Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting

We were going to go ahead and start with the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May I please ask for a roll call? Supervisor Riley, present. Clerki, present. Treasure Epicanin, present. Trusty Erda Thompson, present. Trusty Jaffford, present. Trusty Raybeck present. Trusty Mills. Madam Supervisor, you have six members present. All right. Thank you. We do have a quorum and I will go ahead and ask for a motion to approve our agenda. Madam Chair, I move to approve the agenda for April 22nd, 2026.

Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. All right. The agenda is approved. I will go ahead and open it up for public comment. We did not receive anything online. Um, but any person may come forward at this time to address the board. Anyone who wishes to speak is requested but not required to state his or her name and address for the record. Okay. Uh, seeing none, I will go ahead and ask for an approval of our minutes. Madam Chair, I move to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on April 8th, 2026. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed.

All right. Our minutes are approved. All right. We'll go ahead and we'll move on to our first item in our presentations. A proclamation of appreciation to Serge Sergeant Ryan Roupert for his service to the residents of Pittsfield Charter Township. And I'll go ahead and ask the director to come on up. Thank you very much. Ryan, could you step up? And Ryan as well.

I'll have you stand right here and then I'll speak into the mic. But this is a public pro proclamation, so we'll do it this way. Okay. Pittsville Charter Township. This is a proclamation recognizing the retirement of Sergeant Ryan Reppert after 27 years of dedicated service. Whereas, Sergeant Ryan Reppert was sworn in as a police officer for Pittsfield Charter Township on August 3rd, 1998. And whereas Sergeant Ryan Reppert served with devotion and distinction in the Department of Public Safety as a patrol officer, accident investigation team investigator, strategic planning team member, field training officer, field training cadray coordinator, and co-coordinator, special events coordinator, radar and lightar instructor, and patrol sergeant. And whereas Sergeant Ryan Reppert assisted in numerous community programs including National Night Out, Presence from Pittsfield, Touch a Truck, Shop with a Hero, Guns and Hoses Charity, working tirelessly to strengthen community trust. And whereas Sergeant Ryan Reppert graduated from Fris State University in 1998 and was certified by the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council as a police officer, earning a bachelor's of science degree in criminal justice. And whereas Sergeant Ryan Reppert received numerous departmental awards and rec and recognitions including director's commendations in 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2003, and 2002. Citizen appreciations, a certificate of congressional recognition in 2010. Departmental commendations in 2009, 7,6 and 1998. unit awards in 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2010. A safe driving award, an MACP certificate of merit in 2003, and an MACP commenation in 2003, and 2002, a NAD certificate of special appreciation in 2007 and recognition as a Selen Chamber of Commerce officer of the year in 2025. And whereas officer after 20 27 years of dedicated service to the community and numerous career accomplishments, awards,

and commendations for outstanding service, Sergeant Ryan Reppert retires with the Pittsfield Charter Township Department of Public Safety on February 20th, 2026. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustee Trustees hereby expresses its sincere appreciation to Sergeant Ryan Reppert for his many years of exemplary service to the residents of the township and wishes him continued success and fulfillment in his future endeavors. Congratulations, Ryan. Thank you. I think we'll cut up and take a picture. And uh I don't know if you could hear all the wows we were saying as it was all being read, but wow. Yes, that's really impressive. Thank you. Thank you much for your service.

Very accomplished. Yes. Very accomplished. You want to like have you pick your officers else want their family. Thank you. Amazing. All right. One, two. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Very, very impressive. It's a party now. Very nice. Very nice. All right. I will go ahead and ask for a motion for our consent agenda. Move to consent agenda 7.1 to 7.6. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor?

I opposed. All right, consent agenda passes and we'll move on to new business. May I ask for a motion for 9.1, please? Madam Chair, I move to adopt a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 general fund public safety fund, parks, millillage fund, building fund, and refuge um fund budget resolution number 26-09. Second. Okay. Okay. Um, we do have our director of finance, um, here, Corey Smith, if anybody has any questions. Um, I will open it to the floor for discussion or questions, either or. Okay, I will ask for a roll call then. Supervisor Riley,

yes. Clerk Anzaldi, yes. Treasure Epicanin, yes. Trusty Thompson, yes. Trusty Jaffer, yes. Trusty Braybeck, yes. Madam Chair, you have six. All right. Thank you. uh resolution is adopted and I will ask for a motion for 9.2, please. Madam Chair, I move to approve uh first reading of ordinance 344 to add chapter 19 non-discrimination to the Pittsfield Charter Township General Code of Ordinances. Second. Okay. Um any discussion on this one or questions? We do have Deputy Aler here. Uh we had the discussion last week or last week, last meeting. Um and hopefully everybody had a chance to look it over and think about it. Um but I will open it up for any discussion or thoughts. All good.

