File photo of Alpena Township office building.

ALPENA – The Alpena Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution during Monday’s meeting to rejoin the Michigan Township Association (MTA). The township dissolved its relationship with the MTA in 2024.

According to MTA’s website, the Michigan Townships Association is a nonprofit, voluntary organization established in 1953 to represent, educate, and advocate for Michigan’s 1,240 township governments. Serving over 99% of townships, it provides a unified voice in Lansing and Washington, D.C., along with training and resources for local officials.

The stated objective of the MTA is to gain a unified voice in state and federal advocacy, specialized education, and professional support tailored to local governance.

In a statement from then Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe on July 26, 2024, the board decided to step back for a year and reassess its position in the next fiscal year, citing membership dues of approximately $8,000 annually.

At Monday’s meeting current Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski addressed the board and the prospect of rejoining the MTA.

“We have been discussing this as long as I have been here, at the recent budget workshops we discussed this,” Kaszubowski said. ” I did reach out to the MTA and they do not have their rates finalized for the next year, but after talking with their financial director it seems as though the rate would stay the same, it would be $7,318 to rejoin as a member, prorated at $694 a month until the start of their new year in July.”

Kaszubowski discussed her reasoning behind the desire to join the MTA, after nearly two years as a non-member.

“The accessibility to more resources for the township board, as well as the other boards, including the planning commission, zoning board of appeals and board of review will increase,” Kaszubowski explained.

For the months of April, May, and June the township will pay the prorated cost of $694 a month until the next fiscal year begins for the MTA in July.

The potential move to re-join the MTA was accounted for in the budget for the new fiscal year that the board approved during a special meeting on Monday, prior to the regular board meeting.

“The fee was budgeted for in the coming 2026, 2027 fiscal year and will come out of the board of trustees line item,” Kaszubowski said.

Kaszubowski said she hopes taxpayers can see why being a member of the MTA is a value and worth the cost.

“Membership helps keep elected officials and members of other boards to stay informed, compliant and effective in their roles along with opening channels for connection and communication with an extensive, statewide network of people facing the same challenges,” Kaszubowski said. “This will help us to stay ahead of changes rather than reacting to them. The MTA focuses on preserving local decision-making authority based on our community and not a one-size-fits-all mandate.”

All present members of the board voted in favor of the motion except for Township Clerk Michele Palevich. Trustee Steve Lappan and Township Treasurer Laura Ellory-Somers were not present due to excused absences.