Township Board Minutes

MINUTES

CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

7:00 PM

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Trustee Currier, Trustee Parrish, Clerk Goodyke, Supervisor Julien, Treasurer Carpenter, Trustee Koessel, and Trustee Beahan.
Absent: None
Others Present: Manager Cravens, Chief Sigg, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Reporters Beller and Wilson, and those listed on Supplement #1.

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

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

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Township Board Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 12/15/04
b. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes of 10/12/04
2. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 12/06/04
3. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 12/20/04
4. Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes of 12/14/04
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Building Department Month End Report for December 2004
2. Treasurers Department Bank Balances November 2004
d. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter from John Schull and Boy Scout Troop 290
2. Letter from Kent County Road Commission - re: Road Commission Overview Meeting on January 17, 2005.
3. Memo from Jim Fetzer of The Rapid - re: The Great Transit Grand Tomorrow Study Recommendations.
4. Memo from Manager Cravens - re: Summary from Disability Advocates of Kent County for an Accessibility Review of Cascade Township Facilities.
5. Letter from Donna Fike of Charter Communications - re: Rate Increase of Two Digital Cable Packages.
6. Seminar Brochure - re: An NIF Forum on Land Use Issues…A Nice Place to Live: Cascade Township.
7. Resolution from the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education - re: Continuing Summer Tax Collection
8. Resolution from Grand Rapids Community College - re: Collection of Summer Tax.
Clerk Goodyke took some time to go over Item 6 regarding the NIF Forum. Trustee Beahan and Trustee Parrish agreed to attend the NIF meeting on February 3rd along with Clerk Goodyke. It was also mentioned that the Forum was open to the public. The Consent agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan. The motion carried.

Article 5 Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Bills, Transfers, and Payroll for December 2004.
Motion to approve Bills, Transfers and payroll for December, 2004 was made by Trustee Parrish and supported by Clerk Goodyke. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 6. Public Actions(None)

Article 7. Public Comments
Supervisor Julien addressed some high school students who were in the audience for a government class from Caledonia High School. As an assignment, they were to attend a Town Meeting.

Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
001-2005 Consider Approval of Fire Department Tanker Bid.
Manager Cravens reviewed the Tanker Bid. Manager Cravens stated the tanker bid was part of the millage residents approved in August. Chief Sigg was in attendance for any questions from the Board. Supervisor Julien asked how much water the tanker carried. Chief Sigg responded the tanker held 3,000 gallons which was equivalent to (3) fire trucks which on average would hold 1,000 gallons each. The tanker would be kept full at all times. Delivery on the tanker would be approximately (9) months. The question was asked where this piece of equipment would be housed. Chief Sigg said it would be kept at the Buttrick Station. Discussion continued regarding the budgeted dollars for the tanker. Chief Sigg/Manager Cravens were recommending the bid be awarded to HME equipment for the bid amount of $259,301.00 with an additional $25,000 for equipment that will be needed on the vehicle. The equipment is less expensive to purchase separately than to include it in the apparatus bid.
Motion by Clerk Goodyke supported by Trustee Beahan to approve. The
Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

002-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution Declaring Intent to Reimburse the Township Costs related to Acquisition of Various Pieces of Equipment and Vehicles as Described in the 2005 Capital Improvements Budget.
Manager Cravens reviewed the Resolution which would allow the Township to purchase various pieces of equipment and vehicles through the use of tax-exempt purchase agreements. Through Act 99 of the public Acts of Michigan of 1993 and Act 34 of Public Acts of Michigan of 2001, the Township can finance the purchase of the capital equipment items listed below. Some of the items include the following:
" Thermal Imaging Camera
" Park Pathway Renovation
" Resurface Office Parking Lot
" Village Development Improvements
" Air Bottles
" Replace Manager's Vehicle
" Utility Tractor
" Replace F250 Truck
" Grass/Plow Vehicle
The total cost would be $454,141. Financing through this process will allow us to combine several purchases into one installment purchase offering and will likely lead to a lower interest rate being charges. It was recommended by Supervisor Julien that we finance the $25,000 the Board approved for the Fire Department Tanker additional equipment, along with the items addressed in the Resolution. Motion by Clerk Goodyke supported by Trustee Parrish to approve the resolution with amendment proposed bringing the total to $479,141. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

003-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution to Reimburse the Township for
Costs Related to the Acquisition of Land and Construction of a Utility Building Through the Issuance of Tax-Exempt Obligations.
Manager Cravens reviewed the Resolution. The Resolution acknowledges the Township Board has determined to acquire land and construct a utility building for use by the Buildings and Grounds Department for the storage of equipment and vehicles and for use as a small office. This Resolution would allow the Township to reimburse itself for the costs related to this project. Motion by Treasurer Carpenter supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the Resolution as presented. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

004-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution regarding Liquor License Transfer
for 2929 Kraft S.E., to Timothy J. Ewald, 2756 Alger St., S.E., Grand
Rapids, and Ronald J. Thauer, 380 King Muir Rd., Lake Foost, IL
60045.
Clerk Goodyke reviewed the request by Mr. Ewald. Mr. Ewald was also
present in the audience to answer any questions. Supervisor Julien asked
if Mr. Ewald could tell us a little bit about the establishment that would be opening soon. Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Resolution regarding the Liquor License Transfer for 2929 Kraft S.E. The motion carried unanimously by roll cal vote.

