Annual Meeting (Minutes)

The Empire Township Board convened its annual meeting on March 23, 2024, at the Township Hall, with Supervisor Noonan presiding. The meeting saw the attendance of board members Deegan, Carl Noonan, Casey Noonan, Neiswonger, and Price, along with eleven residents, the Fire Chief, and an Enterprise reporter. Key reports were presented by Glen Lake Fire Chief Bryan Ferguson and Glen Lake Community Library’s librarian, David Diller. Ferguson highlighted the Fire Department’s achievements, including extensive training and the acquisition of new equipment and a new engine. Diller shared the library’s success, noting over 20,000 visitors and 41,000 materials borrowed in 2023, and expressed ongoing efforts to enhance connections with local schools. A significant agenda item was the salary resolution for the clerk position, proposed by Supervisor Noonan. After discussions and a presentation by resident Diana Oberschulte on the clerk’s duties and comparative salaries, a motion to increase the clerk’s salary to $42,000/year was passed with 10 ayes and no nays, with Clerk Neiswonger abstaining.

Following the annual meeting, the Empire Township Board held a budget hearing at 10:25 a.m. on the same day, with the same attendees minus five residents. The purpose was to review the proposed budgets for the fiscal year 2024/2025. The budgets covered various funds including the General Fund, Fire Memorial Fund, Road Fund, Fire Fund, Campground Fund, Cemetery Fund, and Airport Authority, with detailed revenue and expenditure figures presented. With no public comments, the hearing was brief and adjourned at 10:26 a.m.

Immediately after the budget hearing, a special meeting was called at 10:26 a.m. to adopt the 2024/2025 fiscal year budgets. The clerk noted necessary amendments to the 2023/2024 budget, which were approved by the board. These amendments involved transferring funds within the General Fund, Campground Fund, and Cemetery Fund to cover specific expenses. The Empire Township General Appropriation Resolution, outlining the proposed budgets, was then presented and adopted unanimously through a roll call vote. The meeting concluded at 10:29 a.m., marking the end of a series of productive township board sessions.