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 18 citizens.

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-December 16, 2003; Special Meeting Minutes- January 16, 2004; January 19, 2004; Planning Commission Meeting Minutes-December 2, 2003; bills through January 19, 2004; Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve the Consent Agenda. Carried unanimously.

Clerk: Bills paid since January 19, 2004

Butch Murphy Snow Plow Transfer Station $90.00

Winkel Comm. Radio Batteries $153.00

West Shore Fire Gloves/Flashlights $351.08

Douglass Safety Hose $353.72

Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve the bills paid after the consent agenda. Carried unanimously.

Public Comment: Thank you from Jan Conway for the cards and prayers, at the death of her husband, Jack.

Additions/Corrections to Agenda: None

Guest Speaker: None

Supervisor: 17 ambulance calls received in December 2003 with an average response time of 8-1/2 minutes.

Sheriff: 95 complaints received in December: 3 abandoned/hazard, 10 accidents, 13 alarm activation, 8 assault, 3 be on the look out, 2 breaking & entering, 2 criminal sexual conduct; 6 delinquent minor, 16 general assistance, 1 invasion of privacy, 2 larceny, 1 lost/found; 1 MDOP, 4 obstructing justice, 3 under the influence of liquor, 3 public peace, 1 recovered stolen vehicle, 2 stolen vehicle, 6 suspicious situation, 3 traffic violation, 2 VCSA, 2 vehicle inspection, 1 weapons violation.

State Police: No Report.

County Commissioner: Negotiations are moving toward Van Buren County leasing the Kalhaven trail from the State. Van Buren County Transit is considering asking for ¼ mill on the ballot this year.

Fire Chief: 93 calls in 2003; 5 car fires, 7 outside rubbish fires, 11 grass fires, 15 structure fires, 22 rescue & emergency medical incidents, 18 hazardous conditions, 4 service calls, 6 good intent calls, 4 false alarms. Average response time for 2003 was 5.45 minutes. The Columbia Township Fire Department has 14 full trained personnel, 2 trainees, and 5 cadets.

Planning Commission: The Planning Commission will be looking at the Mobile Home Park section of the Zoning Ordinance. The attorney is making the changes in the Funneling Ordinance.

Neighborhood Watch: Police calls are down from last year.

Book Station: Green Square Inc. donated a bar coder to the Book Station. The book station is looking for volunteers and can be contacted at bookstation@i2k.com.

Hospital: Renovations should be completed on the second floor inpatient area in February. These rooms will all be converted to private. Renovation of the cafeteria began on January 5, 2004, and should be completed by the end of March. Heart to Heart screening will be February 11,12, and 13 this year.

South Haven Senior Services: The Senior Services Newsletter can be subscribed to for $6 per year. People are currently being interviewed for the Director position.

Recreation/Cemetery: No Report.

Zoning Administrator: 3 Zoning Compliances issued in December: 1 double wide, 1 used mobile, and 1 pole building.

Blight Officer: 5 Blight complaints received in December.

Correspondence: None

Notices:

Public Comment: The last special assessment hearing to finalize the roll, will be held February 17, 2004 at 6:30 pm.

Adjourned: 7:46 PM

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor