REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

EAGLE HARBOR TOWNSHIP BOARD

January 12, 2004

 

CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Supervisor Douglas Sherk, at the Eagle Harbor Township Hall in Eagle Harbor, called the regular meeting of the Eagle Harbor Township Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on January 12, 2004.  Supervisor Sherk led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Trustee Lantz, Treasurer Johnson, Supervisor Sherk, Trustee Ellis, and Clerk Olson                                                                                                                                                   

 

AGENDA APPROVAL AND ADDITIONS:

·          Add to Correspondence: LLR3 (Handout)

·          Add to Remarks: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Update

·          Add to New Business: Board of Review Appointment

MM/S Olson/Johnson to approve the agenda with additions. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays - The Agenda was approved with additions.

 

CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

·          Approve minutes of December 8, 2003 regular meeting

·          Accept Treasurer’s Report

·          Approve Payment of Bills

MM/S Lantz/Johnson to approve Consent Agenda

5 Ayes, 0 Nays – Consent Agenda approved.

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND SUPERVISOR’S REMARKS:

1.       Correspondence

·          Land Updates

o         Nawca & LLR2 - Turned Down by NAWCA

o         Dunes Marshes Easement Agreement and Update – Purchase Agreement has been signed for 360 Acres behind Sand Bay

·          Road Commission Budget

·          Fire Truck Correspondence - Letter from George Hite

·          Eagle River Watershed Project

·          Mobil Home Taxation Reform

·          MI Dept of Corrections Rate Increase

      2. Remarks

·          Master Plan Update – Master Plan Grant has been cancelled.

·          Update Building without a Permit – Prosecutor has been notified by building inspector Jim Heikkila that in the Greenwood case the deadline for obtaining permits has passed and no sewage permits have been obtained.

·          WUPPDR Census Update

·          BOR Training will be in Marquette on February 24 and will be paid for by the Township. Travel and meals will be paid for also.

·          Fire Truck Grant/Loan Update - Supervisor Sherk has met with Rural Development and signed all papers necessary to continue to qualify for the Grant and Loan. This does not commit us to accepting the funds but will hold the funds in reserve for us for 365 days.

·        Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Update – A hearing was held at the County Court House on winterizing the Mountain Lodge. Commissioner Keith has asked that the Township Board give him some direction and advice. The Township Board feels that more information is needed in order to make a decision.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

·          BEACH COMMITTEE – Fred Geis – No Report   

 

·          CEMETERY COMMITTEE – Fence costs have been received and will be discussed under old business.

·          SEXTON COMMENTS –Mike Braman  - No Report

 

·          COMMUNITY BUILDING – Jeane Olson – Reservations have been coming in for the summer and the calendar is filling up. The Art Classes have been cancelled because the person making the arrangements will not be here until later in the summer.

 

·          FIRST RESPONDERS – Bruce Olson – Supervisor Sherk will be writing a letter of commendation to Dave Mitchell, Brian Wagner and Mike Healy for their efforts in the cold-water rescue at Gratiot Lake in December.

 

·          HAZARD MITIGATION COMMITTEE - Kris Callog – The County Emergency Plan is on CD Rom. Kris is hoping to have a meeting at a later date.

 

·          HEBARD PLAT COMMITTEE – Jeane Olson – No Report

 

·          LAND USE COMMITTEE – This committee will be renamed “Zoning Advisory Committee” and members will be most of the original Land Use Planning Members. George Hite will be Chairman and Doug Sherk will be Board Liaison. The deadlines for information have been extended.

 

·          911 COMMITTEE – Ginny Schubert – Everything is in place. The new phone book has about 100 errors in it but it will not be reprinted. The Post Office still has not released the new addresses.

 

·          PARK COMMITTEE – George Hite – We are waiting for estimates on signs.

 

·          RECREATION COMMITTEE – Barb Sickler – No Report

                   

·          SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE – Doug Schubert  - Doug Schubert and Gary Tallon will be handling the duties at the Solid Waste site in Mike Braman’s absence.

·          VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT – Mike Radigan – A Statement of Concern was read by Mike Radigan stating that life and property protection should be the most important aspects of the Township’s responsibility. Eagle Harbor Township covers an area of 45 square miles and has over 300 dwellings and the Fire Department is responsible for covering this area. We have fully trained fire fighting personnel, much updated equipment and mutual aid relationship with surrounding townships. We have one adequate pumper tanker and need another. Mike requested that the Township Board take responsibility to accept the grant and fund another truck by setting up a special assessment district. Mike also stated that the Fire Department would not take responsibility for tragic consequences as the result of not being adequately prepared due to a popular vote. 

