COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	October 19, 2004 7:00 PM

The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beckwith. Present were Beckwith, Burgett, Fogarty, Hurley & Harrington. In attendance were 36 citizens.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	108.149.70	Road Fund	133,382.18
Fire Fund	194.001.41	Ambulance Fund	83.569.47
Trust & Agency Fund	82,146.43	Tax Fund	3.618.57
Liquor Control Fund	4.655.41	Housing Rehab Fund	46.981.09

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-September 21, 2004; Planning Commission Meeting Minutes-September 7, 2004; bills through October 18, 2004; Treasurer’s Report.

	Motion by Harrington to remove from the minutes of September 21, 2004 the following: Frank Grubisich requested that the amount for the attorney fees for the 2002 lawsuit, shown on the Treasurers Report, be removed. Died for lack of support.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Harrington No. Carried.

Clerk: Bills paid since October 18, 2004

	Office Depot Office Supplies 191.99
	Ricmar FD Supplies 410.27
	TeleRad Radio Maintenance 74.16
	Verizon FD Phone 70.47
	Theresa Lemmer Hall Cleaning 52.50

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

Meeting minutes of 9/21/04 were not published in a timely manner because of an error by the South Haven Tribune (affidavit on file)

Guest Speaker:

	Brian Balow-Explained the need for the ambulance millage to be passed
	Linda Miller-candidate for Supervisor
	Dale Bradford-candidate for Supervisor
	Vita Pike-write in candidate for Treasurer

Public Comment: Mary Burgett read a part of Frank Grubisich’s deposition summary from the lawsuit he filed against Columbia Township in 2002, as follows:

Grubisich testified he was assisted in preparing the complaint by Speicher…. Speicher assisted him in preparing the 6-page affidavit submitted in support of his complaint….Speicher prepared the pretrial statement… as well as the discovery requests….Speicher assisted in performing legal research….in support of his complaint.

Mary Burgett read a part of the electrical inspector report submitted to Columbia Township after an electrical fire on a property owned by Ken Speicher in 2002, as follows:

The feeder wires to the cottage had been reconnected to the utility drop without any metering or required over current protection. Not only is this a violation of the code, but also a violation of utility rules and could be considered energy theft.

Frank Grubisich stated he did not agree with the statements.

Mitch Gibson state he did not agree with the statements.

Additions/Corrections to Agenda: None

Supervisor: Well attended free dump day

The clerk did not suggest anyone for the Bid Review Committee

Sheriff: 88 complaints received in September: 1 abandoned vehicle, 8 accidents, 4 alarm activation, 9 assault, 3 be on the look out, 3 breaking & entering, 1 civil/property disputes, 1 cruelty/neglect, 2 delinquent minor, 3 fire, 1 for your info, 2 fraudulent activity, 16 general assistance, 2 invasion of privacy, 7 larceny, 1 lost, 4 MDOP, 1 missing person, 2 nuisance, 3 obstructing justice, 2 public peace, 2 runaway, 6 suspicious situation, 3 traffic violation, 1 vehicle inspection. Political signs should not be put on property without obtaining permission.

State Police: No Report.

County Commissioner: No Report.

Fire Chief: 13 calls received in September. Average response time of 3.62 minutes. 4 auto accidents, 3 structure fires (1 an assist to Bloomingdale), 1 medical assist to Coloma Ambulance, 2 Hazmat situations, 1 car fire, 1 illegal burn, and 1 power line down. A 27" TV with a DVD/VCR was donated to the Fire Department by Tim Krizan. Thank you. A video camera was donated by Ann Willet. Thank you.

Planning Commission: The documents township uses to promote rural lifestyle & recreational opportunities are the Master Plan, The Recreation Plan, The Zoning Map, The Zoning Ordinance, The Land Division Ordinance, and The Subdivision Ordinance.

Neighborhood Watch: The next meeting will be March 3, 2005 at 7pm. Neighborhood Watch supports the police millage of .5 mil.

Book Station: No Report.

Hospital: The Women’s Center should be having their Grand Opening the first part of November.

South Haven Senior Services: Bingo October 27 at 12:30pm

Recreation/Cemetery: Brush was cleaned up at Thompson and Grand Junction Cemeteries.

Zoning Administrator: 12 Zoning Compliances issued in August: 2 modular, 2 used mobile, 1 garage addition, 1 deck, 1 pole barn addition, 2 pole barns, 1 fire renovation, 1 CA storage, and 1 porch.

Correspondence: None

Guest Speaker: None

Old Business: Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty to table the ABB agreement from the A.B.B. Joint Fire Department Board, stating that any litigation expenses arising from any act or omission by the A.B.B. or who they are responsible for, will be paid by Columbia Township, until we receive a response from the township attorney. Carried unanimously.

New Business:

Motion by Burgett, second by Harrington, to approve Halloween Trick or Treat for October 30, 2004 from 5-7pm. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Beckwith, second by Burgett, to approve the audit for year ending March 31, 2004. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve the Communication Tower Amendment. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve the Budget Amendment. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Beckwith, second by Hurley, to approve the final payment on the Emergency Services Building. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett abstain, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried.

Notices:

Commodities October 22, 2004 & November 19, 2004—9:00 am to Noon

Senior Bingo/Lunch October 27, 2004--1:00-3:00pm

Planning Commission Meeting—November 9, 2004

Blood Pressure/Sugar Clinic-November 11, 2004-9:30-10:30 am

General Election-November 2, 2004

Trick or Treat Hours-October 30, 2004-5-7pm-

Public Comment:

Dale Bradford recommended that the residents go to the Breedsville Village Meetings.

Lonny Johnson-Questioned when the warning lights would be installed at the new Emergency Services Building. He also stated the Road Commission is not grading the sides of the roads.

John Huizenga-candidate for Trustee

Lynne Farley stated she thought the warning lights were included in the contract.

Mary Burgett read a list of the items donated to Columbia Township for the Emergency Services Building, by Daniel Burgett.

Adjourned: 8:35 PM

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Dean Beckwith, Supervisor

	The feeder wires to the cottage had been reconnected to the utility drop without any metering or required over current protection. Not only is this a violation of the code, but also a violation of utility rules and could be considered energy theft.
	Frank Grubisich stated he did not agree with the statements.
	Mitch Gibson state he did not agree with the statements.

	Motion by Burgett, second by Harrington, to approve Halloween Trick or Treat for October 30, 2004 from 5-7pm. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Beckwith, second by Burgett, to approve the audit for year ending March 31, 2004. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve the Communication Tower Amendment. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve the Budget Amendment. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Beckwith, second by Hurley, to approve the final payment on the Emergency Services Building. Roll call vote. Beckwith aye, Burgett abstain, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried.

	Commodities October 22, 2004 & November 19, 2004—9:00 am to Noon
	Senior Bingo/Lunch October 27, 2004--1:00-3:00pm
	Planning Commission Meeting—November 9, 2004

	Blood Pressure/Sugar Clinic-November 11, 2004-9:30-10:30 am
	General Election-November 2, 2004
	Trick or Treat Hours-October 30, 2004-5-7pm-

	Dale Bradford recommended that the residents go to the Breedsville Village Meetings.
	Lonny Johnson-Questioned when the warning lights would be installed at the new Emergency Services Building. He also stated the Road Commission is not grading the sides of the roads.
	John Huizenga-candidate for Trustee
	Lynne Farley stated she thought the warning lights were included in the contract.
	Mary Burgett read a list of the items donated to Columbia Township for the Emergency Services Building, by Daniel Burgett.