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COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	January 15, 2002-7:30 PM

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

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	193,055.63	Road Fund	45,927.77
Fire Fund	50,064.45	Ambulance Fund	54,206.75
Trust & Agency Fund	6,437.00	Tax Fund	4,307.59
Liquor Control Fund	3,161.29	Housing Rehab Fund	42,450.83

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-December 18, 2002; Special Meeting Minutes-January 9, 2002; bills through January 14, 2002; Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the Consent Agenda. Carried unanimously.

Clerk's Report: None

Public Comment: Comments about an anonymous letter that had been placed on the table.

Additions/Corrections: Motion by Harrington, seconded by Fogarty, to add to the agenda, paying Mary Burgett as the bookkeeper. Carried unanimously.

Supervisor: None

Sheriff: 69 calls received in December.

County Commissioner: The county is looking for money for emergency ambulance training in case of biological warfare.

Fire Chief: 4 calls in December. February 17, 2002 will be the date of the annual dog clinic at the Columbia Township Fire Department.

Planning Commission: The Master Plan has been sent to the County Planning Commission for their comments. The next thing the Planning Commission will be working on is review of the Township Zoning Map.

Neighborhood Watch: There was a stolen vehicle abandoned in the Township for several days.

Book Station: The Book Station needs volunteers to catalog books for the library.

Hospital: None

Recreation: Work has begun on the stump removal at Thompson Cemetery.

Grant Writing: None

Zoning Administrator: 86 applications for building permits last year.

Blight Administrator: There have been 8 complaints filed, 2 properties have been cleaned up.

Correspondence: None

Old Business: None

New Business:

	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to adopt the Mining Ordinance. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Hurley, seconded by Fogarty, to have Bryce May help the Assessor with the Assessment Notices. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Beckwith, to approve purchase of a radio for the Chief’s truck from Winkel Communications at a cost of $375. Carried.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve S & H Dependable Services to plow snow at the Ambulance Station. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Resolution 2002-01-Amending Property Tax Poverty Exemption Guidelines. Roll call vote, Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye. Carried.
	Motion by Fogarty, seconded by Burgett, to appoint Al Baerren to the Planning Commission for 3 years and Rosemary Hurley for 1 year, for Board seat. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to appoint Farley Gruber as Columbia Township Fire Chief. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve the revised Chief Contract. Carried unanimously. The new chief came forward and signed the contract.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Budget Amendment-2002-02. Roll call vote, Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye. Carried.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Harrington, to approve $1100 for the Hazardous Waste Collection for 2002. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Fogarty, seconded by Burgett, to have the secretary work up to 15 hours per week. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Harrington, seconded by Hurley, to pay Mary Burgett as bookkeeper at the same pay as the previous bookkeeper. Carried unanimously.

Notices: Stuffed animals have been donated by Margie Beckwith and Mary Burgett to the Fire Department to give out to children involved in accidents or fires in the Township.

Public Comment: Comments about a house built to close to the property line and an article placed in the reminder.

Adjourned: 8:38

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor