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Art 1 |
Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park
Township Board held on November 8, 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.
John Van Iwaarden
gave the
invocation. |
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Art 2 |
The minutes of the
November 8 regular board meeting were approved as published. |
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Art 3 |
The
Treasurer’s Report was given as follows:
Beginning
Balance...........................................................$2,887,664
Receipts........................................................................$ 248,289
Disbursements................................................................$
209,347
Ending
Balance...............................................................$2,870,026 |
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Art 4 |
The
Fire Department Report indicated 23 calls were made in the month of November,
and $30,000 in property damages. Chief Gamby
stated the Fire Department recently hired 2 additional firefighters and will be
sending a record number of six (6) trainees to the academy this year. They are
still in the running for the CBA grant and completed the fire safety grant that
would result in being awarded a fire prevention trailer estimated at $50,000.
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Art 5 |
The Zoning
Administrator’s Report listed 16 building permits for the month of
November; 2 were new single-family homes, and a total building permit
activity of $948,300. |
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ART 6 |
PUBLIC COMMENTS (2
MINUTES PER PERSON) Carla McTaggart
– 14722 Creek Edge Dr. – West Ottawa Hockey Club would like the board to
acknowledge them as a non-profit organization for the purpose of obtaining a
gaming license for a fundraiser.
Visser
stated the fundraiser would take place on the same day as the next
regular board meeting and for that reason he asked the board to take
action tonight. He acknowledged the proper paperwork was in order.
Docter
requested the Board move the agenda item up in the agenda to vote on the
item immediately.
The
Board agreed.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Van Iwaarden to approve the request as was presented.
Ebihara
clarified that the Board is not granting the West Ottawa Hockey Club a
gaming license but only recognizing that they are a non-profit
organization located in Park Township. |
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Art 7 |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER ORDINANCE
Visser
introduced the ordinance to the board and asked for a motion and discussion
regarding the ordinance.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara and supported by
Steggerda to approve the wireless communication tower ordinance.
Ebihara asked
Mike Toscano – 1228 Oak Hampton – Chair of the Park Township Planning Commission
to give an update of changes to the ordinance since the last meeting.
Toscano
distributed and elaborated on a summary brief given to the board describing the
ordinance and any changes.
Ebihara
discussed the goals of the Township as it pertains to wireless communication
towers and the increasing number of carrier users.
Toscano stated
this ordinance needs to be continually reviewed and updated according to
technology and user demands. The ordinance presented provides the Township with
a good start and keeps an adequate balance between growth and aesthetics.
Ebihara
reviewed the ordinance and suggested some points the committee may want to
consider for revision including clarifying requirements necessary to place
monopoles on transmission towers and separation distances.
Visser stated
the Planning Commission and the sub-committee did a superb job on this
ordinance.
Docter agreed
with Ebihara regarding separation distances and the visual impacts on the
property. Dreyer stated
in the future, the committee should be viewing the ordinance from a perspective
of cell phone usage as an essential service rather than non-essential. He
stated the Township needs to be proactive in revisiting and updating this
ordinance rather than relying on the applicant to stimulate revisions.
VanIwaarden
stated passing this motion may entice potential developers to take a better look
at Park Township as a potential site.
Price requested
the purpose and goals of each ordinance be placed in order of priority to the
Township.
Docter
questioned if the purpose and goals can be construed as a criteria by which an
applicant must meet to fulfill the obligations of the ordinance.
Martin stated,
in the ordinance itself, the applicant has standards and requirements they must
meet. The purpose and goals go toward legislative intent in seeking to
interpret the requirements of the ordinance.
The Board
agreed that this ordinance is something that needs to be revisited in the future
but is a good start. Visser asked
for a roll call from the clerk.
Roll Call was
unanimous in favor of the ordinance. |
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Art 8 |
ACCESSORY BUILDING ET AL. ORDINANCE
Visser
introduced the ordinance and asked if there are any questions.
Docter stated
that Building Inspector Davis and the Township staff has done a great job at
revisiting and updating these ordinances. Many of the changes are not drastic
but merely clarified the ordinance based on the intent of the Township.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by VanIwaarden and
supported by Docter to adopt the zoning ordinance amendment for the accessory
buildings et al.
Dreyer would
like the ordinances placed on the website so applicants may search for any
ordinance by topical index.
Ebihara stated
the Clerk’s office will be looking into options on imaging documents after the
January 15th 2008 election.
