Middlebury Township PO Box 622, Ovid, Michigan 48866 Draft Regular Meeting 7627 W. M-21, Ovid, MI Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 7:00 pm REGULAR MEETING Call to Order: Supervisor Swan called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Board Members Present: Supervisor Jeffery Swan, Clerk Susan Tomasek Swan, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Greg Atwood and Trustee Gene Ruess Guests Present: Guests were present: Mark Holley- Assessor, Arlene Pesik, Mark Darling, Gary Kiger, Jill Ruess and Michael Herendeen Scheduled Comments: None Public Comments: Opened at 7:02 pm Closed at 7:02 pm None Motion to Approve Agenda: Trustee Atwood made a motion to approve agenda as amended with the addition of #6 “dump” property with Sumbera. Treasurer Stevens seconded the motion. Carried on Voice Vote Motion to Approve Minutes: Treasurer Stevens made a motion to approve the January 11, 2022 minutes as presented. Clerk Tomasek-Swan seconded the motion. Carried on Voice Vote Motion to approve Bills Clerk Tomasek Swan made a motion to approve bills from General Funds in the amount of $7,134.34 with checks # Cks5638-5644 and 5652-5658 (void cks5632-5637 and 5645-5651) and 4 EFTs. Supervisor Swan seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Atwood, Stevens, Ruess, Swan, Tomasek Swan Nays: None Carried Communications: MTA- Road Commission and the sheriff department are short staffed and looking for people. Library- Minutes in the packet and discussing salaries. OMESA- We need to get the language for the millage for emergency service. We need to have the language looking at leaving it at the 2.25 mils. The prices of ambulance are starting to rise with the surrounding entities. Trustee Ruess asked if the township’s language needs to mirror the other municipalities. Clerk- Budget and publications that were sent to the township were reviewed. Assessor- The township is balanced. The audit will be in June or July. The Board of Review dates are set for March 15, 2022 3:00-9:00pm and March 18, 2022 9:00 am -3:00 pm. After BOR, no assessing can be done until the last Monday in May. Mr. Holley stated there is no reason to for him to attend the township meetings in April or May. Business: 1. Motion to set the Budget Hearing Meeting March 8, 2022 at 6:45 pm Trustee Atwood made the motion to set the Budget Hearing for Middlebury Township on March 8, 2022 at 6:45 pm. Treasurer Stevens seconded the motion. Voice Vote: Ayes Nays: None Carried 2. Salaries Supervisor Swan present his information on researching salaries for the township elected officials and employees. He reviewed his numbers and dates when the last pay raise was for each position. Clerk Tomasek Swan presented the MTA Salary survey. 3. BOR Resolution Middlebury Township March Board of Review Alternative Starting Date Resolution 2022-02 WHEREAS, Public act 194 2003, allows the township board by resolution to select an alternative stating date in March when the board of review shall initially meet. WHEREAS, MCL 211.30 provides an alternative starting date of Tuesday following the second Monday of March. WHEREAS, The assessor availability to assist the Board of Review on that day shall be the reason for selecting Tuesday March 15, 2022. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Middlebury Township Board approves the Board of Review meeting on the Second Tuesday of March in 2022. At a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Township of Middlebury held on the 8th day of February, 2022, board member Trustee Ruess moved for adoption of the foregoing resolution and board member Trustee Atwood supported the motion. Voting for: Atwood, Stevens, Tomasek-Swan, Ruess, Swan Voting Against: None 4. Resignation of Deputy Clerk Clerk Tomasek Swan made the motion with deep regret to accept the resignation of Colleen Ruess from the Deputy Clerk position. Treasurer Stevens second the motion. Carried on Voice Vote Board discussed replacement of the Deputy Clerk. The board discussed placing an ad in the newspaper to take resumes. Trustee Ruess asked about waiting to adjust the rate of pay before posting it in the paper. Greg Atwood made a motion to draw up the resolution with the following pay raises discuss the pay raises. Stevens seconded the motion. Carried on Voice Vote The board discussed the different amounts for different positions. The board discuss the different position and the compensation. BOR $125.00 per day Regular general meeting fee $60.00 Deputy Clerk, Treasurer and Supervisor is $20.00 per hour Office Administration $20.00 per hour Trustees $200.00 per month Supervisor, Treasurer Clerk $11,000.00 annual Meal Per Diem $20.00 per meal Mileage follows the current IRS guidelines. Election Inspector $15.00 per hour Chairperson $25.00 bonus per election Assessor contract ends in July. (Assessor stated a possible $14.00 per parcel increase from $12.00) Home Office allowance: stay the same. Voice Vote: Aye: all Nay: None Carried 5. Land Rental Supervisor Swan addressed the land rental with Tom Albaugh. Discussing if the township should continue the land rental with Albaugh. Ruess stated if he continues to farm the two acres the township wouldn’t need to mow the acreage. The land rental is paid retroactive. Trustee Atwood stated it should stay as it is. The Board continued discussing the areas Albaugh could farm. 6. Land with Sumbera Trustee Ruess asked to revisit this because he was under the impression the board was going to an attorney. Supervisor Swan stated he thought the board had discussed not signing for liability. Ruess stated Sumbera wants the property for parking trucks. He wants to buy it but doesn’t want to accept responsibility for the property. Supervisor Swan stated we could 1. Lease it to Sumbera 2. Sell it to Sumbera with no liability 3. Just sell it as is. The board discussed about leasing the property. Board discussed selling the property for a lower price to have him purchase it. We will still may be liable. Herendeen advised the board on different ways of handling the property. The property is really only a value to Sumbera. Gene Ruess made a motion to offer to sell the “dump” property for $2,000.00 without indemnity clause. “as is”. Trustee Atwood second the motion. Roll Call Vote: Aye: Stevens, Atwood, Tomasek Swan, Ruess, Swan Nay: None Carried Final Comments: Opened at 8:29 pm Closed at 8:31pm Trustee Ruess commented about the windmill because the leases will be expiring. Ruess has talked to people who have leases and they have not received additional money for the leases. Therefore the companies are letting the leases expire. Supervisor Swan announced that Michael Herendeen was appointed as Deputy Supervisor. Motion to adjourn the meeting: Adjourned at 8:31pm . Next meeting, March 8, 2022 at 6:45 pm X Susan Tomasek Swan Clerk