Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: March 8, 2004
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
March 8, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori,
Trustees Marston Fortress, Patricia Short and Brent Williams.
Trustee Ganton arrived at 7:34 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was
led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Mike Justian, Todd Zeller, Jeff Kurfess, Fannie Cornwell,
Stan Lyon and Jon Williams.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:34 p.m.
Fannie
Cornwell, from McDevitt Realty, spoke in regards to property owned
by Gary Miller at 167 Harrington Rd. She stated that the property
veers off of the section line and has resulted in a narrow strip
of land owned by someone else and the property is landlocked.
She has approached the Jackson County Road Commission for their
assistance in trying to determine who is the rightful owner of the
property and questions who should be paying taxes on it. The Supervisor
requested that she leave her name and phone number and he would
contact her regarding the issue. Public comment closed at 7:37
p.m.
Minutes.
Minutes of the regular meeting of February 9 were
approved on motion by Ganton and support by Short; carried. Minutes
of the special meeting of March 1 were approved on motion by Short
and support by Williams; carried. Minutes of the special meeting
of March 3 were approved on motion by Ganton and support by Williams;
carried.
Financial
Report. The financial cash report for the month was
received on motion by Williams and support by Ganton, showing the
following balances as of February 29:
General
Fund Cash
$ 201,496.90
Certificate
of Deposit
121,512.21
Fire
Operations Cash 76,032.91
Fire
Operations CD
175.90
Street
Light Fund
17,750.01
Public
Improvement Fund
0.00
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
31,694.56
Building
Inspection Fund
47,855.46
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
10,762.67
Sewer
Funds 1,344,088.26
Water
Funds 184,288.58
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
46,246.18;
motion
carried.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures during February 2004: General
Fund vouchers #40322-40395 totaling $39,123.15; Fire Department
Fund vouchers #40322-40388 totaling $59,349.17; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $2,728.27; Building Inspection Fund expenditures
totaling $3,748.87; Sewer Receiving Fund expenditures totaling $25.50;
Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $32,384.86; and Water
O & M Fund expenditures totaling $20,352.28. Roll call: 7
yes.
BOARDS
AND COMMITTEES:
Budget
Committee. Motion was made by Ganton and supported
by Williams to approve the minutes of the January 22, 2004 meeting
of the Budget Committee; carried.
Sewer
& Water Committee. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Williams to approve the minutes of the February
2, 2004 meeting of the Sewer & Water Committee; carried.
Planning
Commission. Motion was made by Ganton and supported
by Fortress to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2004 meeting
of the Planning Commission; carried.
Senior
Center Advisory Board. Motion was made by DeVries
and supported by Fortress to approve the minutes of the February
17, 2004 meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 41 medical rescue
runs, two fire alarms, no mutual aid calls, five fire runs, and
no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during
February. Police statistics include: 117 complaints, 11 accidents,
25 tickets, 33 verbal warnings, one arrest, two semis ticketed and
nine back-up calls to other departments. Motion was made by DeVries
and supported by Melchiori to accept the police report; carried.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to accept the
fire report; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for March 2004. The MTA E-News for March
included information regarding an electronic newsletter available
from the Governor’s office; a resolution regarding local government
education; grassroots rural entrepreneurship; online reporting of
potholes to MDOT; DEQ report on soil erosion and sedimentation control;
MTA web site facts; legal counsel opinion; updated MTA publications;
upcoming workshops and how to E-mail the MTA.
C.
Report of Strategic Planning Goal #11. Goal #11,
assigned to Trustee Fortress,
is to revise the zoning ordinance and long-range land use plan.
Trustee Fortress reported that the subcommittee of Al Short, Carl
Jacobson and Earl Poleski will have their initial meeting on March
18 to start the process of revising the long-range land use plan.
D.
Report of Strategic Planning Goal #13. Goal #13,
assigned to the Policy & Communications Committee, is to improve
communications with township constituents. Trustee Short reported
that the committee is working updating the administrative manual
and revising several township policies.
E.
February 2004 Washington Report. The board members
received the February 2004 Washington Report.
F.
Senior Center Newsletter. The board members received
the February 15, 2004 issue of the Senior Center Newsletter.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Wastewater System Operations & Maintenance Agreement.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to approve
the operations and maintenance agreement for the wastewater system
with OMM Engineering, Inc. Roll Call: 7 yes.
B.
Vehicle Storage. The Supervisor discussed Section
5.9 C in the Zoning Ordinance referring to the storage of vehicles
in the front yard of a property. The ordinance currently prohibits
the activity, but has not been enforced. Motion was made by Short
and supported by Ganton to have the Planning Commission review the
section of the Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.9 C and return a recommendation
to the township board; carried.
