COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

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 16 individuals.

Donuts and Refreshments were provided (no township funds) to honor the accomplishments of the Columbia Township Fire Department. At their one year anniversary, the Fire Department had 80 calls with an average response time of 5 minutes and 41 seconds, received mutual aid 11 times and gave mutual aid 12 times. Since leaving the BBACG the township has increased the number of emergency vehicles from 1 to 3 and number of fire fighters from 2 to 10. Supervisor Beckwith stated the board and township residents are impressed and requested Fire Chief Rogalla to continue to maintain the high standards he has applied during the first year of operation. In honor of this occasion Supervisor Beckwith presented the Fire Chief and Chairperson of the Book Station with a book called "Fire Fighting 2000" which contained the names of the ten fire fighters of Columbia Township.

Consent Agenda: July 18, 2000, regular meeting, July 29, 2000, special meeting, August expenses through August 13, 2000 and Treasurers report as amended by removal of Check 10974.

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

Clerk's Report: Additional monthly expenses:

Speicher moved to approve the invoices received after issue of the consent agenda, seconded by

Harrington. Carried unanimously.

Public Comment: None

Special Speaker – Auditor: Mr. Vos from Siegfried, Crandall, Vos & Lewis, P.C. presented the Financial Statements and Independent Auditors’ Report for the year ending March 31, 2000. Mr. Vos complimented the Township Board for their attention to details and their organizational skills. He stated that the audit report was an unqualified report, meaning there were neither problem areas nor questions. The auditor found no issues of concern and found the books very organized and accurate. The auditor explained to the public how the assets transferred from BBACG to Columbia Township generated an entry in revenue and the same amount as an expense. The money was not collected from the taxpayers nor did the Township Board spend it. It was an accounting method for tracking assets and liabilities. The audit generated no management letter for areas to improve as no concerns were generated from the audit.

Special Speaker – Grand Junction Postmaster: Mike Welsh announced he was now officially assigned as Grand Junction Postmaster as of July 20^th. The Grand Junction Post Office is currently short handed and is working to make improvements in services. He wants to be active in our community and provide community support. Mike answers the phone and would like to answer any questions or comments.

Supervisor: None

Sheriff: Absent

County Commissioner: Absent

Fire Chief: Harry Rogalla announced the three individuals attending the Kalamazoo Fire Fighting Academy receive their State Certification this past month. Ken and Marie Speicher and Max Streeter are State Certified, bringing the number of certified fire fighters for the Columbia Township Fire Department to ten. Applicants should be receiving their letters for Fire Fighter Academy, which starts in the fall. There were 7 calls last month.

Planning Commission: Will hold public meetings on the reasons for making revisions to the master plan. The attendance at the last meeting was light, so if you attended the last meeting please help by getting one of your neighbors to attend the next meeting, August 22, 2000.

John Dutton stated he attended the meeting, and the presentation was very informative and conducted very professionally. He complimented Al Baerren on his presentation and how questions were answered.

Neighborhood Watch: The neighborhood watch group meets every month on the first Thursday. We need a strong neighborhood watch. Neighbors should be watching out for their neighbors. Bev Norris is the new Chairperson for Neighborhood Watch.

Book Station: Thanked all that attended the dinners at Country Fare and the breakfast at Gingerman Raceway. On September 16, 2000 there will be a Farmer’s Market located at the Bookstation. The Sheriff work crew is scheduled to do more work for the Bookstation. The contractor who took down the old Kelly building received his final payment. Obtaining estimates for a new roof.

Hospital: None

Recreation: Jeff Gasper is working on the backstop.

1. Audit Report: Landers moved to accept the audit report as written seconded by Harrington. Carried unanimously.
2. Road Work: Beckwith moved to re-submit work request to the Van Buren Road Commission for 56^th Street from 8^th Avenue to CR-388, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.

Discussed 50^th Street and Natural Beauty Road, Road Commission stated these roads would be maintained in a condition to accommodate acceptable emergency travel.

3. DNR Application For Conveyance: Speicher offered Resolution 2006 "2000 DNR Land Purchases" for consideration and Harrington supported the offer. May moved to table, seconded by Beckwith,. Carried 3 to 2. Beckwith asked for roll call vote: Beckwith Aye, Speicher Nay, May Aye, Harrington Nay and Landers Aye.

Discussion: Speicher read the lower portion of DNR letter stating if the DNR does not receive a response indicating interest by November 1, 2000, the DNR will assume the Township is not interested to acquire the property and will place the properties on the DNR auction sale list. Once the properties are on the DNR sales list , no township application will be accepted. Beckwith stated he called and discussed the letter with the DNR.

4. SCBA Air Packs: May moved to purchase 10 used air packs at $425.00 from Moses Company, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.

Discussion: New air packs run in the neighborhood of $2,000.00 each.

5. MTA Session: Harrington moved to approve up to three individuals to attend the MTA Fall Meeting at $55.00 per person, seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.
6. Tower Ordinance: Beckwith moved to incorporate comments received form township attorney into the "ORDINANCE FOR COMMUNICATION TOWERS" and the publication of the ordinance, seconded by Speicher. Roll Call Vote: Beckwith Aye, Speicher Aye, May Aye, Harrington Aye and Landers Aye.

1. Solid Waste: No action, waiting to review two (2) vendor bids. Beckwith moved to Table seconded by Speicher. Carried unanimously.
2. Window Repairs: Speicher moved to pay up to $536.60 to repair the windows broken by stones from the parking lot, seconded by Landers. Carried unanimously.

A member of the public commented on the book station being called a library in the newspapers. Requested the township board clarify their intent on the book station. Speicher stated previous meetings reflected the book station was not in competition with the Van Buren County Library District. The book station will be a community center to be enjoyed by all and will have books for the use of the public.

A resident discussed the fire department and thanked the township board for dusting off the citizen’s petition to improve emergency service and making changes to protect the residents of Columbia Township. The resident stated his disappointment with the previous supervisor who took no action on their petition. The current Board should be commended for their actions in making improvements and for their handling of all the negative statements and becoming a target of a recall. He asked for the residents to pull together and be positive and supportive of the Book Station and Fire Department. We should recognize the number of volunteers is growing. This is because the board wants to work with the residents to achieve common goals. We always need to work together.

Adjourned: At 8:52 p.m.

Kenneth J. Speicher
Columbia Township Clerk