2011-06-13 from Independent

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY
MEETING OF OWOSSO CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD
June 13, 2011
State of Michigan
County of Shiawassee
Charter Township of Owosso
Be it known that the Owosso Charter Township Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., in the Township Board Room located at 2998 W. M-21, Owosso, Michigan 48867.
1. CALL TO ORDER: Supervisor Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Supervisor Miller requested a moment of silence for deceased Owosso Charter Township Clerk, Judy Gute.
Motion made by Supervisor Miller and Seconded by Treasurer Cudney to have Attorney Lynn D. Bowne take the minutes for the meeting. Motion passed: 6 yeas; 0 nays.
2. ROLL CALL: Supervisor Miller (Chair)-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes. Clerk Gute is absent as she recently passed away.
OTHERS PRESENT: Attorney Lynn Bowne, Fire Chief David Johnson, Asst. Chief Mike Thornburg, Building/Zoning Administrator Robert Delaney, Director of Ambulance Operations Jason McDonald.
3. AGENDA: Motion by Treasurer Cudney to approve agenda and Seconded by Trustee Schultz: No discussion; Vote: 6 yeas; 0 nays. Motion passed.
4. MINUTES-PREVIOUS MEETING:
a. Minutes of January 10, 2011, Motion by Trustee Krajcovic and Seconded by Trustee Schultz to strike the 3rd paragraph of the Minutes and to adopt and approve the Minutes as amended; Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes, Trustee Campbell-No, Treasurer Cudney-No. Motion passed.
b. Meeting of April 13, 2011, Motion made by Trustee Schultz and Seconded by Trustee Krajcovic that the Minutes be approved as amended with the amendment to paragraph 15. Payment of Bills, Trustee Archer was absent from the meeting; and her name was, due to a clerical mistake, inserted in the vote and must be removed. Roll Call: Supervisor Miller- Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
c. Meeting of May 9, 2011, Motion by Trustee Schultz and Seconded by Trustee Archer that the Minutes be approved as presented. Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
5. TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Trustee Schultz and Seconded by Trustee Krajcovic to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented; Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
a. Jeff Sines of Hollywood Drive comment with regard to shrubs blocking ingress/egress from his driveway on his neighbor’s property; and comment regarding wood siding.
b. Mike Thorton of West Wilkinson Road expressed opinion regarding deleting a paragraph from the Minutes.
7. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT REPORT: The Sheriff’s report was read by Supervisor Miller which included the following of, 181 responses made in the township, with 7 car/deer; 4 accidents; 3 domestic; 36 traffi c stops and other matters.
8. CEMETERY REPORT: Report was accepted as submitted.
9. ASSESSOR’S REPORT: Report was accepted as submitted.
10. FIRE REPORT: Report was accepted as submitted. Request made by Fire Chief Johnson to have authorized to himself a credit card so that purchases could be timely made to achieve great price reductions to save the township money on necessary fire equipment; Motion by Treasurer Cudney and Seconded by Trustee Archer that a Visa or Mastercard be authorized with a per purchase limit of $500.00 and a limit of no more than $1,000.00 per month; Discussion: Ensued; Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
11. AMBULANCE REPORT: Report was accepted as submitted and given by Director of Operations Jason McDonald.
Jason McDonald reported that average response time was 7 minutes 25 seconds.
12. BUILDING INSPECTOR/CODE ENFORCER: Report accepted as submitted. Delaney stated that Baker College will commence construction of a new facility on S. M-52 within the township; a diesel repair facility. This constitutes an approximate investment of $5,000,000.00.
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. M.T.A. – Workmen’s Compensation Insurance: Supervisor Miller gave an updated report regarding the issue of Workmen’s Compensation Insurance as to what the Michigan Township Association was accomplishing.
B. Township Insurance: Supervisor Miller reported there would be no insurance provider change for the current fiscal year although an insurance committee may be appointed to investigate the matter for the next fiscal year.
14. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Appointment of Township Clerk: A letter of interest was submitted to the Board by township resident Bonnie Delaney; Motion by Trustee Archer and Seconded by Treasurer Cudney to appoint Bonnie Delaney as Township Clerk due to the death of the previous Clerk, Judy Gute; Discussion: Ensued; Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
B. Brownfield Resolution: A Resolution was made by Trustee Krajcovic and Seconded by Trustee Schultz to dissolve the township Brownfield Redevelopment Authority as the township has paid back all the indebtedness incurred and accordingly, the purpose for which it was organized has now ended. Discussion: Ensued; Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Resolution passed. The Resolution dissolving Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
C. Resolution – Flood Plain (FEMA): Supervisor Miller reported that FEMA has completed a new study of the township as well as the county. New mapping defining flood plains and a resolution adopting flood plains will be necessary to allow people to obtain Federal financial assistance and flood insurance. The matter will be discussed further at the July Board meeting.
D. Medical Marijuana Ordinance – 1st Reading: Motion made by Trustee Schultz and Seconded by Treasurer Cudney to proceed forward with adopting the Medical Marijuana Ordinance as presented to the Township Board and to direct publication of said ordinance so that the ordinance can have a 2nd reading at the July 11, 2011 meeting of the Township Board. Discussion: Ensued. Vote: 6 yeas; 0 nays. Motion passed.
E. Weed Ordinance Amendment – Publish in April – Begin Cutting in May. Supervisor Miller reported that due to earlier growing seasons experienced in the past years, that it might be advisable to publish a notice in April of each year that weeds have to be cut in May instead of later months. Township Attorney Lynn Bowne was directed to draft the language amendment to the Weed Ordinance, and present it to the Board.
F. Consideration of New Phone System: Supervisor Miller reported that the phone system was 10-12 years old, was not user friendly and needed to be updated. This matter will be discussed further at the Township Board meeting in July.
15. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion made by Trustee Krajcovic and Seconded by Trustee Archer to approve bills, with the bill of $1,155.00 from Argus Hasko (fire fund) be transferred from the May bills and authorized for payment in June. Discussion: Ensued. Roll Call: Supervisor Miller-Yes, Treasurer Cudney-Yes, Trustee Campbell-Yes, Trustee Archer-Yes, Trustee Schultz-Yes, Trustee Krajcovic-Yes. Motion passed.
16. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
A. Jeff Sines wants copies of certain township ordinances; and requested that a plaque be created to memorialize Judy Gute’s years of service.
17. COMMUNICATIONS/BOARD COMMENTS/REPORTS:
A. Trustee Archer gave a Waste Water Treatment Plant report. One issue is with downspouts running into the sanitary sewer.
B. Trustee Campbell gave a report with regard to website creation with Jim Forsyth; and also a report regarding a resident’s grass having been cut.
C Treasurer Cudney gave a report regarding farm land contracts (renting of township owned land to local farmers); also a report on writing off personal property taxes that remain uncollected in excess of five years by statutory Circuit Court action.
D. Trustee Krajcovic gave a report on Dock Star.
E. Supervisor Miller commented on reports by the Assessor and Building Inspector. They are now submitted monthly; and to consider submission quarterly. Supervisor Miller also stated that he wanted to establish certain committees; one for “insurance” until the issue was resolved; and second to establish a two-year “budget” committee to study the budget 2 years in advance; and a third, “ordinance” committee to investigate compiling the ordinances of the township.
18. ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by Trustee Schultz and Seconded by Trustee Krajcovic that the meeting be adjourned.
6 yeas; 0 nays. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn D. Bowne
Appointed as Secretary in the
absence Township Clerk, Judy Gute