Docter stated
that Inspector Davis is interested in creating a brochure with a summary of the
most commonly used ordinances for public use to better facilitate the applicant.
The Board
commended Inspector Davis for his work. |
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Art 9 |
VIDEO
SERVICE PROVIDER RIGHT OF WAY ORDINANCE
Visser explained the video service provider right of way
ordinance.Martin
explained that the ordinance basically takes the typical metro act permit and
makes it applicable to cable companies.
Ebihara asked if any other townships have adopted the
ordinance.
Martin
stated that a few other local townships have adopted this ordinance.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara and supported by
Docter to adopt the video service provider right of way ordinance. |
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Art
10 |
FIRE
DEPARTMENT ATV PURCHASE
Visser stated
that by the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee, the Fire Department
would like to purchase 2 ATV’s for use in remote areas. One ATV will be
purchased in the current fiscal year and one will be purchased in the 2008-2009
Fiscal year.
Chief Gamby
said many other departments are using this type of vehicle successfully. This
allows the Fire Department to get into more remote areas with equipment and
personnel.
Ebihara,
who serves on the safety committee, stated the Fire Department has the
unanimous support of the Safety Committee.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara
and supported by VanIwaarden to purchase 2 ATV’s as proposed by Chief
Gamby.
Visser
stated by purchasing both ATV’s the Township will realize a $1300
savings.
Docter
stated this purchase is not an addition to the budget. |
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Art
11 |
AIRPORT
AUTHORITY BALLOT QUESTION
Visser
introduced the Airport Authority Resolution proposed for the May 6, 2008
ballot.
Martin
stated that Park Township is the 4th unit of government to act on this
resolution.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara
and supported by Price to approve the ballot language.
Price
introduced Jim Storey.
Jim
Storey, Airport Authority Advocate, stated the proposed millage is 1/10
of 1 mil. That amount is the ceiling and cannot exceed that amount
unless the voters were to choose that. The authority must pass in the
city of Holland or any combination of units of government that has equal
taxable value to Holland City. The Authority may return before the
board in February to modify the dollars generated based on the new
taxable value calculations.
Storey
gave the Board a summary of the benefits of Tulip City Airport to Park
Township and the surrounding areas.
Visser
reminded the Board that Township employees are not able to campaign for
or against the initiative with Township resources.
Dreyer
clarified that if the initiative does not pass in Park Township the tax
will not be levied in our Township.
Ebihara
questioned the financial cost of the election to the Township.
Storey
estimated the cost of the election to be approximately $13,000 for the
cost of the election. They are banned by law to help with the cost of
the election.
Steggerda stated that no mileage could be established after the 5 year
levy without another vote of the people.
Martin
agreed.
Storey
introduced other members of the audience in attendance that support the
Airport Authority Ballot initiative.
Seth
Bushouse - 14944 Creek Edge Dr. from Gentex Corporation spoke in support
of the Tulip City Airport and the Airport Authority. He also submitted
a letter from the Chairman and CEO of Gentex for the review of the
Board. |
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Art
12 |
NO
SMOKING POLICY
Visser stated
Ottawa County asked the Township to pass an ordinance congruent with the
ordinance passed by the County regarding the county wide smoking policy. This
is a requirement of the county. They have provided us with signage at their
expense. MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and supported by
VanIwaarden to approve the policy.
Ebihara
asked how the fairgrounds was affected.
Earl
Welling – President of the Ottawa County Fair Board – said many of the
areas are non-smoking and the Fairgrounds should not be affected. |
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Art
13 |
POVERTY
POLICY
Visser
introduced the poverty guidelines given to the Township by the
Department of Treasury and implemented by the Assessor.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda
and supported by VanIwaarden to approve the poverty guidelines
resolution.
Steggerda stated that the policy is an open ended resolution. When the
poverty lines are changed the policy automatically adopts the new
guidelines. The Township does not have to continuously adopt a new
poverty policy. |
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Art
14 |
2008
MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Visser
presented the 2008 Meeting Schedule.
Dreyer
stated he will not be able to attend the March or April meeting if
present schedule is adopted.
Docter
and Ebihara stated they will not be in able to attend the April meeting
if the present schedule is adopted.
The
Board agreed to change the April meeting to the 17th.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Price and supported by
Ebihara to adopt the meeting schedule as amended, changing the April meeting
from the 10th to the 17th.
