Township Board - Regular Meeting

meeting to order. Am I live? Yeah. All right. Excellent. Glad to see [clears throat] everybody on this winter evening. We uh would like to open in prayer. And John, would you offer up prayer tonight? Thank you, Jim. Thank you.

Bow your heads, please. Dear heavenly [clears throat] father, we thank you so much that we're able to be here today and have a beautiful day here for January. But we thank you, Lord, that we get a chance to go about your business. We pray for your guidance. We pray for your wisdom. And please Lord, we we thank you again for the wonderful people that work here and those that even risk their lives for us and how difficult it must be to deal with fires in the wintertime. Thank you for your continued blessing on Georgetown. We also pray for pray for our nation and many conflicts going on. Lord, we hope you're there for wisdom and grace. Please be with all of us tonight and may this be a very productive evening. We ask this in your son's name. Amen.

Amen. If you'd rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to [snorts and clears throat] the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Kelly. I believe we've got everyone here tonight.

Yes. Yep. So, which happy new year, our first meeting of the new year. So, it can be a little tough to get all seven of us in winter, but here we are. So, good to see everybody. All right, we're going to start tonight. Actually, I know we were going to start with Chief, but I think we're going to allow uh Brad Slaw, who came tonight uh and was wanting to give us an update. Brad, if you'd like to take the mic at this point and provide your update, then you're able to go to your next meeting.

Nice. Thank you for doing that. I appreciate that a lot. Uh so once again, Brad Slaw, um the state representative for the 85th district, which obviously includes Jennison. Um and uh love to give you just a little update of what's happening um in the Lancing area. First of all, not a lot over the last couple weeks. We've been off and so you guys have been safe. We haven't put in any new laws or anything like that over the last couple weeks. Um exactly. [laughter] There is uh you know one of the things that was really interesting as we uh got close to the Christmas holiday season was the um the whole work project thing and I where there were dollars that hadn't been spent by the state. So $2.7 billion had not been spent by the state out of our out of our budget. Um, and the typical thing that happens with those dollars once we get to that at the end of a of a year, calendar year, um, is we can move those dollars into what they call work project accounts, which is like a savings account that you can use it in going into the future up to four years into the future. Um and often in the past that that has just happened every at the end of every year they just approve it and it moves off to these dollars get siphoned off and put into a savings account and departments can use it to at their own will. This time we said well wait a minute let's start actually reviewing each one of these things. $2.7 [snorts] billion that that ought to warrant some time right and so we did. We went through all of those things and looked at where money was going to go and um we said no of that $2.7 billion. We think $600 million 645 million should not go into those savings accounts. It should just come back to the general fund and we'll put it in a better place

than just having it go there. Um and so I'm sure that you've heard other people talk about it, concern about it. Um, I think it was really a wise thing to do and I would u back that again and do it one more time if we can. In fact, I think we should be doing it every year. It's just part of the nature of what we should be doing, watching our budget and counting our cash every time. Um, you've also may have heard that our attorney general has now um made an opinion that says we can't do that. And since then, we've now put through a law u a suit lawsuit against the attorney general and against all these departments saying you shouldn't spend that money until we've actually accomplished to figure out whether the attorney general is correct or not in her in her thing that we shouldn't do this.

And did you get an injunction? Uh we

kind of freeze it. It is um it is the the judge said today that we will meet on Friday um to figure out where this is going, but they've asked that the departments not to spend any of the money until after Friday. So, we're hopeful that we're going to move in a direction that says no, they sh they can't do this. We'll keep you ab breast of that. Um the other interesting thing that that happened as of year end was the the whole roads package that got approved included um eliminating the 6% sales tax on fuel but added a 20 cent per gallon fee uh charge tax I guess um for per gallon cost. So sales tax goes to schools and it goes to roads and it goes to general fund and all kinds of places. Um but a fuel tax that we have that 20 cent fuel tax all goes to local roads. Um, and so we've been able to give an idea to Ottawa County Road Commission, and I can't right now. I don't know what that number is, but it's in the millions of dollars that they're going to have this year to spend on roads that they didn't have before um by doing that that fuel um tax rather than the sales tax. So, we're looking forward to that. Looking forward to seeing what that actually does to our local road system. Um, and then I just appreciate uh opportunities. Justin and I had a chance to to sit down this week. Um got some ideas for maybe how we can follow up on some things um related to dollars and cents for the township as well. So Justin I know is going to be working on that. If you've got questions, you can talk to him. And I think that unless you've got questions for me um now I but I'd be happy to take stuff from you anytime that you want to give me a call. Um let me know what I can do for you.

So, is it more or less a stalemate right now with the Republicans having the majority in in the House? Is it just more or less bogging things down as one would expect so that yes, nothing's going either way? Yeah. Yes. And does the governor have I think we can be thankful for that. Huh. I think we can be thankful for that. Yeah. Well, I mean, absolutely. compared to the previous two years the [clears throat] is there an equivalent right of the governor to issue executive orders much like the president can do or yeah there is there is ability to do some executive orders so the answer is absolutely that's true um so are they still doing things that you'd say ah you know

not a lot no that's not a lot of that is happening we're we're pretty content with how that's coming about and I think there's been a fair amount of uh uh communications that we've pushed out from our side that have helped uh just slow down that process of trying to do things behind closed doors really. Yeah.

