Budget Hearing 2015

   draft        ELK TOWNSHIP          draft

ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING

March 28, 2015

Lou Fitz, Supervisor, called the meeting to order @ 12 pm with a moment of silence

L. Fitz led the Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:      Lou Fitz, Supervisor

                                    Vicki Gates, Clerk

                                    Brandy Myers, Treasurer

                                    John Fairbanks, Trustee

                                    Sharon Young, Trustee

Agenda-motion to approve agenda J. Fairbanks; seconded by B. Myers; all in favor

                                   

Minutes-motion to approve Annual Budget minutes from March 29, 2014 offered by S. Young; L. Fitz seconded; all in favor

Review of proposed budget for 2014-2015 fiscal year, beginning April 1, 2015

Public Comment: various

Old Business: none

New Business:

Resolution to establish a General Appropriations Act (Budget)-S. Young motion to adopt resolution with revised budget figures; B. Myers seconded; passed 5-0

Adjourn-motion to adjourn by J. Fairbanks; B. Myers seconded; all in favor-adjourned @ 1pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk

3.31.15

Budget Review Meeting

Meeting of the Board for purpose of Budget Review, and any other business necessary before the Annual meeting, called for March 17, 2015 @ 7pm @ town hall

March Regular Meeting

 DRAFT                      ELK TOWNSHIP                  DRAFT

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

MARCH 10, 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

Officials absent:          John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

Agenda-L. Fitz-motion to approve agenda as revised; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0

Minutes approval-V. Gates-motion to approve February 10, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

B. Myers seconded; passed 3-0-1 (S. Young abstained as she was absent last month)

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Road Brining request sent to Lake County Road Commission

2.      ORV meeting update-12 mile rd is now open only on south side, eastbound traffic only

3.      Irons Lp gas company contacted to reduce bill & make sure to keep full

4.      GLE grant denied (as reported last month)

5.      May 5, 2015 will be a special election

6.      Board of Review organizational meeting-Don Arquette re-elected as chairman; Karen Fickies elected as vice-chairman

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Need ad for the budget hearing & annual meeting scheduled the end of March-S. Young-motion to put an ad in the Bulletin Board News for these two meetings; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0

2.      Would like to put an ad in the Bulletin Board News for the May election-S. Young-motion to put such ad in BBN; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0

3.      Approval of non-periodical bills (including Lake County Area Township Association billing for Board of Review ads in Lake County Star)-L. Fitz-motion to approve; S. Young seconded; passed 4-0

4.      Requesting board approval on bills paid in February-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; S. Young seconded; passed 4-0

5.      Accounting document shows that the building upgrades cost $136,859.17 for fiscal year ending 3/31/15; and $40,928.99 for fiscal year ending 3/31/15

  B. Myers, Treasurer

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

V. Gates seconded; passed 4-0

2.      Need to put money into our West Shore Money Market to avoid a “dormant” fee-S. Young-motion to write a $1 check from General Fund to go to our West Shore Money Market; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0

S. Young, Trustee-next area township meeting will be in Yates on April 23^rd @ 7:30pm

Public Comments:

Varied-S. Young-motion to allocate $20 for a planter for the office to be purchased by Sharon Puff; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0

Dignitary Reports:

·         Rick Haslock-Lake County Road Commissioner for Elk Township; various projects in this area

·         Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·         Historical Society-Joyce Durdel-would like a printed copy of credits & debits for Historical S.

Old Business:

·         Economic Development Resolution-S. Young-motion to table until May meeting; B. Myers seconded; passed 3-1 (L. Fitz, no)

·         Calendar Resolution-L. Fitz-motion to adopt yearly calendar, including regular meetings & Board of Review dates; B. Myers seconded; discussion ensued concerning the March meeting date conflicting with the 2016 Presidential primary, it was suggested we move the March meeting to Thursday that same week (March 10);  adopted 3-0-1 (J. Fairbanks absent)

·         Budget workshop-tweaked some more figures; S. Young-motion to hold another budget review March 17^th @ 7pm; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0

·         Aerial photography-B. Myers-offered a resolution to contribute $2,677.78 payable in two installments; motion failed due to lack of second

·         Installation of door closures-S. Young-motion to approve $210 for Basic Services North to install 3 door closures; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0

·         Contract laborers-S. Young-motion to renew current contracts at same rate as last year; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0 (L. Fitz said he would make up contracts)

New Business:

·         Fire Dept Millage renewal for operating expenses-L. Fitz-motion to table until May meeting; S. Young seconded; passed 4-0

