BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Hladki, Mary Ellen Sherwood, Rosemary Rinella, Mike Hiner, Elizabeth (Petsy) Jenkins, Diane Misze and Lynn Young.

 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

 

Supervisor, Scott Hladki, called the meeting to order at the Dalton Township Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance said, invocation given and roll call taken.

 

MINUTES:

The regular township board meeting minutes of January 8, 2007, were accepted as presented and placed on file.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

 

TREASURER'S REPORT:

As of January 31, 2007, the General Fund has $133,252.62, Fire Operating Fund has $140,097.63, and Fire Equipment Fund has $35,069.27. There is $155,236.39 in the Co-Merica J-Fund. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and placed on file for audit. An income report for the General and Fire Funds were given to board members as well for January 2007.

 

Admin Fees on winter taxes: Rosemary stated currently a one- (1) percent admin fee is being charged on the summer taxes. She recommended for additional income for the township, and to be uniform with other townships, the board should consider raising the winter admin fee from .5 percent to 1 percent.

 

Motion by Rosemary support by Mike, PASSED to raise the admin fee on winter taxes from .5 percent to one percent for this year and for all future winter tax bills. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: Petsy, Diane, and Lynn.

 

MONTHLY BILLS:

Motion by Mike, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the monthly bills as submitted. Yes: Mike, Lynn, Rosemary, Petsy, Diane, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

General Fund $63,756.70, Fire Fund $11,067.05, Cemetery Fund $83.79. Bills were also paid from the building fund, street light fund, and other self-supporting miscellaneous funds.

 

BUDGET AMENDMENTS:

Mary Ellen provided to board members over the weekend a detailed list of budget amendments needed for the current fiscal year for the General Fund. The original budget for the items listed was $212,400.00 amendments totaling $138,650.00 for a total amended budget of $351,050.00. The list of budget amendments are attached hereto and become an official part of the minutes.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the budget amendments as presented. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Lynn, Petsy, Diane, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

 

FIRE BUSINESS:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, submitted the Incident Log for January 2007. There were 46 calls with an average response time of 8.11 minutes.

 

Chief Furman stated the Fire Department Annual Banquet will be held this Saturday at the Twin Lake Civic Center. Scott stated that Gary has been working on getting grant funding for equipment for the firefighters.

 

CEMETERY:

Cemetery Sexton, and Fire Chief Gary Furman, was called away from the meeting for an alarm. Scott stated that the roads in the new portion of the Twin Lake Cemetery are scheduled to be completed in the next fiscal year that begins April 1, 2007. Mary Ellen stated that $10,000.00 is budgeted in the General Fund to loan the Cemetery Fund for the roads to be completed.

 

MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT:

Maintenance Superintendent, Keith Ostoin, stated that we need to find summer help for the maintenance department as the previous years summer worker will not be returning. He stated this is a three day a week position, 24 hours per week, temporary summer job.

 

COMPLIANCE OFFICER REPORT:

The compliance officer, Frank Swietek, stated that 2006 had 108 cases, opened and closed. He stated in 2007 there have been 8 new cases, and most are closed. The board thanked Frank for doing a good job and working well with the residents.

 

BUILDING DEPARTMENT, INSPECTORS REQUESTS:

Gene Lowder, the townships electrical inspector and Paul Varboncouer, the townships plumbing inspector were present with revised fee schedules and asked the board to adopt the same. Discussion followed,

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Diane, PASSED to approve the new electrical permit fee schedule. Yes: Mary Ellen, Diane, Mike, Lynn, Rosemary, Petsy and Scott. No: None.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Diane, PASSED to approve the new plumbing permit fee schedule. Yes: Mary Ellen, Diane, Mike, Lynn, Rosemary, Petsy and Scott. No: None.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Request of Jeff and Sheryl Lupien of Key Automotive for a Special Use Permit for car sales at 3699 Holton Road.

Mary Ellen asked Mike if there was any opposition to this request at the planning commission public hearing. Mike stated there was not. He stated the planning commission approved this request with five stipulations placed on the approval. These stipulations were discussed along with the number of vehicles that can be placed at this location. Petsy questioned how close this is to the nearby drains. .

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the SUP as recommend by the Planning Commission, with the five stipulations as written in the Planning Commission minutes. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Mike, Rosemary, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

 

REQUEST FOR LAND SALE OF TOWNSHIP PROPERTY:

Scott stated that this is currently an unbuildable lot and does no good to the township. Mary Ellen questioned if the lot will be buildable if the next door neighbor wanting to bid on the property does acquire the land. Scott stated that yes it would be buildable if the person that owns the surrounding lots is awarded the bid. Scott stated the land is on Birch Street, off of West Lake Road up a large hill near Staple Road and West Lake Roads. He asked the board if this land should be put up for bid and if yes what the minimum bid should be.

