Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on August 12, 2004 at 6 p.m.

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

The minutes of the July 8, 2004 Board Meeting and the July 13, 2004 Special Board Meeting were approved as published.

The Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: 

Beginning Balance...........................................................$2,726,224

Receipts........................................................................$  253,165

Disbursements................................................................$  315,653

Ending Balance...............................................................$2,663,737

The Fire Department report indicated 22 calls were made in the month of July and $20,000 in property damages.  Fire Chief Ken Fought reported all fire equipment is in good working order.      

The Zoning Administrator's Report for July lists a total building permit activity of $2,145,365.

Koopman reported 3 Liquor Inspection reports had been turned in for July.  All establishments were in compliance and good condition.

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

Skip Keeter, 4Betty Vandenberg, owner of Oak Grove Campground Resort on Ottawa Beach Road, requested permission for a temporary sign permit to advertise a fall festival during the first two weeks of October.  When she applied for a permit, she was told no temporary sign permits are given out.  But she noted the temporary sign being used by the Township.  She feels it is unfair competition to have a government agency compete with a private sector.  She also asked why a truck could be parked at the entrance of the fairgrounds as an advertisement when according to the ordinance it is prohibited.  Why isn’t the ordinance being enforced?

Visser noted the ordinance does state an exception for government and non-profit organizations.

Price clarified that the Township advertisement for The Big Show is a half-day community event.  It is not in competition with any private sector.

Marsilje questioned why and when was the exception put in the ordinance.

Martin replied it was added January 1998 so government and non-profit organizations could advertise civic occasions, festivals and community events.  He also noted that technically the Township is not legally obligated to abide by it’s own zoning ordinance.  As a political matter and a policy matter, the Township can decide what to put in their ordinance and whether or not it wants to follow these rules.

Steggerda stated she feels the sign at the fairground entrance should be used in place of a portable sign.

Van Iwaarden agreed with Steggerda to use the fairground sign.  He would like to see the portable sign removed.

Koopman would like to review the sign ordinance.  He stated an ordinance should be enforceable, otherwise not written.

Earl Welling, President of Ottawa County Fair, stated using the fairground sign to advertise The Big Show has already been requested and will be completed by the next day.

Visser stated the portable sign would be removed. 

Martin stated the ZBA could grant variances to an ordinance.  The Board can initiate proceedings to amend the ordinance.  The Township can enforce ordinances on a complaint basis.

Visser stated he would like the study of the sign ordinance to go back to the Planning Commission.  He stated to Betty Vandenberg if she would like to apply for a variance, the next ZBA meeting is August 23.

Al Friend, The Holland Tax Payers, gave a presentation opposing Airport Area Authority and Taxation.  He noted that they are not against a good utility airport, which we already have without local tax dollars and area control.  The people voted against the City’s request for local tax dollars for the airport three times.  Al Friend gave the Board information packets and stated several reasons to their opposition.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Visser and supported by Price to appoint LeeAnn Jachim to the Planning Commission to complete Phil Hill’s unexpired term.

Steggerda stated LeeAnn Jachim has been very involved with the township for several years, and will be a good addition to the Planning Commission.

Hannes Meyers, Member of the M.A.C.C., gave a background on the Airport Authority.  He stated the M.A.C.C. agreed to facilitate a study of the advisability and feasibility of the airport authority.  They were not asked to establish an airport authority, but to seek the interest to do so from the units of government that makes up the M.A.C.C.

Jim Storey, Chairman of the Tulip City Advisory Board, gave a slide presentation, and stated several reasons for the need for an Airport Authority.  He asked the Board to appoint a representative to serve on the negotiating committee.

Marsilje questioned if they are asking Park Township citizens to support two airports.

Storey replied he is asking for the Board to consider creating an airport authority for Tulip City Airport.  The revenue would be up to the Authority to decide.

Koopman questioned if their goal is to achieve funding.

Storey replied the goal is to create an airport authority so the entire region governs this regional economic development resource. 

Visser stated his concern for additional millage to Park Township.

Storey stated that under the Community Airports Act, only the units of government that votes for the millage, levy the millage.

Steggerda questioned by developing an Authority, would that give you more opportunity to go for a state and federal grant.

Storey stated an Authority it is not a legal stipulation or a requirement for a grant.

