Township
Board Meeting August 14, 2006
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
August 14, 2006, at 7:02 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria
Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress, Troy Ganton and Brent Williams.
Absent: Trustee Patricia Short. The Pledge of Allegiance was
led by the Supervisor.
Guests
were: Gordon Milnes, Judy Reynolds, Donna Dickinson, Ethel Van
Schoyck, Sam Ulstad, Philip Bartlett, Shirley Spratt, Thomas Spratt,
Chad Spratt, James Griffis, Tim McEldowney and Russ Ratkiewicz.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
Judy
Reynolds, County Commissioner, reported that the Township had one
less potential foreclosure as of this month. She thanked everyone
that voted for her in District 5 and noted that the district had
been served well before and would continue to be in the future.
Additional comments included reporting on the Watershed program,
the discontinued practice of selling live animals from the shelter,
the county street naming and addressing ordinance, an update regarding
the Jackson Transportation Authority, privatization of the guardian
program, the county’s endorsement of regionalization of the homeland
security organization, the airport board’s five-year development
plan for runway realignment, the increase in animals turned in to
the County Shelter, expenditures for veterans that live in the County,
and the progress of the funding for the County Parks master plan.
Ethel
Van Schoyck, of 2664 Fairway Dr., requested that a letter be placed
on file from her about a large hole near a sewer drain in her neighborhood.
She also commented that she didn’t recognize all the people in
the office anymore as we have had changes in personnel.
Donna
Dickinson, of 2656 Wellesley Dr., inquired as to lowering the speed
limit in their subdivision to 15 mph as many drivers speed through
there. She has encouraged the children to not ride in the street,
but it has not helped. Her concern is that someone will be seriously
hurt. She also asked about apartment complexes that have lower
speed limits than 25 mph. The Supervisor responded that in an
apartment complex, those are probably private roads. He indicated
that he would check again with the County Road Commission about
the possibility of lowering the speed limit.
Ethel
Van Schoyck commented further that more children are now in their
subdivision and it has become more apparent this summer that this
could be a problem with drivers speeding.
Public
comment closed at 7:22 p.m.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams
to approve the following expenditures for July 2006: General Fund
expenditures #43665-43781 totaling $51,934.46; Fire Department Fund
expenditures #43675-43781 totaling $12,454.45; Street Light Fund
expenditures totaling $3,257.26; Public Improvement Fund Expenditures
totaling $4,072.00; Building Inspection Fund expenditures totaling
$4,236.43; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures totaling $68,937.32;
and Water O & M Fund expenditures totaling $46,434.29. Roll
call: 6 yes.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Holthouse
to approve the regular board meeting minutes of July 10, 2006; carried.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Fortress to approve the following items under the consent agenda
consisting of the financial reports for July 2006; general ledger
report of revenues and expenditures for July 2006; and Planning
Commission minutes of August 1, 2006; carried. The financial report
showed the following balances as of July 31:
General
Fund Cash
$129,241.07
Certificate
of Deposit
176,952.4
Fire
Operations Cash
(30,148.67)
Fire
Operations CD 370,915.71
Street
Light Fund 6,831.40
Public
Improvement Fund (16,516.92)
P.I.F.
Certificate of Deposit
30,279.63
Building
Inspection Fund
280.75
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling
Waters Endowment Fund CD
29,888.60
Sewer
Funds 1,283,740.56
Water
Funds
290,273.12
Trust
& Agency Funds
0.00
Current
Taxes 157,401.48.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Report. There were 39 medical rescue
runs, five fire alarms, five mutual aid calls, 11 fire runs, two
carbon monoxide incidents, and no bomb threats or Hazmat responses
during July. Police statistics include: 209 complaints, 13 accidents,
25 tickets, 19 verbal warnings, five arrests, no semis ticketed
and 25 back-up calls to other departments.
Chief
Ratkiewicz reported that July was a very busy month for them.
The department had several B & E’s to investigate and an increase
in serious accidents kept them busy. Four accidents occurred on
M-60 which resulted in road closures and rerouting of traffic.
The department also participated at the Learning Fair doing puppet
shows. A 10K run was also held the same weekend that the assisted
with. The B & E’s that the department investigated occurred
mostly in Arbor Village Trailer Park and they have a suspect.
He has also signed two misdemeanor petitions, requested a misdemeanor
felony warrant for intent to deliver, and also requested a warrant
for a larceny at Fritz Advertising. The department is still issuing
citations for passing on the right, about four or five during the
month.
Chief
McEldowney reported that their month was busy as well responding
to three private injury accidents in which Life Flight was called
for all of them. He is planning to present a Cost Recovery Ordinance
to the Fire Board at their next meeting. The department responded
to several mutual aid calls for structure fires and requested assistance
on one for our Township. The department also participated in the
annual Relay for Life and received the Most Spirited Award, while
taking top honors for the most money raised as well. The Chief
has just returned from his FEMA training held in Maryland and said
it was an outstanding experience, noting that it will help shape
his response to an emergency here in our county and helped to foster
relationships with other local government employees and officials.
Engine 2 is now back in service after modifications to the truck;
he feels the truck will serve the community well and he is satisfied
with the end result.
Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Melchiori to accept the police
and fire reports; carried.
B.
