CALHOUN COUNTY
Supervisor Rapp called the regular meeting of the Eckford Township Board to order at 8:20 pm. Others in attendance were T. Baylis, W. Cornell, K. Lawrence, K. Hinkley, D. Masternak, A. Blight, R. Buskirk, R. & L. Dunn, J. Dobbins, B. & G. Bursley, S. Hinkley, S. Hinkley Jr., R. Masternak, D. Guilford, K. Clark, T. Cook, B. Cowles and wife, I. Swan and P. Damon.
Supervisor Rapp led the group in the pledge and T. Baylis gave the invocation.
A motion was made by W. Cornell to accept the Clerk’s
minutes of the February 16, 2009 meeting.
K. Lawrence seconded the motion.
CARRIED
FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
T. Baylis, Treasurer gave the financial statement for February with
RECEIPTS $47518.69
DISBURSEMENTS $15592.75
BILLS TO PAY $ 9070.64
K. Lawrence made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report
and pay the bills. W. Cornell
seconded the motion.
CARRIED
T. Baylis stated that two accounts needed to be adjusted in the budget. They were the drains and cemetery.
W. Cornell made a motion to take $275 from Capital to the
Drain at Large and $1000 from Capital to the Cemetery.
K. Hinkley seconded the motion.
CARRIED
HOMER FIRE BOARD
REPORT
Given by S. Hinkley, the repair on the hovercraft worked great when they had to use it in an assist with Fredonia Township Fire Dept. at Lyon Lake. They will continue to re-evaluate the cost of repairs each time it is used. The new rescue suburban is on the road as of this week. With the grant money recently attained by the Fire Dept. almost all of the breathing apparatus’ are new
FREDONIA TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPT.
Given by P. Damon he gave the township the year end report to have on file. Eckford Township had 22 calls. There were 13 fire calls and 9 medical runs for 2008.
MARSHALL
FIREFIGHTERS AMBULANCE REPORT
Given by W. Cornell, they have been going over the budget.
There were 2 runs in Jan. and there were no runs in February.
The new ambulance has been delivered and another ambulance went in for a
new chassis.
ZONING
ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
Given by R. Buskirk, there were no permits for this month. She is still waiting for the passage of the Blight Ordinance to follow-up on the Mull Barn and the dumped trash on J. Drive S. R. Buskirk asked the township board if she could attend a new program through MSU for a Zoning Administrator’s accreditation Certification. She will also be attending a Wind Energy Conference with other Planning Commission members and a Planning and Zoning workshop in Battle Creek.
ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT
Given by R. Buskirk for M. Farmer, he has checked the Hitz trailer twice and has found no evidence of anyone living there. He will send him a notice to have the trailer removed in the 45 days stated in the Zoning Ordinance.
PLANNING
COMMISSION
Given by D. Masternak, It was a long but productive meeting. Matt Delaney has been appointed to the PC and will serve as the Secretary and Vice Chair for them. They are starting work on a Recreational vehicle Ordinance and a Wind Turbine Ordinance. They will now be working on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. D. Masternak invited all to come to the Planning Commission meetings.
LIBRARY REPORT
Given by L. Dunn, In March each Tuesday there will be an author visiting the library. Come and check out the fun. This is for National Reading month.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
A. Blight was asked if he had any Marengo Township Fire Dept. news and he said there was no activity.
S. Hinkley addressed the township for the Wilder Creek Conservation Club. The Club would like to give the township their property on D. Drive S. They would like to see the park continued to be used for Primitive Bow shoots and to allow the Boy scouts to continue to use the facilities as they have in the past. We would all like to see a committee formed to work out details that both clubs would be in agreement with on the care and usage of the property. T. Baylis stated that she would like to see the Club give a monthly report for at least the first year. J. Dobbins stated that there is a lot of interest in the preservation of the Club and property. B. Cowles and B. Bursley both would like to the Club turn the property over to the Township. J. Dobbins asked if the Township is interested in supporting this endeavor. Of course the issue of the taxes are a great problem for the Club. B. Rapp said that the Board of Review may be able to take their summer taxes off at the July Board of Review. J. Dobbins asked if there is any way to get the taxes due now taken care of. T. Baylis will call the county treasurer to see what might be able to be done.
