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Josh Stump - Bedford Township Trustee, Lambertville (2026)

07/01/2026

Session started at 10:00. The most productive thing we’ve done so far is the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer.

Honestly, not bad considering some of the stuff that’s come out of Lansing lately.

04/28/2026

Spoke to students from BHS and BJHS. It was awesome to see the younger generation fired up about our country and the constitution. I have hope for the future because of people like them!

03/29/2026

If I’m not posting much, it’s because I’m staying busy!

This last week, I had the opportunity to attend several great events that were put on by some great organizations: the Monroe County Community Foundation, the Monroe County Business Alliance, and the Bedford Business Association’s Trade Fair. My favorite stop was going back to my alma mater and having the chance to give back to a place that gave me so much.

Grateful to be part of a community that continues to stay engaged and work together to make our area stronger.

03/17/2026

Roundabout Update!

Tentative dates: The utility work will begin on May 14th, and the road shutdown will be June 8th. This is planned to be a 10-week project, weather permitting.

For specifics, please reach out to the MCRC.

03/10/2026

Below are the summaries of the last 3 board meetings:

Summary of the 2/3/26 Bedford Township Board Meeting

🇺🇸 1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER
- Meeting called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

📄 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- Agenda approved as presented.

🗂️ 3. CONSENT AGENDA
- Routine consent agenda items approved including various board and committee reappointments.

📊 4. PRESENTATIONS
- Fire Department Update & Staffing Discussion
- Significant discussion focused on fire department staffing levels and the ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
- Public comments emphasized that even well-equipped stations are ineffective without sufficient personnel.
- Board members acknowledged the importance of clearly communicating fire department priorities to the community ahead of upcoming millage proposals.

🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only – 4 minutes)
- Fire Department Staffing Concerns
- Residents stressed the need for adequate staffing to ensure emergency response coverage throughout the township.
- Financial Transparency and Budget Concerns
- Public comments referenced past spending and emphasized the need for clear communication regarding how future millage funds would be used.
- Speakers urged the board to develop a strategy to better inform residents about fire department needs and upcoming funding proposals.

📋 5. STAFF REPORTS
- No major staff reports requiring detailed summary.

📂 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- No unfinished business items discussed.

7. NEW BUSINESS
A. Vouchers for Payment
- Board approved voucher payments covering township operational expenses across multiple funds.

B. Approve the 2026 Poverty Exemption Guidelines
- Board approved annual poverty exemption guidelines for qualifying residents.

C. Resolution for Charitable Gaming License – Bedford Baseball Boosters
- Board approved a charitable gaming license resolution supporting Bedford Baseball Boosters fundraising activities.

D. Approve the Feasibility Study for All Three Fire Stations
- Board approved a feasibility study to evaluate the operational viability of all three fire stations.
- Two proposals were received for the study.
-The goal is to provide objective data regarding:
-Facility conditions
- Long-term infrastructure planning
- Results will help guide budgeting decisions and future millage discussions.

E. Approve Installation of New Lighting Control Panel at Township Hall
- Board approved installation of a new lighting control panel for Township Hall to improve facility operations.

F. Approve Appointment of Planning Commission Representative to the Board of Zoning Appeals
- Appointment approved to maintain proper representation between township boards.

G. Approve Appointment of Alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals
- Alternate member appointment approved to support Board of Zoning Appeals operations.

H. Approve Moratorium Ordinance
- Board approved a moratorium ordinance related to data center applications.
- During the moratorium period the township will:
- Draft zoning amendments addressing data center development.
- Evaluate infrastructure and energy considerations.
- Ensure transparency in land-use discussions.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (2 minutes each)
- Residents reiterated concerns about fire department staffing levels and the importance of preparing the community for upcoming millage proposals.
- Requests made for increased transparency in budgeting and spending related to emergency services.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS
- Board members discussed the importance of providing regular fire department run statistics at future meetings to improve transparency and public understanding.

ℹ️ INFORMATION
- Township Operations Updates
- Station 2 bay floor structural issues were identified and will require attention.
- Planning for future fire department staffing and operational costs is underway.

🔚 ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned.
_______________________________________________________________________

Summary of the 2/17/26 Bedford Township Board Meeting

🇺🇸 1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER
- Meeting called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

📄 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- Agenda approved as presented.

