The Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on April 12, 2011 at 7:39 p.m. by Supervisor Kenneth Vredenburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Road, Stanwood, Michigan, 49346.
Present were: Kenneth Vredenburg, Carolyn Towsley, Elizabeth G. Carr, and John Brockway.
Absent: John Conforte.
There was one guest present.
Public Comment: The new County Treasurer has not been selected yet. They are almost finished with the hiring process. There are a lot of questions over the new state requirement to share services with other government entities. The County may not be eligible to receive state revenue sharing because of the requirements even though they are already sharing services in many areas.
Minutes: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway to approve the Budget Meeting and Regular Meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer called for the interest amounts on all the accounts on March 31st so all of the balances are current and up-to-date on all of the bank accounts at the close of the year. The Fire Department will have approximately $2900.00 left in their account after the grant dollars are out, to transfer to their CD. It was suggested that the First Responders discontinue their CD account now that they have the new First Responder truck. The Cemetery funds are in good shape. The Delinquent Tax line item# 401-413 is not showing the right amount. The Austin Township share of the First Responder truck is incorrectly showing up in 900-336 Transfer to Other Funds instead of 965-Fire Department Capital Outlay. Moved by Kenn Vredenburg, supported by John Brockway. Motion carried.
Payment of the bills: Check #’s 4422-4438 from the Fire Department and First Responders check #’s 1209-1219 were presented for review. Check#’s 7483-7519 from the Township and check #’s1413-1414 from the Cemetery was presented for approval with the addition of check#7520 for $2200.00 for the Austin Township portion of the operating funds for the cemetery. Moved by John Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley to approve the payment of the bills. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1. Fire Department Report: The Fire Department has acquired a 6x6 from the Department of Natural Resources truck lottery. The firemen are evaluating the truck to see how the well it runs. It is a 1987 with less than 40,000 miles and a 2000 gallon tank. The Fire Board adopted the Payment of the Bills Resolution. The new skid unit is on the grass rig-truck #331. The Fire Board also adopted the bid by the McNeil Company as the new insurance company for the Fire Department and First Responders. The Fire Department sign donated by ANR should be done in April. A dedication date has yet to be set. Austin Township would like to go on record as being against charging for Fire Department and First Responder runs.
2.Supervisor and Assessor’s Report: There will be a Cemetery Board Meeting will be April 21st. Cemetery clean-up day for the Morley Stanwood Seniors will be April 27th. There was one petition to the Board of Review.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Two First Bank CD’s will expire on April 15th. The Austin Township Board advised rolling them over for one year at the current interest rate.
4. Clerk’s Report: The MTA Spring 2011Regional Meeting will be on May 17, 2011 at the Big Rapids Holiday Inn. 75% of the absentee ballots are in for the May 3, 2011 School Election. The cost of the Post Office box will be going up next year. Holton’s filled the tank today. We need to see what rate they charge us, if it is still the budget rate we signed up for. We have a $457.37 credit left.
5. Roads: The County Road Commission will have their annual meeting here at Austin Township Hall on April 28, 2011. Moved by Elizabeth G. Carr, supported by Carolyn Towsley to spend up to $6000.00 to cut trees on 9 Mile Rd and have the stumps removed. We will take the money from 440-447 Met Act first and them from 440-446 Highways, Streets, and Bridges. Motion carried. The township continues to look at ways to help fund the refinishing of Buchanan Road. A projected road project for Buchanan Road is being looked at in Morton Township from Buchanan Country Corners to 125th Ave. If possible we would join that project and continue south into Austin Township for 1-11/2 miles.
6. Libraries: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Brockway to contribute $1000.00 to Walton Erickson Public Library and $500.00 to Morton Township Library. Motion carried.
7. Morton Recycling: Moved by Kenn Vredenburg, supported by Carolyn Towsley to extend our recycling contract with them for one year.
New Business:
1. Meeting Dates: There will be an Ice Mountain meeting here on April 20th at 10 a.m. There will be a Mecosta County Township Association Meeting April 25th at 7 p.m.
2. Amish Produce Building: Moved by John Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley for Kenn Vredenburg to draft a letter to the Planning Commission asking that the Produce Building be moved to a better location, i.e. a higher class road better suited to the increase in traffic. Motion carried.
Adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Elizabeth G. Carr
Austin Township Clerk