The regular meeting
of the Ensley Township Board was called to order at 8:00 PM by
Supervisor Starr. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. Board members present were
Phillip Starr, Cynthia Harwood, Faye Folkema, Brenda Bird, and John
Vander Meulen. There were five guests in attendance.
Minutes of
Previous Meetings:
There was a motion by Folkema/Vander Meulen to approve the Minutes of
January 6, 2009 and the Special Meeting of January 19, 2009. All
Affirmed.
Treasurers
Report:
General $299,821.99
CD #1 General 30,000.00
Checking 1,666.91
Roads 143,106.77
Total
$474,595.67
Receipts #4984-5004 were used totaling $123,354.30. There was a
motion by Harwood/Bird to accept the treasurer’s report. All
affirmed. There was a motion by Bird/Vander Meulen to have Jackie
learn the treasurer’s job as needed. All ayes, motion carried.
Building
Inspector:
There were no building permits and there was one electrical permit
Zoning
Administrator:
There were no zoning compliances for the month.
Planning
Commission:
They received the master plan back from the planner and will work on
it next month.
Forest
Committee:
They will work on getting grants, have the survey done, plan trails,
parking, picnic area, and they hope to get more people involved.
Crime Watch:
Our new Community Policing officer is Deputy Brad Wade. The
programs are all scheduled for the next year.
Supervisor’s
Report:
The furnace was repaired today. A meeting was held on January 29
with Phil Starr, Cindy Harwood, Steve Boluyt and Barb Vander Meulen
to plan a shovel ready grant offered by the Federal Government.
After much discussion and a lot of work, Barb submitted to the
County the grant. We appreciate all of Barb’s work.
County
Commissioner:
Sam Scholtens introduced himself and explained his job as a
commissioner.
Public
Comment:
8:38-8:48 PM
New Business:
1.
Meeting Dates:
There was a
motion by Harwood/Folkema to approve these dates: April 7, May 12,
June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3,
December 1, 2009, January 5, February 2, March 2, 2010 and the
Annual Meeting on March 27, 2010. All affirmed.
2.
Salary Resolution:
Resolutions 2009-1, 2009-2, and 2009-3 were offered. They were for
allowing the electors to vote the Supervisor, Clerk, and Treasurer a
cost of living increase. A roll call vote was taken for each. They
were declared adopted.
3.
Hall Cleanout:
There was a motion by Bird/Starr to have Glenda Middleton of Sand
Lake Library see if any of the books in the township hall are of
value to a library and to clean out the unused stuff (piano,
fax/copier, tabulator and books) out of the hall. All affirmed,
motion carried. Bird/Folkema made a motion that Bird would paint
the hall with approved color/colors at no extra charge for labor to
the township if we buy the paint and brushes. All affirmed.
4.
Summer Tax Collection:
Folkema/Vander Meulen made a motion to send a letter to Kent ISD,
Grand Rapids Community College, and Cedar Springs Public Schools
that we do not collect summer school taxes. All voted aye. Motion
carried.
5.
Poverty Exemption Guidelines:
Resolution 2009-4 was offered by Vander Meulen and supported by
Bird. A roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. Resolution was
adopted.
6.
Board of Review Dates:
There will be an organizational meeting on March 3 at 11:00 a.m.
March 10 from 2:00 to 5:00 and 6:00 to 9:00, and March 12 from 9:00
to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00. There was a motion by Harwood/Vander Meulen
to approve the Board of Review Dates as presented. All ayes, motion
carried.
Unfinished
Business:
1.
Newsletter:
The newsletter should be out about February 16th.
2.
Forest Property Survey:
Two bids were received: John Doornbos, P.S. for $2,000.00 and
Hackbardt Land Surveys for $975.00. Vander Meulen/Starr made the
motion to accept Hackbardt Land Surveys’ bid. All ayes, motion
carried.
3.
Liquor Ordinance:
There was a motion by Starr/Vander Meulen to adopt the ordinance as
presented by our attorney. Folkema, Vander Meulen, Harwood and Starr
voted aye. Bird opposed with the belief we need a stronger
ordinance. There was a motion by Starr/Vander Meulen to set the
initial application fee at $1,000.00. Four ayes, one (Bird)
abstained.
4.
Cleanup Day:
Starr checked with Ensley Baptist Church to use the parking lot.
Bird/Harwood moved to approve April 3 & 4 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
using J & S. All affirmed.
Bills:
Checks #11174 to 11197 were used totaling $9,061.06. The General
Fund was $8,704.06 and the Building Inspection Fund was $357.00.
There was a motion by Bird/Vander Meulen to pay the bills. All
affirmed.
Correspondence:
Public Comment:
9:55 to 10:08 PM.
Break:
Audience and Folkema left the building.
Closed
Session: E.S. & G. Lawsuit.
There was a motion by Vander Meulen/Bird to close the open session
and open the closed session. All approved. There was discussion of
the attorney’s letter. Vander Meulen/Harwood moved to close the
closed session and open the open session. All voted aye. There was
a motion by Vander Meulen/Bird to accept “alternative 2” as
recommended by our attorney in the letter of February 3, 2009.
Starr, Harwood, Bird and Vander Meulen voted aye, Folkema was absent.
Adjourn:
There was a motion to adjourn at 10:29PM.
Submitted by,
________________________
Cynthia Harwood, Clerk
