MINUTES FROM THE

REGULAR ANTWERP TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2006

7:00 PM

Supervisor Daniel J. Ruzick called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

The Pledge of Allegiance.

Board Members Present: Bruce Cutting, Ronald Derhammer, Virg Hendrickson, Daniel J. Ruzick and Bonnie Osborne.

Board Members Absent: None.

Also Present: Seven guests

Motion by Osborne, second by Derhammer to approve the agenda as presented with the following addition of “B.” Proposal by Siegfried Crandall on updating anti virus software and present server. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Osborne, second by Derhammer to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2005 meeting as presented. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Action on Planning Commission Recommendations

The following motions were discussed concurrently, voted on separately.

Jim Heeter. Special Land Use Permit.

Jim Heeter. Site Plan Review.

24475 Red Arrow Highway, Mattawan, Michigan 49071. Parcel ID # 80-02-002-013-12, Map # 17-A.

Roger Stephenson commented on the specific variances requested by the Planning

Commission for the project to proceed. Jim Heeter spoke on his business, describing the details of the food service industry involved and the reason for needing an addition to the existing building. Derhammer commented that because of the pre-existing greenbelt and the fact that the greenbelt policy has changed, requiring less concrete, should not shift responsibility to Jim Heeter in having to pay to present his reason for the waiver to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Supervisor Ruzick relayed that there is no precedent in that situation.

a.  Motion by Derhammer, second by Cutting to approve the Special Land Use Permit for Jim Heeter, 24475 Red Arrow Highway, Parcel ID 80-02-002-013-12, with the recommendation that the Planning Commission act forth and the application fee for the Zoning Board of Appeals be waived.

Roll call vote: Osborne-yes, Hendrickson-yes, Ruzick-yes, Derhammer-yes, and Cutting-yes. Motion carried

b.  Motion by Cutting, second by Osborne to approve the Site Plan Review for Jim Heeter, 24475 Red Arrow Highway, Parcel ID 80-02-002-013-12.

Roll call vote: Derhammer-yes, Cutting-yes, Hendrickson-yes, Osborne-yes, and Ruzick-yes. Motion carried.

Pending Business

Ordinance Officer Report:

Gary Gruss briefed members of the Board and audience on the various calls for Van Buren County for the month of December, total of 175 calls. Gary commented on the Blight Ordinance Update List, a few right now that Harold Schuitmaker is working on. One of the situations, the gentlemen’s lawyer and the township attorney are talking. Gary took updated photos on the 2nd of January and dropped off on the 9th. Two new violations were reported, nothing major, with one already cleaned up and the other one is being worked on. In general, things are being cleaned up.

New Business

Discussion on forming a committee for a Recreation Planning Committee, required by the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources that a township have a Recreation Committee as part of the recreation planning process. It was resolved that the current Planning Commission shall act as the Recreation Planning Committee.

a.  Motion by Cutting, second by Osborne to adopt the resolution for the formation of the Antwerp Township Recreation Planning Committee.

Roll call vote: Cutting-yes, Derhammer-yes, Osborne-yes, Hendrickson-yes, and Ruzick-yes. Motion carried.

Supervisor Ruzick detailed the proposal by Siegfried Crandall on the need for anti virus software to be installed and updating the current server, which is five years old. With the recent addition of DSL Internet connections and the transition of live data to the web, current software and hardware need to be updated accordingly. The price and installation of MacAfee 8.0 with five service packs is $545.00. The price and installation of a new server is still in the quote process. All items are budgeted.

Derhammer asked that a general inventory be taken of all office computer equipment and the uses of it. With the inventory on hand at the next budget meeting, the board can take a more thorough look at all updates that need to be made instead of one at a time.

b.  Motion by Derhammer, second by Osborne to approve the purchase and installation of the anti virus package.

Roll call vote: Cutting-yes, Derhammer-yes, Osborne-yes, Hendrickson-yes, and Ruzick-yes. Motion carried.

Correspondence/Announcements

a.  VBRC. Two projects currently in session. One on Red Arrow Highway, east of the village limits of Paw Paw to 30th Street with a total cost of $771,000 for improvements, drainage, etc. The second is on Red Arrow Highway, corner of 24th and CR 652 with a total cost of $245,000 for similar improvements.

b.  BS&A sent a report detailing the number of hits for the months of May thru December for the Internet site.

c.  Letter from Linda Anderson, Wade Trim, reviewing the activities of the Planning Commission for 2005.

Reports

Minor discussion on all reports.

Public Comments

John Morrison voiced his concern on the pace of the Planning Commission for the project with Steve Cerven. Ron Derhammer reassured John that once all requirements were met, i.e. traffic study, than the Planning Commission should have no other issues in approving the project.

Committee on Bills

Recommendation from the committee for Antwerp Township, Antwerp Sunshine Library and Mattawan Fire Department Bills. Motion by Cutting, second by Derhammer to accept bills for payment in the amount of $66.878.79

Roll call vote: Osborne-yes, Ruzick-yes, Hendrickson-yes, Cutting-yes, and Derhammer-yes. Motion carried.

Motion by Osborne and second by Hendrickson to adjourn.

Meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

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Virg Hendrickson/Clerk