EAGLE HARBOR TOWNSHIP BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

EAGLE HARBOR TOWNSHIP BOARD

December 9, 2002

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 December 9, 2002. Supervisor Sherk led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

AGENDA APPROVAL AND ADDITIONS

MM/S Lantz/Ellis to accept the agenda. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays - Agenda was approved.

CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

Approve minutes from October 14, 2002 Regular Meeting
Accept Treasurer’s Report
Approve Payment of Bills

Supervisor Sherk requested a correction to the November minutes. Under Supervisor Remarks the word "deadline" should be added after "closing date" in the paragraph "Long Lake Wildlife Refuge"

Addition to bills –Barbara Sickler, $42.17 for visquine for Ice Rink.

MM/S Johnson/Ellis to approve Consent Agenda with additions and corrections.

5 Ayes, 0 Nays – Consent Agenda approved.

SUPERVISOR’S REMARKS AND CORRESPONDENCE:

Land Updates:

Dunes Marshes project has been approved. We are waiting for the Grant Packet
Trail Grant is due in December.
400 acre Long Lake Addition –Invoice has been submitted-Should close by December 20.
Alternative Grant Requests-If there are additional Grant funds we have asked for consideration to purchase 130 acres to complete the trail system and 22 Acres of critical sand dunes at Great Sand Bay.
The Eliza Lake Dam Project was turned down. Possible alternate source of funds could be NAWC Grant Phase 3.

The Equalization Report has been received and is available for review at the Township Office.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

BEACH COMMITTEE – Fred Geis – No Report

CEMETERY COMMITTEE – Ginny Schubert-prisoners are still working on the fence.

SEXTON COMMENTS –Mike Braman – No Report

COMMUNITY BUILDING– Nancy Clarkson- No Report

FIRST RESPONDERS – Bruce Olson- We now have four defibrillators. They have been issued to First Responders Barbara Been, Dick Lantz, Ginny Schubert and Bruce Olson.

HAZARD MITIGATION COMMITTEE – Kris Callog – No Report

HEBARD PLAT COMMITTEE – Jeane Olson – No Report

LAND USE COMMITTEE – Barbara Been – County Planning and Zoning Board has approved the Land Use Plan and Map. The Land Use Committee was commended for their work.

911 COMMITTEE – Doug Schubert- Ginny Schubert Reported that the new disk with addressing information has not been received so it will probably be January before it can be finished.

PARK COMMITTEE – George Hite- No Report- The Trail Report with Pat Coleman has been postponed until January

RECREATION COMMITTEE – Barb Sickler – Doug Sherk reported that work on the ice rink is progressing and any cost involved would be taken from the Supervisors Miscellaneous Fund.

SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE – Doug Schubert- We need a tentative Budget for Junk Jettison Day.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT – Mike Radigan – presentation to be made under New Business

WATER COMMITTEE – John Wakeman – No report

WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR – Rick Finke – Educational Requirements for Water Operator was discussed. Verification is on Operators Certificate in Township Hall.

WELLHEAD PROTECTION – Rick Finke – No Report

OLD BUSINESS

Fenced area at Solid Waste Site- MM/S Olson/Johnson to table. 5 Ayes- 0 Nays. Motion to table carried.

Generator- MM/S Lantz/ Ellis to table. 5 Ayes- 0 Nays. Motion to table carried.

Sidewalk Policy – Waiting for Specs - MM/S Johnson/ Olson to table. 5 Ayes- 0 Nays. Motion to table carried.

Telecommunications Rights of Way Oversight Act – No resolution was offered at this time. This subject may be brought up again at a later date.

Heating System for Old Pump House- Heating System has been completed.

Junk Jettison Day – Waiting for Budget and Date for 2003 Junk Jettison Day.

Cemetery Fence – The back fence is almost finished. We will be replacing the front chain link fence with a wood picket fence. 41 Lumber is the only supplier in the area for cedar. Neil Harri suggested we try Home Depot or Menard’s in Wisconsin. Phone Number for Home Depot is 800-361-4444. Jim Boggio is working on this. MM/S Lantz/Johnson to budget $1500 for material for pickets. 5 Ayes-0 Nays Motion Carried. There was discussion on where the Pine Grove Cemetery sign should be if we are redoing the fence. There are no plans to relocate the sign at this time.

Board of Review Appointments – Doug Sherk Nominated Bruce Olson and Ron Kowalewski for reappointment to the Board of Review. Ann Johnson nominated Barbara Gilbert for appointment to the Board of Review. MM/S Olson/Lantz to close the nominations. Vote on Nominees-Bruce Olson, 5 Yes-0 No; Ron Kowalewski, 5 Yes-0 No; Barbara Gilbert, 5 Yes-0 No. Clerk Olson will notify the new members of their appointment and arrange for them to take the Oath of Office within 10 days.

NEW BUSINESS

Fire Department Presentation: Supervisor Sherk confirmed that the Volunteer Fire Department has a long term Plan that was developed in conjunction with the Township Board in December of 2001 and reviewed that plan. The following excerpt is from December 3, 2001 special meeting minutes

Ranking Priorities:

Second Fire Truck and Equipment

Building to house Trucks and Equipment

Upgrade Gratiot Lake Facilities

Portable Pumps

Cold Water Rescue Suits

Dry Hydrants

Time Priorities:

1. Immediate: Second Fire Truck and Equipment – Cost of truck and equipment would be approximately $275,000. The present 1978 GMC Pumper is inadequate for the Township’s needs. We cannot spend money to repair the GMC if it breaks down. It is not worth it. The new truck will be similar in size and ability to the Freightliner Pumper. There is an increasing demand for fire department services. We need to be fully equipped to go in two different directions at all times. One truck is sometimes needed as a water transport at a fire location.

