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

Regular Meeting

 draft

 ELK TOWNSHIP                                                              

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

AUGUST 11, 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

            Absent:            Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com

Agenda-S. Young -motion to approve agenda as revised; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 4-0

Minutes approval-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve July 14, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

S. Young seconded; passed 4-0

Board Member Reports:

   J. Fairbanks, Trustee & County Commissioner & Sexton

·         New County Emergency Manager quit & will need to be replaced

·         New County Administrator interviews will be conducted this Saturday

·         Ambulance millage due for renewal & there is discussion at county level about reducing the millage rate on the renewal due to fund balance

·         Cemetery-needs topsoil on north end; suggests that the cemetery committee look into options

·         L. Fitz read letter regarding a possible cremains burial of Margareta Spurgis, and the subsequent answer by a relative disavowing such burial; L. Fitz-motion to accept letter from Dean Phillips as closure to the question of a cremains burial; S. Young seconded; passed 4-0

J. Fairbanks left the regular board meeting due to family health issues, quorum of board remained

L. Fitz-motion to table question of topsoil for the cemetery until September meeting; S. Young seconded; passed 3-0

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Motion to table citizens’ recognition letters-offered by L. Fitz-seconded by S. Young; passed 3-0

2.      Read letter of thanks to LCCF Board for new flag pole

3.      Read letter of thanks to Ed Fitzgerald for his help in installing flag pole with his bucket truck

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Election on August 4, 2015-42 voters=almost 8% turnout on WSCC millage renewal question

2.      Approval of non-periodical bills

·         S. Young-motion to approve Aquatic Dr bill for $6552; L. Fitz seconded; passed 3-0

·         S. Young-motion to approve bill for materials to install flag pole for $63.88; L. Fitz seconded; passed 3-0

3.      Requesting board approval on bills paid in July, including Big Bass Lake SAD-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 3-0

4.      Correspondence-read letter/email complaint concerning Robert Englebrecht’s pay, deferred topic to deputy clerk who handled the complaint, board requested V. Gates to set up a meeting between R. Englebrecht & L. Fitz & V. Gates; discussed email concerning DEQ notifications, L. Fitz would like to be apprised of such notifications (V. Gates will make copies available to L. Fitz & R. Englebrecht as they become available)

  Nicole Estes, Deputy Treasurer

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

V. Gates seconded; passed 3-0

Public Comments: varied

Dignitary Reports:

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·         Road Committee-still need more members

 Old Business:

·         Trash Bins-L. Fitz is trying to get a hold of Floyd Cadwell from A1 Services; V. Gates-motion to table discussion until September meeting; S. Young seconded; passed 3-0

·         Lake County Website-L. Fitz-motion to table until September meeting; S. Young seconded; passed 3-0

·         Fire Dept Central Station Committee-L. Fitz-motion to table until September; V. Gates seconded; passed 3-0

·         Old township records-L. Fitz thinks records should come back to hall (Jackie McKellar mentioned that she donated Joe Mezeske’s,  ex-supervisor, desk to the township)

New Business:

·         Recorder-V. Gates-motion to table until September; S. Young seconded; passed 3-0

Public Comments:

Varied

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

Adjourned @ 8:46pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

8.12.15

Annual Fireman's Brawl

SAUBLE-ELK-EDEN TOWNSHIPS
FIRE DEPARTMENT
WILL BE HOSTING THE
ANNUAL FIREMAN'S BALL
AUGUST 1, 2015
SKINNER PARK
GET TICKETS AT THE DOOR
5:30.....YEAH!
no dress code
always good eats & b.y.o.b.
bring $$$ for raffles
All $$$ will go for the benefit of the firefighters

July Regular Meeting

draft                       ELK TOWNSHIP                        draft

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

JULY 14, 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

Brandy Myers, Treasurer-bmyers42780@yahoo.com

                                    Sharon Young, Trustee-266.8432

                                    John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

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

Minutes approval-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve June 9, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Minutes approval- J. Fairbanks-motion to approve June 20, 2015 special meeting minutes;

B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Received new tables, chairs & flagpole

