Clark Twp. Adopts 3% Pay Raises for Elected Officials
By Amy Polk

Clark Township will give 3.38 percent raises to its supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and two trustees, the township board decided Thursday, March 16. Clerk Cathy Nordquist made the motion to adopt the raises, which are based on a federal cost of living adjustment, and to maintain office hours at the township hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

An ad hoc Clark Township Compensation Committee last month recommended officials receive no more than two percent raises, but that "any increase in salary over and above the recommendations of this committee should reflect an increase in township office hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m."

Trustee Tammy Cruickshank voted against the motion and individual pay resolutions for each position. The raises were effective Friday, March 17.

Supervisor Linda Hudson, Clerk Cathy Nordquist, and Treasurer Katie Carpenter will now be paid $770.28 on a biweekly basis, or $385.14 per week for 30 hours of work. They previously received $745.10, or $372.55 per week. The two trustees, Dana Leach and Tammy Cruickshank, will now make $556.32 per quarter, up from $538.13; and will continue to get $75 per meeting.

The board received a letter from James Romanuk of Hessel, owner of Hessel Bay Inn, requesting action on sidewalks he said need repair and parking problems in downtown Hessel.

To address parking problems in the summer, he recommended that Clark Township paint parallel parking lines along Pickford Avenue and suggested the township widen the road to accommodate parking on both sides of the street.

"It would also be good to address the abuse of overnight parking by the public, sometimes leading into days before a vehicle is moved," he wrote.

Mr. Romanuk's primary parking is on the street, and people who park overnight on the street next to his business take up spaces that could potentially go to morning breakfast customers.

He complained that the sidewalk in front of his business needs repair and has tripped pedestrians. He recommended the sidewalk be extended to the Hessel Post Office.

He also offered to donate brick to a sidewalk extension project, and to obtain three quotes from contractors to repair and extend the sidewalk.

Trustees took no action March 16, but said they will address the letter at a future board meeting.

The board approved a Central Ontario Snowmobile Drag Racing Association snowmobile show and ice drag race on Cedarville Bay Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19, organized by Chris Riley "to bring an economic boost to the area."

He apologized for the late application, but noted that he only began organizing the races two weeks ago and had obtained a Department of Natural Resources permit to hold races on the bay.

Trustees unanimously approved a liquor license transfer to Craig and Carolynn Bentley of Harbor Springs, who bought Snows Bar and Restaurant last year. The Bentleys plan to open the restaurant this spring, pending state license approval.

Clark Township's state equalized value was dropped by $1,085,348, following adjustments made by the Board of Review March 13 through March 15. The Board heard 14 appeals and considered another 39 written appeals to this year's property value assessments. Assessor Sherry Burd reported that the Board of Review considered a total of 115 property assessment records during the three-day session.

Mrs. Burd sent out assessments February 27, and anyone who wanted to challenge or correct the assessments had the opportunity to do so during Board of Review.

Treasurer Katie Carpenter wondered whether Clark Township's assessment reductions were typical, and requested an analysis from Mrs. Burd. "This ultimately will affect our property values and how much revenue comes in," she said.

Trustees briefly considered a drug-free workplace policy, before tabling it until the next meeting to obtain more information. The township must have a policy in place before it can receive a U.S. Forest Service grant it was awarded for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Nature Tourism Alliance project. Supervisor Linda Hudson said the board has been considering a drug-free policy as it updates its employee policy manual.

Trustees are considering several options, ranging from simply adopting a policy that states employees won't use drugs or alcohol on the job or while operating township equipment, to one that mandates drug testing for all township employees.