Is there is there some truth with some of this ghost workers I've been talking about with the money that's been allocated for employees that don't really exist or is that one of those things you see on the internet you're wondering if that's true or not? So, let me give you an example of ghost employees, a a real life example. Um, I've been a member of the appropriations committee for corrections for the seven years that I've been there. And all seven years, every year when we do budgets, they budget 900 plus more staff than they have today because that's what they really need to fill their ranks. They really need 900 more staff members. They've never had that 900 staff members. So, in seven years, they've not filled that, not been able to either not been able to or haven't, whatever the case might be, fill all 900 of those slots. Well, if you haven't filled those slots that they budgeted salaries, benefits program, everything for that 900 people, but they aren't there. So, what are you doing with those dollars at the end of that period? And that's really the the what we were able to do is take we believe that they probably legitimately fill 600 of those. So we left 600, took out 300. Um and if you do that across a bunch of departments, all of a sudden you've got significant dollar savings. Absolutely. That budget doesn't roll over in the next year. So like if you didn't hire that 600 people, that money just stays in that for that year and you spend it wherever you want. or can that budget for those 600 employees or 900 employees move into the next year? If

you didn't spend it, then what you do is you put it into work projects at the end of the year. That work project then you can use for employees, for buildings, for underground sprinkling, I don't know, whatever. But they get a chance to choose to do that. So that's part of the deal is why we think you you shouldn't we should every year at the end of the year say, "Yep, this is valid. It should go." No, this isn't valid. It shouldn't go. Did that answer your question? Yeah, it did. Thank you. Gary, what do you think he should know about how Ottawa County Road Commission should spend those extra millions? An opinion about that?

Yeah, there's a a lot of things I'd like to see him do. Part of part of it would be um I'd like to see some larger shoulders on some of the roads that we're building for bike paths and stuff. Yep. That's part of what you know they do. And if they would extend that and get some easements along with that, that'd be that'd be really helpful in Georgetown. Um we're retiring some roads this year that we'd like to see a a wider shoulder on. But um that'd be one thing. Good. Anyway, thank you. Thank you very much. [clears throat]

Okay, Matt. need to approve the agenda. Yes. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve tonight's agenda? Some support. Move supported. Any comments, questions? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Thank you. Now the agenda is approved. And chief, thanks for coming. Chief Matt Dit, Georgetown Fire. Just want to give you an update. Uh December compared to November, last month of the year. You've been busy.

Yeah, we actually took a dive in December. It slowed down just a little bit from November. We had a very busy November. Uh 97 calls for service. Um mutual aid, we had three given and two received. Our year-to- date total was 12 uh 28 for total calls run for Georgetown. Last year we are at 1061. Um we did 17 alarms for the month of December. We did have two structure fires in December. We had um couple of them in the same day actually. One was an attic fire and one was a basement fire just before Christmas. Um and both of those were related to electrical issues in the in the house. So, uh our ladder truck like to say it's here, but it's not. So, we got a couple more weeks, four years waiting. Two more weeks is what we keep getting told. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. So, I'm confident in the next couple weeks, we'll send someone out there to get it final inspected. It's in UL testing right now and pump testing. So, we should be getting the call anytime that everything's ready to go. We can get out there and prove the truck. Then from there, it'll come back and it'll probably be a good month before we can get it in service. Once we get it in service, get all the equipment on, we'll definitely bring it up here to a board meeting so you guys can

Is there a protocol about who gets to drive it first? No, not really. We do have a push-in ceremony. So, we put the truck at the back of the station. Being a new truck, we'll push the old one out and we push the new one in. Something kind of traditional that firemen typically do. Uh, as far as driving, probably be the first one. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. One of the few times I drive, so yeah, definitely. But we're looking forward to it. Uh, thanks John with the interviews this past week. Things went really well with that. Appreciate it, Andy. Um, things went well as we move forward with the FTS. Any questions? Well, will that truck only fit Will that fit in two of the stations or all three or just out of curiosity, will it fit in the the new the new truck that's coming?

Yeah. Is that fit in all three stations or just in one or two would be tight? Okay. It will fit in station one and three. Okay. But it would be a really tight fit. I'm just curious. Yeah. Just being a little smaller and it's got the the smaller doors. But yeah, um station one and three were built at the same time. like they're a little bit bigger stations than twos. So, yep. Questions. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Moving on. Item seven, communication letters and reports received for the board's information and review. Item eight then begins a string of public hearings, all of the same theme having to do with industrial districts that were approved in the past um as tax incentives to uh incentivize uh business and and specifically industrial um business growth and risk takingaking. And so, uh, we're looking at now that those, uh, benefits have been received, we're looking at terminating those particular, uh, districts, as they call them. So, first of all, with each one, there will be a public hearing, and we'll begin then with a motion to open the public hearing on the initial one here at 17, uh, is that 86 Chicago Drive, 6722 18th Avenue, and 1725 Port Sheldon Street, which I think is Waterford, isn't it? Yeah. So move support and move supported to open the public meeting. All in favor say I. I.

I. I.

All right. The public meeting is now open. Members of the public have the chance at this point to comment uh on this particular district. And with each one, you'll get an opportunity to comment. If you have any thoughts or opinions about that, please step forward to the mic and address the board. You have three minutes. Ask you identify your name and your address. Plowman um 6877 Creek Ridge Court um Hudsonville. Hey, maybe um since I sat in the meeting, maybe some of the other folks don't know is um the impact this has on or doesn't have on the existing businesses that maybe took advantage of this. Maybe if you gave us some clarity, does [clears throat] that affect the businesses that are there? Thank you.

Appreciate that. And in fact, I had in my mind, Pete, I was going to ask you, Justin, too, to just add elaborate if you wish on what I gave as an opening descriptive if you want to kind of fill in the blanks at all in terms of the overall view of of this, the why and wherefore.

