Township Fire Department Receives Mileage Raise
Board Begins Process of Filling Vacant Building Inspector Position
By Ryan Schlehuber

The mileage compensation fund for the Newton Township Fire Department's 11 volunteer firefighters was raised from $1,000 to $2,000 by the township board at its meeting Tuesday, November 13, however, Fire Chief Neil McArthur's request for a wage raise for his four head officers, including himself, was not approved.

The raises for the chief, the assistant chief, and two lieutenants would have amounted to $1,500.

Salary for the fire chief is $2,200, while the assistant fire chief receives $500, and two lieutenants each receive $250.

Chief McArthur said he is attempting to recruit more volunteers

to the department, telling the board that a raise in wages and mileage would serve as an incentive

to some, however, Township Supervisor Bob Brotherton expressed caution that the board must avoid what he calls "returning to financial dire straits." The township is still trying to recover from this problem of a few years ago, he said.

"Our goal is to be fair with the fire department, but we also want to mirror everyone else," said Mr. Brotherton, speaking of other township fire department budgets in the area.

Portage Township, he said, has twice as many firefighters, but only half the amount of payroll compared with Newton Township's Fire Department.

Mr. Brotherton also pointed out that the township board members have accepted a 3% wage increase only once in the last three years.

"My worry," said Mr. McArthur, "is that we will continue to struggle to keep our personnel, and if we don't have any incentive, we're not going to have a fire department. If we want to rely on a fire department 20 minutes away, then so be it."'

Newton Township's firefighters have not received a raise in three years, according to Chief McArthur.

The fire department compensates firefighters on a point system, awarded for fire calls, meetings attended, and training. It is the only fire department in the area with such a pay system.

The 11 men have earned 548 points this year, said Township Clerk Alice Zdebski, the highest it has ever been. Total individual points acquired per firefighter have ranged between 13 points ($189.78 total) to 69 points ($1,007.30 total) this year.

The points total reached 300 points in the recent past, and was as low as 200 points before. Mrs. Zdebski said the points total varies on the number of incidents the department responds to and the number of volunteer firefighters and their attendance at meetings and training seminars.

This year, one point equals $14.60 for wages, meetings, and training sessions attended. The township pays $1.82 per mile.

Mr. Brotherton said the township should maintain a budget that can keep the township afloat in case funding from millages for its road maintenance and fire and ambulance services is not available in a few years.

Last year, Newton Township passed a four-year, one-mill tax levy for road maintenance and improvements and a four-year, one-mill tax levy for fire and ambulance operations. Each generates around $37,000, said Township Treasurer Marilyn Strickland, who said the fire department's entire budget is funded through the fire and ambulance millage.

Newton Township has its own fire department, but shares ambulance services with Portage Township. Costs for operations and expenses for both departments have increased each year, according to Newton Township Clerk Alice Zdebski.

Newton Township's overall budget for this year includes revenues of $371,159.05 and expenses of $371,104.

The township's public safety budget was $22,123 in fiscal year 2003-04 and $22,600 for fiscal year 2004-05. This year, $24,240 was budgeted, which does not include purchasing and maintain- ing large equipment for the department. From its budget, $12,000 is earmarked for wages and minor repairs, while $6,000 is earmarked for ambulance, said Mrs. Strickland.

Trustee Rick Frisch, also the township's assistant fire chief, abstained from the vote to raise the department's mileage compensation fund.

In other fire department news, a $1,200 grant from Great Lakes Pipeline was approved for the purchase of new fire hoses for one of the department's fire trucks.

Mr. McArthur expects to receive the funding within the next two weeks.

Also, the fire department is exploring the idea of starting an Explorer fire cadet program through the Boy Scouts of America for adolescents ages 16 to 21.

There are already a couple of young men interested, Mr. Frisch said.

Chief McArthur said those who participate will receive the same kind of training firefighters do and can assist them during a fire or traffic incidents, however, only on a basic level, such as controlling traffic.

Participants do not have to be a Boy Scout member. Cost for each participant would be $27 a year. Township To Seek New Building

Inspector

Now that the township has complied with a state investigation into the practices of its former building inspector, the board began the process of filling the position's vacancy, discussing what language to put in a proposed newspaper advertisement seeking applicants.

Qualifications for the position include having at least 350 hours of building experience with a licensed builder, a college degree in architecture or experience in the field, or having a valid contractors license.

The board agreed the new building inspector cannot issue a permit or build for personal financial gain within Newton Township.

Mrs. Zdebski said an application form will now be filled out by builders before receiving a permit.

Details of the position's salary and benefits are being worked out by the board.

The building inspector position has been filled by the township assessor, Dick Oliver, on an interim basis since this summer. John "Hughey" McNeil was suspended from the building inspector position after allowing his building license to lapse in November 2006.

When he reapplied, said Mr. Brotherton, "the state took a closer look at his work and found his documents, such as occupancy permits, were not right."

The township was then required by the state's Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) to provide it with all inspection reports and certificates of occupancy issued between September 2002 and September 2006.

