​MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 28, 2022
 
The meeting was called to order with the pledge to the flag.  In attendance were  Robert and Connie Scheurer, Jill Thelen, Andy Hengesbach, Bernie Russell, Charles Babcock and Julie Heckman.
 
The minutes of the 2021 Annual meeting were presented. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by J Thelen and supported by J Heckman.  Motion carried.
 
The depository is Independent Bank and Mercantile Bank in Ionia. J Heckman made a motion to keep the Depository the same, J Thelen supported.  Motion Carried.
 
The date of the regular board meetings will remain the same, first Monday of the month at 5:30pm., at the township hall.  The exception will be holidays and Elections, which will be noted.  J Heckman made a motion to keep the meeting dates the same, J Thelen supported.  Motion carried.
 
The budget was presented for discussion. J Thelen made a motion to accept the 22-23 budget as presented, J Heckman supported.  Motion Carried. 
 
 
A motion to adjourn at 5:30 pm was made by J Thelen and supported by J Heckman.

LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
JANUARY 31, 2023
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 4 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review. A motion to accept the minutes with the deletion of the flagpole being stolen,  was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  The flagpole got blown down in a windstorm. The new flagpole is up again.
Public comment: There is no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  There was no treasurer’s report because the meeting date was moved up so the whole board would be at the meeting.
Bills in the amount of $29,613.89 to the general fund were presented for payment. A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
TWP Business:   J Heckman presented the 2022/2023 budget amendment amounts to be amended. A motion to amend the budget as reported was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. A roll call vote was taken. R Scheurer yes, A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock yes, and J Heckman yes. Motion carried.
The Poverty Resolution 2023 was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach, A roll call vote was taken. R Scheurer yes, A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock yes, and J Heckman yes.  Motion carried.
A resolution to accept the date of March 15, 2023, as the alternate date for the March Board of Review first Taxpayer Appeal Meeting was made by J Thelen and supported by A Hengesbach. A roll call vote was taken. J Thelen yes, A Hengesbach yes, C Babcock yes, R Scheurer yes, and J Heckman yes. Motion carried.
C Babcock brought up talk about raises. The talk has to be brought up every year before the annual meeting. A raise isn’t given every year, but it must be brought up. This is what the board has decided to give this year.
A motion to raise the Fire Chiefs’ pay from $2,000 a year to $2,500 a year and a raise for the Firefighters from $13 an hour to $14 was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. A roll call vote was taken. R Scheurer yes, A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock yes, and J Heckman yes. Motion carried.
A motion was made to raise the Supervisor’s, Clerk’s, and Treasurer’s pay from $14,000 a year to $15,500 by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. A roll call vote was taken. R Scheurer yes, A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock yes, and J Heckman yes. Motion carried.
A motion was made to raise the trustee’s wages from $263 a meeting to $300 a meeting by J Thelen and supported by J Heckman. A roll call vote was taken. J Thelen yes, J Heckman yes, A Hengesbach yes, C Babcock yes, and R Scheurer yes. Motion carried.
A motion to raise all Deputy’s pay from $15 an hour to $16 an hour was made by R. Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
A motion was made to raise Election Chairperson’s wage from $257.00 to $275 per election and Election inspectors from $206 to $225 per election by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
The board had talked about getting a LUKAS device which costs around $18,600 for the fire department. Chief Randall came to the board with a different request. The county is changing to 800 MHz radios so the departments will need to switch so both departments are asking for 6 new radios a piece, at a cost of around $15,000 for 12.
A motion was made to buy the 12 new radios and 1 LUKAS device by J Thelen and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 was made by R  Scheurer and supported by J Thelen. Motion carried.
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman
 
NEXT MEETING IS ANNUAL AT 5PM THEN REGULAR AT 5:30 March 6, 2023
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​                       LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
JANUARY 2, 2023
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 4 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes with the correction of the price of the LUKAS device from $1600-$2000 to $16,000-$20,000 was made by A Hengesbach and supported by R Scheurer.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  The Port-a-John has been removed for the year. J Wickham said that the flagpole was placed in the cemetery.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $50,542.54 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
TWP Business: The thermostat was broken at the office. B Russell dropped off some paperwork on Dec 22,2022 and said it was 99 degrees at the office.  C Babcock called Home Experts the next day and they came right out to replace the thermostat. They said the furnace was 33 years old and said it should probably be replaced. We received an estimate from Home Experts for a new furnace/air conditioner. Now we will get a couple more bids to  compare.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 was made by J Thelen and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman

LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
December 5, 2023
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 6 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  The Port-a-John blew over.  Wickham’s will give an estimate on fixing the stone in the Spaulding Cemetery so we can start budgeting for it.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $13,716.16 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried
TWP Business: Jason Orton was here to discuss our renewal of insurance. Our renewal went up about $3000.00. Jason said that is not uncommon this year. 
The old jaws of life from LMFD went to Maple Rapids Fire Department.
Chief Yerge explained he ordered turnout gear in 2022 but will not arrive until the 2023 budget, so he asked if we could earmark that amount for the next budget.  Board agreed.
The board asked what equipment the fire departments may want in the future.  The Fire Chiefs both said the LUKAS which is an automatic CPR machine. They are approximately $16,000 - $20,000.  The Fire Chiefs will get back to us with a price.
Chief Randall asked the board if they could waive Dave Holcomb’s first responder run fee. His wife is on the fire department, and he helped out with search and rescue with his rescue dogs. The board agreed to waive the fee.
C Babcock asked to have the potholes in Marsh Ridge fixed. The board agreed to fix them.
C Babcock brought up getting a park bench for the front of the building. C Babcock will get pricing and the board will discuss at a further date.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Clerk,
 
Julie Heckman

​                                                     LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
November 14, 2022
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 5 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by J Thelen and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There were 2 letters of appreciation for the ARPA money donation of $30,000 each to Village of Muir and the Village of Pewamo read.
Cemetery: The flagpole is still not up yet in the cemetery. The Port-a-john is still in the cemetery. There are stones in the Spaulding Cemetery that need work done. R Scheurer will get with Wickham’s to get an estimate on work to be done in the Spaulding Cemetery so we can work it into the budget for the next few years.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $132,529.70 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
TWP Business: There was a letter from I’M SAFE read asking for support.  A motion to support I’M SAFE in the amount of $500.00 was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
The elections went smoothly.  It was the biggest turnout we have had in a long time.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 pm was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman

​LYONS TWP REG.MEETING
OCTOBER 3, 2022
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 4 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by J Thelen and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  It was reported that the flagpole base was done but pole was not up yet.  It was also reported that the Spaulding Road Cemetery has a lot of stones that need work done to them.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $36,512.27 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by J Thelen.  Motion carried.
TWP Business: Todd Smith was here to ask for (2) 12-year abatements for Devereaux Sawmill.  The board asked if there would be any new jobs available to which Todd said there would be an additional 10-12 new job openings.  He was also asked what the wages were.  Todd said the base pay is $16 hourly with 401k and vacation and holiday pay.
A motion to approve the (2) 12-year abatements for Devereaux Sawmill was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. A roll call vote was taken R Scheurer yes, A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock yes, and J Heckman yes. Motion Carried.
Consumers power wants to remove 13 dams.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 was made by R Scheurer and supported by J Thelen. Motion carried.
 
NEXT MEETING NOVEMBER 14 @ 5:30 PM BECAUSE OF ELECTIONS
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman

​LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 3 citizens, and 5 board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by A Hengesbach and supported by R Scheurer.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  The porta-potty was tipped over in the cemetery. Thinking the wind might have knocked it over.  Next year we will look into having it secured with straps to help prevent it from tipping over. Josh says the flagpole is still scheduled to be put up.
Public comment:  Mattie Cook-Hildebrandt, Director of the Lyons Township District Library, was here to introduce herself. The Township Board is very happy to have her at the library. She brings a lot of experience, enthusiasm, and excitement with her. Sounds like she will be a great asset to the library. Library meetings are the third Tuesday of the month.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $74,572.36 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by J Thelen.  Motion carried.
TWP Business:   C Babcock reported that B White from ICRD says they are short drivers for putting gravel on the roads.
C Babcock said he witnessed great work from the LMFD on site of an accident.
There has been no word on where things are at with the dry hydrant on Shotwell bridge.
The Culvert on Wager Road is being fixed.
Sid’s Flower Shop sent out a price sheet for decorating the Township Building for the Holidays. A motion was made by R. Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach to do the 1 year at a time bid for 45 ft of garland for $100.17 and a 30” wreath for $50.00. Motion carried.
Austin Peabody of A&P Lawncare put in a bid of $3,110 to remove all the stone around the building and sign and plant grass seed. There was a call to another company for a bid, but they didn’t respond.  A motion to accept Austin’s bid was made by A Hengesbach and supported by R Scheurer. Motion carried.
There was a letter from the Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs stating that Corey Woodruff, owner of Pine Haven Estates, is operating without a license. The date of the letter was August 2,2022. The letter states to date the department has not received the required documentation for licensure. Therefore, the park license file is closed, and the application for licensure is denied. They are now operating a park without a valid license, in criminal defiance of the Act. There is a criminal case being forwarded to the local prosecuting attorney’s office for the commencement of a criminal proceeding for operating a mobile home park without a valid license.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm was made by A Hengesbach and supported by J Thelen.  Motion carried.
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman

​                                                     LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
August 8, 2022
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag.  There were 4 citizens, and 5  board members present.
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  There is 1 monument that needs to be put back on its foundation.  Wickham’s has been authorized to put up a new flagpole in the cemetery.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  A motion to accept the treasurer’s report from June and July as presented was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $85334.31 to the general fund were presented for payment.  A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach.  Motion carried.
TWP Business: Larry Tiejema was here to discuss this year’s audit.  He said all of our reports were done really well. The board applauded Larry for all of his years of service for our township and wished him a happy retirement. 
The board will ask the village to have the tree out front of our building either to be trimmed or to be taken down.  There are a lot of dead limbs hanging over our building.  The board also is going to ask for bids to remove all the stones around the building and put in grass seed. The board is going to move forward at getting bids to put up a privacy fence.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:40pm was made by A Hengesbach and supported by R Scheurer.  Motion carried.
 
THE NEXT MEETING IS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH BECAUSE OF LABOR DAY
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman

                                                     LYONS TWP REG. MEETING
JULY 5, 2022
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag. There were 1citizens, and 4 board members present. J Thelen was absent
Minutes to the meeting were presented for review. A motion to accept the minutes was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Minutes to the Special meeting were read for review. A motion to accept the minutes was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Cemetery:  R Scheurer has attempted to get ahold of Mr. Vanderveen 3 times to talk about his cemetery lots. Mr. Vanderveen has not answered his phone and he does not have voice mail.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Treasurer’s report:  There was no treasurer’s report because she was on vacation.
Bills in the amount of $34,086.93 to the general fund were presented for payment. A motion to pay the bills was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
TWP Business:  There is a Township Association meeting here at the Township Hall on July 11, 2022, at 7p.m.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:05 was made by R Scheurer and supported by A Hengesbach. Motion carried.
 
Clerk
Julie Heckman
 
JUST A REMINDER OUR NEXT MEETING WON’T BE UNTIL AUGUST 8, 2022 @5:30
​

​                                                     LYONS TWP SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 15, 2022 @5:30
 
 
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge to the Flag. There were 0 citizens, and 5 board members present.
 
 
TWP Business: This meeting was conducted to vote on having Portland ambulance or Life Ambulance for the Township .  Everyone had valid reasons on why they chose who they chose. C Babcock  voted Life, A Hengesbach voted Portland, J Thelen voted Portland, J Heckman voted Portland, R Scheurer voted Life. A motion was made by A Hengesbach and supported by J Thelen to accept the Portland Ambulance contract. A roll call vote was taken A Hengesbach yes, J Thelen yes, C Babcock no,  J Heckman yes and R Scheurer no. Motion carried.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:57pm was made by A Hengesbach and supported by J Thelen. Motion carried.
 
Clerk
 
Julie Heckman