NOVEMBER 13, 2007, 7:00 P.M.

 

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

 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Scott Hladki and Mike Hiner.

 

Clerk, Mary Ellen Sherwood, called the meeting to order at the Dalton Township Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance said, invocation given, and roll call taken.

 

Motion by Rosemary, support by Diane, PASSED to appoint Petsy as the Chairperson for tonight's meeting in Scott's absence. Yes: all.

 

Mary Ellen stated that Dave Fisher of Muskegon Charter Township is here regarding agenda Item Number 10 the Intergovernmental Agreement between Muskegon Charter and Dalton Townships. She stated that David needs to return to his township for a meeting and is requesting that this agenda item be moved up to Number Three on the agenda.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Diane, PASSED to amend the agenda as stated. Yes: all.

 

Discussion took place regarding the Intergovernmental Agreement for the operation and maintenance of joint sanitary sewer improvements along the common boundary of River Road and Wastewater Flow-Through Agreement. Mary Ellen stated that this Agreement has been in the discussion stages for months and the attorneys for Dalton and Muskegon Charter have agreed that this agreement is ready for adoption. Petsy asked questions of Dave Fisher regarding dollars amounts in the Agreement. Mr. Fisher answered her questions and stated that this Agreement has actually been in the works and has been discussed since 1997.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between Dalton Township and Muskegon Charter Township for the Operation and Maintenance of Joint Sanitary Sewer along the common boundary of River Road and Wastewater Flow-Through Agreement. Yes: Diane, Rosemary, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Petsy. No: none.

 

MINUTES:

The regular township board meeting minutes of October 9, 2007 were accepted as presented and placed on file.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Former Township Supervisor, Merle Hittle, stated that he is concerned that only one bid was received for the fire truck recently purchased. Mr. Hittle stated that he contacted companies that were supposed to have received bid packets and he was told that these companies did not receive bid packets. Mary Ellen stated that the fire department personnel prepared the packets and that her deputy sent out six bid packets to the companies listed. Assistant Fire Chief, Kevin Anderson, stated that six bid packets were sent. Mr. Hittle had additional questions.

TREASURER'S REPORT:

As of October 31, 2007, the General Fund has $7,214.99, Fire Operating Fund has $78,480.36, and Fire Equipment Fund has $21,540.25. There is $191,099.95 in the Co-Merica J-Fund. The Treasurer's Report was accepted and placed on file for audit. An Income report was also received for October 2007 for the General and Fire Funds.

 

Treasurer, Rosemary Rinella, stated that at last months meeting she mentioned that Special Assessment Street Light Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 are millage based special assessment districts. She informed the board that all four of these districts will not be billed for the special assessment on this year's winter tax bill due to the excess money in the street light special assessment fund, generated from these four districts. She stated instead of her just not billing customers in these four districts she would like board action to approve that she not bill for this year's special assessments in these four street light districts.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to forgo billing Street Light Special Assessment Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, on the Winter Tax Bill for 2007. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Petsy. No: none.

 

MONTHLY BILLS:

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

 

General Fund bills totaling $35,633.11, through check number 19289, Fire Fund $8,776.33 through check number 9889, Cemetery Fund $112.36, through check number 958. Bills were also paid from the building fund, street light fund, and other self-supporting miscellaneous funds.

 

FIRE BUSINESS:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, presented an Incident Log for October 2007. There were 52 calls with an average response time of 6.85 minutes.

 

Three Agreements were presented to the board for approval for the purchase of the new fire truck that was approved for purchase at last months meeting.

 

Motion by Rosemary, support by Mary Ellen, PASSED to approve the Resolution approving the Installment Purchase Agreement and Acquisition of Property for the new Alexis Pumper Tanker. Yes: Rosemary, Mary Ellen, Diane and Lynn. No: Petsy.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the Township Consent and Certificate for One Alexis Pumper Tanker, Installment Purchase Contract; with the correction in Paragraph Number Three changing the word "general" to "fire". Yes: Diane, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Rosemary. No: Petsy.

 

Motion by Lynn, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the Installment Purchase Agreement as written, for the new Alexis Pumper Tanker. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Rosemary. No: Petsy.