2.      Set date for Ice Cream Social, August 2, 2015 @ town hall, ran ad in Bulletin Board News for two weeks

3.      Attended an MTA class

4.      Read a letter from SEE Twps Fire Board discussing the creation of “a committee to explore the feasibility of a new centrally located fire station,” to invite “all three supervisors and an additional  two citizens from each township to form a fact-finding committee”

5.      Read letter to IATA thanking them for the use of Skinner Park to conduct the Annual Trash Day, and requesting the first Saturday in June of 2016 to hold another Trash Day

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Election on August 4, 2015-appointed precinct workers

2.      Dropped service with ATT-they issued a refund check; and contracted with Golden Communications for local & long distance calling  (also dropped TransWorld for long distance)

3.      Will be attending an MTA class on June 15, 2015 with B. Myers in Cadillac

4.      Approval of non-periodical bills

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to approve payment to Election Source for supplies, tabulator coding,  ballot chart, and maintenance contract on tabulator; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         S. Young-motion to approve Apex sketching software for assessor ($235); J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         S. Young-motion to pay A1 Services for Trash Day ($5,296.53 + $4 for tires in cash); J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to approve new color printer for office (Vicki will order from Amazon, not to exceed $125-out of Clerk Capital Outlay); S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         S. Young-motion to approve three required election ads published in the BBN; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to approve an ad for two weeks in the BBN for the ice cream social; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         J. Fairbanks-motion to approve payment to Accident Fund for Worker’s Comp ($881);  V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

5.      Requesting board approval on bills paid in June, including Big Bass Lake SAD-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

6.      Correspondence-MTA Book of the Month-L. Fitz-motion to purchase FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Book; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0; read letter of complaint concerning cemetery upkeep

7.      Discussed quarterly report “Income Statement Compared with Budget”

  B. Myers, Treasurer

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

L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments: varied

Dignitary Reports:

·         County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-County looking at resumes for an administrator; J. Fairbanks will be on a committee to investigate possible ambulance stations in Irons and/or Luther; County finished its audit; County hired Tammy Ghent for emergency management position

·         Assessor-letter read from Bob Englebrecht supporting new Equalization director, Al Encisio

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·         Road Committee-Sharon Young-motion to appoint a new road committee following an ad being posted for two weeks in a local publication indicating that applicants are being considered for the road committee. Following an analysis of Elk Township road conditions, the committee will report to the township board within 90 days with recommendations for the use of township road funds. There will be no expenditures from the road fund until the report is complete and accepted by the township board unless an emergency arises affecting the safety of the motoring public; amended motion by L. Fitz to include Sharon Young & Paul Maples resignations from the road committee & noting the Board accepted resignations with deep regrets, S. Young seconded amendment; J. Fairbanks seconded given motion; passed 5-0

Old Business:

·         Trash Bins-after much discussion J. Fairbank made motion to table until August; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0 (L. Fitz will ask A1 representative to attend meeting)

·         Budget workshop date-V. Gates-motion to set March 17, 2016 @ 7pm as a budget workshop; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

·         Lake County Website-L. Fitz-motion to table until August meeting; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Road Fund-J. Fairbanks-motion to table until further information is gathered; L. Fitz seconded; passed 5-0

·         Resolution-L. Fitz-motion to adopt L4029 by Resolution; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

·         Fire Dept Support Group-B. Myers-motion to pay two bills for support group supplies out of fire department line item in budget ($73.08 total); J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

New Business:

·         Annual Meeting Resolution-J. Fairbanks-motion to establish an Annual Meeting for the last Saturday in March; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

·         Little Manistee Watershed-J. Fairbanks-motion to direct the Supervisor to sign the LMWCC Partnership Agreement for the Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan; V. Gates seconded; passed 5-0

·         Insurance-S. Young-motion to approve the insurance plan from Burnham & Flower & pay the yearly policy fee ($3645, including increase for 3% property value increase); J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 5-0

·         Cemetery-V. Gates-motion to direct the Supervisor to correspond with the parties involved in burying cremains without approval; S. Young seconded; passed 5-0

Public Comments:

Varied

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

Adjourned @ 10:15pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

7.16.15