Michael Hohner Memo – Mike offered his services to assist in grant writing for the Water Department
Keweenaw County Road Commission Minutes - Minutes of the January 10, Road Commission Meeting were presented
Don Keith Letter – Don Keith expressed his support for non - motorized trails. He also feels that Road Commissioners should remain elected officials and not appointed and that there should be 3 road commission districts in the county to insure balanced representation.
Program – Community Planning – Ed McMahon will be the featured speaker at 2 programs on Monday March 31. "How to Work Effectively With Communities to Achieve Natural, Cultural, and Historic Preservation" will be at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building at MTU. "Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities" will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Houghton High School Auditorium. Both Events are free and open to the public.
Land Updates-
- Dunes Marshes project- (360 acres at Great Sand Bay). Just passed Federal Legal Counsel Review. Expect contract papers in one month.
- Master Plan Grant- The $5,000.00 grant with $5,000.00 match by the Township – We are one of 12 out of 24 applications passed on to State Legal Counsel. Expect Contract in one month.
- NAWCA Phase III/ South Boundary Watershed Grant- now titled "Long Lake Refuge II". LSL has increased the acres we must take from 130 to 340, and cost from $69,000 to $152,000. This will be presented to Nawca on Tuesday, March 11, 2003.
- Eliza Lake/Creek Restoration (Dam) project- NAWCA has declined the Eliza Lake project. Discussions with LSL and Trout Unlimited are pending.
- Lands east of Eagle Harbor South/Cutoff Road- Lake Superior Land Co. is offering 160 acres for $152,000.00. The Township is looking at this investment to meet our anticipated future sewage problem. No grant is currently available. We are considering purchasing on a land contract.
- Bill Jackson Letter – Bill Jackson informed us that CableAmerica provided only traditional cable television services and therefore is not subject to the fees as defined by the METRO Act. He also included a letter from Governor Granholm stating that a cable company that offers only traditional cable television service is not covered under this Act.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BEACH COMMITTEE – Fred Geis – No Report
CEMETERY COMMITTEE – Ginny Schubert – Prisoners are still working on the fence.
SEXTON COMMENTS –Mike Braman – Sold 1 Lot this month.
COMMUNITY BUILDING– Nancy Clarkson - No Report
FIRST RESPONDERS – Bruce Olson – First Responders had 3 calls this month.
HAZARD MITIGATION COMMITTEE – Kris Callog – No Report
HEBARD PLAT COMMITTEE – Jeane Olson – Committee Meeting was held on Friday, March 7 to develop a plan of action to get remaining 14 property line agreements signed. Doug Sherk and Jeane Olson will work on Michigan Nature Association and Bill Eddy and Gary Tallon will contact the other property owners in person to see if they can help solve problems or answer questions.
LAND USE COMMITTEE – Inactive-Supervisor Sherk would like a member of the committee to attend the land planning program mentioned in Supervisors remarks.
911 COMMITTEE – Ginny Schubert- Still working on addressing. County will provide and install new road name signs.
PARK COMMITTEE – George Hite – No Report
RECREATION COMMITTEE – Barb Sickler – No Report
SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE – Doug Schubert – No Report
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT – Mike Radigan – With everything frozen Eliza Creek is our only source for water if there should be a fire in the village. A $4500 grant has been received through the Sheriff’s Department to purchase additional radios for firemen. VFD is also working on FEMA Grant for Fire Truck.
Ed Stoneman asked for approval of up to $5500 from their contingency fund for additional hose and a valve. MM/s Olson/Lantz to approve the expenditure. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays Treasurer Johnson will prepare a purchase order.
WATER COMMITTEE – John Wakeman – Supervisor Sherk met with John Wakeman to discuss water rates and make recommendations for the budget. Water Committee meeting set for Tuesday March 18 at 10 a. m. providing Dick Supina of Traverse Engineering can attend. Supervisor Sherk will approach Bob Black to serve on Water Committee.
Referring to Mike Hohner’s memo – there are very few grants available and those that are would require 50% to 75% match. The cost to replace water lines on Pine Street from 7th Street to M26 would be approximately $182,000 and replacement of lines on M26 to Finch’s (end of the line) would be approximately $286,000. With $50,000 in our Construction fund we could not come up with a match.
WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR – Rick Finke – Water Samples are fine. Extra testing for 2003 will be for copper and lead and each well will need to be tested for chemistry. Arsenic tests have been postponed for this year.
