VERGENNES TOWNSHIP
Regular Meeting Minutes
April 15, 2002
The regular meeting of the Vergennes Township Board was called to order by Tim Wittenbach at 7:00 p.m. in the Vergennes Township Hall.
Members Present: Tim Wittenbach - Supervisor
Jean Hoffman - Treasurer
Vern Nauta - Trustee
Al Baird - Trustee
Members Absent: Mari Stone - Clerk
The minutes of the March 11, 2002 regular meeting were approved as written. Treasurer’s Report accepted as read. Nauta, seconded by Hoffman, made a motion to approve bills as read. Motion approved.
Jim Koetje, Michigan State Representative for four years, introduced himself as moving into and running as representative for the newly created District of ten municipalities. Koetje answered questions concerning gun control, proposal A, and charter schools.
Wayne Creelman, running for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives also to represent this newly created district spoke to the Township Board. He stopped in to give Board an update on his progress. He also noted the six hottest issues brought to his attention while visiting with Vergennes residents - protection of public school funds; too much development in area; unemployment benefits too low; healthcare costs too high and no higher taxes. He requested an endorsement from the elected officials of the township and with that endorsement allow his election sign in their yards and their votes on August 6, 2002.
1. Lowell Area Schools – High School Addition. For information purposes only, Jim White, Assistant Superintendent, presented to the Board drawings/blueprints and description of the new High School Addition which will be 21,000 square feet and have eight classrooms—a “school within a school” concept. Long term goal is to use the space as a “freshman house” for freshman and their basic core classes. Use of this space by outside groups would not necessitate opening the whole school.
2. Planning Commission Initiated Rezoning from RA to R1 in Portions of Sections 33 & 34. Included within Sections 33 & 34 is the James Cook property. Cooks have requested Township Board hearing on this matter. Motion by Hoffman, seconded by Nauta, to set a Special Board Hearing to hear this matter on Monday, May 6, 2002, at 6:00 p.m.
3. Designation of Township Attorney, Auditor, Engineer, Planner. Motion by Baird, seconded by Nauta, designating Township Attorney, Auditor, Engineer and Planner to be the same as last year. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Designated Depository Institutions. Motion by Hoffman, seconded by Baird to approve Fifth-Third Bank, Huntington Bank, Kent County Money Max and Ionia County Bank as designated depository institutions for Township of Vergennes funds. Motion carried.
5. Alton Church Society CDBG Funded Building Project. This project has become more involved. Winter-Troutwine & Associates have drawn up a proposal consisting of two parts and requires Township Board approval on both parts.
Part 1 – Amend Township allocation of CDBG funds ($18,000) to specify that the Alton Building Project will follow the Winter-Troutwine proposal which will include a Section 106 review which is required by the state. Motion by Nauta, seconded by Hoffman, to amend Vergennes Township allocation of CDBG funds to the Alton Church Building Project to also specify the use of Winter- Troutwine proposal Part 1. Motion approved.
Part 2 – Master Plan for Alton Church Society CDBG Funded Building Project, evaluation of the entire building to determine necessary repairs to bring up to code, request community focus groups suggestions for future community use of structure, and request county to allow borrowing into future community grant dollars. Motion by Hoffman, seconded by Baird, accept Winter-Troutwine proposal Part 2 regarding master plan, future use of building and borrowing into future community grant money as well as allocating $4,812.00 towards this project in the 2003-2004 Township Budget. Motion carried.
6. Request from Robert Morgan. Mr. Morgan brought before the Board his need for a special use permit on his property to allow for a “guest house” rather than a mobile home as living arrangements for his mother-in-law who has special needs. Discussion followed. Jeanne Vandersloot stated the Morgan’s could apply for a special use permit; Board could waive mobile home portion and grant the permit with special conditions which could be stipulated to in a separate document signed by all concerned and for the future the Planning Commission could write new language which would cover special standards. She also indicated special use permits can be issued by the Board and do not have to go through the Planning Commission. Motion by Baird, seconded by Nauta, to set a public hearing on this matter for Monday, May 6, 2002. Motion approved.
7. Set Fee for Zoning Book/CD. Motion by Nauta, seconded by Hoffman, to set fee of $2.00 for a CD/Disk of the Zoning Book and a $10.00 fee for the Zoning Book. Motion carried.
8. Amend Hope Network 2001-02 CDBG Allocation. Motion by Hoffman, seconded by Nauta, to increase the 2001-02 Hope Network CDBG allocation (North Kent Transit) from $2,000 to $3,000. Motion approved.
9. Annual CDBG Agreement. Nauta made a motion to accept as written the Annual CDBG Agreement effective from 7/1/2002 through 6/30/2003, and authorizing the Supervisor and Clerk to enter into the agreement on behalf of Vergennes Township. Motion seconded by Hoffman. Motion approved.
Mr. Vandersloot suggested the Board look into a speed control or baffle for blower on furnace/air conditioner unit as the blower is extremely noisy. Roger Odell noted that a community use for Alton Church could be as an emergency depot or possibly an area used in the winter for chaperoned youth group functions.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mari Stone, Clerk