MARION TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

                                  REGULAR MEETING - AGENDA & DRAFT MINUTES

                                        Thursday, April 26, 2007

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Members Present/ Members Absent

Call to the Public

1.      Approval of Agenda

2.   Consent Agenda

All items listed are considered to be routine by the Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member or Citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

a.)    Approval of April 12, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes

b.)    Parks & Recreation Report

3. Premier Farms Review

   4. Spruce Run

    5.   Darakjian and Highland Special Assessment

    6. MHOG Waterline

    7. Marion Township Roads

    8. Home Town Village of Marion Front Yard Setbacks 

    9. Proposed Text Amendments:

a.) Section 6.08 TXT# 15-06 (#Z-15-07)-- One Building to a Lot

b.) Section 4.03 E TXT# 14-06 (#Z-16-07)--Administration, Enforcement &Penalties

10.  Salary Comparison

11.  Parks and Recreation History

      12. Township Flea Market

Correspondence/ Updates

      Township Issues

            Supreme Court Case

            Township Wide Rubbish Removal Discussion

For the Good of the Township

Call to the Public  

Adjournment     

                                           

                                           DRAFT MINUTES

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:               Bob Hanvey, Dave Hamann, Travis Hodge, Les Andersen, Paula Wyckoff, Dan Lowe, Tammy Beal

MEMBERS ABSENT:                 None

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CALL TO ORDER

Bob Hanvey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

PLEDGE TO FLAG

Tammy Beal motioned to move to a closed session with the attorney.  Dave Hamann seconded.  Roll call vote:  Lowe, Andersen, Beal, Hanvey, Wyckoff , Hodge, Hamann—all yes.  Motion carried 7-0.

The regular meeting reconvened at 7:40 p.m.  Dave Hamann motioned to instruct the attorney to proceed as discussed in the closed session.  Les Andersen seconded.  Roll call vote:  Hamann, Lowe, Beal, Hanvey, Wyckoff , Andersen, Hodge—all yes.  Motion carried 7-0.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

The board members introduced themselves. 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

Alison Bauer, 5757 Lange Road :  Mrs. Bauer asked if the township will be responsible for safety issues at the new high school.  She is concerned that older students attending LCC will be co-mingling with high school students.  Dan Lowe said the township has no authority over the schools.  Mrs. Bauer also asked if school administration is aware of the Premier Farms development and the possibility they may designate an area for a school.  Mr. Hanvey said Mr. Breiner and Mr. Terres are both aware of the project.  Phil Westmoreland said the students attending LCC will be in a separate wing at the new high school.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Dave Hamann motioned to approve the agenda.  Dan Lowe seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

CONSENT AGENDA

Bob Hanvey asked to have approval of the minutes removed from the agenda and tabled.  Tammy Beal motioned to approve the consent agenda as amended.  Dave Hamann seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

PREMIER FARMS REVIEW

The board discussed approval of the conceptual plan.  It needs to be made clear to the developer that if the conceptual plan is deemed to be compliant with the previously approved conceptual plan, all proceedings after that will be considered under the new PUD ordinance.

SPRUCE RUN

Jim Barnwell from Desine, Inc. was present on behalf of this project.  Tammy Beal motioned to grant final site plan approval for Spruce Run, and to require review of Exhibit B drawings by the township’s attorney prior to recording with the Register of Deeds and that Exhibit C also be recorded, which is the signed agreement between Spruce Run’s developer and John Grissim, developer for Maple Farms.  Dave Hamann seconded.  Roll call vote:  Wyckoff , Hodge, Hanvey, Hamann, Beal, Andersen, Lowe—all yes.  Motion carried 7-0.

DARAKJIAN/HIGHLAND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT

Bob Hanvey reported that a meeting was held with representatives from Darakjian on Monday.  No new progress has been made with the City of Howell on collection.

MHOG WATERLINE

Les Andersen motioned to proceed with installation of the pipe from Hometown Village of Marion to the Meadows, financed by the township.  Tammy Beal seconded.  Roll call vote:  Beal—yes; Hanvey—yes; Hodge—no; Andersen—yes; Lowe—yes; Wyckoff —yes; Hamann—yes.  Motion carried 6-1.

TOWNSHIP ROADS

The price for dust control is about $15,000 less than the bid.  Les Andersen updated the board on a recent meeting with the Road Commission.  The Peavy Road project was approved.  Bids for the overlay work will be in on May 22.  Also, M-155 will not be turned over to the county. 

HOMETOWN VILLAGE OF MARION FRONT YARD SETBACKS

A memo from the zoning administrator was included in the board packets.  After much discussion, Dan Lowe motioned to table this item for further study.  Les Andersen seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS

Dave Hamann gave the board members an overview of the amendments.  Tammy Beal motioned to approve the amendment for Section 6.08—One Building to a Lot .  Dave Hamann seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

Dave Hamann motioned to approve amendment for Section 4.03 E—Administration, Enforcement & Penalties, with change to wording from “during the” to “prior to.”  Les Andersen seconded.

After discussion, Dave Hamann withdrew his motion and Les Andersen seconded. 

Les Andersen motioned to have a Planning Commission member, Board Member and the zoning administrator meet to discuss wording of this amendment.  Tammy Beal seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

SALARY COMPARISON

After reviewing the information provided by the clerk, Les Andersen said if the board members that will be taking a raise feel comfortable with their salaries compared to surrounding communities, the raises should be given.  Dan Lowe said he feels that no raises should be given for the next fiscal year.  Dave Hamann concurred. 

PARKS AND RECREATION HISTORY

Charlie Musson and Paula Wyckoff provided the board with a brief history of Parks and Recreation.  Paula Wyckoff provided board members with a handout showing proposed rates, budget information and participation counts.  Paula Wyckoff said the message has been given to the city that Marion Township will participate at the current level for the next year.  Dave Hamann said he would like to see how the money being spent on the township park complements what the city offers. 

TOWNSHIP FLEA MARKET

Tammy Beal provided board members with a sample registration form for the proposed flea market. 

CORRESPONDENCE/UPDATES

Information on the Supreme Court case is included in the packets. 

Rubbish:  Les Andersen motioned to table this item indefinitely.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE TOWNSHIP

Bob Hanvey asked the board to authorize spending $250 toward battery recycling.  This would be a legitimate Phase II watershed expense, so the funds would come from that account.  Paula Wyckoff said she thinks it’s a good idea.

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

Phil Westmoreland, 2995 Sunset Meadow Drive:  Mr. Westmoreland stated his support for the Parks and Recreation Authority.

Debra Wiedman-Clawson, 2355 White Birch Trail:  Ms. Wiedman-Clawson suggested putting a time limit on site plan review applications.  If no progress is made within a certain amount of time, the applicant is notified and money is refunded.

Dave Hamann asked that discussion on an ordinance officer be added to the next meeting’s agenda (Action Item #1).

ADJOURNMENT

Dave Hamann motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. Travis Hodge seconded. Motion carried 7-0.