On the agenda: Grass Lake September 8, 2026 — Data Center (Sep 8)

UNAPPROVED MEETING MINUTES
Regular Monthly Meeting
Grass Lake Charter Township Board
September 8, 2026

The regular monthly meeting of the Grass Lake Charter Township Board was called to order on Tuesday,
September 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. by Supervisor Lesinski at the Grass Lake Charter Township Meeting
Room.
Board Members Present by Roll Call: Loveland, Lesinski, Wyant, Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch,
Absent: Harris and Bray.
Also present: Deputy Clerk: Sarah Ramsey, Chief Jones and 6 members of the public.
Pledge to flag was recited.
Approval of Agenda: Motion by Renfrow to accept agenda. Supported by Wyant. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda Items: -Meeting Minutes: - as prepared. County Sheriff Report: As prepared. Assessors
Report: - As prepared. Zoning Administrators Report: -As prepared. There was a meeting last month for
the Planning Commission and ZBA. The Planning Commission passed a rough draft of a Zoning Ordinance
regarding Data Centers and a date for a Public Hearing will be determined. DPW Report: -As prepared.
Zoning Enforcement Report: -As prepared. There will be a few things coming with complaints that have
been made. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda items as reported and discussed by Benarski-Lynch.
Supported by Wyant. Motion carried.
County Commissioner Report: No report.
Public Comment: No comments
Monthly Bills: Motion by Rentfrow to pay the General Fund bills in the amount of $74,834.99 and the
Fire Fund bills in the amount of $112,492.14. Supported by Loveland. Roll call: Yeas- Loveland, Lesinski,
Wyant, Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch. Nays- None. Absent- Harris and Bray. Motion Carried. Because of the
earlier than usual date of meeting, several bills had not yet been received. A motion was made by
Lesinski and supported by Loveland to authorize payment of bills from Frontier, Vital Records, Jackson
Sherriff, Sunrise Assessing and WOW once they are received. Roll call: Loveland, Lesinski, Wyant,
Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch. Yeas: All Nays- None. Absent- Harris and Bray. Motion Carried.
Treasurers Report: Property tax is due by Tuesday September 15, 2026. Mortgage companies paid
approx. 800 tax bills today by remote payment and Tammy has been working late to get all of that
processed. Funds are running low because of the expenditures of a new Fire Truck and repaving both
parking lots. Loveland has been moving funds between checking and Mi Class to earn interest on tax
funding coming in. A couple of million dollars invested for 10 days at 3.8% can earn a lot. Motion by
Lesinski to accept and File the Treasurers report as presented and discussed. Motion carried.

Correspondence: Included in the board packet was a flier explaining the 911 Surcharge proposal on the
November 3, 2026 ballot, so that the board members may be better equipped to answer questions that
arise from constituents. Also, Lesinski received an email from Dan Wymer of Napoleon stating that there
will be a tire recycling day in October. Exact date is yet to be determined.
Old Business: Sewer Report- Over the Labor Day weekend the Wolf Lake Lift Station suffered a
catastrophic failure. One pump and drive are completely fried and the status of the second pump and
drive is currently unclear. They had to hook up a bypass pump as a temporary fix, which could be in place
for as little as 2-3 weeks, up to 2-3 months. It has a healthy price tag to repair, but the quicker the repair,
the less the cost will be. The longer the wait the more expensive it will get. Lesinski will share more as
information is received. The waste water treatment plant on Page Ave has been refitting release valves in
hopes that numbers will be fine-tuned.
New Business: a) Little Pleasant Lake-SAD. Lesinski made a motion not to charge the authorized special
assessment installment for Little Pleasant Lake’s Weed Control Assessment District due to existing funds
but retain all future approved installments, Loveland supported. Rollcall: Loveland, Lesinski, Wyant,
Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch, Absent: Harris and Bray. Ayes: all. Nays: none. Motion carried. b) 2027
General Fund Budget Presentation. Lesinski shared that there is a sizeable shortfall this year regarding
the State Shared Revenue, close to $40,000-$50,000 for 2026. 2027 looks to be even more so. Lesinski is
looking at wages and salaries moving forward. There is currently a sizeable amount of money under the
computers budget line, however we foresee being pushed to transfer BS&A over to the cloud in the next
couple of years, which is near triple the cost of the net being used today. Also, Elections will be
mandated to purchase more modern equipment before the 2028 election cycle, with the need to
purchase for two precincts, Early Voting and Absentee Counting Board. Also to be considered is building
expenses, the Sheriffs Contract, tree removal in the cemeteries to prevent further damage in storms, a
Zoning Ordinance Audit and to hire an asset management team to come up with a plan for capital
improvement so that future boards and generations are better prepared to handle budgets and
expenses. c) 2027 Jackson County Sheriff Contract. Lesinski asked the Board for permission to sign the 1year contract. Rentfrow made the motion to sign a one-year contract with the Jackson County Sherriff at
the cost of $20, 796 per month or $249,551 for the year, of which the township is responsible for
$187,164 or $15,597 per month. Bednarski-Lynch supported. Rollcall: Loveland, Lesinski, Wyant,
Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch, Absent: Harris and Bray. Ayes: all. Nays: none. Motion carried. A 5-year
contract has been offered but with the rate of monetary increase, the township will not be able to
handle the expense without a milage. The board all agreed that there is a much-needed service for an
officer needed in the community. d) MTPP Grant Resolution. Lesinski made a motion for the board to
sign a resolution to apply for a Risk Reduction Grant of $2500 from Michigan Township Participating Plan
(Par Plan) for the purchase of a sewer push camera for the estimated total cost of $10,000. Supported by
Wyant. Rollcall: Loveland, Lesinski, Wyant, Rentfrow, Bednarski-Lynch, Absent: Harris and Bray. Ayes: all.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fire Department Report: Chief Jones gave his report of calls for the month of August 2026. They were
called out to assist Blackman/Leoni Township due to their being tired up on another call for a house fire,
and also to assist Napoleon on a couple of calls. In all thirty-one calls were responded to for the month.
Public Comment: Two people spoke to the board.

Adjournment: Motion made by Rentfrow to adjourn meeting at 7:15 p.m. Supported by BednarskiLynch. Motion carried.

Respectfully Submitted, Sarah Ramsey, Township Deputy Clerk

I hereby certify that the above minutes are a true and accurate record of the meeting held on September
8, 2026