June 28, 2007
AGENDA and BOARD MINUTES
BUDGET HEARING - DRAFT MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bob Hanvey
, Paula Wyckoff, Dan Lowe,
Tammy Beal
,
Dave Hamann
, and Les Andersen
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
Travis Hodge
OTHERS
PRESENT:
Ken Palka, Pfeffer, Hanniford & Palka
Chris Arsenault, Pfeffer, Hanniford & Palka
*************************************************************************************************************
CALL TO ORDER
Bob Hanvey
called the public hearing to order at
7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
The board members introduced themselves.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None.
BUDGET PRESENTATION
Bob Hanvey
said this is the Truth in Taxation Budget Hearing.
The budget is based upon approval of a millage, which is calculated
for this year at 0.8216 mils.
Scott Lloyd, 5715 Pingree:
Mr. Lloyd asked if this is the maximum allowed by the state.
Mr. Hanvey said yes. Mr.
Lloyd asked who decides if the township takes the maximum.
Mr. Hanvey said the board.
Mr.
Hanvey provided a handout of the proposed budget
amendments
for Fiscal Year 2006-07 and the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08.
Exhibit
A—General Fund Proposed Budget Amendments for Fiscal Year 2006-07
There
are minor adjustments to the current year’s budget.
School elections are now separate from general elections.
The Phase II funds have been distributed a little differently.
The
DPW
coordinator’s role has been reallocated.
The revised amended budget’s total income is $1,080,646 and the
revised expenditures are $1,150,930. The
ending fund balance is $1,380,744.
Dave Hamann
asked if the two road projects are included in the amended budget even if
they haven’t been paid for.
Bob Hanvey
said the contract has been signed and the work is scheduled to be done.
Based on advice from the accountant, the amounts have been put in the
current year’s budget. Mr.
Hamann asked whether the amounts for consultants under Marion Oaks and
Chestnut included the planner. Mr.
Hanvey said there was engineering consulting involved in the lawsuit.
The planner is not included.
Exhibit
B—General Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
Mr.
Hanvey said the amount for State Shared Revenue has changed to $458,607 is
posted on their website. The
calculation is based on their estimates and it reflects the offsetting
fiscal years. The property tax
amount is based on the actual taxable value and assumes the millage rate of
0.8216. The total revenue is
$1,079,715. Bruce Love asked how
many people are covered by Blue Cross.
Tammy Beal
said nine.
The
board reviewed expenses in the proposed budget.
Mr. Hanvey said under “Litigation,” the Chestnut trial is now
scheduled to begin on Monday. The
amount budgeted is based on trial times and expert witness times.
Marion Oaks has been settled and there shouldn’t be any more
litigation fees. Under
“Professional Fees,” engineering fees have been moved to categories that
reflect the type of work being done. Most
engineering fees will be transferred to the Planning Commission or ZBA.
Attorney fees have been distributed to lawsuits, planning or zoning
categories. Under ‘Roads,”
$25,000 has been allocated for maintenance and $90,000 for dust control.
The allocation of funds to roads can also be made from the fund
balance. Under “Equipment,”
some of the software needs to be updated.
The total expenditures are $1,092,059.
The projected ending fund balance is $1,368,400.
Scott
Lloyd, 5715 Pingree:
Mr. Lloyd questioned the amount for health insurance, which comes out
to $13,333 per employee. Mr.
Hanvey said there are employees who don’t take health insurance that are
paid a stipend for not taking it. Mr.
Lloyd said the amount seems high, and asked about cost sharing.
Mr. Hanvey said there is cost sharing of 10%.
Bruce
Love, 2876 Cedar Lake Road
:
Mr. Love asked about the amount for trustees.
Mr. Hanvey said the prior year’s budget didn’t include a full
year for all trustees. The
annual rate per trustee is the same.
Exhibit
C—Sewer Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
Mr.
Hanvey said the operation of the sewer plant is combined with the financing
of the installation. For
2007-08, the operating part is separated from the bond funding.
Exhibit
D—Water New User Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
This
budget is for money collected as a result of customers who use the water
system who are not backed by bonds. This
money can be used for upgrades.