Yeah. So, some of these pro or parcels or areas have been really on our books for a number of years. Um at that time the township was growing looking for to build ind industry in the community and um these entrepreneurs who had businesses or wanted to expand business um wanted to do an expansion grow um so they came to the township asking for this basically reprieve on their taxes um and in exchange for doing in a lot of cases a million dollars of expansion and um over the years these um sometime these have closed. They've reaped the benefit but with reduced taxes ranging from 2 to 10 years and now uh they're paying their full taxable value just like any other business owner in uh Georgetown. So what this does is it removes it from our books and if they want to imply in the future they can. Um, by not taking this off our books, it allows uh the business owner to come to the township and we are obligated to give it to them even if we disagree with it or not since we already have the established district.

There's the key point right there. Say that again. That it we are obligated to give it to them if we have this established district, but by removing it, it allows the property owner to reapply and start the process over. Yeah, that's the reason to make it formal. Yeah, this is more uh housekeeping times four. So, it's fair to say that um we're in a different place than we were years ago. It would be less likely that a new application would be approved. Not saying it absolutely wouldn't, but I would think it's a different environment. Correct. Yeah.

All right. So, we have just the one before you right now. Um, anyone else from the public wish to uh speak to this particular resolution right here? Seeing none, we'll uh ask for a motion to close the public hearing. So move. Support. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Public hearing is closed. Now is there a motion to approve of this resolution to terminate this uh particular district? So move. Support. Moved and supported.

Comments? Yes. If I could just say now Justin, all four of these that we're going to do, they're more of a formality and like you mentioned housekeeping. So, um, we're getting it off the books, so they can't automatically reapply, but we have to do we can't do all of them together. We have to do each one individually. So, that's why it's going to take a little while. Yes, correct. Okay. I just wanted to And every property owner has been serviced by certified mail and no one has reached out to many for any of these properties. Sure. Good. So there's no controversy with these. Not adversarial. That's good. Glad you point that out, John. Anyone else? All right. Hearing nothing further then. I think this is roll call. Schwel, yes.

Kelly, yes. Dwit, yes. Belink, yes. Piper is yes. Grassman, yes. Wearing, yes. All in favor? All right. Thank you. Move now ahead to what is eight Roman numeral 2? I have that correct. This has to do with 2700 Chicago Drive. Yep. I didn't miss one. Correct. Okay. So, is there a motion to open the public hearing on 2700 Chicago Drive and the termination of that industrial district? Some move. Support. Move to supported. All in favor say I.

I. Any opposed? Public hearing is open. same as the one before. Um, anyone wish to address the board? Okay, seeing none and hearing none, we'll go ahead and call for a motion to close the public hearing. Okay, move and supported. All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Public hearing is closed. Now, is there a motion to approve this resolution? Support. And moved and supported. Uh, any comments? Hearing none. Roll call vote. Kyper is yes. Grassman, yes. Yes. Kelly, yes. Wearing, yes.

Schwam, yes. [laughter] Belinking, yes. All in favor? I like how you vary it, Kelly. You never know where you're going. You do, but we don't. I like it. All right. 83. This is the Industrial District at 4101 Chicago Drive. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? I'll move. Support. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. The public hearing is open. Anyone in the public wish to address this particular resolution? Seeing and hearing none. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? So move. Support. All in favor say I. I. I.

Any opposed? Okay. The public hearing is closed. Motion to approve the resolution to terminate this particular industrial development district. So move support. Support. All right. Any comments? Hearing none. Could we have a roll call vote? Oh, I got to catch up here. [laughter] Kelly, yes. Beldink, yes. Grassman, yes. Wearing, yes. Pipers, yes. Det, yes. Swang, yes. All in favor? We've got one more here. Eight Roman numeral 4. Resolution to terminate the industrial district at 677818th Avenue. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? Move. Support. All in favor say I. I.

I. Any opposed? Public hearing is open. No one from the public stepping forward. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? Support. Supported. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Public hearing is closed. Motion to approve the resolution to terminate this development district. So move. Support. Move and support. Any comments hearing? None. Roll call vote, please. Schwam, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Grassman, yes. Belink, yes. Kelly, yes. In favor.

All right. Thank you very much. Now, um, to the public, you have an opportunity to address the board at this time about matters that, uh, pertain to the remaining items on the agenda this evening. There will be an opportunity later in the meeting if you wish to address whatever is on your mind. So time though, anyone wants to speak to issues on the agenda, now is your opportunity. Plowman 6877 Creek Ridge Court, Hudsonville. Couple items on the agenda that I'm um I don't quite understand. interphase uh interiors. We're getting furniture for 61K at 124,000 that they already did for our BPW single bid. I don't know how that works in the subcommittee. Oh, it's all by rule and policy, but it's one bid. The same thing applies to priest lawn care. Yeah, there were other biders on the list or lists of other biders, but really nobody bid. All local people. And on that one, I'd like to know why the local folks aren't bidding on it other than just priest. Um there was one other bidder on that one. Also on uh 7.9 on the GL report in the fire department, um there's a capital outlay of $68,000 that I know I have no idea what that's for. I are we doing an expansion of a fire department? Um if you could answer that question, that would be great. And also on the um assessing to Ottawa County, I think you guys should take that up on an item to find our own level four assessor. Maybe we don't even need a level four assessor anymore since our growth has been pulling back and uh take back that, you know, looking get rid of that contract since you signed it for four years for $522,000

a year. That's a good way to save some money. maybe can get out of that contract or at least find a way not to re-up it again. And then the crossing guards um that we pay for. You tell us all the time we only get, you know, 7 cents on the dollar and the schools have all this money. Well, tell the schools they can pay for the crossing guards. That would save us 1105,000. So, some items to look at on your agenda.

