Helena Township Board Meeting Minutes
May 14, 2026, 7:00 PM
8751 Helena Road, Alden, MI 49612
Helena Township Minutes are posted at
www.helenatownshipmichigan.gov
1. Call to Order
In the absence of Supervisor C. Peeples, Clerk O. Leffew presided and called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. All in attendance participated.
3. Roll Call
Present: O. Leffew (Clerk), C. Rice (Treasurer), J. Schilling (Trustee)
Absent: C. Peeples (Supervisor), B. Bartz (Trustee)
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
5. Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
6. Public Comment (3-minute limit)
No public comment was offered at the opening of the meeting.
7. Approval of Previous Minutes
Motion to approve April 9, 2026, Helena Township Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve minutes. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
8. Treasurer Report
Treasurer C. Rice presented the Treasurer’s Report for April 2026:
- Beginning Balance: $1,304,894.23
- Total Receipts: $142,818.85
- Total Disbursements: $70,497.56
- General Fund: $61,677.80
- Cemetery: $608.48
- Building: $8,211.28
- Bank Balance as of April 30, 2026: $1,377,215.52
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by O. Leffew to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
9. Presentation of Bills
Total bills presented for payment: $70,497.56 (April).
May 1–May 14 disbursements to date: $14,277.39.
10. Reports
a. Fire Chief Report
Fire Chief reported that in April the Department responded to 20 calls for service, 13 of which were EMS-related. Automatic mutual-aid runs included three responses to Bellaire structure fires and one response to a grass fire.
One flood-related call was handled on Smiley/Valley Road during the heavy rains; the water receded without further action required.
Construction at the fire station will continue after May 15. The existing retaining wall will be removed and the grade re-feathered away from the building. Interior walls will be framed in the basement to create sleeping quarters for EMS personnel.
b. Sheriff’s Report
Sheriff Hoch reported 57 calls for service in Helena Township during April 2026 compared to 34 calls in April 2025.
Call categories included:
- 2 – 911 hang-ups
- 1 – alarm
- 2 – animal control
- 2 – civil/non-criminal
- 1 – conservation/DNR
- 1 – driving complaint
- 1 – fire alarm
- 1 – fire system
- 1 – follow-up investigation
- 3 – fraud complaints
- 3 – general assist
- 5 – hazardous condition
- 1 – malicious destruction of property
- 1 – marine patrol complaint
- 11 – medical calls
- 1 – miscellaneous
- 3 – personal injury crashes
- 1 – property found/lost
- 6 – traffic stops
- 1 – wellness check
Personnel: Two officers are scheduled to graduate from the Police Academy on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Two additional officers completed the refresher course and are in field training.
The Department is at full strength with 23 sworn officers for Antrim County for the first time in roughly 20 years. Central Dispatch has hired a new dispatcher who will start in approximately three weeks.
The Sheriff announced a new anonymous tip line; cards with the tip-line number were left at the Township Hall. The Sheriff confirmed that “Zeke” will attend a future Board meeting.
c. TAA (Township Ambulance Authority)
TAA representative reported that the language for the renewal of the ambulance millage has been submitted to the County in time for the August 2026 ballot. No changes from the prior millage; it is a straight renewal.
11. Guest Speakers — Alden Days Kickoff Event Proposal
Kerry Q. and Chanler M. of Harvey’s Trading Co., representing DABA, presented a proposal to kick off Alden Days on Friday, July 24, 2026, with live music, food trucks, and a beer tent in collaboration with Short’s Brewing Company.
The presenters outlined plans for operations, security, general and liquor liability insurance, MLCC special-event licensing, and the Township’s food-truck application.
Sheriff Hoch has committed one to two officers on-site for the duration of the event, and DABA will also retain a private security team. Attendance is projected at 150–200 in a 30×60 or 30×50 tent.
The same tent will host the kickoff Friday evening and then be reconfigured overnight for Saturday’s Alden Days events with the Fire Department, so that by Saturday morning no trace of the prior evening’s beer tent remains.
Board and audience discussion covered parking concerns, the State 500-foot church-distance requirement for MLCC special-event licensure, and overlap with Saturday’s parade.
The presenters will obtain a church sign-off at the Tuesday Administrative Council meeting.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the Alden Days Kickoff Event proposal and authorize DABA to move forward with planning and permitting. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
12. Communications
a. Memorial Day Parade
Update presented on the Memorial Day Parade scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM, with line-up at the Community Center at 12:30 PM.
Fourteen entries are currently registered.
Earl Page, Korean War veteran and oldest veteran in the community, and Darlene Page will be honored during the parade.
The Board concurred with a proposal to honor Mr. Page with a plaque or similar recognition. V. Bruns (Deputy Clerk) will coordinate the design.
13. Committee Reports
a. Zoning Report
The Zoning Administrator reported on April permits, including a deck/patio drive at the lakeside, a sign for Legacy Water Sports at the former Outfitters location, and a Cedar Shores patio.
Two land divisions were processed in April. Approximately 12 general zoning inquiries regarding setbacks and allowable uses were handled.
The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2026, with one garage setback variance request on the agenda.
The Zoning Administrator confirmed intent to transition out of the position. An advertisement for a successor will be placed with an approximate one-year transition window.
b. Parks & Recreation Report
S. Dell reported on the May 6, 2026 community forum at Tennis Court Park regarding options for the tennis and pickleball courts.
