Plain-language summaries of Centerville Township meeting minutes in Leelanau County, Michigan. Every summary links back to the official source document.
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Board voted 4-0 to request Grand Traverse treatment plant prevent farmland septic disposal and to hire Gourdie Fraser to review failing Schomberg Road retention ponds. Amended compensation schedule and budget passed 4-0; Sheehan's $85/hour fee motion failed. Bzdok will research environmental legal options; Arens to coordinate Rogers property cleanup and billing.
Board approved amending the Interlocal Agreement for equal fire expense sharing and pursuing a new Cedar Area fire station/substation (5-0 votes each). Non-conforming structures may rebuild within existing footprint. Schaub owns compensation schedule; Pleva to research QuickBooks alternatives; AJ Excavating to estimate Rogers property cleanup. Public raised drone concerns and praised data center/groundwater discussions.
Board approved agenda, minutes, invoices, and Treasurer's report (4-0). Kellogg resigned as Planning Commission chair; von Walthausen becomes Chair. Arens and Rogers to resolve property cleanup/financing by July; Schaub, Arens, von Walthausen handle Northgate mediation June 22. Public comments: Deizdeic urged data center moratorium; von Walthausen praised Rogers' farming; Kuhn requested "raw sewage" terminology.
Board approved Cedar Area Fire and Rescue's strategic plan, raising fire millage to 2.50 mills for August's election, and voted to submit a $15,000 grant application (3-1 abstain). Public comments raised septage disposal concerns (Kuhn, Doorlag, Hairston, Zemanek); Schaub will invite attorney Bzdok to discuss. Action items: review AI zoning tool contract, land division fees, Rogers property clean-up tabled.
Board approved agenda/minutes, Treasurer's report, invoice payments, and KCI mailing proposal (4-0). Key actions: Arens/von Walthausen/Schaub to represent township at Northgate mediation (June 22); Arens to assess Rogers property cleanup needs; Bzdok invited to address sewage issue July 8. Public comments: Deizdeic urged data center moratorium; Kuhn requested "raw sewage" terminology; von Walthausen supported Rogers.
Board approved agenda, minutes, treasurer's report, invoices, 2% grant application, and Fire Department strategic plan (4-0); millage increase to 2.50 mills proposed for August ballot. Schaub will invite attorney Bzdok regarding septage disposal, a contentious topic with residents urging local control. Fee schedules, AI zoning tool, and Rogers property clean-up deferred for further review.
Board approved strategic plan, minutes, invoices, and 2% grant application (3-1 abstain); agreed to raise Fire Department millage to 2.50 mills. Schaub will invite attorney Bzdok to discuss septage regulation, a contentious topic with public comments favoring local ordinance control. AI zoning contract review and land division fees remain pending; Rogers cleanup tabled.
Board approved agenda, minutes, treasurer's report, bills, and signor change (Milliron out, Pleva in) 4-0. Cunningham-Limp presented fire station options ($1M-$6M); no decision made. Fire Department millage rising to 2.50 mills in August. Schaub to consult auditor on savings withdrawals; Arens to contact Sheehan on fee schedule. No public comments made.
Board approved minutes, bills, and updated bank signors (removed Milliron, added Pleva). Fire station renovation options ($0-$6M) presented by Cunningham-Limp; fire millage rising to 2.50 mills in August. Action items: Schaub to clarify savings accounting with auditor; Arens to contact Sheehan on fee schedule; Northgate resolution pending court decision. No public comments made.
Board approved amended FY2025-26 budget, appointed Kathy Fordyce to CAFR board, and placed a fire operations millage renewal (up to 2.50 mills) on the August ballot. Pleva will consult QuickBooks expert on fund transfers; Chiles will contact auditors. Resident Bill Rastetter requested budget copy and supported environmental grants for Lake Leelanau; no action taken.
Board approved budget amendment (~$80,000 for legal fees), Kathy Fordyce as CAFR at-large member, and a 2.50-mill fire renewal for August ballot. Action items: Pleva-QuickBooks consult; Chiles-contact auditor Gabridge; Northgate hearing March 16; Annual Meeting March 21. Resident Bill Rastetter requested budget copy, supported Lake Leelanau grant applications; no board response recorded.
Board approved FY2025-26 budget amendment, appointed Kathy Fordyce to CAFR Board, and set Fire Operations millage renewal (2.50 mills) for August ballot. Action items: Pleva to consult QuickBooks expert; Chiles to contact Gabridge and Co. for audit. Resident Bill Rastetter requested budget copy and urged grant applications addressing Lake Leelanau environmental concerns.
Board approved agenda, minutes, treasurer's report, and invoices (including $19,488.66 attorney payment), all 4-0. Arens to arrange meeting with County's Noah Karberg and attorneys on septic disposal. Grobbel assisting temporarily with land divisions. CAFR's DePuy may resign; Fordyce proposed replacement, pending Julian's contact. Campbell suggested moment of silence practice from County.
Board approved amended budget, credit card/ACH policies, 2026 meeting schedule, tax resolutions, salary increases for Supervisor/Clerk/Treasurer, and raised fire millage to 2.50 mills (August election). Public comments covered legal sewage dumping, newsletter access, and the Rogers property appeal denial. Arens tracks Rogers property/Northgate lawsuit (March 16 hearing); Schaub handles fire building assessment; Sheehan starts as Zoning Administrator.
Board approved minutes, Treasurer's report, hired Sheehan as Zoning Administrator ($16,000/yr), adopted prayer policy/compensation schedule, appointed Beeker to Planning Commission, and funded $4,000 toward Fire Department cost analysis. Action items: Schaub drafts job description, contacts Curl for ZBA, raises Fire Department lot ownership; Arens coordinates Rogers cleanup. Lafevre requested silence over prayer; O'Non addressed Rogers matter.
