Cass County Board of Commissioners (May 4)

Roll call: Commissioners present — Terry Ausra, Annie File, Michael Grice, Skip Dyes, Robert Ziliak, Roseann Marchetti and E. Clark Cobb. Commissioners absent — None.

Consent agenda: The commissioners approved the following items in a single roll call vote:

• A motion approving claims, in the amount of $3,902,424.73.

• A motion approving the purchase and installation of a new jail water heater replacement from R.W. Lapine for $11,569.

• A motion to approve the reclassification of probate register/adoption specialist position to Grade 13 Step 1.

Moved by Dyes, seconded by Ausra. Yes: Unanimous.

Committee of the Whole: The board upheld a previous resolution that eliminated the second committee of the whole meeting every month. The county administrator will prepare and distribute a proposed agenda to the full board the Friday preceding the second regular board meeting of the month.

MERS discussion: The board agreed to host a future discussion on the county’s retirement program, the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System. Moved by Marchetti, seconded by Dyes. Motion carried by voice vote.

Equalization director: The board appointed Tami Stewart as the new equalization director, effective May 1, and approved the classification of the position at Grade 13. Motion by Ziliak, seconded by Ausra. Yes: File, Dyes, Ziliak, Marchetti, Cobb and Ausra. No: Grice.

Pokagon Township (May 10)

Roll call: Members present — Linda Preston, Gary Mihills, Kevin Young, Renee Meiser, and Bob Shaffer. Absent — None.

Payment of bills: The board approved the payment of $46,551.81 worth of bills. Motion by Shaffer, seconded by Young. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Reduction of road treatment: The board approved a motion to apply one treatment of 42 percent liquid calcium chloride on all gravel roads this year instead of the usual two, on a trial basis. Motion by Mihills, seconded by Young. Motion carried.

Rejection of tax reverted property: The board approved a motion to reject the township taking ownership of a tax reverted property at 30253 Wells St. Motion by Mihills, seconded by Shaffer. Motion carried.

Fund transfer: The board approved a motion to move $300,000 to the township capital improvement fund as directed by the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget. Motion by Young, seconded by Mihills. Motion carried.

Silver Creek Township (May 10)

Roll call: Members present — Supervisor Bill Saunders, Clerk Barbara Runyon, Treasurer Maureen Kuriata, Trustee Bill Zuhl and Trustee Mike Glynn. Members absent — None.

Payment of bills: The board approved the payment of $70,544.85 worth of bills. Motion by Runyon, supported by Saunders. Yes: Unanimous.

Hazardous materials ordinance: The board approved a new ordinance, Ordinance 17-01, that establishes charges for township emergency services responding to an incident involving hazardous materials under P.A. 102 of 1990, as amended; to define hazardous materials subject to such charges; and to provide for the collection of such charges. Moved by Glynn, seconded by Zuhl. Yes: Unanimous.

Indian Lake sewer charges: The township passed an amendment to ordinance 89-01 and 12-01, increasing the flat monthly rate of access to the Indian Lake Sewer System from $25 to $35. Motion by Kuriata, seconded by Glynn. Yes: Unanimous.

Sister Lakes Sewer Authority charges: The township board approved a resolution increasing the monthly access fees for the Sister Lakes Sewer Authority to $35, effective July 1, to support ongoing cost of sewer maintenance. Motion by Glynn, seconded by Saunders. Yes: Unanimous.

Township generator: The board agreed to move forward with purchasing an emergency generator for township hall. Runyon will prepare a request for proposal for the equipment, per the township’s purchasing policy. The township has already set aside $25,000 in the public improvement fund for the purchase. Motion by Zuhl, seconded by Kuriata. Motion carried by voice vote.