Township Board Minutes

MINUTES

CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, May 19, 2004
7:00 PM

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Carpenter, Goodyke, Jones, Julien, Kleinheksel, Parrish and Timmons
Absent: None
Others Present: Manager Cravens, Planning Director Peterson, Planner Deem, Assessor Cleveland, Chief Sigg, Reporter Wilson, Deputy Clerk Neve and those listed on Supplement #1.

Article 2. Supervisor Julien led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Article 3. The agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Goodyke and supported by Trustee Parrish. The motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Township Board Minutes
1. Regular Meeting Minutes of 4/28/04
b. Receive and File Minutes Various Meetings
1. Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes of 4/13/04
2. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 4/19/04
3. Kent County Road Commission Meeting Minutes of 3/23/04
4. Kent County Road Commission Meeting Minutes of 4/13/04
5. Kent County Road Commission Meeting Minutes of 4/27/04
6. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 5/3/04
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Building Department Report on New Residential Permits
2. Fire Department Month End Report for March 2004
3. Fire Department Month End Report for April 2004
4. Treasurer's Report Analysis of Invested Funds of 3/31/04
5. Kent County Sheriff's Department Winter Quarterly Report
d. Receive and File Various Communications
1. Letter from Kent County Road Commission - re: Act 50
Schedules of Township Expenditures, Contributions, Mileage and Population
2. Letter from Jerry Marcozzi - re: Butch Visser
e. Education Requests
1. Judy Hedke and Roger McCarty - Registration Fees for Michigan Assessor's Association Annual Conference
Motion to approve the consent agenda carried.

Article 5 Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Bills, Transfers, and Payroll for April 2004
Treasurer Carpenter supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to
approve. The motion carried.
b. Consider Approval of Financial Reports for General and Special
Funds for April 2004
Trustee Goodyke supported by Trustee Parrish moved to approve. The motion carried.
c. Consider Approval of Public Utilities Funds Report for April 2004
Treasurer Carpenter supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to approve. The motion carried.

Article 6. Public Actions
Trustee Parrish supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to open the Public Hearing
at 7:12 p.m. The motion carried.

a. Public Hearing - re: Consider Request for an IFT Exemption
Certificate for The Zondervan Corporation
Assessor Cleveland presented the request for a new IFT certificate
to be located at 5300 Patterson Ave. Zondervan's presently has
330 employees and are projecting the creation of 10 new jobs
within 2 years of the expansion project completion. Assessor
Cleveland recommends granting the IFT for a period of 12 years.

b. Public Hearing - re: Consider Request of Transfer Application of
one IFT Certificate of Real Property Only for Designed Conveyor
Systems of MI., Inc.
Assessor Cleveland related an IFT District was established for Prime Technology, Inc. who has since moved out of the Township. Designed Conveyor Systems of MI., Inc. has purchased the Real Property located at 4890 Kendrick Street. This application is to transfer the IFT Certificate from Prime Technology, Inc. to Designed Conveyor Systems of MI., Inc.

Trustee Goodyke supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to close the public
hearing at 7:18 p.m. The motion carried.

Article 7. Public Comments (None)

Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
52-2004 Consider Approval of Request for an IFT Exemption Certificate for
The Zondervan Corporation
Trustee Parrish supported by Trustee Goodyke moved to approve. The motion carried.

53-2004 Consider Approval of Transfer of One IFT Certificate of Real
Property Only for Designed Conveyor Systems of MI., Inc.
Trustee Parrish supported by Treasurer Carpenter moved to approve. The
motion carried.

54-2004 Consider Request for an Exception to the Private Street Ordinance To
Allow a Split on a Non-Conforming Private Street (Ventura Drive)
Planning Director related the main issue on this street seems to be the lack
of a proper turnaround. The applicant has shown a plan that would
provide for upgrading the turnaround in exchange for allowing the parcel
to be split. The Planning Commission is recommending denying the
request because most of the neighbors spoke in opposition and it was felt
the applicant does have reasonable use of the property without the split.
Joseph Preston, 7418 Ventura, spoke against granting the exception.
James Kearns, 7436 Ventura, spoke in opposition of the split.
John Murphy, 7400 Ventura, also spoke against granting the exception. He
feels the request is only profit motivated.
John Capozzoli, 7325 Ventura, questioned if there weren't other issues to
focus on in addition to the turnaround.
Debbie Preston, 7418 Ventura, related the street is very small and school
buses don't even come down Ventura.
Alan Maurer, 7355 Ventura, spoke in favor of an improved turnaround.
The applicant, James Karrip, related he is willing to do anything he can to
improve the turnaround and conform to the ordinance. The property will
be listed for $375,000 for the entire parcel. Any home or homes to be
built will be in the million dollar range.
Trustee Timmons supported by Trustee Goodyke moved to approve the
exception subject to improving the turnaround
Trustee Timmons related we are solving fire and emergency issues by
configuring the most efficient turnaround and granting the exception.
The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

55-2004 Discussion with Jeff Gartner, Gartner Marketing, Regarding
Conclusions of Focus Group Meetings
Jeff Gartner gave a power point presentation overview of the conclusions
of the focus group meetings.

