COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

The Regular Meeting of Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present were Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington and Landers. In attendance were 29 individuals.

Consent Agenda: February 15, 2000, regular meeting, February 21, 2000 / February 29, / March 7, 2000 special meetings, expenses through March 18, 2000 and Treasurers report were presented.

Speicher moved to approve the consent agenda with corrections voiding the 10729, 10734, 208 and correction to Check 166 from 161.05 to $1,161.05, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.

Clerk’s Report: Consent agenda and additional monthly expenses:

General Fund:

Speicher moved to approve payment of the additional invoices received after consent agenda, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.

Speicher moved to pre approve purchasing stamps at $165.00 from Postmaster, Burnham & Flower $2,190.00 (General Fund) 5,120.00 (Fire Fund) and Scott Granke $600.00, payments to be made after April 1, 2000, seconded by Landers, Carried unanimously.

These invoices have budget funding in new fiscal year

Fire Chief: 53 calls since July 1, 2000. Burning permits are required; property owners need to call 434-6227 a few days in advance. Fire Chief will make an inspection prior to issuing a permit. Must have a written permit prior to burning.

Library Committee: Kelly Building was taken down at no cost to the township. Need more donations and volunteers for the Craft Fair at Township Hall on April 15, 2000.

Speicher thanked the Library Committee members for being dedicated, caring and an inspiration to the community. You’re doing a great job in providing a public service and benefit for the community.

1. Garden Tractor Trade-in: part of consent agenda, no further action required.
2. Household Hazardous Waste: Speicher moved to enter into an agreement with Van Buren County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program for an amount not to exceed $500.00, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.

Beckwith moved to approve updates to the 2000 Van Buren County Solid Waste Management Plan, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously by roll call vote, Beckwith aye, Speicher aye, May aye, Harrington aye, and Landers aye.

3. Project Home Safe: Landers moved to participate in Project Homesafe to provide firearms safety kits within the community, seconded by May. Carried unanimously.
4. Dumpster Kelly Building: Beckwith moved to provide a dumpster for the weekend of April 1st at the Kelly Building for cleanup of articles left outside of the Kelly building, seconded by May. Carried unanimously.

Library Committee to make arrangements with disposal service and arrange for volunteer manpower to place items in dumpster.

5. 1999 / 2000 Audit: May moved to have Siegfried, Crandall, Vos and Lewis perform the audit with supervisor authorized to sign letter of understanding with auditor, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously by roll call vote, Beckwith aye, Speicher aye, May aye, Harrington aye, and Landers aye.
6. Tire Removal: Beckwith moved to table for more information, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.

1. Renewal of Road Millage on August Primary: Still have not received information from the County to prepare wording. No action.
2. Yard Lights at Township Hall: Ready to go for bids, Speicher to contact electrical contractors with information gathered.

Discussed reasons for the library committee to spend so much energy in developing a Book Station in Grand Junction. Committee is interested in providing a community service to the children of the Township. The Book Station is not being done to take away use or diminish Bangor or Bloomingdale public library services to Columbia Township.

Discussed increase in insurance rates for homeowners. Increases were rising prior to starting Columbia Township Fire Department. To reduce insurance rates the fire department has to be properly funded and continue to grow. It takes time to get manpower trained, get the right equipment, locate a satellite fire station and establish quicker response times. The equipment, station location, manpower, training, water sources, are used by insurance providers in setting insurance rates. We know what has to be done and the board has a plan, which will provide the funds to the fire department to reduce insurance ratings within a few years.

Adjourned: By call of Supervisor, adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Kenneth J. Speicher

Columbia Township Clerk