Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: June 9, 2003
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
June 9, 2003, at 7:30 p.m.,
with the following members present: Supervisor Willard DeGraaf,
Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Troy
Ganton, Patricia Short and Brent Williams. Absent: Trustee Marston
Fortress. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Rick Baxter, Stan Lyon, Pat Rombyer, Russ Ratkiewicz
and Dick Greenslade.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:31 p.m. Rick Baxter,
County Commissioner, informed the board that the zoning ordinance
changes were approved by the County Affairs Committee. He also discussed
the West Nile Virus and the county health departments program to
inform the public, and updated the board on the committee formed
to evaluate the Denton St. bridge in Cascades Park.
Pat Rombyer from the Jackson Citizen Patriot informed the board
members that she is now covering the western half of the county.
Public comment closed at 7:41 p.m.
Minutes. Minutes of the regular meeting of May 12 were approved
on motion by Ganton and support by Williams; carried.
Financial
Report. The financial report for the month was received
on motion by Short and support by Williams, showing the following
balances as of May 31:
General Fund Cash
$ 25,901.96
Certificate of Deposit
235,532.30
Fire Operations Cash
51,087.60
Fire Operations CD
183,000.00
Street Light Fund
10,983.88
Public Improvement Fund
322.72
P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit
270,383.83
Building Inspection Fund
32,770.91
Falling Waters Endowment Fund
3014.31
Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD
9,172.07
Sewer Funds
1,404,221.16
Water Funds
186,106.16
Trust & Agency Funds
0.00
Current Taxes
(12.07);
motion carried.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short to approve the
following expenditures:
•
General Fund
vouchers #39283-39377 totaling $46,576.58,
including the Pension Plan Contribution (by wire transfer) of $2,156.68;
•
Fire
Department Fund vouchers #39293-39375 totaling $6,880.18, including the
Fire Department Pension Plan contribution (by wire transfer)
of $318.24;
•
Street
Light Fund expenditures totaling $2,663.10; Building Inspection
Fund expenditures totaling
$4,332.87, including the Pension Plan contribution (by wire transfer)
of $53.35;
•
Sewer Receiving Fund disbursements of $655.24; Sewer
O & M Fund expenditures
totaling $53,019.02;
•
Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $28,687.76.
Roll
call: 6 yes. Trustee Short discussed the applications by TruGreen
in the cemetery and the effectiveness of the program. She requested
that the Budget
Committee review the service provided for the following years budget,
including repair of old markers.
BOARDS
AND COMMITTEES:
Planning Commission. Motion was made by Ganton
and supported by DeVries to approve the minutes of the May 6, 2003
meeting of the Planning Commission; carried.
POLICE/FIRE
ACTIVITY:
Police and Fire Report. There were 31 medical rescue
runs, two fire alarms, one mutual aid call, 18 fire runs, and no
carbon monoxide incidents or bomb threats during May. Police statistics
include: 162 complaints, nine accidents, 43 tickets, 20 verbal warnings,
seven arrests and six back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that the new police car has been delayed due
to installation of a light bar. He expects to receive the car before
the end of June. He discussed a community meeting planned for July
10 to be held at the Spring Arbor Senior Center. Representatives
from the Sheriff’s department will be there as well as the
Michigan Dept. Of State Police. The meeting is scheduled to begin
at 7:00 p.m. with the discussion focused on law enforcement, fingerprinting
children and neighborhood watch programs. Motion was made by Short
and supported by DeVries to receive the police report; carried.
Chief Greenslade reported that the month was very busy with several
tragic incidents occurring. He also discussed classes planned for
the seniors at the retirement facilities, including information
on bad weather safety issues. Motion was made by Short and supported
by DeVries to receive the fire report; carried.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A. Resolution to Authorize an Online Payment System.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to table the
resolution until the July board meeting; carried.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A. Rezoning Request - Dowley Mfg. Motion was made
by Williams and supported by Melchiori to accept the recommendation
of the Planning Commission and County Affairs and approve the rezoning
request for parcel#070-12-09-351-004-01 presented by Dowley Mfg.,
changing the zoning from Suburban Residential (RS-2) to Industrial
(I-1). Roll Call: 6 yes.
B. Hammond Rd. Paving. Motion was made by Short
and supported by Melchiori authorizing the Supervisor to sign the
contract with the Jackson County Road Commission approving the paving
of Hammond Rd.; carried.
C.