All right. Thank you. Anyone else? [snorts] You look perplexed. Are you okay? I want to make sure you're not thinking about whether you have an opportunity because you do right now if you wish. All right. No one else will close that initial public comment period. Item 10 on the agenda tonight's consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda? Some supported. Any points anyone wishes to make? All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? And it passes. Okay. Item 11, front office remodel. Is there a motion to approve the quote from Interphase Interiors related to some of the front office remodeling and furniture? So move. Support. All right. Moved and supported. So um on the floor before you then is this motion. Uh I know that uh one or more of us had asked about the bid how the bid process works and I'd asked Justin to come tonight uh on this particular one to explain what we do when we get involved with my deal. So would you do that for us?

Yeah, definitely. So the my deal was created by the state of Michigan. They have uh professional buyers that go to um all across the state and they basically bargain down different pricing models and then if you are a government uh nonprofit hospital or school, you can be a part of this program and it basically leverages uh dollars so that the municipality like Georgetown doesn't have to spend endless hours soliciting bids trying to find vendors across the state. It has bargain down pricing. Um I think uh Chelsea has a video that we're going to play and they kind of explained the history of my deal and what the program is about.

[clears throat]

Welcome to the Mind Hill Advantage, a program where we help our members by connecting them with state executed contracts, saving them both time and money. My bill is the state of Michigan's extended purchasing permit that's offered to qualified organizations to purchase goods and services from state contracts. Membership is available for a nominal fee ranging from $180 to $510 annually. Membership is open to local government including cities, counties, townships, villages, and tribal governments. public colleges and universities, K through2 schools and school [music] districts, and nonprofit hospitals. [music] Organizations engage with the Mindo program to leverage the contracts established by the state of Michigan. There are many benefits to a membership with the Mindo program. Mindo offers our members the best value purchasing contracts. That means our professional buyers evaluate a vendor's price, experience, qualifications, service, and delivery, ensuring a best overall contract. Members save on the duplication of administrative costs and the time to finding the right contract, saving the valuable time and resources, and reducing the administrative burden of seeking out new vendor relationships. Mind bill offers an extensive portfolio of contracts with 4 to 500 contracts available to our membership throughout the year. The Maido program portfolio falls under three categories: commodities, information technology, and service related contracts.

Examples of key contracts include ammunition and weapons, audio and video solutions, building supplies, cell phones and accessories, computers, copers and supplies, digital signature solutions, janitorial supplies, furniture, medical supplies, office supplies, package delivery, playground equipment, procurement, card service, public safety equipment, road salt, [laughter] rubbish and recycling removal, and vehicles. Visit michigan.gov/my deal to see the complete list of contract categories. Members have direct access to vendors goods and services. And last, but certainly not least, Michigan businesses hold many of the state's contracts. Joining my deal is easy. Send an email to my deal@man.gov and let the team get you set up. Visit the myill website to learn more about my deal at michigan.gov/my [clears throat] deal.

I'm ready to go voting now. So with my deal, we do not get three bits. [laughter] So we don't need three bits. Three bits. So for be by far the best

it is. And for for example last fall uh or last summer we were looking to get uh replacing 890 their chief vehicle. Um I went to our normal vendors which I usually get a great deal on. Um we used my deal through a dealership in u Grand Rapids and I got a brand new Tahoe for $20,000 under market price. It it was fantastic. So, if I would have gone retail, just any Joe Blow, it would have been $20,000 more. So, this this is a great program when it fits. And to me, I recommend that this is a great fit for this program. The phrase you use when it fits is a good one, Justin. I mean, you know, probably from my experience, we've done two or three times a year perhaps that we might look to them in the right context for the right type of contract.

Correct. We follow our normal multi-bid process. They essentially do the multi- bidding for us in they're essentially a proxy for that process only with many biders. Correct. Yeah. So it's just an alternative form of of getting the best price perhaps better when it fits. Um but it doesn't fit any number of things that we purchase. They don't we don't get fire trucks. We don't get you know any number of things that way. Lawn service for one, right? So, but when it fits, it's good. It's good. Um, I have a thought on it or just a comment. [clears throat]

Um, I I think it's a fair program, but the principle of it has been brought to my attention, right, that we do have a policy where we're we require multiple bids. And I think from a transparency standpoint, if we can't produce documentation that the MI deals program, like if we can't show multiple bids on their end of things, um I think it would be wise that we consider possibly amending our policy to state multiple bids or the my deal program because if our policy only states multiple bids, then we are repeatedly not following our policy by doing this, even if it saves us money. And I just think it's important that if we have a policy in place that we follow the policy. I mean that's what I think our constituents expect. That's the feedback I've been hearing. So I think it would be wise that we consider amending that policy to include this as an alternative to the multi-bid process.

So if we were to do that on a you know for two or three times a year that we do this um what committee would discuss that finance. Finance. Okay. And I'm open to feedback on that. I don't need that to be the move, but I do want to bring to the attention that it has been brought to my attention, right? We have this policy and even if this is a great program, we're not following our policy technically by using it. And maybe we are in the background if they're doing a competitive bidding process, but that's not being made known, you know, through paperwork to us and our constituents. And so, I think it's important that we figure out a way to have this be above board if we're going to continue using the program. Yeah, definitely. We can add it to our finance agenda next time we meet. Okay.

