December Meeting 2008

Well, the first meeting of Elk Township officers for the years 2008-2012 went well, largely due to the fact that the supervisor, Linda VanDolsen allowed no one to speak until public comment. Then the comments were restrained to opinions and statements from the public; no questions were allowed and none but the barest and easiest answered by the board. The officers are as follows:
Supervisor – Linda VanDolsen, with deputy super as Douglas Mann
Clerk – Marilyn VanVleet, with deputy clerk as Laura VanVleet
Treasurer – Carol Draper, with deputy treasurer as Barb Elenbaas
Trustee – Frances Arquette
Trustee – John Fairbanks

The new board drew together in a tight square with tables facing each other and the public only seated as onlookers. It was stated at the meeting that the board had discussed some things prior to the meeting and a rumor has it that an illegally held meeting happened without posting, notification, or public attendance. This of course would be in direct violation of the Open Meetings Act, Public Act No. 267 of 1976 as amended, which states that a meeting of a public body must be posted at least 18 hours prior to said meeting and public comment must be allowed at some time during the meeting.

Noteworthy happenings at the Dec. 9th meeting:
Motion made and supported to accept 11/14/08 meeting minutes, voted unanimously to accept.
Motion made and supported to accept the treasurer’s report, voted unanimously to accept.
Clerk reported that the PeachTree accounting program is close to up and running to track expenditures.
The supervisor mentioned a letter from the previous super to DK Design severing any professional relationship. The new super will follow through smoothing any ruffled feathers in a more professional manner, and also ask if any further money is owed for the services rendered by DK Design.
Under Old Business:
It was stated that the budget and audit will come up for discussion next month.
Under New Business:
Motion made and supported to accept a resolution on the Lake County Hazard Mitigation Plan, voted unanimously to accept.
The position on ORV access to Elk Township will be dealt with next month, and survey information which was included in taxpayer notices are due by Jan. 1st.
Motion made and supported to accept the METRO Act Right-of-Way Permit by Carr Telephone Co., voted unanimously to accept.
Motion made and supported to empower the clerk to renew agreement with Municipal Retirement Systems for Pension Fund Management, voted unanimously to accept.
Discussion concerning a request by outgoing super, Bob Wielinga, for partial reimbursement of a computer system purchased 8 years ago for $1225 and used primarily for township business.
The current board directed Mr. Wielinga to bring cost estimate back to the board for review next month.
The super asked for more administrative “power”, so a motion was made and supported to that effect, voted on unanimously.
Board of Review, which was cancelled due to weather, will be rescheduled for Sat, 12/13/08 from noon to 3pm.
Motion made and supported for adjournment of meeting (wow, this hasn’t been done in many years), voted unanimously.

See you next month as we all keep tabs on our elected officials.
Adieu…