Spring Arbor Township Board Meeting  03.13.06

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, March 13, 2006, at 7:01 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Troy Ganton, Patricia Short and Brent Williams.    Absent:   Trustee Marston Fortress.   The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor DeGraaf.

Guests were:   Judy Reynolds, Pat Rombyer, Stan Lyon, Tim McEldowney, Russ Ratkiewicz, and representing Boy Scout Troop 144 Jon Pengra, Jeff Rice, Cliff Luce, Chad Maule, Derek Easton, Bobby Michaels, Rob Bearley, James Vredenburg and Ben Maher.

Judy Reynolds, County Commissioner , reported that there are only two foreclosures pending for the Township; county approved a pawn broker’s ordinance; they drafted a resolution to investigate farmland preservation tools; cascades restoration project update; and, the youth center yearly update.   Commissioner Reynolds also reported that she travels to 13 different committees representing the County.

Public comment closed at 7:17 p.m.

Expenditures.   Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to approve the following expenditures for February 2006: General Fund expenditures #43104-43185 totaling $240,057.85; Fire Department Fund expenditures #43103-43185 totaling $60,625.08; Street Light Fund expenditures totaling $3,220.82; Public Improvement Fund expenditures totaling $5,379.94; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling $6,043.38; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $43,958.82; and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $5,994.81.   Roll call: 6 yes.

Minutes.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Ganton to approve the regular board meeting minutes of February 13, 2006; carried.   Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Holthouse to approve the special board meeting minutes of March 6, 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 February 2006, Budget Committee minutes of February 8, 2006, and February 16, 2006, and Senior Center Advisory Board minutes of February 15, 2006; carried.   It was requested that a thank-you letter be sent to Dorthy Bortel for her time volunteering as the Coordinator of the Senior Center Knitting & Crocheting Project.   The financial report showed the following balances as of February 28:

      General Fund Cash                                                         $167,573.15

      Certificate of Deposit                                                       302,332.44

      Fire Operations Cash                                                          64,821.63

      Fire Operations CD                                                           150,027.36

      Street Light Fund                                                              19,654.66

      Public Improvement Fund                                                           0.00

      P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit                                                 21,281.06

      Building Inspection Fund                                                      (1,273.35)

      Falling Waters Endowment Fund                                                  0.00

      Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD                                      27,863.79

      Sewer Funds                                                                1,311,382.64

      Water Funds                                                                   319,181.98           Trust & Agency Funds                                                               0.00

      Current Taxes                                                                   37,987.06.

REPORTS:

A.   Police and Fire Report.   There were 32 medical rescue runs, two fire alarms, two mutual aid calls, 10 fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or hazmat responses during February.   Police statistics include: 148 complaints, 11 accidents, 47 tickets, 37 verbal warnings, eight arrests, two semis ticketed and nine back-up calls to other departments.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Ganton to receive the police and fire report; carried.

Chief Ratkiewicz reported that accidents are down for the year and no major incidents in February, however tickets issued have increased as they are keying in on speeders. An officer assisted with a program at the church over the weekend for young kids; over 70 children were printed for child identification kits.   He will be attending a meeting with MDOT regarding signage on M-60 and passing on the right hand side.

Chief McEldowney reported that they responded to 10 fire runs and attributed it to an “early” grass fire season due to the lack of snow.   He is planning to write a grant to FEMA for communication equipment and upgrades to their Scott Paks (breathing gear).   Total grant will be around $100,000 with a 5% township match.   Training is planned for May 20 at a Spring Arbor University dormitory; they will “smoke” the dormitory for rescue training and are inviting neighboring townships to participate also. He is also working on an evacuation plan with the church and is identifying areas at the church that need to be cleaned out to eliminate fire hazards.

B.   MTA E-News for March 2006.   Received the March issue of the MTA E-News.

C.   Building Permit Reports.   The report of building permits issued during the month of February showed new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $553,000.00.   Mr. Renner reported that five new home permits were issued in February.

