Bridgeport Township Board Meeting October 1st, 2024

On the Agenda:
Adoption of Agenda begins at 1:00
Approval of Minutes - September 3rd, 2024 Regular Meeting begins at 4:02
Discussion of rules for public comments begins at 4:37
Public Comments part 1 begins at 9:22
Special Orders - 
1.  Public Hearing for Fire Assessment Roll begins at 22:41
Public Comments part 2 begins at 48:32
2.  Set Public Hearing for 2025 General Fund Budget begins at 1:08:51
Unfinished Business - 
1. Resolution R21-19 Fire Assessment Roll begins at 1:09:40
New Business -
1. Iwen Tool Proclamation begins at 1:10:28
2. Township Property Bid Parcel 09-11-5-08-3464-000 begins at 1:12:42
3. Township Property Bid Parcels 09-11-5-04-2116-000, 09-11-5-04-2117-000,
09-11-5-04-2118-000, 09-11-5-04-2119-000, & 09-11-5-04-2120-000  begins at 1:13:51
4. Township Manager Position discussion begins at 1:15:46
5. Assessing Services begins at 1:21:28
Accounts Payable Checks 72962 through 73077  $421,519.30 begins at 1:23:01
Police Department Report begins at 1:25:30
Fire Department Report begins at 1:28:10
Manager's Report begins at 1:35:01
Board Member Comments begin at 1:41:33 

Since I am over one month late in posting this I will just comment on a few things.

  

First I would like to Thank Shawn Miller for speaking up on behalf of our firemen and the Fire Department.  She is the wife of one of our local firemen and I don't think anyone knows better than the firemen and their families what the job requires of and takes from the men brave enough to do the job!  And Thank You to all of our firemen and our police department!!

Second...  I wish more people like Shawn Miller spoke at our meetings.  People that are well informed, caring, articulate.  We do get some people that come and seem to truly care, they are passionate, want to make things better in our township, have good questions and want to understand things, are polite and civil.  I just wish we had more like that.  

After starting this project 10 years I am just tired of the endless drama and ignorance I see at our meetings. No I am not talking about our board members, I am talking about the residents.   We have our local regulars who seem to relish making a scene.  Maybe it is time to find another hobby?  Why would anyone come to a meeting to speak out and not actually have a clue what you are speaking about?  You have no idea how many times I have just stood there rolling my eyes and somewhat in a state of disbelief at what I see and hear. You have no idea how much self control it takes for me to not go off on the audience members when I witness your nonsense.  That is one of several reasons why I have been staying away, it just requires more self control than I think I have left.  Pray that I don't let my thoughts rip from behind my camera at some of you people.  An example:  Jesse Norman...  His attempt for an Oscar during the public comments just offended me.  Standing up there being obnoxious and loud, pounding your fists doesn't make you a big man, just makes you look like a fool, and accomplishes nothing.  

The public loves to demand that the board members and staff always behave with a certain decorum, but you think you can go in there and act like how ever you want and that the board has to sit there and take it.  They do not have to take your abuse and the public can be removed from the meetings.  I am always the first to say that government works for and answers to us, But, there is a way to work with and hold accountable government officials and ways not to do it.  We elect them to do the job and make the decisions for our township, but we do not micromanage their every move and every action.  

And lastly...  People are just praising how many people are showing up for the meetings and getting involved.  Sorry but it won't last.  I have watched this for many many years and it will peak and then wane.  That has always been one of my biggest frustrations with the residents of this township, they just won't get involved.  It will last for as long as people have something to go in and bitch about and then it will go back to the same small handful or two of residents who are regulars and get involved.  Then something else will come up and who ever will be leading the latest pitchfork brigade will get the public riled up, and that is easy to do when most of the time they are ill informed or not informed at all, and then the show will begin again.