The Regular Meeting of the Vernon Township Board was held on May 3, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Members present: Vicky Louch (Treasurer), Mike Turner (Trustee), Jacob McConnell (Trustee), Loren Cole (Clerk), and Julie Cole (Deputy Clerk). Members absent: Jeff Bean (Supervisor).
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by L. Cole who led in the Pledge to the Flag.
J. McConnell made the motion and M. Turner seconded to approve and accept the minutes from last meeting and to approve and accept the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried.
Visitors present: Elvis Denton (resident), Jim Pohl (resident), Lee Cole (resident), Paul Cole (resident), Gordon Gilchrist (resident), Bill & Sandy Brewer (residents), and Tom Fetters (resident).
Jim was able to fill the board in on some information about the upcoming road millage.
Gordon brought to the attention of the board and the audience about a situation that happened with the ZBA where a variance was denied.
Bill & Sandy were asking the board if there were any other private brine operators available. Also, they were expressing their concern about the frequent grading of the road.
Tom was here to check on the cemetery ordinance. Informed him, that since J. Bean was unable to be there, it would be tabled for now.
Supervisor's Report
1. Roads:
A. Quotes Received to Date
I. Chip Seal Whiteville from Coleman to Dead End: $ 4,827.06
II. Chip Seal Whiteville from Herrick to Co. Line: $22,643.42
III. Gravel McFarland from Vernon to Battle: $23,681.98
IV. Ditching/Drainage Doherty, Crawford to Lincoln: $36,656.02
V. Gravel Overlay; Doherty, Crawford to Lincoln: $23,638.26
VI. Gravel Patching; Doherty, Crawford to Lincoln: $16,100.07
VII. Repair/Limestone; Stevenson Lake to Hall: $ 6,432.13
The available budget, after the Vernon Road payment and brine contract, is $14,051 plus the $10,000 ICRC coupon, allowing for $24,051 in road spending. We are still awaiting results of Isabella Township's request for Tribal 2% funding to grind and pave Vernon Road, from Isabella to Summerton.
B. Ad Hoc Meeting on Proposed Road Millage:
I. Countywide Road Millage will appear on August Primary Ballot.
a. Estimated $33M in Roadway Work Needed.
b. Requesting 2 mills for 8 years, raising $3.3M annually.
c. After Cities-Villages share, $2.1M annually for rural county roads
d. Rural County Roadways:
i. 1166 miles, consisting of 496 paved, 670 gravel and 11 bridges.
e. Roadway Conditions:
i. 65 paved miles in good condition.
ii. 148 paved miles at or near grinding conditions.
iii. 90 paved miles in chip seal condition.
iv. 66 paved miles in overlay condition.
v. 36 bridges in deficient/obsolete condition.
f. Projected Utilization of Funds:
i. All chip seal projects.
ii. All overlay projects.
iii. 160 miles of gravel at 10 miles per township over 8 years.
iv. Some bridges.
v. Some grind and pave miles. 63 miles may be grind only.
II. Next Meeting is October 16, 2010.
2. Township Assets: 13.2% of INEFD is for Vernon Township.
3. Property Tax: The state is conducting a 14 point audit of tax records in August.
4. Zoning: Working with Zoning Officer on the Stevenson Lake Road burned house.
5. Other:
a. INEFD Meeting held April 13th. See Old Business.
b. CAFD incident on Vernon Hill. The action was dismissed.
c. There is a pending livestock claim from Mike Newman, for damage caused by two stray dogs.
Clerk's Report.
1. Election Issues: There are School Board elections tomorrow for Farwell and Clare Area Schools.
2. Budget: Budget vs. Actual report given.
Treasurer's Report
1. Financial Report as of : April 30, 2010
General Fund Checking............................. $73.581.43
Waste Management.................................. $75,711.63
Vernon City Highway Lighting.................... $ 1,693.23
Vernon Twp Perpetual Care Savings............. $ 2676.13
Vernon Twp Cemetery CD _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $ 29,019.42
CMCFCU-Prime Access Acct as of 12-31-09 _ $50,498.90
First Bank CD_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $23,156.86
2. Review and Pay Bills:
Motion made by V. Louch to pay bills as presented in the amount of $19,161.83. Seconded by J. McConnell. Motion carried. See attachment of bills paid.
Trustees' Report
1. J. McConnell: Informed the board that some posts he placed near a cemetery lot to prevent people from driving on the lot were removed.
2. M. Turner: Expressed some concerns about the discussion/decision of the ZBA issue.
Old Business:
1. Motion by M. Turner to Move the consideration of an Amendment to the By-Laws allowing for revised term for INEFD from the table for discussion/consideration. Seconded by V. Louch. Motion passed. The INEFD has decided to drop this issue and leave the By-Laws unchanged. M. Turner made the motion to dismiss the issue. Seconded by V. Louch. Motion passed.
2. Motion by V. Louch to move the Consideration of Denver Township's request to add 9 sections to the INEFD district from the table for discussion. Seconded by L. Cole. Motion passed.
Denver Township proposes to transfer 9 sections of land from the Coleman Fire Department to the INEFD. Those sections represent a taxable value addition to Denver's ownership share of the INEFD of 4.63%. Total estimated asset value of the INEFD is $822,000, times 4.63% equals a $38,059 buy in price. The INEFD Fire Board feels that in consideration of Denver's success in receiving $246,000 in 2% Tribal funds over the years which the INEFD has used for equipment purchases, that the buy in value be established at $25,372.40, to be paid in a lump sum. Resolution #001-2010 was moved by V. Louch and seconded by L. Cole. A roll call vote was taken with all in favor approving the buy in.
3. New Business:
1. Review of the Cemetery Ordinance Provisions and Service Rates was tabled by J. McConnell and seconded by V. Louch. Motion passed.
Adjournment:
J. McConnell made the motion to adjourn and it was seconded by V. Louch. Motion carried. This meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. on May 3, 2010.
Respectfully Submitted
L. Cole, Clerk
J. Bean, Supervisor (absent)
V. Louch, Treasurer
M. Turner, Trustee
J. McConnell, Trustee