Sumpter Twp. honors family of late fire fighter Edward Wisniewski

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Sumpter Township Board and the Sumpter Fire Department honored the memory of Edward Wisniewski, Sr. by presenting awards to his family.
First, Fire Chief Joe Januszyk called Michael Wayne Wisniewski, Jr. up to the front of the meeting room and told him they were giving him his grandfather’s retirement badge, encased in a large, clear acrylic casing, so he would remember how much the community thought of his grandfather.
Then, the rest of the family was called to the front and a plaque was presented. Present were his widow Janice, son Michael Wayne Wisniewski, Sr. and Michael’s wife Amanda and their daughter Shyla.
Mr. Wisniewski died of lung cancer on May 25 at his Sumpter home after serving on the Sumpter Township Fire Department for 32 years. He was 65.
In other business at the Sept. 22 meeting, the board:
• Approved, subject to the paperwork being in order, granting an easement over township property so Mr. Jackson of Bohn Road can have access to a Detroit Edison pole to build a house. Township attorney Rob Young said there will be no harm to the township and he will make sure all the documents in order;
• Approved the reappointment of Sheila Pedersen as chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire March 11, 2018;
• Approved the appointments to the Parks and Recreation Commission of Jim Posegay, Joan Posegay, Cheryl Toms, Jim Chudzinski, Alan Bates, Jay Bardell, and Selena Swinson with terms to expire October 2018;
• Approved having five Parks and Recreation members go to the Michigan Festival and Events Association convention Nov. 5-8 at Boyne Mountain Resort at a registration cost of $800 to be paid from the Parks and Recreation fund;
• Approved paying $993.51 for three rooms for three nights at the MFEA convention in Boyne Mountain Resort paid by Parks and Recreation money;
• Approved the Standard Operating Procedures for the fire department. Motion was by Trustee William Hamm, a fire fighter, seconded by Trustee Matthew Oddy;
• Approved paying $303 to send Chief Januszyk, Tim Armstrong, and Collin Lynch to a one-day seminar for “Emerging Issues in Emergency Services” on Oct. 14;
• Approved the retirement of Scott Spoonamore from the fire department effective immediately. Motion was by Trustee Hamm, seconded by Trustee Peg Morgan;
• Approved paying warrants totaling $2,383,385.68; and
• Heard resident Mary Ban ask why it took so long to serve the chicken dinners at the fire department broil this year? She was told they believed it was the wind that affected the coals. They started cooking 45 minutes earlier than usual this year and still there was a delay. She was told there is a plan in place for next year so people will not have to wait.