Monday, June 15, 2026

Regular Board Meeting

BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING June 15, 2026 ROLL CALL Present: - Sherry Berecz, Township Supervisor - Patrick Killian, Trustee - Steve Allen, Trustee - David Chapman, Trustee - Roger Jones, Trustee - Mike Eberth, Treasurer Absent: - Maureen Brinker, Clerk The meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. --- APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES Motion by David Chapman, supported by Roger Jones, to approve the regular board meeting minutes from June 1st, 2026. Motion carried unanimously. --- AGENDA APPROVAL Motion by David Chapman, supported by Roger Jones, to approve the agenda with the addition of the clerk being Steve Allen. Motion carried unanimously. --- AUDIT PRESENTATION Keith Schmansky, Audit Partner with Plante Moran, and Alyssa Curry, Audit Manager, presented the results of the township's audit for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2025. Key findings presented: - All major operating funds (general fund, police fund, and fire fund) ended in surplus for the year. - Governmental long-term debt remains relatively low, though it increased approximately $100,000 due to installment purchase agreements for police equipment. - Pension plan funded ratio increased from 68% to 71%, with unfunded liability of approximately $15 million (down from $15.7 million in prior year). - OPEB plan funded ratio increased from 29% to 32%, with unfunded liability of $15.8 million (down from $16.6 million in prior year). - No internal control-related findings or adjustments were identified in the audit. - Total revenue for major governmental funds was approximately $26.4 million, an increase of $1.7 million from prior year. Property taxes remained the largest source of revenue, increasing approximately 6%. - Total expenses for major governmental funds were approximately $23.7 million, consistent with prior year. - Fund balance steadily increased over the four-year period presented. Water and Sewer Rate Study Recommendations: Plante Moran presented recommendations for rate increases based on a five-year projection: - Water operating rate: 25% increase recommended - Sewer operating rate: 13% increase recommended - Sewer bonds: 10-cent decrease recommended - Water capital and sewer capital rates: held steady - Overall rate increase: approximately 1.8% Audit Letter: The audit letter contained no internal control-related findings, reflecting strong financial management by the finance department and all other departments involved in financial reporting. There were no major exceptions or items requiring board attention beyond required communications under auditing standards. --- PUBLIC FORUM No public comments were made. --- AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of 2025 Year-End Fiscal Report Motion by Mike Eberth, supported by Patrick Killian, to approve the 2025 year-end fiscal report. Motion carried unanimously. 2. First Reading of Ordinance 141-86 Motion by Roger Jones, supported by David Chapman, to approve first reading of Ordinance 141-86 to amend Ordinance 141-45, Sections 3.02, 11.06, 151.07, 25.07, and 25.11 for adding regulations and definitions for short-term rentals. Roll call vote: - David Chapman: Yes - Steve Allen: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Patrick Killian: Yes - Mike Eberth: Yes Motion carried. 3. Intergovernmental Agreement with Wayne County for Local Paving Initiative Motion by David Chapman, supported by Roger Jones, to approve the intergovernmental agreement between Wayne County and Brownstown Township for local paving initiative for improvement to various roads in Brownstown Township. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Resolution 2026-20 – Wayne County Local Paving Initiative Motion by Roger Jones, supported by Patrick Killian, to approve Resolution 2026-20 for the intergovernmental agreement between Wayne County and Brownstown Township for local paving initiative for improvements to various roads in Brownstown Township. Roll call vote: - Steve Allen: Yes - Patrick Killian: Yes - David Chapman: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Mike Eberth: Yes - Sherry Berecz: Yes Motion carried. 5. Resolution 2026-21 – Deputy Treasurer Salary Schedule Motion by David Chapman, supported by Steve Allen, to approve Resolution 2026-21 to establish the salary schedule for the new Deputy Treasurer. Mike Eberth, Treasurer, addressed the board: "To the chair, I just want to thank my current deputy treasurer here and my future deputy treasurer here, and I want to thank the board for the support of the resolution. We've been working with her for over a year now. She's an excellent employee and member of Brownstown. I really appreciate the fact that Maureen [Brinker] has always been so willing to work things out and find solutions, because a lot of our responsibilities overlap. I just think that's so helpful for any kind of government entity—to set aside differences and solve problems. So thank you." Roll call vote: - Patrick Killian: Yes - David Chapman: Yes - Steve Allen: Yes - Mike Eberth: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Sherry Berecz: Yes Motion carried. 