|
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,
and Attorney Dan Martin.
Absent was Trustee John
Van Iwaarden.
Amanda
Price
gave the
invocation. |
|
Art 2 |
The minutes of the
October 11 regular board meeting and the October 29 special board
meeting were approved as published. |
|
Art 3 |
The
Treasurer’s Report was given as follows:
Beginning
Balance...........................................................$2,956,514
Receipts........................................................................$
98,675
Disbursements................................................................$
167,525
Ending
Balance...............................................................$2,887,664 |
|
Art 4 |
The
Fire Department Report indicated 17 calls were made in the month of October,
and $16,000 in property damages. |
|
Art 5 |
The Zoning
Administrator’s Report listed 39 building permits for the month of
October; 6 were new single-family homes, and a total building permit
activity of $3,164,820. |
|
ART 6 |
PUBLIC COMMENTS (2
MINUTES PER PERSON)
John
Foster, 586 Old Orchard Rd., was appointed as chairperson of the Park Township
Organizational Ad Hoc Committee. He stated that the township manager job
description draft was submitted to the Board for them to study the document for
possible approval at the December 13 board meeting.
Visser stated that
the Board must decide within the next couple of months if we are going
to change to a manager form of government.
Ebihara stated
that the Board would not be approving the job description itself, but a
resolution changing the form of government.
Docter questioned
if other job descriptions should be modified.
Ebihara stated
that he has asked for proposals from 3 firms to possibly outsource job
descriptions for the remaining township positions. The proposals would
be reviewed by the Personnel Committee, then potentially a
recommendation to the Board. An employee handbook is also being
considered.
Docter questioned
the salary of a new manager, and an elected part-time supervisor.
Visser stated that
salaries would be discussed by the Board during the February budget
workshop. The Personnel Committee could look into the salary amounts
for the proposed new positions. |
|
Art 7 |
FAIR BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
APPOINTMENT
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Steggerda
and supported by Price to appoint Bret Docter as the Park Township Board
Representative on the fair board. |
|
Art 8 |
PERRY STREET
EXTENSION
Visser stated that Mr. De Feyter has agreed to donate property in order to
extend Perry Street to Cooper-Van Wieren Park. The cost is estimated at
$222,031, which would be a major portion of the 2008/09 road budget. This
extension would allow the township better access to Cooper-Van Wieren Park, and
a parking lot.
Chuck De Feyter, 17000 Inavale Ave., stated that the paperwork prepared by the
attorneys and Road Commission are in order, with the plan for construction in
spring 2008.
Visser stated the Road Commission would like the Board’s approval this
winter so they can do preliminary work.
Mr. De Feyter stated that he would be paying for the extension of the
utilities to his parcels.
Dreyer questioned if this project would cause 2008 road repairs to
suffer.
Visser stated that a lot of road repairs were accomplished this year. There
would be some available funds for 2008, but not to the extent as this year.
MOTION MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Price and
supported by Docter to approve the Perry Street Extension.
Steggerda stated the road extension should not change the ability for
people to ride horses in the park. |
|
Art 9 |
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Price, MACC
Policy Committee, stated that the Westrain Collaborative reported that ridership
revenue is up 3.6% over last year, and that they have received another marketing
grant.
Docter reported
that subcommittees will be meeting to discuss revisions to the Cell Tower
Ordinance and Accessory Building Ordinance. |
|
Art 10 |
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 October and the
bills to be paid November. |
|
Art 11 |
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENTS (5 MINUTES PER PERSON)
Earl Welling,
2050 Leisure Blvd., thanked the Board for working with the Ottawa County Road
Commission, and Holland Township, for the completion of the road resurfacing
projects. |
|
Art 12 |
BOARD COMMENTS
Steggerda
stated that the township office staff is pleased with the new computers and IT
company.
Ebihara questioned if the safety manual needs the
Board’s approval.
Visser
stated that the manual should be forwarded to the insurance company. It
does not need a formal approval.
Ebihara
stated that an ATV packet was submitted to the Board by the Public
Safety Committee. This item will be on the December board meeting
agenda.
Chief
Gamby stated that the Public Safety Committee had looked into the
possible purchase of specialized ATV equipment that would allow rescuers
to access difficult terrain in our township. |
|
Art 13 |
ADJOURN
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Steggerda
and supported by Dryer to adjourn. |
|
|
Julie
Northrup,
Recording Secretary
November 12, 2007 |
