Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees Meeting on June 8, 2026

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   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. Welcome everyone, and I'll open up for public comment. I'll come up to the podium if you'd like to make a comment on any issue in front of the board tonight. No public comment, I'll close public comment, and open up to the considered consent agenda. I'd like to remove payroll and vouchers, item B. Okay, item B, Mark, will do. We'll put that at the end, and I'll take a motion. So moved. Support? Okay, motion by Chris, support by Neal. All in favor say aye. Aye. Passes six to nothing. Thank you. Item number three, presentation concerning recent updates to the Markable Record Title Act and its impact on township residents, presented by our assessors Christy Thompson and Colin Wegeman. Welcome. How you doing? So we're here to talk about Act 13-2025 under the Markable Record Title Act. Next slide. So they define Markable Record Title as a title free of old uncertain claims that could cloud property ownership. It was originally enacted in 1954 under Act, Public Act 200 of the Markable Record Title. Act, also known as MRTA. Under MRTA, unrecorded or old claims automatically expire unless preserved. It also establishes a cutoff period after which interest and property are void without preservation. So why does this matter? It matters for homeowners and homeowners associations because it provides more certainty in title searches, it reduces surprise claims based on outdated legal language, and it impacts HOA tract property interests and disclosures. For lawyers and title companies, it clarifies documentation needed to establish clean title. Lawyers and title companies can better advise clients on recording deadlines, and it's easier resolution of title disputes and fewer old claim surprises. It impacts local government by it sets clear standards for filing and indexing claims, and also improves the consistency and reliability of public land records. So the purpose of the Public Act 13 of 2025 is the act provides clarity for landowners, title companies, and county registers. It clarifies and modernizes the marketable record

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   Next slide. So they define Markable Record Title as a title free of old uncertain claims that could cloud property ownership. It was originally enacted in 1954 under Act, Public Act 200 of the Markable Record Title. Act, also known as MRTA. Under MRTA, unrecorded or old claims automatically expire unless preserved. It also establishes a cutoff period after which interest and property are void without preservation. So why does this matter? It matters for homeowners and homeowners associations because it provides more certainty in title searches, it reduces surprise claims based on outdated legal language, and it impacts HOA tract property interests and disclosures. For lawyers and title companies, it clarifies documentation needed to establish clean title. Lawyers and title companies can better advise clients on recording deadlines, and it's easier resolution of title disputes and fewer old claim surprises. It impacts local government by it sets clear standards for filing and indexing claims, and also improves the consistency and reliability of public land records. So the purpose of the Public Act 13 of 2025 is the act provides clarity for landowners, title companies, and county registers. It clarifies and modernizes the marketable record title act. It extends deadlines for preserving claims on property interests. It strengthens protections for modern property interests and associations. It reduces confusions from vague or outdated recordings, and clarifies when a notice is considered recorded and effective. So some key changes that this act did to that marketable MRTA was that the original deadline was September 29th of 2025, and that's extended by two years after the House Bill 4524's effective date. ... ... So, about September 29th of 2027 is the new deadline. It gives landowners more time to file property notices to preserve interest too. So it also added a new section, 5A to deal with modern record keeping and title claims. So if someone has a continuous recorded chain of title for the required time periods, they're considered to have marketable titles. And that it's 40 years and then there's 20 years for a mineral right exception. It also applies to claims that would otherwise be extinguished under the act. It also defines a person and that is individuals, corporations, LLCs, partnerships, government entities, trusts and trustees and also property owners associations and this lets the associations preserve claims on behalf of the members, the homeowners.

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   title companies, and county registers. It clarifies and modernizes the marketable record title act. It extends deadlines for preserving claims on property interests. It strengthens protections for modern property interests and associations. It reduces confusions from vague or outdated recordings, and clarifies when a notice is considered recorded and effective. So some key changes that this act did to that marketable MRTA was that the original deadline was September 29th of 2025, and that's extended by two years after the House Bill 4524's effective date. ... ... So, about September 29th of 2027 is the new deadline. It gives landowners more time to file property notices to preserve interest too. So it also added a new section, 5A to deal with modern record keeping and title claims. So if someone has a continuous recorded chain of title for the required time periods, they're considered to have marketable titles. And that it's 40 years and then there's 20 years for a mineral right exception. It also applies to claims that would otherwise be extinguished under the act. It also defines a person and that is individuals, corporations, LLCs, partnerships, government entities, trusts and trustees and also property owners associations and this lets the associations preserve claims on behalf of the members, the homeowners. So it impacts property owners associations, HOAs and condos, now they qualify them as a person so they can preserve those claims, association covenants and restrictions are protected and not extinguished by the MRTA if properly recorded. Condemonium master deeds and amendments are explicitly protected. It also affects, impacts property owners by owners are more confident in clear property titles. Claims not recorded within set periods may now be invalidated. Lawyers and title companies can better advise clients on recording deadlines as well. So what should people do about it? They should check if old claims need to be recorded before the new deadline expires in 2027 and work with title professionals to ensure complaints. ... ... ... ... updated processes to comply with new recording rules as needed property owners associations should review how interests are tracked for their members and homeowners so some requirements for filing is claim notices must be verified by an oath it must set forth the nature of the claim and the bill provides stock language that can be used to file or end the claim it also clarifies when a notice is considered recorded and effective so house bill 4524 exempts instruments recording before march 28th of 2019 from needing those identifiers to reserve a claim and making

