Keeler Township to prepare 2-year projected budget; issues with roads to be reported on SeeClickFix

The Keeler Township Board received the final 2022-2023 Fiscal Audit Report prepared by Plante Moran, at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. All board members were present. Trustee Matt Sexton shared that the State of Michigan is now requiring a two-year projected budget. This will prompt the township to begin work on the next annual budget earlier than in the past.

Public Hearing on Special Assessment Districts

A public hearing was held for the special assessment districts of the area. The hearing included; Round Lake Weed and Aquatic Control 2020-2024 Special Assessment District, Big and Little Crooked Lakes Weed Control 2021, and Keeler Lake Weed and Aquatic Plant Control 2023-2027. The public hearing was opened and the board approved the resolution of the special assessment districts by unanimous support.

Special assessment districts are there to support the unique needs of the area for which they are created. These districts discussed in the meeting are all to support the health and continued vitality of the lakes within Keeler Township.

New business discussions

The Keeler Township Board had a few new business items to review.

Early voting within the county is still under development and the board needed to review the Early Voting Agreement and approve Angie Sexton, Township Clerk to sign the agreement on behalf of the township at the county-wide meeting on Oct. 19.

The agreement acknowledges Keeler as part of the county-wide effort to provide a central location and a combined group of election workers to staff the nine days of early voting. The current location that is being renovated for the use of Early Voting is within the building previously used as a public health building in Hartford, just south of the Van Buren Youth Fairgrounds.

Herritage Farms has submitted a Preservation of Farms application to the township. After discussion from the township board and County Commissioner Tina Leary, the township has agreed to send the application on to the Conservation District and the County Planning Commission as they must review the application first. Heritage Farms would like to place a parcel in the total of 80.23 acres into a 10-year Farm Preservation.

Commissioner’s reports

Van Buren County Road Commissioner Rick Boze shared that the Road Commission is looking into the conflicts around residents and people violating road closures. They will be working with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department to address the issues and violations. The Road Commission asks that any issues with the roads, or ongoing road work, be reported through SeeClickFix, their electronic request website, you can find the Van Buren Road Commission’s site at seeclickfix.com/van-buren-county.

Van Buren County Commissioner Tina Leary shared that the county has allotted $25,000 toward Domestic Violence Services; this will be to help provide victims with necessary services. Leary also shared that the Veterans Services office hosted a Stand Down service on Oct. 13, to go over services that they can provide to veterans. The office is located at 226 E. Michigan Ave. in Paw Paw. There are many resources within the office including a common area for networking, a computer center which can be used for not only accessing any digital needs, but the computer area is designed to be utilized for Telehealth or other virtual appointments as needed.

Public safety reports

Keeler Township Fire and Rescue had eight EMS calls and one fire call. The one fire call was to assist Sister Lakes Fire Department, in September. Keeler Fire Department also assisted with fire coverage at the Michigan Flywheelers’ event that took place over Labor Day weekend. Fire training was on the fire truck pumps and draft training on the port-a-tanks. Medical training was over the splinting and back boarding procedures.

Fire Chief Don Bogart attended the Michigan Townships Associations Training event that was about the Emerging Issues in Emergency Services. The department hopes to implement some of the great ideas that could be beneficial to Keeler Township.

The department has requested a quote for a floor drain replacement and repair. Keeler Township Board authorized two invoices to be submitted to the insurance companies for reimbursement, both of these incidents occurred within Keeler Township. Assistant Fire Chief Andy Lubbert also shared that there will be Trick-or-Treating on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. within the township.

Sister Lakes Volunteer Fire Department had nine total calls, two in Keeler Township for September. Their average number of responders was 10 per call and the average response time was 12:08 minutes.

Van Buren Sheriff Deputy, John Horton gave the September report. Deputy Horton noted 46 calls, which included one call for EMS and one fire department assist. Other calls related to traffic stops, domestic violence, property damage and other violations.

Keeler Township committees

Zoning Administrator, Allyn Anthony had five zoning permit applications in September. There were four zoning violations; three storage tents and one shipping container, neither of which is allowed for storage purposes in the township. The Zoning Board of Appeals did not meet in September.

Planning Commission continues to review the zoning ordinances. They are reviewing them to align them with the Master Plan; there was nothing new to report.

Keeler Township Board approved the partial use of the remaining Building Fund account to have a new plat map drawn up and to frame some of the historical documents and photos. These framed items will be hung in the township hall.

Correspondence & Public Comment

Keeler Township Board had a few public comments to inform the board of issues with the cemetery, to request a noise ordinance, about the current sewer bond, and about Senior Services.

The discussion involving request for a sound ordinance was primarily related to loud music. There were some that asked the township to look into a decibel reader and the enforceability by the Van Buren Sheriff’s department.

The comment over Senior Services was about Keeler Township residents’ use of Senior Services. The resident was informed that the township denied the request to put the one percent millage on the ballot due to the high cost that it would put on Keeler residents. The millage was proposed to cover the next eight years and the cost to Keeler residents would be greater than even the township’s operating millage. It was added that the nearest center location for services is the South Haven Center, on Blue Star Highway.

Keeler Township had reimbursement for the fencing near Magician Lake’s Public Access submitted and the repair completed, which came in under the quoted cost.

Next Keeler Township meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. Meetings are held in the Board Room at the Keeler Township Hall. Regular meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month.