COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Supervisor Beckwith called the Special Meeting of Columbia Township Board to order at 7:30 p.m. Present Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington and Landers. Sixty-Five residents of Columbia township were present.

Beckwith gave a brief overview of the purpose of the hearing and explained Columbia Township has separated from the BBACG fire district and it is necessary to develop the township as its own special assessment district to continue with fire and ambulance services.

May explained that changes were made in the tax laws which change the amount of taxes which can be collected. In previous years the millage rate was applied against State Equalized Value (SEV which equals ½ of True Cash Value), this coming tax year the millage will be applied against Taxable Value (TV). The Taxable Value is less than SEV because of the cap on assessed value (Proposition A in 1993). May stated the previous millage collected was 1.6 mils on SEV. To collect the same amount this year will require 1.9 mils on TV. May provided graphs, budgets and examples to show the increases a person could expect based on their Taxable Value. The previous 1.6 mils for the Bangor Fire Department must be removed from the tax rolls this year. Tonight the Township Board is gathering information to determine what the public would recommend for a millage rate to fund the operation of the Columbia Township Fire Department.

Harold Johnson: Installing a water well at the Grand Junction Station is the best thing this board has done. The BBACG got $80,000, 8/10 mils for Operating and 8/10 for equipment. The township board should have started working with Bangor three years ago. Your insurance rating will drop over time, but don’t expect a change over night.

Larry Burgett: $1.00 per 1,000 is the increase for 1 mil. I believe other townships are not happy with Columbia Township because of all the problems your fire board representative has caused.

Frank Grubisich: We are here to decide if we want to have a fire department or if we do not want to have a fire department. I have been to the BBACG fire board meetings and the board has made the right decision to leave the BBACG and start their own fire department. We have to generate a fire district so we can control our own fire protection.

Jerome Miller: We can not support a fire department, as we have no industry in Columbia Township. Get the industry to come into the Township. How many fires were there in Columbia township last year?

Board answer: around 60 calls.

How many were grass fires, Board answer: about 13 grass fires.

Gene Farley: Industry will not come into Columbia Township unless you have a fire department.

Jeannine Grubisich: I understand the Bangor Fire Department is not doing mutual aid with Columbia Township. They also are not allowing their fire fighters to carry their fire protection gear. This does not make sense, as now the fire fighters have to go to the fire station to get their gear, even if a fire is next to their home. I also heard they have to go to the station to ensure they bring a truck to the fire.

Gentleman: I understand that Bangor Fire Department did in fact have all the volunteers show at a fire and no one brought the fire truck.

Jack Conway: I think the board should crawl on their hands and knees back to Bangor and beg them to take Columbia Township back. You had the wrong person on the fire board.

Board response: we had 4 appointed fire board members on the fire board within the last two years. Our turn over was not because we were trying to get BBACG to provide us with better services. We were given no options from the BBACG to have us stay. We were told fire protection in Columbia township was our problem, not theirs. Our Grass fire unit was given to Geneva as part of their separation, leaving two grass fire units in Bangor Station. BBACG fire board was misappropriating your public funds. We would not be a responsible board if we continued to allow the BBACG to waste and misuse township money.

Gentleman: Seems you have already got a fire district as you hired a fire chief.

Board response: We collected taxes under the BBACG fire district, with those funds we are currently operating the fire department. To continue, a new fire district has to be generated, unless all the members of the BBACG use the same millage rate. Geneva is at 4 or 4.5 mills as they are using some of the assets returned from the BBACG.

Larry Burgett: I suggest you hire Lee and Bloomingdale and get back with Bangor.

Board response: Bloomingdale wants 1.25 mills and BBACG still wants 1.6 mills even though Bloomingdale would cover to CR 215. This makes 2.85 mills to stay with Bangor and improve fire protection.

Frank Grubisich: I have attended many Fire Board meetings in Bangor and at Grand Junction. The BBACG fire board had no plans to improve the fire protection in Columbia Township. The Chairperson told me at a meeting he did not care about Columbia Township. Fire Protection was Columbia Township’s problem not the BBACG’s. I showed him the BBACG contract where our services were not to be diminished and we were to have an ambulance at Grand Junction Station. Columbia Township built the Grand Junction Station with Township public money, sold it for a $1.00 to BBACG when we joined and had to purchase it back for $20,000, who would want to be with those type of people?

Gentleman: I don’t believe you.

Jack Conway: I don’t know what happened but I got an ambulance.

Samual: First off the fire department should be for life saving not for protecting property. I do understand the problem with the previous fire department.

Cagle: Are you going to have an exemption for vacant land.

Board response: Laws do not allow us to exempt vacant lands, the answer is no, as it is not allowed by Law.

Dave Hensley: If you get a new fire department it will not lower your fire insurance. I am going to fill out my comment form and go home.

Female: What is the board going to do about ambulance services. Should we call 911 and pray someone comes?

Board response: The Board has issued specifications for bidding ambulance protection for Columbia Township. The Board has not received any bids back and has been discussing options with VBEMS. But we don’t have a decision at this point as to who we will be going with and how much it will cost.

