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Art 1 |
Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the
regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on April 12, 2007 at 6
p.m. at the Park Township Office.
Present were
Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan Steggerda, Clerk Jeff Ebihara,
Trustees Bret Docter, Doug Dreyer, Amanda Price, John Van Iwaarden, and Attorney Dan Martin.
Jan
Steggerda
gave
the invocation. |
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Art 2 |
The minutes of the
March 8 regular board meeting was approved as published. |
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Art 3 |
The
Treasurer’s Report was given as follows:
Beginning
Balance...........................................................$2,993,324
Receipts........................................................................$
725,726
Disbursements................................................................$
430,862
Ending
Balance...............................................................$3,288,188 |
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Art 4 |
The Fire Department Report
indicated 17 calls were made in the month of March, and $100 in property
damages. Chief Gamby announced that Jay Gehrke was hired for the
lieutenant’s position in Fire Station II. Jason Bos resigned from
Station I to pursue a career with Holland City Fire Department. Chief
Gamby also reported that they are in the process of writing an
application for an $181,000 grant with a 10% match. They would like to
use the funding to replace air packs at both stations. |
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Art 5 |
The
Zoning Administrator’s Report listed 11 building permits for the month of March;
2 were new single-family homes, and a total building permit activity of
$889,780. |
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ART 6 |
PUBLIC COMMENTS (2
MINUTES PER PERSON)
No
public comments. |
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Art 7 |
PUBLIC PROPERTY
PROTECTION ORDINANCE: AMENDMENT TO HOURS
Visser stated that the amendment would change park
hours to open at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 10:00 p.m.
Van Iwaarden
stated that the Parks & Recreation Committee recommends the change in
park hours, and it would coincide with other area parks.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Van Iwaarden and
supported by Steggerda to adopt the Property Protection Ordinance
Amendment No. PP3. |
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Art 8 |
WILDWOOD ADDITION,
LOT COMBINATION, AND REALIGNMENT
Visser explained
that this item is a request to re-divide the number of lots in the
Wildwood addition of Waukazoo Woods. The triangular shaped property was
planned for five lots. The owner would like it reconfigured to three
lots, plus a small parcel to be sold to an adjoining property owner.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Van Iwaarden to approve the Wildwood reconfiguration of
lots as presented, with the clarification that Lot D would either remain
with Lot A or be sold to the adjacent property owner, and that it would
not be permitted as a buildable lot by itself. |
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Art 9 |
EQUIPMENT PURCHASE
Visser stated that
replacement of one of the bike path tractors is needed. He received two
quotes. Bell Equipment is $75,950, less a $5,000 trade in. Weingartz
is $74,945 including trade-in. The Weingartz is similar to the
township’s trackless tractor, and would be able to use its attachments.
A life span of 15 years is expected, and is also recommended by
Maintenance. Two tractors are necessary for maintaining our 55 miles of
bike paths. The money would come out of the Bike Path Millage, and has
been budgeted for this year.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Dreyer and
supported by Price to approve the purchase of the Weingartz tractor.
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Art 10 |
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Van Iwaarden, Parks &
Recreation Committee, presented a plan for the Winstrom Park restroom facility.
He asked for an approval for a maximum expenditure of $180,000, which was
estimated by M.C. Smith and Associates. This amount would also include the
expense of bringing water and sewer to the site. If funding allows, the
committee recommends installing a gate and slate floors.
The Board’s
consensus is for the Parks and Recreation Committee to obtain bids for
the Winstrom Park restroom facility, and present those bids to the Board
for approval at a future meeting.
Van Iwaarden
stated that the Parks & Recreation Committee unanimously approved the
T-Mobile cell tower site behind the Maatman Center at Virginia Park, and
is asking the Board to proceed with negotiations. Jeff Ebihara and Bret
Docter volunteered to negotiate the lease with T-Mobile on behalf of the
township.
Steggerda
questioned if the township is limited to how the monies from the lease
fees are used.
Martin replied
that there would be no legal limitations on how the lease fees are used.
Van Iwaarden
presented a concept plan for Wendt Park. He asked for approval to
remove the old fence that divides the old section from the new section
of the park. The Committee would also like to install a new fence on
the east border.
The Board agreed
to have the old fence removed, but would like to look into the necessity
of a new fence along the property line bordering Parkside Church.
Price stated that
an alternate should be appointed to the West Michigan Airport Authority
to assure Park Township representation at meetings.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION APPROVED: A motion was made by Price and
supported by Ebihara to appoint Bret Docter as an alternate
representative to the West Michigan Airport Authority Board.
Price, Park
Township Airport Renewal Committee, stated that the next step to the
township airport lease would be to hire a consultant who would help
develop and submit a plan to the Department of Transportation for future
funding. Jim Cook from Prein & Newhof explained the DOT procedures
during the committee’s last meeting. Price distributed two handouts to
the Board; a Request for Qualifications for the City of Big Rapids and a
letter she had written to the Department of Transportation. The Airport
Committee will draft a Request for Qualifications for the Park Township
Board to review. |
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Art 11 |
PAYMENT OF BILLS
MOTION MADE; MOTION
SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by
Docter to approve the check register for March, and the bills to be paid in
April. |
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Art 12 |
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON) Pat Walczak, 1419 Seminole
Dr., feels that if the cell tower is constructed in Virginia Park, the houses in
that area will go down in value. She suggested that the Board should use the
tower lease fees to credit the area owners.
Ebihara stated
that the tower would have to go through the normal planning and zoning
process. There will be a public hearing giving neighbors the
opportunity to respond. |
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Art 13 |
BOARD COMMENTS
Visser stated that two
openings on the Planning Commission would need to be filled at the May meeting.
One of the commissioners will also be on the Zoning Board of Appeals. There
will also be a Holland Area Community Pool Authority reappointment.
Ebihara stated
that residents will be receiving a newsletter that outlines the new
voting precincts. Also new voter I.D. cards will be going out the week
of April 16.
Van Iwaarden
stated that the Parks & Recreation Committee would like the Personnel
Committee to review the Director’s job, and make it full time.
Visser stated that the
Personnel Committee will be made up of Jan Steggerda, John Van Iwaarden and
himself. |
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Art 14 |
ADJOURN
MOTION MADE; MOTION
SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara and supported by
Docter to adjourn. |
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Julie Northrup
Recording Secretary
04/17/07 |
