Vergennes Township
Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 10, 2003
The regular meeting of the Vergennes Township Board was called to order
by Tim Wittenbach at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Tim
Wittenbach - Supervisor
Mari Stone - Clerk
Jean Hoffman - Treasurer
Vern Nauta - Trustee
Al Baird - Trustee
Nauta, seconded by Stone, made
a motion to accept the agenda as amended with the additions of the following
items: Lake Michigan Real Estate and
Employee Review. Motion carried The minutes
of the Township Board Special Meeting held February 26, 2003 and minutes of the
regular Township Board Meeting held February 17, 2003 were approved as
presented. Treasurer’s report accepted
as presented. Motion by Nauta, seconded
by Stone, to approve bills as presented.
Motion carried. Stone noted that the Kent County Road
Commission 2002 gravel/Minor Construction projects paid to date.
Opened: 7:10 p.m.
Wittenbach summarized the budget revenues and
expenditures, noting that less funding will be received from State Revenue
Sharing. Total revenues projected:
$440,835.00. It was noted that the
figure ($2,000) for New Equipment may have to be amended if a new copier
becomes necessary, and that the Tax Administration figure of $11,000 may need
to be amended when the county PTAS system is complete and final figures are
available. Total projected
expenses: $494,195.00. There were no public comments.
Closed: 7:15 p.m.
Unfinished Business
1.
Fire Department. Brian Kimble presented supporting documents for the National Fire
Prevention Code (NAP1) as well as information on how to adopt and what to
adopt. Enforcement of a written violation
will entail 30 days to fix violation or up to 120 days with an action
plan. If after deadline, no reasonable
progress, Fire Department turns over enforcement to public entity. If immediate safety concern, Fire Department
shuts down business. Fire Department would
like to be informed of applications for any pyrotechnic displays before permit
issued. Stone indicated Township will
adopt by resolution but will check with MTA on adoption procedures as well as
coordinating with City of Lowell and Lowell Township.
1. Lake Michigan Real Estate – Tom Lindemulder had written to request the Township Board amend the PUD ordinance in its calculations for lots v. PUD open space (gross acreage divided by open space) to allow for smaller lots as the main acreage at his 154 acre development is public use - Arrowhead Golf Course. Lindemulder’s development doesn’t qualify for Open Space Ordinance – excluded because of golf course. Lindemulder needs 50 lots to justify investment. 10 home site difference by amending ordinance. Current standard of 15-20% for street development is the difference between 40 and 50 lots. Board members noted that possibly this could be a unique or special situation – no other golf course within Vergennes Township. Nauta stated that perhaps in PUD developments a bonus could be included when a public area is involved. Stone indicated the Board would need to set up a work session with the Planning Commission including Jay Kilpatrick and possibly Township Engineer to look at the request. Lindemulder stated that he is not under any pressing time constraints.
2. Budget Amendments. Several unexpected items in the 02-03 budget
necessitate amendments. Motion by Hoffman, seconded by Stone, to amend 2002-03
budget to include the following:
·
New
equipment – 101-265-977 increase by
$2,044 from $3,250 to $5,294.
·
Insurance
& Bonds – 101-951-911 increase by $1,385 from $8,000 to $9,385.
·
Miscellaneous
– 101-951-956 increase by $2,033 from $1,000 to $3,033.
·
Tax
Administration – 101-951-957 increase by $2,126 from $11,000 to $13,126.
Motion
approved.
3. Adoption of 2003-04 Budget. Discussion
on the proposed budget resulted in suggestion to raise accounts 101-248-726 Office Supplies &
Postage to $5,000 (from $4,500), and 101-248-901 Printing & Notices to
$5,000 (from $4,500). Hoffman made a
motion, seconded by Nauta, to adopt 2003-04 Budget as noted and presented
(attached). Motion carried.
4. Community
Development Block Grant Amendments.
