Board Meeting Minutes – February 10, 2026
Meeting: Called to order at 6:58 pm by Supervisor Jager
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by All
Roll call by Clerk Murat: Trustee Jager, Trustee Brant, Clerk Murat, Treasurer Halbower, Supervisor
Jager, all present.
Motion 1-2-26 by Trustee Jager to approve January 13th, 2026 meeting minutes, support by Trustee
Brant, Motion carries.
Motion 2-2-26 by Trustee Jager to approve payment of the bills as presented, support by Trustee Brant.
Motion carries.
Business from the floor:
Jeff Hunt, Greenwood Township Supervisor, inquiring about why the Holton Township Board
voted against the renewal of the Clark Union Cemetery.
Rich Houtteman, Community Affairs Manager, Consumer’s Energy, stopped by to touch base.
Chop trucks will be in town cleaning up power lines periodically. He also let the board know that the
streetlights (on the telephone poles) can be removed if we would like.
Kim Cole, Mason County Sheriff, came to introduce himself. He will be running for Jon
Bumstead’s senate seat.
Motion 3-2-26 by Trustee Jager to approve Treasurer’s report as presented, support by Clerk Murat.
Motion carries.
Department reports:
Inspections- 10 new permits for a total of $1191.00
Fire Department- 34 calls. 4 mutual aids
Ordinance- No updates
Correspondence:
Clark Union Cemetery– Supervisor Jager informed the Board that Clark Union Cemetery decided
to move forward with legal action to force Holton Township to pay annual dues after no vote by the
Board. Board members not in favor explained that they are struggling to financially maintain their own
cemetery as well as the rate increase of 25% from the previous year ($2000 in 2024 and $2500 in 2025)
and the absence of a contract to prevent such increases. Supervisor Jager stated that we would be forced
to pay the legal fees of both Holton and the Clark Union Cemetery if we lost the lawsuit. Board members
agreed that we need to contact our own attorney again to have them investigate the issue and advise the
Board what to do moving forward.
MADL– The board received a letter in response to questions about the Holton Township Library. Please
see attached.
Unfinished Business:
None.
Motion 4-2-26 by Clerk Murat to approve the re-hiring of Jerame Giddings with the same seniority and
wage he was at when he left August 8th, 2025, along with HSA and retirement benefits starting 2-2-2026,
support by Trustee Brant.
Roll call vote: Trustee Jager, no. Trustee Brant, yes. Treasurer Halbower, yes. Supervisor Jager, abstain.
Clerk Murat, yes. Motion carries.
Motion 5-2-26 by Trustee Jager to approve the appointment of Josie Derby from alternate to Board of
Review member for a 2-year term to the Board of Review, support by Supervisor Jager. Motion carries.
Motion 6-2-26 by Trustee Jager to appoint Justin Hiles as alternate to the Board of Review for a 2-year
term, support by Trustee Brant. Motion carries.
Motion 7-2-26 by Trustee Jager to approve to library EPS security panel upgrade, support by Trustee
Brant. Motion carries.
Motion 8-2-26 by Clerk Murat to approve up to $1500 for the Clerk to pay H&S Companies for
QuickBooks training and with help to clean up payroll issues, support by Trustee Brant.
Nay vote: Trustee Jager. Yay votes: Supervisor Jager, Treasurer Halbower, Trustee Brant and Clerk Murat.
Motion carries.
Motion 9-2-26 by Clerk Murat to adopt the Principles of Government sent by the Michigan Township
Association, support by Trustee Brant.
Roll call vote: Supervisor Jager, no. Clerk Murat, yes. Trustee Brant, yes. Treasurer Halbower, yes.
Trustee Jager, no. Motion carries.
Motion 10-2-26 by Trustee Jager to buy new vanities for the library up to $1000, support by Trustee
Brant. Motion carries.
Future business:
None.
Motion 11-2-26 by Trustee Jager to adjourn at 7:25 pm, support by Clerk Murat. Motion carries.
Respectfully submitted by Clerk Candy Murat