The Public Hearing for the 1999 / 2000 Budget prepared by the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington and Landers. In attendance were 12 individuals.
Public Comments on 1999 / 2000 Budget:
- What roads will the Township be working on? May explained we would not know what roads would be worked on until after the board takes a road tour. The road tour will be posted and occur very soon.
- Why does the township need a new building? Are you saying this building was poor planning on the part of the Township Board? Beckwith explained the building is a forecast of future plans of the Township. There is a problem with storage with the existing building. The Township has lawn equipment and no where to store the equipment. The table and chairs are stored in the Hall as there is no other place to store them. At some point in time a storage building will be necessary.
- When will the Ball Field be completed? It was promised that the ball field would be rebuilt when the township hall took the old ball fields location. Harrington mentioned a volunteer (Tom Wall) is looking for volunteers to work on the ball field this spring. The township has been advertising for volunteers to help in building the ball field.
- Questioned the value placed on building permits. Beckwith explained the number of building permits were continually increasing and therefore the budget had to be increased.
- Land Division seem to be to high of a number? May explained their has been an increase in the number of land divisions as the laws have changed. This is a balance account meaning there is a revenue account which will match the expenditure account.
- Back to the Roads, especially around Silver Lake - we want the road widen. Who determines safety and those kind of things when reviewing roads? This section of road will be reviewed during the road tour.
- Inspectors have to do a better job, there have been a few cases of building permits not being issued and buildings being built. What is the Board doing to correct this? Beckwith stated the best way to correct this is to have the citizens and residents of Columbia Township to report violations.
Adjourned at 7:20
Kenneth J. Speicher
Columbia Township Clerk
Minutes approved by Board, April 20, 1999