MINUTES ALPINE TOWNSHIP BOARD REGULAR MEETING MAY 19, 2014

Transcription

1 MINUTES ALPINE TOWNSHIP BOARD REGULAR MEETING MAY 19, CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Alpine Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, May 19, 2014 at the Alpine Township Hall, 5255 Alpine Avenue, Comstock Park, Michigan, with due notice. Supervisor Arends called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Present were Supervisor Alex Arends, Clerk Jean Wahlfield, Treasurer Jim Townsend, and Trustees Ron Cordes, Jim May, William Schweitzer, and Mike Wahlfield. Supervisor Arends struck the KDL Presentation from the agenda noting that their annual report will be presented in July. A motion was offered by May, with support from Schweitzer, to approve the Consent Agenda and approve the Regular Agenda with the removal of item 7-B, KDL Presentation under Pending and New Business. There was no further discussion and the motion carried CONSIDERATION OF VOUCHERS/BILLS A motion was offered by Schweitzer, with support from Townsend, to approve the payment of invoices for the period ending 05/19/2014 and checks issued thru 05/20/14 which included election worker pay for the May 6, 2014 Comstock Park School millage election. The motion carried PUBLIC HEARING (A) PERRIN BREWING COMPANY Comstock Park Drive Request for New Small Distiller License and New Small Wine Maker License - Consideration of Resolution #14-07 A motion was made by May, with support from Mike Wahlfield, to open the public hearing for the Perrin Brewing Company request for a New Small Distiller License as well as a New Small Wine Maker License. The motion carried 7-0. Jarred Sper, Vice President of Perrin Brewing addressed the Board regarding the request to acquire the specified licenses. Perrin would like to offer hard cider as well as specialty beers that require them to hold the stated licenses. He explained that one of the processes involves soaking vanilla beans in vodka. Currently Perrin produces approximately 6,000 barrels of beer per year. Clerk, Jean Wahlfield noted that these licenses will not count against the Class (C) license quota allowed to be issued in the Township. A motion was made by May, with support from Cordes to close the public hearing for the Perrin Brewing request. Motion carried 7-0.

2 May 19, 2014 Page 2 of 6 A motion was made by May, with support from Townsend, to approve Resolution #14-07 for both, New Small Distiller and New Small Wine Maker licenses for Perrin Brewing Company, Inc. located at 5910 Comstock Park Drive NW. Motion carried 7-0. (B) THE BIGGER MEANING Alpine Avenue NW Request for a New Class (C) Liquor License Consideration of Resolution #14-08 A motion was offered by May, with support from Cordes to open public hearing for The Bigger Meaning request for a New Class C Liquor License. Motion carried 7-0. Brad and Taylor Vannatter of the Bigger Meaning spoke to the Board about the concept of their new restaurant to partner with organizations and raise money for different charities. The restaurant will be a 24 hour operating business that plans to open on June 6, The Vannatter s stated their new business would be a good fit for the use of the Township s last class C license and informed the Board of their plans to promote local microbreweries and local music. The Vannatters also have expansion plans for more seating to better utilizing the requested license. The Clerk questioned whether an expansion of additional seating inside and outside is a possibility as approval will be required from the Township Building Official and Planner. Board members also discussed the portability of the last available liquor license if the business is not successful. The Supervisor noted he would like to hold onto the last available Class C license for a bigger establishment. The Vannatters stated that they plan to open The Bigger Meaning with or without the requested liquor license. A motion to close the public hearing for the request for a New Class C Liquor License for the Bigger Meaning was offered by May, with support from Codes. The motion carried 7-0. A motion was made by Townsend with support from May to table the request for a new Class C liquor license requested by the Bigger Meaning located at 4022 Alpine Avenue to give the Board time to get answers about the portability of the liquor license as well as time to resolve the Building and Planning issues. The motion carried 6-1, with Arends dissenting (C) FISCAL YEAR BUDGET- GENERAL FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND A motion was offered by May, with support from Cordes to open the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget public hearing. Motion carried 7-0. The Supervisor stated that the budget document dated 04/21/2014 has not been changed. The Board reviewed the budget and did not offer any changes. The resolutions necessary to adopt the budget will be presented for approval at the regular June meeting. Noting that no comments from the public were offered, a motion was made by May, with support from Schweitzer to close the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget public hearing. Motion carried 7-0.

