the-compact
Board Of Trustees Tuesday, September 30, 2025 · 50 min

Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees Meeting on September 29, 2025

Summary

The city council meeting discussed various township business, including traffic safety, development projects, budget allocation, and waste management issues, with residents and officials presenting concerns and proposals.

  • Residents expressed concerns about traffic and development projects in Birmingham Farms and Hickory Grove Hills.
  • The city council discussed potential solutions to traffic safety issues and allocated general fund millage for township expenses.
  • Waste management provider GFL discussed challenges and improvements in their service over the past two years.
  • The Treasurer's Office addressed issues with mail delivery and payment processing, and improved their system to better serve residents.
  • The city council approved a delinquent solid waste accounts resolution and discussed debt accuracy and steps taken to rectify issues.

AI-generated from the meeting transcript. Check the video for anything load-bearing.

Topics

Transcript

Click any timestamp to jump the video to that moment. Auto-transcribed; expect occasional errors on proper nouns.

  1. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our Monday, September 29th Board of Trustee meeting. If you'll stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you, everyone. We'll try and speak up. These microphones, these are new, and it's a digital connection. So it's recording, but it doesn't always pick up the speaker. So if we fade in and out, just so you know, listen a little closer, but we'll try and remember to get closer so you can hear us. Okay. Item number one, public comment. If you're here to speak about anything regarding township business or on the agenda tonight, now is your time. You can come up to the microphone, my right, your left. And we ask everybody to stay within a three-minute time limit, please. Yes, sir. And if you'd introduce yourself and your address, it would be wonderful. How are you doing, everybody? First time I met you, Mike, and appreciate the hard work you do and the staff. My name is Jack Alexanian. I live 1415 West Square Lake Road. My purpose tonight here, the traffic, it's okay, 35 miles an hour. When the cars are flying from Telegraph coming south on Square Lake Road, They're waiting. after they pass telegraph two cars are racing and they cut each other that's not the only problem they're flying they are driving so fast nobody can do anything about it even your department can't do nothing about it they said oh it's a Oakland County's job now I'm paying taxpayer I've been there 33 years I enjoy my township I work for the township so many years then I quit I become I work for West Bloomfield right now what they took me there because they treat me right after the COVID Christine they said oh we don't need you anymore Captain Jack that's my nickname so anyway my question is do you have power to control that traffic we're not here to answer questions we're just here to listen to your statement but maybe we'll respond after the public comment thank you very much for listening thank you Captain Jack good nice to see you thank you thank you hello Chris Gagnon 6529 Cathedral Drive I know I come up here

  2. My purpose tonight here, the traffic, it's okay, 35 miles an hour. When the cars are flying from Telegraph coming south on Square Lake Road, They're waiting. after they pass telegraph two cars are racing and they cut each other that's not the only problem they're flying they are driving so fast nobody can do anything about it even your department can't do nothing about it they said oh it's a Oakland County's job now I'm paying taxpayer I've been there 33 years I enjoy my township I work for the township so many years then I quit I become I work for West Bloomfield right now what they took me there because they treat me right after the COVID Christine they said oh we don't need you anymore Captain Jack that's my nickname so anyway my question is do you have power to control that traffic we're not here to answer questions we're just here to listen to your statement but maybe we'll respond after the public comment thank you very much for listening thank you Captain Jack good nice to see you thank you thank you hello Chris Gagnon 6529 Cathedral Drive I know I come up here more often than I should but I promise to make this quick effective 10-1 I will have the honor to serve as the president of the Birmingham Farms Homeowners Association I want to make it a point tonight to request that the Board of Trustees tune into the ZBA meeting tomorrow as I expect there to be very constructive dialogue in particular from those neighbors who are opposed to the project While the new HOA does not intend to take an official position on the development, we believe that the neighbors will have plenty to share. We hope to see you all there. Thank you for your time. Thanks, Chris. Thank you. Congratulations. Maybe. If there's no more public comment, one more. Yes, sir. All right, I tried to prepare something, so I appreciate it. Good evening, Bloomfield Township trustees, Supervisor McCready, and fellow residents. My name is Michael McDonald. I live at 2753 Allgate Drive. And the following summary to follow.

  3. you thank you hello Chris Gagnon 6529 Cathedral Drive I know I come up here more often than I should but I promise to make this quick effective 10-1 I will have the honor to serve as the president of the Birmingham Farms Homeowners Association I want to make it a point tonight to request that the Board of Trustees tune into the ZBA meeting tomorrow as I expect there to be very constructive dialogue in particular from those neighbors who are opposed to the project While the new HOA does not intend to take an official position on the development, we believe that the neighbors will have plenty to share. We hope to see you all there. Thank you for your time. Thanks, Chris. Thank you. Congratulations. Maybe. If there's no more public comment, one more. Yes, sir. All right, I tried to prepare something, so I appreciate it. Good evening, Bloomfield Township trustees, Supervisor McCready, and fellow residents. My name is Michael McDonald. I live at 2753 Allgate Drive. And the following summary to follow. I would like to first off thank the opportunity to speak with you tonight. And I want to recognize Chief Gallagher and the entire Bloomfield Township Police Department, especially the Traffic Enforcement Division. I think it's timely that I come after this gentleman. Secondly, my wife had suggested that I stay away from dad jokes and seemingly witty pungs, but of course, I told her I'd try. So to avoid any confusion with that other Michael McDonald, you can call me Mike. If I could set the stage, my public speaking's a bit rusty, so I'll do my best to paint a clear picture. As a resident of Bloomfield Township for over 15 years, it was close to 15 years ago when I first and last had the opportunity to plead my case to the board. At the time, it was for the Zoning Board of Appeals, requesting an approval to install a fence. , . street address was south boulevard and we had concerns that once our children were old enough and quick enough a fence was the only way to protect them from the traffic so after several years and two young children the wooden privacy fence and powder coated chain leak fence still look good by the way we found ourselves in search of our next home this time we wanted to be in the neighborhood that was full of children in a reasonable distance from 45 mile an hour traffic so in 2019 we found the perfect place within a lovely neighborhood of hickory grove hills smooth blacktop paved roads perfect for rollerblading and family bike rides seemed almost too good to be

  4. And the following summary to follow. I would like to first off thank the opportunity to speak with you tonight. And I want to recognize Chief Gallagher and the entire Bloomfield Township Police Department, especially the Traffic Enforcement Division. I think it's timely that I come after this gentleman. Secondly, my wife had suggested that I stay away from dad jokes and seemingly witty pungs, but of course, I told her I'd try. So to avoid any confusion with that other Michael McDonald, you can call me Mike. If I could set the stage, my public speaking's a bit rusty, so I'll do my best to paint a clear picture. As a resident of Bloomfield Township for over 15 years, it was close to 15 years ago when I first and last had the opportunity to plead my case to the board. At the time, it was for the Zoning Board of Appeals, requesting an approval to install a fence. , . street address was south boulevard and we had concerns that once our children were old enough and quick enough a fence was the only way to protect them from the traffic so after several years and two young children the wooden privacy fence and powder coated chain leak fence still look good by the way we found ourselves in search of our next home this time we wanted to be in the neighborhood that was full of children in a reasonable distance from 45 mile an hour traffic so in 2019 we found the perfect place within a lovely neighborhood of hickory grove hills smooth blacktop paved roads perfect for rollerblading and family bike rides seemed almost too good to be true then 2020 happened and the world shut down like many others i found myself working from home and i had the the joys of looking out my front window to see these lovely roads on a daily basis with that came the unfortunate realization that we were on the aldgate speedway we live middle of aldgate so you can get from hickory grove to woodward without a single stop sign very smooth roads and the traffic is a nightmare we daily witness feeders in excess of 30 miles an hour 40 miles an hour we have data to back this like in my professional life i try to practice what i preach so it's not enough to call attention to the opportunities but also to come prepared with solutions and we've done our homework we've met with the rcoc the world commission of oakland county we've met with the previous administration and we've actually gone out and independently received quotes for radar signs and speed humps anything that we can do to protect our residents You may be looking to understand my ask, and it's simple. I'm asking for your support, your partnership, your leadership. Navigating the complex and bureaucratic process with RCOC, leading to key changes to the roads in Hickory Grove Hills and Culberry Hills. It's not just an ask, but it's imperative to come up with attempts to mitigate the abundance of cut-through commuter traffic, hazardous speeders, and distracted drivers.

