Helena Township Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
1. Call to Order
Chair B. Peeples called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Governmental Meeting Room at the Helena Township Community Center.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
All present participated.
Roll Call
Present: B. Peeples, O. Leffew, C. Rice, B. Bartz, J. Schilling
Absent: None
3. Approval of Agenda
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the current agenda. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
4. Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
5. Public Comment
A resident reported that the cemetery flag light had come down following a recent storm. The light was recovered and will be reinstalled; the fixture still functions. Board members noted that several trees on Township property also need attention following the spring storms.
6. Approval of Minutes
March 12, 2026 Helena Township Board Regular Meeting
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve minutes. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
7. Treasurer Report
- $1,346,180.01 – Beginning Balance
- $28,530.36 – Receipts
- $69,816.14 – Total Disbursements
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the Treasurer Report. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
8. Presentation of Bills
- March 2026 disbursements totaled $44,247.34.
- March 2026 payroll disbursements totaled $16,988.45.
- April 1–9, 2026 expenditures were presented totaling $8,580.35.
9. Fire Chief / Sheriff / County Commissioner / TAA Reports
South Torch Lake Fire & Rescue – Fire Chief P. Fabiano
Fire Chief P. Fabiano reported 21 calls in March, including 14 EMS calls. Year-to-date calls totaled 62 in 2026 compared to 55 in 2025. Mutual aid responses included a structure fire and MVC in Clearwater Township, a possible ice rescue in Clearwater Township, and a chimney fire in the Bellaire Fire District.
T. Shephard joined the department effective April 1, 2026. Antrim County will host a four-month Firefighter I & II certification class in September/October 2026. Both new hires, T. Shephard and S. Dunn, have expressed interest. There was nothing new to report regarding equipment and vehicles.
Antrim County Sheriff’s Department
A report will be provided at the next regular meeting. There were 54 total calls.
Antrim County Commissioner – Commissioner T. VanAlstine
Commissioner T. VanAlstine reported that the County Board approved the use of 2% grant funds from the Grand Traverse Band for four new FLOCK camera systems. The Sheriff’s Department is coordinating with townships on placement locations.
Meadowbrook Kids’ Fish Day is scheduled for April 25, 2026. The Conservation Club fundraises to purchase fish, at a cost of approximately $6,000, following the loss of the prior free supply program.
Antrim Conservation District
The Conservation District board voted at a special meeting to terminate Melissa Zelle’s agreement. Mike Mouthaan-Weatherwax is serving as interim director while continuing his role as County Forester.
Antrim County Public Safety Center
The project remains under the $27 million cap. The prior $33 million estimate from EMR is not anticipated. Christman Company will be hired as construction management firm in May. Soil borings have been completed and results are pending. The existing jail will remain in place until the new facility is built, then demolished as part of the capital improvement plan.
Township Ambulance Authority – Mike Robinson
Mike Robinson reported that the employee health insurance carrier has been changed. The annual audit is in progress.
10. Speaker – Paul Delange, HTHS / Depot Museum
P. Delange presented a proposal to begin replacing windows at the Helena Township Historical Depot Museum, one of the Township’s oldest assets. Approximately nine windows are rotted, primarily on the west side where sun and weather exposure is greatest. Estimated cost is approximately $2,000 per installed window.
Two bids were received, both within the same range. The proposal is to complete the west-side windows this year and remaining windows in a future year to spread the expense.
Mr. Delange also presented a separate quote of approximately $1,500 per side from a Traverse City canvas company for retractable clear roll-up panels covering the two portico openings, approximately 18 ft. by 10 ft. each.
Motion by O. Leffew, seconded by C. Rice to approve replacement of the Depot windows. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
MOU Follow-Up: Supervisor B. Peeples and P. Delange agreed to meet the week of April 14 to discuss the HTHS – Depot Museum MOU.
11. Communications
Agenda Request Deadline: Agenda requests are now due on the second Tuesday by 5:00 PM. Board members and presenters are asked to submit items for the agenda no later than the Tuesday prior to each meeting to Supervisor Peeples for placement on the agenda.
12. Committee Reports
Zoning – R. Logee
The Zoning Administrator submitted his report. A new business, Legacy Sports, is preparing to occupy the former sports shop building adjacent to the old bank and has advertised wakeboats, tri-hull pontoons, and rental services. Concerns were raised regarding boat storage, launching, and dock placement.
Rental boats will not be permitted to use Township docks. The operator has indicated they will use alternate launches, such as Gilroy’s. The Board will continue to monitor compliance with applicable zoning and water-use ordinances.
