Macomb Township trustees make budget amendments

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — As Macomb Township arranges its budget for the coming year, the township board of trustees approved changes on May 24 to make sure the past year’s finances were accurately reported.

Presented by Stacy Smith, Macomb Township’s chief financial officer, several funds needed to be adjusted due to a variety of reasons. Established funds that needed adjusting include the general fund, increased by approximately $5 million increase due to higher-than-expected revenue and state support; the municipal roadway fund, adjusted by about $600,000 to reflect an increase in expenditures and a decrease in revenue after grant funds were not used as planned and a project from the previous fiscal year was paid off; and the retiree health care fund, increased by about $2.1 million due to higher-than-expected investment income.

Some funds had to be added to the budget due to developments throughout the fiscal year.

“The opioid settlement fund is a new fund,” Smith said. “If you remember, the board had approved for us to receive some funds for that. We did receive ($37,510).”

 

Pitchford Park house demolition
In April, the board approved the purchase of the house at 49625 Romeo Plank Road from its previous owners, the Fischer family, and on May 24 the board voted to demolish the house.

“Our vendor here is very excited to get going,” Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said. “As soon as we allow both our Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office to do some training on the site, we’re going to take the house down. Unfortunately, it’s not a building that can be saved, but it will make for a nice addition to the park.”

The contract went to Oakwood Building Company for $18,615, about half the cost of the second-lowest bid for the work. Trees on the site will be saved from the demolition and incorporated into the park.

 

Greenway grant application
The board also approved a resolution to pursue a grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to acquire several properties along the North Branch of the Clinton River to build a North Branch Greenway.

Three properties were identified along the river and the total cost to buy the properties is estimated to be $2.2 million.