Summary
The Solon Township Board met on February 12, 2026, with all five board members present. Key actions included adopting the Poverty Exemption Income Guidelines resolution, approving salary resolutions for 2026-2027 (including a $1,000 increase for the Clerk), rescheduling the Annual Meeting to Thursday, March 19, 2026, setting a budget workshop for March 12, 2026, approving the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 meeting schedule, and engaging Tobin & Co. to conduct the annual audit. Extensive public comment favored adoption of the Master Plan as presented by the Planning Commission, though board members noted corrections and updated statistics are still needed before a Public Hearing can be scheduled.
Public Comments
During the initial public comment period, several residents spoke in support of adopting the Master Plan as presented by the Planning Commission, including Tim Johnson, Jim Johnson, Karen Smith, Judy Janosik, Dan Petroskey, and Bryan Brzezinski. Speakers emphasized that adopting the plan would help keep the township rural and reflected extensive public input already gathered by the Planning Commission.
During the second public comment period:
- Tim Johnson thanked the board for using microphones, suggested that any trees planted at Vlack's Park be native species, and asked whether a corrected/updated Master Plan would be available to the public before the Public Hearing. He also referenced a sentence in Section 8.4 that Steve Morgan had flagged as inconsistent with the rest of the document, which the Planning Commission hopes to strike.
- Mary O'Neill noted the posted agenda had the wrong meeting time and confusing asterisks. Clerk Shirley Mikowski apologized, explaining she had reused the prior year's February agenda template and forgot to update the time and remove leftover January items.
- Nicole also noted the incorrect meeting time on the website and asked for a recap of the meeting.
- Melinda Lautner expressed encouragement about the board's Master Plan discussion and openness to public input. She raised concerns about traffic congestion on M-72 west of town and how increased housing density on lots under five acres could worsen it. She suggested the board provide a meeting recap under Announcements. She also suggested (as a proposal, not a board decision) exploring a small stipend for Kelly Claar and the rest of the Parks and Recreation Committee given their workload, expressing a desire not to lose Kelly from that role.
- Judy Janosik thanked the board for using microphones.
- Joy Johnson asked Joan Gauthier if the corrected Master Plan would be completed by March 12; Joan said she hopes so.
- Jim Johnson raised concerns about AI facilities being built around the country and the negative reactions from communities where they've been sited. He suggested the township proactively have its attorney prepare relevant protections in advance.
No written correspondence was reported (Correspondence item was empty).
Parks and Recreation Matters
Kelly Claar reported the Parks and Recreation Committee attempted to meet January 20, 2026, but weather prevented it; they met instead on their regular date, January 27, 2026, without a quorum. The committee discussed schedules, meeting times, and upcoming goals but did not finalize anything in writing pending a full committee meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2026, at 6:30 P.M. at the Solon Township Hall.
There was no update on the Beach Park; Kelly Claar emailed Robyn Schmidt of the DEQ but had not received a response.
Regarding Vlack's Park, Kelly Claar said no new work will occur until spring. She would like to budget for tree planting and install a gate. Chris Comeaux asked her to check with Deering Tree Service about clearing the area to reduce fire hazard risk. Tim Johnson (public comment) suggested any new trees be native species.
Joan Gauthier asked about contacting Thom Greene, a historic restoration architect willing to help find funding for the Solon Schoolhouse project; Kelly Claar confirmed she has the correct contact information.
The Parks Improvement Fund balance was reported at $20,000.00, and the Parks and Recreation Fund (non-township funds) totaled $22,939.48 (including a $10,398.53 CD).
In public comment, Melinda Lautner suggested exploring a small stipend for Kelly Claar and Parks Committee members given their workload; this was raised as a resident suggestion, not a board decision.
Infrastructure Projects
The Treasurer's Report listed a Cedar River Marina Project fund balance of $10,089.44 plus a Cedar River CD of $15,422.65, totaling $25,512.09 in non-township funds. No discussion or action regarding the marina project was recorded elsewhere in the minutes.
Other Business
- Township Hall/Repairs: Corey Flaska is expected to return the township's deposit for office construction, minus the cost of the plan drawn up. Clerk Shirley Mikowski will follow up with Mr. Flaska.
