Watertown Charter Township

Minutes of Board of Trustees Special Meeting

August 13, 2007

6:00 P.M.

Call to order:  The meeting was called to order at 6:00 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, Polverento.  Planning Commission member-Ron Overton.

Public Comment:  none

Agenda Approval:  Motion by Thelen and seconded by Maahs to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion carried

New Business:

      1.      Discussion of township-wide survey

               Tubbs introduced John Cavanaugh from EPIC-MRA.  He will work with the board to amend the draft survey to refine what the board wants.  The next draft will be in the form of a mailed survey.  Weitzel commented that ambulance service is a priority question for public safety services.  Mitchell suggested that Mr. Cavanaugh explain the process.  Mr. Cavanaugh explained that they had reviewed a prior survey, that the survey draft is too long intentionally to try to include everything.  If there are insufficient returns from the mailed survey, there will be a follow-up survey by phone.  More than 1800 surveys will be mailed out.  It will be about eight pages and include a stamped envelope for return of the survey.  A cover letter will explain the process to the resident.  They ask for the youngest adult in the household because they tend to be  under represented in the sample.  This is done only with the phone survey.   Maahs asked if they are looking for resident types, geographic areas, new vs. old resident, or rural vs. urban.  Mr. Cavanaugh explained that these will self-stratify.  Thelen wants assurance that all of the residential households receive a mailed survey.  It was explained that is the intent.  Overton asked if the businesses would be surveyed.  It was explained that wasn’t a part of this survey.  Priorities:  Thelen would like to see questions concerning township services available at the township hall. Weitzel commented that the need for a response on ambulance service is the main question.  Mitchell suggested that there shouldn’t be questions where the township has no control or action is not expected.  Police presence, fire service, and ambulance service were discussed as being priorities.  Cavanaugh commented the survey needs to reveal if the residents feel that they get a good return on their tax dollars.  They include questions concerning ballot proposals and whether or not the resident would vote yea or nay to support the service with tax dollars.  Husby commented that a question concerning services needed and provided is important.                           Overton feels that the questions concerning personal issues such as, age, income, etc. are turn-offs and will not be answered.   Mr. Cavanaugh was asked to draft a question  to the resident concerning where the tax dollars go.  Polverento suggested a question concerning acreage owned.  Weitzel suggested a question about knowledge of the    township website and newsletter.  Polverento suggested a question that would reveal  how the resident gets knowledge of township issues.   Husby reviewed the results of  the 1994 survey and noted that many responses were received on unfair assessments; roads and speeding; water quality; the loss of farmland, wetlands, wildlife, and open space; rapid growth and density; rural character.  Zay feels that the planning issues are important for baseline information.  Adams feels that the priority issues identified are:  township services (public safety with ambulance and fire) and planning issues.  Husby suggested a question concerning communications and how they connect to us how we provide information is important.  Other items discussed in previous sessions for a survey have been; recycling, roads, emergency services, recreation, PDRs, community  character, infrastructure, pedestrian circulation plan, township services, and communications. The draft survey questions were reviewed in detail to determine which to include in the final survey. 

Mr. Cavanaugh expects to return a final draft in one week.

Public comment:         none

Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 P.M.

Date approved: ________________                            _____________________________

                                                                                    Deb Adams, Supervisor

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Jean Husby, Clerk