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Spring
Arbor Township Board- June 9, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
June 9, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Marston Fortress, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees
Troy Ganton, Scott Rogers, Patricia Short and Brent Williams. Absent:
Clerk Randi Holthouse. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Supervisor.
Guests
were: Russ Ratkiewicz, Ken Wyatt, James Videto, Ben Keaster, Michael
Cantrell and Stan Lyon.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
Earl
Poleski, County Commissioner, reported that the responsibility for
animal control in Jackson County has been moved to the jurisdiction
of the Sheriff’s office and commissioners are satisfied with the
progress. The Road Commission is holding a hearing on a new policy
which covers roads that dead end into lakes, prohibiting boaters
from docking overnight. The county is considering the creation of
a service floor on the second floor of the Tower Building and moving
the commission chambers to the fifth floor. The county is also reviewing
ways to allow citizens to make payments online and apply for licenses.
Jim
Videto, County Commissioner, thanked the board members and adjacent
landowners for their cooperation in making the new Falling Waters
Trail a success and noted that they are still working on the parking
issues and hope to have that resolved later in the summer. He praised
the fiscal responsibility of prior commissioners over the years
as that is now helping with their decline in revenue sharing. In
prior years the county has not had to rely on revenue sharing for
vital services, and he noted that many department service directors
are cutting costs creatively by sharing space and equipment so that
services may still be delivered to residents. Commissioner Videto
also mentioned that the Economic Development Committee is searching
for creative ways to revitalize and stimulate the local economy.
Public
comment closed at 7:16 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Rogers
to approve the following expenditures for May 2008: General Fund
expenditures #46382-46497 totaling $53,436.17; Fire Department Fund
expenditures #46382-46495 totaling $10,879.06; Street Light Fund
expenditure #46383 totaling $3,665.19; Building Inspection Fund
expenditures #46384-46492 totaling $2,230.30; Sewer O & M Fund
expenditures #46381-46498 totaling $95,912.80; Water O & M Fund
expenditures #46381-46490 totaling $32,127.43; and, Tax Fund expenditures
#4317-4324 totaling $36,390.07; carried.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Rogers and supported by Williams
to approve the regular board meeting minutes of May 12, 2008; carried.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Williams to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the financial reports for May 2008; general ledger
report of revenues and expenditures for May 2008; Senior Center
Advisory Board minutes of May 14, 2008; and, Planning Commission
minutes of June 3, 2008. The financial report showed the following
balances as of May 31:
General
Fund Cash
$51,058.36
Certificate
of Deposit
259,109.56
Fire
Operations Cash
68,992.82
Fire
Operations CD
525,590.93
Street
Light Fund 14,650.62
Public
Improvement Fund
0.00
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
58,936.16
Building
Inspection Fund
(1,906.32)
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
30,936.23
Sewer
Funds
934,071.32
Water
Funds
343,736.97
Trust
& Agency Funds
45.00
Current
Taxes
15.00;
carried.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Reports. There were 52 medical rescue
runs, three fire alarms, one mutual aid call, eight fire runs, one
Hazmat response, and no carbon monoxide incidents or bomb threats
during May. Police statistics include: 205 complaints, 16 accidents,
33 tickets, 14 verbal warnings, six arrests, and 21 back-up calls
to other departments.
The
Chief of Police reported that as of the end of May there are 80
more incident reports than compared to last year. One of those incidents
included a car that struck a guard rail on Mathews Rd. at the Falling
Waters Trail crossing; fortunately, no trail users were involved.
The suspect in the King Rd. breaking and entering incidents has
been apprehended and is in jail pending trial. The Western High
School Prom and Memorial Day weekend were both quiet with no incidents.
Eric Finlaw received the Youth Citizen Award based upon his more
than 30 hours of community service in a variety of areas. The department
is scheduled for emergency training during the following week.
Trustee
Williams asked about the Gas & Oil line item expense in the
police department budget. Chief Ratkiewicz responded that he has
ordered no idling when stopped for any period of time.
Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Rogers to accept the police
and fire reports; carried.
B.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits
issued during the month of May showed miscellaneous permits for
a total value of $81,000. No new home permits or commercial permits
were issued in May. Trustee Williams asked if staffing changes should
be considered in the building department due to the lack of activity.
The Supervisor responded that there has been some commercial activity
occupying the time of the Building Administrator as well as zoning
violations.
C.
Supervisors 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 progress in extending water west
on M-60 to Mathews Rd.; of his dissatisfaction with safety issues
at the Falling Waters Trail; of repairs needed at the Post Office;
of the status of the telephone system bid project; of a ruling by
the Michigan Tax Tribunal regarding Spring Arbor Cafe; and, of a
form required by the State of Michigan to regulate “Going Out Of
Business Sales”. The Supervisor also commented that he is scheduled
to meet with the Director of the County Parks, Jim Guerriero, regarding
safety issues on Falling Waters Trail.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Resignation of Mark Dowley. Motion was made by Williams
and supported by Short to accept the resignation of Mark Dowley
from the Spring Arbor Township Park Committee with appreciation
for his service to the community; carried.
B.
Approve Form and Fee for “Going Out of Business Sales”. Motion
was made by Rogers and supported by Williams to adopt the following
procedure:
“That
the Clerk receives the application and grant the License by completing
that portion of the License at the bottom of the second page; that
the License must be issued in duplicate and the applicant must post
one copy in the sales room or the place where the goods are sold
and a duplicate copy must be attached to the front door clearly
visible from the street; and, that the cost of the license is $50.00”;
carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Township
Law Newsletters.
Letter
from Comcast.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 7:38 p.m.
Gloria Melchiori. Treasurer Melchiori explained
that a number of sewer and water clients are in arrears on their
utility bills. She has sent letters explaining the Township Sewer
Ordinance which mandates that the Township add the arrearages to
their tax bills and they could have their utilities shut off.
Marston Fortress. The Supervisor commented
that he and the Treasurer have discussed the utility bill arrearages
and would be addressing this issue with the Board at a later date.
He also announced that the Administrative Assistant, Cheryl Goodwin,
has tendered her resignation.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Rogers
to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m.; carried.
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