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   preserve claims on behalf of the members, the homeowners. So it impacts property owners associations, HOAs and condos, now they qualify them as a person so they can preserve those claims, association covenants and restrictions are protected and not extinguished by the MRTA if properly recorded. Condemonium master deeds and amendments are explicitly protected. It also affects, impacts property owners by owners are more confident in clear property titles. Claims not recorded within set periods may now be invalidated. Lawyers and title companies can better advise clients on recording deadlines as well. So what should people do about it? They should check if old claims need to be recorded before the new deadline expires in 2027 and work with title professionals to ensure complaints. ... ... ... ... updated processes to comply with new recording rules as needed property owners associations should review how interests are tracked for their members and homeowners so some requirements for filing is claim notices must be verified by an oath it must set forth the nature of the claim and the bill provides stock language that can be used to file or end the claim it also clarifies when a notice is considered recorded and effective so house bill 4524 exempts instruments recording before march 28th of 2019 from needing those identifiers to reserve a claim and making older documents valid even without them since so then for documents after march 20th of 2019 the identifying numbers still matter so you must file a claim with the county register of deeds office the notice must satisfy statutory requirements and it must occur on or before the extended deadline of september 29th of 2027 claims not preserved are extinguished if older than a statutory period of 1950 so we went through our plat books and we have about 84 plat individual plats that were established before 1950 and that's the list of them there so some exemptions and protections infrastructure physical facilities easements or rights such as driveways trailways drains stormwater utilities energy facilities etc are exempt from the mrta some protections are interest created by instruments recorded on or after january 1st of 1950 like modern dean restrictions rights under under condemonium master deeds or amendments are also protected protected, and rights held by life estate or trust beneficiaries are protected. So in conclusion, for homeowners, you get greater certainty and protection in your property ownership with clear rules about old claims. The law reduced the risk that an old, obscure, recorded interest would unexpectedly interfere

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   before march 28th of 2019 from needing those identifiers to reserve a claim and making older documents valid even without them since so then for documents after march 20th of 2019 the identifying numbers still matter so you must file a claim with the county register of deeds office the notice must satisfy statutory requirements and it must occur on or before the extended deadline of september 29th of 2027 claims not preserved are extinguished if older than a statutory period of 1950 so we went through our plat books and we have about 84 plat individual plats that were established before 1950 and that's the list of them there so some exemptions and protections infrastructure physical facilities easements or rights such as driveways trailways drains stormwater utilities energy facilities etc are exempt from the mrta some protections are interest created by instruments recorded on or after january 1st of 1950 like modern dean restrictions rights under under condemonium master deeds or amendments are also protected protected, and rights held by life estate or trust beneficiaries are protected. So in conclusion, for homeowners, you get greater certainty and protection in your property ownership with clear rules about old claims. The law reduced the risk that an old, obscure, recorded interest would unexpectedly interfere with a sale, refinance, or use of your land. And then for township, the act improves the overall clarity and stability of land records, making planning, assessing, and managing property rights, especially easements and public infrastructure for interest, more efficient and predictable. And that's it. Okay. Christy, do you have anything you'd like to add? Nope. Just a lot of information. There was a lot of information. A lot of important information. Yeah. Is there anything that homeowners should do? Is there anything that a homeowner should do right now? They should look at their deeds and see if there's any language in there that needs to be updated, talk to a lawyer, same with their deed restrictions, they should be looking at those. Okay. We should probably communicate this, maybe get with communications and Greg, and put something, start putting it online as a reminder, and maybe in our quarterly mailing, make sure we have an article in our quarterly mailing to the residents about it as well. Each way is really, you can pay attention. Yes. Yeah. So that's something we could definitely put in there as well. Good. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much. Item number four, consider appointment of a new

