I. Call to order Beaver Township Regular Board Meeting Minutes October 9, 2017 The regular meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on October 9, 2017 at the Beaver Township Hall, 1850 S. Garfield Rd., Auburn, MI 48611. II. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said in unison. III. Roll Call The Clerk conducted a roll call. The following board members were present: Gray (Supervisor), Koch (Treasurer), McCarry (Clerk), Retzloff (Trustee), and Tomczak (Trustee). IV. Approval of Agenda A motion to approve the agenda was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. V. Approval of Minutes A motion to approve the September 11, 2017 regular board meeting minutes was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. A motion to approve the September 25, 2017 special board meeting minutes was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Koch. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. VI. Treasurer s Report - September Mr. Koch, Treasurer, presented a detailed report showing beginning balances, credits, debits, and ending balances reported as of October 6, 2017. The report showed the following information: General Fund Beginning Balance $502,040.88 Credits $52,746.97 Debits $44,755.17 Ending Balance $510,032.68 1
Water Fund Beginning Balance 118,374.54 Credits $4.86 Debits $0.00 Ending Balance $118,379.40 Fire Operating Beginning Balance $92,538.81 Credits $3.85 Debits $0.00 Ending Balance $92,542.66 Fire Equipment Beginning Balance $20,897.11 Credits $0.86 Debits $0.00 Ending Balance $20,897.97 A motion to approve the Treasurer s Report was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Ms. McCarry. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. VII. Public Comment A motion to move to Public Comment was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Koch. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. Mr. Kaiser stated that he believed 68% of the Zoning Board members should be comprised of individuals who farmed since 68% of the land in Beaver Township is zoned agricultural. So, at least 4-5 people should be from agriculture. Mr. Gray stated that the Zoning Board was assembled before any of the new issues such as wind and solar were a prospect. Mr. Kaiser asserted that he believes Mr. Gray should remove or replace several Zoning board members at this time before any more zoning goes forward. Mr. Kaiser also remarked that the Township Board wasn t neutral on the wind issue. A resident said, in regards to the public wind meeting, that it was not an informational meeting because people expressed opinions and DTE was not given a chance to defend themselves. 2
A motion to return to the regular order of business was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. VIII. Pay Bills Bills from the past month were initialed by Board members. Ms. McCarry stated that several bills came in late and were not on the summary sheets the residents have in their packets. Approximately $1918 was paid to Bay County for the summer tax bills and $13.45 was paid to Election Source for election supplies. After discussion on the invoice submitted by Mr. A.J. Neumann for a final payment on building inspections, a motion to pay bills as presented was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes), Koch (Yes), McCarry (Yes), Retzloff (Yes), Tomczak (Yes). AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. Ms. McCarry was charged with drafting a letter to Mr. Neumann explaining that this will be the final payment for his services. Furthermore, she will describe that only seven of the fourteen inspections he charged will be paid since the other seven were paid to him in February when he submitted that bill. IX. Regular Order of Business A. ATV Ordinance. Mr. Gray presented a proposed ordinance authorizing operation of ORVs. The township must conduct a public hearing before adopting this ordinance and the Clerk must send notice of the public hearing to various parties. A motion to proceed with the ORV Ordinance and that Ms. McCarry send notice of the public hearing by certified mail to the Bay County Commission, Bay County Road Commission and to the legislative body of every township, village and city within Bay County was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. B. Fire Hydrants. Three fire hydrants one on Garfield between Seidler and Beaver and two on River between 8 & 9 Mile will be added this fall. The Department of Water and Sewer takes care of most of the work. Mr. Tomczak would like to see the hydrants added with extended pipes so the hydrants sit taller so it s easier to use a hydrant wrench on them. Mr. Tomczak would like to see eleven hydrants added and the township will add three this year, and will plan to budget for four hydrants in 2018 and four in 2019. The hydrants should cost no more than $5,000 each. A motion to install one fire hydrant on Garfield Rd. between Beaver and Seidler and two hydrants on River Rd. between 8 & 9 Mile during Fall 2017 at a cost of no more than $5,000 each was made by Mr. Koch and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes); Koch (Yes); Retzloff (Yes); Tomczak (Yes); McCarry (Yes). C. Open Letter to the Board. Mr. Gray read a letter sent to the Board from resident, Elizabeth Kornacki regarding wind energy. A motion to receive Elizabeth Kornacki s letter to the Township Board and Zoning Board was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Koch. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. 3
D. Hydroseeding Bids. Only one bid was received from Bell Landscaping for $2500 to hydroseed approximately one-half mile along Seidler Road. The County had already said they could do the same for about $1,000. A motion to table the issue of hydroseeding until we know for sure what the county will charge and that Mr. Gray get with the Bay County Road Commission to see their invoice for the work they did on Seidler Road which includes hydroseeding costs was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. E. Bay County Department of Water & Sewer. Mr. Gray announced that there may be additional charges of approximately $1000.00 relating to water tests performed by the Michigan DEQ. A motion to table Bay County Department of Water & Sewer issues for the month of October was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Koch. