COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	August 20, 2002, 7:30 PM
Public Hearing	August 20, 2002, 7:20 PM

The Public Hearing pertaining to Property # 80-06-422-423-01, was held from 7:20 PM to 7:30 PM.

No public comments were forthcoming.

The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present were Beckwith, Burgett, Fogarty, Hurley, and Harrington. In attendance were 33 citizens.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	129,219.51	Road Fund	38,415.61
Fire Fund	138,066.98	Ambulance Fund	66,103.04
Trust & Agency Fund	5,410.12	Tax Fund	2,396.84
Liquor Control Fund	3,561.73	Housing Rehab Fund	42,651.59

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-July 16, 2002; Special Meeting Minutes- August 7, 2002; August 19, 2002; bills through August 20, 2002; Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Burgett, seconded by Hurley, to approve the Consent Agenda. Carried unanimously.

Clerk: No Additional bills received after the Consent Agenda.

Public Comment: Harold Johnson requested that Columbia Township pay his attorney fees for the lawsuit, initiated by Ken Speicher, against Dave Hensley and himself.

The Township Board was asked what was happening about the lower speed limit for Silver Lake Road. It is up to the Road Commission and State Police

Additions/Corrections: None

Supervisor: Ambulance average response time: 7.1 minutes.

Sheriff: 94 complaints received in July. The fall session of the Citizens Police Academy will start September 19, 2002, in the basement of the Sheriff’s office in Paw Paw.

State Police: No Report

County Commissioner: New Friend of the Court booklets are available at the Township Hall.

Fire Chief: 13 calls in July, including 3 personal injury, 1 structure, 5 downed wires, 2 medical assists, and 0 grass fires. Average response time for July was 6:5 minutes. The Fire Department has 11 students attending the Fire Academy, starting September 23, 2002. An Ice Cream Social is planned in September at Take 5. The Fire Department donated $500 to the Burn Camp. Thank you to MBG for donating 6 cases of blueberries to the Burn Camp.

Planning Commission: The Planning Commission will be taking bids for a consultant for the updating of the Zoning Ordinance. The Boat Launch Ordinance and a model ordinance for the Railroad Right of Way was discussed.

Neighborhood Watch: Next meeting-September 5, 2002-7:30 pm. The guest speaker at our next meeting will be Kay Lindsay, the new director of South Haven Senior Services. George Harrington will also explain the meaning of your house number.

Book Station: Hours are Wednesday and Saturday, 9-12. Thanks to Bob DeHaven for picking up the computers donated by Borgess Hospital. They are up and running, thanks to Bryce May and David Hill.

Hospital: The Hospital Board approved $6 million for new equipment purchases and facility improvements. They will be meeting bi-monthly, rather than monthly. The hospital web site is www.shch.org.

Recreation/Cemetery: Grand Junction and Breedsville Cemeteries have fallen tree limbs caused by lightning and wind damage. This has been turned into the Insurance Company and will be repaired.

Zoning Administrator: 27 Building Compliances, issued in July, 13 additions, 4 pole buildings, 4 garages, 4 new modulars, 1 stick built home, and 1 used mobile home.

Blight Administrator: 7 Blight complaints received in July, 4 have been resolved.

Correspondence: A letter submitted by Harold Johnson, requesting the Township pay his attorney bills.

Old Business: In the lawsuit filed by Frank Grubisich against Columbia Township and the individually named Township Defendants, Dean Beckwith, Mary Burgett, Mary Fogarty, and Rosemary Hurley, the defendants filed a motion for summary disposition which was heard before the Honorable William C. Buhl on July 22, 2002. Judge Buhl ruled Frank Grubisich’s lawsuit was improperly brought, it was frivolous, both as to the facts alleged, as well as the law, and dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice. Judge Buhl also awarded Columbia Township and the individually named Defendants, their costs and fees made necessary to defend against Frank Grubisich’s frivolous lawsuit. The attorney’s for Columbia Township are in the process of preparing their bill of costs and fees to submit to the Court for entry of order.

New Business:

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to approve Resolution 2002-24, Sale of Property # 80-06-422-423-01. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Burgett, seconded by Fogarty, to sell the portion of Firelane 43 that lies East of the existing easement. Motion by Burgett, seconded by Beckwith, to amend the motion as follows: to sell the portion of Firelane 43 that lies East of the existing easement, to the adjoining property owners, for a minimum bid of $1,000. Carried. Harrington no.

Public Comment: Meet the candidates, Tom George, Ed LaForge, Art Toy, Ron Jelinek, Art Clarke, and Juris Kaps, September 4, 2002, at the Van Buren Intermediate School District’s Conference Center, 7 PM.

Harold Johnson would like a decision as to whether the township will pay for his attorney bills.

Notices: Book Station Spaghetti Dinner, Saturday August 24, 2002, 4-8 PM, at the Columbia Township Hall.

Adjourned: 8:22 PM

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor