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MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Township Hall will have a closer eye on two of Macomb Township’s parks after the Board of Trustees voted to install video surveillance cameras at Pitchford and Waldenburg parks on Sept. 13.
“With the new election laws that the clerk’s office is having to manage, there are additional drop box locations that are required, and they must be under video surveillance,” Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said. “Those two parks are going to be outfitted with drop boxes. Our intention is to put cameras there on top of them so they can be monitored.”
Since the township was already installing cameras and the associated networking equipment, two more cameras were purchased for each park for the purpose of general security. A total of six cameras were purchased.
The cameras are being purchased from Presidio Networked Solutions Group for around $15,140, including installation. Township Clerk Kristi Pozzi remotely told the board she is looking to have the cameras, which face the drop box, reimbursed by the state.
SAD increase approved for street lighting
Residents will find their street lighting costs go up as the board approved increases to the street lighting special assessment district rates on Sept. 13.
The increases are a response to increases from DTE, which see the township paying on average 15% more to operate streetlights in select residential areas. The increases will be factored into the winter tax bills.
Areas lit by high pressure sodium bulbs saw 8-20% increases while areas lit by LED lights have rate increases around 3%-6%. The township is currently working on a grant-funded project to replace the high pressure sodium bulbs with LEDs and is expected to finish the switch next year.
“(The project) has to be obligated through MDOT and SEMCOG, and then once that’s done, we also have to figure out how we have DTE actually perform the work,” said Jim Van Tiflin, Macomb Township’s land development director. “Normally, it would have to go through some rigorous bidding process, but here DTE is going to have their vendor do the work.”
Sign ordinance change
Following a legal challenge to a previous revision to the township’s sign ordinance, the board approved amendments to the ordinance at the Sept. 13 meeting.
The sign ordinance was changed in April. A legal challenge was brought against the township soon after, leading to a moratorium on sign permit applications in May and an extension in July to revise the ordinance.
“As we’ve gone through that we’ve found some additional revisions that we need to make,” Macomb Township Planning Director Josh Bocks said. “We’re seeking an amendment to the sign ordinance primarily dealing with billboards and where they can be located, spacing requirements, building material requirements and things of that nature.”
Fire personnel changes
The Board of Trustees also approved the promotion of probationary firefighter Timothy Hensley.
Hensley received his badge and helmet shield from Macomb Township Fire Department Chief Robert Phillips shortly after the promotion was approved on Sept. 13.
Hensley was not the only firefighter discussed, as Joseph Felton was hired on to be the department’s newest fire inspector. Felton retired from the Clinton Township Fire Department as a fire marshal and is currently a firefighter in Armada Township.
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