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 April 9, 2007 were accepted as submitted and placed on file. Scott stated that these minutes should reflect that he did respond to a call from Mr. Herlein.

 

TREASURER'S REPORT:

As of April 30, 2007, the General Fund has $64,799.35, Fire Operating Fund has $149,849.71, and Fire Equipment Fund has $28,253.63. There is $187,212.26 in the Co-Merica J-Fund. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and placed on file for audit. An Income report was submitted for general and fire operating funds. Cash on hand report for all funds was also provided.

 

MONTHLY BILLS:

Motion by Rosemary, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the monthly bills as submitted. Yes: Rosemary, Mike, Diane, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: Petsy.

 

General Fund bills totaling $29,578.91, Fire Fund $8,398.07, Cemetery Fund $975.01. Bills were also paid from the building fund, street light fund, and other self-supporting miscellaneous funds.

 

FIRE BUSINESS:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, submitted the Incident Log for April 2007. There were 50 calls with an average response time of 6.62 minutes.

 

CEMETERY:

Cemetery Sexton, Gary Furman, stated that bids did go out for paving of the roads in the new portion of the Twin Lake Cemetery. He stated that he will have the bids at the next meeting for board action.

 

MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT:

Maintenance Supervisor, Keith Ostoin, stated that the free dump day went well. Keith stated that the McCormick's helped out again and suggested a written thank you be sent. Keith stated the county helps pay for the tipping fees for the spring clean up; however, the cost of the fall clean up is entirely the township's responsibility. Keith stated that the cost for tire disposal went up for the township so we need to pass the cost along. He stated that we do not make money from the tire disposal, this is what we are charged for disposal so we need to recoup the cost. Keith stated the new cost is $2.25 without rims and $3.75 with rims.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adopt the new fees for tire disposal as stated by the maintenance supervisor. Yes: Diane, Rosemary, Mike, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

Keith stated that there is only one picnic table at Beegle Field. He stated that he has checked prices on tables as one is not enough and requested authority to purchase more tables for the pavilion at Beegle Field. The board suggested that we buy used or surplus, and to look into the possibility of tables being donated from the county or other parks, etc.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Lynn, PASSED to authorize the maintenance supervisor to spend up to $1,000.00 for additional picnic tables for Beegle Field, and to check for the best deal possible. Yes: Mike, Lynn, Diane, Rosemary, Petsy and Scott. No: Mary Ellen.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION:

Request for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for Ken Smith/Pennington Brothers LTD at 5340, 5370, and 5390 Holton Road. This is the same use as was at this location before a fire at this location. The use will be for an office facility, storage of equipment and supplies, and maintenance of company equipment. The Planning Commission approved the SUP unanimously and the minutes of the same have additional information with regard to this request. It was discussed that the building permit fees are waived in the event of fire. Rosemary questioned if the waiving of permit fees was also for commercial property.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, PASSED to approve the request for Ken Smith/Pennington Brothers, LTD, upon them attaining the permits required for this project. Yes: Mike, Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the waiving of any township permits due to fire. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

RENAME BEEGLE FILED:

Scott solicited new names from the public and from school children. Several suggestions were reviewed. Diane stated that it has always been Beegle Field this is how residents know this park and she would like the name left the same. Other board members felt the same as Diane. Scott stated that it is not just a field any longer and is a totally different park now with the Township making many improvements with donated money and equipment.

 

Motion by Rosemary, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the name change from Beegle Field to Dalton Township's Beegle Sports Park. Yes: Rosemary, Mike, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: Diane, Lynn and Petsy.

 

TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE:

A truck route ordinance was presented to the board for review and consideration at the next meeting. No action was taken. Scott stated that he would like to get someone from the road commission to review the ordinance as well and possibly be at the meeting when this is discussed. The possibility of a special meeting was discussed.

