Finance Committee
The Finance Committee’s purpose is to help the Board of Inland Township secure Inland Township’s financial health and vitality by assisting those involved with its operations. Members fiduciary duty is to ensure the financial matters of the Township are in line with and tie directly to its Strategic Plan.
1. Maintain accurate and complete financial records
The Finance Committee’s most important role is to ensure the records of the Township are accurate and complete. It’s important to review all available information. Useful reports include reports on investments, current period operating results, year-to-date results that include a budget to actual expenditures comparison, and reports that create useful benchmarks. These should be reviewed monthly and committee members should ask questions if the data is not in line with what is expected. The Annual Budget is a roadmap of where anticipated expenses will support the Strategic Plan.
2. Help present accurate, timely, and meaningful financial information to the Board
The Board makes decisions that affect the operations and health of the Township, so it is important that they have the latest and best information. The Finance Committee should help ensure that the Board and citizens have access to relevant and accurate financial information. For the Board Members to make decisions properly, financial statements should be presented ahead of meetings with sufficient time to fully comprehend them.
3. Helping the board understand the organization’s finances
In addition to presenting information to the Board, the Board needs to be able to understand the finances of the Township. Some financial reports provide a great deal of data, and it can be helpful for the Finance Committee to highlight important information. Finance committee members should disseminate useful information to the Board and help them interpret the numbers. Providing a deeper understanding of the finances will allow for more meaningful discussions that will help the Board better manage its budget and plan for the Township’s future.
4. Budgeting and anticipating financial problems
The budget is a blueprint for short-term and long-term financial stability, sets a guide for spending, and ties expenditures directly to the Strategic Plan. The Finance Committee should receive input from all decisions makers to allow the budget to carry out the agreed upon mission of the upcoming year. It’s also important that the Finance Committee help create a CIP and anticipate operational costs that may not be mission related, though necessary, and plan accordingly.
5. Safeguarding the organization’s assets
The Finance Committee needs to ensure the assets of the Township are properly maintained. This can be accomplished by assuring that proper controls, procedures, and accounting policies are followed. Internal controls and procedures need to be regularly reviewed to assure they are working properly to safeguard assets. Policies should be reviewed and updated as necessary.
6. Complying with federal, state, and other reporting requirements
The Township has multiple reporting requirements and these requirements can affect the Township’s eligibility for grants and contributions in addition to having other legal and financial implications. The Finance Committee will help those responsible make certain that all requirements are met.
Planning Commission
Inland Planning Commission was created April 1, 2020 and consists of five members appointed by the Inland Township Board. Each member serves a 3-year term.
What does the Inland Planning Commission do:
Creates and adopts a Master Plan to guide the township’s future land use patterns
Creates and adopts a Master Plan to guide the township’s future land use patterns
- Creates and adopts other related plans and studies
- Reviews and approves most development proposals – some proposals require final approval by the Township Board
- Makes recommendations on rezoning requests
- Drafts and makes recommendations on zoning ordinance refinements and updates
- Makes recommendations on other general law ordinances, as needed
- Planning Commission meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend to have a voice in your government.
- Inland Township is undergoing a Master Plan Update. Your opinions and ideas are important and will help shape the plan! Please follow along and watch for important dates on the project website. https://sites.google.com/view/inland-township-master-plan
Inland Planning Commission meets the 3rd Monday of the Month at 6:00 p.m. at - Inland Township, 19668 Honor Hwy., Interlochen, MI 49643
Zoning Board of Appeals
The function of the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals), is to review a decision of the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator, either affirm that decision or change it, usually with restrictions that the citizen must follow.
Board of Review
The Inland Township Board of Review is a quasi-judicial body that hears property owners' appeals to review and correct the assessment roll. Its duties include hearing appeals on property valuation, classification, and exemptions, as well as correcting clerical errors. The board consists of appointed members who conduct public hearings, typically in March, to address property tax-related concerns from residents.
Public hearings are held in March, but the board also has the authority to meet in July and December to address other issues, such as clerical errors and hardship exemptions.
Parks & Recreation Committee
Meetings are held when there are decisions to be made about new projects and planning is needed for the next season's work.
The Lamb Road Natural Area Park of Inland Township has been in development for a little over two years. It was purchased by the township under terms of a tax foreclosure. The owners had kept the 40 acre parcel in its natural state. Most of the property is a forest dominated by large Red Oak and White Pine, with areas of Jack Pine and some invading silver poplar along with fern meadows. A vernal creek runs through the southern end in the spring.
Work on the park has been carried out by a small group of volunteers who value forest ecosystems and enjoy walking trails free from off road vehicles and hunters. This park is such a place. It is surrounded by state forest lands that do not have such restrictions and therefore cannot offer the same peace and safety that a designated natural area owned by the Township can offer.
It is a place for forest walking among some very beautiful trees, a place for quiet walks with your dogs, (There are dog stations at both entrances) a place for a family picnic at one of the tables available, a place to rest on a bench away from the bustle of everyday life and be with the trees. In winter it will be a place to snowshoe or cross country ski. In the summer there may be educational events and guided trail walks. There will be the opportunity to start pollinator gardens in the open meadow that centers the property. There may be nature lessons and outings available to school kids from nearby schools, with a few teachers already interested in partnering on such events.
The trails are now open for public use, with trail maps at both entrances. Four interconnecting trails are marked for guidance, particularly in winter once the snow falls. Volunteers are always welcome to help with trail maintenance, cutting the trails in the winter for snowshoeing or skiing, and assembling infrastructure structures.
A small pavilion is now available at the main parking area and trail head area for picnics, nature programming and shelter from weather if needed.
A small pavilion is now available at the main parking area and trail head area for picnics, nature programming and shelter from weather if needed.
The park is located on the corner of Lamb and Cinder Roads and is accessible off the south end of Lamb where it comes into Cinder. The main entrance is just up Lamb road on the two track where there is ample parking. In the winter access will likely be at a smaller parking area just in from Cinder Road where snow is plowed and there is a trail head with map. We are working on convincing the road commission to plow up to the main entrance, but it hasn’t happened yet.
If you want further information or wish to volunteer, contact Inland Township Supervisor, to be directed to the appropriate parks committee member.
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