



September 2015 Minutes
09/10/2015September 2015 Minutes
ELMIRA TOWNSHIP
COUNTY OF OTSEGO
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
A regular meeting of the Elmira Township board was held on September 10, 2015 at the Elmira Township hall commencing at 6:00 p.m. with Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak calling the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members present were Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak, Clerk, Susan Schaedig, Treasurer, Diane Purgiel and Trustees, Leonard Skop and Dale Holzschu.
Others attending were Elmira PC members, Gloria Torello and Duane Hoffman, Sheriff, Matt Nowicki, Commissioner, Bruce Brown, Steve Rawlings and Scotty Kehoe of DTE, Ordinance Officer, Ron Geiger, Ken Bradstreet of Wolverine Power and resident, Dave Johannigsmeier.
Leonard made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded by Dale and carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Ken Bradstreet gave an update on the Wolverine project. He stated that there will be heavy cement pours for the next six weeks for the cement slabs for the generators.
Bruce Brown gave a brief run down on the recognition for Military Veterans on September 11, 2011. There will be a parade and a memorial.
ASSESSOR’S REPORT:
Debbie is continuing routine maintenance and inspections and hopefully will be taking pictures after the leaves fall off the trees.
She has computerized maps to satisfy the state for our land value maps, but have not yet been able to get them printed.
The sales and building permits have been slow but steady this year.
ORDINANCE OFFICER REPORT:
Ron is continuing to work with Jamie on Trunk Lane.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT:
Duane reported that the Multi Use Zoning will finally be going before the County Planning Commission for the October meeting.
Diane P. made a motion of support for the Otsego County Multi Use Zoning. Seconded by Sue and carried unanimously.
Duane asked for direction from the township board for a recreation committee so applications can be made for DNR grants.
The board asked if the EPC would make a subcommittee of the PC. Gloria stated she would be a member and find a resident to join her.
Sue read a letter from Catherine Mullhaupt of MTA in regard as to whether the positions of township planning commission member and county planning commission member are compatible where the township does not zone, but the county does.
She did some research and checked with MTA Legal Counsel, and did not find any conflict of interest, so the two positions are compatable(may be held by the same person).
Therefore, it is okay for the same person to be both a township planning commission member and a county planning commission member.
FIRE AUTHORITY:
Diane F stated that there will be a Fourth Annual Firefighters Open House held at the Fire Hall on Saturday, September 12th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m..
READING OF THE BILLS:
11084 Susan Schaedig, Clerk salary 1,059.91
11085 Susan Schaedig, reim internet & phone 30.00
11086 Diane Franckowiak, Supv salary 803.66
11087 Duane Hoffman, August PC mtg 110.00
11088 Ron Geiger, Ordinance Officer, Liquor Inspector 243.78 11089 Leonard Skop, Trustee salary, August PC mtg 238.83
11090 Gloria Torello, August PC mtg 130.00
11091 Dale Holzschu, Trustee salary 128.83
11092 VOID
11093 WalMart, curtains, shelves, polish, towels 144.93
11094 Spartan Sewer & Septic 90.00
11095 Dan Smith, CPA, accounting review & F-65 2,050.00
11096 Crossroads Industries Inc, clean-up day postcards 447.29
11097 Knight Cleaners, strip, seal, refinish VCT Tile floor 478.63
11098 D & D Assessing 2,085.00
11099 Diane Franckowiak, reimb internet, phone, use of computer 50.00
11100 Ron Geiger, mileage 69.00
11101 Diane Purgiel, Treasurer salary 1,533.49
11102 Diane Purgiel, reimb mileage, phone-internet 229.91
11103 Probuild, storm shield, aluminum trimcoil 230.41
11104 Sandra Purgiel, deputy treasurer wages 180.00
11105 American Waste 90.00
11106 Dunns Business Solutions 36.99
11107 Doreen Ostrander, hall cleaning 450.00
11108 Doreen Ostrander, reimb cleaning supplies, flowers, mulch 90.98
11109 Matelski Lumber Co. bell project, lumber 609.07
11110 Alpine Web 16.00
11111 Municipal Underwriters of Mich, Inc., insurance 6,977.00
11112 CenturyLink 46.33
11113 Mark Rygwelski, lawn mowing 795.00
E-Pay State Withholding Taxes, July, Aug, September 618.81
E-Pay September withholding taxes 771.56
11114 Great Lakes Energy 478.74
21,314.15
Leonard made a motion to pay the bills. Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Diane P reported that the new company that does the e checks is working great. She has collected the Direct TV personal property taxes.
101-337 M Bank 102,233.94 M Bank Savings 82,174.87 Chem Bank 110,696.87
First Federal ICS 21,203.89 Ckg 80,881.00 Comm Financial 210,494.79 TOTAL 607,685.36
First Merit Tax Dep 352,249.91 Ckg 5,984.94 TOTAL 358,234.85
OLD BUSINESS:
Steve Rawlings of DTE presented a rewritten Gas Franchise Ordinance draft to the township board. He had taken attorney, Bryan Graham’s proposed Ordinance and went over each paragraph and changed some wording.
Leonard suggested tabling any action until the board can review the proposed ordinance.
Steve stated that Scotty Kehoe will be the contact person and will have a final draft for a later meeting.
DTE will pay attorney fees for a reasonable amount and publication costs.
NEW BUSINESS:
Diane F read a letter from Bryan Graham in regard to the Billboard Ordinance. He stated that there was a precedent setting law suit; a billboard ordinance cannot regulate content of the billboard, examples include the type of business, or type of event, or a religion. Duane will have the Planning Commission review the Township’s billboard ordinance for language regulating content.
Adam Gandolphi of Par Plan Insurance reviewed the township’s insurance coverage.
Sue made a motion to accept the 2015 Tax Rate Request(L-4029). Township Allocated millage at .8850 and the fire department operating 1.0000. Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.
Diane F made a motion to rescind her motion made on August 13, 2015 to amend Ordinance 1 of 2010 to Create a Township Planning Commission to add Subsection(G) to Section 2 of the Ordinance to read:
(g) The Elmira Township board may appoint the Elmira Township representative on the Otsego County Planning Commission as an advisory member, but this person shall not be a voting member. Seconded by Dale and carried unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the board, Leonard made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Sue and carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m..
Susan Schaedig, Clerk