nWork stalls at the Old Mill – Stowell stated the reconstruction of posts and beam, and mold remediation work at the Old Mill is not progressing as quickly as expected. Township Clerk Jeannie McCreery said the contractor is waiting for lumber materials.
Mill repair project architectural planner Dave Donnellon requested the township board transfer the remainder of the his 2002 mill work contract over to Design Resources for the remainder of the township Community Block Grant Fund project of post and beam repair.
nBall field bid too high – McCreery reported that the bids requested by Township Recreation Director Fred Waybrant to refurbish the village baseball parks came in above the allocated amount of $6,000, previously approved by the board.
As only one contractor submitted a bid, Waybrant suggested he get volunteers to rototill the fields, remove the top soil, balance it with a new two inch layer and replace the diamond dust. Supervisor Ron Lapp suggested looking at having prison trustee manpower do the work.
nClerk work:
– The township clerk’s office is looking for volunteers to assist with voters registration cards.
For more information call Jeannie McCreery at (248) 627-2851.
– McCreery says the senior computer program is getting county wide recognition.
– The third week in April, the clerk’s office staff will be registering students from Brandon High School to encourage them to vote in the next presidential election.
– McCreery would like to remind residents that it is illegal to sign more campaign petitions than the number of candidates running. For example if there are three trustees running for the board, a resident should only sign their name to three candidates petition for election.
McCreery said signing more could potentially land the voter in jail for election fraud.
nBoard approves Fire Department hire- Fire Chief Bob McArthur requested approval to hire two part time firefighters, for Fire Stations 1 and 2.
Approval was given to hire Ronald Schoonover and Bryan Messer, both of whom have acquired Firefighter I & II and Emergency Medical Technician status. Schoonover also has an ice rescue technician certification, and Messer has Hazmat Awareness training.
nCredit Card approved for chief: Following some debate the board approved issuing a credit card to the fire department for Chief Bob McArthur.
McArthur, had used his own personal credit card to make purchases such as tuition for classes, discount equipment, e-net purchases, tuition, or lodging for firefighter classes, and items for the department where credit accounts are not available, requested the township apply for the card to be issued to the department in order to make cost effective purchases.
‘In the last two years I have placed more than $16,000 on my own credit card and this is not the best way of monitoring department expenses,? McArthur told the board.
While Clerk Jeannie McCreery stated McArthur does get reimbursed for the purchases, she agrees that using a personal credit card for township business is financially cumbersome to the employee. McCreery, herself has had to use her personal card in the past and found that while she does get reimbursed for the purchase, the interest from the card hits in the employee’s lap.
While both say they hold the chief in the highest esteem, Township Treasurer Linda Owen and Township Trustee Charlene Carlson voted against issuing a card. Carlson said credit cards break down the fiscal system by bypassing the purpose of having a decision making purchase system, as well as eliminating the ‘purchase order’checks and balance. The card will be issued contingent upon creating a use policy for the card.
nIndestructible sign at the skate park: After signs banning bicycles from the Village Skate Park were vandalized several times, the township OK’d about $1,400 for a ‘virtually indestructible sign,? says the sign maker. The hefty sign was approved after a discussion ensued on whether the village would split the cost because the park is in the village. Because of pressing insurance liability without the sign, Lapp said he would prefer not to wait for a village council commitment. ‘We need to get this done,? said Lapp, who continued by encouraging the board that if anyone sees a bicycle in the park he suggest the park be closed down.
Trustee Stowell and Clerk McCreery voted against the $1,400 cost of the sign.