COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:

REGULAR

Date of Meeting:

Tuesday, July 18, 2000

The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present were Beckwith, Speicher, May, Harrington, and Landers. In attendance were 25 individuals.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund

$ 264,928.46

Road Fund

$ 26,039.23

Fire Fund

$ 35,250.40

Ambulance Fund

$ 54,360.49

Trust & Agency Fund

$ 300.02

Tax Fund

$ 2,834.46

Liquor Control Fund

$ 3,705.59

Housing Rehab Fund

$ 30,666.48

Consent Agenda: June 20, 2000, regular meeting, June 26, 2000, special meeting, July’s expenses through July 17, 2000 and Treasurers report as presented.

Harrington moved to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.

Clerk's Report: Additional monthly expenses:

General Fund:

Expenses in Consent Agenda: $ 18,315.62
Issue CK 10929 Tony Evans Blight Enforcement 79.33
Total $ 18,394.95

Road Fund:

Refund for driveway tube $ 228.00

Fire Fund:

Expenses in Consent Agenda: $ 4,038.42

 

Public Comment: None

Sheriff: 70 complaints last month. The baseline and 54th Street murder was solved. Answered questions related to firing guns late at night and speeding on inland lakes.

County Commissioner: Absent

Fire Chief: Harry Rogalla announced the fire department has been operating for one year and have responded to 80 calls since July 1, 1999. The department’s average response time is 5 minutes and 41 seconds within the township. The department has received mutual aid 11 times and has provided mutual aid to the surrounding fire departments 12 times. The average response time for surrounding area is 6 minutes. The fire fighters are providing many additional volunteer hours to maintain the fire equipment. For example the fire fighters volunteered to man the station on July 3rd prior to and after South Haven’s fireworks display. The evening ended up being a community service providing directions to motorists who were lost.

Planning Commission: Will hold public meetings on the reasons for making revisions to the master plan. The Planning Commission presented a tower ordinance for approval by the township board.

Book Station: August 12, 2000 will be a fund raiser breakfast at the Gingerman Speedway. Discount speedway tickets will be available to all that attend the breakfast. Bids for remodeling are being received and reviewed. Hope to get some more work started soon.

Hospital: A quite month for the hospital board.

Recreation: No report. Baseball diamond was discussed.

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Free Dump Day: Beckwith moved to have another free dump day on August 5th extending the dump hours to 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m., seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.
  2. Emergency Home Repair: May presented a Resolution to "Establish an Emergency Home Repair Program for Qualified Low-Income Housing in Columbia Township" supported by Speicher. Declared adopted by roll call vote: Beckwith "aye", Speicher "aye", May "aye", Harrington "aye" and Landers "aye".
  3. Housing Program Letter of Intent: May moved to approve a letter of understanding for generating and providing consulting for the Emergency Home Repair Program, seconded by Speicher with minor change. Carried unanimously.
  4. Solid Waste Disposal: May moved to send letter to Solid Waste Disposal Services to obtain cost information and possibility reducing cost of transfer station and obtaining recycling services at the transfer station, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimously.
  5. Bookstation Members: Beckwith moved to add Maxine Sheler and Marylou Novak to the Bookstation Committee, seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.
  6. Agenda Addition: Speicher moved to add Tower Ordinance to the agenda, seconded by May. Carried unanimously.
  7. Tower Ordinance: May provided two additional items to the ordinance to allow emergency services the opportunity to add antennas for emergency services at no cost and to try to consolidate towers by more than one developer. May also mention the attorney should determine the penalties for violation of the ordinance (civil or criminal). With all the comments included Beckwith took a roll call vote. Beckwith "aye", Speicher "aye", May "aye", Harrington "aye" and Landers "aye".

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Lighting for the Township Hall parking area. May is gathering cost estimates.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

A member of the public commented on litigation against the previous township supervisor, previous assessor, previous Board of Review. Beckwith stated the Township’s insurance carrier hired a law firm to represent the township and previous township employees (previous Supervisor and previous Board of Review members). The previous assessor has hired this own attorney, as he was a contracted service not covered by the township’s insurance carrier. Same member of the public question why a dedicated member of the public was not receiving nonconsideration for repairs and replacements made to his property. Beckwith stated he thought the issue was resolved between the person and the assessor.

Adjourned: At 8:25 p.m.

Kenneth J. Speicher
Columbia Township Clerk