Changing Elections in Changing Times
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TownshipMichigan FocusSEPTEMBER 2020 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS ASSOCIATION Changing elections in changing times It’s the pits MTA’s new virtual Delta Charter page 3 events, webinars Township is a bring the learning ‘Township of right to you Excellence’ page 29 page 32 You Serve Others. We Serve You. Since 1966, Burnham & Flower Insurance Group has been dedicated to serving Michigan’s townships while you’re serving others. With the worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) our support for one another is more important than ever. At times like these, we remain committed to partnering with you to help make our communities feel safer. Thank you, Michigan township officials, employees, and citizens for YOUR service during this time. Burnham&Flower INSURANCE GROUP We’re proud and privileged to Serving Michigan Townships Since 1966 serve you! Scholarship Sponsor 315 South Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 800.748.0554 • www.bfgroup.com C2 SEPTEMBER 2020 | township focus SEPTEMBER 2020 TownshipMichigan Focus OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS ASSOCIATION Changing elections in changing times cSeptembero 2020 ntents| Volume 8, Number 7 Delta Charter MTA’s new virtual It’s the pits Township is a events, webinars ‘Township of page 3 bring the learning Excellence’ right to you page 29 page 32 Official Publication of the Michigan Townships Association mta officers President 4 Jeff Sorensen, Supervisor Cooper Charter Township (Kalamazoo Co.) First Vice President Peter Kleiman, Supervisor Harris Township You Serve Others. (Menominee Co.) Second Vice President Bill Deater, Supervisor 18 Grant Township (St. Clair Co.) Treasurer We Serve You. Pauline Bennett, Clerk featured articles 32 Addison Township (Oakland Co.) Secretary Connie Cargill, Treasurer Golden Township (Oceana Co.) Since 1966, Burnham & Flower 4 COVID-19 updates and information for townships Immediate Past President Insurance Group has been Township officials must continue to stay up to date and current on Ken Gauthier, Supervisor dedicated to serving Michigan’s executive orders, state and federal programs, and the impacts of the Sanborn Township (Alpena Co.) ongoing coronavirus pandemic. townships while you’re serving past presidents Doug Mansfield, Supervisor others. Union Township (Grand Traverse Co.) Changing elections in changing times With the worldwide spread of 18 Linda Preston, Supervisor Before COVID-19 impacted how townships administer local elections to Pokagon Township (Cass Co.) coronavirus disease 2019 ensure safety for both voters and poll workers, Michigan voters approved Diane Randall, Supervisor (COVID-19) our support for one Proposal 18-3 to enshrine into law numerous new voter rights. Townships, Roscommon Township another is more important than clerks and election workers have heeded to call to adapt to changes—and (Roscommon Co.) ever. At times like these, we safeguard the very foundation of our democracy. editorial & design Publisher Neil Sheridan remain committed to partnering Editor Jennifer Fiedler with you to help make our Advertising Manager Ashley Maher Printer Foresight Group, Lansing communities feel safer. 32 Delta Charter Township is a ‘Township of Excellence’ Delta Charter Township (Eaton Co.) has been recognized—for the second mission statement time—as a “Township of Excellence,” through the MTA designation The Michigan Townships Association Thank you, Michigan township advances local democracy by fostering program, for providing exemplary service and leadership to their community township leadership and public policy officials, employees, and citizens in the 2016-2020 township board term. essential for a strong and vibrant for YOUR service during this time. Burnham&Flower Michigan. INSURANCE GROUP We’re proud and privileged to Serving Michigan Townships Since 1966 in this issue serve you! 3 Daily Democracy 28 Financial Forum 6 News & Notes 29 Knowledge Center 14 Hello, MTA ... ? 34 Legal Review 315 South Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 16 Inside Lansing 800.748.0554 • www.bfgroup.com township focus | SEPTEMBER 2020 1 mta board of directors Mary Segalin, Ironwood Charter Township (Gogebic Co.), Dist. 1 Jim Nankervis, Ishpeming Township (Marquette Co.), Dist. 2 Peter Kleiman, Harris Township (Menominee Co.), Dist. 3 Marilyn Strickland, Newton Township (Mackinac Co.), Dist. 4 profile allied service provider index Municipal Employees’ Harold Koviak, Burt Township (Cheboygan Co.), Dist. 5 Retirement System MTA Executive Committee member-at-large of Michigan page 10 Sharon Schultz, Torch Lake Township (Antrim Co.), Dist. 6 Ken Lobert, Ossineke Township (Alpena Co.), Dist. 7 president’s round table Marvin Radtke Jr., Green Lake Township (Grand Traverse Co.), Dist. 8 Burnham & Flower Municipal