Banks Township Board Meeting
Monday June 18, 2007
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 Mark DeKorne and Trustee Marvin Rubingh. Also present: Jeff Kessler.
2. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustee Rubingh offered prayer.
3. The minutes of the May Regular Board meeting were reviewed. MOTION DeKorne, Mann, CARRIED to approve the minutes as presented. The minutes of the May 29 Special Board meeting with the Village of Ellsworth were reviewed. MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the minutes as presented.
4. The treasurer’s report of incomes and balances was given. Summer tax bills will be mailed by July 1.
5. Public Comment: There was none.
6. Fire Department: Supervisor reported that the Equipment truck 6641 is not drivable due to a fuel injector pump not working. Initial estimate for repairs is $3000, including towing to Gaylord tomorrow.
7. Planning Commission: Rubingh reported that the public hearing on the special use application by the Atwood Hardware was held on June 12. The approval was granted with conditions. New language is being refined for a second dwelling on a parcel, fall zone for towers, creation of a rural/residential zone, to increase the allowable height for an antenna on an existing site (co-location) from 10 ft to 20 ft, revision of the map changing some agricultural parcels to residential parcels along Old Dixie Highway, and language clarification related to combination of parcels under section 4.02.7.b.
8. Assessing Issue: Rubingh asked that the assessors be directed to use foreclosure sales as arms length transactions for setting assessed values on properties. Discussion was held. No action taken.
9. Cemeteries: DeKorne reported that 2 square of shingles are needed to repair the vault building overhang. Also, two glass blocks are damaged. He recommended that the concrete approach to the building be repaired with quikcrete product. The Board authorized DeKorne to seek bids from three local contractors.
10. Job Bidding and Contract Procedures: Postmus presented a draft proposal for obtaining bids and awarding contracts for work on township property. MOTION Rubingh, Mann, CARRIED to review the proposal at the July meeting.
11. Heeres expressed thanks for the support and floral arrangement from the Board during her recent hospitalization, surgery and recovery.
12. MTA County Chapter meeting will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at the Elk Rapids Township Hall. Sheriff Terry Johnson will speak about the 911 system. Burt Thompson will speak about road funding.
13. NWMCOG non-motorized transportation strategy meeting will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2007, @ 7PM in Bellaire.
14. ACNA meeting was held June 12. New members by County Commissioners' appointment are Jerroll Drenth and Jake Veenstra.
15. Sheriff report of occurrences for April and May were shared with the Board.
16. Cemetery/Park Signs: Judy VanderArk sent in proposals for new signs for the cemeteries and park. She is willing to build/paint/install the signs. She recommends no sign be placed at the Catholic Cemetery due to its proximity to the highway and concern for motorists parking and crossing the highway there. MOTION Heeres, DeKorne, CARRIED to have Judy make and install one sign at each of three cemeteries and two signs at the township park. Clerk will get zoning permits as necessary.
17. Health Dept Kitchen Inspection: Report was reviewed with the Board.
18. MTA Letter and Dues Increase Notice were reviewed with the Board.
19. Fire/Rescue Travel & Expense Report for Nov 1, 2006- April 30, 2007 was distributed.
20. Fund Transfers: MOTION Heeres, Postmus, CARRIED to transfer $43,200 from the General Fund to the Fire Fund as a gift. MOTION Heeres, Postmus, CARRIED to transfer $40,000 payment and $3200 interest from the Fire Fund to the General Fund as payment on the fire truck loan.
21. Hall rental rates and use by non-profit groups was discussed. MOTION Rubingh, Mann, CARRIED to table this discussion until the July meeting to allow for more information to be obtained on the subject.
22. Fireworks display is scheduled for July 3 by David Muha. MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to grant the fireworks permit contingent upon receipt of the ATF permits. YEAS: 5; NAYS: None.
23. Library Contracts: Supervisor reported the contracts have all been signed with effective date of June 1, 2007.
24. Atwood Signs on US 31: Supervisor reported he has again contacted MDOT with request for the relocation of the speed limit signs to the border of the village zone.
25. Memorial Day celebration went well with the dedication of the veterans’ memorial at the Atwood Cemetery.
26. Roads: Supervisor was contacted by Burt Thompson of the Antrim County Road Commission. He was informed that Wayne Boss is still interested in moving Lakeshore Drive. A copy of our minutes with the Township Board’s opinion on the proposal was sent to Burt.
27. Snowplowing: Supervisor was contacted by Keith VanderArk to inform us that he is still interested in snowplowing at the fire hall, township hall and cemetery in 2007-08.
28. Atwood Celebration: Postmus reported that October 6, 2007 has been designated by the Atwood businesses as a day to celebrate Atwood. Plans are underway for the events of the day.
29. Hilltop Lane & W. Hilltop Drive: Clerk reports difficulty with mail delivery and concern for 911 service delivery on these two similarly named roads. Clerk has spoken with Marilyn @ Equalization and learned the procedures for renaming a road.
30. Township Hall Cleaning: MOTION DeKorne, Mann, CARRIED to pay John Hastings an additional $400 stipend for his efforts in the major clean up of the upstairs this spring.
31. Bills represented by the attached list were presented for approval for payment. MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to approve the bills as presented.
32. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Heeres
Banks Township Clerk