·         Porta-jon schedule-V. Gates-motion to fund the use of a porta-jon on township property from April 1-Oct 31; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0 (V. Gates will call)

·         Trustees compensation-V. Gates-motion to table until May meeting; B. Myers seconded; passed 3-0-1 (S. Young abstained)

Public Comments:

Varied

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

Adjourned @ 9:52pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

3.11.15

February Regular Meeting

DRAFT                ELK TOWNSHIP               DRAFT

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

FEBRUARY 10, 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

                                    John Fairbanks, Trustee-266.8023

Officials absent:         Sharon Young

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

Minutes approval- J. Fairbanks -motion to approve January 13, 2015 regular meeting minutes;

B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0

Board Member Reports:

   L. Fitz, Supervisor

1.      Would like to thank Dave Kott for working on the Great Lakes Energy grant which was denied

2.      Board of Review dates will be published in the Lake County Star by the Lake County Area Township Association; next meeting will be April 23, 2015 @ 7:30 @ Yates Township

   V. Gates, Clerk

1.      Transworld Network account updated to paperless billing (long distance bill)

2.      Shredder died; after discussion J. Fairbanks-motion to replace shredder at cost not to exceed $350; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0 (V. Gates will order after shopping around)

3.      New color printer will be needed next fiscal year

4.      Heat for hall-L. Fitz reports that the furnace professional recommends heat to be left @ 60 degrees, but no less than 55 degrees (we are going through more Lp than last year); L. Fitz will talk to Irons Bottle Gas about their recent lack of service & resulting outage & price per gal

5.      Finalizing  Dennis Lisiaus’ retirement account to send to Michigan Department of Treasury as unclaimed properties; after discussion J. Fairbanks-motion to send letter to MERS (Municipal Retirement Systems) requesting payment; L. Fitz seconded; passed 4-0

6.      Discussion ensued concerning Sage software annual renewal which jumped 60%; L. Fitz-motion to renew Sage @ $550/year & instruct V. Gates to check out accounting programs with payroll for next year; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 4-0

7.      Approval of non-periodical bills (including BS&A assessor’s software; assessor’s postage & envelopes for assessment change notices; final decorations for Sharon Puff’s project)-L. Fitz-motion to approve; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 4-0

8.      Requesting board approval on bills paid in January-L. Fitz-motion to approve bills; J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 4-0

9.      Brining-J. Fairbanks-motion to approve brining up to $6,500; L. Fitz seconded; approved 4-0

  B. Myers, Treasurer

1.      Read Treasurer’s report for January-V. Gates-motion to accept Treasurer’s report;

J. Fairbanks seconded; passed 4-0

Public Comments:

Varied

Dignitary Reports:

·        Dan Sloan-Economic Development-shared with the Board & public the $45,000 grant obtained to promote Lake County as an ORV destination spot (will be working on a mobile app & various social media avenues to make trails easily accessible & safe); would like to see townships contribute to a fund designated to be used in obtaining matching funds grant(s); will be discussed at the March regular meeting

·        County Commissioner-J. Fairbanks-discussed aerial photography; MSU Extension report; legislative report; Baldwin schools going to year-around schooling; ORV meeting; May 5^th referendum which will be on a state wide ballot; county looking for drivers for troubled youth needing to get to various appointments (will pay up $8/hr)

·        Fire Dept-Marilyn Zdebski- fire department report given

·        Historical Society-Joyce Durdel-put historical documents & pictures up in hall

·        Assessor (in absentia) recommends that the Board directs individuals to contact him in regards to Principal Residence Exemption

Old Business:

·        Door closures-J. Fairbanks-motion to purchase 3 door closures; B. Myers seconded; passed 3-1 (J. Fairbanks, no)

·        Drop box for hall-after discussion it was decided by consensus to put in next fiscal year’s budget

·        Aerial photography-county has contracted for updated aerials and would like townships to contribute; L. Fitz-offered a resolution to contribute $2,677.78; motion failed due to lack of second

New Business:

·        Officers’ salary resolutions-J. Fairbanks offered resolution to approve salary of Supervisor to remain @ $9,100/yr; V. Gates seconded; passed 3-0-1 (L. Fitz abstained)

 J. Fairbanks offered resolution to approve salary of Clerk to remain @ $11,100/yr; B. Myers seconded; passed 4-0

J. Fairbanks offered resolution to approve salary of Treasurer to remain @ $12,100/yr; V. Gates seconded; passed 4-0

·        Budget workshop

Public Comments:

Varied

V. Gates-motion to adjourn; B. Myers seconded; all in favor

Adjourned @ 10 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Vicki Gates, Clerk       

2.11.15