Committee Appointments. Motion was made by Short and supported
by Williams to approve the recommendation of the Supervisor to appoint
Troy Ganton as Chairman of the Historical Fund Committee, along
with members Becky Cunningham and Dennis DaPra, for three-year terms
beginning June 1, 2003; carried.
D.
Becky Cunningham Historical Fund Plaque. A bill was presented
by the Supervisor for a plaque honoring Becky Cunningham for her
contribution to the township on historical projects. Motion was
made by Williams and supported by DeVries to pay the bill from the
historical fund. Roll Call: 6 yes.
E.
Sewer - Manhole Covers. Motion was made by Ganton and supported
by Short to approve the allocation of funds to uncover the manholes
on the additional 52 manholes on the high pressure system at an
approximate cost of $300.00 per manhole cover. Roll Call: 5 yes.
Trustee Williams voted no.
REPORTS:
A.
MTA E-News for June 2003. The MTA E-News for June included
information regarding payments from the Metro Act, DNR digital map
availability, Adobe Acrobat, open burning regulations, bandwidth
connection, firework regulations, Michigan Digital Government Summit,
new township web sites, legal counsel opinions, quick tips, Township
Governance Academy, upcoming workshops and how to email the MTA.
B.
Report of Strategic Planning Goal #11.
Goal #11, to revise the zoning ordinance, was assigned to Trustee
Fortress. Trustee Fortress was not available for a report.
C.
Report of Strategic Planning Goal #13. Goal #13, to improve
communications with township residents, was assigned to Trustee
Short. Trustee Short reported that development of the web site is
moving along well and that Chris Cole, Deputy Clerk, has done an
excellent job. The newsletter will be used to announce the web site
when it is completed. Future committee work will be updating the
administrative manual.
D.
Harmony Park Update. Trustee Williams reported that Clerk
DeVries had contacted Jack Ripstra authorizing his firm to provide
the surveying work and a topographical map. Mr. Ripstra expects
to have everything completed by late July. Clerk DeVries reported
that the Jackson County Road Commission has finalized the paperwork
required for the closure of Harmony Rd. The cul-de-sac at the end
of Moon Rd. will need to be installed before the section of Harmony
Rd. is taken out, however the cul-de-sac cannot be constructed until
the topographical map is completed.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building Permit Report. The report of building
permits issued during the month of May showed new homes and miscellaneous
permits for a total value of $543,000.00.
Assessing/Building
Report. During the month of May, permits for five new homes
were issued, for a total of 20 this year. The occupancy permit has
been issued for the new Weatherwax building. He reported that he
has been working with the Treasurer’s office on tax statement
preparation, as well as doing field work related to new construction
finalized by the building inspector.
Supervisor’s
Report. Advised the board: of the status of ongoing projects;
of the status of the barking dog complaint from the previous board
meeting; of his recommendation to approve the contract to pave Hammond
Rd.; of committee appointments; of the status of the archaeological
dig (canceled); of an outstanding bill; of the status of unemployment
claims; of a sewer cleaning situation, and; of a meeting with our
insurance representative. He also recommended giving Mr. Cope 90
days to correct his building violations at his home, and discussed
patching the post office parking lot for approximately $2,000.00.
He approved a request from the Jackson County Fair Board to place
a banner on the garage for their 150-year celebration.
Z.B.A.
Meeting of May. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in
May had two variance requests to consider. V03-3, Charles &
Lynda Lang, variance from the side yard setback. V03-4, Spring Arbor
University, variance from the maximum building height.
Planning
Commission. Unapproved minutes of the Planning Commission
of June 3 included a rezoning request from Duane Skene, a rezoning
reqeust from Donna Meador, several rezoning requests from Spring
Arbor University, and two Conditional Use Permits from Spring Arbor
University.
Senior
Center - Meal Site Data. The report for the month of April
2003 listed 446 meals served at the Spring Arbor Senior Center.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A thank-you note from Boy Scout Troop #144 to the fire department.
A letter dated 05/12/03 from Comcast re. the completion of their
broadband network upgrade.
A letter dated 05/22/03 from Comcast re. their channel lineup.
A letter dated 05/28/03 from Millennium re. channel changes.PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT--GENERAL:
8:43 p.m.
Rick Baxter. County Commissioner Rick Baxter informed
the board that he and County Commissioner Jim Videto would be alternating
each month to report at the township board meetings.
Adjournment. Adjournment at 8:45 p.m. on motion
by Ganton and support by Williams; carried.
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