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MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Gifts came early in Macomb Township at the Dec. 21 Board of Trustees meeting.
Trustee Peter Lucido’s family gifted the township $125,000 to cover the purchase of future park lands at 52127 North Ave., bought in November. In recognition of the gift, what was set to be named River Park will now be named in honor of Paul and Annette Lucido.
“My father passed away in 2017, but he will not soon be forgotten,” said Frank Viviano, Macomb Township supervisor, reading a letter from Trustee Peter Lucido. “He was a pillar of the community of Macomb County, where he raised his family and created a business. My entire family now lives here in Macomb Township, and we feel this would be a great way to give back to the community that gave so much to my father and for his memory to endure.”
Approved unanimously by the board (minus Lucido, who abstained from voting), Paul and Annette Lucido River Park will be located on 20 acres of land along the North Branch of the Clinton River. The land once served as the clubhouse for the Macomb Township Lions and will be the township’s sixth park.
Audit report
On Dec. 21, representatives from Plante Moran delivered the township’s audit report for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with the township receiving the highest grade of an “unmodified” audit.
“The financial statements are in compliance with all rules and regulations, so we are happy to provide that unmodified opinion,” said Justin Kolbow, senior manager at Plante Moran. “That is something that is earned and not just given out.”
Kolbow lauded the township’s ability to use pandemic-related grant funding to help keep itself in sound financial standing, with the township having about $38 million in revenues and $35.5 million in expenditures for a $2.5 million surplus at the end of 2022. Revenues increased since 2020 while expenditures decreased in turn. Fund balances grew to $53,662 — an increase of $5,284 over 2021. The water and sewer fund’s expenditures and revenues remained stable, though there was a slight dip in revenues and an increase in expenditures from 2021 to 2022.
DPW equipment transactions
Six outdated Department of Public Works items were approved for sale by the board, including an arrow board, two generators, a tractor, a sewer jet and a backhoe. The board then approved the purchase of a new excavator and trailer for around $132,770 to replace the old backhoe.
Fire department business
Trustees also approved three promotions within the Macomb Township Fire Department.
Ray Yonkowski was promoted to paid-on-call lieutenant, while Kyle Yonkowski and Vito Daniele were promoted to paid-on-call sergeant.
The fire department had two purchase requests come before the board, which approved buying 59 Motorola 800 MHz radios for approximately $337,280 and 11 air-lifting bags for $18,500.
The 59 radios will finish the department’s replacement of outdated radios that it was using, while the new air bags replace old, unsafe bags. The bags are used to raise collapsed obstacles.
