HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.17.25 Police and Fire Retirement Board Minutes
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES CITY OF LANSING
POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting June 17, 2025
10th Floor Conference Room Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
Present: Trustee Kreft, Moore, Schor (8:46), Taylor, Thomas, Wilcox, Wohlfert – 7.
Absent: Garza
Others present: Karen E. Williams, Thomas Lindemann, Human Resources Department, City Attorney
Joseph Abood, City Attorney’s Office; Attorney Aaron Castle, VanOverbeke, Michaud and Timmony;
Nathan Burk (via phone), Asset Consulting Group; Tom Cochran, Fire retiree.
It was moved by Trustee Taylor and supported by Trustee Moore to approve the Joint Employees’
Retirement System and the Police and Fire Retirement System Board Meeting minutes of May 13,
2025.
Adopted by the following vote: 6 – 0.
There were no public comments for items on the agenda.
Secretary’s Report:
5 Sworn Firefighters, 0 reinstatements(s), 0 refund(s), 0 transfer(s), 0 retired. Total: Active
membership 321. 4 Death(s): Mary Case (Beneficiary of IAFF Retiree) died 05/18/2025,
age 86; Marcel Holloway (CCLP Non-Supervisory) died 05/21/2025, age 75, Beneficiary
to receive 50%; Judith Miller (Beneficiary of CCLP Non-Supervisor) died 5/29/2025, age
85, Donna Nelson (Beneficiary of IAFF Retiree), died 5/21/2025, age 97. Refunds made
since the last regular meeting amounted to $128,664.19. Reimbursements to the System
year-to-date amount to $48,874.66. Retirement allowances for the month of May 2025
amounted to $3,500,521.92. Total retirement checks printed for P&F System 828. Total
retirement checks printed for both systems: 1741. Domestic relations orders received: 0.
Domestic relations orders pending: 0. Eligible Domestic Relations Order Certified: 0
It was moved by Trustee Moore and supported by Trustee Wilcox to approve the following request for
Regular Age and Service Retirement:
Kristi Pratl, (CCLP Non-Supervisory) 25 years of service, Age 51, effective 06/14/2025,
sworn date 06/26/2000
Matt Sehlke, (IAFF Firefighters) 25 years of service, Age 49, effective 07/13/2025, sworn
date 6/12/2000
Police and Fire Retirement System June 17, 2025
Meeting Minutes Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
Page 2
It was moved by Trustee Wilcox and supported by Trustee Taylor to approve the following request for
Regular Age and Service Retirement (continued):
Chad Sims, (IAFF Firefighters) 25 years of service, Age 55, effective 07/13/2025, sworn
date 06/12/2000
Thomas Coddington, (IAFF Firefighters) 25 years of service (converting from Duty
Disability), effective 07/01/2025,
Timothy Jacobs, (IAFF Firefighters) 25 years of service (converting from Duty Disability),
effective 07/01/2025
Adopted by the following vote: 6 - 0.
There were no requests for Duty Disability Retirement.
There were no requests for Non-Duty Disability Retirement.
Terri Taylor provided an oral report of the MAPERS Spring Conference held at the Motor City Casino
in Detroit Michigan. Trustee Taylor attended sessions that discussed Artificial Intelligence, chat GPT
and its effect on Jobs, Social Security.
Trustee Wohlfert mentioned that handouts from the conference were available on the MAPERS
website.
Trustee Thomas provided an oral report of the NCPERS Annual Conference held in Denver, Colorado.
Trustee Thomas attended sessions that discussed Tariff and its temporary impact on economic
markets, structural inflation and De- Globalization.
Trustee Moore also attended the NCPERS Annual Conference and added that he attended sessions
regarding reserve currencies, Tariffs, Artificial Intelligence and private real estate and equity.
Karen Williams reported on the MAPERS Fall Conference from September 13-16, 2025, in Detroit,
Michigan.
Karen Williams reported that the NCPERS Annual Fall Conference will be held October 26-29, 2025,
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was moved by Trustee Wilcox and supported by Trustee Moore to allow any member of the Board to
attend the NCPERS Annual Fall Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 26-29, 2025
Adopted by the following vote: 7 - .0.
Police and Fire Retirement System June 17, 2025
Meeting Minutes Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
Page 3
Karen Williams reported that each year, per City Council resolution, every member of a board or
commission, authorized by city ordinance or the city charter, shall obtain training on the ethics
ordinance, conflicts of interest and the Open Meetings. City Council has provided a 20-minute
informative video that members are required to review.