Jack Conway: This should be taken for vote before the public.

Alyce Johnson: Will the Board have the ambulance service providers come before the board in the form of an interview.

Board Response: It depends on review of the bids. There may be clear reasons for not selecting an ambulance supplier based on the information that the board requested and received from the ambulance suppliers as part of their bid. Otherwise, yes, we like to have pubic interviews to allow for public comments.

Jerome Miller: My taxes will double and have doubled over the past five years.

Gene Farley: BBACG does not have a good response time and they have no plan or goals to achieve improved fire protection services for Columbia Township. I understand fire protection taxes will be raised for Bangor City and Bangor Township.

Board member Harrington: I seem to think the people think this board has done nothing for the township with respect to fire protection. The board members have been evaluating and reviewing all options for the last 2 to 3 years on how to get improved fire protection. I have asked many people in the township to join the Bangor Community Fire Dept and they refuse as they do not want to be part of Bangor. I believe the volunteers will be produced in Columbia Township in time.

Hearing no further public comments, Beckwith closed the public hearing and entered into session with Township Board.

Beckwith requested a show of hands in support of the special assessment district by millage. Only 6 were against developing a special assessment district.

Speicher tallied the written comments.

Board Landers: I believe the millage rate should be middle range.

Bob DeHaven, Silver Lake – Option 1 for one year. Have fund raisers and build community support. Reevaluate at the end of a year and change millage rate as support improves.

Brenda Morren, Silver Lake – Option 1 over ten years, set millage at 2.0 mils.

R. N. Frost, Silver Lake Fire Ln 17 – Option 1 over ten years, set millage at 2.0 mils.

Braxton R. Smith: P.O. Box 354 Bangor MI 49013, no comments, no recommendation on millage.

Virginia VanDek 01723 54^th GJ MI 49056, My concern is the ability of Columbia District to handle a major fire with the equipment they have at this time, as it will take time to acquire more equipment – Can we count on the surrounding districts as we have in the past. Recommend 3.9 mils for fire and ? on ambulance.

Frank and Jeannine Grubisich, 50915 Shore Dr. GJ – We are in favor of a fire district and Special assessment district. Recommend 3. 9 mils for fire.

Robert n. Pevitts 20196 47^th Bloomingdale – We do not need another fire department. No recommendation for millage.

CJ Wloch 4648 CR 380 Bloomingdale – We do not need to a create fire district for our township. No recommendation for millage.

Russel Thorne 48882 8^th Ave GJ – Go for option 3 at 3.9 mils for fire.

Thomas Skonie 47151 CR 380 – Rate should be equal for all, except for apartments and 2 or more family homes on a property. It takes the same trucks to put out a fire on a low range or high range assessed value. Recommend 1.9 mils to stay at the same rate.

E. James Collins 47169 CR 380 – It all depends upon what senior citizens and war veterans who are on fixed incomes can afford especially when COLA from SS comes to under 2% and the cost of Medicare goes up. Recommend staying the same at 1.9 mils.

Heather Nadeau 12050 46 ½ St GJ – How many mils? What are we getting for our money? Who are we using for fire and ambulance protection right now? How many fire fighters do we have? Who are they, where are they located to fire hall? Where is the ambulance located. Are you going to use first responders? How many do you have? Where are they located in the township? Can they service all in the areas. What is your anticipated response time to my area for fire and ambulance. What is your 5 year plan? Don’t you think you should test your response time? No recommendation.

EA Burlean 46856 24^th ave – having your own Fire Department is not feasible at this time. Recommend staying at 1.9 mils.

A Aaron Samual 5027 S. California Chicago Il 60632 option 2 at 3.9 mils.

Dolores & Tom Wagner 08529 Hill Drive GJ – Option 2 at 3.9 mils this will get the fire protection issue resolved.

Andy Potts 13927 46 ½ street – I do not believe this township has enough revenue to support a complete department unless operated like Bloomingdale at no millage rate.

Rosemary Hurley – Columbia Township needs its own fire department, end of issue. Option 2 at 3.9 mils.

Jerome Miller 49666 CR 384 GJ – At this time, I could not morally support the idea of a fire department, without an agenda for progression. Without industry in the community there is no logical reason to have a fire department nor is there a tax base. Recommend 0 mils for fire and 0 mils for ambulance.

Arthur Szczepkowski 08643 Hill Drive – No, we will be spending good money after bad. What you need to do is get together with other communities. Same at 1.9 mils for fire same for ambulance.

Odell Gardner 111 Aylworth Ct. South Haven Mi – I reject any extra service for fire or ambulance. No recommendation

Casey Skellini 05900 59^th St – This is badly needed and a fair price for safety. Option 3 at 4.9 mils fire and 4/10 for ambulance.

Roger Tobolt 10229 51^st Street – Go for it, you cannot put a price on life. Option 3 at 4.9 mils and 4/10 for ambulance.