 

COMMUNITY EDUCATION REQUEST:

White Lake Community Education sent a letter requesting $3,500.00 for Dalton to help supplement the cost for a six week Sports and Shorts summer program at Twin Lake Elementary

School as they have had this program for the past 30 years. Board members did not know where this money would be paid from as this was not budgeted. Mary Ellen stated that picnic tables were not budgeted either and felt this should be more of a priority. Further discussion followed.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the payment to the White Lake Community Education if the money can be found in the budget by Mary Ellen, Scott, and Rosemary. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

HIRE A TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY:

At a previous meeting the township's attorney, James Porter, resigned as another township wants him exclusively for their township. James Porter's former partner, Craig Rolfe, from the firm of Bauckham, Sparks, Rolfe, Lohrstorfer & Thall. P.C., Kalamazoo, took over all current litigation issues, some including water and sewer related issues for Dalton Township. Scott, Mary Ellen, and Rosemary, feel it would be a good idea to have a local attorney for all other township matters as it does not make sense fiscally to have an attorney come from Kalamazoo for building, zoning, and ordinance issues, as well as any other issues not associated with current litigation some including water, sewer, and tax tribunal issues.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the hiring of Attorney David Wells, from the firm of Vander Ploeg, Wells, and Sweeting, LLP, from Whitehall, MI, as legal counsel as discussed above, with review in six months. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

FIREWORKS PERMITS:

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the applications and permits for fireworks displays in Dalton Township for the 2007 summer festivities at Twin Lake Park on July 4, 2007; and also at Thunderbird Raceway on July 14, 2007. Yes: Mary Ellen, Rosemary, Mike, Diane, Lynn, Petsy and Scott. No: None.

 

REQUEST FROM LAKEWOOD VILLAGE-LAKE MAINTENANCE:

The Village of Lakewood President, Russell Lichner, sent a letter requesting $1,000.00 for spraying of Fox Lake in the Village, as the township pays the same amount for Twin, North, West and Middle Lakes for spraying every year. Scott stated that he was opposed to this request. Mary Ellen stated that she was opposed to paying this at first thought because the Village receives tax money from village residents that should pay for the roads, lake, etc. She stated after she thought about it, the residents in the Village pay two tax bills every year, one tax bill to the village and another to the township, just as every other tax payer in the township. Mary Ellen questioned why the board would only approve money for spraying the lakes on this side of the township and not Fox Lake in the Village. She stated that lakes on this side of the township should not be favored over the others as this seems prejudice. Lynn stated that the village will be receiving state grant money as they are studying Fox Lake as the e-coli levels are always very high in this lake. She stated the state will be pouring a lot of money into this lake putting in chemicals that are supposed to eat the silt. Lynn opposed approving this money as she stated the Village will be receiving state grant money. Mary Ellen questioned Lynn as she had not heard about any state grant funding for studies on Fox Lake, only that the county would monitor e-coli levels in this lake because of high level counts in the past.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Mary Ellen, PASSED to table this issue until more information is obtained. Yes: all.

 

RIGHT TO BUY AND SELL PROPERTY:

It was stated that the township has the right to buy and sell land with approval of the township board. This action used to take place at the annual meeting; however, the township no longer holds an annual meeting.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, PASSED to approve the right for the Township to buy and sell land. Yes: Mike, Diane, Rosemary, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

BOARD COMMENTS:

Scott stated at the next board meeting he will provide information of property that is up for tax sale in the township. Mary Ellen questioned where the money would come from to purchase land. Mike stated the speed limit sign has still not been placed on Lakewood Road. A township truck ordinance was discussed. No action was taken and discussing this issue at a special meeting was discussed.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Jack Otteren of the Twin Lake Civic Center stated that the Civic will no longer be in existence and the Twin Lake Civic building is being sold. He stated the reasons being not enough members and not enough money to keep it going. He stated that any proceeds after the sale will be given to the Community Foundation and used for scholarships. He requested that the township take over the Memorial Day parade as this was always done by the Civic Community. Mr. Otteren also stated that he knows of places that received free picnic tables from the county and to make a request to the county for the same to save township money. Kelly Bouchard, township secretary, was present to request a leave of absence, without pay, for the month of June for educational purposes. Mary Ellen stated that personnel policy allows this with board approval and she read the section pertaining to the same. This position is a shared position and Kristy Carty the other secretary was present and stated that she would work on Kelly's days if the board approved. Kelly also stated her concerns that all offices are not using the cash receipting system. Mary Ellen stated that she and Stacy reconcile the general ledger monthly and this is confusing that we have to enter some receipts manually from the treasurer and other receipts are already entered by the secretaries at the front desk. She agreed that it would be less confusing and more efficient if all offices used the cash receipt system as this is the reason Scott ordered the cash receipting system in the first place and he stated at that time that all offices would use this system.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the leave of absence for Kelly Bouchard for the month of June, with Kristy Carty filling in as much as possible for Kelly.

Yes: Diane, Mike, Rosemary, Lynn, Petsy, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 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