By Bruce Rolfe
The Charleston Township Board learned at its regular meeting August 26 the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner office offered a monetary figure to reimburse the township for damage the township feels the Drain Commission caused on one of its sewer lines, however the figure was much smaller then what the Township said the damages were.
Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the township submitted a claim to the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner’s office for $106,000 for damage to sewer lines on McCollum Street from work performed in 2016 when the county installed a drain.
He adds a telecommunications company also damaged the sewer line in three spots. He said the township is seeking $36,130.03 for repairs.
Photographs and documentation have been secured that revealed the damage in the sewer lines.
Vander Roest said the Drain Commissioner contacted him with an offer of $50,000.
“I told him no, that’s not going to work, because we had $108,000 that came out of the sewer fund. If we settle, the difference would come from tax payers who don’t belong to the sewer district,” said Vander Roest.
The Drain Commissioner’s office has requested a break down of costs. Vander Roest said Prein & Newhof is breaking down the costs associated with the sewer line damage and will provide those costs to the Drain Commissioner’s office and Lumen, the fiber telecommunications company.
The incident dates back to 2016 when the county installed the drain, which left a statue of limitations question. However Township Attorney Rob Thall said since the township did not discover the damage until 2023, he felt the township should have the right to pursue the reimbursement.
Standstill Between Township, City of Galesburg
on Fire Station Rental Fee
The Charleston Township Board and City of Galesburg continue to disagree on a monthly figure the township should pay the City of Galesburg for its portion to rent the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Station.
In a letter dated January 30, 2025 from the Charleston Township Board to the Galesburg City Council, the township board struggled with the city’s request for a 38.2% increase in rent. The increase in rent would be an additional $6,300 over what the township previously paid the City. Two years ago the two sides arrived at a figure of $1,375 a month.
Charleston Township Board Trustee Josh Balkema said City of Galesburg Mayor Linda Marble sent a letter to Vander Roest indicating the City Council wanted to take the issue to mediation with no further discussion
Balkema said he told the mayor in the meantime the payments the township make to the City would not include any increase in rent payments until the issue is resolved.
Vander Roest suggested at an earlier meeting the Township increase the montly rent from $1,375 to $1,461 to reflect a CPI increase, however he said at the August 26 meeting the question is how is the monthly rental fee structure going to proceed? Who sets the fee? And who’s in control? He adds based on the City’s letter and the township board’s position of not sending payments with any increase until the issue is resolved, the township will use the lower $1375 monthly figure.
The letter from the City to the Township Supervisor indicates the City is asking Vander Roest to make arrangements to obtain the mediator. Balkema felt the burden falls on the City. The township board will wait to hear back from the City on how the City Council wishes to proceed.
In other items covered at the August 26 meeting:
• Vander Roest said as part of a court order ruling against the Galesburg Speedway, a mid-season inspection was requested. He said the township attorney will communicate with the Speedway’s attorney about the mid-season inspection.
He said issues surrounding racing not being allowed after 11 p.m., leaving cars and buses on the grounds in between races and building permit violations were discussed with the new attorney, who plans to discuss the court order requirements with the Speedway’s attorney.
• Clerk Alese LePert informed the board the township has an opportunity to consolidate with the City of Galesburg for the November 4 election when a $11.2 million bond proposal by the Galesburg-Augusta School District will be on the ballot. Consolidating would eliminate some cost to the school district.
Township registered voters in the Galesburg-Augusta School District would vote at the City of Galesburg precinct if the township election committee chooses to consolidate for the election.
The decision has to be made before September 5.
The township would still be responsible for absent voter ballots and either the clerk or deputy clerk would have to be at the township hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the election.
The three-member township board election committee will meet and make a decision before the September 5 deadline.
It was noted while the township will be reimbursed for costs, the board did not budget for any elections in 2025.
• After the Charleston Township Board denied a zoning change request by Clean Streams LLC to rezone two parcels of land from R-1 Single Family Rural Residential District to I-1 Light Industrial
District, July 22, Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said Clean Streams, LLC hasn’t informed the State Tax Commission it intends to drop a tax exemption application request for a building
structure and equipment Clean Streams intended to build and locate on the property.
He warned the township board the township may face more push back.
“The Michigan Tax Commission told our attorney we should be prepared to file and fight the case. Even though they can’t put it in because they don’t have the zoning,” said Vander Roest.
He said the Township Board earlier approved a Land Use Plan that calls for the property to be Industrial.
• Vander Roest said because the township will be setting its water and sewer rates soon, he wanted the board to be aware the City of Kalamazoo will be increasing its overall water rates 5%.
The Township’s consultant plans to have a report on the township’s water and sewer rates ready for the board at next month’s meeting and will offer a recommendation.
