Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: April 11, 2005
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
April 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Trustees Marston
Fortress, Troy Ganton and Patricia Short. Absent: Treasurer
Gloria Melchiori and Trustee Brent Williams. The Pledge of Allegiance
was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Judy Reynolds, Russ Ratkiewicz, Sue Adams, Barb Pohanka, Pegg
Clevenger, Mike Justian, Tim McEldowney, Rick Baxter, Erica Baxter,
Michael Dane Karazim, Jim Videto and Todd Zeller.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:32 p.m.
Mike Justian informed the board that the Director
of the Library was leaving and moving to Ohio.
Judy Reynolds, County Commissioner, commented
on the following issues: 2006 budget initiatives for the County;
emergency management training session for county officials; the
county fleet garage; restoration work at Cascades Park; and opposes
fee increase for prisoner labor at parks.
Pegg Clevenger spoke regarding Falling Waters
Trail and asked for support from the Township Board for the grant
application.
Todd Zeller discussed the grant application for
Falling Waters Trail.
Rick Baxter commented on the state budget, starting
debate on next years state budget and looking at the governor’s
tax restructuring proposal. He also has a radio show on WKHM on
Fridays from 10:00 to 11:30 am with different guests each week.
Public
comment closed at 8:05 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Ganton
to approve the following expenditures for March 2005: General Fund
expenditures #41852-42028 totaling $63,061.25; Fire Department Fund
expenditures #41853-42026 totaling $35,252.06; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $2,973.37; Building Inspection Fund expenditures
totaling $10,131.55; Sewer Receiving Fund expenditures of $0.00;
Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $49,761.15; and Water
O & M Fund expenditures totaling $9,928.28. Roll call: 5 yes.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Holthouse to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the regular meeting minutes of March 14, 2005, special
board meeting minutes of March 28, 2005 and March 29, 2005, the
financial report for March 2005, Planning Commission minutes of
February 1, 2005 and March 1, 2005, Sewer & Water Committee
minutes of February 28, 2005, and Park Committee minutes of March
10, 2005, and March 17, 2005; carried. The financial report showed
the following balances as of March 31:
General
Fund Cash
$182,256.63
Certificate
of Deposit
19,042.07
Fire
Operations Cash
107,616.36
Fire
Operations CD
136,632.67
Street
Light Fund
16,337.47
Public Improvement Fund
0.00
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
85,811.87
Building
Inspection Fund
58,327.58
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
653.84
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
13,225.59
Sewer
Funds 1,309,780.52
Water
Funds 188,201.76
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
(5.43).
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 40 medical rescue
runs, five fire alarms, two mutual aid calls, seven fire runs, and
no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during
March. Police statistics include: 159 complaints, 13 accidents,
34 tickets, 23 verbal warnings, three arrests, no semis ticketed
and 15 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief Ratkiewicz reported that the department
encountered no major problems during the month other than a car
being out of service for repair work. The department is now connected
to the new computer system with the Sheriff’s department. Chief
Ratkiewicz commented on the capabilities of Officer Adams and going
above and beyond what was required of her. He thanked the board
for approving the position of Sergeant and promoted Officer Adams
to Sergeant Adams.
Chief McEldowney reported that the department
medical runs are up some and we are now into grass fire season.
He commended the township residents as we have only had six compared
to over 60 in Rives and 30 in Parma. He also reported that the
grant he applied for has been accepted for review. Pancake Day
is planned for May 7 and the garage sale is planned for the first
week in June. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse
to accept the police and fire reports; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for April 2005. The MTA E-News for April
2005 included information about the MTA web site, government technology,
Michigan Week Awards, National Volunteer Week, Early Warning Systems,
Rural Broadband Access Loan Program, Livable Communities Competition,
upcoming workshops and how to E-mail the MTA.
C.
Supervisor’s Report. Advised the board: of the
status of ongoing projects; of the outcome of the King Rd. Water
Project public hearing; of the results of the Board of Review; of
a citizens request for a traffic safety study of M-60 in Spring
Arbor; and, of the Assessor’s request to reduce his hours.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Appoint Dave Jones as Fire Department Volunteer.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to appoint Dave
Jones as a volunteer with the Spring Arbor Fire Department retroactive
to January 15, 2005; carried.
B.
Resolution to Impose Property Tax Administration Fee. Motion
was made by Short and supported by Ganton to approve the resolution
to impose a 1% property tax administration fee to be collected beginning
with the July 2005 Summer Tax bill. Roll Call: 5 yes.
C.
3% Penalty on Late Taxes. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Ganton to approve a 3% penalty applied to tax bills
paid during the time period of February 15 through February 28;
carried.
D.
Park Committee Reappointments. Motion was made
by Ganton and supported by Short to reappoint Gordie Holton, Warren
Dexter and Randi Holthouse to the Park Committee for a three-year
term ending on May 31, 2008; carried.
E.
Support Letter for Falling Waters Trail Grant Application.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to approve
a letter to be written to the Jackson County Parks & Recreation
Commission showing support for the development of the Rails To Trails
program with a non-motorized trail through Spring Arbor Township;
carried.
F.
Assessor. After discussion, motion was made by
Fortress and supported by Short to approve the employment agreement
with Richard Renner for a term of one year commencing May 1, 2005,
as a salaried employee with four (4) weeks vacation paid at the
rate of $33,100 annually, with the option of either party being
able to terminate the agreement with 30 days notice. Roll Call:
5 yes.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building
Permit Report. The report of building permits issued
during the month of March showed new homes and miscellaneous permits
for a total value of $354,000.00.
Assessing/Building
Report. During the month of March, no new home permits
were issued, for a total of 21 this year. The Assessor reported
that Board of Review is completed with seven residents appealing
their assessments. Westbrook Townhouses appeal to the Tax Tribunal
is ongoing with the possibility of a settlement to be negotiated.
Sewer
& Water Committee. Unapproved minutes of the
March 21 meeting of the Sewer & Water Committee included discussion
regarding the King Rd. Water Project.
Planning
Commission. Unapproved minutes of the April 5 meeting
of the Planning Commission included discussion of a rezoning request,
site plan review and changes to the Zoning Ordinance.
Z.B.A.
Meeting of March. The Zoning Board of Appeals had
one variance request in March. V05-1, Melvin Turk, for a 25' side
yard variance and an 18' rear yard variance.
Washington
Report. The Washington Report for March/April 2005
covered various topics.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter
from Millennium, channel lineups and new products and services.
Thank-you
letter to the fire department for mutual aid to Parma.
Letter
from Hank Zavislak regarding methamphetamine labs.
Project
Review Notice for Falling Waters Trail.
Thank
you letter to the fire department from Lori Pratt.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT--GENERAL: Public comment opened
at 8:43 p.m.
Jim
Videto. Jim Videto, County Commissioner, reported that
the county is cleaning up issues from the last several months and
looking at ways to cut expenses. He also discussed the possibility
of the county fleet garage being closed, but they are trying to keep
it open. Supervisor DeGraaf expressed his desire for it to remain
open.
Supervisor
DeGraaf. The Supervisor commented regarding the Soil
Erosion program; he has not heard anything back regarding suggestions
that were made. Commissioner Videto suggested that there might
be a communication problem that needs to be worked out.
Trustee
Short. Trustee Short informed the board members that
Recycling Jackson would be attending the next board meeting to make
a presentation at 7 PM.
Clerk
Holthouse. The Clerk reminded the board members of
the Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction fund raiser being put
on by the Park Committee at the Senior Center on Saturday, April
23, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress
to adjourn the meeting at 8:51 p.m.; carried.
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