Sumpter Township to go back out for bids on Community Center roof

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
Sumpter Township received just one bid to redo the roof on the Community Center, so the township board decided to set that aside and re-bid the project.
The lone bid of $64,464 came from Harley’s Home Improvement of Taylor and it was on the June 25 agenda for approval.
“I’d like to table the roof item,” said Trustee Bill Hamm. “Only one bid. It’s outrageous.”
“No one local wanted to bid,” said Clerk Clarence Hoffman, adding local roofers had been contacted and the call for bids had been in the paper.
The board agreed to go back out for bids and try to get three bids this time.
In other business at the June 25 meeting, the board:
• Approved the purchase of two grills and four pedestal poles for Banotai Park for $546, paid out of Wayne County Parks Grant;
• Approved the supervisor’s appointment of Virginia Belinski as alternate member of the Parks & Recreation Commission;
• Approved the purchase of two, eight-foot, handicap-accessible picnic tables, one for Graham Park and one for Banotai Park, for a total of about $1,991.85, paid out of Wayne County Parks Grant;
• Accepted the resignation of Cecelia (Jean) Chudzinski from the planning commission due to her health;
• Approved a site plan to erect a pole barn at Wolverine Power, 8509 Rawsonville Road, as recommended by the planning commission;
• Approved purchase of a Z Master, zero-turn lawnmower for $8,879, the lowest bid, from Commercial Lawnmower;
• Approved on a 6-1 vote, with Hamm voting no, hiring Wildlife Services to monitor and remove beavers from Banotai Park, at a cost not to exceed $3,000;
• Approved four lot splits for Parcel 81-075-99-0003-000;
• Approved moving $1,204.59 from various Community Development Block Grant categories for 2009 funds to the Senior Center Improvement Fund. The funds must be spent by Sept. 30. Deputy Treasurer Karen Armatis said she asked CDBG for an extension on the use of these funds so they wouldn’t be lost;
• Approved purchase of six light bars for police cars at a cost of $7,003 from the police department’s “recycle account.” Captain Eric Luke explained that when equipment is sold from the police department the funds are put in this account and then used to buy other equipment. He said the present light bars are 10 years old and failing and he got a good deal on some new light bars, at about half of what they originally paid, with a five-year warranty. “It’s the most important piece of equipment on the car, so you can know we’re coming,” Captain Luke said;
• Heard Christie Darty, president of the new Sumpter Township Little League, ask Supervisor Johnny Vawters to throw out the game ball at the first T-ball game of the new league. She said parents have furnished bases, bats, balls, and hard hats from home and they would like to have a sponsor so they could buy trophies and certificates. Checks can be made out to Sumpter Little League; and
• Went into closed-door session to discuss the attorney’s opinion on an offer received on the PNA Hall, 45476 Harris Road, and then came back into open session to vote to direct the attorney to proceed as directed in closed session.