3 May 19, 2014 Page 3 of PUBLIC COMMENT Rene Eardley at 4960 Biddeford Drive NW expressed his concerns to the Board about the appearance of his neighbor s property and water drainage from his neighbor s property onto his. He wants regulations to addresses these problems COMMISSION REPORT Planning Commission: Cordes The Commission denied the special land use rezoning request from Crop Production Services for property located at 6201 Fruit Ridge Avenue NW. A site plan for Tip Top Drilling located at 8274 Alpine Avenue was approved with conditions for a contractor s equipment yard, vehicle repairs and outdoor storage. Zoning Board of Appeals: Schweitzer Did not meet last month Historical Committee: Schweitzer The Committee held the annual antique tractor show on May 18. There will be no meeting next month due to Father s Day. Sewer & Water: Arends Township officials have been working with representatives from Somerset Meadows about the required connection to public sewer by July Work continues to schedule a meeting with Somerset Meadows residents to explain the SAD process, engineering and costs. The meeting will be held at the Township offices. Parks and Recreation: Did not meet Public Services Committee: Alex Arends The SAW grant is being held up by the State Treasury department. The Township will proceed with sewer televising, scheduling and maintenance as it would occur regardless. A Financial Analyst will be brought in under a separate contract to do a study of the sewer system, infrastructure, and preform a rate study. Economic Development Committee: M. Wahlfield The Committee is working on website upgrades to include business information. The MEDC has been invited to attend a future meeting and the Committee will meet again next month FINAL READING- REZONING # VINTON AVENUE AG to R-1 A motion was offered by Townsend, with support from May, to approve Rezoning #14-01 from AG to R-1 for property located at 6830 Vinton Avenue ( ) consisting of 3.67 acres and to order publication. Motion carried 7-0 in a roll call vote UPDATE K.C SHERIFF S DEPARTMENT The Board examined and received copies of the st Quarter Comparison crime statistics report from the Kent County Sheriff Office for the period January 1- March 31, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO K.C. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN The Board reviewed the Plan and discussed that it is the same as prior plans. Arends noted that the Alpine contact information will be updated as he has already forwarded the changes to the County.

4 May 19, 2014 Page 4 of 6 May offered a motion, supported by Cordes, to adopt and approve Resolution No , the Kent County Emergency Operations Plan/Emergency Action Guidelines. The Motion carried RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL ON FORECLOSED PROPERTY 507 CLARK STREET NW The Treasurer informed the Board that Alpine Township has an opportunity to purchase foreclosed property under first right of refusal due to non-payment of taxes for 2011 tax cycle. Townsend does not believe this property would be of any benefit to the Township and recommends that the Township let the opportunity pass. A motion was made by May, with support from M. Wahlfield, that the Township pass on the opportunity and not purchase the foreclosed property located on 507 Clark Street. Motion carried REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF K.C. ROAD COMMISSION WORK ORDERS The Board reviewed two K.C. Road Commission work orders dated 05/02/14. The Supervisor noted that the work orders are the result the recommendation of the Planner, Supervisor and Road Commission who did physical inspections of roads in Alpine Township. The first work order is for mill and repaving of Westshire Avenue (M-37 to Stony Creek Ave) and Westgate Ave (Westshire Ave to Lamoreaux Dr). The total length is 1.48 miles at a cost to the Township of $175,000 with the Kent County Road Commission match of $175,000 for a total budget of $350,000 to fix the roads. It was noted that Westshire and Westgate Avenue are heavily traveled. A motion was offered by Schweitzer, with support from May, to approve the work on Westshire and Westgate for a cost of $175,000 for the 1.48 miles of road. Motion carried 7-0. The Road Commission is also proposing a cost sharing for asphalt replacement in spot locations on Baumhoff Ave (4 Mile Rd to Alpine Church Rd) and Alpine Church Rd (M-37 to Baumhoff Ave). The Township costs will be $93,000 to complete this project for a total of $186,000 as the K.C. Road Commission will pay for one-half of the project. The Board discussed the merits of spot paving and the fact that many Township roads do not have a good base. Supervisor Arends also noted that a small portion of Leland Avenue left out of last year s work will be finished this year and is part of the spot asphalt replacement estimate. A motion was offered by May, with support from Schweitzer to approve the work on Baumhoff and Alpine Church for a Township cost of $93,000. Motion carried 7-0.

