Middlebury Township PO Box 622, Ovid, Michigan 48866 Draft Regular Meeting 7627 W. M-21, Ovid, MI Tuesday, May 10, 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: Gary Kiger; Brent Singer, District 1 County Commissioner Candidate; Mark Darling; Mike Herendeen, Deputy Supervisor; Jill Ruess, Deputy Treasurer; Shawn Dilts, Deputy Clerk; Marlene Webster, District 1 County Commissioner; Scheduled Comments: County Commissioner Marlene Webster provided report on county business. She reports that they are preparing to vote on the refurbishing of the Historical courthouse. The cost is higher than anticipated at $4 million, with the primary cost item being the HVAC system. They are looking to use some of the ARPA funds. The county is preparing to vote on the bonding of the MERS. There is a special meeting on this next week. Marlene attended the rededication of the Shiatown park. There has been acreage added to the park. Public Comments: Opened at 7:05 pm Closed at 7: 09 pm Mark Darling identified concerns about the condition of our township cemetery. He is concerned that it is not memorializing our family members well. He also identifies concerns with the box under the cemetery sign, which was an Eagle Scout project a few years back. He identified satisfaction with the tree work completed last year. Supervisor Swan will look into it. Candidate Singer introduced himself and handed out information cards on his political views. He is a manager at Maurer Heating and Cooling, has the Liberty House that provides housing for children who have aged out of foster care. He is also involved with the Welcome Home Veterans Home. Motion to Approve Agenda: Trustee Greg Atwood made a motion to approve agenda as amended. Trustee Gene Ruess seconded the motion. Carried on Voice Vote Motion to Approve Minutes: Trustee Gene Ruess made a motion to approve April 12, 2022 minutes as presented. Treasurer Carolyn Stevens seconded the motion. Carried on Voice Vote Motion to approve Bills Clerk Susan Tomasek-Swan made a motion to approve bills from General Funds in the amount of $10,174.98 with checks # 5703-5718 and 3 EFTs. Treasurer Carolyn Stevens seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call Vote those voting Aye: Greg Atwood, Carolyn Stevens, Jeff Swan, Gene Ruess, Susan Tomasek-Swan Upon Roll Call Vote those voting Nay: none Absent: None Communications: MTA- Supervisor Swan announced that MTA is having their annual cook out on June 7, 2022 at 7 pm at Shiatown. All are invited. It is free of cost and there is no requirement to bring a dish to pass. Supervisor-Supervisor Swan received a call from a constituent who lives on Wilkinson Rd reporting that a couch has been dumped in the ditch along the side of the road. It is unclear who has responsibility for removal. Supervisor Swan will follow up. Library- Clerk Tomasek-Swan reports that there continues to be troubles with vandals who have repeatedly kicked in the door of the shed that is storing decorations, not anything of monetary value. They are looking at installing a camera system. They have a staff member getting their library certification. OMESA- Supervisor Swan reports that they are preparing to install the concrete pad on the west side of the building. This was in the budget. It is being completed by Triple Concrete. The computers have arrived and Supervisor Swan will be setting those up this week. Supervisor Swan reports they are still in the process working on the treasurer duties. Clerk- Clerk Tomasek-Swan reports that the emergency services millage proposal was submitted. A typing error was found and edited. Copies of the other millage proposals have been submitted and they will be on the ballot. Redistricting has been completed. The process to issue new voter cards will begin next week to be mailed out. There is a map available. Middlebury millage is a renewal. The other 2 millages are a 4H Youth (renewal) and the senior citizen millage (renewal with a slight increase). There is a bill in congress that may require a camera system monitoring the drop box. Assessor- Mr. Holley has nothing to report. Trustee Ruess requested an update on his question last month regarding a report on the number of parcels in Middlebury Township. Mr. Holley will report on this next month. Business: 1. Cemetery Fence Clerk Swan reports that a resident has approached her about the removal of the fence due to its poor condition. The question is whether to remove the fence and if there is a requirement to have a fence. There was also a question if the fence is the property of the cemetery or the house owner. Supervisor Swan will follow up with home owner. 2. Memorial Marker with no remains Clerk Tomasek-Swan received a call that someone would like to place a memorial marker placed on the headstone of another family member’s site. They do not want to bury her cremains at that location. This is not addressed in the rules and regulations of our cemetery. The recommendation is that it be allowed as it is a family plot. 3. Driveway Update Trustee Ruess sent the MDOT drawings to the contractors. The first contractor identified that he is currently very busy and is unclear when they would be able to complete the project. Other companies, Dan Woodbury and Ryan Ruff, will be explored. Trustee Ruess will follow up on this. 4. Road/Gravel Trucks Update Supervisor Swan followed up on the reported concerns from constituents last month. Manager of Shiawassee County Road Commission states that many signs have been pulled due to wrong placement. Middlebury township can vote to make a truck route, but was advised against it. At this point there is not much that the township can do to address it. Township will continue to monitor condition of the road. Supervisor Swan can talk to law enforcement about the speeding. 5. Assessor Contract Supervisor Swan referenced the submitted contract proposal. The costs were comparable to other assessors in the area. Treasurer Stevens identified that we have 920 parcels in the township. The cost of the parcel splits needs to be explored to ensure that costs are being covered with current fee structure. Trustee Gene Ruess made a motion to approve the contract, Trustee Greg Atwood seconded the motion. Roll call vote: All Ayes 6. Playground- Snyder Dr Supervisor Swan provided information about a plot of land that has been donated to a nonprofit agency. The representatives to this project did not attend meeting as they had previously indicated they would. It is unclear why this has been forwarded to the township when it is the county who has jurisdiction over rezoning. This issue will be tabled until the nonprofit contacts us again. 7. Email addresses and usage Supervisor Swan reports that each township board member has a formal email address that people access through the website. He has noticed that some of the email addresses have many unanswered emails on the server. Direction provided that members can either contact Supervisor or Clerk to set up the password, or they can utilize the link provided to set up their own. He suggests that people are monitoring and checking the email regularly to be responsive to any constituent correspondence. Final Comments: Opened at 7: 58 pm Closed at 7:59 pm Without Objection the Supervisor made a motion to adjourn the meeting: Adjourned at 7:59 pm Next meeting June 14, 2022 at 7:00pm X Shawn Dilts Deputy Clerk