Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: January 12, 2004
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
January 12, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori,
Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton, Patricia Short and Brent
Williams. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Russ Ratkiewicz, Rick Baxter, John Sheets, Dave Morlock, Brad
Smith, Stan Lyon, John Tallis and Geoffrey Snyder.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:32 p.m.
Brad
Smith addressed the board regarding his run for Congress in the
7th District. Rick Baxter, County Commissioner, informed the board
of the 2% salary increase for the road commissioners, an update
regarding flu shots at the health department, a new program coming
to Jackson Crossing Mall designed to educate youth regarding teenage
pregnancy, and a program for children going into school that would
screen for vision and hearing that was given additional funding
by the county to the health department. Public comment closed
at 7:47 p.m.
Minutes.
Minutes of the regular meeting of December 8 were approved
on motion by Ganton and support by Fortress with the correction
of the date of the meeting; carried. Minutes of the special meeting
of December 29 were approved on motion by Williams and support by
Fortress; carried.
Financial
Report. The financial cash report for the month was received
on motion by Ganton and support by DeVries, showing the following
balances as of December 31:
General
Fund Cash
$ 142,127.12
Certificate
of Deposit
121,333.69
Fire
Operations Cash
5,983.01
Fire
Operations CD
175.64
Street
Light Fund
(4,634.59)
Public
Improvement Fund
(18,469.98)
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
164.30
Building
Inspection Fund
49,526.18
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
10,746.86
Sewer
Funds
1,313,778.18
Water
Funds
183,336.73
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
885,946.36;
motion
carried.
The
financial report showing revenues and expenditures for the month
ended December 31, 2003 was received on motion by Fortress and support
by DeVries; carried.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by DeVries and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures: General Fund vouchers #40098-40248
totaling $55,217.14; Fire Department Fund vouchers #40100-40250
totaling $29,151.80; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $2,696.96;
Public Improvement Fund expenditures totaling $4,252.30; Building
Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $8,862.11; Sewer Receiving
Fund disbursements totaling $300.00; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures
totaling $22,007.61; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling
$3,497.75. Roll call: 7 yes.
BOARDS
AND COMMITTEES:
Park
Committee. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Fortress to approve the minutes of the September 22, 2003 meeting
of the Park Committee; carried.
Policy
& Communications Committee. Motion was made by Short
and supported by Fortress to approve the minutes of the October
8, 2003 meeting of the Policy & Communications Committee; carried.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to approve
the minutes of the November 10, 2003 meeting of the Policy &
Communications Committee; carried. Motion was made by Ganton and
supported by Williams to approve the November 17, 2003 meeting of
the Policy & Communications Committee; carried.
Budget
Committee. Motion was made by Fortress and supported
by Ganton to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2003 meeting
of the Budget Committee; carried.
Planning Commission. Motion was made by Short and supported
by Ganton to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2003 meeting
of the Planning Commission; carried.
Senior Center Advisory Board. Motion was made by Ganton
and supported by DeVries to approve the minutes of the December
16, 2003 meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried.
REPORTS:
A., B. Police and Fire Report. There were 35 medical
rescue runs, no fire alarms, four mutual aid calls, 10 fire runs,
one carbon monoxide incident, and no bomb threats or Hazmat responses
during December. Police statistics include: 154 complaints, 14
accidents, 37 tickets, 48 verbal warnings, three arrests, one semi
ticketed and six back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that the month of December was relatively quiet;
calls for service dropped compared to the previous year with accidents
down overall too. No fatalities were reported last year. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by DeVries to accept the police
report; carried.
Chief
Greenslade was not available for a report. Motion was made by
DeVries and supported by Williams to accept the fire report; carried.
C. MTA E-News for January 2004. The MTA E-News for
January included information regarding the Capitol Conference and
the Educational Conference, results of a local planning and zoning
survey, a web site that will inform regarding a community’s pollution
levels, board of review changes, a notice regarding the Revised
Municipal Finance Act, new information on the MTA web site, new
township web sites (featuring Spring Arbor Township), legal counsel
opinions, upcoming workshops and how to email the MTA.
D. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #1. Goal #1, assigned
to Supervisor DeGraaf, is to expand the sewer and water systems.
The Supervisor reported that he is working on developing petitions
for residents interested in having water expanded in their subdivision.
E. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #10. Goal #10,
assigned to Clerk DeVries, is to analyze township office operations.
The Clerk reported that a meeting was held with representatives
from Rehmann Robson & Co. to discuss current financial practices
and how to integrate the financial systems.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A. Recommendation from Park Committee for West County Little League.
Dave Morlock, from the West County Little League, provided
a presentation regarding the improvements that their group would
like to make at Gallagher Park to update the ball fields and obtain
sponsorships from businesses to help cover the costs, and then promote
those businesses. Motion was made by DeVries and supported by
Williams to approve the request of the West County Little League
to improve the fields at Gallagher Park, i.e. replace benches, pour
cement slabs and install fencing around bench areas, field maintenance,
new dirt, repair and/or replace home plates, pitchers rubbers and
base spikes, and repair of backstops, to allow them to plan and
host a tournament at Gallagher Park, and to post banners recognizing
field sponsorships received from a business; carried.
B. Rezoning Request - Spring Arbor University, Parcel #165-12-16-352-009-00.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams
to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the
County Affairs Committee and approve the rezoning request from Spring
Arbor University to rezone parcel number 165-12-16-352-009-00from
Subruban Residential (RS-1) to Multiple Family Residential (RM-1).
