Lindley steps down as president of Grand Beach Village Council

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR. MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

Lindley steps down as president of Grand Beach Village Council

LAMBERT RESIGNS AS ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

Deborah Lindley stepped down as president of the Grand Beach Village Council, with councilmembers electing James Bracewell to take her place until her term is up in November, at the council’s Wednesday, June 15, meeting.

Lindley, who plans to remain on the council until the end of her term, said that she and her husband plan to list their home for sale soon and move to Indianapolis to be closer to her daughter and grandson.

Lindley, who called being president “a part-time job,” said that, as a result of being busy with the impending move, she’s resigning as president.

Councilmembers heard the resignation of building inspector/zoning administrator Bill Lambert.

The resignation came after a long discussion over a construction project taking place on 46029 Lake View Avenue.

Regarding the project, resident Michael Minton said that if “there had been a garage built, no one would be here tonight” and that what was built “on a different footprint is a two-story structure that has living accommodations, plumbing accommodations, a stairway and arrangements being made to have that occupied by guests.”

Minton said that he was disappointed that no one gave notice to the neighbors that what was being built was “not a two-story garage but the structure that’s being put on there.”

He added that a permit was issued for the project without a variance, saying that it “changes the entire landscape, the entire environment” of the old section of Grand Beach.

“All you have to do is turn to the corner onto Lake View and you’re going to see something that sticks out like it doesn’t belong, it shouldn’t belong,” he said, adding that he was “on behalf of 19 different residents, some of them permanent, is to take another look” at the project.

Minton added that he tried to talk to Lambert but “was hung up on.”

Lindley said that if they’re building a two-story home and they’re going to rent it that’s against what’s allowed, and that they must rent the whole house with it, not just the garage.

Lambert said that, after 11 years as zoning administrator, he’s resigning as of that night; however, he’ll stay on until the village can find a replacement.

“I am not going to be ridiculed anymore over this project,” he said, adding that all the issues are in the old part of the village, which is “difficult to control” due its high density.

Bracewell, who serves as building and zoning commissioner, said to Minton that he’d be open to meeting with him and the group of residents about the construction project the following week at village hall to address their concerns.

“Obviously, to have an employee in the village do and say what Bill said tonight, I think we should take a long look at it and why employees come and go,” he said, adding that Lambert’s “telling the people that he’s given up patience.” “In other words, his numbers are right, that architect’s numbers are right - we don’t have any choice we cannot legislate good taste – there, I said it,” he said.

Councilmember Blake O’Halloran said Lambert resigned although the board didn’t accept it.

Regarding old Grand Beach, he concurred with Lambert on its high density and that the village “can’t even go back and find a property line that we own” and that they “don’t even know where the borders are” in some cases.

“I’m hoping when everyone cools down, maybe can still work with a man who’s done a good job for Grand Beach,” O’Halloran said.

Councilmembers approved the first option for a sign for the Grand Beach Nature Preserve, which is an etched brass plaque. The second option was printed aluminum panel, and councilmembers expressed concern that it could be taken off very easily in contrast to the plaque.

Councilmembers approved a five-year extension to the village’s contract with Able Disposal, with an additional recycling pickup day on the Tuesday after Memorial Day (in the years that there isn’t a pickup on that date) at a cost of $2 per customer. The village will pay $2 for each customer regardless of if they put their recycling out for pickup or not.

Lindley said Able’s current contract ends in August and that they’ve always done a great job accommodating the village’s needs. The cost will go up from $13.64 per household to $20.45 starting Sept. 1, with an additional 4% for the next four years for fuel costs and labor and materials.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

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O’Halloran said that Memorial Day was a big weekend with a lot of garbage and that it’d be a good idea to have pick-up on after that holiday.

“I’m hoping when everyone Lindley thanked the Fox family for always giving $500 to maintain the Fox Memorial Garden, which Lindley said they do without being asked by the village. Lindley said that she’d like to remind homeowners that beach accesses are village property and they option was printed aluminum can’t be used without council approval and planting encroachments can’t be made on them. She sent out a letter regarding encroachment of beach accesses and reminding anyone living next to an access that it’s public property. The letter also included a reminder about the short-term rental ordinance (which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023) and trash ordinance (which goes into customer regardless of if they effect July 1) that the council recently adopted. Councilmembers approved the North Grand Beach Homeowners Association using the green space between ends in August and the driveway in and out of the clubhouse for tents for a golf outing July 23. Councilmembers accpeted the resignation of Ed from $13.64 per household to Trainor from the Parks and Recreation Committee and thanked him for his service to the committee and community.

