Regular Meeting
2/10/2015 Board of Trustees Meeting
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GARFIELD
Synopsis of Minutes of February 10, 2015
Township Board Meeting
A Township Board Meeting of the Charter Township of Garfield was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Garfield Township Hall, 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, Michigan.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00p.m. and the Board transacted the following business:
- Public Comment – Doug DeYoung spoke about a Consumers Energy Smart Energy Program they will be instituting this summer. He explained that they will be changing meters that will report on your daily energy usage using cell phone technology.
- Approved the agenda as presented.
- Approved Minutes from Jan. 13, 2015, Township Board meeting.
- Approved the Consent Calendar as presented.
- Received Correspondence.
- Received the Construction Report from Jennifer Hodges.
- Received Sheriff’s report from Lt. Chris Barsheff regarding his goals and objectives for 2015.
- Received GT Metro Fire Report from Asst. Chief Terry Flynn.
- Received County Commissioner’s Report from Christine Maxbauer and Alisa Kroupa.
- Received the Personnel Committee report from Denise Schmuckal and approved a salary adjustment for Kristen Steger.
- Received the Clerk’s Report from Lanie McManus who introduced her new Deputy Clerk, Betty Tezak.
- Received Supervisor’s Report from Chuck Korn regarding CPO funding, BPW Finance Committee, TC Talus restructuring and GT Metro law firm interviews.
- Approved Resolution 2015-01-T, a resolution authorizing the Treasurer to collect all taxes for TCAPS, BATA, NMC and TBA per agreement.
- Directed the Planning Department to respond to an email from James A. Henderson regarding the sidewalks on Garfield Road between S. Airport and Hammond Roads.
- Directed Deputy Planner Brian VanDenBrand to pursue the 2015 Trust Fund applications he outlined.
The Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Lanie McManus, Clerk
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GARFIELD
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 6:00pm
Garfield Township Hall
Ph: (231) 941-1620
AGENDA
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Call meeting to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll call of
1. Public Comment
Public Comment Guidelines:
Any person shall be permitted to address a meeting of The Township
2. Review and approval of the Agenda - Conflict of Interest
3. Consent Calendar
The purpose of the Consent calendar is to expedite business by grouping non-controversial items together to be dealt with in one
a. Minutes – January 13, 2015 (Recommend Approval)
b. Bills -
General Fund $ 495,784.66
(Recommend Approval)
Gourdie-Fraser
Utility Receiving Fund $ 2,542.50
(Recommend Approval)
Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Agency $ 12,453.00
(Recommend Approval)
c. MTT Update (Receive and File)
d. Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report (Receive and File)
e. PD 2015-07 - Arbors of Traverse Major PUD Amendment - Introduction and schedule for public hearing on March 10, 2015
f. PD 2015-08 - La Franier Road Rezoning Application - Introduction and schedule for public hearing on March 10, 2015
4. Correspondence
a. Consumers Energy Smart Energy Program
b. January 2015 Monthly Report for the Grand Traverse Conservation District
5. Reports
a. Construction Report
b. Sheriff’s Report
c. Metro Fire Report
d. County Commissioner’s Report
e. Personnel Committee Report
f. Clerk’s Report
g. Supervisor’s Report
h. Recreation Authority Report
6. Unfinished Business
a. Update on NW Water Storage project
7. New Business
a. Consideration of Resolution 2015-02-T, a resolution authorizing the Treasurer to collect all taxes for TCAPS, BATA, NMC and TBA per agreement.
b. Garfield Road Sidewalks report from the Planning Department regarding an email from James A. Henderson, CPA regarding sidewalk on Garfield between Hammond and S. Airport
c. Discussion of potential 2015 Trust Fund applications
8. Public Comment
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment
_____________________
Lanie McManus, Clerk
The Garfield Township
CHARTER
TOWN BOARD MEETING
February 10, 2015
Chuck Korn called the Town
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll call of
Present: Bob Featherstone, Kit Wilson, Molly Agostinelli, Denise Schmuckal, Jeane Blood Law, Lanie McManus, and Chuck Korn
Also Present: Brian VanDenBrand
1. Public Comment (6:01)
Doug DeYoung with Consumers Energy was present to educate the Board on the new Smart Meters to be installed on homes in the Township this summer. A daily text from the Smart Meter will be sent to Consumer’s Energy with statistics on the home’s energy use. This will result in allowing customers to set up a private account and monitor their own energy use. Customers will also have exact bills and Consumer’s Power will be able to tell if a specific home is without power. Consumers Power plans to send out flyers and a letter introducing the new program followed up by door hangers when the installation is completed. The new program will result in safety and convenience for customers and workers.
2. Review and Approval of the Agenda - Conflict of Interest (6:07)
Agostinelli moved and Featherstone seconded to approve the agenda as amended.
