Hayes Hears from Harrison’s New Fire Chief

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – Community Reports at the March 10 Hayes Township General Board meeting began with Harrison Community Fire Department Chief Barry Wallace Jr. He began noting that he had taken over the position previously held by Chris Damvelt, adding that he had big shoes to fill in more ways than one.

“Definitely a big role to fill,” he said. “Chris did a wonderful job for our department and for our community. He did a great job for our community and I’m hoping to continue that.”

Wallace said his department has been involved with the schools in an effort to get more young people involved with the fire industry so they realize it is a potential career path, both locally or at a full-time department.

The Hayes Township fire report for last year showed 177 fire runs [the most in the department’s coverage area], five of which were structure fires. Wallace also note that his department needs more personnel, adding that two people had just been brought on, but that the department is always looking for more help.

“Our plan moving forward is to work on some cost recovery programs to help offset some of the cost to run fire apparatus,” he said. “Get into more community involvement, working with the schools, working with the young people.”

He then noted having done some things with the community, such as last year’s Easter Egg Hunt at the township.

“Let the community know that we’re here to serve in any capacity that we can,” he added. “I appreciate you working with us, and all the support we get from you – even from the motel fire and the work you put in with the Red Cross station here – even between Christmas and New Year with the power outages. I really appreciate you guys taking the initiative ... it means a lot to us because we’re not handling that type of stuff. You guys are doing a great job with that and we appreciate it.”

Supervisor Brendan Powell asked if there were any plans for new trucks at the fire department, to which Wallace said there was no plan currently.

“Right now we’re going through a capital improvement plan to see where we sit,” he said. “I just went a meeting all of last week for all the fire chiefs of all of Michigan, 35 fire chiefs all going through a different process. In that was working with our township clerks and working with the city manager to come up with a capital improvement program to figure out where we stand right now with our equipment and our building – and what the plan is to move forward.”

He said there was not current plan for a major purchase, and the intent is to keep things static and get a better handle on the department’s budget.

“The plan is not to increase any of the millages right now,” Wallace said. “Because I know money’s tight … I realize just because money comes to the township doesn’t mean you guys are sitting on $1.5 million; it’s all got to come in and out.”

He also fielded one question from the audience regarding the department’s participation in the free smoke detector/alarm program. Wallace said there are about 20-30 smoke alarms remaining from this year’s program allotment, and that his department installs two or three per month.

“And it’s not just for low income,” he said. “It’s for anybody who wants a smoke alarm.”

Another question referred to a youth fire cadet program, and Wallace said there is work being done right now to ensure the proper language to have such a program. “We just  turned in a report to him yesterday,” Wallace said. “We’re working through the proper language because MIOSHA has some laws, rules and regulations – there’s a lot of red tape involved. We’re trying to get the right language to work with our insurance agency so we can get the young kids in the door: to show them this could be a career opportunity for them.”

He said that once the language is taken care of, the plan is to get into middle school and high school.

“We’ve already been to the preschool elementary school,” Wallace said. “Sitting down having lunch and playing at recess – I think it’s more fun for us than it is for the kids.”

Clare County Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis followed by first noting there had been no County Board of Commissioners meeting since his last information was provided, but added that the lights are operational and on at the airport, which he said was great news. He also said there was an egg drop planning meeting the next day for the upcoming Egg-Stravaganza at the airport.

The Board approved the day’s agenda, the Feb. 24 General Board Meeting minutes, and Bills to be Paid.

That was followed by Department Reports, starting off with Supervisor Brendan Powell, who spoke of the recent Board of Review which saw 20 petitions, only three of which were in-person.

Later in the meeting, he also advised of maintenance work being done by Jim Hoskey, to include cleaning up downed trees along the trail, as well as downed trees and rubbish along the cemetery fence line. Hoskey also had repaired the floor scrubber.

