Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes Sept. 27, 2005

At the special board meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board on Tuesday, September 27, 2005, 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 purpose of the meeting was to look at ways to cut the budget.

The Supervisor discussed the October board meeting falling on a holiday for the township office.   It was agreed to change the meeting to Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m.

Trustee Ganton and Clerk Holthouse presented costs for establishing a recycling center in the Township for the board to consider.   The item is scheduled to be placed on the agenda for the October board meeting.   Holthouse contacted Consumers Energy Foundation to see if a grant for the project would be possible and received a favorable indication that it would.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to grant the authority to the Clerk to apply to Consumers Energy Foundation for a grant for the recycling project; carried.   Discussion was then held regarding the cost of having the attorney prepare the lease between the Township and Hutch’s Food Center for the location of the recycling center.   Holthouse said she would contact the Township attorney to see if he would donate his time to the project in preparing the lease.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to authorize the Clerk to contact Bob Grover, Township attorney, regarding the lease agreement for the recycling center; carried.   Trustee Ganton left the meeting at 5:40 p.m.

The Supervisor discussed the house recently purchased by the Township on Harmony Rd.   Demolition quotes have come in higher than expected, and higher than what was budgeted.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve an additional $500.00 for the demolition of the house located at 124 Harmony Rd.   Roll Call:   6 yes.

The board then moved to the budget and cut the following items from the 2005-06 budget .

              Legislative, Parade, from $1,400 to $1,200

              Legislative, Enterprise Group, from $500 to $0

              Legislative, Christmas Street Decorations, from $500 to $0

              Assessor, Camera, from $300 to $0

              Assessor, Photo Printer, from $300 to $0

              Clerk, Typewriter, from $300 to $0

              General Office, Tables, from $300 to $0

              Treasurer, Computer, from $1,500 to $1,300

              Post Office, Maintenance, Parking Lot, from $18,000 to $12,000

              Maintenance Bldg., Maintenance, from $1,100 to $1,000

              Cemetery Maintenance, Road Repair, from $2,000 to $1,000

              Cemetery Maintenance, Fence Repair, from $600 to $200

              Cemetery Maintenance, Trim Trees, from $3,000 to $2,000

Trustee Fortress left the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

The board members agreed to meet at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 to continue discussion of the budget, and will start with Cemetery Improvements.

Adjournment.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short to adjourn at 6:55 p.m.