Summary
The Glen Arbor Township Board met May 21, 2024, approving routine business, the Content Neutral Zoning Ordinance 5.0, and financial reports. The most extensive discussion involved the future use of tennis courts 3 & 4, which the Board resolved by dedicating the rebuilt courts to tennis only while agreeing to gather usage data through the summer before revisiting courts 1 & 2 for possible pickleball expansion.
Public Comments
No public comment was offered at the meeting's opening. Later, regarding the tennis/pickleball court issue, Supervisor Laureto noted the Board had received 27 emails from residents. Nine members of the public spoke in favor of lining courts for both pickleball and tennis, citing higher pickleball demand, national trends toward multi-use "sport courts," and community benefits; one suggested lining one court for both sports. Nine members of the public spoke against dual-lining, citing confusion from overlapping lines, noise conflicts, differing game lengths, difficulty policing use, and tennis's long history at the park; they urged the Board not to "fix the pickleball problem." No other written correspondence beyond the emails was summarized.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Supervisor Laureto recapped that two prior $400K grant applications to redo/expand courts 3 & 4 for both sports were denied, leading to a resident-obtained $90K contractor quote, previously approved by the Board. After lengthy debate, Trustee Hawley, Trustee DePuy, Clerk Laureto, and Treasurer Lewis all favored gathering usage data before deciding on courts 1 & 2. Motion (D. Lewis/P. Laureto) to rebuild courts 3 & 4 for tennis only, continuing to explore options for courts 1 & 2, carried unanimously. Motion (B. Hawley/P. Laureto) to gather data over the summer and revisit courts 1 & 2 also carried unanimously. Separately, tree work at the Park and Garden was approved via an $800.00 quote from Tobin Tree Service (J. DePuy/D. Lewis, carried). Clerk Laureto reported 15+ volunteers at a recent park work bee, hanging wind screens and weeding.
Infrastructure Projects
The Township Hall parking lot project, aimed at correcting drainage issues causing water seepage into the office, is expected to have its asphalt work completed before the first farmers market. A lighting project replacing 15 fluorescent troffers with dimmable LED fixtures is underway, with an electrician scheduled the following week. Fire Chief Ferguson presented a five-step plan for Station 1 renovations (bedroom and kitchen reconfiguration) using RCI Construction; the Board approved Step 1, authorizing a $6,000 check to the architect and a $3,784 check to RCI Construction, funded from Glen Arbor's portion of Fire Department funds (D. Lewis/J. DePuy, carried unanimously).
Other Business
Wireless internet access quotes for the parking lot, meeting room, and hall (lost when Aspen withdrew) were approved for pursuit (D. Lewis/J. DePuy). A shared server purchase for the Township and Fire Department, split 50/50, was approved via Netlink (J. DePuy/D. Lewis), along with $3,448.00 for related equipment/software (D. Lewis/J. DePuy). A security camera quote received that afternoon will be reviewed by the Chief and Clerk and presented next month. The ad hoc cemetery committee's request to donate to a historian was denied, as the Township cannot make such donations. An Oaths of Office Policy (Policy 1-2024) for new full-time Fire Department employees was approved (D. Lewis/B. Hawley). Chief Ferguson proposed submitting a 2% tribal grant request for $52,000 in fire/rescue boat electronics, with a 60/40 split ($21,200 Township/$31,800 tribe); motion made (D. Lewis/P. Laureto), covering the Manistee-to-Charlevoix service area. The Planning Commission reported leaving the keyholing ordinance unchanged, with future discussions planned on shipping containers, solar/wind, accessory dwelling units, and fences. Clerk Laureto will attend an MTA election law seminar in Gaylord; Supervisor Laureto shared information on EV charging stations.
Financial Summary
As of 4/30/24, fund balances included: General Fund $1,151,680.92; Park Debt Service Fund $98,645.65; Emergency Services Fund $3,324,544.89; Fisher Lake SAD Fund $21,717.23; GLFD Debt Service Fund $4,135.02; Tax Collection Fund $14,314.57. General Fund bills (4/13–5/21/24) totaled $27,658.73 with April payroll of $19,042.77, approved (B. Hawley/D. Lewis). Emergency Services bills (4/11–5/14/24) totaled $94,352.47 with April payroll of $112,308.66, approved (P. Laureto/J. DePuy). Additional approved expenditures: $800.00 tree service; $3,448.00 server equipment/software; $6,000 and $3,784 for Station 1 renovation Step 1; and a proposed $52,000 fire boat electronics grant split 60/40 ($21,200 Township, $31,800 tribe if awarded).
Action Items
- Gather tennis/pickleball court usage data throughout the summer; revisit courts 1 & 2 options afterward.
- Chief Ferguson and Clerk Laureto to review the newly received security camera quote with the vendor and present it at next month's meeting.
- Advise the ad hoc cemetery committee that the Township cannot fund a donation to the historian.
- Fire Department to await FEMA's response on the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus grant.
- Clerk Laureto to attend the MTA election law seminar in Gaylord.
- Proceed with Step 1 of Station 1 renovation plan with RCI Construction and the architect.