Financing through RDA or FEMA Grants – Preapplication process for RDA Grant will be started as soon as board approval is obtained. Should be in by December 31, 2001. FEMA Grants will be available in April or May 2002 and the application process will be started at that time.

2. Two Years: Building to house trucks and equipment- location of building to be decided. Could be an addition to existing building or on a new site such as the solid waste site or the new water tower site. Safety issues and solutions of various sites need to be identified.

3. Five Years: Upgrade Gratiot Lake Facilities: Possibility of housing a truck at Keweenaw Academy for immediate future. Don Keith will check into this. New building needed at Gratiot Lake to house GMC Truck that is a good bush truck because it has 4-wheel drive.

The members of the VFD felt that Portable Pumps, Dry Hydrants, and Cold Water Rescue Suits were items that could be covered in regular budgeted expenses.

……………………………………………………

Fire Chief Mike Radigan read a statement (copy attached) reaffirming the VFD position on the purchase of an additional fire truck and asked the board for a resolution backing their decision to obtain a new truck. Chief Radigan also confirmed that they would try to sell the old GMC truck. Resolution to support the Volunteer Fire Department in their effort to obtain a new fire truck was offered by Dick Lantz and supported by Tom Ellis. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Lantz, Ellis, Johnson, Sherk and Olson. Nays-None. Resolution Passed

Marilyn Marshall volunteered her help with P.R. and Grant writing.

Chief Radigan reminded everyone that the VFD meetings are open meetings and anyone could attend. The department is happy to answer any questions the public may have. Clerk Olson will post the VFD meeting dates on Channel 28 and on the bulletin board.

The VFD has received a $500 donation from Fire Fighter’s Charitable organization and the $6000 grant for protective clothing should be arriving in a couple of weeks.

Supervisor Sherk announced that Clerk Olson would be starting a program for notifying by e-mail anyone who was not on the cable system and wished to receive notice of events and meetings. E-mail your request to Jeane Olson at eharbor@up.net. Be sure to include your e-mail address.

Dunes Marshes Grant – Supervisor Sherk asked for a motion to allow him to proceed with the purchase agreement for the 360 acres to be purchased with the Coastal Management Grant. A private donation will provide the match. MM/S Johnson/Olson Vote 4 Ayes, 1 Abstain (Sherk) Motion Carried.

Road Abandonments: a petition for abandoning: South Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. That portion of South Street between Block 24 bordering lots 214 and 205 and Block 25 bordering lots 215 and 204and block 25 bordering lots 215 and 204. According to the Plat of Eagle Harbor. was brought by Allan Knight. Resolution to abandon offered by Ann Johnson and supported by Dick Lantz. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Johnson, Sherk, Olson, Ellis, Lantz, Nays-None. Resolution Passed. A petition for abandoning road bordering west side of lots 344, 345 and 367 of Block 39, Village of Eagle Harbor, MI according to recorded plat – Liber 1, Page 19-Keweenaw County Records, known as Spruce Street was brought by Neil Harri. Supervisor Sherk pointed out that there was an error in the description and a property owner signature was omitted. Therefore the Board could not act on the petition at this time. It was also pointed out that there is a house on that road right of way and there is a lease agreement for that land between the Township and the owner of the house. Neil Harri was informed that he could correct the description and resubmit the petition for abandonment.

Trustee Ellis suggested that the Board should do a study of the remaining roads in the Plat of Eagle Harbor to determine what other roads, if any, that the Township would be willing to abandon. This will be an item for the January Agenda.

ZONING VARIANCE REQUESTS- None

PUBLIC COMMENT

ADJOURNMENT

MM/S Johnson/Olson to adjourn. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays – Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.

Jeane Olson

Eagle Harbor Township Clerk

- 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 9th day of December, 2002.

__________________________,

Jeane Olson

Eagle Harbor Township Clerk

Attachment
Statement read by Fire Chief Mike Radigan at Eagle Harbor Board Meeting 12/09/02

"We want to pursue the purchase of a new truck. Since this is a situation that we feel is necessary and is in the interest of the safety of the entire area, we feel a resolution from the Board backing our decision would be in order. We will attempt to get a grant from the Government (FEMA) or wherever else we can, but if that fails we would be open to help from the community as we are all in this together. If millage is the only option and we have to wait, then that’s what we will do. There may be a possibility to get a partial grant for a cab and chassis and pass a lower millage for the body or even use some money from the fire fund, if that is legal. The first available option should be taken and that’s what we’ll recommend. This is in keeping with the long term plan we submitted to the Board a year ago. As stated at the last meeting, the cost on trucks is rising fast. We have a good start on our fire protection but feel we’re not there yet. The longer we wait, the greater the chance for loss of property and lives. The department needs confidence in our ability and that can only come from having the proper training and equipment. I recommend that people call me or any fireman if they have questions. There are too many rumors and misunderstandings floating around and we are anxious to set things straight."