W. Cornell made a motion to engage with Wilder Creek
Conservation Club in the process of accepting the gift of their property and
contents. K. Lawrence
CARRIED
K. Hinkley will contact Attorney Moore about drafting a new deed agreement and have him forward it to the WCCC attorney for their approval. The two boards will meet again on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Board of Review was shared by B. Rapp; they saw nine (9) people in two days. Two (2) people had their taxes lowered and the rest were mostly clerical errors.
OLD BUSINESS
Resolution 2009-4 Housing Law Ordinance was read by B. Rapp. All board members have had since last month to review all of the ordinances proposed tonight. There was some discussion as to whether it is an ordinance that really pertains to Eckford Township but there wasn’t any strong opposition to it.
W. Cornell made a motion to accept the conditions of the Housing Law Ordinance Resolution 2009-4. K. Lawrence seconded the motion. CARRIED
A roll call vote was taken: K. Lawrence—YEA, W. Cornell—YEA, T. Baylis—YEA,
K. Hinkley—YEA & B. Rapp—YEA
Resolution 2009-5 Junk Vehicle Ordinance, discussion was held as to whether the township really needed this ordinance. Some felt that maybe this could be covered under the Blight and the Zoning Ordinance for the few problems that there were in the township. Some felt that it was too restrictive.
W. Cornell made a motion to accept the Resolution 2009-5 “Junk Vehicle” Ordinance. K. Hinkley seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken.
K. Lawrence—Nay W. Cornell—Nay
T. Baylis—Nay B. Rapp—YEA
K. Hinkley—Nay
The motion failed to
pass.
Resolution 2009-6 “Blight” Ordinance was read by B. Rapp and there was some discussion with some of the wording of the ordinance and how much ‘trash’ and junk vehicles a person could have on ones property.
W. Cornell made a motion to accept the Resolution 2009-6 “Blight” Ordinance. K. Lawrence seconded the motion. CARRIED
A roll call vote was taken.
K. Lawrence—YEA W. Cornell—YEA
T. Baylis—YEA B. Rapp—YEA K. Hinkley—YEA
Roads for 2009, B. Rapp has been talking to K. Henning from the Calhoun County Road Commission about some of the grant money from the Federal government for roads in our township. They will be paving 22 ½ Mile Road from F. Drive S. to M-60. An Division Drive from Homer Road to 24 Mile Road
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2009-8 Freedom of Information Act, the resolution was read by B. Rapp. The board members received a copy of the fee schedule and information before the meeting. The only addition was to add a $.20 charge per fax copy. W. Cornell made a motion to accept Resolution 2009-8 the Freedom of Information Act. T. Baylis seconded the motion. CARRIED
T. Baylis—YEA
K. Lawrence—YEA W. Cornell—YEA B. Rapp—YEA K. Hinkley—YEA
Resolution 2009-9 FOIA Coordinator was read by B. Rapp.
W. Cornell made a motion to accept Resolution 2009-9 the FOIA Coordinator to be the Clerk. K. Lawrence seconded the motion. CARRIED
K. Hinkley—YEA T. Baylis—YEA
W. Cornell—YEA K. Lawrence—YEA
B. Rapp—YEA
The Assessor’s contract for Dan Brunner will expire at the end of March. It was three (3) years ago that we passed the last one. D. Brunner has agreed to the same terms for a one (1) year contract. This contract will be in effective from April 1, 2009 until March 31, 2010.
T. Baylis made a motion to accept the Assessors contract
for the next year. W. Cornell
seconded the motion.
CARRIED
The Organizational Budget meeting will be March 30, 2009 at 6 p.m.
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