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PARK
TOWNSHIP
MEETING MINUTES
Draft until approved
at next meeting
July 12, 2007
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Art 1 |
Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park
Township Board held on July 12, 2007 at 6 p.m. at the Park Township Office.
Present were Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan Steggerda, Trustees Bret
Docter, Doug Dreyer, Amanda Price, John Van Iwaarden, and Attorney Dan Martin.
Absent was Clerk Jeff
Ebihara.
John Van Iwaarden gave the
invocation. |
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Art 2 |
The minutes of the
June 14 regular board meeting were approved as published. |
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Art 3 |
The
Treasurer’s Report was given as follows:
Beginning
Balance...........................................................$3,262,581
Receipts........................................................................$
92,420
Disbursements................................................................$
202,329
Ending
Balance...............................................................$3,152,672 |
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Art 4 |
The Fire Department Report
indicated 23 calls were made in the month of June, and $2,000 in property
damages. Chief Gamby stated that 3 new firefighters were hired for Station 2.
He also extended an invitation for the Board to attend the Ottegan Tabletop
Exercise on July 25. Chief Gamby also clarified that the 23 reported calls last
month included calls from the Mutual Aid Pack. |
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Art 5 |
The Zoning Administrator’s
Report listed 54 building permits for the month of June; 4 were new
single-family homes, and a total building permit activity of $1,676,989. |
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ART 6 |
PUBLIC COMMENTS (2
MINUTES PER PERSON) Jeff Compagner, 169 S.
Division Ave., Holland Twp., encouraged the Board to allow a group of volunteers
to work with the recreation director to pursue the concept of building a
skateboard park in Park Township. It is a participant sport vs. a team sport.
The popularity of skateboarding is growing, and he feels that this sport is here
to stay. |
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Art 7 |
PUBLIC HEARING:
TIMBER RIDGE PUD
Visser
opened the public hearing.
Greg Raad,
Nederveld & Associates, was present as representative for the Timber
Ridge PUD.
Docter stated that
the Planning Commissioners were very thorough, and Dan Martin has
detailed the PUD in the Resolution.
Van Iwaarden
stated that the MACC Storm Water and Watershed Committee is concerned
with the number of septic tanks in the area, and that we should be very
sparingly with new approvals.
Visser closed the
public hearing.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Price to adopt the Report and grant the request for the
Timber Ridge PUD. |
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Art 8 |
CORRESPONDENCE
Visser stated that
Port Sheldon Township is asking if Park Township would be interested in
giving them a quote on sweeping their 10 miles of bike paths. The
request is for every two weeks. Visser suggested that we could agree to
this task on a trial basis. He obtained a state standard rate of $91.40
per hour. Visser feels that we do not have the manpower to offer snow
plowing of the paths.
Steggerda stated
that one of the conditions would be for Port Sheldon Township to mow and
trim along the bike baths before Park Township Maintenance sweeps.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Van Iwaarden and supported by Docter for the Supervisor to negotiate
with Port Sheldon Township for the potential service of bike path
sweeping.
Visser stated that
the Ottawa County Road Commission is unable to repave section line roads
at the same rate as in the past due to significant cuts in funding, and
significant increase in fuel costs. He stated that we have a line item
in our budget called Transferred To Other Funds that currently has
$80,000. Visser said that Park Township could offer to pay $40,000 per
mile for up to 2 miles of paving. The worst rated roads in Park
Township are James Street from 144th Avenue to 152nd
Avenue, 160th Avenue from State Street north to James Street,
and 168th Avenue.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Van Iwaarden for the Supervisor to work with the Ottawa
County Road Commission to form a cooperative agreement to repave
secondary roads, and to approve a budget adjustment up to $80,000 from
Transfer To Other Funds into the Streets Fund.
