Township Board Minutes

MINUTES

CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

7:00 PM

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Trustee Currier, Supervisor Julien, Trustee Koessel, and Trustee Beahan.
Absent: Clerk Goodyke, Treasurer Carpenter, Trustee Parrish
Others Present: Manager Cravens, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Reporter 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 Trustee Beahan and supported by Trustee Koessel. The motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Township Board Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 01/12/05
b. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 01/04/05
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Fire Department Month End Report for December 2004
2. Memo from Treasurer Mary Carpenter re: General
Obligation Limited Tax Capital Improvement Bonds
d. Receive and File Communications
1. Thank you note from Mickie Kleinheksel
3. Memo from Eric Luckenbaugh, Burton St. SE resident
Supervisor Julien reviewed memo from Treasurer Carpenter regarding the General Obligation Limited Tax Capital Improvement Bonds.
Supervisor Julien reviewed memo from Mr. Luckenbaugh regarding specific costs that he felt should be reimbursed to him from water/sewer construction relative to Cascade Pointe Development/Burton St., S.E. Supervisor Julien asked Manager Cravens to contact the Health Department and the DEQ regarding the testing. All Trustees present felt Mr. Luckenbaugh should be reimbursed $33.70.
The Consent Agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Financial Actions (None)

Article 6. Public Actions(None)

Article 7. Public Comments
Rosie Briggs of 3475 Goodwood Dr., S.E. relayed a "thank you" to Trustee Currier for his decision to stay on the Board instead of accepting a full time position with the Cascade Fire Department.

Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
008-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution to Apply to the Secretary of State for a Grant to Purchase an Optical Scan Voting System and related Election Management System Software to Comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
Manager Cravens reviewed the request by Clerk Goodyke. The State of Michigan passed legislation under the Help America Vote Act which provided money to purchase new voting machines. Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the Resolution. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

009-2005 Consider Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) Work Order to Pave Quiggle Avenue - from 36th Street North to its Terminus.
Manager Cravens reviewed the background of the project. The proposed paving of Quiggle Avenue has a cost estimate of $277.262 of which $152,494, or 55% is the Townships share of the cost. In 1998, the Township Board adopted a policy that addresses how the Township would participate in road paving requests. The policy lists seventeen "protocols: to take into consideration in determining whether the Township would participate in such an improvement. Staff believes that the proposal to pave Quiggle Avenue is consistent with the "protocols". Residents have expressed a willingness to participate in the funding of this paving project. Residents are in the process of raising their portion of the road improvement costs ($49,908). The paving would not begin until Cascade Township is in receipt of the residents portion of the project. Motion by Trustee Koessel supported by Trustee Currier to approve the work order to pave Quiggle Avenue - from 36th Street North to its Terminus as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

010-2005 Consider First Reading of Proposed International Property Maintenance
Code.
Manager Cravens reviewed the history of the International Property Maintenance Code. In 2004, the Township set up a subcommittee to review the Code. This committee was put together after the Township received some complaints on housing items (Tyvek, burned out homes, etc.) that the current building code and/or general ordinances or zoning ordinance do not cover. The subcommittee consisted of six (6) Township residents as well as members of the Township staff.
The subcommittee, as well Township staff, attended several meetings to review and discuss the code. The outcome of these meetings was that the Township should pursue the adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code, although this was not a unanimous decision. Four of the members were in favor and two opposed the ordinance.
This code coincides with the Michigan Building Code and will be the responsibility of the Building Department to inspect possible code violations that will be complaint driven.
Discussion followed within the Board. Several questions/concerns were brought up.
" Who would enforce
" In adopting the Maintenance Code, is it all or none?
" Would residents use this as a vendetta. (neighbor vs. neighbor)?
Supervisor Julien asked Manager Cravens to come up with an intent of the Board…to not investigate cosmetic issues within the house. Not in the interest of government to enforce. Manager Cravens said he would talk to John Huff. John Briggs was in attendance. Mr. Briggs was a member of the subcommittee. Mr. Briggs stated that he was not convinced that adopting the Property Maintenance Code in its entirety addresses the immediate concerns of the township. Mr. Briggs also stated that the subcommittee was brought together for several reasons, one of which addressed how to handle major fire damage to homes in the township. Mr. Briggs was not able to see that this property maintenance code adequately addressed this issue and resolved the problem of timely repairs.
Manager Cravens stated a Public Hearing needed to be scheduled prior to its final approval. A Public Hearing was scheduled for the next regular scheduled Township Board Meeting on February 9, 2005.
Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the first reading of the International Property Maintenance Code. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 10. Managers Comments
Manager Cravens addressed the following:
" Goal Statements
" Township Hall converting to a different server.
"
Article 11. Board Member Comments
Trustee Koessel asked if the Jay was going to leave the Goals discussed at 10. Manager Cravens stated that it was up to the Board…none would get thrown out of the mix.
Trustee Beahan asked if the Billboard lighting was left off the Goal Statement. Manager Cravens stated that staff was looking into it.
Supervisor Julien clarified some information that was passed out to each Board Member regarding a "wireless technology" company in Florida.

Article 12 Adjournment
Motion by Trustee Beahan and supported by Trustee Koessel to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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