By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES -- Pokagon Township received an unqualified, or "clean" financial opinion from Plante and Moran, which conducted the audit of the fiscal year which ended March 31.
Lanterns were set out on tables in case power went out again.
The township hall on Peavine Street was without lights prior to the meeting, but they only flickered once during the proceedings.
The general fund ended the year with almost $660,000 in fund equity, Vargo added.
Pokagon "is probably in good position going forward" into the uncertainty of new cuts anticipated by the State of Michigan which continues to struggle with a $900 million shortfall in the new budget year which began Oct. 1.
Pokagon had budgeted to have some $50,000 in excess revenue, "when in fact it turned out to be $80,000. In actuality, the performance over the year was better than what you had anticipated. That's great. It shows some good fiscal responsibility.
She also commended the board for computerizing its general ledger.
Community Policing Officer Kim Sharma of the Cass County Sheriff's Office broke out 26 incidents deputies handled in Pokagon Township between Oct. 8-Nov. 11.
Sharma noted there were two larcenies -- tires and rims stolen off a van on Edwards Street on Nov. 2 and a radio stolen from a vehicle on Union Street Oct. 24. On Oct. 10 a vehicle was stolen on Warren Drive. "We recovered it a couple of hours later in Dowagiac," she said.
Supervisor John True had tendered his resignation Oct. 8. The board took it under advisement until the Nov. 12 meeting, then voted to withdraw it with his consent.
This Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be the last at the transfer station on Pokagon Highway until March.