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   The law reduced the risk that an old, obscure, recorded interest would unexpectedly interfere with a sale, refinance, or use of your land. And then for township, the act improves the overall clarity and stability of land records, making planning, assessing, and managing property rights, especially easements and public infrastructure for interest, more efficient and predictable. And that's it. Okay. Christy, do you have anything you'd like to add? Nope. Just a lot of information. There was a lot of information. A lot of important information. Yeah. Is there anything that homeowners should do? Is there anything that a homeowner should do right now? They should look at their deeds and see if there's any language in there that needs to be updated, talk to a lawyer, same with their deed restrictions, they should be looking at those. Okay. We should probably communicate this, maybe get with communications and Greg, and put something, start putting it online as a reminder, and maybe in our quarterly mailing, make sure we have an article in our quarterly mailing to the residents about it as well. Each way is really, you can pay attention. Yes. Yeah. So that's something we could definitely put in there as well. Good. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much. Item number four, consider appointment of a new member to the planning commission presented by mike mccready me all right so we had some nice applicants this this time and some new faces which was great and uh we went through them and i met michael martin and i and i think chris you talked to i think you talked to him and neil right and so we decided on jake olsman um and we are going to keep some others in the queue because they were such strong and we had such good younger people like building the bench so with the support of the the board of trustees i'd like to ask for your support for jake olsman and if so i'll take a motion and support make a motion that we appoint jake olsman and all as you mentioned all three candidates were very strong which was nice to see all of them would have done a good job but jake just had the additional experience of as a developer as a resident uh he sees really both sides of uh of a development i think it will certainly add a lot to the planning commission good and support okay uh all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed that passes six to nothing thank you item number five consider approval of recommendations for award of the water and sewer control system upgrade presented by a public work superintendent paul horn welcome paul

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   member to the planning commission presented by mike mccready me all right so we had some nice applicants this this time and some new faces which was great and uh we went through them and i met michael martin and i and i think chris you talked to i think you talked to him and neil right and so we decided on jake olsman um and we are going to keep some others in the queue because they were such strong and we had such good younger people like building the bench so with the support of the the board of trustees i'd like to ask for your support for jake olsman and if so i'll take a motion and support make a motion that we appoint jake olsman and all as you mentioned all three candidates were very strong which was nice to see all of them would have done a good job but jake just had the additional experience of as a developer as a resident uh he sees really both sides of uh of a development i think it will certainly add a lot to the planning commission good and support okay uh all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed that passes six to nothing thank you item number five consider approval of recommendations for award of the water and sewer control system upgrade presented by a public work superintendent paul horn welcome paul good evening everybody how are you guys great um the water water and sewer department we operate nine sewer pump stations um nine pr RV, pressure-reducing valves, vaults, master meters, booster station, and a storage facility. Each vault communicates to our garage, sends us alerts, it monitors the sewer levels, the pressures constantly, 24-7. This system that's currently in place is roughly 15 years old, and it is outdated. The last time we had one of the Motorola RTU units, the Multismart sends it to the Motorola unit, the Motorola unit sends it to our building, and then it alerts everything if there's any pressure, low pressure, high pressure, or sewer levels high or low. Those Motorola units are obsolete, they don't even make them no more. Our vendor that installs them, I think the last time we had to get one replaced, he actually had to get it off eBay. So the system is due for an upgrade.

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   control system upgrade presented by a public work superintendent paul horn welcome paul good evening everybody how are you guys great um the water water and sewer department we operate nine sewer pump stations um nine pr RV, pressure-reducing valves, vaults, master meters, booster station, and a storage facility. Each vault communicates to our garage, sends us alerts, it monitors the sewer levels, the pressures constantly, 24-7. This system that's currently in place is roughly 15 years old, and it is outdated. The last time we had one of the Motorola RTU units, the Multismart sends it to the Motorola unit, the Motorola unit sends it to our building, and then it alerts everything if there's any pressure, low pressure, high pressure, or sewer levels high or low. Those Motorola units are obsolete, they don't even make them no more. Our vendor that installs them, I think the last time we had to get one replaced, he actually had to get it off eBay. So the system is due for an upgrade. It's like I said, it's about 15 years old. This system is, it's basically the heartbeat of the water and sewer department, right? So we can monitor the levels, we can catch things before they happen. Throughout the day, any time of the day, the week, we're getting emails. Our on-call guys getting text alerts if there's high sewer levels or pressures, so he can get out there at any given time. Most of the time . nobody will ever know anything about it because we maintain the system to a point to where, you know, you're not gonna see anything wrong because we're monitoring the whole system. And that's why this system is important to keep updated. And with that update, we're gonna be updating like the transfer switches on the boxes. Those are also old at each pump station. The transfer switches for, you know, power outage if transferred to the generator, the GFI switches, those are all gonna be updated, a lot of the wiring. And with the new system too, it's also, like everything else, it's going to the cloud. So that's a good benefit as well. And we, so we put this out to bid in May. We got three bids.

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   So the system is due for an upgrade. It's like I said, it's about 15 years old. This system is, it's basically the heartbeat of the water and sewer department, right? So we can monitor the levels, we can catch things before they happen. Throughout the day, any time of the day, the week, we're getting emails. Our on-call guys getting text alerts if there's high sewer levels or pressures, so he can get out there at any given time. Most of the time . nobody will ever know anything about it because we maintain the system to a point to where, you know, you're not gonna see anything wrong because we're monitoring the whole system. And that's why this system is important to keep updated. And with that update, we're gonna be updating like the transfer switches on the boxes. Those are also old at each pump station. The transfer switches for, you know, power outage if transferred to the generator, the GFI switches, those are all gonna be updated, a lot of the wiring. And with the new system too, it's also, like everything else, it's going to the cloud. So that's a good benefit as well. And we, so we put this out to bid in May. We got three bids. All bids were reviewed by HRC, all are in order. HRC, Innovated Energy Controls was the lowest bidder. We have not personally worked with them, but HRC has with a project in Ann Arbor, I believe, on a very similar, on pump stations. So they are satisfied with their bid, their references and all that. So our DPW staff and HRC, we recommend awarding the Water and Sewer Control System Upgrade Project to Innovated Energy Controls. Okay, thank you, Paul. And how much disruption will the residents experience? Zero. Absolutely zero. Okay. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yeah. it's i mean unless this project doesn't get approved then they may but okay when it's being installed no nothing okay any questions for paul are there any devices for uh sewage flow measurements that we could use uh to help uh uh negotiating for our sewage rates no this just monitors because each one of these pump stations are because it has to pump the sewage to a a certain level to get it up

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    All bids were reviewed by HRC, all are in order. HRC, Innovated Energy Controls was the lowest bidder. We have not personally worked with them, but HRC has with a project in Ann Arbor, I believe, on a very similar, on pump stations. So they are satisfied with their bid, their references and all that. So our DPW staff and HRC, we recommend awarding the Water and Sewer Control System Upgrade Project to Innovated Energy Controls. Okay, thank you, Paul. And how much disruption will the residents experience? Zero. Absolutely zero. Okay. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yeah. it's i mean unless this project doesn't get approved then they may but okay when it's being installed no nothing okay any questions for paul are there any devices for uh sewage flow measurements that we could use uh to help uh uh negotiating for our sewage rates no this just monitors because each one of these pump stations are because it has to pump the sewage to a a certain level to get it up to a higher sewer the main sewer so these pump stations are paid placed in elevation areas where one sewer is lower than the other so it has to pump the sewage from a neighborhood up to the the main sewer to discharge it so those are those are just monitor the the levels if those if the pump doesn't kick on it'll monitor it'll let us know that we have to get out there and and fix something to pump the sewers back down but it doesn't measure flow no uh well wouldn't it be advantageous if you have to if there's an elevation to the sewage change to the sewage what do you it i mean when you if the pump is moving water or the sewage yeah then it's because there's not enough flow or there's an elevation change it sounds like you mentioned that you have to get up to another level yeah well when it reaches a certain level there there's these probes that when it hits the one that activates the pump if that one doesn't react it goes to another level then it sends us a notice and then we come out and pump it down and then repair the pump correct but if the pump doesn't go on does it what does the sewage always collect yeah it'll

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    each one of these pump stations are because it has to pump the sewage to a a certain level to get it up to a higher sewer the main sewer so these pump stations are paid placed in elevation areas where one sewer is lower than the other so it has to pump the sewage from a neighborhood up to the the main sewer to discharge it so those are those are just monitor the the levels if those if the pump doesn't kick on it'll monitor it'll let us know that we have to get out there and and fix something to pump the sewers back down but it doesn't measure flow no uh well wouldn't it be advantageous if you have to if there's an elevation to the sewage change to the sewage what do you it i mean when you if the pump is moving water or the sewage yeah then it's because there's not enough flow or there's an elevation change it sounds like you mentioned that you have to get up to another level yeah well when it reaches a certain level there there's these probes that when it hits the one that activates the pump if that one doesn't react it goes to another level then it sends us a notice and then we come out and pump it down and then repair the pump correct but if the pump doesn't go on does it what does the sewage always collect yeah it'll sit there in the manhole it'll keep rising if we don't get out there correct so wouldn't it be advantageous to put in something that would measure those flow rates so when we get our bills for sewage treatment we can say this is what's going through our system well not everything goes to a pump station though so it really wouldn't be accurate these are only in certain level areas so but we do have more information on water flow rates and who's using what water where uh so we could have a number to go back to um those individuals based on the sewage going through that area i mean we're upgrading the water sewer meters right you know what water is going in you know what water is coming there's no sewer meter there is no but there is a pump everything in those areas goes through a pump so you could actually measure the amount of sewage and at least for part of our system we would actually know what's actually going through it and then we could challenge what's being charged to us as rates because we have the data

