|
| |
|
PARK
TOWNSHIP
MEETING MINUTES
Draft until approved
at next meeting
November
9, 2006
Click here to go
back to the Archive page
or meeting Schedules.
|
|
Art 1 |
Supervisor Stuart Visser called to order the regular meeting of the Park
Township Board held on October 12, 2006 at 6 p.m.
at the Virginia Park Fire Station.
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. |
|
Art 2 |
The minutes of
the October 12, 2006 Regular Board Meeting and the October 26, 2006 Special
Board Meeting were approved as published. |
|
Art 3 |
The
Treasurer’s Report was given as follows:
Beginning
Balance...........................................................$2,579,267
Receipts........................................................................$
69,375
Disbursements................................................................$
157,747
Ending
Balance...............................................................$2,490,895 |
|
Art 4 |
The
Fire Department Report indicated 24 calls were made in the month of
October, and $2,400 in property damages. |
|
Art 5 |
The Zoning
Administrator's Report listed 49 building permits for the month of
October and a total building permit activity of $1,385,000. |
|
Art 6 |
Koopman reported 3
Liquor Inspection reports had been turned in for October.
All establishments were in compliance and good condition. |
|
ART 7 |
PUBLIC COMMENTS (2 MINUTES PER PERSON)
Gretchen Fisher, 131 N. 160th Avenue, distributed notes to
the Board for their discussion in closed session.
Michael Toscano, 1228 Oak Hampton, expressed his support for Kirk Briggs
stating that he has been valuable on the Planning Commission in helping
with permit issues and ordinance interpretations and enforcements.
David
Smeenge, 2165 Woodlark Drive, stated that Kirk Briggs is an asset to our
Township. He conducts himself professionally. Briggs has worked 15
years enforcing Park Township rules. He deserves a warning and more
respect.
|
|
Art
8 |
LOT
MERGER AGREEMENT REQUEST TO REVOKE
Visser stated that the Board received a letter from William Sikkel
requesting an approval to rescind a Lot Merger Agreement relative to
parcels 70-19-35-301-001 and 70-15-34-425-033. This is the property
where Lakeshore Resort is located. They no longer need extra parking
making the Lot Merger Agreement unnecessary.
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
John Van Iwaarden and supported by Jan Steggerda to approve the request
to revoke the Lakeshore Motel Lot Merger Agreement.
Attorney Dan Martin questioned if the property that is being split off
is a conforming lot.
Koopman stated that this was discussed at the ZBA level, and the zoning
will revert back to commercial.
The Board checked the
lot size and concluded that it will be conforming. |
|
Art
9 |
ALARM SYSTEM
Visser stated that E.B.C.’ original quote of $5,450 meets option C
specifications. Van Guard’s proposal is $6,922, and Midstate Security’s quote
is $12,482. Due to the late arrival of the bids, the Board has not had
sufficient time to go over the details.
Ebihara stated that EBC is currently doing work for him, and he may have a
conflict of interest.
Van Iwaarden stated
that he would like to have time to compare the quotes, and suggested
waiting until next month to make a decision.
Dreyer suggested having
Chief Gamby look over the quotes to make sure they cover all
requirements. |
|
Art 10 |
RESOLUTION TO ELIMINATE
OFFICE OF CONSTABLE
Visser stated that during the February 2005 budget meeting the Board approved
the Constable’s salaries with the stipulation that this will be their last
term. It will expire in November 2008.
MOTION MADE; MOTION
SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Price and Supported by
Dreyer to adopt a resolution to eliminate the office of constable.
Koopman stated that the
Ottawa County Sheriffs Department would conduct the liquor inspections
once the constable jobs expire. |
|
Art 11 |
AIRPORT SURVEY
PRESENTATION
Laurie Van Ark and Catherine Brooks from the Hope College Frost Center gave a
presentation of the Park Township Airport Land Survey. They completed 477 phone
interviews. 61.4% indicated that they would like to keep the airport. 26% said
that they did not want to keep the airport, and 12.6% said they didn’t know.
They are confident in the accuracy of this survey. |
|
Art 12 |
ATTORNEY / CLIENT
PRIVILGED CORRESPONDENCE
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda
and supported by Price to go into closed session to review attorney/client
privileged correspondence with council.
Roll Call Vote: Unanimous
The Board adjourned to
closed session.
The Board returned to
open session.