Yeas: Agostinelli, Featherstone, Blood Law, Schmuckal, Wilson, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
3. Consent Calendar (6:07)
a. Minutes
January 13, 2015
(Recommend Approval)
b. Bills
General Fund $495,784.66
(Recommend Approval)
Gourdie-Fraser
Utility Receiving Fund $ 2,542.50
(Recommend Approval)
Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Agency (Recommend Approval)
c. MTT Update (Receive and File)
d. Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report (Receive and File)
e. PD 2015-07 – Arbors of Traverse Major PUD Amendment – Introduction and Schedule for Public Hearing on March 10, 2015
f. PD 2015-08 – LaFranier Road Rezoning Application – Introduction
and schedule for Public Hearing on March 10, 2015
Schmuckal moved and Wilson seconded to adopt the consent calendar as presented.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Wilson, Agostinelli, Featherstone, Blood Law, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
4. Correspondence (6:10)
a. Consumers Energy Smart Energy Program
b. January 2015 Monthly Report for the Grand Traverse Conservation District
5. Reports
a. Construction Report (6:10)
Jennifer Hodges from Gourdie Fraser apologized for not attending the last meeting, but said she did file a written report and if there were any
questions, she would be happy to answer them. She reported that three pump stations are having issues and two are being addressed through the
DPW and the other, pump #3, needs to be replaced. The project will not wait for a grant application and needs to be replaced soon. She will look at the designing, permitting and bidding for the pump and at the next meeting will discuss the total cost of the replacement for Pump #3. Korn added that the budget could be amended to help cover the cost.
Hodges also said that the Road Commission is initiating pre-construction meetings to discuss their Spring and Summer road projects.
b. Sheriff’s Report (6:15)
Deputy Chris Barsheff reported that there were 1,441 calls for service in January of 2015 which is down 26 calls from December. He attributes the drop in calls to the weather. The Commission on Aging developed a “No Scam Zone” program to keep seniors abreast of ongoing scams in the area. Seniors can subscribe to a service related to the scams on the COA website as well. Barsheff reviewed his goals for the year by looking at what calls his officers spend time on. He would like to decrease retail fraud by working with businesses on their policies and procedures and meet with them on a monthly basis. Business Fraud is another area in which the officers spend a lot of time and he would like to increase
communication with businesses and provide guidance to reduce frauds.
Barsheff would like to increase public awareness of crime and help others learn the do’s and don’t’s of victimization by holding public presentations at Senior Centers, churches, and other public venues to educate residents.
He would also like to bring back the Neighborhood Watch concept and target areas that need more traffic enforcement. He hopes that by taking these proactive measures, officers will be able to spend more time on serious crimes. He said he would like to change the mindset of officers and have them help prevent crime, not simply answer calls. Barsheff updated the board on an arrest made in the Applebee’s embezzlement case and the Cass Road Storage case. He added that a bank credit card compromise case is being transferred to the Secret Service and that bicycles are being tuned up for the nicer weather.
c. Metro Fire Report (6:28)
Lt. Terry Flynn reported that last year’s numbers were up by about 400 calls. For 2014, Metro Fire received 4,622 calls for service. He explained the calls and how they were categorized. He added that Chief Belcher keeps statistics on smoke alarms in the homes.
d. County Commissioner’s Report (6:32)
Commissioner Christine Maxbauer said that the Parks and Recreation Board has launched a new Twin Lakes Park event planning website, www.twinlakesparkevents.com and an RFP has been put out for an events planner. The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor is planning a Roberts Rules training session and Maxbauer will gladly take reservations for attendance. A discussion took place between the County Administrator and Township and Village officials regarding the Community Police Officer program. The Administrator is waiting for a Townships and Villages proposal and will then present the contract to the County Board. The County and Traverse City are discussing long term leases for several buildings and the Commission on Aging has awarded several community grants to worthy organizations. The Humane Society shelter contract is being reviewed. Maxbauer hopes to begin the Soil Erosion Ordinance Committee soon.
Commissioner Alisa Kroupa said that the Board of Commissioners were unanimous in their support of a Hartman Hammond crossing and that TC Talus is on the agenda for tomorrow night. She also read a memo from Prosecutor Bob Cooney thanking Board member Denise Schmuckal for her 25 years or service as a victim advocate. Denise had not heard of the recognition yet and thanked Kroupa.
e. Personnel Committee Report (6:43)
Schmuckal said that the committee had met and she referred her report to Assessor Amy DeHaan. DeHaan said that Appraiser Kristen Steger was not started at the correct wage for her position and should have been started at the starting salary of an Assessor I and at this time should be brought up to the correct wage of $23.27 per hour. DeHaan said she is a good worker and has met the requirements for the Assessor I level. DeHaan said that the Personnel Committee simply made a mistake and did not review the union contract before hiring her. There was a concern expressed that the budget has already been passed and that an item such as this should be placed under “New Business” in the future.
Featherstone moved and Schmuckal seconded to increase Kristen Steger’s salary to $23.27/per hour effective immediately.
Yeas: Featherstone, Schmuckal, Agostinelli, McManus, Blood Law, Wilson, Korn
Nays: None
f. Clerk’s Report (6:58)
McManus reported that she hired Betty Tezak as the new Deputy Clerk and thus far, it is working out very well. She also added that there will be a May 5th election which will cover the sales tax proposal but that legislators were still deciding who would pay for the election. McManus added that the auditor was currently working in the Township and that was going well.
g. Supervisor’s Report (7:01)
Korn said that some representatives from the Township attended the MTA
conference and it was one of the best he’d ever attended, however, attendance was down and the conference will be moved to the month of April next year. The conference will be held in Detroit in 2016 and Lansing in 2017. He attended the CPO contract discussion and hopes to bring the contract to the Board at the next meeting. He said that the BPW Finance Committee is talking about the sewer plant and the replacement of membranes. The townships will likely band together and share capacity ensuring that no one township would have an overage. Metro Fire will be interviewing law firms. TC Talus is considering restructuring and focusing on traffic planning for the metropolitan area .
h. Recreation Authority Report (7:06)
Agostinelli made the board aware of three things: The Botanic Garden property will revert back to the Township in 2024 if voters do not approve a millage at that time. The Gardens have made a significant investment in the buildings and grounds and would like some type of legal agreement and assurance that the property will indeed be theirs if a millage were to fail; The trailhead for the Barns Park is currently behind the two barns near the middle of the park. The parking for the trailhead needs to be relocated because there will be increased usage of the barns for events; and Red Drive is a state hospital farm road that is entirely on Township property. The Recreation Authority has maintained it out of their budget, but would like to discuss the road with other cooperating entities. She pointed out that maybe a portion could be used for parking. On May 31st there will be a public Grand Opening of Barns Park in which there will be artists’ work displayed and walking tours available.
6. Unfinished Business
a. Update on NW Water Storage Project (7:16)
Jennifer Hodges said that growth is increasing in the NW area of the Township and the NW Water Storage Project will improve water pressures and fire safety. The cost will be approximately 9 million dollars and the Township does have funds available to pay for the project. She added that Phase One could be completed this year. Tank location is a big consideration and a closed session may be needed at the next meeting to discuss the purchase of property.
7. New Business
a. Consideration of Resolution 2015-02, a Resolution Authorizing the Treasurer to Collect all taxes for TCAPS, BATA, NMC and TBA per agreement (7:22)
Blood Law said this is the same yearly agreement that the Board passes each year. All jurisdictions are the same and nothing has changed in the agreement.
Schmuckal moved and Wilson supported to approve Resolution 2015-02, a Resolution Authorizing the Treasurer to collect all taxes for TCAPS, BATA, NMC and TBA and to authorize the Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer to sign the Resolution.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Wilson, Blood Law, Featherstone, Agostinelli, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
b. Garfield Road Sidewalks report from the Planning Department regarding an email from James A. Henderson, CPA regarding sidewalk on Garfield between Hammond and South Airport.
VanDenBrand reported on the Garfield Road Sidewalk issue to address an email sent by a resident. He said that technically, the piece referred to is not a sidewalk, but rather a concrete apron to back up the curb. There does not appear to be an easy solution to the problem of snow removal, and the Township is not responsible for the maintenance. He added that though it would be nice to build a full sidewalk in that location, he hopes that by urging for the completion of sidewalks along LaFranier, the township will do better for its citizens.
c. Discussion of Potential 2015 Trust Fund Applications (7:25)
The Parks Commission has requested that he Board consider support of two new grant opportunities for the 2015 funding cycle. The Parks Commission would like to apply for enhancements to the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve. They would like to create a water trailhead and a land trailhead with ADA accessible kayak/canoe launches on the Boardman River. The “land” trailhead would result in a 46 mile loop through the North Country Trail and the VASA and TART trail. The Parks Commission would like to ask the DNR for $50,000 and take $75,000 from the Parks Fund and obtain $75,000 in other donations.
VanDenBrand then explained another opportunity to acquire property at Hickory Hills. Currently, the property in question is owned by one gentleman and would coexist nicely with Hickory Hills and a trail system could run through the entire area, as well as, making Hickory Hills more accessible to township residents. A 50% match would be applied for from the DNR and a Township Park Fund match could be 25-35%. Board members agreed that if the projects could be funded, the Board would support the applications.
VanDenBrand updated Board members on the trail connecting to the New Y and said the final easements are being processed. He has also talked with Great Wolf Lodge and hopes to complete that trail easement very soon. He reported that the DNR had rejected the appraisal of the Verizon property, but he is hopeful that a new appraisal will be successful.
8. Public Comment: (7:39)
None
9. Other Business (7:39)
10. Adjournment
Schmuckal moved and Wilson seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:40
.