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PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN November 25, 2021

BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER
BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER

Trustees continue to criticize published misinformation

Despite published claims, the new potential hazard. said it was obviously not true and that the
injection wells at Carleton Farms will ” Trustee Matt Oddy agreed noting that minutes of the meeting in question were
pose no threat to the water quality of It is unfortunate that the deep wells were not under the con- accurate. “It is obvious the writer con-
Sumpter Township residents. trol of the township or the board mem- fused the study session with the official
The new wells will be used to dispose we have to spend bers and that the representatives meeting,” he said. “The agenda for the
of leachate at the waste disposal facility. so much time to appeared at a study session to explain meeting is approved at the beginning of
Leachate is groundwater that has perco- the planned construction as a courtesy. the meeting and those items addressed.”
lated through the waste at the site and help residents get Trustees, along with Township He added that there was another
leached out some of the constituents. the right information, Supervisor Tim Bowman, strongly criti- claim that the board had “broken promis-
Currently, Carleton Farms has the col- cized what they characterized as the con- es” about the sale of township-owned
lected leachate trucked off the site and stant misinformation spread by the publi- property, which was, he said, also mis-
disposed of elsewhere, officials cation and the amount of time they were leading and inaccurate.
explained during a Sept. 28 study session ty of the drinking water. Trustees at the forced to spend attempting to correct the “It is unfortunate that we have to
of the Sumpter Township Board of Nov. 9 meeting of the board protested the erroneous reports. spend so much time to help residents get
Trustees. publication of the erroneous information Oddy explained that there was anoth- the right information,” he said.
Representatives from Republic and repeatedly noted that the claims are er allegation printed that the board was Bowman agreed noting that “We
Services, owners of Carleton Farms, untrue and without basis. acting in secret and that the minutes of a spend so much time on this. It is a never-
appeared before the trustees as a cour- Trustee Tim Rush said that a pub- meeting had been “tampered with.” He ending battle to get the truth out there.”
tesy, they explained, as an effort to be a lished letter to the editor in a local news-
good neighbor. They noted that the town- paper claimed that the leachate would Sumpter Township
Regular Board Meeting
ship had no input or control regarding be pumped into and impact the ground- Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
the installation or management of the water and that this was something the 23480 Sumpter Rd., Belleville, MI 48111
proposed wells which would be regulat- board members had approved. He said Minutes
ed at the federal and state level. that this was, once again, erroneous and PUBLIC NOTICE:
Recently published misinformation false information and that “the township To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, protect the public health, and provide essential protections to Sumpter Township residents;
claimed that the township board had has no say in this process. This is done at this Board of Trustees' meeting will be conducted virtually in compliance with the emergency declaration of the Wayne County
Executive Order and Wayne County Department of Health regarding remote public meetings.
approved of the wells and were secretly a federal level.” He added that this new
supporting the construction which would deep well disposal was actually a safety Meeting called to order by Supervisor T. Bowman at 8:10 pm. Roll call: Supervisor T. Bowman (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI),
Clerk E. Hurst (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Treasurer V. Warren (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Trustees: Oddy (Wayne
pump the leachate into the groundwater feature as currently the trucked leachate Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Rush (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), LaPorte (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI) and Morgan (Wayne Cty,
in the township and threaten the integri- on the township roads proved more of a Sumpter Twp, MI). Also showing present: Deputy Clerk Burdick, Township Administrator Cole, Public Safety Director/ Chief
of Police Luke, Fire Chief Brown, DPW Director Danci and 9 attendees.
Holiday help is available *Supervisor Bowman introduced his initiative to develop a Township One to Five Year Strategic Plan and requested that the
Board of Trustees, over the next week, individually submit to him their top 5 goals and objectives to assist in developing the plan.
3. Agenda: Motion by Oddy, supported by LaPorte to approve the Agenda with the following actions;
TABLE: New Business, Agenda Item F
Applications for assistance from both Van Buren Township residents only. ADD: New Business, Agenda Item G
the Sumpter Township and 2021 Forms can be completed and immediate- ADD: New Business, Agenda Item H
ADD:
New Business, Agenda Item I
Belleville/Van Buren Township ly submitted at the police department or ADD: New Business, Agenda Item J
Goodfellows Christmas Food and Toy filled out off site and returned. Call-in, Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None.
Distribution programs are now available. mail-in or e-mailed applications will not Motion carried.
Van Buren application forms are be accepted. 4. Public Comment/Open Floor: No Attendees Spoke.
available 24/7 at the Van Buren Applications for assistance in Van
Township Police Department front desk Buren and Belleville will close at 3 p.m. 5. Minutes:
Motion by Rush, supported by LaPorte to approve the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of October 12th, 2021. Roll call vote:
at 46425 Tyler Road in Van Buren Friday, Dec. 3. Sumpter Township appli- Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion car-
Township. Applications for Christmas cations will be accepted until Dec. 6. ried.
help from the Sumpter Township Sumpter Township applicants will be Motion by Oddy, supported by Bowman to accept the HR Committee Meeting Minutes of October 12th, 2021. Roll call vote:
Goodfellows are now available at notified by phone to schedule a pick-up Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion car-
ried.
Sumpter Ace Hardware, the Sumpter of holiday gifts Dec. 12-15. For more
