Tensions were high at the Ontwa Township Hall Monday evening as the board discussed not one, but two contentious topics at its monthly meeting.

Wastewater management expenditures and Ferndale Park where both topics of discussion that brought in heated debate from the community.

First, the board discussed the issue of wastewater management expenditures, an issue that resulted in the resignation of former Wastewater Administrator John Harsh.

Monday evening, the board was slated to approved $9,000 in expenditures to Wightman and Associations for the first of the four planned wastewater projects, which will cost between $150,000 and $250,000. Harsh stated that the real cost of the first project should be around $1,000.

The much higher price is the result of a lack of competitive bidding on the projects and that the projects were automatically given to Wightman, according to Harsh.

The lack of competitive bidding, and the uncertainty that Wightman could be charging the township an unfair price, made Harsh uncomfortable, leading to his resignation, he said.

“These actions were taken without the approval of either the board of trustees or the wastewater board,” Harsh said during public comments. “We have three more large projects in the planning stages, each of which will entail significant engineering effort. I call on the board to determine whether issuing contracts for these projects without competitive bidding is in the public interest, and if not, to establish clear and concise policies regarding bidding and procurement.

In light of Harsh’s comments, the board decided table the issue to discuss at a later date, though the board warned the public to note that the issue was more complex than Harsh’s comments led them to believe.

“[Monday night] was the first time we saw those comments and concerns,” said Township Supervisor Jerry Marchetti. “We need time.”

Marchetti said that both the wastewater board and the board of trustees will review and investigate the concerns over competitive bidding and vote on the expenditures at a later date.

In other business, the board brought forward a resolution at Monday’s meeting to terminate a license agreement between the township and the Ferndale Park Homeowners’ Association over the use of Ferndale Park.

The license was written and approved in 1994, and the Ferndale Park Homeowners’ Association has been maintaining the property ever since. However, earlier this year, the homeowners’ association filed an affidavit of interest on the property in Cass County, something that is prohibited in the license agreement on the park. This action prompted the board to draft the resolution to terminate the license agreement.

“As far as I’m concerned, they have already terminated the agreement by filing this,” said Treasurer Meryl Christensen.

President of the homeowners’ association Karen Crilling said the association filed the paperwork in response to rumors that the board was planning to sell Ferndale Park. She said she was not trying to declare a statement of interest in the property, which is a violation of the license agreement. Instead, she said, the association was attempting ensure that the license agreement was on county records.

“We’ve been maintaining it and paying the insurance on it for 20 years,” Crilling said.

Several trustees were in favor of terminating the the license agreement, not just due to the statement of interest, but also because they believed the property could have work done to make it more accessible to the public.

“I think it’s unfair, if that’s a proper word, that one group has primary access to the a piece of land that is classified as a park in the county,” said Trustee Jerry Duck.

However, not every trustee agreed.

“It is open to the public. Just because people aren’t using it doesn’t mean it’s not open to the public,” said trustee Jeff Kozinski. “I think it’s a win-win for everyone. … [With Ferndale Park under maintained by the homeowner’s association], the township is not paying for upkeep. The township is actually saving money.”

Ultimately the resolution to terminate the license agreement did not pass, as it did not gain enough trustee votes.

“I’m glad it didn’t pass,” Crilling said. “But I’m worried they will try something again.”

Supervisor Marchetti said the board of trustees may revisit the issue at some point, but at the moment, it is too soon to determine if that will be the case.

“We don’t know,” Marchetti said. “[For now], they will just continue with the lease agreement.”

Additional business:

• The board held a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday about the on-going issue of piers on road-ends at lakes. At the meeting, the board once again discussed potential requirements for those on road ends seeking a pier permit. Some of the proposed requirements include: that a pier cannot trespass on other property, the pier must remain open and available for use by the public and the pier must be furnished, installed and maintained by the applicant. The board plans to have the specific requirements ready for a vote by the next regular board meeting in November.

• The board appointed Nathan Brousseau to the ambulance board. Brousseau will be sworn in before the next ambulance board meeting, so as to have immediate voting privileges.