Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on December 9, 2004 at 6 p.m.

Present were Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan Steggerda, Clerk Jeff Ebihara, Trustees Doug Dreyer, Gene Koopman, Amanda Price, John Van Iwaarden, and Attorney Dan Martin.

The minutes of the November 11, 2004 Board Meeting were approved as published.

The Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: 

Beginning Balance...........................................................$2,586,435

Receipts........................................................................$  257,270

Disbursements................................................................$  166,797

Ending Balance...............................................................$2,676,909

The Fire Department report indicated 9 calls were made in the month of November and $0 in property damages.  Fire Chief Ken Fought reported that all the fire equipment is in good working order. 

The Zoning Administrator's Report lists 18 new single-family homes for the month of November and a total building permit activity of $4,212,120.

Koopman reported 6 Liquor Inspection reports had been turned in for November.  All establishments were in compliance and good condition.

Dan Fitzpatrick, Co-Chairperson of The Lakeshore Blessing of the Bikes, asked
the Board for approval to use the fairgrounds on May 1, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  He noted this would be their 4th year at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by  Steggerda and supported by Van Iwaarden to grant the use of the fairgrounds
on May 1, 2005 for The Blessing of the Bikes.

Visser explained that the Board of Review listens to appeals of assessed evaluations.  The 3-person board is appointed every 2 years.  He recommended
the reappointment of David Smeenge, Bret Docter and Dave Wendt

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Price and supported by Van Iwaarden to appoint David Smeenge to a 2 year term on the Board of Review.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Koopman and supported by Steggerda to appoint Bret Docter to a 2 year term
on the Board of Review.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Van Iwaarden and supported by Steggerda to appoint Dave Wendt to a 2 year
term on the Board of Review.

Visser stated that he had given the board members a draft of Board Representatives and Standing Committee Assignments.

Price stated there might be a conflict of interest having members of the board, with immediate relatives who are employees of the township, serve on the Personnel committees.

Ebihara stated that he would like to see the Finance and Personnel committees separated.

Visser stated that he would take the Personnel Committee off the draft and ask
for approval as amended.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Ebihara and supported by Koopman to approve the Board Representatives and Standing Committee Assignments as presented with the understanding that Personnel has been removed from Finance. 

2005 MEETINGS SCHEDULE

Visser stated that the Board Meetings are scheduled on the 2^nd Thursday of
each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Park Township Office.  He is in favor of holding
the meetings on the south side of Lake Macatawa when a Special
Assessment Hearing of Necessity takes place in that area.  The Board would
always know a month in advance, and has the authority to change the
meeting location.

Price stated that she would like to have meetings scheduled on Park
Township’s south side.

Ebihara stated that meetings on the south side should be considered when the
River Street Bridge is under construction.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by
Van Iwaarden and supported by Dreyer to approve the 2005 Board
Meeting Schedule.

Koopman stated that if the meetings are conducted on the south side, then a
sound system should be installed in the new fire station’s meeting room
instead of using the Maatman Center.

SPECIAL ASSESSMENT/SUMMER TAX COMBINED BILLING

Visser stated that the cost of one printing and one mailing could be saved by
billing our special assessments as a line item on the summer tax bill rather than
billing them separately.  

Steggerda stated that most municipalities are already billing this way.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was
made by Koopman and supported by Steggerda to adopt the resolution
combining special assessment and summer tax bills.

OTTAWA COUNTY WIRELESS BROADBAND NETWORK

Visser stated that Ottawa County is looking for a commitment from Park
Township as supporters of the wireless broadband network.  Ottawa
County originally looked into the possibility of going into the wireless business. 
After several meetings it was concluded that it would be best to be a facilitator
with a commercial company.  Ottawa County is asking Park Township to support
the concept of deploying a coordinated county wide wireless broadband
network, and participates in the development of this project.  “Participate”
means to appoint a representative.  No funds are involved.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by
Van Iwaarden and supported by Ebihara to support the resolution to
participate in the development of the Ottawa County Wireless Broadband
Network.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS CABLE FRANCHISE

Visser stated that the cable franchise is up for renewal.  He met with 59
other communities and agreed as a group to support one final franchise.  The
15-year franchise includes putting cable in areas of 25 homes per mile, free
access to schools and public buildings, seasonal rates, insurance written out in
great detail, and  3 P.E.G. channels.  The township is pre-empted by federal
law from controlling content and charges.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made
by Koopman and supported by Van Iwaarden to adopt the ordinance authorizing
the granting of a non-exclusive cable television franchise to CC Michigan, LLC
doing business as Charter Communications.

Van Iwaarden asked Visser to find out the contents of the basic cable package.

Visser stated that some communities feel that there should be a franchise fee
audit.  Park Township’s franchise fee is one of the lowest in the state.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by
Van Iwaarden and supported by Steggerda to approve the Franchise Fee
Audit Resolution.

Visser explained that Broekhuis Plumbing has tapped water services on existing water mains.  We first entered into a contract in 1991, issued a change order in 1993 for a price increase, and again in 1997.  They are now asking for a price increase from 9% to 17½% (depending on the service) starting 1/1/2005.  Prein
& Newhof (P.T. Engineers) and Tom VanderKolk (head of Holland Twp’s Utility Dept.) both recommended this change order.

Dreyer stated that he talked with another plumber who has done this kind of
work in other areas, and confirmed that these are very fair rates.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Dreyer and supported by Steggerda to adopt Change Order #3 for Broekhuis Plumbing.

Visser stated that based on the new costs on Change Order #3, Park Township needs to adopt a resolution to increase our costs effective January 1, 2005.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Koopman to adopt the resolution specifying Park Township charges for water connection taps.

Dreyer questioned if taps already exist in new subdivisions.

Visser replied that the developer would normally lay the water main and put the
tap in before the lot is sold. 

Van Iwaarden stated that the Parks & Recreation Committee is in the process of creating a new 5-year plan.  The Committee listed twelve top projects to include
in the plan.  At the MACC Watershed meeting Hope College students from the environmental studies program reported on the abilities of rain gardens to filter
out zinc, copper & phosphorous.

Price reported that the MACC Policy meeting discussed the Saugatuck Dune
State Park land acquisition.  The Conservation Reserve Enhancement program is back in place.  The MACC will soon release a RSP on a safety project for intersection improvements.  The Pere Marquette line on the Amtrak had over 90,000 riders, and is the 7^th busiest Amtrak station in the state. The military jet should arrive in the next few weeks

PAYMENT OF BILLS

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made
by Koopman and supported by Steggerda to approve the check register
 for November and the bills to be paid in December.

ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON)

Gretchen Fisher, 131 N. 160^th Avenue, asked for an update on Kelly Ridge.

Visser replied that discussions are in process, and Park Township’s attorney
advises us not mention any details.  Visser feels that Park Township has
justified their position and there were violations.

Martin stated that no more trees would be taken out while it is being addressed.

Fisher suggested implementing a tree preservation ordinance.

BOARD COMMENTS

Van Iwaarden stated that the Ottawa County Road Commission presented the
2005 fiscal year plan for road improvements.  No roads in Park Township are
in the plans for resurfacing.  However, Lakewood would most likely be in the
2006 fiscal year plan.  It would not be widened, and the intersections at 144^th Avenue and 152^nd Avenue would be improved.

Ebihara stated that he will be meeting with the Ottawa County Clerk and
committee members to pre-view new voting machines.

Ebihara stated the need for non-denominational invocations to ensure Park
Township is more inclusive.

Koopman stated that the fire department is working with the Public Safety
Committee on River Street Bridge access issues during construction time. 

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