COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:

SPECIAL

Date of Meeting:

Thursday, August 19, 1999

Clerk Speicher called the Special Meeting of Columbia Township Board to order at 8:14 p.m. Present Speicher, May, and Harrington. Absent Beckwith and Landers.

Harrington moved to appoint Speicher as chairperson in the absence of Supervisor Beckwith, seconded by May. Carried unanimously.

Speicher explained there were two parts of the special meeting. The first part would be discussion, limited to the fire chief, fire committee and Township Board. During this work secession the Township Board will gather information to make the right decisions in the following part of the meeting when the Township Board will make decisions on subject matters being discussed in the work session.

Work Session limited to Fire Chief, Fire Committee and Township Board
  1. Water well - fire chief and committee recommend looking at other sources to obtain a pump for the new well.

    2. In beginning of the well discussion, Alyce M. Johnson and Harold A. Johnson argued to be heard. Chairperson declared they were out of order and disturbing the meeting. Three warnings were given with notice of disrupting the meeting. The Johnsons were asked to sit and be silent. They refused demanding their rights to be heard in accordance with Open Meeting Act. The Chairperson informed the Johnsons they would have an opportunity later in the meeting as supported by the agenda. Without obtaining compliance from the Johnsons, the Sheriff was requested to restore order to the meeting. The Johnsons left prior to the sheriff arriving. The Chairperson met with the sheriff and explained the situation while the Fire Chief; Committee and remaining board member discussed the well issues.

    MCL §41.97 - §41.99 authorizes the Township chairperson to grant authority to persons to speak and silencing those who may be out of order or disrupting the meeting.

    OMA §15.263(5) a person shall be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body. ……

  2. Painting the grass fire unit was recommended to lowest bidder TNT.
  3. Equipment for the grass fire unit. Recommend fire fighting equipment meet NFPA standards.
  4. Reviewed the 1999/2000 budget line item by line item to get a full understanding of where money will be spent.
  5. Capital Expenditures

The Committee and Fire Chief rated the importance of the following 1-Additional Fire Truck, 2-purchase land 3- Additional fire station in Southern part of the Township, 4-develop water rescue.

Volunteer fire fighters are needed to staff another station and reduction in ISO rating will follow with improvements in fire protection.

Special Meeting Township Board

Open for public comments to allow the public to discuss situation, which occurred earlier in the meeting. Majority thought the proper actions were taken.

Red sign reflectors on fire lanes would be an improvement for the fire department to make. Tax Structure for raising moneys, the board needs to do more future planning and modernize, as the fire fighters have to be happy. Agreed the Johnsons were being disruptive.

  1. Harrington moved to pay Koop’s invoice for $9,750.00, seconded by May. Carried unanimously.
  2. May moved to have TNT paint the DNR Truck (grass fire unit) not to exceed $3,700.00 second by Harrington. Carried unanimously.
  3. May moved to spend up to $7,800 for DNR Truck’s grass fire fighting equipment, including tank and all parts and pieces attaching to tank seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.

May will work on fire department budget and develop a budget to present to the Township Board.

Public Comments:

Generally, a very informative meeting on generating a fire department budget. Issues are being resolved. Thanked the Board for looking 3 to 5 years into the future instead of waiting until problems arise.

Adjournment: Chairperson adjourned meeting at 10:15 p.m.

Kenneth J. Speicher

Columbia Township Clerk