Zaid Beeai

The meeting began with a flag presentation involving second-grade students. Discussions included the agenda modification, which involved deleting one marketing agreement item, adding minutes from the January 8th closed session to the consent agenda, and adding a future closed session to discuss lease agreements and a lawsuit. Action items 1 and 2 (appointments) were moved to the consent agenda. A public hearing was conducted regarding the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for fiscal years 2017-2018, covering requests for senior programs, senior alliance membership, universally accessible playground equipment, and administrative tasks. The consent agenda, as amended, was approved, followed by the approval of the CDBG application. Department reports highlighted road condition feedback being sought for the upcoming budget, updates from the Open Space Greenways Commission regarding property purchases, and the Police Commission budget preparation, noting the Fire Department's 75 years of service and call statistics for 2017 and 2018. The Township Attorney presented an initial review of prosecutions and ordinance modifications to allow for plea bargaining options. The Deputy Clerk provided information regarding passport application deadlines and procedures.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and confirmed a quorum among the Commissioners, noting the potential late arrival of the Township liaison. The agenda and previous minutes were approved. The expense report was discussed, noting higher than normal training expenses due to new State requirements, with the expectation that new millage funding would alleviate this. Key discussion items focused on the October EMS runs, which showed an increasing trend attributed to the aging population relying more on the department. Specific incidents detailed included a watercraft rescue of a citizen in a rowboat without safety equipment, and a successful revival of an individual following a cardiac arrest on Halloween, attributed in part to the new Lucas device. The Commission expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from citizens for the passed millage, which will fund equipment upgrades, highlighting that Grosse Ile possesses superior equipment compared to other communities, enabling better outcomes, such as higher fire save rates. The meeting concluded with remarks on the departmental network and the successful millage vote.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda and the minutes from the previous session, which included a correction to the Island Fest funding amount from $1,700 to $17,000. The Director's report highlighted several operational updates: tables and umbrellas were added to the Water's Edge swimming pool for shade, the July Luau event had approximately 50 participants, three open dock wells were being used for overnight docking, the shrink-wrap debris was removed, electrical repairs totaling approximately $3,000 were made at the marina, cameras were installed at the playscape, and the playground surface was scheduled for a third spraying due to persistent bees. Additionally, flooring upgrades and new drapes were installed at the farm facility, a senior luncheon was held on August 2nd, and the kayak ramp at Sunrise Park was installed. Old business primarily concerned the proposal for the Jireh Football League to install irrigation at the soccer fields, which required approval after Commerce's prior consent, and discussions around user agreements and fencing for sports fields. New business focused heavily on Plan 3a for field development, which includes new soccer fields, football fields, and baseball fields, proposing significant parking increases and involving collaboration with the Commerce Department for land use agreements. Subcommittee updates included exploring the expansion of the marina to the south end to potentially add dockage, which would require revisiting past DEQ restrictions concerning endangered species.

The meeting commenced with housekeeping items, including establishing COVID-19 masking policies based on vaccination status and reviewing emergency egress procedures. The board also introduced the Zoning Board of Appeals toolkit. The primary discussion involved a carryover request for a dimensional variance at 813 Thorntree Court in the Macomb Street District (MSD) to construct a covered, seasonally enclosed awning over an existing patio, encroaching into the required 25-foot front yard setback. A board member recused himself from the application due to potential legal difficulties. The board addressed potential ex parte communication involving the applicant's family member and a board member. The applicant presented two options, but ultimately intended to proceed with the larger variance (17-foot awning resulting in an 8.5-foot setback). Discussion focused heavily on ensuring compliance with the 10x10 clear vision triangle at the driveway/sidewalk intersection. Additionally, the board confirmed that the former bank drive-in window at the property would not be used for any purpose requiring special land use approval at that time.

The meeting focused heavily on public input concerning the recent cancellation of the 'Island Nights' event, which community members expressed was vital for supporting small businesses, providing community interaction, and activating Mcome Street. Presenters proposed resuming the event on the fourth Friday of the month from June to August, suggesting themes for specific months and offering support via a Business Improvement Grant of up to $1,000 for new community events that do not advertise specific businesses. Discussions also touched upon the need for better marketing consistency for the Farmers Market and the contradiction of establishing a new social district while curtailing other community activation events. The process for utilizing the $1,000 reimburseable grant program for new community events was explained, and there was a commitment to follow up with business owners interested in forming committees to plan future events.