By Annette Christie
LaGrow Consulting has submitted a letter of resignation to the Watervliet City Commission and at their Tuesday, August 9 regular meeting, the Commission accepted that letter. Neither Cindy LaGrow nor Emilie Sarratore was present at the meeting. A special meeting that was scheduled to occur at 5:00 p.m. for a continuation of the City Management review was cancelled due to conflicts in their schedule. In the letter authored by Cynthia LaGrow she states, “LaGrow Consulting has concluded that our core values are not aligned with the dysfunctional culture and constant unprofessionalism displayed within the City of Watervliet. It is time for us to move on as it is clear that we can no longer perform our job to the high standards with which we pride ourselves.” The letter stated that per their contract, their last day would be August 31, 2016. Following the City Commission acceptance of the letter, they had to determine whether they would have them finish that time in their daily role of city management or just pay out the 30 days of the contract. With Commissioner Duane Cobb absent, it was approved with a vote of 4 to 1 to pay out the contract. Deah Muth, Rick Kinzler, Melanie Marvin and Dan Hummel voted in favor of the payout with Barb Schofield voting no. LaGrow’s letter notes office politics, unprofessionalism and illegality as some of the bigger obstacles that they faced in their job. She states that the first eight months that they were in the City Management position, they were allowed to do their job as provided in the job description, contract and per the employee handbook. “(We were) able to accomplish many great things for the City with the support of the Commission,” LaGrow stated in the letter. She writes in the letter that in May of this year the Mayor began to have a more active role and started to take control over many items with Commission support. LaGrow states in her letter that it was in November of 2014 when the Commission took action to limit the Mayor’s powers, prompting an investigation into the Mayor’s activities, including the improper use of city funds and/or malfeasance. LaGrow stated that this led to an ongoing investigation by the Michigan State Police, an investigation that they state continues. LaGrow points out questionable actions over the last few months whereby the Mayor has signed off and has a specific note that the auditor approved the action. However, LaGrow states that they spoke to the auditor and the auditor stated that they did not. She points out another situation whereby the Mayor, as a member of the Finance Committee, to sign checks without authority to do so. City Management and the Mayor had a disagreement about what exactly was needed. With the resignation of the City Manager and earlier the Clerk, the City Commission was concerned about staffing City Hall. The City Manager had just recently hired an Office Assistant. However, with a restructuring in mind, the City Commission was uncertain on how best to accomplish office coverage. Brinker brought up that with a quickly approaching election coming up in November, they would need a certified Clerk to run the election. The City Commission authorized two new positions, Office Clerk 1 and Officer Clerk 2 at a rate of $16.50 per hour. Each position would work approximately 29 hours a week and would allow for the City Hall to resume the hours of 8:30 – 5:00 with no lunchtime closure. The positions would be equal in responsibility authority. Those hired would be on a temporary basis through November 19. The City Commission then proceeded to fill those positions. They took action to discontinue the title of office assistant. They voted to offer the Office Clerk 1 position to former Clerk Dena Yow and the Officer Clerk 2 position to Krystal Bartel (previous office assistant). Yow is able to start tomorrow. Next on the list was the filling of the Interim City Manager. Brinker recommended the hiring of Bill Hodge. He provided an interim job description which includes preparing a new organization chart, defining all job positions for the city, defining rates of pay for employees, gathering input from employee interviews, reviewing all current policies, and identifying in the charter all the areas that designate how the City should be ran on a daily basis. The goals identified by Brinker are to secure a new city manager, secure a new clerk, and make recommendations for office staff. Hodge will be paid $500 per week and will provide 20 hours minimum for that wage. He is expected to start in the position tomorrow, August 10. He will continue until November 19 (the day that he takes office as Bainbridge Township Supervisor). Some conversation was held regarding the shared services agreements that the city held with the township. Some question was raised as to whether those contracts still existed; whether they were just on hold, etc. Brinker said he would get with Watervliet Township Supervisor Dan Hutchins to review those. The City had contracted with the township for ordinance enforcement, zoning, rental inspections, and cemetery upkeep.
GLAD-PEACH ROYALTY… The Glad-Peach Prince and Princess Court of Honor (from the left) Ella Spies, Daniel Zan-darski, Reaghan Prestidge, Ross Smothers, Payton Yeske, and Roman Arndt. (TCR photo by Christina Gelder)
Bainbridge WWII Stone Dedication
By Angela Stair
Bainbridge Township Board of Trustees set the date for the dedication of the World War II stone at their August 8 monthly meeting. The dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 20 at 1:00 p.m. If it rains, the ceremony will be held inside the Township Hall. The World War II original stone had been found abandoned in a cemetery, broken and a piece missing. It is a list of Bainbridge men and women that served their country in World War II. The Township Board decided to have it repaired and displayed. This was well over a year ago and was expected to be a simple job, but it turned out to be an extensive one. The first problem that was overcome was that the stone could not be repaired, so the Board decided to replace it and have the original names re-carved. The problem now was the piece that was missing had held some names and these would have to be tracked down. Township Supervisor Jerry Jollay contacted Marge Yetzke, who has done other research projects for the Township, and she began working on a list of names for the stone. This took more than a year to compile as when thought completed, another name would come up, have to be tracked down and verified. Many times a spelling would be questioned and needed verification. Finally the stone has been completed and Supervisor Jollay has put the finishing touches to the dedication ceremony by contacting VFW Commander Glenn “Corky” Openneer to honor the heroes. Supervisor Jollay said there are still three living members whose name is on the stone and they will be contacted to see if they can attend the ceremony. If anyone knows of any other members still alive that are listed, please contact the Township Office. Space has also been left for any names that might have been missed.