🗂️ 3. CONSENT AGENDA
- The Board approved the consent agenda including:
- Minutes from the February 3, 2026 regular meeting.
- Treasurer’s reports for January 2026 (General, Savings, Pooled Funds, and CDs).
- Balance Sheet and Revenue/Expense Report through January 31, 2026.
- Accepted with regret the resignation of Linda Willing from the Building Department.

📊 4. PRESENTATIONS
A. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Update
- Sheriff’s Office reported generally stable crime statistics.
- Residents were reminded to lock vehicles and secure valuables as warmer weather approaches due to seasonal increases in theft and fraud activity.

B. Pinning Ceremony – Courtney Miller
- A pinning ceremony was held recognizing Courtney Miller’s promotion to Lieutenant within the Bedford Township Fire Department.

C. Bedford Township Fire Department 2025 Report
- Fire Department responded to 4,128 calls in 2025 and is projected to exceed 4,300 calls in 2026.
- 465 medical transports were recorded, the highest in department history.
- Firefighters completed nearly 7,000 training hours, demonstrating continued focus on readiness and safety.
- Department leadership emphasized the importance of continued training and recruitment to maintain response capacity.

🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only – 4 minutes)
- Residents encouraged continued community safety education efforts, particularly related to crime prevention and fraud awareness.
- Public speakers also emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate resources for emergency services.

📋 5. STAFF REPORTS
- No major staff reports requiring summary.

📂 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- No unfinished business items discussed.

7. NEW BUSINESS
A. Vouchers for Payment
- Board approved vouchers totaling $141,773.86 covering multiple township funds.

B. Approve Contract with Monroe County Road Commission
- Board approved a contract with the Monroe County Road Commission to repair a cross tile on Samaria Road to Rauch Road, addressing drainage and roadway infrastructure needs.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (2 minutes each)
- Community Communication and Transparency
Residents requested improved communication from the board regarding ongoing township issues and responses.
- Utility Work Concerns – Frontier Communications
Residents raised concerns about construction work and property damage associated with Frontier utility installations.
- Requests were made for township assistance in coordinating communication and addressing complaints.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS
- Board members discussed the importance of continued meeting attendance and ensuring township business is covered when members are unavailable.
- Ongoing policy updates and governance improvements were discussed.

ℹ️ INFORMATION
- Public Safety & Operational Priorities
- Continued recruitment and training efforts within the fire department remain a priority.
- The department will continue providing regular incident and response reports to the board.
- Township Governance and Policy Updates
- Board leadership will review and update board policies.
- Early planning began for a veterans’ memorial project at the township building, including potential drawings and future state funding requests.

🔚 ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned.
_______________________________________________________________________

Summary of the 3/3/26 Bedford Township Board Meeting

🇺🇸 1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER
- Meeting was called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

📄 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- The agenda was approved as presented.

🗂️ 3. CONSENT AGENDA
- The Board approved the consent agenda including:
- Minutes from the February 17, 2026 regular meeting.
- Accepted with regret the retirement of Bedford Township Firefighter Joshua Shinaver after 25 years of service.
- This recognition highlighted the long-term commitment of township employees and their impact on the community.

🎖️ 4. PRESENTATIONS
- Proclamation Honoring Firefighter Joshua Shinaver
- The Board honored Joshua Shinaver for 25 years of service with the Bedford Township Fire Department.
- His dedication and service were recognized as an example for current and future firefighters.

🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only – 4 minutes)
- Public comments emphasized continued support for fire department staffing, equipment, and community safety efforts.

📋 5. STAFF REPORTS
- Staff reports provided updates on township operations and public safety initiatives.

📂 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- No major unfinished business items were discussed.

7. NEW BUSINESS
A. Vouchers for Payment
- The Board approved vouchers totaling $345,963.29 across township funds including the General Fund and Fire Fund.

B. Rezoning Request – Sterns Road Property
- The Board reviewed and denied a rezoning request for property on Sterns Road east of Lewis Avenue, seeking to change zoning from C-1 Local Commercial to C-3 General Commercial.

C. Fire Training Tower Inspection Contract
- The Board approved an $18,000 contract with Fire Facilities Inc. for inspection and certification of the fire department’s training tower.
- This certification ensures compliance with safety standards and allows firefighters to continue training on the facility.

D. Purchase of a New Fire Engine
- The Board discussed plans to purchase a new fire engine, estimated at approximately $900,000, to replace aging equipment.
- The purchase is intended to maintain operational readiness and emergency response capability.