Employees’ Michigan Township Steven Ebels, Clam Union Township (Missaukee Co.), Dist. 9 Insurance Group Retirement System Participating Plan Kimberly Anderson, Whitney Township (Arenac Co.), Dist. 10 315 S. Kalamazoo Mall of Michigan 1700 Opdyke Ct. Connie Cargill, Golden Township (Oceana Co.), Dist. 11 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 1134 Municipal Way Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Yulanda Bellingar, Morton Township (Mecosta Co.), Dist. 12 (800) 748-0554 Lansing, MI 48917 (248) 371-3137 Tom Paige, Williams Charter Township (Bay Co.), Dist. 13 www.bfgroup.com (517) 703-9030 [email protected] Lawrence Krohn, Oliver Township (Huron Co.), Dist. 14 See ad on inside front www.mersofmich.com www.theparplan.com Vacant, Dist. 15 cover. See ad on page 9. See ad on back cover. Kevin Beeson, Pine River Township (Gratiot Co.), Dist. 16 Joanne Boehler, James Township (Saginaw Co.), Dist. 17 Bill Deater, Grant Township (St. Clair Co.), Dist. 18 Bret Padgett, Comstock Charter Township (Kalamazoo Co.), Dist. 19 leadership circle Patti Jo Schafer, Eagle Township (Clinton Co.), Dist. 20 Pauline Bennett, Addison Township (Oakland Co.), Dist. 21 Asphalt Materials Inc. DTE Energy ITC Holdings Corp. Rosati, Schultz, Joppich 3737 Fisher Rd. One Energy Plaza 27175 Energy Way Malinda Cole-Crocker, Buchanan Township (Berrien Co.), Dist. 22 & Amtsbuechler, PC Columbus, OH 43228 Detroit, MI 48226 Novi, MI 48377 27555 Executive Dr., Ste. 250 Donald Rogers, Coldwater Township (Branch Co.), Dist. 23 (614) 634-6024 (800) 477-4747 (248) 946-3000 Farmington, MI 48331 Al Boggs, Rome Township (Lenawee Co.), Dist. 24 www.asphalt-materials.com www.dteenergy.com www.itc-holdings.com (248) 489-4100 Diana Lowe, Genoa Charter Township (Livingston Co.), Dist. 25 www.jrsjlaw.com Bauckham, Sparks, Fahey Schultz Burzych Mika Meyers PLC To find your MTA District, visit www.michigantownships.org Thall, Seeber & Rhodes PLC 900 Monroe Ave. NW Ted Hartleb Agency, or call (517) 321-6467. Kaufman, PC 4151 Okemos Rd. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 An EMC Insurance 470 W. Centre Ave, Ste. A Okemos, MI 48864 (616) 632-8000 Company Partner Portage, MI 49024 (517) 381-0100 www.mikameyers.com 5840 King Hwy. postal requirements (269) 382-4500 www.fsbrlaw.com Kalamazoo, MI 49048 Michigan Township Focus serves as the medium for the exchange www.michigan (269) 385-5911 of ideas and information for the elected and appointed officials townshiplaw.com Foster, Swift, Collins www.hartlebagency.com of Michigan townships. The views expressed and the material & Smith, PC presented by the contributors and advertisers are not to be Consumers Energy 313 S. Washington Sq. construed as having the endorsement of the officers, board 2400 Weiss St. Lansing, MI 48933-2193 of directors, staff or membership of the Michigan Townships Saginaw, MI 48602 (517) 371-8100 Association nor represent the views or positions of said parties (989) 791-5608 www.fosterswift.com unless specifically so stated. www.consumers energy.com Michigan Township Focus, Issue 7 September 2020 (ISSN 2330- 9652), is published monthly, except for one combined spring issue. MTA membership provides a subscription to township board members, the manager/superintendent, planning commission chairperson and township attorney. Member counties also receive subscriptions for elected officials, the equalization director and road commission chairperson. Annual keystone club membership dues include $33 for a one-year subscription to Carlisle Wortman Gourdie-Fraser, Inc. Michigan Municipal Wade Trim Michigan Township Focus. Additional member subscriptions are Associates, Inc. 123 W. Front St., Ste. A Risk Management 25251 Northline Rd. available for $33 per year. Subscription rate for residents and 117 N. First St. Ste. 70 Traverse City, MI 49684 Authority Taylor, MI 48180 firms in member townships is $44 per year (schools and libraries Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (231) 946-5874 14001 Merriman Rd. (734) 947-9700 may subscribe for $33 a year). (734) 662-2200 www.gfa.tc Livonia, MI 48154 www.wadetrim.com www.cwaplan.com (734) 513-0318 Michigan Township Focus is a publication of the Michigan See ad on page 17. Townships Association, 512 Westshire Dr., Lansing, MI 48917-9757. See ad on page 11. GFL Environmental www.mmrma.org Phone: (517) 321-6467; fax: (517) 321-8908; Web: www.michigan USA Inc. townships.org. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI. David Chapman Agency 6200 Elmridge Dr. Miller Canfield 5700 W. Mt. Hope Hwy. Sterling Heights, MI 150 W. Jefferson Ave., POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Michigan Township Focus, P.O. Box 80078, Lansing, MI 48908-0078. Lansing, MI 48917 48313 Ste. 2500 (517) 321-4600 (844) 464-3587 Detroit, MI 48226 Direct all display and classified advertising inquiries to Ashley www.davidchapman www.gflusa.com (313) 963-6420 Maher