General Summary #

The meeting, presided over by Supervisor Jim Slezak, covered a broad range of township business, from routine approval of previous minutes to contentious discussions regarding expenditure approvals. A significant portion of the meeting involved a debate between Trustee Lori Tallman and other board members regarding the approval process for a website design vendor, specifically concerning whether a vendor must be approved individually if the budget was already set.

Infrastructure and public safety were also central themes. Representatives from the Genesee County Road Commission presented plans for a new roundabout at the Lapeer and Oak Road intersection, intended to reduce fatalities. Additionally, the board reviewed departmental updates from the Police, Clerk, Parks, and Building departments, noting various community improvements and upcoming election preparations.

The public comment period featured residents advocating for the establishment of an urban agriculture ordinance to support local food production and small-scale farming within the township. The meeting concluded with the approval of various administrative resolutions, including holiday schedules and personnel changes within the Senior Center Authority.

Key Points #

  • Infrastructure Improvements: The Genesee County Road Commission is proposing a roundabout at the Lapeer/Oak Road intersection to improve safety and reduce fatalities, with a projected township match of $75,000.
  • Labor Agreements: The board approved tentative agreements for both the GECL Hourly and POLC Hourly employee groups, though the GECL vote included a dissenting vote from Clerk Patrick Miller.
  • Financial Oversight: A debate occurred regarding the transparency of vendor selection for the township website, with Trustee Tallman arguing that specific vendors must be approved by the board for expenditures exceeding $5,000.
  • Public Advocacy: Local residents used the public comment period to call for more support for local agriculture and the implementation of an urban agriculture ordinance.

Who #

  • Board Members:
    • Jim Slezak, Supervisor
    • Tim Green, Treasurer
    • Patrick Miller, Clerk
    • Lori Tallman, Trustee
    • Matt Karr, Trustee
  • Officials & Staff:
    • Jay Rendon, Chief of Police
    • Casey Reed, Parks & Rec. Director
    • Matt Place, Building Official
    • Jerry Harris, Deputy Chief
    • David Lattie, Attorney
    • Alex Patsy, Genesee County Road Commission Engineer
    • Steve Sturgis, New Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer
  • Public Participants:
    • Cliff Knasinski (Advocate for urban agriculture)
    • Debra Caryl (Local farmer)
    • Zach Campbell (Resident)

What #

  • Approved Motions:
    • Agenda Adoption: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY GREEN to adopt the August 8, 2022 agenda. (Carried unanimously).
    • Minutes Approval: Approval of July 11, 2022, regular, closed session, and July 29, 2022, special session minutes. (Carried unanimously).
    • Treasurer’s Report: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY GREEN to approve Treasurer’s report. (Carried unanimously).
    • Expenditure Approval: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY GREEN to approve board expenditures of $3,085,969.78. (Carried unanimously).
    • KCIN Support: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY GREEN to approve a Resolution of Support for the County of Genesee for the construction of KCIN. (Carried unanimously).
    • Holiday Schedule: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY TALLMAN to approve the 2022-2025 holiday schedule. (Carried unanimously).
    • Personnel Changes: Approval of Lori Tallman’s resignation from the Senior Center Authority and the appointment of Jim Slezak to the same board. (Carried unanimously).
    • Engineering Services: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY GREEN to approve a $24,500 proposal for water system interconnect engineering using ARPA funds.
    • GECL Hourly Agreement: MOTION BY KARR, SECOND BY TALLMAN to approve the GECL Hourly Tentative Agreement. (Roll Call: Tallman-Yes, Green-Yes, Karr-Yes, Miller-No, Slezak-Yes).
    • POLC Hourly Agreement: MOTION BY GREEN, SECOND BY SLEZAK to approve the POLC Hourly Tentative Agreement. (Carried unanimously).
  • Discussion Items:
    • Discussion regarding the legitimacy of the website vendor selection process.
    • Discussion on the probation and seniority language in the POLC hourly agreement.

When #

  • Meeting Date: August 8, 2022.
  • Projected Start Date: The Lapeer/Oak Road roundabout project is slated to begin in 2023.
  • Fiscal Period: The Treasurer's report covered the start of the 2022/202 33 fiscal year.

Where #

  • Location: Davison Township Municipal Center, 1280 N. Irish Road, Davison, MI.
  • Project Context: Lapeer/Oak Road intersection; Irish Road under I-69.

Why #

  • Roundabout Motivation: To address high-fatality intersections and eliminate congestion.
  • Public Comment Motivation: To encourage local food security and community gardens through changes in township zoning/ordinances.
  • Labor Agreements: To establish finalized terms for hourly employees within the township departments.

Financial Details #

  • Treasurer's Totals:
    • Total Receipts: $1,284,446.93
    • General Fund Income: $49,999.00
    • Water and Sewer Income: $462,385.98
    • Tax Income: $772,061.95
  • Budget Balances (Year-to-Date):
    • General Fund Balance: $8,099,777.00 (5.12% expended)
    • Water and Sewer Balance: $6,946,031.89 (5.31% expended)
  • Board Expenditures (July 11 – Aug 07): $3,085,969.78
  • Project Costs:
    • Roundabout Project: $1,125,000.00 total ($75,000 township match required).
    • Engineering Services: $24,500.00 (funded via ARPA).
  • Building Department Revenue: $2,632.00 from 14 permits (total value $132,438.00).

Action Items #

  • Follow-up: The Board is to monitor future expenditures of over $5,000 to ensure vendor approval is handled according to the Board's expectations.
  • Next Steps: Engineering services for water system interconnect to proceed using ARPA funds.
  • Personnel: New building inspector Steve Sturgis to continue integration into the department.