The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kelcey W. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Observe a Local Meeting
On January 12th I attended Fulton township's board meeting so I could report on what normally happens at local meetings. Fulton township is a small township not far from Ithaca and Carson City, so the things discussed in the meeting would not make headline news, but in order to make the township run smoothly they are things that need to be dealt with. (Though this is not my home township. I decided to attend this meeting because my grandmother is the Fulton township treasurer.)
The meeting started with friendly chatting among the board members as they waited to begin. Two others besides myself were in attendance and both were present to discuss business from the last meeting. The biggest thing Fulton township is talking about right now is whether or not they need to build another pond for their sewer system and how that would be accomplished. The township would need to purchase land, so the members discussed what options would be best and which would have the ultimately lowest cost. This issue reminded me of what having a meeting is all about. One member suggested buying land in one location that would initially be cheaper for the township to purchase, but building the pond would be more expensive because of the location of the land. Another board member pointed out to this person that while another option seemed at first glance to be more expensive, it would probably be cheaper since the township would pay less in building fees. These two members did exactly what they were supposed to do discuss different opinions and options in a calm and controlled manner while still using logic.
The board also discussed a measure that they will need to pass called the Floodplain Resolution and Ordinance, which basically allows people to obtain flood insurance from banks that require it. The clerk explained to me afterwards that the board has to set a public meeting to discuss this measure and advertise it in the papers before they can go much further. She said public meetings like this are typically right before the board meeting on the same day so people only have to make one trip.
The last thing the Fulton township board talked about was whether they should spend purchase a new assessor's program to replace their current six-year-old program. The cost is not small, however, and like most of Michigan, money is tight in Fulton. The board members will keep discussing this issue.
In my board meeting experience, I also learned something about the way a township has to operate. There are many expenses that come up during a month, most of which are expected and a few that are not. (For instance, a razor blade in lieu of a paint scraper to get puddy off a window.) The clerk is allowed to pay the bills that come due before the board meeting because the township would get a late fee if the bills were not paid on time. These are typical bills like phone service and heating that are expected in each month. Other expenses must be approved in the treasurer's report and voted on during the board meeting. After that, the clerk may make out the checks and pay the township's other bills.
Over all, this board meeting taught me about the importance of local government. As I sat observing the meeting, I realized that people may not think anything important happens at local meetings like this, but really local government allows small pieces of a big puzzle (Michigan) to run smoothly and work together. If local government did not exist, the bigger divisions of government would operate with greater difficulty. People should be involved with their local governments and keep be informed about what happens at local meetings, because even if the issues do not seem important, local meetings allow Michigan to function smoothly.
