2.8.24 Board meeting

 https://www.accessvision.tv/telvue/853864

 

[0:55] Public Comments

[1:35] Bob Wells - questions about spending and building remodel, wants statistics on active shooters... "if you're an employee in this township, and you're in fear for your life, you need to find other employment... everybody out here, idc what business you're in or who you work for, if you live in fear just go home to your cage." Talking about cubicles to protect people if they are sick, asking why people would come to work if they were sick.
[4:45] Joe Harris - "if you're concerned about an active shooter there's a police station right there... why not use those ARPA funds for the public good, honestly." Mentions the trailer park that was having issues w the sewers (this was addressed in a prior meeting, it's an issue with the county, not the township)
[7:30] Theresa Myers - Talks about the door connecting the office to the police dept. "as far as updating this building, there's no way. The roof's fallen in twice, when I worked here! On the treasurer's desk, and the clerks. It's not repairable."
[8:20] Bishop Richard L Bailey - concerned about another marijuana shop being built across the street from his church. Says it's too close, within 500ft, and there are enough cannabis shops in the township already.

[13:00] supervisor report

[18:00] Clerk report

[23:05] treasurers report

[23:50] public safety

[25:30] Two incidents in the last 30 days that deserved some recognition. Fairfax area near the lake, two juveniles that ventured out into the lake and fell through the ice. PSOs ventured out and saved the kids. Officers also responded to kohls dept store for a full arrest? a customer suffered a cardiac arrest and was saved by one of the officers reacting appropriately.

[26:50] 10.1 adopt natural hazard mitigation plan - all yes

Lt. Chris Young is here to answer questions and talk about the plan.Trustee Jim Mead tells us that he had questions but they were already answered.

[29:15] resolution to appoint the firekeepers local revenue sharing board alternate, that Tyler Sobeski shall serve as the alternate for the time being.

[30:05] New Business 

Extending the license to marijuana for a building that's been sitting there for years with the owners doing nothing with the property. Supervisor lists out several instances where the building or permits have been neglected over the years. Titus makes a motion to not extend the license. All vote yes except Dick Brown who says no, but it doesn't seem like he knew what was going on.

[34:00] Myers: "I thought that we put a space in-between?"
Belles: "you voted that down, remember? I brought it to the board to put a 1000ft barrier and the board shot that down."
Mead: "Just about a year ago"

[37:15] 10.3 Payment plan "Capital Improvement Plan" 

[41:15] Myers: "We're talking about the ARPA funds and stuff, we have all the money in here for the township remodel. I would rather see it in water/sewer." Belles explains that this list is just a wishlist, nothing is set in stone.

[45:35] public comments

Sigurd Elroy? - "I'm a contractor so I have no skin in the game for anything going on here... I've been working w you guys before Dell was here... I want to first say Cindy has been a great change fro you guys, I work all over the state. Great job, great communication. She's not afraid to say she doesn't have the answer when she doesn't have it... Pam has been really good too... I was here to talk tonight I'm probably in 30 different communities in the state, I've never driven and given 5 hours of my life to come to talk to a board and not even had a chance to talk. So I wasted 5-6 hours with nobody giving me a chance to talk. On my behalf a lot of stuff I've done w you guys... going through the different people you've had, building inspectors and all that stuff. It's been challenging, and I just feel like that was a slap in the face to me. On behalf of my client.. you're not going to find anybody else whose willing to stick a million dollars into that building..." explanation as to the reasons for each delay.

[48:30] Melissa Peugh - Upset about "the grief that Tracy was given about training in our dept... I'll gladly discuss what I've learned in training."

[49:20] Rob Ridgeway, superintendent of Harper Creek comm schools - "here to announce our board of education does intend to put a ballot proposal out for a building project... the intention is very simple, we are outgrowing the size of our school. Our elementary schools are not big enough, we intend to build if the voters say yes. Classrooms at each of our elementary schools... as well as adding 4 classrooms to the middle school... you may wonder if, why is it growing? Is it the school of choice? In fact, our board has limited school of choice for the last 6 years. We're seeing the growth actually in... the actual district. I think a lot of growth isn't new houses but... couples that are leaving houses that maybe have grown children and are selling to families that have younger children. We definitely have seen an increase, we feel Harper Creek is where people want to be here in Battle Creek... We think people are moving into our area because of it... The board wanted the least amount of millage... about .6 mills for a house that's worth 200k is about $5/mo, $60/year just so you're aware... there's other things we intend to help with, our parking, specifically pickup and drop off...we've not gone to voters since 2008. We are going to ask, in May, if the voters would approve this project."

[53:20 Joe Harris - talks about how important the ethics ordinance is, "done a lot of research on [ARPA money] and I can tell you the public of Emmett township could benefit so much if you were to utilize it in the right way... not worry about a remodel... I just encourage you to do your research and keep the public in mind." Gives examples of other townships and what they've used their ARPA money for.

[56:00] board comments

dick brown's neighbor got his utilities shut off. Mike Bye paid off his bills

Tracy wants ARPA money used for something else

[59:40] Belles: "I know other townships that have used ARPA money instead of asking for tax dollars that bought a building... with their money. ik of another surrounding one that just remodeled. A city, we don't have programs like the city, helping people w rents and things like that. That would take a lot to vet, I think the rest of the public would have to know if we're going to help certain families and not others, idk how they would feel on that... We surely could give our money to the city and they could distribute it to the families and needs if that's what people'd like to do, too. Those are ideas of what we could do, too, cause they do have those programs in place."