Banks Township Board Meeting

Monday July 21, 2008

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: Hellen Allen, Steve Arends, Mark Groenink, Don Frosty.

2. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustee DeKorne offered prayer.

3. The minutes of the June Regular Board meeting were reviewed. MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the minutes as presented.

4. The treasurer’s report of incomes and balances was given. Fund Balances: General Fund: $336,816.38 with $80,000 due from the Fire Fund; Fire Fund: $131,510.85; Liquor Fund: $1,048.05; Roads Fund: $70,829.56; Grand Total: $540,204.84. Summer tax collection has begun and is 7% collected. ($72,096.67)

5. Public Comment: a) A letter of complaint was received by the Supervisor regarding blight ordinance violations on Coeling Road. This will be turned over to the Zoning Administrator upon his return from vacation. b) A letter was received by the Township Treasurer complaining about taxes, school busses driving too fast, the end of their driveway being torn up by the Antrim County Road Commission. c) A phone call was received by the Township Supervisor complaining about speeds on Rushton Road.

6. Auditors’ report: Steve Arends, CPA with Baird, Cotter & Bishop, reviewed the audit for fiscal year 2007-08 with the Board. He pointed out changes in the procedures, purpose of the audit and deficiencies within the internal controls systems. Capital Improvement funds were discussed as well as restrictions on such funds. He reminded the Board that an annual audit is needed when the population of a municipality exceeds 4000. He recommended that the policy for review of invoices by a board member other than the clerk (Adopted July 2006) be implemented or rescinded. MOTION Rubingh, DeKorne, CARRIED to rescind the policy as recommended by the auditor.

7. Ambulance Services: Don Frosty, EMS coordinator for Banks Township Fire & Rescue, reported to the Board on the contract with East Jordan Ambulance. He stated that the contract covers the entire township. He also reported that no contract with Torch Lake Township Ambulance exists, other than a verbal contract. Don attended a meeting of the Medical Control Board which oversees Banks Township. He recommends Banks Township no longer use services of Torch Lake Township Ambulance due to lack of advanced life support services available to patients who are served by TLA. He claims EJA can have a paramedic on scene within 2-3 minutes of when TLA can have a medical first responder & EMT on scene. Additional medical interventions that are available with the paramedic/advanced life support transport unit were outlined. Supervisor Mann has discussed this situation with TL Supervisor Bob Spencer. MOTION Mann, Rubingh, CARRIED to re-align the service coverage areas for emergency medical services (ambulances) within Banks Township to provide advanced life support services from East Jordan Ambulance to all of Banks Township. Clerk will send a letter to dispatch director for 911, Torch Lake Township, City of East Jordan, and Charlevoix County Medical Control. Change to be effective immediately. Letters will be sent to property owners west of US 31 as these are the properties that have been served by Torch Lake Township Ambulance.

8. Fire Dept: Fire Chief Groenink reported that the alignment and replacement of ball joints is needed on the Rescue rig at a cost of approximately $500. The work is scheduled to be completed this week. Discussion was held on costs for replacement tankers and water points that are available within the township. RESCUE Dept: Frosty reported that the license for medical first responder unit non-transport will be awarded on September 1. Application fee is $100. He needs to obtain some posters, CLIA requirements, municipal license plates for the vehicles, etc. before sending in the application. Also, new chips will need to be inserted in the monitors for the medical personnel only. Manpower issues were discussed.

9. Cemeteries: Rubingh reported that Bill Austin had indicated he may have a tank that would be suitable for a water tank at the Ellsworth Cemetery behind the vault building.

10. Roads: Rubingh reported that he contacted Rep. Elsenheimer and MTA regarding hiring of firms to do road work for us and was told that we must hire the Road Commission or a firm that they approve of.

11. Planning Commission: July meeting was cancelled for lack of an agenda. The amendments are currently with the Antrim County Planning Commission for review. The Township Board will take action on the proposed amendments at the August 18 regular meeting. Five zoning permits have been issued in Andy’s absence.

12. Speed Complaint: Supervisor Mann informed the Board of a complaint by a seasonal resident on Rushton Road about the speed of vehicular traffic on the road. He has found that the ACRC will do a speed study if requested by the Township. The study measures the speed of 85% of the vehicles during the study and factors in the crash histories, obstacles along the road, etc. to determine if the speed limit should be lowered. There have been 14 injuries in the past 5 years on Rushton Road. Following the speed study, representatives of the township board, ACRC and State Police will meet and must unanimously decide to lower the speed limit. Discussion was held. It was decided that the Supervisor will contact the complainant and ask that he contact his neighbors to see if there is support for his claim and then petition the township board for a speed study.

13. Election Inspectors: Clerk presented the list of inspectors for the August 5, 2008, Primary Election as prepared by the Election Commission.

14. Township Hall stonework is in need of repair again. Repair work was last done in 2003. Also, the wood needs painting and in some places, replacement. Clerk was asked to obtain three bids for each portion of the jobs. Also, she will ask the contractors if composite materials are available to reduce the need for future maintenance.

15. ZBA: Public Hearing on variance request for the estate of Lois Stott/Barbara Pitkin administrator was held July 7. The request was granted.

16. LP Pre-Buy for Township Hall & Fire Halls: MOTION DeKorne, Postmus, CARRIED to purchase 2500 gallons for the Fire Halls and 2600 gallons for the Township Hall. Cost this year is $2.27 per gallon.

17. Correspondence: The Land Use Institute study is in progress. Reports on the study will be distributed later this year. The MTA Educational Conference is scheduled for Jan 27-30, 2009, in Detroit. Grants for Regional Cooperation are available. Jan Kellogg of the NLEA is assisting in completing the application which must be submitted by September 3, 2008. The plan is to apply for funds for the signage for the Breezeway. Sheriff’s report of incidences in June 2008 was reviewed. PA 116 approvals were received for Shooks Farms (4 parcels) and Slough Farm (1 parcel).

18. Roads: Contract for addition of gravel to several roads was reviewed. MOTION DeKorne, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the contract with the ACRC and authorize the Supervisor to sign the contract and the Clerk & Treasurer to send the 75% deposit for the work to be completed.

19. Breezeway & Ellsworth Task Force: The Economic Development Grant is on hold due to the timing of the need for the local match dollars for the road improvements on C-48. Next meeting is scheduled for August 12 @ 5:30 PM.

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

21. Next meeting Monday August 18 @ 7:30 PM.

22. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna L. Heeres

Banks Township Clerk