·          WATER COMMITTEE – John Wakeman  - No Report

·          WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR – Reid Rastello –Everything is running A-OK.  Let run policy will be put in effect during cold periods. Please read your meter before and after the let run period. 

·          WELLHEAD PROTECTION –– No Report

 

OLD BUSINESS

·          Solid Waste Signs – MM/S Sherk/Ellis to table because estimates will not be in until February. Motion carried unanimously.

·          Traffic Signs –Report from County not available yet. MM/S Lantz/Johnson to Table. Motion carried unanimously.

·          Recreation Area Signs – Estimates will not be in until February. MM/S Sherk/Ellis to table. Motion carried unanimously

·          Cemetery Plot Fence –  MM/S Johnson/Olson to drop the project of Cemetery Plot Fencing.  Vote 3 ayes, 2 Nays. Motion Carried.

·          Fire truck Options and Supervisors Survey Results – Supervisor Sherk explained what the Board legally could and could not do in presenting the fire truck project. Supervisor Sherk reported that 240 informal Supervisor Fire Truck Surveys were sent to voters and 84 were returned with 25 “no” responses and 59 “yes” responses. Over 450 were sent to property owners who were not voters. 118 surveys were returned with 53 “no” responses and 65 “yes” responses. Supervisor Sherk pointed out that the number of voter “yes” responses were less than the number of “yes” votes for the fire truck millage in August. Based on the results of the survey Supervisor Sherk felt there was no real evidence of change from the August special election and recommended that we not have another special election and we should not now establish a special assessment district for a fire truck. Ed Stoneman, Fireman stated that the 1980 fire truck has long been unsafe and unreliable and probably can’t be repaired. The front axle needs to be replaced but would cost between $10,000 and $12,000 and the battery and/or starter need to be replaced. The Board noted that the truck passed a safety inspection in August of 2003 and suggested that these things should be taken care of.  MM/S Johnson/Sherk to table a decision on the fire truck until June. Motion carried 4 Ayes, 1 Nay

 

NEW BUSINESS

·         Water Clerk resignation – Ivan Fisher has resigned as Water Clerk effective December 31, 2003. MM/S Olson/Lantz to hire Ann Johnson as new Water Clerk effective January 1, 2004 at the same salary of $75.00 per month. Roll Call Vote - 4 Ayes, 1 Abstain. Motion Carried. Ann has spent about 40 hours setting up the new Water Billing System. MM/S Lantz/Ellis to pay Ann $15.00 per hour for the 40 hours for setting up the program. Roll Call Vote 4 Ayes, 1 Abstain.

·         Set Budget Workshop and Budget Hearing Dates - Budget Workshop will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2003 at 9 a.m. and all committee Chairmen will be notified. The Budget Hearing will be Monday, March 8. 2003 at 6:30 p.m. before the regular Board meeting. Both meetings will be open to the public. The Workshop will be posted and the hearing will be noticed in the newspaper.

·         USDA Resolution – Recommendation by Jim Yoder to pass a Management Reports Resolution that provides for audits, budget and financial statements to Rural Development in case we are able to accept the Grant and Loan funds. Supervisor Sherk again stated that this action and other necessary paperwork action to keep these funds available for us does not commit us to buying a new fire truck. MM/S Lantz/Olson to pass the resolution. Motion passed unanimously with a roll call vote. 

·         Insurance review – Hannula Agency will be contacted to set up an informal review of our insurance needs. We will try to set it for the same day as the Budget Workshop when most of our personnel will be on hand. Clerk Olson will contact Hannula to set it up.

·         Board of Review Appointment =- MM/S Johnson/Olson to appoint Barbara Been to the Board of Review to fill the vacancy left by Ron Kowalewski.  Motion passed Unanimously.

ZONING VARIANCE REQUESTS- None

 

PUBLIC COMMENT - None.

 

ADJOURNMENT

·          MM/S Olson/Lantz to adjourn.  Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m.

 

 

 

__________________________________

Jeane Olson, Clerk

Eagle Harbor Township   

 

 

 

 

- CERTIFICATION –

 

I, the undersigned, Jeane Olson, the duly qualified and elected Clerk for the Township of Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of certain proceedings taken by the Township Board of said Township at a regular board meeting held on the 12th day of January, 2004.

 

 

 __________________________,

Jeane Olson, Clerk

Eagle Harbor Township