What NOW...?...

Well, I am glad you asked...
Another non-publicly attended meeting...
This one was for discussion of a Proposed Office Building & Site Planning.
All board members present, but no one else.
The renovation of the current township hall was discussed as was the furnace installation.
John Fairbanks gave an overall design and cost estimate of some building plans, and authorization was given to consult with Mr. Peterson, Engineer, on an initial set of schematic drawings plus two elevations of a proposed building...and the deadline...May 7, 2010...happens to be the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

It may be noteworthy that $90,000 was designated in the 2010-2011 Budget for a Capital Outlay/ Building Fund...
This would be $90,000 of your hard earned dollars with no input from you whatsoever. This board seems to be operating on the understanding that they can spend anything within the checking, savings, and money market accounts without any oversight on the part of the tax payers. While this might be technically true and legally undertaken, this money was accrued over years and years of careful planning and frugal spending. Now this large chunk of change may be spent by 5 persons elected by you, and without your say-so. This is representative form of government gone bad...oops, that just my editorializing...isn't this how we got in debt with the federal government?

Anyway, The Mission Statement of the Proposed Development Plan for Elk Township Hall Site, for April 2010, reads as such...

• To preserve the historical significance of the site, maintain the site's existing natural character, and lay a sustainable foundation for future development
• To be as "green" as possible in the planning and execution of all projects through the choice of structure, building materials, fixtures, furnishings, and energy systems
• To revitalize and rededicate his site as the historical and cultural center for the community of Elk Township

Ain't that Sweet....

The Phases...
Phase 1

• Build a new office building that will house the Elk Township offices and records and provide a temporary meeting and polling place
• Construct the office building so that it can be easily and cost effectively added on to in the future

Phase 2

• Renovate and preserve the 97-year old Elk Township Hall once it is vacated
• Convert it to the Elk Township museum
• Properly preserve, archive, and display the township's historical records

Phase 3

• Construct an addition to the (new) office building as required by the future growth and needs of the township
  

And the Proposed Schedule...

• Phase 1 - 2010 Beginning May 2010
• Phase 2 - 2010-2011 Beginning October 2010
• Phase 3 - TBD (to be determined)

ok, wow, that is aggressive....considering that the current budget allows for an actual income of $101,658, but the actual expenses (without the building fund) is $121,147....
so this doesn't look like a sustainable budget! We will run out of money unless expenses are brought in line with income without using savings. Just my thoughts, let me know what you think!

Wow, We Are Behind...

ANNUAL MEETING(s), March 27th, were actually short meetings mostly because the time was changed and people missed the meeting(s)....
interesting facets of the meeting(s) were...

There were two meetings at one time...
The first being an Annual Budget Hearing, where...
Raises happened for Super of $1,000/ year, and $20./mtg for the two trustees....

? when did the board issue a Salary Resolution which is required by law to change Board Salaries?
Oh, that came at a Budget Hearing which was not attended by GQ Public.

The second meeting was the Annual, Annual Meeting where nothing noteworthy happened because it had all happened at the previous meeting.

Now why do I sound slightly sarcastic?
Well, that is probably due to the fact that I was one of those persons who got the time wrong, thus missing both meetings, but it is also due to the idea of the current board sharing information only via the great white sign out front of the township hall. Only if you pass by on the correct days, or have another avenue of connection, can you keep abreast of what the current township board is up to. That makes it imperative for taxpayers who would like to be in the know, to work harder at staying informed of things that are happening in their township.
That means YOU!