Roll Call: 7 yes.
C. Request for Credit Card for Senior Center. The Clerk
discussed a conversation with a Senior Center board member regarding
their request for a credit card for use at the Senior Center.
She indicated that she would be willing to attend the upcoming Senior
Center board meeting to discuss the issue with the entire board.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Ganton to table the request
until the February board meeting; carried.
D. Summer Tax Collection Request. Treasurer Melchiori
presented a summary of estimated costs for the tax collection of
the Summer 2004 taxes. Motion was made by Melchiori and supported
by Short to approve the summer tax collection request as presented;
carried.
E. Resolution to Indemnify MDOT for State Trunkline Closure.
Motion was made by DeVries and supported by Fortress to approve
the resolution indemnifying the Michigan Department of Transportation
from legal action due to the request of Spring Arbor Township to
close the state trunkline for the annual Memorial Day Parade.
Roll Call: 7 yes.
F. Southwest Regional Utilities Authority. The Supervisor
discussed the Articles of Incorporation to form the Southwest Regional
Utilities Authority. The Authority will allow the townships to
organize as a group, working cooperatively. Motion was made by
DeVries and supported by Fortress to adopt the resolution approving
the Articles of Incorporation forming the Southwest Regional Utilities
Authority with Spring Arbor Township as an active member of the
Authority, and naming Will DeGraaf as the representative from the
township to serve on the authority with Marston Fortress as an alternate.
Roll Call: 7 yes.
G. Risk Control Recommendations. The board members
reviewed the recommendations from the Risk Control Dept. of the
Michigan Townships Participating Plan. No action was taken at
this time.
H. Investments. The Supervisor recommended that the
Investment Officer (Treasurer) be responsible for figuring interest
due from the Fire Department to the General and Public Improvement
Funds for the loan for the fire truck purchase. The Treasurer
reported that she spoke with Rehmann Robson & Co. who recommended
that an agreement be made between the Fire Department and the township
stipulating the length of the loan and the interest to be charged.
The Supervisor also recommended that the Investment Officer make
quarterly recommendations regarding the investments of the General
and Public Improvement Funds. No action was taken at this time.
I. Master Land Use Plan Committee. Motion was made
by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the recommendation
of the Planning Commission and appoint Al Short, Carl Jacobson and
Earl Poleski to the Master Land Use Plan Committee and that the
members of this committee be paid the normal committee rate when
they meet to work on updating the master plan; carried.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building Permit Report. The report of building permits
issued during the month of December showed new homes and miscellaneous
permits for a total value of $1,130,000.00.
Assessing/Building Report. During the month of December,
permits for four new homes were issued, for a total of 55 this year.
This represents an increase of five new homes compared to 2002.
The 2003 value of permits totaled $17,880,000.00, representing
a 36% increase over 2002. The building department is now entering
all permits on the new computer program. The assessing department
reported final taxable value increases of 7% for commercial, and
1% for industrial. Developmental is still being worked on. Overall,
the total value of township property will increase 8%.
Supervisor’s Report. Advised the board: of the status
of ongoing projects; of the completion of the Upper Grand River
Watershed Management Plan; of the status of state revenue sharing
received; of his recommendation to approve a revised set of Articles
of Incorporation for the Southwest Regional Utilities Authority;
of recommendations from the Risk Control Department of the Michigan
Townships Participating Plan; and, that the Treasurer, as the Investment
Officer for the township, should be responsible for figuring interest
for the fire department loan and should make quarterly recommendations
regarding investment of funds for the General and Public Improvement
funds.
Z.B.A. Meeting of December 18. The Zoning Board of Appeals
meeting for December 18 was canceled as there were no requests.
Planning Commission. Unapproved minutes of the January
6, 2004 meeting of the Planning Commission included a recommendation
to appoint a committee consisting of Al Short, Carl Jacobson and
Earl Poleski for the purpose of updating the master land use plan.
The Planning Commission members also received information for their
review regarding the Sign Regulations section in the Zoning Ordinance.
Park Committee minutes of December 15. Unapproved minutes
of the December 15, 2003 meeting of the Park Committee included
a recommendation for approval for a request from the West County
Little League.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A
letter dated 12/16/03 from Comcast re. increased speed for internet
access.
A
letter dated 12/17/03 from Comcast re. an addition to their channel
lineup.
A
letter dated 12/23/03 from Comcast re. a price change for their
digital cable packages.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT--GENERAL: 9:45 p.m.
Trustee Short. Trustee Short reported that a resident
had asked about the township having an ordinance regarding the placement
of refuse containers. The board concurred that as it would be
difficult to enforce, they were not interested in pursuing it.
Trustee Short also asked about the role of the Drain Commissioner
in the sewer project.
Rick Baxter. Rick Baxter, County Commissioner, reported
that the county approved forgiving the interest on a loan made to
the County Parks Department. He also informed the board that a
county commissioner is proposing a resolution that would encourage
the townships and the city to get together and work on the sewer
issue.
Trustee Ganton. Trustee Ganton requested that thank-you
letters be sent to the individuals that helped put up and store
the township Christmas decorations.
Trustee Williams. Trustee Williams suggested that the
maintenance personnel for the township be more careful when using
the township equipment.
Stan Lyon. Stan Lyon commented that the pricing for Comcast
services and products has skyrocketed.
Clerk DeVries. The Clerk reminded the board members of
the annual Road Commission dinner in February.
Adjournment. Adjournment at 10:02 p.m. on motion by Fortress
and support by Ganton; carried.
|