005-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution regarding Cascade Township Clerk
to administer all School Elections for 2005 and 2006.
Clerk Goodyke reviewed the background of school elections by Cities/Townships. Clerk Goodyke stated that the Township would be reimbursed for all costs related to the School Elections by the individual school entities. Trustee Parrish asked if she would still be voting in the same school precinct. Clerk Goodyke replied that residents would be voting in the same voting precinct for all elections. New cards will be sent out soon letting all registered voters know where they will be voting for all elections in the future. Motion by Clerk Goodyke supported by Trustee Parrish to approve the Resolution authorizing the Township Clerk to administer all School Elections for 2005 and 2006. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

006-2005 Consider the Approval of Resolution regarding Amendment No. 32 in
the Articles of Incorporation of Grand Valley Metro Council.
Supervisor Julien reviewed some history of the Grand Valley Metro Council and Cascade Township for the (3) new Trustees. This Resolution was to add The City of Wyoming as a member. Motion by Trustee Parrish and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the Resolution adding the City of Wyoming to the Grand Valley Metro Council. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

007-2005 Consider Approval of Fourth of July Street Fair Contract for Rides
and Amusements.
Manager Cravens provided some preliminary information regarding the street fair to be held on the Fourth of July this year. Manager Cravens stated that these types of events needed to be booked early. Steve Korhorn was also present for any questions from the Board. The proposal has over twenty rides and amusements for the residents. Trustee Currier asked what the costs were last year relative to the proposal this year for $31,975. Mr. Korhorn replied that the costs for this year's street fair were slightly higher than last year, but did not have the numbers from last years fair to give him a specific number. Mr. Korhorn also stated that there are going to be (2) additional rides and the cost of liability insurance has increased. It was also noted by Manager Cravens that substantial financial support comes from local sponsorships to offset some of the costs. Motion by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the expenditure of $31,975 as presented by Manager Cravens. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 10. Managers Comments
Manager Cravens addressed the following:
" Goal Setting Meeting will be Tuesday, January 18th at 5:15
at the Cascade Historical Museum. Packets were distributed with agenda material for tonight. The information in the packet included goals from past years.
" The interview process for the Firefighters positions is finished and offers have been extended to qualified candidates. Chief Sigg is waiting for the physical information from Spectrum Health. The new firefighters should be starting within the next 5-10 days.
" Buttrick Station is now complete and ready for its new staff. There is some equipment still waiting to come in. Manager Cravens stated that he felt the Township Board had met the promises made regarding Buttrick Station.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Trustee Currier relayed to the Board that he was extended a firefighter
position for Cascade Township and was waiting for his results back on his physical prior to having to submit his resignation to Supervisor Julien for his Trustee position. According to the Attorney General's opinion, Trustee Currier cannot hold a public office and a fulltime firefighter position with Cascade Township. Supervisor Julien stated when Trustee Currier was confirmed as a firefighter, he would need to submit a formal letter of resignation to the Supervisor or the Clerk.
Trustee Parrish reviewed the information regarding The Rapid which was included on the Consent Agenda. Trustee Parrish asked that we keep our eye on the Study Recommendations.
Treasurer Carpenter invited the Board members to a Life Story Writing Workshop, Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Historical Museum.
Trustee Koessel asked what action the Board takes with the vacant seat that Trustee Currier will be leaving. Supervisor Julien stated legally we would hold another election in 2006 for the vacant seat and that person would fill the seat until the term is up. In the interim, the Supervisor would need to appoint someone to fill the seat until November 20, 2006 with the consent of the Board.
Trustee Beahan mentioned that all the new Trustees attended the training seminar that the MTA put on for all newly elected officials. HE stated that it was very helpful. Trustee Beahan also stated he would be attending the Kent County Road Commission Overview Meeting on Monday, January 17th . He stated that the Road Commission had told him he was the only official from Cascade Township that was attending. Clerk Goodyke said he would join Trustee Beahan at the meeting.
Supervisor Julien brought the Chamber of Commerce Newsletter with the picture of Manager Cravens on the front page at the opening of the new Costco store in Cascade Township.
Article 12 Adjournment
Motion by Trustee Parrish and supported by Trustee Currier to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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