Visser stated that
Ron Holstine is requesting the use of Winstrom Park for the Park
Township Haunted Forest. The dates would be October 19, 20, 26, and 27,
2007. The event would take place from dusk to 11:00 p.m. Holstine is
requesting usage from 5:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Frisbee Golf will be
closed at 5:00 p.m.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Dreyer and
supported by Steggerda to approve the usage of Winstrom Park for the
Park Township Haunted Forest on October 19, 20, 26, and 27 from 5:00
p.m. to 12:30 a.m. |
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Art 9 |
SKATE PARK
PROPOSAL
Visser stated that
the Parks and Recreation Committee is asking the Board for their okay to
explore the possibility of constructing a skate park in Park Township.
Van
Iwaarden stated that the Parks and Recreation Committee would like to
form an ad-hoc committee to do some studies and come back to the board
with proposals.
Barb Burmeister,
Parks and Recreation Director, stated that Park Township has become a
recreational park area. Volunteers and donors have expressed a great
interest in constructing a skate park.
The Board’s
consensus is for the Parks and Recreation Committee to pursue the
possibility of a new skate park. |
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Art 10 |
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Van Iwaarden,
Parks and Recreation, reported that the Winstrom Park restrooms should
be complete in August. The Dog Park will be closed during Fair week,
July 23 – 28. Wendt Park priorities include cleaning up the ‘junk’ on
the newly acquired section of the park, and trail improvements. The
community building new floor installation begins July 30.
Visser stated that
the community building window replacements that were authorized are
complete. He would like to continue to replace the 10 remaining old
windows that had been boarded up. Visser received a quote of $6,695.00,
which would come out of the township’s Improvement Fund.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Dreyer and
supported by Steggerda to accept the bid of $6,695.00 from Midwest
Windows to replace the boarded up windows in the community building, and
to allow the Supervisor to obtain bids for carpentry work to box in the
new windows.
Visser stated that
he received two bids for brick replacement on the community building.
Docter stated that
Elmarde is a reputable contractor.
Price stated that
Elmarde could match the brick color.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and
supported by Steggerda to award the community building brick work to
Elmarde Mason Construction in the amount not to exceed $1,490.00.
Docter, West
Michigan Airport Authority, stated that on June 25 he went on a flight
tour that visited five airports. All representatives agreed that Tulip
City Airport’s terminal should be improved. He also attended a West
Michigan Airport Authority meeting where they approved their 5-year
capital plan, and increased hanger rates.
Price, MACC Policy
Committee, stated that a comprehensive document is being prepared
highlighting areas of collaboration between units of government in the
MACC area.
Price, Park
Township Airport, stated that three companies expressed interest in
submitting proposals for the airport layout plan. Bids are due on July
18. |
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Art 11 |
PAYMENT OF BILLS
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda and
supported by Van Iwaarden to approve the check register for June. |
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Art 12 |
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON)
Eric Fogg, 16275
Quincy Street, stated that the he is ready to move ahead with the
mounting plan of the fighter jet at the Park Township airport. He has
volunteers and donors lined up for this project. The jet will be
stripped during the winter months. His goal is to have the jet mounted
by the end of May 2008.
Price stated that
Ottawa Aviation should have input on the mounting location.
Van Iwaarden
stated that the Parks and Recreation Committee should also be involved
with the location decision.
The Board gave
permission to go ahead with the restoration plans. |
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Art 13 |
BOARD COMMENTS
Visser stated that he
received another complaint about the vacant house on the corner of Lake Breeze
Drive and Bay Haven Drive. The township has a Dangerous Building Ordinance.
Martin stated that in
order to search the premises to determine if the house is unsafe, an
administrative warrant would be necessary.
The Board
authorized Attorney Dan Martin to proceed with obtaining a warrant to
inspect the house.
Steggerda explained the 2007 summer tax increases.
Van Iwaarden stated that
House Bill 4780 would be the first step towards eliminating revenue sharing to
townships. If this should happen our budget would be devastated. This bill
would transfer tax collecting, assessing, and elections from the townships to
the county. He urged people to contact their legislators to voice that this bill
must not be passed.
Visser added that
if this bill passes, we would have to pay the county for the three
positions that they would take over, at a higher rate than what we spend
now. |
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Art 14 |
ADJOURN
MOTION MADE; MOTION
SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and supported by Price to
adjourn. |
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Julie Northrup
Recording Secretary, 7-17-07 |
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