Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on June 8, 2006 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.

Jan Steggerda gave the invocation.

The Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: 

Beginning Balance...........................................................$2,744,478

Receipts........................................................................$  282,728

Disbursements................................................................$  163,429

Ending Balance...............................................................$2,863,777

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

PUBLIC COMMENTS (2 MINUTES PER PERSON)

Jane Johnson, 442 Lakeshore Drive, submitted a letter and pictures to the Board regarding the dumping activity in Keppel Forest.

Visser stated that the Township had put stakes in the ground to deter motorized vehicles.  They failed.  The next step will be to install cemented posts and signage.  Letters will also be mailed to residents in the surrounding Keppel Forrest area.

APPOINTMENT:  ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Price to reappoint Bret Docter to a third term on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

Visser stated that this amendment deals with primarily three areas:  The Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, private roads, and home occupation.

Koopman stated that the Planning Commission had spent a considerable amount of time on this amendment.  The Michigan Zoning Enabling Act is an effort to consolidate city, village, and township zoning into one comprehensive act.  It is also an effort to come into compliance with the Zoning Act.  They addressed set back issues on private roads, and the Home Occupation Ordinance.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Van Iwaarden and supported by Koopman to adopt the Zoning Ordinance Amendment as presented.

Dreyer stated that the amendment is very lengthy and difficult to understand.

Martin stated that a summary would be written and published.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Van Iwaarden, Parks & Recreation, stated that the disc golf course has been completed and they only spent 1/3 of its budget.  The adult tennis club has 45 participants, and a special ‘thanks’ to Jim Szidik for heading this program. Input was received from 33 residents who attended the Ashwood road end meeting.  Barb Burmeister, Stu Visser, and John Van Iwaarden will meet with M.C. Smith at the site for professional advice.

Van Iwaarden, Parks & Recreation, stated that M.C. Smith created drawings of the recreational park modifications at the fairground, and provided a budget summary.  The Township was very deficient in its handicap accessibility responsibilities.  M.C. Smith would need an additional $25,000 for sidewalks, parking lots and ramps to meet A.D.A. compliance.  Van Iwaarden asked the Board for approval to have M.C. Smith obtain bids.

Visser stated that 3 people from the Financial Committee could approve the low bid from pre-qualified bidders in order to move forward in a timely manner. 

Ebihara questioned if the Fair Board should take on some of the financial responsibility.

Van Iwaarden stated that the Fair Board has already contributed $10,000 toward this project.  The A.D.A. improvements are not on the leased portion of the fair grounds.

Dreyer stated that this is not the proper way of handling this request.  It should have been on the agenda with estimates and drawings submitted.

Visser stated that in April the Board gave conceptual approval to hire M.C. Smith to oversee the fairground improvements not exceeding $100,000, and to bring bids back to the Board for approval.  M.C. Smith failed to deliver the bids on time.

Steggerda stressed the importance of having this park handicap accessible.

Ebihara stated that the Board had agreed in the past not to improve expenditure of funds if it wasn’t on the agenda.

Koopman stated that although he agrees this should have been on the agenda, the Board did give conceptual approval for the majority of the project.  The extra money is a small amount for getting the park in compliance with A.D.A.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Koopman and supported by Steggerda to approve a committee of Stu Visser, Jeff Ebihara, and John Van Iwaarden to review the bids and award the contract with a cap of $125,000 for fairground improvements including the A.D.A. items, grills, and shuffleboard improvements.

Roll Call Vote:  (4) YES - Koopman, Steggerda, Van Iwaarden, Visser                               (3) NO  - Dreyer, Ebihara, Price

Burmeister, Recreation Director, introduced the members of the Soccer Committee:  Deb Gauss, Dale Brisboe, Kris Sommavilla, and Julie Riordan.  She noted that they have formed 108 teams for the Fall Soccer Program, which involves 108 coaches and 175 assistant coaches.  This is all on a voluntary basis.  This program is a lot of work, and she thanked everyone involved.

Price stated that the Airport Committee will meet next week to discuss possible steps to take regarding the airport land usage.  She was disappointed with the lack of suggestions from the community for alternative use for the land.

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 May and the bills to be paid in June with the correction of a double payment on check #60229.

ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS (2 MINUTES PER PERSON)

Brian Rexford, 1762 Main Street, stated that the omission of handicap items in the fairground park plan was an oversight of the professional planner, and should not have been voted ‘no’ by some of the Board members.

David Smeenge, 2165 Woodlark Drive, thanked the Board for their work and patience during the May 18 Airport Meeting.  He stated that the ‘highest and best use’ is a tool used to determine market value.  He suggested looking at the ‘most appropriate use’ for the property; what would be the greatest good for the greatest number of people or the greatest use for the community as a whole.

Ann Radke, 2026 Woodlark Drive, stated that the community should be better informed about the airport issues.  She feels that it is a disservice not to take a survey and get more input from the community. 

BOARD COMMENTS

Visser stated that Mr. Winters, who has a building project on Lakeshore Drive, is requesting the building envelope to be moved 20 ft. in order to save a large tree.  The building envelope would be in line with the other houses.

Bob Winter, Lakeshore Cottages Developer, stated that the whole concept was designed to preserve the trees.  Each building envelope in this project was uniquely designed.  He does not know what is going on one of the envelopes until someone has purchased it.

Visser stated that because this project is a P.U.D. it would have to go back to the Planning Commission as a public hearing.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Dreyer and supported by Koopman to refer the Lakeshore Cottages building envelope change to the Planning Commission.

Visser distributed a picture of a planter and a copy of cemetery regulations that states flower containers shall be the traditional moveable metal handled flower container.  Any other containers are prohibited.  The planter in question has a six-inch base, and sits on the head stone.  It does not interfere with the mowing.  It was on the gravesite for a year before someone pointed it out.

The Board agreed to refer the cemetery flower container issue to the Cemetery Committee.
 

Van Iwaarden stated that the Ottawa County Road Commission has scheduled the reconstruction of Lakewood Blvd. for the summer of 2007.  They are going to proceed with the reconstruction of the 144^th and Lakewood intersection.
 

Steggerda stated that, as a Board, we needs to push the County Commissioners for a hazardous drop off site in the Holland area.  A site has been offered by Holland Township, and Park Township has offered our office location as a temporary drop off site.  Nothing has been accepted yet.  She asked Stu Visser to draft a letter on behalf of the Board members.

Visser stated that he would send a letter to the Commissioners.  If necessary, the Board could adopt it as a Resolution at the July meeting.

ADJOURN

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