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 June 11, 2007, were accepted as submitted and placed on file.

 

TREASURER'S REPORT:

As of June 30, 2007, the General Fund has $42,181.86, Fire Operating Fund has $115,396.25, and Fire Equipment Fund has $28,392.96. There is $188,745.06 in the Co-Merica J-Fund. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and placed on file for audit. An Income report for June 2007 for the General and Fire Funds was also submitted.

 

MONTHLY BILLS:

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

 

General Fund bills totaling $28,639.91, through check number 19034, Fire Fund $5,237.36 through check number 9783, Cemetery Fund $2,435.62, through check number 942. Bills were also paid from the building fund, street light fund, and other self-supporting miscellaneous funds.

 

FIRE BUSINESS:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, was not present as he is on vacation. An Incident Log for June 2007 was submitted. There were 67 calls with an average response time of 6.93 minutes.

 

Scott stated that he would like the board to give him and Chief Furman authorization to find out if it is possible for the fire department to charge for non-emergency runs such as lift assists. This was discussed at last months meeting also due to a high number of calls to one address for lift assists. In June the number of calls for lift assists to this one address totals 16 runs. The board gave Scott and Gary permission to get additional information.

 

Scott stated that the fire department has been using a floor scrubber on a trial basis. He stated that Chief Furman would like to purchase this floor scrubber, as budgeted. Discussion followed.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the purchase of the floor scrubber equipment for $5,000.00, as budgeted for the fire department. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

 

MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT:

Maintenance Supervisor, Keith Ostoin, stated for three years he has mentioned to the board that the Kubota tractor has been breaking down and repairs have been costly. He stated that he is requesting that the board consider putting about $18,000.00 in next year's budget for a new tractor/backhoe type of equipment. He stated again, the tractor we have now is about 17 years old and has been repaired many times and needs repair again. He stated that now it needs hydraulic repairs that will be very costly and a pump also needs to be repaired, or replaced as well. He stated he would like to see the new equipment, if budgeted, have a backhoe. Keith stated that we contract for someone to dig graves and with this feature added to the new equipment we would be able to dig the graves ourselves which would save money. Petsy stated to look at places that sell repossessed equipment for prices. Diane stated that she will check on the cost for repairs of the current equipment. Keith stated on another note, the new tire service company is working out well. No inmates are needed and the cost to the township is less.

 

COMPLIANCE OFFICER:

Compliance Officer, Frank Swiatek, gave the board an update of cases filed since the first of the year. He stated that there have been 68 complaints, seven are pending, and 10 newly filed complaints, so there are about 17 open cases. He stated the number of cases has increased since this time last year. He again stated that residents have been very cooperative in resolving the cases.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION:

Request of Mikel Thomas of A-1 Store & Lock for a Special Use Permit for the sale and display of yard and driveway products at 2505 Whitehall Road. When this issued was discussed at the Planning Commission meeting, Chris Hall proposed that Mr. Thomas provide one bunker per month so the cost would be spread out over time. Mr. Thomas stated that the materials on site are just for advertising at this time and that he felt the cost of putting bunkers in place would be cost prohibitive. Chris explained to Mr. Thomas that the bunkers do not have to be made of concrete they can be railroad ties, landscape timbers, 2 X 4's etc. Ross explained the reasons bunkers were required. Chris proposed that Mr. Thomas provide one bunker per month starting with the final hearing so that the cost would be spread out. Ross agreed and again noted that the bunkers did not have to be made of concrete. Chris made a motion that carried, to recommend approval of this request to the township board with the following stipulation that one pile per month will have some type of bunker/containment system in place. Mr. Thomas was also present at tonight's meeting and discussion took place regarding the same items mentioned above. Mr. Thomas did not have concerns with the stipulations that one pile per month have some type of bunkers.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the request for Mr. Thomas, A-1 Store and Lock, as approved by the Planning Commission, with the stipulation that one pile per month will have some type of bunker. Mr. Thomas agreed with the motion and the stipulations. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

JIM KECK-S.U.P. REVOCATION-UPDATE:

It was stated that MDOT has been at the business and it is apparent that the project is moving forward as stakes are now in place. Mr. Keck has an extension until August 1, 2007 to complete the approach paving as stated in the Special Use Permit for the business at 3551 Holton Road or at least see visual work being done. If this is not completed the S.U.P. shall be revoked because Mr. Keck has been granted previous extensions and the work has not been completed.

 

DALTON TOWNSHIP TRAFFIC CODE ORDINANCE:

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the first reading of the Dalton Township Traffic Code Ordinance. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

DALTON TOWNSHIP TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE:

Motion by Mike, support by Petsy, PASSED to approve the first reading of the Dalton Township Truck Route Ordinance. Yes: Mike, Petsy, Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

ZBA TERMS EXTENDED:

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to approve extension of the terms for the Zoning Board of Appeals members' terms expiring. Yes: Diane, Mike, Lynn, Petsy, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

LAND BID:

A request was filed for township land to be put up for bid. The land description is 61-07-025-100-0021-00 located off Rich Road. A minimum bid of $20,000.00 was discussed and stated if the minimum bid was not acceptable to the person requesting the land be put up for bid, then it will not be advertised.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the land be put up for bid, with a minimum bid of $20,000. Yes: Mary Ellen, Mike, Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Rosemary and Scott. No: None.

 

BOARD COMMENTS:

Petsy stated that a certificate of appreciation should be prepared and presented from the Township to Steve Vallier of Westshore Engineering & Surveying for the free work they put into the surveying of the land for the equestrian trail within Dalton Township. Scott mentioned an upcoming meeting for brainstorming with regard to funding road repairs. Mary Ellen read a letter from the Village of Lakewood with regard to a recent Muskegon Chronicle article. Mary Ellen stated that she received a letter from the State of Michigan stating they had denied a license for beer and wine sales at the McCormick's gas station at Bard and Russell Roads. Diane stated that she has never met such a rude foreman as the foreman that is handling the sewer project. She stated that she will never vote for that contractor in the future. She stated if the foreman was this rude to her then he is probably treating other residents with the same disrespect. Scott stated that he spoke with the foreman and he stated that he was never rude to her.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Tom Miller from the Dalton Township Fire Department was present and stated that he was told to be at this meeting to be introduced to the board and removed from probation as he has completed all the required training and courses. No one else from the fire department was present. The board questioned if we could remove him from probation without the fire chief present. It was decided that someone from the fire department should be here to verify that Mr. Miller has met all of the requirements. The board apologized to Mr. Miller as we cannot act without verification of requirements. The board congratulated Mr. Miller and thanked him for being here.

 

ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION:

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, PASSED to enter into closed session to discuss pending litigation with regard to the Whitehall Road sewer projects. Yes: Mike, Diane, Lynn, Petsy, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

 

END CLOSED SESSION:

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to end the closed session to discuss pending litigation with regard to the Whitehall Road sewer projects. Yes: Diane, Mike, Lynn, Petsy, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: None.

 

SEWER LITIGATION:

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the attorney's recommendation as described in written form, and give the attorney permission to proceed regarding the same. Yes: Diane, Mike, Lynn and Scott. No: Petsy, Rosemary and Mary Ellen

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, PASSED to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 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