COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	April 16, 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 30 individuals.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	141,704.81	Road Fund	10,608.95
Fire Fund	21,101.18	Ambulance Fund	52,101.60
Trust & Agency Fund	6,437.00	Tax Fund	3,030.10
Liquor Control Fund	2,641.57	Housing Rehab Fund	42,529.60

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-March 19, 2002; Special Meeting Minutes-March 28, 2002, April 9, 2002; bills through April 15, 2002; Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the Consent Agenda. Carried unanimously.

Clerk's Report: No Report

Public Comment: None

Additions/Corrections: None

Supervisor: A plaque commemorating the building of the Township Hall in 1996 has been placed in the foyer of the Township Hall. 20 ambulance calls were received in March with an average response time of 7.4 min. Citizen’s are urged to place address numbers on home and road for ease of access.

Sheriff: 66 calls received in March, including 3 larceny, 8 assaults, and 3 burglaries.

County Commissioner: No report.

Fire Chief: 10 calls in March, including 3 structure, 2 grass, and 3 mutual aid, with an average response time of 7.8 min. As of April 30, Columbia Township will not require contracted fire protection.

Planning Commission: A public hearing for amending the Zoning Ordinance will be held in the next few months.

Neighborhood Watch: Columbia Township’s Neighborhood Watch is #1 in Van Buren County. Mary Ann Middaugh will be the guest speaker at the May 2^nd meeting.

Book Station: The Grand Opening was held April 20, at the Grand Junction Congregational Church in Grand Junction. The regular hours will be Wednesday and Saturday, from 9-12. Volunteers are still needed to sort and check out books and to read to the children at story hour. Sherman Dairy has offered prizes to the children for reading books over the summer. May 25, the church will be sponsoring a bake sale. May 18, the school will be sponsoring various venders, in order to raise money for playground equipment.

Hospital: Construction has been approved for work on the Women’s Center, radiology, special care, and a wellness garden at the atrium.

Recreation/Cemetery: : There is a discrepancy in the survey, as to where the property lines are at Thompson Cemetery.

Grant Writing: No Report

Zoning Administrator: Issued in March-12 Building Permits, 5 Electrical Permits, 3 Mechanical Permits, and 3 Health Dept. Permits for Well & Septic.

Blight Administrator: 8 blight complaints in March.

Correspondence : None

Old Business:

1) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve the new building permit fees. Carried unanimously.

New Business:

1) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Beckwith, to approve Resolution #2002-10 "Removal of Uninspected Mobile Homes". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington nay, Hurley aye.

2) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Resolution #2002-11 "Investigation Fees". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve Resolution #2002-12 "Hazardous Spills Expense Recovery Resolution". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

4) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Resolution #2002-13 "Authorization for Officials to Contact Attorney & Agencies". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington nay, Hurley aye.

5) Motion by Hurley, seconded by Fogarty, to approve Resolution #2002-14 "Gaming Licenses Issued by the Michigan Lottery". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

6) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve the Mechanical Inspector Contract with Rod Wilder. Carried unanimously.

7) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Lori Johnson as Fire Department Clerk, at $10 per hour. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Beckwith, seconded by Burgett, to approve 2002 Roadwork:

Paving South Haven Street from St. Joseph Street West to Columbia Street

Paving 52-1/2 St. from Lake Road North to end of pavement

Paving 52-1/2 St. from end of pavement North to Lake Road

Paving 50^th St. from CR 384 North to 8^th Av.

Paving 56^th St. from 8^th Av. North to CR 388

Paving St. Joseph St. from CR 388 North to South Haven St.

Sealcoat 52^nd St. from CR 380 South to 24^th Av.

Boom Mowing, Ditching, & Hot Mix

Carried unanimously.

Motion by Beckwith, seconded by Hurley, to approve $150 for cylinder repair for Butch Murphy’s, loader, which is used at the Transfer Station. Carried unanimously.

10) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Resolution #2002-15 "Hourly Charge for Use of Fire Apparatus". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

11) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve Resolution #2002-16 "Senior Services Millage Resolution". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

12) Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve Resolution #2002-17 "Trash Collection Millage Resolution". Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Harrington aye, Hurley aye.

13) Motion by Beckwith, seconded by Burgett, to appoint Mike Brewer as Lieutenant of the Fire Department. Carried unanimously.

Notices: 1) School Board Meeting at Pullman School, April 22, 2002.

	Free Dump Day-May 18, 2002, 9 am –5 pm
	Market Place at Grand Junction School-May 18, 2002, 10 am—3 pm.
	Book Station Grand Opening-April 20, 2002, 9 am—3 pm.

Public Comment: A resident, David Hudson, proposed the possibility of opening a car wash in Grand Junction.

Adjourned: 9:24 PM

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor