COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	March 19, 2002: 7:30 PM

The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present were Beckwith, Burgett, Harrington, and Hurley. Absent was Fogarty. In attendance were 39 individuals.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	160,526.23	Road Fund	10,608.95
Fire Fund	27,543.62	Ambulance Fund	52,395.72
Trust & Agency Fund	6,437.00	Tax Fund	2,741.31
Liquor Control Fund	2,641.57	Housing Rehab Fund	42,529.60

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-February 19, 2002; Special Meeting Minutes-February 14, 2002, March 13, 2002; bills through March 15, 2002; Treasurer’s Report.

Motion by Hurley, seconded by Burgett, to approve the Consent Agenda. 3-yes 1-no (Harrington). Carried.

Clerk's Report: Bills after Consent Agenda-Herb Murphy-Snow Plow Transfer Station- $90.00

Verizon-Fire Department Phone $77.22

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Beckwith, to approve the bills after the consent agenda. Carried unanimously.

Public Comment: Bob Breckenridge, Republican candidate.

Additions/Corrections: Add to agenda #13 Burn pit at the Transfer Station

#14 Sign for Township Hall

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Beckwith, to approve the additions. Carried unanimously.

Supervisor: No Report.

Sheriff: 71 calls received in February. Citizens Police Academy will be starting March 21, 2002.

County Commissioner: The Governor has proposed a summer tax collection.

Fire Chief: 6 calls in February, average response time was 6:48, with no contracted fire protection needed. The contracted fire protection is scheduled to be dropped by April 30, 2002, when the Fire Department will have 4 trained firefighters available during the daytime hours. The Department now has 7 fully trained firefighters which includes 3 EMT’s, 1 that will be fully trained next month, and 6 trainees. Remember, burn permits are required in Columbia Township. Pick up applications for address signs at the Township Hall, the Fire Department will install them for you.

Planning Commission: The Zoning map is being updated.

Neighborhood Watch: Thanks to the Board for the increased police protection. Dale Gribler will be attending the April 4^th meeting. Mary Ann Middaugh will be attending the May 2^nd meeting.

Book Station: The Sheriff’s crew helped set up the books at the Church. The Book Station hopes to be open Wednesday and Saturday by the end of April. If you would like to help, please call 434-6227.

Hospital: Dr. Carla Samuel-Parks, and Marcus Bonasso are now seeing patients at the new Covert Medical Center. The Hospital Wellness Center is now open to the public from 7:30am to 5:00 pm on Monday thru Friday at a cost of $25 per month.

Recreation/Cemetery: Thompson Cemetery is in the process of being surveyed.

Grant Writing: No Report

Zoning Administrator: 4 Zoning Compliance/Building Permits, 4 Mechanical Permits, and 10 Electrical Permits were issued in February.

Blight Administrator: 5 complaints in February.

Correspondence: None

Old Business:

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to appoint Rod Wilder as the Columbia Township Mechanical Inspector. 3-yes, 1-no(Harrington). Carried.

New Business:

	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the 2002-2003 Budget Resolution. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty absent, Harrington no, Hurley aye. Carried.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the Salary Resolution. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty absent, Harrington no, Hurley aye. Carried.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the 2002/2003 Meeting Date Resolution. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty absent, Harrington aye, Hurley aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the Pay Expenses Resolution. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty absent, Harrington aye, Hurley aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Hurley, seconded by Harrington, to set Free Dump Days for May 18, 2002, and September 21, 2002. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Harrington, to approve the trade in of the John Deere Mower and payment of $750. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve paying Van Buren County for printing and mailing of the voter ID cards. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Hurley, seconded by Harrington, to appoint Rey Reyna to the Fire Department. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to offer to reimburse the Bangor Fire Department for Rey Reyna’s training. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Harrington, to table action on the Building Permit Fee Schedule. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to appoint Jim Sykora, Jack Bowen, and Peter Stanislawski to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Harrington, Plaque commemorating Larry Burgett, Supervisor, Gerald Grahek, Clerk, Bryce May, Treasurer, George Harrington, Trustee, Marvin Landers, Trustee, for the construction of the Township Hall & Offices.Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Harrington, to approve the Budget Amendment. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty absent, Harrington aye, Hurley aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to pay no more than $400 for the digging of a large burn pit at the Transfer Station. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Hurley, seconded by Burgett, to approve purchase of a sign for the Township Hall, at a cost of $4700. Carried unanimously.

Notices: Thank you to Vic Sedlak of the Bangor American Legion Post #160 for the donation of a new flag for the Township Hall.

Public Comment: Ditching should be done by the tracks where the DNR park is, to remove the excess water that is collecting there.

Adjourned: 8:45 PM

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor