Little Traverse Township Board November 14, 2007 7:00P.M. At Township Hall The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Bill Dohm at 7:00 P.M.followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Roll call:
Allerding, present Arman, absent Dohm, present Garver, present
O’Neill, present
Also present were Mikki VanVuren and Anne Billiard, from the Alanson Public Library, Fred Gray, Gregg Garn and Jane Taylor, acting clerk.
Distribution of correspondence and information:
The Board received the minutes of the L.T. Zoning Board of Appeals of Nov. 1, 2007: Minutes of HSASDA of Oct. 11, 2007 and 2008 draft sewer budget: Minutes of Emmet Co. DPW of Oct. 11, 2007 & 2006 Annual Report: Minutes of ECRC of Oct. 5 & 19, 2007: Local/State Transportation 2007 Workshop workbook: Water system flow & financial reports: Thank you letter from Lisa Gillespie regarding the Boyne 2 Boyne Marathon.
Supervisor Dohm brought to the Boards attention the slight decrease in the sewer budget for the coming year and also noted the traffic study for the intersection of M-119 and West Conway Road warrants a new traffic light.
Minutes:
A motion to approve the minutes of October 10, 2007 as presented was offered by O’Neill and supported by Allerding. Approved by voice vote. Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Certify delinquent sewer bills to 2007 Winter Tax Roll:
Gregg Garns, a Bear Creek customer, asked if he was responsible for delinquent sewer account as the property owner or was the renter/occupant. Supervisor Dohm told him the account goes with the property and the owner was ultimately responsible for the payment and that because his property was located in Bear Creek Township it would be applied as a lien on the property by the Bear Creek Township Board.
Allerding offered Resolution # 11-2007-2, to place delinquent sewer amounts for a total of $6336.36 on tax roll for collection. Support came from Garver. Roll call vote: Dohm, yes: Arman, absent: O’Neill, yes: Allerding, yes: Garver, yes. Resolution attached. Report of work in Progress:
Supervisor Dohm reported the new fire substation is now nearly complete and does have the aerial ladder truck inside. The new pumper should arrive next month. There are a few little things to be finished up in the building itself.
He stated the new light at the intersection of US31 and Cook Street in Conway is now working and making a big difference in the traffic flow in that area. The road work is done but MDOT will not close it out until spring to be sure landscaping is ok and drainage is working as it should.
Discuss Library issues:
Mikki Van Vuren and Anne Billiard from the Alanson Area Public Library thanked the Township for our support (penal fines). They presented a plan to show the new library, in the existing Village of Alanson/ Littlefield Township building but different and larger area which will increase their area from 240 Sq. feet to 2400 square feet. They are applying for grants from local foundations to cover expenses and have half of the money for the renovations in the bank.
Supervisor Dohm thanked them for their presentation and went on to say that we currently send one half of our penal fines to the Petoskey Library and the other half to the Alanson Area Public Library. Both Petoskey and Harbor Springs are trying to move their library into District Libraires.
Supervisor Dohm said the Harbor Springs Library have asked for a township representative to attend their meetings. He said he would be willing to attend these meetings and Ken Garver was also interested in attending.
Garver motioned to appoint Bill Dohm as Township representative to attend the meetings for the Harbor Springs Library. Motion support came form O’Neill. Approved by voice vote.
Supervisor Dohm stated the Township needs to amend the agreement in place with the Petoskey Public Library in order for that library to receive the township penal fines the State is withholding from the library.
O’Neill motioned to authorize clerk and supervisor to sign the amended agreement with the Petoskey Library ( copy attached) and was supported by Garver. Approved by voice vote. Report on exploring Sexually Oriented Business
Supervisor Dohm stated he has been attending the West Traverse Twp. Board meetings to see how they are handling the SOB Ordinance requirements. He said he felt comfortable going with the same format that West Traverse is doing. It is imperative that we follow careful guidelines for implementing the Ordinance to avoid issues later on. He would like to see Township Board meet jointly with the Zoning Board to review the court decisions and secondary effects study at the next Zoning Board meeting on December 3, 2007.
Postal Meter replacement:
Allerding motioned to approve replacing the existing postal meter with a Neopost IJ 50 meter and was supported by O’Neill. Approved by voice vote. Township Tree proposal:
Supervisor Dohm presented the Board with a proposal from Litzenburger Landscape to plant 7 Austrian Pines along the west side of the township hall parking lot to prevent headlights from disturbing the neighbors on that side of the lot.
O’Neill motioned to accept the proposal from Litzenburger Landscape to plant 7 – 7’+ Austrian Pines on the west side of the Township Parking Lot at a cost of $2,240.00. Support came from Allerding and was approved by voice vote. Rail Trail development –removal of rail cars:
Supervisor Dohm explained the DNR will purchase the Burns property in Conway ( old Railroad right of way) if those two rail cars are removed. The property would link trails from Bear Creek on to Alanson. He said he offered to split the cost of removing the cars with Bear Creek Township in order to proceed with the trail and to allow Bear Creek to petition the DNR for an easement for a possible sewer line.
Allerding motioned to authorize up to $2500.00 for removal of the two rail cars on the Burns property in Conway. Motion support came from O’Neill and was approved by voice vote. IFT revocation resolution for Cerificate #2003-142 for Northern Diecast Corp.
Supervisor Dohm told the Board that Northern Diecast has defaulted in paying the IFT tax and they have closed the business. Allerding offered Resolution #11-2007-8 to revoke the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate # 2003-142 for Northern Diecast Corporation. Support for resolution was offered by Garver. Roll call vote: Dohm, yes; Garver, yes; Allerding, yes; O’Neill yes. Absent, Arman. Resolution attached. Discuss Charter Communications request for Franchise Agreement:
Supervisor Dohm said we can no longer require Charter to provide free service for the Township Hall, Airport or Sewer Authority. He would like attorney John Pestle to review our Franchise Agreement .Garver motioned to have John Pestle review the Charter Franchise Agreement and make a recommendation on how to properly proceed with that application with the cost not to exceed $2000.00. Motion support came from O’Neill and was approved by voice vote. Approve voucher for payment of bills totaling $56,669.32 Garver motioned and was supported by Allerding to pay the bills as presented, General Fund of $27,007.67, Sewer Fund $21,798.12, and Water Fund of $7,863.53. Approved by voice vote. Adjourn:
Supervisor Dohm adjourned the meeting at 8:30 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jane Taylor
Administrative Assistant/acting clerk
