Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes December 12, 2005

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, December 12, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress and Brent Williams.   Trustee Short arrived at 7:34 p.m.   Absent:   Trustee Ganton.   The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.

Guests were:   Carl Jacobson and Al Short.

Public Comment:   Public comment opened at 7:32 p.m.

There was no public comment.

Expenditures.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Holthouse to approve the following expenditures for November 2005: General Fund expenditures #42794-42885 totaling $56,024.84; Fire Department Fund expenditures #42795-42882 totaling $13,390.57; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $3,831.17; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $6,843.11; Sewer Receiving Fund expenditures of $0.00; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $39,545.92; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $48,075.71.   Roll call: 6 yes.

Consent Agenda.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting of the regular board meeting minutes of November 14, 2005, financial reports for November 2005, Fire Board minutes of September 29, 2005, Planning Commission minutes of October 4 and November 1, 2005, and Sewer & Water Committee minutes of October 24, 2005; carried.   The financial report showed the following balances as of November 30:

      General Fund Cash                                                             $81,692.63

      Certificate of Deposit                                                         220,020.19

      Fire Operations Cash                                                              7,002.18

      Fire Operations CD                                                            100,000.00

      Street Light Fund                                                                 (5,699.22)

      Public Improvement Fund                                                       (6,013.88)

      P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit                                                  72,534.11

      Building Inspection Fund                                                         4,147.97

      Falling Waters Endowment Fund                                                    0.00

      Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD                                        27,655.97

      Sewer Funds                                                                  1,299,749.33

      Water Funds                                                                     278,177.91

      Trust & Agency Funds                                                                 0.00

      Current Taxes                                                                       6,953.49.

REPORTS:

A.   Police and Fire Report.   There were 38 medical rescue runs, two fire alarms, four mutual aid calls, 19 fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during November.   Police statistics include: 186 complaints, 30 accidents, 21 tickets, 19 verbal warnings, five arrests, no semis ticketed and 12 back-up calls to other departments.

Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to accept the police and fire report; carried.

B.   MTA E-News for December 2005.   Received the December issue of the MTA E-News.

C.   Supervisor’s Report .   Advised the board: of the status of ongoing projects and zoning violations; of the status of the King Rd. Water Project; of the status of the Michigan Tax Tribunal case;   of the scheduled Board of Review meeting; and, of the result of the Westbrook Townhouses Tax Tribunal appeal.   The Supervisor also handed out a copy of a letter written by the township attorney to Mr. Cope regarding the remaining time left to correct violations on his property.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

A.   Summer Tax Collection Agreements.   The Treasurer presented a summary of costs related to collection of summer taxes for the schools.   Motion was made by Melchiori and supported by Fortress to approve the tax agreements imposing a summer tax collection agreement and retaining the same fee as last year per parcel share; carried. Renner

B.   Performance Resolution for use of State Trunk Line.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to approve the Performance Resolution for Governmental Bodies for the Michigan Department of Transportation.   Roll Call:   6 yes.

C.   Adoption of Master Land Use Plan.   The Supervisor suggested that an index be added to the Master Land Use Plan (MLUP), identify the charts and number the pages. Al Short also commented on the sewer and water maps that needed to be added in to the plan.   Mr. Short discussed the subcommittee’s work on the plan noting that they would continue to keep it updated on a five-year basis.   The board members and Mr. Short and Mr. Jacobson discussed different sections of the MLUP, noting the difficulty of traversing the township on a north/south basis and turning left on M-60.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the Master Land Use Plan and that the comments made relative to the index page, numbering of pages, accounting for the rivers, and identifying the axis on the charts be referred to the editorial committee (Master Land Use Plan Subcommittee) for final publication; carried.   According to Mr. Short, they have met with a number of business people and are looking at forming a business association within the township through the Economic Development Committee.   He asked for suggestions from the township board members for a person to head that up.

D.   Budget Committee Reappointment.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to reappoint Trustee Brent Williams to the Budget Committee for a one-year period; carried.

E.   Used Car Lot License – Bill Gilbertson.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Melchiori to approve the application for a used car lot license for Bill Gilbertson located at 236 E. Main St., Spring Arbor; carried.

F.   Sarah’s Garden Plaque.   The Supervisor showed the dedication plaque for Sarah’s Garden and asked for suggestions as to disposition.   Trustee Short recommended that it be given to Vera Cross, daughter of Sarah Justice.

G.   Board Meeting Start Time.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to change the start time of the board meeting to 7:00 p.m. starting in January 2006; carried.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Building Permit Report.   The report of building permits issued during the month of November showed new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $315,500.00.

Assessing/Building Report.   During the month of November, one new home permit was issued and two mobile home permits, for a total of 49 this year.

Fire Board.   Minutes of the October 18 meeting of the Fire Board included discussion about the roof replacement, generators, and the ten-year plan.

Planning Commission.   Unapproved minutes of the December 6 meeting of the Planning Commission were received.

CORRESPONDENCE:

              Thank-you note to police department from Ed & Sherry Rainey.

              Thank-you note to fire department from the Brian Philson Family.

              Thank-you letter to John Raut for volunteer work at the park pavilion.

              Thank-you letter to Jim Dark for volunteer work at the park pavilion.

              Thank-you letter to John Ball for volunteer work at the park pavilion.

              Thank-you letter from SAFMC for use of the Senior Center at no charge.

PUBLIC AND/OR BOARD COMMENT:   Public comment opened at 8:35 p.m.

Clerk Holthouse.   Clerk Holthouse discussed the willingness of Mr. John Ball to complete the roofing part of the pavilion.   Board members were asked to personally thank Mr. Ball if they saw him.

Public comment closed at 8:37 p.m.

Adjournment.   Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Holthouse to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m.; carried.

Randi Holthouse, Township Clerk