September 14th, 2023

 Agenda:
https://emmett.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=250

AccessVision:
https://www.accessvision.tv/telvue/823554

Public Comments 

[0:02:35] Joe Harris - issues w 11.5, 11.6? Claims Supervisor working against the chief. Starts referencing rules in the rulebook. Chief came to the board asking for gear six months ago, but those items were removed from agenda. Mad about agenda comments, wants to talk before and after meeting.
[0:06:00] Heather Rocho - I read the meeting minutes from last meeting and my comments were misquoted. If they're skewed they're pointless. My name isn't even spelled correctly.
[0:08:10] Greg Habernick - Township was sued? But this comment isn't about the agenda so he has to wait until the end of the meeting.

[0:09:30] Approval of agenda - wants to add 11.8 and 11.9 to agenda, approval for updating software and a closed session regarding attorney/client privilege.All vote yes.

[0:12:10] Supervisor Belles found several missed spelled words in last month's meeting minutes? some of her summaries were incorrect &or names were spelled incorrectly and it had been brought to the supervisor's attention? Trustee Brown asked why it couldn't be handled before meeting, Belles said she's tried.

[0:17:20] Jim Mead asking questions about agenda, wants motions restated before voting.

[0:20:10] Supervisor Report
    -Auditor's Presentation, going over the yearly expenditures for the township. Trustee Mead wants more time to go over the report for questions. "The general fund of the township appears to be very healthy, yes"

The crowd gets uppity, wants Belles to be professional and control the meetings but then also wants to comment whenever they want.

[0:32:40] discussion of waterloop and a letter of support she had been asked to write for the American Legion.
    -Interviewed on WBCK about chip seal and road maintenance
    -gave a speech at HS memorial
    -clarification on Chik Fillet gift card fiasco
    -addresses false statements regarding budget report
    -Police have been given more money while continuing to request more money   

[0:44:20] Addressing issues from last board meeting
    -checked w both attorneys and liability insurance over concerns regarding Mosley's past felony charge. No complaints or concerns so he was hired.
    "four of us voted not to tolerate Mead's alleged racists actions. [They] cost the township 325k... something the insurance company wouldn't just give out for nothing. I do not want to be associated with an alleged racist and the township cannot be tainted by any further suspect actions by Trustee Mead."

Addressing actions regarding the police chief: "something from an employee was pulled from the agenda. This has been addressed in previous meetings, yes two items were pulled because they didn't go through the budget process. The first item was a request for $45k. purchases must follow the purchasing policy budget before going to the board. The director didn't give us any quotes with that, or any other documentation to back up the request. We've been trying to include financial impacts into relevant motions that go in front of the board, therefore requiring a review ahead of time. without this information the board doesn't have ample time to look at the request in its entirety or see how it would affect the budget..."

"...to address the comment about 12 people leaving in the last 18 months, I have no record of 12 people leaving... if you'd like to name those people or positions I'd be happy to sit down and discuss that." 

"The resident who spoke on everybody showing up tonight was correct...If you've been coming up to all these board meetings you would observe more than what you are hearing along the gossip chain.If everyone would have been here for the last 3 years you would have witnessed some behaviors, motions and words that have led up to this settlement."

[0:52:45] -Addressing mobile home issue, only have so much power and when they do send somebody out they are hostile towards him.

-Bob Coward's comments about secret democrats on the board. Belles has no idea who he was talking about, because it's not her.

[0:55:00] -"we haven't defunded the police or passed any anti-gun laws"
    -responding to Tracy's comment about a pissing match, Deb brings up a comment Trustee Mead made to her in her office saying he never believed a woman should be in an authoritative position

"he made the comment to me that he never believed a woman should be in an authoritative board position, anyways. so I knew right then that... going forward would be challenging."

[0:57:45] -Chris Dopps road presentation "wrap up what I think was a very successful summer with the road maintenance... you're on track to continue this and hopefully protect the roads after the next few years." Powerpoint slides for project outline.

Getting signs to ticket trucks that go down local roads

"When you're designing a road one semi is considered 40,000 car trips... that's how much damage a semi can do to a local road... so you want to keep those off of your local roads."

There's a few more interesting tidbits about road maintenance and the budget demands, Chris Dopp has a very "easy listening" voice and appears quite knowledgeable in the subject.

[1:16:00] Clerk's Report



[1:18:50] Treasurer's Report 

[1:23:50] Public Safety Report

Chief Cunningham retiring created new duties for the other officers who have stepped up to the call of duty. They've put in massive amounts of overtime this month and are working to get the equipment that they need to operate. They are grateful to all of those who have made their jobs easier over the last several weeks.

[1:27:00] -Tim Jones owner of Critical Computer Solutions talks about the need to update software
[1:34:10] 10.1 -Proclamation for the recognition of Dale, creator of AccessVision and a look at his career and how AccessVision came to fruition.

Action Items
[1:43:05] Public Transit Authority, all vote yes to withdraw from it as the costs outweigh the benefits.
[1:49:55] Authorize Marijuana Admin to issue citations, all vote yes
[1:51:20] 10.5 - Establish Township Treasurer's Salary (All yes except Mead who claims he is voting no to remain consistent) "..he's well educated, been here every day doing his job." Trustee Brown asks"have you done any education other than on the job?" He's got an associates in business, a bachelors in finance.

[1:54:10] -Drop Box Locations - Some issues w the final location, but all vote yes... I'm not sure where she says it will be, though.

11.3 approve transfer of funds from general fund to public safety and water/sewer funds. All yes.
[2:00:00] 11.4 - "I want to bring attention to this motion that what the board did 2 months ago by voting yes on the part time employee to a full time at a year 3 wage set kind of a complicated precedent there... mentioned there were some frustrated employees over officer shippers transition to full time... he frustration comes from two other employees that have been here longer with previous experience but are still at a lower wage... in my opinion that is not fair so with this motion to bring in a new hire at year 3 we would also need to bring the other two employees up to the same. In the future we will need to consider doing this for all new hires now that this precedent has been set."



[2:03:00] 11.5 tasers for the police, yes
11.6 turnout gear $3,080 x 5, yes
11.7 software, yes
11.8 software for public safety, yes
[2:11:05] 11.9 Closed session

-Closed session ends: within 30 days all the information regarding the settlement will be released.
-Trustee Juhnke comments "All of these FOIA requests... what are you all doing?"

Public Comments
- Last board meeting was crazy
- Greg - fearful of proposal, we were sued for 325k but Deb shouldn't have hired him in the first place bc of his felony. it's not Jim's fault for saying racist things to him.
-Heather Rocho - I better see all of your names on the ballot if you're going to cause this much trouble.
-Kristine Oneil - Most of the loudest people don't even live here, "It's the blind leading the blind."
- Allysa Belles - Tracy Myers has been calling around asking for gossip on the Supervisor's daughter

Board Comments
Brown - questions why we have an attorney at all, asks how much we pay him. "What does he do?"
Tracy
Deb
Titus - Appreciate the involvement
Mead - Same as Titus