MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GEORGETOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD APRIL 24, 2006, 7:30 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Bill Holland.

 

Prayer for guidance by Daniel Carlton

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Roll Call

Present:            Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, R. J. Poel, Del South, Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk

Absent: Richard VanderKlok- with notice

 

#060424-01 - Public Comments

 

Jeff Larabel, 1664 Cedar Lane, presented a packet and spoke about a dog park.  He asked the Township to establish an off-leash dog park.

 

#060424-02 - Approval of agenda as presented for April 24, 2006

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to approve the agenda as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Dale Mohr, to amend the agenda to add an item to discuss parks.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-03 - Communications, letters and reports: Received for information, to be filed:

 

A.           Resolution passed by County Board on March 28, 2006 regarding trees           

B.           Planning Commission agenda for May 3, 2006

C.           Planning Commission meeting minutes for April 19, 2006

D.           Planning Commission Review Comments for April 2006

E.            Sheriff Department Report for March 2006

F.            Ottawa County 1st Quarter 211 Report

G.           Request from Township resident for dog park (packet available at Township Office)

 

#060424-04 - Consent agenda

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to approve the consent agenda as presented.

 

a.         Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 10, 2006

 

b.         Approval of Monthly Bills

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-05 - Presentation of Library Report

 

#060424-06 - Public Hearings-Resolutions for Lake Treatment for Rushmore and Sunnyview

Lakes 

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to open the public hearing for Rushmore Lake.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

No one was present to speak at the public hearing for Rushmore Lake.

 

The chairman closed the public hearing.

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by R. J. Poel, to open the public hearing for Sunnyview Lake.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

No one was present to speak at the public hearing for Rushmore Lake.

 

The chairman closed the public hearing.

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Del South, to approve the resolution for Rushmore Lake for the determination to make public improvements, the determination of sufficiency of petitions, approval of plans and estimate of cost, final determination of special assessment district, and preparation of the special assessment roll.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by R. J. Poel, to approve the contract for Rushmore Lake (in order to provide a discount if completed by April 30) since there were no objections for the resolution and to authorize the special check run.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve the resolution for Rushmore Lake to receive the Special Assessment Roll, to file the Special Assessment Roll with the Clerk, to set a public hearing for May 22, 2006 to consider objections to the Special Assessment Roll, and to require the Township Board to maintain a record of parties who appear to protest the special assessment a the hearing.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by R. J. Poel, to schedule a public hearing for August 14, 2006 for Rushmore Lake special assessment for 2007.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to approve the resolution for Sunnyview Lake for the determination to make public improvements, the determination of sufficiency of petitions, approval of plans and estimate of cost, final determination of special assessment district, and preparation of the special assessment roll.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the contract for Sunnyview Lake (in order to provide a discount of completed by April 30) since there were no objections for the resolution and to authorize a special check run.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve the resolution for Sunnyview Lake to receive the Special Assessment Roll, to file the Special Assessment Roll with the Clerk, to set a public hearing for May 22, 2006 to consider objections to the Special Assessment Roll, and to require the Township Board to maintain a record of parties who appear to protest the special assessment a the hearing.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by R. J. Poel, to schedule a public hearing for August 14, 2006 for Sunnyview Lake special assessment for 2007.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-07 - Public Hearing for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate Application (Act

198) for Active Machine and Tool Company Inc.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to open the public hearing.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Ken Rizzio, Ottawa County Economic Development, made comments and submitted a brochure.  He said that the owner, August VanDam, was also present.

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by R. J. Poel, to close the public hearing

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve the resolution  as follows:

 

“HEARING FOR APPLICATION FOR I.F.E.C.

(ACT 198) FOR ADVANTAGE INDUSTRIES, INC.”

 

            Whereas, Act 198 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1974, as amended, authorized the Township to approve application for industrial facilities exemption certificate; for a total cost of $159,069.00 and

 

            Whereas, pursuant to Act 198, and after a duly noticed public hearing held on February 8, 1999, this township established the “Industrial District” for the industrial property owned by Active Machine & Tool Co., Inc. and described as follows:

 

PART OF SE 1/4 COM NW COR, TH S OD 41M E 66 FT & E 1098.58 FT TO BEG, TH E 300 FT, S 03D 35M E 150 FT, W 300 FT, TH N 03D 35M W 150 FT TO BEG, EXC 18TH AVE. SEC 22 T6N R13W

 

N 66 FT OF SE 1/4 LYING E OF 18TH AVE EXC E 1251 FT. SEC 22 T6N R13W

 

Permanent Parcel #70-14-22-400-020 and 70-14-22-400-023

 

Located at 6778 18th Ave., Jenison, MI

 

            Whereas, Active Machine & Tool Co. Inc. hereinafter referred to as “applicant”, has filed an application for an industrial facilities exemption certificate under the provisions of Act 198 and this township set April 24, 2006, at 7:30 PM or after, local time, as the time to give the Township Assessor and a representative of each affected taxing unit an opportunity to be heard regarding said application as amended; and

 

            Whereas, written notification of this hearing has been given to the Township Assessor and to the legislative body of each taxing unit which levies levies ad valorem taxes within the township; and

 

            Whereas, the Township Assessor and a representative of the affected taxing units have been given an opportunity to be heard with regard to the approval of an industrial facility exemption certificate for the applicant; and

 

            Whereas, there were no objections to the approval of the industrial facilities exemption certificate at the meeting held on April 24, 2006,

 

            NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Township Board of  Georgetown Charter Township as follows:

 

1.         That this Township Board finds:

 

a)      The proposed facility is located within an industrial development district which was duly established in Georgetown Township upon request or on the Township’s own initiative, taken before commencement of the restoration, replacement, or construction of the facility.

