The Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on April 8, 2014 at 7:35 p.m. by Supervisor Kenneth Vredenburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Road, Stanwood, MI, 49346.
Present were: Kenneth Vredenburg, Elizabeth G Carr, Carolyn Towsley, and John Brockway. John Conforte was absent.
Minutes: Moved by John Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley to accept the minutes with corrections. #1. Fire Department and First Responder Report should read “The next meeting is Wednesday, March 19th at 7 p.m. at the Fire Hall.” and “The Fire Board met with Ken Lind from Lind & Lind Insurance.” #3. Treasurer’s Report should read “We have 1 personal property tax outstanding.” #4. Clerk’s Report should read “Moved by Elizabeth G Carr, supported by Carolyn Towsley to contribute $1,000.00 to Walton Erickson Library and $500.00 to Morton Township Library.” Motion carried.
Finance Report: The Township opened a CD at FirstBank. The Mecosta Austin Fire Department reimbursed Austin Township and Mecosta Township each $1,000.00 for the purchase of the LUCAS machine. Accepted subject to audit.
Payment of the Bills: Moved by Kenneth Vredenburg, supported by Carolyn Towsley to approve the payment of Township check #’s 8187-8226 and Cemetery check #’s 1498-1499 and to present for review Fire Department check #’s 4885-4905, with the exception of check #4897, and First Responder check # 1421. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1. Fire Department and First Responder Report: The Fire Department Budget was approved with the addition of line items for Sale of Equipment, Clerical, and Fuel. The First Responder Budget was approved with line items added for Insurance and for Audit. The grass rig has been painted. The Fire Board voted to switch insurance companies to Lind & Lind Insurance. The Fire Board also voted to approve the current Fire Department and First Responder officers to remain in the same positions. There were several repairs that needed to be made on the fire trucks. Engine 3-12 had an engine oil cooler leak and the pump cooler froze. Tender 3-22 had one outlet and one pump valve that froze and broke.
2. Assessor’s and Supervisor’s Report: The Cemetery Board Meeting will move their meeting on April 17, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. The owners of the property on Timber Trail have responded to the request for clean-up of the fire site.
3. Treasurer’s Report: We balanced with Mecosta County Treasurer at the end of the tax season. The letters to the mortgage companies will go out next month.
4. Clerk’s Report: The clerk’s offices are required to take a certain amount of continuing education classes to retain our certification as election administrators. Some of them will have fees associated with them. The State Election Commission is beginning the process to select new voting machines. This is necessary because our current voting machines all run XP which is no longer a supported system. The Legislative Advocacy Day is May 1, 2014.
New Business:
1. Road Commission Meeting: There is no planned increase in Revenue by sales tax. Senator Darwin Booher explained that so far every plan proposed to assist County Road Commissions would only cover maintenance. The Mecosta County Road Commission is working with 24% less employees. They are 16% over in wages due to the severe winter. They are trying to cut costs every way they can. They have refurbished several trucks and are leasing some graders and loaders. The plan at this point is to continue with the same brine program as before for the summer.
2. Fire Department: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway that Greg Babbitt would serve another term as member-at-large for Austin Township on the Mecosta Austin Fire Board. Motion carried.
3. Foreclosed Properties: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by Elizabeth G Carr to spend $500.00-$1000.00 to have our attorney give us a legal opinion on our position as it relates to the foreclosed properties. Motion carried.
4. Mecosta Township Association Meeting: The MCTA meeting will be held here at Austin Township on April 28th at 7 p.m. We still need to do some light repairs and maintenance on the hall. If necessary Kenn Vredenburg will do the repairs himself. We will also be taking bids to fix the cement in the front of the hall.
5. Tower: Casair is considering putting up a tower on the corner of !30th and Buchanan Road.
Adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Elizabeth G Carr
Austin Township Clerk