Regular Township Board Meeting of

August 14, 2006

7:00 P.M.

 

 

Meeting called to Order at 7:00 P.M. by Scott Hladki, Supervisor. The Pledge of Allegiance was said, Invocation given, and Roll Call taken.

 

Members Present: Scott Hladki, Rosemary Rinella, Mike Hiner, Diane Misze, and

Lynn Young.

Members Absent: Elizabeth Jenkins and Mary Ellen Sherwood.

 

Motion by Mike to have Stephanie Barrett act as Secretary in the absence of the Clerk, Mary Ellen Sherwood. Motion supported by Diane. All in favor. Motion carried.

 

Minutes:

The regular meeting minutes of July 10, 2006 were accepted as presented and placed on file.

 

Slide Show:

Scott presented a slide show to the Board and public of the Boy Scout Eagle project completed at Beegle Field. Scott explained that Duck Creek School closed and donated their playground equipment to Dalton Township. Tyler Churchill asked the Board to allow him to help with the moving of the playground equipment for his Eagle Scout project. Tyler, along with 40-50 other volunteers, completed the project in one day.

Roger Jourden Jr of Accurate Excavators was a key volunteer. The playground equipment was cemented in and Mr. Jourden brought in his excavating equipment to help. Nugent Sand donated sand for the project. Pizza Hut donated pizzas and Best Western donated pop. Scott also recognized the Dalton Township Maintenance Dept.

They took pictures and measurements of all the equipment before it was taken apart so that they would have references when reconstructing the playground equipment.

Scott said that four picnic tables were also donated from Duck Creek School. Plus, one new table has been constructed as well as the new pavilion.

The Township Board presented a certificate for Tyler which his parents accepted as he could not be at the meeting.

 

Public Comment: None.

 

Treasurer's Report:

The Treasurer's report was accepted and placed on file for audit.

 

Monthly Bills:

Motion by Rosemary, supported by Mike, Passed to approve the monthly bills as submitted. Rosemary - yes, Mike - yes, Diane - yes, Lynn - yes, Scott - yes.

 

Fire Department:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, submitted the Incident Log for July 2006. There were 84 calls with an average response time of under 7 minutes.

 

Cemetery:

Sexton, Gary Furman, spoke to the Board about the proposed price changes for lots. The current rates are $250 for residents and $300 for non-residents. The Cemetery Commission recommended $250 for residents and $400 for non-residents. Gary recommended $300 for residents and $400 for non-residents due to fuel costs. He also recommended that the increases take effect in 30 - 60 days.

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, Passed to raise the price of cemetery lots to $300 for residents and $400 to non-residents effective October 1, 2006. Roll call vote.

Mike - yes, Rosemary - yes, Lynn - yes, Diane - yes, Scott - yes.

 

Scott asked the Board to approve placing a sign at the entrances of the cemetery requesting the removal of artificial flowers by October 1st. Scott had one of the proposed signs for the Board to see.

Motion by Lynn, support by Diane, Passed to approve placing signs requesting the removal of artificial flowers at the entrances to the cemeteries. All in favor.

 

Maintenance Department:

Maintenance Supervisor, Keith Ostoin, thanked the Board for approving the signs. He also informed the Board that graffiti was found, and removed, at Beegle Field. He said that it had also been found previously in the dugouts.

 

Compliance Officer:

Frank Swiatek was not present.

 

Building Department:

Nothing to report.

 

Planning Commission Recommendations:

1. Request by Rich Young for a zone change from R-1 (Residential) to C-3

(Commercial). Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, Passed to table this request

until Mr. Young or someone representing him could be present. All in favor.

2. Request by McCormick Land LLC for a restaurant in the McCormick Service

Station. Jim McCormick was present and explained that he would like a restaurant

in the station. Lynn asked what restaurant would be going in. Mr. McCormick said

there are a couple of private companies and Subway that may be interested.

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, Passed to allow a restaurant in the McCormick

Service Station. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mike, and Scott. No: None.

3. Zoning Ordinance. Diane stated that she felt the whole Board should be present to

vote on this issue.

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, Passed to wait until the September Board

meeting to address this issue. All in favor.