  5. smooth blacktop paved roads perfect for rollerblading and family bike rides seemed almost too good to be true then 2020 happened and the world shut down like many others i found myself working from home and i had the the joys of looking out my front window to see these lovely roads on a daily basis with that came the unfortunate realization that we were on the aldgate speedway we live middle of aldgate so you can get from hickory grove to woodward without a single stop sign very smooth roads and the traffic is a nightmare we daily witness feeders in excess of 30 miles an hour 40 miles an hour we have data to back this like in my professional life i try to practice what i preach so it's not enough to call attention to the opportunities but also to come prepared with solutions and we've done our homework we've met with the rcoc the world commission of oakland county we've met with the previous administration and we've actually gone out and independently received quotes for radar signs and speed humps anything that we can do to protect our residents You may be looking to understand my ask, and it's simple. I'm asking for your support, your partnership, your leadership. Navigating the complex and bureaucratic process with RCOC, leading to key changes to the roads in Hickory Grove Hills and Culberry Hills. It's not just an ask, but it's imperative to come up with attempts to mitigate the abundance of cut-through commuter traffic, hazardous speeders, and distracted drivers. Our need, and hopefully you agree, is to focus not on pointing fingers and blaming others, but ultimately to find a solution to the safety of our residents. It's been three minutes, Mr. McDonald. All right. Thank you for the time. I look forward to coming back again next month and with more residents and working with the township to come up with a solution. Thank you, Michael. Any other comment, public comment, please come up. If not, we'll close public comment. Yeah, we will, Captain Jack and Michael, let's find a time to meet and get together. And see what we can do to help the situation. We've been doing some extra road patrols with a special patrol to tackle neighborhoods where we're getting cut through traffic. And we're seeing a lot of it because of the 696 shutdown. They're coming through multiple neighborhoods, not just ours, but our neighboring communities down mile roads. And it's really causing a problem, not just Hickory Grove, like Lone Pine, 16-mile road, 15-mile road, but their ways and their GMAPs and Apple Maps are taking them through neighborhoods, and it's causing problems. So if you can kind of get a hold of me or one of us.

  6. It's not just an ask, but it's imperative to come up with attempts to mitigate the abundance of cut-through commuter traffic, hazardous speeders, and distracted drivers. Our need, and hopefully you agree, is to focus not on pointing fingers and blaming others, but ultimately to find a solution to the safety of our residents. It's been three minutes, Mr. McDonald. All right. Thank you for the time. I look forward to coming back again next month and with more residents and working with the township to come up with a solution. Thank you, Michael. Any other comment, public comment, please come up. If not, we'll close public comment. Yeah, we will, Captain Jack and Michael, let's find a time to meet and get together. And see what we can do to help the situation. We've been doing some extra road patrols with a special patrol to tackle neighborhoods where we're getting cut through traffic. And we're seeing a lot of it because of the 696 shutdown. They're coming through multiple neighborhoods, not just ours, but our neighboring communities down mile roads. And it's really causing a problem, not just Hickory Grove, like Lone Pine, 16-mile road, 15-mile road, but their ways and their GMAPs and Apple Maps are taking them through neighborhoods, and it's causing problems. So if you can kind of get a hold of me or one of us. us so we can meet and talk about it we'll uh we'll work on a plan to help you out yeah sure thank you for coming here tonight item number two consider the consent agenda any comments or motions to approve the consent agenda i'd like to uh remove a few items okay mark go ahead um the uh board minutes okay the uh item a item d approved the winter millage report okay and e payroll and vouchers payroll vouchers anybody else if not i'll take a motion to approve so move support all in favor say aye aye and then we'll handle um a d and e mark after we come out of our private session okay that's fine okay so we'll call those six a b and c yes do you want to move maybe um the d which is a special item that requires a specific staff member who's here and do yeah oh good point rather than wait till yeah what we'll do that as 2a then thank you michael okay okay thank you two we'll make that 2a thank you well there already is a 2a maybe we should call it 2d it'll just be three it'll end up just being everything gets pushed down okay all right three thank you everyone okay um so all in favor did someone make a motion on the consent

  7. us so we can meet and talk about it we'll uh we'll work on a plan to help you out yeah sure thank you for coming here tonight item number two consider the consent agenda any comments or motions to approve the consent agenda i'd like to uh remove a few items okay mark go ahead um the uh board minutes okay the uh item a item d approved the winter millage report okay and e payroll and vouchers payroll vouchers anybody else if not i'll take a motion to approve so move support all in favor say aye aye and then we'll handle um a d and e mark after we come out of our private session okay that's fine okay so we'll call those six a b and c yes do you want to move maybe um the d which is a special item that requires a specific staff member who's here and do yeah oh good point rather than wait till yeah what we'll do that as 2a then thank you michael okay okay thank you two we'll make that 2a thank you well there already is a 2a maybe we should call it 2d it'll just be three it'll end up just being everything gets pushed down okay all right three thank you everyone okay um so all in favor did someone make a motion on the consent agent support all in favor say aye aye any opposed okay passes seven to nothing thank you okay so then why don't we address that now the winter millage yeah you have a question mr antock has a question yes uh yes my question is related into the allocated fund millage um i would like to understand uh what that allocated millage is required to pay for i mean from what i can garner uh from researching it should go to treasury general expenses for the general fund clerk's fees accounting systems general items to run the township so that's number one i wanted to validate that anything else with that mark was that cover it um no that's the first question okay darren welcome darren kratzer pardon it's for general township operating okay um the uh and i know you

  8. all right three thank you everyone okay um so all in favor did someone make a motion on the consent agent support all in favor say aye aye any opposed okay passes seven to nothing thank you okay so then why don't we address that now the winter millage yeah you have a question mr antock has a question yes uh yes my question is related into the allocated fund millage um i would like to understand uh what that allocated millage is required to pay for i mean from what i can garner uh from researching it should go to treasury general expenses for the general fund clerk's fees accounting systems general items to run the township so that's number one i wanted to validate that anything else with that mark was that cover it um no that's the first question okay darren welcome darren kratzer pardon it's for general township operating okay um the uh and i know you can't answer this part of the question but maybe uh members of the board can address it uh when we calculate the we have a 180 page report for central services fees there's no consideration for the allocated general fund millage in that at the same time we're charging water and sewer public safety other funds more money than would be required if we did have a segment of that in those calculations and it appears by excluding it our residents and taxpayers can view it as paying twice for the same services. My other concern is the investment income that we get and I know that Dirk Beckel-Lag has said that we're using Mark, let's stay on the topic of the winter millage if that's another topic we'll address that through another agenda No, it's related because In what way? If we're approving central services fees to cover certain expenses

  9. welcome darren kratzer pardon it's for general township operating okay um the uh and i know you can't answer this part of the question but maybe uh members of the board can address it uh when we calculate the we have a 180 page report for central services fees there's no consideration for the allocated general fund millage in that at the same time we're charging water and sewer public safety other funds more money than would be required if we did have a segment of that in those calculations and it appears by excluding it our residents and taxpayers can view it as paying twice for the same services. My other concern is the investment income that we get and I know that Dirk Beckel-Lag has said that we're using Mark, let's stay on the topic of the winter millage if that's another topic we'll address that through another agenda No, it's related because In what way? If we're approving central services fees to cover certain expenses and the allocated general fund millage is excluded from those calculations why should it be on this report? We can actually put it in as zero and collect nothing and it seems that we aren't applying the same methodologies to out Okay, well I don't agree with you but I'm allowed Darren to answer the question Well, I think that's more of a question for Tony to kind of look at and maybe Jason as well but the allocated general millage is just that it's for general township funds to keep the township running we have all these other general or excuse me, not allocated millages but all these other voted millages, but the allocated millage is just that. It's to pay the expenses. Correct. Okay, and then, Tony, do you want to give us a call on the other part of it? Yeah, absolutely. So we did do a deep dive into the 4029 this year, Darren and I and Jason Theis. And, you know, under the Charter Township Act, we're allowed to levy up to five mills for the general allocation under 4227. We're at far below that. What's our number? We're not even one mill. We're less than a mill. We're point, so we're under one mill.