Parks and Recreation – S. Dell
A Community Engagement Meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Community Center to receive public input on the future of Tennis Court Park and the proposal to relocate the tennis and pickleball courts to the lower level.
S. Dell presented a proposal from Tennis Courts Unlimited for resurfacing the existing tennis courts at $26,900, with an additional contingency of $3,500 if needed once on-site evaluation occurs.
An alternative full redevelopment estimate from Schwannecke Sport Courts totals approximately $245,600 for two new pickleball courts, a new tennis court, and a refinished basketball court, with an option to add a third pickleball court for an additional $10,800.
The Board agreed to postpone a decision until after the May 6, 2026 community engagement meeting to allow for public input and exploration of potential donations or grant funding.
Planning Commission – J. Gurr
The Planning Commission continues work on zoning language for data centers within the existing renewable energy and battery storage language.
Citizen Planner Program
Helena Township will host the 2026 MSU Extension Citizen Planner training course. Twenty-eight participants are enrolled. The course begins April 14, 2026.
Roads – B. Bartz
Burt Thompson, P.E., has retired from the Antrim County Road Commission as Engineer-Manager. Allen Musall has been appointed as the new Engineer-Manager. A meeting for all township officials is scheduled at the Antrim County Road Commission on May 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Senator John Damoose and other officials are expected to attend.
Tar and chip projects authorized last year are scheduled to be completed in June 2026.
Additional roads recommended for evaluation include sections of Crystal Springs Road, Porchlight Drive, and Lake Street south of Helena. Concerns were raised regarding curb work along the church property when the main road is resurfaced.
13. Old Business
Miller vs. Helena Township Agreement: A written agreement has been executed through both parties’ attorneys. The Millers will be relocating the disputed fence, placed approximately seven feet onto Township property at the south end of the Depot, back to the proper property line at their expense, weather permitting in May 2026.
Cemetery Project – Drone Scheduled April 23–24: TriMedia drone survey is scheduled for April 23–24, 2026. Work will include perimeter survey, ground penetrating radar, and mapping. Target completion is the end of summer 2026, with a QR-code lookup system planned for public use.
Public Access / Alleyway Surveys: Research is underway with Ferrier Surveying and the Chamberlain firm to locate proper survey records. Issues have arisen on Terrace Street where rental/Airbnb users were parking and placing furniture and fire pits in the public alley.
Scheduling Bathroom Remodel – Partitions: Materials, including tiles, are on site. Work will proceed with one bathroom at a time, with the second bathroom converted to unisex use during construction to minimize disruption.
BS&A Migration: Following multiple demonstrations and negotiations, the migration process will begin immediately. BS&A currently handles the Township’s tax assessing and collection. The migration will bring cloud-based accounts payable, payroll, and reporting onto the BS&A cloud platform, replacing the existing QuickBooks-based workflow.
Fiscal year-end in June is the target conversion period. Full go-live is approximately 11–12 months following contracting.
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice to approve the BS&A migration. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
14. New Business
Rental Rules and Fee Schedule Update: A revised Rental Rules and Fee Schedule was presented covering the Community Center, Depot Park, Tennis Court Park Pavilion, and Ball Park. Resident pricing remains unchanged; non-resident pricing is increased by 25%.
The Board confirmed that residency may be established by Township property ownership, taxpayer status, or lawful residence within the Township, including renters with a Helena Township address on a driver’s license. Board members decided to review the rental rules and fee schedule and discuss further.
IT Firm Bid Packet Summary: Three vendors were evaluated. Current provider 186 Communications of Rapid City, at $180/month, presents security and infrastructure-control concerns. BlackRock Technologies of Ann Arbor was not recommended due to a $1,250/month rate, $3,500 setup, and a three-year lock-in.
Anavon Technology Group of Traverse City is recommended at $185/month with a one-time setup of $2,417.89 for hardware, installation, and first month.
15. Announcements
- Community Engagement Gathering: April 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM at the Helena Township Community Center.
- MSU Course Starts: April 14, 2026; Tuesdays, 6:00–9:00 PM.
- FBI Active Shooter Training: April 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Helena Township Community Center.
16. Public Comment
A resident inquired about the upcoming TAA contract renewal cycle. The Board confirmed the current TAA contract status will be reviewed and reported at a future meeting.
17. Motion to Pay Bills
Motion by J. Schilling, seconded by C. Rice. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
18. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:41 p.m.
Recorded and submitted by:
Oryana Leffew – Helena Township Clerk