By Bruce Rolfe
After receiving a proposed Settlement Agreement and Release from the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority pertaining to a disagreement between the Charleston Township Board and the GLSWA that has existed for months, the Charleston Township Board still isn’t satisfied.
Charleston Township currently operates and maintains its own sewer system, however Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the GLSWA operated and oversaw the Charleston Township sewer system for a period of about 2 1/2 years.
Vander Roest reviewed the GLSWA Settlement Agreement and Release along with his response letter at the June 23 regular township meeting.
He said he would like to see budget details with costs related to the Charleston Township Sewer system the years the GLSWA operated and oversaw the Charleston sewer system
The Charleston Township Supervisor also said Charleston Township paid $15,000 for an Asset Management Plan but he said the township has not seen all paper work relating to the Asset Management Plan.
The Settlement Agreement and Release states the GLSWA will pay Charleston Township $7,793.76.
“Gull Lake (Sewer and Water Authority) ran our system for two years and we believe they didn’t give us our share of long term replacement. They said they were going to do an Asset Management Plan and we paid $15,000 and we haven’t seen the paper work,” said Vander Roest.
The Settlement Agreement and Release notes the GLSWA denied and maintains it is not obligated to Charleston in any way.
While Vander Roest notes in his response letter dated June 16, 2026 to the GLSWA board he appreciates a willingness to settle the township’s claim for reimbursement and would like to work with the GLSWA to determine a final figure for reimbursement, the Charleston Township Board felt three questions needed to be addressed before a fair settlement could be reached.
Vander Roest’s letter asks the GLSWA Board the cost of a meter and installation of the meter in a pit at the Climax Drive lift station; using 2019, 2020 and 2021 audits, the percentage used in those years in collecting funds for long-term improvements and repairs; and there is a reference to $15,454.78 Vander Roest said Charleston Township paid GLSWA to prepare an Assessment Management plan for the township’s sewer system, asking the GLSWA if the Authority has notes and information in order to finish the project (report) or refund the amount to compile the plan.
Vander Roest feels the information is needed to reach a fair agreement.
After the March 24 meeting, a call was made to the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority about similar points and concerns Vander Roest brought up at the March 24 meeting, however the billing coordinator at the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority office said the Authority did not have any comment.
Vander Roest said the GLSWA is expected to review his letter dated June 16, 2026, at a future meeting.
New Township Digital Sign Discussed
The Township Board discussed the purchase of a new township hall digital sign but will hold off on making a decision until a future meeting.
Clerk Alese LePert said the township received two estimates for the new digital sign, but a quote for complete installation from The Sign Center for $22,477.50 was the lowest.
The board decided not to make a decision until the second quote from Burkett Signs can be discussed and Treasurer Kim Balkema, who was absent at the June 23 meeting, is available to vote on the sign purchase.
The new digital sign will replace the township hall’s old sign that is changed manually.
The township plans to pay for the purchase from funds totaling approximately $38,000 that have accrued in interest from various CDs the township has.
LePert said sign resolution goes from 9 millimeters up to 16 millimeters but the committee felt 9 millimeter resolution will provide a crisper look. The digital display area will be approximately the same size of the current township sign. Charleston Township will be at the top of the sign and the township’s website address will be at the bottom of the sign.
The new sign comes with a five-year warranty for parts and labor.
A brick base was considered but would cost considerably more money, so that option was left off.
New Joint Fire Authority Board Member Appointed
Trustee Josh Balkema informed the township board there was a resignation on the Galesburg-Charleston Township Joint Fire Authority Board, and an at large Charleston Township resident would need to be appointed to the Joint Fire Authority Board. Balkema said Riley Boomershine expressed interest. The partial term runs to January, 2027.
He said the Joint Fire Authority Board is at a minimum number of members needed to have a quorum and hoped an appointment could be made soon.
After brief discussion the board unanimously appointed Boomershine to the vacant Joint Fire Authority Board seat.
In other items covered at the June 23 meeting:
• Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said a hearing involving the Galesburg Speedway has been rescheduled for July 31 at 11 a.m. in the County Courthouse on Gull Road.
• The Board unanimously approved a public fireworks display permit application at the Galesburg Speedway. Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the only change in the permit was a reduction of the overall insurance coverage from $5 million to $3 million. He said personal coverage remained at $1 million.
• Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the township has received over $32,000 ($32,258) from a fiber optics company the township said damaged sewer lines on McCollum Avenue.
The Township has already received $108,000 from the Kalamazoo County Drain Commission for sewer damage repairs.
• Clerk Alese LePert said August 4 election absent voter ballots have arrived and she will begin to send the ballots out.
