Sheridan Township Board of Trustee’s
Date: 02/18/2020
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by: at TIME 7:00
Pledge: The pledge was given by: public
Dick Porter introduced Stephanie Craig as our new Clerk due to the unexpected passing of Wes Cuatt.
Present: Roll call Randy Fisher Scott Frederick Shanna Pollman Richard Porter Stephanie Craig Janet Cuatt
Absent: none
Audience: 7th District County Commissioner Gary Tompkins, Tom Frank, Wayne Weaver, Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert, Harold Badger, Doug Pollman, Linda DeBruler, Travis Narum, Cindy Stanczak, Lance Lohrke, Linda M.
Approval of Agenda: Scott Frederick made the motion to accept the agenda. Randy Fisher seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Approval of previous Township Board Meeting Minutes: Scott Fredrick made the motion to accept the meeting minutes as written for the January 21 meeting. Randy Fisher seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed.
Shanna Pollman made the motion to accept the meeting minutes for the special board meeting on Jan 30th. –Scott Fredrick seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed.
Payment of Bills: A motion was made to pay the bills by Randy Fisher. Scott Fredrick seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s Investment Report: Scott Fredrick made the motion to accept the report as written. Randy Fisher seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed.
Correspondence: 1. Carlisle Wortman consulting services agreement – There has been no increase in 4 years. They submitted a significant increase. Dick Port signed it. 2. Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority Report – The report provides a three year average. Sheridan Township averaged 916 calls a year.
Committee Reports: Planning Commission/Roads – Scott Fredrick attended a meeting with Savion. Next step is to bring the information to the board. An additional review is being done by the lawyers. Mid 2021 they hope to start construction. A special meeting may need to be called once the review is done in order to stay on their schedule. Scott commented he would like to see a more detailed drawing of the site plan. i.e. future roads for fire truck support, etc.
Fire Department: - Chief Lance Lohrke – 14 medicals, 1 reported structure fire, 2 pin in accidents, 1 wire down, 1 mutual assist with Albion City. Training in January held covered inventory.
Emergency Radio services: Lance discussed some of the challenges with local areas having different solutions. They are looking for a regional grant and obtaining a solution that will be compatible with the other agencies. The radios being considered are dual band. Randy Fisher discussed grants in the past when the systems switched to digital.
Dick Porter has met with city manager to consider providing service to the city. The city currently has logistic issues with providing support due to training and location their responders travel from.
Public Comment:
Gary Tompkins – Expressed his condolences for Wes Cuatt and the judge we recently lost.
Ann Norlander retired, Kim Hinkley selected. She was sworn in Feb 11 and will be running in November election.
Sheriff Saxton is retiring. His last day will be 4/18. He will be the new Executive Director of Michigan Sheriff’s Association.
From his newsletter, on page 4 – Substance abuse policy. The mission is prevention. The data from eight counties, alcohol is the highest except in Calhoun County. 32% are heroin related. Opioids are down 2%, but meth/speed has increased.
Page 5 from his newsletter is about the roads. From a state wide survey – 80% of people say roads are bad or no better. The survey also reflects that people trust the city and townships to manage the money better than the state.
Page 6 from the newsletter has information about the 2020 Census. Post cards will be arriving in the mail, with only 9 questions to answer. Taking the time to take the census is important, it will impact the following services in the area: health, senior, lunch, etc.…
Habitat for humanity is organizing a ‘Woman build’. They will build a house for a veteran.
Unfinished Business:
Calhoun County Prosecutor Dave Gilbert - They have 11 attorneys in criminal work. They had 6,000 complaints last year. There are 13 defenders. They hope the Aspire Program will help young kids. It’s a Diversion program, not just heavy drugs, includes addictions like vaping, marijuana. Patricia Lewis started it. There are 4-8 youths involved every month. Most crime related to addiction.
Cindy Stanczak – District Library. They host many programs for the area. Crafts/Story, dancing, singing, Drop in Crafts, drivers ed, etc. Board meets monthly. Weekly brown bag meeting, film series, programs for retirees. They have a new public services dept. for all ages. They have community space which can hold 125 people, including an integrated AV system. She encouraged people to visit Facebook page. They are interested in learning what people cannot find in the areas, plus other ideas of offerings they could provide.
New Business: 1. Resolution 2020-04 Naming clerk as ICMA plan Coordinator – Dick Porter requested to name Stephanie Craig as the plan coordinator. Randy Fisher made the motion to approve. Scott Fredrick seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed. 2. Michigan Assoc. of Clerks training (3 years) Stephanie Craig – Dick Porter requested approval for sending Stephanie to the school. Last month we approved Wes Cuatt to go, and requesting Stephanie Craig be approved to take the training as she is the new clerk. Scott Fredrick made the motion to approve. Randy Fisher seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote – Yes - Scott Fisher, Shanna Pollman, Dick Porter, Randy Fisher, Stephanie Craig. The motion passed. 3. Review/Discuss P.A. 328 agreement with River Forks (Ranger Power) – Packet presented by Ranger Power will affect library and everyone. Believe this is a Test case, asking that solar be recognized as manufacturing. It will require a lot of work for the township, public hearings, setup a district, and they would like us to fast track it. Proposing $150,000 a year, tax exceptions for them, taxes are going to go up, cap comes off. It will make for huge savings for Ranger Power. The state is pushing them to do it. Dick encouraged everyone to read the packet. The packet discusses how much revenue it would add to the area for year. It will bring money into the community. Randy Fisher and Scott Fredrick asked if we could get the lawyers input before we have to make a decision. Dick Porter asked for available dates and will setup a meeting. 4. Approve PA116 farmland and open space program application for Allen and Sally Holtz. Dick Porter – people applying for additional land to an existing PA116.Randy Fisher asked for more details, some information missing. Dick Porter will follow up. Tabling this request for future review. 5. 2020-2021 Budget Presentation – Dick Porter provided a proposed budget for Township and Fire. He highlighted that it is almost standard for last year. 20,000 more from state, 52,000 road millage. Minor increases in education. He proposed Raising Sherries wages, discussed that she has a college degree, spends more hours here than any other employee. Also proposed raises for the Fire Chief, and the two full time Fire Fighters, plus call ins. Fire Chief Lance has 25 years in, with no raise until 2 years ago. Proposed raising to 60,000 which is consistent. Also proposed raising two Fire Fighters from 34,000 to 40,000. We just lost one fire fighter, after investing in him. We can’t keep losing the guys we train. Other raise he proposed is Call In pay, from 15.00 minimum two hours, to 16.5. Dick Porter asked the board to take the proposed budget home, study it. Randy Fisher pointed out a formatting issue to pay attention to when reading the budget. The Board will review and vote on next meeting.
Adjourn: A motion was made to adjourn by Randy Fisher. Scott Fredrick seconded the motion at 8:16pm. The motion carried/passed
Respectfully submitted
Janet Cuatt
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