 

Tool and Die Recovery Zone:

Scott explained that there were three applications received. He also explained that the area is a zone not just Dalton Township. Scott then informed the Board that Nelson's application has been disqualified due to his business being in his home. Representatives from ITT Gage were present to explain the Recovery Zone. Lynn explained that she was concerned about Brian Nelson's business being in a residential area and being run not only inside his home but in outbuildings as well. Diane said that she was concerned about the number of years. Lynn agreed. Linda Zuder, an employee of ITT Gage, explained that the 15 years requested is to keep their coalition together and to try to help their businesses grow. She also said that the State can agree to a lesser number of years.

More discussion followed.

Motion by Mike, support by Scott, Passed to adopt the resolution as written for ITT Gage. Mike - yes, Scott - yes, Rosemary - yes, Diane - no, Lynn - yes.

Motion by Mike, support by Scott, Passed to adopt the resolution as written for Westech.

Mike - yes, Scott - yes, Lynn - yes, Rosemary - yes, Diane - no.

 

3rd Hearing for a Street Light Special Assessment District for Whitetail Lane and Four Point Lane. Scott opened the hearing and asked for any questions or comments from the Board. Hearing none, he then opened the floor for questions or comments from any property owners or representatives. There being none, he then closed the hearing.

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, Passed to adopt the resolution for a street light special assessment district for Whitetail Lane and Four Point Lane. Mike - yes, Diane - yes, Lynn - yes, Rosemary - yes, Scott - yes.

 

Reimbursement to Andy Kops for land sale:

Township Attorney, James Porter, explained that Mr. Kops' attorney stated that the costs Mr. Kops is trying to have reimbursed are "out of pocket" costs. Rosemary questioned some of the costs. Several Board members had concerns about the document

Mr. Kops provided as not being legible. Lynn also brought up costs that she questioned.

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, Passed to table this issue until a legible document is produced and discussion takes place with Mr. Kops and a third party. All in favor.

 

Deeds:

Scott informed the Board that the Assessor's Office is not comfortable processing deeds when money is involved. He said that when property is being donated the Assessor's Office does not have a problem processing the deeds. He used Mr. Kops' issue as an example of when they would prefer not to process the deeds. Scott also informed the Board that when a deed needs to be processed, that involves money, Mr. Porter's office would be willing to process it for the Township at minimal cost.

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, Passed to approve Mr. Porter's office to process deeds when money is involved. All in favor.

 

Board Comment:

Lynn thanked everyone who voted for her in the primary. Diane said that the new AutoMark machine was wonderful and all the voters who used it liked it. She also spoke of the low voter turn out. Rosemary asked the board, in reference to Mr. Kops, if a number is agreed upon with the group meeting, could a check then be drafted for

Mr. Kops? Or would it have to come back to the Board for approval in September?

Diane rescinded her previous motion to table Mr. Kops' request. Lynn rescinded her support of the previous motion.

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, Passed to allow for a check to be drafted for

Mr. Kops if he and Rachel (Kops) met with Scott and Rosemary to agree upon a settlement amount not to exceed the initial requested amount. Diane - yes, Rosemary - yes, Mike - yes, Lynn - yes, Scott - yes.

Mike thanked Annette Vida for her support and patience with the Draft Zoning Ordinance. Diane stated that she had nothing against the tax abatement for the Tool and Die Businesses - just the length of time. Scott informed the Board that McCormick Sand had finished their concrete crushing - within the time frame - with no complaints. Scott, Rosemary, and Stephanie had all visited the site while the process was taking place and said that it was not loud at all. Scott questioned the amount of funding going to schooling for Township Officials. Lynn stated that she has spent thousands of dollars out of her own pocket for schooling. Discussion followed. Lynn said that if the budget is the reason for the schooling question - that insurance costs should also be addressed. Lynn and Scott agreed to meet Tuesday to discuss next year's budget.

 

Public Comment:

Bill Beegle spoke of the costs of the sewer assessments. He also spoke of his disappointment with the Board for approving the assessments and the project.

 

Adjournment:

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, Passed to adjourn at 8:07 P.M. All in favor.

 

Respectfully,

 

Stephanie Barrett