MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GEORGETOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD FEBRUARY 26, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

 

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

 

Prayer for guidance by Bill Holland

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Roll Call

Present:            Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, Del South, Marvin VanSomeren, Dale Mohr,

Stanley Sterk, Richard VanderKlok

Absent: none

 

#070226-01 - Public Comments

 

Jeff Kissinger, 1694 Broadview Dr., spoke in opposition to installing sewer down his street.

 

#070226-02 - Approval of agenda as presented for February 26, 2007

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Del South, to approve the agenda as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-03 - Communications, letters and reports: Received for information, to be filed:

 

A.     DPW Report for January 2007

B.     Code Enforcement Officer’s January 2007 Monthly Report

C.     General Ledger Report January 2007

D.     Sheriff Department Report for January 2007

E.      Senior Center Monthly Activity Report for January 2007

F.      Library Report for December 2006

G.     Planning Commission minutes for January 31, 2007

H.     Fire Department Report for December 2006

I.        Fire Department Report for January 2007

J.       Ottawa County 211 Annual Report for 2006

K.    Ordinance fines received from the County for January 2007

L.      Ice Center January 2007 Monthly Report

M.   Report with update on Baldwin St. construction, proposed street light

 

#070226-04 - Consent agenda

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve the consent agenda as presented.

a.         Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting held on January 22, 2007 and

the minutes of the January 24, 2007 joint Planning Commission/Township Board/ZBA meeting

b.         Approval of the regular Monthly Bills and utility bills and Monthly Bills

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-05 - Preliminary Plat of Crosswinds

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve granting tentative preliminary plat approval of Crosswinds Plat as shown on the drawing dated 12/14/06 on the basis that Township ordinances have been met and the plan reflects the direction given by the Planning Commission, and to grant a variance for the length of the temporary cul de sac as per Sec. 50-51(3)(c) in the Code of Ordinances, and with the condition that a copy of the restrictive covenants be provided at the time of final preliminary plat approval showing that the property owners are required to hook up to sewer when it becomes available.

 

Note:                The Planning Commission recommended approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-06 - Planned Unit Development (PUD0701) Allen Springs Farm LLC, 7683 Cottonwood

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Del South, to approve (PUD0701) Allen Springs Farm LLC, 7683 Cottonwood, for a Planned Unit Development for uses including detached single family homes, attached single family homes and housing for the elderly and related uses, under Chapter 22, on parcels of land described as P.P. # 70-14-11-400-018, 70-14-14-200-007, 70-14-11-400-031, and part of 70-14-14-200-050 located at 8037, 8001 and 8075 Cottonwood, Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, MI,

As shown on:

1.                  Sheets one (site plan and colored plan), two (utility and grading plan),and three of three (landscaping plan) dated 1-9-07 revised, and

2.                  the narrative statement identified as WPDATA\L061954E, and

3.                  on the elevation plan dated January 29, 2007.

On the basis that the following are met:

1.         Qualifying conditions in Sec. 22.2,

2.         Information as per Sec. 22.5 is provided, and

3.         The plan meets the ordinance requirements of Sec. 22.10

And with the following conditions:

1.         A letter is submitted to the Township asking the assessor to combine P. P. # 70-14-11-

400-018 (8037 Cottonwood), 70-14-11-400-031 (8075 Cottonwood), and 70-14-14-200-007 (8037 Cottonwood) so that setbacks are met and parcel lines are not located through buildings.  Plus this eliminates the non-conforming parcels that have no frontage.  (The small part of 70-14-14-200-050 need not be combined since it was added merely to allow space for the additional garage and the landscaped buffer.)

2.         Types of typical light fixtures should be provided at the

time of final development approval.

3.         More sign detail should be provided at the time of final

development approval including the dimensions showing height, width, square footage and distance from the centerline of Cottonwood (especially if the signs are proposed to be different than what the ordinance allows).

4.                  A Storm Water Drain Permit is required at the time a building permit application is submitted.

5.                  A DEQ permit is required to build and/or fill in the floodplain. 

 

Note:                The Planning Commission recommended approval

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-07 - Accept Bid to Purchase 2008 Truck for the Parks Department

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve the low bid of $24,762.00 from Barber, 640 E. 8th St., Holland, to purchase a 2008 pickup truck (Ford Super Duty F-250) for the Parks Department (Bids)

 

            Note:                The Finance Committee recommended approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-08 - Initiate Zoning Ordinance Amendments

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve initiating Zoning Ordinance amendments to Sections 6.3(Z), 20.1(AJ), 20.4(AJ), 6.3(AA), 20.1(AK), 20.4(AK), 20.4(Z) (all are language additions)

 

            Note:                The Finance Committee recommends approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-09 - Senior Center Grant Proposal

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Del South, to approve seeking bids for the computer equipment and transportation software including paying a monthly or annual maintenance fee.  (Note, the warranty would cover any upgrades to the existing software after the initial warranty of 3 months to a year depending on the company), as presented.

