our agreement again. So under new business, citizen advisory

[44:46] panel liaison for Sherman Lake SAD. So who would like to take this on? Is

[44:51] this [clears throat] up? >> Well, I proposed uh being the board lay

[44:58] on and I kind of did some studying. I wrote up their proposal. I know that uh

[45:03] you know in this case we have uh Christina and Amanda that can vote.

[45:08] There's only a quorum of or not a quorum but there's only five of us to be able

[45:13] to what we say uh manage I would say the balance of this sad and what we're going

[45:20] to be doing in the future because uh you know from my perspective we got kind of

[45:27] thrown for a loop when we were told that we have to manage this ad because you

[45:32] know we I I wasn't operating as if we did you know

[45:36] and I don't know if anyone felt different but I don't think

[45:39] you do. So in this particular case with the level of complexity

[45:44] uh I felt that uh you know he asked for a proposal when we talked about how all

[45:50] five of us can stay very cognizant of what's happening and do proper approvals

[45:55] of what is you know should happen or what is voted on etc. And there's a lot

[46:00] of questions out there based on the plethora of emails that are coming in

[46:05] from those who are asking questions and not getting answers. And then uh and it

[46:11] turns into, you know, neighborhood battles, right? And and and from a board

[46:16] perspective, the five of us, that's all we're hearing. You know, we're seeing

[46:20] the emails and we're hearing the public comment. Nobody has been getting

[46:25] involved and uh and then therefore they are not in a position to uh take the the

[46:32] information that can be gathered and put it in a in a form that the five of us

[46:37] would would totally understand as we would move forward with the two. You

[46:42] know, we have a concern that what's going on with the current SAD.

[46:47] This proposal is basically you know it's just the first bullet point is we need

[46:51] to find out exactly where we are with the uh finances on the 2000 you're the

[46:56] one that is going to end uh and then going forward the idea here is to not go

[47:02] backwards over six or seven years and say would have could have should have

[47:05] you know I mean that's not what I would think a liaison would work but but if I

[47:10] do it right if this is acceptable and and I and I shared in the proposal that

[47:16] it has the pass three to one because I'm not going to vote on it because, you

[47:20] know, I think that could be considered a conflict as well. Uh that that uh I'm

[47:26] hoping it would help everybody, you know, in terms of the relationship with

[47:30] the board, the relationship with each other we would deal with, you know, and

[47:35] again there's I think there's a lot of information out there that just isn't

[47:38] out there to some too many. And then there uh you know what what would we

[47:43] look at for opportunities coming up in 200 uh 27 we asked for already a

[47:50] schedule what do we need to do what milestones do we need to hit in order to

[47:53] even be in a position of that I still haven't seen that it has to be driven

[47:58] you know I don't think we can just expect it to show up at the next board

[48:02] meeting and uh because because it hasn't uh so that's you know my proposal I

[48:08] think everybody has seen it now You know, I just really want to zero in on

[48:13] the fact that the initial activities as the second bullet point may include the

[48:18] following with flexibility to add other activities as you know as they emerge.

[48:24] And already because I had written this back, I think it was July 25th, there's

[48:29] a ton of information that's come forward to me since then, that warrants

[48:34] additional study. And and and and for us to just spend time in a board meeting

[48:39] trying to put that all together, I think it's going to be difficult at best

[48:44] because it's it's going to take hours. But if we can um put things together,

[48:50] have agreement, you know, we talk about who's going to be on the cap. I don't

[48:54] know yet. You know, I have an idea that that there's going to be volunteers and

[48:58] and and how do we get those volunteers, right? That's something that I would

[49:01] like to establish as part of the leaison work. We talk about the voting, you

[49:07] know, I think law says we can look at a SAT if it's 51%. That might be kind of

[49:11] low, right? We may want to have the cap opine on that and say, "Hey, if we get

[49:16] 70, we're in. If we get 80, we're in." You know, but those are the kind of

[49:19] things that I think we can drive so that the board can be comfortable approving

[49:25] uh what it is that needs to be approved from a board level to have a successful

[49:31] program on Sherman Lake uh to allow, you know, everybody to uh how do you want to

[49:36] say it to enjoy clean water. uh you know my background I think

[49:42] everybody's aware uh not everybody but you know I'm a I'm a paper scientist by

[49:47] trade but I ended up in banking at the end of my uh life but you know I I as a

[49:53] paper scientist you have a lot of environmental engineering background uh

[49:58] I have uh you know paper mills that I ran you know the the water treatment

[50:01] plant reported up through to me so you know I dealt with uh DNR I dealt with a

[50:06] lot of people that were involved in water because we discharge directly to

[50:10] to rivers, you know, and so that's very important. So, so I I bring that as, you

[50:16] know, just a little bit of uh, you know, experience and exposure. So,

[50:24] I I guess I'm open for thoughts, comments, or if somebody has a specific

[50:28] question on this. >> I put together a few thoughts. Um, I was

[50:33] very impressed that Mike put together a working proposal or plan for the citizen

[50:38] advisory leazison to the board for the position of the 2027 Sherman Lake SAD

[50:43] proposal. This was completed within a few days of our July meeting and I

[50:47] received no other personal plan proposal or plan from board members. I feel

[50:53] without such a plan and Mike's leadership to accomplish this much will

[50:57] not be accomplished or resolved. Mike has the skills and time. He has held

[51:02] several management positions in employment through his through his work

[51:06] career. Uh he is a able to abil he has the ability to organize and follow

[51:12] through. He has the time available to do so. Is not biased or does not have a

[51:18] conflict of interest. He has negotiation rem and remediation skills. he can

[51:24] handle the position without a second board member and should be compensated

[51:29] for his time as an adviser which uh the expense can be covered I think by

[51:36] the um SAD and that's my comments.

[51:44] » Yeah, I would just say I replied back to you. I thought you did excellent job

[51:48] laying it out. Um I think there's [clears throat] a lot of work to go into

[51:53] it. Uh you know that so there's the liaison role and I I would agree that

[51:59] that you know one person in the liaison role when it gets to the

[52:03] actually setting up who's on the um advisory panel. We may want to look at

[52:09] is does it make sense to have uh two no more than three you know potential board

[52:14] members on that and who would be the right ones to have on that. But I I you

[52:20] know >> I have a thought on that, Lynn.

[52:22] [clears throat] Um first of all, since there's only five of us, you can't have

[52:24] more than one additional or we're going to have a quorum.

