Despite opposition from many members of the public, the Leland Township board voted 4-1 to eliminate the full-time township maintenance position at its regular meeting Monday night, with treasurer Shirley Garthe being the one opposing vote.
Ken Hagstrom served in the maintenance position for 29 years, performing a wide range of maintenance and custodial duties for all township property and buildings. Township Supervisor Clint Mitchell said that talks about the position and cost effective savings began last year as they were going into the budget, noting that they had to scramble a bit to maintain the parks when Hagstrom was unable to work in 2023. At the direction of the board, Mitchell said they budgeted and looked at other companies that could do the work of the current maintenance job, weighing what the cost comparisons would be and if potential companies would be able to handle the work load of all the parks and additional projects.
According to the projected maintenance cost comparison for the fiscal year 2024, the maintenance position salary is $43,680, but with other add-ons such as healthcare, gas, diesel, fuel, and supplies, a phone, and pension, the total estimate to fund the position is $73,760. The projected cost comparisons also looked at outsourced mowing estimates from various businesses at different township locations. It was determined that the total township estimated savings, if the position was eliminated and maintenance work was outsourced, would be $40,310.