All good. Yeah, I was gonna say. Yeah, I Yeah, a very very nice work by um Deputy Almarker for sure. Um all right, then I will go ahead and ask for a motion. A roll call. A roll call. Sorry. Yes. Okay. Clerk Hensaldi? Yes. Treasure Epicanin? Yes. Trusty Thompson? Yes. Trusty Jeffer? Yes. Trusty Braybeck? Yes. Supervisor Riley? Yes. Madam Chair, you have six. All right. First reading is approved. We will move over to ask for a motion of 9.3, please.

Madam chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to sign a one-year contract extension with county metro dispatch to provide emergency 911 and non-emergency police dispatch services for cost not to exceed $24,6799 subject to the township attorney approval. Second. Okay. Any discussion or questions? We have the director of public safety here. This is an ongoing contract. Um I believe this is um we talked about this before. There was a five-year catchup time. Um I I know I get privy to more information and um I think it's good for the board to know a little about um the background on this if you want to share that.

Absolutely. Thank you. So this is uh again one-year extension. We we started out with Metro Dispatch and for f the first five years that we were with them um contracted with them. The the price did not change at all. U the fees did not change at all. U and they approached us uh in 20 20 2020 2021 and said we we we recognize that we should have been doing this. We didn't do this and we would like to express that we are sorry that we didn't do this but for the next five years we are projecting that we need to do 9%. Um and so we are at the last year of that and so they're they're uh expressing the uh they're they're stating that they want to do collaborative discussions and negotiations moving forward. So this isn't something that we expect to continue.

Yes. So going forward, we'll we'll keep the board up to date of where it goes, but this is the last of the nine year or the 9% five year. Right. It was not ideal. I really do wish that it had been more gradual. Uh because it's hard to explain every year, right? But director Gray, do you I I mean I imagine though uh the next the following contracts are are still going to have an increase, but it's going to be like modest three or 4% or whatever. That's the hope. Yes. Okay. And I would I would really love to lock in something for three years or something like that, too. But that may not be something they want to do. In all honesty, we'd have to look at it at that time and see if we if we want to do that. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, all in favor?

I opposed. All right. That is authorized. May I have a motion for 9.3, please? 94, please. Madam Chair, I move to approve the purchase of one Trimble global navigation satellite system and one Trimble 3D image scanner from Celier Coast Spatial for the Department of Public Safety at a cost not to exceed $49,992. Second. Okay. And again, we have Director um Gray up here. He'll be here for a couple more items. So, any questions on this? Okay. All in favor? I opposed. All right. That passes as well. May I please have a motion for 9.5, please?

Madam Chair, I move to approve the my deal purchase of firearm training ammunition through Kaisler Police Supply at a cost not to exceed $14,230. Second. Okay. Any discussion or questions for Director Gray? Okay. All in favor? I opposed.

All right. That approved as well. May I please have a motion for Oh, yeah. Thank you. You're done now. I do want to um comment that uh today started the the move um of public safety over to the new building and then partially over to parks and rack. So um they've they've really been quite busy um and will be busy the rest of the week doing that. So thank you for being here. Um okay. May I please have a motion for 9.6. Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to um execute the conditional release and assignment agreement with uh Great American Insurance Company to allow the township to receive $275,000 in insurance claim funds related to the Arbor Farms development subject to the township attorney approval.

Second. Okay. We do have um Director West here to answer any questions on this one. All right. All in favor? I opposed. All right. As authorized, may I please have a motion for 9.7? Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to enter into an agreement with Spalding Decker for preparation of the community parks and recreation plan uh from uh 2027 through 2031 at a cost not to exceed $59,711. subject to the township attorney approval. Second.

Okay. Any discussion on this one? We do have um uh interim director um Rich Wade here if anybody has any questions. This is um already gone through the park commission and there was quite a bit of vetting out for this particular um group where the parks department as well as um the chair and the vice chair of the parks um commission uh interviewed several different companies to make sure this is the right one to move forward with the u master plan for parks and wreck which is extremely part important as we know that Pittsfield parks are top-notch. Okay, thank you. All in favor? I opposed. All right. Passes. U may a motion for 9.8.

Madam Chair, I move to authorize payment to ETC Institute to conduct a statistically valid community survey for Pittsfield Charter Township for a cost not to exceed $16,500. Second. Okay. Any discussion? And again, we do have um uh Rich here to answer any questions. This kind of goes in in conjunction with that. This is a comprehensive survey for our um our residents. um and the stakeholders to make sure that we are really getting feedback in in a very meaningful way. Okay. All in favor? I opposed. All right. That passes as well.

And may I please have a motion for 9.9? Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to execute a memorandum of understanding with Pittsfield Township Historical Society to clarify the roles and responsibilities regarding the transfer of the Pittsfield Charter Township Archives to the Bentley Historical Library subject to township attorney approval. Support. Okay. Any discussion? Questions on this one? Okay. All in favor? I opposed. All right, motion passes there and I will ask for a motion for 9.10.

Madam chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to sign an agreement with Corgan moving system for cost not to exceed 122,000 to remove trash bin throughout the township subject to township to approve. Second.

