General Summary #

The meeting, led by Supervisor Jim Slezak, covered a range of township business including financial reports, department updates, and several personnel decisions. Significant discussion was directed toward upcoming road widening projects on Lapeer Road and Irish Road, as well as updates regarding the Parks and Recreation department's recent activity and upcoming seasonal changes.

A notable portion of the meeting was dedicated to public commentary, where residents raised concerns regarding township transparency, the impact of a proposed new building near the railroad tracks, and the fairness of the Rivershyre Special Assessment District. The board also addressed various administrative and legislative items, including the approval of new police officers and the adoption of resolutions for the Cobblestone Park and Rivershyre subdivisions.

Key Points #

  • Infrastructure Updates: Supervisor Slezak reported upcoming road widening on Lapeper Road (from C&L Ward to M-15) starting in August, and Irish Road (from Court Street to the bridge) involving widening, limestone application, and ditching.
  • Staffing Changes: The board approved the hiring of two new police officers (Kevin Kissel and John Badal) and a new Recreation Coordinator (Paige Setzer).
  • Subdivision Approvals: The board passed several resolutions related to the Cobblestone Park Subdivision and the Rivershyre Special Assessment District.
  • Parks & Rec: The Parks department reported high attendance in December (over 2,000 people) but noted that a grant is currently on hold due to winter weather.

Who #

  • Board Members: Supervisor Jim Slezak, Clerk Michael T. Leffler, Treasurer Travis Howell, Trustee Matthew D. Karr, Trustee Lori Tallman.
  • Township Officials: Chief of Police Jay Rendon, Deputy Jerry Harris, Attorney Bill Delzer, Parks & Rec. Director Casey Reed.
  • New Hires: Paige Setzer (Recreation Coordinator), Kevin Kissel (Police Officer), John Badal (Police Officer).
  • Public Commenters: Marilyn Alvey, Ashley Prew, David Martin, Amy Ostrander, Kim Skellenger, Mary Boros, Randy Foreman, Matthew Thorpe, Jane Mayer, Todd Fulton.

What #

  • Agenda & Minutes: The January 12, 2026, agenda and the December 8, 2025, minutes were adopted/approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 12-5: Motion by Slezak, seconded by Leffler. Result: FAILED. (Roll Call: Howell–no; Tallman–no; Karr–no; Slezak–yes; Leffler–yes).
  • Resolution 2026-2 (Cobblestone Park Subdivision Chapter 3): Motion by Leffler, seconded by Slezak. Result: Passed unanimously.
  • Resolution 2026-3 (Cobblestone Park Subdivision Chapter 4): Motion by Leffler, seconded by Howell. Result: Passed unanimously.
  • Resolution 2026-1 (Rivershyre SAD Improvements): Motion by Karr, seconded by Leffler. Result: Passed unanimously.
  • Resolution 2026-4 (Rivershyre Phase I SAD Confirmation): Motion by Leffler, seconded by Karr. Result: Passed unanimously.
  • New Building on Davison Road: No decision made; the board noted more information is needed.
  • Lake Callis Season Extension: Motion by Howell, seconded by Tallman. Result: Passed. (Roll Call: Howell–yes; Karr–yes; Slezak–no; Leffler–no; Tallman–yes).
  • 2026 Lake Callis Recreation Complex Fees: Motion by Tallman, seconded by Karr, and amended to delete the specific value. Result: Passed. (Roll Call: Howell–yes; Karr–yes; Slezak–no; Leffler–yes; Tallman–yes).
  • 2026 Sport Court Rental Fee Schedule: Motion by Howell, seconded by Karr, and amended to include free open play with admission. Result: Passed unanimously.
  • Personnel Appointments:
    • Paige Setzer (Recreation Coordinator): Motion by Tallman, seconded by Howell. Result: Passed. (Roll Call: Tallman–yes; Leffler–no; Slezak–no; Karr–yes; Howell–yes).
    • Kevin Kissel (Police Officer): Motion by Leffler, seconded by Howell. Result: Passed unanimously.
    • John Badal (Police Officer): Motion by Leffler, seconded by Howell. Result: Passed unanimously.

When #

  • December 8, 2025: Date of previous board minutes approved.
  • January 14, 2026: Proposed start date for Paige Setzer.
  • February 12, 2026: Possible start date for Kevin Kissel.
  • March 1, 2026: Possible start date for John Badal.
  • August 2026: Anticipated start date for Lapeer Road widening.
  • February 2026: Next scheduled board meeting.

Where #

  • Davison Township Municipal Center: 1280 N. Irish Road, Davison, MI 48423.
  • Lapeer Road (C&L Ward to M-15): Site of upcoming road widening.
  • Irish Road (Court Street to the bridge): Site of upcoming road widening.

Why #

  • Public Comment (General): Residents raised concerns regarding the potential impact of a new building near the railroad tracks (noise/trains), the need for transparency in government, changes to healthcare benefits, and communication issues within the Clerk’s department.
  • Public Comment (Rivershyre SAD): Resident Todd Fulton argued that the entire subdivision should share the cost of improvements because all residents use the roads being affected by heavy vehicle access.

Financial Details #

  • Total Receipts: $4,155,381.53
    • General Fund: $1,261,555.66
    • Water and Sewer: $650,295.85
    • Tax: $2,243,530.02
  • Approved Board Expenditures: $2,589,482.69

Action Items #

  • Review Material: Board members are to review the handout provided by Supervisor Slezak and provide feedback before the February meeting.