Would it be just as easy to put on on something like this on the agenda item and just say bid process satisfied using my bid or my deal? Well, we'd have to look at our policy and how it's written. It's Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It might be semantics, but I do think it's right. If we care enough to have a policy, we should care enough to do right by the policy. Okay. Other comments or points that you wish to make? Anybody questions? Great idea. Yeah, I'm glad you did the video. Mhm. You're kind of quiet.

If you do u if you do read through some of those, I did page through the some of the 250 pages that he had there, but um most everything you see is 50 60% cheaper than you'd be able to get it through any kind of retail. So it is definitely a savings, but um to your point, you know, to actually show that somehow of who they contacted because they do list companies that they do, you know, Hayworth and a couple other big furniture ones that they're, you know, doing this my deal with. So um yeah, if they would come out with even that would probably adhere to what we're trying to do. So

good comments. Anyone else? Final comment. The fact that we have an entire department at the state of Michigan dedicated to this work floors [clears throat] me. Good for them. I love that in a positive or sarcastic manner. Totally sarcastic. So

I didn't realize that when I was a little kid that I that could have been a job. I mean the the the fact that there is a whole department it just feels a little bit superfluous. feels a little bit like I guess we might as well leverage our tax dollars if there's going to be a whole department of people purchasing goods for nonprofit and local government entities. But it just kind of shocks me a little bit if I'm being honest. It was 250 pages. It was incredible. And half of the documentation was not even remotely applicable. It was like details on how to enter a jail when using this program. I mean, just beyond me. So, yeah, I agree.

I would think something like this help eliminate corruption. Kelly's kids are going to be working. I do. Otherwise, you've got people that are letting others that they have some tie to. I think this is a great program. I don't think it'd be that difficult to Kelly's kids are going to be one day. Yeah. [laughter] Otherwise, you're open to corruption on the public's behalf. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Uh, ready to vote? Yep. Call for a vote at this time. All in favor say I. I. Opposed.

And it is passed. Item number 12, the lawn care package bid. Motion to contract with Priest Enterprises again for the mowing and trimming and fertilizing that's mentioned in these attachments. Some move. Support.

Supported. Uh, comments. I will say that um we had a hard time and Justin will tell you we had a hard time getting bids. People just didn't want to bid. I don't know if it was too big or they didn't want to do par parcels. We had priest bid and Rush Creek LA lawn care or landscaping and those were the only ones. I think the way it was sort of described to us, Justin, you fill in the gaps for the sake of the public, is the size of the contract that we have to bid is so great that most of these companies don't have the manpower or the capability to fulfill that level of contract without dramatically changing their business model, either dropping contracts and hiring a bunch of people. Um, and so because of that, it's considered pretty risky for these companies to then go and bid on something um, and get it or not get it, and then they have to sort of kind of back into how they're going to fulfill the contract. Um, and that makes it really difficult on our part. I mean, right? Is that's sort of the feedback that you guys that it's just too big for people to do um off the cuff

and trying to get availability of workers that are dependable that show up to work every day. Um again, this is a seasonal position uh for me or lawn care companies and um even I think lot I guess a number of companies we talked to said I can't get people to show up. So, if I can't get people to show up for my normal contracts, I can't take your contract on, too. Well, they've been doing our work for many, many years. And way back, um, I believe we dropped them for a couple years and the quality plummeted and then they came back. So, I think everything I've seen is they've got a great reputation and they're dependable. Yeah. Uh, are you happy?

Yeah. Priest is local. They live in the community. They're here. Um, you know, one idea was, okay, maybe we take about the bid package and spread it out between 10 different contracts. Well, then I'm juggling 10 different contractors or a variety of different contractors at different places. And it's nice to call up someone and yell them one person, not different people. [laughter] Are they responsive when you yell at them? They are. Okay. Um, yes. My turn. Yeah.

Um, I looked over this thing pretty close and I had a lot of questions which I did get answered today through Andy and and Justin. Um, I still have a little bit of concern on the fertilizing package of the thing because there's a lot of things that looks like they're being fertilized that we're either not watering or we're only cutting 17 cycles or 17 times out of the year. So, I wonder if there's um some way that we could look at that a little more. I mean, might not save us a ton, but it'll save us some um some of these fertilizing stuff around the 36th Avenue water tower. I mean, sits out in the middle of cornfield. I mean, it's good to get it mowed to make it look nice, but do we really need to spend the money on weed control and and fertilizer? Um, and at at the first part of it, I don't know if you guys page down on the thing, but it didn't have the cemetery and some of this other things on. So, that threw a red flag for me, too. I was like, what is that on a separate thing or not? But found out that there was just a little mistake made on on the the putting it together. It wasn't all the copies weren't there. So, we figured that out through this afternoon. So, that was good. Uh, as far as the cemetery trimming, um, there was also not how many times for that $58,000. Um, we did call Priest and what's his name? Pete or something?

Pete. Yeah.

