MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
TRUSTEES OF BARTON HILLS VILLAGE
July 14, 2025
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by President Torres at 6:07 PM at Village Hall.
ROLL CALL Present: Trustees Calabrese, Capozza, Darden, Haitam, Hensinger, Perry, Prager, Smith and Torres. Absent: None.
Others attending: BHMC Pres. Jeff David, Supt. Reeves, Asst. Treasurer/ZA L. Reeves, Deputy Clerk McDevitt, six residents and one guest.
MINUTES Minutes of the June 9, 2025 Trustees meeting were approved as printed. (Perry/Capozza/P)
PUBLIC COMMENT BHMC President David reported that the renters at 341 Corrie Road had been peacefully evicted. The BHMC’s attorney sent a nuisance letter to 320 Juniper Lane; the homeowner has until August 1, 2025 to abate the nuisance. If it has not, the BHMC Board will determine next steps at its August 5th meeting.
FINANCE (Smith) A written Treasurer’s report was provided to the Trustees.
-The monthly Budget to Actual report was acknowledged.
–The June 2025 checks were approved as printed (Aux. Book XI G). (Smith/Capozza/P)
–The June 2025 credit card transactions were approved as printed (Aux. Book XI G). (Smith/Capozza/P)
–The Cash Balances were acknowledged. We have earned $21,391.03 in interest since the start of the calendar year. As per Trustee approval, we opened our account with Michigan Class and are depositing $600,000. We can arrange for read-only account access for any Trustee who would like one. Just let Assistant Treasurer Reeves know.
–In-compliance with all Trustee-approved controls. Work on the FY2024-25 audit kicked off this morning with a meeting with our auditor.
–As of end of Q1 FY25-26, we’ve received 11.65% of our annual revenue and spent 22.66% of our budgeted expenses.
–Property Taxes for the 181 parcels within BHV have been issued totaling $971,071. Payments are due by September 15th.
–As of March 31, 2025, five homeowners had unpaid water bills totaling $6192. As per Village Ordinance, the individual amounts were certified as a lien and the unpaid amount appears on the homeowners’ property tax bills.
–Water usage fees for the period April 1-June 30, 2025 have been issued totaling $66,067.43 plus $1463.45 in a couple outstanding invoices that were due Mid-May. Payments are due August 7, 2025.
–On July 4, 2025 President Trump signed a bill that increases SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for the 2025 tax year, and 1% increase annually 2026-2033. This presents an opportunity to discuss whether or not activating a Special Assessment District (SAD) for collection of BHMC-privately owned roads repair & maintenance via taxes makes sense. If it does, the earliest a SAD could be activated would be in CY2026.The Finance Committee will return to the Trustees with an analysis/recommendation.
–At the April 14, 2025 Trustee meeting, we reported that $63,136.25 showing as positive net income on the FY2024-25 YEA update was still-to-be spent funds for our $151k contract with Wade Trim. We explained that Wade Trim’s scope of work was not yet complete, and that this figure would be reflected in the FY2025-26 budget as an “Appropriation from Fund Balance”.
Motion To approve a resolution to transfer appropriations and amend the Village budget – Dept 000-699.999 – Appropriated from Fund Balance: Increase budget by $63,136.25 (from $0 too $63,136.25) to complete the $151,000 water engineering design scope of work as-contracted in FY2024-25 between BHV and Wade Trim. (Smith/Hensinger/P)
STANDING REPORTS
Zoning Administrator (L. Reeves) The fence application for 180 Barton Shore Drive was not addressed at the Trustee meeting due to the fact it was adjourned at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. An update on 320 Juniper Lane was given: Village consulting expert Carlisle Wortman reviewed the project and provided guidance that the ZA has followed. ZA Reeves sent a letter to the homeowner that ADU’s are not allowed. The homeowner submitted updated plans with no ADU and ZA Reeves approved it. An update on 525 Hillspur Road was given: exterior work should be completed by October. A subcommittee of ZA Reeves, and Trustees Capozza, Perry & Smith are reviewing the Village’s Zoning Fee schedule. They will return to the Trustees with an updated Zoning Fee schedule recommendation.
