WHITEHALL — The Fruitland Township hosted presentations Thursday, July 23 from the White Lake Ambulance Authority and Trinity Health EMS on their respective ambulance operational services ahead of the upcoming Aug. 4 election. During the election, Fruitland residents will vote on whether to enter into a service agreement with the WLAA and a subsequent millage to fund the contract or remain with the services provided through Trinity Health.
During the township board’s regular meeting Monday, Treasurer Justin Roggero discussed his delays presenting the bank reconciliations, cash and investment reports for April, May and June due to his trouble with March’s; March being the end of the township’s fiscal year and, in Roggero’s opinion, the hardest to complete. He assured that the issue is actively being worked on and he will present the reports to the board ASAP, but also expressed he was open to board suggestions on ways to submit the reports earlier, suggesting contracting out for accounting assistance.
"The big focus on that is making sure that everything’s taken care of here, quickly, [and] in a manner where it can be checked in and efficient," Roggero said.
Members of the board were in agreement that the reports and reconciliations take place as soon as possible, and agreed contracting assistance may be necessary, with Trustee Chris VanOosterhout stating that resolving the delay in a timely fashion is essential to catch mistakes and prevent fraud. Clerk Alexa Steffes reminded the board that these reports need resolving before the township’s audit can be completed in September, and that delays would jeopardize township funding. Supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski asked Roggero to make a recommendation in writing for what can be done to resolve the backlog issue and present it to the board.
With the financials thoroughly discussed, the board moved on to unfinished and new business, which included several resolutions, new and amended ordinances, and a moratorium on data center development.
The board approved Resolution 20-2026 to adopt new ordinance Article R65, which would impose strict regulations on solicitation and peddling, such as registration, permissible hours and required permittance to posted residential “opt-out” postings. The township also approved proposed language changes from the planning commission to two ordinance articles regarding electric car charging stations.
The board authorized and then imposed a temporary moratorium on data center development in the township, which would last for six months while the planning commission drafted an ordinance related to such developments. This follows several other moratoriums and ordinances related to data centers imposed by fellow northern Muskegon County municipalities.
Finally, the board approved a senior resident use agreement at the Viking Athletic Center, Nestrom Park accessible pathways project re-bid and redesigns, contract renewals and repairs to Nestrom #6 drain. Despite a DNR Passport grant of $83,000 and the township’s own contribution to fund the project for a total of $109,000, recent bids on the construction have yielded quotes at over double that amount. At the grant coordinator’s recommendation, Fruitland Township will contract OCBA to redraw site plans to adhere to the new budget and put the project back out for bids. The fees to redraw the site plans is set to not exceed $1,200, and the township will further utilize funds from the parks and recreation to help finance the project.
Following heavy June rains, it was discovered that Nestrom Drain #6’s structure was damaged and in need of repairs. The township awarded the project to Lundell Excavating for $6,142, with structural replacement set at an extra $1,200 if needed. Unfortunately, the township’s insurance does not cover the damage to the drain, and Fruitland is hoping to call on Muskegon County’s emergency manager for a share of federal disaster relief funds recently awarded to the county. Otherwise, the funds for repairs will come out of the township’s contingency fund.
Fruitland Township’s insurance renewal contract was approved for a package policy costing $28,134 and covering township buildings and equipment.
“Everything in the township (is covered),” Marcinkowski pointed out, “except for Nestrom Drain.”
