Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes 02-12-07
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
February 12, 2007, at 7:03 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria
Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton and Patricia Short.
Absent: Trustee Brent Williams. The Pledge of Allegiance was
led by the Supervisor.
Guests
were: Earl Poleski, Jim Crowell and Tim McEldowney.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
Jeff
Crowell, a township resident, introduced himself and explained that
he was attending the board meeting as part of his leadership training
course through the Chamber of Commerce.
Earl
Poleski, County Commissioner, reported that he attended the Michigan
Association of Counties conference in Lansing, and that he has been
assigned to the committee to look into the request from the Jackson
Transportation Authority for a millage request. The committee
will be looking at their finances; he indicated that there are a
number of questions to be answered from their board. He also reported
on the airport land sale noting that the matter has been referred
to the full commission with a recommendation to proceed with negotiations.
The commissioners are waiting for an investigative report from
the Acting Administrator regarding allegations made towards a county
department.
Public
comment closed at 7:15 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress
to approve the following expenditures for January 2007: General
Fund expenditures #44454-44548 totaling $51,848.53; Fire Department
Fund expenditures #44457-44546 totaling $28,398.80; Street Light
Fund expenditures #44465 and 44544 totaling $3,474.66; Building
Inspection Fund expenditures #44455-44546 totaling $4,255.40; Sewer
O & M Fund expenditures #44463-44515 totaling $27,128.32; and
Water O & M Fund expenditures 44463-44515 totaling $35,698.02.
Roll call: 6 yes.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short
to approve the regular board meeting minutes of January 8, 2007;
carried.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Fortress to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the financial reports for January 2007; general ledger
report of revenues and expenditures for January 2007; Public Safety
Board minutes of January 9, 2007 and January 16, 2007; Senior Center
Advisory Board minutes of January 10, 2007; Sewer & Water Committee
minutes of January 29, 2007; and Planning Commission minutes of
February 6, 2007; carried. The financial report showed the following
balances as of January 31:
General
Fund Cash
$177,637.80
Certificate
of Deposit
278,866.87
Fire
Operations Cash
78,119.28
Fire
Operations CD
206,027.16
Street
Light Fund
9,670.78
Public
Improvement Fund
0.00
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
664.57
Building
Inspection Fund
1,543.88
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
30,632.15
Sewer
Funds
1,289,786.71
Water
Funds
320,361.39
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
149,387.84
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 60 medical rescue
runs, three fire alarms, two mutual aid calls, 50 fire runs, two
carbon monoxide incidents, and no bomb threats or Hazmat responses
during January. Police statistics include: 191 complaints, 12
accidents, 26 tickets, no verbal warnings or arrests, one semi ticketed
and 18 back-up calls to other departments.
The
Fire Chief reported that January was a very busy month with several
calls related to the ice storm resulting in unusually high runs
for the month. Three automatic aid calls into Spring Arbor occurred
during the previous week; the fire runs were minor in nature, but
since the inception of the automatic aid agreement, Spring Arbor
has had seven calls into the Township. He also reported that the
department is in good shape right now and they are looking forward
to some upcoming training during the month of March. The fire
department has started their fund raising for the American Cancer
Society with the Chili Cook-Off scheduled for February 24 and their
annual golf outing for June 11. Motion was made by Fortress and
supported by Melchiori to accept the report; carried.
B.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building
permits issued during the month of January showed new homes and
miscellaneous permits for a total value of $290,000.00. Three
new residential home permits were issued in January. The Building
Department report included a summary of activity for calendar years
2004, 2005 and 2006, reflecting a decline in the number of permits
issued. This decline has affected the finances of the Building
Fund; the Administrator is planning a recommendation to increase
the permit fees.
C.
MTA E-News. The February 2007 E-News was received.
D.
Supervisor’s Report . Advised the board: of a sewer
overflow on Elwood Blvd.; of a sewer backup problem at 7925 King
Rd.; of a review of the township insurance renewal; of a recommendation
to approve the Operations & Maintenance agreement for the wastewater
system with OMM; of a recommendation to approve the new contracts
with the Building Department inspectors; and, of the proposed layout
and design of the new library building. He also reported that
the Police Chief is scheduled to return to work on Monday, February
19, 2007 from a medical leave.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A.
Library. The Supervisor discussed the potential
of setback issues with the layout of the new library building.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Street Light Res. # 1 – Lockerbie Dr . Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to approve Resolution #1
for the creation of a street light special assessment district for
three street lights located on Lockerbie Drive in Spring Arbor Township.
Roll Call: 6 yes.
B.
Street Light Res. # 2 – Lockerbie Dr .. Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Short to approve Resolution #2 to
proceed with plans for the creation of a street light special assessment
district for three street lights on Lockerbie Drive in Spring Arbor
Township. Roll Call: 6 yes.
C.
Township Insurance. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Ganton to insure the fire department vehicles at
replacement cost; carried.
D.
OMM Agreement. Motion was made by Fortress and
supported by Short to approve the agreement for the operation and
maintenance of the wastewater system with OMM Engineering, Inc.
Roll Call: 6 yes.
E.
Building Department Inspector Agreements. Motion
was made by Short and supported by Fortress to accept the negotiated
agreements with the Building Department inspectors effective April
1, 2007. Roll Call: 6 yes.
F.
Salary Resolution. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Ganton to approve the salary resolution recommending
a 3% increase for Township employees. Roll Call: Yes – Ganton,
Fortress, DeGraaf, Melchiori, Holthouse; No – Short. Trustee Fortress
asked for clarification of MCL 41.905 referred to in the resolution.
G.
Budget Meetings. The board agreed to meet on March
1 at 1:30 p.m. for a budget work meeting and to hold the budget
hearing on March 29 at 7:00 p.m.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Thank you notes to the fire department.
Letters from Comcast.
Project Review Notices.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 8:23 p.m.
Trustee
Ganton . Trustee Ganton noted that Mel Rice, Lloyd
Ganton, Justin Tuthill and Larry Ousley were responsible for the
Christmas decorations in the Township.
Supervisor
DeGraaf. The Supervisor informed the board members
that he has started the process for the flyover at the Memorial
Day Parade.
Trustee
Fortress. Trustee Fortress asked about the telephone
bills (cost comparison) and the status of the street lights on Village
Green Lane.
Fire
Chief. Chief McEldowney commented that the county
radio system has recently been upgraded reflecting better service.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress
to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m.; carried.
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