Goodland Twp. hears good news on audit

Cischke presides over final meeting

 

GOODLAND TWP. — In a meeting that was meant to quickly take care of business and then celebrate the work and dedication by former board members, the Goodland Twp. board moved through their agenda in less than an hour.

The meeting, held last Tuesday evening, was the final time Supervisor Ron Cischke would preside over the township board.

A large crowd of over 40 people, attended the meeting to thank Cischke and other board members for their service.

Wes Messing, with the auditing firm King & King, told the board he was pleased with the recent audit and how staff stepped up to help, in the absense of Clerk Mavis Roy who passed away just days before the audit.

“Coming in and doing the aduit, literally days after Mavis had just passed, you all did a wonderful job,” Messing praised. “Everything was in order and I thought it went very well. I saw no glaring issues and appreciate your work.”

Messing told the board they are in good financial shape and he was pleased with the township’s fund balance. He reviewed each department within the township, giving a brief summary.

The township’s general fund is at an all-time high in the past five years, sitting at just over $411,000, almost double what it was in 2020.

In the Public Safety department (Fire), the township has a fund balance of $156,469, even after having Capital Outlay of more than $57,000. The new fund balance amount is more than $23,000 less than a year ago.

Messing said the library Fund is in very good shape, with a healthy fund balance.

With an increase of over $51,000 to their account, the library ended the audit with $254,000 for a fund balance.

Messing pointed out expenses for the library have been trending upward over the past five years, from $49,000 in 2020 to $63,700 in 2024.

Township Treasurer Louis Parsch gave the financial report showing fund balances slightly different than from when the audit took place.

Public Safety has nearly $130,000 while the Library fund is at $245,000. The general account has a fund balance of $350,503, according to parsch.

Cischke said the township has designated all of their ARPA funding to upcoming projects within the township, including helping cover the costs of renovating the old schoolhouse.

The township, like all state municipalities, had until the end of the year to earmark the money for projects, or risk having to return any unused funds back to the State.

After 55 years of service to the township, in a variety of roles, Cischke decided to step down as Supervisor. Trustees Matt Van Dyk and Robert Vandenberg have also seen their time on the board come to a close.

New board members, including Clerk write-in candidate Amy Nolin, were scheduled to take their oath of office on Tuesday, November 19.

Other new members are Supervisor Mike Eckardt and Trustees Julie Dockham and Michael Puzzuoli. Treasurer Louis Parsch was the only board member to remain.

Longtime Clerk Mavis Roy passed away very unexpectedly earlier this fall. The board had appointed Deputy Clerk Nolin to fill in, until the new board took their positions at the table.

Nolin ended up running as a write-in candidate for Clerk and edged out township resident Susan Jones in a close race between write-in candidates to take over as Township Clerk.

“I just hope this new board remembers, this is a rural township and I for one, hope it stays like that,” said Vandenburg. “We don’t need all of this expansion that is going on. We keep it rural and everyone knows each other. That’s how it should be out in the country.”

Added Van Dyk, “I’ve enjoyed my time on the board and wish the new board well. I feel like we are a close knit community where we know each other and I hope it stays like that.”

Cischke thanked everyone, saying, “I call all of you my family. Whether it has been at these meetings, in the township hall or my actual family. You’ve all been a part of my family and I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”