By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Township Board learned at its regular board meeting December 9 about a plan a local family has been discussing for a vacant parcel of land in Scotts.
Chuck Webster said a family member owns a vacant parcel of land on the corner of Jamison and Watson the family would like to construct a building on for RV storage. He feels the building addition would be an improvement to the lot.
The parcel is currently zoned commercial. Climax Township Supervisor Trent Piper said the property currently does not allow for RV and/or storage.
Webster said he is aware the proposed building idea would require a variance and wanted to discuss the idea first with the Township Board.
He said the proposed structure would have 14 foot doors, well under the 35 foot height restriction.
Piper said the Planning Commission will have to determine if the family’s proposed use in that zone is justified.
Planning Commission Chairman Dickson Brubaker said a site plan would also be required.
Fire Department Report
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith said there were 25 calls for service for the month of November, including 15 EMS calls, five dispatched and cancelled enroute calls, one crop fire call, two calls for vehicle accidents with injuries, one false alarm and one confined space rescue call. A total number of mutual aid calls was not available, however Smith said there were at least five mutual aid calls to assist another department in November and two mutual aid received calls.
Smith said as of December 9, there were seven calls for service so far in December, putting the number of calls for service for the calendar year at 265, which is above last year’s run total.
Smith said he has 25-30 smoke detectors the local fire department will give away. Contact the Climax Township Fire Department at 269-746-0046, ext. 2 or Climax Township Hall at 269-746-4103 for details.
Fencing Ordinance Language Reviewed
The Climax Township Board reviewed fencing ordinance language the Climax Township Planning Commission would like to use for the new ordinance.
The Township Board approved the process to move forward, allowing the Planning Commission to schedule a public hearing March 23 when the Planning Commission will consider recommending the new fencing ordinance go back to the Climax Township Board to consider adopting.
Township Trustee Cheryl Bates, the township board member appointed to the Planning Commission, said for residential, the maximum height for any fencing in the front yard is four feet. In the side and rear yards the maximum height is six feet.
Residential fencing in the front yard residential is limited to chain link, wood (split rail or picket) or commercially available fencing material in order to maintain visibility for vehicular or pedestrian movement. A corner lot is considered to have two front yards.
Privacy fencing is permitted in the side and rear yards of the residential structure, provided it is composted of commercially available fencing material.
The maximum height within any commercial district is six feet in the front yard. In the side and rear yards the maximum height for any fencing is eight feet within any commercial district.
All fences are required to have a permit issued by the Township to determine compliance with the ordinance prior to placement of the fence.
Climax Township has highest percentage change from 2024 to 2025 for increase in residential taxable value
Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler distributed a spread sheet containing the average residential taxable value trends by unit from 2017-2025.
Climax Township Treasurer Steve Walman pointed out Climax Township has the highest percentage change from 2024 to 2025 for an increase in residential taxable value of any entity in Kalamazoo County at 6.56%.
Charleston Township experienced an increase of 4.77% from 2024 to 2025, Pavilion Charter Township had an increase of 5.09%, there was an increase of 4.85% in residential taxable value in Wakeshma Township, and 5.29% increase in the City of Galesburg.
Three Year Renewal With Wolverine Gas Approved By Board
The Climax Township Board unanimously approved a Wolverine Gas Lease renewal for three years.
The new lease will run from November 30, 2025 to November 25, 2028.
The lease is for 1.42 net acres of property the township owns Wolverine Gas and Oil uses for exploration. The payment to the Township is $426 ($300 per acre).
Climax Township Supervisor Trent Piper indicated he had a meeting with Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation vice-president Richard Moritz, who said the gas and oil company plans to resume exploration at some of the well locations in the township.
Piper said the Wolverine Gas and Oil Corp. vice-president said the company plans to turn some of the vertical drilled lower producing wells into horizontal drilling, hoping to increase production.
Letter of Support for Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant Approved
The Township Board unanimously approved a motion to appoint township Supervisor Trent Piper to sign a letter of support for the Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant, through Nation Outside.
The Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant, specifically the Homeowner Rehabilitation program, funds critical repairs to help low and moderate income homeowners stay safely in their homes. Many rural residents face significant repair needs but lack the resources to address issues like roofs, electrical systems, accessibility and other essential safety upgrades.
Nation Outside will be requesting $400,000 through the grant, which would rehabilitate approximately 10 homes in Climax Township.
If there are residents in need in the township, the grant would allow those residents an opportunity to have those needs remediated.
Nation Outside is a statewide trauma-informed peer-led nonprofit working with justice-impacted individuals and families across Michigan. Nation Outside currently serve participants in Kalamazoo County through a partnership with the drug court, community corrections and several community based organizations.
Township Buys Back two Cemetery Sites
The Climax Township Board unanimously approved buying back two cemetery sites in Gilson Cemetery for $750 that are no longer needed by the purchaser. The Township ordinance states the township may buy the lots back for what they were
purchased for.
ESTA Policy Tabled
After considerable discussion, the Township Board tabled the Earned Sick Time Act Policy that was on the agenda.
The Earned Sick Time Act requires all eligible employees to be provided paid earned sick time. For every 30 hours worked, eligible employees will receive one hour for sick time.
