Spring
Arbor Township Board - November 12, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
November 12, 2007, at 7:01 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria
Melchiori, Trustees Troy Ganton and Brent Williams. Absent: Trustees
Marston Fortress and Patricia Short. The Pledge of Allegiance was
led by the Supervisor.
Guests
were: Earl Poleski, Ken Wyatt, Leland Prebble, Mark Kettner, Russ
Ratkiewicz and Tim McEldowney.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:02 p.m.
Ken
Wyatt mentioned that as it was Veteran’s Day we should remember
all veterans today.
Public
comment closed at 7:03 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures for October 2007: General
Fund expenditures #45567-45673 totaling $54,019.93; Fire Department
Fund expenditures #45574-45673 totaling $19,374.73; Street Light
Fund expenditure #45580 totaling $3,476.60; Public Improvement Fund
expenditures #45631-45643 totaling $3,304.00; Building Inspection
Fund expenditures #45569-45671 totaling $3,443.47; Sewer O &
M Fund expenditures #45584-45672 totaling $73,177.24; Water O &
M Fund expenditures #45600-45672 totaling $38,727.22; Trust &
Agency fund expenditures #1893-1894 totaling $642.00; Tax Fund expenditures
#4211-4219 totaling $228,936.96; and Historical Fund expenditure
#45617 totaling $600.00. Roll call: 5 yes.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton
to approve the regular board meeting minutes of October 8, 2007;
carried.
Consent
Agenda. Trustee Williams asked if the Planning Commission
meetings could be canceled when there is no scheduled business.
DeGraaf will check with the attorney to find out what the Township
is required to do. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Holthouse
to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting
of the financial reports for October 2007; general ledger report
of revenues and expenditures for October 2007; Senior Center Advisory
Board minutes of October 10, 2007; and, Planning Commission minutes
of November 6, 2007. The financial report showed the following balances
as of October 31:
General
Fund Cash
$33,567.97
Certificate
of Deposit
272,576.05
Fire
Operations Cash
1,036.93
Fire
Operations CD
363,861.61
Street
Light Fund
(3,403.93)
Public
Improvement Fund
407.25
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
36,991.03
Building
Inspection Fund
682.24
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
(600.00)
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
31,391.65
Sewer
Funds
1,117,537.19
Water
Funds
298,642.22
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
18,687.93;
carried.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Reports. There were 47 medical rescue
runs, one fire alarm, three mutual aid calls, 10 fire runs, and
no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during
October. Police statistics include: 206 complaints, 12 accidents,
30 tickets, 13 verbal warnings, six arrests, no semis ticketed and
19 back-up calls to other departments.
The
Chief of Police reported that they took part in a sex offender registration
verification sweep. They also helped out with the Trunk or Treat
program and experienced a fairly quiet Halloween. Seven businesses
were broken into during October in the Village Crossing Mall; the
sheriff’s department believes these are related to other break-ins
around the county. The Chief also attended a meeting for the Falling
Waters Trail and they have been out patrolling the trail some, although
he commented that the County Parks are patrolling it quite heavily.
The
Fire Chief reported that over 700 kids went through the fire prevention
program that the department offered this year. He also has put on
some talks at the Senior Center regarding severe weather. Firefighter
I and II classes are in full swing. The month has been busy and
everything is going well. Fire runs have slowed a little but they
have noticed while out on rescues that many people are using alternative
heating methods. He expressed his concern regarding this. The paving
project is now complete at the fire station.
Motion
was made by Williams and supported by Holthouse to approve the police
and fire reports; carried.
B.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits
issued during the month of October showed miscellaneous permits
for a total value of $213,500. One new home permit was issued compared
to three in 2006. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton
to accept the building permit report; carried.
C.
Supervisor = s Report . Advised the board: of the need
for a solicitation ordinance; of the water tap size policy recommendation;
of a language change regarding the homestead exemption; of his recommendation
for an incident report form; of the status of revenue sharing; of
the status of the Phase II Storm Water Program; of a recommendation
to refund sewer and water permits (policy); and, of a recommendation
to approve an agreement for the police department to participate
in training. The Supervisor also commented that the township car
continues to have mechanical problems and it is now at another dealership
for repair.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Audit Report for 2006-07 Fiscal Year. Mark Kettner
summarized the audit report and their recommendations. Motion was
made by Holthouse and supported by Ganton to refer the audtior’s
recommendations to the Budget Committee; carried. Motion was made
by Williams and supported by Ganton to accept the audit report as
presented; carried.
B.
Solicitation License. Motion was made by Ganton and
supported by Williams to have the Township Attorney draft a solicitation
ordinance; carried.
C.
Water Tap Size Policy. Motion was made by Williams
and supported by Melchiori to approve the recommended policy that
the tap size for water service is determined by the size of the
pipe connections at the water main; carried.
D.
Incident Report. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Ganton to accept the incident report as printed; carried.
E.
Policy for Refunding of Permits. Motion was made by
Williams and supported by Holthouse that we refund the permit fees
for sewer and water with a $50.00 administrative fee deducted from
the permit fee, and that refunds will only be processed within the
twelve-month period after the permit has been issued; carried. The
board approved that an exception will be made to the existing builder
who has requested a refund for a permit that was issued more than
one year ago.
F.
Justice Training Consortium. Motion was made by Williams
and supported by Holthouse to approve the agreement for the police
department to participate in the Justice Training Consortium; carried.
G.
Budget Amendment. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Holthouse to approve the following budget amendments:
Revenue,
245-000-675.300, Contribution to Parks, Increase by $4,548.50, and
Expense,
245-756-974.000, Park Improvements, Increase by $4,548.50. Roll
Call: 5 yes.
H.
Rezoning Request – Spring Arbor University - #165-12-16-351-034-00.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton
to accept the recommendation from the Planning Commission and County
Affairs and rezone parcel number 165-12-16-351-034-00 from Suburban
Residential (RS-1) to Multiple Family Residential (RM-1). Roll Call:
5 yes.
I.
Office Christmas Party. The board members selected
December 5 th and December 12 th as possible dates for the office
Christmas party. Trustee Williams asked if a meeting notice was
required to be published; the Clerk will check into that.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letters
from Comcast.
Newsletter
from FSC&S and the Washington Report.
Newspaper
articles and thank-you notes.
Letters
from Rehmann Robson and MTA.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 8:10 p.m.
Commissioner Poleski. Commissioner Poleski
informed the board that County Affairs will be considering an appointment
to the Road Commission based on recommendations from the ad hoc
committee. The Commission is also pursuing the Top Dog Pet Care
facility as the new animal shelter.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton
to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m.; carried.
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