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June Regular Meeting

ELK TOWNSHIP

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

June 11, 2013

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called meeting to order with a moment of silence @ 7pm

Pledge of Allegiance, led by L. Fitz

Roll call, all officials present:             Lou Fitz, Supervisor-266.5040

Vicki Gates, Clerk-266.8248

Brandy Myers, Treasurer-970.9030

John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

                                                Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

J. Fairbanks -motion to approve May 14, 2013 minutes; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Cemetery well update-new well should be operational by 6.12.13

2.      Historical society request-wishes to become an official committee of Elk Township; S. Young-motion to approve request from Elk Township Historical Society to become an official committee; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

3.      Trash receptacles-yellow bags only; Allied Waste has provided a second tote at township hall for overflow from yellow bag bins (no cost to township)

4.      Correspondence from Detroit Free Press-requesting access to documents under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ; S. Young-motion to direct Supervisor to contact Detroit Free Press via email instructing them to use an approved FOIA form and denying a waiver of fees; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

5.      SAD (Special Assessment District) letter to Lake County Equalization-authorizing equalization department to continue collecting SAD fees for the 2013 summer tax season

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Requesting board approval on bills paid in May, including Big Bass Lake SAD bill for $66 for          ads in the Bulletin Board News; S. Young-motion to approve bills; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

2.      MTA (Michigan Township Association) yearly dues-B. Myers-motion to pay MTA $1145.18 for yearly dues; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

3.      Bonnie Wahr, janitor for Elk Township-letter of resignation from janitorial duties due to family      matters; J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Bonnie Wahr’s resignation; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

4.      MTA workshops-S. Young-motion to approve a full-day workshop for clerk @ $99 + expenses & half-day workshop for cemetery management for sexton @ $79 + expenses; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

   B. Myers, Treasurer

1.      Read Treasurer’s report for May; J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Treasurer’s report, S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

2.      Request to close summer tax account for disuse-S. Young-motion to direct B. Myers, Treasurer, to close summer tax account and move those monies into general fund; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

             

Public Comments:

Joyce Durdel informed public & board about Historical Society meeting with special speaker on June 18 @ 7pm @ township hall; and LMWCC newsletters @ township hall with their annual meeting (open to public) on July 6 @ 10am @ Skinner Park

Dignitary Reports:

Commissioner-J. Fairbanks:  many Veteran’s programs available to help those honorably discharged; EMS building set for obtaining a certificate of occupancy in Baldwin; new equalization director for county; part time lake property customers suing Great Lakes for raising rates on seasonal homes; heat exchangers @ county having issues with metal particles; county named in wrongful death suit in Chase township (with many other entities) due to carbon monoxide poisoning

           

Fire Dept- M. Zdebski:  fire department report given

Old Business:

      Township hall renovations-sketches are @ Nordlund and we await their reappearance

New Business:

1.      Resolution to establish cemetery fees-S. Young offered a resolution to establish “Cemetery Use Fee Schedule,” which includes purchase price of plots for residents=$200/plot & $450/plot for non-residents, and fees for burials/cremations=$300/burial & $100/cremation; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0-1 roll call vote, with J. Fairbanks abstaining

2.      Resolution to establish FOIA policy, procedure & fees-J. Fairbanks-motion to accept resolution as written; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 roll call vote

3.      Six Mile (sink hole) project-J. Fairbanks would like to get this project “shovel ready” in order to obtain any grants that may be available; much discussion ensued with board & public;                J. Fairbanks-motion to table Six Mile project indefinitely; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

4.      Principals of Governance-J. Fairbanks-motion to sign the MTA document by all board members and display it at the township hall; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 (with thanks to J. Fairbanks for making a frame & hanging the document)

5.      Trash day ad for Bulletin Board News-J. Fairbanks-motion to put ad in BBN for two weeks; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

6.      Hazardous waste clean-up day on Oct 12, 2013 from 9-noon-S. Young-motion to pay $500 to Osceola-Lake Conservation District HHW (Household Hazardous Waste); B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

7.      Relocation of marquee to top of hill by township hall-S. Young-motion to allow volunteer to move & improve the marquee; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

8.      Lake County tax default properties-J. Fairbanks-motion to release the township from obtaining any properties from tax sale; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

9.      Cemetery Ordinance ad-J. Fairbanks-motion to post in BBN; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

J. Fairbanks requested to amend the agenda to discuss Cemetery issues:

1.      Bid from Peterson’s Well Drilling for $344.12 to run electrical from small shed to large outbuilding-S. Young-motion to accept bid including trenching in wire; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

2.      Garden tractor & trimmer @ township to be moved to Cemetery-L. Fitz-motion to move said equipment with stipulation that if the township needs it, it will be returned; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Continuing New Business:

10.  Help for trash day clean up-Boy Scouts not available on July 13; roster started for volunteers

11.  CPR offered by Fire Department-contact L. Fitz if interested 266.5040

12.  Softball game with Sauble-Sat, Aug. 31, 2013-food @ 3pm (bring dish to pass), game @ 4pm; Sauble requested help with food costs; B. Myers-motion to reimburse Sauble ½ of the food costs, up to $200; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

13.  Sauble recycling has changed to every third Sat of the month, noon-4pm

14.  Newsletter for tax statements to go out July 1^st-S. Young-motion to allow Jackpine to print & fold newsletter (with revisions); V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comment:

None

V. Gates-motion to adjourn @ 9:35pm; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

6.12.13