By Bruce Rolfe
After appearing to set the wheels in motion in April to purchase a fire truck, the Climax Township Board chose to hold off on the purchase until after the August Fire Millage election at its regular meeting May 14.
While the township board approved by a 4-1 margin (Clerk Marcia Lewis voted no) to send a letter of intent to purchase just a 2024 F-550, 4-door, XL fire truck chassis for $70,145 from Longhammer Ford of Owosso if ordered by April 15, contingent on a fire millage proposal passing in an August election at its April 9 meeting, Lewis said the April 9 minutes the board approved May 14 did not show a motion was made to purchase the chassis.
Supervisor Trent Piper also had some concerns with the contract proposed by T-Line Emergency he wanted answered.
The Township would face an additional $74,430 cost for T-Line Emergency Vehicles in Grand Ledge to install the body, tank, pump and warning lights package if the chassis is purchased separately.
Because a letter of intent was never sent to Longhammer for the purchase of just the fire truck chassis, Fire Chief Scott Smith presented the board with a new contract proposal from T-Line Emergency for the same truck chassis through Atchinson Ford of Belleville at the State of Michigan MiDEAL price of $70,145. T-Line would hold the price to install the body, tank, pump and warning lights for an additional $71,000, for a total cost of approximately $141,000 instead of $150,000 T-Line was originally offering the truck chassis, body, tank, pump and warning package for.
It was noted by Smith a revised contract from T-Line Emergency stated if the August 6 millage failed, T-Line would keep the chassis and rescue body and sell it, which would leave the township harmless.
However Piper had concerns if the millage failed and the township backed out of the purchase, the contract stated in the event of a cancellation by the buyer, the seller shall be entitled to a breakage fee of 10 percent of the contract price. Piper felt the township shouldn’t have to pay 10 percent back if the millage fails and the contract is cancelled. The township supervisor also questioned if two deductions of $1500 and $1000 offered by the dealer would still be in place if the township moved forward with the purchase after the August millage.
Smith said the dealer later told him he never intended to include the 10 percent breakage fee clause in the contract and would remove it.
With the August 6, 10-year fire millage proposal approaching, and no mention of the board approving the purchase of the truck in the approved minutes from the April meeting along with questions remaining about the dealer contract, Piper felt the item should be tabled until after the millage.
“I just don’t think that looks appropriate that we’re asking for another ten year millage, but yet we’re going to potentially pull the trigger on buying another fire truck right before it.
It doesn’t seem like the right timing for it,” said Piper, who said if the millage passes, then the board could resume discussion of purchasing a new fire truck at the August 13 meeting, hoping the dealer can hold the price.
The new rescue truck will replace 1451 that is 12 years old. The old 1451 rescue truck will be converted into a grass fire fighting rig, replacing a 39-year-old DNR truck which the local fire department is using on loan from the DNR.
In other items covered at the May 14 meeting:
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith notes his department responded to 19 calls for the month of April including 12 EMS, one person in distress, three dispatches cancelled enroute, one power line down, one structure fire and one grass fire.
Climax Township Clerk Marcia Lewis reports the new digital sign that will be installed outside the township hall, is on schedule to be installed some time in July.
• The Township Board approved a proposal of $5,068.40 from Elite Welding and Fabrication for two new signs, one at Harrison Cemetery, and one at the township hall at a cost of $2534.20 for each sign. ARPA Funds will be used for the purchase.
• The Township Board unanimously approved the purchase of three flag poles from Flagland of America for $3,715, with shipping calculated with the purchase. A 25-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at Gilson Cemetery, a 20-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at Harrison Cemetery and another 20-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at the Climax Township Hall. All three are fiber glass with solar lighting and have a 20 year warranty.ARPA funds will be used for this purchase.
• The Township Board approved the quote for a new air conditioner and furnace for $12,260 from Bartholomew Heating and Cooling for the main portion of the township hall, with ARPA funds being utilized.
• The Township Board unanimously approved a Master Plan amendment resolution to address solar and wind energy, after the Planning Commission made the recommendation and adopted a resolution at a public hearing. The following language to amend the 2035 Master Plan includes: “Alternate Energy Facilities Goal: Study if areas suitable and appropriate for utility scale wind or solar facilities can be identified,” has been added under “Public Input & Community goals.”
Added under “Land Use Plan & Zoning Plan” is: “Possibly some marginal lands for Agriculture would be suitable for utility scale solar or wind facilities or in conjunction with an agricultural shared use of the land.”
• The Township Board reviewed a Cemetery Ordinance amendment that will add columbarium to the Cemetery Ordinance and adjust the amount of time for notification for a burial from 48 hours to at least 72 hours.
• After briefly discussing the option to pay property taxes with a credit card, the township board approved a motion to accept a proposal by Elavon that will allow residents to pay property taxes by a credit card at the township hall. There will be no cost to the Township and one terminal will be placed inside the township hall at no cost, however the taxpayer pays a 3 percent fee. Paying taxes online will also be researched.
• The Township Board accepted a proposal of $4,350 from Laroma Concrete Construction, Inc., out of Vicksburg, to install the columbarium concrete foundation in Harrison Cemetery. ARPA funds will be utilized for the project.