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    pump correct but if the pump doesn't go on does it what does the sewage always collect yeah it'll sit there in the manhole it'll keep rising if we don't get out there correct so wouldn't it be advantageous to put in something that would measure those flow rates so when we get our bills for sewage treatment we can say this is what's going through our system well not everything goes to a pump station though so it really wouldn't be accurate these are only in certain level areas so but we do have more information on water flow rates and who's using what water where uh so we could have a number to go back to um those individuals based on the sewage going through that area i mean we're upgrading the water sewer meters right you know what water is going in you know what water is coming there's no sewer meter there is no but there is a pump everything in those areas goes through a pump so you could actually measure the amount of sewage and at least for part of our system we would actually know what's actually going through it and then we could challenge what's being charged to us as rates because we have the data Yeah, I don't know how much you could challenge that, though, because I don't think it would be accurate, considering, like I said. Because it doesn't cover everything. It doesn't cover everything. But we know the area that it does cover, right? So that would be sampling? Yeah. Yeah. So why wouldn't we do that if we could? We have nine pump stations. We've got nine readings. And maybe that could help us get lower sewage rates. Well, that data might already be. I mean, yeah, we could talk about that. We can look into it and talk with HRC. But I know they put. And if we're going to do this change now, now would be the time to do it, especially if you have to pump water or sewage through it. If I'm not mistaken, is our sewer bill or sewage bill based on flow or a fixed amount? Fixed amount. So no matter how much water we put through that sewer, it won't matter, correct? Correct. We owe a certain dollar amount, whether we use a million gallons. Based on the flows from the previous year, additionally, the vast majority of our system flows by gravity, not by a pump station. So the value of that data would be so limited with the system, it wouldn't move the curve. And they actually look at actual flows at WRC for the year prior and proportionate.

13. 15:00

    Yeah, I don't know how much you could challenge that, though, because I don't think it would be accurate, considering, like I said. Because it doesn't cover everything. It doesn't cover everything. But we know the area that it does cover, right? So that would be sampling? Yeah. Yeah. So why wouldn't we do that if we could? We have nine pump stations. We've got nine readings. And maybe that could help us get lower sewage rates. Well, that data might already be. I mean, yeah, we could talk about that. We can look into it and talk with HRC. But I know they put. And if we're going to do this change now, now would be the time to do it, especially if you have to pump water or sewage through it. If I'm not mistaken, is our sewer bill or sewage bill based on flow or a fixed amount? Fixed amount. So no matter how much water we put through that sewer, it won't matter, correct? Correct. We owe a certain dollar amount, whether we use a million gallons. Based on the flows from the previous year, additionally, the vast majority of our system flows by gravity, not by a pump station. So the value of that data would be so limited with the system, it wouldn't move the curve. And they actually look at actual flows at WRC for the year prior and proportionate. But they measure the flow coming up from our homes. In our commingled pipe. The problem with our pipes is you can't measure on a force main. We know how much the impeller on the pump can pass through. And we know how long the pump was on. It's just not a, and that data supports the. the modeling done by WRC, because if it ran contrary to it, we would correct that at the end of the year when they look at our total flows. So we do know the impellers, the amount the pump can pump during its running and its running or not, so we could put that all together, but it is based on the actual flow numbers and there is not, there are basically level indicators, just like a sump pump in your own home. To indicate that there is a problem, because otherwise it is going to back up and Right. It is a trigger for the pump either to turn on or to warn us that there is a problem. And you can't really get that flow rate with this technology, again, you would look at the impeller, the time of running, that type of stuff to get your flow rate. Gotcha. Okay. And how many residents are impacted by this project? 100% of the residents. Because, well, water customers or sewer customers, because the one end is our sewer and then the other end is the water side, which controls our PRVs.

14. 16:15

    And they actually look at actual flows at WRC for the year prior and proportionate. But they measure the flow coming up from our homes. In our commingled pipe. The problem with our pipes is you can't measure on a force main. We know how much the impeller on the pump can pass through. And we know how long the pump was on. It's just not a, and that data supports the. the modeling done by WRC, because if it ran contrary to it, we would correct that at the end of the year when they look at our total flows. So we do know the impellers, the amount the pump can pump during its running and its running or not, so we could put that all together, but it is based on the actual flow numbers and there is not, there are basically level indicators, just like a sump pump in your own home. To indicate that there is a problem, because otherwise it is going to back up and Right. It is a trigger for the pump either to turn on or to warn us that there is a problem. And you can't really get that flow rate with this technology, again, you would look at the impeller, the time of running, that type of stuff to get your flow rate. Gotcha. Okay. And how many residents are impacted by this project? 100% of the residents. Because, well, water customers or sewer customers, because the one end is our sewer and then the other end is the water side, which controls our PRVs. If there is a water main break, we know about those. So any water and sewer customer or anyone that could have fire suppression from our system, but maybe is not a customer. So fire person. Okay. Okay. So I'll entertain a motion. I'm still asking. Sorry, Mark. Go ahead. So how many residents are actually impacted by the pump stations for the sewage? All the water. water and sewer customers. So I don't know how many households, there's 15,000 plus customers within the system. I don't know how many individuals are in each household, but if you're impacted by our water system or fire suppression, you're impacted by this project. I'm more concerned about the proportion of residents that are actually get a benefit from those pump stations because you said not all residents do. Well, that's a sewage pump station. Those are only sited in low areas, but the water side of this is our PRVs and that controls our pressures throughout the- This is related to the flow rates and the amount of what's going through those systems. That's why I'm asking the question because if, and I think having those, if it's negligible, then that's fine.