BUILDING INSPECTION:

Building Inspector, Chris Hall, provided the board with a letter summarizing the action that he has taken with regard to an unsafe building or structure. He stated that the owner has not responded and he is recommending legal action.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve for the attorney to proceed with abating a nuisance located at 3408 Whitehall Road. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Petsy. No: none.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION:

1. Zoning Ordinance Amendment for a Lot Division Ordinance. The Zoning Administrator, Stephanie Barrett, stated that she has met with the township's land division specialist, Wanda Budnik, and she approves the ordinance amendment as written.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adopt the Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Lot Divisions as written. Yes: Diane, Rosemary, Lynn, Petsy and Mary Ellen. No: none.

 

2. Term Renewals for three planning commission members, John Knoll, Chris Hall, and Howard Trygstad.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Lynn, PASSED to re-appoint the planning commissioners listed to another three-year term. Yes: Mary Ellen, Lynn, Diane, Rosemary and Petsy. No: none.

 

WATER RATE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT:

The Water Rate Ordinance is being amended to add language with regard to mandatory connections. Discussion took place.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the Water Rate Ordinance Amendment as written. Yes: Mary Ellen, Lynn and Petsy. No: Rosemary and Diane.

 

BEATTIE ROAD CULVERT PAYMENT:

Motion by Diane, support by Mary Ellen, PASSED to approve payment of $9,969.00 as agreed to on the Contract with the Muskegon County Road Commission for payment of culvert replacement on Beattie Road. Yes: Diane, Mary Ellen, Lynn, Rosemary, and Petsy. No: none.

 

BEEGLE SPORTS PARK GRANT:

Grant Application for Phase II Beegle Field Park Improvements. Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering, Inc. submitted a proposal to provide professional landscape architectural, and grantsmanship services to apply for funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grants Division for a fee of $2,750.00. Mary Ellen stated that if this proposal is approved, this money would come out of the parks and recreation line item with money donated for this purpose. She stated the money does not come from the general tax payers pockets. She stated the money in the parks and recreation account was donated for this purpose and the funds must be used toward parks and recreation. She stated the other money in this account can be used toward the matching funds for the grant, should the grant be approved.

 

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Rosemary, PASSED to pay Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering, Inc. a fee of $2,750.00 for services as mentioned in the proposal letter.

Yes: Mary Ellen, Rosemary, Lynn and Petsy. No: Diane.

 

TOWNSHIP HALL CLOSINGS AND MEETING DATES FOR 2008:

Mary Ellen requested that the board meeting for January 2008 be changed to accommodate for the January 15th Primary Election, unless the election is cancelled by the parties. Alternate meeting dates were discussed.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the annual meeting dates for the board meetings and the planning commission meetings, and also approve the holiday closings for 2008 as submitted; with the January board meeting date changed to Thursday, January 3, 2008. Yes: all.

 

BOARD COMMENTS:

Mary Ellen stated that the township insurance agent, William Lewis, has been checking into life insurance at comparable rates and increasing the benefit amount. She stated Mr. Lewis has found a policy that doubles the coverage for only four dollars more per month. She requested the board's permission to change the life insurance from Fort Dearborn to Boston Mutual for the alternative coverage. She stated if this change is approved by our board, then Boston Mutual must agree to accept Dalton Township as a small group participant.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to adopt the life insurance changes as requested. Yes: Diane, Rosemary, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Petsy. No: none.

 

Other: The proposed truck route ordinance was discussed. Mary Ellen requested that this be put on the December agenda for further discussion. Petsy updated the board on the progress of the equestrian trail in Dalton Township. Mary Ellen again, thanked Petsy for all her work and dedication to this project. Stating this was quite a project getting land owners to grant easements for the trail, all the time and work involved was tremendous. Petsy stated not to forget that Steve Vallier, of Westshore Consulting, did all of the survey work and other work for free; and Accurate Excavators donated time and materials for the equestrian trail as well. Mary Ellen stated that the DNR public hearing for a hunting area control will be held in December and gave additional information regarding this hearing.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Former Supervisor, Merle Hittle, requested a copy of the meeting tape.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Mary Ellen, support by Diane, PASSED to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 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