DECEMBER 10, 2007, 7:00 P.M.

 

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

 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Elizabeth (Petsy) Jenkins.

 

Supervisor, Scott Hladki, called the meeting to order at the Dalton Township Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance said, invocation given, and roll call taken. Mary Ellen stated that Petsy called and is home sick with the flu.

 

MINUTES:

The regular township board meeting minutes of November 13, 2007 were accepted as presented and placed on file.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

None.

 

TREASURER'S REPORT:

As of November 30, 2007, the General Fund has $21,555.87, Fire Operating Fund has $58,174.68, and Fire Equipment Fund has $21,940.96. There is $192,603.11 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 November 2007 for the General and Fire Funds.

 

MONTHLY BILLS:

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

 

General Fund bills totaling $56,760.15, through check number 19349, Fire Fund $11,729.41 through check number 9910, Cemetery Fund $45.29, through check number 960. Bills were also paid from the building fund, street light fund, and other self-supporting miscellaneous funds.

 

FIRE BUSINESS:

Fire Chief, Gary Furman, submitted an Incident Log for November 2007. There were 38 calls with an average response time of 6.34 minutes.

 

Chief Furman stated that there is money budgeted for radio equipment. He requested the Board's approval to purchase 10 pagers and one mobile radio. Price comparisons were sought and Telerad had the best price for the pagers and Midcom had the best price for the mobile radio. Chief Furman stated that there is $5,000.00 budgeted for these items. The total price for the equipment mentioned is $4,629.00.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the purchase of 10 pagers and one mobile radio in the amount of $4,629.00. Yes: Diane, Mike, Rosemary, Mary Ellen, Diane and Lynn. No: none.

PLANNING COMMISSION:

1. Railroad Setbacks. The Zoning Administrator, Stephanie Barrett, explained the change to the Zoning Ordinance. Mary Ellen questioned the language that states that buildings will be allowed up to, and across the property line with this change. Further discussion took place.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the railroad setbacks as recommended by the Planning Commission. Yes: Diane, Mike, Rosemary, Lynn, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: none.

 

2. Doris Faulkner. Special Use Permit (SUP) for a Bar, Restaurant, and Store to be located at 3408 Whitehall Road. It was explained the building that stands on this property now, is the old Dalton Grocery Store. This building will be torn down for the new business. It was also stated that in the future a bike rental may be offered at this location also. Further discussion took place.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the SUP for Doris Faulkner, for the combination business to be located at 3408 Whitehall Road, as recommend by the Planning Commission. Yes: Diane, Rosemary, Lynn, Mike, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: none.

 

RESOLUTION-JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION:

The North Central Muskegon County Joint Planning Commission is recommending adoption of said resolution that endorses the Plan created by the Commission, and agrees to incorporate the general principles, policies, and vision identified in the Plan.

 

Motion by Lynn, support by Mike, PASSED to approve the Resolution as written. Yes: Lynn, Mike, Diane, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: none.

 

SPECIAL USE PERMIT-CEDAR CREEK INVESTMENTS:

This item has been on many agendas for the Planning Commission and the Township Board, for a request for a Special Use Permit for a lodging/boarding house at 3071 Second Street, Twin Lake. Robert Eklund, Attorney for Mr. Joel Kruszynski, spoke on behalf of the request. The outstanding zoning violations were discussed, lot coverage, parking issues and too many kitchens in the house. The many issues that have been corrected and brought into compliance were also discussed. Lengthy discussion took place again regarding this request. The Township Attorney, David Wells, stated that the Board can deny the request on the basis that this request does not meeting the Zoning Ordinance requirements, or the Board can approve the request, with stipulations, and send it to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A variance would need to be filed with the ZBA and a final determination made at that level. Mike stated that there have been many people at the meetings, including county officials, in full support of this request. Mike stated that the Master Plan is a fairly new document; however, the Master Plan and the Zoning Ordinance are sometimes in conflict with each other. Mary Ellen stated that she has not received or been given any letters in opposition, nor heard any opposition to this request. She stated tonight, and at previous meetings, many people have been present to express their desire to see the board approve this request. Many county officials have supported this request.

Motion by Diane, support by Lynn, PASSED to approve the request for a Special Use Permit for Mr. Kruszyniski at the property located at 3071 Second Street, contingent upon the decision from the Zoning Board of appeals regarding the outstanding zoning violations. Whatever the Zoning Board of appeals decides will be a final determination. Yes: Diane, Lynn, Mike and Mary Ellen. No: Rosemary and Scott.

 

SPECIAL USE PERMIT-MARK HAMILTON:

In December of 2003 a zone change and a special use permit was requested to have an Auto and Truck Sales and Trailer Rentals to be located 2679 Holton Road. The zone change and the special use permit were approved by the Planning Commission on November 25, 2003, subject to conditions as stated in the special use permit. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the same two requests to the township Board. The zone change and special use requests were on the agenda for the board meeting on December 1, 2003. The zone change from R-1 (Residential) to C-3 (Commercial) was approved at this board meeting; however, the special use permit was not addressed by the Township Board because the Planning Commission placed a condition on approval stating that "Within five years a separate building will be built for sales and the home no longer being used as a home occupation." This being considered a home occupation, it does not require a special use permit. Therefore, the special use permit was not addressed by the township Board.

 

Mr. Hamilton was not present at tonight's meeting, however his request is that the Board now act on the request for a special use permit for Auto and Truck Sales and Trailer Rentals. It was stated that in the special use permit filed in 2003 that the permit would be valid for five years, and that it is still within the time frame allowed. Stephanie stated that Mr. Hamilton is no longer requesting a residence and a business in the same building as was his request in 2003. She stated that Mr. Hamilton will be building a separate building for a showroom at this same location and cannot get a building permit to start building until the request for a special use permit is acted upon.

 

Motion by Mike, support by Rosemary, PASSED to approve the Special Use Permit for Auto and Truck Sales and Trailer Rentals at 2679 Holton Road. Yes: Mike, Rosemary, Diane, Lynn and Scott. No: Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen stated that she is not against the SUP; however, she questions the process and using a time frame listed in the 2003 SUP that was never acted upon.

 

AMEND PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION:

Rosemary explained in the time it took to get paperwork processed for the loan on the new fire truck the interest rate had changed from what the Board approved. She requested permission from the Board for Mary Ellen to change the Resolution adopted to rectify the interest rate with a ceiling of seven (7) Percent. Rosemary stated that she believes the interest rate will be much less than that; however, she is waiting to hear back from the bank for current rates. She stated without Board approval tonight she may have to wait another month, until the next board meeting, and rates may change again in that time and she would not be able to sign and close the loan.

 

Motion by Diane, support by Mike, PASSED to amend the interest rate in the Resolution adopted at last month's meeting to give Rosemary permission to sign/close the loan at a different interest rate, not to exceed seven (7) percent. Yes: Diane, Mike, Lynn, Rosemary, Mary Ellen and Scott. No: none.

 

BOARD COMMENTS:

The proposed truck route ordinance was again discussed. This item will be on the January 3rd meeting agenda (meeting date change for January). The McCormick leaf dump located on Putnam is due for a review of the special use permit that was granted. This item will also be on the January agenda for action.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

None.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Mike, support by Diane, PASSED to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 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