Township board names board of review alternates

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Ironwood Township — While Ironwood Township’s Board of Review doesn’t meet frequently, there are now options if a board member can’t make one of the three meetings each year, after the township’s board of trustees approved two board alternates.

Darrin Kimbler and Sandy Lahtinen were each approved for a two-year term as alternates for the board; which meets in March, July and December.

The board’s March meeting is where township tax payers can appeal the amount they are taxed, while the July and December meetings are held to resolve basic errors in the taxes levied, Township Supervisor Steve Boyd told the Daily Globe after Monday’s meeting.

In other action:

— The board called a special meeting for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, where several items of business will be handled — including the hiring of a forensic auditor, the awarding of bids to repair the township hall’s furnace and a discussion of the contract renewal with the union representing township employees.

Boyd said he chose to delay a decision on the forensic auditor and furnace contracts as both were complex and he wanted the board to have time to understand the proposals before making a decision.

—The board renewed the township’s dental insurance with Delta Dental, as there were no changes in price from this year.

—The board also began updating the township’s capital improvement plan, which charts potential projects the township hopes to accomplish over the next several years.

—The board changed who the designated depositories are for the fire department’s bank account, making it an office employee and the township fire chief, rather than the township treasurer and another employee.

—Boyd said it was reported the township will receive $186,668 in constitutional revenue sharing in 2017 and $188,979 in constitutional revenue sharing in 2018.

—The township-wide rummage sale will be held Sept. 9.

—Boyd said he reminded residents they can receive a free smoke alarm from the township by stopping at the township hall.

—The Michigan State University-Extension office will present a program for lakefront property owners on protecting lake shorelines from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28 in Watersmeet.