Pittsfield Township Set to Join Countywide Transit Authority Board

Here is a summary of the Board of Trustees meeting from Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Presentation of and Approval to Join Countywide Transit Authority Board

The Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees heard a presentation by Sarah Pressprich of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study on the creation of the Countywide Transit Authority Board creation and Pittsfield Township’s role on the board. The board will help to determine what, if any, improvements need to be implemented for a county-wide transit system to be in place for Washtenaw County. The Pittsfield Board of Trustees later approved a resolution to appoint a representative from the Board of Trustees to the Transit Authority Board.

FAAC, Inc. Approved for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate

FAAC, Inc., has begun work on a large government contract that allowed them to increase their building needs in Pittsfield Township.  The business, which creates training driving simulations for various kinds of activities such as police and fire, applied for a tax exemption certificate from Pittsfield Township, which was approved with a 6-0 vote by the Board (Gerald Krone was absent for the meeting). The 50 percent abatement is on $567,259 of real and personal property.

With the new work, FAAC plans on hiring up to 20 new employees at its new offices by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Emergency Replacement of a Failed Flow Valve at the Textile Booster Station Approved

The Textile Booster Station had a flow valve fail for the third time in five years. The board approved a replacement to be installed at the facility, which is currently using a manual bypass to compensate for the failed valve. During the discussion, Trustee Andrea Brown-Harrison inquired as to the probable lifespan of the new valve. The new valve, which is more advanced than the previous incarnations, has been in operation at different locations for over ten years. The estimated cost of the repairs is between $37,000 and $39,000.

Updates to the Township Zoning Ordinance will Commence

The board authorized Supervisor Mandy Grewal and Clerk Alan Israel to enter an agreement with Carlisle Wortman and Associates to update the township zoning ordinace. The updates will correct out-of-date wording and uses, and all updates must meet the approval of the township attorney.