GREENWOOD TWP— Years of turmoil between the town board and it’s various elected clerks and treasurers, appeared to be more than enough drama for voters here as they overwhelmingly approved Option B, which hands control over the selection of these top officers to the town board.
Turnout was high for Greenwood’s annual election on Tuesday, with 328 voters casting ballots, 77-percent in favor of Option B.
The switch to Option B will take effect immediately for the town treasurer. The clerk will serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in March 2026.
Paul Thompson, who won the election for treasurer, garnering 79 percent of the vote, was clearly excited with the news, which means he will not be seated for the position he sought.
Thompson, who had strongly backed Option B, received 265 votes to former clerk JoAnn Bassing’s 67.
The town board, which met quickly after the close of the annual meeting, presented a draft of the job description that will be used to hire a new treasurer. The treasurer will be accountable to the town board, and responsible for properly handling and accounting for township funds. The board said they will finalize the job description at their reorganization meeting, which is set for Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Steve Bradach easily won the contest for the open supervisor seat, outpolling former supervisor Sue Drobac 261-65.
Residents boost levy
Board Chair Lois Roskoski gave a presentation on the 2026 budget, comparing township spending to that in neighboring areas like Tower, Breitung, and Eagles Nest.
Approving the township levy is the main point of business for a township annual meeting.
“Our levy is small, and we are the wealthiest community,” she said.
With a fund balance of $534,347 at the end of 2024, the town board asked for a $300,000 levy for next year, with projected spending of $343,130.
Roskoski did present figures of “needs and wants” that were not included in the 2026 budget. These included replacement of the fire department’s rescue snowmobile, replacement of the fire department’s indoor water tank, costs to remodel/upgrade the town hall kitchen, resurfacing the tennis court, maintenance on the town hall roof and replacement of several windows. But the big item on the list was the purchase of a new fire truck with an estimated price tag of $650,000.
Roskoski told the over 50 residents assembled for the meeting that the township had spent $146,000 more than levied in 2024, though this included the almost $100,000 spent to resurface the town hall parking area, which was paid out of township reserves.
The township had built up a sizable reserve of close to $1.3 million in previous years and had been slowly bringing this amount down by drawing on these reserves.
The 2026 budget presented did show a $56,000 surplus.
Steve Bradach asked if the township should look at levying more than the $300,000 requested.
“There is going to be a new fire truck,” he said. “Either we pay interest or start setting aside more money.”
“We do have money set aside,” said Roskoski. “But it certainly won’t cover a new fire truck.”
Mary Worringer, who served on the board previously, said the board also needed to be looking at setting aside funds for the maintenance of Birch Point Extension.
“The road needs to be safe,” Worringer said, “and it is not safe.”
Roskoski said the township has a road fund with about $25,000 set aside, and they are receiving about $5,000 a year in road aid.
“That is not adequate,” Worringer said. She noted that many people oppose spending money on this road since they do not personally benefit.
“I don’t play pickleball,” she said, “to be bitching and moaning and complaining about a road doesn’t make sense to me.”
Mike Ralston, who was moderating the meeting, said the township needs to have money set aside to protect their assets.
JoAnn Bassing suggested bumping up the levy to $600,000. Others noted that the average homeowner in the township is only paying around $200 a year in township taxes with the projected $300,000 levy.
Debby Spicer wondered if the township should only raise the levy bit by bit.
“There are a lot of elderly people on fixed incomes,” she said. “We don’t want to tax people out of their homes.”
A motion was made by Dan Carnicom to set the levy at $600,000. For the first time in many years, the vote was taken by a voice vote, not by paper ballots. The vote passed with less than a handful of no votes registered.
Board of audit
Clerk Debby Spicer presented the board of audit results from February.
“Disbursements were reviewed by the supervisors,” she said. “I can’t remember…did the disbursements and receipts match?”
The board of audit reports did not match.
“Some checks were missing from last February with no explanation,” said Spicer, noting this was from before she took the clerk seat in March.
Former clerk JoAnn Bassing said the missing checks had all been voided, and this information was recorded in monthly meeting minutes. Bassing said that these checks were kept in a locked drawer in the office.
“I did ask the treasurer (Jeff Maus) for the voided checks,” said Spicer. “But he said he didn’t have them. They weren’t entered into CTAS. That’s all I have to say about that.”
“That was the worst board of audit I’d ever been to,” said supervisor John Bassing. “And I’ve been to a lot of them.”
“How do we deal with the fact we don’t have a reconciled audit?” asked Ralston.
Roskoski said she had talked to the state auditor’s office, and they said to submit the set of books the board felt was correct, then after the election, can work to “get things right.”
A motion to delay accepting the board of audit was approved.
Annual meeting business
Supervisor Paul Skubic gave a brief road report, noting that potholes were repaired on Birch Point Extension last year, and the board had already approved brushing the sides of the road for this year.
Supervisor Craig Gilbert gave a brief summary of fire department activities in February, but no annual fire department report was given, as is usual practice.
Paul Thompson, president of the township’s recreation board, talked about the progress made since last year’s annual meeting.
“Last year we were debating on whether or not to build pickleball courts,” he said. “Tonight we have four new courts and are waiting for the snow to melt for play to begin.”
The courts cost $128,000, which included fundraising costs, Thompson said. Over $54,000 of this came from private donations, $25,000 from the township, and the rest from four grants. The recreation board raised $105,000 for the project.
“This is what our community can do when we decide to come together,” he said, thanking all the volunteers who work to keep the town hall grounds and recreation facilities in good shape.
Thompson said the committee has projects planned for 2025, including landscaping, adding more wood shavings to the playground area, and resurfacing the tennis court.
“We should have been putting aside $2,000 a year for the tennis court since it was built in 2014,” Thompson said. “This is something that needs to be done periodically.” Thompson said they would be asking the township for $17,000 for this project, and the rec committee hopes to raise another $12,000. The tennis court was built by the township.
Thompson said they are looking at purchasing wind screens for the fencing on the courts, which could be sponsored by area businesses.
The recreation committee is planning a grand opening for the new pickleball courts in June, and have plans for offering lessons for beginners, and for other social events.