56-2004 Consider Resolution Recommending that a Fire Protection Services
Millage Ballot Proposal be Submitted to the Electors of the Township
at the August 3, 2004 Primary Election
Manager Cravens presented the proposed resolution to ask electors to consider a 0.58 millage levy increase. The additional millage would be used as follows.
^ Finance six new firefighter / emergency medical response positions for
Buttrick Station.

^ Operate the Buttrick Station 24 hours, 7 days a week.

^ Purchase a second medical response vehicle.

^ Purchase of a fire truck tanker.

^ Fund the scheduled replacement of equipment.

Bernard Link, Rosie Briggs, and Mike Goldman, of the Citizens Committee, commented on the thoughtful deliberations, the realization of the inadequate water supply on the east side of the river, and promised the committee would be very actively involved to insure passage of this millage.
Trustee Timmons suggested several changes in the ballot proposal wording.
Supervisor Julien commented he would rather see the proposal on the August ballot.
Clerk Kleinheksel supported by Trustee Parrish moved to approve the resolution for the August ballot subject to wording changes. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

57-2004 Report from Cascade Branch Library on Highlights of 2003
Accomplishments
Librarian Diane Cutler presented her report of a very successful and busy year for the Library. She related she will be attending a Board meeting in June to discuss plans for the expansion.
Martha Smart, Kent District Library, explained the request for 1.0 mills on the August 3rd ballot will ensure ongoing enhanced library service.
Shirley Bruursema, Kent District Library Board Member, commented the
on the very lean budget the libraries operate on and passed out donor
envelopes.

58-2004 Consider Approval of a Request for a Type II Special Use Permit for a Temporary Concrete Batch Plant at 3675 Kraft Avenue
Ajax Paving is requesting a Type II Special Use Permit to allow a temporary concrete batch plant at 3675 Kraft Ave. to be used for the 36th Street extension and reconstruction of a taxiway at the Airport.
Trustee Timmons supported by Trustee Parrish moved to approve. The motion carried.

59-2004 Consider Approval of Adjustment in Township's Contribution to MERS Retirement Program
Clerk Kleinheksel related this is an adjustment to correct a miscommunication during the transfer of funds to the MERS program.
Treasurer Carpenter supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to approve. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

60-2004 Consider Appointment of Bradley Thomas to the Meadowbrooke
Review Board
Bradley Thomas will replace Franklin Covert on the Meadowbrooke Review Board.
Clerk Kleinheksel supported by Trustee Parrish moved to approve. The motion carried.

61-2004 Consider Approval of Park Reservation Fee Waiver for the Cascade
Community Foundation
Cascade Community Foundation is planning a Pathway Parade Walk at Leslie E. Tassell Riverfront Park on July 10, 2004.
Clerk Kleinheksel supported by Treasurer Carpenter moved to approve. The motion carried.

62-2004 Consider Approval of Request for an Entertainment Permit for Bennigan's Restaurant
Bennigan's Restaurant is requesting an Entertainment Permit to allow them to hold dinner give-a-ways from their restaurant.
Clerk Kleinheksel supported by Trustee Parrish moved to approve. The motion carried.

63-2004 Consider Two Offers for the Sale of 2501 Thornapple River Drive
Manager Cravens related he has received two offers on the sale of 2501 Thornapple River Drive. The offers of $299,000 and $305,000 request that the Township pay the sewer and water connection fees. The $299,000 offer also requests substantial allowances for refurbishing the house.
The bid of $305,000 was submitted by Mr. Caulfield and Mr. Firestone who will work out an agreement between them to split the property. Mr. Firestone will retain and maintain the cabin, dam, and pond.
Trustee Timmons suggested the sale contract should indicate the house is
being sold "as is".
Clerk Kleinheksel supported by Trustee Parrish moved to accept the
offer of $305,000 from Mr. Caulfield and Mr. Firestone. The motion
carried.

Article 10. Manager's Comments
a. Pictures that show the progress of construction of the new restroom
facilities at the Cascade Recreation Park are available.
b. The first annual Spring Clean-Up Day with Ada Township was
a success.
Article 11. Board Member Comments
a. Trustee Parrish related plans are underway for the Cascade Community
Foundation Pathway Parade on July 10th.
b. Trustee Timmons commented on the attractive handout for the Kent
District Library.

Article 12 Adjournment
Trustee Parrish supported by Clerk Kleinheksel moved to adjourn. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanie Neve
Deputy Clerk

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