E. Firewall Replacements
- The Board approved upgrading township cybersecurity infrastructure by replacing outdated firewall systems with SonicWall equipment.

F. Precision Epoxy Floor Contract
- A contract was approved for Precision Epoxy to complete flooring improvements within township facilities.

G. Siren Preventative Maintenance Contract
- The Board approved a contract with West Shore Services for annual siren preventative maintenance totaling $8,450.
- This ensures emergency alert systems remain operational for community safety.

H. Bedford Senior Community Center Contribution
- The township approved financial support for the Bedford Senior Community Center, continuing the township’s support for senior services.

I. Purchase of Shelving for Document Storage
- The Board approved the purchase of shelving units for document storage in the upper maintenance building.

J. Use of Township Hall Board Room
- Request tabled until the next meeting regarding use of the Township Hall board room for community or township purposes.

K. Approval of Full-Time Administrative Position – Building Department
- The Board approved creating a full-time administrative position in the Building Department to assist with operations and workload demands.

L. Monroe County Road Commission Contract
- The Board approved a contract with the Monroe County Road Commission for dust control services.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
- Residents discussed several topics including:
- Community engagement related to public safety initiatives.
- Continued investment in fire department infrastructure and equipment.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS
- Board members discussed:
- Long-term planning for fire department staffing and equipment needs.
- Preparing for potential future fire department millage discussions with the community.

ℹ️ INFORMATION
- Public Safety Investments
- Continued planning for a new fire engine purchase to ensure modern equipment and reliable emergency response.
- Emergency Alert System Maintenance
- Preventative maintenance contracts ensure township warning sirens remain functional and ready.
- Fire Department Training Infrastructure
Certification of the training tower supports ongoing firefighter training and safety compliance.

**Edit**

I have not historically added every public comment in my summaries. The following was requested by a resident to be added. I have no problem doing this, as it all happened on record during public comment.

Missing from 2/3 meeting:
1st PC -
* resident request to institute a standard practice of adding items on agenda under Unfinished Business for better accountability (recurring request)

2nd PC -
* request for increased PC time consistent with other government entities (recurring request)
* request for reinstated PC summaries in minutes (recurring request)

Missing from 2/17 meeting:
2nd PC -
* resident request for improved Board response to emails and voiced concerns (recurring request)
* request for follow through on Board Policy update (recurring request)
* request to establish Board Social Media Policy in keeping with best practice
* request for Board discussion and planning if AxMITax were to pass

Missing from 3/3 meeting:
1st PC -
* request for wage study and scale review and need for list of Township service contracts with expiration dates
* request for more detailed consideration of fire wall replacement

2nd PC -
* request for zoning decisions and discussions to refrain from extraneous and irrelevant matters
* request for improved responsiveness, transparency, and accountability citing poor response to emails (recurring request)
* multiple requests for Board action and adherence to its Ethics Policy regarding Trustee Bruning’s behavior, including censure (recurring request)

03/09/2026

Life has been busy!

01/27/2026

Below are the summaries of the TWO board meetings in January. The first meeting was only 30 minutes, so I combined it with this last meeting.

Summary of the 1-6-26 Bedford Township Board Meeting
🇺🇸 1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER

Meeting was called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only – 4 minutes)
- Speakers criticized perceived delays in agenda items, expired committee memberships, and alleged preferential treatment in appointments.
- Public speakers expressed concern over dismissive or exclusionary rhetoric toward non-conservative residents.
- Bedford Indivisible described itself as nonpartisan and welcoming, extending an invitation to board members to attend meetings.

📂 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- No unfinished business was listed or acted upon.

7. NEW BUSINESS
A. Vouchers for Payment
- Board approved vouchers totaling $337,719.91, covering General Fund, Fire, Library, Capital Asset Revolving Fund, and other township funds.

B. Land Division for Parcel Over the 6:1 Depth-to-Width Ratio
- Board approved a land division request following Board of Zoning Appeals approval.
- The request involves a landlocked parcel where the owner intends to build a new home and sell an existing property.