  10. to cover certain expenses and the allocated general fund millage is excluded from those calculations why should it be on this report? We can actually put it in as zero and collect nothing and it seems that we aren't applying the same methodologies to out Okay, well I don't agree with you but I'm allowed Darren to answer the question Well, I think that's more of a question for Tony to kind of look at and maybe Jason as well but the allocated general millage is just that it's for general township funds to keep the township running we have all these other general or excuse me, not allocated millages but all these other voted millages, but the allocated millage is just that. It's to pay the expenses. Correct. Okay, and then, Tony, do you want to give us a call on the other part of it? Yeah, absolutely. So we did do a deep dive into the 4029 this year, Darren and I and Jason Theis. And, you know, under the Charter Township Act, we're allowed to levy up to five mills for the general allocation under 4227. We're at far below that. What's our number? We're not even one mill. We're less than a mill. We're point, so we're under one mill. But these numbers go directly into the general fund, whereas you were referencing water and sewer rates and some of the other things. Those are all, you know, those are all reserve funds. No, I was referencing the central services fees. So when you look at the 180-page document, the township, the provider for that document claims that $9 million-plus in expenses, should be allocated to the subaccounts, so I don't know why we are including in that $9 million the amount of the allocated millage. It's absolutely a best practice when you're setting all of your fees to have them accurately account for the cost that the township endures to the benefit of the individual that's being charged. They aren't offset by this number. This covers other things. general fund things that aren't subject to fees okay and then did you have another follow-up question mark no that was that was it okay thank you darren okay so if we could approve uh or have a

  11. We're point, so we're under one mill. But these numbers go directly into the general fund, whereas you were referencing water and sewer rates and some of the other things. Those are all, you know, those are all reserve funds. No, I was referencing the central services fees. So when you look at the 180-page document, the township, the provider for that document claims that $9 million-plus in expenses, should be allocated to the subaccounts, so I don't know why we are including in that $9 million the amount of the allocated millage. It's absolutely a best practice when you're setting all of your fees to have them accurately account for the cost that the township endures to the benefit of the individual that's being charged. They aren't offset by this number. This covers other things. general fund things that aren't subject to fees okay and then did you have another follow-up question mark no that was that was it okay thank you darren okay so if we could approve uh or have a motion to approve we'll call it 3a i'd like to make a motion oh support all in favor say aye aye opposed nay okay six to one thank you okay item number three uh consider approval of collection of delinquent solid waste accounts resolution presented by noah mahalsky our dpw director welcome noah uh good evening um here tonight uh based on the solid waste ordinance to uh submit a roll of accounts for delinquent collection for solid waste um we've been working with priority i'm going to bring dan venae up here to uh to speak a little bit about what priorities done to improve their billing practices and uh kind of make sure everything was accurate there the township's taking some steps as well so come on up this is dan venae he's our contract manager like our go-to guy if i need something uh with the contract and the kind of executive management welcome dan good evening everyone uh thank you again dan venae vice president of municipal sales for priority uh i appreciate you allowing me the time to kind of explain what we've done in our two years together uh knowing that we're we're continuing to push this uh ladder up then to the next rung you

  12. that was it okay thank you darren okay so if we could approve uh or have a motion to approve we'll call it 3a i'd like to make a motion oh support all in favor say aye aye opposed nay okay six to one thank you okay item number three uh consider approval of collection of delinquent solid waste accounts resolution presented by noah mahalsky our dpw director welcome noah uh good evening um here tonight uh based on the solid waste ordinance to uh submit a roll of accounts for delinquent collection for solid waste um we've been working with priority i'm going to bring dan venae up here to uh to speak a little bit about what priorities done to improve their billing practices and uh kind of make sure everything was accurate there the township's taking some steps as well so come on up this is dan venae he's our contract manager like our go-to guy if i need something uh with the contract and the kind of executive management welcome dan good evening everyone uh thank you again dan venae vice president of municipal sales for priority uh i appreciate you allowing me the time to kind of explain what we've done in our two years together uh knowing that we're we're continuing to push this uh ladder up then to the next rung you So when we started in 2023, I remember Noah and at the time Katie had to really pull teeth in order to get a lot of the information from the previous provider. Some of the information that flowed over, of course, had its flaws. So as we touch every home 52 times a year for their waste or their recycle or their compost, we only touch a home every year four times. So there's only four opportunities for us to make a correction on an issue. So if we get bad data in, it takes a little bit longer for us to get bad data out unless we're known or told of the issue, right? So that first year we worked together. We came up with some more solutions together. We're now entering our third year as of July 1st's past year. But throughout this 24 to 25 calendar service, we implemented a couple of changes, and we've seen some benefits directly from it. The invoices that were just the invoice of the due amount now show a balance amount. So if you owed something in the previous quarter or even greater than that, there's a balance that shows on that account for a resident to clear up before we get to this point. And what we've noticed in, you know, conversations with you, Mr. Supervisor, and your team, the Treasurer's Office,

  13. So when we started in 2023, I remember Noah and at the time Katie had to really pull teeth in order to get a lot of the information from the previous provider. Some of the information that flowed over, of course, had its flaws. So as we touch every home 52 times a year for their waste or their recycle or their compost, we only touch a home every year four times. So there's only four opportunities for us to make a correction on an issue. So if we get bad data in, it takes a little bit longer for us to get bad data out unless we're known or told of the issue, right? So that first year we worked together. We came up with some more solutions together. We're now entering our third year as of July 1st's past year. But throughout this 24 to 25 calendar service, we implemented a couple of changes, and we've seen some benefits directly from it. The invoices that were just the invoice of the due amount now show a balance amount. So if you owed something in the previous quarter or even greater than that, there's a balance that shows on that account for a resident to clear up before we get to this point. And what we've noticed in, you know, conversations with you, Mr. Supervisor, and your team, the Treasurer's Office, you know, some people saw our mail and didn't recognize it as payable mail. They thought it was spam mail or junk mail. Me, myself. I'm OCD any mail whether it's junk or not. I open it just to check, but I know I'm probably the the old style I still have a checkbook So I know there's not too many of those like me left, especially my age and younger So we know that there are still people that think GFL is still servicing them So there's a lot of variables in this and when you're talking about 16,000 to 17,000 homes and getting the information out to residents In in you would think two years a long time. My daughter's two years. It's flown by so I know how fast time can travel so if you're Thinking you're still on auto pay with the previous provider and it comes us. We've heard those We've heard the complaints of the of not getting the mail From residents even ones that called us from getting the delinquent notice back in August And so if you're getting that the same information is in our system So there's a couple of things that could have happened in between I'm not pointing the finger at the resident the mail house could have made a mistake The print shop could have made a mistake, but our data is the same going out in both avenues

  14. And what we've noticed in, you know, conversations with you, Mr. Supervisor, and your team, the Treasurer's Office, you know, some people saw our mail and didn't recognize it as payable mail. They thought it was spam mail or junk mail. Me, myself. I'm OCD any mail whether it's junk or not. I open it just to check, but I know I'm probably the the old style I still have a checkbook So I know there's not too many of those like me left, especially my age and younger So we know that there are still people that think GFL is still servicing them So there's a lot of variables in this and when you're talking about 16,000 to 17,000 homes and getting the information out to residents In in you would think two years a long time. My daughter's two years. It's flown by so I know how fast time can travel so if you're Thinking you're still on auto pay with the previous provider and it comes us. We've heard those We've heard the complaints of the of not getting the mail From residents even ones that called us from getting the delinquent notice back in August And so if you're getting that the same information is in our system So there's a couple of things that could have happened in between I'm not pointing the finger at the resident the mail house could have made a mistake The print shop could have made a mistake, but our data is the same going out in both avenues But as we move forward, we're looking at ways to improve our system There's a a better way for residents to sign up in our portal manage their account online They can see previous payment statements. They can see missed payments live in their portal make adjustments quicker faster and with ease we have a a text option where you can opt in to receive text messages to receive your payments and make them over your phone By clicking the link in the text. So and we didn't have that in 2020 23 to 2024. And we only had that for about half or so of this year. And again, it's an opt-in. So as the more of your residents are aware of this option, the more can take action into it. But as we move forward into this process, and you know, as you have the option to approve this delinquency, I don't want any of you to feel like this is final set in stone with, and I expressed this in our meeting a couple of months ago or maybe a month ago, if we do find a document of issue where a resident did make a payment and it didn't reflect on their account and it did go to the tax on this, we will make them right on our side because that's the right thing to do. And I don't want anybody to be nervous that the debt is inaccurate, but we

