Spring Arbor Township Board - May 12, 2008

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, May 12, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Marston Fortress, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Troy Ganton, Scott Rogers and Brent Williams. Absent: Trustee Patricia Short. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Supervisor.

Guests were: Russ Ratkiewicz, Tim McEldowney, Ken Wyatt, and Stan Lyon.

Public Comment: Public comment opened at 7:01 p.m.

Stan Lyon congratulated Trustee Scott Rogers regarding the results of the investigation by the City of Jackson.

Public comment closed at 7:02 p.m.

Expenditures. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Rogers to approve the following expenditures for April 2008: General Fund expenditures #46319-46377 totaling $46,551.19; Fire Department Fund expenditures #46319-46378 totaling $10,934.42; Street Light Fund expenditure #46319 totaling $3,742.40; Building Inspection Fund expenditures #46334-46374 totaling $1,663.08; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures #46318-46380 totaling $106,653.88; Water O & M Fund expenditures #46318-46374 totaling $3,219.03; Trust & Agency fund expenditures #1907-1908 totaling $606.00; and, Tax Fund expenditures #4316 totaling $12.37. Roll call: 6 yes.

Minutes. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the regular board meeting minutes of April 14, 2008; carried.

Consent Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Rogers to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting of the financial reports for April 2008; general ledger report of revenues and expenditures for April 2008; Senior Center Advisory Board minutes of April 9, 2008; and, Planning Commission minutes of May 6, 2008. The financial report showed the following balances as of April 30:

General Fund Cash                     $85,723.24

Certificate of Deposit                 158,996.91

Fire Operations Cash                    67,031.07

Fire Operations CD                     524,970.39

Street Light Fund                         15,989.61

Public Improvement Fund                      0.00

P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit            58,823.83

Building Inspection Fund                  (1,706.02)

Falling Waters Endowment Fund              0.00

Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD  30,877.27

Sewer Funds                               967,949.71

Water Funds                               351,078.93

Trust & Agency Funds                           0.00

Current Taxes                                    14.99;

carried.

REPORTS:

A. Police and Fire Reports. There were 42 medical rescue runs, four fire alarms, one mutual aid call, 14 fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during April. Police statistics include: 185 complaints, 19 accidents, 35 tickets, 16 verbal warnings, five arrests, and 26 back-up calls to other departments.

The Chief of Police reported that the month of April was relatively busy as their calls are up for the year. He reported that a suspect in a breaking and entering on King Rd. was picked up a couple of weeks ago and they are working with the prosecutor’s office on that case. They also responded to a fire at a shed in Arbor Village that spread to another trailer. The department also had a report of a suspicious suspect at Lime Lake, reported by college students, that was apprehended at a later point. The department also participated with the Western High School prom for alcohol enforcement and will be working towards getting ready for Memorial Day weekend and the parade. Motion was made by Rogers and supported by Williams to accept the police report; carried.

The Fire Chief reported that he is happy with the current status of the automatic aid agreement. He is working with some other departments to put together a bid process for vehicle maintenance, and recently attended a grant workshop with the Chief of Police. He is also working on implementing some county-wide training. The department recently participated in a fire drill at Spring Arbor University; he felt that the department and the University learned from the experience. The department also held a “drafting” training exercise which he hopes to use as an automatic aid training function in the future. The pancake breakfast held by the fire department served approximately 700 people raising around $4,000.00 for their association.

Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to accept the fire report; carried.

B. Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits issued during the month of April showed miscellaneous permits for a total value of $29,000. No new home permits were issued in April. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to accept the building permit report; carried. The Supervisor noted that the Building Administrator is working with Arbor Manor Care Center on their expansion project.

C. Supervisor's Report . Advised the board: of the status of the storm water project; of the progress of the rehabilitation of the lift stations; of the DEQ’s intent to extend water west on M-60 to Mathews Rd. to solve a drinking water quality issue.; of the inactivity regarding the security system; of the amount of recycled materials during 2007; of the decline in units at Arbor Village; of vacancies on the Public Safety Board and Sewer & Water Committee; of a letter sent to the Jackson County Road Commission regarding safety issues with the Falling Waters Trail; of repairs needed at the Post Office; and, of parking issues associated with Gallagher Park.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

A. Security System. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the expenditure for a cash drop and key lockbox not to exceed $250.00. Roll Call: 6 yes.  

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Telephone System. General consensus of the board is to have the Supervisor get bids for a phone system and have the vendors submit them using the sealed bid process.

B. Audit Committee. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to establish an Audit Committee to be made up of the Supervisor, the Trustee serving on the Budget Committee and one other Trustee; carried.

C. Committee Appointments. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to approve the following appointments:

Marston Fortress, Audit Committee;

Brent Williams, Audit Committee; and

Patricia Short, Audit Committee; carried.

D. Sale of Township Car. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Rogers to place the Township car for sale on ebay; carried.

E. Acknowledgment of Williams Family Farm expansion. Trustee Williams informed the board that his farm will be expanding with the addition of 150 milking cows and the construction of a new agricultural building to house the animals. He provided a document titled, “Livestock Production Facility Siting Request Application and Information”, for the board members to review.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  Project Review Notices.

  Thank-you letter to Chief Ratkiewicz.

PUBLIC/BOARD COMMENT: Public comment opened at 7:46 p.m.

Gloria Melchiori. Treasurer Melchiori announced that she will not be running for re-election.

Troy Ganton. Trustee Ganton reminded everyone to attend the Memorial Day Parade.

Brent Williams. Trustee Williams remarked on how active the trail use is, what a wonderful job the County did with it and commented that it turned out far better than what he ever expected. He also commented on the cemetery cost analysis noting that it should probably be reevaluated.

Marston Fortress. The Supervisor asked if it could be arranged to have the board members walk through the cemetery at some point to review problem areas.

Randi Holthouse. Clerk Holthouse asked what would happen with the Planning Commission minutes as they did not correct the language regarding the motion for the expansion of Arbor Manor. The Supervisor indicated that it could be taken care of before it would impact issuing a building permit for them.

Adjournment. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m.; carried.