[52:29] and and and my thought based on that is if anyone wants to designate themsel

[52:35] like maybe you do what I can do is just share what the schedule is you know and

[52:40] and and and say hey here's what we have coming up over the next time period you

[52:44] know because some things I'm I'm picturing it's going to be a call in the

[52:48] morning we're talking in the afternoon you know but as soon as I would know I

[52:51] can publish that and then whenever uh you can make it then uh I would welcome

[52:58] that and and if it means that hey we're going to you know interview and decide

[53:02] and look at what the you know the rules are of the SAD and all that that should

[53:06] be well in advance you know that's not going to be trying to fit myself into

[53:10] other people's schedules who are >> No I I I think you have to do that that

[53:16] way um you know I would I know Mary you had expressed an interest in doing it

[53:22] I'm look as much as I would would like to uh when I'm looking at my schedule

[53:27] over the next period of time. I'm just not sure I I could do it uh with

[53:32] everything I've got going on. I know Mary expressed a an interest in it, but

[53:36] I think when it comes to the obviously the decisions on who's going to be on

[53:41] it, I think that needs to come back to the board with here's here's who's you

[53:46] know, we're recommending here's why we think they should be on it and so the so

[53:50] the board can approve that. But um >> yeah, that could work. I mean, if if if

[53:58] nobody else wants to be that second person that would be joining more for

[54:03] being edified on it, then I would I would do my best to do it. But if

[54:08] there's somebody else who's like, I think I got the time to to do it.

[54:13] » Am I allowed to comment or no?

[54:19] » I've I've spoken with Mike since that proposal came out to all of us. We've

[54:24] had a great conversation and I think I've given you some information that you

[54:28] had been missing and I told you that I had more information that I could share

[54:32] with you. So, I mean I I think this is a good idea.

[54:41] » So, I guess my questions moving into this is [clears throat]

[54:48] are we deciding this tonight? If so, I guess I would want more details. I know

[54:53] he Mike you stated in here you know very clearly that your approximate was 70 70

[54:59] hours and I know that's just an approximation for 80% of the work. So

[55:06] you know how long of a term is this for? And I mean to me this is just something

[55:09] that's going to exist as long as the SAT exists. Correct? And if so

[55:16] that seems like an awful low number of hours to me. Is that just to get it

[55:21] established or is that I guess if you could expand [clears throat] on that?

[55:25] » My opinion is that I I could I sense I can reach an end point where everybody

[55:31] has the right understanding of of how a plague management is going to be managed

[55:38] with board approval. And once we have board approval and we have the

[55:42] underpinning information on how is it going to be

[55:45] managed I think that could be the end of the delay zone work and and we've

[55:51] already talked about uh a milestones you know that we have to reach milestones in

[55:56] early 2027 in order to be uh prepared to even address Assad and and we need to

[56:03] understand what those milestones are. Uh and and like I say, I would I would

[56:08] picture in this case, I have a lot of study to do and then from that I have a

[56:14] lot of talking to do and I have a lot of information that is flowing in from uh

[56:19] citizens. I have information from uh Mary. I probably have information from

[56:25] uh you know our our assessor and and Amanda as well. Uh but the idea here

[56:32] would be the board can see it and if uh my opinion is if the board, you know, if

[56:38] we're at 35 or 40 hours because I'm going to show a log and what we're

[56:42] accomplishing and where we're heading to the board, uh if you sense that it's not

[56:47] going fast enough or you're not happy with the product, just tell me. I'll be

[56:52] done.

[56:57] And who determines that this is coming out of the SAD or you know the the

[57:02] payment or whatever the who's funding it and or how is it going to be funded?

[57:06] » So the SAD covers uh administrative expenses of operating the SAD. So I

[57:12] think to the extent it is the current SAD that dollars that you're looking at

[57:17] and and how the current SAD is operating and how that's going to wind up. I think

[57:23] those come out of the current SAD. If it's to establish a new SAD, that should

[57:28] be tracked and would be included in potential, you know, if if there is a

[57:33] new SAD, it would be included in the the new SAD. So you will have to kind of

[57:38] separate out how you spend your time whether it's on the current SAD issues

[57:42] and then things to address moving forward with the new SAD those would be

[57:47] considered administrative expenses on the on the new SAD and uh should be

[57:52] segmented out. So if you do move forward with the new SAD you would include those

[57:56] in those admin costs. I can do that.

[58:01] » Please. I >> already uh like I say, I'm the lay on

[58:05] for the PC. I'm also the ZBA. I do the meeting minutes. And Mary, I would just

[58:10] probably allocate it that exact same way I do with that. And it's it's perfect.

[58:14] Then >> what's the what's the dollar value in

[58:18] the current SAD? What not? What's left? What I mean, what was

[58:23] it? Uh >> that's the number one bullet point that

[58:27] we have to figure out.

[58:31] Because at this point, nobody knows.

[58:37] » That's the like I say that's the very first bullet point we did because once

[58:40] we once we understand that we'll understand a lot of things.

[58:44] » That's something >> microphone. Oh, that's something Amanda

[58:49] and I can get >> where I was going. I was going to back

[58:52] » I can actually just pull that as an expense in revenue just for the SAD and

[58:58] I can also give you the uh information on um invoices that I've paid up to now.

[59:07] where I was going is looking at the, you know, from a percentage standpoint, what

[59:13] this would potentially look like, you know, as a

[59:19] fraction of a percent or, you know, based on what the total SAT is to put in

[59:23] perspective. >> I'm sure I could get you that

[59:25] information for the next meeting.

[59:29] » Anybody know what the total tax collected on a yearly basis is for this

[59:32] ad at this meeting? I know Amanda is not here, you know.

[59:38] No. >> So, and again that's

[59:40] » Yeah. Yeah.

[59:44] » All can work off of the same page without these type of conversations.

[59:50] » So, >> of what your rate is going to be?

[59:53] » Uh the rate would be the rate I've had since I don't know uh

[1:00:12] And that was the rate, you know, when I did the cemetery

[1:00:16] uh review for the perpetual fund, when we did ARP, you know, getting that last

[1:00:22] several hundred,000 into, you know, our funds, uh

[1:00:28] helping the prior clerk [clears throat] Not you, the prior one.

[1:00:36] » I should say a prior one there. So your your budget it was 70 hours at to get to

[1:00:44] 80%.

[1:00:50] » No, no, I know. I'm just But just I'm just trying to put in perspective to the

[1:00:55] to the amount. So Whoops.

[1:01:03] If I could type.

[1:01:08] Yeah, I got 29.40. So, three say $3,000

[1:01:17] gross. [laughter]

[1:01:21] Now, um based on on there's leg work up front to just get up to speed and um

[1:01:29] in in the first quarter when you're out of pocket. I mean,

[1:01:34] obviously you're out of pocket, but you're not unreachable. Is it stuff you

[1:01:37] think you can just uh can do remotely without a problem? I believe it will be

[1:01:43] because by the time January hits, I'll be well over 70% I think done from what

[1:01:50] I what I'm picturing in my head.

[1:02:02] All right. So, I guess the the question on the table is do we do do people want

[1:02:07] to think about more questions and postpone this motion? Uh, or are we

[1:02:12] ready to make a motion to tonight?

[1:02:18] Problem is, if we wait another month, it's going to be what? Not maybe not get

[1:02:21] done in January. It might not get done till February,

[1:02:27] but you know, I don't know how soon we >> I would I would lose a month on that.