 

Rosemary stated if the board approves for this land to be put up for bid, it might place the property on the tax rolls with a home and generate a higher tax amount. She stated only a small portion of the land sale will go to the township as the money has to be split with the county, schools, etc. The minimum bid was deliberated.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to table this item and to inquire with the township assessor regarding a minimum bid amount for this land that may have a lake view. Yes: all.

 

RENEWAL OF CONTRACT -WHITE LAKE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

Scott stated that budget cuts need to be made and questioned the board if this item should be cut for the upcoming year. The large cost increase for Dalton Township's portion of the programs was discussed. Further discussion took place.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to turn down the renewal contract. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mike, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

RENEWAL OF CONTRACT WITH THE MUSKEGON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT:

PINS PROGRAM: It was stated that the sheriff department will pay 50 percent of the cost share with the township for this patrol position for this year and then the entire cost will probably be placed on the township. Scott stated that some other townships do not participate in the PINS Program and they still have to be covered by the county sheriff department and the state police. Rosemary stated that everyone knows this is a second shift position four days per week and these are not the hours that crime normally occurs. The current cost and the probable cost increases were discussed. It was stated that there are normally patrols in the area anyway and county and state police are regularly at the fire department. Lynn stated that at a recent conference she had discussions with regard to the Michigan State Police considering a satellite post at the township's fire department. Lynn shared the information that she acquired. It was stated that further information would be sought regarding this issue.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED that the township does not renew the contract with the Muskegon County Sheriff Department and no longer participate in the PINS Program. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mike, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

BOARD AND EMPLOYEE RAISES FOR THE 07-08 FISCAL YEAR:

Scott stated that whatever raises are approved for the board will be across the board for employees as well. Mary Ellen stated that normally the elected officials salaries are approved separately then staff and she believes that staff should at least be given cost of living raises. Rosemary stated that the assessor gave her cost of living increase of 3.9 percent and she believed social security cost of living increased 3.3 percent. Discussion followed.

 

Motion by Petsy, support by Mike, PASSED to approve a three (3) percent cost of living increase for board members and all staff, with the exception of the fire chief who has a contract. Yes: Petsy, Mike, Diane, Lynn and Rosemary. No: Mary Ellen and Scott.

 

MILEAGE-ADOPT FEDERAL GUIDELINES:

Scott suggested the board adopt the federal guidelines for mileage instead of approving the rate every year. He stated by adopting the guidelines whether it increases or decreases this would be the mileage reimbursement amount.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adopt the federal mileage guidelines as determined by the IRS for mileage reimbursement, currently at 48.5 cents per mile. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: Diane, Lynn and Petsy. No: None.

 

ADOPT POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR 2007 ASSESSMENTS:

Rosemary explained that the Federal Poverty Guidelines have to be approved by the board each year. A chart was received by board members listing the federal poverty guidelines for use in setting poverty exemption guidelines for 2007 assessments.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to adopt the Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2007 Assessments. Yes: Diane, Mike, Lynn, Rosemary, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

BOARD COMMENTS:

Petsy gave the board an update of the equestrian trails that she has been working on. She stated the driveways for the parking area has been approved by the Muskegon County Road Commission, and as she stated before the surveying was completed free of charge by Steve Vallier.

 

Scott informed the board that the joint planning commission will be holding a community forum on Wednesday, February 22, at Russ' Restaurant in the downstairs meeting room and stated that we are all invited to attend. A letter from Stephanie Barrett, Zoning Administrator, was given to all board members with this information and other details.

 

Mary Ellen gave the board information regarding the upcoming countywide special election called by the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District requesting one (1) mill for special education.

 

Scott stated the board needs to make a decision whether to create the DPW Director position. Scott stated that he has wanted a decision on this position for quite some time and has brought this to the board on many occasions. Scott stated that he does not have time to do this work and he needs a decision for budget purposes so he can include the salary for this position in the budget. Scott proposed that Stephanie Barrett will continue in her position as Zoning Administrator and will continue the work on the water and sewer issues as she has been doing in his absence as the Deputy Supervisor. Mary Ellen questioned Stephanie about how many extra hours she has been working over the zoning hours for water and sewer duties. Stephanie stated it is hard to break down the hours that are dedicated to zoning and to water and sewer. Scott states that he is proposing an additional 10 hours per week for Stephanie to continue the work with regard to water and sewer issues, including assessments, amortizations, working on getting grants, etc.

SET A SPECIAL MEETING DATE:

A special meeting date is being called for board review of the budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year as well as any other board action that can not wait until the next regular board meeting. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dalton Township Hall. This meeting as any meeting is open to the public.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Yes: all.

 

DALTON TOWNSHIP BOARD

Scott Hladki Supervisor

Mary Ellen Sherwood Clerk

Rosemary Rinella Treasurer

Michael Hiner Trustee

Elizabeth Jenkins Trustee

Diane Misze Trustee

Lynn Young Trustee

 

Clerk__________________________

Mary Ellen Sherwood