Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes - July 9, 2007

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, July 9, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., with the following members present: Clerk Randi Holthouse, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Patricia Short and Brent Williams. Absent: Supervisor Will DeGraaf and Trustee Troy Ganton. Trustee Marston Fortress arrived at 7:21 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Clerk.

Guests were: Earl Poleski, Mary Frey, Russ Ratkiewicz, Dave Taylor and Jim Videto.

In the absence of the Supervisor, the Clerk called the meeting to order. Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams to have the Clerk chair the duration of the meeting; carried.

Public Comment: Public comment opened at 7:02 p.m.

Mary Frey, representing the Jackson District Library, discussed the library’s millage request which will be on the August 2007 ballot. She presented a drawing to the board of what the new library would look like and the additional benefits of the millage for the Spring Arbor community.

Earl Poleski, County Commissioner, mentioned that the City of Jackson has appointed three more people to the Jackson Transit Authority and the County has appointed one more. He reported that JTA is not considering a millage request on the November ballot at this time. The County will be working with them to determine a fiscally responsible plan. The County is waiting for City Council action on the airport land sale. He also mentioned the possible expansion of the Leoni wastewater treatment plant and the County Affairs meeting regarding Spring Arbor’s text amendments to the zoning ordinance. Expansion of the airport is scheduled soon and the full Commission will be reviewing the Road Commission report.

Dave Taylor, King Rd., discussed an individual that rides his motorcycle up and down King Rd. in an unsafe manner.

Public comment closed at 7:23 p.m.

Expenditures. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to approve the following expenditures for June 2007: General Fund expenditures #45031-45199 totaling $68,471.03; Fire Department Fund expenditures #45037-45198 totaling $37,899.29; Street Light Fund expenditures #45045-45048 totaling $3,489.73; Public Improvement Fund expenditures #45067-45138 totaling $10,014.71; Building Inspection Fund expenditures #45033-45197 totaling $2,288.56; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures #45041-45198 totaling $40,317.81; Water O & M Fund expenditures #45041-45198 totaling $4,711.94; and Historical Fund expenditures #45041 totaling $64.00. Roll call: 5 yes.

Minutes. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Short to approve the regular board meeting minutes of June 11, 2007; carried.

Consent Agenda. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting of the financial reports for June 2007; general ledger report of revenues and expenditures for June 2007; Senior Center Advisory Board minutes of May 23, and June 13, 2007; Planning Commission minutes of June 5, 2007; and, Sewer & Water Committee minutes of June 13, 2007; carried. The financial report showed the following balances as of June 30:

General Fund Cash                              $11,251.27

Certificate of Deposit                          271,390.34

Fire Operations Cash                            17,580.55

Fire Operations CD                             425,190.29

Street Light Fund                                 10,407.74

Public Improvement Fund                      (3,542.72)

Building Inspection Fund                         1,183.12

Falling Waters Endowment Fund                     0.00

Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD         31,090.40

Sewer Funds                                     1,165,620.17

Water Funds                                       323,629.55

Trust & Agency Funds                                    0.00

Current Taxes                                           (14.44);

carried.

REPORTS:

A. Police and Fire Reports. There were 32 medical rescue runs, no fire alarms, three mutual aid calls, 12 fire runs, one carbon monoxide incident, one bomb threat and no Hazmat responses during June. Police statistics include: 173 complaints, nine accidents, 36 tickets, 25 verbal warnings, two arrests, two semis ticketed and 12 back-up calls to other departments.

The Chief of Police reported that the month of June was relatively quiet. He mentioned that traffic issues from the conference were non-existent and only two medical runs over to the University for the Conference so far. He also discussed the complaint regarding the motorcycle rider on King Rd. and said he is checking into it.

Trustee Short mentioned that she met with representatives from the University along with Supervisor DeGraaf and Chief McEldowney regarding their leave policy for fire department volunteers. The University has adopted a more lenient policy than what was given to the board the prior month.

B. Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits issued during the month of June showed no new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $148,000.00. Trustee Williams asked for a mid-year financial report on the Building Fund.

C. Supervisor’s Report . Advised the board: of the recommendation on the insurance comparison; of the status of revenue sharing funds; of recommendations from the Sewer & Water Committee meeting; and, of the financial update on repairs made to a lift station damaged by lightning.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Insurance Recommendation. Motion was made by Short and supported by Williams that we follow the recommendation of the insurance consultant and renew our insurance policy with the Michigan Townships Participating Plan; carried.

C. Storm Water Drainage – Cost Sharing. Trustee Fortress provided explanation of how the water currently drains and suggested solutions. The cost of the project is expected to run between $165,000 and $174,000. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams that the board concurs with the recommendation of the Sewer & Water Committee and that the cost, including legal expenses, would be borne by the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, Spring Arbor University and Ganton Retirement Centers equally. Discussion. The motion was then withdrawn. The general consensus of the board is to agree with the recommendation of the Sewer & Water Committee regarding the storm water solution.

D. Sewer Billing for Laundry Basket. On a recommendation from the Sewer & Water Committee, motion was made by Short and supported by Melchiori to only charge one REU to the former Laundry Basket building; carried. The business operations of the laundry are now closed.

E. Appointment of Barb Pohanka. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to appoint Barb Pohanka to fill the unexpired term of Ned Philpott on the Senior Center Advisory Board; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  Township Law Newsletter.

  Washington Report.

  Letter from Comcast.

  Newspaper articles.

PUBLIC/BOARD COMMENT: Public comment opened at 8:36 p.m.

There was no public comment.

Adjournment. Motion was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to adjourn the meeting at 8:38 p.m.; carried.