[1:02:31] [clears throat] you should start.

[1:02:33] » Okay. Yeah. Now, I make a motion that we move forward with this with Mike at the

[1:02:38] helm and um because we need we need to we need to start immediately.

[1:02:45] » I beat you to it. >> Thanks for reading my mind because

[1:02:49] that's what I wanted to say. So, I appreciate that. So, we have a motion

[1:02:52] and support to move forward with the citizen advisory panel effective

[1:02:56] immediately. have >> no with the uh

[1:02:59] » the liaison role and then you will define the citizen advisory panel.

[1:03:06] » Yeah. And I'll bring it to the board before it's actually created. I

[1:03:09] » Right. >> Yeah. This is this is a role um this is

[1:03:15] not going to sound this is a role without uh you know any authority to

[1:03:19] make decisions make recommendations much like the advisory committee once it gets

[1:03:25] going or advisory panel same thing make recommendations they got to come to the

[1:03:29] board to get approved >> so I have a motion in support to create

[1:03:33] a liaison for the Sherman Lake special assessment district motion and support

[1:03:38] any further discussion >> I have one last

[1:03:41] thing to clarify. I guess what if is there any way we find out that there is

[1:03:48] no money in the SAD to compensate him for? I mean, it sounds like nobody knows

[1:03:53] what what it is. So, what happens if that is the case?

[1:03:57] » Then the township would be on the hook for the money.

[1:04:01] » Yeah, I would be more comfortable to find that out first before I was to

[1:04:04] vote. >> It's the number one question.

[1:04:06] It's the number one thing on this list. So find that one out first.

[1:04:11] » Yeah, Mary knows the answer to this.

[1:04:17] » I haven't looked recently. I would have to go look. I mean, I would have to go

[1:04:21] jump on my computer and bring it up and see.

[1:04:24] » You could make your motion contingent upon uh funds being available.

[1:04:32] I would make the motion that we continue if the funds are available that we

[1:04:39] » I I will >> revise my motion amenders.

[1:04:44] » I will amend my motion to to say that we will move forward with the creating a

[1:04:50] liaison position for the Sherman Lake SAD as long as there's funding within

[1:04:54] the SAD to support it. >> And I'll keep my second We have a

[1:05:00] motion. >> We have a motion in support to create

[1:05:03] the liaison for the Sherman Lake special assessment district contingent on

[1:05:06] funding. >> The um I I do have one question,

[1:05:10] Michael. Based on as you laid that out and some of it's old SAD, some of it's

[1:05:15] new SAD. Do you have a feel for what percent of that 70 hours would

[1:05:22] be spent on the on the old getting up to speed? Is that a majority of it? Because

[1:05:26] that that's what's going to

[1:05:31] Okay. [clears throat] The way I would picture it is I would think it' be less

[1:05:35] than 10% on the old side. >> Okay.

[1:05:38] » Because when [clears throat] uh we want to know exactly where the money stands

[1:05:43] today, what was the plan? What what did we do?

[1:05:49] Have a lot of these units audits. You know, I'm sure he does audits on the SAD

[1:05:53] and then know exactly where we stand in 27. then I'm done with that because my

[1:05:57] role is more focused you know I think we need to understand that but it's more

[1:06:02] focused on how do we meet our milestones to be in position to make a

[1:06:08] determination >> right so that that would imply in round

[1:06:11] numbers there needs to be about $500 or less in the old SAD because the new set

[1:06:18] hadn't been written >> and and to me that timing is going to be

[1:06:24] based on how nimble both uh Mary and Amanda are along with

[1:06:31] » audit on some just tax returns. So, so

[1:06:35] » a tax returns >> should you proceed down this path

[1:06:39] » and a new SAD doesn't happen then the the amount of time that would get there

[1:06:46] would then have to go to the township because there would be no no new SAD

[1:06:50] that's a lot of sadness right in there a lot of sad

[1:06:53] » and that does happen I mean you can incur expenses

[1:06:57] going into a SAD and then >> the board doesn't approve it you know

[1:07:01] things of that sort So, um, that does happen.

[1:07:09] All right. >> Okay. Motion in support to create the

[1:07:15] lison rule for the Sherman Lake Special Assessment District contingent on

[1:07:20] funding. Any further discussion?

[1:07:26] » No, she just didn't call. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. I thought she had a

[1:07:29] question. Hutchings abstain. Is this a roll call vote?

[1:07:34] » Yes. >> Supervisor Hutchings.

[1:07:37] » Abstain. >> Trusty White.

[1:07:41] » I. >> Trusty Beaks.

[1:07:43] » I abstain. >> Trusty Dangshaw.

[1:07:46] » Hi. >> Trusty Harman.

[1:07:48] » I. >> Clerk Stage. I

[1:07:52] » congratulations.

[1:07:57] And I [clears throat] know it's already in a motion, but

[1:07:59] » microphone >> prepare different material for Todd,

[1:08:03] yourself, and Lynn and Mary and Diana. If you'd like it in a different form,

[1:08:08] just let me know. I just want to make sure that when you're reading it, it's

[1:08:12] it's it's [snorts] it makes sense. It's logical. You can

[1:08:16] follow it so that when we come with recommendations, it's not like you're

[1:08:20] going to be on a blank slate and and and hanging yourself out. So, but I'll put

[1:08:25] together, you know, the logs. I'll put together the uh, you know, the data that

[1:08:30] the will be shared with the board. I'm sure it'll be foyable, right? And so,

[1:08:34] it'll be in a form where it'll be very easy to pass on. And as we talk, I may

[1:08:39] end up publishing that, too, because, you know, like I say, I just

[1:08:44] want everybody to know everything that's going on.

[1:08:49] » Great. Sounds good. You do a good job. We look forward to working with

[1:08:53] many of you over the next uh month, month and a half.

[1:08:58] Thank you. [clears throat] Thank you. >> Thank you. Don't go too far because

[1:09:02] you're next. So, I'm going to call on you to give us the background for u Mr.

[1:09:08] Vosberg. Mr. Vosberg came into your arena with his quest for solar.

[1:09:17] So, [clears throat] let's begin that discussion from your vantage point and

[1:09:20] how the Ross Township board with attorney Thal's guidance should be

[1:09:24] looking at this. >> Okay. [cough and clears throat]

[1:09:27] » I got a frog in my throat, so excuse me. Ryan came to the planning commission

[1:09:32] meeting and he shared the information and uh we had shared back that the

[1:09:38] recommendation would be for him to come in front of the board. He's now come

[1:09:41] back twice in front of the board and he has shared his information. I think Mr.

[1:09:46] more pretty much described what the way I remember it too because you know I was

[1:09:51] with the PC and we brought forth I thought a very robust plan and at that

[1:09:57] point and I don't think it was this board I thought it was the prior board

[1:10:03] that >> you know which is only one person

[1:10:05] different >> well it's not yes you're correct it's

[1:10:08] not this board but I think the only people that weren't on it at the time

[1:10:13] would have been Todd and and then two other people.

