Niles Charter Township Tuesday night directed Jeff Dunlap, its building official, to secure demolition bids for the former Ewert’s Pets property at 2059 S. Third St., two doors from the fire station.

The township acquired the property, which includes the boarded-up business, an adjacent house and a wooded three-acre parcel for $17,000 because of the proximity to its park land for long-range development.

“The slab needs to come up at the same time because of asbestos in the flooring,” said Trustee Richard Cooper, who made the motion which passed 7-0.

Dunlap said there are 510 square feet of non-friable tiles.

“It’s friable if you can pulverize it with your bare hand,” Dunlap said.

 

Water agreement

with Ind. subdivision

 

The township board voted 7-0 to accept a water contract which will generate an additional $22,000 to $23,000 in annual revenue from new customers tapping in from the 282-home Wedgewood Park subdivision in Indiana.

“We’ve got ample water,” Treasurer James Ringler said. “They figure to use 16 million gallons a year. If you’re a township resident, you’re paying 80 cents per thousand. They will be paying $1.30 a thousand.”

 

Resolutions approved

 

The board passed five financial resolutions after a public hearing prior to the meeting.

Levying one mill for the general fund will generate $308,383 after a Headlee tax limitation rollback, according to Clerk Marge Durm-Hiatt.

For fire operation and maintenance, the township is allowed to levy up to 2.5 mills.

“Last year,” the clerk said, “we didn’t have to levy that much, but the fund balance is not looking quite so good this year. There was a lot of overtime. The full 2.5 mills generates $817,945.”

Fire capital improvement continues at .75 mill, or less than 3 mills allowed.

“This generates $245,382,” Durm-Hiatt said. “This will cover the last payment on the new building.”

There are 16 streetlight districts, across which will be spread a cost of $32,941.

Finally, if the millage passes Nov. 6 for police protection by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, there will be $353,165. Supervisor Jim Kidwell voted no.

Trustee Richard Noble contacted the Michigan Department of Transportation about mowing high weeds north of Teachers Credit Union.

“When you turn left, you cannot see traffic going south,” he said.

Noble also said potholes at the corner of Ontario and Brick were filled Tuesday.

Ringler announced hydrants will be flushed the week of Sept. 17-21.