Brandon Twp.- The economy is showing signs of recovery in the township.
At their Dec. 1 meeting, the board approved not only a budget with employee wage increases, but also approved, by a 6-1 vote, the transfer of $183,000 from the general fund to the park development fund.
The amount equals cell tower revenue that was diverted from the park to the general fund for the past five years.
‘The economy tanked and our fund balance in the general fund was depleted,? explained Supervisor Kathy Thurman, who added that the township board began looking for alternative revenue streams around 2010. ‘We used cell tower funds to maintain the park, and funneled remaining (cell tower) revenue into the general fund so we would maintain a balance. Now, since our fund bal-ance has grown significantly, we no longer have to count on the cell tower funds and we have enough so we can move those funds back into the park development designated fund.?
The recapture of funds includes $15,000 from 2010; $50,000 from 2011; $39,000 from both 2012 and 2013; and $40,000 from 2014.
‘It should have never been moved and we need to put it back,? said Trustee Ron Lapp prior to the vote, who noted that although it was the opinion of the township attorney and the Department of Environmental Quality that the township is not obligated to designate cell tower revenue to the park fund to meet grant requirements, he believes it is necessary due to lack of a millage for such a purpose. ‘We shouldn’t hamstring our children.?
Former Township Planning Commission Chairman Ron Haase was at the meeting and said when the cell tower proposal originally came before the commission, there was no ordinance regarding cell towers.
‘One of the reasons it was passed unanimously is because the funds (received from cell tower leases) would be designated to the park,? Haase said. ‘I’d like to see it go back there.?
The township added Verizon as a carrier on the cell tower this year, and now receives close to $95,000 annually from all carriers on the tower. That money will be designated for yearly park maintenance (about $25,000), as well as for park development. The funds can procure matching DNR grants for the park located at 1414 N. Hadley Road, and the board is eyeing building long-anticipated baseball fields there, the cost of which is currently estimated to be about $900,000 including parking.
Recreation Director Fred Waybrant noted with the action by the board and continued designation of cell tower revenue, by next year, there will be about $400,000 in the park development fund. He is anxious to start writing grants again, something that was put on hold during the economic recession. Waybrant also noted the township still has a $25,000 grant from Enbridge, given after the replacement of the Line 6B oil pipeline in the township. He hopes to invest that money in a concession stand and restroom at the park and then ‘the ball fields are next in line.?
‘The ball fields will generate revenue,? Waybrant continued. ‘We can lease them to travel teams, like we do with the soccer fields, and host tournaments. We will charge a fee of course, but concessions would be a big revenue generator. Concessions and bathrooms are huge, it opens the door to run a lot of programs… I’m really anxious about sharpening my pencil and writing grants again. We have a good chance to finish this park, sticking to the blueprint.?