Elk Township - Irons, MI: May 2014

ELK TOWNSHIP

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

MAY 13, 2014

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order with a moment of silence @ 7:00pm

Pledge of Allegiance, led by L. Fitz

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

Vicki Gates, Clerk-510.2597

Brandy Myers, Treasurer-970.9030

Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

J. Fairbanks-motion to approve MARCH 11, 2014 Budget Workshop minutes; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

J. Fairbanks-motion to approve MARCH 11, 2014 Regular meeting minutes; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

L. Fitz, Supervisor

1. Jay Syerwicze will be working up an estimate for the culverts on 11 ½ mile road per the Lake County Road Commission

2. Split rail fence-S. Young-motion to allow Pat Boik to remove the fence in front of the township hall at no expense to the township; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

3. Township sign-Dave McIntire will create an Elk Township sign, est. 1874 with two gift certificates from L. Fitz-S. Young-motion to allow Dave McIntire to create such sign; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

V. Gates, Clerk

1. Budget work with L. Fitz

2. May 6 Special Election saw 39 out of 281 qualified voters

3. Requesting Board approval on bills paid in March-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills paid; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

4. Requesting Board approval on bills paid in April-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills paid; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

5. Correspondence: Insurance on property is due; some discussion on asking the company to reassess our coverage due to renovations; Free Fishing weekend is June 7 & 8; there will be a public hearing on the Lake County Emergency Telephone Plan on July 9^th @ 2pm in the Lake County Commissioners Room

B. Myers, Treasurer

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

S. Young, Trustee

Lake County Area Townships Association upcoming meeting will be held on Aug 28^th @ Pinora @ 7:30pm; and S. Young offered the use of Elk Township Hall on Oct 23^rd

J. Fairbanks, Trustee

Mentioned that the US Supreme Court ruled that prayers by governmental entities are Constitutional after the meeting is opened; J. Fairbanks-motion to allow a prayer to be offered at our meetings after the meeting is opened; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments:

Austin McIntire discussed his Eagle Scout project: a fire pit with benches & plaque to be created @ our park area @ township hall (hopes to complete project around June 16^th); he is at the point of soliciting donations for his project (information may be obtained during office hours, Thursdays 8am-12noon)

Dignitary Reports:

· County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks: Clean Sweep will be held again this year in Baldwin @ the Wenger Pavilion on October 11, 2014 (includes household hazardous waste disposal); MSU Extension will be hosting technology classes for youth June 18^th-June 20^th ; there are 1361 parcels in Lake County’s “land bank” which may be purchased from the County; J. Fairbanks presented a folder of existing MSU Extension services

· Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski: fire department report given

· Road Committee-S. Young: report given

· Cemetery-S. Young: report given

· Historical Society-Joyce Durdel: the Historical Society will be meeting Tuesday, May 20^th @ 10am, and will continue to meet each month on the 3^rd Tuesday

· Assessor-Bob Englebrecht: thanks the Board for renewing his contract, including a raise

Old Business:

· Resolutions:

1. Annual Elk Township Monthly Meeting & Board of Review Schedule-J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

2. Records Retention Schedule- J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

3. Policy for Timely Payment of Bills and Wages- J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

4. Special Assessment District (SAD) within the Boundaries of Elk Township- J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

5. Guidelines for a “Closed Session” of the Elk Township Board-S. Young-motion to adopt; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

6. Non-Zoning Ordinance Adoption Procedure for General Law Townships-S. Young-motion to adopt; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

7. Policy for Private Road Improvements using a SAD-S. Young-motion to adopt; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-1 by roll call vote (with J. Fairbanks dissenting)

8. Compensation Policy for Elk Township Appointed Positions and Non-Statutory Additional Duties for Elected Township Officials-V. Gates-motion to adopt @ $12/hour; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 by roll call vote (with J. Fairbanks dissenting)

S. Young-motion to pay election workers $12/hour for the recent election; B. Myers seconded; motion failed 1-4 by roll call vote (V. Gates voting Yes)

L. Fitz-motion to pay election workers $10/hour and Board of Review members $10/hour for training; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

· FYI: Trash Cleanup Day is June 7^th @ 9 am- 1pm @ Skinner Park (as usual bring tax statement)

· FYI: Trash Removal Survey for Special Assessment District was a resounding no

· Dan Holland from Lake County Equalization office discussed the Countywide aerial mapping; our existing aerials are almost 9 years old; bids were obtained from different companies; monetary participation is voluntary for the townships; if passed by County the “fly over” could by Spring of 2015; L. Fitz-motion to table this item until further information can be obtained (to be addressed in June); J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

New Business:

· Discussed how road projects get initiated in our township & county

· Discussed the Boy Scouts helping during our Annual Trash Cleanup Day-S. Young-motion not to involve the Boy Scouts this year; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

· Discussed the Lake County’s request for $3000 to purchase one of two culverts needed on Brooks road-J. Fairbanks-motion to purchase 1 culvert @ $3000 from the Elk Township Road Millage Fund; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

· Discussed having a float in the 40^th Annual Flea Roast/Ox Market parade; L. Fitz will work with Johnny Gates on such

· Parking lot proposal from Tim Fischer-S. Young-motion to accept bid from the Fischer Corporation @ $2250 to “fix” the parking lot; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-1 by roll call vote (with J. Fairbanks dissenting)

· Discussion of Big Bass Lake SAD questions regarding payments to Elk & Sauble Treasurers; it was mutually decided that since the Elk Township Resolution did not provide for payments to the Treasurers, and since Elk Township is administering the contracts & permits as well as writing all the checks for the SAD, we could not retroactively pay the Treasurers for receiving payments

· Elk Township Historical Society-S. Young-motion to establish Saturday, August 23, 2014 from

3-7pm as a Centennial Celebration for the Hall; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comment: none

S. Young-motion to adjourn; J. Fairbanks seconded; all in favor

Adjourned @ 9:35pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk

5.14.14