Watertown Charter Township
Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
December 17, 2007
7:00 P.M.
Call to order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance.Board Members Present: Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen, and Trustees Zay, Weitzel, Mitchell, and Maahs. Staff present: Tubbs, Polverento
Public Comment:
Chris Hnatiw, 9111 Riverside Drive, has ascertained from the minutes of July, August, and September that others in the township are having problems with barking dogs. She has dogs disturbing her peace from morning to night. She researched the township ordinances to find that the supervisor can enforce the noise ordinance. She also found a brochure online entitled "Why Does Your Dog Bark.", suggesting it could be sent when a problem arises. She wondered about alternative fuels-biotechnology and the possibility of an ethanol plant in the township with the odors and emissions that could result, which leads into the second issue concerning a neighbor who burns wet grass, generally at night. She did approach the person, but she didn’t receive any cooperation. She looked at the burning ordinances and suggests that a brochure would help those to understand how it impacts others.
Jack Enderle, county commissioner, reported that the county did agree to assist in the purchase of a motor grader for the county road commission. He spoke about a farmland preservation workshop he attended and would like to know how the township feels about the preservation of farmland.
Paul Opsommer, State representative, addressed the Board of Trustees about an article concerning what is broke in Lansing with the state government. He serves on Energy technology, K-12 Education, and Local Government. He is also a member of a task force concerning foster care for infants. He said that the bill on tipping fees is stalled in the House and Senate.
Steve Fabiano, fire chief for Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority, reported that there were forty calls in November: twenty-four were emergency medical calls and sixteen were fire related calls. He asked Opsommer about the 911 legislation placing a surcharge on cell phones. It has passed but has a sunset provision.
Sgt. Knight reported minimal accidents on Sunday following the snow storm. Asked that residents keep alert to suspicious vehicles in the neighborhood and call if sighted. He met with Dan Armentrout of the Road Commission about speed limits change for Wacousta and Herbison Roads. It could go to 35 and 45 depending on the amount of driveways in the village. The proximity of the parks may help to keep the 25 mph speed limit. Maahs related an incident a resident observed of leaf dumping in the ditches and the response from the sheriff's office. Sgt. Knight will follow up on that issue.
Steven Greenidge, Somerset Hills, discussed building an assisted living care facility. He wants to find out about any special permits and how the township feels about it. Polverento briefly explained the requirements.
Consent Agenda: Husby reported that on Friday, December 14, 2007, a petition was submitted to "stop and invalidate the circulated petition to pave Eaton Hwy from Delta River to Wacousta Road". She reported that Correspondence #5 about the house on Osprey will not be treated as a petition since it is lacking signatures and the signature of a circulator. Comcast Cable has been paying the township and will reduce the townships' franchise payments in each quarter in 2008 in order to recoup the $4900.00 overpayment. Weitzel also commented on the complaint concerning noxious weeds. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried
Agenda Approval: Maahs asked to add the "Model Citizen" memo under "Appointments." Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the agenda for Monday, December 17, 2007 agenda as amended. Motion carried
Approval of Minutes: Regular meeting, November 19, 2007 - Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to approve the minutes of November 19, 2007 as presented. Motion carried
Special meeting, December 4, 2007-Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the minutes of the special meeting on December 4, 2007 be approved as presented. Motion carried
Approval of bills: Thelen asked about the laptop computer and what it will be used for. Tubbs replied that it will be for general office use since the two already owned are out of date. Weitzel commented that it will be used at meetings to enable accurate minutes to be produced. Husby suggested that the sound system was purchased for that and that every board and committee has a secretary or staff responsible for minutes. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the bill list as presented for December 17, 2007 be approved as presented.
Comments -Thelen suggested that a government conference should not be held at a casino.
Mitchell commented on the laptop computer and suggested that word documents do not need the newest and greatest. He would like to see an actual need for purchasing new computers. Motion by Husby and seconded by Mitchell to amend the motion to pay the bills with the exception of the office laptop.
Yes: Thelen, Husby, Mitchell
No: Adams, Maahs, Weitzel, Zay
The motion to amend fails.
Original motion:
Yes: Weitzel, Maahs, Adams, Zay
No: Thelen, Husby, Mitchell
Motion carried
Pending Business: None
NEW BUSINESS:
2. Report on Township survey results. The response rate was close to 25%. There was almost perfect stratification by zip code which means it covers the entire township. 54% of the people like where they live because of the rural quiet. The biggest concerns were growth and taxes. Sensitivity to taxes was consistent throughout. There was a preference for cutting services rather than raising taxes. Over half of the respondents 59% felt that their taxes were too high. There was overall satisfaction with the direction of the township with a positive rating of 74%. Protecting farmland was important 55%, but not if paid for with added taxes. Over 75% would vote no to tax increases. The residents are satisfied with the existing fire and emergency medical services and are opposed to increasing taxes to pay for more. MRA-EPIC will provide verbatims of the written responses.