  15. The print shop could have made a mistake, but our data is the same going out in both avenues But as we move forward, we're looking at ways to improve our system There's a a better way for residents to sign up in our portal manage their account online They can see previous payment statements. They can see missed payments live in their portal make adjustments quicker faster and with ease we have a a text option where you can opt in to receive text messages to receive your payments and make them over your phone By clicking the link in the text. So and we didn't have that in 2020 23 to 2024. And we only had that for about half or so of this year. And again, it's an opt-in. So as the more of your residents are aware of this option, the more can take action into it. But as we move forward into this process, and you know, as you have the option to approve this delinquency, I don't want any of you to feel like this is final set in stone with, and I expressed this in our meeting a couple of months ago or maybe a month ago, if we do find a document of issue where a resident did make a payment and it didn't reflect on their account and it did go to the tax on this, we will make them right on our side because that's the right thing to do. And I don't want anybody to be nervous that the debt is inaccurate, but we also live in an environment where people do make mistakes, whether it be on the resident side or on our side. So we'll make them whole in some way, shape, or form. So I don't want this to feel like the final step where we submit this. And then if there is that issue that comes up, we will step up to the table as we have in our two years together. So and we also did some steps on our side as the township to like audit the data and be make sure that everything was accurate on our end, including getting that assurance that they'll rectify any issues. I don't know, Michael, if you want to speak to that, but a letter went out to residents because we did, we were kind of a, my staff is on the front line of this because they're getting all the phone calls on a continual basis. So we kind of just, we we, we learned what the the shortcomings might have been, and one of those was that the logo on the letter made it appear as though it was junk mail, so we felt a letter from the township explaining everything and trying to flesh that out was the best way to kinda get to those errors, and that was successful, in my opinion, so we've reached to the point where we're comfortable with that. Yeah, that's a fair characterization. When we first got the delinquent roll back in, what do you think, July timeframe, mid to late July,

  16. thing to do. And I don't want anybody to be nervous that the debt is inaccurate, but we also live in an environment where people do make mistakes, whether it be on the resident side or on our side. So we'll make them whole in some way, shape, or form. So I don't want this to feel like the final step where we submit this. And then if there is that issue that comes up, we will step up to the table as we have in our two years together. So and we also did some steps on our side as the township to like audit the data and be make sure that everything was accurate on our end, including getting that assurance that they'll rectify any issues. I don't know, Michael, if you want to speak to that, but a letter went out to residents because we did, we were kind of a, my staff is on the front line of this because they're getting all the phone calls on a continual basis. So we kind of just, we we, we learned what the the shortcomings might have been, and one of those was that the logo on the letter made it appear as though it was junk mail, so we felt a letter from the township explaining everything and trying to flesh that out was the best way to kinda get to those errors, and that was successful, in my opinion, so we've reached to the point where we're comfortable with that. Yeah, that's a fair characterization. When we first got the delinquent roll back in, what do you think, July timeframe, mid to late July, there were over 2,500 people on that list who owed money according to their priorities records, so I sent out a letter with Noah and I as the signatories to all of those people basically saying, we've been told by priority that you owe this balance, under our code of ordinances, delinquent balances will go onto the winter tax bill. If you dispute this amount, please contact priority, and please contact us so that we could track it, and I think from that, we got about 100 people who responded, and I would say a good chunk of those people basically said either, I've never heard of priority, what is it, what are you talking about? about, or I never got a bill from them, et cetera. And again, like Dan said, there are a lot of people who got this envelope from Priority, and I know because I was one of them, that said my name or current resident. And it had a logo on it, and the envelope was yellow.

  17. what do you think, July timeframe, mid to late July, there were over 2,500 people on that list who owed money according to their priorities records, so I sent out a letter with Noah and I as the signatories to all of those people basically saying, we've been told by priority that you owe this balance, under our code of ordinances, delinquent balances will go onto the winter tax bill. If you dispute this amount, please contact priority, and please contact us so that we could track it, and I think from that, we got about 100 people who responded, and I would say a good chunk of those people basically said either, I've never heard of priority, what is it, what are you talking about? about, or I never got a bill from them, et cetera. And again, like Dan said, there are a lot of people who got this envelope from Priority, and I know because I was one of them, that said my name or current resident. And it had a logo on it, and the envelope was yellow. And I mean, it looked kind of junk mail-ish. And the fact that it said, or current resident, people looked at that and said, oh, that must be junk, and not thinking that it was an actual bill. So doing the math, 100 out of 2,500 is 4% that we got a response saying that there was a dispute with the amount. We worked through, with Priority, all of those 100 people. And those people that owed money, they paid it. And those people where there was truly an error on the account side, where they had made a payment, and that payment wasn't properly posted or credited to their account, we got that corrected. So initially, the list of those 2,500 people came out to about $900,000. The delinquent role that we're asking for approval tonight is a little over $400,000. So we were able to get that either corrected or people pay. And if the people got the letter from me, and they said, oh, I owe this money, they paid their bill. And I think that's a little over $400,000. I'm going to say, oh, $400,000. I'm going to say, oh, $400,000.

  18. And it had a logo on it, and the envelope was yellow. And I mean, it looked kind of junk mail-ish. And the fact that it said, or current resident, people looked at that and said, oh, that must be junk, and not thinking that it was an actual bill. So doing the math, 100 out of 2,500 is 4% that we got a response saying that there was a dispute with the amount. We worked through, with Priority, all of those 100 people. And those people that owed money, they paid it. And those people where there was truly an error on the account side, where they had made a payment, and that payment wasn't properly posted or credited to their account, we got that corrected. So initially, the list of those 2,500 people came out to about $900,000. The delinquent role that we're asking for approval tonight is a little over $400,000. So we were able to get that either corrected or people pay. And if the people got the letter from me, and they said, oh, I owe this money, they paid their bill. And I think that's a little over $400,000. I'm going to say, oh, $400,000. I'm going to say, oh, $400,000. And so we, we, we got that, we got that caught up. Um, and we let people know, Hey, priorities are waste hauler. You're going to, they're going to be billing you quarterly. Um, you got to pay that bill. Um, and so, uh, that was the process that we went through and, um, um, it was, uh, quite a taxing event for my staff and, and Noah's staff, but, uh, we made it through it. So thank you. Um, Um, uh, and so I think that kind of explains it, uh, a little bit, but, uh, as Noah pointed out, um, we have a solid waste ordinance and the solid waste ordinance, uh, is very clear that the waste hauler is to try to collect it. Any monies they can't collect by October 1st get put onto the winter tax bill. Um, and, uh, as the lawyers would say, it's a shell, not a may. And so we have to put it on the tax bill. Um, but I felt that it was important that we come to the board tonight and, um, discuss it. Um, and then hopefully take the appropriate action. So yeah. And just to cover a couple of things too, as well, like it was

  19. And so we, we, we got that, we got that caught up. Um, and we let people know, Hey, priorities are waste hauler. You're going to, they're going to be billing you quarterly. Um, you got to pay that bill. Um, and so, uh, that was the process that we went through and, um, um, it was, uh, quite a taxing event for my staff and, and Noah's staff, but, uh, we made it through it. So thank you. Um, Um, uh, and so I think that kind of explains it, uh, a little bit, but, uh, as Noah pointed out, um, we have a solid waste ordinance and the solid waste ordinance, uh, is very clear that the waste hauler is to try to collect it. Any monies they can't collect by October 1st get put onto the winter tax bill. Um, and, uh, as the lawyers would say, it's a shell, not a may. And so we have to put it on the tax bill. Um, but I felt that it was important that we come to the board tonight and, um, discuss it. Um, and then hopefully take the appropriate action. So yeah. And just to cover a couple of things too, as well, like it was a math, the GFL record key, when they've been in here for 18 years, there were a lot of changes that occurred during that time. There were, um, they had mischaracterized, uh, multifamily dwellings as single family. Hall. Thank you. homes and things like that so the data was a bit of a challenge to start and that and this number the four hundred thousand dollar number represents two years as well so we looked at the averages and we look we do this the same way in water and it appears as though there's just a contingent of residents within the township that would rather pay it on their taxes than then either pay a water bill or pay a quarterly solid waste bill for whatever reason so and critically for us that backing of any issues that come to arise that are errors of fact after the fact here was important for us as an assurance as well okay any other questions or comments my only comment is I'm glad that you're taking the steps to address all the variables that have been involved with mistaken invoices whether it's as a result of GFL the result of bad data and all the other excuses you came up with but with all that said residents are still getting invoices that are incorrect and there's

