Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes Sept. 12, 2005
The regular meeting of the Spring
Arbor Township Board was held Monday, September 12, 2005, at 7:30
p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf,
Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Marston
Fortress, Troy Ganton, Patricia Short and Brent Williams. The Pledge
of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests were: Dick Renner, Judy Reynolds,
Jeff Kurfess, Russ Ratkiewicz, and Tim McEldowney.
Public Comment: Public comment opened
at 7:31 p.m.
Judy Reynolds, County Commissioner, presented information about
possible foreclosure properties in the township, discussed the lagoon
dredging project at Cascades Park, commented on the “most
wanted” list developed by District Court, and announced that
Friend of the Court would not lay off as many people as initially
expected. She also mentioned a new building at the airport that
will house a company doing light aircraft assembly. The County Senior
Volunteer is Dr. James O’Connor. The county is experiencing
a problem with too many cats at the shelter; Washtenaw County is
now housing inmates at our jail creating income for the county.
She also discussed a hickory preserve in the area; the County Clerks
application for election equipment; and the county’s efforts
to sell vehicles and parts.
Expenditures. Motion was made by Ganton
and supported by Short to approve the following expenditures for
August 2005: General Fund expenditures #42461-42562 totaling $49,397.11;
Fire Department Fund expenditures #42460-42562 totaling $21,442.78;
Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $2,948.18; Public Improvement
Fund Expenditures of $8,000.00; Building Inspection Fund expenditures
totaling $5,968.58; Historical Fund expenditures of $1.53; Sewer
Receiving Fund expenditures of $22.00; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures
totaling $63,032.83; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling
$2,473.42. Roll call: 7 yes.
Consent Agenda. Motion was made by
Ganton and supported by Williams to approve the following items
under the consent agenda consisting of the regular meeting minutes
of August 8, 2005, closed session minutes of August 8, 2005, the
financial report for August 2005, Park Committee minutes of June
2 and August 15, 2005, Sewer & Water Committee minutes of June
6, 2005, and the Planning Commission minutes of August 2, 2005;
carried. The financial report showed the following balances as of
August 31:
General Fund Cash
$(24,502.61)
Certificate of Deposit
194,618.11
Fire Operations Cash
14,498.95
Fire Operations CD
138,050.05
Street Light Fund
3,887.45
Public Improvement Fund
3,017.38
P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit
93,606.17
Building Inspection Fund
42,614.81
Falling Waters Endowment Fund
(1.53)
Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD
14,026.49
Sewer Funds
1,296,034.95
Water Funds
196,402.54
Trust & Agency Funds
0.00
Current Taxes
338,475.66
REPORTS:
A. Police and Fire Report. There were
38 medical rescue runs, two fire alarms, no mutual aid calls, eight
fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat
responses during August. Police statistics include: 174 complaints,
seven accidents, 32 tickets, 35 verbal warnings, two arrests, six
semis ticketed and 10 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief Ratkiewicz reported that new computer programs have been added
in the patrol cars and they are learning the new programs. An officer
from the department was present at Kid’s Day (put on by Hutch’s),
and the Chief also worked at the Traffic Safety Booth at the Jackson
Co. Fair. The department is continuing to work on junk vehicles,
writing 21 notices and only one violation. The 1999 patrol car is
experiencing more mechanical problems; he will try to keep it going
until a new vehicle is purchased.
Chief McEldowney reported that their garage sale raised approximately
$3,000 for their club association and they are very appreciative
of the community support. The Chief recently participated in the
“Celebrity Gas Pump” event put on by United Way. The
department will be participating in rapid intervention training
and additional training in October dealing with heights. He also
has some interested applicants and will advise the board at a future
meeting of his recommendation.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to accept the
police and fire reports; carried.
B. MTA E-News for September 2005.
Received the September issue of the MTA E-News.
