Macomb Township board approves appointments, new parks position

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Township Board of Trustees approved a slate of board appointments at its Dec. 7 meeting.

Eight people were appointed across four boards, each approved unanimously.

Richard Bentley will continue to serve on the Planning Commission until January 2026. Peggy Accardo and Milton Miller will continue to serve on the Historical Commission until January 2026. James Blank, Patrick Findlan, Dale Hurttgam and William Thompson will continue to serve on the Building Board of Appeals until January 2025, and Antonio DelVillano will continue to serve on the Ethics Board until January 2026.

Recreation developments
Township recreation was the subject of several items on the agenda for Dec. 7, including the creation of a senior citizen and special program coordinator position for the Parks and Recreation Department.

The coordinator will create programs and an inviting atmosphere for the senior center, as well as attract program sponsors, increase event attendance, budget for the center and manage day-to-day operations.

“Our programs are bursting at the seams,” Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore A. DiCaro said. “The community is growing. Every program we had this summer — our concerts, Roscoe (the Clown), Tons of Trucks — were getting thousands of people, so we need more help with the rec center to plan these programs.”

Though not a budgeted position, trustees approved adding the position in a 5-2 vote. Township Treasurer Leon Drolet and Trustee Frank A. Cusumano voted against it.

Applications were completed for two Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grants, focusing on an inclusive playground at Pitchford Park, and the completion of pathways and an observation deck at the Town Center, located between the ice arena and the recreation center.

The Pitchford inclusive playground grant request is for $1 million and the Town Center request is for $991,689.

Township Supervisor Frank Viviano took time at the end of the meeting to discuss the start of work at the Pitchford Park site. The park is expected to be completed in 2023.

Water service contingency project
Trustees also approved working with engineering firm Fishbeck to investigate contingency strategies in the event the Great Lakes Water Authority’s 96-inch main were to become inoperable.

Fishbeck will assist in developing hydraulic flow models to see if the township’s two Clinton Township connections could maintain water pressure should the GLWA main go down. These findings will be presented to the GLWA to help the water authority develop its own contingency plans in case another main failure occurs.

By using the Clinton Township connections, the GLWA hopes it can supply water to northern townships without negatively impacting water service in Macomb Township.

“The goal, first and foremost, is making sure we supply pressure to (our) township residents in case of an emergency,” said Kevin Johnson, Clinton Township’s department of public works director. “We will be working with the GLWA to let them know what we need for our township to have adequate pressure, and then see what we can do to make it work.”

Fishbeck will be paid $10,000 for its services once the work is completed.