At a special Clearwater Twp. meeting Dec. 18, the board reviewed expenses for 2018 and set the proposed 2019/2020 budget. 

 

With the town revenue budget going over and the knowledge that money will have to be moved into the Fire Fund in 2019, the board is recommending the 2020 town revenue levy be set at $85,000, which is just $1,000 higher than 2019. 

 

At the 2018 annual meeting in March, township residents voted not to approve a 25.5% increase in their fire levy for 2019. They felt there shouldn’t be such a big hike in one year and approved a 10% increase instead.

 

Discussions  with the city to redo the levy were unsuccessful, leaving the township to cover the balance from its general fund.

 

The board discussed projects that will be coming up in the next two years and preparing roads for chip seal once the project on 150th street is completed. 

 

That project is a shared effort with Silver Creek Twp. Both townships have been clearing and grubbing. Soil borings have been completed. They will be removing some posts and moving some fence. Maintenance men have been meeting with homeowners and getting slope agreements. 

 

Letters have been drafted to send out to the residents along 150th Street and public meetings will be scheduled when the engineer has the road design completed. 

 

With much of the funds needed for 150th Street coming from the state, the board is recommending no increase to the Road and Bridge fund for 2020. 

 

But the board agreed the Fire Fund will have to be increased, however, until those final fire levy numbers are received, the board will wait on making a recommendation.

 

The final budget will be voted on by township residents at the annual meeting in March.