Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Ensley Township Board Meeting

Minutes of  February 3, 2004

Special Meeting February 17th Click Here

The regular meeting of the Ensley Township Board was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Supervisor Bergman.  The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a prayer.  Board members present were Richard Bergman, Cynthia Harwood, Faye Folkema, John Patin and John VanderMeulen.  There were 17 guests.

The minutes of January 6, 2004 were approved without objection.

The minutes of the Budget Workshop of January 19, 2004 were approved without objection.

Treasurer’s Report:

            General            $249,576.40

            Checking                3,363.43

            Roads                 101,882.60

            CD #1 general      30,000.00 

            Total                $384,822.43

Receipts #3602-3632 were used totaling $106,018.79.

The treasurer’s report was approved without objection. 

Police Report:  Officer Stabile had 45 patrol hours.  There were 5 complaints, 1 citation, 6 warnings, 5 property checks, 1 motorist assist and he has assisted by other patrols 1 time.  There was one major incident within the township-a meth-amphetamine lab seizure on Cottonwood Avenue, which resulted in 10 arrests and the forfeiture of the home.

Building Inspector Report:  There were three building permits and one electrical permit issued.  Mr. Boluyt is to check with Mr. Huffman about his contract with the township.

Zoning Administrator Report:  Mr. Evens had statistics of 23,311 acres in the township.  Of this 712 are in the Cedar Springs School District, 12,511 acres are the in Tri County School District, and Grant has 10,087 Acres.  The State Equalized Value is $80,726,800 with $55,720,554 taxable.  There are 1,561 parcels-24 are in the Cedar Springs School District, 950 are in Tri County and 586 in Grant.

Planning Commission:  They recommended the Board approve the special land use of Woodard Excavating.  There was a motion by Folkema, supported by Patin to accept Woodard Excavating’s Special Land Use.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:  Donna Ellick needs to get flags ordered.  There was a motion by Patin, supported by VanderMeulen to have Ellick get flags for the cemetery.  Faye Folkema had a sympathy card for anyone to sign for the Hawkins family due to the death of Lottie Hawkins.  Paul Bigford introduced himself as he is running for State Representative.

New Business: 

1.      Resolution for Continuance of Board of Review Dates:  There was a motion by Bergman, supported by VanderMeulen to continue with the current dates for Board of Review.  There was a roll call vote.  All voted aye.  Resolution passed.

2.      Board of Review Dates:  The dates are March 2 from 9AM-12 AM, (this is an organizational meeting), March 8 from 9-12 PM and March 9 from 2-5 PM and 6-9 PM.

3.      Board of Review Training:  The Board of Review training is on February 19 from 1-4PM at the Double J Ranch in Rothbury.  There is no cost to attend.  There was a motion by Bergman, supported by VanderMeulen for the township to pay mileage and a meal.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

4.      Escrow Interest.  Townships are not allowed to earn interest on escrow accounts.  The township should have a non-interest bearing account.  There was a motion by Folkema, supported by VanderMeulen to have our auditor figure the interest amounts so we may return the interest and open a non-interest bearing savings account.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

5.      Township Meeting Dates:  The dates were set as: April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 10, September 7, October 5, November 9, December 7, January 4, 2005, February 1, 2005, March 1, 2005 and the annual meeting on March 26, 2005.

6.      Salary Resolutions:  There was a motion by VanderMeulen, supported by Folkema to raise the Supervisor’s salary to $7,365.00 annual, Clerk’s salary to $9,000 annual and the Treasurer’s salary to $12,280.00 annual.  Roll call vote:  All ayes.  Resolution passed.

7.      Park Boat Ramp Closing:  Barb VanderMeulen will get case law to Bergman so he may pass it along to our attorney.

8.      Audit-GASB 34:  GASB 34 is a new accounting procedure that we must comply with beginning with the fiscal year 2004-2005.  Folkema made a motion to set the “capitalization dollar amount” at $5,000.00.  Harwood supported this.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Old Business:

1.      Forest Project:  Barb VanderMeulen presented a proposal to help get grants and preserve the wetlands.  The Forest Committee will get a copy of her proposal and report back to the Board with their recommendations.

