Township Board Minutes

MINUTES
CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
7:30 P.M.

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Julien, Trustee Beahan, Koessel, Currier, Clerk Goodyke and Treasurer Carpenter.
Absent: Trustee Parrish
Also Present: Manager Cravens, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Planner Deem, Reporter Rick Wilson and those listed on Supplement #1.

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

Article 3. Trustee Currier moved to amend the Consent Agenda to strike Article 4a. 2 from the Agenda. The motion was supported by Trustee Koessel. Discussion followed. Motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Township Board Minutes
1. Regular Meeting Minutes of 02/08/06.
2. Special Meeting Minutes of 02/28/06.
b. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes of 01/10/06.
c. Receive and File Communications
1. Memo from Planning Director Peterson - re: Kent County Road Commission Five-Year Road Improvement Plans
2. Letter from Richard and Marge Sperlik - re: Fire Department commendation.
3. Invitation from Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Kent - re: Presentation of Programs and Policies for the Year 2006.
d. Receive and File Various Reports
1. East Precinct 4th Quarter Report
2. Building Department Month End Report for January, 2006.
3. Treasurer's Department Bank Balances January, 2006.
e. Education Requests
1. Dave Cooley - Plumbing Inspectors Association 2006 Spring
Conference, April 5-7 in Clare, Michigan.
2. Mildred Pinder - Michigan Municipal Treasurer's Institute,
May 7-12 in Mt. Pleasant.
The amended consent agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke. Discussion followed. Motion carried.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of General/Special Funds Financial Reports for January,2006-Preaudit.
Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the General/Special Funds Financial Reports for January, 2006-Preaudit. Motion carried.
b. Consider Approval of Public Utilities Financial Reports for January, 2006-Preaudit.
Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the Public Utilities Financial Reports for Janaury, 2006-Preaudit. Motion carried.
c. Consider Pay Application No. 7 Dan Vos Construction re: Library Enrichment Center Construction.
Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve Pay Application No. 7 Dan Vos Construction re: Library Enrichment Center Construction. Motion carried by roll call vote.
d. Consider Approval of February, 2006 Bills, Transfers, and Payroll-Preaudit.
Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the February, 2006 Bills, Transfers, and Payroll-Preaudit.
Trustee Currier questioned a payment made for a tractor for $32,000. Trustee Koessel stated he did not recall the tractor being in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2006. Manager Cravens will look into.
Additional items questioned included; computer repair costs in the fire department, clothing allowance for the building inspectors and the reduced cost in cell phone charges. Motion carried.

Article 6. Public Actions (None)

Article 7. Public Comments
Supervisor Julien recognized Troop 290 in the audience. The Troop was meeting their requirement for their Citizenship badges. Supervisor Julien welcomed to Cascade Township.

Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
014-2006 Consider Gypsy Moth Suppression Agreement with Mid-Michigan Helicopters Inc.
Manager Cravens reviewed the gypsy moth suppression program using Mid-Michigan Helicopters Inc. to do the spraying. Manager Cravens explained the agreement has changed when compared to past agreements. The cost per acre for spraying has increased. This is because of increased fuel prices and increased cost associated with the insecticide "Bt". Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to accept the agreement with Mid-Michigan Helicopters, Inc. for Gypsy Moth Suppression spraying. Discussion followed. Motion carried.
015-2006 Consider Resolution for the Installation of a Streetlight at the intersection of 36th Street and Thornapple River Drive.
Motion by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the Resolution for the Installation of a Streetlight at the intersection of 36th Street and Thornapple River Drive. Trustee Beahan asked that we specify a "flat" lense. Motion carried by roll call vote.

016-2006 Consider Amending the Laraway Lake Weed Harvesting Special Assessment District to Include the Repair, Replacement and Installation of a Drain Pipe to Maintain Lake Levels.
Manager Cravens provided the Board with information regarding a request from a few of the property owners within the Laraway Lake Special Assessment District requesting the district be amended to repair the drain pipe that used to maintain the lake levels. On February 24, 2006, petitions from a majority of the property owners in the Laraway Lake Special Assessment District were submitted to the Township. Manager Cravens stated the Board should formally accept the petitions and authorize the Township Manager to initiate the amendment process for this special assessment district. Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Currier to amend the Laraway Lake Weed Harvesting Special Assessment District to include the repair, replacement and installation of a drainpipe to maintain lake levels. Motion carried.

017-2006 Consider Proposed Policy for Large Events at the Cascade Recreation Park.
Planner Deem reviewed the proposed policy for large events at the Cascade Recreation Park. Planner Deem stated that the policy was generated as a result of the American Cancer Society reservation for June of 2006. The Parks Committee felt that a large event should be defined as an event with more than 200 people and one that would require special permission from the Township Board under the current Park Ordinance. Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke to adopt the proposed policy for large events at the Cascade Recreation Park as recommended by the Parks Committee. Discussion followed. Motion carried.

018-2006 Consider Resolution for Rapid Wheelmen to put on a USCF Sanctioned Time Trial along Grand River Drive.
Motion by Trustee Beahan and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the Resolution for Rapid Wheelmen to put on a USCF Sanctioned Time Trial along Grand River Drive. Discussion followed. Motion carried by roll call vote.

019-2006 Consider Modification of Resolution to Approve the Application for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Best Metal Products.
Senior Appraiser McCarty reviewed the requested Resolution. Senior Appraiser McCarty stated the State Tax Commission has requested the resolution adopted on November 30, 2005 be modified to add a statement that the approval will not have a negative impact on the Township. Motion by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the modification of the Resolution to Approve the Application for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Best Metal Products. Motion carried by roll call vote.

020-2006 Consideration to make application for a Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) Grant for the Proposed Forest Drain Project.
Manager Cravens reviewed the Grant application. Manager Cravens stated the deadline for applying for the grant is Thursday, March 9th. Manager Cravens also stated that this does not obligate the Board. This project should help the flooding in the Cascade Recreation Park. Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke to make application for a CMI Grant for the proposed Forest Drain Project. Motion carried.

Article 10. Manager's Comments
Manager Cravens reported the following:
· Concerts at the Park - Four acts have been booked for June/July.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Clerk Goodyke commented on the following:
· Wisner Center Ribbon cutting will be April 23, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
Treasurer Carpenter commented on the following:
· 97.18% of property tax roll have been collected.
Trustee Koessel commented on the following:
· How are we going to deal with the per diem issue…
Supervisor Julien stated if there is a problem with the minutes of the Special Meeting on February 28th, it needs to be communicated to the Clerk. Supervisor Julien also stated that if it needed to be taken up again, it should be pre-published on the Agenda with all Board members present. Trustee Currier asked that the Board take up the issue of per diem payments at the next meeting when all Board members are present. Trustee Koessel agreed.
Trustee Beahan commented on the following:
· Signs at the following locations: telephone poles, Walmart and H&R Block to name a few. Manager Cravens stated he would contact the Fire Department and the B&G Department to take care of the issue.
Supervisor Julien commented on the following:
· A suggestion for the issue of "illegal" signs could be addressed by a "Dawn" sign patrol.

Article 12. Adjournment
Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Currier to adjourn. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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