Lowell Sr. Neighbors need funds for operations and programs at Lowell
Senior Center. Asking for Community
Development Block Grant funds. Township
will receive another approximately $15,000 allocation of Community Development
Block Grant dollars in 2004, and Stone had been informed that it is possible to borrow into the future. Motion by Baird, seconded by Hoffman, to
allocate $3,000 of Community Development Block Grant dollars to the Lowell
Senior Center. Motion carried
Discussion and
explanation of additional costs on Alton Project. Stone outlined the allocated amounts to date - $18,000 for Phase
1 which included Winter Troutwine original contract; $4,812.00 allocated for
additional work including a master plan/feasibility study; latest allocation in
the amount of $16,800 for additional exterior work with a total allocation to
date of $39,612.00. According to
Community Development personnel, there is a shortfall of $2,108.50, with the
total cost of the project at $41,750.00.
Also, Mugen Construction needs a signed contract, and the
Winter-Troutwine contract needs amending.
Motion by Stone, seconded by Nauta, to amend contract
with Winter Troutwine to include $553.50 amount over and above original
$8,532.00. Motion approved.
Motion by Hoffman, seconded
by Stone, to approve Mugen Construction contract in the amount of $32,635.00
which will complete the project. Motion carried.
Motion by Stone, seconded by Nauta, to allocate further
Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $2,108.50 for the
Alton Project. Motion approved.
Motion by Wittenbach,
seconded by Stone, to amend the Hope Network contract and allocate an extra
$1,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds for a new amount of
$4,000. Motion carried.
According to Stone’s calculations, $6,108.50 total funds
have been allocated to date from future (next year's) allocations of Community
Development Block Grant funds.
Some discussion regarding Fallasburg Historical Society’s
Mill project allocation, and the wisdom of procuring a feasibility study rather
than an archeological study at the mill site, or possibly undergoing a master
plan to give direction for the whole project.
The Society will be attending the April Board meeting to address this
issue.
Stone noted that there are many other historical projects
within Vergennes Township that deserve attention. She commented that she would like to see the Historical
Commission meet on a more regular basis and begin this work. Historical Commission terms are up for
renewal in April.
5. David Yomtoob – Tower
Co-location. Yomtoob put together a
suggested cell tower document using
ordinances from other municipalities and his own ideas. Current ordinance requires following special
use permit process each time an antenna is added to a tower. Discussion ensued, and Yomtoob agreed to
clarify some of the language in his suggested document for study by the
Planning Commission. Motion by Nauta,
seconded by Stone, to send Yomtoob's cell tower document to the Planning
Commission for their review. Motion approved.
6.
Planning Commission
Recommendations:
- Bowen Private Road – Sky
High Drive. Motion by Baird,
seconded by Nauta, to approve Bowen Private Road-Sky High Drive pending DEQ
approval/permit and procurement of a driveway maintenance agreement as
recommended by Township Attorney. Motion carried.
- Home Based Business Ordinance. Motion by Nauta, seconded by Baird, to
approved Home Based Business Ordinance 2003-3 as recommended by Planning
Commission. Roll Call Vote – Yes: Baird,
Nauta, Hoffman, Stone, Wittenbach. Motion
by Stone, seconded by Nauta, to approve the zoning compliance permit
application form for home occupations with an application fee of $25.00, and
raise fee for Zoning Ordinance Book to $15.00.
Motion approved.
7.
Assignment of Clerical
Assessing Position. Motion by Hoffman, seconded
by Stone, to assign Star Palasek to the clerical assessing position. Motion carried.
8.
Employee Review. Nauta discussed concern that whenever an employee receives a
raise, that employee needs to be subject to an annual review by head of their
department. This would ideally create more
accountability, give opportunity to discuss job qualifications and performance,
and improve communications between the parties. Nauta supported the creation of a township employee/policy
booklet similar to some of the surrounding townships.
There
were none. 2003 Road Commission
dinner/meeting to be held April 2, 2003.
Wittenbach and Baird to attend.
Vergennes Township Board members have been invited to a ground-breaking
ceremony for the new elementary school to be held on March 31, 2003 at 5:30
p.m.
Meeting
adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mari Stone, Township
Clerk