Banks Township Board Meeting

Monday November 23, 2009

 

 

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Supervisor Thomas Mann.  The meeting was rescheduled from November 16.  Present were Supervisor Mann, Clerk Donna Heeres, Treasurer Katy Postmus, Trustee Marvin Rubingh, and Trustee Mark DeKorne.  Also present: Janet Koch of the Antrim Review, Mark Groenink, Lynn Spearing, Carole Drenth, Dave Heeres, Ric Evans.  John Hastings arrived at 7:55 PM.

 

2. Supervisor Mann opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Trustee Rubingh offered prayer.

 

3. The minutes of the October Regular Board meeting were presented.  MOTION Rubingh, Mann, CARRIED to approve the minutes as presented.

 

4. The treasurer’s report of incomes and balances was given.  General Fund Balance: $347,297.19 with $40,000 due from the Fire Fund; Fire Fund Balance: $79,734.38; Roads Fund Balance: $83,248.56; Liquor Fund Balance: $1,942.59; Grand Total: $512,222.72.  Summer tax collections are at 90% collected for a total of $1,277,480.98 collected.

 

5.  Public Comment:  Lynn Spearing & Carole Drenth, on behalf of Ellsworth Community School, expressed gratitude to the Township for waiving the tax collection fees of $2.50 per parcel.  They hope we will continue that policy.

 

6.  Old Business: Energy Audit & EECB Grants from US Dept of Energy: Ric Evans addressed the Board on grants that are available and services that he provides in the form of energy audits and coordination with contractors.  He gave a bid of $650 as a top amount for an energy audit of the Township Hall.

 

7. Fire Department: Mark Groenink reported that he has been asked to submit a bid for fire protection of Marion Township.  He researched the history and found that there were 15 runs in 2008 for which Marion Township paid the City of Charlevoix $33,000.  The new contract between the parties is for $54,000.  He said that due to accessibility issues, he would propose that Banks Township cover only the south ½ of Marion Township.  He stated that mutual aid agreements require Banks Township Fire Dept to respond to structure fires in Marion Township anyway.  MOTION Mann, Rubingh, CARRIED to authorize Fire Chief Mark Groenink to submit a proposal to provide fire protection for the south ½ of Marion Township for an annual fee of $15,000.  The Fire/Rescue Dept annual dinner is scheduled for December 1 @ 6:30 PM @ the Front Porch.   A recall notice was received for the brakes on the 1992 rescue vehicle.  Chief Groenink will take care of this.  The South Arm Township bill for services was shared.  There were 6 medical runs and 2 fires runs in the area that is covered from November 1, 2008 until October 31, 2009.  The annual travel & expense report was presented and reviewed. 

 

8.   Personal Property Tax Collection: Treasurer Postmus reported that the personal property taxes are getting paid slowly.  There will be a few turned over to the attorney if still delinquent in March 2010.  Trustee Rubingh reported that his investigation related to personal property tax issues continues.

 

9. Roads Committee: John Hastings reported the group will meet after Thanksgiving.  He was reminded that the list of projects needs to be sent to the Antrim County Road Commission in January. 

 

10.  Planning Commission: Rubingh reported that the ordinance amendment proposed by Mr. Beemon is still being reviewed.  The PC opinion is that a “cabin” must follow the building codes as well as sanitary codes for a residence.  The proposal for an amendment for the Ag zone to Farm/Forest is still under consideration.  A sliding scale for parcel division is being considered.

 

11.  Essex Road Flag Site: Trustee DeKorne reported that the corner of the parcel is being driven over by cars turning south onto S. Dennis Road.  Discussion was held on ways of marking this corner to keep cars on the roadway.  It was felt that the potholes on the roadway are the cause of drivers going off the pavement and the Supervisor will contact the ACRC with a request that these potholes be filled.

 

12.  Information Items: Assessor status: A letter was received from Baird Cotter & Bishop about the change in employment status for assessors as mandated by the IRS.  Banks Township has taken care of this change already.  Priority Health: Clerk reported that membership in the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce qualifies Banks Township to participate in Priority Health Plans.  This membership was paid on behalf of Banks Township by the Clerk. Sheriff’s report of incidents in Banks Township during October was reviewed.  Antrim County Planning Commission is beginning work on a Master Plan Update.  A hard copy & digital copy of our Master Plan was sent to them.  The tax sharing policy for Antrim County, pertaining to tax abatements & TIFA Districts was reviewed.  MTA County Chapter Christmas Party will be held @ Torch Lake Township Hall @ 6:30 PM on Saturday, December 5, 2009.  Township Hall kitchen inspection: Couple of non-critical issues were identified and have been resolved.  Antrim Conservation District: Jeff Kessler was elected to this board.  Heidi Lang is now Heidi Shaffer and has a new email address.

 

13. Road Naming: Completion of a parcel division in Section 35 by Russ Ulrey necessitates naming of a new road in that subdivision.  It is requested that the road be named Pegasus Pass.  MOTION DeKorne, Mann, CARRIED to name this road Pegasus Pass if it fits the criteria of the Equalization Department that is in charge of 911 addresses.

 

14.  Breezeway: The quarterly report has been submitted.  Application for reimbursement of approximately $3200 has been submitted.  Informational meetings for the public were held in Banks Township this evening and have been scheduled in East Jordan on December 1 and Boyne Falls on December 2.  The task force will meet in a strategic planning session November 24. 

 

15.  Snowplowing: Clerk Heeres reported that Keith VanderArk is having health issues and will not be available to snowplow this winter.  MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to authorize the Clerk to obtain bids from Heeres Excavating and Drenth Brothers for the Township Hall, Ellsworth Fire Hall and Ellsworth Cemetery and to award the bid to the lowest bidder. 

 

16.  Roads: Supervisor reported that Norwood Township plans to pave their portion of Lakeshore Drive if the Charlevoix County Road Commission will approve of a narrower, 20ft, width.  Also, he was contacted by Central Lake Township Supervisor Stan Bean about doing a joint paving project of Bennett Hill Road.  The Roads Committee will be asked to consider these projects when formulating a proposal for the Township Board to consider.

 

17.  Wind Generation Meeting December 2 @ Charlevoix Library.  PC Chair Sue Kessler and Fire Chief Mark Groenink will attend on behalf of Banks Township.

 

18.  Wooden Shoe Holiday Festival: Tree lighting will be @ 6PM on Wednesday, December 9.  The Township Board is grateful to David Muha, Chuck Fox, Dave Rasmussen, Jerry Rasmussen and others for the gift of the lighted wreath and lights on the tree in front of the Township Hall.  In addition to donating the wreath & lights, these men have been instrumental in decorating the tree for several years.  Magnum Electric has donated their time & materials to make the electrical connections and are greatly appreciated as well.

 

19.  Meeting Date Change: MOTION Mann, DeKorne, CARRIED to change the date of our regular December meeting from December 21 to December 14.

 

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

 

21. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Donna L. Heeres

Banks Township Clerk

 

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