Board rejected Northgate settlement terms after closed session and approved the CAFR 2026-27 budget (5-0), despite concerns over missing Assistant Chief funding. Schaub will review Cypher's contract and raise CAFR budget concerns; Rogers zoning case and Arens' mediation compensation postponed to December. Public commenters Hamilton and Kuhn pressed unresolved septage contamination concerns.
Board rejected Northgate's proposed settlement terms after closed session. Rogers zoning matter postponed pending next meeting; Schaub to review Cypher Group contract given Cypher's hospitalization. CAFR budget lacks Assistant Chief line item—Schaub to raise at next CAFR meeting. Public commenter Hamilton urged monitoring septage testing/FOIA gaps; no formal response given.
Board approved amended agenda, September minutes, Treasurer's report, and bill payments (5-0); decided prayer occurs before Pledge, not part of meeting. Schaub/Kellogg/Arens handle Northgate mediation; Teichner drafts dismissal motion. Peggy Zemanek supported prayer placement; Deb Kubik requested septic issue updates, but Schaub reported no new activity to add.
Board approved agenda, minutes, treasurer's report, invoices (5-0), and adopted prayer before Pledge. Action items: Schaub compiles fire budget comparisons; Arens raises site plan timing at Planning Commission; Board decides on meeting attorneys before Northgate mediation. Public comments: Zemanek supported prayer; Rastetter urged reviewing Northgate application pre-mediation; O'Non concerned about mediation decisions excluding her.
Board approved agenda, minutes, and bills (5-0); septic disposal made standing agenda item after Deb Kuhn's request. Action items: Planning Commission to consult planner/MTA on piecemeal site reviews (Schaub); Chiles to buy oath book; Northgate deposition set for September 15. Public comment featured contention over septic waste disposal to Grand Traverse Waste Facility, supported by Doorlag and Wellman.
Board approved agenda, August minutes, and bills (5-0); no final decisions on septic disposal conflict or Northgate site plan. Schaub to pursue septic resolution; Planning Commission to consult township planner/MTA on piecemeal site plan review policy. Residents (Kuhn, Doorlag, Wellman) urged sending septic waste to Grand Traverse Waste Facility; septic added as standing agenda item.
Board approved the Interlocal Fire Agreement, skipped Master Plan review, discontinued Zoom, and won the Northgate appeal (dismissal due by Wierda; subpoenas due Aug 25). Chiles will fix P&L errors and apply for the parking rock grant; Road Commission will trim the tree at Holy Rosary intersection. Public commenters raised septage dumping and drainage concerns.
Board discontinued Zoom broadcasting (5-0), skipped Master Plan review, and authorized signing the Interlocal Fire Department Agreement; Northgate case won at Court of Appeals. Chiles to apply for parking-lot rock grant and fix P&L errors; Road Commission to trim tree at Holy Rosary intersection. Deb Kuhn urged continued opposition to septic waste dumping on farmland.
Board approved agenda, minutes, bills, and Fire Board's two-year budget (all 5-0). Schaub will raise fire cost-sharing equity with the Fire Board; Cram will prepare Master Plan cost estimates. Closed session on Northgate litigation set for July 15. Public commenters (Baty, Rastetter, Walters) raised cost-sharing fairness, mediation vs. litigation, Master Plan updates, and lagoon issues.
Board approved amended agenda, minutes, bills, and 2-year Fire/Rescue budget (5-0 each). Public comments raised fire funding equity concerns (Baty) and Master Plan review needs (Rastetter). Closed session on Northgate lawsuit set for July 15; Schaub to raise funding equity at Fire Board; Pleva to establish Roads fund; Rastetter to email Master Plan article.
Board approved agenda, minutes, treasurer's report, and invoices; accepted dock repair proposal (Schaub to secure safety post). Rogers property dispute (MI Supreme Court appeal) and Northgate/Leelanau Pines litigation remain unresolved. Public comments highlighted Rogers' site plan denial, Eitzen farm septage concerns, and calls for better Township-community communication. Escrow amount for Northgate appeal still undecided; closed meeting on attorney fees possible soon.
Board approved agenda/minutes and all motions 5-0, including a budget amendment raising insurance/bonds to $15,000 and an Amoritas refund. Citizens raised septic waste disposal concerns (von Walthausen) and Township Hall ADA/driveway improvements (O'Non, Schaub); Pleva to arrange gravel and contact mowing/dock contractor. Commissioner Campbell reported on affordable housing fee proposals.
Board approved agenda, minutes, composting proclamation, Fire/Rescue Interlocal Agreement (5-0), and free Township building use for a septage discussion group. Schaub will discuss Rodgers' cleanup with the attorney pending appeal—a contentious recurring issue (Doorlag vs. Arens). Cram hired as interim planner. Board must set credit card policy and renegotiate QuickBooks rate.
The board unanimously (4-0) adopted the FY 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act and Budget Resolution #2025-02, approximately $15,000 higher than last year, with no wage increases but rising election, insurance, and contractor costs. No public comments were made. Action items: present year-end statement next meeting; continue hiring a Township planner.
Board approved agenda and prior minutes (4-0); allotted $50,000 for road repairs after Road Commission announced no 2025 funding. Action items: Brendan Mullane to attend April meeting on road prioritization; hire new master planner after resignation. Joyce Hartom raised safety concerns about Overby Road parking/condition and district jurisdiction ambiguity between Centerville and Leland.