REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

EAGLE HARBOR TOWNSHIP BOARD

August 9, 2004

 

CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Supervisor Doug Sherk, at the Eagle Harbor Community Center in Eagle Harbor, called the regular meeting of the Eagle Harbor Township Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on August 9, 2004.  Supervisor Sherk led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Trustee Lantz, Treasurer Johnson, Supervisor Sherk, Trustee Ellis, and Clerk Olson.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL AND ADDITIONS:

MM/S Olson/Lantz to approve the agenda with the following additions.

·          Keweenaw County July 14th 2004 Minutes under Supervisor’s Remarks.

·          VFD Bylaws under New Business.

·          Ski Trail Grooming under New Business.

·          Marina Management under New Business.

The Agenda was approved 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

 

CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

·          Approve minutes of July 12, 2004 regular meeting.

·          Approve minutes of July 12, 2004 Hearing on the Solid Waste Assessment Roll.

·          Accept Treasurer’s Report

·          Approve Payment of Bills

MM/S Johnson/Olson to approve Consent Agenda 5 Ayes, 0 Nays – Consent Agenda approved.

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND SUPERVISOR’S REMARKS:

1.       Correspondence

·          CableAmerica Building – Supervisor Sherk summarized and reported that construction had begun on the building.

·          Marina - Supervisor Sherk summarized an MDNR meeting with the KC Historical Society and Onagaming Yacht Club: the MDNR wants to lease out the functions and services there.

·          Hazard Mitigation Letter - Supervisor Sherk summarized and stated that the WUPPDR survey of our hazard planning needs has to be returned by August 13, 2004.

2.       Remarks

·          Sheriff Lahti & County Engineer Greg Patrick re: Traffic Problems in Eagle Harbor – Sheriff Lahti told the Board and Audience that the County Engineer has authority for Stop signs that are enforceable.  He went on to say that if there are any problems to call the Sheriffs Department.  Engineer Patrick told the board that crash data is used to support the addition of traffic controls.  He said he had spent time driving around Eagle Harbor Village and didn’t see any problems.  Likewise the Crash Data doesn’t support additional traffic control in the village.  No additional stop signs are needed.

·          Personal Indemnity Insurance – Supervisor Sherk Summarized the availability for employees at their cost from a private insurer if they desire it.

·          State Property Tax Initiative – Supervisor Sherk summarized and indicated that the State would likely soon require a township wide reassessment be done all at one time.  He also stated that the Township needed to start planning for the expense for an outside contractor because our current assessor will not be doing this project for us.

·          Water System Funding – Supervisor Sherk stated he is still working on getting funding.

·          Lac La Bell Update – Mount Bohemia Ski lodge owner plans to move forward with construction of individual condominium buildings in Mendota Plat.

·          Water Hookup Update – Bids are out. Waiting for the bid entry time to expire.

·          Junk Jettison Day – Supervisor Sherk thanked the Volunteers including  Doug Schubert’s leadership for their excellent job on Junk Jettison Day.

·          Keweenaw County July 14th 2004 Minutes - Posted at the Township Hall.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

·          Beach Committee – Inactive – No Report.

·          Cemetery Committee – Ginny Schubert – No Report.

Sexton Comments – Mike Braman – OK.

·          Community Building – Jeane Olson – No Report.

·          First Responders – Bruce Olson – No Report.

·          Hazard Mitigation Committee – Kris Callog – No Report.

·          Hebard Plat Committee – Jeane Olson – No Report.

·          911 Committee – Doug Schubert – No Report.

·          Park Committee – George Hite – No Report.

·          Recreation Committee – Barb Sickler – No Report.

·          Solid Waste Committee – Doug Schubert thanked the volunteers of Junk Jettison Day and the Kesanen team for their excellent hard work.  The project came in under budget.