[1:10:18] [clears throat]

[1:10:21] » Excuse me. >> I don't know if I was still on the PC at

[1:10:23] the time or if I was >> Yeah.

[1:10:25] » But it doesn't matter. >> So, but but but the idea of having

[1:10:28] options for uh you know, our citizens, there's a lot of differences determining

[1:10:35] on, you know, if they live on the lake, if they live on a road that has, you

[1:10:38] know, thousand square feet or I don't know, 15, I'm making up numbers or 16

[1:10:42] acres, you know, that makes a difference. And so, uh, Christina has

[1:10:47] put this on the agenda and I think it's to, uh, determine if a board member has

[1:10:53] a different opinion at this point because if they have a different opinion

[1:10:57] that yes, maybe we can because I think at the time there was a solar

[1:11:01] arrangement that went in the ground that became a uh, you know, very vocal

[1:11:08] negative point. Okay. And I I can't remember where that was, but I think

[1:11:12] that's kind of I felt like it it helped the board decide what they decided.

[1:11:17] » It was a front yard. >> It was a front yard placement and

[1:11:20] » Right. But I think the uh the planning commission if they were given direction

[1:11:25] from the board to reestablish or review the zoning ordinance in its current form

[1:11:32] and taking into consideration other things that you know we've covered

[1:11:37] recently like in terms of viewshed and screening and you know we've done that

[1:11:41] with a number of uh different projects that my opinion would be we could build

[1:11:47] a very robust change in the zoning ordinance and give options and not put

[1:11:54] uh how do you want to say anybody out that might be a neighbor, you know,

[1:11:58] those kind of things. So, so I think like I say, Michael, I'm I'm I'm happy

[1:12:02] he came up and said what he did because it is the way I remembered it and um so

[1:12:07] there's two of us that say that yeah, we think we had that in the original

[1:12:12] ordinance. So we also understand of course that the board can accept or not

[1:12:17] accept what the planning commission recommends when they look at it. In this

[1:12:22] case that board did it. So the question today is will anyone change their mind

[1:12:29] because if there are six of us here today and you know if somebody makes a

[1:12:34] motion to have you know bring it back to the PC to you know try and zero in on

[1:12:38] different zoning ordinance changes that might allow ground

[1:12:43] uh you know, under certain circumstances, ground ground solar under

[1:12:46] certain circumstances, you'd have to pass four to two because a 3 to3 vote

[1:12:51] wouldn't allow, right? And we only have six members here. And one of the members

[1:12:56] that didn't vote is not here. Uh that's not going to vote is not here. And uh

[1:13:02] she wasn't here to begin with. So she's not going to be asked to change her

[1:13:06] mind, you know, or not not asked to change her mind, but to determine if

[1:13:11] because again, end of the story, we could come in as a planning commission,

[1:13:15] work on that, bring it to the board, and at that time the board could deny it

[1:13:19] again. >> Yeah.

[1:13:20] » Right. It could. So, so I don't see a lot of risk other than the fact that it

[1:13:25] would be something that we're going to be discussing and working on when we

[1:13:29] have a moratorum on data centers. you know, we have we only we're down to our

[1:13:32] last 10 months on that and we haven't even had a meeting because there's

[1:13:36] nothing coming. We we canceled two meetings in a row on the planning

[1:13:39] commission side. So, so [clears throat] that's that would be

[1:13:44] my spiel on it. Uh >> I I would just add because I I was on

[1:13:49] the board at that time and in full disclosure, I mean I have solar panels

[1:13:52] on my house. Uh was fortunate to have a full southern exposure roof line. Um I

[1:13:58] think at the time part of that conversation and there there was some

[1:14:02] awareness of the what had already gone in and a front and then also not not

[1:14:09] solar but some other viewshed challenges that were happening and the conversation

[1:14:14] was you know let's let's take it out now we've only had the one request that we

[1:14:19] know of and down the road if suddenly things are changing we can do just what

[1:14:24] you're asking to send it back and I think there's a there is a sense

[1:14:28] sensitivity to, you know, maintaining the the rural residential aspect of it.

[1:14:33] And so, how can we do it so we're not out on the lake and people are floating

[1:14:37] solar panels, you know, off their docks and and I know it sounds, oh, you know,

[1:14:42] it's crazy. Nobody do that. Crazy things happen. So, I think it would be really

[1:14:48] taking a look at the, you know, what what the the zoning area is, the type of

[1:14:53] housing, the proximity, how much, you know, how much land there is, uh, you

[1:14:59] know, versus, you know, you're out in the out in the middle of nowhere, and so

[1:15:02] nobody's going to see it and look at it, have a glaring in their windows.

[1:15:08] » I agree with that. I mean, I think that there's each circumstance is probably a

[1:15:12] little bit different from, you know, and and I I do remember whether or not I was

[1:15:18] on the board. I can't remember, but I do remember the conversation about there

[1:15:22] being a particular panel that ended up being a little bit of a a eyesore, I

[1:15:28] guess. I don't know what else you want to call it, but um uh I think each

[1:15:35] situation is different and deserves to have a you know look at. So Rob is our

[1:15:42] um because we I mean yes we could strike it but we can't put it in. Uh is the do

[1:15:49] we have two options here? One is to go ahead and ask the PC to take a look at

[1:15:54] it. The other option is to send it to the ZBA and are they

[1:16:00] » really your two options are either just say we're fine with what we have or send

[1:16:05] it back. The other option is to send it back to the PC and let them look at the

[1:16:10] matter uh develop uh some language that the PC is comfortable with. They'd have

[1:16:17] a public hearing on it. After the public hearing, they'd send the language to the

[1:16:20] township board for your consideration. For adoption, you would determine

[1:16:25] whether or not it's in a form that you approve of. You can either amend it at

[1:16:30] the township board level or send it back to the planning commission if you're not

[1:16:34] happy with it. So, it's really whether or not you want

[1:16:38] to send it back to the planning commission, give them a shot to look at

[1:16:41] it again. the planning commission, I think, was just trying to avoid spinning

[1:16:44] its wheels, working on something, spending some time on something that the

[1:16:48] board has no interest in. So, it's really, you know, is the board willing

[1:16:51] to look at uh some different language on that?

[1:16:55] » So, the the uh solar ordinance was created in 2022. It's the Ross Township

[1:17:03] Ordinance number 228. And as I recall, it went in and it was

[1:17:09] shocking because we didn't have any ordinance really regulating that sort of

[1:17:14] installation in the front yard. And so I believe this board

[1:17:19] responded to that in a very conservative manner. And that's probably what the

[1:17:23] outcome was with the ordinance. But I believe we're all very common sense

[1:17:27] people and I think we all recognize that times change and I would like to make a

[1:17:32] motion that we resurrect it and send it back to planning commission and have

[1:17:37] them provide some thoughtful recommendations on how we can make it

[1:17:41] work for individuals that want to be self-sufficient on their own little grid

[1:17:46] without it harming individuals to their left and right.

