Neighbors

Hey folks, sorry I have been absent on the blog for a couple months. Some of you know that my husband & I have been caring for an elderly couple in our community. The husband had a stroke, fell, broke a hip, and has had a bout of diverticulitis now. He is currently in a nursing facility. His wife has middle-stages of the dreaded Alzheimer disease. We stayed with her for 6 weeks in order to keep her calm & safe while we worked on placing her in an appropriate facility to care for her mental status as well as physical needs. She is now in a wonderful facility in Ludington connected to Oakview Medical Facility and is well taken care of. We are hoping the husband will eventually be able to come to live with us, but time will tell where is the best place for him. It has been a long and arduous journey, but that is life. We are just glad to be able to help our friends & neighbors.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

December minutes

 DRAFT                                                                               ELK TOWNSHIP                                                              

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

DECEMBER 8, 2015

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order @ 7:00pm

Prayer offered by Johnny Gates

Pledge of Allegiance, led by L. Fitz

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

Vicki Gates, Clerk-510.2597

Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

                                                John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

                                                Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com

Agenda-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve agenda as revised; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Minutes approval-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve November 10, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.       Discussed publication of an article in the MTA magazine spotlighting Elk Township’s building project of addition to the town hall (October 2015)

2.       Discussed possibility of Michigan Legislature passing bill for the recodification of Michigan’s General Law townships to “General Powers” townships

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.       New Clerk hours beginning Dec 1^st: Wednesdays 9-2pm

2.       Will be issuing a new check to Dennis Lisaius since we received his $30 admin fee check

3.       Non-periodicals to be approved: J. Fairbanks-motion to pay Pioneer Group $397.80 for printing of the Land Ordinance in the Lake County Star; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

S. Young-motion to pay Northern Fire & Safety $40 for annual check of fire extinguishers at hall; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

4.       Requesting board approval on bills paid in November, including Big Bass Lake SAD-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

  B. Myers, Treasurer

1.       Read Treasurer’s report for November-S. Young-motion to accept Treasurer’s report;

J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

Trustees-S. Young-wishes everyone a Merry Christmas; J. Fairbanks wishes everyone a Merry Christmas

Public Comments: various

Dignitary Reports:

·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-discussed the balanced budget county will be passing; the new administrator for county is “very impressive”; deputy building “coming along”

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

Old Business:

·         Presentation given by Matt Biolette representing Republic as a municipal service manager, especially discussed options available for recycling with costs around $15,000/yr

·         11 ½ mile project-J. Fairbanks-motion to authorize Lake County Road Commission to contract for engineering of 2 culverts; no second so motion failed; after discussion of value of the project a motion was offered by J. Fairbanks to rescind prior motion which froze all voted millage road funds until a road committee was formed & a report was given by a 5 member committee; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0; after further discussion concerning safety issues & possibility of grants available to fund the project a motion was offered by J. Fairbanks to authorize Lake County Road Commission to contract for engineering of 2 culverts with monies to come out of voted millage road funds (proposed cost for this service is $10,500/site); L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

·         Heritage Bay project-after discussion concerning lack of drainage in places within Heritage Bay a motion was offered by J. Fairbanks to pay up to $12,000 for preliminary survey & tree work with monies to come out of voted millage road funds; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

New Business:

·         Robert’s Rules of Order Resolution-L. Fitz offered resolution; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 (J. Fairbanks dissenting)

Public Comments: various

S. Young-motion to adjourn; V. Gates seconded; all in favor

Adjourned @ 8:57pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk            

12.9.15

November minutes

 ELK TOWNSHIP                                                              

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order @ 7:00pm

Prayer offered by Johnny Gates

Pledge of Allegiance, led by L. Fitz

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

Vicki Gates, Clerk-510.2597

Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

                                                John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

                                                Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com

Agenda-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve agenda as revised; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Minutes approval-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve October 13, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.       Letter to Irons Bottle Gas stopping service

2.       Hazardous Waste collection report

3.       Report on Lake County Township Association meeting; next meeting will be @ Chase on January 28, 2016 @ 7:30pm

4.       Report from Representative Jon Bumstead

5.       Matt Biolette letter representing Republic Services-B. Myers-motion to direct Supervisor to contact Matt Biolette and ask him to discuss options for recycling at our December meeting; V. Gates seconded; passed 4-1 (L. Fitz dissenting)

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.       New Clerk hours beginning Dec 1^st: Wednesdays 9-2pm

2.       Letter to Dennis Lisiaus-L. Fitz-motion to direct Clerk to send letter to Dennis Lisiaus before issuing a replacement check; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

3.       Requesting board approval on bills paid in October-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

4.       Correspondence-7^th Day Adventist Church has decided to rent the Eden Twp hall for their meetings due to a conflict with their opening date; new/updated insurance policy to be filed; dividend check from our insurance agency/Accident Fund=$53.76

  B. Myers, Treasurer

1.       Read Treasurer’s report for October-J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Treasurer’s report;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Trustees-S. Young-went to swearing in ceremony for new sheriff, Dennis Robinson & new undersheriff, Don Maiville; also went to dedication of new ambulance station named after Philip Maiville (Irons resident & previous Commissioner)

