The Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order by Supervisor Kenneth Vredendburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Road, Stanwood, Michigan, 49346 on June 9, 2015 at 7:40 p.m.

Present were: Kenneth Vredenburg, Carolyn Towsley, Sandra Mayo and Cheryl Wensloff. John Brockway arrived later. Absent: Elizabeth G Carr.

Public Comment:  None

Minutes: Moved by Sandra Mayo, supported by Carolyn Towsley to accept the minutes as presented. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Clerk’s report is off by $1.  It was a treasurer’s error.  Will show correctly next month.  Accounts Receivable, taxes, has been received and is in the total cash in checking.  Need to have auditor help enter the corrected amount that was received from the County.  Revenue sharing was $17,941 and there was one hall rental last month.  All other accounts balanced.  Kenneth Vredenburg accepted the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit.

Payment of the Bills: Moved by John Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley to approve for payment Township check #’s 8500-8517 and Cemetery check #’s 1531-1532 and to present for review Fire Department check #’s 5049-5056 and First Responder check #’s 1506-1510 (holding check 1509 as possible duplicate to check 1507). Motion carried.

Unfinished Business:

1.       Fire Department and First Responder Report: The board approved new board members and changing the bookkeeping from Austin Township to Mecosta Township.  Aptitude testing was not approved.  Year-end financial report was accepted with one more expense to be paid; Secretary fee of $400.  Training was completed at Trans Canada and Brower Park and pump and operations training.  Fire department will resume pool filling when requested.  Maintenance was repair of regulator and alternator on old grass rig and two batteries replaced.  There were 23 First Responder runs since last report.   An old two-wheel cart may be restored and put up for display.

2.       Assessor and Supervisor reported that the Canadian Lakes zoning issue was passed by Mecosta County 4-1.  Kenn has been contacted by Verizon again.  They plan to request to be put on the Mecosta County Commission Board agenda in July.  Kenn is still working on Metro-Act information with Casair.  He is trying to figure out how much area they cover in our township.  Casair may be exempt from application fee.  We have lost the people who clean the township hall since they are very busy with their greenhouse and the farm market.  For the summer Kenn, Beth and John (who will do floors) will do the cleaning.

3.       Treasurer’s Report: Newsletters have been delivered to Equalization to go out with tax bills.  There were 25 foreclosures this year.  Morley-Stanwood will have 3.6 mil for their voted debt.  Mecosta County Development Corporation meeting is next Friday.  Carolyn will be attending.

4.       Clerk’s Report: MTA meeting announcements.

5.       Hazardous Waste:  Carolyn Towsley moved to support the program with $300.00 donation.  Seconded by Sandra Mayo.  Motion carried.

New Business

1.       Transfer of Fire Department and First Responders books.  Carolyn Towsley moved that we create Resolution 15-02.  Resolution to accept the Fire Board recommendation to transfer the accounting financials from Austin Township to Mecosta Township for the Mecosta Austin Fire Department and Mecosta Austin First Responders and remove the Austin Township signatories from the banking institution effective June 30, 2015.  Roll call:  John Brockway – yes, Sandra Mayo – yes, Carolyn Towsley – yes, Kenn Vredenburg – yes.

2.       Cemetery Mowing – Need to keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

3.       FOIA Update – We need to update our FOIA resolution.  Sandra Mayo will get information needed so we can adopt a new updated resolution next month.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Cheryl Wensloff

Austin Township Deputy Clerk