[1:17:54] So, we have a motion to send the uh ordinance 228 back to the planning

[1:18:00] commission, have them develop some thoughtful guidelines and

[1:18:04] recommendations for the uh amendment to the ordinance for the Ross Township

[1:18:08] Board to consider for solar. >> So, Rob, a question. If she only motions

[1:18:14] on ordinance 228 and it impacts other ordinances, is that restrictive then or

[1:18:19] can it >> Yeah, I think it should really just be

[1:18:23] to review solar for residential purposes and that gives the board, you know, the

[1:18:30] the planning commission will look at whatever under the ordinance they need

[1:18:33] to look at. So, I will amend my motion to give planning commission the

[1:18:38] authority to look at all solar in our township and provide residential

[1:18:43] purposes recommendations to the Ross Township board.

[1:18:54] » We have a motion and support. Is there any further discussion?

[1:18:57] » Are we opening ourselves up to anything like mass solar by doing this? No, we we

[1:19:05] would it'd be restricted uh to looking at residential. So you can uh you can

[1:19:11] regulate things based upon you know whether it's residential or uh you know

[1:19:16] on-site utility production you know or off-site uh energy production but uh

[1:19:25] residential can be treated separately than kind of the commercial largecale

[1:19:29] type of uses that we're looking at. Plus, the residential can address, you

[1:19:33] know, how much uh lot area could be covered by solar. There's a lot of

[1:19:37] different things that planning commission could look at, but you know,

[1:19:40] those would be certain things that um they'd be looking at what kind of

[1:19:44] protections they could implement to allow it, but at the same time, uh

[1:19:49] protections regarding it.

[1:19:53] » So, the key word is residential. >> Thank you. We're going to review this

[1:19:59] solar for residential purposes. The planning commission

[1:20:04] » motion and support. Any further discussion?

[1:20:07] All those in favor? I >> opposed.

[1:20:10] » None. Motion carries.

[1:20:15] » Thank you, Ryan, for uh bringing that to our attention at three different

[1:20:18] meetings. >> Thank you.

[1:20:20] » Appreciate it. >> Thank you for your [clears throat]

[1:20:20] patience. >> My pleasure.

[1:20:22] » It makes me crazy because government used to work really slow and now I'm a

[1:20:25] part of it and it makes me crazy for you. I'm sorry.

[1:20:28] » Former Marine retired. I get it. >> You get it. Thank you, sir. Thank you

[1:20:32] for your service. Moving next into the shared services

[1:20:36] exploratory agreement with Richland Township. This is one one of the things

[1:20:40] that I really love about my job as supervisor is being able to collaborate

[1:20:43] with other townships. And as we all know that we've done a lot

[1:20:47] of collaboration with Richland Township and the thought of economy of scale and

[1:20:53] being able to pull together resources. Uh that conversation started over at

[1:20:58] Richland Township. And so this product that I have here was actually created by

[1:21:03] Richland Township and I was asked to get it before my board so my board, our

[1:21:09] board can look at it and kick around the idea of some shared services. Um, I do

[1:21:14] know that they've got a beautiful Richland Park. They've got a zeroturn

[1:21:17] radius mower. They've got a lot of the things that would benefit Ross Township.

[1:21:22] We've got some things that might benefit Richland Township. And so, what we're

[1:21:26] looking for is just to create a dialogue uh internally. They've actually got

[1:21:32] three trustees that are interested in in chatting about this opportunity. And so,

[1:21:37] uh, the opportunity before us is to line up a number of trustees to move forward

[1:21:41] and have conversations about, um, mutual resources and sharing of those resources

[1:21:47] between Richland and Ross Township, having one person, um, handle mowing,

[1:21:52] um, handle maintenance, handle uh, caretaking responsibilities. You know,

[1:21:57] they are paying out of pocket. We're paying out of pocket. And so, uh, why

[1:22:02] not combine our two townships together and take a look at one position? And so,

[1:22:07] that's the ask from Richland Township and I put it on the table for

[1:22:11] individuals to talk that through. >> But according to the document, the ask

[1:22:14] is to just identify [clears throat] the fact that we have interest and keep

[1:22:18] talking about it. Correct. >> Correct. Yep. So, it' be like an

[1:22:21] exploratory committee >> going in with park and cemetery only at

[1:22:25] this point. park, cemetery, and um yeah, I said maintenance, but yes, right now

[1:22:31] uh park and cemetery. >> Yeah, and they might require

[1:22:34] maintenance, but yeah, >> I mean, we all do, but yeah,

[1:22:37] [clears throat and cough] >> I like this idea.

[1:22:41] » I I I really do. I I like I like >> because we probably have the same

[1:22:45] vendors right now, right? We actually do. Yeah, we [clears throat] do.

[1:22:48] » I mean, I I really like looking into this and seeing if it's something that

[1:22:52] we could help each other out on. I I it would you mean all we're going to do

[1:22:58] is look and investigate and talk about what what we might be able to mutually

[1:23:04] help each other do. So >> yeah, I think it's a conceptually a good

[1:23:10] idea and there's nothing wrong with talking having conversations. Rob, at

[1:23:15] the end of the day, if if this is something we said, hey, we we think

[1:23:19] combined we can, you know, either maintain our costs with higher quality

[1:23:24] uh results or even reduce our costs. If you have a person like a, you know,

[1:23:30] director of the parks, does that can that person be paid jointly from both or

[1:23:35] is it have to be one township's paying it because of the benefits that go with

[1:23:40] it and the other township is basically paying a contractual fee. So, you would

[1:23:46] do an interlocal agreement uh to share services, but normally it's going to be

[1:23:51] like if there's employees, they're normally going to be on one books or the

[1:23:55] other's books, you know, and then they you share in the cost of that, but um

[1:24:01] that's the typical way that it would be done.

[1:24:05] » Yeah, that's down the road. So that that's a good idea

[1:24:12] based on based on the amount of time you know I would uh I would be willing to

[1:24:19] help. >> Good discussions

[1:24:22] » probably wouldn't be well >> even monthly.

[1:24:25] » Are you signing up? You're saying we you're in

[1:24:28] » I'll work on it. >> All right. Good. So what I what Bear and

[1:24:32] I talked about doing was just gauging interest. I Bear said he's got three

[1:24:35] trustees. So, I'd like to match it with three trustees. Um, so who else would

[1:24:40] like to get on board? So, then what what we can do is set up who wants to talk,

[1:24:44] exchange email addresses, and just kind of let you guys go.

[1:24:48] » I can help. >> Who's the third? Mary.

[1:24:53] » So, we have Lynn, Diana, and Mary are interested in having conversations about

[1:24:57] the shared services arrangement with Richland Township.

