3/14/2024 - Solon Township | Regular Meeting Minutes

Summary

The Solon Township Board held a regular meeting on March 14, 2024, addressing key agenda items including the approval of the meeting minutes, a treasurer’s report, public comments, and several new business matters including the hiring of an interim Zoning Administrator and the approval of a lease agreement with the Northern Michigan Rowing Club.

Public Comments

No public comments were recorded during the first public comment segment, but during the second segment, several attendees, including Mary O’Neill and Judy Janosik, inquired about a letter from Betsy Coffia regarding state regulations on windmills and solar panels. O’Neill urged the board to take collective action to protect township rights, to which Steve Yoder responded by affirming that the state regulates these issues.

Parks and Recreation Matters

Mary Taylor reported on the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting held on February 20, 2024. The committee is working on a parks ordinance and considering purchases before the end of the fiscal year. They are aiming to have a clear agreement with adult softball leagues and would like a board member to regularly attend their meetings for better coordination. Additionally, an update on bleachers delivery is awaited, and the next Parks meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2024.

Infrastructure Projects

Several infrastructure projects were discussed: - **Beach Park/Dock**: Three contractor bids were reviewed for dock installation and removal. The board approved the bid from Grand Traverse Maintenance totaling $760.00. - **Roads**: Joan Gauthier requested funds to clean up limbs at Beach Park and mentioned the poor condition of the road due to heavy truck use during past construction.

Other Business

The meeting approved various resolutions including changing the township’s pension anniversary date to April 1, accepting the resignation of Zoning Administrator Tim Cypher, and appointing Christina Deeren as Interim Zoning Administrator until May 9, 2024. The board also approved a lease agreement for the Northern Michigan Rowing Club for the upcoming season.

Financial Summary

Key financial highlights include a reimbursement check of $2,067.54 from Glen Lake for a past election. The treasurer's report detailed various accounts with total funds available amounting to $605,846.32 across multiple funds including Road Improvement and Fire Funds. All vouchers submitted for payment were also approved by unanimous consent of the Board.

Action Items

1. Monitor the hiring process for the new Zoning Administrator post-interim period. 2. Follow up on the preparation and publishing of park needs and agreements with local leagues as discussed in the Parks and Recreation Committee. 3. Address road repair responsibilities due to construction-related damages, as noted by Joan Gauthier. 4. Ensure completion of dock installation as per the approved contract and monitor the upcoming Parks meeting.