Present were Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan Steggerda, Trustees Bret Docter, Amanda Price, and Attorney Dan Martin.

Absent were Clerk Jeff Ebihara, Trustees Doug Dreyer and John Van Iwaarden.

The Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: 

Beginning Balance...........................................................$3,182,203

Receipts........................................................................$  404,227

Disbursements................................................................$  171,378

Ending Balance...............................................................$3,415,051

Chief Gamby stated the 2007 Fire Grant has been awarded.  The department entered the final round but was denied.  They will be applying for the same grant in April 2008.  The township is still in the running for fire safety grant.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (2 MINUTES PER PERSON)  

Sally Pollock-2285 Ottawa Beach Road – stated how township government works is very interesting.  She attended the ZBA and Planning Commission meetings and was impressed with all of the research and deliberation.  In contrast, stated she was stunned by the process of the Board of Trustees.  She believes the Pronto Pup application was a violation of the master plan.

Carol Washburn 2253 1^st Ave. – read a portion of a letter stating her disagreement with the board’s decision to approve the Pronto Pup stand.  She stated many of the arguments for the Pronto Pup stand and stated how those were incorrect.  She elaborated on reasons why this application is not for “the good of the Township”. 

George Washburn-2253 1^st Ave. – resumed reading the letter Mrs. Washburn began.  He stated many disadvantages a pronto pup stand, in the area proposed, may cause.  

Jan Walters 679 Bosma Ave. – stated an incident regarding safety in the area.  She countered many of the arguments in favor of the Pronto Pup stand.

Greg Hill – 692 Winter Sun – stated he is concerned about the things that happened at the meeting prior to this and is shocked that it took place.

Sandy Hill – 692 Winter Sun Place – owns 2 cottages near the area.  Feels the decision to approve the Pronto Pup application was hasty.  She stated that not enough research done by the board prior to their decision. 

Randy Schipper – 366 Timberlee – spoke regarding the board not having authority to do conditional rezoning and restated the Zoning Enabling Act.

Skip Nagelvoort – 2323 Pavillion - Distributed a sample ordinance to conditional rezoning provided by the MTA.

Mary Nagelvoort – 2323 Pavillion – stated she was amazed at the lack of research on conditional rezoning.  Felt Ms. Price was the only member that researched this topic. She stated the members of the board are voted in to protect the character of our community.

Joel Welch – 679 Bosma –He stated he believed much of the information given is not true.  Many of the arguments for the pronto pup stand were not valid.  He stated new concerns regarding the safety of the area.   He asked the board to rescind the vote due to his belief that the information given was not accurate.

Terri Metcalf – 2999 Joshua Ct. - she stated she believed the planning commission was there to protect the needs of the residents. She stated her opposition to the home based hair salon.  She felt it was a popularity contest instead of a property decision.  She asked the board to consider giving a reason for approval or denial of applications rather than just a yes or no vote.

Chris Baker - 2983 Joshua Ct. - stated her concerns that a rational decision was not made regarding the hair salon on Joshua Ct.  Many of the letters were from those in favor of the home based business.  She stated Ms. Edwaard was given approval for that reason.

George Linart - 2998 Joshua Ct. – stated the board must listen to the neighbors affected by the decisions.   He feels that the opinion of the neighbors that are affected goes without notice.  He urged the board to look at other options of the applicant before making decisions.  He requested the Board reverse the decision of the Planning Commission to allow the home based hair salon.

BUDGET:  A) HEARING; B) RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATIONS

Visser introduced and explained the budget and asked the audience to confine remarks to the topic of the budget.

C. Washburn asked if we are in good financial shape.

Visser stated that we have over $3 million in the general fund and have no debt which places Park Township in good financial shape.

Visser continued with the explanation of the budget.

Skip Nagelvoort – stated our budget for legal fees is up $3000. He suggested the Township should be more conservative than that.

S. Pollock asked how we make up the deficit stated by Visser in his explanation.

Visser stated there are reserve funds to make up the difference and quite a bit of those funds will be used for road improvements.  

Welch stated he feels we are not as “sick” as the rest of the areas. He suggested marketing our area as a great place to live to increase occupancy in foreclosed homes.

S. Nagelvoort stated the ultimate marketing plan is a thoughtful, robust master plan.  It does not seem that we spend money to make it really good.  Growth in Park Township is not in industry but people working out of their homes.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Price to adopt the resolution to establish the general appropriations for Park Township.

Docter asked about the funds for the master plan revision, in which account are the funds held?   Are there enough funds there for that process?

Visser stated he appropriated $15,000 for the Master Plan revisions.  The highest bid was at $60,000.

