Now that Elwell Elementary School will no longer be available as a site for Sumpter Township voters to cast ballots, that polling precinct is being moved to the PNA Hall in time for the Aug. 7 Primary Election.
Sumpter Township Clerk Clarence Hoffman said the county requires the polls to have Americans with Disabilities Act access which means hard surface at the handicap parking area. The township decided to do a complete overhaul of the parking lot, which board members said has needed it for a long time.
The board, at its regular meeting June 26, voted unanimously to accept the low price quote of $13,475 from Diversified Excavating and add $3,642 extra work for a total of $17,117 to be paid out of the general fund.
Diversified began work two days later.
At the June 26 township meeting, trustee candidate Marty Kalasz protested that the job should have gone out for sealed bids and have been published in the newspaper to give local contractors a chance to bid less.
Deputy Supervisor Craig Moody said Hennessey Engineers sought quotes and sealed bids were not required under township policy since the job was expected to be under $20,000. Also, Moody said, the township was short on time since the August primary was fast approaching.
Supervisor Johnny Vawters said the second highest bid was $55,000 and the third about $99,000 and they took the lowest.
Trustee Peggy Morgan said the hall holds 250 people and the subcommittee thought the grass on the side of the building should be turned into additional angle parking for limousines and handicapped parking, which added the extra cost. The work also includes adding a second entrance, which the fire department thought was a good idea.
Moody said there will be two spots for buses to unload and leave an open fire lane.
“I think it’s a win-win,” Moody said.
The hard-surface parking area is expected to make the rental hall more attractive to people who want to hold special events there.
Trustee Bill Hamm said he and others were weed whipping along the parking lot and were surprised at how bad the surface was.
In other business at the June 26 meeting, the board:
• Approved the low price quote of $30 from the man who cleans the PNA Hall for cleaning of the permanent block restrooms at Banotai Park;
• Approved participating in a summer work program for youth paid for through the state, with no cost to Sumpter;
• Heard Trustee Peggy Morgan announce that Family Fun Day will begin at noon on July 21 at Graham Park and will feature free food and games for the whole family, and include the annual police and fire departments from Belleville and Sumpter vying for a trophy in a softball game;
• Heard Senior Coordinator Mary Ann Watson announce that the Senior Olympics, which will run Aug. 13-17, has close to 30 participants from Sumpter signed up, with Supervisor Vawters signed up for golfing. Sumpter will again host the cookies and cake contest and Police Chief Jim Pierce and Fire Chief Les Powell have agreed to be judges. Next year the Senior Olympics will be hosted by Sumpter and the City of Belleville. A facility that will house 400 is needed and Watson said they are hoping to get Belleville High School or Woodlands golf clubhouse for the event;
• Heard Vawters remind everyone of Jimmy Long’s special appreciation event on June 30 for police and fire departments of Sumpter, Belleville, and Van Buren Township;
• Heard Treasurer John Morgan announce that summer tax bills will be out the first week in July and are due in September. He said the color of the bill has been changed to pink because of the desires of the women in his office to promote the fight against breast cancer;
• Approved the 2013 SMART contract;
• Approved having employees who drive township vehicles submit driver’s license reports. The police and fire employees already have their policies on this issue;
• Heard resident Mary Ban ask about the date the failing sewer pump station was installed, but that was not known. When asked, Moody said the state’s pollution monitoring well is nowhere near the pump station, but on a nearby lot. The state does come out and monitor the well;
• Heard Moody tell Ban that there has been some movement forward in her goal of having a turn light at the corner of Bemis and Sumpter roads because of all the traffic during the school year from Keystone Academy. “I almost have them [the county] convinced to put out a traffic counter,” Moody said. “But I can’t promise anything else”;
• Heard Moody report that with the new ordinance on foreclosed and vacant homes now in effect, the banks have to register with the township. He said the township is working on a demolition list. Trustee Peggy Morgan said that a house on Lohr Road is going to be sold and completed;
• Heard Ban criticize those who come to meetings just when they want to run for office. She said the township meetings are important and she has attended meetings regularly for the past 35 years. She said she has learned a lot and if she doesn’t know something, she is able to ask and find out. “This board has been more than willing to help,” Ban said. She said a person has to attend meetings for a while to get a background; and
• Heard Ban note she was very sad when dispatch had to move to Huron Township, which is in another state district than Sumpter. She said she didn’t want Sumpter to be ignored. Attorney Rob Young said if the Sumpter resident who is running for State Representative is elected, “Sumpter Township will be in the forefront.” Treasurer Morgan added, “If he is elected, it will be the first time a resident of Sumpter Township is serving in the state legislature.” They referred to Jim Pederson of Judd Road who is running for State Representative in the 17th District.