[1:25:03] » Sounds good. So, we don't need a motion on this, do we? Um,

[1:25:08] » you could make a motion to formalize it. I would

[1:25:11] » Okay. So, I'm making a motion that um Ross Township is interested in

[1:25:18] pursuing this further and trustee Harmon, Trustee

[1:25:23] Langshaw, and Clerk Stage are going to be the point persons for Russ Township

[1:25:28] to take this further with Richland Township. Is that good?

[1:25:36] I'll second. So we have a motion in support to continue to explore the

[1:25:41] shared services arrangement with Richland Township and trustees Harmon

[1:25:47] Langshaw and clerk stage will be our representation from Ross Township. Is

[1:25:52] there any further discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed.

[1:25:57] » Motion carries. Thank you for signing up. This is exciting.

[1:26:04] moving into Okay, so the last month's meeting I had to table a couple things

[1:26:07] because we needed to get to Richland Township. Um the quotation for the

[1:26:13] digital sign out front is at least $14,000.

[1:26:18] I I can tell you that individuals are not happy with that. Um they people

[1:26:23] don't like the way it's positioned. Um, >> so it be the same location.

[1:26:31] » I mean, do we really need it? We've got a website. It's interactive.

[1:26:36] » I appreciate that question because I didn't know how to come in and say I

[1:26:40] don't think we need it. >> I don't think we need it either. That

[1:26:42] thing is I have to un I have to throw the breaker every time it rains outside.

[1:26:48] It's just It's ridiculous. I mean, could something be done to to remove the

[1:26:53] signage piece of it and so it's still >> I mean, is it just the sign on?

[1:27:01] » Well, it's got the creeper on it, the automated piece on it, but maybe we

[1:27:04] could put up our logo shields, which would be Ross Township, Police

[1:27:08] Department, Fire Department. I don't know. But I agree. I mean, I don't see

[1:27:12] the value. I don't.

[1:27:15] » And for 14,000, if there's something special, go have a a sign made that, you

[1:27:22] know, you hang like we do for change the batteries. I mean,

[1:27:26] » well, I mean, we have an interactive website. When that was purchased and

[1:27:29] created, we didn't have a push feature, and we have that now, which is actually

[1:27:32] more interactive than the creeper that used to get. So,

[1:27:36] » maybe that would be a permanent signing put on top. Here's how you sign up for

[1:27:40] the website and get push emails. >> There you go. It's It's painted sign you

[1:27:44] just throw over the monitor >> or not.

[1:27:48] » Yeah, it's >> So, I make a motion that we decline the

[1:27:51] the $14,000 M89 digital sign and we will uh TBD something different on that brick

[1:27:59] storefront out front. >> Yeah. I just see what we can do so it

[1:28:03] still indicates Ross Township but it doesn't look crappy.

[1:28:08] » I'll second. Any further discussion?

[1:28:16] All those in favor? I I opposed. None. Motion carries. Thank you.

[1:28:21] » It's really too bad. It's up here so far into the close to the building because a

[1:28:24] lot of times people haven't got a chance to look at it, especially now with

[1:28:28] having to watch traffic from across the street come out.

[1:28:31] » That's always been the complaint is why did you put it that way? Why isn't it

[1:28:34] faced the other way so you could read it when you go?

[1:28:37] » It needed to be down closer. Yeah, >> this is a long way up.

[1:28:40] » Well, we don't have to deal with complaints anymore, so that's okay.

[1:28:43] » So, we've talked about office machines. Um, mine got replaced because of the

[1:28:48] lightning strike, and we um we've been kind of picking away at replacing

[1:28:54] um machines for each workstation. And uh Infosafe gave us a quote. We kind of

[1:29:00] missed the first quote because they had a bunch of refurbished ones and they

[1:29:06] were able to um tell us what the cost was going to be and now the cost is

[1:29:11] exponentially less because I mean exponentially more because those

[1:29:16] machines were sold. So, I think probably the most cost-effective way to do it is

[1:29:20] figure out a budget and how we can begin to replace monitor or replace the hard

[1:29:25] drives for each uh workstation because they've not been replaced since I think

[1:29:33] you guys had a major server malfunction under

[1:29:39] I thought we bought I thought since 2018 we've put new I mean that's that is

[1:29:46] eight years and they don't usually last that long, but I'm not arguing they

[1:29:49] don't need to be replaced, but I I thought we replaced all the uh computers

[1:29:55] since 2018. >> I wasn't here.

[1:30:00] » Yeah, I think it was under Rob, but that's my memory.

[1:30:04] » Just to add to that, Amanda and I have talked. It'd be nice to have a laptop

[1:30:11] for the office where some residents come in and they want to pay their taxes and

[1:30:16] then Amanda has to grab their credit card, go to her office, put it into the

[1:30:20] thing. It would just be nice to have a laptop that we could bring up to the

[1:30:24] front and the people could just do it themselves and then also we could use

[1:30:29] that laptop for budget purposes. Then Lynn doesn't have to bring her laptop in

[1:30:34] anymore. Um it's it would just it'd be a wise decision for the the township to

[1:30:42] automate a little bit in that direction. So not only our station computers I

[1:30:49] think we should look at but we might want to look at a laptop for um the the

[1:30:55] township itself and also look at two new town two new

[1:31:02] laptops for elections. Um, I I I did stick a little bit of money, extra money

[1:31:08] in my budget because I knew we were getting going to have to have new

[1:31:12] tabulators and I think I could cover it with that budget, but because we had a

[1:31:19] issue at the election at one of our precincts that the computer was

[1:31:24] rejecting the e- pole book and luckily we got it up and running and everything

[1:31:30] went quite smoothly, but that's something we don't want to have happen

[1:31:34] on election day. >> So my in my prior career when I was in

[1:31:39] sales, I I had a laptop and that was my workstation. It it it plugged in on a a

[1:31:46] ledge and then I had my monitor and then I had a keyboard and then when I had to

[1:31:50] get on a plane, my laptop went with me. I attend a lot of meetings where

[1:31:54] electeds have a laptop. I mean, and I I don't. It would be nice if I could have

[1:31:58] a laptop. Um, as we all know, I don't check my email on my personal phone and

[1:32:03] I don't check email on the weekend because I don't use my personal stuff.

[1:32:06] Um, but it would be nice if each elected had their own laptop. She could attend

[1:32:12] her meetings and have her laptop. I could have one. Amanda could have one

[1:32:16] for exactly what Mary's talking about and then have deputies and Mary Carol

[1:32:20] have the standard workstations. So, I throw that out there. It would be nice

[1:32:25] if we could do what other townships are doing because they are bringing the

[1:32:28] their laptops to meetings and they're able to take notes and um be a little

[1:32:32] bit more automated. So, I just [clears throat] bring that out because

[1:32:34] that's what Mary was talking about. She would like to have two.

[1:32:38] » So, I can keep up with you. >> Yeah.