2.      Internet Web Site:  The web host is now with WMIS.  Verduin has redone our web site.  The County gave the Township a used computer.  Verduin would like to network them.  They would be compatible with Windows XP.  The assessor would not need a new computer if they had extra ram.

3.      Sand Lake Public Library:  Legally the Township cannot give a donation.  We may give to services with a contract that states how much and when.  There was a motion by VanderMeulen, supported by Patin to leave as is-no donation.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

4.      Property Line:  A Governmental Entity is not bound by property line usage.  Our attorney recommends that if we change the property line, we hold a public hearing.  Bergman recommends we investigate our option and discuss at the next meeting

Bills:  Checks #9163-9189 were used totaling $59,004.19.  General Operating Fund $8,240.03 Road Fund $50,164.17 and Building Inspection Fund $599.99.  There was a motion by Folkema, supported by Patin to transfer money from the General Fund - fund balance to roads in the amount of $11,707.30 to cover the bills.  All ayes.  Motion carried.  Motion to pay bills by Folkema, supported by Patin.  All ayes, motion carried.

Correspondence:   There was a motion by Bergman to reappoint Keith Bouwkamp and Cindy LaBelle to the Planning Commission.  Vander Meulen supported this.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:  James Dunn questioned the bill on Beech Avenue.  There was a motion by Folkema, supported by Harwood to put the road millage on the August ballot with the same working as before.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Closed Session:  This is to discuss the Ensley Sand & Gravel court case.

Recess.  The audience left the building.

There was a motion by VanderMeulen, supported by Harwood to go into closed session.  Roll call vote.  All ayes. 

The terms of the settlement were discussed.

There was a motion by Harwood, supported by Patin to accept the settlement agreement.  There was a roll call vote:  Folkema abstained, Harwood, VanderMeulen, Patin and Bergman all voted aye.  Motion carried.

There was a motion to close the closed session by VanderMeulen, supported by Patin.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion to adjourn at 10:13 PM.  Next meeting is March 2, 2004.

Respectfully submitted by,

Cynthia Harwood, Clerk

________________________

Richard Bergman, Supervisor

Special Meeting February 17th

Supervisor Bergman called the special meeting of the Ensley Township Board to order at 9:00 AM.  The Pledge of Allegiance was said and a prayer.  Board members present were Richard Bergman, Cynthia Harwood, Faye Folkema, John Patin, and John VanderMeulen.  There was one guest.  The purpose of the meeting was to decide on the roadwork for the upcoming construction season.

There was much discussion on the roads to be worked on.  There was a motion by Bergman, supported by Patin to take approximately $71,600 from the general fund to do all the projects.  There was one aye (Bergman) and four nays (Harwood, Folkema, Patin & VanderMeulen).  Motion failed.

There was a motion to do projects 6,9 & 10 for reseal by VanderMeulen, supported by Folkema, and use general fund balance money if necessary.  All ayes.  Motion carried.  These reseal projects include Beech from 104^th St. to 98^th Street, 98^th St., from Beech Ave. to the west approximately 4300 feet, and 128^th Street from Newcosta Ave. to Balsam Avenue.  These are also included in the following motion.

There was a motion by Bergman, supported by Folkema to approve the following projects:  reseal 98^th Street-Beech to the gravel, 128^th Street-Newcosta to Balsam, 22 Mile Road-Locust to Elm, 136^th Street-Locust to Juniper, Beech – 104^th to 98^th Street.  Wedge 22Mile 1000 feet by Baldwin Lake, reconstruct Cottonwood from 120^th to 128^th, and blacktop Beech from 104^th to 112^th and the 112^th intersection 5,700 feet.  Wedge 104^th from Locust to the township line.  These projects are subject to change depending on the county’s final figures.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

There was a motion by Harwood, supported by VanderMeulen to allow Folkema to take the fax machine (which in no longer in use) from the hall to use in her office.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion to adjourn at 10:25 AM.

Respectfully submitted by,

Cynthia Harwood, Clerk

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