Exhibit
E—Water Special Revenue Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
MHOG
does the billing for water, so the only revenue from the special assessment
is the money that the users pay over 20 years to finance the installation of
the water lines and water plant.
Exhibit F—Love’s Creek Fund
Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
This
is a maintenance fund. If the
Love’s Creek residents want to continue with their project, this budget
will have to be redone.
Exhibit
G—Cemetery Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
The
cemetery fund is used to maintain the cemeteries.
The fund isn’t supported by the sale of grave sites, so it is
supplemented with money from the General Fund.
Exhibit
H—Recreation Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
The
Recreation Committee reviewed the budget, which was prepared by a
subcommittee. Bruce Love asked
if the township’s park is being used.
Mr. Hanvey said yes. The
township is working on the walking paths, and the swingset is up, there’s
a soccer field laid out, and baseball diamond.
Mr. Love asked if there is a fence around it.
Paula Wyckoff said there’s a decorative fence and a locking gate.
Krista
Grossmeyer, 3669 Prescott:
Ms. Grossmeyer asked where the park is.
Bruce
Love asked how big the park is. Mr.
Hanvey said 8-10 acres. The part
that’s used for soccer and baseball is about 4 acres, and there’s a
natural area of 3-4 acres where the walking path will be.
Nancy
Stebbing, 3481 Prescott: Ms. Stebbing asked if this
is the fund that the contribution to Howell Parks & Recreation comes
from. Money from this fund is
sent to the Authority, but the township’s park is separate from the
Authority. Mr. Hanvey explained the three-tier system for Howell Parks &
Rec.
Exhibit
I—Road Project Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
The income in this budget is $25.
CALL
TO THE PUBLIC
Thomas Bauer, 5757 Lange:
Mr. Bauer asked if the township had to contribute any money when
there was flooding on
Pingree Road
recently. Mr. Hanvey said no.
ADJOURNMENT
Tammy Beal
motioned to adjourn the public hearing at
7:43 p.m.
Les Andersen seconded.
Motion carried 6-0.
AGENDA AND DRAFT MINUTES
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 June 14, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes
b.)
Approval of June 14, 2007 Closed meeting Minutes
c.)
General Fund Investments
d.)
Parks & Recreation Report
3.
Presentation of the 2007-2008 Budget
4.
Truth in Taxation Millage Rate (.8216)
5.
Premier Farms
6. Clark Hill Invoice
7.
Darakjian and
Highland
Special Assessment
8. MHOG Waterline
9. Marion
Township
Roads
i.
Cedar Creek
ii.
Norton
Road
Bridge
10. Hometown
Village
of
Marion Front
Yard Setbacks
11. Professional Service Agreements for
Litigation
12. Fire Station Lease 2007-2008
13. Community Wastewater
Utility Systems
Correspondence/ Updates
Supreme Court Case
For the Good of the Township
Call to the Public
Adjournment
DRAFT MINUTES
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Bob Hanvey
, Paula Wyckoff, Dan Lowe,
Dave Hamann
,
Tammy Beal
, and Les Andersen
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
Travis Hodge
OTHERS
PRESENT:
Phil Westmoreland
, OHM
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CALL TO ORDER
Bob Hanvey
called the meeting to order at
7:43 p.m.
PLEDGE TO
FLAG
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
The board members introduced themselves.
Thomas Bauer, 5757 Lange:
Mr. Bauer asked the board to send a letter to the state’s attorney
general office regarding the recent appointment of Dean Miller to the Howell
School Board. Mr. Bauer asked
the board to condemn the action as unconstitutional.
Bob Hanvey
asked Mr. Bauer if he knows what statute supports that.
Mr. Bauer said he will write a letter to the township board with this
request.
Bruce Love, 2876 Cedar Lake Road
: Mr. Love referred to the
March 22, 2007
minutes and the item concerning disbanding the road committee.
He would like to see a road millage.
In the last election, four municipalities passed road millages.
He also said he feels a salary increase for part-time employees and
officials is not warranted. Mr.
