ELK TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
AUGUST 12, 2014
Lou Fitz, Supervisor,
called the meeting to order @ 7:00pm
Johnny Gates offered a
prayer
Pledge of Allegiance, led
by L. Fitz
Roll call, officials
present: Lou Fitz,
Supervisor-266.5040
Vicki Gates, Clerk-510.2597
Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com
Sharon Young,
Trustee-266.8432
John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023
Minutes approval-J.
Fairbanks- motion to approve July 8, 2014 Regular meeting minutes as amended; S.
Young seconded; passed 5-0
Board Member Reports:
L. Fitz, Supervisor
1.
100 Year!
Centennial Celebration @ Elk Township Hall on August 23, 2014 from 3pm-7pm,
includes picnic supper, live music, historical displays, antique cars, fire
apparatus (new & old), ribbon cutting ceremony & re-dedication of
facility; if there is anyone you think
should be invited to this historical celebration contact L. Fitz
2.
Letters from Dan
Holland, equalization director: Resolutions to correct winter 2013 tax bill;
the resolution is to correct a 2013 clerical error relative to the rate of
taxation; there will be more information forthcoming on this subject but the
letter for a signed resolution was rescinded at the request of the Lake County
Board of Commissioners
3.
MTA workshop: L.
Fitz, Supervisor, would like to go to a workshop in Boyne City on Sept 25th
discussing Lawful Expenditures-S. Young-motion to approve L. Fitz and/or B.
Myers to attend class @ $79 each + mileage; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0
V. Gates, Clerk
1.
Successful
election August 5, 2014 with 22% voter turnout=184 voters, including 47
absentee ballots
2.
Spent 16 hours
with Microsoft IT in order to successfully update windows on dedicated election
laptop
3.
Requesting Board
approval on bills paid in July, including Big Bass Lake SAD- L. Fitz -motion to
approve bills paid; S. Young seconded; passed 4-1 (J. Fairbanks, no) J.
Fairbanks feels these July bills are not all periodicals and should be approved
before payment is rendered
4.
Discussion ensued
concerning budget amendment for the Building & Grounds Capital Outlay-B.
Myers-motion to approve budget amendment of $4,000 out of unassigned funds to
cover budget shortfall; V. Gates seconded; passed 4-1 by roll call vote (J.
Fairbanks, no)
5.
Correspondence: letter
from DNR regarding an Open House for State lands which are in Lake, Missaukee,
Osceola, and Wexford counties on Thursday, Aug. 21st from 3pm-6pm @
Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center in Cadillac; letter & draft
from Norman Twp regarding their Master Plan for zoning, L. Fitz will contact
Norman Twp and report as needed
B. Myers, Treasurer
Read
Treasurer’s report for July-S. Young-motion to accept Treasurer’s report; J.
Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0
Public Comments:
Charlie Young-brining
costs will be held down because of a truck being sold for $1 from
Sauble-Elk-Eden Townships Fire Dept., which will be refitted and used for
brining; Brooks road will close north of 10 ½ mile road Aug 25th –
Sept 8th (approximately)
Sharon Puff-notice new elk
head mounted on wall, donated by Jay Jorgensen (and a big Thank You from Board
to Sharon Puff for all the decorations in township hall)
Marilyn
Zdebski-understands the difference between “periodicals” and those things that
should be voted on, and she feels the Board is respecting those differences
Joyce Durdel-there are
some “discretionary” amounts approved by Board (ie. Office Supplies); objects
to the supervisor not being able to oversee the appropriations in the
accounting; does not feel that this Board is overspending budget
indiscriminately
Bonnie Knysz-would like to
see a lighted Exit sign on side of meeting room that exits into the kitchen and
office space; thinks the township hall is looking very nice (L. Fitz stated he
would like to see a lighted Exit sign factored into next year’s budget)
Karen Humfleet-realtor
with Big River, discussed the garbage issue and the complaints she hears from
possible new residents concerning the overflowing bins; wishes the Board could
include monies in the budget for bigger, better bins to contain the bags; L.
