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Grant Township board adopts rental agreement, reappoints Board of Review and hears fire coverage concerns
Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Grant Township Board approved minutes and a new rental/use agreement for the township hall, reappointed three members to the Board of Review, and heard zoning and fire‑coverage updates including that Sand Lake Fire Department will no longer cover three neighboring townships.
Grant Township Supervisor Stanley VanSingel called the Jan. 5, 2026, meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda and the minutes from the Dec. 1, 2025 meeting after a motion by Edie (Edith Elsenheimer) and a second from Max Mellon. Clerk Gladys VeltKamp reported there were no after‑audit bills for the month.
Under zoning, Kim reported a busy year for permits: the township issued 54 permits in 2025, including 17 new homes, a notable increase from 2024. Kim also updated the board on a mining request, a land division, a potential change of use or conditional rezone, and said the township’s attorney had provided options for a recently erected structure that lacked required permits. Kim told the board the Planning Commission did not meet in December because Williams and Works software issues delayed completion of the Master Plan draft; Brad is expected to deliver the completed draft before the board’s Jan. 15 meeting.
Max Mellon presented the fire department’s financial report and said the department is exploring replacement radios and moving away from Motorola due to rising costs. He noted one department member was let go last month for repeated reporting errors. Max also relayed that Dollar General’s giving tree donations covered all tags and reported a notification from Sand Lake Fire Department that it will no longer provide coverage for Ensley, Nelson and Pierson townships — a development Max said could affect local fire coverage planning.
The Code Officer provided a verbal update on enforcement: four violations were addressed in the last month and one case has an upcoming court date.
On old business, the board reviewed the final draft of a township rental/use agreement. The agreement requires all users, including nonprofit groups, to complete the use agreement and to be responsible for reset and cleanup following events. Edith Elsenheimer moved to adopt the agreement; Max Mellon seconded; all members present voted in favor and the motion carried.
In new business, the board moved to reappoint Jason Fulton, Larry Bisson and John King to the Board of Review under a motion by Gladys VeltKamp, seconded by Edie; all were in favor. The board noted there will be three openings on the Zoning Board of Appeals (one alternate and two full members) and discussed possible candidates.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Minutes were submitted by Clerk Gladys VeltKamp.
