REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP BOARD

January 5, 2026

Supervisor Lowery called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the township hall.

Present: Don Lowery, Fran Ash, Kathy VanderKolk, Kurt Fisher, Bob Wetherbee
Absent: None

PREVIOUS MINUTES

Motion by Lowery, supported by VanderKolk, to approve minutes of Dec. 1, 2025.
Motion approved.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Motion by Ash, supported by Fisher, to approve the treasurer’s report of Jan. 5, 2026, balance of $2,123,353.81, unavailable $1,311,743.97 and overall balance of $3,435,097.78.
Roll call vote—Yes: Wetherbee, Ash, VanderKolk, Fisher, Lowery; No: None.
Motion unanimously approved.

Mercantile Bank is offering a money market account with a little better interest rate. The treasurer will move $700,000.00 into it.
Motion by VanderKolk, supported by Fisher, for Resolution 2026-1 for New Mercantile Bank Account.
Roll call vote—Yes: Ash, VanderKolk, Fisher, Wetherbee, Lowery; No: None.
Motion unanimously approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT (AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION)

Audience participation was held.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

ORDINANCES

Nothing new on ordinances.

ZBA ALTERNATE VACANCY

Supervisor Lowery stated his wife, Nikki, is interested in the ZBA alternate position. He will confirm with her.

BOR VACANCY

Motion by Lowery, supported by Ash, to appoint Jeannie Robinson to the Board of Review for a one-year term to fulfill the balance of the term of the member who resigned.
Motion approved.

NEW BUSINESS

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TIM BEBEE

ZA Bebee gave an update.

BOARD OF REVIEW TRAINING

Motion by Ash, supported by VanderKolk, to pay registration, per diem and mileage for the BOR members to attend training at the Soaring Eagle on Feb. 11, 2026.
Roll call vote—Yes: VanderKolk, Lowery, Wetherbee, Fisher, Ash.
Motion unanimously approved.

ZBA TERM EXPIRATION CORRECTION

Robert Nagy was appointed at the last meeting for a one-year term but should have been a three-year term.
Motion by Ash, supported by VanderKolk, to correct the term to three years.
Motion approved.

SNOWPLOWING CONTRACT

Motion by Ash, supported by Fisher, to accept the snowplowing agreement with J Young Construction.
Roll call vote—Yes: VanderKolk, Wetherbee, Fisher. Lowery, Ash.
Motion unanimously approved.

2026 MILEAGE RATE

Motion by VanderKolk, supported by Ash, to approve the 2026 federal mileage rate of 72.5 per mile.
Roll call vote—Yes: Lowery, Ash, Wetherbee, Fisher, VanderKolk; No: None.
Motion unanimously approved.

PAY THE BILLS

Motion by Lowery, supported by Fisher, to pay the bills..
Roll call vote—Yes: Ash, VanderKolk, Lowery, Wetherbee, Fisher; No: None.
Motion unanimously carried.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

No comments.

BOARD COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

VanderKolk asked Bebee if the Valley Rd. mining has been inspected. Bebee stated that he has a compliance letter to send.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Lowery, supported by VanderKolk, to adjourn.
Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned 7:31 pm.

Fran Ash
Chippewa Township Clerk