Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on August 14, 2003 at 6 p.m.

Present were Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan Steggerda, Clerk Howard Van Raalte, Trustees Ed Marsilje, Gene Koopman, Amanda Price, Paul Van Dyke and Attorney Dan Martin.

The minutes of the July 10, 2003 Board Meeting were approved as published.

The Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: 

Beginning Balance...........................................................$2,559,534

Receipts........................................................................$  206,665

Disbursements................................................................$  205,686

Ending Balance...............................................................$2,560,513

The Fire Department report indicated 19 calls were made in the month of July with $238,200 in property damages.  Fire Chief Ken Fought reported all fire equipment is in good working order.      

The Zoning Administrator's Report indicated building permits were issued for 13 single-family homes in July and a total of $6,155,000.

Koopman reported 7 Liquor Inspection reports had been turned in for July.  All establishments were in compliance and good condition.

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

Skip Keeter, 4Terry Derks, Ottawa County Fair Manager, reported the 2003 County Fair was good.  They are able to pay the bills and the grounds are in good condition.  Attendance was up 8 to 10%, however, the revenue was slightly down.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Van Dyke and supported by Van Raalte to approve an off road automobile race at the Ottawa County fair grounds on October 11, 2003.

Visser stated the Board discussed this proposal at the June meeting.  They are in favor of the project, but did not approve the document as presented because of changes yet to be made.

Smith is asking for the Board to approve the document in concept.  They will continue to move forward with the training and the General Membership Committee will modify changes along the way.

Martin advised the Board not to sign the document as it currently exists. 

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Koopman to send a letter of intent to take official action to participate in the Hazmat Proposal.

RELEASE OF LOTS 48 & 49 ELM GROVE PARK ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Koopman and supported by Marsilje to approve the release of Lots 48 & 49 of the Elm Grove Park Assessment Agreement.

Visser stated this is a very comprehensive ordinance.  The Planning Commission recommended it for approval.

Koopman stated the planning commission members feel they can function much better using this document in their planning process.  It gives a much clearer delineation of definitions. 

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Price and supported by Steggerda to adopt the Zoning Ordinance Amendment regarding Hotels, Motels, Resorts, and Parking.

Visser stated this ordinance previously came to the Board and was sent back to the Planning Commission.  It was then referred to the original subcommittee and some substantial changes were made.  All objections were dealt with and the Planning Commission approved it.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Koopman to adopt the Zoning Ordinance Amendment pertaining to P.U.D. Open Space Development.

Martin noted some residents of the community attended the subcommittee meetings and the subcommittee found their input very valuable.

Visser explained we have an agreement with the developer for payment towards an off site sewer in the amount of $5,000 per lot.  The Supervisor and Clerk need authorization to execute this agreement at which time a payment of $75,000 from the developer would be due.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Koopman to authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to execute the Bouman Plat Offsite Sewer Agreement.

Visser stated the Planning Commission recommended the Bouman Plat preliminary approval.  All 15 lots are on a single street with a cul-de-sac.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Koopman and supported by Marsilje to approve the Bouman Plat Preliminary Approval.

Visser explained the sewer that would be approved is from Ottawa Beach Road onto Lake Breeze to Bay Haven; from Bay Haven to Harbor Inn; Harbor Inn to 168^th Avenue; 168^th Avenue north to the entrance of the Bouman Plat.  From that point the developer will take over and build with his own sewer contract. 

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Steggerda to award the Sanitary Sewer Contract to Wadel Stabilization in the amount of $346,239.

MILLAGE RATE REQUEST

COMMITTEE REPORTS

No committee reports.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

MOTION MADE, MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Marsilje to approve the check register for July and the bills to be paid for August.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE & BOARD

No audience comments.

Visser noted recommendations from the park township audit.  One is to maintain separate general ledger accounts for non-employee wages.  Also, he noted the Gasby 34 (Governmental Accounting Standards Board Rule #34) will be a requirement as of April.  A management letter will be required and a capitalization policy will be implemented with a threshold of $5,000.  Anything under $5,000 will be an “Expense”.

Price questioned if we need to establish a policy for compensated absences. 

Visser replied we did establish a policy years ago.  It is the township’s policy to recognize costs for compensated absences when actually paid.

Visser announced the Administrative Committee for the Holland Area Wastewater Treatment Plant is hosting a presentation on September 22 at   7 p.m. at the Herrick District Library.  They are going to need some major expansions in the future, and this meeting might give details of some of the possibilities.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Steggerda to adjourn.