September 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 12^th 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