Township Board Meeting Minutes
Inwood Township Meeting Minutes
For May 15th, 2019 submitted on June 19th,
2019
Pledge of allegiance was said
Meeting was called to order at 7 P.M. by Supervisor Kelly Silkworth.
Board members present:
Cindy Watchorn, Bonnie Elliot, Bryan Landis, Kelly Silkworth, and
Sara Roberts.
Acceptance of previous meeting minutes presented by Clerk Sara
Roberts. Motion B. Elliott Support B. Landis AIF M/C
Accepted the financial report as presented by Treasurer. Motion B.
Landis Support B. Elliott AIF M/C
New Business
-County Commissioner Craig Reiter spoke about dispensaries and the
confusion on medical marijuana and the differences between medical,
recreational, and being a caregiver. Currently you are allowed to
have 2.5 oz of medical on you and 10 oz in your home, along with
twelve plants. It is still illegal to sell. The federal government
still considers marijuana an illegal substance.
If you already have a medical marijuana license, the application for
recreational marijuana will be offered to those individuals first.
If you don’t have a license then you will be pushed to the bottom of
the list for acquiring a recreational marijuana license.
For dispensaries in Michigan there is a 10% tax on purchasing
marijuana. Out of the tax money made 35% goes to schools, 35% to
roads, 15% to townships, and 15% to counties. Most of the money made
off of dispensaries will be made in the beginning, compared to when
more people start getting into the business.
Township Boards have the choice to opt in or out for medical
dispensaries and can do so at any time over the years. They can also
choose how many dispensaries are allowed in the township. Counties
do not have a choice of opting in or out, only townships or
municipalities. Having a dispensary will generate more income, but
also additional jobs within law enforcement and inspections. The
rules for dispensaries should be issued by July, if not no later
than December 6th. All licensing is done through the
state. There are currently no dispensaries in Schoolcraft County.
-John Pistulka spoke from the Green Door. They already have a
dispensary downs state and thinks one dispensary would be sufficient
in the Inwood Township area. Multiple dispensaries wouldn’t make
sense right now, but all depends on the demand in the future. All of
this is still so new (voted in in November). Everyone is afraid of
the unknown, but encourages people to not be afraid to ask
questions.
-Medical Green Inc (MGI) has a medical marijuana grow operation in
Mueller Township and is fully licensed. They like the idea of
keeping jobs local inside of our county to help the economy. The
owner of MGI, Ray, started the business in California, then to
Colorado. The business created a lot of jobs, and helped many
schools from the tax money.
The plants that are grown come from local caregivers and are tested
before transporting for sale. Having a caregiver’s license gives
exception for transporting the product to wherever it needs to go.
The standards are the same for everyone.
The board’s decision on opting in or out is TABLED until July’s
meeting.
-Notice of resignation of Township Clerk and Deputy Clerk. Board
will be taking letters of intent. New clerk(s) will be voted on at
June’s meeting. Motion B. Landis Support C. Watchorn AIF M/C
-Reminder of Spring Cleanup – dated for June 17th-June 22nd.
-Barking dog ordinance/complaints TABLED until June’s meeting
-Fire truck tanker cost cannot be any less than $185,000 due to
receiving a grant, $50,000 from USDA and $10,000 from Sault Tribe.
Fire Department has $20,000 to put toward the purchase along with
the $30,000 from the Board. That leaves a remaining balance of
$75,000. Instead of taking out a loan, there is mention of paying
off the balance out of the budget – unknown what account. Taking
bids on a new tanker will be advertised in the paper. TABLED
-Lawn care bid from Jean Anderson received. Some increase for the
town hall and the playground from last year’s bid. Proposing $150
for the town hall, $25 for the playground, $225 for the cemetery,
$50 for old cemetery, $20 for old hall/Fire Department, and $50 for
the ball field (as needed). Motion C. Watchorn Support B. Landis AIF
M/C
-Chlorine for the roads cost $8,000 through company from downstate,
and less than $4,000 through Road Commission. The company from
downstate has higher constitute, but less convenient. This year it
will be easier to get the chlorine from Road Commission. If there
are any spots that need more chlorine they can get another
application as needed. Road Commission only charges for the brine,
not the delivery. Motion to go with R.C. B. Landis Support B.
Elliott AIF M/C
-Road Commission engineer suggests asphalt to fix Mintonye Rd
problem, gravel will not work. They will build spill ways along with
putting in asphalt. Looking at $45,432.63 for the project for it to
last 25+ years. TABLED until road account is checked.
FD/EMS
F.D. – Received $500 from Cloverland for GO lights for the brush
truck and maybe new tanker. Waiting to hear back from other grants
that were applied for. Bids for trucks only good for 30 days.
Motion to accept USDA grant B. Landis Support K. Silkworth AIF M/C
Thanks to Kelly Silkworth and Cindy Swayer for completing grant
applications.
EMS received $500 grant from Cloverland. Monitor in the ambulance is
outdated. Looking for more grants to help with cost of a new one.
Can be upwards of $7,000.
Correspondence
N/A
Public Comment
Ordinance decision on barking dogs to be decided at June’s meeting.
Will be discussing pros and cons of an ordinance.
Payment of Outstanding Bills
Payment of outstanding bills in the amount of $28,394.84 and
deposits of $1,480.13. Motion to accept. C. Watchorn Support S.
Roberts AIF M/C
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:34PM was made by B. Landis
support C. Watchorn AIF M/C
Others present for the regular meeting at the Inwood Township hall
were: Ed Rondeau, John Pistulka, Forest Hedglin, Ray & Monique
Lequerique, Bert Chandler, Don & Dorothy Rochefort, Keith & Mary
Rochefort, Terry & Sandy Brooks, Kim Rochefort, Jean Frankovich,
Jordan Farmer, Jan Carley, Craig Reiter, Cindy Swayer, Bill
Anderson, Jami Benard, and Troy Herro.
Submitted by
Approved on June 19th, 2019