And, um, he said that's going to be 13 times, um, twice a month and he can start or whatever we really want him to. when when I figured that out. Actually, I think we're actually getting that about $300 cheaper than we ordered on for last year if he does 13 times. We had 33,000 for seven times we voted on in March of last year and this time he's going to do 13 times for for 58. So, if my math is right, that that that's good if we can keep people there to to do it cuz I think that gets to be about gets to be the end of July and August that uh I think that's when he starts having the help issues or whatever. Um what else do I have on there? I was a little bit disappointed, I guess, that it did not include the the fire departments. Um we did have a conversation with that with Justin Um, and I know, um, the chairman and stuff said too, we're we're kind of waiting and seeing and we're we like to see data and things like that. I don't we don't want to go ahead and just um you know there's a lot of talk I think these guys are going to be very busy that we're hired and I don't know if I can we can have them mow lawns but um if the data has to be present to make that decision two or three or four six months down the road that we can come back to it I'm I'm willing to do that too. So I won't uh I won't press that issue too much anymore than that. Um, but I guess I would on the whole scheme of things, I would be okay with everything, but I wonder if we can make amendment to the budget to send the the whole lift station uh tank thing, fertilizing stuff back to committee and see if they could fine-tune that a little bit better and see if we can save some money through through Pete and and, uh, get that narrowed down uh, a little bit better.

There was a couple issues that we found also on on the mowing that uh um that were highlighted as being places to mow that we no longer own. Um like the one on 20th and Tyler, we kind of sold that for a buck here last year and that's actually on there yet to be mowed. So you guys make sure we communicate that with with them too and I already talked to Andy and stuff about that being the administrator. Um, other than that, if uh I would like to just amend a motion to send back to service the whole lift and water thing and maybe we can get that fertilizing and weed thing down to to uh maybe do a little bit more inspection on some of those and see what's uh if we can do something with that otherwise.

Okay, there's a motion to amend on the floor. Is there a second perhaps? Is there discussion by anyone on that point that might lead to a second? Well, do you just need to call Pete? Do you have to make a motion or can you just call him and say, "Hey, we don't want this done or or just simply ask charge us for it. Why are we doing it? Is it a good idea?" He has some solid reasons and you say yes and we keep doing it. I think it's a phone call

four. Then if there's this one in question or this one item, send it back to services to review and then I would recommend moving the other four, if treasurer dit's okay with those other four, um send those for approval. But like the minor item um by Rosewood Park, um Ottawa County GIS hasn't updated their maps yet, so we still have to fine-tune that. And then the other one was at 8th and 44th. Um Rick Gayen um is going to really build that corn route and once it's built then he's going to maintain it. Right now there's a weird easement um the outer county uh road commission actually owns it. Um we mow it just knock down the weeds because it's a dangerous corner and if you let weeds pile over 8th and 44th it turns into a hazard. So, we've been knocking down those weeds, but eventually there's some es and flows with and having a I guess a local contractor you can work with is beneficial. [snorts] Any other thoughts? So, you think that'd be a productive discussion with him and not a

No, not a a put off. Yeah. Yeah. Working with Pete's reasonable. So, yeah, he's a good partner. Okay. All right. Anyone persuaded? Then a second. Can I clarify? Can we have Jean clarify what the motion is? Your amended motion to take the location list of the fertilizer and go through it at least the first 19 and um whether those should be fertilized in weed control or we just do them all. But everything else [snorts] you want to move forward. Yeah, I think everything else I'm okay with. I'll support that amended motion. So, so we have been doing this for years. No, haven't.

No. So, we had complaints um since I've been here that you have neighbors, especially lift pumps um and types of uh township owned property where three neighbors are maintaining their lawn, right? You have township property that's a dana field and then the other people on the other side are maintaining their lawns. And I'm getting calls of why is the township not spraying and these dan lions are putting seeds in my yard and I go okay we'll try to address it. So okay why wouldn't we want to support that I I work at other ones that are out in the middle of cornfield that were spend how many dollars on

it feels rational to take a look at it. There's a lot of m lift stations on here and based on the photography that was included, not all of them have that situation where they're next to a beautiful lawn. There are some after looking at it further, there are quite a few that don't feel necessary to be spending fertilization dollars on. In my opinion, my guess is it'll come back through and pass and there might be several locations eliminated. That might be Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're not saying the whole thing. We're just saying let's look at it. I feel more comfortable. Thank you. Yes. Yeah. Thanks for clarifying. The fertilizer one, it's okay. We got a little bit of time. I get more nervous about the lawn care as we inch towards spring.

Um the availability of people signing contracts increases daily. So that do we still have time to see? We have time for fertilizing. There's a little bit of middle ground on that one. Okay. It's just the fertilizing bid that you're looking at. Yeah. Okay. Good. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So we could we So the amendment is that we approve everything but the fertilizing bid and we look at that. Right. Okay. So we vote first on the amendment to the motion. It's been moved and seconded. Discussed. Anything further? All right. All in favor say I. I. I.

Any opposed? Okay. And now um any further comment on the motion as amended now before we vote final on the issue. So just to be clear, the amend the motion currently is to approve this contract with priest but not the fertilizing bid. Correct. Correct. That's that's the specifics of the bit. Right. Right. Okay. Yep. All right. So the motion now as approved to be amended. Uh all in well is there a motion now? Yep. Yep. Second. All in favor say I.

Any opposed? All right. It is passed. Uh Jean, thank you for your comments and your due diligence. Um item number 13, Port Sheldon sewer main repair. Near and dear to move. It's hurt, huh? All right. So moved. Support. Supported. By Kevin. All right. This would be with plumbers environmental. And this came out of utilities. Correct. So got your bids and all got to be done. Any comments? Yeah, go ahead.

Continued repairs in the Port Sheldon Street area. Um we we approved uh replacing two parts of that pipeline uh with Deans and taking it up uh fixing the areas that cannot be lined. And now we're are getting looking for an approval for plumbers to line the rest of that pipe so we can correct these issues. And we've seen a video last time of the bulges in that pipe that are not good. So, that's that's the gist of it. We got to get this this line repaired and we'd like to get it as soon as soon as possible because Joe's really happy it's not caved in yet. We don't want it to either.

