The Austin Township Board Meeting was called to order on May 11, 2010 at 7:45 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 Conforte, and John Brockway.
Public Comment: A plan to expand the Morton Township Library was presented to the board by a representative from the expansion committee. Ray Steinke brought a report from the county. The Commissioners voted to allow Sunday liquor sales. The Mecosta County General Hospital has its transition team in place for the merger with Spectrum Health Systems. The bond will be cancelled when the merger is complete.
Moved by John Brockway, supported by John Conforte, to accept the minutes with corrections. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Reports: One First Bank CD was rolled over. The Mecosta Austin Fire Department and the Stanwood Cemetery have received our annual support fund check. Moved by John Conforte, supported by John Brockway to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.
Payment of the bills: There is a $34.70 check to Routley’s in the Fire Department that needs to be added. There is also a $226.74 check to Mecosta County EMS Medical Services in the First Responder Department. Moved by John Brockway, supported by John Conforte to pay the bills. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business:
1. Fire Department Report: The ISO test is done. It will take 6 months to a year to know the results.
2. Supervisor/Assessor Report: Nothing new to report.
3. Treasurer’s Report: The summer tax newsletter needs to be ready by June 1st. Isabella Bank continues to contact us in an effort to do business with us. I will be having the Equalization Department do the mailings.
4. Clerk’s Report: We have been notified that Frontier has taken over the local Verizon telephone service. We received a credit in our end of the year settlement from Holton’s. The Fire Department also received a credit on their Holton’s settlement bill. I was contacted that the Amish’ Blossom School ‘children crossing’ sign is down. I tried an Alltel internet wireless device, but it didn’t work very well. The cost to be notarized will run around $75.00. The Township feels it would be better to pursue notarization privately rather than through the township. To pursue notarization privately would lead to more freedom in general use than through the township.
New Business:
1. Roads: We will not be doing Buchanan Road this year. The County Road Commission has applied for a safety grant. Eventually they would like to redo Buchanan Rd. from Country Corners to 150th Avenue. The county will be ditching and graveling Polk Rd. The DEQ has said they may need to replace a culvert on 180th.
2. First Responder Truck: The Austin Township board proposed a 65/35 split with Mecosta Township. The rest of the money would come out of the Fire Dept and First Responder’s CD’s. The township is also concerned about the cost of upkeep and insurance. Austin Township is in favor of accepting the bid on the dual axle truck. If grant money comes through for the First Responder truck, it would be returned to the townships by the same 65/35 split. We will try to set a joint meeting with Mecosta Township for May 26, 2010.
Adjourned 10:10 p.m.
Elizabeth G. Carr
Austin Township Clerk