6. Extension of Omnibus Amendment Agreement – Brownstown DBA and Tanglewood Village Motion by David Chapman, supported by Steve Allen, to approve the extension of the omnibus amendment agreement between Brownstown Township, Brownstown DBA, OneGate LLC, and Sun Tanglewood Village LLC. Amendment to motion: The extension is for a 12-month period from June 15, 2026 (through June 15, 2027). Motion by David Chapman to incorporate this amendment; supported by Steve Allen. Motion carried unanimously. --- SUPERVISOR'S REPORT 1. Human Resources Amendment to Police Chief Employment Agreement Motion by Mike Eberth, supported by Roger Jones, to approve the human resources amendment to the police chief employment agreement. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Approval to Post and Advertise Police Chief Position Motion by Roger Jones, supported by David Chapman, to approve posting and advertising to backfill the police position of police chief. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Approval to Post and Advertise Office Specialist in Treasury Motion by David Chapman, supported by Roger Jones, to approve posting and advertising for office specialist in treasury. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Waiver of Competitive Process – MSA Safety Altair 5X Gas Monitors Motion by Roger Jones, supported by David Chapman, to waive the competitive process and purchase three MSA Safety Altair 5X gas monitors from McQueen Fire Emergency Solutions in the amount of $8,298. Discussion noted that MSA products are consistent with existing equipment, and changing manufacturers would require replacement of all related products at greater expense. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Waiver of Bidding Process – North Star Painting, Station Number 3 Project Motion by David Chapman, supported by Steve Allen, to waive the additional bidding process and hire North Star Painting for the Station Number 3 project in the amount of $39,980. Motion carried unanimously. 6. Waiver of Bidding Process – AllTemp Heating and Cooling, Fire Station 1 HVAC Replacement Motion by Roger Jones, supported by David Chapman, to waive the additional bidding process and hire AllTemp Heating and Cooling for replacement of HVAC unit at Fire Station 1 in the amount of $12,246. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Authorization for Fire Suppression System Repairs at Police Department Motion by Patrick Killian, supported by Roger Jones, to authorize repairs to the fire suppression system at the Brownstown Township Police Department in the amount of $7,102.24. Motion carried unanimously. 8. Budget Amendment 2026-07 – Wayne County Township Road Initiative Matching Funds Motion by Mike Eberth, supported by Roger Jones, to approve Budget Amendment 2026-07 for properly allocating required matching funds for the 2025-2026 Wayne County Township Road Initiative in the amount of $1,331,000. Roll call vote: - David Chapman: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Mike Eberth: Yes - Patrick Killian: Yes - Steve Allen: Yes - Sherry Berecz: Yes Motion carried. 9. Budget Amendment 2026-08 – Purchase of Fire Truck Motion by Mike Eberth, supported by Roger Jones, to approve Budget Amendment 2026-08 in conjunction with the board approval of the installment purchase agreement with Community First National Bank, Resolution 2026-14, and the purchase of a new Spartan ERV 77-foot quint ladder fire truck to account for the debt incurred in the amount of $1,432,574. Roll call vote: - Patrick Killian: Yes - Steve Allen: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Mike Eberth: Yes - David Chapman: Yes - Sherry Berecz: Yes Motion carried. --- CLERK'S REPORT Board Information: Motion by Steve Allen, supported by Roger Jones, to read and file. Motion carried unanimously. --- TREASURER'S REPORT 1. Disbursements for June 15, 2026: $1,932,411.36 Motion by Roger Jones, supported by Patrick Killian, to approve disbursements. Roll call vote: - Mike Eberth: Yes - Steve Allen: Yes - David Chapman: Yes - Roger Jones: Yes - Patrick Killian: Yes - Sherry Berecz: Yes Motion carried. 2. Board Information: Motion by Roger Jones, supported by David Chapman, to read and file. Motion carried unanimously. --- COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1. Program Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Program Subrecipient Agreement Motion by Steve Allen, supported by David Chapman, to approve the Program Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant program subrecipient agreement. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Board Information: Motion by Roger Jones, supported by Patrick Killian, to read and file. Motion carried unanimously. --- RECREATION 1. Split Rail Fencing Project at Arsenal Park Motion by David Chapman, supported by Mike Eberth, to award the bid for a split rail fencing project at Arsenal Park to Nationwide Construction Group in the amount of $25,000. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Alarm System Installation for Community Center Motion by David Chapman, supported by Steve Allen, to waive the bid and award the installation of a general alarm system for the community center to Wyndot Alarm in the amount of $7,140 plus a $65 monthly monitoring fee. Discussion: Roger Jones inquired whether the $65 monthly monitoring fee is locked in or subject to increases. Response indicated that $65 is the current monthly rate; future rate increases are possible, but the board may reevaluate the alarm service if costs become prohibitive. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Board Information: Motion by David Chapman, supported by Roger Jones, to read and file. Motion carried unanimously. --- PUBLIC WORKS No reports submitted. --- TOWNSHIP MANAGER UPDATE Brian Peters, Township Manager, provided the following updates: 1. Sibley Prairie Project Grant Application: Peters reported on recent progress regarding the ongoing grant application for the proposed Sibley Prairie project. The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund hosted a board meeting in downtown Detroit where Peters and Jack Smiley from the Michigan Land Conservancy presented the project. Board members and staff attended to provide public comment in support of the project. Peters noted that the project garnered significant support at the meeting and dominated discussion among the approximately 10-12 formally presented projects and 5-7 informally presented projects. 2. Podcast Appearance: Peters participated in a podcast with Destination Downriver focused on the Sibley Prairie Project, appearing alongside Jack Smiley and the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Woodhaven. The podcast is available on Destination Downriver social media. 3. Recreation Master Plan Community Survey: Peters reminded board members and the public that the township is currently reviewing its Recreation Master Plan and has distributed a community survey. The survey, which will be available for approximately two more weeks, solicits input regarding the future of the park system, programming offerings, and facilities. Survey links are available on the township website. 4. Audit Presentation Comments: Peters commended the township board, departmental staff, and Finance Director Suzanne Moreno for the clean audit results with no findings. He credited strong financial management practices and accountability measures. 5. Water and Sewer Rate Increases: Peters provided context regarding the recommended overall 1.8% water and sewer rate increase presented by Plante Moran. He noted that Great Lakes Water Authority implemented a 5.8% increase this year, and that the township's lower rate increase despite this larger wholesale increase reflects responsible system management. Peters emphasized that this is the first year in a long time the township has been able to keep rates below the wholesale provider increases. Discussion: Roger Jones noted that if township citizens compared their water rates to other communities, the overall water cost would likely be lower than the vast majority of communities in the region. Jones credited Public Works for maintaining cost control through proactive infrastructure management, including redundant piping installation during street projects, strategic bonding for long-term savings, and minimization of water loss through leak prevention. He noted that the township's water loss rate is notably small compared to other communities. Peters agreed, noting that the Public Works Department's forward-looking approach to identifying and addressing potential issues contributes significantly to cost savings. --- BOARD AWARENESS Announcements were made regarding upcoming community events: 1. Concert in the Park: The first Concert in the Park of the summer will take place on Thursday, June 18th at 7 PM at the Event Center, featuring Jukebox Heroes Foreigner Tribute. 2. Movie in the Park: The first Movie in the Park of the summer will take place on Friday, June 26th at 7 PM at the Event Center, featuring The SpongeBob Movie. 3. Household Hazard Collection Day: Wayne County is hosting a Household Hazard Collection Day on Saturday, June 27th from 8 AM to 1 PM at Henry Ford College, located at 5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48128. 4. Bridgewater Meeting: Board members noted an upcoming Q&A session scheduled for June 30th at 6 PM in Bridgewater with Bridgewater residents. --- ADJOURNMENT Motion by David Chapman, supported by Patrick Killian, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified in transcript]. Respectfully submitted, Maureen Brinker Township Clerk

Brownstown Recap

A friendly two-host summary of this meeting's key decisions and discussions.

