Chikaming Township to interview candidates for parks director

Chikaming Township is moving into the interview stage with regards to the search for a full-time parks director.

At the Thursday, Feb. 9, meeting of the Chikaming Township Board of Trustees meeting, Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte said that there were three applicants (the deadline to apply was Feb. 3) and that the next step was to interview them.

Board members approved an interview committee comprised of Bunte, board trustee Rich Sullivan and Deborah Hall-Kayler, who serves on the advisory committee to explore how the township will move forward with its parks department after voters approved disbanding the elected park board last November.

It was also announced that the township, after applying for it last month, has been approved as being one of the community projects for the Organizational Leadership Development Cohort (MOLD) program from the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (MParks).

Recently, the mParks Professional Development Committee announced the 15-member cohort, which, according to its website, has been “developed by a diverse group of professionals from across the state.”

Bunte said a visit to the township is tentatively scheduled for April 28 and again in November.

It was announced at the last meeting that the township became a member of mParks.

Sullivan and Bunte (and Hall-Kayler, if she’s available) will be attending the mParks Conference and Trade Show in March, with Bunte adding that he’d also

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

like the future parks director to attend.

Board members approved the proposed amendments to Chikaming Township Zoning Ordinance 144.

Bunte said the amendments have passed through the Chikaming Township Planning Commission (during which there was aa public hearing) and were then sent to and approved by the Berrien County Planning Commission.

He thanked the committee, as well as zoning administrator Kelly Largent, for putting in so many hours to make the changes.

Changes, which have been requested by the public “for many different reasons over many different areas,” include “typos, formatting and all kinds of updates,” Bunte said.

Board members adopted a resolution on the River Valley Schools School Resource Officer (SRO) Agreement as well as approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the township and the school district.

Chikaming Township Police Chief Todd Taylor said that River Valley Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney was able to “grab the bull by the horns” and secure the $139,423 state grant to put an SRO in the district.

Last month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that 195 school districts, intermediate school districts, and public-school academies will receive nearly $25 million to support the hiring of 195 school resource officers (SROs) for the next three years.

According to a press release, a “panel consisting of representatives from education and policing awarded the grants.”

“These funds administered by the Michigan State Police (MSP), Grants and Community Services Division, may be used to support salaries, benefits and training for SROs, which are law enforcement officers responsible for keeping students safe in school,” the release stated.

A 50% match is required to be provided by the applicant jurisdiction. Chikaming Township Police Officer Paige Holtz will be assuming the position March 1.

Board members approved proceeding with the township’s commitment of $200,000 of its ARPA funds for broadband expansion for the township and to be a part of the process to expand broadband in Berrien County through an application for a Michigan Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant.

The letter from the Berrien County Broadband Internet Task Force states that “19 communities submitted requests to Berrien County during the ARPA process for assistance in funding” and nearly all the communities pledged local matches “to supplement the county’s contributions.”

The letter stated that the “all the units collectively have to date pledged $5 million to broadband expansion,” which includes Chikaming’s $200,000, and the county has $4.5 million available.

Bunte said this gives the county a local match of $9.5 million available to expand broadband in the county and an equal match is required from a participating ISP provider.

Bunte said that, from the ROBIN grant “would be $19 million, so 19 and 19 would give them give $38 million to work with in the county.”

He added the county believes it “would be sufficient to include approximately 6,100 additional parcels in the county, nearly 100% of coverage in Berrien County, by going this direction.”

Board members approved proceeding with applying for a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant for the engineering portion of the Sawyer Road streetscape design.

The grant requires a 25% match from the township, so Bunte said they’re requesting a $100,000 grant for a total project cost of approximately $120,000.

Board members adopted the following resolutions stating 2023-2024 salaries for the following township board trustees: supervisor; clerk; treasurer; trustee Sullivan; and trustee Bill Marske.

Board members approved a Special Land Use Request for the owner of 14693 Meadow Lane to construct a 32-foot-by-22-foot accessory structure to be used as an accessory dwelling unit.

Board members approved the township collecting River Valley, Berrien RESA and Lake Michigan College {100%) summer taxes and New Buffalo (50%) summer taxes and (50%) winter taxes.

The attendance of the township board at the annual Michigan Townships Association Conference in Traverse City was approved.