Sept 8th, 2022

 September 8th 2022

Another meeting dragged out due to elected members failing to understand the cost of things or how townships operate. We enter the scene with Dick Brown complaining about the cost of construction on the front of the office, the removal of the awnings and how he, or the other trustees, had no say in the voting/approval of the process (as the cost was under $5k, which is the threshold for it being an action item on the monthly agenda). I don't believe Dick has any knowledge or understanding in regards to construction or the pricing thereof, but a lot of these items are simply things that can't or shouldn't wait for a once a month board meeting to be voted on (by individuals with no background knowledge regarding these subjects) before they can start working on them. There was also the complaint regarding the $195/mo ad spending paid for by the supervisor out of her budget, which is being done on a monthly trial basis and will end within the next few months after the trial ceases.

Jordan Smith was in the audience to give an outline of the township's finances as he was brought in to audit the township's budget. Overall he revealed that the township is doing better this year than in 2021 due mainly to the licensing of all of the new marijuana businesses opening up, he also stated that much of the money allotted to the township is also being eaten up by the public safety division (police and fire dept) which could be remedied by contracting those services out to the city.

Starting Monday (sept 12th) will be work in the Walnut/Alden area, which will entail replacing the last of the lead pipe services being installed with new watermains. The current pipes being 2" but are being replaced with the standard 8". Road paving would take place as soon as that is completed.

All work regarding the August Primary is completed, if you're interested in voting absentee for the midterm elections in November please see one of the office clerks to get an application.If you're looking to burn anything during the fall season and haven't already please visit cc.fire to obtain your burn permit, it's quick and easy to set up but you can feel free to call for assistance if needed.

Deb, following in line with all of the concerns about spending too much money of the township's budget, brought up the issue of all of the unused tablets and cellphones that were doled out during the pandemic but are now costing money while being almost entirely neglected by staff. Each cellphone costing the township about $40/mo and tablets charging more than that. Deb surmised that there are 11 of these phones that aren't being used at all and could be returned, saving the township $440/mo in spending. The trustees, as devoted as they are to saving money, couldn't be bothered to read the excerpt in the monthly agenda (which Deb has stated is handed out to board members a week ahead of time to give ample time for preparation) or sit for a few minutes to listen to the details, decided to not taken any action and instead let us pay for these services another month.

There was mention of writing up an ordinance that would limit the amount of cats or dogs allowed on a property (I believe it was 3 dogs, and/or 5 cats?) but it would be enforced on a complaint basis only, meaning that if you have MORE than the previously listed amount of pets you wouldn't get in trouble but if there are any complaints brought to the township that the owner would be contacted.

During the board comment section (though he tried to bust it out earlier in the meeting but was halted by the attorney) Jim Mead neglected the chain of command, going straight to the sheriff's office to make an accusation of fraud and embezzlement regarding mileage for the code compliance officer, also implementing Deb in that accusation as she was the one who approves the gas money doled out. The board approved this months ago and the sheriffs dept closed the case as it was untrue. Something like this seems to be a discussion to be had in private with the employee in question but as somebody who has also driven/recorded miles for work I can firmly say Jim Mead was just wasting the board's time making false accusations to fulfill whatever personal vendetta he appears to have for the coding officer and supervisor of Emmett Township.