[1:32:41] » We have currently $5,000 on a budget to repair five. Are you trying to say that

[1:32:48] if we buy laptops for these different people, we'd only have to repair two?

[1:32:54] Or >> it would be it would be three because we

[1:32:56] already have the keyboard. So it would be three.

[1:33:03] » She takes hers with her. Yeah, she takes hers. Yeah, she she's all set. Yeah,

[1:33:07] because she works for many different townships.

[1:33:11] » Well, I don't want to put you on the spot, but I know you do a lot of the

[1:33:15] budget amendment type things. Is Is there where we currently are in our

[1:33:21] fiscal year? Do you feel we have >> Yeah.

[1:33:24] » dollars to do this? >> I u you know I I almost printed the

[1:33:28] budget to come in with um I there's some equipment under each

[1:33:32] category and a lot of times the end of the year

[1:33:35] we've you know zeroed it out or taken it down to you know 200. So I I think so I

[1:33:41] guess what I would suggest is that we get a updated

[1:33:45] uh proposal on what's needed and is it something that you know do you want to

[1:33:51] do we do we go to everything all at once or is it is there a priority and so we

[1:33:58] do you know we're going to do this in you know this fiscal year and we spread

[1:34:06] it out over three years so it ends up I mean, three years tends to be in in

[1:34:12] business. That's about what they budget you to have your your um computers

[1:34:16] replaced, but you don't replace them till they need them. Um, so I mean, that

[1:34:21] would be, you know, take a look at what's what's needed. And I'm not saying

[1:34:25] we can go three years based on the age of them, but if it's let's just come

[1:34:29] back with a proposal. We can then double check the budget, see what we've got in

[1:34:33] there. And uh >> I note that Amanda reported another

[1:34:38] $11,000 in interest earned last month. And

[1:34:44] you know, I mean, that's that's a great result, you know, which means that maybe

[1:34:49] there's somewhere to do that. But I I think in today's day and age, having the

[1:34:53] right equipment is definitely the right thing to do. Uh so for your proposal

[1:34:59] then if they can come back with what is it they want that they talked about how

[1:35:03] many we would need to repair in the office we would have a number and then

[1:35:07] at that point in the September meeting we would just decide.

[1:35:11] » Yes. >> And that would give you a couple of

[1:35:13] weeks to just take a look at where we are with the equipment because you know

[1:35:17] we can we got to be >> Yep.

[1:35:20] » But what I'm going to do is I'm since I know mine's new because mine got struck

[1:35:23] by lightning. Mine would obviously maybe slide over to one of the deputies or to

[1:35:27] Mary Carol. I will have Jason inventory what we have to answer your question of

[1:35:32] what was replaced in the year 2018. Yep. >> So, we'll start there and then we'll

[1:35:36] work backwards with a new one. >> Keep in mind when you're doing a laptop

[1:35:40] u and I think you want you there's a docking station that needs to come with

[1:35:45] it >> for the peripherals to attach. um you

[1:35:48] know look at I think most people have the dual screens so you know make sure

[1:35:52] all everything's taken into account because even with the laptop you're I

[1:35:56] think you like you said you still have the keyboard and mouse separate from

[1:36:00] because the laptop for the most part just is closed and

[1:36:08] » sounds like a good plan to me I don't think you need a motion on that right

[1:36:11] that's just >> no I just need to go back to the drawing

[1:36:13] board on that >> is infosafe the only outlet for

[1:36:18] They're not the only. They are our current outlet. Um they get uh deals for

[1:36:23] us and they also are our offsite storage provider for all of our records

[1:36:28] management. So Infosafe does two things for us. They do all of our help desk

[1:36:34] ticketing, all of our IT stuff. Um they help Martin with Martin left. They help

[1:36:39] Martin with all of Martin's security protocol with M Cole's state of Michigan

[1:36:44] and dispatch and all the security with police car as well as all of our records

[1:36:49] management. >> If you bought a PC, I'm assuming you

[1:36:53] need a whole PC that you couldn't just buy it through Dell or Apple or whatever

[1:36:59] and they could, >> you know, configure that to the way it

[1:37:02] needs to be or >> I could ask not an option. I could ask,

[1:37:06] but they generally get discounts because they go direct and so they get I don't

[1:37:12] want to say deals because deals makes you think it's like wheeling and dealing

[1:37:15] and it's cheap. It's not because that they're because they're licensed IT

[1:37:19] providers. They have access to get stuff shipped in.

[1:37:22] » And then could you contact them? You said before, well now it's sign

[1:37:27] significantly more. could you contact them and say, "Hey, if you get any more

[1:37:31] refurbs in, contact us and oh, there's one, we'll take the one or and then

[1:37:36] three months down the road there's another one or something like that."

[1:37:39] » Yeah, that's what I think. If I tee it up to them, but I would need the board

[1:37:42] to give me permission to have that conversation. But if I tee it up in that

[1:37:45] way, we could absolutely make it happen that way.

[1:37:49] So, I will bring back another quote >> in September.

[1:37:54] » That's all we ask. So, you can do anything you want to get to that quote.

[1:37:57] And

[1:38:03] Perfect. Any other discussion? Good questions.

[1:38:08] » Okay, we're moving into second citizen comment.

[1:38:12] It's 7:30. Hang on. Don't talk yet.

[1:38:18] This is the speed round. One minute. >> Yep. Hey, I'm Tom Boyd. Thank you for

[1:38:22] creating the Sherman Lake water quality liaison role. I think it's going to be

[1:38:25] critical moving forward. As you know, I have a family history of more than 100

[1:38:29] years on the lake. I used to mow lawns on the lake as a kid. I had a paper

[1:38:32] route. I did a scout water project when I was 14 that involved water quality on

[1:38:36] Sherman Lake and looking at oxygen levels and algae levels and water

[1:38:40] clarity in the lake. Um, I've lived overseas. I was a VP of HR for Craft for

[1:38:45] more than 100 countries and 100,000 employees and I've experienced in

[1:38:50] negotiations, arbitrations, dispute resolution, legal proceedings, and

[1:38:55] strategic planning. I chose to return to Sherman Lake because I love this area

[1:38:59] and I love the people. I've been involved in volunteer activities as a

[1:39:04] member of the SLR for years. I'm a a volunteer steward of the public access.

[1:39:09] I mowed it for two years during COVID when they didn't have the funds to do

[1:39:12] that and I would be honored to be considered as a member of the advisory

[1:39:16] council or the advisory group. Trusty Beaks, thank you. and to everyone else,

[1:39:20] I got a standing offer to any and all members of you to come to our house, go

[1:39:24] on a pontoon boat ride, and see what we're actually talking about on Sherman

[1:39:27] Lake. >> Thank you.

[1:39:28] » And understand what's been done. Thank you.

[1:39:30] » Thank you,

[1:39:38] [clears throat] >> Nancy Boyd, BYD. Three quick things.

