|
The Board of Trustees (BoT) met Nov. 20 for its regular monthly meeting. Here are some highlights of the 64-minute gathering:
Giving Thanks. Supervisor Mark J. Abbo recognized and personally thanked the various Boards and Commission members who volunteer their time to help their fellow residents.
Landfill Town Hall. The Conservancy Initiative’s Leslie Evans invited the BoT to a Jan. 12 Town Hall meeting at Northville High School to discuss the Arbor Hills Landfill’s expansion plans. Details are forthcoming.
New Fingerprinting and Mugshot System on Tap. CLEMIS, the information management system used by law enforcement across Southeast Michigan, is aligning with a new service provider. The Police Department (PD) now must migrate to this new provider in order to use the fingerprinting and mugshot system in the CLEMIS system, with an increase in cost. The BoT approved the five-year subscription plan of $53,000.
PD Wins Grant for Embedded Social Worker. For the fifth consecutive year, the public safety team will have a Hegira Health social worker embedded into the department to help residents. The $108,551 Byrne JAG grant through the Department of Justice and Michigan State Police allows the Township Fire and Police departments to access behavioral health expertise for those in need. This service is shared with the police departments from the cities of Northville and Plymouth. The goal of this funding is to increase access to mental health resources for senior citizens.
Lights & Sirens Needed. The two newly acquired utility terrain vehicles (UTV) used for rescue and emergency operations at the 350-acre Legacy Park need lights, sirens and graphics. The Fire team sought an additional $11,250 to ensure first responders will be able to see 24 hours a day.
Budget Amendments. Unanticipated revenue and expenditures in 2025 resulted in a need for budget amendments in three different funds, the General Fund, the Public Safety Operating Fund and the Parks and Recreation Fund.
“Generally, when we budget, we under budget for interest income, so we were being very conservative. We do not budget for land sale, and we do not budget for tax increment finance revenue. This is really primarily attributed to that,” said Supervisor Abbo.
To view specific details, visit page 92 of the meeting packet.
Keeping Vehicle in Service. A 2008 Ford F250 pickup previously scheduled for disposal will continue in the Parks & Recreation vehicle fleet for staff to use at Legacy Park. It will be used to haul away debris and rubble strewn throughout the park.
“Instead of purchasing a new vehicle and putting it through the kind of wear and tear that we need to remove debris in the park, we thought it was a more financially responsible decision to keep the old one around for a little while longer," Parks & Recreation Director Derek O. Smith told the BoT.
Auction Bound. The Department of Public Works will send its rusty 2006 F550 box truck to Midwest Auto Auction in Redford. The box portion leaks dramatically and the rust is taking over the underbody.
Seven Mile Pathway Progress. Northville Township selected OHM Advisors tor construction management, inspection and grant administration services for the 10-foot-wide asphalt regional pathway along Seven Mile Road that connects Legacy Park to the Farmers Market, the City of Northville’s pathway system and the Hines Park Trail. The contract is for $448,500. To add this amenity, Northville Township received $2.1 million in grants from both MDOT and the Michigan DNR. It’s a complex project with a railroad crossing, a stream crossing, a wetland crossing, two intersections with signalization, topography challenges and the like. Construction will begin in 2026.
New Parks & Recreation Headquarters to be Refurbished. Northville Parks & Recreation is moving into the former Water and Sewer building on Beck Road in 2026, transforming it into a community-facing facility. The BoT approved $65,929.79 to Carpet Workroom for flooring and $166,959.24 to ISCG to provide and install new furniture as funded in the Capital Improvement Plan. Both companies’ fees are part of cooperative purchasing agreements.
Security Card Readers to Be Replaced. After 21 years of operation, Township Hall’s security card reader system has reached the end of its life and must be replaced. Parts are no longer available and the system can no longer be expanded as door units begin to malfunction. Security 101 will upgrade the system for $30,997.82 and ensure full compatibility with the Township’s existing network and security framework.
HVAC Control Systems on Deck. To mitigate a cybersecurity and network integrity risk, Northville Township will replace its HVAC Control Systems at Township Hall, Fire Station 1 and the Community Center. It will include new control panels, software integration and secure network configurations. It will cost $47,800. The new system will mirror the same platform used at the newly constructed Essential Service Complex.
Three-Year Dog License Now Available, Ordinance Updated. Northville Township began offering Oct. 1 a new three-year dog license for $15 to align with a three-year rabies vaccination schedule. The ordinance has been updated to state that an owner shall apply to the Township for a dog license by Jan. 1 of each year, or every third year at the owner’s option, to reflect the new three-year license option. The ordinance also specifies that a three-year dog license may only be issued during the first year of a current three-year rabies vaccination. The ordinance now requires that a dog 4 months or older shall be vaccinated against rabies.
35th District Court Authority’s New Chair in 2026. Supervisor Mark J. Abbo has been appointed Chair of the 35th District Court Authority for 2026.
Save the Date: The free Festival of Trees Lighting Celebration is Dec. 2 from 11 am-noon at the Northville Community Center (NCC). The Fifty North Celebrate the Seasons Luncheon is Dec. 18 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm at NCC. Register by Dec. 12. The fee is $15 resident, $18 non-resident.
Northville Township Board of Trustee meetings are held the third Thursday of every month in Township Hall’s Assembly Room at 7 pm, unless noted otherwise. Please join us.
To review the meeting materials, visit the website. To attend a livestream of it, visit here.
| 
