Recycling Services the County could provide Union Township

The collection cost per household would be $15 to $17 per year per household (including duplexes).
A collection truck will need to be procured by the County. The current truck and crew is operating full time providing services to six township, village and tribal communities.
The current recycling truck is used five days a week in six areas providing bi-weekly (every other week) service. The areas are: Rolland Twp, Deerfield Twp, Lincoln Twp, Village of Shepherd, Village of Lake Isabella, and Tribal area. Total homes approx 4100. That truck as was paid for with a 2% grant from the SCIT.
Union Township has approximately 2200 single family homes. A new truck would be used half time if used for bi-weekly pick up; more if multi family units were included.
The capital expense for a truck and curbside/roadside tubs is estimated to be $120,000 for the truck and $11,000 for approximately 2200 tubs., The expense for multi family EZ Recycler collection bins (to be placed near trash dumpsters) for apartment complexes.
The collection cost for apartments has not been determined.
Other financing options for truck purchase include, but may not be limited to:
1. Township millage
2. Township paying from the general fund balance
3. County purchase and roll the cost into the per HH price
4. Two percent request (many tribal members live in Union Township).
Premliminary discussions about funding have been held with Tribal Council representatives.

5/12/09 Sustainability Task Force Minuets

5/12/09 Sustainability Task Force Minuets

Called to order at 7:09 am by chair Mikus.  Present were Mikus, Burdett, Lyon, Wagner, Wade-Ellis, Woodruff and guest Mary Senter of CMU’s CARRS (The Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies)

Mary Senter addressed the committee on what a professional survey is and what it can (and cannot) do.

Mailings are less expensive, but have a lower response rate, cannot be easily tailored to responder’s circumstances.  Phone surveys are more costly at about $30 per completed response.  Union Township already has commitments from Consumers Energy and Vision 20/20 for cost sharing, and CMU has offered a reduced cost as an in-kind Grant.

Phone Surveys utilize CATI (Computer Aided Telephone Interview) software.  This allows a question tree to be developed where initial questions help guide the interview and tailor set of specific questions.  This ensures a maximum of pertinent questions.  A typical interview is no longer than 15 minutes and can go through about 75 questions.    One problem with the phone survey today is the growing use of cell phones as peoples only phone.  Geographic data is not available as public information for cells.

The townships population needs about 400 random calls to obtain a plus/minus a reliability of 5%.   A good survey cannot make the tough decisions, but is vital to good decision making.   The public has demonstrated a desire to be engaged with local government, to comment and voice opinion,  and be connected as evidenced by recent developments such as Sound Off and newspaper comment blogs as well as other independent bloggers.  

CARRS will interview stakeholders and generate questions that solicit unbiased opinions.  Wording of a question can affect the response.  It was the task force’s consensus that all stakeholders be engaged as soon as possible.  Topics identified included policing, recycling, economic development and satisfaction.  Groups that were identified in addition to the sustainability task force were the township board, planning commission, DDAs, Parks and Recreation, and township staff.  It was also suggested that a survey population of the greater Mt Pleasant area beyond the township boarders would be beneficial and the CATI software can track where responders reside, compare opinions of residents and neighboring residents.  An example would be to survey opinions on intergovernmental cooperation, not only do we want to know if our residents want this, but is it welcomed from those around us?

Woody Woodruff, Secretary

 

Environmental Committee Notes

Greetings Green Team members,

With this note I will update everyone on recent discussions the Environment subcommittee of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Sustainability has had with Amy Shindorf, the Isabella County Resource Recovery Manager.

At the May 12, 2009 meeting, Amy reported that the County could provide roadside/curbside recycling collection services to single family residences in the in Union Township. The County provides roadside/curbside services to the Village of Shepherd, Lincoln Township, Deerfield Township, and the Village of Lake Isabella.

The rate for Union Township would be  $17 a year per household, for every other week collection. The County will have to purchase another truck and hire a second crew due to the fact the existing truck is maxed out providing the services outlined above.