MTA E-News for August 2006. Received the August
issue of the MTA E-News. Also received a newsletter regarding
recent court cases and the newsletter from the Par-Plan.
C.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building
permits issued during the month of July showed new homes and miscellaneous
permits for a total value of $975,000.00.
D.
Revenue Sharing Report. A report issued by the
State of Michigan shows a 2% increase projected for revenue sharing
for Spring Arbor Township in the 2006-07 fiscal year.
E.
Supervisor =
s Report . Advised the board: of the status
of ongoing projects and zoning violations; of the status of the
new fire truck; of an inspection done at the Post Office building;
of vandalism at the cemetery; of his recommendation to approve the
County Storm Water master plan; of his recommendation to request
the County place the JTA issue on the November ballot; and, that
Gordon Milnes has approached the Spring Arbor Library about relocating
to Village Crossing.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
A. Rehmann Robson Change Order. Motion was made
by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the $1,000.00 change
order with Rehmann Robson for their additional analytical services
performed during the audit process. Roll Call: 6 yes.
B. Police Department Policy Book. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to approve the Police
Department Policy Book; carried. Chief Ratkiewicz will review
the book periodically and plans to review on a monthly basis with
the individual officers. Each officer has a copy of the book.
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Conditional Use Permit – C06-1 – Spratt’s Trading Post.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to accept
the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the conditional
use permit request from Spratt’s Trading Post for parcel #000-12-15-276-003-05
for the placement of a 20,000 gallon propane storage tank; carried.
B. Establishment
of Street Light District – Pine Meadows. Gordon
Milnes, developer of Pine Meadows, said the Master Deed has the provision
for street lights and that the property owners were aware of it.
Jim Griffis, Pine Meadows resident, said that he didn’t realize he
would be assessed and he wanted learn more about what the assessment
would be and its’ cost. Sam Ulstad, 7435 King Rd., objected to being
placed in the special assessment district as he is not part of Pine
Meadows. Phil Bartlett, speaking on behalf of himself and Dave Herlein,
stated that they were told that there would be no additional costs
to them when this development was put in, that they are not a part
of it, and do not wish to have the street lights put in. Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to decline the approval
of Resolution #1 for the establishment of a special assessment district
for street lights in Pine Meadows Subdivision due to the land owners
affected by the district representing more than 20% of the land
objecting to the special assessment district. Roll Call: 6 yes.
C.
Rezoning – Spring Arbor University – RZ06-1. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Holthouse to table action on
this item until the September meeting so that the Supervisor may
investigate the issue of spot zoning; carried.
D.
Rezoning – Spring Arbor University – RZ06-2. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Holthouse to table action on
this item until the September meeting so that the Supervisor may
investigate the issue of spot zoning; carried.
E.
Rezoning – Spring Arbor University – RZ06-3. Motion
was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to accept the recommendation
of the Planning Commission and the County Affairs Committee to rezone
parcel #165-12-16-352-005-01 from Suburban Residential (RS-1) to
Multiple Family Residential (RM-1), for property owned by Spring
Arbor University. Roll Call: 6 yes.
F.
Text Amendment re. Day Care Centers (Article 4).
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to accept the
recommendation of the Planning Commission and the County Affairs
Committee to approve the text amendment regarding Day Care Centers
in Article 4. Roll Call: 6 yes.
G.
Text Amendment re. Day Care Centers (Article 5).
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to accept the
recommendation of the Planning Commission and the County Affairs
Committee to approve the text amendment regarding Day Care Centers
in Article 5. Roll Call: 6 yes.
H.
Text Amendment re. Seasonal Agricultural Signs (Article 9).
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to accept
the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the County Affairs
Committee to approve the text amendment regarding seasonal agricultural
signs in Article 9. Roll Call: 6 yes.
I.
Private Road Maintenance Agreements. Motion was
made by Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the private
road maintenance agreements with the Jackson County Road Commission
for Howe St., College St. and Pineland Trail. Roll Call: 6 yes.
J.
Storm Water Plan. Motion was made by Ganton and
supported by Williams to approve the management plan for the Storm
Water Pollution Prevention Initiative (SWPPI). Roll Call: 6
yes.
K.
Jackson Transportation Authority. Motion was made
by Ganton and supported by Williams to authorize the Supervisor
to write a letter to the County Board of Commissioners supporting
the issue of the millage for the Jackson Transportation Authority
be placed on the November ballot; carried.
L.
Resolution to Oppose the Stop Over Spending Ballot Proposal.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Holthouse to oppose the
ballot proposal called “Stop Over Spending” (SOS) as it would limit
the authority of local governments. Roll Call: 6 yes.
M.
Costs for Cash Receipt Program. Motion was made by
Fortress and supported by Ganton to approve the expenditure of $675.00
to rework the existing countertop and install the new cash drawers.
Roll Call: 6 yes.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Various
newspaper articles.
Thank
you notes.Letters from
Millennium Digital Media and Comcast.
Certificate
of Approval for EMS Education Program
Project Review Notices
Letter
re. Make-A-Wish Foundation
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 9:02 p.m.
Ethel
Van Schoyck. Mrs. Van Schoyck commented that the
meeting was very interesting.
Trustee
Fortress. Trustee Fortress congratulated Fire Chief
McEldowney.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams
to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 p.m.; carried.
Signed:______________________________
Randi
Holthouse, Township Clerk
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