The Charleston Township Board learned at its regular meeting August 26 the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner office offered a monetary figure to reimburse the township for damage the township feels the Drain Commission caused on one of its sewer lines, however the figure was much smaller then what the Township said the damages were.
Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the township submitted a claim to the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner’s office for $106,000 for damage to sewer lines on McCollum Street from work performed in 2016 when the county installed a drain.
He adds a telecommunications company also damaged the sewer line in three spots. He said the township is seeking $36,130.03 for repairs.
Photographs and documentation have been secured that revealed the damage in the sewer lines.
Vander Roest said the Drain Commissioner contacted him with an offer of $50,000.
“I told him no, that’s not going to work, because we had $108,000 that came out of the sewer fund. If we settle, the difference would come from tax payers who don’t belong to the sewer district,” said Vander Roest.
The Drain Commissioner’s office has requested a break down of costs. Vander Roest said Prein & Newhof is breaking down the costs associated with the sewer line damage and will provide those costs to the Drain Commissioner’s office and Lumen, the fiber telecommunications company.
The incident dates back to 2016 when the county installed the drain, which left a statue of limitations question. However Township Attorney Rob Thall said since the township did not discover the damage until 2023, he felt the township should have the right to pursue the reimbursement.
Standstill Between Township, City of Galesburg
on Fire Station Rental Fee
The Charleston Township Board and City of Galesburg continue to disagree on a monthly figure the township should pay the City of Galesburg for its portion to rent the Galesburg-Charleston Township Fire Station.
In a letter dated January 30, 2025 from the Charleston Township Board to the Galesburg City Council, the township board struggled with the city’s request for a 38.2% increase in rent. The increase in rent would be an additional $6,300 over what the township previously paid the City. Two years ago the two sides arrived at a figure of $1,375 a month.
Charleston Township Board Trustee Josh Balkema said City of Galesburg Mayor Linda Marble sent a letter to Vander Roest indicating the City Council wanted to take the issue to mediation with no further discussion
Balkema said he told the mayor in the meantime the payments the township make to the City would not include any increase in rent payments until the issue is resolved.
Vander Roest suggested at an earlier meeting the Township increase the montly rent from $1,375 to $1,461 to reflect a CPI increase, however he said at the August 26 meeting the question is how is the monthly rental fee structure going to proceed? Who sets the fee? And who’s in control? He adds based on the City’s letter and the township board’s position of not sending payments with any increase until the issue is resolved, the township will use the lower $1375 monthly figure.
The letter from the City to the Township Supervisor indicates the City is asking Vander Roest to make arrangements to obtain the mediator. Balkema felt the burden falls on the City. The township board will wait to hear back from the City on how the City Council wishes to proceed.
In other items covered at the August 26 meeting:
• Vander Roest said as part of a court order ruling against the Galesburg Speedway, a mid-season inspection was requested. He said the township attorney will communicate with the Speedway’s attorney about the mid-season inspection.
He said issues surrounding racing not being allowed after 11 p.m., leaving cars and buses on the grounds in between races and building permit violations were discussed with the new attorney, who plans to discuss the court order requirements with the Speedway’s attorney.
• Clerk Alese LePert informed the board the township has an opportunity to consolidate with the City of Galesburg for the November 4 election when a $11.2 million bond proposal by the Galesburg-Augusta School District will be on the ballot. Consolidating would eliminate some cost to the school district.
Township registered voters in the Galesburg-Augusta School District would vote at the City of Galesburg precinct if the township election committee chooses to consolidate for the election.
The decision has to be made before September 5.
The township would still be responsible for absent voter ballots and either the clerk or deputy clerk would have to be at the township hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the election.
The three-member township board election committee will meet and make a decision before the September 5 deadline.
It was noted while the township will be reimbursed for costs, the board did not budget for any elections in 2025.
• After the Charleston Township Board denied a zoning change request by Clean Streams LLC to rezone two parcels of land from R-1 Single Family Rural Residential District to I-1 Light Industrial
District, July 22, Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said Clean Streams, LLC hasn’t informed the State Tax Commission it intends to drop a tax exemption application request for a building
structure and equipment Clean Streams intended to build and locate on the property.
He warned the township board the township may face more push back.
“The Michigan Tax Commission told our attorney we should be prepared to file and fight the case. Even though they can’t put it in because they don’t have the zoning,” said Vander Roest.
He said the Township Board earlier approved a Land Use Plan that calls for the property to be Industrial.
• Vander Roest said because the township will be setting its water and sewer rates soon, he wanted the board to be aware the City of Kalamazoo will be increasing its overall water rates 5%.
The Township’s consultant plans to have a report on the township’s water and sewer rates ready for the board at next month’s meeting and will offer a recommendation.
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