15. 17:30

    other end is the water side, which controls our PRVs. If there is a water main break, we know about those. So any water and sewer customer or anyone that could have fire suppression from our system, but maybe is not a customer. So fire person. Okay. Okay. So I'll entertain a motion. I'm still asking. Sorry, Mark. Go ahead. So how many residents are actually impacted by the pump stations for the sewage? All the water. water and sewer customers. So I don't know how many households, there's 15,000 plus customers within the system. I don't know how many individuals are in each household, but if you're impacted by our water system or fire suppression, you're impacted by this project. I'm more concerned about the proportion of residents that are actually get a benefit from those pump stations because you said not all residents do. Well, that's a sewage pump station. Those are only sited in low areas, but the water side of this is our PRVs and that controls our pressures throughout the- This is related to the flow rates and the amount of what's going through those systems. That's why I'm asking the question because if, and I think having those, if it's negligible, then that's fine. If it's 20% of the residents, then that's a good fact basis for you to go back and negotiate better rates. And I would hope that if that was the case, we could do it. Even if it's 10% with the new data that we have coming in, we'd be able to say, look, this is what we're showing. This is why we think you're off. Well, and that's all part of the study that's ongoing right now. That's looking at if it makes sense to build a new wastewater treatment plant. I'm sorry, Noah, but not on the sewage. We're looking at whether it makes sense or cost-effective to find a new supplier for sewage or build a plant. We're certainly looking at that. If you don't know what's actually going through the system- That's part of the study, but again- This data backs up everything done by the county. They audit that at the end of the year based on real flow data. So I'm confident that it backs up our data. We don't have any other supplier out there, so I don't know one negotiating basis we would have, given that the data is correct and has been found to be accurate. And you also made a comment that fire suppression is involved.

16. 18:45

    if it's negligible, then that's fine. If it's 20% of the residents, then that's a good fact basis for you to go back and negotiate better rates. And I would hope that if that was the case, we could do it. Even if it's 10% with the new data that we have coming in, we'd be able to say, look, this is what we're showing. This is why we think you're off. Well, and that's all part of the study that's ongoing right now. That's looking at if it makes sense to build a new wastewater treatment plant. I'm sorry, Noah, but not on the sewage. We're looking at whether it makes sense or cost-effective to find a new supplier for sewage or build a plant. We're certainly looking at that. If you don't know what's actually going through the system- That's part of the study, but again- This data backs up everything done by the county. They audit that at the end of the year based on real flow data. So I'm confident that it backs up our data. We don't have any other supplier out there, so I don't know one negotiating basis we would have, given that the data is correct and has been found to be accurate. And you also made a comment that fire suppression is involved. Well, fire hydrants, yeah. Yeah. So it's connected to the water system. Not everyone who's benefits from those fire hydrants is connected to the water system, correct? Well, yeah. I mean, unless you're on a private well, but everybody benefits from a fire hydrant. Okay. So I would like to make a motion to have this project paid out of the, Before we do that, Mark, I've just have a clarifying question. So what's your, I guess your theory you're thinking is that because fire hydrants support every member of the township that they should pay a certain amount for this project? My, my thinking is that it should come out of the capital improvement fund because of all the interest income that has been swept from water and sewer. So you do have that come out of the building. into the Capital Improvement Fund. I guess that's different than what, I mean, you were really, you were talking about usage, now you're talking about the interest. Yes, on the usage items, I think it would be good to have that data, because it helps us go back to, it gives us a data point where we can go and say, no, we think we're using

