Middlebury Township Board Minutes Draft Minutes Middlebury Township Board Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 12, 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 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: There were twenty-eight guests present. Among the guests present were: Mary and Lyle Howard, Rich and Lynn Givens, Bill Lasher, Tammy Pappas, Lynn Bowen, Brent Jones, Gene Ruess, Bob Dennison, Doug Krebhiel, Dick Semans, Deanna Finnegan, Mike and Diane Dowler, Avery Weaver, Terry McCloud, Bill Kline, Jurline Len, Eileen Wheeler, Wes Snyder, Gary Kiger, Stacy Saylor, Doug and Jane McCallister, Rhoda Hacker, Annamarie Bower and Mike Herendeen. Scheduled Comments: Scheduled Comments Tammy Pappas from Demis and Wenzlick reviewed the township's annual audit for the fiscal year 2010-2011. Tammy congratulated the board for receiving a clean opinion. She went over all the different financial aspects of the report. We are now in compliance of GASB 54 requirement. Treasurer Stevens noticed a possible error on the ambulance and fire line in capital assets, Tammy would check on this figure and return an answer to board. She also reviewed the report on internal control over financial reporting. She stated that we provided sound information to make the audit strong. Tammy stated about some issues to help make the records better with recording reports and staying within budget. Tomasek - Swan made a motion to accept audit report letter of internal control contingent on fixing or confirming the dollar amount on the fire and ambulance assets line item, Stevens second the motion. AYE All Nay None Carried Safe Center representatives Rhoda Hacker and Eileen Wheeler from Safe Center (Rave) reviewed their services to inform the board and the community about their program. They help victims of domestic and sexual abuse. They service Clinton and Shiawassee Counties. Their program has open borders to access more services. Rails to Trails representatives: Annamarie Bower, Avery Weaver, and Terry McCloud made a presentation on Rails to Trails. The state of Michigan is now involved in the development of Rails to Trails. The speakers are hoping Middlebury Township is willing to get on board in contributing financially to the development of the trails. Annamarie Bower presented the proposed trail and the different parts of the trail and the levels of completion. Then she reviewed the financing of the trail and how it is broke down by sources. Meijer has committed 1.6 million to the project and the Grand River Rail trail. The Fred Meijer Fund has established a perpetual fund to care for the trails, therefore the trails are named the Fred Meijer's trails, Then she reviewed the financing of the trail and how it is broke down from the different sources. Meijer has committed 1.6 million to the project and the Grand River rail trail. The Rails to Trails group is hoping for a 100 percent local support. The group is asking each township to contribute $5,000.00 to the trail. Our trail is referred to "Project GO" ( Greenville to Owosso tr Bill Lasher from the Village of Ovid spoke on how they are contributing to the Rails to Trail and why they are interested in contributing to the trails. He feels it will be great economically to the village. Doug Krebiehl spoke his opinions on the rail to trails. He also asked about the bridge repairs being done for the trails. Mrs. Howard stated her support for the trail. Mr. Givens asked the board about taking a survey on the rails to trails to see if the people in Middlebury township wanted to support it with tax dollars. Givens pointed out the state and federal money is being used and now the county is putting money into the trails and the friends of the trail are asking the local governments also Mr. Givens feels it is double dipping. Givens suggested to ask private people to donate to the trail. PUBLIC COMMENT opened 8:33 pm closed at 9:00 pm Deanna Finnegan spoke on her qualifications for the prosecuting office. Bill Lasher, Village of Ovid's mayor said the Owosso Memorial Hospital asked the village if they could use sewer and water system. The township and the village will need to have an intermunicipal agreement. Next spring is the start date of construction that was stated to Mr. Lasher from the hospital representatives.. Brent Jones from SEDP( Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership) came to update the board on the new jobs in Shiawassee County. He presented documentations for the board to sign support the SEDP for another year. Bill Kline spoke his comment on the Rails to Trails. Bill would consider donating $500.00 contribution if they would allow golf cart. He also questioned if the endowment set aside to maintain the trails would be enough over time. Doug Krebhiel talked about the Seney trail and his opinions on the Rails to Trails. Doug McCallister spoke his opinions on the Rails to Trails. He asked the board to think beyond the local people living on and or by the trail. Doug Krebhiel commented on the fence in cemetery and the land area in front of the building and if the board would be considered adding screened topsoil to fill in the low areas to even out the lawn for mowing. Board Member, Paul Dutton read a letter from Kirk Baese in regards to trails to rail. Moved by P. Dutton, seconded by E. Dutton, to approve the agenda with the addition of OMESA. Motion to Approve Agenda AYE: All NO: none CARRIED AGENDA APPROVED Moved by Sinicropi seconded by Stevens to approve the minutes from the July 11, 2012 as written. Minutes Approved AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by Tomasek-Swan to approve the banking report as presented. Treasurer's Report Approved AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by E. Dutton to pay bills in with Bills Payment Approved checks numbered 3163-3177 in an amount of $5,818.80 from general fund and checks 1015 for 4,606.25 from the road fund. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Communications Tomasek Swan spoke on absentee voting ballots. Tomasek-Swan briefly spoke on the meeting with the Burnham and Flower representative, Larry Clever. Lynn Bowne spoke on some paperwork regarding the purchase agreement with the hospital. He updated the board on what is going on. He recommending on not taking any action on this new purchase agreement. Erin Dutton spoke her opinion of the rail to trails. Stevens made the motion to table all discussions and decisions on the Rails to Trails until the new board members were seated. Tomasek-Swan seconded the motion. AYE :Stevens. Tomasek Swan, Sinicropi Business NO: E. Dutton and P. Dutton Tomasek Swan briefed on the cost of doing business the credit union vs. the Citizen's bank. Stevens spoke her opinion on the Citizens Bank. She was favorable in staying with Citizens. E, Dutton made a motion to approve the cost of destroying ballots, a sign for election and having test decks prepared. Sinicropi seconded. Aye: E. Dutton, Stevens, Tomasek-Swan, Sinicropi Nay: P. Dutton E.Dutton made to motion amend the cemetery budget $150.00 for revenue $150.00 for expenditure. P. Dutton seconded. Aye All Motion by Tomasek-Swan to amend the Road and General budget correctly show the revenue and expenditures from the different accounts. Stevens seconded the motion. All Aye Nay: None Dick Semans, OMESA representative, stated there was no new business. The deposition is still being delayed for various reasons. The new ambulance is working real well. Diane Dowler informed the board about Barb retiring from tax description department in Shiawassee County. Pete Preston company has been hired to run equalization. Diane will know more after assessor's meeting. Pete Preston will be speaking at MTA Shiawassee October's meeting. Final Comments Sinicropi spoke his opinions on the Rails to Trails. Mike Herendeen stated the issue is not over the trails but the use of taxpayers dollars. Paul Dutton gave his clarification on the rails to trail. The representatives from the Rails to Trails needed approval to go to the bank with assurance of the donation in order to obtain a loan. Paul Dutton would like to see the township donate $2,500.00. Final Comments Doug Krebhiel updated the board about the wind turbines. Nothing will be done about them until Spring 2013. The next Planning board meeting will be Dec 13th. Opened 9:43 pm Closed 9:50 pm The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 pm Moved by E. Dutton and ADJOURNED seconded by Stevens. AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Minutes prepared by ___________________________________________________________ Susan Tomasek-Swan Susan Tomasek-Swan, Middlebury Township Clerk Clerk