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 29 individuals.

Addition to Agenda: Beckwith moved to add 1.) Inventory Reimbursement Revenue and 2.) Hazardous Waste to the agenda, seconded by May. Carried unanimous.

Consent Agenda: February 16, 1998 regular meeting, February 24, 1999 and February 25, 1999 special meetings and expenses through March 12, 1999 were presented. Speicher moved to approve the consent agenda as presented seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.

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

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

Clerk’s report : monthly expenses were presented by Speicher as follows:

Expenses in Consent Agenda: $ 58,457.12

Expenses received after issuing consent agenda

CK 10170 to Harry W. Rogalla 505.75

CK 10171 to Van Buren County Treasurer 3,480.33

General Fund Total 62,443.20

Moneys To Investments (45,000.00)

General Fund Normal Expenses $ 17,433.20

Transfer to Investments from Road Funds $ 15,000.00

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

Supervisor’s Report: Discussed increased activities in the area of blight. Announced operation of Bangor Quick Response Team work with VBEMS. VBEMS now accepts Medicare.

Planning Commission: Three person came before the Planning Commission this month. Priority for the Planning Commission is updating the Master Plan.

Zoning Administrator: Issued two stop work orders, in court to obtain order to remove old mobile home. Judge gave owner 30 days. Obtained bids for removal of the old mobile home for the board’s action.

Fire Representative: The Bangor Community Fire Department is supposed to be equally financed by the five governmental bodies (1/5 of the annual budget). A majority of the BBACG’s governmental bodies want you to believe the finance is based on the value of the governing body’s SEV. The SEV method caused Columbia Township to pay $155,000 dollars in excess of equal shares (1/5). The BBACG joint agreement guarantees an economical benefit and promises the fire protection service will not diminish. Columbia Township in 1981 provided their 1/5 ownership in Bangor Community Fire Department, 14+ fire fighters, a fire station, fire trucks, fire equipment and an ambulance in an effort to improve the fire services in the five communities. Today fire services in Columbia Township are diminished and there is no economic benefit to be with the BBACG under the current conditions. To put this into perspective Columbia Township in comparison to the City of Bangor has paid $373,000 more into the financial support of Bangor Community Fire Department, than the City has, even though the City of Bangor receives the majority of any benefit. Recommend the board obtain fire protection from alternative sources. Discussion from visitors we need volunteers before we can leave the BBACG. Fire Committee answered with no volunteers until there is a commitment from the Township Board to generate a Fire Department. Ambulance Service provider was also discussed.

1. Harrington moved to approve the 1999 - 2000 budget, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.
2. Beckwith moved to clean the junk form Marion Bronzell property (tax # 80-06-422-804-01) using Jim Sumner, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
3. Speicher moved not to pay BBACG’s first quarter 1999 invoice, seconded by May. Discussion included comments from Speicher about conversation with the State of Michigan Local Division of Audit, not being provided information and Finance and letter Township Board sent questioning the invoice was never answered by the BBACG. Carried unanimous.
4. Speicher moved to invoice the BBACG for the excessive funds paid in excess of equal shares (1/5) into the BBACG, totaling $155,000.00, seconded by Beckwith. May explained how the $155, 000 was calculated. Carried unanimous. Visitors informed Board, the BBACG would be dissolved on Friday, March 19, 1999 according to the newspapers.
5. Beckwith moved to Table approving a contract with Bloomingdale Fire Services for the Eastern half of the Township, seconded by May. Carried unanimous.
6. Speicher moved to distribute 1999 Inventory Reimbursement Revenue sharing money to Van Buren District Library, South Haven Hospital, Road Fund and General Fund, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
7. Speicher moved to contract with Siefried, Crandall, Vos and Lewis for 1999 -2000 auditor, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
8. Speicher moved to purchase a laser printer not to exceed $2,000.00, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous. It is expected the laser printer will save $5,000.00 over the next three years as printing tax notices will be done at the Township instead of contract.
9. Speicher moved to participate in household hazardous waste for $500, seconded by Harrington. May moved to amend to increase the value to $1,000 to match budget, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
10. Beckwith moved to put a second phone line in the Township Hall, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
11. Speicher moved to send the issue of purchasing property for the fire department to the planning commission, seconded by Beckwith. Carried unanimous.
12. Beckwith moved to change Insurance carriers, Burnham & Flower to carry workman comp and official’s bonds, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous.

1. Speicher moved to table Resolution for plamer and Silver lake outlet drains, and review during road tour, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.
2. Cemetery Ordinance on hold. No action taken.
3. Harrington moved to adopt an Ordinance to Establish a Fire department, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous. It was determine it will take time to get the fire department up and running and it would be in the best interest of the Township to have the department established before leaving the BBACG.
4. Harrington moved to adopt fire department by-laws, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous.
5. Speicher tabled bid specification and advertising such as Speicher did not have time to get the documents prepared for the meeting, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.

Residents commented more volunteers are needed for the fire department and recommended volunteers call the Township at 434-6227 and leave their name and number so a fire committee member working on recruiting can contact them. A resident thanked the Township Board for their concerns in fire protection

Adjourned: At 9:45 p.m. by call of the Supervisor the regular meeting was adjourned.

Kenneth J. Speicher

Columbia Township Clerk

Minutes approved by Board, April 20, 1999