D.   Supervisor’s Report .   Advised the board: of the status of ongoing projects and zoning violations; of a homeowner rehabilitation program; of the amount received for revenue sharing; of the status of the library millage request; and, of the dates for Board of Review.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

A.   Transfer of Cable Franchise Agreement.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Holthouse to approve the transfer of the cable franchise agreement, Ordinance No. 26-D, from Millennium Digital Media to Michigan Broadband, LLC; carried.

B.   Budget Amendments.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to approve the following budget amendments:

249-371-980.000, Equipment, Decrease $2,000

249-371-805.000, Contractual Services, Increase $2,000

101-101-801.000, Legislative, Prof. Svcs., Increase $4,000

101-171-721.000, Supervisor, Health Care, Increase $800

101-218-726.000, General Office, Supplies, Increase $1,500

101-247-860.000, Board of Review, Expenses, Increase $100

101-265-702.000, Town Hall, Salaries & Fees, Increase $700

101-265-720.000, Town Hall, Medicare, Increase $100

101-265-726.000, Town Hall, Supplies, Increase $100

101-265-930.000, Town Hall, Maintenance, Increase $350

101-269-704.000, Township Property, Deputy Wages, Increase $500

101-269-936.000, Township Property, Property Taxes, Increase $600

101-301-704.002, Police, Clerical, Increase $400

101-267-930.000, Post Office, Maintenance, Decrease $6,000

101-276-930.000. Cemetery, Maintenance, Decrease $3,150.   Roll Call:   6 yes.

C.   Rescind Resignation of Deputy Treasurer.   Motion was made by Melchiori and supported by Ganton to rescind the resignation of the Deputy Treasurer approved at the February 2006 board meeting; carried.

D.   Contractors Annual License Fees.   Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to approve annual license fees for contractors in the amount of $10.00 for an electrical contractor license, $10.00 for electrical master license, $10.00 for residential builders license, $10.00 for plumbing contractors license, $10.00 for plumbing master license, and $10.00 for mechanical contractor license; carried.   One no vote was cast.

E.   Resolution for Telecommunication License Fee.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short to approve the resolution to establish an annual Telecommunication License Fee in the amount of $500.00.   Roll Call:   6 yes.

F.   Sewer & Water Clerk.   Treasurer Melchiori provided information regarding other townships that have specific personnel for their sewer and water departments.   She requested that a part-time person be hired to perform the sewer and water billings.   Discussion was held regarding the funds available in the Water Fund to pay for a person.   Melchiori reported that the funds in the Water Department do not appear to be left from a grant.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Melchiori to approve the hiring of a part-time sewer and water clerk at $10.00 per hour with no benefits, not to exceed 12 hours per week; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

              Newspaper article re. Fire Department Chili Cook-Off.

              Thank-you letter re. Chief Ratkiewicz from Joyce Peterson.

              Letter from Comcast dated 3/9/06 re. change in service.

PUBLIC AND/OR BOARD COMMENT:   Public comment opened at 8:17 p.m.

                  Judy Reynolds, County Commissioner .   Judy Reynolds reported that there were 20 show cause hearings for those that did not report for jury duty; 11 of the 14 who appeared opted to pay a $100 fine instead of jail time.   Volunteer drivers are needed to transport veterans to the hospital.   A position is open on the Vietnam Veteran’s Board; applications are being accepted.   Fifty-nine vehicles were serviced in the fleet garage in February.   A vehicle was sold on E-Bay; four other vehicles will be listed also.

                  Trustee Short.   Trustee Short requested the Supervisor to investigate if the Township could specifically say that we would not be responsible for policing the Falling Waters Trail.

                  Trustee Ganton.   Trustee Ganton asked about the status of the recycling grant; Clerk Holthouse informed him that we should know by March 16.

                  Treasurer Melchiori.   Treasurer Melchiori reported that they balanced with the county figure for the 2005 taxes; the Progressive Coatings IFT payment was received last Friday.

                  Supervisor DeGraaf.   Supervisor DeGraaf thanked the Boy Scout Troop 144 leaders for bringing the Boy Scouts to the meeting and invited them to attend anytime.

Public comment closed at 8:22 p.m.

Adjournment.   Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 p.m.; carried.