COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:

REGULAR

Date of Meeting:

Tuesday, May 18, 1999

The Regular Meeting of Columbia Township Board was continued from call of Special meeting. Present Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington and Landers. In attendance were 32 individuals.

Consent Agenda: Minutes of April 20, 1999 regular meeting, minutes of May 7, 1999 special meeting and expenses through May 15, 1999 were presented. Harrington moved to approve the consent agenda as presented, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.

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

General Fund

$ 264,816.37

Road Fund

$ 105,403.24

Tax Fund

$ 3,887.53

Trust & Agency

$ 768.43

Ambulance

$ 35,111.24

Fire Fund

$ 67,905.42

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

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

Expenses in Consent Agenda: $20,625,06

Expenses received after issuing consent agenda

Schuitmaker Cooper and Schuitmaker (correction) - 927.00

Jerry Thibodeau 1,150.00

Ikon Office Solution 4,665.00

Van Buren Treasurer 368.16

Sam DeLeo 375.98

Schuitmaker Cooper and Schuitmaker 585.00

General Fund Total $ 27,769.20

Road Fund 13,291.88

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

Supervisor’s Report: Provided detailed overview on current activities with fire protection. DNR has been looking into dumping of sand on shorelines of inland lakes and discussed Blight enforcement.

Planning Commission: Working on re-write of the master plan, will take a few years to complete and looking into setting policies and procedures for Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Review.

Zoning Administrator: Eight (8) zoning compliance permits were issued. Thanked Jeff Gasper and Joan Chester for their work on the flower box / lighted sign at the Township Hall.

Fire Representative: Columbia Township presented a new joint fire agreement to the other municipalities for addition, acceptance or rejection. The municipalities’ attorneys rejected new agreement and recommended early withdrawal of Columbia Township. Other issues previously covered in Supervisor’s Written Report.

Fire Committee: Working on new high capacity water well. Fire Committee will need to know what equipment Columbia Township will receive from the BBACG. Board stated they should expect to purchase all equipment. Moving forward on reaching an agreement for purchase of property for locating a fire station.

County Commissioner: Doug DeLeo commented Columbia Township for efforts to resolve disputes with other municipalities on fire protection. For individuals in need of transportation, call the Van Buren Public Transit at 427-7921.

Library Committee: Need volunteers and a map of property owned by Columbia Township. Provided a written report.

NEW BUSINESS:
  1. May moved to increase roadwork construction by having Bituminous Base Course placed on 47th Street from CR380 to 16th Avenue, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
  2. Landers moved to authorize hiring additional workers for free dump day, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
  3. Landers moved to allow Bob Seaman to hold a Gun Safety Course at the Township Hall at no cost, seconded by Harrington. Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Nay, Harrington Aye and Landers Aye. Motion Carried.
  4. Landers moved to Table Ordinance "Columbia Township Cost Recovery Ordinance", seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimous.
  5. Beckwith offered Resolution 9915 "Mileage rate Effective April 1, 1999", supported by Landers. Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Aye, Harrington Aye and Landers Aye. Resolution declared adopted.
  6. Beckwith offered Resolution 9916 "Authorization to Withdrawal from the BBACG by Target Date of July 1, 1999", supported by Speicher. Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Aye, Harrington Aye and Landers Nay. Resolution declared adopted.
  7. Beckwith offered Resolution 9917 "Resolution to Execute Quit Claim Deed", supported by May. Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Aye, Harrington Aye and Landers Aye. Resolution declared adopted.

    8. Lot Four (4), Block 3, Rogers Addition to the Village of Grand Junction, according

    to the recorded plat thereof, EXCEPT the East 40 feet of said Lot Four (4).

  8. Speicher offered Resolution 9918 "Purchase Property to House Fire Equipment", supported by Harrington. Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Aye, Harrington Aye and Landers Aye. Resolution declared adopted.

OLD BUSINESS:
  1. Harrington moved to table zoning administrator’s pay per land division, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimous.
  2. Harrington moved to reject the proposed BBACG 1999 – 2000 budget based on differences of opinion, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimous. Reference letter received from Fire Board Chairperson dated May 10, 1999. The letter requested feed back before May 20th.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Public is in support of township board with respect to fire protection. Public recognizes more volunteers are needed and wants to see more individuals involved in providing solutions instead of continuously highlighting the problems.

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

Kenneth J. Speicher

Columbia Township Clerk