Sumpter Twp. Board OKs lower insurance premium of $131,440

Burnham Flowers Insurance Group presented a premium of $131,440 to the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees for township insurance coverage for its new fiscal year that begins April 1.
At its regular meeting March 28, Larry Clever said over the last couple of years Burnham Flowers has returned a dividend of over $10,000 and provided a grant of $10,000 to the township.
Clever said in 2007, Burnham Flower’s first year with the township, the insurance premium was $222,497.
He said the reduction in premium comes from the township’s efforts on losses, what they own, and management of the community.
“Obviously you are doing something right,” Clever said. “This is very unusual.
“We have policy and procedures help and you’ve taken advantage of it. It’s down $80,000, or whatever it is.”
Township attorney Rob Young said Burnham Flowers has been great with the policies and procedures assistance. Young said they have put the township in touch with people involved in things the township is dealing with to get a better and cleaner service.
“The coverage never leaves,” Clever said. “I’m planning on riding off into the sunset this spring.”
He said over the last ten years he has spent 100 hours with Clerk Clarence Hoffman and an hour and a half was spent discussing insurance.
The township board accepted the premium unanimously.
In other business at the March 28 meeting, the board:
• Approved the 2017-18 township budget, following a public hearing at 6 p.m.;
• Approved a motion by Treasurer Peggy Morgan, seconded by Trustee Esther Hurst, to move $150,000 from the general fund to the fire fund in the 2017-18 budget;
• Approved three employment contracts for: Finance Director Jim Glahn, Water/Sewer Director Ken Kunka, and Police Department Operations Coordinator Melissa Paquette. Attorney Young said the contracts for Fire Chief Joe Januszyk and Human Resources Director Michelle Bellingham need changes and will be brought to the next meeting for approval;
• Heard Trustee Don Swinson report that the Parks & Recreation annual Easter Egg Hunt for children will be at noon, Saturday, April 8, at Graham Park. Rain date is Sunday, April 9;
• Heard Trustee Matthew Oddy report the planning commission is working with its third planner on the Master Plan. He said he has asked for some workshops to be set up since it will take more time than once-a-month planning commission meetings;
• Heard Clerk Hoffman report that someone is shooting in the Oakville Waltz Road area of the township and the previous Sunday it sounded like automatic rifles. He asked if there was anything they could do to stop the shooting. Police Chief Eric Luke said people have blamed it on the police department because of the gun range on Willow Road, but it wasn’t coming from there. He said Sgt. Jim Cayce followed the firing to Monroe County. There is a Carleton Sportsman Club in Exeter Township and the shooting was coming from south of Oakville Waltz at Elwell. Sgt. Cayce said it was not coming from the Sumpter Township area;
• Heard deputy supervisor/treasurer Karen Armatis announce that the emergency generator is operational at the community center. She said it cost $4,600 to increase the size of the gas line and meters to get it going;
• Heard Jay Bardell ask why he has to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get answers to his questions. He said he had to FOIA, and pay, to find out how much land the township owns, when they could have said, “We’ll get back to you.” Trustee Oddy said Armatis is doing an analysis on buildable lots and those that are landlocked and it will be ready for the first or second meeting in April. He said they are considering having sealed bids or auction or to offer to property owners whose land touches the parcel. Bardell said there were a lot of small parcels of less than ¼ acre in size;
• Heard Bardell tell Supervisor John Morgan that he remembers the League of Women Voters candidate forum last June when Supervisor Morgan said he did not support payment in lieu of insurance for board members, but he and the other board members are taking the payments. Bardell asked when they voted on providing this payment and Supervisor Morgan said, “We don’t intend to vote on it. Someone determined it with a legitimate reason.”