Township
Board Meeting September 11, 2006
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
September 11, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria
Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton and Brent Williams.
Trustee Patricia Short arrived at 7:08 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance
was led by the Supervisor.
Guests
were: Jim Videto, Judy Reynolds, Earl Poleski, Tim McEldowney,
Russ Ratkiewicz and Lloyd Ganton.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:02 p.m.
Jim
Videto, County Commissioner, discussed the sequence of events that
led to the County allocating additional funds to the Jackson Transportation
Authority rather than placing a millage request on the ballot.
He also discussed the County’s rationale behind the new street addressing
ordinance.
Judy
Reynolds, County Commissioner, reported that the County is looking
for a new IT Director to assist the County with their increase in
computerized applications. She also commented on the street addressing
ordinance, and mentioned that the Township currently has 10 potential
foreclosures at this point. She also discussed the possibility
of a millage for the library and encouraged everyone to visit Carnegie
Library. Final comments included statistics and reasons explaining
the increase of women in jail.
Earl
Poleski mentioned that two issues he feels will be of major interest
next year are the JTA millage and the incinerator. He encouraged
people to share their views with him even prior to him taking office.
Public
comment closed at 7:25 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures for August 2006: General Fund
expenditures #43783-43910 totaling $59,262.28; Fire Department Fund
expenditures #43782-43910 totaling $30,477.67; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $3,358.49; Public Improvement Fund Expenditures
totaling $11,810.89; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling
$5,255.19; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $49,348.82;
and Water & M Fund expenditures totaling $2,431.14. Roll
call: 7 yes.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short
to approve the regular board meeting minutes of August 14, 2006;
carried.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Williams to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the financial reports for August 2006; general ledger
report of revenues and expenditures for August 2006; Park Committee
minutes of August 16, 23, and 30, 2006, and September 6, 2006; and
Planning Commission minutes of September 5, 2006; carried. The
financial report showed the following balances as of August 31:
General
Fund Cash
$81,893.01
Certificate
of Deposit 177,269.66
Fire
Operations Cash
9,401.50
Fire
Operations CD
302,032.35
Street
Light Fund
3,472.91
Public
Improvement Fund
227.01
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
2,209.63
Building
Inspection Fund
1,817.56
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
30,011.79
Sewer
Funds
1,308,680.50
Water
Funds 301,364.27
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes 539,314.38.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 57 medical rescue
runs, three fire alarms, one mutual aid call, seven fire runs, one
carbon monoxide incident, and no bomb threats or Hazmat responses
during August. Police statistics include: 182 complaints, 15 accidents,
65 tickets, 33 verbal warnings, eight arrests, four semis ticketed
and 25 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that complaints for the year are up by 56.
August was relatively busy for the department with the Chief successfully
applying for two grants and working on a case that resulted in two
felony charges against a juvenile. He also discussed the placement
of a speed trailer in Fairway Subdivision to check traffic speeds
based on complaints from neighbors living in the subdivision.
Chief
McEldowney reported that they have also experienced an increase
in calls compared to last year, although their mutual aid calls
are down in comparison. They were able to test the refurbished
Engine 2 on one of the mutual aid calls and it performed well.
The department is scheduled for training to cut up cars (three vehicles
were donated for this); also, the facility has been approved as
a training site for first responder for all departments in the county.
The department is currently at its’ maximum with 30 members and
is in good shape to take care of the community.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Short to accept the police
and fire reports; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for September 2006, Law Newsletter.
Received the September issue of the MTA E-News. Received the August
issue of the Township Law Newsletter.
C.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building
permits issued during the month of August showed new homes and miscellaneous
permits for a total value of $510,400.00.
D.
Status of Recycling Funds. Status of recycling
funds showed revenues of $8,306.00 and expenditures of $8,563.28.
The shortfall was due to surveying work completed at the request
of the Supervisor. A budget amendment is scheduled for action
by the board.
E.
Supervisor’s Report . Advised the board: of the
status of ongoing projects and zoning violations; of repairs made
near a sewer drain (Fairway Subdivision); of traffic speed results
in Fairway Subdivision; of the attorney’s opinion regarding spot
zoning; of a cost reimbursement by the LDFA for the MACI lift station;
of storm water problems between M-60 and Richard St.; of his recommendation
to increase the water meter pricing; of two requests from Spring
Arbor University for firework displays; of a traffic light study
completed for M-60 and Teft Rd.; and, of a proposal to change Cottage
St. to a one-way street with angle parking.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A.
