Board members discussed updates to technology and roads  in Orrock’s most recent town board meeting. Members also discussed allocating CARES funds to the Zimmerman-Livonia Fire Dept.

Culverts and Mailboxes

New language was introduced in Orrock Twp. to require the use of culverts in future developments. Board members were not quite done with their draft, but will have it ready when developers come knocking.

The board once again considered installing swing-away mailboxes throughout the township. The installation would affect all township residents and the mailboxes would be installed over a period of a few years. Board members discovered through research that installation would cost around $120-130 per mailbox, a figure which includes the price of units and the manhours to install them.

Supervisor Paul Ellinger asked the board whether the mailboxes were a real issue or a mere aggravation, especially since the mailboxes are not the liability of the township. The board then mused on merely adding language to require their use for future developments. In the end, the board decided to do more research and table their decision for October.

Mapping Road Signs on Google Earth

Supervisor Bob Hassett took charge on a project to map all of the road signs in the township in Google Earth. This program allows township staff to easily access the locations of the signs as well as see which signs are due for an update. The goal behind this project is to update some signs every year, rather than wait until all of them need to be replaced and run up a large bill for the township. The whole program is estimated to cost well under $1,000.

Treasurer’s Report

The interest rate the bank offered Orrock Twp. reported in last month’s meeting was not correct. A miscommunication occurred in which the treasurer had a very high interest rate for CDs in which the town had invested. It was ultimately discovered that the township received a better interest rate by keeping the money in a checking account.

Technology Update

The board is looking to purchase a television system which would allow audience members at council meetings to view handouts which are available to board members, and may also allow citizens to virtually attend meetings from the comfort of their homes.

The upgrade will qualify for CARES Act funding, since it is a reaction to the COVID-19 situation: the board hopes to make it easy for citizens who wish to limit their time spent in public to keep up with board meetings. However, the board has to move quickly on this decision, or risk missing the deadline to qualify for CARES funding. They will meet with potential vendors this week and figure out their plan. Supervisor Corrie Silverberg stated it was time to “Git er done!”

Donation to the ZLFD

The Zimmerman-Livonia Fire Dept. asked Orrock Twp. to donate CARES funding to them in order to purchase extra turnout gear. The turnout gear would be available to firefighters in case of back-to-back emergencies in which there would not be enough to clean the gear properly. The board considered splitting their offer in half and giving some funds to the Big Lake fire dept., whom they also rely on for emergencies, but clerk Brenda Kimberly-Maas stated that Big Lake probably would not be able to find a COVID-19 related use for the funds, and that it was better to give the full amount to Zimmerman.