GRANT TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Held at the Grant Township Hall

230 Gratiot Street

Copper Harbor, Michigan 49918

Minutes for Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Call to Order

    Supervisor Ken Stigers called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and led the assembly in the pledge of allegiance. 

Roll Call

    Present were Supervisor Ken Stigers, Treasurer Karen Karl, Clerk Kelly Coltas, Trustee Ned Huwatschek and Trustee Art Davis.

    • Motion to adopt Agenda put forth by Coltas/Karl all were in favor 5-0 motion carried.
    • Motion to approve Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of 01/13/09, and work session of 02/05/09, put forth by Coltas/Huwatschek, motion carried 5-0.

Supervisor’s Remarks

The Supervisor would like to thank the Nature Conservancy for their check in lieu of taxes for the amount of $7,000. 

The Truth in Taxation and Budget Hearing Meetings will be held on March 28th, 2009, at 10:30 am and 11:00 am respectively.  They will be held in the Meeting Room of the Grant Township Hall located at 230 Gratiot Street in Copper Harbor Michigan.

Keweenaw County Road Commissions share of the Stimulus package of the Federal Government will come to about$170,000.  They had asked for 8 million.  The Township needs to look at a long range road improvement fund.

Keweenaw Scrap Metal is closed for the season and they are not buying scrap at this time.  The Supervisor will continue to try to contact them.

Monthly Reports

Treasurer’s Report

  • Motion to approve Treasurers report as given, put forth by Coltas/Davis   all were in favor: motion carried 5-0.

Utility Board

Meeting held February 17th, still working on the connect and disconnect ordinance, need to make it a smooth process.  They are going to start to look at training someone to replace the present Operator upon his retirement.

DDA

Jeff Coltas has resigned as Chairperson but will stay on as a member.  Don Kauppi is stepping down from the board as well.  The DDA has pledge to pay up to $2000 for the new Rec Plan. 

Public Safety 

CH Fire Dept:

The regular monthly meeting was held on February 4th, 09.  Discussed were the 50/50 DNR grant which purchased an new portable pump.  CPR refresher class is February 15th at 1:30 pm.  At the Community Bldg.  The US Coast Guard has scheduled an ice rescue class at the CG station on February 14th.  Note this date has been changed to February 20th at 10am.  Reviewed ice rescue on Jan 31st at 6th street dock.  7 members and 3 1st responders responded to the call.  Aaron Rogers was the victim in the water.  The “rescue” went well.  At the mid month meeting all trucks were exercised on a run to the end of us 41, where the foam systems were run and hand lines and SCBA units used. 

1-fire call, a mutual aid, for a chimney fire at the Eagles Lodge on M-26.  1- DNW involving both fire Dept. and 1st Responders.

LLB Fire Dept:

No Report

1st Responders:

No call outs on the North End

911

At the January 911 Committee meeting Jack Dueweke, Keweenaw County Emergency Coordinator , announced he would provide weather radios to all Keweenaw County Emergency Responders that request them.  Each department is asked to have the count to Jack by the end of February.  Limited one per household.

Mercy Ambulance Manager Gerry Primeau was asked what could be done to activate Paramedic Mike Musiel.  Mike is currently restricted to First Responder level when responding to medical emergencies in the Copper Harbor area.  Several suggestions were made to accomplish this and Gerry is evaluating them.  Mr. Powers is requesting approval for $2000, to be spent for Paramedic equipment in the event that Mr. Primeau is able to activate Mr. Musiel.

Sheriff Ron Lahti and Richard Powers met with Representative Mike Lahti in Hancock on January 16th.   The issue is the inability of being able to complete 911 calls in the 289 and 296 Keweenaw exchanges during certain types of AT&T equipment failures.  This problem has been under discussion with the Michigan Public Service Commission and AT&T for some time and we have not been able to resolve it.  Representative Lahti’s office is now arranging a teleconference to discuss the issue with representatives of the Michigan Public Service Commission, AT&T and the State 911 Administrator.

Old Business

Hunter’s Point update: We are awaiting the results of the appraisals from the Trust Fund.  We anticipate receiving the results within two months. 

Rec Plan: Supervisor Stigers met with UPE on revising old Rec Plan.  The Trust Fund has a new guide lines for these types of plans and recommended to completely redo our Plan.  The cost would be about $3,000 plus advertising making the total cost around $4,000.  The DDA has agreed to pick up a portion of the cost. 

  • Motion to approve up to $2000 to complete the new Recreational Plan put forth by Stigers/Coltas.  All were in favor motion carried 5-0.

The budget is moving forward and the Truth in Taxation meeting and The Special Budget meeting have been set for March 28th, 2009 at 10:30 and 11:00 am respectively.

New Business

There will be a MNRTF Grant Application Workshop on the 24th of February and the Supervisor Ken Stigers and his Deputy Richard Powers will be attending.

  • Motion to approve mileage to the workshop in Munising on the 24th of February 2009 for the Supervisor and Deputy, put forth by Coltas and seconded by Davis.  All were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion by Coltas/Huwatschek that Grant Township approve purchasing up to $2,000.00 worth of paramedic equipment, with the understanding that the equipment will remain the property of Grant Township, when Mercy Ambulance is able to activate Mike Musiel so that he will be able to function as a paramedic.  All were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

It is a matter of Business at the February meeting to address the Salaries of the elected Officials.  The following Resolutions were presented and voted on.

  • Motion to approve Resolution #01-2009.  Setting the Supervisor salaries at $13500.00, put forth by Coltas/Davis, all were in favor motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to approve Resolution #02-2009.  Setting the Trustees salaries at $175.00 per meeting attended, put forth by Coltas/Stigers, all were in favor motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to approve Resolution #03-2009.  Setting the Treasurers salary at $13,500.00, put forth by Coltas/Huwatschek, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to approve Resolution #04-2009.  Setting the Clerks salaries at $13,500.00, put forth by Coltas/Karl, all were in favor motion carried 5-0.

DDA

    • Motion to accept the resignation as DDA chair by Jeff Coltas.  Jeff will remain as a member. Put forth by Coltas/Karl, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
    • Motion to appoint Mike Jukuri as Chair of the DDA put forth by Coltas/Karl, all were in favor, and motion carried 5-0.
    • Motion to accept Don Kauppi’s resignation from the DDA, put forth by Coltas/Stigers, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.  We The Grant Township Board would like to thank Don Kauppi for his many years of service on the DDA.
    • Motion to appoint Mike Musiel as a member of the DDA, replacing Don Kauppi.  Put forth by Coltas/Davis, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to pay audited bills and adjourn Coltas/Stigers, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.  

 
 

Ken Stigers                                         Kelly Coltas

Grant Township Supervisor             Grant Township Clerk      


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