KIMBALL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2160 WADHAMS ROAD, KIMBALL, MI 48074
REGULAR MEETING/PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 04, 2025
6:30 P.M.
Usakowski opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Usakowski, Jackson, Deland, Bowen and Lokers.
ABSENT: Wrubel and Reilly.
Usakowski wants a motion to open the public meeting.
Lokers motioned to open the public hearing supported by Deland. Motion Carried.
I. PUBLIC HEARING: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND GRANT APPLICATION
Usakowski explained that we are applying for a Trust Fund Grant to purchase the property at North River Road along the Black River. One of the top requests that we are hearing is accessibility to a kayaking and canoeing launch ramp. County Parks has already agreed to give us a kayak and canoeing launch ramp. The grant that we are applying for is for the property only. The grants take about a year and a half to get approved.
Dennis McCallum, 702 Allen Road: How much is the property currently listed for?
Usakowski: $320,000.00.
McCallum: How much is the grant that we are applying for?
Usakowski: $160,000.00.
McCallum: Where would the difference come from?
Usakowski: The Community Foundation is going to commit something; we also applied for a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, plus we had monies available from the ARPA Fund that we will be using.
McCallum: Is there a Parks Committee that is going to work on the prices for the development, and where will that come from?
Usakowski: There will be a Parks Committee working on that and we have several people that are interested in it.
McCallum: How will the insurance work on that?
Usakowski: It would be that same as what we have now.
Nathan Damer, 4855 Willington: Questioned about the cost of the property on North Road and how he thinks it is not worth the price. Who was it appraised by?
Usakowski: It was appraised by a real estate agent and Community Foundation made sure it was worth the money. It is 37 acres total.
Damer: Over half of those 37 acres is useless land, which is unbuildable and unsuitable for anything. Where do you justify paying $320,000.00 purchase price for land that is not useable?
Usakowski: Are you an appraiser and what is your background that you can assess what the value of that property is?
Damer: I buy and sell property.
Discussion.
Robert Felitz, St. Clair County Commissioner for the 5th District spoke in support of the North Road property purchase. I feel that it would be an important investment for the community and I will help in securing funding for the property.
Usakowski opened the public hearing on the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget.
II. PUBLIC HEARING: 2025-2026 KIMBALL TOWNSHIP PROPOSED BUDGET
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Usakowski mentioned to remove Chief Gratz Report from the agenda.
Deland motioned to approve the agenda as amended supported by Bowen.
Motion Carried.
- PRESENTATION OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 18, 2025
Jackson motioned to approve the minutes as presented for February 18, 2025 supported Deland. Motion Carried.
V. CONSENT AGENDA AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Check Register from 02/12/2025 – 02/26/2025
- Revenue & Expenditure Report for Period Ending 02/28/2025
Usakowski mentioned that we have disbursements totaling $193,897.86.
Jackson motioned to disburse $193,897.86 to pay the bills and file supported by Bowen.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Jackson, Bowen, Usakowski, Deland and Lokers.
NO: None. ABSENT: Wrubel and Reilly. (5-0-2) Motion Carried.
- BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
- Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of St. Clair Minutes
Regular Meeting 02/04/2025
- Kimball Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 01/28/2025
Deland motioned to receive and file Boards and Commissions supported by Lokers. Motion Carried.
- PUBLIC COMMENT (Brief Comments)
Pat Kilbourne, 405 Scott Road: I came to tell you how excited I am and also my grandkids are for a kayak launch ramp.
Eric Zobl, 322 Eileen Avenue: asked if the Master Plan will be on Facebook.
Usakowski mentioned that will be soon.
Zobl: I also would like to bring awareness to March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. It is very important to be checked.
Nathan Damer: I have filed a FOIA asking for fire personnel rank and pay among other things. I have issue with the Fire Chief.
Usakowski stated that the township won’t discuss personal issues with anyone other than the employee themselves.
Tyler from Port Huron Township spoke asking for there to be some decorum during the meetings and that everyone can be respectful and still get their point across. I am also looking forward to using the new park when it is ready.
Ray Campbell, 299 Eileen: Spoke on the sewer history and the need to update the sewer allocation map.
Usakowski stated that he will supply the information for Mr. Campbell and that when new projects are applied for PCE evaluates if there is sufficient capacity in the areas where the projects are proposed.
Dennis McCallom, who lives on Allen Road, stated that he has had sewer issues and wants to make sure the PCE routes the sewer in a cost-effective route.
Discussion.
- CHIEF GRATZ REPORT
- Request for Expenditure Over $500: Remove and Install New Stairs at
Station 2
- Request for Expenditure Over $500: Remove One Water Well Tank from
Building and Install New 20 Gallon Tank System
OLD BUSINESS
None.
- NEW BUSINESS
- SEMCOG Meeting
Usakowski explained that SEMCOG has some free tools to help promote the townships and he would like to see Kimball Township take advantage of these opportunity.
- Resolution #25-11: Final Resolution for Water/Sewer Special Assessment
Usakowski explained that this is the final step in the Special Assessment process. This authorizes us to move forward with the bonds.
Jackson motioned to adopt Resolution #25-11 supported by Bowen.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Jackson, Bowen, Usakowski, Deland and Lokers.
NO: None. ABSENT: Wrubel and Reilly. (5-0-2) Motion Carried.
Deland made a motion to close both of the public hearings supported by Jackson. Motion Carried.
- AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
None.
XI. OFFICERS REPORT
- Supervisor Usakowski
I am meeting with our new county commissioner tomorrow.
I will also be meeting with Kim Harmer of the city of Port Huron to review some recommendations she has for us about grants.
- Clerk Wrubel
Absent.
- Treasurer Jackson
Jackson gave his financial report.
- Trustee Lokers
Lokers asked about ditching issues.
Usakowski explained that he goes to the County Road Commission to go over issues that the township is having with ditches and draining. A work order will be filled out to address the issue.
Lokers: Questioned about a builder having to put in water and sewer for a project they were putting in. Then they have to pay more to hook water and sewer up to a parcel.
Usakowski explained.
Lokers wants to make sure that the township discussions be in public at meetings and not in emails.
Discussion about Howard Road needing to be ditched.
- Trustee Deland
Questioned about checking the ditch out on Maple Road that Mr. Dondineau complained about.
- Trustee Bowen
My yard is also flooded because there isn’t a ditch in front of my house.
- Trustee Reilly
Absent.
- ADJOURNMENT
Bowen motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. supported by Deland.
Motion Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Submitted by Becky Wrubel, Clerk
