Regular Meeting July 9, 2013

ELK TOWNSHIP

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

July 9, 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 June 11, 2013 minutes as amended; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Heritage Bay Paving Project Costs-checked with the Road Commission and prices will be about the same as quoted last winter

2.      Attended the Big Bass Lake Association meeting on 6.29.13; there will be another application of 24D on July 10^th; the Lake Association would like L. Fitz to call Cliff Bloom, attorney, to see about an extension of the current SAD; there will be additional charges for water testing in August after the final spraying

3.      Trash Day-roster prepared for volunteers; food discussed

4.      GLE will be tree trimming in our area

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Will be conducting an election for West Shore Community College August 6, 2013; this will only affect the KND voters, and since it is an off year, there will probably be a low voter turn-out

2.      Election Commission-comprised of L. Fitz, V. Gates, B. Myers-V. Gates made motion to appoint Johnel Buckingham & V. Gates as election precinct workers for the August 6^th election; L. Fitz seconded; passed 3-0

3.      Requesting approval on bills paid in June, including Big Bass Lake SAD-S. Young made motion to approve bills; B. Myers seconded; all in favor 5-0

Correspondence-Peterson Well Drilling submitted new bill for water testing; some discussion concerning Peterson’s estimate vs. bill; board instructed L. Fitz & V. Gates to contact Peterson’s and figure out payment

Correspondence-Election Source suggests changing batteries in the memory pack which holds election data in the tabulator machine & backup batteries for the tabulator every two years; after discussion, board consensus was to wait and budget for this next year

   B. Myers, Treasurer

Read Treasurer’s report for June; S. Young-motion to accept Treasurer’s report, V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

             

Public Comments:

Marilyn Zdebski had a question concerning the tax statements; B. Myers responded that all tax statements went out within two days of each other

Dignitary Reports:

Commissioner-J. Fairbanks:  Area Agency on Aging, www.aaawm.org, helping the elderly in our community; County audit came back clear and reflected that the County is balancing expenditures & income; radio tower in Luther up and running well; Lake County Housing program #1 in nation

           

Fire Dept- M. Zdebski:  fire department report given; Fireman’s Ball will be held Aug 3^rd @ Skinner Park beginning @ 5pm

Road Committee-S. Young: contact S. Young if you need a street sign for your road

Historical Society-Ann Chase: next meeting will be Tues, July 17^th @ 10am, everyone welcome

Old Business:

1.      Cemetery well invoice-J. Fairbanks made motion to pay additional justifiable charges from budget line 101-276-955; B. Myers seconded; all in favor 5-0

2.      Hall cleaning bids-after much discussion, J. Fairbanks made motion to contract with Pat Bishop for the remainder of this fiscal year to clean the town hall; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0-1 (S. Young abstained)

3.      Soil samples for cemetery-S. Young made motion to allow J. Fairbanks to obtain soil samples from MSU Extension and pay for such with budget line item 101-276-801 with a maximum of $300 spent; B. Myers seconded; all in favor 5-0

New Business:

1.      L4029,  Millage Request Report to County Board of Commissioners- S. Young made motion to table this issue until August; J. Fairbanks seconded; all in favor 5-0

2.      Sauble Twp street light request on NE corner of Big Pine Dr & 6 Mile Rd-after much discussion J. Fairbanks made motion to honor the homeowners wishes not to allow installation of a street light in Elk Twp by Sauble Twp at this location; S. Young seconded; all in favor 5-0 (vote taken after public discussion which also reflected a negative view on such a street light)

3.      Jackie McKellar discussed & asked for support for moving the Veteran’s Memorial in Baldwin to the new park in Baldwin @ the end of the Memorial Pathway; S. Young made motion to send a letter of support from Elk Twp Board to the County Commissioners; J. Fairbanks seconded; all in favor 5-0

Old Business issue:

            Review of Nordlund drawings for proposed building addition-much discussion ensued including public discussion; board consensus was to direct J. Fairbanks to take back changes to Nordlund and request two sets of drawings, one on a slab and one on a crawl space

Public Comment:

None

V. Gates-motion to adjourn @ 10pm; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

7.10.13

July 4th

No Office Hours the week of July 4th
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Enjoy the day, the week, your family, fireworks...life!

