The Sept. 15 regular meeting of the Fruitland Township board saw a presentation from Eric Van Dop of Brickley DeLong regarding the township’s annual audit. As with other audits in the past, the township received an “unmodified opinion,” which Van Dop explained is, essentially, the best grade the township could get. As Van Dop went on to explain, the township did "a whole lot of work this year, [they] were able to do a lot of improvements around the township, and [are] still able to put a few bucks in the bank.”
That does not mean there is no room for improvement. Included with each audit is a recommendation letter, which Van Dop summarized. These recommendation items include improving end-of-year closing procedures, continuing to “segregate internal control procedures,” timely bank reconciliations, and timely distribution of property taxes - though Van Dop attributes the few mistakes to many of the Fruitland Township board members being new to their positions and getting their feet under them.
“You guys are doing a good job for the size township you are; we just encourage you to keep doing your due diligence,” Van Dop said.
Also at the meeting, supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski updated the board on the prospect of a couple different funding avenues - federal funding for roadwork on Scenic Drive and the DNR Passport grant for ADA pathways at Nestrom Park. While neither funding is confirmed, Fruitland Township is receiving positive feedback on the projects. However, due to the state of federal funding, the projects, particularly Scenic Drive, are “in limbo” for the time being.
The BLOX Built modular construction for the transfer station office is, likewise, in limbo, as scheduling issues may result in the need to put off pouring the concrete pad until next spring. No contractor in the area will be able to get out to the site to pour until the end of October. The township asked BLOX Built to provide a quote for the company to provide their own concrete work which, of course, will need approval from the board.
The board was not comfortable providing a decision at this month’s meeting and, while Marcinkowski assured that a decision could wait until October, it would put the township in the same scheduling issue as with the previous contractors.
“So if we want this year, we have to make a decision now… If the board wants me to give you a better idea on where that funding will come from, I can have that ready for you in October… And then we can get everything taken care of in the spring," Marcinkowski said.
The board ultimately decided to wait until the October regular meeting to better determine the source of funding, and expressed hope that a warm autumn might even allow the concrete to be poured late in the season.
During public comment, two residents encouraged Fruitland Township to adopt and send to the state level a resolution that would prevent non-Michigan governors from sending their National Guard forces to Michigan without the express approval of Michigan’s governor. As one resident explained, this would work to “ensure our state sovereignty.” This proposed resolution comes after news of National Guard troops being sent to various major U.S. cities and Washington D.C. for the purpose of immigration law enforcement and crime prevention.
