The
Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on September 14, 2010 at 7:38
p.m. by Supervisor Kenneth Vredenburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Rd,
Stanwood, MI, 49346.
Present
were Kenneth Vredenburg, Carolyn Towsley, Elizabeth G. Carr, John Brockway, and
John Conforte. There were two guests present.
Public
Comment: The County is still working on the Mecosta County Master Plan. There is
still some work that needs to be done on areas that need rezoning. The county is
moving forward on several junk ordinance violations.
Minutes: Correction to the 8-10-10 minutes: Treasurer’s Report should read ‘We
are staying within the FDIC limit of $250,000.00 in any bank.’ Moved by John
Brockway, supported by Carolyn Towsley to approve the minutes with corrections.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: The Mecosta Township check had been received and deposited
in the First Responder Fund. The First Responder Fund account looks low because
we have written the check for the cab of the truck. Moved by Elizabeth G. Carr,
supported by John Brockway to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.
Payment
of the bills: Carolyn Towsley, Treasurer, was paid for 1,275 tax parcels. The
Austin Township Board has a question about the amount of money spent by the Fire
Department on the radiator from Valley Trucking. They would like their
representatives on the Fire Board to clarify how much can be spent by the Fire
Department without prior approval by the Fire Board. A second question is who
should be legally approving the payment of the Fire Department and the First
Responder bills. Moved by Kenn Vredenburg, supported by John Brockway to pay the
bills: Austin Township check #’s 7342-7358, Cemetery check #’s 1401-1403, and if
appropriate, the Fire Department check #’s 4337-4340, and First Responder check
#’s 1154-1169. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1.
Fire
Department and First Responder Report: The new First Responder truck body and
chassis have been received. The Fire Department has requested that we inquire
into to the possibility of getting Wild Blue internet for the Fire Hall. We also
need to check into ANR for a grant to run cable to the Fire Department, also the
Fire Department needs to check with Tucker about cable service. The Township
would also like to know from the Fire Department which truck they are going to
remove from the Fire barn so there is room for the new First Responder truck?
Are they getting another 6x6 and updating it? Kenn Vredenburg will pay for the
ISO poster and donate it to the Township Hall. Void check #7325 to Diana Cook
from the Township for the ISO poster.
2.
Assessor and Supervisor Report: County Road Commission 2011 project
list-recommend that we gravel 180th and Johnson Rd to 11 Mile Rd.
Long range plan would be 12 Mile Rd and 9 Mile Rd. 12 Mile Rd would be the
biggest priority, eventually level, grade, and grub.
3.
Treasurer’s Report: I am searching for a $5.00 discrepancy. Taxes-69% paid
today, 80% total have been paid. We are still down 13-14% from last year. There
is one mortgage company that hasn’t made their payment yet.
4.
Clerk’s
Report: We received a flyer and a phone call from “Lakeshore Visiting
Physicians”. We information services. The introductory information came from the
Clear Rate Phone Company. I am not sure what the problem is. They are asking for
pre-payment before they will switch us and did a background check on us. I
talked with Frontier Phone Company and they have an unlimited phone plan that
does reduce our phone bill and is very similar to what Clear Rate was supposed
to offer. The Township board feels it would be better to discontinue changing
our phone company to Clear Rate and to get the best rate and plan possible from
Frontier.
5.
Exit
Lights: Feel that we should try having
the Exit unit battery replaced by the back door and see if that solves our
problem of burned out lights. If that works we will have unit by the front door
replaced also.
6.
Xerox:
John Milan, our representative has been contacted about our difficulties with
the transmission of our usage meter report and the frequent phone calls from the
company. Kenn has emailed and attempted to talk to them and Carolyn and
Elizabeth have both spoken with them on the phone. They continue to contact us
as if we have made no contact. There seems to be some confusion with our mailing
address also. They are sending our mail to two different addresses.
New
Business:
1.
Tax
Millage: The Townships in Mecosta County are unable to collect their 1.25
millage. There was a misunderstanding about when the voted millage could begin
to be collected. The townships are not able to collect the millage the year the
millage is voted on. The millage collection starts the year after the vote.
Mecosta County reconvened the tax allocation board and attempted to allocate the
shortfall of tax money to each township, but the county was maxed out and could
only make up the difference of 1 mil. The law says we are to collect 1.25 mils.
There is a bill on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives to provide
emergency assistance for this year until the voted millage starts next year.
Without the millage it would be a $7,500.00 cut for us.
2.
Recycle: The breakdown of the expenses for Morton Township recycle day comes out
to about $750.00 per month. We will table any decision until next month. Kenn
will talk with the Morton Township supervisor about various options for
assisting them.
3.
Parking
Lot Lights and Generator: Moved by Carolyn Towsley, supported by John Conforte,
to accept the bid from Schuberg & Sons Electric of $2,400.00 to put in a 1000
watt parking lot light with pole and install a new 200 Amp box with a transfer
switch. Motion carried.
4.
Dick
Jensen will snow plow for us another year at last year’s price.
5.
We have
received the preliminary audit report from Doug Wohlburg. I have an appointment
with Kandy’s Accounting to go over the suggestions and problems that Doug
mentioned in his report
Adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Elizabeth G. Carr
Austin
Township Clerk