Okay. In discussion, we do have our director of utilities and our director of community development who've been working extremely hard on this. Um, as we know, we moved over to Stevens and as we were, um, ending our contract with priority. Uh, the bins were supposed to be picked up and were not. So, we put our contingency plan into place. Um, we are withholding payment and working with our local council and there also was a um, contingency fund that we're able to pull from. So, it's not coming from taxpayer money. Um, but something had to be done and I will just say thank you to uh whoever you believe in up and around the fates because um those uh trash bands did not go flying during a tornado and that could have been very bad. So um I was very nervous about that. So I think I'm very grateful for our team finding a a contingency plan and getting this done and I know I my neighborhood were being picked up today. So that was nice. Any questions on this or discussion? I do want to thank everybody for being patient.

Yeah. I I would just like to say a comment that, you know, uh in my neighborhood, which I live very close to you, uh the trash bins were being picked up um to the relief of all of the of the neighborhood. I know people have been very um upset about the trash situation. Um but I do feel like sometimes this is what happens when we terminate one contract and move to another. the person that we terminate the contract with always gets a little bit angry or upset or whatever the case may be. Um, and so I I'm very happy and the residents are are going to uh realize that these trash bins are going to be picked up. Um, but I would like to say thank you to Billy and Jessica for trying to figure out a solution. So,

and their team for taking all those phone calls and and especially the utilities teams because every day they were, you know, they were all on the phone every day all day. It was quite man. So, very good job for for them.

Yeah, I saw social media today um saying it was like Santa was arriving. So, yay Christmas in April. All right, Madam Supervisor, I just want to add on that and say publicly thank you to both Jessica and Billy because I heard from several subdivisions. People were quite grumpy about this. And the proactive communication I was able to provide those subdivisions and those residents went a long way for calming and allowed me to say, "Please be patient. This doesn't happen all the time." And the proactive planning and communication and contingency messaging I was able to deliver them really lowered the temperature uh of what I was feeling boiling up. So, thank you very much. Yes. And thank you for delivering it. Yes. So, yes.

Um, I'd like to say thank you. Also, my neighborhood did get picked up and I'm south of these guys, too. So, they were on our street before 8 o'clock this morning. Two big trucks came down and and tonight they're gone. I appreciate that. Thank you. So, yeah, really good good team there. So, I really appreciate it. And not I believe that um yeah, there's not enough thank you for the the team that picks up those uh phone calls every every day. I also forgot to mention that uh Stevens has been around picking up the trash and they seem to be very prompt and positive feedback. It seems like it's a it's a good fit so far.

Yeah. I mean, there's always going to be issues with any with any company. Yeah. Any company, but they are definitely we are the big fish in their in their pond. So, hopefully the customer service continues. All right. Um all in favor? I opposed. All right, that has passed. Uh, so we don't have any unfinished business. So, uh, are there any liaison or trustee reports? Yes, ma'am. Madam, yes, please.

Madam chair, I have a summary to share of action from April 16, 2026 planning commission meeting. The plan commission held in public hearing and approved with condition the resolution of approval and primary site plan for CUP25-08 and CSPA 25-15 early education center. The second was the planning commission held a public hearing and postponed action on reszoning 26-01 and CSPA 2604 Morgan Preserve. The third one was the planning commission approved the preliminary site plan for CSPA 26-07 Eagle Industrial Park lot number five. Next planning commission meeting will be on May 7, 2026.

And do you know if that's going to I I believe that's going to start bringing in uh discussion on the data center um ordinance. That's what Yeah. Yes. Probably next couple meetings. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's going to take more than one meeting to make sure, but I know our staff has been very v vigilant and talking to a bunch of different We're working really hard on really to get a robust um ordinance in place. So I looking forward to hearing that that feedback. Thank you. Okay. Any other trustee reports or less on? Yes.

Um from the um historical commission uh bird the bird house had a a major uh tree that had to come down because of its age and it was rotten in the inside of it um in a historical tree unfortunately. But that's that's what happens. We just don't want it to fall in the house. Um and also with the community garden update, I know we're going to be putting it in with parks and wreck. Um, we our board was making a recommendation to put in a deer fence and somebody else mentioned that the fence that you're going to have underneath the split rail needs to go underneath so that the animals don't burrow underneath and we want this to be successful and we got to watch out for our critters because we don't want that to be the afternoon salad. So, but other than that, I think everything else has been going fine. Um, our our links to our walking tours um is in the final stages and um I don't know that'll when it gets all put together, but I know the U ofM students are wrapping it up and I'm looking forward to seeing their final projects.

A little bit of the demo of it. Looks really good. So, that's exciting. Um, yeah, and I believe the society is also going to be giving some input into the community gardens as well. So, we'll wait to hear from that as well. All right. Um, it's a nice sunny day out, so I'm not going to object too much. Um, we'll open it up for um public comment number two. Any person may come forward at this time to address the board. Anyone who wishes to speak is requested but not required to state his or her name and address for the record. All right, I'm going to go ahead and ask for a motion to adjurnn. Madam chair, I move to adjurnn. Second. Okay. All in favor? I. All right. Meeting is journed at 6:51. Please enjoy the evening. Thank you. Wow.