Harrison Township board tackles post-election housekeeping

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Change was in the air at the Harrison Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25, as a new trustee led to new appointments for the new board’s term.

Liza Brown was sworn in as the board’s newest trustee, replacing Paula Rose in the seventh seat on the board. With the new Board of Trustees requiring new appointments for representatives to various township boards, Brown replaced Rose and Trustee Brian Batkins’ joint position as the Parks and Recreation Committee liaison.

Rose’s time on the board was honored with a resolution.

 

EGLE payment
Trustees also approved making a $5,658.03 payment to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for its role as the township’s drinking water distributor.

“We really don’t have a choice on (paying) this but because it is beyond the spending limit. We have to put it on the agenda,” Township Supervisor Ken Verkest said.

The fee is based on the population served by EGLE as a water distributor. Harrison Township falls into the 10,001-25,000 tier for its population served.

 

Library boardroom reconstruction plan
As part of the ongoing plan to combine the township government and Harrison Township Public Library into one building, trustees approved a plan to reconfigure the boardroom at Rosso Hall to add two meeting rooms as well as storage space. As a result of the plan, the board table will be moved from the western side of the room to the east while the podium for public commenters will be moved in front of the board table.

Township Clerk Adam Wit had some concerns going into the meeting about the reconfiguration, but on the evening of the meeting, he found the reconfiguration to his satisfaction.

“I already don’t have enough space to run early voting, especially in a busy election, but this at least gives me the same (floor space,)” Wit said. “We can probably work out where I can use one of the rooms for the workers’ break space because that’s really all I’m losing. We have a good enough partnership where I’m not worried about those kinds of details.”

 

Dedications
Trustees also approved the official dedications of Waterfront Park as the Don and Candice Miller Park, and the Clinton River Spillway Pedestrian Bridge as the Digger Odell Memorial Bridge. The dedications were announced at the State of Harrison Township address on Oct. 18.