Banks Township Board Meeting

Monday March 24, 2008

 

1.      The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Supervisor Thomas Mann. Present were Supervisor Mann, Clerk Donna Heeres, Deputy Treasurer James Postmus, and Trustee Mark DeKorne, Trustee Marvin Rubingh. Absent: Treasurer Katy Postmus.  Also present: Mark Groenink, Andy Veenstra.

 

2.       The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisor Mann offered prayer.

 

3.      The minutes of the February 25th Regular Board meeting were reviewed. MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to approve the minutes with a correction in Item #13 to read JKW not JRW.  The minutes of the March 20 Special Meeting were reviewed.  MOTION Rubingh, DeKorne, CARRIED to approve the minutes.

 

4.      The treasurer’s report of incomes and balances was given. General Fund Balance: $351,185.14 with $120,000 due from the Fire Fund; Fire Fund Balance: $147,348.10; Roads Fund Balance: $86,891.24 Liquor Fund Balance: $1,908.07 Grand Total: $587,332.55. She reported that she has settled the tax account with the county. Summer Tax collection is at 96% collected, Winter Tax collection at 91%.

 

5.      Bills represented by the attached list were reviewed and presented for approval for payment.  MOTION Mann, Rubingh, CARRIED to pay the bills as presented.

 

6.  Public Comment: There was none.

 

7.  Zoning Administrator Report: Andy Veenstra addressed the Board, reporting that he was contacted about combination of parcels that have a lake between them.  The property owner would like them combined.  Discussion was held regarding standards for combination, i.e. parcels are contiguous.  Since the parcels are not directly across the lake from each other, it was felt the standard that they are contiguous is not met.  Andy reported that he attended the workshop on strategic planning and felt it was very worthwhile.  A public hearing by the ZBA is pending on application for variance to allow parcel division that was denied by the Assessor as the resultant parcels do not meet zoning ordinance requirements.

 

8.  Fire Department: The Fire Board met this evening and approved purchase of 3 additional helmets ($260 each) and update of garage door openers at a cost of $200.  MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to approve the purchases.

 

9. Planning Commission: Trustee Rubingh reported attorney Graham attended the March Planning Commission meeting to assist with language amendments related to safety fall zones for towers and wind turbines.  The map revisions are still in discussion.

 

10. The meeting was recessed at 8:30 PM to hold the Public Hearing on the proposed budgets.

 

11. The Public Hearing on the proposed General Fund, Liquor Fund and Road Fund Budgets was called to order at 8:41 PM.

 

12.  Supervisor Mann presented his proposals and questions were answered.

 

13. The Public Hearing was adjourned at 8:50 PM.

 

14. The regular meeting was reconvened at 8:51 PM.

 

15. MOTION Heeres, DeKorne, CARRIED to adopt the General Fund Budget as proposed.      MOTION Heeres, Rubingh, CARRIED to adopt the Fire Fund Budget as proposed and set the millage rate at .0088 mills for 2008.  This is a reduction of .0002 mills from 2007.  MOTION Heeres, DeKorne, CARRIED to adopt the Roads Fund Budget as proposed.  MOTION DeKorne, Rubingh, CARRIED to adopt the Liquor Fund Budget as proposed. 

 

16. Budget Amendments: MOTION Heeres, Mann, CARRIED to amend the budgets per the proposal submitted by the Clerk   General Fund: Decrease Tax Income to $77,753 from $77,711.33; Decrease Zoning Income to $1080 from $3000; Decrease Cemetery Lot Sales to $400 from $1000;  Increase Township Board Expenses to $2020 from $1500; Increase Data Processing to $3066 from $3000; Increase Township Hall Expense to $35,062 from $35,000; Increase Bank Building Expenses to $1670 from $800; Increase Atwood Street Lights to $2300 from $2100; Increase Library Contracts to $4560 from $4000. Road Fund: Increase Crawford Road Project to $18,874 from $18,750; Increase Tax Adjustments to $33 from 0.  Fire Fund: Decrease Tax Income to $73,254 from $73,427.62; Increase Equipment to $17,845 from $17,000; Increase Telephones to $520 from $450; Increase Misc Expenses to $1910 from $1188.66; Increase Buildings to $8990 from $7500.  Liquor Fund: Increase Inspector Fees to $950 from $925.  Cost of Tax Collection exceeds the revenues generated by PTAF. The Board annually writes off this loss of revenue over expense.

 

17.  Info Items: Par Plan News was distributed.  Update on the Village Park was given including site plan, construction schedule and fund raising efforts planned. Campground license for Wieland’s Whistling Pines was received. Sheriff’s report of activities within the Township during February was shared. From the weekly legislative report from MTA, it was shared that the state budget shows a preliminary additional appropriation of $2 million for libraries for 2008-09.  Clerk will notify Lynn Spearing, Ellsworth Superintendent of this information.  Supervisor Mann had conversation with Lance Werner of the Michigan State Library about the concept of a community library development at the High School.  Notice of Violation issued by the DEQ for placement of large boulders & other materials on Lake Michigan bottomlands was received.

 

18.  Clean Up Day:  Contract with American Waste for Clean Up Day May 10 was reviewed.  Cost is $37 per yard.  American Waste has agreed to have a minimum of three trucks onsite at all times with 3 helpers to assist unloading.

 

19.  County Planning Commission:  A letter from Bill Dollinger of the Bellaire (Village) Planning Commission in opposition to comments that are in the minutes for an Antrim County Planning Commission’s recent meeting.  The comments were to write letters to corporations such as Meijer and WalMart asking them to consider locating in Antrim County.  Our Board was asked to address this issue and respond to the Bellaire Village Office.  No action was taken.

 

20.  Antrim County Road Commission:  Notice of Public Hearing on abandonment of a portion of Antrim Drive, east of Old Dixie Highway, was received.  The Public Hearing will be held April 15 @ 10:30 AM at the Road Commission office in Mancelona.  A letter of opposition from Elizabeth Hoffman, adjacent land owner, was read.  MOTION Rubingh, DeKorne, CARRIED to recommend the road right of way not be abandoned because all adjacent property owners do not agree with the proposal.  Furthermore, since this is a public road, the locked gate needs to be removed from its current location.  YEAS: 4, NAYS: 0, Absent: Postmus.  The clerk was directed to send a letter to the Road Commission stating the above opinions of the Township Board.

 

21. Cemeteries: Proposals for new riding lawn mowers and push mowers were reviewed.  Trustee DeKorne will meet with Pete VanderArk to review needs, take inventory of tractors including number of hours on the meters. 

 

22. PA 116 Applications: Two applications are in progress.

 

23. Road Improvement Plans for 2008: Supervisor will contact the Roads Committee and ask them to meet again to prioritize the needs, including gravel.

 

24. Shop Local Program: Thirty Seven businesses have responded so far.

 

25. Roads:  M-32 Extension/Breezeway group will meet again March 25 @ 5:30 PM.

 

26. Newsletter: Nearing completion.  Plan to have mailed approximately April 1.

 

27. Next Meeting scheduled for Monday April 21 at 7:30 PM.

 

28. The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Donna L. Heeres

Banks Township Clerk