Yeah. I just curious that video was so revealing. Um we we don't have it to show to the rest of the Maybe they don't need to see it, but it was startling and powerful. Yeah. And it needs to be done. Yep. More signs of an aging infrastructure, right? Reality. It's a It's a It's one of our older older sewer lines in Georgetown. I think it's over 50 years old if I remember right. You think Dave was involved in it or not? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe Lee, his dad. Yeah, Lee for sure. All right. Anyone else? All right. Hear no one else. All in favor say I.

I. I

opposed. It is passed. At this time, item 14, second, public comment period. As I promised earlier, anyone who is here tonight who would like to address the board on any subject that's on your mind, now is your opportunity. Yes, sir. Step forward. Identify your name, street address, and you have three minutes. Robert Vandervine, 8282 Hardwood Drive, Jennison. Just [laughter] a question. Back in October, New Mexican restaurant named Senor Taco 420 Baldwin applied for a liquor license. And my question is, is that a takeout only or consumable on site?

On site as well. On site.

Yeah. Is the board aware according to MIVive that the corner of Baldwin and Cottonwood is the fourth worst intersection in the state of Michigan? In 2024, you had 47 accidents at that corner. If you look at this site, there's an entrance and exit on both Baldwin and Cottonwood. When you're the fourth worst intersection, what I really don't think you want is alcohol being served and people exiting. I would ask I guess you reconsider that maybe just a package goods takeout only or you just I can just see that 47 going to 60 real quick. I'm sure you've all been through it and it's not I don't know what MDOT did when they redesigned it, but they messed it up big time.

I think I think that'd be our county actually. Mistaken, right? Yes. Ottawa County. Yeah. But [clears throat] I just ask consideration on on that liquor license on the 47th worst intersection in state of Michigan. Okay. Thank you and happy new year. Thank you, M. Thank you. Happy New Year. Anyone else? Yes.

Pete Plowman, 6877 Creek Ridge Court, uh Hudsonville. Um, one thing I've been asking this question for many a long period of time and the question is and I we don't have a comment on the record from you folks on the 48th Street sewer and water pipeline. The question is what is the compelling reason we're doing it? I'd like someone on this board on the record to tell us what that is because if it's not a compelling reason, then we need to delay that project. Save us money because that was our 2024 uh 32 36% increase in our water bill to pay for that. What is that a $20 million project? So, if you could articulate please someone on the record, why are we doing that project? I see that um our neighbors Blendon uh got $600,000 for a new pipeline from where that's not going to take them to the lake. Are they tapping into our water to feed maybe that battery plant that's going in there? I don't think people want to pay for that. So, I would just like to know why we're doing it and if we're doing it for that battery plant that's going into Blendon. Thank you. All right. Anyone else? Sean [snorts] Half1482 Winterfred. I appreciated uh Clerk Kyper's comments about the bidding process. There's been quite a few comments made here about making sure the correct amount of bids are done and so forth. And perhaps if some means are taken like she suggested that might clear up the issues so we don't have have to be raised

consistently. And as far as that bidding uh I forget the name of it me or whatever it was called you know for the with the furniture and so forth bidding. I'm appreciative that uh it appears that there's some people that are at least here kind of double-checking to make sure it really is a good deal. I remember I worked 25, 30 plus years ago at a furniture place and they had a buy one get one free sale. When I walked in there, I looked and I'm like, "Wait a minute, that chair was 250 bucks last week. Now it's 500 and you can buy one get the other one for free. It wasn't a deal at all." And I even t mentioned something the owner and he's like, "Oh yeah, that's you know, we do that all the time or something he said." So, I would encourage um hopefully that every so often someone here at least kind of verifies to make sure it really still is a good deal because uh I have a little distrust with the state and with uh some of these furniture company times with some of their sales that do and just in general sometimes you'll see it's a great deal and then you're like now that was 70% less 2 days ago and now it's 70% off but it's a higher price. So, thank you.

Thanks, Sean. Were the initials of that furniture company Art Van? No, it's uh they're still in business. It's not in Georgetown Township, but um there's se several I think that kind of do those type of sales and I'm always just kind of like Yeah, that's I doubt that's changed, but once in a lifetime sale till next week. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none, we'll close the second public comment period discussion and general information to be shared among the board. Anyone?

So just uh as an example, we did do run the numbers from when we did the DP from the furniture we bought from my deal. We got that from Hworth and then we ran the numbers of Hworth would have sold the M the furniture to us. It was like a $80,000 difference. So I know that with the Chief's vehicle it's $20,000. We knew we couldn't do it. Far as the water pipeline, I've explained this before. I'll do it again. Um, [clears throat] when they put the new water pipeline for Wyoming, that pipe is going to be larger than it's been before. I think it's a 54 in. Is that Joe? Is it a 54 in coming down?

That's what that is. So when you when you increase your pipe to a larger pipe, you lose pressure and you gain volume. That's physics. So what's going to happen when they get that pipeline up and running? We are going to lose pressure. We already are way down in pressure in the Hager Park area. And so we need to increase our pipeline down 48th up Baldwin. So we can fill the water towers but also increase the pressure because we're going to lose pressure when they put that pipeline in service. And we Gavin Newsome had this problem. He didn't do he didn't do his due diligence. That's why they didn't have fires at work. We're not going to have that. We are going to have pressure. We have to increase pressure. And that's why that new pipeline is needed. And actually China could have been in about 10 years ago, but it's going to get done now. That's the reason why it's put in to increase pressure. So there's my explanation.

