MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GEORGETOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD MARCH 24, 2008, 7:30 p.m.

 

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

 

Prayer for guidance by Marvin VanSomeren

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Roll Call

Present:           Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, Dale Mohr, Richard VanderKlok, Marvin VanSomeren,

Stanley Sterk

Absent:            Del South

 

#080324-01 - Public Comments

 

No one was present to make public comments.

 

#080324-02 - Approval of agenda as presented for March 24, 2008

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve the agenda as presented, with the addition of Board Discussion items for the cemetery and parking.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-03 - Communications, letters and reports: Received for information, to be filed:

 

A.    Sheriff Department Report for February 2008

B.     Annual Financial Report Year Ended December 31, 2007 (paper copies to be distributed at the meeting)

C.     Supervisor’s March 2008 Report on meetings attended or to be attended

D.    Library Report for January 2008

E.     The Services Committee recommends the following process for the Park Improvement Plan:

a.       March 24-Presentation of preliminary Park Improvement Plan

b.      March 24 to April 11-Receive public input from the Board and the public

c.       April 14-The Services Committee meets to review the final proposal for the Parks Improvement Plan and makes a recommendation to the Board

d.      April 21-The final Parks Improvement Plan is presented to the Board

e.       Upon Board approval, bids are to be sought on a per park basis

 

#080324-04 - Consent agenda

 

Moved by Marvin VanSomeren, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve the consent agenda as presented.

a.         Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting held on March 10, 2008

b.         Approval of the regular monthly bills and utilities bills

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-05 - Sewer Metering

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve authorizing engineering services in the amount of $5,500 to determine flows, capacity and key locations in the Port Sheldon sewer lines

 

            Note:               The Utilities (Water/Sewer) Committee recommends approval

           

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-06 - Non-Motorized Path Easement on Consumers Power Land

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve requesting an easement from Consumers Energy for the installation of a non-motorized path on Consumers right-of-way from Port Sheldon St. to Grand River Park

 

            Note:               The Utilities (Water/Sewer) Committee recommends approval

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-07 - Summerset West Payback Re-Determination

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Marvin VanSomeren, to approve amending the cost sharing proposal for Summerset West to $34,055.75

 

            Note:               The Water/Sewer (Utilities) Committee recommended approval, as proposed

by the Water/Sewer Director and as proposed by Exxel Engineering

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-08 - Grandville Sewer Expansion Agreement (for discussion only)

 

Daniel Carlton stated that the item was before the Board in order for Board members to have an opportunity to ask questions or state concerns prior to taking action.  The Water/Sewer Committee reviewed the proposed Grandville sewer expansion agreement and recommended the agreement be placed on the Township Board agenda for discussion on March 24 and for approval on April 14. The agreement establishes a new “Sewer Plant Connection Charge.” The initial charge for a single family residential unit starting July 1 would be $1,800. This new fee would be forwarded to the City of Grandville. The committee recommends that the current Township Sewer Hookup charge based on a single family residential unit be reduced from $1,700 to $1,000 on the same date.

 

#080324-09 - Open Maplewood Lake to Public Access

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve opening Maplewood Lake to swimmers, the summer of 2008 after testing results have presented safe test levels of E-Coli.

 

Daniel Carlton stated that he was opposed to allowing swimming because the test was a three day process and the water could be bad for three days before the results were available.

 

Richard VanderKlok stated that the Committee understood that monitoring would need to be continued after the initial test due to safety concerns.

 

            Note:               The Services Committee recommends approval

 

            Yeas:   Bill Holland, Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk, Marvin VanSomeren, Richard VanderKlok

            Nays:   Daniel Carlton

            Absent: Del South

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-10 - Bid for 1999 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to approve accepting the high bid from Richard Kennedy for $2,973.00 for the 1999 Ford F-150 pickup truck

 

Note:               The Finance Committee recommended approval

One other bid was received for $2,850.00

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#080324-11 - Public Comment

 

No one was present to make public comments.

 

#080324-12 - Board Open Discussion

 

Stanley Sterk stated that with the changing times, the Township should consider charging a fee to allow burial services to take place past noon on Saturdays.

 

Daniel Carlton stated that the rules would be brought to the next meeting for discussion.

 

Stanley Sterk stated the following.  The ZBA would discuss a variance request for a parking waiver on Wednesday and he would like to ask the Planning Commission to review the parking requirements because he thinks they are excessive and create a sea of asphalt.  A few years ago the Planning Commission reviewed the requirements and allowed a 25% reduction.  He would like to see at least one-third reduction and a new classification for a drive-through coffee shop.  A developer would just hurt himself without adequate parking.  This situation is different from the church that received the reduction.  Neighboring municipalities should be contacted to obtain information as to how many spaces are required for similar uses.

 

It was decided that information would be gathered and supplied to the Board.

 

Marvin VanSomeren presented a Parks Improvement Plan that had been discussed in the Services Committee.  The Services Committee recommends the following process for the Park Improvement Plan:

a.       March 24-Presentation of preliminary Park Improvement Plan

b.      March 24 to April 11-Receive public input from the Board and the public

c.       April 14-The Services Committee meets to review the final proposal for the Parks Improvement Plan and makes a recommendation to the Board

d.      April 21-The final Parks Improvement Plan is presented to the Board

e.       Upon Board approval, bids are to be sought on a per park basis

 

#080324-13 – Announcement of any scheduled meeting or meeting attended of interest to board members

 

Bill Holland stated that a MDOT meeting would be held at the Township Office on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

 

#080324-14 - Reports from Standing Committees

           

            Finance Committee minutes of March 21, 2008

 

Water/Sewer Committee minutes of March 10, 2008

 

Water/Sewer Committee minutes of March 19, 2008

 

Services Committee minutes of March 17, 2008

 

#080324-15 - Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

 

                                               

William Holland, Supervisor

 

                                               

Del South, Clerk