After receiving a proposed Settlement Agreement and Release from the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority pertaining to a disagreement between the Charleston Township Board and the GLSWA that has existed for months, the Charleston Township Board still isn’t satisfied.
Charleston Township currently operates and maintains its own sewer system, however Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the GLSWA operated and oversaw the Charleston Township sewer system for a period of about 2 1/2 years.
Vander Roest reviewed the GLSWA Settlement Agreement and Release along with his response letter at the June 23 regular township meeting.
He said he would like to see budget details with costs related to the Charleston Township Sewer system the years the GLSWA operated and oversaw the Charleston sewer system
The Charleston Township Supervisor also said Charleston Township paid $15,000 for an Asset Management Plan but he said the township has not seen all paper work relating to the Asset Management Plan.
The Settlement Agreement and Release states the GLSWA will pay Charleston Township $7,793.76.
“Gull Lake (Sewer and Water Authority) ran our system for two years and we believe they didn’t give us our share of long term replacement. They said they were going to do an Asset Management Plan and we paid $15,000 and we haven’t seen the paper work,” said Vander Roest.
The Settlement Agreement and Release notes the GLSWA denied and maintains it is not obligated to Charleston in any way.
While Vander Roest notes in his response letter dated June 16, 2026 to the GLSWA board he appreciates a willingness to settle the township’s claim for reimbursement and would like to work with the GLSWA to determine a final figure for reimbursement, the Charleston Township Board felt three questions needed to be addressed before a fair settlement could be reached.
Vander Roest’s letter asks the GLSWA Board the cost of a meter and installation of the meter in a pit at the Climax Drive lift station; using 2019, 2020 and 2021 audits, the percentage used in those years in collecting funds for long-term improvements and repairs; and there is a reference to $15,454.78 Vander Roest said Charleston Township paid GLSWA to prepare an Assessment Management plan for the township’s sewer system, asking the GLSWA if the Authority has notes and information in order to finish the project (report) or refund the amount to compile the plan.
Vander Roest feels the information is needed to reach a fair agreement.
After the March 24 meeting, a call was made to the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority about similar points and concerns Vander Roest brought up at the March 24 meeting, however the billing coordinator at the Gull Lake Sewer and Water Authority office said the Authority did not have any comment.
Vander Roest said the GLSWA is expected to review his letter dated June 16, 2026, at a future meeting.
New Township Digital Sign Discussed
The Township Board discussed the purchase of a new township hall digital sign but will hold off on making a decision until a future meeting.
Clerk Alese LePert said the township received two estimates for the new digital sign, but a quote for complete installation from The Sign Center for $22,477.50 was the lowest.
The board decided not to make a decision until the second quote from Burkett Signs can be discussed and Treasurer Kim Balkema, who was absent at the June 23 meeting, is available to vote on the sign purchase.
The new digital sign will replace the township hall’s old sign that is changed manually.
The township plans to pay for the purchase from funds totaling approximately $38,000 that have accrued in interest from various CDs the township has.
LePert said sign resolution goes from 9 millimeters up to 16 millimeters but the committee felt 9 millimeter resolution will provide a crisper look. The digital display area will be approximately the same size of the current township sign. Charleston Township will be at the top of the sign and the township’s website address will be at the bottom of the sign.
The new sign comes with a five-year warranty for parts and labor.
A brick base was considered but would cost considerably more money, so that option was left off.
New Joint Fire Authority Board Member Appointed
Trustee Josh Balkema informed the township board there was a resignation on the Galesburg-Charleston Township Joint Fire Authority Board, and an at large Charleston Township resident would need to be appointed to the Joint Fire Authority Board. Balkema said Riley Boomershine expressed interest. The partial term runs to January, 2027.
He said the Joint Fire Authority Board is at a minimum number of members needed to have a quorum and hoped an appointment could be made soon.
After brief discussion the board unanimously appointed Boomershine to the vacant Joint Fire Authority Board seat.
In other items covered at the June 23 meeting:
• Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said a hearing involving the Galesburg Speedway has been rescheduled for July 31 at 11 a.m. in the County Courthouse on Gull Road.
• The Board unanimously approved a public fireworks display permit application at the Galesburg Speedway. Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the only change in the permit was a reduction of the overall insurance coverage from $5 million to $3 million. He said personal coverage remained at $1 million.
• Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said the township has received over $32,000 ($32,258) from a fiber optics company the township said damaged sewer lines on McCollum Avenue.
The Township has already received $108,000 from the Kalamazoo County Drain Commission for sewer damage repairs.
• Clerk Alese LePert said August 4 election absent voter ballots have arrived and she will begin to send the ballots out.
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