October Meeting

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 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

Township Elected Official's Statutory Duties

 Township Supervisor (10 duties)
• Moderates board and annual meetings
• Chief assessing officer (if certified)
• Secretary to board of review
• Township’s legal agent
• Maintains records of supervisor’s office
• Responsible for tax allocation board
budget (if applicable)
• Develops township budget
• Appoints some commission members
• May call special meetings
• May appoint a deputy
Township Clerk (13 duties)
• Maintains custody of all township
records
• Maintains general ledger
• Prepares warrants for township checks
• Records and maintains township
meeting minutes
• Keeps the township book of oaths
• Responsible for special meeting notices
• Publishes board meeting minutes
(if taxable value is $65 million or more,
or a charter township)
• Keeps voter registration file and
conducts elections
• Keeps township ordinances book
• Prepares financial statements
• Delivers tax certificates to supervisor
and county clerk by September 30
• Shall appoint a deputy
• Shall post a surety bond
Township Treasurer (11 duties)
• Collects real and personal property
taxes
• Receives receipts for township
expenditures
• Issues township checks
• Deposits township revenues in
approved depositories
• Invests township funds in approved
investment vehicles
• Collects delinquent personal property
tax
• Responsible for jeopardy assessments
in collecting property tax
• Collects mobile home specific tax
• Issues and collects fees for dog licenses
• Shall appoint a deputy
• Shall post a surety bond
Township Trustees (3 duties)
• Township legislator, required to vote
on all issues
• Responsible for township’s fiduciary
health
• Other duties as assigned by board
Excerpt from Michigan Township News Jan/Feb 2005

September Meeting

APPROVED MINUTES

 ELK TOWNSHIP                                                              

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

SEPTEMBER 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; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Minutes approval-S. Young-motion to approve August 11, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.       Representative Bumstead will be at Na-Tah-Ka on September 25^th  from 11am-noon

2.       Citizens’ recognition resolutions-Dave McIntire-resolution offered by V. Gates; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0; Jack Puff-resolution offered by L. Fitz; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0; Sharon Puff-resolution offered by L. Fitz; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

3.       National Forest Service ribbon cutting @ 1pm on September 21^st @ Baldwin/White Cloud District Ranger Station on M-37, open house to follow until 6pm

4.       Lake County Township Association meeting-July Board of Review only needs to be posted, not published; next meeting will be held @ Webber on Oct 22^nd @ 7:30pm

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.       Election reimbursement for August 4, 2015=$778.96

2.       Budget amendments-J. Fairbanks-motion to amend line item for “Miscellaneous Expense” by raising 101-101-956 $14,251.52, moving same amount from Miscellaneous Income; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0; L. Fitz-motion to amend line item for “Parks & Recreation” by raising 101-751-800 $25, moving same amount from Unallocated Savings; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

3.       Irons Bottle Gas-price protection vs. pre-buy-L. Fitz-motion to table until October for further information; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

4.       Sage checks & envelopes-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve purchase of checks, envelopes, W2s, 1099s from Sage; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 (up to $300)

5.       HP instant ink replacement service-S. Young-motion to approve service for office printers; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

6.       4 drawer locking file cabinet-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve purchase from Jackpine ($223); S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

7.       Requesting board approval on bills paid in August, including Big Bass Lake SAD-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

8.       Correspondence

  B. Myers, Treasurer

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

J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments: varied, including Don Divit who introduced himself as the director of Emergency Management

Dignitary Reports:

·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-commissioners voted to roll back the ambulance millage for 1 year due to the fund balance; deputy building in Baldwin is leveled; still looking for a county administrator

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·         Road Committee-still need more members

 Old Business:

·         Hall & Grounds access-B. Myers-motion to table indefinitely until need arises; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 (L. Fitz dissenting)

·         Trash Bins-L. Fitz is still trying to get a hold of Floyd Cadwell from A1 Services; L. Fitz-motion to table discussion until October meeting; B. Myers seconded; failed 2-3; J. Fairbanks-motion to direct Board to instruct citizens to keep their garbage in front of their homes via the November newsletter unless A1 Services comes up with a more suitable plan; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Lake County Website-L. Fitz-motion to table until October meeting; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         Fire Dept Central Station Committee-S. Young-motion to appoint Bill Sikkenga, Dave McIntire & L. Fitz to Elk Twp SEE F.D. committee; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Old township records-J. Fairbanks would like to bring old records back to hall this winter & straighten them out chronologically

·         Top soil for cemetery-J. Fairbanks-motion to table until October; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

·         Recorder for meetings-J. Fairbanks-motion to remove this item from agenda discussion; B. Myers seconded; passed 3-2 (L. Fitz & S. Young dissenting)

New Business:

·         Luther Library Board-J. Fairbanks-motion to appoint Jill Racine to the Luther Library Board; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Land division ordinance-V. Gates-motion to table this until October meeting with the request that Bob Englebrecht be present for the discussion; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Tree removal-L. Fitz-motion to approve up to $900 for a contractor to remove large, dead tree from cemetery and grind stump & roots; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         Lake County Solid Waste Management Plan Updated-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve the amendment; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

·         MTA book-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve purchase of MTA’s book of the month, “On-Call Fire Departments: The Township Board’s Responsibilities”; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         Eagle-discussion regarding purchasing & putting an eagle on the township hall; J. Fairbanks-motion to table discussion until October; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments:

Varied

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

Adjourned @ 9:21pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk            

9.9.15