COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Type of Meeting:	REGULAR
Date of Meeting:	April 19, 2005 7:00 PM

The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Bradford. Present were Bradford, Burgett, Fogarty, Hurley, and Harrington. In attendance were 23 citizens.

Treasurer's Report:

General Fund	18,153.89	Road Fund	229,198.60
Fire Fund	177,917.96	Ambulance Fund	102,463.67
Trust & Agency Fund	82,155.93	Tax Fund	6,243.58
Liquor Control Fund	3,906.73	Housing Rehab Fund	46,896.69

Consent Agenda: Regular Meeting Minutes-March 5, 2005; Road Tour Meeting Minutes-March 24, 2005;Planning Commission Meeting Minutes-March 1 2005; bills through April 19, 2005; Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve the Consent Agenda. Carried unanimously.

Clerk: No Report Bills paid since the consent agenda. Teresa Lemmer-hall cleaning-$60.00.

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

Public Comment: The New Attitude Bike Club will be having a pancake breakfast on May 30, 2005 and on June 4, 2005 a hog roast at their club house in Breedsville.

Harold Johnson-The Board of Review members neglected to look at his file before determining his request.

Joe Medler-The Fire Department should notify the assessor of fire losses.

Announcements: Thank you to Dan Burgett for installing shelving and repairing the door handles at the township hall.

Thank you to Dick Curtis for volunteering to spread calcium chloride for a senior in Columbia Township.

Additions/Corrections to Agenda: Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to add the cleanup grant to the agenda-item #15. Carried Unanimously.

Guest Speaker: None

Supervisor: A new flag will replace the tattered flag at the township hall. A blight violator had to spend 10 days in jail for not cleaning up his property.

Sheriff: 55 complaints received in March: 5 accidents, 3 alarm activation, 7 animal control, 1 assault, 2 blight, 1 delinquent minor, 1 flee/allude, 1 fraudulent activity, 13 general assistance, 4 invasion of privacy, 1 larceny, 4 MDOP, 1 public peace, 1 stolen vehicle4 suspicious situation, 3 traffic violation.

County Commissioner: Bids have been received to replace the heating in the old county building. The Road Commission will be giving money to the cities and villages. A 6-man board will be checking into courthouse security.

Fire Chief: 8 calls received in March, 1 auto accident, 4 grass fires, (one assist to Lee Township), 1 structure fire (assist to Bangor), 1 downed power line, 1 cancelled en route. Average response time was 7.88 minutes. A mass accident training will be held with Coloma Ambulance. A five-year pin was presented to Ken Goodwin and Max Streeter who was not present.

Planning Commission: A threat seminar will be held at the next meeting.

Neighborhood Watch: The next meeting will be May 5, where a presentation will be held about the drug & alcohol task force. A Pancake Breakfast will be held at the new Emergency Services Building on July 2 from 7:30 until 11:30 am.

Book Station: Computer classes are held on Wednesday at the Book Station.

Hospital: The volunteers donated a total of 21,561 hours of service last year.

South Haven Senior Services: No Report.

Recreation/Cemetery: No Report.

Zoning Administrator: 6 Zoning Compliances issued in March: 2 pole buildings, 1 kitchen remodel, and 3 modulars.

Correspondence: A proposal from Coloma Ambulance regarding hiring the fire chief full time.

Old Business: None

New Business:

	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to purchase a projector not to exceed $1200. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to purchase 24 lockers for the fire department not to exceed $1500. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to purchase a laptop for the fire department not to exceed $700. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve the Communication Tower Ordinance Amendment. Roll call vote. Bradford aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve $500 for the Hazardous Waste. Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to have MSU pick up the tires at the transfer station. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve $500 Tax Abatement Application Fee. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to approve $4,750 for bodywork, mechanical work, tires and radio for the vehicle donated to the Fire Department by the DNR. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to set May 17 at 7:00 PM, for the public hearing for a tax abatement request by Michigan Blueberry Growers. Roll call vote. Bradford aye, Burgett aye, Fogarty aye, Hurley aye, Harrington aye. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Fogarty, second by Hurley, to approve $25.00 returned check fee. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to send the Zoning Ordinance Amendments back to the Planning Commission for further review. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty, to set the public hearing for the Zoning Ordinance Amendment for a pole barn for May 17, at 7:00 pm. Carried unanimously.
	Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to approve road work as follows:

	Clear right of way at 50^th St. from Baseline Road South
	Install buried pipe to improve drainage at 49^th St. from 18^th Av. North to low area
	Replace existing drainage structures at 24^th Av. West of 47^th St.

Motion by Burgett, second by Hurley, to set the public hearing for the tax abatement request by Stokes Blueberries for May 17 at 7:00 pm. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Bradford, second by Burgett, to pay $100 to be added to the grant from the Michigan Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program. Carried unanimously.

Public Comment:

	Ruth Medler-Thanks to whomever picked up the tires on her fire lane.
	John Huzienga-Sheriff Gribler has given $10,000 for glo-tel to be given to the co-ops to be added to fertilizer.
	Harold Johnson??-Larry Nielson has helped Bangor obtain grants.
	Frank Grubisich-Are the Communication Tower Ordinance amendments included in the Nextel tower approval.

Notices:

Commodities May 13, 2005—9:00 am to Noon

Neighborhood Watch Meeting—May 5, 2005

Planning Commission Meeting—May 10, 2005

Blood Pressure/Sugar Clinic-May 13, 2005-9:30-10:30 am

School Election May 3, 2005—7:00am-8:00pm

Adjourned: 8:25 PM Motion by Burgett, second by Fogarty to adjourn. Carried unanimously.

Mary Burgett, Clerk; Dale Bradford, Supervisor

	Commodities May 13, 2005—9:00 am to Noon
	Neighborhood Watch Meeting—May 5, 2005
	Planning Commission Meeting—May 10, 2005

	Blood Pressure/Sugar Clinic-May 13, 2005-9:30-10:30 am
	School Election May 3, 2005—7:00am-8:00pm