INLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING
September8, 2014
Inland Township Meeting Room
7:00 p.m., regular meeting of the Inland Township Board was called to order by Supervisor Beechraft.
Pledge of Allegiance:was recited.
Roll Call: Present: Beechraft,Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson.
Public Comment: None
Approval of Agenda: Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Miller to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Approval of Consent Agenda:
Approval of Minutes of August 11, 2014;
Approval of Financial Reports for the month of August;
Approval of Prepaid Bills, General Checking #9767-9778, $9,573.53;
Approval of Prepaid Bills, Fire Dept. Checking #1970-1980, $44,247.34;
Approval of Budget Adjustments.
Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Wilson to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Special Guests: Bill Kennis presented an update on the operations of the Benzie Bus. The Board was invited to the Benzie Bus Summit to be held on September 24th.
Patrick Fragel, Attorney for Mary Shinn, presented a proposal to the board for the 40 acre parcel on the corner of Lamb and Cinder Roads that the Township obtained through tax foreclosure.The property had been in the Shinn Family for generations. He proposed that the Shinn family make a contribution to the playground fund and the township subdivide the property and give five acres back to the Shinn family. Beechraft stated that it sounded like a bribe to get the property back. Miller thought we should take it to our attorney. Fragel said we could sell five acres to the Shinn family for $2,500 and they would make a contribution to the playground fund.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Wilson that at this time, we don’t sell the Lamb Road property. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Gray, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer; Nays: Miller; Motion Carried.
Parks & Recreation:Marilyn Killeen reported that no one showed up for the last meeting. Someone drove through the baseball field. They are working with Tri Turf on the new baseball fields. They are looking for someone to blow out the irrigation system.
Bernie Killeen stated that the baseball field needs to be mowed one more time. He hasn’t charged for mowing but will accept anything to help cover the cost of gas.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Wilson to approve $35 to reimburse Bernie Killeen for the cost of gas for mowing the ball field. Roll call Vote: Ayes: Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Fire Chief: Chief Cutway introduced new recruit, Landon Foster. He is certified in Fireman 1&2.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Wilson to hire Landon Foster to the Fire Department. Ayes: All; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Chief Cutway presented two proposals (Verizon & AT&T) for cell phones for the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to allow the Fire Chief to purchase the $130 package with two phones from Verizon.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to amend the motion to include the purchase of two phones at $99 each.
Vote on Amendment: Roll Call vote: Ayes: Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray, Miller; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Vote on original motion: Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Chief Cutway asked to have his spending limit increased to $2,000.
Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Miller to increase the Fire Chief’s spending limit to $1,000. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Chief Cutway presented a contract for a grant writing specialist. He would like to apply for grants for a new pumper (cost for new pumper $500,000 cost to Township with grant $50,000) and for Hearst tools (Jaws of Life) (Cost new $32,000 cost to Township with grant $3,200).
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve the proposed Grant Writing contract as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Chief Cutway presented estimates for striping the Grass truck and the MFR vehicle.
Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Miller to allow Day Signs to do the striping on the two vehicles at a total cost of $1,672.50. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
County Commissioner: Commissioner Kelley presented a written report and updated the Board on Community Mental Health.
HIJPC: Miller reported nothing happened last month.
Beechraft reported that they worked out the issues about the ZBA with Homestead Township and Roger Williams.
Township Board Members Reports:
Miller reported that she attended the DNR Public Input meeting. They talked about what they’re going to do about spraying and clear cutting trees because of the Ash bore. She would like to attend the Planning meeting on Mackinac Island (Oct. 8-10) and the Benzie Summit (Oct. 17th). She presented an article from the Benzie Insider about the Equestrian Campground at Turtle Lake.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve registration, mileage and per diem for any board member wanting to attend the Benzie Summit. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Beechraft and Wilson reported on their meeting with Homestead Township regarding merging Fire Departments. At this time, Homestead Township is willing to share a secretary to do reports.
Motion was made by Gray, seconded by Miller that we don’t hire a secretary with Homestead Township at this time. Ayes: All; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Beechraft reported that he met with Susan Walker who is interested in joining the Parks and Rec. committee. She has grant writing experience. She wants to attend the next P&R meeting before committing.
Beechraft reported that he and the Fire Chief attended meeting at Benzonia Township regarding charging for mutual aid. Next meeting will be on September 16th.
Beechraft presented a brochure on a meeting in Frankenmuth on Emerging Issues in Emergency Services on October 14th.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve registration, mileage and per diem for anyone wanting to attend this meeting. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Approval of Unpaid Bills: Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve payment of bills from the General Checking Account #9779-9788; $4,479.48. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve payment of bills from the Fire Department checking account #1981-1986; $4,724.99. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Correspondence: None
Unfinished Business: Cabinets for the meeting room: Total cost including installation $6,482.29.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Gray to approve the cabinets for the meeting room at a cost of $6,482.29 as presented.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray, Miller; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
New Business:
Bank Resolutions:
Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Miller to adopt the Bank Resolution for Central State Bank authorizing the Bank to change the signature on all of the accounts to the current Clerk and Treasurer. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Brouwer to adopt the Bank Resolution for Honor Bank authorizing the Treasurer to open a certificate of deposit for the Park and Rec Fund with the Clerk and Treasurer as signers. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Brouwer, Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Snowplowing:
Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Gray to go out for bids for snowplowing and to publish a request for bids one time in the Record Patriot. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Gray, Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Newsletter: Discussion on sending out a newsletter with the December tax bills instead of one in the spring. Send out postcards in the spring instead of a newsletter.
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Miller to approve Carol Brouwer to do a newsletter for the tax bill, December 1st, completed by November 5th, one page, two sided, and to pay her $100. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Miller, Wilson, Beechraft, Brouwer, Gray; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Clean-up Day:
Motion was made by Beechraft, seconded by Gray to hold the clean-up day on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Ayes: All; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Public Comment:Marilyn Killeen stated that in the last 38 years, she has never seen anyone on the Lamb Road property. There is an abandoned foundation and a two inch well pipe on the property. The restrooms in the park are always clean but there have been large parties at the park. She likesCarol’s suggestion about sending out post cards in April as a reminder.
Commissioner Kelley is impressed with what our Fire Department is doing.
Other Business: None
Adjournment: Motion was made by Wilson, seconded by Miller to adjourn the meeting. Ayes: All; Nays: None; Motion Carried.
Meeting adjourned at8:59 p.m.
Minutes by:Approved by:
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Linda M. Wilson, ClerkPaul Beechraft, Supervisor
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