The
Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on August 12, 2014 by
Supervisor Kenneth Vredenburg at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce
Road, Stanwood, MI, 49346.
Present
were: Kenneth Vredenburg, Elizabeth G Carr, Carolyn Towsley, John Conforte, and
John Brockway.
Minutes: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Conforte to accept the
minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Finance
Report: The Township received the Revenue Sharing Check of $23,954.59. The
school parcel dollars have been deposited into the General Fund. Moved by John
Conforte, supported by Elizabeth G Carr to accept the Financial Report. Carried
subject to audit. The Township balances but the Taxes Receivables need to be
added back in to be shown as transferred into the account. There is an incorrect
balance showing in the Accounts Payable. There is a difference of $15.00 in the
Independent Bank CD for the Fire Department. It is an entry error in the clerk’s
register that has to be corrected. There is a difference of $16.56 in the First
Responder accounts. The IRS was over paid that amount in the EFTPS payment.
There is a refund coming. The Cemetery balances.
Payment
of the Bills: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway to approve
for payment Township check #’s 8277-8299 and Cemetery check #’s 1510-1511 and to
present for review Fire Department check #’s 4934-4946 and First Responder check
#’s 1437-1449. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1.
Fire
Department and First Responder Report: A Resolution from Isabella Bank was
passed to fulfill the requirements of acquiring a credit card for the Fire
Department. Chief Bell stated that we need to begin replacing the turnout suits
and new fire boots will need to be replaced at the same time. The Fire
Department received one bid to repair the roof from the winter ice damage. A
motion was made to accept the bid from C&T Home Improvement to repair the roof.
Two broken pagers will need to be replaced. Quintin Buss has passed Fire Fighter
One. Training on the site surveys will begin on July 23rd. The Fire
Department will be purchasing a new camera to record fire scenes for
investigation. Charlie Walch has his MFR license and Frank West has joined the
department also. He already has his EMT Basic license.
2.
Assessor and Supervisor’s Report: There were three requests at the Board of
Review. There is a new sawmill on 150th Avenue. There are several
junk sites in the process of being cleaned up.
3.
Treasurer’s Report: Personal property
has been seized in lieu of payment of taxes. The Auction will August 23, 2014 at
noon at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Road. 27% of taxpayers have paid 14%
of the tax dollars so far. At the State of Michigan auction of foreclosed
properties no parcels from Austin Township were sold. The next MCTA meeting will
be October 27, in the Community Building at Canadian Lakes. At the last meeting
at High Banks Park the Chamber of Commerce gave a synopsis of their services.
Economic Development and several political candidates rounded out the program.
4.
Clerk’s
Report: We received a Thank You note from the Make-a-Wish organization for the
use of our parking lot as a watering station. There were 173 ballots cast at the
Primary Election. This includes the Absentee Voters. Doug Wohlberg was here to
conduct the bi-annual audit on Friday, August 8th.
5.
GIS-Work has begun on the Global Information System. Currently we will be
charged a $10 split combo fee for new parcel descriptions. We already pay a
maintenance fee and update fees. Hoping there can be some negotiation about the
fees.
New
Business:
1.
Flood
Plain: The observation period has ended and the maps are final. The Township has
a year to adopt a Resolution adopting the maps. This will allow residents to opt
in to the program on their insurance.
2.
Propane: Tri-County has capped the price at $194.9. There is no pre-buy on a
commercial account.
3.
Cement:
Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by Elizabeth G Carr to accept the Parker
Cement bid of $2412.00 to replace the front sidewalk. Motion carried.
4.
Insurance: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway to move the
Liability and Property Insurance from Western Insurance to Lind & Lind Insurance
for the year beginning September 1, 2014- September 1, 2015. Motion carried.
5.
Sale of
Property: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by Elizabeth G Carr to give
Kenneth Vredenburg the authority to liquidate Austin Township State-foreclosed
property. Motion carried.
6.
ANR:
Three blight complaints have been cleaned up.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Elizabeth G Carr