REMEMBERING…the stone recalling the sacrifices of Bainrbridge Township residents killed in World War!! will be dedicated Sunday, August 20. (TCR photo by Karl Bayer
Township audit, Planning Commission, Mechanical/Plumbing Inspector
The audit report was presented by Alex Schaeffer, CPA and Patrick W. Sage, CPA Senior Staff Accountant from the firm of Kruggel Lawton. Schaeffer explained that the firm has merged with another and that is why the name was changed. He said the label may have changed, but the firm is now bigger, with over 100 people employed there and more to offer the Township. Schaeffer stated the Township had been given an “unmodified” rating which is the best that can be received. He briefly went over the report, pointing out the total assets, $1,559,000 and liabilities of approximately $6,000, leaving a fund balance of $1,553,000, which shows the Township pays its bills in a timely manner. The tax fund shows a balance of $400 which means Township Treasurer Nancy is paying the taxes as she should. The Township had spent a lot of money on road work this last year, Schaeffer said, but it had been budgeted for. He complemented on their budget savvy and pointed out they had budgeted $497,000 and had paid out $480,000. Schaeffer said he was given all the help he asked for during the audit and had documents to back up everything. He said once the Board approves the audit they will send it on to the state as required. Supervisor Jollay told the Board he had received a resignation letter for the Mechanical/Plumbing Inspector Ed Wainright. He thanked the Township for their support since his stroke. Jollay explained that they have had replacements come in to handle his job while they waited to see if he would recover sufficiently to resume his position. Under the advisement of his doctors and therapists, they do not feel he should go back to work. Supervisor Jolly told the Board that due to a lack of qualified people in the area and the time constraint, (Ed is done as of August 15), Ross Rogien their Zoning administrator has suggested hiring the state to do the work. Clerk Patty Hiler-Molter agreed and told the Board that the way she understands it, is when they find someone to hire, it will not be a problem to stop using the state. The Board approved the hiring of the state for the time being. The Planning Commission had three people’s terms expiring and two, Don Baiers and Dale Kreitner, agreed to a reappointment for another three year term. The third, Neil Kreitner did not want to renew and it left an opening on the Commission. Supervisor Jollay stated that he usually has to beat the bushes to get at least one volunteer, but this time he had a list of three people interested. He asked for a nomination and Jim Borah was nominated by Don Baiers and the Board approved him for a three year term.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board approved the payment of bills in the amount of $37,266.43, payroll taxes in the amount of $1,777.18 and payroll in the amount of $7,771.36 for a total of $46,814.97. Resident Phil Merkel spoke with the Board about the parking problem with the Pipestone Lake Access Site. He said he had taken pictures to show them the problem and had charted out a map of how the parking would not interfere with the local residents. He said there had been no action from law enforcement and he was told to ask the Township to give the police direction. Supervisor Jollay said that since the last meeting where he had complained, they had talked to the Berrien County Supervisor about the problem and where to put up no parking signs. He explained that the law could not give tickets until there were signs up, saying no parking. Road Commissioner Bill Hodges said that at the last Road Commission meeting they spoke of the no parking signs being in and ready to be put up. He said they are only waiting for the approval of their attorney.
Coloma City Commission happy with recent Glad-Peach Festival
By Christina Gelder
Glad-Peach President Julie Pupedis attended the Coloma City Commission meeting on Monday, August 8, to say thank you for assistance at the recent festival. “This is my annual thank you” said Pupedis “Public Works was absolutely fantastic”. She gave high praise to the Department of Public Works, the commissioners themselves, and the Coloma Township Police Department. “Everyone did a really great job…it takes a lot of us”. Mayor Jim Polashak also had high praise for her. “It went great” the Mayor told her “everything was very well organized.” He said the whole festival was great and he was grateful to the committee and the citizens. Later on in the meeting Coloma Township Police Chief also reported on the festival weekend. He said that they did have one related arrest of a juvenile and a couple of issues to investigate. Overall though, he said it was probably the quietest Glad-Peach Festival he has worked in his 16 years as part of the department.
Well #2 needs a new pump
Just when they thought they were ahead of water needs with the water tower project wrapping up, another need arose. Well #2 has pump issues. According to the report the pump is “severely rusted and leaking”. It cannot be fixed because the parts are obsolete. It was approved to replace the pump at a cost of $3268 plus installation.
Police thank the Lioness Club
Coloma Township Police Chief expressed thanks to the Coloma Lioness Club for a recent donation they made to the department. Their generous donation of $1000 went to purchase trauma plates to reinforce the vests worn by officers.
Water tower not paid for yet
Resident Loren Schaus attended the meeting and questioned his water bill. He said that a recent report that the water tower was paid for was misleading and he wondered when he would see that come off of his bill. The commissioners clarified that the tower was paid for with a 20-year bond and repayment of that bond is spread out over the next approximately 19 years.
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