CALHOUN COUNTY
Supervisor Rapp called the regular meeting of the Eckford Township Board to order at 8:30 pm. Others in attendance were T. Baylis, W. Cornell, K. Lawrence, K. Hinkley, D. Masternak, A. & L. Blight, R. Buskirk, R. Dunn and M. Delaney.
Supervisor Rapp led the group in the pledge and T. Baylis gave the invocation.
A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s minutes of the
December 15, 2008 meeting by W. Cornell.
K. Lawrence seconded the motion.
CARRIED
FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
T. Baylis, Treasurer gave the financial statement for January with
RECEIPTS $26709.91
DISBURSEMENTS $ 8519.66
BILLS TO PAY $15936.34
K. Lawrence made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the bills. W. Cornell seconded the motion. CARRIED
HOMER FIRE BOARD
REPORT
Given by B. Rapp, the final details for the new SUV for medical runs are being made. Eckford Township has requested that the Homer Fire Dept. not do anymore tree limb runs unless there are a fire hazard or power lines down. Chief K. Swope did state that they will probably be stopping the trees down calls because the firefighters are not covered under Workman’s Compensation. They would not go on these calls again unless there was a fire hazard or lines down in the trees.
MARSHALL
FIREFIGHTERS AMBULANCE REPORT
Given by W. Cornell, the MFFAA board made minor budget amendments to the budget. They will start budget talks next month but they are pretty much on track for the budget year so far. They would like to put on another ambulance which would make it 3 instead of 2 ambulances on the road. It takes about $164,000 to equip one ambulance and personnel. Eckford had about 40 calls in 2008. They would also like to buy another Care-van and will hopefully be purchasing one in July.
ZONING
ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
Given by R. Buskirk, there were no permits for this month. R. Buskirk will hold off on the Zoning Violation Complaint form until a final decision about the possibility of hiring a new attorney is decided. No progress has been made on the Mull Barn blight situation.
PLANNING
COMMISSION
Given by B. Dunn, the PC is still waiting to hear back from the new attorney on the changes he has on the Blight Ordinance. B. Dunn will be in contact on the progress of this process this coming week. The PC is currently working on adopting the new slate of officers and they will be brought before the Township board at the next meeting for their approval. The expiration dates of the current board are as follows:
Expiring June 2009: Robert Dunn, Richard de Jong
Expiring June 2010: Will Reyer
Expiring June 2011: Dawn Masternak
Expiring November 2012: Wayne Cornell
Each Commission member chose an interest. These interests are as follows:
Each Commission member chose an area of concern. These are as follows:
T. Baylis made a motion to accept as part of the new Michigan Planning and Enabling Act and Planning Commission Bylaw the expiration of board members terms for 2009 and their representation interests and concerns. The motion was seconded by K. Lawrence.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
K. Hinkley—YEA W. Cornell—Yea
B. Rapp—YEA T. Baylis—YEA
K. Lawrence—YEA CARRIED
LIBRARY REPORT
NO REPORT THIS MONTH
CITIZENS COMMENTS
A Year-end Report from Chief Art Blight for the 2008 Marengo Township Fire Dept. was given to the Eckford Township Board. There were 7 runs in Eckford for the 2008 year.
B. Rapp, Supervisor also stated at this time that he has asked Matt Delaney to come to the Planning Commission meetings for the next few months to possibly take over for Bob Dunn who is planning on retiring from the Planning Commission at the end of his term in June 2009.
OLD BUSINESS
A new proposal was given to each board member from Code Enforcement Officer, Mike Farmer. He has agreed to the boards request for a 1 year contract at $275 a month with the possibility of another 1 year contract after the first year. The board has decided to table this business until the February meeting once we see where the attorney and Planning Commission will stand with our Blight Ordinance.
The Homer Fire Dept. tree cutting was addressed during the Homer Fire Board report.
Conditional Use Permit forms were updated 2-3 years ago and have been in effect since then. There was a question about the need for a notary’s signature on them. This should not be a problem for the Eckford Township residents since there are (3) three notaries on the board and we do not charge Eckford Township residents for this service.
Frank Hitz has still not dropped off his Conditional Use permit paper work that was due to the Planning Commission for approval before their December 2008 meeting. He has been late in previous years with his paperwork to the Planning Commission. Last year the Eckford Township board approved his Conditional Use permit in February 2007 with the condition that he not be late with his paperwork again. Information has come to light that the trailer is not habitable anymore and that no one is living in the trailer and hasn’t for several months. Zoning Adm. R. Buskirk will be going out to the trailer and take some pictures as well as send Mr. Hitz a letter asking him to provide proof of occupancy and that it is inhabitable. Along with this letter a copy of the Zoning Ordinance he is in violation of will be sent as well. He will have 45 days to remove the trailer if the above is not provided to the township.
W. Cornell asked if we were going to change our township lawyer. The board decided we should wait until we get the Blight Ordinance back and then decided what a good option would be for the township.
NEW BUSINESS
T. Baylis shared her findings in calling different banks in Marshall to get their rates etc. to possibly change our bank. T. Baylis shared that Marshall Community Credit Union did seem to have the best interest rate and they have no service charges as long as minimum balance are kept which should be no problem.
K. Lawrence made a motion to change our Eckford Township Bank from Bank of America to Marshall Community Credit Union. W. Cornell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Resolution 2009-1
K. Lawrence—YEA W. Cornell—YEA
T. Baylis—YEA B. Rapp—ABSTAIN
K. Hinkley—YEA CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
T. Baylis made a motion to adjourn at 8:41 pm. Seconded by K. Hinkley. CARRIED
Respectfully submitted by,
Kimberly Hinkley Bruce Rapp
Eckford Township Clerk Eckford Township Supervisor