New Buffalo Township Board honors firefighter for 25 years of service

APPROVES 2022-2023 BUDGET

Members of the New Buffalo Township Board of Trustees and the New Buffalo Township Fire Department honored firefighter Bill Melendy for his 25 years of service to the department at their Monday, June 20, meeting.

Fire chief Jamie Flick gave Melendy a plaque from the Friends of New Buffalo Township Fire Department as well as a certificate of appreciation from the board.

Flick sad Melendy started with the department June 16, 1997.

“It’s not an easy task to be a volunteer or paid on-call firefighter getting up all hours of the night going and handling an alarm or something small but, year after year, Bill continues to do that and I appreciate all the work and help that he does for the department,” he said.

Flick added that Melendy also helps the “younger generation,” as they have quite a few younger firefighters on the department and he’s “someone to look up to.”

A public hearing was held (during which there were no public comments) on the 20222023 fiscal year budget. Total estimated revenues for the year are $1,334,271 and total expenditures are $1,332,846.

Board members approved 2022-2023 budget amendments.

The following 2022 millages were approved: general operating millage, .3843 mills; public safety special assessment, 2.1 mills and parks millage, .37 mills.

Board members adopted the budget resolution for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

The following employee wages were approved: an increase in wages by 4% for full time employees (including the assistant fire chief and all firefighters, construction board of appeals, dangerous building officer and enforcement officer, fire inspector, cleaning and maintenance, and zoning board of appeals coordinator), with the exception of the building and zoning administrator and building and zoning assistant and utility

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit, firefighter Bill Melendy and fire cheif Jamie Flick

maintenance workers.

There will be an annual salary increase to $50,000 for the building and zoning administrator and an hourly pay increase for the building and zoning assistant to $21.23 per hour.

Utility maintenance worker Nick Jackson’s will increase to $23.50 per hour and the utility maintenance worker Alex Keen’s will increase to $22.75 per hour.

The fire chief’s annual salary will increase to $40,000.

Board of review increases to $75 for under four hours and $150 for four or more hours per day and election chairperson will be $20 per hour and election inspector will be $15 per hour.

The planning commission chair’s wage will be $125 per meeting and planning commissioners’ will be $100 per meeting; board trustees will be $525 monthly; ZBA will be $100 per meeting and ZBA chair will be $100 per meeting plus $75 per hearing.

Board members adopted a resolution to establish township officers’ wages (supervisor, treasurer and clerk) to $52,000.

Board members adopted a resolution regarding Extra-Voted Millage for Public Safety Services. Heit said that this states that the township still has one public safety millage but isn’t collecting it and is only collecting the 20-year, 2.1 mill public safety special assessment.

A loan of $30,000 from the Local Revenue Sharing Board (LRSB) to the marina fund was approved. Heit said that there were some significant improvements to the marina and that they don’t anticipate as many expenses this year.

Board members approving appointing Michelle Hannon to the ZBA.

Board members approved an outdoor assembly permit for U.S. 12 Speed and Custom for their annual car show August 13.

A payment of $87,500 to the Deputy Foundation for the marina fund was approved.

Board members approved water superintendent Archie Barkman attending the Michigan Rural Water Association Conference for $1600, plus meals and travel.

Aloan of $1,000 from the LRSB for Friends of New Buffalo Township Fire for event insurance (in case it’s needed) for their 5K on Sept. 24 was approved.

Board members approved certified firefighter pay for Stephen Margaritis beginning June 1 and for Andrew Flick beginning July 22 as a result of both completing Firefighter One and Two.

The first change order for the lift station replacement project extending substantial completion date by 90 days for the prior date of June 10 to Sept. 8 for lift stations 51, 52 and 53 was approved.

Beginning next month, Heit said that the township meetings will be at 4 p.m. and that they’ll try that time until they set meeting times for the new year in January.

Regarding the villages of Grand Beach and Michiana lawsuit against the township for the public safety special assessment, Heit said that Berrien County Trial Court Judge Donna Howard ruled in the township’s favor and that she stated that the “language in Act 33 does not limit a special assessment to properties outside of a village and does not contain an exemption for properties within the village.”