Township approves budget amendments

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood Township — As the end of the fiscal year approaches, the Ironwood Township Board of Trustees passed three budget amendment resolutions Monday night.

The first resolution dealt with the township’s general fund, with the board approving $700 in revenue and $67,950 in expense amendments.

“The reason (the expense amendment) is so high is because we have the road work coming up,” Clerk Mary Segalin said. “I wanted to place $70,000 from last year’s budget into Roads and Bridges to bring it up to $154,000, because those bills are coming in now that the roads are being done.”

Segalin was referring to the planned road projects that were cancelled following the July 11, 2016 storm when resources shifted to repair the numerous washouts on Lake Road at Little Girl’s Point that resulted from the storm. Much of the delayed work was shifted to this year’s construction season.

The board also approved a resolution regarding $9,500 in revenue and $34,300 in expense amendments for the township’s water fund.

“The biggest one is the GRWA water purchase because we’re getting close to that number in the budget — right now, through August, we spent $74,000 (and) we had $78,000 in the budget so we’re going to put in $25,000 more,” Segalin said.

After the meeting, Segalin explained the purchase of the extra water was connected to a significant leak that was recently discovered and hopes the corresponding decrease in usage following repair of the leak limits the financial impact and balances out in the long run.

The third resolution dealt with an amendment in the amount of $56,188 in revenue and $52,988 in expenses in the township’s sewer fund.

During the meeting, Segalin said the changes dealt primarily with aligning the township’s SAW grant revenue and expenses to where they currently stand. There was also an amendment to a correct a clerical error between the fund’s bad debt expenses and depreciation expenses line items.

In other action:

— The board authorized the fire department to use the township hall gym from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 28 for the department’s halloween event.

—While no action was required, Segalin updated the board on the renewal of the township’s health insurance. Segalin said the policies are expected to increase 2.17 percent, with some changes to the deductibles and coverages to prevent a larger increase.