GRANT TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Held at the Grant Township Hall

230 Gratiot Street

Copper Harbor, Michigan 49918

Minutes for Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Call to Order

Supervisor Ken Stigers called the meeting to order at 6:10 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 Art Davis and Trustee Ned Huwatschek.

    • Motion to adopt Agenda put forth by Coltas/Hewatschek, all were in favor 5-0 motion carried.
    • Motion to approve Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of 01/12/10, and work session of 02/04/10, put forth by Coltas/Davis, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

Supervisor’s Remarks

Board of Review will meet on Monday March 8th, 2010 from 11-5 and Wednesday March 10th 3-9

MTA Conference: Supervisor Stigers went to the MTA Conference downstate and was please with the information he was able to bring back.  He attended educational classes on Millage, Budgeting and creative financing.   There was also information on the upcoming State Assessing Audit, the 14 point review and making sure the local Assessing is up to snuff.  Supervisor Stigers is hoping to bring the Assessing records back in house. 

We will be working on the budget for the next month, were we will have a budget review.  Tuesday March 30th at 10:00 am the Truth in Taxation meeting will be held, to be immediately followed by year end Budget meeting.

Monthly Reports

Treasurer’s Report

    • Motion to accept Treasurers report as given, put forth by Coltas/Hewatschek.   All were in favor and motion carried 5-0..

Utility Board

Reviewing the budget for next year. Discussion on Wellfield expansion and upgrades.

DDA

Discussed the overage for the park project.  The DDA agreed to split the amount with the Township.  Also discussed procedures for new projects in the Township Park or road end parks.  Need more oversight or a project Manager, also discussed next year’s Budget.

Hunter’s Point

The purchase of a 121.4 acre tract on December15, 2009 completed the efforts to purchase the addition to Hunter’s Point Park which began in 2006.  The purchase includes a 45.4 acre tract adjacent to the Copper Harbor Marina and Hunter’s Point Park and a 76 acre tract immediately south on the north face of Brockway Mountain.  The 10% retained by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund pending completion of their audit $112,037.81 has been received.

The Hunter’s Point Committee met January 22nd and discussed a land use plan for Hunter’s Point Park.  Pat Toczydiowski, representing the Keweenaw Land Trust, was at the meeting and discussed the possibility of entering into a Conservation Easement with Grant Township for Hunter’s Point Park.  The purpose of the Easement would be to provide third party oversight to make sure that the uses of the property as described in the Grant Request and Project Agreement were not ignored and that any modifications to the property to meet these uses were conducted in a well planned and orderly manner.  The Committee agreed they would like to investigate the possibility of entering into such an agreement.  In order to enter into such an arrangement, agreement must be reached between the Hunter’s Point Committee, the Keweenaw Land Trust, the Grant Township Board and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board.

The Committee recommended the name of Charles “Chip” Sestock be presented to the Grant Township Board for appointment to the Hunter’s Point Committee.

    • Motion to authorize the Hunter’s Point Committee to investigate the possibility of entering into a Conservation Easement agreement with the Keweenaw Land Trust for the Hunter’s Point Park property.  Put forth by Coltas/ Stigers all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
    • Motion to appoint Charles ”Chip” Sestok to the Hunter’s Point Committee, put forth by Coltas/Stigers, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

Public Safety 

CH Fire Dept:

No Report

LLB Fire Dept:

No Report

911

The 911 Committee December Meeting scheduled for January 28th could not be held due to lack of quorum and was rescheduled to February 25th.

The previously announced 800 MHz operating class for the North End First Responders was held at the Copper harbor Visitor’s Center on Monday, January 25th.  The class was well attended and many positive comments were received.

Old Business

Community Center in Lac Labelle: Supervisor Stigers, Richard Schaefer and Rheta Wolfe met with a representative from Rural Development to discuss options available for building a community center.  Next step is to meet with the committee to find out which direction to proceed.  Supervisor Stigers also mentioned that both Pepsi and Coke were having community grants available, so those should be explored as well.

Wellfield Expansion: The Utility Board has been exploring options for Wellfield expansion and updating of the water utilities.  They would like to proceed with this and will need to purchase land adjacent to our existing well field.

    • Motion to enter into an Option to purchase land adjacent to existing Wellfield, put forth by Coltas/Stigers and all were in favor.  Motion carried 5-0.
    • Motion to enter into a contract with Traverse Engineering for Grant applications and pre engineering.  Put forth by Coltas seconded by Karl, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Aaron Rogers, representing the Copper Harbor Trails Club (CHTC) asked the Board about hours in the park for bands for the Fat Tire Festival.  The County was contacted about this and there is a County Ordinance that is complaint driven.  So the Board is out of the equation and they need to proceed with the County constraints.

The CHTC would like permission to install a “glass filler” faucet on the outside of the Community Building for the use of visitors to fill water bottles etc.  It would be installed near the present hose bib by the storage room.  It will be installed at no charge to the Township and be maintained by the CHTC.  Provisions will be made so that it can be drained in the winter.

  • Motion to allow the CHTC to install a “Glass Filler” faucet on the SE corner of the Community Building near the existing hose bib.  The installation must be made by a licensed plumber, include a back flow preventer, have provisions for draining to prevent freeze up during cold weather, and is to be maintained by the CHTC.  Put forth by Coltas/Davis, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

February is the month that the Officer Salary Resolutions are done.  The Board is not seeking any increase and the salaries will remain at last year’s amounts.  The Resolutions still must be made.

  • Motion to adopt Resolution 01-2010, Supervisor’s Salary of $13,500, put forth by Coltas seconded by Karl.  The Board was polled and all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to adopt Resolution 02-2010, Trustee’s Salary of $175.00 per regular Township meeting, put forth by Coltas seconded by Stigers.  The Board was polled and all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to adopt Resolution 03-2010, Treasurer’s Salary of $13,500, put forth by Coltas seconded by Davis.  The Board was polled and all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion to adopt Resolution 04-2010, Clerk’s Salary of $13,500, put forth by Coltas seconded by Karl.  The Board was polled and all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

In response to bringing the assessing records back in house the Township will need two new computers to keep these records in.  The existing computers do not have the capacity needed for the software necessary for these records.

  • Motion to approve the purchase of two new computers for the Supervisor and the Treasurer for storage of assessing records.  Put forth by Coltas/Hewatschek, all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

The Census Bureau has requested the use of the Community Building for training on February 22 thru the 26th, 8 am to 5pm.

  • Motion to pay audited bills for February in the amount of $26,496.28 and adjourn Coltas/Huwatschek all were in favor, motion carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

 
 
 

Ken Stigers                                         Kelly Coltas

Grant Township Supervisor              Grant Township Clerk 

      


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