The Becker Twp. Board met Monday evening and was able to view a demonstration of the PAVER software system that is playing an integral role in their Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) program.

Twp. Engineer Wes Davis showed the supervisors several of the many features of the program, which will help the township manage roadway maintenance and budgetary planning.  Over the past many months, detailed information including roads, signs and culverts has been entered into the software.  Coupled with GIS mapping, the program now contains maps of all of the township’s roadways and developments.

Supervisors, township contractors and Clerk Lucinda Messman will all soon have access to the software.  This will allow the sharing of real time information about roads and will greatly increase efficiency for the people involved with maintenance efforts.

The software allows the uploading of photos which are then attached to specific locations so everyone would be able to view pictures of problem areas, etc.

Davis detailed several uses for the program, which also contains detailed ratings for each roadway. There is a search function associated with the program, wherein a supervisor would be able to look for a specific roadway or parcel of land and have instant access to a plethora of useful information.  It was also pointed out that increased efficiency and timeliness of repairs will come about as a result of the township using the software.

For instance, if a resident called Messman with a complaint, she would be able to direct the problem to the correct person who could then travel to the exact location and take pictures of the issue.  From there, the repair or maintenance could take place and new photos could be uploaded, showing the result of the restoration or the resolution of the issue.

Accountability, as well as liability protection and record keeping, will all be greatly enhanced when the program comes online.  Roadways that are slated for repair on the CIP cycle will be indicated, giving a nice visual reference for future budgeting decisions.

Another useful feature will be that Davis can track the progress of active right of way permits that are taking place across the township, such as those for the installation of fiber optic cable.  This will allow him to respond to issues in a timely manner and track and log the progress of the contractors or identify problem areas that need to be addressed.

After viewing the demonstration, the board enthusiastically moved ahead with the next steps for implementation.

Resident Utility Concern

Resident Bob Miller appeared before the board with concerns about the right of way near his residence.  Schroeder construction, the subcontractor for Midco, performed some work in the right of way and Miller felt that the turf restoration was not completed in a satisfactory manner. There was also a corner pin that was accidentally removed from his property which he would like replaced.  This could possibly require a new survey of the area.

Finally, Miller charged that the communication and follow up from the township left something to be desired.

The board directed several questions to Davis, who reported that he had been in contact with Midco to let them know that the permit was still open and would not be closed until they had performed the restoration to a satisfactory result.  Several emails and phone calls had not elicited a proper response from the contractor.

This led to a larger discussion regarding right of way permitting and other instances within the township where Midco’s work had received complaints from residents.  Davis was aware of seven or eight other complaints and he also had a similar less than ideal experience in the front yard of his home in a neighboring township.

The board agreed to look at the performance bond associated with the current permit to see if there is enough money in it to perform the restoration work and then take the money from this fund.  

In addition, when Midco comes for additional permits in the spring of 2021, the issue could lead to a potential permit denial if there are outstanding restorations that were not completed.  More information will be gathered before that time and staff will work with legal counsel to explore other recourses.

Once that occurs, the board assured Miller they will be in contact with him regarding a proposed resolution to his concerns.

Planning Update

Planer Ben Wikstrom updated the board on the Zac Johnson property issue from last month.  Because his land did not have frontage access to a roadway, Johnson was able to do a land swap with a neighbor to give him the needed access to secure a building permit for his new home.  

There appears to be several parcels of landlocked property within the township, therefore the board discussed taking a closer look at this issue in the future so they can be proactive in having solutions for landowners to be able to fully use their land.

Wikstrom next explained a preliminary plat for a parcel at the corner of Co. Rds. 51 and 4.  Just one application has been received regarding land use for next month’s planning meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Supervisor Luke Babler regarding COVID purchases for the fire department;

• Listened to Jacob Sanders and Chair Brian Kolbinger as they detailed the recent developments within the CMRP;

• Received an update from supervisors Boros and Danielson regarding the first snow plowing of the year and several associated issues that were being addressed;

• Issued a directive for staff to review the CARES act grants and other expenditures to ensure they meet legal guidelines for eligibility, documentation and reporting;

• Briefly discussed last month’s election and future plans for the township election in March, 2021.  The town hall will be the absentee ballot location for that election;

• Listened to Sgt. Dan Frank, who reported on 133 calls for service last month within the township for the Sheriff’s Office.