Appreciate that, Gary. Anyone else?

I had a couple items. Um, I just want to rephrase the idea of more detailed committee meeting minutes. I know we've talked about this before and I know that there are a lot of constraints in terms of the requirement right of somebody to not only take that level of notes but then translate it into a document. Um but it does it does feel like there's a lot of detailed discussion that happens at the committees um that isn't totally translated here at the board. And so even as a board member, I feel like I'm missing out on really important discussions that are happening and I can't imagine what it would feel like then as a as a member of the public who really feels in the dark, right? Um I just I don't know what the solution is, but I would like to continue to investigate that person. And I I feel strongly about this personally because I personally feel like I am missing out on a certain level of detail that I should be privy to. Um, and that's really important to me to feel like I have all the critical pieces of information to do my job well. And I think that's one way to do it. Um, so I just want I don't know how we bring that back to some sort of forefront of a discussion to brainstorm some ideas and what committee that should be in, but I'd like to bring that back uh to the table. And then just the second item I just wanted to say thanks to Jean. The the level of detail in which he looked at that uh lawnmowing bid I think was um pretty impressive and I just think it deserves some kudos that we have members on this board. you know, we looked at it at services committee and you know, then I had a conversation with Jean and you're just like, man, the the level of detail in which you went through that, it's I just have to say it, you know, every single person here on this board

has a different lens with with which we look at things through. Um, and when somebody kind of comes through and really does a really great job, I just think it's worth mentioning. That's all. Thank you. Very nice. Very nice.

Yeah. on what Kelly said. I know and I don't not sure how Ryan does it or what he does, but the planning commission minutes are word for word and why can't we do that same type of thing with some of these other committees? I agree with her. I mean, I looking through what she said. I called and said what was said at the service committee because you can't get you know um a gist of what what the con the discussion was about lawn care or whatever unless I called the board member or whatever but on the planning commission we when we talking about PUD the whole session on there is word for word what everybody said and I know that might take our staff in the office a little bit more time at least That would would definitely and I think he's he must just be recording it and doing a Google thing on I don't know how he's do you do you have any idea what he's

I say I accidentally had my talk to text button on at the joint planning commission meeting the other day. I don't know why I must have just hit it. Let me tell you what, that thing populated every word that was said in that meeting. I think there's ways to do it. Um, I just want to investigate it. Yeah, I agree. Mhm. Clever,

Jim. Chief Dit talked about uh we had 17 wonderful applicants for the fire department and it was u it was an honor to to be a part of it. Very very professionally done. Um set up an incredible format that that Justin had for us. It was two days and uh those people love firefighting and it was that those interviews you could tell was one of the most important things to them in their lives. But it was very impressive and uh I I think we've got it down to about nine or 10 candidates that are very um I was very pleased with. But um their love for firefighting, you could just tell every individual and um they live and breathe it. And anyway,

thank you for sitting in on all those interviews. It was an honor and and I learned a lot. Mhm.

And then uh also um those banners that were we're looking for for the veterans. I've stopped [clears throat] at a few businesses and um uh the nursing or the uh retirement homes and they are very very interested and I think this thing could really take off. Um on Cottonwood Allen Springs uh we went there for the dedication of their veterans facility. uh they loved it and they would like to do something special for their veterans related to that, but they don't have the details all worked out. So, very very exciting. And I talked to Rob, our librarian, and I said, "Uh, can can you give me um something we could take to businesses and say, [clears throat] please consider sponsoring a veteran?" and uh he's working on that and we'll see if we can get it approved and would love to love to get some things really rolling uh by the end of this month and certainly have it wrapped up by February so they can be ordered and we could be in great shape

right it's it's exciting when you talk to people about this they go what a wonderful thing to do and uh Andy and Justin made a really well it was actually through Rob uh his brochure is Beautiful. So fun to do. You and Amy are great promoters, too. Yeah. She's a terrific saleswoman. [laughter] Yeah. Others, I just want to say um how grateful I am that we built that DPW building. If we hadn't, we'd need it. Yep.

Um it's more apparent all the time. I think we've all gone through it. If you haven't, certainly avail yourself of that. I'm so glad because that would only go up and up and up in terms of cost and uh Joel, I know you put a lot of time into that too and and led us through that process, but I'm really glad that we did that. Um and I'm glad to the board, you know, several boards back preceding that got that additional land there way back in the day because land obviously is not getting any less expensive. So anyway, grateful for that. All right. Anyone else? Hearing none, we'll go then to item 16. Uh, from time to time, the board will consider the possibility of property acquisition. Tonight is one of those nights. We're permitted to go into close session on property acquisition to discuss and debate. Uh, but then if there are any decisions made to ever purchase, those have to be done in a public meeting. I'll just tell the uh public this evening that we will be going to close session. When we come out of close session, there will be no business taken, no vote taken, no further business of this uh board this evening. You're welcome to stay, of course. We'll adjourn when we come back out, but that's all we'll do. So, with that in mind, to make your own decisions. So, is there a motion uh by the board here to go into close session for property acquisition discussion?

So, move support. for it. Moved and supported. And then this is one that we need to go by roll call vote. Kelly, yes. Belink, yes. Brassen, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. Very good. Well, we're going to retreat to the small boardroom. So, everyone and then we'll come back out here for the purpose of the journey. Everyone take your

take your mic. All right. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Some move. All in favor say I. I. Meetings adjourned. Utility