1. The meeting was called to order at
2. Supervisor Mann opened the meeting
with the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustee Rubingh
offered prayer.
3. The minutes of the February Regular
Board meeting were read. MOTION Mann, Rubingh, CARRIED to approve the minutes as presented.
4.
The clerk noted communication from the Fire Chief after the February
minutes were prepared that information in the Fire Board minutes was not
correct. The SCBA tanks cost $4200 each,
not $4100 as stated. MOTION Mann, Heeres, CARRIED to authorize payment of $4200 each plus
S&H for the SCBA tanks.
5.
The treasurer’s report of incomes and balances was given. General Fund Balance: $390,358.16 with $80,000
due from the Fire Fund; Fire Fund Balance: $166,662.09; Roads Fund Balance: $109,468.39;
Liquor Fund Balance: $1801.67; Grand Total: $668,290.31. Treasurer has settled with the
6.
Public Comment: None.
7.
Planning Commission: Rubingh reported the PC
is working on language amendments for the zoning ordinance that would allow
wind turbines to be placed closer to property lines with written permission
from the owner of the adjacent property.
Also, a change of zoning districts, both the map and the language in the
ordinance, is proposed. The PC would
like this information included in the newsletter and plans to have copies of
the information & map posted @ the Ellsworth Farmers Exchange, the Front
Porch Restaurant, Friske’s Market and the Township
Hall prior to the hearing.
8.
Road Signs: Trustee Rubingh noted that the
signs that we had placed at the entrances to the township still have not been
moved to their proper location.
Supervisor will contact the person who installed the signs to have them
properly located.
9.
Cemeteries, Park, etc: Discussion was held on possibly contracting with
a private individual or company for care of our cemeteries & park. Trustee DeKorne
will develop criteria for bids for the board to review. MOTION DeKorne, Rubingh, CARRIED to continue the cemetery/park workers’
wages at the same level as last year.
Clerk reported she received a telephone call that a tree has come down
in the
10.
The meeting was recessed @
11. The Budget Hearing was convened at
12.
The regular Banks Township Board meeting was reconvened @
13.
Fire Fund Budget: MOTION Mann, DeKorne to set
the millage rate for the fire fund at ZERO for one year and adopt the budget as
presented by the supervisor. MOTION
CARRIED unanimously.
14.
Roads Fund Budget: MOTION Mann, Heeres,
CARRIED to adopt the Roads Fund budget as presented by the supervisor.
15.
Liquor Fund Budget: MOTION Mann, Rubingh,
CARRIED to adopt the Liquor Fund budget as presented by the supervisor.
16.
General Fund Budget: MOTION Mann, Postmus,
CARRIED to adopt the General Fund budget as presented by the supervisor.
17. PTAF Levy: A resolution was offered
by Mann, supported by Rubingh, to not impose the 1%
PTAF for the 1009 tax year. YEAS: Rubingh, DeKorne, Postmus, Heeres, Mann. NAYS: None.
Resolution was declared adopted.
18.
Board of Review: Supervisor reported that the Board of Review is a very
good team. They worked well together and
the session went smoothly.
19.
Sheriff substation: Supervisor reported he met with Sheriff Bean and
discussed possibilities of accommodating the sheriff department with a
substation office within our building.
Consensus was to offer space at the Historical Society building during
the summer and consider space @ the township hall in the fall. Supervisor will contact Historical Society to
obtain permission for this.
20.
Fire Dept: Chief Groenink reported that the
air packs, pagers & radios have arrived and are in service. Clerk reported on status of internet
connection at the fire hall. The board
authorized her to have wireless internet service connected ASAP through COLI @
a cost of $199 and approximately $30 per month.
A better monthly fee can be obtained with annual payments.
21.
Newsletter: Clerk reported the newsletter is coming together but more
articles are needed from the board members.
The newsletter needs to be completed and to the printer by April 1 to
give enough time for mailing and notice to the property owners for the clean up day.
22.
Info Items: PA 116 Agreement: for Marvin & Jane Rubingh
on a parcel in section 24 was received. Sheriff Report of incidents in February was
reviewed. The
23. Fund Transfer: MOTION Heeres, Rubingh, CARRIED to
transfer $500 from the Liquor Fund to the General Fund to represent
Administration Fees.
24.
Budget Amendments: MOTION Rubingh, DeKorne, CARRIED to amend the budgets as per the attachment
to the minutes.
25.
ZBA: Clerk reported that the Public Hearing on the request for
interpretation of the zoning ordinance by Richard Beemon
was convened and then rescheduled for March 16 due to incomplete information in
the notice that was sent to the property owners and the newspaper. New notices were sent to the property
owners. The applicant requested tabling
the request prior to the notice being published in the newspaper so that was
withdrawn. The applicant plans to
approach the Planning Commission to amend the ordinance to include language
related to hunting cabins, etc. that would make his cabin compliant. An escrow account of $600 plus $175 for the
application fee was received from the applicant. Township attorney fees related to this case
are $743.50.
26.
Breezeway update: Supervisor reported that the grant has been increased
to $25,000 with the addition of
27.
Phragmites: Clerk & Supervisor participated in a meeting with
approximately 25 stakeholders in Elk Rapids on March 18. The Antrim Conservation Service,
28.
Recycling: MOTION Mann, Postmus, CARRIED to
continue our contract with
30.
Next meeting will be Monday, April 20 @
31. Bills represented by the attached list were
presented for approval for payment.
MOTION Postmus, Mann, CARRIED to approve the
bills as presented.
32. The meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Heeres