Show podcast transcript

ALEX: Hey everyone, and welcome to the Brownstown Township Podcast! I'm Alex, and joining me today is Jordan. We're here to break down the highlights from the township board meeting held on June 15th, 2026. There's quite a bit to cover, so let's jump right in! JORDAN: Thanks for having me, Alex! This was a pretty packed agenda. Let's start with something that affects everyone's wallet—the audit presentation. ALEX: Absolutely. Keith Schmansky and Alyssa Curry from Plante Moran walked the board through the fiscal year 2025 audit, and the news was really solid. All the major operating funds—general fund, police fund, and fire fund—ended in surplus. Plus, the audit letter had zero internal control findings. That's huge. JORDAN: Right, and the Finance Director Suzanne Moreno got some real praise for that clean result. One thing that stood out to me was the pension plan improvement. The funded ratio went from 68% up to 71%. ALEX: That's good progress. The unfunded liability did come down, from 15.7 million to about 15 million. They also presented recommendations for water and sewer rate increases based on a five-year projection—a 25% increase for water operating rates and 13% for sewer operating rates. But here's the kicker: the overall rate increase winds up being just about 1.8%. JORDAN: That's impressive, especially when you consider the Great Lakes Water Authority implemented a 5.8% increase this year. Roger Jones actually pointed out during the manager's update that if township residents compare their water bills to other communities in the region, they're probably coming out ahead. ALEX: Exactly. Public Works Director Justin Danowsky and his team deserve credit for that—they've been proactive with infrastructure management and leak prevention. Speaking of which, let's talk about some of the operational approvals the board moved through. JORDAN: There were quite a few. First, they approved the 2025 year-end fiscal report. Then they got into some longer-term planning with the first reading of Ordinance 141-86, which amends the code to add regulations and definitions for short-term rentals. ALEX: That passed unanimously. And then there were two big infrastructure items—the board approved an intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County for a local paving initiative, plus Resolution 2026-20 supporting that same project. Both passed unanimously. JORDAN: And speaking of major purchases, the board approved two big budget amendments. One was for 1.3 million dollars in matching funds for the Wayne County Township Road Initiative. The other was for a new fire truck—a Spartan ERV 77-foot quint ladder fire truck, with a total purchase amount of about 1.4 million dollars. ALEX: Those are significant commitments. Now, there were also some staffing updates. The board approved a salary schedule for a new Deputy Treasurer position. Mike YEE-birth, who's the Treasurer, took a moment to thank his current deputy treasurer, his future deputy treasurer, and he also acknowledged Clerk Maureen BRINK-er for working collaboratively on these responsibilities. JORDAN: That was a nice moment. And on the hiring side, the board approved postings for a Police Chief position and an Office Specialist position in the treasury. They also approved a human resources amendment to the police chief employment agreement. ALEX: Right. And there were several facility and equipment approvals that came through the Supervisor's Report. The board waived competitive bidding to purchase three MSA Safety gas monitors for about 8,300 dollars. They approved North Star Painting for a Station Number 3 project at just under 40,000 dollars. JORDAN: And they okayed AllTemp Heating and Cooling for HVAC replacement at Fire Station 1 for about 12,000 dollars, plus nearly 7,200 dollars for fire suppression system repairs at the police department. ALEX: On the recreational side, the board awarded a split rail fencing project at Arsenal Park to Nationwide Construction Group for 25,000 dollars. They also approved installing a new alarm system at the community center through Wyndot Alarm, with a monthly monitoring fee of 65 dollars. JORDAN: One question came up during that discussion—Roger Jones asked whether that 65-dollar monthly rate was locked in. The board was told it's the current rate, but there's always the possibility of future increases. The board can reevaluate if costs become too high. ALEX: Good due diligence there. Now, Township Manager Brian Peters gave an update on several projects. The Sibley Prairie project grant application is moving forward. Peters and Jack Smiley from the Michigan Land Conservancy presented it to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and it got a really positive response. JORDAN: Peters also mentioned he did a podcast appearance with Destination Downriver about the Sibley Prairie Project. And he reminded everyone that the township is reviewing its Recreation Master Plan with a community survey that's available for about two more weeks. ALEX: Great opportunity for residents to weigh in. And then we wrap up with some community events coming up. There's a Concert in the Park on June 18th at 7 PM—that's Jukebox Heroes doing a Foreigner Tribute. Movie in the Park on June 26th at 7 PM featuring The SpongeBob Movie. JORDAN: Plus, Wayne County is hosting a Household Hazard Collection Day on June 27th from 8 AM to 1 PM at Henry Ford College in Dearborn. And there's a Q&A session scheduled for June 30th at 6 PM in Bridgewater with residents. ALEX: That's a lot happening in the township right now. Thanks so much for walking through all of this with me, Jordan. JORDAN: My pleasure! For everyone listening, if you want the full details on any of these items, you can always check out the official meeting minutes on the Brownstown Township website. Thanks for tuning in to the Brownstown Township Podcast, and we'll see you next time!