Banks Township Board Meeting

Monday April 19, 2010

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Supervisor Thomas Mann. Present were Supervisor Mann, Clerk Donna Heeres, Treasurer Katy Postmus, Trustee Marvin Rubingh, and Trustee Mark DeKorne. Also present: Heidi Shaffer of Antrim Conservation District, Andy Veenstra Zoning Administrator. Dennis Lennox & guest arrived @ 8:03 PM. John Hastings arrived @ 8:25 PM.

2. Supervisor Mann opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Trustee Rubingh offered prayer.

3. The minutes of the March Regular Board meeting were presented. MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the minutes with an amendment in article 17. (Delete “½ mil tax levy” regarding the Fire Budget approval.)

4. The treasurer’s written report of incomes and balances was given. General Fund Balance: $357,130.01 with $40,000 due from the Fire Fund; Fire Fund Balance: $92,137.47; Roads Fund Balance: $156,516.60; Liquor Fund Balance: $1294.10; Grand Total: $607,078.18.

5. Phragmites: Heidi Shaffer addressed the Board with an update on the project. Several volunteers cut the seed heads and disposed of them from Norwood to Elk Rapids. Removal of the stalks is the responsibility of the land owners. Heidi reported that stimulus funds are expected to fund in part the phragmites eradication projects for 2010. Grant application has been submitted. We will not have to assess the beaches this year for evidence of phragmites. The GPS coordinates identified in 2009 will be used by the sprayers as they walk the beaches. New growth will also be treated. Spraying will be scheduled for mid August to mid September this year with cutting of seed heads to occur approximately 1 month after spraying. The cutting permit that we recently received is good for 5 years. Plans are being developed for three educational seminars throughout the county this summer. The first will be June 22 @ Banks Township, then June 26 @ the Conservation Office and the third in early July in Elk Rapids.

6. Candidate for 105^th State Representative Dennis Lennox addressed the Board to introduce himself and ask for support.

7. Planning Commission: Rubingh reported that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on a request from the Ellsworth Farmers Exchange for approval of plans to expand their liquid fertilizer and repair shop to their property in Atwood. The special approval was granted. Plans are being developed for a wind turbine substation within the township. This was discussed by the Planning Commission as an allowed use under the ordinance as an essential service.

8. Xerox Copier: Has been listed for sale on E-Bay & Craig’s list without success. Postmus agreed to try to sell at her garage sale. If not successful, will put out at Clean Up Day for sale and then dump it if not sold.

9. Breezeway Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 29 from 9 AM to 4 PM. East Jordan Chamber of Commerce is organizing.

10. Zoning Administrator: Andy Veenstra reported that 5 permits have been issued so far this year. Supervisor Mann thanked him for representing Banks Township at the Phragmites meeting on March 25 in Traverse City.

11. Roads: DeKorne reported on conference with Burt Thompson of the ACRC regarding Byers Road improvements. He was told the west end of Byers will be exempt from load limits and assured that the 2” of paving will be sufficient. Also, the steepness of the hill on the east end will not be an issue for vehicular traffic once it is paved. A Public Hearing is scheduled for May 18 @ 10:30 AM on road improvements planned for the entire county. Discussion on the Board’s wishes for additional gravel base near the Farmers’ Exchange driveway on Byers Road was held. Supervisor will invite Burt Thompson and representatives from the Farmers’ Exchange to attend our next meeting (May 17).

12. Doctor Road: Letter was received from Richard Friske on the condition of the gravel portion of Doctor Road and Skinner Road. He asked that these roads be improved with more gravel. Supervisor will contact Marion Township Supervisor regarding cost share for Skinner Road and ask for an estimate for the work by the ACRC.

13. Cemetery/Park: Workers’ wages: Judy VanderArk submitted a report of staff who will be working this year and their responsibilities. She asked that consideration be given for Darrell LaBeau & Linda Ballentine for a $1 per hour increase in pay. Darrell will take lead responsibility for the Ellsworth Cemetery and Linda has been working for the Township for close to 20 years. MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to give a $1 per hour wage increase to the above two employees effective today. A leaf blower and grass trimmer are needed. MOTION DeKorne, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the purchase from Work N Play Shop. Antrim City Cemetery has several trees that are in need of removal. They are huge and rotting from the inside out. It was suggested that Mike McDuffie be contacted for recommendation for someone who could remove these trees. Park outhouse door needs replacing as is warped and won’t close. Dave Heeres built it approximately 20 years ago. Will ask him to repair or replace this door.

14. Audit: Clerk reports the auditors will be here May 17 through May 20 to do the audit for the Village and the Township.

15. Rescue Dept: Don Frosty reported that two portable suction units were purchased with grant funds by Charlevoix Hospital and given to Banks Township Fire & Rescue. Carol Gillespie and Joanne Hawkins were the hospital representatives who worked on this grant and gift to Banks Township Rescue.

16. Energy Grant Meeting was held April 15. $40,000 in grant funds will be available.

Discussion was held on priority list for Township Hall to include on grant application: lighting retrofits for main level and upper level; insulation; weather stripping; HVAC; ductwork modifications.

17. Clean Up Day: Costs will be up $1 per compacted yard from 2009. Other items will remain the same.

18. Informational Items: NLEA Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Monday, May 10 11:30 to 1:30 @ Boyne Mountain. Sheriff report on 911 activities within the township was reviewed. Antrim County COA Senior Picnic is scheduled for August 19 @ 11 AM. A request for volunteers for servers was received. MTA County Chapter meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27 @ 7:30 PM @ Forest Home Township’s new township hall. The speaker is David Bertram from MTA. MTA Spring Regional meeting will be held at Shanty Creek on Thursday, May 20 @ 8 AM to 4 PM.

19. Bills represented by the attached list were presented for approval for payment. MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to approve the bills as presented.

20. The next meeting will be Monday, May 17 @ 7:30 PM.

21. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna L. Heeres

Banks Township Clerk