We also discussed possible services that could be provided to multi-family complexes, such as apartment buildings of four or more units. One idea discussed was the use of EZ Recycler, a large metal box with chutes and barrels. The curbside crew could pull out the barrels and empty the contents in the recycling truck. A price for that service has not been discussed. An option for large apartment complexes is a roll off put in the parking lot. A price for that service has not been discussed.

I would like the committee to discuss these collection options and examine possible funding options at the next meeting, on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 7am in the Union Township Hall.  We will have additional information to distribute at that time.

When you have a minute, click on this link: http://css.snre.umich.edu/facts/factsheets.html to read fact sheets "designed to give a brief but complete picture of the environmental impacts of a particular system, as well as sustainable solutions and alternatives."

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about committee work.

Regards,

Phil Mikus
Charter Township of Union Trustee

Township, City, County, MDOT, CMU, MMCC Meet to Discuss Non-Motorized Plan

April 16, 2009

Mt Pleasant MDOT TSC

Union Township supervisor John Barker met with local leaders and staff planners to discuss the area's non motorized pathways,  links for walking and biking.  The meeting served to identify existing paths and conditions, areas of generation and destination, and specific arterial, feeder and local routes.  The planning session also considered connection of two regional trails, part of a state-wide network that would place Mt Pleasant as a destination from both the north and southwest.

This session follows a strategic planning meeting conducted just over a year ago.  A room of over 50 local and regional leaders and planners identified area needs and goals in February of 2008.  The most recent session put markers to maps and roughed in a 7 phase plan to tie CMU and MMCC campuses, Casino, Shopping areas, High Density residential complexes, existing park trails, and gateways to incoming regional trails.

County Commissioner Bill Daley pointed to recent trends in economic development that have identified bikeable and walkable communities as a key factor in attracting and retaining business in the new economy.    Woody Woodruff added that this is also a component in the Michigan Townships Association's Seven Pillars of Prosperity, a Plan For Economic Recovery.

March 10, 09 Minutes

Charter Township of UnionSustainability Task Force Minutes
March 10, 2009, 7 am meeting called to order
Introduced new member Sharon Wade-Ellis. All present except Burdett and Henley
Old Business
· Appointed Phil Mikus as Chair, Woody Woodruff as Secretary
· Discussed purpose of task force as community focused, not internal focus
· Rick McGuirk announced Vision 20/20 was interested in helping with a community survey and Mary Senter of CARRS would be at next meeting, Betty Wagner would liaisons with her.

New Business
SWOT analysis
· Strengths; MRF, new Wind Energy Ordinance, ICTC, DDA, park facilities
· Weaknesses; No curb recycling, tennis courts not utilized at McDonald Park, recycling not convenient especially for elderly and poor, no sidewalk requirements, Biking not safe,
· Opportunities; Music programs in parks, join with city in park programs and connectivity, DDA plan amendments, Mixed Use and PUDs
· Threats; No sense of Place/Community, build outs not sustainable for non motorized users
Groups Formed
Environmental – Jo Theunissen, Mike Lyons, Sharon Wade-Ellis
Social - Casey Collings, Betty Wagner, Rick McGuirk
Economic – Phil Mikus, Sarvjit Chowdhary, David Burdett

Next Meeting – April 14, 09 7 am

Adjournment – 8 am

Rethinking Sustainability and Governance Post

I read again my earlier post entitled Sustainability and Governance. I believe all the issues raised therein are valid.  However, most of those issues are best addressed by Township staff and administration.  

This committee is about the task of suggesting policy that results in sustainability throughout the entire community, our community.   How we do business as a governmental unit maybe a bullet in a bigger list, but it is not the scope of this endeavor.

March 10 Meeting Agenda

• Open meeting at 7am, 3/10/09 at Union Township Hall, 2010 S Lincoln Rd
• Elect committee Chair and Secretary (5 min)
• Discussion of SWOT analysis assignment (10 min)
• Clarify expectations, Set Goals, (including type of output, time frame) (15 min)
• Form Sub Committees; Social, Economic, Environmental, include team to address Grant opportunity in Alternative Energy (See ) (15 Min)
• Breakout Sub Committees,  chat and set up mid month meeting (remaining time)
• Adjourn breakout at 8pm