Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: September 8, 2003
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
September 8, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori,
Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton and Brent Williams. Absent:
Trustee Patricia Short. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor
DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Harry Walling, Gail Walling, Russ Ratkiewicz, Dick Greenslade,
Tim Woolworth, Chad Greenslade, Jim Dark and Jim Videto.
Public Comment: Public comment opened at 7:31
p.m.
Dick
Greenslade addressed the board regarding his recent discovery of
a health problem and assured the board that the Fire Department
level of service would remain the same. Mr. Harry Walling stated
that he was attending the meeting regarding the Sunnydell buffer
zone. Public comment closed at 7:36 p.m.
Minutes. Minutes of the regular meeting of August 11
were approved on motion by Fortress and support by DeVries with
a correction; carried.
Financial Report. The financial report for the month
was received on motion by Ganton and support by Williams, showing
the following balances as of August 31:
General
Fund Cash
$ (12,520.67)
Certificate
of Deposit
195,842.52
Fire
Operations Cash
(13,786.64)
Fire
Operations CD
183,290.33
Street
Light Fund
2,980.64
Public
Improvement Fund
(31,746.39)
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
271,136.02
Building
Inspection Fund
42,689.47
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
(1,491.85)
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
12,205.72
Sewer
Funds
1,305,144.91
Water
Funds
181,533.31
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
232,391.02;
motion
carried.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by DeVries to
approve the following expenditures: General Fund vouchers #39635-39743
totaling $62,559.44; Fire Department Fund vouchers #39635-39744
totaling $10,247.33; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $2,646.31;
Public Improvement Fund expenditures totaling $8,630.00; Building
Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $4,461.35; Sewer Receiving
Fund transfers of $75,000.00; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures
totaling $75,891.53; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling
$26,443.77. Roll call: 6 yes.
BOARDS
AND COMMITTEES:
Park Committee. Motion was made by Ganton and supported
by Williams to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2003 meeting
of the Park Committee; carried.
Policy & Communications. Motion was made by Ganton
and supported by DeVries to approve the minutes of the August 13,
2003 meeting of the Policy & Communications Committee; carried.
Senior Center Advisory Board. Motion was made by Ganton
and supported by DeVries to approve the minutes of the August 19,
2003 meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried. Trustee
Ganton reported that at meeting, a discussion was held regarding
rentals that removed tables and chairs from the building.
REPORTS:
A., B. Police and Fire Report. There were 45 medical
rescue runs, three fire alarms, no mutual aid calls, 25 fire runs,
and no Hazmat responses , carbon monoxide incidents or bomb threats
during August. Police statistics include: 209 complaints, six
accidents, 49 tickets, 65 verbal warnings, nine arrests, 2 semi’s
ticketed and 16 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that the month had been quite busy with the
department working on Main St. issuing tickets and verbal warnings
to help slow the speed of traffic down. He is also working to
have more motor carrier officers patrolling M-60 for the semi traffic.
He reported that he has hired two new part-time officers, Howard
Noppe and Rob Sifferman . Howard Noppe was introduced to the board.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to accept
the police report; carried.
Chief
Greenslade was not available for an additional report. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to accept the fire
report; carried.
C. MTA E-News for September 2003. The MTA E-News for
September included information regarding a mapping survey by MTA,
computer and Internet security, filing wage reports online, MTA
web site facts, resources for county chapter meetings, technology
conferences, newly published township web sites, legal counsel opinions,
MTA district meetings and other workshops, the upcoming annual conference
and how to email the MTA.
D. MTA Board of Directors Newsletter. The August 2003
MTA Board of Directors newsletter included updates from the different
departments at the association.
E. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #11. Goal #11,
assigned to Trustee Fortress, was to review and revise the zoning
ordinance and long-range land use plan. He reported that Dick
Renner will be working on the project. The completion date of
the goal was changed to June 30, 2004.
F. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #12. Goal #12,
assigned to Supervisor DeGraaf and Trustee Ganton, was to enhance
senior citizen programs. Trustee Ganton discussed the status of
Sarah’s Garden and recommended that it be eliminated.
G. Report of Strategic Planning Goal #13. Goal #13,
assigned to Trustee Short, was to improve communications with constituents.
Trustee Fortress reported that the web site is up and running.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A.
Senior Center Storage Shed. Supervisor DeGraaf reported
that he had received a bid for a larger shed at a cost of $7,600.00.
After discussion, the Supervisor indicated he would come back in
October with additional information. No action was taken on this
item.
B. Online Payment System. A recommendation was made
from the Policy & Communications Committee to authorize an online
payment system. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by DeVries
that the township continue to move toward a system where people
can pay their taxes, sewer and water bills, and fees through the
use of debit or credit cards, and that we will implement the system
in the future when we have identified the best system to use; carried.
Treasurer Melchiori indicated she called the State Property Tax
Division and was informed that we cannot charge more than the actual
tax payment that is owed. Supervisor DeGraaf has the township
attorney researching the matter, but his first impression is that
it would be okay.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A. Sunnydell Buffer Zone. Mr. Walling applied for a
variance which was subsequently withdrawn by the Zoning Board of
Appeals and referred to the Spring Arbor Township Board for action.