WELLHEAD PROTECTION – Rick Finke – No Report
OLD BUSINESS
- 2002-2003 Budget Amendments – MM/s Johnson/Ellis to accept Budget Amendments to Fiscal Year 2002-2003 Budget. Ayes-5 Nays-0
- 2003-2004 Budget – Budget hearing was held at 6:30 before this Board Meeting. MM/S Olson/Johnson to adopt the Budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004. Roll call vote: Sherk -Aye, Olson -Aye, Johnson -Aye, Ellis –Aye Lantz. 5 Ayes- 0 Nays. Budget Adopted.
- Salary Increases
- MM/S Lantz/Ellis to raise Water Operator Salary to $1150 a month ($13,800 per year) as of April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Johnson, Olson, Sherk, Lantz, Ellis; Nays-None
- MM/S Johnson/Lantz to raise Solid Waste Manager Wages to $15 per hour for hours worked as of April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Ellis, Sherk, Olson, Lantz, Johnson; Nays-None
- MM/S Olson/Johnson to establish Fire Chief Salary of $200 per month starting April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Lantz, Johnson, Ellis, Sherk, Olson; Nays-None
- MM/S Lantz/Ellis to raise Cemetery Sexton Salary to $52.50 per month plus $150 per grave preparations of April 1, 2003- Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Olson, Ellis, Johnson, Sherk, Lantz; Nays-None
- MM/S Olson/Sherk to raise Deputy Clerk Wages to $10 per hour for hours worked as of April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Lantz, Ellis, Sherk, Johnson, Olson; Nays-None
- MM/S Olson/Sherk to raise Deputy Treasurer Wages to $10 per hour for hours worked as of April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Sherk, Ellis, Johnson, Lantz, Olson; Nays-None
- MM/S Johnson/Ellis to raise Election Workers Wages to $10 per hour for hours worked and $15 extra per election for the Chairman as of April 1, 2003. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Olson, Lantz, Johnson, Ellis, Sherk; Nays-None
- Water Operator Contract – MM/S Lantz/Ellis to renew Independent Water Operator Contract with Don Keith at $250 per month. Roll Call Vote: Ayes-Johnson, Olson, Sherk, Lantz, Ellis; Nays-None.
- Meeting Dates for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 – MM/s Olson/Lantz to set meeting dates & locations for fiscal year 2003-2004 as follows:
DATE LOCATION
April 14, 2003 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
May 12, 2003 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
June 9, 2003 Eagle Harbor Community Bldg
July 14, 2003 Eagle Harbor Community Bldg
August 11, 2003 Eagle Harbor Community Bldg
September 8, 2003 Eagle Harbor Community Bldg
October 13, 2003 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
November 10, 2003 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
December 8, 2003 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
January 12, 2004 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
February 9, 2004 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
March 8, 2004 Eagle Harbor Twp Hall
Vote: Ayes-5, Nays-None
- Attorney, Auditor, Financial Institutions
- MM/S Johnson/Sherk to retain David Mechlin as Township Attorney. Ayes-5, Nays-None
- MM/S Olson/Johnson to retain John Jukuri as Township Auditor. Ayes-5, Nays-None
- MM/S Lantz/Olson to retain Superior National Bank as our primary financial institution and to retain Wells Fargo Bank, Republic Bank and National City Bank as secondary financial institutions. Ayes-5, Nays-None
- Maintenance Contract for Solid Waste Compactor – MM/S Lantz/Ellis to accept Maintenance contract from Bay Electric with a clause added to require prior approval from the Supervisor or his alternate for repairs over $1000. Ayes-5, Nays-None
- Sewage Treatment Land – Land Contract is being considered. The Township Attorney has verbally approved this method. Treasurer Johnson reported that we have sufficient funds for a 10% down payment and could make the first interest payment with funds on hand. There is also potential for a few building sites on this land that could be sold to help repay funds. There would be no special assessment at this time. Payments would be made from the General Fund and when needed we would lease or sell the land to the users of the system. MM/S Johnson/Olson to ask LSL for a purchase agreement based on a 5 year land contract. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Supervisor Sherk will contact Lake Superior Land for a purchase agreement for Board review.
- Little Grand Marais East – Homeowner’s Association asked the Township Board to consider setting up a new special assessment to maintain Goodell Road which is a private road. The current special assessment expires at the end of 2003. Clerk Olson reviewed the procedure for establishing a special assessment district for private roads. The first requirement is for a citizen petition signed by at least 51% of the record property owners owning 50% of the frontage along the private road. MM/S Olson/Ellis to table until petition is received. Ayes-5, Nays-None
ZONING VARIANCE REQUESTS- None
PUBLIC COMMENT
- None
ADJOURNMENT
- MM/S Lantz/Ellis to adjourn. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays – Meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
.
Jeane Olson
Eagle Harbor Township Clerk
- 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 10th day of March, 2003.
__________________________,
Jeane Olson
Eagle Harbor Township Clerk