Large road improvement project planned;
re-zoning application submitted
re-zoning application submitted
The Charleston Township Board unanimously approved the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget that includes increases in some funds and decreases in others at its regular meeting March 25.
The General Fund budget, with estimated revenues and expenditures at $458,400, was built using a 0.9668 millage levy.
The Public Safety Fund shows estimated revenues and expenditures at $167,800; the Sewer Fund shows estimated revenues and expenditures at $232,600; the Water Fund shows estimated revenues and expenditures at $59,500; and the Road Fund shows estimated revenues and expenditures at $189,300.
The 2025-2026 General Fund budget is lower ($458,400) then the 2024-2025 budget ($515,100) that was adopted last March and slightly lower then the 2023-2024 adopted budget ($463,300).
The Township projects to experience a reduction of approximately $4,000 in State revenue sharing because of a decrease in population.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said outside of a large road improvement project on North 38th Street, overall, the budget focuses on normal operations in the township with the only capital improvement purchases being a new copy machine and a new computer for elections.
Vander Roest said general fund revenues allows the Township to provide citizens 53 different types of services.
The Road Fund Budget features $189,300 for a road improvement project, just under one mile in length, on North 38th Street that will be spread across two years. The road improvement project, which will include gravel, pulverization, and HMA base paving, will take place on North 38th Street 528 feet south of G Avenue to 4,672 feet north of M-96.
Vander Roest said four inches of gravel will be applied on top of the existing asphalt. After a period of time, the existing asphalt and applied gravel will then be ground up and mixed together and then applied as pavement, raising the road four inches.
The project is estimated to cost $472,183. The Township’s share for the project is $124,079.22. Vander Roest said $85,200 will be used from General Fund towards the North 38th Street road project this year. Some Township PAR (Local Road Participation Fund) funds will be used for the project. RCKC will pay the remaining cost.
The Township Board projects approximately $34,000 will be left in the Road Fund, which Vander Roest said the board is attempting to build back up to pay towards the cost of the North 38th Street project in the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.
The Township projects to receive $64,900 in County PAR funds in the new budget.
The 25-26 Road Fund Budget decreased to $189,300 from $214,700 that was adopted last March.
Various salary increases were also built into the new budget. There will be a 2 percent salary increase for the supervisor, treasurer, and clerk, and an hourly increase to $21.00 for the deputy clerk. Election workers and election chairmen will receive an increase of $2 per hour.
The Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Department budget, which Charleston Township contributes half, increased approximately 5.8% from $281,050 that was adopted last March to $297,400. A 1.5 millage assessment for Public Safety generates approximately $158,800 for the fire department.
Fire department capital outlay purchases planned includes 4 sets of turnout gear ($28,000) and equipment replacement ($16,000). The fire department will also contribute $5000 towards a FEMA grant match.
The Township plans to contribute $52,100 towards an equipment fund that will be used for the purchase of a new fire truck in the future.
The Sewer Fund Budget shows a significant increase from $74,000 to $232,600 in the adopted 2025-2026 budget, however Vander Roest said the township hopes to be remimbursed $144,200 of approximately $148,000 in sewer repairs performed on McCollum Street he said was damaged by a contractor. Vander Roest said the township expects to pay $4,000 towards the repair cost. That will return the Sewer Fund budget to approximately $70,000, which he said has been the typical cost to operate the sewer system.
The Charleston Township Supervisor did note the township’s rate for sewage treatment services by the City of Kalamazoo increased from $35,200 to $38,400. He adds Charleston Township currently has one of the lowest sewer rates in the county, at $120 per quarter.
The Sewer Fund also includes an expense of $9,500 for tree removal and tree trimming on trees above sewer lines on East Michigan so tree roots will not interfere with sewer lines.
The Water Fund Budget revenues and expenditures ($59,500) are projected to be significantly less compared to the just completed budget ($198,200) that was adopted last March. One large revenue source last year that is not part of the new budget is $91,900 in county and state grants the township received for a $91,900 capital improvement project. Vander Roest adds based on water usage reports, the township projects a decrease of approximately $14,100 in water assessment income.
The township plans to transfer $7,700 in carry over funds from last year’s water fund budget for an anticipated repair on the north well.
The Supervisor adds there is a $2000 expense for a recent repair to an electrical panel in a well house from a water line break.
Vander Roest said with the Fort Custer Training Center and Fort Custer State Park all being tax exempt, 44 percent of the township is tax exempt.
• Supervisor Jerry VanderRoest informed the board Clean Stream submitted an application on March 21 for re-zoning two parcels totaling 201.66 acres on South 40th Street from Residential-1 to Industrial-1. VanderRoest said he has not met the owner but the application is listed for a Centralized Waste Treatment Facility. He said the facility will potentially employee 15-20 people. The application will be submitted to the Planning Commission.
In other items covered at the March 25 meeting:
• The trash pickup at the township hall will be May 3.
• Clerk Alese LePert updated the township board about potential early voting options for township voters as opposed to voting at any of the four county sites. She said the cost to the township to host its own individual early voting site would be approximately $11,000 per election. For all 3 elections in 2025, Charleston will pay just under $1,000 under the county agreement. The Charleston Township clerk said if Charleston Township grouped with Comstock, the City of Galesburg and potentially Ross Township, the township’s cost per election would be approximately $3,500. She adds if two municipalities dropped out of the agreement Charleston Township Board would face a cost of less then $5,000 for two elections which would be way more then what the township pays as part of the county agreement. She said absentee voting at the township hall will still be an option for township voters.
• A new street light was scheduled to be installed at the intersection of 38th Street, Miller Drive and Climax Drive soon. Vander Roest said there have been seven accidents at the location over a period of time.
• Sewer hook up to Andrews Estates Mobile Home Park was expected to be completed soon.
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