June 3, 2025 Board of Trustees Minutes

KIMBALL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2160 WADHAMS ROAD, KIMBALL, MI  48074

REGULAR MEETING

                                                         JUNE 03, 2025

Usakowski opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Usakowski, Jackson, Wrubel, Deland, Lokers, and Reilly.

 

ABSENT: Bowen.

 

Usakowski wants to add under VI. Chief Gratz Report, C. Reporting Software.

 

Deland motioned to approve the agenda as amended supported by Reilly.

Motion Carried.

 

Jackson motioned to approve the minutes of May 20, 2025, as presented supported by Deland. Motion carried.

           

III.        CONSENT AGENDA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Usakowski mentioned that we have $185,927.55 for distributions.

 

Jackson motioned to receive and file and pay the bills totaling $185,927.55 for distributions supported by Wrubel.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Jackson, Wrubel, Usakowski, Deland, Lokers and Reilly. NO: None. ABSENT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

 

Wrubel motioned to receive and file boards and commissions supported by Deland. Motion Carried.

 

None.

 

This is for the north bay which was dry walled years ago and it is failing.

I have three bids for you to decide.

 

 

Gratz would recommend that we go with Set In Stone Construction.

 

Reilly motioned that we give the bid to Set In Stone Construction at a cost of $12,220.00 supported by Wrubel.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Reilly, Wrubel, Usakowski, Jackson, Deland, and Lokers. NO: None. ABSENT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

 Gratz mentioned that Michael is a township resident and would like to become a firefighter after his fire training is finished.

 

Deland motioned to have Chief Gratz hire Michael Funderburk to the fire department supported by Reilly.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Deland, Reilly, Usakowski, Jackson, Wrubel, and Lokers. NO: None. ABSENT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

Chief Gratz explained the Reporting Software and how it works. The cost of this software will be $6,658.00 for EPR per year.

 

Deland motioned to approve the purchase of the Reporting Software from EPR at a cost of $6,658.00 supported by Jackson.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Deland, Jackson, Usakowski, Wrubel, Lokers, and Reilly. NO: None. ABSENT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

Gratz thanked everyone who showed up for the pancake breakfast at the fire station. It was a great turnout.

 

None.

 

Jackson motioned to adopt the Resolution 2025-28 Master Plan supported by Wrubel.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Jackson, Wrubel, Usakowski, Deland, Lokers, and Reilly. NO: None. ABSENT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

Usakowski explained that the township board has the authority to revoke a junkyard license. I thought that we should have him come here to discuss the issues that need to be fixed.

 

Discussion.

 

Usakowski mentioned that we can send him a certified letter to see if he will come in to meet.

 

Usakowski explained that we need to go over the blight ordinance at a workshop to discuss more of what can be done.

 

Discussion.

 

Usakowski mentioned that this property is right next to Sutherland Park and Mr. Blake offered to sell it to us for $75,000.00 a few years back. The property is now $60,000.00. We could use it for parking and other things but need to know what the board thinks of it.

 

Deland mentioned that we could see how low he will go.

 

Discussion.

 

Usakowski will talk to him and see if there is a way for us to afford it.

 

Usakowski mentioned that the board wages have not been increased in about 17 to 20 years. I compared us to other municipalities to show the differences in wages. We are thinking about giving an 8% increase to board members.

 

Reilly motioned to give board members an 8% increase in wages supported by Jackson.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Reilly, Jackson, Usakowski, and Wrubel. NO: Deland and Lokers. ABSENT: Bowen. (4-2-1) Motion Carried.

None.

 

X.        OFFICERS REPORT

A.  Supervisor Usakowski

A week and a half ago we had a town hall with EGLE pertaining to the Consent Agreement between the county and EGLE related to the landfill violations.

 

We did have an official hearing last Thursday here at the township office for people that wanted to watch it.

 

We did a survey of a (SEP) Supplemental Environmental Project to see what the money from this can be used for.

 

We also talked with the railroad about the problems we have been having. They sent a gentleman from Indianapolis who is the governor of affairs director. They brought in the gentleman who is responsible for managing the trains as they come in. MDOT sent an official. They will try to make schedule changes to help but do not have many options. I am not sure what the long-term solution is.

 

B.  Clerk Wrubel

The DPW has a flight pump that we use in one of our pits that has extended its lifetime. To fix it would cost $9,633.00, to replace it with a new one would cost $11,126.00. What does the board want me to do?

 

Discussion.

 

Deland motioned to approve the DPW to purchase a new flight pump at a cost of $11,126.00 supported by Reilly.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Deland, Reilly, Usakowski, Jackson, Wrubel, and Lokers. NO: None. ABESNT: Bowen. (6-0-1) Motion Carried.

 

Jackson went over the financials.

 

Rick Leverenz, 1836 Sturdevant: Questioned about the blight ordinance. We really need to address this problem. The house that burned downed next to me has become a dumping ground by the kids.

 

Lokers mentioned that they had a particularly friendly conversation about Brownfield Authority. They were incredibly surprised about it but were not opposed to it.

 

Deland asked Usakowski about what the progress is on the overpass.

 

Usakowski is not sure but said it is supposed to be finished by the end of June.

 

Deland questioned about the chicken problems.

 

Absent.

 

No report.

 

XI.       ADJOURNMENT

Wrubel motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 p.m. supported by Deland.

Motion Carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

 

Submitted by Becky Wrubel, Clerk