Free meals for all Watervliet School District students; four teachers hired

By Annette Christie The Watervliet School Board meeting on Monday, August 12 was a constant flow of good news. At the top was the announcement that free breakfast and lunch would be available this upcoming school year for all kids, of all ages in the Watervliet School District. Superintendent Ric Seager told the board that administration has been working over the past few months to qualify the district for the Community Eligibility Provision. Terry Adams, the district’s Food Service Director has been working very closely in preparation for the program. Seager thanked Adams for all her hard work and commitment to bringing the program to fruition. In an effort to expand the number of students taking part in the food service program, staff will make it easier for the students including the possible delivery of meals right to the classrooms. “We want to make sure that every student has a nutritious meal,” Seager said adding, “We don’t want any kids coming to school in the morning hungry.” As required by the program, all households with students will be asked to complete surveys. In addition, there will no longer be an application for families to complete in order to participate. 4 new teachers welcomed Seager also introduced four new staff members that will be getting offers for employment. Joseph Morsaw will be teaching high school science and mathematics. He has 19 years of experience teaching in the communities of Hartford, Mattawan, White Pigeon, Niles, and for the Pokagon Band schools. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Science Education from Western Michigan University and will soon be completing his master’s degree. Mark Herndon will be teaching high school science. He has been a science teacher previously in Fort Wayne Community Schools and Dekalb County School in Indiana. He has a master’s degree in Biology and was twice awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant.

WATERVLIET WELCOMES… Watervliet School District has four new teaching professionals in the district this year. They were presented to the School Board at their August 12, 2019 meeting (from the left): Jamie Dawson, high school counselor; Olivia Dodge, special education at Watervliet High School; Mark Herndon, science at Watervliet High School; Mackenzie Collins, special education Watervliet High School. Not shown is Joseph Morsaw who will be teaching high school science and mathematics. (TCR photo by Annette Christie)

Mackenzie Collins will be teaching Special Education at the high school. She previously worked for the South Bend School Corporation. She is also working on her master’s degree. The board also approved a long-term substitute authorization for Olivia Dodge to teach special education at the high school level. She previously worked in the district as a paraprofessional and interventionist. She has a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and an associate’s degree from Lake Michigan College. She is currently working on her full certification in Special Education. Board member Ted Tees commended Seager for bringing in such quality candidates. Seager commented that Watervliet wants to be a destination district for talent. “We are real excited about the level of competency and commitment,” Seager said.

Other business In other business, Seager told the board that they are working on filling an interim spot in the business office. The district will be receiving an audit of the business office to include personnel, processes, and to make sure that they are reaping the most benefit of what they are doing. He will keep the board informed as that process moves forward. With board’s acceptance of the resignation of high school principle Brad Coon, Seager informed the board of the process he will be using to fill that role on the interim basis. Seager said he has had individuals express interest in the position on an interim basis and as the search for the long-term candidate moves forward. Administrative staff has discussed the possibility of Susan Toothman, Curriculum Director, being in the high school principle role as the school year kicks off. Seager said that other administrators have offered to help with other tasks as needed. He anticipates that they will post the position in October with the goal of having someone onboard to fill it by January 1, 2020. A discussion about strategic planning was held. Seager said some decisions have to be made with regard to how the district wants to go about it. He suggested that a team should be put together to look at it, sometime in early October. He anticipates being able to roll this out in July 2020. Mr. Kindt announced that the W-A-Y Program will hold a graduation. A total of six students will graduate. Overall, there have been 121 graduates from the program. The individual administrators presented their reports. Most of them are just in preparation for the new coach year. Athletic Director Ken Dietz reviewed the list of coach selections for the 2019-2020 school year. He said that many, if not all, of the fall sports practices had begun as the athletic teams prepare for their season. Dietz told the board that a camera system has been installed in the gym and in Panther Stadium that will allow for basketball and football games to be streamed live. There is a small fee for people to live stream the games. Future information on the projects will be provided as it becomes available. In addition, Dietz informed the board that Watervliet student athletes will soon have an opportunity to provide community service through the City of Watervliet. Dietz said he worked very closely with Tyler Dotson (City Manager) and is excited for this upcoming “Impact Watervliet Day.” In an effort to help the community, they will be assisting with projects needed at various city locations. Dietz hopes to do this during every sports season.

Hagar Township champions additional tech upgrades

By Jon Bisnett

Hagar officials continue to embrace technology upgrades with a planned complete overhaul of the township’s website as per board approval under new business at the August 12 regular meeting.

Township Treasurer Marlene Davis explained that after contacts with five vendors, most providing a 2-page synopsis of their proposals, the technology committee settled on Revise of Troy, Michigan. Revise submitted a 52-page detailed proposal and is touted as having exceptional experience in web development for governmental entities. The contract for $6,000 will cover the redesign and staff training with an additional three years of support priced at $2,100 per year.