  20. appropriate action. So yeah. And just to cover a couple of things too, as well, like it was a math, the GFL record key, when they've been in here for 18 years, there were a lot of changes that occurred during that time. There were, um, they had mischaracterized, uh, multifamily dwellings as single family. Hall. Thank you. homes and things like that so the data was a bit of a challenge to start and that and this number the four hundred thousand dollar number represents two years as well so we looked at the averages and we look we do this the same way in water and it appears as though there's just a contingent of residents within the township that would rather pay it on their taxes than then either pay a water bill or pay a quarterly solid waste bill for whatever reason so and critically for us that backing of any issues that come to arise that are errors of fact after the fact here was important for us as an assurance as well okay any other questions or comments my only comment is I'm glad that you're taking the steps to address all the variables that have been involved with mistaken invoices whether it's as a result of GFL the result of bad data and all the other excuses you came up with but with all that said residents are still getting invoices that are incorrect and there's no question about that I get calls I've had dozens and dozens and dozens of calls in the past few months I know I've contacted you contacted the supervisor's office we've had people who've contacted a priority and priority has tried to address these issues and every one of them it's been the problem with the end with the accounting and the invoicing from priority so priority does make mistakes and after two years i would like to think that you're beyond making mistakes other just not very few mistakes i mean it should be a much more consistent bill that has credibility and i can't say that at this point all of your bills have credibility whether it's people being charged so i've heard all these excuses the software doesn't account for uh people who make annual payments i've heard people i've heard uh excuses the account software doesn't account for uh the senior discount so i mean whether it's training what it doesn't matter what the excuse is these it really needs to have a lot more um credibility as and it has to be

  21. with but with all that said residents are still getting invoices that are incorrect and there's no question about that I get calls I've had dozens and dozens and dozens of calls in the past few months I know I've contacted you contacted the supervisor's office we've had people who've contacted a priority and priority has tried to address these issues and every one of them it's been the problem with the end with the accounting and the invoicing from priority so priority does make mistakes and after two years i would like to think that you're beyond making mistakes other just not very few mistakes i mean it should be a much more consistent bill that has credibility and i can't say that at this point all of your bills have credibility whether it's people being charged so i've heard all these excuses the software doesn't account for uh people who make annual payments i've heard people i've heard uh excuses the account software doesn't account for uh the senior discount so i mean whether it's training what it doesn't matter what the excuse is these it really needs to have a lot more um credibility as and it has to be fewer mistakes and it's beyond the point where you should be blaming gfl anymore i understand early on but not anymore and i would like to think and like to hope that this coming year there'll be very few mistakes and very few residents who are calling us and complaining about mistakes on your billing because there's there's still far too many okay any other comments chris so i got a comment a question i um echo trustee barnett i've received phone calls from people on their billing issues and concerned residents who have never gotten a delinquent notice ever in their life and then you're telling them they go from their tax bill and not only they're embarrassed or hurt because this has never been a bill they've never seen it so whatever the issue is I'm not saying it again not putting it on priority there are other steps part of there but when we talk about a service it is our goal to provide the best service and we went with you guys not only do you have a vested interest in the township and want to do good you want to expand your business we want to be a partner with you so we need you to kind of step up and be a better partner because after a couple years we're still receiving these notices that that's a problem and again I know I know you guys don't want your

  22. what the excuse is these it really needs to have a lot more um credibility as and it has to be fewer mistakes and it's beyond the point where you should be blaming gfl anymore i understand early on but not anymore and i would like to think and like to hope that this coming year there'll be very few mistakes and very few residents who are calling us and complaining about mistakes on your billing because there's there's still far too many okay any other comments chris so i got a comment a question i um echo trustee barnett i've received phone calls from people on their billing issues and concerned residents who have never gotten a delinquent notice ever in their life and then you're telling them they go from their tax bill and not only they're embarrassed or hurt because this has never been a bill they've never seen it so whatever the issue is I'm not saying it again not putting it on priority there are other steps part of there but when we talk about a service it is our goal to provide the best service and we went with you guys not only do you have a vested interest in the township and want to do good you want to expand your business we want to be a partner with you so we need you to kind of step up and be a better partner because after a couple years we're still receiving these notices that that's a problem and again I know I know you guys don't want your name tarnished we don't want to reputate reputation tarnished here either so I would hope that you would work on that and spend as much time as you can making sure you feel those phone calls because I can tell you I am as well so is my comment to echo trustee Barnett the second one is do we is there an additional fee if it goes on to the tax roll that we put on as an assessment or in interest yes six percent six percent and that's a one time six percent correct mark I would like to echo something that trustee Barnett said and it's regarding the single payment the single payment did not appear on the original invoices either nor were the discounts for seniors so if it's not going out on the bill and the residents are aware they're typically calling and when they call to make an adjustment nobody's picking up the phones during office hours so let's say eight to five eight to six so that's another concern i've heard from residents and neighbors as well sometimes you speak with someone and i spoke to someone that was very pleasant over a year ago they found the error they rectified it

  23. notices that that's a problem and again I know I know you guys don't want your name tarnished we don't want to reputate reputation tarnished here either so I would hope that you would work on that and spend as much time as you can making sure you feel those phone calls because I can tell you I am as well so is my comment to echo trustee Barnett the second one is do we is there an additional fee if it goes on to the tax roll that we put on as an assessment or in interest yes six percent six percent and that's a one time six percent correct mark I would like to echo something that trustee Barnett said and it's regarding the single payment the single payment did not appear on the original invoices either nor were the discounts for seniors so if it's not going out on the bill and the residents are aware they're typically calling and when they call to make an adjustment nobody's picking up the phones during office hours so let's say eight to five eight to six so that's another concern i've heard from residents and neighbors as well sometimes you speak with someone and i spoke to someone that was very pleasant over a year ago they found the error they rectified it amicably they took my one-time payment and i was glad of that but this time it was not the case for me and i could not make the changes to do a single pay but at the same time you know lives are busy so thank you mark any other comments if not i'll entertain a motion okay um can i just make one request sure um the motion um in the packet or the the yeah the motion in the packet uh references in number two the township code of ordinances section 30-34 i think it should be 30-35 okay um because that section references um the waste hauler collecting the fees and then turning it over to the township okay so noted so whenever just so you make your motion based on that yes okay so i'll just i'll make the motion that we um uh as as presented in the packet with the uh substitution of section 30 down

  24. i spoke to someone that was very pleasant over a year ago they found the error they rectified it amicably they took my one-time payment and i was glad of that but this time it was not the case for me and i could not make the changes to do a single pay but at the same time you know lives are busy so thank you mark any other comments if not i'll entertain a motion okay um can i just make one request sure um the motion um in the packet or the the yeah the motion in the packet uh references in number two the township code of ordinances section 30-34 i think it should be 30-35 okay um because that section references um the waste hauler collecting the fees and then turning it over to the township okay so noted so whenever just so you make your motion based on that yes okay so i'll just i'll make the motion that we um uh as as presented in the packet with the uh substitution of section 30 down 35 in paragraph 2. Thank you. Is there support? Support. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. No? Six to one. Thank you. Thank you, Noah. Thank you, Dan. Item number four, public hearing site plan and special land use request for the Forest Lake Country Club, 1401 Club Drive, presented by Andrea Bibby, our director of planning and building ordinance. Welcome, Andrea. Hi, good evening. Thank you. Okay, so what we have before you is a rather simple site plan request, if you will, in terms of the request on behalf of the Forest Lake Country Club, located at 401 Club Drive. Many of you have had an opportunity, hopefully, to read the staff report that is within your packet. And I also know that two of the members here were able to see the site plan application at the planning commission, as well as the zoning board. So I will take you through rather quickly, and then if there's any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them. So, as you can see, the Forest Lake property, similar to all of our other private country clubs within the township, is zoned R1, single-family residential. Here is an aerial view of the subject parcel. Excuse me. I have a bean line. You can show us exactly where you're doing. Captain Jack.