Treasurer Savannah Cavanaugh reported the 2025 tax season had concluded, and that as of Thursday they had been ready to balance with the County. She had that morning met with the county treasurer to balance up. Cavanaugh said there were $1,038,838.25 outstanding. She said that was higher than last year, but that adjusted taxable values showed that 83.9 percent was collected this year, as opposed to 83.03% or 83.09% last year.

Cavanaugh noted a planned Community Night activity from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at The Venue on Main in Harrison: Harrison Rocks, which will be paint a rock, hide a rock, share a rock. She said rocks will be available with different types of paint and Mod Podge to seal them. Light snacks will be provided, and there also will a Harrison Rocks Facebook page where the rocks can be posted.

She also noted having worked with the EMCOG representative who has been writing the township’s parks and recreation plan, and if all goes as agreed, the first Parks and Rec Committee meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 13.

Clerk Deb Hoyt said new election equipment [required every 10 years] is in the state budget, projected at $15,000 per precinct, which will save Hayes Township $30,000.

Hoyt said she and Cavanaugh have been working on the CMF-DNR Spark Grant budget, and that there have still been problems with getting approvals for funding requests. She noted one that was due in 10 days, had been submitted on time, and had been requested to be resubmitted: which was done. The quarterly reports were due March 25 and had been filed March 9, thus on time.

“So, things are moving forward,” she said. “So when spring hits, we should start to see earth moving.”

Trustee Bob Buckley noted having received a report on the condition of Cranberry Lake. “Everything looks good on it,” he said. “I went over it pretty good, and everything’s fine there.”

Trustee Rob McKay noted having again had the gym open the previous Saturday and 10-14 kids had participated, adding that they all had a good time.

Andrew Goodman provided his Zoning/Code Enforcement report, which included reviews of permits from last year and site reviewing properties to ensure the township is looking at what is actually included. He also touched on spring cleanup, and noted working to get some dumpsters for people to do cleanup for spring. Then when he goes to do enforcement, they have been given a fair opportunity to address their problem.

“That’s been a lot of my time,” he said. “Getting prepared for what’s going to be a big spring for violations and cleanup.”

Goodman also described the Planning Commission Annual Report, which included PC board membership: chairperson John Marion; vice chair Charles Powell; and secretary Pat Adams. He said there is a current effort to make Goodman secretary for the Hayes Planning Commission. Additionally, the meeting dates set last October shifted to the first Wednesdays of January, April, July and October. Activities for 2025 included no site plan review; Master Plan review; one Special Use Permit for Dillons which was approved; and ordinance amendments.

Under Zoning Compliance and Enforcement, he noted that Enforcement was new this year, adding that there were 114 permits issued in 2025. Goodman said that this year, there are seven permits in compliance that had violated no permits.

“This year is expected to see at least double those numbers, so we can get these properties cleaned up,” he said. “I came in in August of last year, and since then I have a list of training I’ve been to. I’ve had official training to do what I’m doing.”

He noted the Board of Review had two variances which were granted. Goodman said the goal is to continue with the Master Plan to review and clean up any current ordinances.

Asked how long the process takes once someone is cited for blight, Goodman said they are normally given 14 days.

“I had been giving them 14 then giving them a second letter, but this year once I get the cleanup going and the knowledge out around the township, we’re going to try to stick with just the 14 days for them to come into compliance,” he said. “So, all together, by the time I hear from people and if they’re complying, it’s a month. If they’re not, its four to six, and from there it grows, depending on the fight. In the court, it can be six to nine months – or more.”

He clarified that his office is being pro-active, so he’s doing a lot of site reviews and isn’t requiring the public to sign their names on complaints.

“I will be going out and reviewing them,” he said. “And if they are seen to be in violation, I start the enforcement on it.”

New Business saw two actions. In the first, the Board moved to accept the Planning Commission Annual Report. The second motion approved was attendance to the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks Education Day for Clerk Hoyt, to include $50 for registration and $48.28 for mileage.

The Board will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 at the Hayes Municipal Complex, 2055 E. Townline Lake Road.

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