Hanvey said many places consider full-time less than 40 hours, such as the
University
of
Michigan
, where his wife worked 24 hours and was considered full-time.
Cynthia Henley, 2500 Ridgewood Drive
: Ms. Henley said the reason
that Mr. Hanvey’s wife was considered a full-time employee for 24 hours of
work is because there’s a nursing shortage.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
TRUSTEE SALARIES
Bob Hanvey
motioned to adopt a resolution approving
a salary of $7,416 for the township trustees.
Tammy Beal
seconded. Roll call vote:
Hamann—no; Lowe, Beal, Hanvey,
Wyckoff
, Andersen—all yes. Resolution passed 5-1.
TRUTH
IN TAXATION MILLAGE
RATE
Bob Hanvey
motioned to adopt a resolution to set the 2007-08 millage rate at 0.8216.
Paula Wyckoff seconded. Roll
call vote: Wyckoff
, Hanvey, Hamann, Beal, Andersen, Lowe—all yes.
Resolution passed 6-0.
APPROVAL
OF BUDGETS
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve
amendments
to the Fiscal Year 2006-07 General Fund budget with total revenue of
$1,080,646 and expenses of $1,150,930.
Tammy Beal
seconded. Roll call vote:
Beal, Hanvey, Andersen, Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Hamann—all yes. Resolution passed 6-0.
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the General Fund Proposed Budget
for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with revenue of $1,079,715 and expenses of
$1,092,059. Paula Wyckoff
seconded. Roll call vote:
Hanvey, Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Beal, Hamann, Andersen—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
Tammy Beal
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the Sewer Fund Proposed Budget for
Fiscal Year 2007-08 with revenue of $1,158,000 and expenses of $1,454,545.Dan Lowe seconded. Roll
call vote: Beal, Andersen, Lowe,
Hanvey, Hamann,
Wyckoff
—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
Paula Wyckoff motioned to adopt a resolution to
approve the Water New User Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with
revenue of $227,831 and expenses of $1,000. Dave Hamann
seconded. Roll call vote:
Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Hamann, Andersen, Beal, Hanvey—all yes.
Resolution passed 6-0.
Les Andersen motioned to adopt a resolution to
approve the Water Special Revenue Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year
2007-08 with revenue of $413,000 and expenses of $422,903.
Dave Hamann
seconded. Roll call vote:
Hamann, Lowe, Beal, Hanvey,
Wyckoff
, Andersen—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
Les
Andersen motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the Love’s Creek Fund
Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with no revenue and expenses of
$3,000. Paula Wyckoff seconded.
Roll call vote:
Wyckoff
, Hanvey, Lowe, Beal, Andersen, Lowe—all yes.
Resolution passed 6-0.
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the
Cemetery Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with revenue of
$14,600 and expenses of $13,500.
Tammy Beal
seconded. Roll call vote:
Beal, Hanvey, Andersen, Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Hamann—all yes. Resolution passed 6-0.
Les
Andersen motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the Recreation Fund
Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with revenue of $84,500 and expenses
of $104,000. Paula Wyckoff
seconded. Roll call vote:
Hanvey, Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Beal, Hamann, Andersen—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the Road
Fund Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with revenue of $25 and no
expenses. Paula Wyckoff seconded. Roll
call vote: Beal, Andersen, Lowe,
Hanvey, Hamann,
Wyckoff
—all yes. Resolution passed 6-0.
PREMIER
FARMS
A tour
of the property will be held on Tuesday, July 10 at
6:00 p.m.
This will be a joint meeting
with the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees.
The public is welcome to attend and information will be available on
the website and cable channel.
CLARK
HILL INVOICE
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve the Clark
Hill invoice for $3,850.
Tammy Beal
seconded. Roll call vote:
Lowe,
Wyckoff, Hamann, Andersen, Beal, Hanvey—all yes.
Resolution passed 6-0.
DARAKJIAN/HIGHLAND
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
An
agreement hasn’t been worked out yet.
Invoices are prepared and are ready to be mailed next week.
