Meeting Minutes

SAGE TOWNSHIP

Minutes of July 8. 2026

Approved August 12, 2026

 

The Sage Township Board met on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in regular session.

 Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Supervisor Zelt.  All members were present.

 Minutes of June 10, 2026 were addressed.  Motion by Crawford, support by Zelt, to approve minutes as presented.  M/C

 Treasurer’s Report was given by Treasurer Smith.  Motion by Flach, support by Swanstra, to approve report as presented.

  

Monthly Disbursements of $29,779.31 were reviewed.  Motion by Zelt, support by Crawford, to approve the payment of the bills as presented.  Roll Call vote s follows:  Crawford- Yes, Swanstra – Yes, Zelt – yes, Flach – Yes, Smith – Yes. M/C

 

Public Comment:  Craig Mills questioned frequency of the Mosquito Spray and noted that the bridges on Chappel Dam, Eagleson and Ritchie were set to be completed by end of August.

 

Old Business: None

 

New Business:

• Signs (Amish) – Supervisor Zelt noted that 50 signs have been ordered and would be distributed once they arrived.

• Oven/Stove Repair – Dennis Alward had been out to do repairs, and the billing was in the disbursements.

• Update on Pratt Lake Beach -Supervisor Zelt reported that the washouts had been refilled and the parking lot was in good shape.

• Auditor- Clerk Flach noted that the township had the same auditor for many years and his contract had expired.  She will seek some cost estimates from auditing firms and report back.

• Election Workers for August Election- Clerk Flach reported that Mary Erwin, Kathy Mills, Ilene Simrau, Nancy Aldrich, and Maureen Thurlow will be working and she is waiting for another worker.  Motion by Crawford, supported by Smith, to hiring six workers for the August election. M/C

• Recycling question for November Election- Supervisor Zelt reported on requirements for the County to have a county wide recycling and that is felt that it would be less costly for the township to have its own.  Discussion.  Costs will be obtained and ballot wording prepared for the Board Approval.

• Tree Removal Twp Parking Lot- Supervisor Zelt reported that a tree fell in the yard of a Dow Road resident.  Arrangements were made to have this cleaned up as well.

• Blight Office Phone – Discussion had on the possibility of a TracPhone for the Blight Officer as he is resistant to use his personal cell phone in contacting residents with blight issues.  It was noted that such a phone would only be for township business and blight issues would still be reported to Supervisor Zelt.  All Correspondence would go through Supervisor and then the Blight officer.  Motion by Crawford, support by Flach to approve the purchase of a TracPhone for the Blight Officer.  M/C

Twp. Resident Linda Van Conant questioned the Board on blight issues she had spoken about at the last meeting, noting nothing had been done.Supervisor Zelt explained that letters had been sent to the property owners with time constraints on cleanup.Explanation was also given on the very limited authority the Board had in these situations and if no actions are taken to clear up the problems, citations would be issued and then the matter would be handled by the courts.

• 2026 Pratt, Wiggins, Lake Contos – Lake Improvement Meetings – Meetings will be held July 21 with Wiggins at 5:30pm, Contos at 6:00pm, Pratt at 6:15pm, and the Wiggins Lake Level meeting at 5:15pm.

• Compost Site Schedule- Supervisor Zelt reported on recent use of the compost site.

• Gladwin County Road Commission – the meetings are scheduled for 7/29, 8/12, and 8/29 at 9:30am It was noted that in the meeting schedule 7/15 meeting has been cancelled.

County Commissioner Report-Alan Donaldson reported on the following: 

• This week is fair week; the Gladwin Street Fest will be Saturday from 9-4 and will start with a 5k run at 7am at North Park.

• Report on upcoming Master Plan – noting the Commissions have passed a 3-month Moratorium on Solar and 6-month Moratorium on Battery and Data Centers, and both can be extended.

• Report on the reading of the Declaration of Independence that took place on the courthouse steps.

• Upcoming puzzle challenge at the Lodge

• New communication towers to be erected by the State in Buckeye Twp. On property donated by the school, tower to be used by Emergency Services.

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Fireboard Report – Trustee Crawford reported on the Fire Board Meeting and several issues being addressed.  25bruns with 8 in Sage Twp.

 

No further business, motion by Flach, supported by Zelt to adjourn.  M/C 

Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm until August 12, 2026, unless otherwise ordered.

Cookies compliment of Supervisor Zelt were enjoyed by all.

 

Laura Flach, Sage Township Clerk