With just four items on the new-business agenda, the October 20 meeting of the Schoolcraft Village Council was short but productive.
Three of the items were routine but one new item was appointing a building official for the Village. Village Manager Cheri Lutz reported that Associated Government Services (AGS) has been the Village’s Zoning Enforcement Agency since 1990. However, the owner of AGS, Bert Gale, has sold the business to Nicholas Keck who will now be performing the duties of the zoning official.
Because of that change, the Council needed to approve a resolution 2025-13 to designate Keck as the building official.
“Bert will still be there for a few years,” Lutz said.
She also noted that there are set prices for their services which she described as “very reasonable.”
According to the resolution, Keck’s duties include “ensuring the issuance of all permits, overseeing all inspections, and keeping a record of all activities as part of the permanent records of the Village of Schoolcraft.”
The vote to adopt the resolution was unanimous.
A routine item was approving a $1,000 donation for the Annual Christmas Walk which will be held on December 6. That amount was already in the current budget, reported Lutz.
Stacy Sherman, owner of The Beauty Bar salon in Schoolcraft and chair of the Christmas Walk, answered questions from the Council about the event and how its donation is spent.
The money pays for an ad in South County News and also for sponsored ads on FaceBook, she said. It’s also used to print posters and to help pay for various family friendly events.
Trustee Jennifer Doorn asked how the downtown businesses fare during the event.
“Some report that this is a big event for them,” said Sherman, noting also that restaurants have a steady business during the event.
Trustee Shawn Rance questioned whether $1,000 was enough for the event.
“Yes, it’s a generous component for what we need it for,” she said. “I appreciate the $1,000, but would like a slight increase for next year.”
Sherman would like to bring back reindeer for the event because they are a big draw but also are quite expensive, usually $600 for two hours.
Village President Mike Rochholz thanked Sherman for helping to keep the event going.
Another routine item was approving the Council’s meeting schedule for 2026. Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. The exceptions are when Monday is a holiday and in the months of July and August, when just one meeting is held.
Trustee Joe Beck questioned why there’s only one meeting and if would be beneficial to have two
President Rochholz said that those months tend to be slow and also those are times when people are on vacation.
In the absence of Treasurer Theresa O’Leary, Lutz reported on the quarterly interest earnings from the Village’s Michigan CLASS account.
According to the Michigan CLASS website, the group offers “public agencies in Michigan a safe, liquid, and competitive investment option.”
In April, 2025, the Village deposited $1,350,000 into a Michigan CLASS account. Since then, the funds have earned $36,348.38 in interest.
Trustee Beck questioned whether the original deposit amount was the most the Village can invest. Lutz said she would check into that and report back at the next meeting.