C.
Budget Amendments. The Clerk presented the following
budget amendments for consideration. Trustee Short asked if we
were using any fund balance to accomplish the amendments. Clerk
DeVries reported that no fund balance was being used, that the Reserve
for Contingency account was used to offset the adjustments. Motion
was made by DeVries and supported by Ganton to approve the following
budget amendments:
Revenue,
101-000-605.000, Right of Way Fees, decrease 1018.60
Expense,
101-171-704.002, Supervisor/Clerical, increase 3600.00
Expense,
101-171-718.000, Supervisor/Disability Insurance, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-209-702.002, Assessor/Assistant Assessor, increase 2500.00
Expense,
101-209-722.000, Assessor/Pension, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-215-860.000, Clerk/Expenses, increase 500.00
Expense,
101-218-955.000, General Office/Misc., increase 700.00
Expense,
101-253-860.000, Treasurer/Expenses, increase 250.00
Expense,
101-253-910.000, Treasurer/Insurance & Bonds, increase 200.00
Expense,
101-265-702.000, Town Hall/Wages, increase 300.00
Expense,
101-265-720.000, Town Hall/FICA, increase 50.00
Expense,
101-265-726.000, Town Hall/Supplies, increase 700.00
Expense,
101-265-910.000, Town Hall/Insurance & Bonds, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-265-920.000, Town Hall/Utilities, increase 200.00
Expense,
101-267-930.000, Post Office/Maintenance, decrease 1551.00
Expense,
101-269-720.000, Township Property/FICA, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-269-910.000, Township Property/Insurance & Bonds, increase
600.00
Expense,
101-269-920.000, Township Property/Utilities, increase 400.00
Expense,
101-276-702.013, Cemetery/Grave Opening Fees, increase 500.00
Expense,
101-301-726.000, Police/Supplies, increase 200.00
Expense,
101-301-851.000, Police/Radio Maintenance, increase 1500.00
Expense,
101-301-853.000, Police/Telephone, increase 1000.00
Expense,
101-301-863.000, Police/Vehicle Maintenance, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-301-910.000, Police/Insurance & Bonds, increase 500.00
Expense,
101-343-702.000, Communications/Fees, increase 500.00
Expense,
101-343-719.000, Communications/Supplemental Health, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-410-801.000, Planning Commission/Professional Services, increase
1000.00
Expense,
101-510-930.000, Public Works/Right of Way Fees, decrease 1018.60
Expense,
101-756-974.000, Parks, Improvements, increase 8651.00
Expense,
101-803-726.000, Historical Committee/Supplies, increase 200.00
Expense,
101-803-920.000, Historical Committee/Utilities, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-806-720.000, Senior Center/FICA, increase 100.00
Expense,
101-806-853.000, Senior Center/Telephone, increase 200.00
Expense,
101-806-920.000, Senior Center/Utilities, increase 1500.00
Expense,
101-890-989.000, Reserve for Contingencies, decrease 25000.00
Revenue,
206-000-695.000, Fire/Use of Fund Balance, increase 322,300.00
Revenue,
206-000-695.000, Fire/Use of Fund Balance, decrease 186,624.00
Revenue,
206-000-699.000, Fire/Transfer from Other Funds, increase 186,624.00
Expense,
206-336-702.000, Fire/Fees, increase 1500.00
Expense,
206-336-720.000, Fire/FICA, increase 500.00
Expense,
206-336-722.000, Fire/Pension, increase 200.00
Expense,
206-336-802.000, Fire/Fire Runs, decrease 20,500.00
Expense,
206-336-853.000, Fire/Telephone, increase 200.00
Expense,
206-336-860.000, Fire/Expenses, increase 1000.00
Expense,
206-336-863.000, Fire/Vehicle Maintenance, increase 1400.00
Expense,
206-336-910.000, Fire/Insurance & Bonds, increase 8700.00
Expense,
206-336-920.000, Fire/Utilities, increase 4000.00
Expense,
206-336-930.000, Fire/Maintenance, increase 3000.00
Expense,
206-336-981.000, Fire/Equipment, increase 322,300.00
Revenue,
245-000-605.000, Right of Way Fees, increase 1018.60
Expense,
245-446-937.000, Road Construction, increase 1018.60
Revenue,
249-000-476.000, Building Permits, increase 13000.00
Revenue,
249-000-477.000, Electrical Permits, increase 6000.00
Revenue,
249-000-478.000, Mechanical & Plumbing Permits, increase 5300.00
Expense,
249-371-704.002, Building/Clerical, increase 1700.00
Expense,
249-371-720.000, Building/FICA, increase 100.00
Expense,
249-371-722.000, Building/Pension, increase 200.00
Expense,
249-371-805.000, Building/Contractual Services, increase 20000.00
Expense,
249-371-860.000, Building/Expenses, increase 500.00
Expense,
249-371-910.000, Building/Insurance & Bonds, increase 200.00
Expense,
249-373-805.000, Mech. & Plbg./Contractual Services, increase
1600.00.