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

Recylcing Restricted

Sauble Twp has reduced the times of recycling as follows:
Noon to 4pm every third Saturday of the months:

June 15, 2013

July 20, 2013

August 17, 2013

September 21, 2013

October 19, 2013

November 16, 2013

December 21, 2013

May Regular Meeting

another doosey of a meeting...
we almost needed our sleeping bags, as we didn't adjourn until after 10:30pm...
but we got a lot accomplished...
skinny version:
passed a Cemetery Ordinance for Lakeview Cemetery (we have existed without one);
new well approved for Lakeview Cemetery, work to commence soon;
preliminary construction drawings approved to be obtained by Nordlund to include one basic “L” shaped plan, with an option to have either a concrete slab, or a crawl space
(since there has been no opposition to an addition to the existing township hall, the board is under the impression that the public approves this possible renovation)... 

and if you have the time, here are the extended minutes:

ELK TOWNSHIP

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

MAY 14, 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 MARCH 12, 2013 minutes; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

S. Young-motion to approve APRIL 9, 2013 minutes; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

·         L. Fitz, Supervisor: none

·         V. Gates, Clerk: Requesting board approval on bills

S. Young -motion to pay March bills; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

J. Fairbanks-motion to approve April bills, including SAD bills; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Correspondence: Lake County Community Foundation denied grant for a new well @ Lakeview, but the board gives a big shout-out to Dave Kott for all the hours spent on writing the grant

            Free fishing weekend will be June 8-9th

·         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-next Lake County Township Association meeting @ Sauble on Aug 22^nd @ 7:30pm

             

Public Comments:

Marilyn Zdebski discussed trash issues regarding the yellow bin pickups

Judy Bass asked for clarification regarding Allied Waste vs. Independent Rural Waste

Johnel Buckingham wondered if it was time to have a township wide tax for waste service

Dignitary Reports:

·         Fire Dept- M. Zdebski:  fire department is looking for a new tanker truck; new chief, Greg Bombich is hoping to use his “connections” to obtain 25 SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) at a greatly reduced cost per firefighter

·         Commissioner-J. Fairbanks:  MSU Extension Annual Report online @ www.msue.msu.edu;

Blight grant denied for Lake County; 911 committee is considering recommending consolidation for dispatch services

·         Cemetery Committee-S. Young: Beth Ruby resigned; next meeting will be June 3^rd @ 3:30pm

Old Business:

·         Trash Day-July 13^th from 9-1pm:

J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Option #2 contract with Independent Rural Waste (Total Services estimate for 2 compactors & 2 operators=$3,300); B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

J. Fairbanks-motion to put an ad in the Bulletin Board News for Trash Day; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         New Well @ Lakeview Cemetery:

J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Peterson Well Drilling bid to put in a new well for $4341.67; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

·         Approval of job description for trash receptacle cleanup & repair:

J. Fairbanks-motion to accept job description & contract with Pat & Katrina Boik for $10/receptacle/cleanup as directed by the Supervisor or Clerk; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

J. Fairbanks-motion to approve job description for trash receptacle maintenance; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Amend agenda:

J. Fairbanks-motion to move additional lighting for the new parking area & flag pole lighting into the discussion for renovations of township hall; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Cemetery Ordinance:

After discussing new ordinance and obtaining public feedback, J. Fairbanks offered a resolution to adopt the ordinance as written; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

·         Renovations of township hall:

After much discussion, including public input, and 3 contractor estimates of costs J. Fairbanks made motion to turn drawings over to Nordlund to do preliminary construction drawings to include one basic “L” shaped plan, with an option to have either a concrete slab, or a crawl space, not to exceed $2500 for plans; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote

New Business:

            J. Fairbanks would like to discuss the 6 Mile “Sink Hole” at the regular meeting in June

Public Comment:

Darryl F. from Independent Rural Waste mentioned that the blue bags are for sale @ Sweetfern, Na-tah-ka corner store, and Fairbanks Power Equipment Repair and may be put into garbage cans for animal control

Johnel Buckingham said she thought the board did a good job during a long meeting

S. Young -motion to adjourn @ 10:40pm, J. Fairbanks-seconded; passed 5-0

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

5.15.13