2024, April 8 Township Board Meeting Minutes
BERLIN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING
April 8, 2024
Meeting called to order at 7:30pm by Supervisor, Bill Winn. Pledge of Allegiance recited.
Introduction of board members: Treasurer, Madeline Parks; Clerk, Karen Klos; Supervisor, Bill Winn; Trustee Robert Christian and Trustee, Mark Wittstock. Eight audience members.
Motion to approve the March 11th board meeting minutes as presented made by Treasurer Parks and 2nd by Trustee Wittstock. All in favor, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Treasurer’s report given by Treasurer Parks and accepted as read.
Fire Department report given by Chief Kirkum: said there were 15 runs last month and that he has 2 applications for new firefighters (background checks came back good). Motion to hire Kyle Cook and Shelby Meyers made by Supervisor Winn and 2nd by Trustee Wittstock. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Planning Commission report given by Trustee Wittstock: they did approve the site plan for Rock Solid Landscape (Capac Road) and there was an audience member that wants to tear down and rebuild a home on Almont Road – they will need to go to the ZBA because the rebuild will need to be behind the existing garage (which is not allowed without a variance).
Senior report given by Supervisor Winn: Exercise is every Monday at 11am and cards every Tuesday at noon. Next potluck is 4/23.
Park report given by Supervisor Winn: the Easter Egg Hunt was very well attended.
Next, Supervisor Winn mentioned that the limestone haul needs to be approved: 30 loads for the annual 3 miles (that we get at a discount) at a cost to the township of $12,771 and 85 loads (that were decided on the annual road tour) at a cost to the township of $120,381. Motion to contract for the limestone as presented made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Supervisor Winn. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Next, Supervisor Winn mentioned that the first chloride application needs to be approved. The cost to the township would be $28,600. Motion to approve the first chloride application as presented made by Treasurer Parks and 2nd by Clerk Klos. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Next, Supervisor Winn mentioned that the budgets for the General Fund and the Fire Department Fund need to be adopted. Motion to adopt the General Fund budget as presented made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Treasurer Parks. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed. Motion to adopt the Fire Department budget (including the wage increases that were presented at the budget hearing – which will cause adjustments to the adopted budget) as presented made by Trustee Wittstock and 2nd by Trustee Christian. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Next, Supervisor Winn mentioned that the Holiday Schedule needs to be adopted for the new fiscal year – holidays are based on what is done at the County level. Motion to adopt the Holiday Schedule as presented made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Trustee Christian. All in favor, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Next, Supervisor Winn mentioned that, although none of the elected officials are receiving raises, salary resolutions must be adopted. Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-04 (Supervisor @ $21k annual salary) made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Trustee Wittstock. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed. Motion to adopt Resolution 2025-05 (Clerk @ $21k annual salary) made by Treasurer Parks and 2nd by Trustee Wittstock. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed. Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-06 (Treasurer @ $21k annual salary) made by Trustee Wittstock and 2nd by Trustee Christian. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed. Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-07 (Trustees @ $3900 salary and $325/additional meetings) made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Treasurer Parks. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Next, Supervisor Winn presented a list of line-item adjustments that should be made to bring the General Fund 2023/24 budget into balance – the monies were able to be covered by transferring within a classification and the rest were able to be covered by transferring monies from contingency. Motion to approve the line-item adjustments as presented made by Trustee Wittstock and 2nd by Supervisor Winn. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Finally, Supervisor Winn asked Andrzej Klos to speak on behalf of the Berville Lions Club. Andrzej was present to ask permission of the board to have the Lions Club host the fireworks display at the Lions field on Hough Road. Andrzej had all the paperwork in order and expressed that this is a family event (for which he has fond childhood memories himself) that will be held on June 28th (June 29th is the alternate date if weather requires). Families are encouraged to attend: donations are accepted, there will be a disc jockey, games and events for kids and concession items (snow cones, hot dogs, etc.). He also asked Chief Kirkum if the Fire Department will be able to attend for stand-by safety reasons…they will.
BOARD MEMBERS:
Christian: Asked about what is happening with the burned house on North Avenue in Berville. The Ordinance Enforcement Officer has sent 2 certified letters – which the owner will not take delivery on. The owner will need to “be served”, there will be a sign put in the yard, it could go to court and a lein could be put on the property.
Wittstock: Nothing further.
Parks: Mentioned that the bank of record for 2024/25 is Choice One Bank.
Klos: Mentioned that the newspaper of record for 2024/25 is Tri-City Times.
Winn: Mentioned that the $68k we received in ARP funds from the County should be used for asphalt road ends this year and that the unused ditching monies that we have for the year should also be used for the asphalt road ends. The consensus of the board is to move forward with that plan – Supervisor Winn will contact the County to have them transfer the funds as requested.
Audience: Mention was made about the 3 week suspension of license at the Berville restaurant – it was because a minor was served and that minor was involved in an accident that killed someone. It was also mentioned that the minors that were served had fake ID’s. Mention was also made that there is a hump in the curve on Capac Road where there is a seam and it is causing drivers to lose items out of their vehicles when it is hit a certain way – Supervisor Winn will talk to the Road Commission about it tomorrow to see what can be done.
Motion to pay the bills made by Clerk Klos and 2nd by Treasurer Parks. Roll call vote, 5 ayes – motion passed.
Motion to adjourn the April board meeting made by Trustee Wittstock and 2nd by Clerk Klos. All in favor, 5 ayes – motion passed. Meeting adjourned 8:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen A. Klos, Clerk