Pierson Township board approves splash pad grant applications and a slate of routine measures

PIERSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Pierson Township Board on June 19 approved applications for two grants to support park improvements, voted not to renew the township's Michigan Township Association membership for 2023 and handled routine financial and parks business during a meeting at 21156 W. Cannonsville Road.

The board adopted Resolution 2023-11 authorizing an application for a Spark Grant to support a proposed splash pad. The resolution was offered by Burkholder and seconded by Orcutt; the roll call vote recorded Buyze, Burkholder, Orcutt and Sower as voting yes. The board also adopted Resolution 2023-12 authorizing a grant application to the Panhandle Community Fund; Burkholder offered the resolution and Buyze seconded, with the same roll call outcome.

Board members moved and approved several other items. Buyze moved, Burkholder seconded and the board voted not to renew the Michigan Township Association annual dues for 2023 and to reevaluate the decision in 2024. The board also authorized removal of the old Pierson Township sign and posts and directed the township to retain the removed materials for 30 days; that motion passed on a roll call vote.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included May 15 meeting minutes, warrants and payroll registers for May 15'June 13, the May check register, invoices to be paid from the General and Road funds (including a $7,240.00 balance payment to Viking Sign Solutions and a $10,109.14 chloride invoice from the Montcalm County Road Commission), the treasurer and assessor reports, fire reports from the villages of Sand Lake and Howard City, and accounts payable for the period.

Parks and Recreation updates included a report that $4,422.50 had been raised for prom. The board approved ordering picnic tables from Polly Products sized to meet ADA spacing requirements; Buyze moved and Orcutt seconded that motion, which passed by roll call. The minutes record that Micah Piatt was hired to assist with watering and gardening township and park grounds for drought management and grounds maintenance.

Other items on the agenda included a Headlee reset discussion for the 2024 election, a Planning Committee meeting scheduled for July 27, 2023, a request for a breakdown of services from Fresh Coast related to reworking the township master plan, and a zoning citation update. The Planning Commission returned Ordinance 2023-04 (Animals for Non-Farm Related Purposes) to the Planning Commission for revisions; the board approved a separate motion to renumber Ordinance 2023-03 (solar ordinance) to correct a prior numbering error. The township audit was noted for July 10'11, 2023.

The board announced a Tire Recycling Event July 24'28, 2023, at Republic Central Station from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the collection trailer is full; rims will be accepted but tractor tires will not. County Commissioner Ron Baker was noted as absent from the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. after a motion by Sower and second by Burkholder.

Votes at a glance: the minutes record the following formal motions and roll call outcomes ' all recorded as passing with Buyze, Burkholder, Orcutt and Sower voting yes unless otherwise noted: approval of the consent agenda; nonrenewal of Michigan Township Association dues for 2023; removal and 30-day retention of the old township sign; Resolution 2023-11 (Spark Grant application for splash pad); Resolution 2023-12 (Panhandle Community Fund grant application); renumbering Ordinance 2023-03; order of picnic tables from Polly Products; return of Ordinance 2023-04 to the Planning Commission for revisions; and adjournment.

The board noted the audit dates and upcoming committee meetings; no public-comment details were recorded in the minutes.