17. 20:00

    And you also made a comment that fire suppression is involved. Well, fire hydrants, yeah. Yeah. So it's connected to the water system. Not everyone who's benefits from those fire hydrants is connected to the water system, correct? Well, yeah. I mean, unless you're on a private well, but everybody benefits from a fire hydrant. Okay. So I would like to make a motion to have this project paid out of the, Before we do that, Mark, I've just have a clarifying question. So what's your, I guess your theory you're thinking is that because fire hydrants support every member of the township that they should pay a certain amount for this project? My, my thinking is that it should come out of the capital improvement fund because of all the interest income that has been swept from water and sewer. So you do have that come out of the building. into the Capital Improvement Fund. I guess that's different than what, I mean, you were really, you were talking about usage, now you're talking about the interest. Yes, on the usage items, I think it would be good to have that data, because it helps us go back to, it gives us a data point where we can go and say, no, we think we're using less sewage than you're actually saying we are. And even if it's a sample, it benefits us. Well, it's a great question, but I think it's already been answered by the experts who say the data that, you know, that we have already is accurate, and this information would not provide useful data. So, I mean, good question, but it's been answered, asked and answered. Well, I think what he's getting is he wants to use other money than what's been allocated. Is that right where you're going here, Mark? Well, I'm thinking that since a lot of the interest income from water and sewer has been swept in to the Capital Improvement Fund, that those funds should be used. So residents already... Capital Improvement Fund, I wouldn't agree with that, but if you'd like to make a motion, go ahead. Well, hang on, before we go there, it was just, I mean, did you know that the, you know, Fire Department already pays for water usage? When was the last time the fixed rates were increased for the Fire Department? They were set, you know, probably in the mid-teens, 16, 17, 18, I'm not sure exactly when. And we get annual increases from...

18. 21:15

    us go back to, it gives us a data point where we can go and say, no, we think we're using less sewage than you're actually saying we are. And even if it's a sample, it benefits us. Well, it's a great question, but I think it's already been answered by the experts who say the data that, you know, that we have already is accurate, and this information would not provide useful data. So, I mean, good question, but it's been answered, asked and answered. Well, I think what he's getting is he wants to use other money than what's been allocated. Is that right where you're going here, Mark? Well, I'm thinking that since a lot of the interest income from water and sewer has been swept in to the Capital Improvement Fund, that those funds should be used. So residents already... Capital Improvement Fund, I wouldn't agree with that, but if you'd like to make a motion, go ahead. Well, hang on, before we go there, it was just, I mean, did you know that the, you know, Fire Department already pays for water usage? When was the last time the fixed rates were increased for the Fire Department? They were set, you know, probably in the mid-teens, 16, 17, 18, I'm not sure exactly when. And we get annual increases from... Well, that's a great question to ask when we're doing the water and sewer, you know, billing process. And that meeting came and went. Do you have an answer to that, Noah, about what there was no budget presented? It was set for your lawsuit by the judge. Okay. Because of the stormwater issue? They were not, the fire department was not paying that fair share, $10 per hydrant, so that amount was set by the courts during the settlement. So we're just following what the judge orders to follow. And I don't believe there's anything in there about inflation or increasing that. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mark, would you like to make your motion? Okay. No. Okay. That's okay. Okay. I'll take a motion. So moved. Support. Support by Chris. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. Okay. Five to one. And before you go, Paul, Noah, for all those listening out in the audience today, I know we probably got a million viewers. I think, Paul, I would like you to recap the award that our NOAA, our director of DPW, received up in Traverse City. Could you give us a little recap? Oh. Oh, yeah. So I had gotten a call from former director Tom Trice about the Harold Holquist award, which is a high honor APWA, Michigan APWA award.

19. 22:30

    Well, that's a great question to ask when we're doing the water and sewer, you know, billing process. And that meeting came and went. Do you have an answer to that, Noah, about what there was no budget presented? It was set for your lawsuit by the judge. Okay. Because of the stormwater issue? They were not, the fire department was not paying that fair share, $10 per hydrant, so that amount was set by the courts during the settlement. So we're just following what the judge orders to follow. And I don't believe there's anything in there about inflation or increasing that. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mark, would you like to make your motion? Okay. No. Okay. That's okay. Okay. I'll take a motion. So moved. Support. Support by Chris. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. Okay. Five to one. And before you go, Paul, Noah, for all those listening out in the audience today, I know we probably got a million viewers. I think, Paul, I would like you to recap the award that our NOAA, our director of DPW, received up in Traverse City. Could you give us a little recap? Oh. Oh, yeah. So I had gotten a call from former director Tom Trice about the Harold Holquist award, which is a high honor APWA, Michigan APWA award. It's the highest honor award you can get. And they were going to give it, they're giving it to NOAA at the APWA GLX conference that we were just at. And he said, but you can't tell them. Right? so my task was to make sure Noah got there to the banquet right so we get there and Tom Troyes is talking about the Harold Hawk and it's a leadership award it's it's basically give to the highest honor of people that dedicate their life to this profession and man to APWA Noah's been volunteering with APWA for geez what's a 2011 you know putting on conferences making his own conferences and whatnot the fleet management you did right so they wanted to honor his lifelong work with with and leadership with APWA so we get there and Tom Trice is given the speech and just I'm looking over at Noah and Tom Trice goes and this year's and there was nine nominees too so he he he made it up he got