C. Supervisor’s Report. Advised
the board: of the status of ongoing projects; of construction dates
for Emerson Rd.; of construction dates for the King Rd. Water Project;
of the status of our Assessor; of a request by Western High School
to have fireworks; of a resolution for the King Rd. Water Project;
of the sale of Westbrook Townhouses; of a recommendation to increase
the meter horn fee; of a recommendation regarding sewer allocation
for development land near MACI; of a meeting with the MPSC; and,
of the status of revenue sharing. The Supervisor also commented
on the demolition of the house at 124 Harmony Rd.
D. Washington Report. Received the
August/September 2005 issue of the Washington Report discussing
several topics.
E. Recycling. Trustee Ganton reported
that the Recycling Committee is moving ahead. Different members
of the committee are working on different issues and reporting back.
Ganton asked the board for input as to whether the committee should
continue pursuing the project. The board requested that the committee
provide the costs of the project for their consideration.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. Assessor Pay Level. Dick Renner
presented two options for the board to consider in hiring an Assessor.
One option was an hourly employee and the other option was an independent
contractor. Cost for the hourly employee with benefits totaled almost
$58,000. Cost of the independent contractor was $46,800. Motion
was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to hire the contractual
person at $13.00 per parcel, and to have the Supervisor and Assessor
negotiate the contract using the township attorney, with authorization
given to the Supervisor to sign the contract, and to have the new
person start as soon as possible; carried.
B. Equalizer Internet Service with
BS&A. Treasurer Melchiori reported that eureka! Multimedia is
willing to add the link on our web site for the tax service at no
charge. She has also talked with Professional Communications Services
and they have recommended that the firewall be reconfigured. Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Ganton to authorize that the
$300 previously approved for the web site link be transferred to
cover the cost of the firewall configuration; carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Conditional Use for Arbor Hills
Country Club. A letter from Mary Scroggs was read regarding the
request by Arbor Hills Country Club. Motion was made by Williams
and supported by Ganton to accept the recommendation of the Planning
Commission and approve the Conditional Use requested by Arbor Hills
Country Club for parcel number 000-12-12-251-002-00; carried.
B. Resolution for Class C Liquor License for AHCC. Motion was made
by Short and supported by Williams to approve the Resolution for
the Class C Liquor License for Arbor Hills Country Club with a Dance-Entertainment
Permit. Roll Call: 7 yes.
C. Western High School – Fireworks
Display Permit. Motion was made by Short and supported by Melchiori
to approve the Fireworks Display Permit for Western High School
for fireworks to be held on September 30, 2005; carried.
D. Meter Horn/Bracket Fee. From the
Sewer & Water Committee minutes of August 29, 2005 presented
a recommendation to increase the meter horn fee to market value
plus $10.00. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams
to increase the meter horn/bracket fee to market value plus $10.00;
motion failed. Discussion. Motion was made by Holthouse and supported
by Fortress to raise the meter horn/bracket fee to market value;
carried. Discussion was held regarding the connection fees. Motion
was made by Williams to raise the 1” tap fee by $140.00; motion
was withdrawn. Motion was then made by Short and supported by Williams
to have the tap fee for the 3/4”, 1”, 1 ½”,
2”, 4”, and 6” connections, for both direct and
indirect as applies, raised by $140.00 effective immediately. Roll
Call: 7 yes.
E. MACI Development Land. Motion was
made by Fortress and supported by Williams that any new development
in the industrial park adjacent to MACI must obtain their own sewer
allotment from the City of Jackson; carried.
F. Sewer Expenditure for MACI Lift
Station. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to
approve the $1,200.00 expenditure for Jett Pump & Valve, LLC
to check the lift station pumps at the MACI plant. Roll Call: 7
yes.
G. Resolution to set interest rate
on King Rd. Water Project. A resolution prepared by the attorneys
working on the King Rd. Water Project was presented to the board
to establish the interest rate charged on unpaid assessments related
to the water project. Holthouse questioned what the money would
be used for. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress
to approve the resolution establishing the interest rate at 5.26%.
Roll Call: 7 yes.
