Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes 05.08.06

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, May 8, 2006, at 7:03 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Trustees Marston Fortress, Patricia Short and Brent Williams.    Absent:   Treasurer Gloria Melchiori and Trustee Troy Ganton.   The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.

Guests were:   Richard Renner, Judy Reynolds, Tom Perrin, Tim McEldowney, Russ Ratkiewicz and Jim Fleming.

Public Comment:   Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.

Judy Reynolds, County Commissioner, reported that Spring Arbor Township has no foreclosures at this time, but there may be 19 for next year.   The Deputy Administrator and Facilities Supervisor have reduced the vehicle fleet for the county by 25, in addition to the 29 they already eliminated.   This will help to reduce the cost of insurance for the county.   The GIS Department has a comprehensive addressing ordinance under legal review; the responsibility for assigning addresses for new homes is being transferred to the county as Consumers Energy is no longer doing this.   The County is preparing a five-year plan for capital improvement and a three-year plan for technology improvements to be included with the 2007 budget.   The Emergency Management office will be testing their alert signal program and procedures.   The Airport Board is working on a project to improve the appearance of the airport entrance.   The FAA has issued a letter of intent to release 68 acres of land north of I-94 for development; proceeds from a sale will have to go to the airport.   She also reminded everyone that traveling out of the country after December 31, 2006 will require a passport.

Tim Wahlberg, candidate for Congress, introduced himself to the board and discussed issues that he believes in, and how he felt that his beliefs on certain issues varied from Congressman Schwarz.

Public comment closed at 7:18 p.m.

Expenditures.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Holthouse to approve the following expenditures for April 2006: General Fund expenditures #43360-43416 totaling $38,115.81; Fire Department Fund expenditures #43363-43415 totaling $8,609.96; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $3,296.85; Public Improvement Fund Expenditures totaling $2,374.00; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $4,512.76; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $49,441.55; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $27,597.05.   Roll call: 5 yes.

Minutes.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the regular board meeting minutes of April 10, 2006; carried.   It was suggested that radon testing companies be notified that a permit is required and can be obtained through the township office.   The board also continued discussion about how to communicate this to township residents.   It was suggested that flyers (if available) could be handed out during Fire Prevention Week.   Flyers may be available from National Child Safety Council, the county health department, or perhaps at the state level.

Consent Agenda.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting of the financial reports for April 2006, general ledger report of revenues and expenditures for April 2006, Recycling Committee minutes of September 20, 2005 and April 11, 2006, Senior Center Advisory Board minutes of April 12, 2006, and Planning Commission minutes of May 2, 2006; carried.   The financial report showed the following balances as of April 30:

         General Fund Cash                                                          $99,292.87

         Certificate of Deposit                                                      176,093.57

         Fire Operations Cash                                                        25,177.01

          Fire Operations CD                                                        367,889.93

          Street Light Fund                                                           13,870.18

          Public Improvement Fund                                                   8,705.50

          P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit                                               29,941.47

          Building Inspection Fund                                                  (3,707.39)

          Falling Waters Endowment Fund                                               0.00

          Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD                                    29,554.82

          Sewer Funds                                                              1,364,662.41

          Water Funds                                                                 323,748.99

          Trust & Agency Funds                                                             0.00

          Current Taxes                                                                   (12.75).

REPORTS:

A.   Police and Fire Report.   There were 42 medical rescue runs, four fire alarms, two mutual aid calls, 12 fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during April.   Police statistics include: 172 complaints, 12 accidents, 56 tickets, 22 verbal warnings, four arrests, no semis ticketed and 17 back-up calls to other departments.

Chief Ratkiewicz reported that the last month was busy.   He started out doing a puppet show at Warner Elementary School , “Hank The Prank”, with two shows for K-5 centered on crime prevention for school age kids and school bus safety.   He will also be doing the show at Bean Elementary School.   He also attended the Optimist Club annual Respect for Law Day, honoring local police departments.   The department will be participating in a youth and alcohol grant program as they head into the busy prom and graduation season.   The program is expected to reduce the number of underage adults that try to purchase alcohol.   Chief Ratkiewicz will also be selecting a high school senior for the Youth Service Award and will be working with the Jackson Area Career Center and Western High School on that.   The department will be enforcing seat belt laws during the upcoming holiday season, and will also be working the prom for Western High School.   He also discussed cars passing on the right on M-60; signs will be going up soon to advise motorists that there is no passing on the shoulder.   A newspaper article is also planned for this issue.   Chief Ratkiewicz met with Tom Curl from MDOT; Mr. Curl and Chief Ratkiewicz observed motorists and how they used the turn lane at Dearing Rd.   Mr. Curl felt that the turn lane needed to be extended down by the pharmacy.

