Board minutes
2021-05 Regular Board Minutes
Middlebury Township PO Box 622, Ovid, Michigan 48866
Draft
Regular Meeting
7627 W. M-21, Ovid, MI
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:00 pm
REGULAR MEETING
Call to Order:
Clerk Tomasek Swan called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Board Members Present:
Supervisor Michael Herendeen-Absent, Clerk Susan Tomasek Swan, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee
Jeff Swan, and Trustee Gene Ruess
Clerk Tomasek Swan Made a motion for Trustee Swan to chair the meeting Stevens seconded the
motion.
Guests Present: guests were present: Colleen Ruess, Deputy Clerk, Jill Ruess, Deputy Treasurer, Mark
Holley, Assessor, Marlene Webster, County Commissioner, Terry Link, Greater Laingsburg Recycler, Ken
Williams, Mrs. Williams, Gary Kiger, Richard Semens, and two other guests.
Scheduled Comments:
Marlene Webster-Commissioner: The board was updated by Ms. Webster of the events at the county
level.
Terry Link, Greater Laingsburg Recyclers- Available to the public and community supported, Bills are in
motion to incentivize people to start recycling, most likely going to pass. Support from Democrats and
Republicans. Revenues are from people are who use the service, subscriptions available, business as
well, they can get a key to the place, revenues from subscriptions should pay for the costs of the
organization. Most of the costs are associated with the transportation of the recycled materials. Located
on Woodbury Road. Types of materials they are going to take are dependent on the market for the
material. Susan Tomasek-Swan will contact them about a subscription and see if
Mark Holley, Assessor- County has opened. Mark presented a check for the first one (Mabbit Road).
There should be not many changes to building assessments this year since Mark went through and re
did all of the measurements for the entire county. Letter from county given to Mark for a new build on
Shaftsburg Rd. Most likely will not see Mark for awhile since there is not much happening. Mark will
email the 4029, that must be approved before September.
Public Comments: Opened at 7:36pm Closed at 7:38pm
Dick Semans inquired about the corner of Carland and M-21. All of the junk sitting outside of the
building. Treasurer Stevens said that it is being worked on and the business is being talked to about it.
Motion to Approve Agenda:
Susan Tomasek-Swan made a motion to approve the agenda as presented with an amendment to
number 3 about the scanner. Carolyn Stevens seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays None Carried
Motion to Approve Minutes:
Susan Tomasek-Swan made a motion to approve the April 14, 2021 minutes as presented. Gene Ruess
seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Motion to approve Bills
Susan Tomasek-Swan made a motion to approve bills from General Funds in the amount of $7,245.73
with checks #5478-5492 and 1 EFTS. seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Tomasek-Swan, J. Swan, Ruess, Stevens Nay: None Absent: Herendeen
Carried
Communications:
MTA- None
Library- Meeting tomorrow, Director taking a leave of absence. Clerk is looking into that for State Aid
purposes. Roof update-was not construct properly, heating the attic for years, ice dam issues, going to
be putting in new insulation up in the attic, hard spray foam instead of blown insulation. Work is now
going to be to $50,000. Library gets a millage into library to pay for the work.
OMESA- Not much to talk about. They are looking at getting a new truck in the future, new signs are
coming up. Waiting for Consumers to hook up the power.
Clerk- None
Assessor-Scheduled comments
Business
1. Cemetery Susan Tomasek-Swan makes a motion to remove the sign at the cemetery. Carolyn
Stevens Seconded motion. J. Swan suggests to look around at new signed options.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Trees at Cemetery- Sexton not confident he can take down a tree without hitting headstones.
Board discusses professional tree services; Robinsons is not in business. Weinerts, Ferrells, etc.
Susan to contact matt and ask him to get quotes for tree removal.
Mystery Bench- Someone put a bench in the cemetery, made out of stone and very heavy.
Against the rules to just put a bench in the cemetery, do they remove it or do they contact the
person who they think put it there. J. Swan suggests to have Matt move it carefully and wait for
the person to call them. Carolyn Stevens makes a motion to move the bench at the cemetery.
Gene Ruess seconded motion.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Driveway Trustee Gene Ruess discusses new driveway. Discusses making the driveway 36 feet
to make one lane coming in and 2 going out (one right and one left). Board discusses trustee
Ruess doing the tree removal and excavator work. J. Swan asks about insurance. Carolyn Stevens
makes a motion to have trustee Ruess to start the paperwork to get the permits to start the
driveway project and ask to increase the driveway from 24 feet to 36 feet. Susan Tomasek-Swan
seconded motion. Discussion on who is doing the work. Mark Woodbury out of Laingsburg is top
of the list.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Scanner- Susan Tomasek-Swan makes a motion to the board to purchase a new scanner for the
clerk to use to image documents. J. Swan says he will get an access point for the scanner we
have and get it working. Carolyn Stevens makes s amotion to buy a new scanner if J, Swan
cannot get the current scanner working up to $500. Susan Tomasek-Swan seconded motion.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Final Comments: Opened at 8:23pm Closed at 8:28pm
Carolyn Stevens received the check from the grass ordinance violation and she cashed it right away.
Ken Williams-things are moving forward, they have a meeting on May 26th, 2021 and things are looking
good. Any zooming zoning ordinances are through Shiawassee County.
Motion to adjourn the meeting: Adjourned at 8:29pm
J. Swan motions to adjourn the meeting. Carolyn Stevens seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: Ayes: All Nays: None Carried
Without objection the Trustee J. Swan adjourned the meeting at 8:29pm.
Next meeting June 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm
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Colleen Ruess
Deputy Clerk