Davis said she hopes to see several new features included in the project such as access to zoning and appraisal data, along with eventual online payment capability and integration of cemetery GIS mapping currently in development. The newly designed website will take into account the vast number of handheld devices in use with full-feature access via personal computer, tablet or smartphone. The enhanced online features will serve to provide unprecedented access to township services and information for out of town second home taxpayers and local full-time residents as well.

Guests

County Commissioner Dave Vollrath spoke briefly to remind citizens of the upcoming September 5 Commissioners Meeting to be held as an evening session at 6:00 p.m. hosted by the St. Joseph Senior Center.

Sheriff’s Department

Deputy VanKampen visited to present a report of July activity totaling of 47 complaints, with five citations issued and four arrests. The report noted several traffic accidents related to work zone activity and an armed robbery at the local Shell gas station at 3468 Coloma Road.

Supervisors Report

Supervisor Izzy DiMaggio reported construction is well under way at the new Hagar Kayak Launch site.

Sharing an update report on the Paw Paw River Water Trail, DiMaggio said a combination of some 17 municipal, tribal and civic organizations have formally committed financial support to the ongoing project with Hagar providing the amount of $1,400.

Several suggestions have come to light in the way of safety recommendations for the route, including thoughts of placing signage on bridges and perhaps color-coded markers along the river to provide a method of quickly and efficiently dispatching first responders in the event of a water bourn emergency. Officials report more than 20 incidents have occurred along the trail over the past three years including fatalities.

DiMaggio also reported on recent attendance at the Michigan Township Association conference. Seminars on Ethics and Legislative Updates were of major interest.

Last but not least, DiMaggio proudly read a letter from Michigan Department of Treasury which lauded Hagar Township as having a perfect score in the recent AMAR, Audit of Minimal Assessing Requirements as mandated by the State of Michigan.

Clerks Report

Clerk Sarah Rodriguez was absent on the evening but forwarded Pride Care Ambulance activity for the prior month with 13 Priority I calls at 11:21 and 13 Priority II runs averaging 14:25. A total of 26 calls were run in the township during the month of July with an average response of 14:25.

Pride Care Ambulance also reminds residents of the availability of Pride Plus One which is an annual membership that serves to limit the out of pocket costs for “medically necessary” service to the cost of $40 and in addition provides subscribers with special rates for non-emergency wheelchair van transportation.

Treasurers Report

Treasurer Marlene Davis presented expenses for the prior month in the amount of $58,634.10, noting capital improvements to the hall as a major line item.

Fire Report

Supervisor DiMaggio reported the North Berrien Joint Fire Department responded to 31 calls during the month of July with 16 runs in Hagar Township, 10 in Coloma Charter Township, three in the City of Coloma and one Mutual Aid.

Firefighter annual physicals are all up to date and Hagar Fire Board representative Bill Otte has been officially voted in as board treasurer.

Building Inspector

Butch Kelley issued seven building permits for July for a total of $60,550.

Kelly commented that he was experiencing good responses from recent violation postings, with multiple cleanups underway by the affected property owners.

However, it became quickly evident that not all is well as a resident who claimed to speak on behalf of the adjacent neighborhood complaining of the condition of the property located at the corner of M-63 and Central Avenue.

Kelley explained the owner has been at best vague in his plans for the property and the “junk sale” taking place at the site must still go through proper “due process” and assured that he is quite aware and working to resolve the issue.

Parks

Beth Raiser reports that the township parks are in full swing to the extent that additional servicing of porta-pottis has been stepped up to properly accommodate the visitor’s commodes.

Contracts were approved unanimously from Pete’s Painting for the following services: Power washing and sealing of walkway steps at Hagar Park – $ 2,759; power washing and painting of maintenance building and guardrail at Hagar Park – $ 1,655; power washing and refinishing of fence at the Township Hall – $1,283.

Additionally, a bid was accepted from Henderson Brothers in the amount of $2,500 for trimming of trees at Lakeshore Cemetery.

New business

Along with the unanimous approval of the Revise website development contract, the board also gave its blessing to a request for easement from Indiana and Michigan Power for three-tenths of an acre of township property near the railroad tracks resulting in compensation to the township in the amount of $3,500.

Public comment

Members of the Fardello family attended seeking to overturn a Zoning Board decision regarding property at 4890 Bundy Road.

The issue stems over the desire of the non-resident owners to stay on the property with RVs for 30 days each summer to due maintenance on the small farm which is currently leased to a local concern. Hagar ordinance does permit casual use of a guest RV for up to 30 days annually, but in this case with no house on the property that provision does not apply in the eyes of the Zoning Board.

Supervisor DiMaggio was not unsympathetic to the request, but questions the legality of the Township Board to overturn the zoning determination and thus chose to refer the matter to the township attorney for an opinion.

Having no further business Supervisor DiMaggio adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.