MHOG
WATERLINE
Bob Hanvey
said everything is pretty much in except the river
crossing.
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to approve and sign the Sunridge easement
agreement until the site condo is in place.
Dan Lowe seconded. Roll
call vote: Hamann, Lowe, Beal,
Hanvey,
Wyckoff
, Andersen—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
TOWNSHIP
ROADS
Norton
Road
Bridge
:
Bob Hanvey
provided an update on this project.
Salt
Brine Application:
Tammy Beal
said they started with the second application yesterday.
Cedar
Creek
Mark
Montagano, 3386 Prescott: Mr. Montagano asked to have
the minutes from the
6/14/07
meeting amended. He feels
comments attributed to him were taken out of context.
The board explained to Mr. Montagano that the minutes don’t attempt
to record every word.
Dave Hamann
motioned to table approval of the
6/14/07
Regular Board Minutes to review the audiotapes.
Les Andersen seconded. Motion carried 6-0.
Bob Hanvey
said he and
Phil Westmoreland
drove through the property last week. Mr.
Westmoreland also looked at the property with Mr. Montagano.
He will prepare the cost estimate and submit to the township. The
township attorney is reviewing whether there’s a time limitation on the
township’s authority to enforce the site plan and will respond to the
township.
Joanne
Wreford,
2246 Ashbury Court
:
Ms. Wreford asked Mr. Westmoreland if he had any impressions or
noticed anything he felt was unusual. Mr.
Westmoreland said the thickness of the asphalt isn’t what it should be in
areas.
Krista
Grossmeyer, 3669 Prescott: Ms. Grossmeyer asked about
well contamination and asked whether water should be tested.
Mr. Westmoreland said that other than a few lots, it’s probably not
necessary.
Nancy Stebbing,
3481 Prescott: Ms. Stebbing asked if there
are steps that the township can take to prevent further development of the
vacant sites. Mr. Hanvey said
when the township gets a report from OHM as to what the characteristics of
the site are and what the suggested repairs are, a decision will be made.
Ms. Stebbing said she doesn’t want to see them come in and put in
another house. Mr. Hanvey said
the township doesn’t have the authority to prevent a builder from digging
a deeper basement than makes sense. Mr.
Montagano said the township has the authority to enforce that the grading be
correct by having the engineer inspect it, and that’s written in their
Master Deed.
Mr.
Montagano said the township does have the authority to inspect based on
their Master Deed & Bylaws. Mr.
Hanvey said the attorney is looking at that, and his report should be back
before OHM has its report done. Les
Andersen pointed out that the money being spent on the engineer and attorney
is above and beyond the township’s responsibility and is paid for by the
taxpayers.
Dave Hamann
asked if it would be helpful for the board members to
see the site plan and see what was in place.
Mr. Hanvey said the site plans and Master Deed & Bylaws are
available for review at the township.
Mr.
Montagano said the road was built on wetlands.
Certain procedures need to be done in order to accommodate the weight
of the road. According to
residents who have lived in Cedar Creek since the beginning, the road sunk
within one year of installation.
After
further discussion, the board of trustees said more information will be
available once the engineer and attorney have completed their reviews.
HOMETOWN
VILLAGE
OF
MARION
FRONT YARD SETBACKS
No action on this item.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS FOR LITIGATION
Bob
Hanvey
said the township won’t
be using Stantech for anything in the trial.
The township does owe them some money for work that’s already been
done. They have a corporate
policy about having a contract in place.
The township’s attorney has advised against signing the proposed
contract. Mr. Hanvey will work
on the procedure to pay Stantech (AI #1.)
2007-08
FIRE
STATION LEASE
Les Andersen motioned to adopt
a resolution to approve and sign the fire station lease for 2007-08.
Paula Wyckoff seconded. Roll
call vote:
Wyckoff
, Hanvey, Hamann, Beal, Andersen, Lowe—all yes.
Resolution passed 6-0.
COMMUNITY WASTEWATER UTILITY SYSTEMS/PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS
The township attorney’s response
to the township is included in the packet, along with a document that
incorporates all of the changes that were made.
