Township Board - Regular Meeting

So we've had this since two months, three months now. I think we've been long and sober. So does anybody have any, what's the wishes? Do we want to do anything? Do we want to make a motion? Do we want to consider? Do we want to talk about what we want to do?

Well, I would not make a motion to approve this. So I don't know if there's somebody else that wants to make that motion. Okay.

You're entertaining, nothing?

So just for the purpose of public education, this is a map from the state of Michigan's geological website that shows all the existing dry holes, wells, and types of production being from Mecklenburg Township. So it's a little disingenuous to think that there already haven't been scores of holes poked into the environment here with And I'm not saying for or against the agreement. I'm just saying, to say that an ecomatometric is pristine and free of oil and gas is just not accurate in any stretch of your imagination. All of Manistee County is hot market oil and gas wealth. And for what it is, that's what it is. Okay.

Well, in the, Wayne Jones, when he came in our last meeting, there was no use of any kind of vehicles or equipment to resolve people walking with a backpack. What she's speaking of is the old way they used to use it. Oh, okay. Totally different. Yeah, because he was saying they have a backpack and they walk in with a charger so it doesn't fall to the sides of a... If you remember what he said, they put them, I don't know how many square feet. He said how many square feet. I don't remember last month. It was 60 or 100, whatever it was. They put those little things, the readers. Yeah. They set the small charge off and they just go back. Those are radio receivers. They're all tied in together. They just go back and pick them up. They don't drive. Right. I mean, just so people are aware of your statement that they don't do that. That's not the way to do it. They don't drive and it's a guy walking with a backpack. It's totally different. They don't drag wires anymore.

Is that available for public? Like, can we look and see how they do it? Is that billable?

It would be on the video for the last meeting. He came and gave like a whole spiel about it. No vehicles. Usually they walk in with a backpack.

Where are these parcels at?

11 mile urban road on the north side of the township on the west side of urban road. Okay. Township owned? Mm-hmm. Yeah, we're just dealing with two pieces or three. Well, the cemetery, no, there's four. It's where the cemetery is, too. So, they wouldn't do any testing near the cemetery?

No, they're not.

They're not drilling in the cemetery? They don't drill out where they put a hole in the cemetery, yeah. I think it was the 40 acres. If there's no motion, I've got nowhere to go. So anybody making a motion? Okay, then we're moving on. That's going to die for lack of support or a motion. Consideration of parks and rec committee grant for the Woodland Web Project, which we have in front of you, which is turned in with a budget. Vic, do you want to say anything or just let it stand that it's Michelle's project? Well, I think all that she submitted was a pretty accurate description of what she's looking for. I don't know that I can really add anything to it. The application was pretty complete.

I'll make a motion we appeal to submit over the grant application for the Woodland Web Project. I support that.

Any discussion, if not all they were saying I. I think we need to work on. I'm sorry to send it money. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, okay. In your resolution number.

2026-17, a resolution in support of the 2026 Manistee County Community Foundation grant application.

Okay.

And she's requesting $8,561.41 from the Manistee County Community Foundation with a township match of $1,000 for a total project cost of $9,561.41. Okay.

You're making that motion?

We've already made the motion. I'm just reading the numbers out loud for the public.

I know we voted on it, but we didn't say resolution. Okay. Then that's passed. Public comment. I'm sorry.

Go ahead. Well, so I guess I'll bring it up to date. I had planned on having a different action taken here, but Relative to the DNR bulk launch, I believe we discussed how we just recently received the plans and specs approved from licensing and regulation. And so because of that being as late as it was, a big package wasn't able to be prepared and sent out, which we have since done. My concern in talking to two different contractors so far is, is the inability to get the project done by the time asphalt companies close. Now, I'm still waiting to hear from two or three, and so it's still possible, but I'm not very hopeful about it. In the meantime, I did talk to Manistee County Community Foundation. Sarah and I had a conversation, and I expressed my concern because if I were to submit the grant, And then we weren't able to meet the deadline of getting it done. The numbers might not be good for next year if we had to do it. And although her preference in our discussion would be to just be nice and clean about it and wait till next spring, go off cycle so that we're able to get it done before Memorial Day, as an example, I'm still willing to submit it. at the 10% that we had talked about, or $10,000. I'm assuming it's going to come in at $100,000 or less based on Spicer Group's estimate, but I'm just making everybody aware that I really will not know until our next board meeting whether this is a go or not, this grant cycle. My original intent was to get a formal motion because going through the minutes, even though we put the money in the budget, we've talked about it. We really never did a motion about the new amount, but I don't even, I can't even tell you what the amount of the grant would be because I don't have any numbers right now. So. Are they okay with going off cycle in the spring? Yeah. Well, what we talked about, um, because my concern that is, I mean, this is Greg. This will be year three. I want to say two. I don't know if they do it in the spring. Two, but it still would be two. And it's been primarily the state's delay. What I talked to Sarah about is that I would want to see the work done before Memorial Day, which would be before the grant cycle and the award of that grant cycle in May. And so what we discussed is that assuming contractors are ready to give us numbers by February or March, which two contractors I've talked to said by then that's when they're starting to bid their work. If I submitted a grant then, then it would be ready for consideration.

I am skeptical about laying asphalt when it gets cold. It leads to bad results. And most of the boat traffic is done now for the season, so I'd be supportive of doing it in spring.

So am I, but I'm trying to be sensitive to the Harbor Commission, who would really like to see it move forward. forward, but I did talk to Jim today and I said, I just think we're going to have a better project in the spring. Supporting what you just said, but my other concern is if we only get one contractor, let's say to bid, who could get it done? I don't know if that's the best price. No. As opposed to if we had four people able to bid when they're able to do it. So I've got mixed feelings about it. Well, they're all busy right now.

They're all trying to finish up their year. We would be working as an effort. And they're going to bid it high.

And they're going to bid it high anyways. Okay. Correct. Okay. So I'm saying it's been going on for long enough. Well, it's another. Nobody uses it.

So I'm not saying it's dead. Right. But I'm just making everybody aware of what the situation is and what I've been weighing in. Okay.

That's it. Okay. I also received two comment letters for the lease for seismic. Okay. So back to public comment, Dan. Okay. Has the steering committee or the fire authority provided the township board draft of the articles of incorporation?

Not yet. The draft is being worked on still.

That's it? Okay, thank you. Anybody else? No? I'm adjourning the meeting, ma'am. Thank you for coming.