Spring
Arbor Township Board Minutes: November 8, 2004
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
November 8, 2004, at 7:31 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi DeVries, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori,
Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton and Patricia Short. Absent:
Trustee Brent Williams. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Supervisor DeGraaf.
Guests
were: Russ Ratkiewicz, Tim McEldowney, Ellie Johnson, Earl Habecker,
Steve Brigham, Mary Brigham, Jeff Kurfess, Jim Videto and Elma Habecker.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:32 p.m.
Earl
Habecker, representing the King Rd. Subdivision Water Extension
Program, reported that they received 59 yes votes for the project
(approx. 60%). He thanked the board for their help in the project.
Public comment closed at 7:35 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress
to approve the following expenditures for October 2004: General
Fund vouchers #41300-41393 totaling $44,963.75; Fire Department
Fund vouchers #41301-41392 totaling $13,976.42; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $2,983.61; Public Improvement Fund expenditures
totaling $420.99; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling
$5,040.19; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $16,021.00;
and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $22,110.12. Roll
call: 6 yes.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Short to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting
of the regular meeting minutes of October 11, the financial report
for October 2004, Park Committee minutes of September 16, Sewer
& Water Committee minutes of September 20, Land Use Subcommittee
minutes of October 14 and October 21, and the Senior Center Advisory
Board minutes of October 26; carried. The financial report showed
the following balances as of October 31:
General
Fund Cash
$16,579.91
Certificate
of Deposit
197,350.51
Fire
Operations Cash
(52,353.90)
Fire
Operations CD
30,271.42
Street
Light Fund
(5,537.55)
Public
Improvement Fund
(21,881.13)
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
114,270.67
Building
Inspection Fund
56,317.12
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
(973.42)
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
11,637.27
Sewer
Funds
1,313,283.24
Water
Funds
172,143.70
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes
13,931.75;
motion
carried.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 34 medical rescue
runs, four fire alarms, three mutual aid calls, 14 fire runs, one
carbon monoxide incident, and no bomb threats or Hazmat responses
during October. Police statistics include: 182 complaints, 21 accidents,
36 tickets, 40 verbal warnings, four arrests, one semi ticketed and
19 back-up calls to other departments. Chief
McEldowney reported that they had a busy month during October, noting
that the increase in fire runs is related to burning complaints.
They assisted in mutual aid to neighboring communities, participated
in Fire Prevention Week showing over 700 students through the fire
station and in the annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat held at the church.
Motion was made by Short and supported by DeVries to accept the
fire report; carried.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that they were busy also with an increase in
car-deer accidents. He has started sending officers for training
through the new training consortium program; they have covered first
aid and defibrillator training. They received a new portable breath
tester at no charge and participated in the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat
at the church. Motion was made by DeVries and supported by Fortress
to accept the police report; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for November 2004. The MTA E-News for
November included information regarding building a township web
site for free, prescription drug program available to townships,
PAC endorsements, workplace posters, county tax collection, State
Tax Commission bulletins, new township web sites, upcoming workshops,
annual conference information and how to E-mail the MTA.
C.
Strategic Planning Goal #5. Goal #5, assigned to
Supervisor DeGraaf, is to develop a plan for traffic flow on M-60.
DeGraaf reported that a light is planned for Dearing Rd. and an
approach is planned for Emerson Rd.
D.
Strategic Planning Goal #7. Goal #7, assigned to
Chief McEldowney, is to create a fire safety plan for the township.
McEldowney reported that a hazardous materials inventory questionnaire
is on file in the radio room for all businesses and they are analyzing
where to park fire apparatus at local businesses.
E.
Strategic Planning Goal #9. Goal #9, assigned to
Clerk DeVries, is to implement the park plan. Clerk DeVries reported
that the Park Committee is working on planning a fund raiser to
raise money for improvements to the park.
F.
Supervisor’s Report. Advised the board: of the
status of ongoing projects; of a recommendation to sell the fire
truck; of a potential lot near the park that may be for sale; of
the progress with the new fire truck; of the progress with the King
Rd. Water Expansion Program; of the status of state revenue sharing;
and of repair and purchase of sewer pumps.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A.
1976 Fire Truck . Motion was made by Short and
supported by Ganton to sell the fire truck for $7,500.00 to Pulaski
Township; carried.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
124 Harmony Rd. The Supervisor discussed the potential
sale of 124 Harmony Rd., next to the new park area. The board
members expressed some interest.
B.
King Rd. Water Extension. Motion was made by Short
and supported by Ganton to approve the resolution to request the
assistance of the County of Jackson pursuant to Act 185 for the
purpose of extending the water system through the King Rd. Subdivision.
Roll Call: 6 yes.
C.
Sewer Pumps - Repair & Purchase. Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to approve up to $11,500.00
to purchase seven pumps and to repair three pumps for the sewer
system. Roll Call: 6 yes.
D.
Resolution to remove street lights. Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to approve the request
to remove four street lights on the Spring Arbor University campus.
Roll Call: 5 yes. Trustee Short recused herself.
E.
Extra Hours for Deputy Treasurer. Motion was made
by Short and supported by Ganton to pay the Deputy Treasurer for
two extra hours when the Administrative Assistant was out sick,
and one to two hours for extra pay on November 12 when the Administrative
Assistant will not be in the office; carried.
F.
Web Site Addition. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Ganton to approve the $400.00 expenditure for adding
a section to the web site for the use of the Land Use Subcommittee.
Roll Call: 6 yes.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Building
Permit Report. The report of building permits issued
during the month of October showed new homes and miscellaneous permits
for a total value of $2,123,000.00.
Assessing/Building
Report. During the month of October, eight new home
permits were issued, for a total of 63 year to date. The Assessor
reported that the CPI increase had been received from the State
Tax Commission; the increase is 2.3%.
Z.B.A.
Meeting of October. The Zoning Board of Appeals had
no variance requests.
Sewer
& Water Committee. Unapproved minutes of the
Sewer & Water Committee meeting of October 18 included discussion
regarding repairs and installation of a light at the water tower,
the southwest sewer is on hold and a contract for generator service.
Land
Use Subcommittee. Unapproved minutes of the November
4 meeting of the Land Use Subcommittee included information regarding
the draft development plan.
Senior
Center Newsletter. The Senior Center Newsletter of
October 1, 2004 was received.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter
dated 10/13/04 from Comcast re. New channels available.
Letter
dated 10/15/04 from Comcast re. changes in pricing.
A
certificate to the police department.
Letter
dated 10/29/04 from Comcast re. channel lineup changes.
Letter
dated 11/02/04 from Comcast re. channel lineup changes.
Email
dated 11/03/04 from Earl Poleski regarding the election.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT--GENERAL: Public comment opened
at 8:35 p.m.
Jim
Videto. Jim Videto, County Commissioner, said the
county is working on balancing the budget. They are not replacing
people that leave the county to save money. They are also working
on the soil erosion permit process right now. He also mentioned
that he suggested to the Sheriff that the next mock terrorist exercise
include the surrounding townships. He also has had discussion
with the Sheriff regarding the new communications system that he
is looking into regarding the cost to the local townships.
Clerk
DeVries. The Clerk discussed the election and how
well it went with several changes that were made.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress
to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.; carried.
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