Approximately 40 of 55 chairs were filled. The forum was well attended and well received.
S. Dell thanked Brian, Barry, Rian, and Oryana for their work organizing the event.
Parks & Recreation will meet on June 3, 2026, to review public input, and a recommendation will be brought to the Board in June.
S. Dell noted that the current tennis surface is not safe to play tennis on, though acceptable for pickleball.
Because the full Board was not present, no decision was made. The Board discussed calling a special meeting once Supervisor C. Peeples and Trustee B. Bartz are available.
T. Comfort has offered to clean and maintain the courts at no cost in the interim.
Discussion also addressed pickleball usage and non-resident participation. The Pickleball Advisory Committee will be convened to review the membership/pay-ahead reservation model.
c. Ballpark
No updates reported.
d. Planning Commission Report
Planning Commission Chair D. Hunstad reported on Commission activities.
Three Planning Commission members are enrolled in the six-week Citizen Planner education program hosted at the Township Hall.
The Commission is proposing a return to monthly meetings, with an approved by-law update to follow.
Other priorities include updating zoning ordinance definitions and advancing positioning on data centers.
J. Gurr presented the current iteration of Section 5.02.02 Waterfront/Shoreline Use, reflecting changes recommended by Township Counsel.
The amended ordinance establishes a cap of boats per lake frontage, defines marinas prohibited in residential districts on shorelines, and adds definitions for shore stations, powered watercraft, mooring, private waterfront access, and shoreline protection area (“Greenbelt”).
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the amended Section 5.02.02 Waterfront/Shoreline Use ordinance as presented. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
e. Roads Report
Clerk Leffew reported on the recent Antrim County Road Commission meeting.
Discussion topics included marijuana excise tax revenue, road grant programs, ongoing litigation, and the 2026–2028 paving schedule.
2026 projects include Adams Road and C-42. Alden Highway county-line to Crystal Springs is scheduled for 2027, with Alden Highway and Comfort Road planned for 2028.
Additional projects include Old State Road and county-wide pavement marking.
14. Old Business
a. Alden Depot Museum Windows: The Board continues moving forward with the purchase and installation of Depot Museum windows. The west side is planned for installation this year, with the remaining side scheduled for 2027.
b. Loeb v. Helena Township: Clerk O. Leffew reported correspondence from Township Counsel regarding gazebo/deck reconstruction at the Loeb property.
Counsel confirmed the platform was completely removed and rebuilt without permits and recommended issuance of enforcement tickets.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to direct Township staff and Counsel to enforce the zoning ordinance as written at the Loeb property. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
Clerk O. Leffew will coordinate with the Zoning Administrator and legal counsel on enforcement follow-through.
c. Cemetery Project Update: Clerk O. Leffew reported that the drone flight is complete, aerial photo processed, and ground-penetrating radar complete with all locations captured by GPS.
Remaining work includes integrating GPR data into mapping, digitizing the map, and integrating cemetery records. Final results will be published on the Township website.
15. New Business
a. Resolution #05142026A — FOIA Coordinator Designation
Clerk O. Leffew explained that the Township must formally designate a FOIA Coordinator to properly recover costs and bill requesters.
The proposed resolution designates the Township Clerk as FOIA Coordinator and the Deputy Clerk as alternate FOIA Coordinator.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to adopt Resolution #05142026A.
Roll-call vote:
C. Peeples — ABSENT
O. Leffew — Yes
C. Rice — Yes
J. Schilling — Yes
B. Bartz — ABSENT
Vote: 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstaining, 2 absent. Resolution #05142026A adopted.
b. Resolution #05142026B — Private Road Name “Walking Wilbur Way”
D. Whipple requested approval of the private road name “Walking Wilbur Way” for Parcel No. 05-08-033-020-51.
Antrim County 911 and Antrim County Administration approved the name.
Motion by C. Rice, seconded by J. Schilling to adopt Resolution #05142026B.
Roll-call vote:
C. Peeples — ABSENT
O. Leffew — Yes
C. Rice — Yes
J. Schilling — Yes
B. Bartz — ABSENT
Vote: 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstaining, 2 absent. Resolution #05142026B adopted.
Clerk O. Leffew will forward the resolution to Antrim County Equalization.
c. Temporary Office Assistant
Clerk O. Leffew requested authorization to advertise and hire a temporary office assistant to support digitization, scanning, and research of historical Township records.
The position is proposed for approximately four months, 25–30 hours per week, at $20–$25 per hour.
Board consensus was reached to advertise the position in the Antrim Review.
16. Announcements
- Au Sable Institute will host a native species gardening event with Rapid City Elementary students at the Alden Depot Museum on May 27, 2026.
- O. Leffew is compiling a non-profit links page for the Township website. Approximately 51 non-profits serving the greater Alden area have been identified.
- Community Engagement Meeting top issues identified:
- Zoning and land use
- Short-term rentals
- Water quality
- Antrim County Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser — Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM.
17. Motion to Pay Bills
Motion to pay the bills in the amount of $70,497.56 for April plus May expenditures through May 14 totaling $14,277.39.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve payment of the bills. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
18. Adjournment
Motion by O. Leffew to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.
Recorded & Submitted by:
Oryana Leffew, Helena Township Clerk
8751 Helena Road, Alden, MI 49612