Spring Arbor University Rezoning Request RZ06-1.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to deny the
recommendation of the Planning Commission and Region 2 Planning
Commission to rezone parcel #000-12-16-351-014-00 from Suburban
Residential (RS-1) to Multiple Family Residential (RM-1), and to
return the application fee to the University. Roll Call: 7 yes.
B.
Spring Arbor University Rezoning Request RZ06-2.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to deny the
recommendation of the Planning Commission and Region 2 Planning
Commission to rezone parcel #000-12-16-351-015-00 from Suburban
Residential (RS-1) to Multiple Family Residential (RM-1), and to
return the application fee to the University. Roll Call: 7 yes.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Storm Water District. The Supervisor discussed
water drainage problems on Second St. near Arbor Manor Care Center
and Arbor View Estates. He showed pictures that were taken after
an extremely heavy storm a few weeks ago that showed flooding across
the road. Lloyd Ganton was present and requested that the board
provide some assistance. The board members discussed the issue.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams that the
matter be referred to the Sewer & Water Committee and that the
committee work with the Township Engineer, Chuck Olson, and that
$1,000.00 be allocated for this study with the Sewer & Water
Committee reporting its’ findings back to the board; carried.
One nay vote was cast.
B.
Water Meter Fee Resolution. Motion was made by
Short and supported by Fortress to approve the resolution increasing
the cost of the meter fee to correspond with the price charged by
Summit Township. Roll Call: 7 yes.
C.
Fireworks Display Requests. Spring Arbor University
submitted a fireworks display request for December 1, 2006 coinciding
with the “Hanging of the Greens”. They have also requested an
additional date for fireworks display on October 9, 2006 which is
their Homecoming. Both displays will be launched from the same
site as last years display. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Fortress to approve the firework display requests for both the
October 9, 2006 request and the December 1, 2006 request pending
receipt of their insurance certificate; carried.
D.
Cottage Street. The Supervisor reported that Spring
Arbor University and SpringArbor Free Methodist Church are still
investigating this issue and need to submit additional information.
No action was taken on this item.
E.
Place Delinquent Payments on Winter 2006 Taxes.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to place the
delinquent sewer and water usage and water installations on the
Winter 2006 Tax Roll, along with the street lights, road maintenance
and water assessments; carried.
F.
Budget Amendments. Motion was made by Ganton and
supported by Fortress to approve the proposed budget amendments
as follows:
Revenues: 245-000-675.300, Contribution to New Park, Increase
$883.50
Revenues: 245-000-690.000, Miscellaneous, Increase $333.00
Revenues: 101-000-657.000, Drug Forfeiture Money, Increase $130.00
Expenses: 245-510-974.000, Recycling Project, Increase $633.00
Expenses: 245-756-974.000, Parks Improvements, Increase $883.50
Expenses: 245-806-974.000, Senior Center Project, Decrease $300.00
Expenses: 101-301-727.000, Drug Programs & Supplies, Increase
$130.00
Roll
Call: 7 yes.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Various newspaper articles.
Thank you notes.
Letter from Comcast re. channel lineup.
OMM Newsletter
Notice of picnic at Lime Lake County Park
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 8:32 p.m.
Trustee Ganton. Trustee Ganton encouraged
the board members to use the recycling site and commented that the
site is going well.
Trustee Fortress. Trustee Fortress commented
on a recent Voice of the People commentary about cemeteries and
stated that we should take a look at our cemetery prices. He also
commented on a property that was recently cleaned up and suggested
that the Supervisor look into a home that has no siding on it.
His final comment was about the recent move of our Township Attorney
to a different law firm and questioned if it was affecting the price
that he charges to the Township.
Supervisor DeGraaf. The Supervisor responded
that the attorney’s rates have stayed the same.
Trustee Williams. Trustee Williams reported
that a state police officer came by his dad’s property looking for
a travel trailer that was stolen on Emerson Rd. A lady had a flat
tire on her travel trailer and was approached by two men in their
vehicle, who suggested that she go purchase the materials needed
to fix the flat and they would help her. When the lady returned,
her travel trailer was gone.
Clerk Holthouse. Clerk Holthouse reminded
the board members of the Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction coming
up as a fund raiser for the parks. She also commented on the recycling
site.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress
to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m.; carried.
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