HOWARDTOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING

March 21, 2017 7:00 p.m.

Call to Order/Pledge/Roll Call:

Craig Bradfield called the regular meeting of the Howard Township Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held at Howard Township Business Office. Pledge to the flag was given. Board members Craig Bradfield, Sheri Wozniak, Linda Rudlaff, Mike Daly, Mike Gordon, Hank Johnsonand Bill Kasprzakanswered roll call.Sheriff Behnke and IndeckRepresentativesKellyInns and Jennifer Font were also in attendance.

Approval of Agenda:

The floor was open to the residents concerning the Agenda. No comments were made. A motion was made byRudlaff, supported by Kasprzakto approve the Agenda, carried.

Minutes:

A motion was made by Daly, supported by Johnsontoapprove the February 21, 2017regular meeting minutes as written, carried.

Financial Report:

Treasurer Rudlaff read the February 2017 financial report into the record. A motion was made byGordon, supported by Dalyto accept the February 2017monthly financial report as presented with a beginning balance of $815,011.64and an ending balance of $888,606.69, carried.

Approval of Bills

A motion was made byJohnson, supported by Wozniakto approve the monthly bills for payment, carried.

Departmental Reports

Chief Leneway reported 13 medical and 7 fire calls for March 2017.Leneway also reported that the fire department has been updated to Active 911. Over a five year span should save the Township approximately $11,000.00. A motion was made Johnson, supported by Gordon to remove Chad Kuehn from the department for missing trainings, carried. The Chief added that he is an excellent fire fighter and would be welcomed back when able to return; Chad has had many life changing events recently that contributed to his inability to meet all requirements of the fire department. Treasurer Rudlaff, on behalf of the Township Board, presented Fire Chief Ed Leneway, Assistant Chief James Hattenbach, Captain Chris Korp, Firefighter David Mattiford and Firefighter Kip Walters with life saving pins for their training and teamwork that revived a patient while answering a 911 call on January 15, 2017. Their dedication to the residents and the community is immeasurable. Sheriff Behnke reported a new 911 phone system will be implemented at the County and go live on March 28. The new technologies will provide more access to people, such as texting 911 and allow dispatchers to text back. Also, Smart 911 will begin in April. Smart 911 is an online program people can register their phone numbers, including cells, to assist 911 dispatchers to find them in an emergency. Also, a burglary ring has been caught that was operating in Berrien and CassCounties. Lastly, deer/car accidents have tripled in the last couple of weeks. Trustee Kasprzak informed the Board that SMCAS has received the newest ambulance. It runs with gasoline instead of diesel. As ambulances are replaced, they will be replaced with gasoline engines. There are three ambulances being used as back up which run on diesel engines. The ambulances will be computerized and self monitoring as well. Also, SMCAS remains extremely busy and now LakelandNilesHospital will be making the top floor a rehabilitation center, which will increase transfers. The new billing contract being used by SMCAS is paying for itself. This company seems to be collecting about 70% more than the contract SMCAS had for their billing. Fiscal condition is better than it has been in a few years. Trustee Gordon’s update included reported vandalism at Pepper Martin, the possible installation of surveillance cameras, lower parking lot at Pepper Martin being finished and the Parks Board will be redoing the Parks 5 year plan. A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Gordon to approve the monthly reports, carried.

Information

Cass County Hazardous Waste Collection will be May 20, 2017, 9-noon at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Old Business

None

New Business

A motion was made by Rudlaff, supported by Wozniak to approve Indeck Niles LLC’s right-of-way consent agreement, carried. A motion was made by Daly, supported by Gordonto approve the annual monthly meeting schedules, carried. A motion was made by Johnson, supported by Daly to approve the contracts with Siegfried Crandall, PC as the auditor, Mitt Drew with Kotz Sangster Wysocki PC as the attorney, and Berends, Hendricks & Stuit Insurance Agency as the insurance agent, carried. A motion was made by Gordon, supported by Rudlaff to approve the contract renewals for the Building Inspector Dave Swanstrom, Electrical Inspector Ron Bellaire, Plumbing/Mechanical InspectorRay Cole, and Miss Dig Inspector Neil Coulston, carried.A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Rudlaff to appoint Ed Leneway as Fire Chief, James Hattenbach as Assistant Fire Chief, and Chris Korp as Captain, carried. A motion was made by Johnson, supported by Gordon to approve Supervisor Craig Bradfield and Cass County Deputy Brawley as the ordinance enforcement officer for all ordinances, Zoning Administrator Linda McGregor as an enforcement officer for the Zoning Ordinance, and the Fire Department Officers as enforcement officers for burning and fire ordinances, carried.A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Rudlaff to approve Resolution 2017-001, the General Appropriations Act Resolution, carried. A motion was made by Rudlaff, supported by Johnson to approve Resolution 2017-002, the Salary Resolution, carried.A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Gordon to approve the Health Reimbursement Schedule for 2017-2018, carried.A motion was made by Daly, supported by Johnson to approve the 2017-2018 Holiday Schedules, carried. A motion was made by Daly, supported by Gordon to approve the proposed 2017-2018 General Fund Budget, carried. A motion was made by Daly, supported by Wozniak to approve the proposed 2017-2018 Ambulance, Street Light, Improvement Capital, Building, Sewer and Weed Eradication Funds Budgets, carried.A motion was made by Rudlaff, supported by Gordon to eliminate all wage scales, carried.A motion was made by Daly, supported by Johnson to approve 2017-2018 pay scale, carried.A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Rudlaff to add one more day of vacation to Teri Munger’s annual vacation time, carried. A motion was made by Gordon, supported by Rudlaff to approve 2017-2018 liaison appointments, carried. A motion was made by Wozniak, supported by Daly to approve budget amendments for the 2016-2017General, Building and Sewer Funds, carried. A motion was made by Johnson, supported by Gordon to approve Resolution 2017-003, granting the Clerk the authority to apply for an election equipment grant, carried. A motion was made by Kasprzak, supported by Johnson to approve waiving the fees on the cost recovery bills presented by the Treasurer, carried. A motion was made by Gordon, supported by Rudlaff to set a Clean-Up Day for May 13, 2017, from 8- 11 am or until dumpsters are full, carried. A motion was made by Daly, supported by Gordon to approve the Brooks land division application for Parcel 14-020-030-059-00, carried.

Correspondence

None

Other Business from the Board

Treasurer Rudlaff announced the receipt of another plan for building a new fire station and that anyone could contact her for information.

Public Comment

Sheriff Behnke announced a pill drop off day on April 22, 2017 here at the Township Office from 10 am till 2 pm. The Sheriff also remind everyone that a pill drop off box is available at most of the area police stations all the time. Cass County Commissioner Bob Ziliak announced the County Hazardous Waste Day on May 20 and the Spring Egg Extravaganza on April 8 at LawlessPark. The extravaganza will have a petting zoo, face painting, games, etc. Mr. Ziliak also updated the Board that the Commissioners were currently working on the County Retirement Plan and two union contracts.

Adjournment:

A motion was made by Johnson, supported by Rudlaff to adjourn at 8:02 p.m., carried.

Sheri Wozniak

HowardTownship Clerk