C. Accept the Draft Master Plan as Presented
- Draft Master Plan presented with Planning Commission amendments shown in red for transparency.
- The document is non-binding and serves as a guiding framework for future land use and development.
- Housing construction decline from historical averages of ~250 homes per year to approximately 60 homes annually.
- Ongoing concerns related to housing affordability.
- Updates to water and sewer maps, including clearer public vs. private sewer distinctions.
- Board unanimously accepted the draft Master Plan to return it to the Planning Commission for final approval on January 14, 2025.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (2 minutes each)

FOIA Policy & Records Management
- Renewed calls for stricter FOIA compliance and exclusive use of township email accounts for official business.
- Requests for investigation into committee and commission appointment processes due to perceived favoritism.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS
- Board highlighted 2026 as a major election year in Michigan, encouraging public engagement and voter participation.
- Announcement made that Township Hall will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19, 2025).
- Board discussed proactive development of a data center moratorium and upcoming policy resolutions.
- Discussion of upcoming resolution to prohibit tax incentives and non-disclosure agreements for data centers.
- Ongoing township operational improvements noted, including infrastructure maintenance.

🔚 ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned in accordance with agenda requirements.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summary of the 1-20-26 Bedford Township Board Meeting

🇺🇸 1. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER
- Meeting called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.

📄 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- Agenda approved as presented.

🗂️ 3. CONSENT AGENDA
- The Board approved the consent agenda, including:
- Minutes from the January 6, 2026 regular meeting.
Treasurer’s reports for December 2025 (General, Savings, Pooled Funds, CDs).
- Balance Sheet and Revenue/Expense Report through December 31, 2025.
- Annual Investment Report.
- Reappointments to township boards and authorities, including the Board of Zoning Appeals, Library Advisory Board, and Downtown Development Authority.

📊 4. PRESENTATIONS
A. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Update
- Sheriff’s Office warned residents of an increase in fraud scams, including: Impersonation of law enforcement officers claiming outstanding warrants. Requests for payment via cash, wire transfer, or gift cards.
- Residents were urged to verify calls and never send money without confirmation.

B. Financial Audit Report – Gabridge & Company
- Township received a clean (unmodified) audit opinion for the last fiscal year
- No issues identified with the federal compliance audit related to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expenditures.
- Auditor confirmed strong financial controls and overall fiscal health.
- Nothing the Township could have done better.

🗣️ PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only – 4 minutes)
- Speakers raised concerns about lack of detailed disclosure for reappointments, particularly for Downtown Development Authority members who do not reside in the township but hold business interests.
- Requests made to move board appointments out of the consent agenda for greater transparency.
- Public requested periodic reporting on how many Monroe County sheriff deputies are assigned to Bedford Township and when they are reassigned elsewhere.

📋 5. STAFF REPORTS
- N/A

📂 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- No unfinished business listed.

7. NEW BUSINESS

A. Vouchers for Payment
- Payments included routine operational expenses and capital-related costs.

B. Resolution to Approve 2026 Sewer Rates
- Due to debt pay-downs, rates will slightly decrease, with a typical household seeing a quarterly reduction from $185.00 to $184.83.

C. Approve Habitec Installation Cost and Recurring Fire Monitoring
- Board approved reduced monthly cellular monitoring costs for the library fire system, negotiated down from $85 to $65 per month.
- Habitat installation and monitoring adjustments help avoid larger long-term system costs.

D. Moratorium Resolution
- Board discussed adoption of a one-year moratorium prohibiting acceptance of data center applications.
Goals of the moratorium include:
- Preventing rushed development.
- Allowing time to update zoning ordinances.
- Maintaining transparency by avoiding non-disclosure agreements.
- Planning Director and legal counsel authorized to draft the ordinance and integrate it into township code.
- Public hearings and Planning Commission meetings will be held during the moratorium period.

🗣️ COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (2 minutes each)
- Property owners and legal counsel requested repeal or modification of restrictive ordinances affecting gas stations and alcohol sales, citing stalled development at key intersections.
- Residents called for restoration of longer public comment periods and less restrictive rules, including allowing criticism of board members during meetings.
- Request made to explore expanded overnight warming center options during severe cold weather, including partnerships with nonprofits and special permits.

Board Comments
- New maintenance building is complete, occupancy permit issued, funded with ARPA dollars, and completed without loans or cost overruns.
- Downtown Development Authority is preparing traffic signal proposals for future board consideration.
- Grant applications underway for energy-efficient and historical upgrades at Banner Oak School, including accessibility improvements.
- Clerk's Department closure on January 28 from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for staff training.

🔚 ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned..

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas, Bedford!

Josh Stump - Bedford Township Trustee

07/01/2026

04/28/2026

03/29/2026

03/17/2026

03/10/2026

03/09/2026

01/27/2026

12/25/2025

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