5 May 19, 2014 Page 5 of REVIEW AND APPROVAL BID FOR SIDEWALKS INSTALLATION UTILIZING CDBG FUNDS Engineer Mike Oezer from Progressive reiterated that the Township has leftover money from Kent County Community Development Block Grant funds totaling $11,700 that will expire in June if not used. The recommendation from Staff is to use the funds to install two sections of sidewalk at 4 Mile Rd (west of the Marathon gas station at 4 Mile and Alpine Ave) for 280 lineal feet and at Alpine Ave (at Checkers) for 60 feet. The bid received was higher than expected at $24,360. Progressive has recommended in the letter dated 05/19/14 to only proceed with the 4 Mile Road sidewalk project at this time. Progressive has worked with the sole bidder, DeYoung Concrete, who provided a cost of $15,639 for the 4-Mile sidewalk project. Engineer Oezer is recommending that the bid be awarded to DeYoung Concrete. The Board discussed the project noting that the funds must be spent in the CDBG target area as well as the detailed information provided by the Township Engineer. Supervisor Arends noted that the Township has contingency funds that can be used to for the difference between the recommended bid amount of $15,639 and the left over CDBG fund of $11,700 or approximately $4,000. A motion was made by Townsend, with support from May to approve and award the 4 Mile sidewalk project bid to DeYoung Concrete in the amount of $17,377, to the authorize the Supervisor to sign the necessary documents and that contingency funds will be used to pay the difference between the allotted CDBG funds and the DeYoung Concrete contract. Motion carried REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF FY 2041 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS The Supervisor handed out revised copies of the proposed budget adjustments dated 05/19/14 for the Board to review. He noted one change for the Fire Department which was that the amount is $40,000 (not $50,000) to be moved to the CIP for a future fire truck as budgeted. The Board discussed the adjustments. A motion was made by Schweitzer, with support from May, to approve the budget adjustments dated 05/19/14 as presented for the FY 2014 budget. Motion carried APPROVAL OF PAR-PLAN GRANT APPLICATION Arends recommended that the Township apply for the Risk Reduction Grant Program to allow the Township to receive up to $5,000 for surveillance cameras and video equipment to monitor Township properties. The Westgate Park and Sports Complex are recommended for monitoring. Arends noted that in order to make the project happen the Township will need to transmit a remote video feed from the cameras to the Township Office which will require a monthly bill from Comcast. The board discussed the comparison of having to repair damaged property versus a monthly bill to keep vandalization off properties. The application deadline is May 31, It was noted that signing a contract with Comcast would be dependent on receiving the grant.

6 May 19, 2014 Page 6 of 6 Ron Cordes made a motion, with support from May, that the Township apply for the Risk Reduction Grant through the Par-Plan program and authorize the Supervisor to submit the grant on behalf of the Township and work with Comcast to contract for the necessary services. Motion carried 6-1, with Clerk Wahlfield dissenting FIRE DEPARTMENT A copy of the April monthly run report was given to the Board. The Chief informed the Board of the recent improvements made at Westgate Park restrooms as well as the work that still needs to be done. Klomparens reviewed the recent simulated plane crash the Fire Department took part in at Lacks Industries on May 15 th. The Fire Department s job was to supply a water source and their roll was a MABAS water tender strike team. The simulation tested the LEPEC plan and was a good test for participants. This was a good training for reaction to a chemical release as it is not something the Fire Department deals with on a daily basis PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Stachowiak, 6380 Vinton Avenue NW, thanked the Board for the rezoning approval of his property SUPERVISORS REPORT AND BOARD COMMENTS The Supervisor discussed the Memorial Day Program Alpine Township is putting on Monday, May 26 th at 11am at the Pine Grove Cemetery and handed out a draft program. He noted that he has been working on updating the Township website with Ocean Omega. Arends explained that two meeting dates have been scheduled in June, one during the day and one in the evening, for businesses to meet with Alpine s Community Policing Officer and discuss how to ensure safe, friendly business. The dates for the meeting will be June 17, and June 18. The business watch meeting will show participants how to access crime reports online and sign up for alerts as well as provide a networking opportunity. The Board also briefly discussed the recent denial of special land use rezoning for Crop Production Services. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Samantha Hanna, Jean Wahlfield, Clerk Alex Arends, Supervisor Recording Secretary