Pierson Township board approves trial office hours, park equipment purchase and Howard City fire contract

Pierson Township trustees voted Feb. 20 to change township office hours to Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a six‑month trial and approved a slate of routine financial and capital items, including a 2023–24 Howard City fire contract for $26,574.24 and a playground purchase of $27,433.09.

The changes were adopted at the regular meeting held at 7 p.m. after roll call listed Buyze, Bergman, Burkholder, Orcutt and Sower present. The board approved the meeting agenda and a broad consent agenda covering minutes, warrants and invoices — including payments to Fresh Coast Planning ($215.15), Ark’s Electric ($793.82) and FV&O Invoice 5694 (combined total $7,029.12) — under one blanket motion.

Board member Burkholder moved to set the new office hours for a six‑month trial with status reports; Buyze seconded, and the motion passed by roll call. The board tabled proposed Salary and Poverty Exemption resolutions until the Feb. 27 budget workshop and tabled the Great Lakes Energy franchise ordinance pending a requested legal recommendation.

The board approved the Howard City fire contract for 2023–24 in the amount of $26,574.24 on a motion by Buyze, seconded by Sower. The roll call showed Buyze, Burkholder, Orcutt and Sower voting yes; Trustee Bergman abstained on that item.

Trustees also approved a consolidation resolution for the May 2, 2023 election and set an Election Commission meeting for Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m. The board authorized a six‑month pilot to provide a law enforcement workstation and building access, and appointed Virginia Pennington to the Board of Review with Kathi Coffin as the alternate.

Administrative and banking changes included removing William (Bill) Grice and adding Caleb Sower as a signer on the Independent Bank (Howard City) safe deposit box. The Planning Committee renumbered Ordinance 2022‑01 (General Stormwater Provisions) to 2023‑02 by motion.

Under open items and Parks & Recreation business, trustees authorized purchase of a park entrance sign from Viking Sign Solutions for $2,300, two "No motorized vehicles" signs, and two dog‑waste stations from Waste Depot for $549.97. The Parks & Recreation group will host an Adult Prom fundraiser May 20 at Brewer’s Barn in Coral; the board accepted the resignation of committee member Ellie Newsome and will post the vacancy. Trustees also approved a Sponsorship Opportunities brochure to add to the township’s social media policy.

By motion, the township approved purchase of an "Inclusive Whirl" playground unit for $27,433.09 plus necessary ground cover and installation costs to be paid from the township board contribution balance. Motions on these park items were moved by Burkholder and carried by roll call.

A public comment period was opened (no individual public comments are recorded in the transcript excerpt). County Commissioner Ron Baker provided updates from the county. The board announced a budget workshop scheduled for Feb. 27, 2023 and a 2023–24 budget meeting for March 29, 2023, and adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

The meeting opened and closed with the recorded notice, "Pierson Township meetings are being recorded."