 

b)      That completion of the facility shall not have the effect of transferring employment from another community within the State of Michigan to Georgetown Charter Township.

 

c)      That the aggregate State Equalized Value of real and personal property exempt from ad valorem taxes under Act 198 does not exceed 5% of the total State Equalized Value of the township plus the State Equalized Value of real and personal property thus exempted.

 

d)      That the granting of industrial facilities exemption certificate, considered together with the aggregate amount of industrial facilities exemption certificates previously granted and currently in force, shall not have the affect of substantially impeding the operation of the township of impairing the financial soundness of a taxing unit which levied an ad valorem property tax in the township.

 

2.                  That the application of the applicant for an industrial facilities exemption certificate with regard to facilities set forth in the application to be constructed in the district be and is hereby approved for a period of twelve (12) years.

 

 

Yeas:    Bill Holland, R. J. Poel, Daniel Carlton, Del South, Stanley Sterk, Dale Mohr

Nays:   none    

Absent: Richard VanderKlok

 

RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.

 

 

 

___________________________________

R.J. Poel, Clerk

 

I, R. J. Poel, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a regular board meeting held April 24, 2006.

 

___________________________________

R.J. Poel, Clerk

Georgetown Charter Township

 

Note:                Fee has been paid

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-08 - Eastbrook Development Request for Cost Sharing

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the request for a cost share for improvements in Bauer Rd., including a force main and a lift station upgrade.  The cost is $400,000.00 and the request is for the Township to participate by paying $200,000.00.

 

Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommended approval by a 2/3 vote.

The improvements do not include the sewer main on Bauer or the Taylor St. paving.

 

Mick McGraw, Eastbrook Development, 2130 Enterprise, presented the request.  There was discussion regarding the cost share.

 

Moved by Bill Holland, seconded by Del South, to table the item until the June 12 Board meeting, which would occur after the May 8 committee meeting.  The item will include the four phases.

 

Yeas:    Bill Holland, R. J. Poel, Stanley Sterk, Del South

Nays:   Dale Mohr, Daniel Carlton

Absent: Richard VanderKlok

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-09 - Meadowwood Paving Request

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to approve the request to the Ottawa County Road Commission to remove the temporary pavement and leave Meadowwood as a dead end street

 

Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommended approval

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-10 - Abandon Portion of Staci Dr.

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve abandoning a portion of Staci Drive, as per the letter received from the Ottawa County Road Commission

 

Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommended approval

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-11 - Resurfacing Project

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to approve the project estimate of $994,207.50 for bituminous resurface of existing 30’ pavements and restore earth/gravel shoulders as presented on the Ottawa County Road Commission Project Estimate

 

            Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommended approval

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-12 - 2006 Calcium Chloride Application for Dust Control

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Del South, to approve the Ottawa County Road Commission Project Estimate for the 2006 Chloride Program with an estimated total cost of $20,212.50

 

            Note:                The Finance Committee recommended approval

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-13 - Baldwin Street Sidewalk from Hidden Lake Dr. to Bass Creek Dr.

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the construction of sidewalk on Baldwin St. from Hidden Lake Dr. to Bass Creek Dr.

 

            Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommended approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-14 - Request for Loose Equipment for Fire Department

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Bill Holland, to approve the authorization for the Fire Chief to purchase loose equipment in the amount of $56,644.36 for the new fire truck.  The amount budgeted for the truck was $86,175.24.  The amount previously approved was $11,680.00 on February 20, 2006.  The remaining balance is $17,850.00

 

            Note:                The Services Committee recommended approval and it was noted that bids had

been obtained.

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-15 - Ordinance Amendments- Sec. 25.6(A) Portable Signs, Chapter 24 footnote (k), (m)

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to remove motion #060327-11 from the table

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by R. J. Poel, to approve the following zoning ordinance amendment Sec. 25.6(A) Portable Signs, as follows:

 

Sec. 25.6 (A)   Residential Districts.  The following types of signs are permitted:

(6)        PORTABLE SIGN, one (1) portable sign per parcel, not exceeding thirty-two (32) square

feet in area per sign and set back at least ten (10) feet from the road right-of-way line or distance as required in Chapter 24(b) (revised 1-24-05).  No electrical cord attached to the sign shall extend more than six (6) feet from the power source to the sign.  Such sign shall not be displayed for more than seven (7) consecutive days and shall not be permitted more than six (6) such display periods during the calendar year.  A separate permit and fee shall be required for each display period and the permit sticker shall be affixed to the sign for the entire display period.

