Middlebury Township Board Minutes Draft Minutes Middlebury Township Board Regular Meeting Wednesday January 11, 2012 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 Richard Semans. Members Present: Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi, Clerk Susan Roll Call Tomasek-Swan, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Erin Dutton and Trustee Paul Dutton. Guest Present: Twelve guests were present at the meeting. Gary Kiger, Larry Ordiway, Bob Dobski, a reporter from the Weekly, Shawn Dilts, Rich Givens, Arlene Pesik, Richard Semans, Bob Dennison, Charlie Moore, Nancy Hughson, Doug Krebiehl, and Michael Herendeen, Deputy Supervisor. Scheduled Comments: Scheduled Comments None Public Comments Mike Constine questioned if Middlebury Township was leaving Maple Grove Cemetery Authority. Michael Herendeen, Deputy Supervisor, responded there was no motion on the table to leave the Authority. Opened 7:04 pm Closed 7:43 pm Larry Ordiway stated he hated to see Middlebury Township pull out of the Maple Grove Authority because the Authority wouldn't be able to make it financially. Larry read the Michigan law that stated it is a township duty to maintain a cemetery. Charlie Moore voiced about his concern about Middlebury Township pulling out of the Authority. Michael Herendeen talked about Middlebury’s 2011-2012 fiscal year budget of $15,000 in the cemetery's line item; it is more than Village and Township of Ovid combined. Mr. Herendeen expressed that Middlebury Township's cemetery on Krouse Rd is just as important as the Maple Grove Cemetery. Gary Kiger asked if Middlebury was not a part of the Authority, would the township residents have to pay a higher premium in Maple Grove Cemetery. The board stated it would be non-resident rates if Middlebury did not belong to the Authority. Rich Givens gave his opinion on how much Maple Grove Cemetery was costing the Middlebury's residents. He pointed out the extra money paid for the land purchase and development. Any large expenditure made by the Authority has to come from extra money than the appropriations. Mr. Givens continued to say supporting a cemetery is a losing proposition. He continued by stating what Ovid Township appropriates to the Wyrick Cemetery is not the same as Middlebury Cemetery cost and care. It is immoral for our taxpayers to pay for "two dead horses". Givens stated it may help encourage residents to be buried in the Krouse Rd cemetery than the Maple Grove Cemetery if the board only supported their own. He believes board is trying to do the best for the majority of the taxpayers. Mr. Givens continued with an idea of combining the cemeteries to help share costs. Doug Krebiehl asked if Middlebury will be responsible because part of the cemetery physically lies in Middlebury township. Mr. Dutton stated that the Maple Grove Cemetery is owned by the Authority and it is the Authority's responsibility. Arlene Pesik asked if the Ovid Village becomes a city, could the cemetery situation change again. The cemetery could end up in the city and would it become the city's responsibility. Doug Krebiehl asked about FEMA. The mortgage company started sending Mr. Krebiehl information on mandatory flood insurance. His mortgage is forcing him to purchase flood insurance. The board tried to explained the flood plain maps were going to be in use no matter what the township board decided. Rich Givens said he was at the FEMA meeting and there was no way around it. He said that Ben Glardon did not know why the floodplain was increased in Shiawassee County. Bob Dennison stated the way the law was written the township must be in FEMA to get government aid. A motion was made by Stevens and seconded by Tomasek-Swan to approve the agenda with moving of communication item (a) , Board's response to Ovid township letter to New business item (a); adding items (e) Fema conference (f) library board and adding under Old Business (a)brine contract item Roads Motion to Approve Agenda AYE: All NO: none CARRIED AGENDA APPROVED Moved by E. Dutton, seconded by Sinicropi to approve the minutes Minutes Approved from December 14, 2011 regular township board meeting. 14-Dec-12 AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by Stevens and seconded by Sinicropi to approve the Treasurer's report as presented. Treasurer's Report Approved AYE: All NO: P. Dutton CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by Sinicropi to pay bills in with Bills Payment Approved checks numbered 2985-3002 and EFT in an amount of $7,504.66. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Communications None Unfinished Business P. Dutton clarified the brine contract is to be signed with the main road contract. Mr. Dutton talked about the Dewey Rd and Leland Rd ditch and water pooling issue. Then Mr. Dutton discussed the Warren Rd issues; details of repairing the dip and blacktop needed from Krouse Rd to Hibbard Rd. Hibbard Rd needs work but Scotia township needs to agree on the repair. Middlebury needs to pass the road millage in 2012 so we can repair Hibbard Rd. Mr. Herendeen investigated the Sprint wireless phone and discovered the phone would not be able to fax and can not have an 834 number. Sinicropi made a motion to have Frontier install phone service in the township hall. Seconded by E. Dutton. Aye : All New Business Nay: None carried Michael Herendeen read a letter in response to Ovid township's letter. Letter is attached to minutes. P. Dutton wanted to talk about raising the prices of Maple Grove Cemetery Services. The grave digging costs have risen. P. Dutton suggested to the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority double their prices for services. P. Dutton continued with discussion of the editorials in the newspaper concerning leaving the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority. He felt the township board needed to give these people a response as to whether we are going to get out of the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority. Mr. Dutton and Mr. Sinicropi had a discussion about who said we were "getting" out of "the Maple Grove Authority". Mr. Dutton felt when articles are put in a paper we (The Board) need to respond. Stevens stated to P. Dutton that he is a representative of Middlebury Township board and should convey the township board's opinion at the Maple Grove Cemetery meetings not his personal opinions. Sinicropi made a motion to reappoint the current planning members for one year. Stevens seconded the motion. AYE: all Nay: none carried Tomasek-Swan made a motion to set March 14, 2012 at 6:30 pm for the township budget meeting. P. Dutton seconded the motion. Aye: All Nay None No one was interested in FEMA conference E. Dutton reported the library's board response on paying the representatives and discovered most representatives were being paid about $15.00 per meeting except for the Village representative. E. Dutton made a motion to reduce the library board's representative pay to $15.00 per meeting instead of $25.00. No one supported the motion. The motion died. Stevens asked E. Dutton about the property the library is trying to purchase. The library is planning to demolish the house and use the lot for further expansion of the library building and parking. Richard Semans updated the board on OMESA. The new Ambulance has been ordered and OMESA still waiting on Ovid Township to sign the deed to their property. Final Comments Opened 9:04 pm Closed 9:09 pm The meeting was adjourned at 9:09 pm Moved by E. Dutton and ADJOURNED seconded by P. Dutton. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Minutes Prepared by ___________________________________________ ________________ Susan Tomasek-Swan