Matthew Edmund Semrau

Entrepreneur, Writer, Abolitionist, Christian

You are here: Home / Blog / Independence Township has some big budget plans

Independence Township has some big budget plans

by

Independence Township has some big budget plans
by Matthew E. Semrau
April 17, 2013

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Wednesday evening marked the second bi-weekly meeting of the Independence Township board of trustees. Among the items on the agenda were big spending plans, future sewer projects, more news about a potential hospital, and support for a local girl in a coma.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence and prayer for the victims of Monday’s attack in Boston. After approving the night’s agenda, the floor was opened to any comments by members of the community. This was followed by a presentation by Rick Yaeger, the township budget analyst on the capital investment plan (or CIP) currently being evaluated by the township board.

A CIP is basically a plan for a municipality to acquire or repair major assets above a certain value that will be around for longer than a year. Examples include major public works projects, significant building renovations, or acquiring completely new structures.

The plan being considered before the committee will be for the next ten years, detailing needed improvements, and the source of the needed funds.

According to Yaeger,  “We’re looking strictly at the general fund where the bulk of the dollars that need to be spent are. Most of those dollars are from our parks and rec division. To upgrade all of the equipment, playing fields, buildings, different things like that. That’s where most of the improvements are coming from.”

The capital investment plan is nothing new. According to trustee David Lohmeier, “It was a long process to get this CIP together. Identifying the right things to put on capital versus what we should we expend each year.” Lohmeier served on the previous board which term ended last year.  

“We basically approved the plan, recognized and agreed that we were supportive of the things that were in there at the time. We kind of held short of saying ‘Okay, now let’s commit to spending this at the end of this year and stick the new board with it.’ So that’s the reason why it wasn’t a commitment to the funds.”

Township supervisor, Patrick Kittle, added, “In the future you’ll be seeing a motion not to spend the money, but just to isolate it into a separate checking account so it doesn’t muddy up the financials.” He continued adding that it was “So we can keep our forecast clear, and fully transparent about where we are against the plan. But then have that little checkbook off to the side so you can see exactly where we’re spending and what we’re going to spend it on.”

Lohmeier compared it, “In layman’s terms,” to “a Christmas fund.” Referring to how some individuals create a separate bank account just for buying Christmas presents so they don’t eat into the money for household expenses.

At the end of the meeting, Kittle presented a motion to create the isolated account for when the time came for approving the capital investment plan. The motion was passed unanimously and $1 million were appropriated from the general fund for this new account.

When asked to identify the most important budget issue facing Independence Township, Kittle responded, “I don’t think there is an unimportant budget issue. They are all important to make sure we spend the townships money as wisely as we can. We need to think of this township as our little company, and any money we can save can fall down to our profit line. That’s how I like to look at things.” Adding that since taking office, attitudes towards the budget are “starting to turn that way. It’s pretty exciting to see that culture change.”

Two other major issues on the agenda involved contracts regarding the township’s sewers. Steven Joppich, Township Attorney, and a partner of Johnson, Rosati, Schultz & Joppich, PC;  summarized the current state of the contracts.

The first being the Clinton-Oakland Sewage Disposal System 2013 Inter-Municipal Contract. The length of the contracts name was not lost on Joppich who quipped, “That’s a mouthful. I know. Just wait until you see the resolution I prepared for you.” Chuckles were exchanged around the room.

Joppich explained, “What it boils down to is that it is an extension and an update to current needs and demands of the existing contracts that were put into place starting back in 1967 when this whole system was originally established.”

The second contract addressed the Systems Perry Street Diversion Contract, which, according to Joppich, “is being done to address various overflow issues, capacity challenges that are encountered by a number of communities, and to provide what will amount to some excess capacity that they expect to occur that will accommodate future growth potential.” He added that the project will address some environmental concerns brought forth by the state of Michigan regarding sewage overflow.

Kittle lead opening the floor to comment by board members by reading a letter from the North Oakland Mutual Aid Association (NOMAA) which in their last board meeting adopted a resolution in support of McClaren Health Center building a hospital with a level II trauma center in Independence Township. In addition, the resolution acknowledged the hospital would create 600 short term construction jobs, and significantly more permanent medical-related jobs.

Trustee Andrea Schroeder also took the opportunity to bring attention to a local girl — Maysie Jean, 8 — who had been recently placed in medically induced coma. Andrea explained, “She has been in the hospital for a month, and her mom hasn’t left the hospital since. This little girl and her family could use any support or prayers you can offer.”

Speaking with Schroeder after the meeting, she explained that Maysie Jean and her family were close friends. Maysie Jean attends Pine Knob Elementary School as does one of Schroeder’s children. Although Schroeder did not want to identify the family without their permission, she encouraged the sharing of a Facebook page that was setup by Maysie Jean’s family titled “Wake up Maysie Jean.”

Maysie Jean’s Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/WakeUpMaysieJean . Minutes, agendas, and other information regarding Independence Township can be found at http://twp.independence.mi.us/ .

 

Medium to be Published: I have already submitted it to the Clarkston News.

Word Count: 1021

Interviewed:

Resources: