By Phyllis Rose
In a 30-minute early February meeting, the Brady Township Board updated the Employee Handbook, approved a hiring an official to deal with dangerous buildings, and scheduled a public hearing on an ordinance enforcement issue.
Noting that the handbook had not been updated in about 10 years, Supervisor Randy Smith recommended the employee meal stipend for conference attendance be set at $120 per day due to increased costs of meals in the last 10 years. He later explained that employees must turn in receipts for all meals and are reimbursed up to the maximum permitted for the meal or the day. If they spend more than allotted, they are responsible for the difference.
Smith also updated the Board on two ordinance enforcement issues. For one property, the Township hired a cleanup crew to take care of the issue. The cost of the cleanup will be added to the owner’s tax bill. In another issue, a boat house was to be torn down because it was a dangerous structure, Smith reported. However, incorrect wording on the paperwork resulted in the boat house not being razed. The Board scheduled a hearing at its regular monthly meeting on March 5 which starts at 7 p.m.
Smith recommended hiring a new dangerous-building hearing officer. This officer can’t be affiliated with the Township, he said, but must be a neutral party and be a licensed building inspector. The Board approved hiring Bert Gale to the position.
In other business, the Board accepted an insurance quote from the Hartleb Insurance Agency. Smith noted that the rates are pretty much the same as last year.
Supervisor Smith reported to the Board that the Township’s departure from the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority (SKCFA) is proceeding. The attorneys from Brady and Pavilion Townships are reviewing the paperwork. Smith will be meeting with the attorneys and Pavilion Supervisor John Speeter to go over the terms of the agreement. Brady is leaving the authority since the Township’s needs are different now than when the Authority was established more than two decades ago. Brady will be contracting with Pavilion to provide fire services.
The Board will be provided with the updated paperwork before the March meeting, said Smith. At that meeting, it’s expected it will approve the withdrawal which must be done before the beginning of the fiscal year on April 1 because the Township must give a year’s notice of their intention to withdraw. The board plans to complete the move April 1, 2026.
In other discussion, Acting Clerk Tracy Locey reported that the Board of Elections had audited the Township’s election records and that the records balanced. They are waiting for the full report to be sent to the Township.
Dave Pawloski, chairperson of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, introduced himself to the Board. He encouraged the Board to contact him if there are any road issues. He also invited them to schedule a tour of the Road Commission’s new facility which opened last year. “We are proud of our new building,” he said. The new facility is located at 4400 S. 26th Street.
Correction from Brady official: No property purchase
The South County News in the February edition reported a statement that Brady Township has purchased property for a fire station and a new township hall.
That is incorrect, Supervisor Randy Smith said.
The township has said it plans to drop out of the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority effective in late March, 2026, and join with adjacent Pavilion Township’s fire department.