Van Iwaarden suggested that the Board should take time to go over all the information presented, and then make a decision at next month’s meeting.

Visser explained that this resolution concerns Waukazoo Woods street ends.  He gave a history of the Waukazoo area and how the street ends came to be.  This Consent Judgment And Resolution would forever keep the ends of Post, Dyken, Ashwood, 160^th Avenue and Pine Walk in the public domain.  The street ends of Maple Walk and Hemlock will be private. 

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  a motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Marsilje to approve the Consent Judgment And Resolution for Waukazoo Woods street ends.

Van Iwaarden stated he would like to see the Township work with the Road Commission for possible improvements for public access at these road ends.

Roll Call Vote: 7 - Yes; 0 - No

Visser explained this petition is for road improvements on Hollywood from 40 feet north of 2^nd Avenue to 1^st Avenue, then east on 1^st Avenue to the dead end.  It is a platted road in a subdivision that was never improved and never accepted by the Road Commission.  59.1% signed the petition.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  a motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Koopman to adopt Resolution #1 declaring tentative desire to proceed with the road improvements to a certain portion of Hollywood Avenue and 1^st Street on the basis of petition.

Van Iwaarden questioned the cost to the Township.

Visser replied the assessment roll is $8,290 and the estimate to do the work is $31,768.

Price questioned a notation by a petition signature stating they will allow the snow plows to turn around in their driveway to cut costs.

Visser stated the Road Commission requested to use the driveway as a turn around.  There is not enough room for a cul-de-sac, and they wanted to avoid backing the snow plows out around a corner.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  a motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Steggerda to adopt Resolution #2 scheduling a hearing of necessity for a certain portion of Hollywood and 1^st Street road improvements to be held at 6:00 p.m. on September 9, 2004 at the township office.

Visser stated this is the forth-consecutive year the millage rate request has not changed.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  a motion was made by Koopman and supported by Steggerda to adopt the millage rate of 3.9576

Van Dyke stated he met with Stu Visser and Jan Steggerda to discuss the Fair Board Lease.  They will meet with the fair board members in about two weeks.

Price encouraged everyone to attend The Big Show on August 21.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Marsilje to approve the check register for July.

LeeAnn Jachim, 1522 Perry Street, thank the Board for her appointment to the Planning Commission.  She also suggested a good way to communicate township meetings and events would be to install a changeable sign in front of the office building.

Frank Beltman encouraged the Board to immediately get involved in some forms of communication to the residents of Park Township.

John Foster, 586 Old Orchard Road, suggested holding some of the township meetings on the south side of Park Township.  He also suggested improvements to the web site.  One idea was to add links to obtain greater details of the board minutes.

Earl Welling, 2050 Leisure Blvd., thanked Ed Marsilje and Paul Van Dyke for their years of service on the Board, and welcomed Doug Dreyer and Jeff Ebihara.

Mary Vandenberg, Lakeshore Drive, asked for a statement in writing that water would be installed in Lakeshore Drive, for the purpose of obtaining a water permit.

Visser explained the steps involving the water contracts with BPW and Holland City. He stated he could give Vandenberg a copy of the contract with the City Of Holland stating Park Township has the authority to install water, but a contract to actually do the installation has not been complete.

Van Iwaarden stated he agrees with John Foster that the Board needs to explore the concept of holding meetings on the south side of Park Township.  However, meetings held at the Maatman Center in the past had low attendance, so they are looking into using the new fire station as a meeting place.

Marsilje stated the majority of developments in Park Township are on the north side of the lake.  There is an understanding that if there were a concern on a south side issue, then the meetings would be held there.  He also noted that all of the Boards information and documentation is in the Park Township Office.

Van Iwaarden announced the Board will hold an open forum immediately following the September 9^th board meeting.

Steggerda asked the public for their patience while the web site is being worked on.

Steggerda stated the Township has received several phone calls regarding hazardous waste collection.  She asked for the Board’s recommendation in contacting the county to set up hazardous waste collections in the Holland area.

Visser stated he would contact the County Commissioner.

Visser stated Randy Bouwkamp requested a name change for the property at 2065 Lake Street.  He would like to change the name of the condominium project from Harborside to The Beach House at Lake Street.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Koopman to approve the name change of the condominium project at 2065 Lake Street from Harborside to The Beach House at Lake Street.

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