Meeting Reminders

The Charlevoix Township Board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, except February.

The Charlevoix Township Planning Commission usually meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, except February.

FOIA

A 10-page “Charlevoix Township FOIA Procedures and Guidelines,” and indicated that MTA provided the template and encouraged all townships to adopt the guidelines. She pointed out that the guidelines include charging labor costs at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid township employee capable of doing the work, which is $15.00 per hour for Charlevoix Township

Additionally, the guidelines include charging 10 cents per page for copies of records.  After further discussion, Williams made the motion, with Rajewski supporting, to adopt the “Charlevoix Township FOIA Procedures and Guidelines,” and charging $15.00 per hour and 10 cents per page when providing records under a FOIA request.  Motion carried unanimously. (M-51-17)

New Fire Jackets

Fire Chief Thorp displayed new fire department jackets, which will cost approximately $245 each. After further discussion, Williams made the motion, with Rajewski supporting, that the Township would purchase the jackets with the requirement that each jacket recipient would be required to pay $100.00 of the jacket cost and that who the recipients would be would be high-volume participants chosen by the Fire Chief. Motion carried unanimously.  (M-57-17)

Michigan: A rising leader in solar power

Guest post by Jeff Mason, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation

In the last decade, the solar power industry has grown an average of 68% annually. Nearly 260,000 Americans work in solar at more than 9,000 companies across the country.

One state in particular, Michigan, created more than 5,600 new clean energy jobs in 2016 and is proving to be a contender against traditional energy hubs like New York and California. Ranking third out of 11 Midwest states for clean energy employment, Michigan has more than 92,000 people working in solar and wind combined. And, the state’s clean energy jobs are growing three times the rate of other job sectors.

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