Chief McEldowney reported that with the warmer weather here, their runs are starting to pick up as expected.   The department responded to a couple of fires, one located in Arbor Village Mobile Home Park which turned out to be an arson fire.   They also responded to mutual aid calls in Hanover and Parma.   The department has training scheduled on May 21; they will be “smoking” Lowell Hall at Spring Arbor University.   Other departments expected to participate in the training include fire departments from Hanover, Pulaski, Concord and Parma townships, and possibly Summit Township.   Chief McEldowney also put on a couple of awareness programs about tornado weather for the residents of Arbor Oaks and Spring Arbor Assisted Living.   He is also working on evacuation plans for the church and the care homes.   He and Chief Ratkiewicz are working together on a video that will explain evacuation procedures.   Pancake Day saw 775 people come through; over $2,000 was raised by the department.   Additional training by the fire department includes reviewing videos on Scott Air Paks and tearing apart vehicles.

B.   MTA E-News for May 2006.   Received the May issue of the MTA E-News.

C.   Building Permit Reports.   The report of building permits issued during the month of April showed new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $334,900.00.   Mr. Renner reported that three new home permits were issued in April, for a total of 11 this year.   He also recommended some increases in the building permit fee schedule.

D.   Supervisor’s Report .   Advised the board: of the status of ongoing projects and zoning violations; of the revenue sharing amount received; of the lack of a policy for solicitation on township property; of the liquid dust control agreement with the road commission; of maps depicting roads in the 1800’s recently installed in the township hall; of a break-in at the lagoon building; and, of a correction required for the fees charged for contractor licenses.   The Supervisor also discussed the additional requirement from the insurance company to have a 60-day notice of all township sponsored events.   The Fire Department is now responsible for securing an insurance policy for their club activities.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

                A.   Building Permit Fees.   Richard Renner, Building Administrator, presented a new fee schedule for the Building Department.   The Building Fund is currently operating with a negative cash balance.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Holthouse to approve the recommended fee increases for the Building Department based on the analysis done by Richard Renner.   Roll Call:   4 yes, 1 no.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the increases in the building permit fees presented by Richard Renner.   Roll Call:   4 yes, 1 no.

                B.   Solicitation on Township Property.   The Supervisor requested that the action taken by the board at the June 2005 meeting be resolved concerning the policy for Solicitation on Township Property.   The motion stipulated that Trustee Fortress would work with the Township Attorney to develop the policy.   Supervisor DeGraaf volunteered to assist with the development of the policy.   Trustee Short suggested that the Policy & Communications Committee take the issue up at the next committee meeting.

                 C.   Liquid Dust Control Agreement.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short to approve the liquid dust control agreement with the Jackson County Road Commission for the gravel roads in Spring Arbor Township at a cost not to exceed $725.00.   Roll Call:   5 yes.

                  D.   Contractor & Master License Fee.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to approve a $5.00 fee for all contractor and master license holders; carried.

                  E.   Senior Center Advisory Board Reappointments.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Holthouse to approve the reappointments of Phyllis Allen, Enoch Beeman, Phyllis Miller and Elwin Johnson to the Senior Center Advisory Boards with terms expiring May 31, 2009; carried.

                  F.   Cemetery Policy Recommendation.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to adopt the following policy:   “If the deed holder of a cemetery grave site wishes to sell their grave(s) back to the Township, the Township will purchase them for the original price paid for the grave(s), unless the records are not available indicating the purchase price.   If the records are not available indicating the purchase price, then the grave(s) will be purchased at the current selling price.”   Motion carried.

                  G.   Fire Department Candidates.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to approve the recommendation of the Fire Board and appoint Jeff Thomas and Keith Bushouse to the Spring Arbor Volunteer Fire Department; carried.

                  H.   Resignation of Barbara Pohanka.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to accept the resignation of Barbara Pohanka, Administrative Assistant, with appreciation for her work she has done for the township, effective July 18, 2006; carried.   Discussion was held regarding a job description for the position and needing to have procedures written for the responsibilities of the position.   DeGraaf will work on having Barb develop written procedures, and he will work on preparing a job description.

CORRESPONDENCE:

              Newspaper articles re. fire department, police department, etc.

              Thank you letter to Ruth Scott for her work on the Zoning Ordinance.

              Thank you letter to Chief Ratkiewicz from the Wirebaugh’s.

              Respect for Law Commendation to Chief Ratkiewicz.

              Newsletter regarding Zoning Act changes.

              Communications from Jackson County Community Foundation.

              Letters from Comcast.

PUBLIC AND/OR BOARD COMMENT:   Public comment opened at 8:59 p.m.

                  Jim Fleming .   Jim Fleming introduced himself to the board as a candidate running for Circuit Court Judge.

                  Trustee Williams.   Trustee Williams suggested that a “chain of command” be developed for the office so that when someone in a supervisory position is on vacation, it is documented who is responsible for following through on matters that may arise.   The Supervisor will bring back his recommendation at the next board meeting.

                  Clerk Holthouse.   The Clerk reported that the concrete is poured for the recycling project, but through a miscommunication the wrong concrete company was used and the resulting bill is higher than expected.   She is working with Doug Jones from the University to see if the bill can be reduced.   She also discussed an editorial in the Citizen Patriot that she felt left a negative light on township officials relating to the cable legislation introduced in the legislature.   She asked if any board members would feel uncomfortable if she wrote a response to the editorial, noting that she wished to write it as a township official and not just as a citizen.

Public comment closed at 9:33 p.m.

Adjournment.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 p.m.; carried.

Randi Holthouse, Township Clerk