The
Board agreed to have the May meeting at the Park Township Office. |
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Art
15 |
STORAGE
SPACE LEASE
Visser
stated that the need for extra storage space for the township election
equipment and help distributing the equipment is important due the
increased number of precincts and lack of space at the Township office.
Ebihara
summarized that the storage space at the township office has decreased
as the township has grown. In the last year the Township added two
precincts and handicap accessible machines. Currently, we store all of
the election equipment and items related to the election process at the
Township office.
Ebihara
proposed the Township lease approximately 550 square feet of space from
T-R-T Company off from 8th St. It is a climate controlled
space consisting of three (3) small offices. The current proposal calls
for the Township to pay $300 per month for the space, paying the annual
amount up front. The lease is all inclusive. There will be no
additional taxes, maintenance or utility fees for the Township to
incur. The facility is next door to Two Men and a Truck who will be
hired to distribute and pick up the election equipment for each
election. The extra space can be used to store many of the Township’s
large paper documents while the Township works through the imaging
process.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Dreyer to approve the storage space lease as written.
Docter
asked if this space allows the Township to set up some of the equipment
on that site.
Ebihara
stated the Township is required to set up a public area for the County
to test the equipment prior to each election and there is space
available at this location for that purpose.
VanIwaarden asked if we then after three (3) years will have to
renegotiate the lease.
Ebihara
stated that we will have to renegotiate the lease at that time. |
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Art 16 |
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Visser
stated that the Township is looking to move to a manager form of
government with a part-time Supervisor.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Ebihara and
supported by VanIwaarden to move to a manager form of government
beginning on November 20th 2008 at 12noon.
Visser
stated he will not be seeking re-election for another term. He would be
willing to serve the Township in an interim manager role.
Ebihara
stated that it is the intention of the Board to appoint an interim
manager after the election to assist with the transition, especially
during the recruitment and hiring process. |
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Art
17 |
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Price
reviewed the meetings she attended for the month of November. Price
would like the Board to thank Bill Goebel, a Park Township resident, for
his service on the Airport Advisory Board with a letter. Sue Higgins,
Executive Director of the MACC and Park Township resident, received the
2006 Dutch Wings Award for her service to the airport.
VanIwaarden reviewed his handout regarding the meetings he attended in
November including Park 12 Advisory Council and the Parks and Recreation
Committee.
Ebihara
asked if the Recreation Committee has considered installing a phone near
the dog park and proposed skate park in case of injury.
Docter
stated that a code blue phone similar to those found on college campuses
may be a possible solution.
VanIwaarden stated he would be interested in looking into that further.
VanIwaarden stressed that the upcoming millage proposal is a renewal not
a new tax. He stated that this millage supports 10 parks, 2 community
centers and 22 recreation programs.
Price
asked if there is a committee working on the millage renewal.
Martin
clarified how employees of the Township cannot campaign for or against a
certain proposal using Township resources but can campaign for or
against something as a resident.
Steggerda stated that the renewal funds are used for maintaining the
parks and programs that are currently offered to our residents.
VanIwaarden requested that the Township ask the Park Township Airport to
abandon the grass runway to expand the recreation programs.
Price
stated the airport needs the runway for grant purposes.
Docter
suggested VanIwaarden’s request be resubmitted when the Airport Lease
Renewal is on the agenda. |
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Art 18 |
PAYMENT
OF BILLS
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda
and supported by Dreyer to approve the check register for November, and
the bills to be paid in December. |
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Art 19 |
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON)
James
Forrester, 51-152nd Ave., questioned the purchase of two
properties by the Township in regard to using the Airport land instead. |
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Art 20 |
BOARD COMMENTS
Ebihara stated
that Absentee Applications are available at the Township office.
Price
asked Ebihara to explain the Presidential Primary process.
Ebihara
stated that Michigan Primary law requires the voter to declare at their
polling location their party affiliation.
Price stated that not all of the candidates will be
on the ballot.
Ebihara agreed and stated the Democratic Party had many of their
candidates choose not to be placed on the January 15th
ballot.
Steggerda stated the voter will also be asked to present picture
identification prior to voting.
Ebihara reviewed the law pertaining to voter identification. |
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Art 21 |
ADJOURN
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Steggerda
and supported by Dryer to adjourn. |
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Daniele
Dykens,
Recording Secretary |
