General Summary #

The meeting of the Davison Township Board of Trustees was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Supervisor Jim Slezak. The session focused heavily on infrastructure compliance and administrative upgrades. A significant portion of the discussion centered on an unapproved dam located in a county drain, which the Board determined must be removed to comply with County and potentially EGLE regulations, despite the potential impact on local water levels and wetlands.

The Board also addressed the management of township recreational programs. This included approving a recreational plan and deciding to replace the current DaySmart software with CivicPlus to improve functionality and integration with BS&A, despite a slight increase in service rates. Additionally, the Board discussed the financial efficiency of township programs and upcoming staffing changes regarding the local museum.

Key Points #

  • Infrastructure Compliance: The Board identified a violation regarding an unapproved dam in a county drain and authorized its removal to avoid further regulatory issues.
  • Recreational Planning: The Board approved a recreational plan but noted the need to seek more competitive bids for future iterations.
  • Software Transition: The Board approved moving to CivicPlus software to address the inadequacies of the current DaySmart system, specifically regarding its inability to integrate with BS&A.
  • Program Oversight: Discussions were held regarding the profitability of township programs, with a suggestion to reduce programs that do not generate sufficient revenue.

Who #

  • Jim Slezak: Supervisor
  • Michael T. Leffler: Clerk
  • Tim R. Green: Treasurer
  • Matthew Karr: Trustee
  • Lori Tallman: Trustee
  • Matt Place: Building Official
  • Jami Vert: Recording Secretary
  • Casey Reed: Parks and Rec
  • David Lattie: Attorney (Absent)
  • Tom Jones: Mentioned regarding permit discussions
  • Deanne: Mentioned regarding museum staffing

What #

  • Approved: The recreational plan with a $5,000 Township contribution.
  • Approved: The removal of the obstruction (dam) from the County Drain as per the notice to remove.
  • Approved: The adoption of CivicPlus as the new recreational software.
  • Discussion: The potential for downstream flooding during the dam removal process and the need for a 3-man crew for the task.

When #

  • Meeting Date: February 14, 2024.
  • Removal Deadline: A 30-day window was noted for the removal of the drain obstruction.
  • Software Notice: A 60-90 day written notice is required to terminate the current software contract.
  • Software Duration: The new CivicPlus contract covers the period through 2025.

Where #

  • Davison Township Municipal Center: 1280 N. Irish Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Why #

  • Dam Removal: To address a violation of County and potentially EGLE regulations discovered during a grant application process for pickleball courts.
  • Software Change: The current DaySmart software is not performing adequately after a merger and does not work with the township's BS&A system.

Financial Details #

  • Recreational Plan: The Township's portion is set at $5,000.
  • Software Costs:
    • CivicPlus: $12,853.53 through 2025.
    • Current Rate (DaySmart): Approximately 4%.
    • New Rate (CivicPlus): 5%.

Votes/Decisions #

  • Adopt the Agenda: Motion by Tallman, seconded by Leffler. Passed unanimously.
  • Approve Recreational Plan: Motion by Tallman, seconded by Karr.
    • Roll Call: Green (Yes), Karr (Yes), Leffler (Yes), Tallman (Yes), Slezak (Yes). Passed unanimously.
  • Remove Obstruction from County Drain: Motion by Tallman, seconded by Leffler.
    • Roll Call: Karr (Yes), Leffler (Yes), Tallman (Yes), Green (Yes), Slezak (Yes). Passed unanimously.
  • Approve New Recreational Software: Motion by Tallman, seconded by Karr.
    • Roll Call: Leffler (No), Tallman (Yes), Green (No), Karr (Yes), Slezak (Yes). Passed.

Action Items #

  • Bidding: Seek additional bids for the recreational plan in the future.
  • Infrastructure: Execute the removal of the dam obstruction within the 30-day window.
  • Software Transition: Provide the required 60-90 day written notice to terminate the existing DaySmart contract.
  • Museum Operations: Transition Deanne to the museum for at least two days a week.

Legal/Regulatory #

  • County/EGLE Regulations: The unapproved dam is in violation of County regulations and potentially EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) standards.