·          Volunteer Fire Department – Mike Radigan – Reported the Dry Hydrant at Cedar Creek is operational.  The Fire Department received their first 800Mhz handheld radio from the Keweenaw County Sheriff through a Grant.  Also, the Fire Department and First Responders are having a Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser on August 27, 2004 from 5pm-8pm at the Shoreline Resort.

·          Water Committee – John Wakeman – Waiting on bid process.

Water Systems Operator – Reid Rastello – No Report.

·          Wellhead Protection Committee – Reid Rastello – No Report.

·          Zoning Advisory Committee – George Hite – No Report.

 

OLD BUSINESS

·          Fire Truck Financing – The following public comment started at 7:42pm and continued until 8:18 PM based upon speaker time.

·          The following comments are paraphrased as accurately as possible.

1.       Supervisor Sherk presented an emailed statement from William Jacka Sr objecting to a new Fire Truck for a number of reasons.

2.       Supervisor Sherk summarized Bud and Janet Avery’s remarks from the last Board Meeting opposing a new Fire truck, per their request.

3.       Art Amolsch rhetorically sighted the past use of Fire Insurance Plaques as a means of separating supporting from non-supporting members of the community.

4.       Mike Radigan made the statement that even though he does not like high insurance rates he still must have insurance.

5.       Pat Ryan said he had been told that a one unit change for Insurance ratings would equal a $60 annual drop in premiums for users.  He wanted to know what is required to get our rating changed.  The Board did not know and would try to find out.

6.       Pat Roche wanted to know if the survey results particularly concerning non-voters had been summarized.  The Board indicated they had and that the majority of between 50% and 60% of non-voting taxpayers/residents responding were for the truck.

7.       Bill Clark wanted to know the status of the Volunteer Fire Department and if the department could handle another truck.  The board asked the Fire Chief Mike Radigan to answer the question.  The Fire Chief said that the department had 15 certified members and 3 non-certified members which is almost twice as large as when the last fire truck was purchased.  There are also younger members that have joined.  Ed Stoneman added that the increase in training requirements is actually helping to recruit new members.

8.       Mary Ann Hohner stated that 2 –3 years ago when the last truck was bought it was said that it would take care of the Township needs for 30 years.  She wanted to know why that had changed.  She went on to say that the information put out was not signed by anyone and came from downstate somewhere.  She wanted to know why.  The Board stated the purchase time of the last truck was about 5 years ago and that the process to buy the truck started earlier yet, about 7 years ago.  They also stated that the life expectancy of the fire truck was 30 years and that almost 10 years ago it was estimated that the time before a new fire truck would be needed would be at least a decade. The Board stated that despite the best estimates, times and needs change, and that even with the present process it would be about 2 more years, or almost 9 years total from the start of trying to get the last new truck, before we could actually take possession of a new Fire Truck.  The Board said the only mailing the Board had done was the Supervisor’s survey last fall and that any other mailings including the one she asked about was done by private organizations or individuals at no expense to the taxpayers.

9.       Edward Kisiel read a prepared statement of his reasons for support of the Fire Truck, calling attention to the duty of governments to protect their citizens within their jurisdiction and the small cost of obtaining this protection. He again asked the Board to approve the purchase of a new fire truck and finance it through the use of a special assessment to assure the safety of the community from fire threats. He said he would give a written copy of his statement to the Board.

10.   Nancy Wakeman asked the board to explain the financing.  The board indicated that the Township has an approved grant for $50,000 and an approved loan for $190,000 for 15 years (the minimum time we can take their loans for now).  It could probably be serviced by the equivalent of a one mil tax, depending upon our taxable value and the actual cost at the time of purchase.

11.   Nancy Sherk stated she was in favor of a truck and that their residence was in a remote area with no hydrants.  She also expressed the lack of understanding on why, with such a low cost, the fire truck tax was such a large issue.

12.   Ed Stoneman asked if the proposed tax was still one mil and the Board replied he was correct as far as the Board could tell at this time.

13.   Marilynn Ehrenreich wanted to know if everyone would pay a flat rate tax and the reply from the Board was no but it could be considered.

