At its July 24 meeting, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved allocating $2,310.72 for materials to erect a pavilion at Fire Station #1.
The 14’x20’ structure is being put up by a candidate for Eagle Scout.
Also at the July 24 meeting, the board:
• Set the first public hearing on the Judd Road Special Assessment District for 6 p.m., Aug. 8, to hear input on plans to pave the road and assessments of properties on Judd;
• Approved paying warrants totaling $298,106.09;
• Heard a report from Supervisor Johnny Vawters on the FEMA floodplain properties that had signed up for help from the township. He said 86 signed up and 53 were removed from the floodplain, 8 are pending and expected to be removed, 3 needed extra information to be submitted, and 15 cancelled because they found they didn’t need the flood insurance. Supervisor Vawters said seven more properties just signed up for help;
• Heard Supervisor Vawters report the township is concluding negotiations on the police contracts and is starting negotiations with the new fire union;
• Heard Vawters report that 30 township seniors have signed up “to bring home the Gold” in the annual Senior Olympics that begins Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 17;
• Heard Kit Dwyer invite the board to attend the Senior Olympics to support Sumpter seniors. She said the event kicks off with breakfast at 8 a.m., Aug. 13, at Hines Park. [Senior Director Mary Ann Watson later clarified that the breakfast is only for participants who have signed up and paid their $5 and is not a free breakfast for all comers.] Dwyer also thanked the township for Family Fun Day. “I never heard so much giggling and laughter from the children. Thanks for that,” she said;
• Heard Mary Ban ask about vote processing, since she heard a radio report about a company that processed votes in 500 jurisdictions being sold to a Spanish firm. She said the information said that once the votes are “merged” it is impossible to prove local integrity. Clerk Clarence Hoffman said Sumpter sends the results of its voting to the county and he is not sure what they do with it from there. “We have a county clerk that’s really on the ball. She makes sure things are done right,” Hoffman said;
• Was informed that at the next township board meeting on Aug. 14 Hennessey Engineers will give an update and recommendation on what to do about the deteriorating sewer pump station at the corner of Sumpter and Willis roads;
• Heard Trustee Peggy Morgan report that the Parks & Recreation Commission balance at the end of June was $56,026.28. She also reported on Family Fun Day which had “a fantastic turnout” and lots of participation in the pie eating, tug of war, sack race, limbo, and hula hoop contests, among others. She said there was a grandmother who was great at the hula hoop and a young girl who kept her hula hoop going for so long she amazed everyone. Morgan said the girl may still be out there at Graham Park with her hula hoop going; and
• Heard Supervisor Vawters congratulate all the candidates for running a good campaign and, “nobody’s hurt.” He said, “We’re all family. After it’s over, we all have to work together.” Those in the meeting room applauded his comment.