Bob Hanvey
recommends that the board accept the document, dated
6/28/07
, as presented. Mr. Hanvey said
the township may need another version for existing project someday.
Tammy
Beal
motioned to approve the
text
amendments
Z-61-06, Z-62-06, Z-63-06, Z-64-06, and Z-65-06.
Dave Hamann
seconded. Motion carried 6-0.
Dave
Hamann
motioned to adopt a
resolution to approve the General Ordinance for Community Wastewater Utility
Systems, to become effective seven days after publication.
Les Andersen seconded. Roll
call vote: Beal, Hanvey,
Andersen, Lowe, Wyckoff, Hamann—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
CELL
TOWER LEASE
The township attorney has reviewed
the lease and he has some suggested changes.
He has talked with the attorney who provided the lease agreement and
they have essentially agreed on the changes.
Dave Hamann
motioned to adopt a resolution to accept the lease from Verizon with the
condition that the township attorney can negotiate the issues he has with
the applicant. Les Andersen
seconded. Discussion:
Dan Lowe questioned the length of the agreement—20 years.
Bob Hanvey
said the attorney is saying the township should have an option on that; he
wants to add something so the township doesn’t have to say yes every time.
It’s similar to the AT&T lease.
Paula Wyckoff said she believes the language is the same.
Roll call vote: Hanvey,
Lowe,
Wyckoff
, Beal, Hamann, Andersen—all yes. Resolution
passed 6-0.
CORRESPONDENCE/UPDATES
Bob Hanvey
said the township received a letter from the Drain
Commission regarding Turtle Creek. He
will forward a copy to the township engineer.
The
township received a letter from Boss Engineering regarding Copperfield
Villas.
Dave Hamann
said the process in place won’t catch everything.
Dan Lowe said that nothing should be touched unless the township
engineer is there.
Phil Westmoreland
will respond to Boss Engineering (AI
#2.)
The
township received a letter from Rick Terres regarding the communication
tower that
Bob Hanvey
read to the board members. The
Planning Commission sent a letter today regarding placement of the tower,
including a print of the site with an indication of where the tower should
be. They will be sending a
second letter regarding the sign.
The
McCracken case was scheduled for court today, but Mr. McCracken didn’t
show up. The judge fined him
$500 and Mr. McCracken has 30 days to move the structure or the township can
move it for him and send him the bill, or the amount can be placed on his
taxes.
On
Monday at
8:30 a.m.
, the Chestnut trial is supposed to begin.
It’s been postponed eight or nine times, but the attorney is
confident that it should start on Monday.
No new
information on the Supreme Court case.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE TOWNSHIP
Paula Wyckoff said at the last Howell Area Parks
& Recreation Authority meeting, it was explained that in previous years,
the City of
Howell
allowed its employees to take classes at a discounted price.
This board needs to decide whether it wants this practice to
continue, expand it to include our employees, or just discontinue it.
The board members said it should be discontinued.
Les Andersen said that at the recent Planning
Commission meeting, there was discussion regarding a Nuisance ordinance to
deal with complaints about noise and dust from a property at Cedar
Lake
and Coon Lake Roads. Mr.
Andersen said after reading the
MTA
monthly newsletter, his suggestion is to try and work out a solution with
the owner of the property.
Dan Lowe said he talked with
Beverly
and Perry
Points
on Peavy Road
. They were happy with
Rothenberger, and it looks like they’re doing a good job so far.
One question they had was whether the taps were being put in.
Bob Hanvey
said yes, both sides.
Barney
Cole asked about the second application of brine and whether they would
regrade the road. He said the
last time the road was graded, it was an excellent job.
CALL TO THE
PUBLIC
Phil Westmoreland
, 2995 Sunset Meadow Drive
: Mr. Westmoreland, as
treasurer for the Howell School Board, asked the township board to not
send a letter condemning the recent appointment to the School Board.
He would like to see the School Board move forward with no more
controversy.
ADJOURNMENT
Dave Hamann
motioned to adjourn at
9:30 p.m.
Tammy Beal
seconded. Motion carried 6-0.
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