Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes: February 10, 2003

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, February 10, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Willard 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, Mike Justian, Richard Renner, Ann Heyt and Dick Greenslade.

Public Comment. Public comment opened at 7:33 p.m. There was no public comment.

Minutes. Minutes of the regular meeting of January 13 were approved on motion by Short and support by Williams; carried. Minutes of the special meeting of January 20 were approved on motion by Ganton and support by Williams; carried. Minutes of the special meeting on January 20 were approved on motion by Short and support by DeVries; carried.

Financial Report. The financial report for the month was received on motion by Ganton and support by Williams, showing the following balances as of January 31:

General Fund Cash                        $205,240.32
Certificate of Deposit                      385,532.30
Fire Operations Cash                        51,405.76
Fire Operations CD                           33,000.00
Street Light Fund                              3,815.96
Public Improvement Fund                   (4,335.91)
P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit                74,483.83
Building Inspection Fund                    28,920.21
Falling Waters Endowment Fund           1,660.49
Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD      6,000.00
Sewer Funds                              1,399,233.18
Water Funds                                 174,423.83
Trust & Agency Funds                             0.00
Current Taxes                               125,023.47
Motion carried.

Treasurer Melchiori reported that tax collections are up by 10% compared to the previous year.

Expenditures. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to approve the following expenditures: General Fund vouchers #38824-38887 totaling $43,782.18, including the Pension Plan Contribution (by wire transfer) of $2,122.21; Fire Dept. Fund vouchers #38826-38887 totaling $12,788.47, including the Fire Department Pension Plan contribution (by wire transfer) of $312.00; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $2,708.24; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $3,434.67; including the Pension Plan contribution (by wire transfer) of $40.05; Sewer Receiving Fund disbursements of $587.77; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $80,717.34; and Water O & M expenditures totaling $32,705.97. Roll call: 7 yes.

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:

Sewer & Water Committee. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2002 meeting of the Sewer and Water Committee; carried. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Ganton to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2003 meeting of the Sewer & Water Committee; carried.

Policy & Communications Committee. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the minutes of the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Policy & Communications Committee; carried. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2003 meeting of the Policy & Communications Committee meeting; carried.

Planning Commission. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Melchiori to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2003 meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried.

Senior Center Advisory Board. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2003 meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried.

POLICE/FIRE ACTIVITY:

Police and Fire Report. There were 35 medical rescue runs, one fire alarm, no mutual aid calls, six fire runs, two carbon monoxide incidents and no bomb threats during January. Police statistics include: 155 complaints, 24 accidents, 44 tickets, 27 verbal warnings, 7 arrests and 17 back-up calls to other departments.

Chief Ratkiewicz reported that Officer Bryan Harmison, a part-time officer for Spring Arbor Township, has accepted a full-time position with Springport Township; his last day will be February 15, 2003.

Chief Greenslade, accompanied by a salesperson, provided a hands-on demonstration of a thermal imaging camera. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to accept the police and fire reports; carried.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:
A. Subdivision Complaint Response. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to send the letter presented by the Supervisor in his monthly report with one correction; carried.

B. Rezoning Request. A rezoning request was presented by the Township on behalf of On Solid Rock, as a matter of correction of the zoning map. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by DeVries to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the rezoning request for parcel #000-12-16-476-001-01, a 400’ by 500’ area of the parcel, from Industrial (I-1) to Highway Service Commercial (C-3). Roll call: 7 yes.

REPORTS:

A. MTA E-News for February 2003. The MTA E-News for February included information regarding a sample policy for electronic transactions of funds, Legislator of the Year Award, the DNR grants application workshop, a federal and state reference guide for tax and withholding requirements, the NATAT Washington report, land coverage in the state, sample notice for budget hearings, new township web sites, clerk training workshops, Board of Review workshops, planning & zoning workshops, other workshops & how to email the MTA.

B. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #2. Goal #2, to reduce crime in the township, was assigned to the Police Chief. Chief Ratkiewicz reported that they have more calls for service, but are basically seeing the same amount of larcenies and drug problems. He invited the board members to ride along with the police department in the evening.

C. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #5. Goal #5, to develop a plan for traffic flow on M-60 was assigned to the supervisor. The supervisor reported that he attended a meeting in which alternatives were discussed regarding the number of driveway cuts on M-60. It was suggested to use service roads.

D. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #7. Goal #7, to create a fire safety plan, was assigned to the Fire Chief. The Clerk reported that the Fire Chief indicated he was finished with the plan. The Clerk asked the Fire Chief to provide a copy of the plan to the board members.

E. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #9. Goal #9, to implement the park plan, was assigned to the clerk. Clerk DeVries reported that the Park Committee met and developed a five-year funding plan for implementation of the park plan. The funding request will be presented to the budget committee meeting on February 17, 2003.

F. Water Expansion Plan. Ann Heyt, from OMM Engineering, presented a slide presentation will be used at the first public hearing.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Building Permit Report. The report of building permits issued during the month of January showed new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $842,500.00.

Assessing/Building Report. During the month of January, permits for three new homes were issued, with an average cost of $241,000. He reported that the assessment roll is proceeding along well. He also attended the meeting to discuss equalization factors and ratios, the new requirement for inspections of school buildings, and the commercial fee schedule.

Supervisor’s Report. Advised the board: of the status of ongoing projects, of problems occurring with “mother-in-law” apartments; of a complaint received in the office regarding a mobile home subdivision and advised the board of a possibility of receiving state safety funds to widen Dearing Rd. for the addition of a traffic light.

Z.B.A. Meeting of January. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in January did not meet as there were no variance requests.

Planning Commission. Unapproved minutes of the Planning Commission of February 4 included a site plan review from John Lucas for Cambria Site Condominiums on Dearing Rd., and a Conditional Use Permit request from AT&T Wireless.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Minutes from the January 15, 2003 meeting of the Ogle Park Board.
A project review notice dated 12/31/02 re. a regional sewer expansion.
A project review notice dated 1/8/03 re. a school program through JCC.

PUBLIC/BOARD COMMENT—GENERAL:

None.

Motion was made by Short and supported by DeVries to go into executive session to review an attorney’s opinion and to consider a property purchase at 9:43 p.m.; carried.

Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to rise from closed session at 10:33 p.m.; carried.

Adjournment. Adjournment at 10:34 p.m. on motion by Short and supported by Ganton; carried.