Let's all play together, nicely...

At the last regularly scheduled board meeting, the board put away the claws (mostly) and asked/listened to the public's opinions. Some highlights:

Summer taxes will be mailed soon, and must be received by the treasurer no later than Sept 14th in order to avoid late fees. The postmark will no longer be honored, it must be received by Sept 14th.

Lake County will have their own substance abuse counselor.

Thanks goes out to Chad at The Boat House for shutting up his shop in order to fix a pump on a fire truck in use at K & K grocery during the recent fire.

Recycling is going on every Sat at Sauble Twp and everyone's accumulated wealth is welcomed (no hazardous waste): paper, metal, plastic, and glass only.

Heritage Bay has made petition to pave their roads (again), and the board has made a commitment to look into the costs of such a project.


Midget Lake Special Assessment District has more than enough monies for treatment for this year, so the board made a decision to reduce assessments to $41/parcel.

TRASH DAY: JULY 23rd @ SKINNER PARK, 9-1 pm

TOXIC WASTE CLEAN UP: OCT 8th @ WENGER PAVILION in Baldwin, 9-12 noon

The Board agreed to have a long awaited structural analysis completed on the current township hall by Nordlund Associates; this business will provide a report with recommendations.

And, finally, Frances Arquette cleared up the reason for a closed session during the June 3rd special meeting:
She called a closed session for the board in accordance with the Open Meetings Act for the following reason:
"(1) ...to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual when the person requests a closed hearing."

NOW! What?

The Elk Township Board calls an emergency meeting, then holds an illegal closed session.
According the the Red Book, which is the Bible for townships,
"The right to hold private or executive meetings of the township board has been severely limited under the Open Meeting Act. For township purposes, closed meeting are limited to:
1) Dismissal, suspension or disciplining of, to hear complaints or charges brought against or consider a periodic personnel evaluation of a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, if the named person requests a closed hearing;
2) Collective bargaining sessions at the request of either negotiating party;
3) Real estate purchase or lease consideration;
4) Consultation with the township attorney concerning pending litigation, but only if an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the public body's litigating or settlement position;
5) Review of an employment application, only when requested by the applicant, and
6) Other matters exempt from disclosure by state or federal law."
page 55 of Authorities & Responsibilities by John H. Bauckham , Jan. 2006.
From what I understand, none of the above criterion were met, so what is the justification for a closed session, or is this simply another measure of "We are doing things our way."?
This Board continues to raise more questions than they answer! Next regularly scheduled board meeting is this Tues, June 14th, 7pm