FRUITPORT CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PROPOSED MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 2009
A work session of the Fruitport Charter Township Board began at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2009, in the township board room.
Members Present: Brian Werschem, Supervisor; Rose Dillon, Treasurer; Carol Hulka, Clerk; Trustees: Ron Becklin, David Markgraf, Marjorie Nash, and Chuck Whitlow. Members Absent: none
At 7:00 p.m., Supervisor Werschem opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
Also Present: Approximately 30 township residents and employees including Muskegon Chronicle reporter, Peters and FAN reporter, Wiggins
The board meeting minutes of November 24, 2008—regular meeting—were approved, as presented.
The meeting agenda for January 12, 2009, was approved, as presented.
CORRESPONDENCE / REPORTS
Fruitport Township Police Department report for November 2008
The Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association (MMTA) announced that Treasurer Rose Dillon was elected to the position of Vice-President on the MMTA Board of Directors.
Muskegon Area District Library- Meeting agenda of Dec 2009 and meeting minutes of Oct 2009.
A report was received from Muskegon County on the 2009 County Gypsy Moth program. Field work was done to find potential spray areas for gypsy moths. The findings indicated no aerial spraying recommended for Fruitport Township.
DPW Committee minutes dated 1-8-09
PUBLIC COMMENTS -- none received
OLD BUSINESS
09-01 Lawsuits against Great Lakes Downs
There are two separate lawsuits that remain pending involving the operation of Great Lakes Downs Race Track. Former Supervisor Ron Cooper previously agreed to be personally responsible for payment of some expenses in the lawsuits and is willing to continue paying for them.
Chuck Whitlow moved, Rose Dillon supported, MOTION CARRIED, to discuss with the Township’s race track attorney, Ron Redick, the status of these matters with the stipulation that the Township has no financial obligation in further court expenses.
Ayes: Whitlow, Dillon, Becklin, Markgraf, Hulka Nays: Nash, Werschem
09-02 Update on Water Lawsuit with Muskegon Heights
Various letters were presented involving the water lawsuit with Muskegon Heights showing the steps that have been taken and what yet needs to be done.
09-03 Police 2008-2010 Union Contract
Marjorie Nash moved, Ron Becklin seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to ratify the proposed labor agreement between Fruitport Township and the Police Officer’s Labor Council, as presented.
Ayes: Nash, Becklin, Whitlow, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon Nays: None
NEW BUSINESS
09-04 Life Saving Awards
Police Chief Paul Smutz presented two life saving awards- to Officer Jason Pavlige and a civilian bystander, David Wingate, who together performed CPR on a unresponsive victim who had a heart attack at the Fruitport Golf Course on November 3, 2008. The victim recovered.
09-05 Board of Review Appointments
The motion by Chuck Whitlow, seconded by Rose Dillon, was carried unanimously, to appoint Dave Jacobs, Jim Fett, George Manning, and Kris Cole (as alternate) to the Board of Review for the January 2009 through December 2010 term of office.
09-06 Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment
The motion by Chuck Whitlow, seconded by Marjorie Nash, was carried unanimously, to appoint George Manning to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the balance of the vacated term expiring December of 2009.
09-07 Resolution—Change in Trustee / Township Group Pension Plan
The motion by Rose Dillon, seconded by Carol Hulka, was carried unanimously, to adopt the resolution regarding Trustee assignment for the township’s group pension plan. The resolution includes the removal
FRUITPORT CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JANUARY 12, 2009
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of the current trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, and appointing Reliance (RTC) as successor trustee for the plan.
09-08 Water Rate Increase
The motion by Chuck Whitlow, seconded by Dave Markgraf , was carried unanimously, to approve a water rate increase of .13 (as amended from .125) per 1000 gallons, as recommended by the DPW Committee.
On January 9, 2009, Muskegon Heights raised the water rate. This increase is being passed on to Fruitport Township customers.
09-09 2009 Road Brining
Chuck Whitlow moved, Dave Markgraf seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to approve the township’s 50% cost to the Muskegon County Road Commission for the township’s public road brining for 2009.
Ayes: Whitlow, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon, Nash, Becklin Nays: None
09-10 Budget Adjustments
Chuck Whitlow moved, Rose Dillon seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to approve budget line item adjustments, as presented.
Ayes: Whitlow, Dillon, Nash, Becklin, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem Nays: None
09-11 Legal Advisor to the Board
Chuck Whitlow moved, Marjorie Nash seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to authorize Attorney Ron Bultje from Scholten Fant to attend the township’s second board meeting of every month as legal counsel at the cost of $50.00 per meeting.
Ayes: Whitlow, Nash, Becklin, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon Nays: None
09-12 New Committees
Supervisor Werschem will move forward with forming the following new committees- assessing, road, finance, and citizen action
09-13 Retaining Bob Alder as Consultant on Water and Sewer Matters
Marjorie Nash moved, Rose Dillon seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to allow the DPW Committee the latitude to utilize the services of Bob Alder for consulting purposes on a limited, as needed only, basis at a rate of $50.00 per hour, as recommended by the DPW committee.
Ayes: Nash, Dillon, Werschem, Hulka, Markgraf, Whitlow, Becklin Nays: None
09-14 Mark Street Water Main Project
Chuck Whitlow moved, Dave Markgraf seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to move forward with the Mark Street water main project by sending the project out for bid, as recommended by the DPW committee. The remaining projects—Dangl and Brooks—are on hold.
Ayes: Whitlow, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon, Nash, Becklin Nays: None
09-15 Prein & Newhof to update costs of Village Sewer Project
Chuck Whitlow moved, Dave Markgraf seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to authorize Prein and Newhof to update the engineering work for the Village sewer project at a cost of $500.00. The DPW committee made the recommendation.
Ayes: Whitlow, Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon, Nash, Becklin Nays: None
09-16 Payment of Bills
Dave Markgraf moved, Carol Hulka seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to approve bills for payment in the following amounts: General Fund $65,760.02; Public Safety $60.351.49; Water $264,713.38; Sewer $9,958.66; Parks $237.39 Totaling $401,020.94
Ayes: Markgraf, Hulka, Werschem, Dillon, Nash, Becklin, Whitlow Nays: None
ADDITIONAL REPORTS -- none received
PUBLIC COMMENTS -- none received
Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
_________________________________ ______________________________
CAROL HULKA, CLERK BRIAN WERSCHEM, SUPERVISOR