The Climax Township Board learned at its regular board meeting December 9 about a plan a local family has been discussing for a vacant parcel of land in Scotts.
Chuck Webster said a family member owns a vacant parcel of land on the corner of Jamison and Watson the family would like to construct a building on for RV storage. He feels the building addition would be an improvement to the lot.
The parcel is currently zoned commercial. Climax Township Supervisor Trent Piper said the property currently does not allow for RV and/or storage.
Webster said he is aware the proposed building idea would require a variance and wanted to discuss the idea first with the Township Board.
He said the proposed structure would have 14 foot doors, well under the 35 foot height restriction.
Piper said the Planning Commission will have to determine if the family’s proposed use in that zone is justified.
Planning Commission Chairman Dickson Brubaker said a site plan would also be required.
Fire Department Report
Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith said there were 25 calls for service for the month of November, including 15 EMS calls, five dispatched and cancelled enroute calls, one crop fire call, two calls for vehicle accidents with injuries, one false alarm and one confined space rescue call. A total number of mutual aid calls was not available, however Smith said there were at least five mutual aid calls to assist another department in November and two mutual aid received calls.
Smith said as of December 9, there were seven calls for service so far in December, putting the number of calls for service for the calendar year at 265, which is above last year’s run total.
Smith said he has 25-30 smoke detectors the local fire department will give away. Contact the Climax Township Fire Department at 269-746-0046, ext. 2 or Climax Township Hall at 269-746-4103 for details.
Fencing Ordinance Language Reviewed
The Climax Township Board reviewed fencing ordinance language the Climax Township Planning Commission would like to use for the new ordinance.
The Township Board approved the process to move forward, allowing the Planning Commission to schedule a public hearing March 23 when the Planning Commission will consider recommending the new fencing ordinance go back to the Climax Township Board to consider adopting.
Township Trustee Cheryl Bates, the township board member appointed to the Planning Commission, said for residential, the maximum height for any fencing in the front yard is four feet. In the side and rear yards the maximum height is six feet.
Residential fencing in the front yard residential is limited to chain link, wood (split rail or picket) or commercially available fencing material in order to maintain visibility for vehicular or pedestrian movement. A corner lot is considered to have two front yards.
Privacy fencing is permitted in the side and rear yards of the residential structure, provided it is composted of commercially available fencing material.
The maximum height within any commercial district is six feet in the front yard. In the side and rear yards the maximum height for any fencing is eight feet within any commercial district.
All fences are required to have a permit issued by the Township to determine compliance with the ordinance prior to placement of the fence.
Climax Township has highest percentage change from 2024 to 2025 for increase in residential taxable value
Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler distributed a spread sheet containing the average residential taxable value trends by unit from 2017-2025.
Climax Township Treasurer Steve Walman pointed out Climax Township has the highest percentage change from 2024 to 2025 for an increase in residential taxable value of any entity in Kalamazoo County at 6.56%.
Charleston Township experienced an increase of 4.77% from 2024 to 2025, Pavilion Charter Township had an increase of 5.09%, there was an increase of 4.85% in residential taxable value in Wakeshma Township, and 5.29% increase in the City of Galesburg.
Three Year Renewal With Wolverine Gas Approved By Board
The Climax Township Board unanimously approved a Wolverine Gas Lease renewal for three years.
The new lease will run from November 30, 2025 to November 25, 2028.
The lease is for 1.42 net acres of property the township owns Wolverine Gas and Oil uses for exploration. The payment to the Township is $426 ($300 per acre).
Climax Township Supervisor Trent Piper indicated he had a meeting with Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation vice-president Richard Moritz, who said the gas and oil company plans to resume exploration at some of the well locations in the township.
Piper said the Wolverine Gas and Oil Corp. vice-president said the company plans to turn some of the vertical drilled lower producing wells into horizontal drilling, hoping to increase production.
Letter of Support for Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant Approved
The Township Board unanimously approved a motion to appoint township Supervisor Trent Piper to sign a letter of support for the Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant, through Nation Outside.
The Michigan Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant, specifically the Homeowner Rehabilitation program, funds critical repairs to help low and moderate income homeowners stay safely in their homes. Many rural residents face significant repair needs but lack the resources to address issues like roofs, electrical systems, accessibility and other essential safety upgrades.
Nation Outside will be requesting $400,000 through the grant, which would rehabilitate approximately 10 homes in Climax Township.
If there are residents in need in the township, the grant would allow those residents an opportunity to have those needs remediated.
Nation Outside is a statewide trauma-informed peer-led nonprofit working with justice-impacted individuals and families across Michigan. Nation Outside currently serve participants in Kalamazoo County through a partnership with the drug court, community corrections and several community based organizations.
Township Buys Back two Cemetery Sites
The Climax Township Board unanimously approved buying back two cemetery sites in Gilson Cemetery for $750 that are no longer needed by the purchaser. The Township ordinance states the township may buy the lots back for what they were
purchased for.
ESTA Policy Tabled
After considerable discussion, the Township Board tabled the Earned Sick Time Act Policy that was on the agenda.
The Earned Sick Time Act requires all eligible employees to be provided paid earned sick time. For every 30 hours worked, eligible employees will receive one hour for sick time.
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