Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes August 8, 2005
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
August 8, 2005, at 7:31 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria
Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress, Patricia Short and Brent Williams.
Absent: Trustee Troy Ganton. The Pledge of Allegiance was
led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Stan Lyon, Russ Ratkiewicz, Pat Rombyer, Tim McEldowney
and Jim Videto.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:32 p.m. There
was no public comment.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures for July 2005: General Fund
expenditures #42371-42459 totaling $46,513.13; Fire Department Fund
expenditures #42377-42456 totaling $13,037.36; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $2,843.98; Building Inspection Fund expenditures
totaling $6,022.08; Sewer Receiving Fund expenditures of $0.00;
Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $34,653.14; and Water
O & M Fund expenditures totaling $97,320.16. Roll call: 6
yes.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Fortress and supported
by Williams to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the regular meeting minutes of July 11, 2005, the
financial report for July 2005, and the Planning Commission minutes
of July 5, 2005; carried. The financial report showed the following
balances as of July 31:
General
Fund Cash
$64,853.68
Certificate
of Deposit
119,335.31
Fire
Operations Cash
35,818.34
Fire
Operations CD
137,724.31
Street
Light Fund 6,835.63
Public Improvement Fund
10,643.38
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
93,385.26
Building
Inspection Fund
54,917.39
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
13,993.39
Sewer
Funds
1,279,954.86
Water
Funds
171,058.88
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
155,125.39
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 29 medical rescue
runs, four fire alarms, three mutual aid calls, 11 fire runs, and
no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during
July. Police statistics include: 169 complaints, 13 accidents,
44 tickets, 13 verbal warnings, 11 arrests, two semis ticketed and
15 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that the month started out hectic, but ended
on a good note. The department spent a day and a half at the Learning
Fair; a lot of kids came through their booth area. One of the
patrol cars was involved in a minor accident; no citation issued.
Cost to fix the car was $803; Steen Gilbertson charged for the
parts but not the labor. They had a couple of drunk driving arrests,
one at Teft Rd. that hit a utility pole and then one on Sears Rd.
that involved a minor accident. They also had 39 fewer calls this
month compared to last year. Trustee Short complimented the Police
Chief on the thoroughness and excellent work put into the Police
Department Policy Book.
Chief
McEldowney reported that their runs are down from last year, mainly
due to a decrease in grass fires. The weekend of August 6 that
drew many of the volunteers out of town resulted in nine of the
volunteers putting in their time at the station to keep the coverage
adequate; neighboring township fire departments also checked in
to make sure they were covered. Training is scheduled in September
for rappelling to be held at the SAU gymnasium. Trustee Short
suggested that a letter of appreciation be sent to those firemen
that spent their Saturday at the fire station.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to accept the police
and fire reports; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for August 2005. The MTA E-News for
August 2005 included information about the NATaT conference, Online
Partnerships, Technology Awards Program, County Chapter Update,
Workplace Posters Online, Computer User’s conference, legal opinions,
Economic Development Awards and upcoming workshops.
C.
Supervisor's Report . Advised the board: of the
status of ongoing projects; of the installation of grinder pumps
at Cabot Drive; of the installation of a generator at Willoway Drive;
of an information card mailed to sewer customers; of the status
of the Emerson Rd. project; of a preconstruction meeting for the
King Rd. Water Project; and, of a requested increase for the Assessor’s
salary. The Supervisor also commented on the resignation of the
Senior Center Director and the recent use of the Township Grass
Ordinance. The King Rd. Water Project is scheduled to start construction
on August 14 with a completion date of October 31.
D.
Washington Report. Received the July 2005 issue
of the Washington Report discussing several topics.
E.
Plante Moran Advisor. Received the Summer 2005
issue of the Plante Moran Advisor regarding financial issues.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A.
Assessor Pay Level. The board discussed the pay
level for the new Assessor, yet to be hired. The Supervisor reported
that he and the current Assessor have interviewed candidates and
to be able to hire one of them, additional pay is needed. Motion
was made by Short and supported by Fortress to increase the salary
from $35,000 to $36,000. After discussion, the motion was withdrawn.