The state bureau began an investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint that Mr. McNeil, while working as the township building inspector, was inspecting his own work he had done in the township in 2005 with his self-owned building business, violating state and township codes.

The township was in jeopardy of losing its building inspection authority to the state if it found that the township could not provide the necessary documents and implement standard record-keeping requirements recognized by the state, which the township has done now with Mr. Oliver.

"We got lucky with that," said Mr. Brotherton. "The investigator was pleased with what Dick was doing and with Jim Zdebski, our electrical inspector, who is doing what he is supposed to, as well."

Mr. Brotherton said Mr. McNeil is allowed to reapply for the position, but must first get his building license renewed by the state.

Township To Make Offer for

Acre at

Ball Field for Parking Space

The township will offer $3,200 to property owner Kurt Doepke for one acre of his land connected to the township's baseball field to provide more parking space.

The acquisition of an extra acre would provide enough space along the third baseline, between the backstop and the outfield, said Mr. Brotherton. With the added acre, the narrowest part of the parking space would be 90 feet wide, and the widest, 150 feet.

Public access to Newton Township's baseball field was finally secured by the township as the board worked out a land donation and easement with property owners Dale Laidlaw and Mr. Doepke, who each donated 15 feet of property adjacent to the field.

One member of the audience asked whether it would be less costly to find another location for the ball field, however, Mr. Brotherton said where it is now is the best location, owing to it being across the street from the township hall.

Mr. Doepke was not in attendance at the meeting.

Tests of Township Hall Water

Show Contamination Again

Tests of the water at the township hall are still showing coliform contamination, said Mrs. Zdebski, after allowing the water to run for an hour once this month before taking a sample and sending it to the Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft Health Department.

Mr. Brotherton said he will draw samples from the well's tap in the building to see if there is any difference, after Mr. Frisch suggested that the problem may lie in the pipes or water tank.

The use of water in the hall is prohibited.

The township can either drill another 60 feet down into the existing well, which would cost the township between $2,300 to $2,500, or drill a new well, which would be more expensive. Neither option guarantees the township would resolve its water contamination problem, said Mr. Brotherton.

Board Supports Resident's Efforts To Acquire State Park

for Township

Board members supported a plan to acquire Scott Point Park from the state, but did not sign a draft resolution to do so. The resolution was drafted by resident Jerry Blanchard, but board members said they would not sign it unless it frees them of any financial obligations in the transfer.

"He can do this without us having to sign anything, really," said Mr. Frisch. "I'd tell him to go for it."

Newton Township residents, said Mr. Brotherton, have long complained that the state has neglected the park and many have volunteered their time to cut the grass, pick up trash, and provide wooden picnic tables.

"Jerry told me it might take one to 10 years, but he said he can get the state to give us the park," said Mr. Brotherton.

Mr. Blanchard did not attend the meeting.

Group Takes Over

Sexton Duties

Mr. Blanchard, head of the Scott Point Tribe of American Aboriginals, a nonprofit corporation that was formed in 2005 to promote and preserve Native American culture, informed the board, via letter, that his organization is willing to take over the sexton duties for the township's cemetery, which the board approved.

Mrs. Zdebski said she will have to be notified of all activity in the cemetery.

The duties, including grave digging and maintenance of the area, were being done by Mr. Oliver this summer.

Resident Allowed to Retain

Hunting Camp

The board denied a request from David Termarsh, who wanted to reclaim the 80 acres of land he lost to Mackinac County owing to unpaid taxes, however, the board has allowed him to keep his trailers and hunting camp on the property.

The township purchased the land from the county and has designated it a hiking trail and public park.

In a letter, Mr. Termarsh pleaded with the board that he has been ordered by his doctor not to work, lives on a fixed income, and has been weathering family and financial crises. He claims he forgot about the notices about his delinquent land taxes, owing to family issues.

"What's to say he'll be able to pay taxes now?" argued Mrs. Zdebski.

"I think it's in the best interest of the township to not give him back the property," said Mr. Brotherton. All members of the board agreed.

Mr. Brotherton pointed out after the meeting that the township cannot sell such property for profit.

In other action, George Tremblay's bid to remove snow from the township hall and fire department was accepted by the board at a cost of $18.75 per quarter hour.

He will also charge $10 per salt bag, but told the board he would need to use only half of a bag each time he plows.

The board tabled discussion on a Solid Waste Management Plan resolution from the Waste Management Division of the state's Department of Environmental Quality. The resolution asks townships to support two additional landfill areas, one in Schoolcraft County and another in Presque Isle County.

Board members agreed they would like to take time to read the proposal, a 112-page booklet that was provided to each board member.

The board meeting was held on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, its usual day on the second week of the month, owing to a social event scheduled for the town hall that night.

The board is considering moving its regular meetings to another day, as the township bingo committee would like to hold game nights at the hall on Wednesdays, said Mrs. Zdebski, however, no decision has been made.

Newton Township board meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the township hall.