Watervliet Township seeking bids to overhaul website; Medic 1 moves to have ambulance stationed s

Watervliet Charter Township Supervisor, Joe Stepich informed the township board of discussions held at several meetings he attended revolving around the local or state authority for permitting of utility-scale renewable energy facilities (solar, wind, and large scale battery storage facilities). Stepich gave a list of all legislative bills in the Michigan Legislature, at the monthly board business meeting on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.

Medic 1 has been moving furniture into the building next to the township hall and should occupy with second ambulance for the area in December.

Changes coming to the township

Pat Bambrick, Township Clerk would like to undergo an overhaul of website and make the township site more interactive. They are currently seeking bids and information.

Letters will be going out with potential fines to a couple of places in the township that has ordinance issues regarding clean-up. The locations were undisclosed at the November meeting.

The township has a few delinquent rental inspections and payments that will be addressed in the near future.

Berrien County is looking at new software that will help with viewing property better with a 45-degree angle mapping. If approved they would be looking at the municipalities to cost share.

Ongoing topics

Airport Park is still waiting on stone sign for soccer field next door to the township hall. Discussion on the field included who and how to schedule times to use the field and the need to move a trash receptacle closer. They expect usage of the new soccer field next year.

There will be a discussion meeting at the County building on Napier Avenue regarding the MEC broadband internet and what it means to Watervliet Township on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 11:30 a.m.

There was a sewer rate study done and it will take some time to digest the information. The board will schedule a meeting to review the data from the study. The Lake Project will restart next year and they will give a 4-year plan at that time.

Equipment

The sale of the 2000 Dodge truck with plow and salt spreader was completed for $8,500. November 10 was the deadline for bids for the 2018 dump trailer. The highest bid by deadline was for $7,600.

Under new business, the board approved the purchase of a salt spreader for $6,774.32.

Other business

The township received a roads project summary from Berrien County to review for the 2024 to 2026 roads they suggested for repair or repave. In the township there are state roads and county roads and private roads, there are no “township” roads.

General bills for the township were $35,139.12; the highest payments were for Berrien County roads, Sheriff’s new car for Watervliet Township, School Resource Officer, payment to Progressive AE water assessment, and township’s new truck. Payroll was $25,903.75 bringing the total payouts for the month to $391,042.87. The township has a total fund balance $3,849,150.17.

The Sewer Treatment Plant used 850 gallons at a cost of $35,000.

The budget will be discussed at the February 2024 meeting.

The next Watervliet Charter Township board meeting will be Monday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. at the township hall.