14.   Art Amolsch stated that slurs in the email statement read earlier and other slurs towards the Fire Department, were not appreciated.

The special comment period was closed as the allotted speaker time had expired.  Supervisor Sherk related a comment from an RDA representative in a recent conversation that if Eagle Harbor turned down the loan and grant for a fire truck, that it could probably be a long time before we could receive consideration for another one.

MM/S Sherk/Lantz to explore other finance options for the Fire Truck consistent with the availability of the loan and grant passed 5-0.

·          Private Road Ordinance – Tabled/waiting for advice from attorney, no update.

·          Insurance Risk Control – Tabled awaiting further information, no update.

·          Water Electrical Ground Ordinance – Tabled, no update.

·          Assessor Contract – Tabled, no update.

·          UPS Backup for Pump House – Tabled, no change.

·          Storage Shed for Tractor – MM/S Sherk/Johnson to purchase a 12’ x 16’ Shed not to exceed $3800 passed on a Roll Call Vote 5-0.

·          Drainfield Placement Ordinance – MM/S Sherk/Johnson to table passed 5-0.

 

NEW BUSINESS

·          Offer of Donation of Barrels from Tom Ellis Jr – MM/S Olson/Sherk to accept donation passed 4-1 with Trustee Ellis abstaining.

·          Storage Area at Solid Waste Site – MM/S Sherk/Lantz to add fencing behind brush area for long-term storage of Township equipment and supplies passed unanimously.

·          Support of New Lens for Lighthouse – MM/S Sherk/Lantz for letter of support for the Keweenaw County Historical Society’s request for a Fresnel Lens passed unanimously

·          VFD Bylaws – MM/S Sherk/Johnson to table VFD bylaws awaiting VFD acceptance passed 5-0.

·          Resolution of Non-profit Status of Fire Department – MM/S Sherk/Olson to table awaiting Bylaw approval passed unanimously.  Supervisor Sherk thanked Ed Kisiel for all the time he had put in on getting the FD Bylaws and resolution materials.

·          Silver River Loop Resurfacing Cost – MM/S by Clerk Olson/Sherk to put in budget next year passed 5-0 on a Roll Call Vote.

·          Dunes Marshes Property Name – MM/S Sherk/Johnson to accept resolution changing the name of the Dunes Marshes property to The George Hite Dunes Marshes Preserve unless the local donor, George Hite, objects passed unanimously.

·          Dunes Marshes Conservation Easement/Sign Update – MM/S by Sherk/Ellis to accept changes to the easement passed unanimously.

·          Ski Trail Grooming – MM/S Lantz/Ellis to accept John Davis’s donation of Ski Trail grooming equipment passed unanimously.

·          Marina Management – MM/S Sherk/Olson to support Keweenaw County’s involvement in the Management of the Eagle Harbor Marina passed unanimously.

 

ZONING VARIANCE REQUESTS - None

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Policy/Rule for public comment: 3 minutes per person – up to 20 minutes total during meeting and 3 minutes per person – up to 20 minutes total under public comment section of agenda.

This policy will be stated on all agendas

 

Several Citizens were recognized for the following public comments:

 

·          Nancy Wakeman asked for extra copies of the Fire Truck Q&A information.  Ed Kisiel said he could provide them.

·          Danny Pruner brought to the attention of the Board the need to reenforce proper safety around the propane tanks at the Community Center when leasing that space to 3rd parties.

 

ADJOURNMENT

·          MM/S Olson/Lantz to adjourn.  Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:02 PM

 

 

 

__________________________________

Jeane Olson, Clerk

Eagle Harbor Township

 

- CERTIFICATION –

 

I, the undersigned, Jeane Olson, the duly qualified and elected Clerk for the Township of Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of certain proceedings taken by the Township Board of said Township at a regular board meeting held on the 9th day of August, 2004.

 

 

 

__________________________

Jeane Olson, Clerk

Eagle Harbor Township