Banks Township
Special Board Meeting
Monday, February 15, 2010
1. Supervisor
Thomas Mann called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM at the Banks Township Hall. This meeting was scheduled as a “Planning
Together” Workshop for the Township Board, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of
Appeals, Zoning Administrator, Planning Consultant, Fire Chief, Board of Review
and Assessor. Present were Thomas Mann,
Supervisor; Donna Heeres, Clerk; Marvin Rubingh, Trustee. Also ZBA members: Jack Costolo, Dennis
Penfold, Mike McDuffie. Planning
Commission members: Bill Austin, Sue Kessler, and Marvin Rubingh. Zoning Administrator Andy Veenstra, Planning
Consultant Mary Campbell, Assessor Amy Jenema.
Fire Chief Mark Groenink, County Commissioner Jerroll Drenth and State
Representative Kevin Elsenheimer were also present. From the public, Matt Carey, student from Charlevoix High School, and Tim Boyko, candidate
for 105th district House of Representatives. Absent: Jack Danbert & Sarah Essenberg of
the ZBA; Sarah Essenberg, Dave Muladore of the Planning Commission and Irene
Shooks, PC Secretary; Township Treasurer Katy Postmus and Trustee Mark DeKorne.
2. Following
introductions, the pledge of allegiance was recited. Trustee Rubingh offered prayer. The group enjoyed a light supper of soup, chili
and sandwiches prior to beginning the workshop.
3. Supervisor
Mann called the group to order at 6:30
PM for the workshop. He gave
an overview of the activities of 2009 with a power point presentation. He outlined the plans for activities for 2010
including personal property tax issues, continued treatment of Phragmites,
Breezeway promotions, Green Races sponsored by the Village of Ellsworth,
Snowmobile Trail improvements, paving of Byers Road and Clean Up
Day scheduled for Saturday, May 8.
4. Sue
Kessler, PC Chairman and Mary Campbell, Planning Consultant, gave an update of
the recent activities of the Planning Commission.
5. Amy
Jenema, Assessor, explained the changes that affect property assessments. With the reduction in State Equalized
Valuations, the consumer price index and taxable values for the past three
years, the tax revenues are negatively affected. Very few land divisions have taken place in
2009.
6. Andy
Veenstra, Zoning Administrator, reported that permit applications were down by
one in 2009 from 2008. Construction was
more additions & garages than new dwellings. Dennis Penfold, Chairman of the ZBA, reported
there were no ZBA Public Hearings in 2009.
That is a sign of the times with little building going on so no need for
variances, etc.
7. Mark
Groenink, Fire Chief, reported that his department is active with 25 fire
fighters and emergency medical personnel.
8. Jerroll
Drenth, County Commissioner representing District One,
informed the group of the commission’s activities for the year and highlighted
the recycling program that is being operated at no additional cost to the
taxpayers. There are 8 recycling
collection centers throughout the County.
9. Kevin
Elsenheimer, 105th District State Representative & House
Minority Leader, addressed the group and gave credit to the Township Board for
its recent activity in pushing the personal property tax issue. His office will present the issue to the
Attorney General for an opinion on the legality of refunding the tax to
businesses. The State of MI had a 24% reduction
in revenues in 2009. The budget will
continue to be a challenge. Many
legislators are running for something else due to term limits. The question of a constitutional convention
is expected to be on the ballot in 2010.
The last was in 1963. It is
expected that if the convention convenes, local governments will be at
risk. Legislative action could also be
used to remove powers from townships if the constitutional convention does not
convene. Consolidation of government is
a good idea in some areas.
10. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:50 PM.
Respectfully
submitted,
Donna L. Heeres