LOCKE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

    APRIL 8, 2025

The Locke Township Board met on April 8, 2025, in the Locke Township Hall, 3805 Bell Oak Road.

Present: Nathan Lott, Marcy Shepler, Ty Hull, Jean Coe.  Also present, Glenda Turner, Bob Davis, Bruce Miller, Dorothy Hart, Duane Pinckney & Michelle Soliz.

Absent: Sheri Rambo

Call to order at 7:00 PM by Supervisor Lott followed by pledge to flag.

Additions to agenda: None – Approval of agenda – Motion Hull, second Coe – agenda approved. PASSED {4-0}.

Action on March 11, 2025 Board of Trustees meeting minutes.  Motion Shepler, second Hull to approve the Board of Trustees meeting minutes of 3/11/2025.  PASSED {4-0}.

Action on Accounts Payable checks. Motion Shepler, second Lott to approve accounts payable checks #6609 – #6643 in the amount of $13,518.10. PASSED {4-0}.

Presentation/Public Comment: Discussion on ORV Ordinance

Unfinished Business:

Locke Township Master Plan: Supervisor got in touch with Brad Kotrba from Williams & Works and let him know the board has passed the final Master Plan. This is our New Master Plan.

Bank CD: Recommendation to roll over 6-month CD with Flagstar Bank. Motion Shepler, second Coe to rollover the 6-month CD with Flag Star Bank. Roll call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Locke Township Cemetery Signs: Board discussion that we approve two new signs for the Rowley Rd Cemetery, made by “Signs on The Spot” for the price of $285 per for the total of $570. Supervisor Lott would install the signs to save the township the $200 install fee. Roll call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Township Audit: Aaron Stevens from Manor Costerisan will be in contact with the Clerk and Treasurer in April to let them know what he needs to proceed with Audit.

Flags: Clerk will be purchasing Cemetery Flags in April.

New Business:

Sheri Rambo has submitted her resignation as Locke Township Treasurer, effective on April 3, 2025 at midnight. Motion Hull, second Coe to accept Sheri Rambo’s resignation. Roll call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Supervisor Lott recommended we reappoint Marcy Shepler from Locke Township Clerk to Locke Township Treasurer effective immediately. Motion Lott, Second Hull to reappoint Marcy Shepler from Clerk to Treasurer effective immediately. Roll call. Lott Yes, Coe Yes, Hull Yes, Shepler Yes.  PASSED {4-0}.

Supervisor Lott recommending Locke Township Board appoints Glenda Turner to be the interim Clerk until we appoint a Clerk. We have 45 days from this meeting date, which would be 5-23-2025.

If vote passes, Glenda Clerk would get paid Clerk Salary during her time. Motion Shepler, second Lott to appoint Glenda Turner to Interim Clerk effective immediately and pay Clerk salary to Glenda Turner during time served as Clerk.  Roll call: Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Hull Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Motion Lott, second Shepler to remove Sheri Rambo and Michelle Soliz from bank accounts. PASSED {4-0}.

Supervisor Lott is looking for a motion to rescind the February 11, 2025 motion for road improvements by Ingham County Road Commission. New discussion on approving road repairs for Dietz Road from Rowley to Harris and Sherwood to Bell Oak Road @ a cost of $137,126.09. Motion Lott, second Shepler to approve the Ingham County Road Commission to complete road improvements on Dietz Road from Rowley to Harris & Sherwood to Bell Oak Road @ a cost of $137,126.09. Roll Call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Planning and Zoning Conference: Jordan Smith would like to attend one of the three dates available and is uncertain on which one because of farming season. He is willing to pay the late walk-in fee of $50 and Locke Township would pay the $100 fee for the conference itself. Motion Shepler, Second Lott, to pay $100 for Jordan Smith to attend the Planning and Zoning Conference. PASSED {4-0}.

Locke Township received a FOIA request from “Open the Books” on March 6, 2025 and was completed on March 13, 2025. Supervisor Lott volunteered to handle FOIA requests for the Township.

Appointments:

Zoning Administrator Deputy: We need to find a qualified person to help our Zoning administrator Julie Moore. Supervisor Lott will put on our website.

FOIA Coordinator: Supervisor Lott is willing to accept the duty of FOIA Coordinator. Motion Shepler, second Lott to Approve Nathan Lott as FOIA Administrator. PASSED {4-0}.

While at the Board of Review appointments it was brought to Supervisors attention that it might be beneficial to have a couple Townships combine days because our Assessor works for all of them. Wheatfield is one that would like to combine but Leroy would like to stay separate. No action taken.

Ingham County Equalization & Tax Mapping Department would like to obtain permission to distribute local unit information at the level that we are comfortable with on an annual basis. Will discuss @ next month’s meeting.

In last month’s meeting Supervisor noted incorrect Budget sheet in package so Supervisor is looking to rescind the March 11, 2025 Resolution 2025-03 General Budget/Appropriation Act and exchange with correct version of the Resolution 2025-03 General Budget/Appropriation Act. Motion Hull, Second Lott, to rescind incorrect budget and accept corrected version of Resolution 2025-03 General Budget/Appropriation Act. Roll Call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Township Insurance: On Friday March 28,2025, Supervisor meet with Kevin Decker from the Decker Agency and went over our insurance coverage and renewal. Our new policy will be $9,525.00, which is up from last years $8,915.00 (up 6.8%, $610) On the back page is a Beneficiary page all board members must fill out and return to Supervisor Lott ASAP. Motion Hull, second Lott to accept the 2025-2026 insurance policy. Roll Call: Hull Yes, Shepler Yes, Coe Yes, Lott Yes. PASSED {4-0}.

Reports:

Clerk – Revenue & Expenditure Report

Treasurer – None

Trustee Coe – None

Trustee Hull – None

Supervisor – Will be attending The Planning and Zoning Conference on May 7, 2025 in Frankenmuth.

Zoning Administrator –March report summary w/building permits update

NIESA – March Report

Public Comment:

Granger will be doing a presentation on April 15, 2025 @ 3:30pm in Lansing at the Materials Management Meeting.

Communications, Seminars, etc.

Sgt Jeremy Doerr, ICSD report

Any other Business/ Board member comments. None

Adjournment. Motion Hull, second Lott to adjourn at 7:50 PM. PASSED {4-0}.

The Township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at the Board meeting upon 3 days’ notice in writing or by calling the Locke Township Clerk at 517 468-3405 or email [email protected].

Next meeting – May 13, 2025

Locke Township Clerk