Morrice council accepts J. Howard resignation, OKs transfer station coupon

The Morrice Village Council voted unanimously on July 28 to run a transfer station discount coupon in the village's next batch of mailers and accepted a resignation from the board, according to the meeting minutes approved Aug. 11.

The coupon motion came from Council Member Philip Hruska and was seconded by Maggie Saint Amour. On a roll call, Jacob Saint Amour, Hruska, Maggie Saint Amour, Robert Peterson and Village President Todd Scott all voted yes. No members voted no and none were absent, the minutes state. The coupon is good for $1 off every $10 purchased, up to a total of $10 off, and is valid Aug. 1 through Dec. 31.

The mailer will carry a celebration schedule on one side and merchant information on the other, and the Downtown Development Authority has agreed to pay half the cost, according to the minutes. The minutes note the ads for the hardware store and the library still need to be fixed.

Under new business, the council accepted the resignation of J. Howard from the board. Scott made the motion, Maggie Saint Amour seconded, and the minutes record all ayes.

150-year celebration and park work

Maggie Saint Amour reported she obtained 14 chairs and six tables using rebate checks for the village's 150-year celebration. The first round of t-shirts has arrived, with a second order planned for August; residents have until sometime in August to pick up shirts before the remainder go on sale to the public. Three banners have been placed — at Sunoco, the park and the transfer station — and Reynolds will provide the grill and propane, according to the minutes. The council is scheduled to vote at its next meeting on which movie to show.

Students are working on murals at the park building, the minutes state, with cleanup and moving still to be done before the celebration. The library bathroom cabinet still needs to be installed, and the village is waiting on J. Gormley to complete an affidavit correcting a scrivener's error in the legal description tied to the Morrice Senior Center.

Streets, sewer and other reports

Scott said transfer station ramp work would begin Friday and that the expansion project will be re-bid after the first of the year. On the 2027 RTF grant, the council is considering chip sealing Britton Road from Morrice Road to the east village limit and has inquired about piggybacking with the county; D. Heck of Wolverine Engineering will check with the county about amending the 2027 project, the minutes state.

Police Chief Matt Balsley reported a quiet summer. The DPW report noted a new salter has been installed and work on the drain in Jewel will start soon. Peterson reported for SSESA that fire truck Engine 1 will be back in service in September and that the agency is in good financial shape. Peterson also questioned the number of parking spaces in a bank building remodeling proposal and was advised to check with AGS. Scott said he is waiting for a call back from Consumers Energy about the timeline and cost of a natural gas line to the park building, and that the 1993 furnace may need replacing rather than conversion from propane. On 131 Main Street, the village is waiting for a closing date to be set.

During guest comments, Daniel Nolen explained the millage question that appeared on the Aug. 5 ballot.

What happens next

The council is set to vote at its next regular meeting on which movie to show at the 150-year celebration. Scott said he will check with Wolverine on the lagoon feasibility going forward and with T. Parmalee about setting up another meeting. The July 28 meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.