The following trustees have watched the Open Meetings Act/Ethics Ordinance video: Garza, Kreft,
Moore, Schor, Thomas, Wilcox, Wohlfert; Staff: Lindemann, Williams
Karen Williams reported that Trustee Garza contacted the Retirement Office and requested to be
excused from the Police and Fire Retirement System Board June meeting.
It was moved by Trustee Moore and supported by Trustee Kreft to excuse Trustee Garza from the
Police and Fire Retirement System Board June meeting.
Adopted by the following vote: 7 – 0.
Mr. Thomas Cochran, a Fire retiree and former Board member had public comments for items not on
the agenda. Mr. Cochran inquired about the health care reserve fund. Mr. Cochran reported that there
are 105 fire retirees who were given short notice on major increases to their health care costs. Mr.
Cochran inquired about the purpose and intent of the health care reserve.
Trustee Wohlfert explained the City has the monies invested with the pension assets, but the Board
does not control those monies.
Attorney Castle further explained that the Board’s role with respect to the health care reserve is as
investment fiduciary. Attorney Castle stated that Board is responsible for the investment of the funds,
which is done with the pension assets. The use of the dollars are up to the City and are only earmarked
for health care liabilities. It is the City’s decision on how the money is utilized.
Mr. Cochran inquired about what the intended use of the dollars in the health care reserve fund by the
City.
Attorney Castle responded that the inquiry should be addressed to the City about how and when the
funds are used.
Ms. Williams provided the following invoice for approval: from Northern Trust, $14,826.29; VMT Law,
$3,758.70.
It was moved by Trustee Moore and supported by Trustee Taylor to approve the Police and Fire
Retirement System Board invoices for payment for the month of June.
Adopted by the following vote: 7- 0
Police and Fire Retirement System June 17, 2025
Meeting Minutes Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
Page 4
Attorney Castle reviewed Mr. William Krummell request and application for purchase of intervening
military service time. Attorney Castle noted that Mr. Krummell was deployed for one year, but his
application has requested purchase of 2 years. Mr. Krummell was injured during his active military
service and spent an additional year of treatment and recovery. Attorney Castle received
documentation from Mr. Krummell’s regarding his injury, treatment and recovery. The documentation
has been forwarded to the Retirement Office for the Board’s record. Attorney Castle explained that
federal law allows for repayment over a period that is 3 times the length of intervening military service
(not to exceed five years).
It was moved by Trustee Wilcox and supported by Trustee Moore to approve Mr. William Krummell’s
application for purchase of intervening military service credit for the Police and Fire Retirement System.
Adopted by the following vote: 7 – 0.
Karen Williams noted that Mr. Lindemann has been tracking the duty disability income verifications for
the year.
Mr. Thomas Lindemann provided an update of the duty disability income verifications for the Police and
Fire Retirement System. Mr. Lindemann indicated that there were 15 members who had not reported
as of the deadline, April 30, 2025. Mr. Lindemann will send out a second letter and if there has still not
been a response, the Retirement Office will provide a list of disability recipients who would be subject
to pension suspension at the July meeting.
Trustee Thomas requested from the Police and Fire Retirement System to provide the Finance
Department for access to monthly retirement statement accounts. Trustee Thomas recommended
“read only” direct access.
It was moved by Trustee Moore and supported by Trustee Taylor to approve access monthly Police
and Fire retirement statement accounts to Ms. Crytal Thomas, Finance Director and Mr. Charles
Randle, Controller. Trustee Schor offered an amendment that was accepted to approve the position of
Finance Director and Controller to have access to retirement system statements.
Trustee Schor indicated that by approving the positions of Finance Director and Controller, the Board
would not have to provide access when there are staff changes.
Adopted by the following vote: 7 -0
Attorney Castle updated the Police and Fire Retirement System that the draft guidelines for PA 202
from the Michigan Department of Treasury are being finalized. Attorney Castle recommended the
consideration and approval of the actuarial request for proposal to wait until the July meeting.
Mr. Nathan Burk reviewed the Monthly Investment Report for the month ending May 31, 2025.
It was moved by Trustee Moore and supported by Trustee Wilcox to adjourn the Police and Fire
Retirement System June meeting.
Adopted by the following vote: unanimous.
The meeting ended at 9:11 a.m.
Minutes approved on 7/15/2025
_______________________
Crystal Thomas, Secretary
Police and Fire Retirement System
_____________________________
Eric P. Wohlfert, Chairperson
Police and Fire Retirement System