Fitz mentioned we have two more bins which could be placed next to the existing
bins at Granger Rd/10 ½ mile & Bass Lake Rd/ 10 ½ mile
Dave Bass-wonders about
the junk around residences which could also deter potential buyers
Tony Ellis-believes
Independent Rural Waste is doing a good job picking up all the garbage around
bins
Bill & Jill Gillard
came to challenge Elk Township to the Annual Softball game @ Sauble Township on
August 30, 2014; Sauble will provide hot dogs and asks participants to bring a
dish to pass for a picnic
Tad Lane-discussed a
situation on Little Manistee River where a two-track has been established on
state property; suggests a large rock or two be placed so traffic can’t
continue to river (north side of river); L. Fitz offered to contact DNR and see
if someone will review this issue
Tony Ellis-feels that the
contractor for the Big Bass Lake SAD (special assessment district) has been
doing a good job at keeping costs down for the treatments and providing a good
service of weed control; each property owner has seen a reduction in their SAD
bill by $20/year
Tad Lane-suggests a capful
of ammonia in garbage bags will deter critters from accessing bags
Dignitary Reports:
·
County
Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-meeting of County Commissioners tomorrow where they
will be discussing the tax error on the 2013 winter tax bill; there will also
be a meeting on Aug 27th concerning the new building for the Sheriff
department road patrol
·
Fire Dept-Marilyn
Zdebski- fire department report given, including new truck being “in service”
·
Historical
Society-Joyce Durdel-working on a pamphlet which is now at the printers (for
the Centennial Celebration); V. Gates asked where this would be accounted for
in the budget/billing; L. Fitz-motion to allow V. Gates, Clerk, to pay bills
for the Historical Society up to $1000 out of the line item for Historical; S.
Young seconded; passed 5-0
Old Business:
·
Set hearing dates
for the Big Bass Lake SAD hearing dates; 1st hearing is to allow
comments from people in the SAD and requires a mailing to each property owner
& will be published in Bulletin Board News; L. Fitz-motion to schedule such
hearing on Sept. 9, 2014 @ 6pm; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call
vote
·
Second hearing
date for SAD; 2nd hearing is to allow for objections to the
assessment roll for the SAD; must keep record of persons objecting; J.
Fairbanks-motion to schedule such hearing on Oct. 14th @ 6pm; V.
Gates seconded; passed 5-0 by roll call vote
·
L4029 approval
needed for Millage Request Report to County Board of Commissioners for 2014 Tax
Rate; S. Young-motion to offer the Resolution to approve the 2014 tax rate
request form; J. Fairbanks seconded; adopted 5-0 by roll call vote
·
IRS vs.
Independent Rural Waste: discussion ensued based on a Notice of Levy received
from the IRS and included conversations & subsequent email from Cliff
Bloom, our attoney, as well as conversation with a Labor Attorney, Grant Pecor
recommended by Cliff Bloom, and conversations with Darrell Fenstermacher,
Independent Rural Waste, and Wayne Nelson, IRS; S. Young-motion to pay IRS for
monies owed to IRWS based on a contract with IRWS and services rendered during
the time Elk Township received the Notice of Levy for monies owed to IRWS; B.
Myers seconded; passed 4-1-0 by roll call vote (J. Fairbanks, no)
·
Some discussion related
to the garbage service being provided by A-1 at the township hall for which we
do not have a contract and have not been billed for the two totes on site; this
will be discussed if we receive an invoice or contract from A-1
·
Payment to Cliff
Bloom, attorney, S. Young-motion to pay invoice for service rendered; L. Fitz
seconded; passed 5-0
New Business:
·
Door code for Ann
Chase, Historical Society, J. Fairbanks-motion to provide Ann Chase a door code
for meeting room only; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0
Public Comment:
B. Myers thanked everyone
who came out for the Duane Dewey parade which included 23 fire trucks and
numerous motorcycles
S. Young-motion to
adjourn; J. Fairbanks seconded; all in favor
Adjourned @ 8:44 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Vicki Gates, Clerk
8.13.14