Roll
Call: 7 yes.
D.
Date for Budget Hearing. The board members discussed
changing the date of the budget hearing to the unavailability of
the Clerk to attend the meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday,
March 25, 2004. After discussion, the date of the budget hearing
was scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. A short
board meeting will precede the budget hearing at 6:00 p.m.
E.
Comcast Franchise Renewal Agreement. The board
members discussed the current agreement with Comcast set to expire
on March 18, 2004. Discussion was held regarding the current franchise
fee being paid to the township and whether the township should ask
for an increase in the franchise fee. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Ganton to table the consideration of the Comcast
Franchise Renewal Agreement until the township attorney can review
it and to have Hal Munn, Communications Consultant, give his input
regarding the contract; carried.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building
Permit Report. The report of building permits issued
during the month of February showed new homes and miscellaneous
permits for a total value of $730,000.00.
Assessing/Building
Report. During the month of February, permits for
nine new homes were issued for a total of 12 year to date. Mr.
Renner reported that two subdivisions will be going into their next
phase of development this year (Chapel Heights and Greenbriar).
Arborwood Condominiums and Richard Street Site Condominiums are
now complete, as well as the new Dearing Rd. apartments. He also
reported that work is progressing nicely on Village Crossing and
the medical building.
Supervisor’s
Report. Advised the board: of the status of ongoing
projects; of his response to the Western High School students that
contacted the township regarding sidewalk issues; of a possible
visit by President Bush to Spring Arbor University (early July);
of projects (prioritized) by MDOT, possibly including Dearing Rd.;
of the recommendation of the Sewer & Water Committee to approve
the new agreement with OMM Engineering for the operation and maintenance
of the wastewater system; of his response letter to Mr. Cope (5305
Moscow Rd.) regarding zoning ordinance violations; and, of a section
in the Zoning Ordinance dealing with parking of recreational vehicles
in the front yard of a property. Additionally, the Supervisor
discussed the response letter sent to Mr. Cope, which he has not
picked up yet. As the 10-day response time has already elapsed,
it was recommended to change the wording in the letter to have Mr.
Cope respond within 10 days of receiving the letter.
Z.B.A.
Meeting of February 19. The Zoning Board of Appeals
meeting for February 19 was canceled as there were no requests.
Planning
Commission. Unapproved minutes of the March 1, 2004
meeting of the Planning Commission included a preliminary review
of the proposed completion of the Chapel Heights development on
Chapel Rd. The Planning Commission members were also updated on
the progress of the Greenbriar and Village Green developments.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A
letter dated 2/4/04 from Comcast re. the franchise fee payment for
2003.
A
thank-you letter dated 2/7/04 to Chief Ratkiewicz for assisting
Spring Arbor University.
A
letter dated 2/10/04 to Watson Funeral Chapel re. a receipt form
for cremains.
A
letter dated 2/12/04 from Phillip Berkemeier, Attorney At Law, re.
Tammy Pilkinton, 2631 Fairway Drive.
A
thank-you letter received 2/27/04 to the fire department from Ruth
McLachlan.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT--GENERAL: Public comment opened
at 8:28 p.m.
Jon
Williams. Jon Williams announced that he is planning
to run for State Representative which covers the Spring Arbor area.
Todd
Zeller. Todd Zeller spoke regarding the watershed
management plan and his efforts in working on it over the last three
years. He offered assistance to the Supervisor if needed, and
to the Planning Commission in developing ordinances to protect the
township regarding wetlands.
Jeff
Kurfess. Jeff Kurfess informed the board that he
is a freelance reporter with the Jackson Citizen Patriot and had
previously graduated from Spring Arbor University. He requested
some additional information for an article that he was writing.
Stan
Lyon. Stan Lyon spoke in regards to a sewer article
published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Will
DeGraaf. Will DeGraaf reported that he is waiting
for an update on the Southwest Sewer by Wednesday of this week.
Adjournment.
Adjournment at 8:36 p.m. on motion by Fortress and
support by Ganton; carried.
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