Board adds facilities specialist position; court to share roughly 40% of cost, board told

The Canton Township Board of Trustees approved the addition of a facilities specialist position to the nonunion classified employee wage scale at grade 208 and approved the associated budget amendment. The motion was made by Clerk Kirk Siegrist and supported by Trustee Borninski; the board approved the position.

Staff presented the position as a joint effort to assist both the township and the 30 Fifth District Court communities (materials list Plymouth and Northville among the court communities). Township staff said the court has a substantial capital projects list and lacked internal capacity; Canton’s facilities expertise has been assisting the court and the new position is intended to continue that work.

Staff told trustees Canton will pay approximately 60% of the cost because Canton accounts for about 60% of the court’s caseload; the township will bill the court roughly $8,100 per month and expects to collect about $100,000 per year to offset costs. Staff said the position is expected to last three years while the court completes a capital improvement program; the position’s necessity will be reevaluated at that time.

Director Howell and other staff answered questions from trustees about implementation and joint funding. The board approved the change and directed staff to post the position internally, as there are qualified internal candidates, per the presentation.