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. F. Fire Chief Grant Radio Purchase. Mr. Tomczak stated that Fire Department hand-held radios are about ten years old and that it s hard to find parts for them. A new radio will cost about $6,000. A 911 grant, however, is available and it will be possible to replace 14 radios at a cost of $25,786 which would include the radios, portable mic, charging stations, back-up batteries, and programming. We will have to trade in old radios to Motorola. This purchase has been planned in the Fire Department budget. A motion to apply for the 911 grant to replace 14 Fire Department hand-held radios for a final cost of $25,786 was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes); Koch (Yes); Retzloff (Yes); Tomczak (Abstain); McCarry (Yes). AYES: 4; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. G. Cemetery Driveway. Mr. Gray described that many years ago an acre of land had been donated by Mr. Kohn, Roy Kohn s grandfather, to Beaver Township for construction of a roadway back to the township cemetery. Zion church has maintained the road for about 50 years. Eventually, Mr. Gray would like to see the township pave the road, but would like to see us at least move forward and get gravel placed this fall. $40,000 was budgeted for cemetery road repairs this year. Both Mr. Retzloff and Mr. Tomczak voiced that they would like to see the roadway eventually loop around to tie back into Zion s roads. A motion that Mr. Gray and Mr. Retzloff stake off the area where the road will be constructed making sure to stay the proper distance from the eastern border while maximizing the amount of vacant land and that Mr. Kohn shall be present to confirm the new roadway maintains proper distance from gravesites was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes); Koch (Yes); Retzloff (Yes); Tomczak (Yes); McCarry (Yes). AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. H. DTE Agreements/Register of Deeds. Mr. Gray informed the Board that while he was at the Register of Deeds office checking on the property title for Shari s, he discovered that there are 30 Beaver Township properties who have signed with DTE and those deeds have been 4
recorded and are public knowledge. Several members of the Zoning Board would like to have that information as they move forward so they know which properties could be affected with wind farms. The cost of obtaining the information from the Register of Deeds is $27. After discussion regarding the regular cost to doing township business and the fact that the Board should provide the Zoning Board items they need to proceed to do the best job they can, a motion to purchase information from the Bay County Register of Deeds for $27 showing the Beaver Township properties where DTE property deeds have been recorded was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Koch. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes); Koch (Yes); Retzloff (Yes); Tomczak (Yes); McCarry (Yes). I. Other Business. Mr. Gray remarked that a letter was sent to Shari s regarding the motor home used as a residence and they have 14 days to comply or a motion will be filed with the court. A letter was mailed to the 8 Mile Road residence where construction is taking place on a single-wide trailer. Mr. Gray and Mr. Tomczak visited the residence and the homeowner s intent is to pay the $1000 and appear before the Zoning Board asking for a special use permit. They will need to prove the repairs cost less than half the value of the home. The blight issue on 8 Mile Road where the homeowner is also running an illegal business seemed to be moving forward, but the homeowner is not returning Supervisor Gray s phone calls. Mr. Gray will continue to work toward a peaceful resolution. Mr. Gray spoke on two primary road ditching requests that have been complete one near 9 Mile and Beaver extending ¼ mile to the east of the intersection and a second on Beaver Road. The BCRC is getting ready to ditch about ¼ mile on Carter south of the old Baptist Church. Recently, Mr. Gray received a phone call from Mr. Dammer on Cottage Grove east of Garfield that an ash tree had fallen into the road so the two of them worked together to clear the road. There are other dead ash trees present along that stretch that could potentially pose the same problem along the roadway. After discussion, a motion to solicit bids for dead ash tree removal along Cottage Grove east of Garfield was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. Mr. Gray believes if the work was done by the BCRC, Beaver Township could use some of its discretionary money to complete the work. Mr. Gray stated that the fog/seal will not be complete by the BCRC until 2018 as it s currently too cold for the fog/seal to adhere to the pavement. 5
X. Public Comment A motion to move to Public Comment was made by Mr. Tomczak and seconded by Mr. Koch. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. Mr. Tom Meier expressed safety concerns regarding the ORV ordinance and the 25 mph speed limit on primary roads. Brenda Revard said that she is still working with Western High School for volunteer opportunities in the township for students. She also said that she will continue (and urged others to do so) to provide the Zoning Board with information on wind turbines. Elizabeth Kornacki believes the Board has been neutral on the wind issue. The moratorium shows the neutrality because it gives everyone time to look into the matter. She brought a letter forward from a farmer in Wisconsin who signed a wind farm contract with an energy company and now says it was his biggest regret. Ms. Kornacki is wondering if the Register of Deeds has information on any farm neighbors who may have signed with DTE. Mr. Kaiser questioned why public comment on wind energy has a two-minute limit and would like the Board to agree as a whole on that matter. Brenda Revard congratulated the Board on working together as a team. Mr. Ken Beaudin commented on weed control near fire hydrants and recommended the township hire a licensed commercial applicator. The Board agreed. Ms. Michelle Retzloff stated that the graffiti on the bridge is back and volunteered to paint over it. Mr. Gray agreed that the township would be grateful for that. A motion to return to the regular order of business was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. A motion that from this point forward, each resident (regardless of topic) will have a twominute limit during each session of Public Comment was made by Mr. Retzloff and seconded by Mr. Tomczak. Roll call vote: Gray (Yes); Koch (Yes); Retzloff (Yes); Tomczak (Yes); McCarry (Yes). AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. The next regularly-scheduled Planning/Zoning Board meeting will be November 9 th and the time has been changed from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ms. McCarry stated that the Election Commission meeting will commence after the adjournment of this meeting. 6
XI. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Koch and seconded by Mr. Retzloff. AYES: 5; NAYS: 0. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary J. McCarry 7