March 10, 2026, Regular Bushnell Twp Board meeting called to order at 6 pm at Bushnell Township Hall by Supervisor Mike Fitzgerald with pledge of allegiance.
Present: Supervisor Mike Fitzgerald; Trustee Patrick Draper; Clerk Louise Belyou; Treasurer Karron Bliss; Trustee Lori Daly; Absent: None Also present: Bushnell Atty Andy; DTE Jeff Haines; DTE Atty Dorothy R.; DTE Atty Emily P.; Sexton Laura Baker; DN E.Waldon; + 24 residents and guests;
Motion Draper, support Daly to approve agenda. Motion carried.
Motion Draper, support Daly to approve minutes for Jan.13 regular, and Jan.26 special meetings, and Feb.17 special BESS Hearing. Carried.
Motion Bliss, support Draper to approve checks 6138– 6166 in the amount of $9,354.20 dated January 1, through February 28, 2026. Carried.
Motion Draper, support Daly to approve treasurer's report with $121,073.10 available cash. Carried.
Sexton reported no cemetery activity
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
DTE Jeff gave general presentation. Atty Emily P. presented also.
Jeffrey Williams has fire sprinkler business…concerned if electric fire at storage. Dan Hopkins expressed that cost of solar without governmental subsidies would not be cost effective. Marcia Long questioned about why Michigan was chosen…not much sunshine.
Jenean Whitmore suggested perhaps climate change could result.
Doug Stearns wants to encourage residents to not sign their land up…is not in favor of solar or wind. Dean Whitmore stated that DTE should pay personal property tax on the large equipment they use on the project, but doesn't think they do….to which Treasurer Karron Bliss said they did pay a multi-hundred dollar tax. Wayne Hopkins says there is glare as the panels rotate, trees are not as tall as stated..(or do they look smaller beside the 14' solar panels?)
The agreement with DTE is for 35 years, after which the land is to be returned as best can be to in farmable condition it started out.
Supervisor Fitzgerald reported
• Bushnell Township received an EGLE Grant through the State of Michigan, of which we have received half of it. Of that we donated $25,000 to the Sheridan Fire Department. We plan to build a new townhall building for Bushnell Township…current lot size is only 132' x 132', so will need to acquire more land … will need to put in well and septic, which comes at quite a cost.
• Sheridan Fire Authority is planning on an addition to the fire station,
Motion by Draper, support Belyou to approve Montcalm County Road Commission contracts as follows: Seal Coat w/fog seal Vickeryville Road from M-57 to Boyer Road $ 17,539 Seal Coat w/fog seal Vickeryville Road from Fenwick Road to Boyer Road $ 17,539 Seal Coat w/fog seal Townhall Road from Fenwick Road to Boyer Road $ 17,539 Two applications Chloride, 40.02 mi @1,000 GPM x 2 applications x $0.180/gal $ 14,407.20 One application Chloride, 40.02 mi @1,650 GPM x1 application x $0.180/gal $ 11,885.94 Roll Call vote with unanimous 'yes' vote. Motion carried with a $ 78,910.14 Total
Motion Bliss, support Draper to hold special end of fiscal year meeting on March 31, at 6:00 pm with Budget Hearing to follow. Roll Call vote with unanimous 'yes' vote. Motion carried
Motion by Draper, support Belyou for Resolution to grant a temporary conditional Permit to DTE for B.E.S.S.project. Vote by Roll Call: AYES: Belyou, Draper, Fitzgerald NAYS: Daly, Bliss Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: Question asked why not surface roads with crushed limestone instead of gravel. The answer is, it is too expensive to do all.
Motion by Draper, support Daly to adjourn. With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Louise Belyou, Clerk