 

            Note:                The Services Committee recommends approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-10 - Internet Access for Library

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve authorizing the Library Director to implement internet access, with users’ comments to be tracked for 90 days and the comments to be submitted to the Services Committee for recommendation for policy review for hours of use and any additional recommendations

 

            Note:                The Services Committee recommends approval

 

            Attachments:     library policy, form

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-11 - Maplewood Area Sewer

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve notifying the affected residents of the Township’s intention to install sewer in six areas around Maplewood Lake. The sewer would be installed on a deferred basis (property owners would not have to pay unless they connect to the sewer).  Property owners would be given the option to petition the Township to stop the project.  If the majority of the owners of a district petition the Township to stop the project, the Township would not proceed at this time in that district.  Each property owner would be mailed a notice that would include the following information:

·        That if the majority of the owners petition the Township by April 2 to stop the project, the Township won’t proceed at this time.

·        The sewer would be installed on a deferred basis.  The 2007 fee is below what the sewer would cost.

·        The sewer installation would be a long term solution to septic systems; however, it may not solve the e-coli problem in Maplewood Lake.

 

            Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommends approval.

 

Attachment:      Sewer options, cost estimate, map of area 

 

Bill Holland stated that Grand Valley State University and the County Health Department were working with the Township and looking into the e-coli problem at Maplewood Park.  Del South said that the Health Department was taking tests to try to determine the source of the contamination.  Dan Carlton explained the proposed process including the fact that property owners had the opportunity to submit a petition with a majority of the property owners’ signatures to cease the project.  He said that letters would go out to each property owner affected.  He explained that each area would be its own district and the property owners in each district had the option to opt out of the project independently of the other districts.  He also said that there was a possibility that this would not address the e-coli problem.  Stan Sterk said that there would be six individual districts that would be constructed as six projects.  Dale Mohr said that he initially agreed with the projected and voted for it in the committee, but has changed his mind because it was a big financial commitment when they were not sure of the source of the contamination.

 

Yeas:                Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, Del South, Richard VanderKlok, Stanley Sterk,

                        Richard VanderKlok

Nays:               Dale Mohr

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-12 - Ice Arena Phone System

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve authorizing a maximum of $10,000 for purchasing a phone system at the ice arena compatible with the Township Office.  The phone system would allow daytime calls to be answered by Township Office staff when ice arena staff is not available.  The Township Office staff could assist people with questions such as public skate times and programs.

 

            Note:                The Water/Sewer Committee recommends approval.

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#070226-13 – Public Comment

 

Jeff Blackford, 8321 Thornwood, said that when sewer had initially been proposed in the past it was to be a trunk route.  He was told that it would no longer be a trunk route because one had already been constructed.

 

Steve Magers, 1463 Broadview, said that the Township should just close Maplewood Lake to swimming because of the liability and people had other places to swim including Lake Michigan and residential pools.

 

Thelma Kunnen, 1683 Broadview, asked if results were positive for the north side of Bauer Rd.  She asked if the bathrooms were open last year at Maplewood Park and was told no, they were closed except for the two weeks when swimming had been allowed.  She said that the park should hook up to sewer too.

 

Jeff Kissinger, 1694 Broadview, asked if the test showed if the contamination came from human or animal waste.  He asked how often testing occurred and if it was at different depths.  He was told that the testing was done weekly.  He said that he disagrees with Steve Magers and that the source of the e-coli contamination should be found so that it can be prevented from increasing.

 

#070226-14 – Board Open Discussion

 

Bill Holland said that developers have expressed interest in the land affected by the Baldwin St. extension.

 

#070226-15 - Reports from Standing Committees

 

            Water/Sewer committee minutes of February 20, 2007

            Finance Committee meeting minutes of February 23, 2007

Services Committee meeting minutes of February 22, 2007

 

#070226-16 - Meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.

 

 

                                               

William Holland, Supervisor

 

                                               

Del South, Clerk