  25. 35 in paragraph 2. Thank you. Is there support? Support. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. No? Six to one. Thank you. Thank you, Noah. Thank you, Dan. Item number four, public hearing site plan and special land use request for the Forest Lake Country Club, 1401 Club Drive, presented by Andrea Bibby, our director of planning and building ordinance. Welcome, Andrea. Hi, good evening. Thank you. Okay, so what we have before you is a rather simple site plan request, if you will, in terms of the request on behalf of the Forest Lake Country Club, located at 401 Club Drive. Many of you have had an opportunity, hopefully, to read the staff report that is within your packet. And I also know that two of the members here were able to see the site plan application at the planning commission, as well as the zoning board. So I will take you through rather quickly, and then if there's any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them. So, as you can see, the Forest Lake property, similar to all of our other private country clubs within the township, is zoned R1, single-family residential. Here is an aerial view of the subject parcel. Excuse me. I have a bean line. You can show us exactly where you're doing. Captain Jack. I don't have one handy right now. Yeah. Please don't interrupt. Okay. We're going to have a public hearing. We'll be able to come up and comment in just a few minutes, too, please. Okay, so the applicant is seeking site plan approval for the replacement of some existing retainer. walls as well as adding a decorative pergola on the rear of their building at 1401 Club Drive the existing country club extends across five parcels but the clubhouse itself which is the parcel that were which is the site plan that we're looking at sits on a parcel of 9.6 acres located at the southwest corner of Club Drive their proposal includes the really the beautification if you will an improvement of their current back view of the country club they are asking to replace some existing retaining walls that have come to the end of their durable all life if you will and this application is actually actually looking to seek on adding some a seated area by the pool as you can see highlighted in that bottom left hand photograph where it shows a artificial turf grass which would allow for patrons of the pool area to have a separate area to go and to sit and

  26. Captain Jack. I don't have one handy right now. Yeah. Please don't interrupt. Okay. We're going to have a public hearing. We'll be able to come up and comment in just a few minutes, too, please. Okay, so the applicant is seeking site plan approval for the replacement of some existing retainer. walls as well as adding a decorative pergola on the rear of their building at 1401 Club Drive the existing country club extends across five parcels but the clubhouse itself which is the parcel that were which is the site plan that we're looking at sits on a parcel of 9.6 acres located at the southwest corner of Club Drive their proposal includes the really the beautification if you will an improvement of their current back view of the country club they are asking to replace some existing retaining walls that have come to the end of their durable all life if you will and this application is actually actually looking to seek on adding some a seated area by the pool as you can see highlighted in that bottom left hand photograph where it shows a artificial turf grass which would allow for patrons of the pool area to have a separate area to go and to sit and to view the pool and then they're also adding replacing the existing retaining walls that they have on their site with some more improved materials and they have they have also included a very extensive landscape plan to augment this proposal to add a beautification again to the rear of their country club on the applicant because the height of the retaining walls did exceed an overall height of four feet this application was heard by the zoning Board of Appeals at that time they were in fact approved for variances for them to have walls exceeding four feet in height and they also since our zoning ordinance requires that retaining walls are screened at a 75% with evergreen plantings the applicant sought to ask for to get a relief from that request because as I stated before they have a rather extensive landscape design that was created by Grissom Metz landscape architecture and that ordinance I mean that variance was successful as well at the zoning Board of Appeals so essentially the application speaks for itself this is really a repair and a replacement and improvement and enhancements to an existing condition

  27. allow for patrons of the pool area to have a separate area to go and to sit and to view the pool and then they're also adding replacing the existing retaining walls that they have on their site with some more improved materials and they have they have also included a very extensive landscape plan to augment this proposal to add a beautification again to the rear of their country club on the applicant because the height of the retaining walls did exceed an overall height of four feet this application was heard by the zoning Board of Appeals at that time they were in fact approved for variances for them to have walls exceeding four feet in height and they also since our zoning ordinance requires that retaining walls are screened at a 75% with evergreen plantings the applicant sought to ask for to get a relief from that request because as I stated before they have a rather extensive landscape design that was created by Grissom Metz landscape architecture and that ordinance I mean that variance was successful as well at the zoning Board of Appeals so essentially the application speaks for itself this is really a repair and a replacement and improvement and enhancements to an existing condition and I do know as well that we have the architect here from Krieger Klatt associates which is more than happy to answer any questions that you may have and with that I just want to say that this was reviewed by our various departments it did have an opportunity to go before design review board on August 6th it had an opportunity with the Planning Commission on September 25th and which at that time received a positive recommendation to forward that to the zoning Board of Appeals noting that compliance with the requirements of all applicable Township departments in compliance with the requirements of the townships landscape architect are met and then as I stated previously this did go before the zoning Board of Appeals for and September 9th to review be seeking those variances for the height of those retaining walls as well as the vegetation. So now it comes before you for final consideration of a site plan. Thank you, Andrea. Appreciate it. So at this time, I'll open it up for public comment. And if you're here to comment on this issue, now is your time to come up to the microphone and state your comments on this improvement to the Forest Lake Country Club. If not, we'll close public hearing and open it up to the board.

  28. replacement and improvement and enhancements to an existing condition and I do know as well that we have the architect here from Krieger Klatt associates which is more than happy to answer any questions that you may have and with that I just want to say that this was reviewed by our various departments it did have an opportunity to go before design review board on August 6th it had an opportunity with the Planning Commission on September 25th and which at that time received a positive recommendation to forward that to the zoning Board of Appeals noting that compliance with the requirements of all applicable Township departments in compliance with the requirements of the townships landscape architect are met and then as I stated previously this did go before the zoning Board of Appeals for and September 9th to review be seeking those variances for the height of those retaining walls as well as the vegetation. So now it comes before you for final consideration of a site plan. Thank you, Andrea. Appreciate it. So at this time, I'll open it up for public comment. And if you're here to comment on this issue, now is your time to come up to the microphone and state your comments on this improvement to the Forest Lake Country Club. If not, we'll close public hearing and open it up to the board. And before we get started, Mary, would you do me a favor? Will you get up and close that door back there in Chris's office, please? Thank you. Okay. So we'll open up the board and the architect would like to come up and make any comment. You can as well introduce yourself. For your time, I'm Jeff Klatt with Krieger Cloud Architects, 400 East Lincoln in Royal Oak. Ms. Bibby did an amazing job explaining it. So we have an elaborate presentation, but it really summarizes the same thing that she already mentioned. So I'm more than happy to run through that, more than happy to answer any questions you have. But this is one of the final puzzle pieces of their improvement strategy. The club invested over $12 million over the past five years on the golf course or portion of the golf course, the interior of the club, the entryway to the golf area. And this is one of those final pieces. It's the previous patio area improvements are about 35 years old. The retaining walls are crumbling. Every year the staff has to restack these walls. Poor drainage. The landscape is, you know, it's past its usable life. So now we're looking for. Beautiful. Looks great. Thank you. So any questions? from the board no question just I was just gonna say it totally complements all the improvements and redesign of the interior and I agreed set definitely was needed on the exterior both for design and functionality and did a great job

  29. And before we get started, Mary, would you do me a favor? Will you get up and close that door back there in Chris's office, please? Thank you. Okay. So we'll open up the board and the architect would like to come up and make any comment. You can as well introduce yourself. For your time, I'm Jeff Klatt with Krieger Cloud Architects, 400 East Lincoln in Royal Oak. Ms. Bibby did an amazing job explaining it. So we have an elaborate presentation, but it really summarizes the same thing that she already mentioned. So I'm more than happy to run through that, more than happy to answer any questions you have. But this is one of the final puzzle pieces of their improvement strategy. The club invested over $12 million over the past five years on the golf course or portion of the golf course, the interior of the club, the entryway to the golf area. And this is one of those final pieces. It's the previous patio area improvements are about 35 years old. The retaining walls are crumbling. Every year the staff has to restack these walls. Poor drainage. The landscape is, you know, it's past its usable life. So now we're looking for. Beautiful. Looks great. Thank you. So any questions? from the board no question just I was just gonna say it totally complements all the improvements and redesign of the interior and I agreed set definitely was needed on the exterior both for design and functionality and did a great job so thank you very much very nice any other comments so same thing again it went through this ZBA I was a great presentation obviously it's an improvement what you're doing it's a it's a replacement as well as just fixing drainage issues so it voted seven to zero so I'm totally in favor of it any other comments or questions mark yes on the site plan there was some work done for sewer line how does where does that sewer line replacement as with regards to this project is it in the same area uh that is I don't believe we adjusted the sewer line I'm all right I'm sorry it was our project it was to the um western north if you'd like to come on up come up to the microphone that'd be great and introduce yourself thank you so it's not anywhere near this area no it's any other side no it's just wondering if it was and if it would be replacing some of the damage it's by the tennis courts in the parking lot yes you

