Friday, July 11, 2014

JULY 8 REGULAR MEETING



ELK TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
JULY 8, 2014

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order @ 7:00pm
Observed a 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
S. Young-motion to approve the agenda as revised; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0
Minutes approval-L. Fitz-motion to amend minutes (revisions provided to Clerk); S. Young seconded; passed 3-1-1 (V. Gates, no; J. Fairbanks abstained)
S. Young -motion to approve June 10, 2014 Regular meeting minutes as amended; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0-1 (J. Fairbanks abstained)
Board Member Reports:
   L. Fitz, Supervisor
1.      Letter to Dan Holland, Equalization director, to maintain the Big Bass Lake & Midget Lake SADs on summer tax roll
2.      Eagle Scout project completed by Austin McIntire with many thanks for beautifying our township grounds
3.      Building project update-volunteers needed for certain items
4.      Lake County library informational meeting, Thurs, July 24 @ 7pm @ Skinner Park
   V. Gates, Clerk
1.      Received METRO monies to be used for road upkeep & lighting ($3,322.28)
2.      Received reimbursement for school election ($1621.34)
3.      Successfully created a Test Ballot Chart through Election Source, saving township $70
4.      Next election is Gubernatorial Primary on August 5, 2014
5.      Completing online Continuing Education for Clerks to maintain accreditation
6.      Invoiced Eden township for $103.81 for ½ of Duane Dewey signs
7.      Audit completed with a caution from Ryan Howell of Baird, Cotter & Bishop to pay payroll on, or before, first of every month for preceding month (he maintains payroll may be paid any time for the existing month after the meeting for that month); per Board consensus, Clerk will begin paying at end of month instead of beginning of following month (this will result in two payroll payments in July)
8.      Requesting Board approval on bills paid in June, including Big Bass Lake SAD- S. Young -motion to approve bills paid; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-1 (J. Fairbanks, no)
9.      Information to Board that we are over budget on building project-L. Fitz would like the payments to Walt Adams (for pump); Fischer Corporation (for parking lot improvements; and office chairs (which are in the meeting room) to be reclassified
10.  Apprised Board of IRS Notice of Levy against Independent Rural Waste Service; since we have an outstanding bill for our Trash Day clean up, we are obligated to pay the entire amount to the IRS; L. Fitz produced a letter from IRWS cancelling the contract for the Trash Day and recommending A1 Services to complete the contract (it must be noted that Trash Day was June 7, 2014); after much discussion S. Young-motion to table the contract & bill from IRWS until we have contacted a lawyer (Board directed Clerk to call Clifford Bloom); B. Myers seconded; all in favor by roll call vote
V. Gates-motion to recess meeting; L. Fitz seconded; all in favor
Meeting reconvened @ 8pm
B. Myers, Treasurer
Read Treasurer’s report for June-J. Fairbanks-motion to accept Treasurer’s report; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0
J. Fairbanks, Trustee
            Be on the lookout for a full size late 90s model, white, beat up GM vehicle which is believed to be dumping household items in the woods on Federal lands; contact L. Fitz or J. Fairbanks with information
Public Comments:
Charlene Krygier-yellow bags seem to be out of control following the holiday weekend
Judy Bass-suggestion for Clerk to copy correspondence for the Board
Marilyn Zdebski-push to keep our Post Office open; fill out the survey from USPS
Sharon Puff-building fund is for the building
Dignitary Reports:
·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-county pension plan is 80% funded; they are looking at various plans for a new road patrol building; EPA has a bill in subcommittee which would extend the EPA’s reach with a redefinition of “waterway,” the citizens would like the bill #
·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given
Old Business:
·         V. Gates-motion to table the Big Bass Lake SAD hearing dates until August 12th meeting; J. Fairbanks seconded; approved 5-0
New Business:
·         Resolution for use of the Elk Township hall & facilities-J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt resolution (the resolution calls for a charge of $60 to non-residents & a security deposit of $60 for both residents & non-residents, this supersedes the motion last month setting the pricing @ $50); S. Young seconded; passed by roll call vote 5-0
·         Lease agreement-J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt the Elk Township Hall and Facility Lease Agreement as written; S. Young seconded (although noted that she is uncomfortable with no fee for residents); passed by roll call vote 5-0
·         Rules & Regulations for hall & facility use-J. Fairbanks-motion to adopt such rules & regulations; L. Fitz seconded; passed by roll call vote 5-0
Public Comment:
Judy Bass-thanked L. Fitz for meeting with the Big Bass Lake Association to help with the petition signatures
J. Fairbanks-mentioned that Sauble Twp is no longer offering recycling and wondered about the contract; we are paid up and no monies are owed either way
S. Young-motion to adjourn; J. Fairbanks seconded; all in favor

Adjourned @ 8:40pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       
7.9.14

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Painting, Signing, and Trash Day













 Trash Day 2014 served 104 customers
Lunch from Subway for workers, and a big Thank You to Lou Fitz, Sharon & Charlie Young, Johnny & Vicki Gates, John Fairbanks, and Dave Bass; a separate Shout Out to Independent Rural Waste Services who brought 4 guys to help us out

Thursday, May 15, 2014

...and the building renovations progress




May Regular Board Meeting



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 9th @ 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 28th @ Pinora @ 7:30pm; and S. Young offered the use of Elk Township Hall on Oct 23rd


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 16th); 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 18th-June 20th ; 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 20th @ 10am, and will continue to meet each month on the 3rd 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 7th @ 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 40th 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

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Trash Day 2014

This year's Trash Day will be June 7, 2014 from 9am-1pm
Remember to bring your tax receipt or Voter ID card