The Supervisor, after discussion with the township attorney, recommended
that the buffer zone be reduced to allow Mr. Walling, owner of Lot
71, to place a trailer on his property with enough footage to allow
him to comply with the zoning ordinance. The reduction of the
buffer zone was also recommended for Lot 130 as well. Motion was
made by DeVries and supported by Williams that the buffer zone will
be reduced to the south 40 feet in Lots 71 and 130; carried. Motion
was then made by Ganton and supported by Fortress that since this
legitimately required township board action and not that of the
Zoning Board of Appeals, that the $200.00 variance application fee
be refunded to Mr. Walling. Roll Call: 6 yes.
B. Historical Committee Recommendations. The board
members reviewed the recommendations made by the Historical Committee.
Motion was made by DeVries and supported by Fortress to approve
the recommendation of accepting the bid for $450.00 for the mowing
of Falling Waters Park by Brian’s Fix-It-Service for the 2004 season
to be taken from next years budget; carried. Trustee Ganton, chair
of the committee, was asked for clarification of the remaining recommendations
and to report back at the October board meeting.
C. Emergency Control Center. The Supervisor recommended
that the fire station and township office be equipped with natural
gas generators using fire department funds and sewer funds to be
able to respond to storms and disasters. He was requested to obtain
information and costs and report back to the board.
D. Enterprise Group. Motion was made by Fortress and
supported by Williams that we give the Enterprise Group $500.00
annually for a three-year period for economic development, instead
of the $1,500.00 that was originally budgeted. Roll Call: 6 yes.
A request was made to reevaluate the contribution after the three-year
period.
E.
Playground Equipment Installation Recommendation. The
Park Committee had reviewed two quotes received for the installation
of playground equipment at the new park. Recommendation from the
Park Committee was to accept the bid from Midwest Recreation Products.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to accept
the proposal from Midwest Recreation Products for the installation
of the playground equipment, and to include the mats at a cost of
$3,780.00, for a total cost of $53,410.08. Roll Call: 6 yes.
F. Western High School Fireworks Display Permit. A
request had been received from Western High School to have a fireworks
display at their homecoming football game. They have acquired
the necessary insurance and the fire department will also be there
on site. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to
approve the fireworks display permit; carried.
G. Christmas Holidays. The Supervisor recommended that
the office be closed on Friday, December 26, 2003 as part of the
Christmas holidays. Motion was made by Fortress and supported
by Williams to close the office on December 26, 2003 with pay; carried.
H. Senior Center Rental Agreement. Motion was made
by Fortress and supported by Ganton that we ask the Senior Center
Advisory Board to revise the rental contract to include language
that prohibits removal of any furniture or equipment from the premises
and that until the advisory board reports back, that no furniture
or equipment is to leave the building in the interim; carried.
I. Emerson Road. The Supervisor reported that he met
with MDOT on the 28th, and while they recognize that there is a
problem at the corner of Emerson Road and M-60, they do not have
the funds to fix it with the requirement of curbs and gutters. Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Ganton to authorize the Supervisor
to contact our State Representative, Clark Bisbee; carried.
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 $580,000.00.
Assessing/Building Report. During the month of August,
permits for two new homes were issued, for a total of 35 this year.
The assessor reported that the Village Crossing Mall has half
of their space leased and plans are to have a Foote Hospital Medical
Center in a separate building. The review of the residential sales
with the County Equalization Department has been completed with
a final increase of 4.5%.
Supervisor’s Report. Advised the board: of the status
of ongoing projects; of the completed review of the fire department
personnel insurance by Jack Voss; of the need for an emergency control
center; of an accident with a manhole; of a recommendation for contributions
to the Enterprise Group; of the status of the water expansion project;
and, of the status of the Emerson Road approach. He also commented
that Johnny’s Tree Service did a beautiful job with the tree work.
Z.B.A. Meeting of August. The Zoning Board of Appeals
meeting in August had one variance request to consider. V03-9,
Jeffrey & Cherri Abner , variance from the rear yard setback.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A letter dated 8/13/03 from Comcast re. a new
employee.
A letter dated 8/25/03 from the Michigan Dept.
Of State Police re. the Law Enforcement Challenge. An award was
attached to the letter.
PUBLIC/
BOARD COMMENT --GENERAL: 9:40 p.m.
Jim Videto. County Commissioner Jim Videto addressed
the board regarding warning sirens and expressed his need to have
a unified voice to take back to the county. He suggested that
several townships together would have more of an impact than just
one. He also reported that the county is working on their budget
and with revenue funds being cut, the county is making adjustments.
Brent Williams. Trustee Williams commented that he has
heard from several township residents regarding the cemetery and
the beautiful condition that it is in. He also commented that
Hammond Road looks very nice.
Adjournment. Adjournment at 9:48 p.m. on motion by Ganton
and support by Fortress; carried.
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