Road Millage Renewal

 Just a note that this is a renewal of our existing road millage which due to legal wording has not "bumped" us back up to the requested .5 mill since 2000. Unofficially, of course, the current board is requesting a renewal of the road millage in order to continue improving the roads in Elk Township. The supervisor has also requested volunteers to serve on an ad hoc committee to give the board direction on which roads the residents would like to improve.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ELK TOWNSHIP, LAKE COUNTY

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS & MAINTENANCE MILLAGE PROPOSAL

August 2012

Shall ­­­­­­­­ELK Township impose an increase of up to .5 mills ($.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for five (5) year(s), 2013 to 2017, inclusive, for road improvements and maintenance, which .5-mill increase will raise an estimated $33,214 in 2013, the first year the millage is levied.

[    ]      Yes
[    ]      No

TRASH DAY

The date for the yearly Trash Day/Clean Up has been scheduled for July 21, 2012 @ Skinner Park from 8am-1pm...volunteers welcome for unloading on that day...contact person is Douglas Mann, Supervisor

Recycling

Just a reminder that there is Recycling available at Sauble Twp on Saturdays from noon-4pm

ELK TOWNSHIP

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

May 8, 2012

Douglas Mann, supervisor, asked Johnny Gates to offer a prayer for guidance at 7pm

He then called the meeting to order with Clerk, Vicki Gates, leading the Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:         

                                                Douglas Mann, Supervisor

                                                Vicki Gates, Clerk

                                                Carol Draper, Treasurer

                                                Sharon Young, Trustee

                                                John Fairbanks, Trustee

Public Comments for future consideration-none

S. Young-motion to approve March 13, 2012 minutes, V. Gates-seconded; all in favor

Treasurer’s Report-C. Draper (attached): J. Fairbanks-motion to accept the treasurer’s report, S. Young seconded; all in favor

Clerk’s Report-V. Gates (attached): J. Fairbanks-motion to approve the bills for March & April, S. Young seconded; all in favor

Correspondence

·         Baird, Cotter & Bishop (accountants)-audit is scheduled for June 11, 2012 @ 8:30am

·         Lake County Road Commission-authorized brining for the coming year @ up to $5,000

Dignitary Reports

·         Fire Dept- Marilyn Zdebski (attached)-special thanks to whoever dropped off the Gatorade for the firefighters 

·         Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-please vote for the 911 millage renewal;  the county is looking into turning over lands where the present MSU Extension & Chamber of Commerce building is located to the historical society for the purpose of constructing a museum in Baldwin

·         Cemetery- S.Young, liaison-the next cemetery board meeting will be August 6, 2012 @ Sauble @ 3pm;  a big “thanks” goes out to J. Fairbanks for planting 136 pine tree (donated) in the cemetery to define the grave sites as people have been driving over 20 graves; the cemetery board would like to have a Martin Johnson memorial to be paid for with donations; the old tractor was sold as scrap, then bought back by J. Fairbanks to give to Pete Shakinas (prior sexton/maintenance worker); a recommendation has come from the cemetery board to combine the sexton & lawn maintenance positions into a one-person position, as it used to be in the near past; S. Young made a motion to confirm the cemetery board’s recommendation to combine the sexton/maintenance positions into one position, V. Gates seconded, all in favor

Supervisor-D. Mann-thanks to Lou Fitz & J. Fairbanks for cleaning up the township grounds; fire permits may be obtained online @ www.michigandnr.com/burnpermits, or by calling 1.866.922.2876

Trustees-J. Fairbanks-the engineering report from Wilcox indicates 28 feet of muck in the six-mile road investigation, and would cost $400,000 to fix correctly; it was decided to request Wilcox to attend another township meeting to narrow down our options; suggestion that the Board of Review members attend a refresher class

S. Young-attended a Township Association Meeting @ Sauble on April 26, 2012, and reports that 211 is up and running 24/7, this is a number to be called concerning available community service information and volunteer opportunities; August 23, 2012 will be the next Township Association meeting, 7:30pm @ Lake Twp

Action Items

·         Resolution and language approved for a road millage renewal of .5 mill (one-half mill) to be placed on the August 7, 2012 ballot-J. Fairbanks made motion, C. Draper seconded, all in favor by roll call vote; a big “thanks” goes out to Johnel Buckingham for help in the language wording

·         Supervisor looking into Trash Day date @ Skinner Park (maybe July 21^st, tba)

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to draft a letter to DNR requesting Bluegill Lake designation as a “no motor lake”, S. Young seconded, all in favor

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to create contracts & job descriptions for janitorial, pest control, lawn maintenance @ twp hall grounds, and snowplowing services, S. Young seconded, all in favor

Old Business

·         Park Project-J. Fairbanks made motion to allow volunteers (under direction of Lou Fitz) to build wooden picnic tables, order & install a grill, and trim trees north of the twp hall for the purpose of providing a recreational park to be used by the community on twp grounds, S. Young seconded, all in favor (this will be donated materials as well as labor)

New Business

·         D. Mann is seeking volunteers for an ad hoc citizens advisory committee to look at road projects

Public Comment-Lou Fitz believes it is time to do something to renovate the township building; J. Fairbanks would like to have an open town hall style meeting to discuss options for renovating the building; Harry Mead believes we should make up our minds of what we want to accomplish in regards to our township building; Rob Brenner has complaints regarding the Board of Review and how he was treated; Matt Forsyth requests if people have a problem concerning his property on the corner of Brooks Rd & 12 Mile Rd, they should call him personally

All in favor to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk

5.9.12