March 4, 2024
The Bennington Township regular board meeting was called to order by Supervisor Lee Ash on March 4, 2024, 7:00pm, at the Township Hall.
Present: Jim Forsythe, Matt Dutcher, Lee Ash, Cody Baker, Donna Ash.
Forsythe moved to approve the agenda as printed. Second by Baker. Motion carried.
Forsythe moved to approve the minutes for the February 5, 2024 regular board meeting as printed. Second by L. Ash. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Forsythe moved to accept the Treasurer’s report as presented. Second by Dutcher. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Forsythe moved to pay bills as presented in the amount of $16,034.86. Second by Baker. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Public Comment:
Resident asked if the road mowing would resume, specifically Friegel Rd. L. Ash stated that mowing would resume and that this is done by the county.
Resident asked about an Early Voting polling place card that was sent to someone who no longer lives at that address. D. Ash responded that she could start the process to remove from the voter list.
Trent Adkins, Perry Fire Chief- Updated the board about activity and would be present if there were any questions regarding the contract.
Jason Hannath, DTE Site Manager – spoke about working with Townships regarding solar projects.
Board Reports:
Library – Kim White Shiawassee District Library Director – Commented that the Durand Branch has been recently renovated and that numbers for usage are returning to preCOVID numbers. Addressed the board about reaching peoples outside of the building walls and would like to partner with the Township to provide some services at the Township.
Plan Comm – D. Ash – Recommended approval of one Lot Line Adjustment.
Roads – L. Ash – 2024 Road Projects
Second by Forsythe. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Old Business:
SSESA contract – A new contract was received from SSESA to provide additional services within the Township to cover the portion that MMR will no longer be covering. There was discussion with Chief Adkins regarding the contract, concerns from the board that he will discuss with the SSESA Board.
Dutcher moved to accept the contract from SSESA with exception of paragraph 6C regarding Rate Adjustment. Second by Forsythe. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
New Business:
Salary Adjustments – Dutcher moved to give a salary increase of $3,000 to both the Clerk and Assessor. Second by L. Ash. L. Ash moved to amend the main motion by changing the salary increase for the Clerk to be an annual amount of $26,000 for the Clerk and for the Assessor $24,000. Second by Baker. All board members in favor of the amendment. Amendment carried. All board members in favor of the main motion now reading as the amendment. Motion carried.
Township Remonumentation – Forsythe moved to contract with the Shiawassee County Surveyor to provide additional remonumentation of corners within the Township at a cost of $1000.00. Second by Baker. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Board of Review Alternative Dates – Forsythe moved to approve the Board of Review Resolution to set an alternate date for the March Board of Review First Taxpayer Appeal Meeting, setting the first day to Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Second by Baker. All board members in favor. Motion carried. (Complete wording of resolution available at the Township Hall.)
Poverty Exemption Resolution – Forsythe moved to approve the Bennington Township resolution to adopt poverty exemption income guidelines and asset test for 2024. Second by L. Ash. All board members in favor. Motion carried. (Complete wording of resolution available at the Township Hall.)
Fire Millage – Fire Millage for the Township expires this year and is due to be a ballot proposal in August. Discussion was to obtain ballot wording for the next meeting at a maximum of 2mills for 10 years.
2023 -2024 Budget Changes – Forsythe moved to amend the 2023 – 2024 budget by transferring $50.00 from Election supplies 101-191-727.000 to Election FICA & Medicare 101-191-715.000. Second by Baker. All board member in favor. Motion carried.
2024-2025 Budget Presentation:
General Fund - Revenues $1,005,410.65
Expenditures $ 947,710.65
Fire Fund - Revenues $ 156,500.00
Expenditures $ 136,200.00
Cemetery Fund - Revenues $ 610.00
Expenditures $ 100.00
Ambulance Fund - Revenues $ 141,610.00
Expenditures $ 136,610.00
SATA Fund Revenues $ 18,850.00
Expenditures $ 18,546.99
L. Ash moved to approve the 2024-2025 budget for the budget hearing. Second by Forsythe All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Baker moved to adjourn. Second by Dutcher. Motion carried.
Adjournment at 8:20pm.
The Bennington Township Budget Hearing was called to order by Supervisor Lee Ash on March 4, 2024, 8:20pm, at the Township Hall.
Present: James Forsythe, Matthew Dutcher, Leonard Ash, Cody Baker, Donna Ash.
Forsythe moved to suspend with regular meeting procedure and move to the business at hand. Second by L. Ash. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None
Forsythe moved to approve the 2024 – 2025 budget as presented. Second by Baker. All board members in favor. Motion carried.
Forsythe moved to adjourn. Second by Dutcher. Motion carried.
Adjournment at 8:25pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Ash, Clerk