H. Rescind Resolution to Designate
Depositories. Treasurer Melchiori requested that the board rescind
a motion made in 1992 to specify depositories for township funds,
noting that the list of depositories is outdated. Motion was made
by Ganton and supported by Williams to rescind the resolution to
designate depositories originally approved on April 13, 1992; carried.
I. Private Road Agreements for Pineland
Trail, College St. & Howe St. Motion was made by Short and supported
by Williams to approve the private road agreements for Pineland
Trail, College St. and Howe St. with the Jackson County Road Commission;
carried.
J. New Computer for Treasurer’s
Office. Treasurer Melchiori requested approval to purchase a new
computer for the Treasurer’s office, using funds allocated
in the budget. Estimated cost of the computer is approximately $1,100.00.
Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to authorize
the Treasurer to purchase a new computer; carried.
K. Policy. Clerk Holthouse presented
recommendations to the board regarding policy updates needed in
the Administrative Manual. Discussion was held on time off after
vacation had been used. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Fortress to have the four Trustees meet to discuss the vacation
issue and return to the board with a recommendation; carried. The
board then started discussion on time off for personal appointments
and changing vacation time to sick time after the occurrence. Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to have the additional
two issues given to the Trustees and to return to the board with
a recommendation; carried. A date of Monday, September 19, 2005,
at 5:00 p.m. was set for the work session.
L. Budget. Fortress moved that the
Budget Committee meet as often as they need to, to start working
on next years budget and the following years. Motion was withdrawn.
Fortress moved with supported of Short that the whole board meet
as a work group session to study the budget; carried. A date of
Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. was set for the budget
study session.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building Permit Report. The report
of building permits issued during the month of August showed new
homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $1,006,500.00.
Assessing/Building Report. During
the month of August, six new home permits were issued, for a total
of 40 this year. The Assessor reported on activity at the County
Equalization department and the status of hiring a new Assessor.
Planning Commission. Unapproved minutes
of the August 16 meeting of the Planning Commission included resignation
of Ken Melville as Secretary, election of Earl Poleski as Secretary,
and two site plans for Spring Arbor University for a new residence
hall and a parking lot. Unapproved minutes of the September 6 meeting
of the Planning Commission included review of the two site plans
for Spring Arbor University, site plan review of Greenbriar Phase
III, and final site plan review of Concerto Court. Marston Fortress
announced his affiliation with Exit Realty.
Sewer & Water Committee. Minutes
of the August 29 meeting of the Sewer & Water Committee included
recommendations to increase the meter horn fee, to have new plants
secure their own sewer allotments near the MACI plant, to have the
MACI lift station checked, and updates on other projects.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter from Comcast dated 8/12/05
re. new Digital Sports Package.
Thank-you letter to Karen Morgan/Cub Scouts for donation of tree
in park.
Letter from Drain Commissioner dated 8/24/05 re. availability of
his office.
PUBLIC AND/OR BOARD COMMENT: Public
comment opened at 9:58 p.m.
Trustee Short. Trustee Short stated
that she did not understand how the fund balance in the Public Improvement
Fund had been used, noting that she should have been more aware
of township expenditures effecting the fund. She asked that she
be kept more informed in the future in situations like this, stating
that she thought the funds were still there and didn’t realize
we were spending those funds.
Trustee Fortress. Trustee
Fortress also stated that he was unaware that the funds had been
spent, that he thought the funds were still there and hadn’t
realized that it had been spent for other things.
Trustee Williams. Trustee Williams
noted that all costs are going up, heating, insurance, etc.
Trustee Fortress. Trustee
Fortress suggested that the Supervisor work on preparing a disaster
response plan for the Township. Trustee Fortress also informed the
board of a potential conflict of interest as he is now affiliated
with Exit Realty, and that he would be sensitive to issues that
could present a conflict.
Clerk Holthouse. Clerk Holthouse noted
that an Emergency Response Plan is on file at the Township office
(prepared by the County of Jackson).
Public comment closed at 10:22 p.m.
Adjournment. Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Williams to adjourn the meeting
at 10:23 p.m.; carried.
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