Motion was then made by Short and supported by Fortress to authorize
that we pay up to $18.00 per hour for the Assessor; carried.
B.
Equalizer Internet Service with BS&A. Treasurer
Melchiori reported that she received a communication from Professional
Communication Services indicating that this type of service would
not pose a threat to our server or web site security. Treasurer
Melchiori reported that the only cost to the Township would be establishing
a link on the Township web site to the BS&A web site. Motion
was made by Melchiori and supported by Short to approve Option A
with BS&A Software which would be at no charge to the township
and that the Township will spend up to $300 to provide the link
on the web site only if BS&A Software will not pay for the cost
of the link; carried.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Proposed Cemetery Fee Increases. A proposal was
presented to raise certain fees related to the cemetery. Discussion
was held. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to
raise the weekday open/close fee to $65.00; to raise the weekend/holiday
open/close fee to $90.00; and to raise the foundation charge to
.25 per square inch effective August 9, 2005. Roll Call: 5 yes,
1 no. DeGraaf voted no. Discussion was held regarding the deficit
in cemetery operations. Motion was made by Fortress and supported
by Short that the Budget Committee come back to the board at the
November meeting with a recommendation of what percentage of operating
costs should be borne by the general operating fund as opposed to
user fees for the parks, cemetery and any other operation we have
similar to that; carried.
B.
Bank Funds. Clerk Holthouse discussed the amount
of funds on deposit in County National Bank and Comerica Bank, noting
that at both banks, the Township funds exceed the limits of FDIC
insurance. Through research, she found that County National Bank
offers a CDARS program, in which excess funds can be invested in
a CD (above the $100,000 insured limit), at the same bank. Holthouse
suggested that the board consider this option rather than leave
the Township funds at risk, with $1.2 million deposited in Comerica
Bank. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress that
the officers bring back a recommendation as to how to diversify
the placement of our Township funds and to make sure that they are
covered by the FDIC insurance as much as possible, and/or alternate
insurance programs; carried.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building
Permit Report. The report of building permits issued
during the month of July showed new homes and miscellaneous permits
for a total value of $360,500.00.
Assessing/Building
Report. During the month of July, two new home permits
were issued, for a total of 34 this year. The Assessor reported
that the Site Plan for Concerto Court has been approved by the Planning
Commission for 18 lots and a site plan has been received for Greenbriar
Phase III for 16 lots.
Planning
Commission. Unapproved minutes of the August 2 meeting
of the Planning Commission included site plan approval for Concerto
Court and an update from the long-range and economic development
committee.
Z.B.A.
Meeting of July. Approved variance V05-3, for Doug
Clark, for a front yard setback of 62’ instead of 93’ for the purpose
of constructing a barn.
Senior
Center Newsletter. Received the August issue of the
Senior Center newsletter.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter
from R2PC dated 6/27/05 re. comments on master land use plan.
Thank-you
letter from Learning Fair to police department.
Letter from Comcast dated 8/2/05 re. new phone number.
Letter
from Comcast dated 8/2/05 re. correction on phone number.
Thank-you letter to The Hobbit Place for donation of trees in park.
Letter
from R2PC dated 8/2/05 re. project review notice.
PUBLIC
AND/OR BOARD COMMENT: Public comment opened at 9:04 p.m.
County
Commissioner Videto. Commissioner Videto presented
a County of Jackson flag to the Township. He also commented on
planned budget cuts (county budget) over the next few years, the
county garage, reduction of county fleet (vehicles), service fees
and revenue sharing.
Treasurer
Melchiori. Treasurer Melchiori commented that the
tax service with BS&A Software would be on a trial basis for
three months and a contract would be required after that.
Public
comment closed at 9:12 p.m.
A
recess was taken by the Township Board.
The
meeting resumed at 9:25 p.m.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to go into executive
session at 9:25 p.m.; carried.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Short to rise from executive
session at 10:17 p.m.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse that after due consideration,
the Township Board will not approve the purchase of the property
located at 310 Main St., Spring Arbor. Roll Call: 6 yes.
Public
comment was held at 10:18 p.m.; there was none.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams
to adjourn the meeting at 10:19 p.m.; carried.
Randi
Holthouse, Township Clerk
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