After appearing to set the wheels in motion in April to purchase a fire truck, the Climax Township Board chose to hold off on the purchase until after the August Fire Millage election at its regular meeting May 14.
While the township board approved by a 4-1 margin (Clerk Marcia Lewis voted no) to send a letter of intent to purchase just a 2024 F-550, 4-door, XL fire truck chassis for $70,145 from Longhammer Ford of Owosso if ordered by April 15, contingent on a fire millage proposal passing in an August election at its April 9 meeting, Lewis said the April 9 minutes the board approved May 14 did not show a motion was made to purchase the chassis.
Supervisor Trent Piper also had some concerns with the contract proposed by T-Line Emergency he wanted answered.
The Township would face an additional $74,430 cost for T-Line Emergency Vehicles in Grand Ledge to install the body, tank, pump and warning lights package if the chassis is purchased separately.
Because a letter of intent was never sent to Longhammer for the purchase of just the fire truck chassis, Fire Chief Scott Smith presented the board with a new contract proposal from T-Line Emergency for the same truck chassis through Atchinson Ford of Belleville at the State of Michigan MiDEAL price of $70,145. T-Line would hold the price to install the body, tank, pump and warning lights for an additional $71,000, for a total cost of approximately $141,000 instead of $150,000 T-Line was originally offering the truck chassis, body, tank, pump and warning package for.
It was noted by Smith a revised contract from T-Line Emergency stated if the August 6 millage failed, T-Line would keep the chassis and rescue body and sell it, which would leave the township harmless.
However Piper had concerns if the millage failed and the township backed out of the purchase, the contract stated in the event of a cancellation by the buyer, the seller shall be entitled to a breakage fee of 10 percent of the contract price. Piper felt the township shouldn’t have to pay 10 percent back if the millage fails and the contract is cancelled. The township supervisor also questioned if two deductions of $1500 and $1000 offered by the dealer would still be in place if the township moved forward with the purchase after the August millage.
Smith said the dealer later told him he never intended to include the 10 percent breakage fee clause in the contract and would remove it.
With the August 6, 10-year fire millage proposal approaching, and no mention of the board approving the purchase of the truck in the approved minutes from the April meeting along with questions remaining about the dealer contract, Piper felt the item should be tabled until after the millage.
“I just don’t think that looks appropriate that we’re asking for another ten year millage, but yet we’re going to potentially pull the trigger on buying another fire truck right before it.
It doesn’t seem like the right timing for it,” said Piper, who said if the millage passes, then the board could resume discussion of purchasing a new fire truck at the August 13 meeting, hoping the dealer can hold the price.
The new rescue truck will replace 1451 that is 12 years old. The old 1451 rescue truck will be converted into a grass fire fighting rig, replacing a 39-year-old DNR truck which the local fire department is using on loan from the DNR.
In other items covered at the May 14 meeting:
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith notes his department responded to 19 calls for the month of April including 12 EMS, one person in distress, three dispatches cancelled enroute, one power line down, one structure fire and one grass fire.
Climax Township Clerk Marcia Lewis reports the new digital sign that will be installed outside the township hall, is on schedule to be installed some time in July.
• The Township Board approved a proposal of $5,068.40 from Elite Welding and Fabrication for two new signs, one at Harrison Cemetery, and one at the township hall at a cost of $2534.20 for each sign. ARPA Funds will be used for the purchase.
• The Township Board unanimously approved the purchase of three flag poles from Flagland of America for $3,715, with shipping calculated with the purchase. A 25-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at Gilson Cemetery, a 20-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at Harrison Cemetery and another 20-foot flag pole with a hinged base will be placed at the Climax Township Hall. All three are fiber glass with solar lighting and have a 20 year warranty.ARPA funds will be used for this purchase.
• The Township Board approved the quote for a new air conditioner and furnace for $12,260 from Bartholomew Heating and Cooling for the main portion of the township hall, with ARPA funds being utilized.
• The Township Board unanimously approved a Master Plan amendment resolution to address solar and wind energy, after the Planning Commission made the recommendation and adopted a resolution at a public hearing. The following language to amend the 2035 Master Plan includes: “Alternate Energy Facilities Goal: Study if areas suitable and appropriate for utility scale wind or solar facilities can be identified,” has been added under “Public Input & Community goals.”
Added under “Land Use Plan & Zoning Plan” is: “Possibly some marginal lands for Agriculture would be suitable for utility scale solar or wind facilities or in conjunction with an agricultural shared use of the land.”
• The Township Board reviewed a Cemetery Ordinance amendment that will add columbarium to the Cemetery Ordinance and adjust the amount of time for notification for a burial from 48 hours to at least 72 hours.
• After briefly discussing the option to pay property taxes with a credit card, the township board approved a motion to accept a proposal by Elavon that will allow residents to pay property taxes by a credit card at the township hall. There will be no cost to the Township and one terminal will be placed inside the township hall at no cost, however the taxpayer pays a 3 percent fee. Paying taxes online will also be researched.
• The Township Board accepted a proposal of $4,350 from Laroma Concrete Construction, Inc., out of Vicksburg, to install the columbarium concrete foundation in Harrison Cemetery. ARPA funds will be utilized for the project.
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