By Mason Doerr
For the Advertiser
ELMWOOD TWP — Excitement and relief filled the Gagetown/Elmwood Township Fire Department’s conference room during Ellington Township’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Due to a misunderstanding in 2012, the IRS ordered Elmwood Township to pay them a hefty sum of money.
“They originally leveed $14,460.12,” said Treasurer Cheryl Kilbourn. “They (IRS) claimed that we owed them this money for payroll taxes that were not paid.”
Expecting never to see this money again, Elmwood Township officials were much more relaxed after hearing that the township received $11,439.50 back from the IRS.
“The Payroll taxes were paid, it was just reported on the wrong form. The IRS is not fast to deal with. You have to be patient with them,” Kilbourn said. “It was just a matter of getting it straightened out.”
Elmwood Township Clerk Amy Maurer said that they plan on using the reimbursed money to make improvements to the township hall — including the purchasing of new tables and chairs.
“Merry Christmas to us,” Kilbourn said during the meeting.
ALSO AT THE MEETING
* Noted that the Gagetown/Elmwood Fire Department went on four runs in the past month. The department assisted Cass City with a house fire, Cass City with a chimney fire, Unionville with a structure fire and Akron with a grain bin fire. The department’s mileage for the month totaled 501 traveled miles. Whether or not firefighters pay would rise with the new minimum wage was also lightly discussed and will be further considered in March.
* Discussed increasing the price for renting the conference room in the Gagetown/Elmwood Fire Department building from $50 to $100. The topic will be further discussed at a later date.
* Noted that no building permits were applied for since the last monthly meeting.