Jim Gillan 09820 50^th St. – How are you going to get more firemen? Lets vote on the new millage. Check with other departments to bid on fire protection. Recommend keeping the same rate at 1.9 mils.

Doris Nielsen: 14346 47^th St. GJ – Forget it. Recommends 0 for both fire and ambulance.

Muryl Eldred Jr. 19045 Merry St. GJ – I don’t want it at all. Recommend 0 for fire and 0 for ambulance.

David R. Hensley 54060 CR 388 GJ – the previous board gave away the ambulances. We can not run a fire department without people. Recommends 0 for fire and 0 for ambulance.

Ricke Cook 49295 CR 384 GJ- I believe creating our own fire district is way too costly. We "DO NOT" have enough volunteers for our fire department. I feel we need to use B-dale for the east side, Lee for the North side and Bangor for the West and South side and give them our tax dollars. The people of Columbia Township should be able to vote on this issue. Recommend 0 for fire and ? for ambulance.

Jane Driscoll POB 111 Breedsville – Volunteers? Find out the cost of Bloomingdale, Lee, South Haven and BBA – compare to Columbia Township. Is there any help from the State? Feds to buy equipment? Recommend no values.

John Hurzenga 08619 Silver LK Rd. – Go with option 1 first and see how it goes, is the support there, if it is go to option 2 the next time. Let the people dictate by their support how fast we proceed. Option 1 at 2.9 mils.

James Birnes 212 Emnin St – option 1 at 2.9 mils.

Ema O’Sullwin 56948 18^th Ave. – Township Vote, I would vote yes made no recommendation just ??

John Germick 10135 51^st St. – Option 1 for fire at 2.9 mils and 4/10 for ambulance.

Lee Ostrander 52758 Bay Drive GJ – No special assessment district – return to Bangor. The proposed budget is a band aid approach. Cost will be much higher than anticipated.

M. Cronin 09589 Burda RD. – I reject any extra fire service. No new Station. Go back to the way it was. No recommendation on millage.

Robert Osmendson 56948 18^th Ave. – Collect more data on costs, Have a township vote. No recommendation on millage rates.

Jim Sykora 51968 CR 384 – Must review closer. No recommendation on millage rates.

Joe Morawa 0869 Hill Drive – opposed to creation of a special assessment district. Recommend staying at 1.9 mils.

Louis Piet 09161 53^rd GJ – Opposed to creation of special assessment district assessments. Recommend staying the same at 1.9 mils.

Mary Andeson 05550 56^th GJ – Build up Columbia Township fire department in GJ. Hold on to Breedsville plans for now. Continue with VBEMS whose response times are excellent. Having them respond to me. Recommend 3.9 mils and 0.04 for ambulance.

Unknown – Without manpower we can not have a fire department.

Unknown – We can not afford a fire department. We will not come up with the volunteers. I doubt if the citizens will come up with the millage.

Tally Totals:

Undecided 4

No Special District 13

Special Assessment District 21

Tally Public Recommended Millage:

None 0.0 mils 7

Stay Same 1.9 mils 8 Operating cost, no improvements.

Option 1 2.9 mils 5 Operating cost, improvements, over long time

Option 2 3.9 mils 13 Operating cost, improvements, Fire Truck

Over next two - three years

Option 3 4.9 mils 3 Operating cost, improvements, Fire Truck and

Station over two – three years

Undecided 8

Beckwith discussed his thoughts on developing an assessment district. The option to do nothing would not be a responsible action by the Township Board. To crawl back to BBACG (Bangor Community Fire Department) would not bring improved fire protection to Columbia Township. The way things were progressing with Bangor, Columbia Township would provide 36% of BBACG budget and receive little benefit. The Township has 17 square miles outside a 5 mile radius and the BBACG had no goals, objectives or plans which would improve response times. The 17 square miles are considered unprotected by State Standards. He also understands BBACG is raising the millage rate for the BBACG fire district. Option 1 at 2.9 mils, would allow the Township over a long period of time, to obtain more volunteers, equipment, and another station in the Southern part to the Township. Option 2 at 3.9 mils, would allow growth over 3 to 5 years and Option 3 at 4.9 mils, would allow faster growth over 1 to 3 years.

Beckwith discussed a number of phone calls and two letters he has received in support of generating a fire district and increased millage rate. The Columbia Township’s goals are, 7 minutes response time, minimum of 15 volunteers, no personnel safety issues, improved relations with surrounding communities and community pride in the Fire Department. It is the Fire Chief and volunteers objective to achieve these goals in 3 to 5 years with help from the Township Board and the Community.

Beckwith read Resolution 9925.

Beckwith moved to approve Resolution 9925 for generating a special assessment district and proposing a millage rate of 3.9 mils for the first year of operation for fire protection and 0.4 mils for ambulance services. Landers supported the resolution. Roll Call Vote: Beckwith "Aye", Speicher "Aye", May "Aye", Harrington "Aye", and Landers "Aye".

Adjournment: Supervisor Adjourned meeting

Kenneth J. Speicher

Columbia Township Clerk