The Clark Township Board of Trustees lowered rates to rent the community center on M-134 by at least 50% at its meeting Thursday, January 15. Rates are lowered by as much as 82%, to encourage more use of the community center by township and non-township residents as well as not-for-profit groups.

In addition to lowered rates, township-based community service groups will be allowed to use the hall free of charge for non-alcoholic events.

"I don't see why they should be denied use of a room, if they need to use a room to meet and maybe discuss issues with other people in their group, like Alcoholics Anonymous, or recovering drug addicts, or whatever," Township Clerk Mike Miller said.

The rate changes aren't without controversy, however. Treasurer Katie Carpenter was the lone dissenting vote on the motion, although she does support the lower rental rates.

She voted against it because allowing free use of the community center is tantamount to donating township property, she said, which is illegal.

According to Michigan Townships Association (MTA) township hall rules, there is no statute "authorizing a township to provide even recognized beneficial organizations with free benefits that are not offered to all other township residents."

Mrs. Carpenter said the township does not lawfully have the right to make the distinction of who should be charged and who should be allowed free access.

"We can't take that chance. We can't make that judgment," she said. "I would be fine with that if we were allowing that same rate structure for individuals, but by law, MTA's opinion is that we cannot differentiate between those two."

The township adopted its uniform fee in September 2006 to comply with the MTA opinion.

Mr. Miller said the township board will deal with any issues if they come up.

"I believe that if a problem arises, we address it. If it becomes a problem, we deal with it. Until then, why can't the groups of this community reap that benefit?" he asked.

Township residents will now pay $150 for a private party without the use of the kitchen, $250 for the facility and kitchen, and $350 for the facility, kitchen, and alcohol consumption. Old rates were $375, $650, and $750, respectively, for private parties. Non-residents can rent the facility for $50 more.

The facility can be rented by residents for events open to the public for $75, $150, and $250 for the building, building with kitchen, and building, kitchen, and alcohol consumption. That is lowered from $275, $550, and $650, respectively.

The small room charge was also lowered for residents, to $25 without kitchen or alcohol, $50 with kitchen, and $100 with kitchen and alcohol, from $140, $275, and $325, respectively. Non-resident rental is slightly higher.

Projected expenses for the community center, including utility bills and upkeep costs, for the 2008/09 fiscal year are about $23,000. Expenditures for the center are paid through the township general fund.

Mrs. Carpenter said, projected rent revenue for the center for the fiscal year is about $5,000. As of Thursday, January 15, she said, revenue generated through center rentals is about $1,900.

The township raised rates in July 2006 to cover expenses at the facility, after noting that in 2005, only eight of 57 rentals there had been required to pay a fee, which covered only about 15% of the township's cost to operate the facility. The rates were last adjusted in April 2007.

Grant request for DDA funding

Rick Shapero will assist the township in obtaining $10,000 in start-up funds for a downtown development authority (DDA). Mr. Shapero has been involved on a citizens committee to study the formation of a DDA as a development tool for the township, and offered to apply for the start-up funds from the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation.

The money would only be available if the township enacts a DDA ordinance, which is now under a 60-day review.

"What we would be asking for is the commitment of a particular amount of money that would go toward the DDA if and when the board votes to proceed with the process," Mr. Shapero said.

"There's a lot of questions, even if we go forward, like, 'How are we going to fund a DDA?'We want to provide that base on which it can be funded," he said.

Community Foundation Vice- Chair Diane Patrick said the foundation needs at least two weeks to review the grant application. Wednesday, February 4, is the next foundation meeting.

"The big word is 'if,'" she said. "If this happens, we would provide funding. If it doesn't happen, then no, we would not provide funding."

A public hearing was held Thursday, January 8, for public comment about forming a DDA and its proposed boundaries. The township board cannot enact a DDA ordinance until at least Monday, March 9, 60 days after the public hearing.

FEMA grant awarded to Fire

Dept. The Clark Township Fire Department was recently awarded $38,000 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the purchase of a self-contained breathing apparatus compressor and fill station system. Five percent of the grant ($2,000) will be matched by the township board.

Mike Kasper of the fire department asked the board to place an order for a compressor that will have the capability to fill two selfcontained breathing tanks at once. He said the fire department plans to apply for the same grant this spring to purchase larger air tanks to allow firefighters longer breathing capabilities when fighting fires, particularly when on the islands.

The board approved the order for the $40,000 compressor.

The board also approved paying $504 a year to Airgas in Sault Ste. Marie, which provides medical oxygen tanks to the volunteer ambulance corps, instead of monthly payments of $105. The annual fee will save the township $761 a year.

"That's one heck of a good savings," Mr. Miller said. "That's a big savings all the way around, and there's more, I'm sure, to be found."