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