Middlebury Township Board Minutes Draft Minutes Middlebury Township Board Regular Meeting Wednesday, April 13, 2011 7pm Middlebury Township Hall 7627 W. M-21 Ovid, Michigan 48866 Minutes Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm Call To Order with a Pledge to the Flag and a prayer led by Trustee Paul Dutton. Members Present: Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi, Clerk Susan Roll Call Tomasek-Swan, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Erin Dutton and Trustee Paul Dutton. Guest Present: Richard Semans, Michael Herendeen, Diane and Mike Dowler, Rich Givens, Doug Krebiehl. Bob Dennison, John Tribfelner, Scheduled Comments: Scheduled Comments Diane Dowler spoke on how well the Board of Review went this year and thanked the BOR members for their work. There were a total of 10 appeals. She also address putting the assessing records here at the hall. It would require 2- 4 drawers of cabinet. A motion was made by Sinicropi and seconded by Stevens to purchase locking cabinets for use by the assessor to keep Middlebury Twp records. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Diane Dowler spoke on the Leaf case that is at Tribunal level. The meeting was held on Monday in Lansing. It was an one hour appeal, Diane felt the appeal did not require to have Mr. Bowne, the township attorney, present. Diane handled the the case. The hearing was heard by a Tribunal judge and the judge led them to believe that neither party was going to get everything that they wanted. Dick Semans update about OMESA. He said the board are looking into a new billing systems and getting bids. Still looking at other building options. Stevens said the financial committee still working on ways to pay for a building. Dick said the study is published on the OMESA's web page. The study suggested getting grants for equipment, do better bookkeeping and not to do ALS (advance life support) on their own. OMESA returned the contract unsigned from Ovid Twp. He stated that Ovid Twp. needs to make some concession Dick said that OMESA has some of the savings is in CDs and some in a checking account that is making interest. Bob Dennison said that they are making progress on the house on Baldwin Rd. Dan Stewart is helping to get the house cleaned up. They have the death certificate of the original owners. But the person is mentally ill and he has been paying the taxes. County did not know the person was different from the tax roll because they have the same names. Public Comment Opened 7:20 pm 7:27 closed Moved by E. Dutton, seconded by Stevens, to approve the agenda Motion to Approve Agenda with the additions (c) computer for treasure and( d) windmills under New Business. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED AGENDA APPROVED Moved by P. Dutton, seconded by E. Dutton to approve the minutes Minutes Approved from March 9, 2011 regular and budget township board meeting 03/09/11 as printed. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by Tomasek-Swan and seconded by E. Dutton to approve the Treasurer's report as presented. Treasurer's Report Approved AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by Sinicropi to pay bills in with Bills Payment Approved checks numbered 2809-2831 and ETF in an amount of $9,673.66. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Communications Lansing MTA meeting – Erin spoke on the some of the interesting issue about legal expenditure. Michael stated about the fire department presentation had some interesting points. The classes were better than the annual conference. Paul hit points about board meetings being held under 45 minutes from attending the class about having better board meetings. He continued about grants and bonds and talked about having an accountable fire department Paul felt it was a better value having four sessions together than having the annual conference style. MTA was also holding a webinar. The MTA was recording to watch the session. The session is on the MTA website for a reduced cost and pay for what you wanted to see but you need to have a credit card. Tony asked about grants. He asked if we could hire someone to write grants and if so could Michael and Paul write a grant. Carolyn and Susan informed the board the BS&A will meet with them on April 20th at the twp. Hall. We would let the board know the information. Carolyn discussed about needing a new computer if the BS&A software is purchased. Paul discussed about Toshiba computer. Paul discussed the information about windmills from the Shiawassee MTA meeting in April. There is a windmill construction company that will be putting windmills. There is a forty acre area needed to put the windmill. a. There will be one acre of unusable field after the windmill is built. Looking to put as many windmills as possible in this area. The company claims the land owner will be receiving approximately $1000.00 per month and that O-E schools will gain money from this company. NE corner of Shiawassee (Rush twp) is the most ideal area. The company stated they don't make much noise and only one bird dies per year. Tony stated that two counties have windmills and thirty windmills will take care of 15,000 homes electrical use. A large company needs to come in to put an electrical grid into the area to be able to make a windmill usable. Doug interjected his knowledge about the windmill. Unfinished Business Trees issue, the trees along M-21 can not be cut by us as the property belongs to Mr. Johnson. The board can clean out the second row of trees. Tony said that he would call Mr. Johnson and see if he is willing to let the township clean up along the M-21. Tony brought up the idea of cutting the brush down and leave the trees. He asked John Tribfelner if he could do it. New Business Paul Dutton, Maple Grove Cemetery representative, discussed about the situation with the head stone that was damage from a body being exhumed. D.A.D. Lukas was doing the work but is making the employee, Larry Ordiway, pay for half of the deductible. One of the Maple Grove Cemetery board member made a motion to have the other municipals pay for a 1/3 of the deductible. Paul feels it would help to keep from having ill will if the township would pay the $90.00. Paul stated it is in our own good graces to help take care of this cemetery. The money would come from the funds paid by the township in the appropriations. John Tribfelner, township sexton, talked about removing the flag pole that fell over, removing grave blankets, working on the driveway and cleaning up some brush in the township's cemetery. Sinicropi stated that next week Michael, Paul and Tony will be traveling around the roads to help make a final decision on what roads we should have to work on this year. There is a meeting next week with the chip seal company to discuss about this new chip seal process. It would be in the best interest to wait until next month to discuss the roads and chip seal until all the information is gathered. FEMA sent a letter regarding the properties in the floodplains. Middlebury township has only a few parcels in the floodplain area. It allows the property owner the ability to purchase flood insurance. Bob Dennison, planning commission board member, stated everyone in the township would have to buy the flood plain insurance even if their property is not in the floodplain area to get the reduce rate. Individual can purchase flood insurance but will have to pay a higher rate. Bob's opinion is that it is not cost effective to the township to be involved in the flood plain insurance. Final Comments John looked at the property on Elm Rd. that the township is in the process of purchasing and gave the opinion that half of the property can be mowed by a regular mower and half with a brush hog. None Opened8:58 pm Closed 9:00 pm The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm from motion moved by Stevens and seconded by P. Dutton. ADJOURNED AYE: All 09:00:00 PM NO: none CARRIED Minutes prepared by ___________________________________________________________ Susan Tomasek-Swan Susan Tomasek-Swan, Middlebury Township Clerk Clerk