Township Police Station and Sumpter information or questions about the Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to accept the HR Committee Meeting Minutes of October 18th, 2021. Roll call vote: Yes:
Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
Township Hall, as well as at district Belleville/Van Buren Goodfellows pro-
schools. gram, contact Pam Fleming at (734) 260- 6. Warrants:
Motion by LaPorte, supported by Bowman to approve the warrants totaling $373,987.34. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor
Printable forms are also available 4150 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. weekdays. Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
online on the Van Buren Township web- For more information about the 7. Receive and File:
site at www.vanburen-mi.org . The com- Sumpter program, call Cathy Sykes at Motion by LaPorte, supported by Morgan to receive and file the following reports;
puter forms are for City of Belleville and (734) 740-6300. • • Parks & Recreation/Chambers Report
Water & Sewer Report
• Planning & Zoning Report
• Senior Report
• Treasurer's Report
Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None.
Motion carried.
12. Board Response:
• Trustee Rush wanted to report and share information on available statistics at SaveLives.com and acknowledge the
Sumpter Township Police Department, Fire Department and 1st Responders for achieving #51 ranking out of 723
Townships, Municipalities and Villages within the State of Michigan for the services they provide.
• Trustee LaPorte said that he wanted to thank DeBuck's and The Pumpkin Factory for their contributions to Sumpter
Township and the Fire Department during the Open House event.
14. New Business:
A. Motion by Morgan, supported by LaPorte to approve to add services with Comerica for Integrated Payables Module at
no additional cost to the township, but using $5,731.80 of our statement credits. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman,
Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
B. Motion by Rush, supported by LaPorte to approve the Davey contract month-to-month for $1500 to park up to 6 trucks
on property lot adjacent to Township Hall. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren;
Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
C. Motion by Oddy, supported by LaPorte to approve the job description of Finance Manager position, as attached and
reviewed by the HR Committee.
*Trustee Oddy requested modification to the position title due to current and historical documents references and that
the motion supported be modified to read; "Consider approval for job description of Finance Director position, as
attached and reviewed by the HR Committee."
Motion by Oddy, support by LaPorte confirmed. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren;
Trustees: Oddy, Rush, and LaPorte. Nay: Trustee Morgan. Motion carried.
D. Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to approve to refer to the Sumpter Township Planning Commission a request to
consider, develop and recommend an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance providing for the creation of a Zoning District
for the Care Giver Operations under the Michigan
Medical Marijuana Act of 2008. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees:
Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
E. Motion by Oddy, supported by LaPorte to approve the phone system replacement for $13,480. Roll call vote: Yes:
Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion
carried.
F. Motion by Rush, supported by Morgan to TABLE until additional information and final costs are received to approve to
purchase BioAir system to remediate the odor 19729 Sumpter Rd Pump Station at corner of Willis and Sumpter Roads
for $85,100. Survey results indicated 26/27 found the smell to be intolerable. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman,
Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. Roll call vote:
Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None.
Motion carried.
G. Motion by Morgan, supported by Rush to approve to recognize AFSCME Floating Holidays identified as November 12,
2021 and December 24, 2021 through January 3, 2022. AFSCME Employees will utilize PTO time available for
December 28, 29 & 30, 2021. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy,
Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
H. Motion by Morgan, supported by LaPorte to approve to establish dates for properties identified as parcel #s 82-81-016-
99-0014-715, 82-81-108-99-0001-001 and 82-81-108-99-0006-001 to be offered through sealed bid(s) with post/publish
date of November 3rd, 2021 and deadline for bid receipt at4:00pm on December 3rd, 2021. Property signage and all
appropriate postings and NOR publish to be completed. The Supervisor's Office will compile property information with
the Clerk's Office preparing, issuing and receiving bid packets. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst,
Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
I. Motion by Bowman, supported by Rush to approve to hire Michelle Thornsberry as a temporary contract part time
employee to perform the services of HR & Payroll Support at a flat hourly rate of $27.00 effective November 3rd, 2021,
not to exceed a total of 125 hours. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees:
Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
J. Motion by Rush, supported by Bowman to approve to extend the existing temporary contract of Mackenzie Glinski from
(8) weeks to (16) weeks, not to exceed the original $4,000.00 total costs for payroll support. Roll call vote: Yes:
Supervisor Bowman, Clerk Hurst, Treasurer Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion
carried.
15. Announcements:
• Clerk Hurst advised of the following announcements;
• November 2, 2021, Election, Huron Schools, Portions of Precinct(s) 3 & 4 only. The Clerk's Office will be open on
Sunday, October 31st between 6:00 am until 2:00 pm to conduct election business only.
• Residents of Sumpter Township can obtain a household hazardous voucher from the Clerk's office to take materials
to Recycling Group located in Livonia. Voucher is good until December 31, 2021.
• A check was received for $7,350.00 from a grant that my staff worked very diligently to obtain and complete, even
though several steps were incorrectly performed. In the future, we need to take the time to coordinate with the
Clerk's Office so that the process is done correctly.
16. Adjournment: Motion by Rush, supported by Bowman to adjourn at 8:40 pm. Motion carried.
Minutes prepared by;
Anthony Burdick, Deputy Clerk
Sumpter Township
______________________________________ ________________________
Esther Hurst, Clerk Date
______________________________________ ________________________
Timothy Bowman, Supervisor Date ST0088 - 112521 2.5 x 16.56