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