The Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on April 14, 2009 by Supervisor Kenneth Vredenburg at the Township Hall at 14132 Pierce Rd, Stanwood, Michigan.

Present were Kenneth Vredenburg, Elizabeth G. Carr, Helen Burden-DT, and John Brockway. Absent were Carolyn Towsley, and John Conforte. There was one guest present.

Public Comment: Commissioner Ray Steinke commented on the complaints over the proposed expansion at the Outback Ranch. Also the Senor Center received an $80,000.00 donation. They have accepted a bid for the proposed 32x54 addition of a general purpose room. The current dog catcher will be retiring around May 1st.

Moved by Kenn Vredenburg, and supported by John Brockway to accept the minutes of 3-10-09 and 3-31-09. Motion carried.

Moved by Kenn Vredenburg and supported by John Brockway to approve the Treasurer’s Report, subject to audit. Motion carried.

Moved by Kenn Vredenburg and supported by John Brockway to approve for payment: Austin Townships-checks 6994-7011, Mecosta Austin Fire Department-checks 4127-4132, and Mecosta Austin First Responders-checks 1039-1040. Motion carried.

Assessor’s and Supervisor’s Report: Please check out our website-www.austintownship.org. I have added pictures and more links. I will be doing the assessing for Aetna Township. Their former assessor has retired. The Board of Review is done. We received 10 appeals this year.

Treasurer’s Report: I have received many calls on the taxable value of property for taxes. The total tax money minus the dog license fees came to $91,126.02. We have one outstanding check of $133.03. The DNR check has arrived and been processed. We have several CD’s coming due. I will be checking for the best interest rate, bank guarantee, length of time for the CD’s.  The $250,000.00 Bank Deposit Guarantees will be ending in December. I will need direction from you on what you want Carolyn and I to do with the tax money. We need to know if you want us to take it out of the General Fund and put it in a CD.

Morton Township and Walton Erickson Public Libraries: Moved by John Brockway and supported by Elizabeth Carr to increase our contributions to these libraries thus contributing $1,000.00 to Walton Erickson Public Library and $500.00 to Morton Township Library. The funds will be taken from 750-+751 Parks and Recreation. Both libraries are facing budget cuts. They are a vital source of information for the community and have a high demand for their computer and internet services. Motion carried.

Road Commission: Moved by John Brockway and supported by Kenn Vredenburg to pay for the gravel roads to be brined twice this summer at a cost of $100.00/mile for a total of 29 miles=$2,900.00 x 2 =$5,800.00. Kenn has spoken with the Road Commission about the Proposed Project List.  There is also no guarantee that they will finish the resurfacing project they started on Pierce Rd a few years. We have a healthy General Fund balance right now and feel in light of the difficulties of the Road Commission that we should spend some money on the roads before they deteriorate much further. Kenn will approach the Road Commission about cost sharing on Pierce Rd. He will also consult with some outside sources on the life span of overlay v. grinding and milling and what the cost difference is. We want the best job we can get with the money we have available. The Board directed Helen Burden to put the tax money in a CD for the shortest amount of time available at the best rate she could get so the money will be available for the road projects if we can come to an agreement with the Road Commission.

The Cemetery Board Meeting will be this Thursday, April 29^th. The senior class of Morley-Stanwood High School will be doing the clean-up this year instead of the Junior class. Kenn is looking for a place to compost the leaves this year. The former site is no longer available.

Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Elizabeth G. Carr

Austin Township Clerk