Township Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
6:30 p.m.
Cascade Branch of the Kent District Library, Wisner Center

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Julien, Trustees Beahan, Koessel, Fox, Goldberg, Treasurer Carpenter and Clerk Goodyke.
Also Present: Manager Cousins, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Attorney Cliff Bloom and those listed on Supplement #1.

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

Article 3. Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the Agenda. It was requested by Trustee Goldberg to address Article 9 045-2008 right after the approval of the Agenda. The motion was amended to include the change. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Kent County Road Commission Meeting Minutes of 03/25/08, 4/08/08 & 4/22/08.
b. Receive and File Various Reports (None)
c. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter from Kent County Road Commission - re: "New Traffic Movements in Cascade"
2. Letters from Residents re: Tassell Property
" Abby Dilley and Jim Aidala
" Mrs. Lubna Nasir, Dr. Nasir Khan and family
" Barbara Goodspeed
" The Scott Family
" Kevin and Karyn Wolschleger (2)
d. Education Requests
1. Seminar/Conference Attendance Request Form - Roger McCarty
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Treasurer Carpenter to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of April 2008 General/Special Funds.
Motion was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the April 2008 General/Special Funds. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Consider Approval of April 2008 Public Utilities Funds.
Motion was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Beahan
to approve the April 2008 Public Utilities Funds. Motion carried
unanimously.

Article 6. Public Actions (None)

Article 7. Public Comments
a. Introduction of Lt. Steve Chanter (East Precinct).
Sheriff Stelma was present to introduce the new Lt. of the East Precinct - Lt. Steve Chanter. Lt. Chanter gave a brief history of his tenure with the Sheriff's Department.
Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
045-2008 Discussion of Open Space Land Option Agreement
Supervisor Julien started the conversation off with one of the members of the Township Open Space Committee, Trustee Beahan to tell the audience a little bit about the Open Space Committee. Trustee Beahan reviewed the purpose of the Open Space Committee.
Supervisor Julien presented the actual Option Agreement that is being discussed tonight relates to what has come to be known as the Tassell Estate; its property owned by Leslie E. Tassell Inc. also called L.E.T. and Thomas Wisner is the President of that company. The property was under option by a real estate developer, that option expired and the property came back on the market.
Earlier this month the Open Space Committee met and agreed that with the passage of a millage, (which will be on the November 4, 2008 ballot); we could afford it, and that's the only way we could afford it. Discussions began with Tom Wisner as President of L.E.T., Inc. regarding the property which resulted in an option agreement that has been signed for the Township by Clerk Goodyke and Tom Wisner. This all subject to one important and necessary contingency and that is approval by the full Board, not later than June 2, 2008.
The rest of the provisions were reviewed by our Attorney Cliff Bloom.
Trustee Koessel asked if the proposed millage would be intended solely for the purchase of this property or potentially to acquire other properties that are identified areas that we would like to keep as natural. Trustee Beahan responded that the millage has not been determined yet, but ideally he would think it would be to cover the cost of this property and to maintain it would be the minimum.
Supervisor Julien stated that the Township needed to figure out how to pay for it…and the Township cannot afford this without a dedicated millage for the purpose of Open Space. This property is the second of two properties identified by the Committee and discussed among the Board Members. The Fase property being the other that are desirable Open Space. This is a very large land purchase. It will be roughly 280 acres for both pieces of property. This is a very significant purchase for our community. We will need to borrow the money through the issuance of Municipal Bonds to pay for it. The way that it would work, we would need a revenue stream to pay those Bonds back and that revenue stream would be the millage that we hope will be passed on November 4, 2008.
Discussion followed within the Board.
Questions were received from the Public per the following:
" Ken Peirce of 1979 Talamore Ct. questioned if approximately 15 acres with the main house was not included in the original proposal was that still the case.
" Ryan Bruneau of 7109 Hiden Ridge asked where the Fase Property was located.
" Joann King of 6820 Burton St. asked if the Open Space Group had been contacted and how did they feel about this proposal.
" Richard Gottlieb of 7100 Hidden Ridge read a letter to Board regarding the Tassell Property.
" John Faass of 7374 Grachen would the proposed millage also fund any improvements i.e., public access etc.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox. Motion carried by roll call vote.

46-2008 Consider Approval of Resolution regarding Copper Theft (AT&T)
Motion made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the resolution regarding Copper Theft. Motion carried by roll call vote.

047-2008 Consider Approval of Appointment of Marjorie Dood as Interim Treasurer
Motion made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the appointment of Marjorie Dood as Interim Treasurer. Motion carried.

048-2008 Consider Proposed Local Road Surface Treatments for 2008
Motion made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox to increase the budget amount for local roads from $250,000 to $300,000. Manager Cousins to re-evaluate Buttrick, 30th and the May 28 list of local streets to prioritize for improvements in summer 2008. Motion carried by roll call vote.

049-2008 Consider Approval of Resolution for the Installation of a Streetlight at 2930 Hayward Dr.
Motion made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the resolution for the installation of a streetlight at 2930 Hayward Dr. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Article 10. Closed Session
a. To discuss pending litigation re: Goodwood Plat, Lot 25
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Koessel to recess the regular meeting and move into Closed Session to discuss with counsel the litigation regarding the Goodwood lawsuit. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to close the closed session and reconvene into regular session. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Article 9. (con't) New Business (Cont.)
050-2008 Consider action on Goodwood Plat, Lot 25. (optional)
Updated the Goodwood Property Association on procedure to gain approval under the current Keyhole regulations. Goodwood Property Association have filed for a Special Use Permit and variance. Planning Director Peterson to offer an interpretation to determine whether a variance is necessary.

Article 11. Manager Comments
Manager Cousins offered the following comments:
Copy of the press release to be sent Thursday (5/29/08)
Pathway work to begin the 3rd week of June, It should take 8-10 days
Burton St. is completed. Final sewer approval to be given within 3 weeks.

Article 12. Board Member Comments
Clerk Goodyke offered the following comments:
Sympathy to Deputy Clerk Biegalle on the passing of her father.
Trustee Beahan offered the following comments:
Updated the Board on the progress of the Open Space Project.
Offered thanks to Mary Carpenter
Trustee Koessel offered the following comments:
Thanks to Mary Carpenter
Expressed concern about parked vehicles used as signs.
Supervisor Julien offered the following comments:
Expressed thanks to Mary Carpenter for her integrity and her pursuit of personal property tax payments.
Treasurer Carpenter offered the following comments:
Thanked the Board for their support and friendship.

Article 13. Adjournment
Motion was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Beahan to adjourn. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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