Thursday October 14, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. the regular Middlebury township board meeting held at the Ovid Municipal Building was called to order with the pledge to the flag by supervisor Anthony Sinicropi. Prayer was said by clerk Audrey Sovis. Also present were treasurer Carolyn Stevens and trustees Paul Dutton and Charles Simpson. There were 7 visitors. Officer Steve Loomis had little to report but did respond to a question of safety in regard to children walking home after school. With so many students now attending Leonard Elementary, there are children walking in the streets rather than on the sidewalks. Another area of concern is having parents park on both sides of the street in front of the school as they wait to pick up their child(ren). His suggestion was to have the Ovid police get with the Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Department to discuss different options to promote safety and prevent injuries. Kevin Hehrer, thanked the board for the support given to complete his fence and sign project at the Middlebury cemetery. The board expressed their appreciation for all his hard work. He then presented a check of the remaining monies donated toward this project to the board in the amount of $261.79 to be used in memory of his grandfather, Harold Hehrer. Ovid president, Bill Lasher, discussed a future contract for recycling and the village’s desire for more financial support from Ovid and Middlebury townships. He disclosed that Middlebury resident Avery Squires is requesting to be annexed with the village. He also brought up the need for an amendment to the sewer ordinance to allow hook-up for other residents. Jim Capitan, county commissioner, reported that the county is slightly over- budget and that they are currently taking bids on health care plans. A motion to approve the agenda was made by Simpson, seconded by Dutton. All ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Sinicropi to accept the September 9, 2004 minutes with the correction of “motion” changed to “resolution” in regard to the sewer ordinance. All ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Sinicropi to accept the minutes of the October 4, 2004 election commission. All ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Sovis, seconded by Stevens to amend the budget transferring $3,500 to the Cemetery Fund (276) from the Contingency Fund (941). Roll call vote: Sinicropi aye, Sovis aye, Stevens aye, Dutton aye, Simpson aye, no nays, carried. A motion to accept the treasurer’s report was made by Sinicropi, seconded by Sovis. All ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Dutton, seconded by Stevens to pay the October bills in the amount of $35, 269.61 (Checks #1301-1315). All ayes, no nays, carried. Violation notices against Davis and Helen Potter and Verne Rogers were read. A letter from Charter Communications laid out a new channel lineup that added seven new channels but eliminated several local channels. A motion to appoint the 2004 General Election inspectors was made by Stevens, seconded by Sinicropi. These include: Cindy Dennison (R), Kathy Taylor (R), Lois Wadsworth (R), Marsha Unterbrink (D), Elizabeth Billings (D), Kathy Groom (D), and Raynaldo Rodriguez (D). Roll call vote: Sinicropi aye, Simpson aye, Dutton aye, Stevens aye, Sovis aye. No nays, carried. Stevens made the motion to appoint Rich Givens to the Planning Commission, seconded by Sovis. Roll call vote: Dutton aye, Simpson aye, Sinicropi aye, Sovis aye, Stevens aye. No nays, carried. A motion was made by Sinicropi, seconded by Simpson to increase the board’s bond from 1 million dollars to 2 million at an annual cost of $4,061.00. Roll call vote: Sinicropi aye, Stevens aye, Sovis aye, Dutton aye, Simpson aye. no nays, carried. A motion was made by Sinicropi, seconded Sovis that the township send and pay hotel expenses for 5 board members and 2 deputies to the MTA annual conference to be held in Detroit in January 2005, with a per diem set for this and all future conferences at $35 a day per person. All ayes, no nays, carried. A motion was made by Sinicropi, seconded by Dutton to allow the sexton to purchase approximately 10 yards of top soil at the most cost effective rate. All ayes, no nays, carried. Sinicropi reported that the Ovid-Middlebury Emergency Services are looking into several options for additional needed space. Expansion plans were shown with additions to the existing structure and for a completely new facililty. Cost estimates, at this early stage, range from $700,000 to over $1,000,000. An early November meeting will be scheduled for the Village of Ovid, Ovid and Middlebury townships to meet together and discuss this project. Dutton reported that a water pipe had burst at the library with water running from Saturday through Monday. A fair number of books were destroyed. The library is now open and repairs are still being made. At 9:40 p.m. a motion was made to adjourn by Sovis, seconded by Stevens, carried.