  30. needed on the exterior both for design and functionality and did a great job so thank you very much very nice any other comments so same thing again it went through this ZBA I was a great presentation obviously it's an improvement what you're doing it's a it's a replacement as well as just fixing drainage issues so it voted seven to zero so I'm totally in favor of it any other comments or questions mark yes on the site plan there was some work done for sewer line how does where does that sewer line replacement as with regards to this project is it in the same area uh that is I don't believe we adjusted the sewer line I'm all right I'm sorry it was our project it was to the um western north if you'd like to come on up come up to the microphone that'd be great and introduce yourself thank you so it's not anywhere near this area no it's any other side no it's just wondering if it was and if it would be replacing some of the damage it's by the tennis courts in the parking lot yes you okay would you introduce yourself sir yeah so ryan moore on the golf course superintendent forest lake country club i met a few along you along the way a lot of these improvements this is probably the best map to kind of see but adjacent to oldest area are two tennis courts the township sewer runs in between those tennis courts towards the lakefront that is really good i wish i had the laser kind of does almost run up but it runs through the tennis courts it runs up basically the lakefront all this area is either to the east side of it or to the south side of it so we're outside the portfolio that area all the manholes are very clearly marked i was involved in the project when the township came in so okay good to hear um the and why the additional variance on the previous retaining wall uh those walls were there and there's about 20 feet of gray difference from the clubhouse level down to the bull deck okay regardless of what we do so we're kind of limited from the building face and the pool ledge itself so we're challenged horizontally and vertically so we did our best to step the walls back and to minimize that and as miss bivy's mentioned too we do have you know beautiful mix of landscape to help buffer that so we those retaining walls are already there but they're just in a much more chaotic fashion right now where this is much more simple more elegant

  31. okay would you introduce yourself sir yeah so ryan moore on the golf course superintendent forest lake country club i met a few along you along the way a lot of these improvements this is probably the best map to kind of see but adjacent to oldest area are two tennis courts the township sewer runs in between those tennis courts towards the lakefront that is really good i wish i had the laser kind of does almost run up but it runs through the tennis courts it runs up basically the lakefront all this area is either to the east side of it or to the south side of it so we're outside the portfolio that area all the manholes are very clearly marked i was involved in the project when the township came in so okay good to hear um the and why the additional variance on the previous retaining wall uh those walls were there and there's about 20 feet of gray difference from the clubhouse level down to the bull deck okay regardless of what we do so we're kind of limited from the building face and the pool ledge itself so we're challenged horizontally and vertically so we did our best to step the walls back and to minimize that and as miss bivy's mentioned too we do have you know beautiful mix of landscape to help buffer that so we those retaining walls are already there but they're just in a much more chaotic fashion right now where this is much more simple more elegant and a more consistent pathway so there's a uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh that I'm trying to use the building section in that area that might fix me. So, I mean, generally speaking, that condition exists. There's retaining walls out there now. There's about 20 walls, various walls that are scattered, so this is a much more simpler approach. There's a good buffer between each wall, and we do, there's a simple section, like a cake slice through the site that shows it right now in our presentation, but it might be challenging to pull it up. Oh, I got it. Sorry. The overall change in elevation for the retaining wall is the same, but the structure and distribution of the retaining walls are different. Correct. I mean, you can even see from this photo right here, those walls, there might be another

  32. but they're just in a much more chaotic fashion right now where this is much more simple more elegant and a more consistent pathway so there's a uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh that I'm trying to use the building section in that area that might fix me. So, I mean, generally speaking, that condition exists. There's retaining walls out there now. There's about 20 walls, various walls that are scattered, so this is a much more simpler approach. There's a good buffer between each wall, and we do, there's a simple section, like a cake slice through the site that shows it right now in our presentation, but it might be challenging to pull it up. Oh, I got it. Sorry. The overall change in elevation for the retaining wall is the same, but the structure and distribution of the retaining walls are different. Correct. I mean, you can even see from this photo right here, those walls, there might be another unanswered in existing conditions that, I think it was earlier in the slide deck, you can come back a little bit, but it just shows them over there. There's one right there. You can see, this is the current condition. This is a site plan view or an area looking down. And looking at those, it's kind of hard to see here, but I want to go up there and point at it too. But there's, you see the clubhouse buildings to the top, the light shaded gray, and then the pool of course is the blue shaded in between that. so all those walls you see those those kind of rather chaotic uh lines those are the current retaining walls they're kind of all over the place and then there's plantings in between and then if we jump to some of those photos thank you yeah no problem you kind of see them right there you know they're somewhat imposing the landscape past its usable life those walls are are quite tall and it's just you know a bit chaotic so the new plan is in here too there's a colored version which might make it easier to read so this is yeah i would encourage you if you haven't had a chance stop over this week and park in the parking lot and walk and the new plans a lot safer too it really was not safe to walk around there before excellent point yeah much safer no it's yeah and again it ties back to the requirements to change the retaining wall

  33. I mean, you can even see from this photo right here, those walls, there might be another unanswered in existing conditions that, I think it was earlier in the slide deck, you can come back a little bit, but it just shows them over there. There's one right there. You can see, this is the current condition. This is a site plan view or an area looking down. And looking at those, it's kind of hard to see here, but I want to go up there and point at it too. But there's, you see the clubhouse buildings to the top, the light shaded gray, and then the pool of course is the blue shaded in between that. so all those walls you see those those kind of rather chaotic uh lines those are the current retaining walls they're kind of all over the place and then there's plantings in between and then if we jump to some of those photos thank you yeah no problem you kind of see them right there you know they're somewhat imposing the landscape past its usable life those walls are are quite tall and it's just you know a bit chaotic so the new plan is in here too there's a colored version which might make it easier to read so this is yeah i would encourage you if you haven't had a chance stop over this week and park in the parking lot and walk and the new plans a lot safer too it really was not safe to walk around there before excellent point yeah much safer no it's yeah and again it ties back to the requirements to change the retaining wall variance this is really that that if you want if you call it kick slice cutting through that area the pool deck to the bottom and then the clubhouse area to the top so there's about you know 21 and a half feet of difference between those two so you can see like the yellow shading represents the wall so one is two feet high the next one's 3.75 feet 4.75 but there's good buffer horizontal buffer you know landscape beds in between those with some nice plantings that'll help break up those walls too the idea is really not to see the walls and you're going to to some degree but the plantings will help soften and buffer it and it's just much more consistent and elegant in my opinion than what it was before and it's a great point too that mr burnett pointed out or for trustee burnett pointed out that the concrete you cracked it's crumbling there's trip hazards there's issues there's so many different levels we try to simplify the levels now of walkable area so thanks for uh explaining that and showing the additional detail i appreciate that thank you any other questions or comments and in this when you compare this one to the other one it's uh stark contrast oh yeah thank you for sure it's beautiful very nice well done if not i'll entertain a motion so moved support all in favor say aye aye aye any

  34. much safer no it's yeah and again it ties back to the requirements to change the retaining wall variance this is really that that if you want if you call it kick slice cutting through that area the pool deck to the bottom and then the clubhouse area to the top so there's about you know 21 and a half feet of difference between those two so you can see like the yellow shading represents the wall so one is two feet high the next one's 3.75 feet 4.75 but there's good buffer horizontal buffer you know landscape beds in between those with some nice plantings that'll help break up those walls too the idea is really not to see the walls and you're going to to some degree but the plantings will help soften and buffer it and it's just much more consistent and elegant in my opinion than what it was before and it's a great point too that mr burnett pointed out or for trustee burnett pointed out that the concrete you cracked it's crumbling there's trip hazards there's issues there's so many different levels we try to simplify the levels now of walkable area so thanks for uh explaining that and showing the additional detail i appreciate that thank you any other questions or comments and in this when you compare this one to the other one it's uh stark contrast oh yeah thank you for sure it's beautiful very nice well done if not i'll entertain a motion so moved support all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed okay passes seven to nothing thank you good luck thank you very much great asset to the community thank you thank you all right item number five introduction of a lot split request at seven four six six wing lake road presented by andrea bibby our director of planning and building and ordinance welcome back andrew okay so my request before the board this evening is to ask the board to consider setting a public hearing for october 20th monday october 20th um there is a we have received an app application for a lot split request at seven four six six wing lake road the application has been reviewed the supplied surveys have been provided and we have determined based on our review that they comply with the provisions of our lot split ordinance so we would ask the board consider setting a public hearing date from monday october 20th so we can hold the final public hearing for consideration of the lot split so just for clarity the the second monday is the 13th the fourth monday is the 27th okay so i apologize have you asked for the 27th because we wouldn't have time to notice for the 13th with the first being tomorrow Thank you Martin So I'd ask to set the public hearing from October 27th, okay Any comments or questions about that if not entertain a motion so moved and support support all in favor say aye

