12-28-2017 Hallgren & Banic retire with 70 years combined service to Hartford Schools; Bainbrid

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON… On December 11, Cadet Paul Chappell of the Hartford Fire Department became a full member Firefighter/ Medical First Responder. Just one week later on December 18, he officially became a member of the Hartford Lions Club. Son of Mike and Marissa Chappell of Hartford, Paul was a 2017 Top 10 Graduate of Hartford High School currently attending Grand Valley State University’s Pre-Med program while volun-teering in the pediatric trauma unit at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Also a member of the Young Republicans, Paul embodies a spirit of volunteer-ism and service to community that deserves recognition.

Hallgren & Banic retire with 70 years combined service to Hartford Schools

By Jon Bisnett

The annual Hartford Public Schools Staff Christmas Party had a few extra hugs and handshakes this year as the District also bid farewell to iconic employees with a combined 70 years of service to the District.

Leda Banic – High School Secretary

When Leda Banic first took the chair of secretary to the high school’s principal one gallon milk sold for just 95 cents. She still recalls the upgrade from an electric typewriter to her first TRS80 computer with then revolutionary word processing; fast-forwarding to today’s era of fully computerized student records with grades, attendance and even parental communications.

During her 33-1/2 years, Banic worked under six different principals, plus one interim principal, five superintendents and one interim. She has lost count on the number of teachers, aids, custodians and lunch ladies over the years.

Banic fondly recalls each year in preparing for graduation as she would reflect on each of the students’ transformation from freshman to senior, while wondering what the future will be.

She describes her retirement as truly bittersweet as she looks forward to travel plans with her husband Mike along with plenty of grandkids to keep her busy. Banic says, “I have always really loved my job and all the students & staff here in Hartford. Being alumni I will always bleed green for our Hartford Indians!”

Mike Hallgren –District Business Manager

Also alumni, Mike Hallgren had a humble beginning since his first job with Hartford Schools was that as a student janitor carrying a broom and a mop back in 1973. Hallgren worked for Hartford Harding’s Market for eight years then following college did a short stint at NCR before becoming the City of Hartford’s accountant.

In 1983 at the age of 24, Hallgren was hired as Business Manager of Hartford Schools and has been there ever since. The title originally included being Transportation and Maintenance Director also. He recalls getting out at 4:00 a.m. to check the winter roads and the occasion to get stuck in a snow bank, then walking to a nearby home to cancel school from their farmhouse telephone, before anyone ever thought of cell phones.

Hallgren comes from a long line of service to the District beginning with his father as a teacher and coach in 1953. Mike’s daughter carries on the tradition as Migrant Coordinator at Redwood Elementary. There has been a Hallgren working at the school continuously since 1953.

Hallgren credits former Superintendent Bob Pobuda as mentor who taught him everything he knows on fiscal responsibility. Along with Pobuda, Hallgren testified before the Michigan Senate supporting the passage of a new millage concept that raised millions of dollars for the state’s public schools without increasing local taxes.

He has piloted the District checkbook through two major construction projects, purchased incalculable numbers of chairs, desks, computers and textbooks. By best estimate he has attended some 1,000 school board meetings and watched the annual budget grow from managing $836,000 in 1983 to a little over $13.5 million currently.

Hallgren looks forward to traveling with his wife Jill and working on some remodeling projects on his children’s homes. He promises his iconic collection of sweaters will still be seen, but they will be on the golf course! Hallgren says, “I want to thank the community for all their support and the privilege of allowing me to serve the students of Hartford. I most enjoy the sports and musical performances and will truly miss working with all the dedicated folks I have come to know over the years. I will always treasure the memories and always support the Hartford Public Schools.”

Bainbridge staying with present fire protection

By Angela Stair

The Bainbridge Township Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 11 at the Township Hall at 7 p.m. All board members were present

The board briefly discussed the fire protection the township has had over the last year and decided to continue the contracts for another year. The board approved the letters of intent to continue contracts for 2018 to Sister Lakes Fire Department and Benton Charter Township Fire Department.

Township Supervisor Bill Hodge explained that the contracts will automatically renew for another year now, but part of the contract requires the sending of letters of intent in or around December.

The Township Board approved the appointment of Andy Gardiner as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The board also approved the appointment of a new Board of Review member, Ken Pica.

