Public works storage barn

[Facts again]

The Twp has always and will always apply unused funds to the budget. Mr. Cody did not invent this. Mr. Cody also supported the barn if you read the notes.

The fact is the money was already on the books, it can only be used for capital projects it can't be used for general expenses, and the barn will help the shelf life of vehicles so if you can get 5 more years from a vehicle not left in the elements, you save. If a vehicle lasts 10 years now and you can get 15 by covering it and keeping it away from the weather then you are getting 50% more use. Plus a vehicle today will cost less than one tomorrow. Why do you think our farmers in town all have put up pole barns for their equipment?

The only way this doesn't make sense is if Tom and Cynthia get in and follow Mr. Mulligan's statement of getting rid of public works. Then this expense is not worth it.

[wcody]

While I have not been very active in township politics recently, I want to correct something that has been said regarding my support of the public works barn.

A capital appropriation was approved in April, 2008 for $300,000 prior to my joining the committee. An estimated price was brought to the committee last year that was well above the price. I thought it was too expensive and I had asked that a less expensive option be investigated. Nothing came back until after I left office, then there was a resolution to increase the expense by $150,000 to $450,000.

I never saw a cost benefit on the barn to see if the $450,000 would save sufficient future maintenance expenses. If that was done, we should expect budget reductions in future years on maintenance expenses.

This was one of the many capital expense items where the township had borrowed and continued to pay interest on the money, but had not spent the funds. There was over $2 Million in unused capital budget items last year. That money can be paid back and bring down debt. I had wanted those allocations reviewed, though I was alone in that desire.