- Fire Department: Chris Comeaux reported Grand Traverse County is creating its own MAVIS division; the department adopted Tobin & Co. to perform its audit; Chief Doornbos has drafted an annual report for presentation at the annual meeting; the department remains on track with its current budget. There is no update on building the Kasson Fire Station, but a written plan and financials for updating the Cedar Fire Station are expected by budget time.
- Cedar Chamber of Commerce: Steve Yoder reported the Chamber did not meet in February.
- MTA/Board Policies: Remains tabled.
- Cemetery: Remains tabled.
- Parks Ordinance: Kim Smith is updating the November draft received from Christina Deeren and will email it to Shirley Mikowski for proofreading before forwarding to the rest of the board.
- Planning Commission Report: The Commission met February 3, 2026, with all members present. They are rewriting language for Article 22; working on Article 16.04 to allow more land for storage buildings without requiring a permit; eliminating the Demo permit fee; revising the Short Term Rental Ordinance (led by ZA Sara Kopriva) to be simpler and more user-friendly; and the Leelanau County Planning Commission returned the Food Truck Ordinance with minor changes. Chris Comeaux noted Sara Kopriva was a key contributor to Elmwood Township's Short Term Rental Ordinance.
- Master Plan: The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing and approved forwarding the Master Plan to the township board, which must hold its own Public Hearing before adoption. Joan Gauthier identified errors and outdated statistics needing correction and plans to contact the Equalization Department for updated figures. Steve Morgan noted the Planning Commission has worked on the plan since 2019, with statistics gathered in 2022-2023, and wants to move forward with scheduling a Public Hearing. The board agreed to schedule a Public Hearing once the new meeting schedule (addressed under New Business) is approved.
Financial Summary
Treasurer Joan Gauthier reported a CD renewed for three months at 3%. Key account balances included:
- Huntington Bank Checking: $27,308.64
- Huntington Bank General Savings (2010): $34,241.71
- Huntington Bank General Savings CDs: $108,610.26 and $54,408.14 (Total General Savings: $197,260.11)
- Total Funds Available: $224,568.75
- Road Improvement Fund (savings and CD): Total $31,135.99
- Fire Fund Savings and CDs: Total Fire Sinking $163,309.46
- Sidewalk Fund: Total $19,130.46
- Parks Improvement Fund: $20,000.00
- Total Other Township Funds Available: $233,575.91
- Total Current Assets: $458,144.66
- Non-Township Funds: Cedar River Marina Project total $25,512.09; Parks and Recreation Fund total $22,939.48
Vouchers #16256-16289 were approved for payment. Motion by Steve Morgan, seconded by Kelly Claar, to accept the Treasurer's report and pay vouchers as presented; motion carried 5-0.
The board adopted Resolution No. 2026-02-12-1 setting Poverty Exemption Income Guidelines and Asset Test for the Board of Review (roll call vote: 5 yeas, 0 nays).
Salary resolutions for 2026-2027 were adopted by roll call votes (each 5 yeas, 0 nays):
- Supervisor's salary to remain at $14,000.00
- Treasurer's salary to remain at $21,000.00
- Clerk's salary increased by $1,000.00, from $25,000.00 to $26,000.00
- Trustee per diem to remain at $135.00
The board approved engaging Tobin & Co., P.C. to prepare the audit for the year ending March 31, 2026, for a fee not to exceed $4,200.00, out-of-pocket costs not to exceed $100.00, $400.00 for form F-65 preparation in audit year, and $600.00 in non-audit year. Motion carried 5-0.
Action Items
- Shirley Mikowski to follow up with Corey Flaska regarding return of the township's deposit for office construction.
- Kelly Claar to check with Deering Tree Service regarding clean-up plans at Vlack's Park to reduce fire hazard.
- Kelly Claar to continue outreach to Robyn Schmidt (DEQ) regarding Beach Park; no response received yet.
- Kim Smith to finalize typed update of the Parks Ordinance and send to Shirley Mikowski for proofreading before board distribution.
- Joan Gauthier to contact the Equalization Department to obtain corrected statistics for the Master Plan and to complete corrections, targeting completion by March 12 if possible.
- Board to schedule a Public Hearing on the Master Plan once the new meeting schedule is finalized.
- Chief Doornbos to present the fire department's annual report at the annual meeting.