Watertown Charter Township
Minutes of Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
July 16, 2007
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, Trustees Maahs, Mitchell, Weitzel, and Zay. Staff present: Tubbs
Public Comment:
· Harriet Smith, Clark Road, addressed the Board concerning a Public Forum for the DeWitt Library on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:00 P.M. for the new library.
· Dale Westrick, Herbison Road, addressed the Board concerning inspection fees and the lack of timely communication from the township. He thinks that the fees are too high for the community and people will try to circumvent inspections.
· Jack Enderle reported on the progress at the fairgrounds. The Friends of the Looking Glass are helping to address erosion of the river in the DeWitt City Park. Enderle explained that there is action pending to change laws to make certain things misdemeanors not felonies. This would increase inmates in the county jail rather than the state prisons. The regular Commissioners meetings are back to 9:00 A.M. on the last Tuesday of the month.
· Sgt. Knight reported that there was a traffic fatality in the township last week. They are working through a grant program and checking the county businesses for alcohol sales to minors. He provided an update on the barking dog problem. The county has been experiencing larcenies from vehicles, mostly at night and some B & E’s, primarily daylight hours.
· Steve Fabiano, Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority chief, reported 55 requests for service in the month of June: 37 were EMS including 7 MVA; 18 were fire calls including 4 for structure fires, 2 vehicle fires, and 12 miscellaneous calls. Responses are up 28% from 2006. Calls year to date - 81 in Eagle Township and 148 in Watertown Charter Township with the percentages 35% and 65% respectively.
They assessed the Herbison Road house for a training exercise. It is not feasible for burning with the neighbor’s garage so close. They could conduct other training exercises in the house.
Consent Agenda: Husby reported the addition of the sheriff’s report, SCCMUA agenda for the 17th, and a corrected routine bill list. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried
Agenda Approval: Adams added appointments to Compensation Commission and to Public Safety Committee as item 1 and the Inspection Fee Schedule to new business item 3. Weitzel added Sam's Club membership as item 6(e). Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the Board of Trustees agenda dated July 16, 2007 as amended. Motion carried
Approval of Minutes:
Approval of bills: Motion by Thelen and seconded by Mitchell to approve the special bill list as presented. Motion carried
New business:
1. Appointments.
Public Safety Committee. James Acker was in attendance. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that James Acker be appointed to the Public Safety Committee for a term expiring March 31, 2010. Motion carried
Compensation Commission. Marilyn Acker was in attendance. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that Marilyn Acker be appointed to the Compensation Commission for a term expiring January 1, 2011. Motion carried
2. Audit Report. Dave Fisher was present to discuss the audit report for the year ending on December 31, 2006. It reflects a clean opinion. He summarized the general fund, the revolving fund, debt service fund, and cemetery improvement fund. He also discussed the Enterprise funds. He discussed a possible prior year adjustment to adjust capital assets and capital asset investments in the water enterprise fund. The management letter describes the audit process and the only comment suggests cash receipts be given to the bookkeeper weekly. Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to receive and place on file the Audit Report for the Year Ending December 31, 2006. Motion carried
3. Inspection Fee Discussion. Tubbs explained that the township keeps $1.50 of each $8.50 and the rest goes to Municipal Inspection Services. A review is done at the beginning of a contract period. Jeff Cranson, building inspector-Municipal Inspection Services, explained the International Building Code provides a formula for the square foot price of a building based on materials. This is to make sure that everyone is treated the same. Mitchell asked for an explanation of demolition fees which Cranson provided. Westrick commented that the fees are taxes and not affordable, and he is not happy with lack of response from township officials. Tubbs will check her records to see what the fees are based on and will notify Mr. Westrick of her findings and copies to Mitchell and Thelen.
4. Proposals for 2007 Improvements to Computer Network. Three quotes were presented for new CPU's for the treasurer, assessor, and bookkeeper. Mitchell feels that there needs to be more information to support the purchase. Motion by Maahs and seconded by Husby to accept the recommendation of the bookkeeper and purchase the HP equipment from SEHI Government Contract for a total price of $2271.00. Motion carried
5. Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority-audit report ending December 31, 2006.
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Thelen to receive and place on file the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority audit report ending December 31, 2006. Motion carried
6. Ordinance update-amendments. Husby explained that they have a final draft of the zoning ordinance and the planning director and commission members are conducting a review of the illustrations that were not included in the previous draft.
Husby presented a list of many of the items that were discussed by the committee for future amendment and asks the work to continue thru an ad hoc committee or a standing committee. Members agree that the ad hoc committee will continue. They will meet August 14 at 8:30 a.m.
7. Tri-County Regional Planning Commission-Local review of Preliminary Base Year 2005 Socio-Economic Data for Regional 2035 Transportation Plan Update.
Husby commented that she and the planning director are working on portions of it. Motion by Adams and seconded by Mitchell to direct the township manager to coordinate the information and respond. Motion carried
8. Policy and Personnel Committee.
a. Credit card policy 4.4f. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Board of Trustees adopts the credit card policy for receipts - Policy No. 4.4f. Motion carried
b. Credit limit change-policy 4.11h. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs
that the Township Board adopts the recommended change to policy 4.11h Credit limit to be $500.00. Motion carried
c. Capitalization Schedule-policy 4.8b. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board adopts policy 4.8b Capitalization Schedule as amended. Motion carried
d. Amendment to 1.12 and 1.12a Health Reimbursement costs. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board adopts the recommended changes to Policy 1.12 Health Insurance, paragraph 2 as presented.
Motion carried
Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board adopts the amendments to 1.12a Health Insurance for employees who elect medical coverage under 1.12 be amended as presented. Motion carried
e. Sam’s Club membership request. Weitzel explained that the Policy and Personnel Committee recommends no change be made to the Sam’s Club membership.
Pending Business:
1. Herbison Road property. The expenses to date were calculated to be $7,082.24. Motion by Weitzel and seconded by Maahs that the Township Board offers the Herbison Road property to Habitat for Humanity for a sale price of $7,082.00. Motion carried The manager will get paperwork form the state of Michigan.
2. Watertown Parkway rental house. Weitzel doesn’t feel that it should be rented. There is mold and animal smells; it would cost too much to make it livable. The property has great potential for recreation. Tubbs feels that the house could be used by the fire department for training purposes. Husby feels that the property is great for walking trails with woods, meadow and wetlands. She suggested deconstruction of the house to recycle some of the building materials. The township manager can include deconstruction of the house in the 2008 Budget.
3. Survey. Tubbs passed out samples of the draft survey as it was written for phoning. Members will provide feedback by the 30th of July. The final draft can be addressed at the August Board meeting.
4. Assessor’s report on IFTE revocations – no comment
5. Public hearings for road project requests – on hold. There will be an informational meeting on July 19th at 5:30 P.M. at the Delta Twp. Board room on Eaton Hwy paving.
6. BS & A Cash receipting program – remain pending.
7. Custodial Risk of Investment & Daily Custodial Funds – remain pending.
Discussion and Public Comment: none
Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 P.M.
Date approved: ________________ _____________________________
Deb Adams, Supervisor
______________________________
Jean Husby, Clerk