The
Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order by Supervisor Kenneth
Vredenburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Road, Stanwood, Michigan, 49346
on November 11, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Present
were: Kenneth Vredenburg, Elizabeth G Carr, Carolyn Towsley, John Brockway, and
Sandra Mayo. There were two guests present.
Public
Comment: Art Adelman-Commissioner: Mecosta County did an Intergovernmental
Agreement with Newaygo County for the morgue. The morgue received a $601,641.00
GAP grant. Article 322, Adult Businesses, was re-worded in the Master Plan. EMS
will receive 0.6 mills. COA will stay at 0.5 mills.
Minutes: In the September 9, 2014 minutes, #7 should read “He is not able to
attend meetings any longer due to his health”. Moved by Carolyn Towsley,
supported by Sandra Mayo to approve the October 14, 2014 minutes as presented
with the correction to the September 9, 2014 minutes. Motion carried.
Financial Report: The Township Funds Balance is $279,584.35. The Balance Sheet
is still incorrectly showing a balance in Taxes Receivables and Accounts
Payable. We received $20.00 in Land Division Fees from Casair. $20,000.00 was
transferred from a CD to the General Fund for the 9 Mile Road project. There is
still an incorrect $15.00 entry in the Fire Department Independent CD. There is
$16.56 due back to the First Responders from the IRS because of an incorrect
EFTPS entry. There was $300.00 in lot sales at the Cemetery. The new tax
collection statement and the Township Newsletter have been sent. Moved by Sandra
Mayo, supported by John Brockway to accept the Finance Report subject to audit.
Motion carried.
Payment
of the Bills: Moved by John Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley to approve
for payment Township check #’s 8337-8360 and Cemetery check #’s 1517-1518 and to
present for review Fire Department check #’s 4964-4967 and First Responder check
#’s1466-1467. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1.
Fire
Department and First Responder Report: The next Fire Board Meeting will be
November 19, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire Department. The credit card has been
received. The cost to repair the transmission on the 1990 GMC was $5,155.63.
Unfortunately tax is included in that amount. We have applied to Valley Truck
Parts to receive a refund.
2.
Assessor and Supervisor Report: There is a Board of Review meeting in December.
The water has been drained in the pipes at the cemetery for the winter.
3.
Treasurer’s Report: 85.5% of the tax payers have paid 95% of the taxes. The MCTA
meeting was at the Chippewa Community Building. The meeting was well attended by
the County and the candidates, but not by the townships. Randy Maxwell is
retiring. Tim Nestle from the County Road Commission said that salt came in
three times as expensive as last year. The Road Commission will not be receiving
any flex or overtime. The expressway will be the main focal point for any extra
plowing. The County Treasurer’s office will begin accepting credit cards to make
payments. The Drain Commission code was updated. Recycle at Morton Township has
been moved to the Business Park not the Industrial Park.
4.
Clerk’s
Report: We had a total of 437 voters with 124 of those being absentee voters for
the General Election. That is just short of being half of our 975 registered
voters. Burnham and Flowers sent a letter stating that they will not need to
collect a participating fee this year, so our costs will go down a little. We
received a formal complaint from Karen Colby that we did not post in the paper
that we had a vacancy on the board that we were going to be filling. The Payroll
Audit with the Michigan Municipal League has been completed. I will need to
order more checks for the Township and I will need to renew the Office 365 on
the office computer.
5.
Foreclosed Property: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway to
reject and to give back to the State of Michigan all foreclosed property offered
to us in 2014. Motion carried.
6.
Fire
Department: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by Sandra Mayo for Austin
Township to reimburse the Fire Department for 50% of the cost of the
transmission repair on the 1990 GMC. Motion carried.
7.
Road
Commission: Austin Township is planning no road projects for next year.
Adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Elizabeth G Carr
Austin
Township Clerk