Meeting time/place: 4:30 p.m., Whitehall Township Hall
Actions: Agenda approved; roll call present.
Public Comment: Speeding on Wixer Drive
A resident of Wiczer Drive urged the Board to address dangerous speeding on the roughly one-mile neighborhood street, citing repeated mailbox damage, heavy pedestrian use, and families with young children. She asked for traffic-calming options and noted a prior speed survey was too brief to be meaningful.
Board response: The Supervisor said he will contact the Sheriff to discuss enforcement and other options. He also explained that current state practices for setting limits rely on traffic-speed surveys, which can complicate posting lower speeds. The Board acknowledged the concern and will continue researching solutions.
Consent Agenda — Approved unanimously
- Accounts payable
- September financials
- September zoning reports
- Minutes of the Sept. 22 regular meeting
Announcements & Communications
- Disc golf course: A letter from Prein & Newhof outlined needed safety and ADA accessibility upgrades at the township’s disc golf park. The Board will treat this as workshop material and bring back specific fixes.
- Development escrows & utilities: An escrow agreement and utility-line agreement tied to a local PUD will be executed to ensure township costs associated with the project are reimbursed.
Fire Authority Discussion
White Lake Fire Authority representatives attended at the Board’s request. Trustees asked for more regular updates—ideally quarterly—so the township has clearer visibility into operations and spending. Topics touched on included:
- Station 2 planning (on hold while costs are re-evaluated)
- Launching a department website to publish minutes and materials
- Equipment purchases and lifecycle (e.g., water-rescue craft, brush trucks, a UTV used for trail access).
Board members emphasized balancing readiness with cost control, noting most calls are medical in nature.
Unfinished Business
- Annual Audit — Accepted unanimously. The audit for the last fiscal year was received and placed on file.
New Business
DPW Director position created; Deputy Supervisor role eliminated
The Board approved a restructuring that eliminates the Deputy Supervisor position and creates a part-time Department of Public Works (DPW) Director.
- The new role consolidates oversight of sewer administration, parks, facilities, and related duties.
- The current sewer administrator, John, was appointed to lead the DPW on a part-time basis.
- Rationale: The workload has grown significantly with township growth. Board members credited John’s work with identifying system corrections and recovering more than $300,000 in connection-related revenues and adjustments, and said a defined DPW position will help sustain that oversight.
- Hours are “as needed to get the job done,” with periodic review by the Board.
Sewer Ordinance Amendment introduced (first reading)
The Board advanced an amendment to Article 5 of the township code (public sewer system protection and operation) to update late-payment penalties:
- Quarterly billing remains (Jan. 1, Apr. 1, July 1, Oct. 1).
- Payments made more than 30 days after billing would incur a 3% penalty, compounded monthly (up from 1%).
- Target effective date Jan. 1, 2026, pending second reading and publication.
(No final vote yet; second reading will return at a future meeting.)
Board Comments
- Reminder to use caution on Halloween.
Next meeting: November 24, 4:30 p.m. at the Whitehall Township Hall