 

(6)        PORTABLE SIGN, subject to the following restrictions:

The sign shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from the road right-of-way line or from the distance as required in Chapter 24(b).  No electrical cord attached to the sign shall extend more than six (6) feet from the power source to the sign.  A display period consists of a maximum of seven (7) consecutive days.  A separate permit and fee shall be required for each display period and the permit sticker shall be affixed to the sign for the entire display period.

 

a.         Per parcel (unless a business center)

1.      One (1) portable sign displayed at a time not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area per sign;

2.      Such sign shall not be permitted more than four (4) six (6) such display periods during the calendar year; 

3.      If all display periods for a calendar year have been used and evidence is submitted to the Township that a new business has commenced on that parcel, one (1) additional display period shall be permitted in that calendar year;

4.      The additional sign shall be permitted only during the calendar year in which the business change takes place and must be taken out by the new business only.  

 

b.         Per business center

1.      One (1) portable sign displayed at a time not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area per sign;

2.      Each business center unit shall not be permitted more than a maximum of one (1) such display period per calendar year;

3.      If all display periods for a calendar year have been used and evidence is submitted to the Township that a new business has commenced in a unit of a business center, one (1) additional display period shall be permitted in that calendar year for that unit in a business center. 

4.      The additional sign shall be permitted only during the calendar year in which the business change takes place and must be taken out by the new business only.  

 

Note:                As recommended by the Planning Commission.  

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-16 - Planned Unit Development (PUD0603) Ed DeVries Properties Inc

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to table Planned Unit Development (PUD0603) Ed DeVries Properties Inc., 1345 Monroe Ave. NW, for a Planned Unit Development for mixed uses including apartments for multiple family dwellings and commercial uses including offices, retail and restaurant under Chapter 22, on a parcel of land described as P.P. # 70-14-26-200-070, located at the southwest corner of 44th St. and 8th Ave. at Gleneagle Highlands Dr.

 

            Note:                The Planning Commission tabled the PUD because a revised plan had not been

submitted addressing the unresolved issues.  The item is on the agenda because a notice was published that the Board would consider the PUD at this meeting.

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#060424-17 - Township Office/Library Sign

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Bill Holland, to approve the purchase of a sign from City Sign for the amount of $26,250.00.

 

Note:                Bids include: $30,050.00 from Postema Sign

$44,750.00 from GEC

$26,250.00 from City Sign Erectors

 

Note:                The Finance Committee recommended approval by a 2/3 vote

 

Yeas:    Del South, R. J. Poel, Bill Holland

Nays:   Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk, Daniel Carlton

 

TIE VOTE-NO VOTE.

 

The chairman said that the item would be on the next agenda when all members would be present.

 

#060424-18 - Public Comment

 

Ken Rizzio, Ottawa County Economic Development, 6676 Lake Michigan Dr., commented on Ottawa County Economic Development.

 

Jeff Larabel, 1664 Cedar Lane, spoke about a dog park.  He asked the Township to establish an off-leash dog park.  He requested that the item be forwarded to the Services Committee.

 

Craig Rockwell, 1628 Baldwin, stated that he had a business at 7579 Main St. and lived at 1628 Baldwin.  He talked about concerns as follows.  Recent news talked about a shift in conservative government to big city government with a Township manager.  The manager would be appointed and not elected.  Taxpayers would have no control over a manager.  A bureaucratic layer would be added.  Additional outlay in cash would be made and a manager is not needed.  He was opposed to the establishment of a Township superintendent.

 

Richard Golenbiewski, 6743 Ashbury Ct., thanked the Board for the lake special assessment district and for the tax abatement.

 

Eric Freeman, 6771 Ashbury Ct., thanked the Board for the lake special assessment district.

 

#060424-19- Board Open Discussion

 

Stanley Sterk said to skip the park discussion.

 

The Supervisor said that the dog park information would be forwarded to the Services Committee.

 

Dale Mohr apologized to the media present who expected to hear conversations about a Township superintendent.  He said that the item had not been put on the agenda as he had requested.

 

The Supervisor clarified that items are put on the agenda according to the policy that Dale Mohr had presented and had been adopted, which includes items to be placed on the agenda that have been brought forward by a committee or commission, or items could be added by a 2/3 vote of the Board members.

 

#060424-20 - Announcement of any scheduled meeting of interest to board members

 

There were no announcements of meeting.

 

#060424-21 - Reports from Standing Committees

 

            Water/Sewer committee minutes of April 10, 2006

 

Services Committee meeting minutes of April 17, 2006

 

            Finance Committee meeting minutes of April 21, 2006

 

#060424-22 - Meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m.

 

 

                                               

William Holland, Supervisor

 

                                               

R. J. Poel, Clerk