  35. very nice well done if not i'll entertain a motion so moved support all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed okay passes seven to nothing thank you good luck thank you very much great asset to the community thank you thank you all right item number five introduction of a lot split request at seven four six six wing lake road presented by andrea bibby our director of planning and building and ordinance welcome back andrew okay so my request before the board this evening is to ask the board to consider setting a public hearing for october 20th monday october 20th um there is a we have received an app application for a lot split request at seven four six six wing lake road the application has been reviewed the supplied surveys have been provided and we have determined based on our review that they comply with the provisions of our lot split ordinance so we would ask the board consider setting a public hearing date from monday october 20th so we can hold the final public hearing for consideration of the lot split so just for clarity the the second monday is the 13th the fourth monday is the 27th okay so i apologize have you asked for the 27th because we wouldn't have time to notice for the 13th with the first being tomorrow Thank you Martin So I'd ask to set the public hearing from October 27th, okay Any comments or questions about that if not entertain a motion so moved and support support all in favor say aye Any opposed okay pass the 7-0. Thank you, Andrea. Okay All right item number six our attorney had to run and get some paperwork for us, but Martin I am number six is concerning a closed session and I'd like to make a motion that we enter a closed session pursuant to MCL 15 to 68 1h to discuss material exempt from Discussion or disclosure by state and federal statute specifically in turning client privilege privilege written legal opinion Is there support or all in favor say aye? I'll take Roll call So trustee Barnett. Yes, trustee Murray Yes, trustee Antocley. Yes, trustee Kalinske. Yes Treasurer Shostak. Yes, Brooke. I mean yes, mr. McCready. Yes It passes seven to nothing through a roll call vote. Thank you So we will go into private session then come back after and reconvene. Yes, and we'll have two items left to address All right Back so I'll call the board back in session

  36. Any comments or questions about that if not entertain a motion so moved and support support all in favor say aye Any opposed okay pass the 7-0. Thank you, Andrea. Okay All right item number six our attorney had to run and get some paperwork for us, but Martin I am number six is concerning a closed session and I'd like to make a motion that we enter a closed session pursuant to MCL 15 to 68 1h to discuss material exempt from Discussion or disclosure by state and federal statute specifically in turning client privilege privilege written legal opinion Is there support or all in favor say aye? I'll take Roll call So trustee Barnett. Yes, trustee Murray Yes, trustee Antocley. Yes, trustee Kalinske. Yes Treasurer Shostak. Yes, Brooke. I mean yes, mr. McCready. Yes It passes seven to nothing through a roll call vote. Thank you So we will go into private session then come back after and reconvene. Yes, and we'll have two items left to address All right Back so I'll call the board back in session at 755 approximately or 758 and I'd like to mark motion on the agenda okay Martin go ahead make a motion that we add an agenda item to take action regarding closed session support support all in favor say aye aye any opposed okay passes 7-0 and then now we'll deal with item 6a mark approved board minutes of September 8th so the motion that I want to make it so we've met of the agenda now the motion thank you to authorize the township clerk to respond to the FOIA appeal did August 29 2025 in the form recommended by the township attorney support support all in favor say aye aye aye all opposed 7 or nothing okay we're good yes sir all right thank you all right so now we'll move to item call 6a approve the board minutes mark you had a comment on that yeah I just wanted to clarify a couple items with Tony first the Department of Treasury recommends that the interest income should follow the principle second that direct Becker-elect

  37. at 755 approximately or 758 and I'd like to mark motion on the agenda okay Martin go ahead make a motion that we add an agenda item to take action regarding closed session support support all in favor say aye aye any opposed okay passes 7-0 and then now we'll deal with item 6a mark approved board minutes of September 8th so the motion that I want to make it so we've met of the agenda now the motion thank you to authorize the township clerk to respond to the FOIA appeal did August 29 2025 in the form recommended by the township attorney support support all in favor say aye aye aye all opposed 7 or nothing okay we're good yes sir all right thank you all right so now we'll move to item call 6a approve the board minutes mark you had a comment on that yeah I just wanted to clarify a couple items with Tony first the Department of Treasury recommends that the interest income should follow the principle second that direct Becker-elect provided a statement on how we do it and the third what I think those are both accurate correct excuse me just so items are not in the minutes so they don't adjust it address the Those aren't on the minute. But they are on the video. That's fine. We're not, the minutes, number one, everyone was distributed working version of the minutes almost a week ago. I've not heard from you. Number two, the minutes reflect the items on the agenda or items added to the agenda and action on those items. It never reflects ongoing conversations in detail. Right. But if misstatements are made, can't they be corrected? Well, that depends on who you think is making the mistake or the misstatement. So let me help you here. I think what you should do, Mark, is contact us or come in and see me or Martin and ask for this to be an agenda item. And then come in with your argument and your solution on this agenda item and let us discuss it and debate it as an agenda item because it isn't in the agenda. And you keep wanting to address it, which is fine, but I would ask you to come in and we'll address it as an agenda item going forward.

  38. the interest income should follow the principle second that direct Becker-elect provided a statement on how we do it and the third what I think those are both accurate correct excuse me just so items are not in the minutes so they don't adjust it address the Those aren't on the minute. But they are on the video. That's fine. We're not, the minutes, number one, everyone was distributed working version of the minutes almost a week ago. I've not heard from you. Number two, the minutes reflect the items on the agenda or items added to the agenda and action on those items. It never reflects ongoing conversations in detail. Right. But if misstatements are made, can't they be corrected? Well, that depends on who you think is making the mistake or the misstatement. So let me help you here. I think what you should do, Mark, is contact us or come in and see me or Martin and ask for this to be an agenda item. And then come in with your argument and your solution on this agenda item and let us discuss it and debate it as an agenda item because it isn't in the agenda. And you keep wanting to address it, which is fine, but I would ask you to come in and we'll address it as an agenda item going forward. No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, Clerk Brooke said that there's no recommendation from the state of Michigan. And it comes from the township, the Michigan Township Association. But the Department of Treasury's statement are valid. Mark, I understand what you're saying. Where is that? I don't see that. But we contacted. It was said during the video. I don't know. But it's not in the minutes. Okay, just a second. Tony, will you give us a call on this thing? Because we need to move on. Yeah, so first of all, the issue isn't in the minutes, and it's properly not in the minutes. It wasn't an action item. The Michigan Open Meetings Act is very clear about what needs to be contained in the minutes, and these are consistent with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. The other thing is that we did review the video of what Dirk said, and the statement is inaccurate. I do think it should be a future agenda item so that we can clear that up because Dirk was absolutely accurate in what he stated. Okay, but see, it's not in the agenda. It's not an action item. So if you would, you want to come forward and ask us to put it on his agenda item? You got it. No, all I'm trying to say is the email I sent to you and Martin and the attorney,

  39. And you keep wanting to address it, which is fine, but I would ask you to come in and we'll address it as an agenda item going forward. No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, Clerk Brooke said that there's no recommendation from the state of Michigan. And it comes from the township, the Michigan Township Association. But the Department of Treasury's statement are valid. Mark, I understand what you're saying. Where is that? I don't see that. But we contacted. It was said during the video. I don't know. But it's not in the minutes. Okay, just a second. Tony, will you give us a call on this thing? Because we need to move on. Yeah, so first of all, the issue isn't in the minutes, and it's properly not in the minutes. It wasn't an action item. The Michigan Open Meetings Act is very clear about what needs to be contained in the minutes, and these are consistent with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. The other thing is that we did review the video of what Dirk said, and the statement is inaccurate. I do think it should be a future agenda item so that we can clear that up because Dirk was absolutely accurate in what he stated. Okay, but see, it's not in the agenda. It's not an action item. So if you would, you want to come forward and ask us to put it on his agenda item? You got it. No, all I'm trying to say is the email I sent to you and Martin and the attorney, that was pretty clear what the Department of Treasury said. We don't have to follow it, but their recommendation is different than what we're doing. I disagree. I disagree, and it's not an item on the agenda. Okay, so any other comment on that? If not, I'll take a motion to approve item 6A. So moved. Support? Support. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay, 7 to nothing. And then item number E, mark correct. We'll call it 6E, Approved Payroll and Vouchers for September 29th. That was your other item? Yep. Okay, no vote stands. All in favor, say aye. All in favor, say aye. Thank you. Okay, thank you. I move we approve the hearing vouchers as presented. Support. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Passes 7 to nothing. Thank you. And item number 7, move for adjournment. Move we adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you, everyone.