COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

The Regular Meeting of Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington and Landers. In attendance were 23 individuals.

Consent Agenda: January 19, 1998 regular meeting, January 28, 1999 and February 4, 1999 special meetings and expenses through February 12, 1999 were presented. Speicher moved to approve the consent agenda as presented seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.

Treasurer’s report: was read by May as follows:

Speicher moved to approve the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.

Clerk’s report : monthly expenses were presented by Speicher as follows:
Expenses in Consent Agenda: $ 10,337.60

Expenses received after issuing consent agenda

General Fund Normal Expenses $ 13,517.60

Transfer to Investments from Road Funds $ 23,000.00

Harrington moved to approve the bills, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.

Supervisor’s Report: Fire protection is the biggest matter facing all of us in Columbia Township. The current BBACG administrative leadership is not responding to our questions, leaving us without answers to important questions. We are truly being forced out of the BBACG by the current administrative fire board’s lack of leadership.

Planning Commission: A special meeting on revising the master plan will be held on February 18, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. A special guest speaker offering suggestions on making needed revisions to the master plan written in November of 1982, will be present. This document should be revised every 5 years and should be kept current as changes occur in the Township.

Zoning Administrator: Presented the Board with a copy of BOCA code on building heights which is in conflict with Columbia Township’s Zoning Ordinance. Speicher stated the Planning Commission should be made aware of the conflict. Speicher stated the number of stories is determined by the Columbia Township Zoning Ordinance not BOCA code.

Hospital Report: Flu season is coming. Suggest washing your hand frequently during this season. Avoid crowds and stay home if you are sick to keep from spreading the flu. Open House at the hospital is scheduled for May.

Fire Representative: Bangor fire station was appraised at $75,000 which is only 30% of the book value ($242,837) being kept by the BBACG auditor. This is a big difference in the benefit of the City of Bangor whose fire representative is the chairperson of the BBACG. The BBACG fire board has done nothing to develop a new Joint Fire Agreement. The BBACG fire board will not be searching for a new full time fire chief. This decision was made unilaterally by the chairperson. The BBACG administrative fire board has not provided any information to indicate the BBACG Joint Fire District will not terminate when Geneva withdraws on March 21, 1999. The chairperson has refused to give the other fire board members copies of "harassing" and FOIA letters she claims to have received. There is no improvement plan nor objectives for improvements being offered by the BBACG fire board. Our Fire Board Representative recommend the Township Board withdraw on March 21, 1999, along with Geneva.

Sheriff Report: 71 calls in Columbia Township, Public was informed about he new release notification program which is now in effect.

1. County Drain Commissioner, Orrin Dorr, discussed the current conditions of the Palmer and Silver Lake Outlet Drains. Public questioned the elevations on the drain pipe from 53rd street to Silver Lake (Palmer). It was suggested that another survey be done on the elevations of the drain tubes. An estimated $4,800 in costs was given to make repairs to Palmer Drain. The Silver Lake Outlet tube is in need of replacement, this cost would be much greater and there is no estimate at this time. Mr. Dorr believes both of these projects are needed and hopes to receive a petition from members of the public or from the Township Board to proceed with generating the necessary paper work to begin the process of getting bids and approval. The Township Board took no action.
2. Barb Ewald on behalf of Bloomingdale Public School, Post Prom Fund provided information on a fund drive for an all night alcohol / drug free post prom celebration which would be held on May 1 through May
3. The board thought the program was worth while and would benefit the Township and the young adults of the community.

1. Speicher moved for spending $200.00 to the Bloomingdale High School Post Prom, providing the township Attorney is consulted to ensure the expense is authorized by State Statue, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
2. Speicher moved to approve the revised Columbia Township Zoning Compliance Permit with an effective date of February 17, 1999, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.
3. Landers moved to Table "Ordinance for establishing a Fire Department", seconded by May. Carried unanimous. Discussion included possibility of not being able to staff for fire protection by March 21, 1999. Other matters discussed were breach of agreement, no new joint fire agreement in progress, State Statue requires two fire board members and misappropriation of public funds
4. Beckwith moved to approve Resolution 9904 "Setting Hourly Wage for Enforcement Officer" supported by Speicher. Carried unanimous.
5. Harrington moved to approve Resolution 9905 "Emergency Services" supported by Speicher. Carried 4 to 1 with Landers voting Nay. Discussion included concerns with providing fire protection in the South West corner of the Township.
6. May moved to approve Resolution 9906 "Concerning Certain Tax Reverted Lands" seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous. During discussion, a member of the public described his problem selling property that he had purchased during a tax reverted lot sale. he stated that the quit claim deed he received did not provide clear title. He thought he should have been informed of the condition of the title the time he purchased the land from the Township.
7. Speicher moved to advertise to sell the "Kelly Building" in Grand Junction with seal bids based on a bid specification requiring use plan, employment and completion schedule, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.
8. May moved to place two advertisements in the newspaper for volunteers to be on a committee to improve parks and Baseball fields in Columbia Township, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous.

9. Beckwith presented Speicher with a Bulldog award for his efforts in improving fire protection in Columbia Township.

9. Beckwith moved to appoint Speicher as the second member of the BBACG Fire Board on recommendation of attorney. Speicher moved to amend to include reaffirming Grehak as a member of the BBACG Fire Board. May moved to amend to include notification to other governing bodies within one week. Seconded by Harrington as amended. Carried unanimous.

1. Landers moved to table any decision on the Palmer and Silver Lake outlet drains, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous.
2. Landers moved to purchase a freezer for an amount not to exceed $190.00, seconded by May. Carried unanimous.
3. May moved to purchase Peachtree Accounting Program for $213.95 and Training expenses at $85.00 per hour not to exceed $1,403.95, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
4. Cemetery Ordinance is on hold until next meeting.

Tom Wall 434-8111 would like to chair a committee to improve parks in Columbia Township. Board agrees and will advertise for volunteers.

A member of the public asked for opinion from board on ordinance compliance prior to 1996. AGS was a contractor for Zoning and there are few records during that time. Beckwith will contact AGS and see if the records can be provided.

The Big Chair article in the Kalamazoo newspaper claims it is a sales gimmick. Beckwith explained that according to Larry Lehman, BOCA Building Code Official, the Big Chair is not a sign nor a structure. People may call it art, trash, or a sign but we must go by the BOCA code. The Township has no rules or regulation that apply to the big chair.

Previous Fire Board Meeting the Township Attorney did an excellent job in representing Columbia Township. The Board members should be very proud of Columbia Township’s attorney representing Fire Services. He took a lot of unnecessary verbal abuse from the BBACG chairperson, he has good manners and is a good attorney.

Adjourned: At 9:50 p.m. by call of the Supervisor the regular meeting was adjourned.

Kenneth J. Speicher
Columbia Township Clerk