Spring Arbor Township Board Minutes - June 11, 2007

The regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday, June 11, 2007, at 7:06 p.m., with the following members present: Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Marston Fortress and Patricia Short. Absent: Trustees Troy Ganton and Brent Williams. Clerk Holthouse arrived at 7:20 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Supervisor.

Guests were: Earl Poleski, Russ Ratkiewicz and Jim Videto.

Public Comment: Public comment opened at 7:07 p.m.

James Videto, County Commissioner, stated that the strategic plan for the County is well underway. The public meetings have resulted with excellent suggestions from the public. A document is being developed to become a “living” document upon with budgets will be built. He noted that they are pleased that the trails committee has been activated finally. The committee has excellent membership who can make good suggestions as the plan moves forward.

Earl Poleski, County Commissioner, discussed the bidding process for the attorneys to represent indigents. The process was activated as the cost overruns have been significant. The judges will make the recommendations based upon competence and costs.

Public comment closed at 7:20 p.m.

Expenditures. Motion was made by Short and supported by Melchiori to approve the following expenditures for May 2007: General Fund expenditures #44906-45030 totaling $58,663.48; Fire Department Fund expenditures #44910-45030 totaling $53,939.41; Street Light Fund expenditure #44933 totaling $3,444.31; Building Inspection Fund expenditures #44908-45029 totaling $3,051.76; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures #44924-45027 totaling $105,817.54; Water O & M Fund expenditures #44923-45027 totaling $720.36; and Tax Fund expenditures #4175-4178 totaling $32,641.59. Roll call: 5 yes. A question was raised regarding the $2,000.00 payment to Williams Farms; payment was to pay for chemicals to keep weeds from clogging the lagoon and to promote proper circulation to keep the system effective.

Minutes. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to approve the regular board meeting minutes of May 14, 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 May2007; general ledger report of revenues and expenditures for May 2007; Park Committee minutes of May 3, May 17 and May 31, 2007; Senior Center Advisory Board minutes of May 9, 2007; Sewer & Water Committee minutes of May 15, 2007; and Planning Commission minutes of June 5, 2007; carried. The financial report showed the following balances as of May 31:

General Fund Cash                       $69,771.82

Certificate of Deposit                   271,095.32

Fire Operations Cash                    (35,924.38)

Fire Operations CD                       513,887.76

Street Light Fund                          13,897.47

Public Improvement Fund                       0.00

Building Inspection Fund                      456.68

Falling Waters Endowment Fund        (1,108.00)

Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD     32,129.08

Sewer Funds                              1,196,741.21

Water Funds                                322,127.61

Trust & Agency Funds                            0.00

Current Taxes                                      14.45;

carried.

REPORTS:

A. Police and Fire Reports. There were 52 medical rescue runs, six fire alarms, no mutual aid calls, 13 fire runs, and no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during May. Police statistics include: 185 complaints, eight accidents, 60 tickets, 22 verbal warnings, 11 arrests, no semis ticketed and 15 back-up calls to other departments.

The Chief of Police reported that the month of May was busy for the department as they followed up on several outstanding issues from the prior month. He discussed several breaking and entering cases that went to circuit court and an additional business that was broken into during May. They were also able to identify suspects involved in vandalism at Warner Elementary and Village Crossing. On May 3 rd , the Township police department was recognized by the Optimist Club for their excellence. The department also took part in a two-week mobilization buckle up program. The department also policed the Memorial Day parade. He also commented on his attendance at the Western High School awards assembly and noted that the recipient of the Citizenship Award, Cody Aldridge, was a good example and deserved the award.

Motion was made by Short and supported by Melchiori to accept the police report; carried.

B. Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits issued during the month of May showed no new homes and miscellaneous permits for a total value of $35,000.00. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to receive the building permit reports; carried.

C. Supervisor's Report . Advised the board: of a meeting on June 21 for all township officials to meet with state elected officials; of the cost to install a fence around the new generator at the fire station; of options to divide the Township and post office parking lots; of the new design of the library building to fit the corner property at Star and Harmony roads; of citizen requests to have a drop box for payments; and, of the new policy by Spring Arbor University regarding their employees leaving to respond to 911 calls.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Senior Center Advisory Board Appointments. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress to approve the following recommendations for appointment to the Senior Center Advisory Board:

Jesse Moore, for a term expiring in 2010,

Barbara Pohanka, for a term expiring in 2010,

June Dodd, for a term expiring in 2010, and

Troy Ganton, for a term expiring in 2010 ; carried.

C. Township Office Parking Lot. Motion was made by Short and supported by Holthouse to continue with the present arrangement using the concrete bumpers and to block the ingress/egress through the post office lot to the township lot in the same manner as we are currently doing and to do it as inexpensively as possible; carried.

D. Payment Drop Box. The Supervisor suggested that a payment drop box be installed at the Township office as a convenience for our residents. The Treasurer stated that new procedures would have to be implemented to account for all payments in the drop box. There was not enough interest at this time to proceed with the drop box.

E. Gallagher Park Parking Lot Proposal. The Park Committee recommended that the gravel parking lot area within Gallagher Park be closed off and to have the parking lot across the street repaired, painted and utilized. Motion was made by Short and supported by Holthouse to approve the expenditure of $4,075.00 for the repair and painting of the parking lot and to have a new culvert installed. Roll Call: 4 yes, 1 no. Funds will come from the Public Improvement Fund, Parks Improvement.

F. Overtime Policy. The Supervisor discussed the existing language in the policies and procedures manual regarding overtime pay; it currently says overtime is paid for hours worked over eight in one day. Motion was made by Short and supported by Fortress that we revise Section 3.9.6 regarding overtime and comp time for non-supervisory personnel, that we strike “eight hours a day” and that the new language would read “for hours worked over forty hours per week”; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  Township Law Newsletter.

  Project Review Notices.

  Letters from Comcast.

  Newspaper articles and thank-you note to Officer Noppe.

PUBLIC/BOARD COMMENT: Public comment opened at 8:12 p.m.

Supervisor DeGraaf. The Supervisor handed out the revised layout of the library design.

Trustee Short. Trustee Short stated that the Policy Committee is closing in on the revisions to the manual and will have it completed by the end of the summer.

Adjournment. Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Short to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m.; carried.