Lake County Road Commission-Steve Leonard-discussed culvert replacements for 11 ½ mile rd (2 culverts needed); J. Fairbanks-motion to table discussion until December (L. Fitz will reach out to LMWCC for possible partnership); L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments: none

Dignitary Reports:

·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-discussed new ambulance/fire station to be located in northern part of county including new maps showing emergency calls for the last 3 years

·         Assessor-Bob Englebrecht gave L. Fitz letter concerning dwelling in Section 29 that did not apply for a building permit

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

Old Business:

·         Land Division Ordinance-L. Fitz-motion to rescind Board action taken at regular board meeting on October 13^th meeting in regard to the Land Division Ordinance 1-2015. The Ordinance was not published in the newspaper, therefore it never became an official ordinance; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0; L. Fitz-motion that we approve, install & publish the Land Division Ordinance 1-2015, dated November 10, 2015, for the Township of Elk, Lake County, MI, as revised; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 (J. Fairbanks dissenting); V. Gates will excerpt it for the Lake County Star

·         Hazardous Mitigation Plan Resolution-L. Fitz-motion to adopt; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

New Business:

·         Newsletter-draft discussed; S. Young-motion to approve printing costs of Elk Township newsletter, Black & White, 2-sided, to be printed by November 25^th and included in the tax statements; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         Lake County Community Foundation endowment-J. Fairbanks-motion to disallow participation; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments:

Varied, including well at cemetery is drained and flowers have been removed for the winter

S. Young-motion to adjourn; V. Gates seconded; all in favor

Adjourned @ 8:30pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk            

11.12.15

October Meeting

draft

 ELK TOWNSHIP                                                              

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

OCTOBER 13, 2015

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order @ 7:00pm

Moment of silence

Pledge of Allegiance, led by L. Fitz

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

Vicki Gates, Clerk-510.2597

Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

                                                John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

                                                Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com

Agenda-S. Young-motion to approve agenda as revised; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

Minutes approval-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve September 8, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.       Citizens’ recognition for Sharon & Jack Puff’s volunteerism

2.       Discussion on phone message & fax machine (fax machine will only allow an incoming fax with a short outgoing phone message)

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.       Election reimbursement for August 4, 2015=$778.96 & May 5, 2015=$3197.63

2.       Budget amendments-J. Fairbanks-motion to amend Election Cost Center for “Miscellaneous Expense” by raising Election Cost Center $454.59, moving same amount from Election Reimbursement & to raise Janitorial $130 & Deputy Clerk $192, moving same amount from Election Reimbursement; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

3.       HP instant ink replacement service-not cost effective

4.       Non periodical bills: S. Young-motion to pay Ed Fitzgerald extra $75 for stump removal; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0; S. Young-motion to pay $176.35 reimbursement to L. Fitz for kitchen sink (materials only, he donated labor); V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0; discussion on issuing a replacement check for Dennis Lisaius, L. Fitz-motion to table until we contact MTA; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

5.       Requesting board approval on bills paid in September, including Roads-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

6.       Correspondence-7^th Day Adventist Church is requesting hall lease for 18 days at end of March through April-L. Fitz-motion to table until next meeting with the request someone from the church meet with Board at next month’s meeting; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

  B. Myers, Treasurer

1.       Read Treasurer’s report for September-L. Fitz-motion to accept Treasurer’s report;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments: various

Dignitary Reports:

·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-Robert Hilts, Sheriff, is retiring November 1st; hired a county administrator from Newaygo county, Toby Lake

·         Assessor-Bob Englebrecht-report given on assessing, answered various questions

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·         Historical Society-Joyce Durdel-reported that there will be programs in June & August 2016

·         Road Committee-L. Fitz read a resignation letter from Randall Howes

·         Emergency Management-Don Divis-reported on damage assessment for catastrophes

 Old Business:

·         Lake County Website-S. Young-motion to join Lake County website, with the person responsible for a document to be responsible for getting it to the website administrator; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

·         Top soil for cemetery-V. Gates-motion to put money in budget for FY 2016-2017 7 revisit the discussion in the spring; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Eagle for hall-L. Fitz will do some more research & talk to Vicki Kasper

·         Land Division Ordinance-L. Fitz-motion to approve the land division ordinance & application; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 (J. Fairbanks dissenting)

·         Lp Gas contract-S. Young-motion to switch Lp companies to Crystal Flash @ 1.299/gal; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0 (L. Fitz will contact both companies)

New Business:

·         Unsold property in Elk Twp-J. Fairbanks-motion to refuse property in Land Bank; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Lake County Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution-L. Fitz-motion to approve the resolution; S. Young seconded; after discussion, vote failed 0-5; S. Young-motion to table until November meeting; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Elk Twp Emergency Management Damage Assessment Team-V. Gates-motion to approve list of members, including Jack & Sharon Puff, Bill & Nancy Sikkenga, Lou Fitz & Joyce Durdel; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments:

Varied

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

Adjourned @ 9:20pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk            

10.14.15