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. & L. Dunn, M. Delaney, J. & S. Dobbins, B. & G. Bursley, S. Hinkley and M. Farmer.
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
January 19, 2009 meeting with the change of 3 ambulances on the road now and
they could add a 4th under the Marshall Firefighters Ambulance Report
by K. Lawrence. W. Cornell seconded
the motion.
CARRIED
FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
T. Baylis, Treasurer gave the financial statement for February with
RECEIPTS $21223.28
DISBURSEMENTS $15936.34
BILLS TO PAY $15592.75
W. Cornell made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the bills. K. Lawrence seconded the motion. CARRIED
HOMER FIRE BOARD
REPORT
Given by B. Rapp, the Hovercraft threw a rod and they had to pay $1500 to get it fixed. The Hovercraft is 12 years old but it is still a great asset for the department. Truck #932 has a hole in the tank it is under warranty and will be fixed. The Chief is looking into having each entity which sponsors the fire department to pass a Cost Recovery Ordinance to claim back money for calls such as a line down for Consumers Power. The new rescue suburban should be on the road within the week.
MARSHALL
FIREFIGHTERS AMBULANCE REPORT
Given by W. Cornell, the next meeting is Thursday and they will be going over the budget. There were 4 runs in December and 2 runs in January.
ZONING
ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
Given by R. Buskirk, there were no permits for this month. The Zoning Violation Complaint form has been updated and R. Buskirk will be filling this form out for her records of complaints. She will keep all originals and give the township a copy. No progress has been made on the Mull Barn blight situation. Mr. Hitz has not provided any documentation requested since last months meeting. Mr. Hitz will be given 45 days to move the trailer off the property as per our Zoning Ordinance.
W. Cornell made a motion to approve the use of the Alleged Zoning Violation Investigation & Enforcement Documentation form. K. Lawrence seconded the motion. CARRIED
PLANNING
COMMISSION
Given by B. Dunn, the new Chair is now Dawn Masternak as of the February 9, 2009. W. Reyer has resigned from the Planning Commission. Matt Delaney would like to join the PC and serve as the Secretary for them. They are reviewing more information from the attorney in Grand Rapids. The Planning Commission has voted and passed the Michigan Housing Law, the Junk Vehicle Ordinance and the “Blight”/Trash & Rubbish Ordinance. They are now in the hands of the Township Board. They will now be working on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
K. Lawrence made a motion to appoint Matt Delaney to the Planning Commission. W. Cornell seconded the motion. CARRIED
LIBRARY REPORT
Given by L. Dunn, encourage each one to check out the Library newsletter. In March each Tuesday there will be an author visiting the library. Come and check out the fun.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Jim Dobbins came to update the township on what is going on with Wilder Creek Conservation Club. There was a meeting of the club earlier in February with the discussions of how the club would pay for the property taxes they owe to the township and how the club is going to continue. Mr. & Mrs. Bursley were in-attendance at our township meeting to find out what the township could or would do to possibly help the club. At the WCCC meeting they formed a Wilder Conservation Preservation Committee. President is Steve Hinkley, Secretary is Jim Dobbins and Liaison to the board is Bob Dunn. This committee will investigate how the club lost its 501©7 status and what the bylaws are so that this club can get back on its feet again. Mr. Bursley will be contacting Greg Jolin to retrieve the clubs documents from him. S. Hinkley stated that if the club has to pay the property taxes this would devastate the clubs future financially. The next meeting will be March 15, 2009 at 2 pm at Bruce Rapp’s barn.
Neighborhood Watch on March 2 with guest speaker Kate Segal. We will be having chicken as our main course. In April will be Pam Bosserd of Bosserd Farms and in May we will have Laurie St. Laurent from the MDL.
OLD BUSINESS
Code Enforcement Officer
Mike Farmer has agreed to the boards request for a 1 year contract (March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010) at $275 a month with the possibility of another 2 year contract after the first year. M. Farmer shared that he works for the Homer Village, Clarendon and Marshall Townships. M. Farmer answered several questions from the board on how he conducts his business with residents. He stated that each township is a little different with what their rules are. In the several years that he has been working as an Ordinance Enforcement Officer he has only had around a dozen cases go to court.
Resolution 2009-3 Code Enforcement Officer
W. Cornell made a motion to accept the proposed contract of
Mike Farmer as Code Enforcement Officer for 1 year with the possibility of
another 2 year contract to follow.
K. Lawrence seconded the motion.
CARRIED
A roll call vote was as follows: K. Lawrence-Yea, W. Cornell-Yea, T. Baylis-Yea,
K. Hinkley-Yea and B. Rapp-Yea
The situation with Frank Hitz’s trailer will be taken care of by M. Farmer. R. Buskirk will get the necessary information to M. Farmer.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2009-2 PA116 R. & L. Kiessling was read by B. Rapp. A motion was made by T. Baylis to accept the PA116 of the Ronald and Lynnette Kiessling property. K. Hinkley seconded the motion. CARRIED
K. Lawrence—YEA W. Cornell—YEA
T. Baylis—YEA B. Rapp—YEA
K. Hinkley—YEA
Resolution 2009-7 Planning Commission Code of Conduct & Oath of Office was read by B. Rapp.
T. Baylis made a motion to accept Resolution 2009-7 the Planning Commission Code of Conduct & Oath of Office. K. Hinkley seconded the motion. CARRIED
W. Cornell—YEA K. Lawrence—YEA
T. Baylis—YEA B. Rapp—YEA
K. Hinkley—YEA
The Organizational Budget meeting will be March 30, 2009 at 6 p.m.
An inside clean-up day will be
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 9 a.m.
Marengo Township Fire Agreement was read by B. Rapp. This agreement is for April 1, 2009 until March 31, 2010.
T. Baylis made a motion to accept the Marengo Township Fire Department Agreement with $10,000 for fire protection and $6,000 for truck funds. W. Cornell seconded the motion. CARRIED
T. Baylis brought up that we need to decide whether we can do any roads this year. We need to check with the County Road Commission to see when we have to have our plan in for the 2009 season.
ADJOURNMENT
K. Lawrence made a motion to adjourn at 9:28 pm. Seconded by K. Hinkley. CARRIED
Respectfully submitted by,
Kimberly Hinkley Bruce Rapp
Eckford Township Clerk Eckford Township Supervisor