Newberg Township General Meeting – March 10, 2025

The Newberg Township Board met at the Newberg Township Fire Department in regular session on March 10, 2025. at 7:00pm.

Supervisor Covey led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

Clerk Duff called roll:
Present: Harvey, Covey, Duff, Blackburn, Griffiths Absent: None

Additions/Deletions to Agenda
Adding PA116 Removal to number 5 under new business.

Approval of the Agenda
Motion made by Duff, supported by Blackburn, to approve the March 10, 2025, Newberg Township General Meeting agenda with additions added. Motion Carried by voice vote.

Approval of Minutes
Motion made by Griffiths, supported by Duff, to approve the February 10, 2025, General Meeting minutes and the February 19, 2025, Special Meeting minutes. Motion carried upon voice vote.

Reports
1. Assessor: Nothing to report

2. Ordinance: Nothing to report

3. Ambulance: Twenty-seven (27) calls for the month of February. Ambulance Director shared that he had two resignations from the Ambulance department this month.

4. Fire: Three (3) calls for the month of February; two (2) mutual aid Porter and one (1) call Newberg. Motion made by Covey, supported by Griffiths to give Chief Forrester the authority to donate or dispose of sixteen air packs (SCBA) and thirty-two bottles that go with the air packs to any participating fire department. Motion carried upon voice vote.

5. Sexton: Two (2) full burials for the month of February.

6. Building: Read by Clerk Duff

7. Treasurer: Available from the Treasurer

8. County Commission: Nothing at this time

9. Solar Project: Clerk Duff read report from EDP Renewables.

Public Comment (non-agenda items)
None at this time.

Correspondence/Announcements
Melting Mann Race Saturday March 22, 2025, starting at M-40 Speedway. Conservation Districts preparing for their tree sale and the sales add is available.

Unfinished Business
1. Mass Gathering & Noise Ordinance: Motion made by Blackburn, to accept the amendments as the attorney has written for the mass gathering ordinance. Second by Griffiths. Roll Call AYE: Duff, Blackburn, Harvey, Griffiths, Covey. Motion carried.

2. Road Contracts: Motion made by Covey, supported by Griffiths, to approve the awarded road contracts for Newberg Township Estimate numbers 25-08-03, 25-08-05, 25-08-04, 25-08-01 for the 2025 road project season. Motion approved upon voice vote.

3. Cass County Historical Society: Discussion had regarding the Cass County Historical Society interested in using Newberg Township Hall used for an open house to showcase the historical use of the hall on September 16th 2025.

4. New Township Hall: Discussion was had regarding new township hall build.

New Business
1. 2025/2026 Fiscal Budget Adjustments: Motion made by Blackburn, supported by Duff, to amend the budget by transferring $5,400.00 from Cemetery Capital Outlay General to Building and Grounds General Outlay. Motion carried upon voice vote. Motion made by Blackburn, supported by Griffiths, to amend the budget by transferring $950.00 from Cemetery Capital Outlay General to Miscellaneous Services General. Motion carried upon voice vote. Motion made by Blackburn, supported by Harvey, to amend the budget by transferring $300.00 from Cemetery Capital Outlay General to Professional Contract Services General. Motion carried upon voice vote. Motion made by Blackburn, supported by Griffiths, to amend the budget by transferring $875.00 from Cemetery Capital Outlay General to Assessor Professional Contact General. Motion carried upon voice vote.

2. 2024 Township Audit Approval: Motion made by Duff, supported by Blackburn, to approve moving forward with accepting the 2024/25 fiscal year budget audit with Siegfried & Crandall in the amount of $7,600.00. Motion carried upon voice vote.

3. Township Emails: Motion made by Blackburn, supported by Keith, to proceed with moving township emails over to Iron Bytes to start migrating over to a .gov email. Motion carried upon voice vote.

4. 2024 Fiscal Year Budget Amendments: discussion was had.

5. PA 116 Removal: Motion made by Duff, supported by Harvey, to approve Resolution Number 2025-06 for the Land Division Application 24-03 for parcel number14-080-028-001-02 owned by Michael and Margaret Lampen to remove said parcel from PA 116 with agreement number 14-04719-123136. Roll Call- AYE: Duff, Blackburn, Harvey, Griffiths, Covey. Resolution adopted upon roll all vote.

Bills to Pay
Motion made by Duff, supported by Blackburn, to pay the bills for the month of March in the amount of $35,011.05. Approved upon voice vote.

Public Comment
Resident from township shared public comment.

Adjournment
Motion made by Covey, supported by Griffiths to adjourn at 8:20pm. Motion carried upon voice vote.

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