Steggerda stated that the township has not raised the mileage rate in many years.

Visser stated that it has been 22 years since the millage rate was raised.

Roll Call:
Motion passed unanimously 4-0.

Docter thanked Visser for his leadership in preparing the budget.

APPARATUS COMMITTEE REPORT

Visser asked Chief Gamby to speak regarding the report.

Eric DeBoer-Park Township Fire Fighter-presented a proposal for Fire Truck #1572 to replace truck #1532.  He gave many current constraints regarding the present truck and provided reasons, including added services, for a new truck.  He stated the response time of Holland Township Rescue has increased due to increased need in HCT and traffic factors.  He gave the process for establishing the features and choosing the vendor for truck #1572.

Visser stated they cannot dispute the need.

S. Pollock stated they should get anything they ask for due to their commitment to the job.  They deserve any support we can give them.

Price asked how the truck was funded.

Visser explained that the township improvement fund will be used for this expense.

S. Nagelvoort asked if the township had looked at other financial options.

Docter stated he has been very impressed with the process of choosing this truck.  The Public Safety Committee unanimously recommends this purchase.

Docter stated the committee has introduced a revolving purchasing plan so they can replace equipment before it becomes troublesome.

Steggerda questioned the time frame of production of the new truck.

Gamby stated it will be approximately 8 months.

G. Washburn asked if the interest we could incur on the funds would be greater if we did not pre-pay for truck #1572?

Steggerda stated that interest is at 3% and our savings are greater if we prepay.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Docter and supported by Price to approve the purchase of truck #1572 to be funded by the township improvement fund.

Docter stated that Ebihara and Dreyer, as members of the Public Safety Committee, voiced their support for the proposal.

Price thanked the committee for their hard work and commitment to the project.

EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK

Visser introduced the employee handbook.

Docter asked if the manager term is interchangeable with the supervisor until the manager position is filled.

Martin stated the terms are interchangeable.

Price asked if there is a need for the employee to return the handbook at the end of their employment.

Martin stated it is open to FOIA so there is no need to return it.

Price asked if the elected officials are affected by this.

Martin stated the clerk, supervisor and treasurer are held to this as employees of the township office.  The trustees are not necessarily held to this.  Firefighters are addressed as part time temporary employees.

Price asked where ZBA and Planning Commission members fall in this handbook.

Martin stated there are other forms of standards held for those employees.

Price asked about evaluating employees but no specific process.

Docter stated that those processes will be in place when the Manager is appointed.

Price stated she is surprised by how little vacation time employees receive.  She would like to see physical health and mental health treated equally in regard to time off.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and supported by Steggerda to accept the employee handbook.

Steggerda felt there were some grammatical errors and will discuss this with the writer.

ZONING MAP AMENDMENT ORDINANCE

Visser introduced the ordinance.

Martin stated the operation will be seasonal, May thru September, and possibly October if weather permits.  The township needs to clarify who would approve this extension if the Board chooses.

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Docter and supported by Steggerda to approve the Zoning map amendment ordinance as presented.

Price asked if there are 2 driveways to the facility in the plan.

Martin stated there will be one way in the parking lot and one way out.

Price stated the township needs to be sure the lighting for the facility is shielded downward.

Docter stated the lighting would be part of the site plan approval. 

Roll call vote:
3-1 vote

Michigan Zoning Enabling Act it requires a majority of the members to approve.

No decision was made regarding this issue.  This will automatically go on the next meeting agenda.

Steggerda stated the next meeting is the 3^rd Thursday in April.

The board reviewed the options for the applicant.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Price reported on the meetings she attended last month.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:  A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Price to approve the check register for February, and the bills to be paid in March.

ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON)

S. Nagelvoort read a letter that will be sent to the board written by the Master Plan Advocacy Committee.  He gave a list of requests to the township board.

Wyatt stated the township is using the incorrect statute to conditionally rezone the property.

C. Washburn referred back to the letter she began at the beginning of the meeting and read thru the end.

G. Washburn commended Ms. Price regarding her statements against the conditional rezoning and the knowledgeable decision she made.

S. Pollock stated there is a trend toward commercialization of the property around.

Welch referred back to the flood plain argument and that it is not a flood plain and will not be in the near future.

Schipper defended the flood plain issue stating the property is in the township flood plain ordinance not necessarily DEQ.

BOARD COMMENTS

Visser stated he was offended that the residents believe he has not done his research and assured them he had.

Steggerda confidently stated she also spent many hours on the topic of rezoning this property.  In addition, she stated tax collection went well and collected 97% of summer and 96% of winter taxes.                  

ADJOURN      

Daniele Dykens, Recording Secretary