Attorney Dan Martin reported that the first item in closed session
pertained to the Kelly Ridge P.U.D. It is the Boards opinion that no
intentional violation of the Open Meetings Act occurred by the
subcommittee meeting, but there may have been a technical violation when
the subcommittee met without posting notice or keeping minutes. Martin
recommended sending the P.U.D. back to the Planning Commission, initiate
an amendment to the P.U.D., hold a public hearing, and then a public
hearing would ultimately be held before the Township Board. He stated
that this would give opportunity to address the interpretation of
conflicting provisions of the P.U.D. report, and give due process to all
the people involved.
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Price and
supported by Van Iwaarden to initiate the Kelly Ridge P.U.D. amendment process.
Attorney Dan Martin stated
that the 2nd item in closed session pertains to an employment
issue. Kirk Briggs, Park Township Building Inspector and Zoning
Administrator, signed a Separation Agreement and Release. This
agreement would allow Mr. Briggs to resign effective February 28, 2007.
MOTION MADE; MOTION
SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Dreyer and supported by
Price to authorize the supervisor to execute the Separation Agreement
and Release on behalf of the township. |
|
Art 13 |
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Van Iwaarden, Parks & Recreation Committee, stated that the priority for 2007 is
restrooms at Windstrom Park. The committee received one bid of $138,000, and
asked the Board for conceptual approval to seek additional bids. Other 2007
projects will include Wendt Park, Ashwood Reserve, and a Skate Park.
Visser asked that the Parks & Recreation Committee to submit expenditure amount
for the 2007/2008 budget.
Van Iwaarden, MACC Stormwater Committee, stated that the new SWPPI has been
submitted and accepted by the MDEQ.
Price, Park Township Airport Committee, ask the Board if they would like a
recommendation from the committee based on the survey results, or does the Board
want to have some discussions.
Van Iwaarden requested more information on the differences of the tier levels.
He would also like to discuss the option of having both airport and recreational
activities on the property. Also, the Parks & Recreation long-range plan book
includes beautifying the southeast corner.
Price asked the Board to submit any questions that they might have, and she will
provide more information at the December meeting. Price, Area Airport Authority Committee, stated that the committee would like
each unit to meet to discuss documents. Then they would like a vote on whether
or not we plan on joining the Airport Authority by the end of this year.
Visser stated he is not ready to make a decision until we know the future of the
Park Township Airport.
The Board decided to meet on December 14 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the Area
Airport Authority documents, but not to make a decision. |
|
Art 14 |
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Ebihara stated that check
number 60985 to the Frost Center and the invoice should be amended from
the Bills to Be Paid.
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Ebihara and
supported by Steggerda to approve the check register as amended for October and the
bills to be paid in November. |
|
Art 15 |
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
(5 MINUTES PER PERSON)
Brian Rexford, 1762 Main St., asked the Board if their decision of the airport
land would be based on the survey results.
Visser stated that the survey is being taken under advisement.
David Smeenge, Planning Commission Chairperson, stated that over the past four
or five weeks he has come across some land use changes that he feels need to be
addressed in a formal way. He asked for the Board’s support for the Planning
Commission to identify possible ordinance violations. Then, if needed, the
Township could take any necessary actions. In the past, he would address land
use changes with the Building Department. Smeenge feels that it is time to
enforce our ordinances, master plan, and building codes efficiently and
effectively to everyone regardless of who they are in our township.
Van Iwaarden stated that all ordinances should be enforced. If you see
violations, they should be rectified in the best possible way.
Ebihara questioned Smeenge if he feels that the Township has not done a
very good job of enforcing ordinances in the past.
Smeenge stated that he feels there are some issues that are looked at as
problems that will take care of themselves. He would like to see this come to
an end.Steggerda
recommended bringing ordinance issues to the Zoning office first. Then
if necessary, it could go to the Planning Commission or Zoning Board of
Appeals.
Paul DeVisser, 4775 52nd
St., stated that he is a member of the Ottawa Aviation Board. He hopes
that the Board can make a decision about the airport soon.
Gretchen Fisher, 131 N.
160th Ave., asked who’s responsible for initiating an
amendment to a P.U.D.
Martin stated that the
P.U.D. Report allows the Township the ability to make changes on their
own initiative.
Fisher questioned what
is the current status of the buffer, and fences.
Martin
stated that the buffer status is as interpreted by the Board with the
conflicting provisions. The fence status will probably remain until it
is decided whether or not they should come down. |
|
Art 16 |
BOARD COMMENTS
Dreyer congratulated Jan Steggerda for her appointment to the Michigan Municipal
Treasurers Association Board of Directors.
Ebihara thanked everyone
involved in running a successful election. |
|
Art 17 |
ADJOURN
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made Ebihara
and supported by Steggerda to adjourn. |
|
|
Julie Northrup
Recording Secretary
11/15/06 |
|
|