Supervisor Hodge said the board approved a Certificate of Appreciation to Larry Smith who retired from the Board of Review after many years of service.

The board approved the paying of November bills in the amount of $5,823.42, payroll in the amount of $7,472.97 and payroll taxes in the amount of $1,624.82 for a total of $14,921.21.

Holiday closings of the Township Hall will be: for Christmas, Monday December 25 and Tuesday December 26 and will be back open on Friday December 29; and for News Year, Monday January 1, 2018 will be the only day closed.

Coloma determines not to copy checkbook register for meetings

By Christina Gelder

Resident Bill Smith asked why the bills and checkbook ledger were not available at the Monday, December 18 meeting of the Coloma City Commission meeting as had been requested several weeks back. Mayor Jim Polashak informed him that they are open to the public for viewing at City Hall.

Smith maintains that other communities do make these documents available at meetings and that it is pertinent for “clarity and transparency.” Mayor Polashak said that his complaint had been noted. When Smith responded that it made him wonder “what is being hidden,” Commissioner Kent Churchill said, “Nothing is being hidden, Bill.”

The Mayor said that it is not required by law and not necessary. He said that at an event for Michigan Mayors they were advised not to put them out at the meetings. He is concerned that it will be more trouble than it is worth.

Despite the Mayor’s opinion Commissioner Julia Smith made a motion that those specific reports be printed for the public at each meeting. After more discussion Commissioner Linda Freitag seconded the motion. It did not pass with only three yes and five no votes.

Meeting coming up to discuss ordinance officer

Nothing was determined in the ongoing ordinance officer discussion. There will be a special meeting dedicated to that subject on Wednesday, December 20. At this point there will need to be several changes made in the contract in order for Sieg Freitag to accept the job offer.

Public Works updates

Both plow trucks are up and running again. The Department of Public Works will be off for Christmas Day and December 26 unless there is snow to plow. Someone will be checking the wells throughout that time.

It was recommended that the vacuum on the City’s leaf vacuum be replaced before using it again. It was decided to look into the price of that repair to get it done in the off season. The vacuum is from 1994 and this is the third time to replace this part.

At the end of the meeting Mayor Polashak wished everyone Happy Holidays. He said he was looking forward to the New Year and thought it would be a great year.

Keeler Township Board seeks public input on parks

By Annette Christie

The Keeler Township Board is in the process of re-writing their 5-year Recreation Plan and is seeking input from the public. Supervisor Bill Kays said at the monthly meeting on December 5, 2017 that the last time the board took on this task, they spent $2,000 on postage to get it out to the residents and only received about 40 responses. This time the board is trying word of mouth.

The survey can be picked up at Keeler Township Hall or can be seen on the website at keelertownship.org. The deadline for submitting input is December 15, 2017. Some of the questions on the survey are about lake use, Lions Club Park use, desire for walking trails, and an overall wish list.

In other business, the board approved passing a resolution that would allow the township to opt out of collecting property transfer affidavit fees when they are not filed in a timely manner. Kays told the board that the township does not track these close enough, nor do they have the staff to track it. By the township passing the resolution, they are relieving themselves of any obligation to the state for these late fees.

The board also approved a resolution to terminate some land from the Farmland Preservation program at the request of the land owner. While the resolution doesn’t help or hurt the township in anyway, it is required for the land owner to move on to the state level.

Sheriff Dan Abbott was on hand to talk about the coverage in the township. Keeler Township contracts with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office for police protection, however, the deputy assigned to their township has been on medical leave. Abbott told the board that they have worked out the coverage and should be able to handle it until their deputy can return to duty at the end of January. Abbott updated the board and residents on some general subjects out of his office and assured residents that a recent arson/homicide nearby should not be a cause of concern as it was not random. He said the investigation continues.

During public comment a Keeler Township resident asked about the township’s action to not allow marijuana grow operations in their township. Kays explained that the Planning Commission reviewed it and unanimously recommended to the Township Board that it not be approved. Kays said if he had received some level of overwhelming support from the residents that they wanted it, he would have the board look into it but that just hasn’t happened. “If someone came back with a petition with a lot of residents’ signatures on there in support of it, we would take a look at it,” Kays said. The man said he would go out and see if he could get some support for it.