Planning Commission (Capozza) Motion To approve a resolution to request the BHV Planning Commission to examine and recommend Zoning Ordinance language for building, landscape, and other outdoor lighting (Smith/Perry/P)
Superintendent (D. Reeves) Three leaking, and unrepairable, gate valves have been replaced at the intersection of the Barton Shore Drive and its same-named cul-de-sac, as well as one of Juniper Lane. We have updated and submitted our Bacteriological Sample Site Plan to EGLE. Gate valve replacements at Corrie Road & Barton North are scheduled for July. Of the recent gate valve repairs, BHV employees were able to repair four in-house.
For the past three winters, despite best efforts to keep them heated, our Water Tower’s water lines have frozen. As our well pumps run according to whether or not we need water replenished in our tower, when the lines freeze, the pressure readout also freezes. This means the pumps do not turn on, even though residents are using water. Our instrumental contractors, UIS, are going to fix this problem by mounting the pressure unit directly to the standpipe inside the heated box.
The 2025 Trustee-approved BHV budget includes $32k to purchase and install new navigational signage within the Village: street name signs, fire hydrant signs for the hydrants that cannot be seen from the road, and “911” signs which are the green and white house number signs at the end of each home’s driveway. Three quotes have been secured, and we recommend contracting with two Michigan companies to manufacture & install the signs. Motion Authorize the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $32,000 to purchase and install MUTCD-compliant navigational street signs, fire hydrant signs, “911” homeowner address signs, signposts, bases, brackets, and finials throughout the Village, as well as decals for Village-owned vehicles. (Calabrese/Smith/P with Haitam voting no)
—During trash service, a BHV employee accidentally damaged the rock wall at 321 Juniper Lane. The quotes for the wall repair are $3,200. Moving forward, as the driveway is a very tight squeeze, the homeowner has agreed to bring their trash and recycle containers to the end of their driveway, and Village vehicles will no longer attempt to enter this driveway. Motion To approve spending $3,200 with Dexter Block to complete the repair (Perry/Capozza/P with Haitam voting no)
—An invoice was recently received from a previously approved expense from the FY2024-25. The invoice was for a Chlorinator. Motion To approve the payment of the invoice for the chlorinator for $14,500. (Darden/Perry/P)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Roads/Vehicles (Prager) The BHMC welcomes TechPro Bryan Rice who is here for 3 days to give recommendations on improving the security on BHMC’s privately-owned roads. The BHMC is hosting a meeting on Thursday July 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM for a Q & A with the BHMC Directors; BHV Trustees and public are invited. Multiple issues are being discussed to improve road safety and security. Village staff will continue cutting back brush to improve visibility. The BHMC will reevaluate its 3 new stop signs (at the intersection of Barton North and Spring Valley) based on resident feedback. This week, the BHMC is installing six new cameras that can read license plate.
–On behalf of the BHMC, Rich Prager, Don Remoski, and Brian Hanley met with BHCC’s General Manager to discuss parking issues, especially during swim meets. Mr. Klinger was very receptive and committed to keeping Village residents, Club members and guests safe.
–The Maple Rd (Foster) bridge is still closed.
Security (Darden) No report.
Water (Perry) Barton Hills Village wishes to protect the water remaining in “our” aquifer. The Board believes it is in the best interest of all property owners to participate in the conservation of existing water resources and limit or reduce the peak flow and maximum demands on our municipal water system. It is recommended the Village limits outdoor watering. Outdoor watering is discouraged between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Property owners with odd numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are encouraged to do outdoor watering only on odd numbered dates. Likewise, those with even numbered addresses (2, 4,6, 8, 0) are encouraged to do outdoor watering only on even numbered dates.
Motion To approve a resolution to adopt a policy encouraging, though not requiring, residents to participate. (Smith/Calabrese/P)
Community Activities (Calabrese) No report.
Environment (Hensinger) No report.
Human Resources (Smith) No report.
Long Range Planning (Torres) No report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS A subcommittee of Superintendent Reeves, and Trustees Darden, Perry, & Smith are preparing Village Code revisions and will return to the Trustees with a recommendation.
NEW BUSINESS Trustee Haitam would like to address privacy protection concerns, protecting our data. Trustees Darden and Haitam will review and evaluate the Village’s current Board-approved 2022 Privacy Protection Policy. It was discussed whether this is the appropriate body to handle such matters, with some suggesting this may fall under the BHMC purview.
There being no further business or objections, the meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM.
Theresa McDevitt, Deputy Clerk