[1:39:42] First of all, thank you, Michael, for creating this um panel, and thank you

[1:39:46] everyone else for approving it. Um, number two, I think that you might want

[1:39:50] to consider two additional people to interview. They would be our two P past

[1:39:53] presidents of the SLRA who have a lot of experience, and that would be Roger

[1:39:57] Schwitzer and Pam Mosley. Um, and third, I would just like to um assure you that

[1:40:03] we have been fiscally responsible. I have all the information that you need.

[1:40:07] We share our budget every single year at our um annual meeting and um I work with

[1:40:12] Mary and Amanda and Christina and we've got everything that you're going to

[1:40:16] need. So, it should be expedited. Thank you.

[1:40:19] » Thank you, Nancy. >> That second name, I couldn't write that

[1:40:22] fast. Roger Schwitzer. And who? >> And Pam Mosley.

[1:40:24] » Pam Mosley. Okay. >> She's right here.

[1:40:27] » Hi, Pam. >> Pam Mosley.

[1:40:28] » Pam Mosley. Spelled M O S E L E Y. Um, thank you for all that you've done to

[1:40:35] prepare for this. Um, and I don't mean to insult any intelligence, but um I

[1:40:41] think a very good resource to be um on the the panel or on the committee would

[1:40:47] be somebody from possibly uh the Gull Lake or actually the re the

[1:40:53] um lake quality organization.

[1:40:57] » Yeah. Or the biological station. Somebody someone who has the um

[1:41:00] expertise in water quality. Um, I think there's a lot there's something that we

[1:41:05] a resource we can tap into. I'm not up to date um currently with who the

[1:41:09] professors are there, what their studies are at this time, but there used to be

[1:41:13] great uh uh water resource people there and we have a a wealth of information in

[1:41:18] our communities. So, um if you I can help if you have any questions to help.

[1:41:24] » Thank you, Pam. Next,

[1:41:34] » Roger Schwitzer. S Wii T Zer. It's my time up.

[1:41:39] » Nope. I don't start it, so I have to say your name.

[1:41:42] » I'll keep it real short. I just want to confirm that uh I'd be honored to be on

[1:41:46] the uh on the board on your group.

[1:41:51] » Thank you, Roger.

[1:42:01] Tom Sad, I just want to thank Mike and the board for uh tonight's uh for the

[1:42:06] all the work that you put into this. I just want to mention I'd also be honored

[1:42:09] to be on the on the committee. Uh the other thing I wanted to say is that

[1:42:13] there seems to be some questions about how informed we keep the residents. We

[1:42:18] do try our best to keep them as informed as possible. There's an annual meeting

[1:42:22] that we've had every year and it brings together the resident not just for a

[1:42:26] social event but also to educate them on what's been done and we have our

[1:42:32] limnologist uh give her annual report at those meetings usually and that report

[1:42:37] is available for people who don't attend uh some of the people who are

[1:42:41] complaining about what we do have never attended one of those any one of those

[1:42:44] meetings and one of them has lived on a lake for I think nine years has not

[1:42:48] attended a single one of those meetings all our SR board meetings are well

[1:42:52] documented. We do minutes. Those minutes are readily available to anybody that

[1:42:57] wants to review them. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:43:06] » Just wanted to submit these uh these were my comments from earlier.

[1:43:11] » Very good. Thank you, Ryan, for your diligence. Thank you.

[1:43:14] Also, one other thing. Um, so I did spend my 20 plus years in the Marine

[1:43:18] Corps doing IT communication stuff. So, >> I'm happy to volunteer to provide any uh

[1:43:24] guidance you may have or would like on on your IT situation. So,

[1:43:29] » more than welcome to give me a call. I'll run down here and we can I'll talk

[1:43:32] with you guys. >> We like to recruit people to come help.

[1:43:35] Thank you. >> Perfect.

[1:43:36] » Thank you.

[1:43:40] Next. [clears throat]

[1:43:45] » I I'll real quick here. >> Do I need to say my name?

[1:43:49] » No, we know who you are and I'm not timing.

[1:43:51] » In regard in regards to your purchases of the computers?

[1:43:55] » Yes. >> I believe the township is in the myby

[1:43:57] program. So supposedly with the myby, you get them at

[1:44:05] » cost >> at cost. So we don't pay it. I mean, so

[1:44:08] at any rate, we should be looking into that. So, uh, I'm pretty sure we are we

[1:44:12] are participating in that. I'm pretty sure that Martin has got some of that.

[1:44:14] » We are. >> So, but at any rate, this is something

[1:44:16] to look into because that's can create quite a bit of a a discount on pricing.

[1:44:21] So, >> thanks, Chief.

[1:44:24] » And I'm all about saving money. >> Oh,

[1:44:29] we appreciate that about you a whole lot.

[1:44:34] » Trusty updates. Trusty Harmon, you go first.

[1:44:38] Uh, I think I'm good. >> Park stage.

[1:44:42] » Um, the election went very well. I was home by 11:30. I was pretty happy about

[1:44:48] that after being up at uh 4:30 in the morning. Um, and Ken did a great job

[1:44:55] helping. So, it was wonderful. Um, I just wanted to say to the residents as

[1:45:02] well as the board, I've gone through the Gull Lake Quality Organization.

[1:45:05] » Wow. like sewer and water. >> Yep. Golly, sewer and water. Thank you.

[1:45:09] » Yikes. >> Sorry. A packet. And I have, as you can

[1:45:14] see, have seen some things that have been outstanding to me. So, if anyone

[1:45:19] would like to come and discuss this with me, my door is always open.

[1:45:24] Thank you, Mary. My only update is um we have a new deputy treasurer. If Amanda

[1:45:30] was here, she would introduce her. Her name is Sheridan Leatherman. She has

[1:45:34] been working in our office and working and she's

[1:45:38] mastered a lot in a very short amount of time. So when you call the township and

[1:45:43] she answers, tell her hello. But Sheridan I know is listening tonight. So

[1:45:47] Sheridan, welcome to Ross Township officially.

[1:45:52] » Trusty Langshaw has nothing. Trusty Beaks,

[1:45:55] » I want to share that I believe uh two meetings in a row have been cancelled

[1:45:59] due to nobody needing to come in front of the both the ZBA and the uh PC. But

[1:46:06] even if nobody comes in front of the PC, I think we should meet. I'll talk with

[1:46:11] Chair Sager because we have >> discussions that we have to start. uh we

[1:46:16] can't not do those and potentially, you know, we can share the news on the solar

[1:46:22] so that we can start digging out some old some old things to look at and uh be

[1:46:28] ready to >> Thank you, Trusty White.

[1:46:34] » We have exhausted our agenda. We are >> that we adjourn the meeting.

[1:46:40] » Thank [laughter] Motion and support to adjurnn. All in

[1:46:44] favor? I we are adjourned.

18 August 2026 Ross Township Board Regular Meeting

Transcript