20. 23:45

    which is a high honor APWA, Michigan APWA award. It's the highest honor award you can get. And they were going to give it, they're giving it to NOAA at the APWA GLX conference that we were just at. And he said, but you can't tell them. Right? so my task was to make sure Noah got there to the banquet right so we get there and Tom Troyes is talking about the Harold Hawk and it's a leadership award it's it's basically give to the highest honor of people that dedicate their life to this profession and man to APWA Noah's been volunteering with APWA for geez what's a 2011 you know putting on conferences making his own conferences and whatnot the fleet management you did right so they wanted to honor his lifelong work with with and leadership with APWA so we get there and Tom Trice is given the speech and just I'm looking over at Noah and Tom Trice goes and this year's and there was nine nominees too so he he he made it up he got voted over nine other people as well tell us what APWA stands for to American Public Water Works Association thank you yeah and they they announced no and no had to go up there and give a impromptu 400 people impromptu no and they the best part about it that I thought was and this is typical Noah was everybody everybody after afterwards go up to him and said they're like that speech was better than anybody else's speech that actually got to prepare for it so it was an honor for me to to to be there to see it because you know i look up to noah as well and and it's well deserved you know people like noah and in this field they don't i mean we don't we don't do it to get recognized but they don't really get recognized for what they really do because like for instance going back to this like most people never know about this because we're monitoring it right you know unless you live across the street from one right you're not going to know what these pump stations are so kind of like noah you know people don't quite understand what he does but to be honored in the way he did was brought a tear to my eye yeah i was crying on the way up there i did not swear during the speech i controlled myself there um it was and again i'll

21. 25:00

    this year's and there was nine nominees too so he he he made it up he got voted over nine other people as well tell us what APWA stands for to American Public Water Works Association thank you yeah and they they announced no and no had to go up there and give a impromptu 400 people impromptu no and they the best part about it that I thought was and this is typical Noah was everybody everybody after afterwards go up to him and said they're like that speech was better than anybody else's speech that actually got to prepare for it so it was an honor for me to to to be there to see it because you know i look up to noah as well and and it's well deserved you know people like noah and in this field they don't i mean we don't we don't do it to get recognized but they don't really get recognized for what they really do because like for instance going back to this like most people never know about this because we're monitoring it right you know unless you live across the street from one right you're not going to know what these pump stations are so kind of like noah you know people don't quite understand what he does but to be honored in the way he did was brought a tear to my eye yeah i was crying on the way up there i did not swear during the speech i controlled myself there um it was and again i'll echo some of what he said was given by my peers which made a big impact tom trice was there and able to give me the award that was huge um i think i swore at him on the way up there almost pushed him off the stage but um but it was great again you do your whole career and you may never hear thank you to some degree and you know very much so the the product we put on the table uh you know is necessary for life so and necessary for our economic well-being and all that so you know that you got to derive your uh rewards from intrinsic things so well congratulations thank you i'll say one more thing because you know i've been around in this in this uh field for 30 years years right and i know a lot of directors and i know a lot of people out there noah is far above beyond anybody that i've known and i'll say that and he knows that too i probably tell him once a week you know because i mean you don't get to meet other directors right you don't go to other communities you don't get to work with other i've worked with other directors i've met them i've hung out with them noah's you guys got a good one here just to say well thank you both for our your service to the township and noah congratulations it couldn't be more fitting for your for you yep

22. 26:15

    the way up there i did not swear during the speech i controlled myself there um it was and again i'll echo some of what he said was given by my peers which made a big impact tom trice was there and able to give me the award that was huge um i think i swore at him on the way up there almost pushed him off the stage but um but it was great again you do your whole career and you may never hear thank you to some degree and you know very much so the the product we put on the table uh you know is necessary for life so and necessary for our economic well-being and all that so you know that you got to derive your uh rewards from intrinsic things so well congratulations thank you i'll say one more thing because you know i've been around in this in this uh field for 30 years years right and i know a lot of directors and i know a lot of people out there noah is far above beyond anybody that i've known and i'll say that and he knows that too i probably tell him once a week you know because i mean you don't get to meet other directors right you don't go to other communities you don't get to work with other i've worked with other directors i've met them i've hung out with them noah's you guys got a good one here just to say well thank you both for our your service to the township and noah congratulations it couldn't be more fitting for your for you yep congratulations and i'm an eagle scout too so and he's an eagle scout yeah there you go all right thank you gentlemen thank you thank you okay we'll do item is uh 2b mark for payroll and vouchers uh my no vote still stands okay so noted so we'll take a motion so moved support support uh motion by chris support by neil all in favor say aye aye any opposed nay okay passes five to one adjourned all in favor say aye aye we are adjourned thank you