1. Appointments:
a. Cemetery Board-Dorothy Wesseler. Motion by Husby and seconded by Thelen to re-appoint Dorothy Wesseler to the Cemetery Board for three years. Motion carried
b. Compensation Commission-David LaLumia. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to re-appoint David LaLumia to the Compensation Commission. Motion Carried
c. Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority-Billy Crego. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to re-appoint Billy Crego to the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority. Motion carried
d. Sewer Board of Appeals-Gloria Miller. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to re-appoint Gloria Miller to the Sewer Board of Appeals. Motion carried
e. Annual appointments. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to appoint John Maahs as chair pro tempore to expire December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to appoint Jean Husby and Janice Thelen to the Clinton County Officers Association for a term expiring on December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to appoint Ken Mitchell and George Weitzel to the Election Commission to expire on December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to appoint Ken Mitchell, George Weitzel, and Dan Zay to the Newsletter Advisory Committee for a term of one year to expire December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to appoint Janice Thelen to the Parks and Recreation Committee for a term expiring December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to appoint Ken Mitchell to the Public Safety Committee for a term of one year expiring December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to appoint Janice Thelen to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Zay to appoint John Maahs to the Environmental Issues Committee for a term of one year expiring December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to appoint Deb Adams and Jean Husby to the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority Board for a term of one year expiring December 31, 2008. Husby suggested that Ken Mitchell may be interested in serving on the board. Thelen withdrew her motion and Maahs withdrew his support. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to appoint Deb Adams and Ken Mitchell to the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority Board for a term of one year expiring December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to appoint Jean Husby to the Road Conditions Committee for a term of one year expiring on December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to appoint Janice Thelen and Jean Husby as Board representatives to the Regional Economic Development Team for a term of one year expiring December 31, 2008. Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs to appoint George Weitzel to a three year term to the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority for a term expiring December 31, 2010.
Yes: Zay, Mitchell, Adams, Maahs, Weitzel
No: Thelen, Husby
Motion carried
Motion by Maahs and seconded by Mitchell to appoint John Maahs, Jean Husby, and Dan Zay to a one year term for the Model Citizen Award Committee to expire December 31, 2008. Motion carried
A volunteer Ad hoc committee to study the Watertown Parkway property will include Jean Husby, Dan Zay, John Maahs, Janice Thelen, and with staff support from Andrea Polverento.
3. Resolution no. 12-172007-1: Resolution to extend the Fire Authority Agreement. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to waive the reading of the resolution. Motion carried
Mitchell gave an update on the negotiations that have been ensuing. There are no major disagreements. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Husby to adopt the resolution to extend the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority agreement for sixty days.
Yes: Zay, Husby, Adams, Weitzel, Maahs, Thelen, Mitchell
No: None
Motion carried and resolution adopted
4. Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority-John Clark-letter requesting a health care
savings reserve. Thelen commented that it is an operational expense and should be passed
to the municipalities. Adams commented that the excess amounts are usually returned to he
townships and it is not clear why the chair would like to see those amounts retained by the
Authority. Husby added that it has been agreed that the townships would hold the reserves
fund expenses thru the approval of the budget. It would not provide any advantage for lower
premiums. No action.
5. MSU Practicum Project. The township has been accepted by MSU for a practicum
project. They will prepare a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. It will cost $2500.00.
Motion by Maahs and seconded by Thelen to approve the project with Michigan State
University for the creation of a Township Parks and Recreation Comprehensive
Development Plan at a cost of $2500.00 from the 2008 budget line item 751801.018.
Motion carried
Andrea Polverento will be the Township point person. Husby asked if input would be
requested from the Board and many of the committees? Polverento and Tubbs will meet
with the students in January 2008.
6. Mower deck. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs that the Township trade in the grooming mower and purchase the 62D convertible mower with the mechanical mower lift and front hitch/mid mount mower combo bracket from Bader & Sons in the amount of $1,052.47 to come out of account number 265-931.000 (2007 budget). Motion carried
7. Warming house roof. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to accept the bid from Gary L. Black in the amount of $1,300.00 to tear off, replace, and haul away the old shingles of the Looking Glass Park warming house roof. This amount would be taken out of account number 265-931.001. Motion carried
8. Practice of allowing construction of new homes on incomplete utilities. Thelen commented that the sewer lines in Lakeside Preserve have not been accepted and are not scheduled to be accepted until completion of the development. She would like to accept them as they come in by phases. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to refer this subject to the township manager’s department for further review and a report back to the Board of Trustees by the February regular Board meeting.
Comment-Husby asked why there were occupied residences in the development on Stoll Road when the sewer is not completed nor accepted. The ordinance requirement was waived for the model homes, but the Board was not asked to allow occupancy. Polverento commented that they were given conditional occupancy. She was advised that for the two homes there was adequate holding capacity. Tubbs added that the issue with the pump station delayed construction, but SCCMUA is checking and approved the connections. Thelen understands the circumstances, but an issue like this should come before the Board. Polverento would have liked to have done that, but in this case she consulted Jennifer on this issue. Husby agrees that since it is an ordinance provision, any variance needs to be brought to the board.
Motion carried
9. Research information concerning the cemetery land. Weitzel referred to minutes from April of 1998 when a motion was made purchase the Husted property for the cemetery. In 1999 Weitzel sent a letter to the clerk posing questions concerning cemetery use, asking for statistical information on number of lots etc. Husby commented that we have allowances for two burials per space under certain conditions and over the years more people are being cremated not using the single vault burial space. She has asked about creating a cremains garden to allow for lower costs and better use of the space available.
10. Meeting dates for 2008. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the Watertown Charter Township meeting dates for 2008 as presented. Motion carried
Husby would like to change the meeting time for the meeting on December 27, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Discussion and Public Comment:
Patti Schaefer commented on the survey and questioned figures referring to the cost of fire protection. Tubbs commented that the 2008 figures were used with reserves funds for depreciation. In 2008, they put in $75,000.00 for depreciation for a new fire truck.
Husby commented on the memo from McGinty pertaining to corrections and additions to be made to the Code of Ordinances.
Thelen reported on "Lunch with Santa." They had 149 parents and children in attendance. Maahs asked if there are questions about the "Model Citizen" award proposed. One change would be to take submissions thru the end of March.
Husby reported on the number of outstanding "Conflict of Interest" forms.
Adjournment-
Date approved: ________________ _____________________________
Deb Adams, Supervisor
______________________________
Jean Husby, Clerk