(DRAFT)

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 3, 2007

 

Supervisor Raymond called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

PRESENT:  Trustee E. Sue Terhune, Treasurer Dian Courtney, Acting Clerk Dawn Brown, Supervisor Thomas Raymond.

ABSENT:  None.

Also present:  Township Attorney John McNamee, Assessor Barbara Schutt.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

Motion by Trustee Terhune, supported by Treasurer Courtney to approve the 5 September 2007 Regular Minutes.

Discussion:  Trustee Terhune referred to page 2, 2nd paragraph from the top, support not  stated “motion by”, should read “Support by Trustee Terhune” and page 4, 2nd paragraph from the bottom, appointment to Planning Commission motion was supported by “Trustee Jenuwine”.

Approved with the corrections as stated.

Vote on the motion:  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

 

Motion by Trustee Terhune to accept the Financial Report from August 1 to August 31, 2007 as presented by the Treasurer Dian Courtney.  Supported by Supervisor Raymond.

Vote on the motion:  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

APPROVAL OF CHECKS WRITTEN:

 

Motion by Supervisor Raymond to accept the checks written for accounts payable in the amount of $26,007.03 and Payroll checks in the amount of $18,156.53 for a total of $44,163.56.  Supported by Trustee Terhune.  Roll Call Vote:  Ayes:  Raymond, Courtney, Terhune.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN SESSION – ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD:

 

Gentleman:  Remark regarding the water system like to see it done in the best interest of the people.

Fred Deilus:  Comment regarding Attorney McNamee’s name.

Two letters read regarding the support of the Marine City Fire Department.

 

 

 

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP BOARD MINUTES

October 3, 2007 – Page 2

 

CORRESPONDENCE:  Minutes from the St. Clair County Road Commission, St. Clair County DPW, Fire Runs for October, Cottrellville Township Zoning Ordinance sent to Metropolitan Planning for their review, minutes from the Drain Commission Meeting and a report from Candice Miller regarding the low lake levels for the Great Lakes.

 

Motion by Supervisor Raymond to accept the correspondence as stated and placed on file.  Supported by Treasurer Courtney.  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

1.  Blight Update:  William Klaassen reported to the Board on various items.

 

2.  Hi-Tech:  Attorney McNamee reported to the Board on legal contract wording.  Supervisor Raymond reported Hi-Tech and Attorney McNamee will be meeting to work out the legal wording. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1.  ROAD PROJECTS 2008:  Lack of rain in September, Chloride treatment not needed,  savings of $9,000 to the Township, $1,500 used of that savings to complete the ditching project on Nautical Lane.  Plan proposal for 2008 will be submitted to the County Road Commission next week for our share of the funds.

 

2.  Rick Garcia from the United Way gave a presentation:  October is United Way Month. 

Supervisor Raymond read the Proclamation in support of the United Way.

 

3.  UNPAID WATER BILLS TO BE PLACED ON THE TAX ROLLS:

 

Motion by Trustee Terhune that the unpaid water and sewer bills be added to the 2007 tax bills.  Supported by Supervisor Raymond.  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

4.  SALARY UNDERPAYMENT ADJUSTMENT:  Treasurer Dian Courtney explained.

 

Motion by Supervisor Tom Raymond to adjust the pay for underpayment of salaries due to them for the agreed wages for Building Department Supervisor William Klaassen, Assessor Barbara Schutt, Treasurer Dian Courtney and former Clerk Violet Pfaff.  Supported by Trustee Terhune.

Roll Call Vote:  Ayes:  Terhune, Courtney, Raymond.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

 

 

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP BOARD MINUTES

October 3, 2007 – Page 3

 

5.  RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEE WILLIAM JENUWINE:

 

Motion by Treasurer Dian Courtney to regretfully accept the resignation of Trustee William Jenuwine.  Supported by Trustee Terhune.  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None. 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

6.  CONSIDER FILLING VACANCY ON BOARD:

 

Supervisor Raymond stated have three resumes submitted from the following:

Winifred DeWitt

Alice Jehle

Bernard Pelc

 

Motion by Treasurer Dian Courtney to appoint Bernard Pelc to serve as a Trustee on the Cottrellville Township Board to fill the vacancy.  Supported by Trustee Terhune. 

Vote on the motion:  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

7.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT:

 

Supervisor Raymond:  Attorney John McNamee legal opinion:  Township Official would not be allowed to participate in the process would have to abstain from voting and the contract itself would have to pass by a ¾ vote of the sitting trustees and officials if the Official has a personal interest.   Also a renewal of a contract would have to go through the bid process again if a sitting member on the board has an interest.    

 

8.  2006-2007 AUDIT COMPLETE ON FILE:

 

 Supervisor Raymond stated the 2006-2007 Audit has been completed, review has been done; copy in the office on file if anyone cares to review it.

 

9.   WATER ENGINEERING BID CHANGE:

 

Supervisor Raymond stated date for the bid opening has been changed to October 25, 2007.

 

10.  INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTS FROM CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE CLERK’S POSITION:  DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: LORI RUSSELBURG AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE:  MARY AGNES SIMONS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP BOARD MINUTES
October 3, 2007 – Page 4

 

11.  FIRE CONTRACTS:

 

Supervisor Raymond:  Proposal from the City of Marine City and Ira Township, met with both the Chiefs and the Marine City Manager and Ira Township Supervisor.  Our request was modified to be from Starville Road west going to Ira Township; residents east of Starville Road will be no change in service, residents on Starville Road and west the fire and 1st responder will come from Ira Township fire, ambulance service still provided by Tri Hospital.  Proposal is for two years.  Agreement is that we will enter into discussion on a fire authority with the City of Marine City.  Starville Road west residents to provide for a rate adjustment if it is offered less than six miles from the fire station.  Quoted the figures for a new contract with Marine City and Ira Township.

 

Motion by Trustees Terhune to accept the fire contracts for Ira and Marine City for a two-year period.  Supported by Supervisor Raymond.  Roll Call Vote on the motion:  Ayes:  Terhune, Raymond.  Nays:  Courtney.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

12.  WATER SHED MINUTES:

Minutes accepted and placed on file.

 

13.   WATER QUALITY WORKSHOP:

 

Motion by Trustee Terhune to allow up to five (5) Township Board and Planning Commission members to attend the 2007 Fall Workshop on Water Quality in Pt. Huron on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.  Roll Call Vote on the motion:  Ayes:  Terhune, Courtney, Raymond.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

 

David Daneels, 7289 Broadbridge Road:  Disagree with the fire contract acceptance.

Joe _________:  Comment regarding Ira Fire Dept. time to arrive at the Broadbridge/Mayer Road area.

Gentleman:  Questioned an unpaid water bill placed on the taxes, harsh procedure.

Attorney John McNamee:  Explained the law and procedure followed.

 

Supervisor Thomas Raymond’s comments:  Bike path and basketball court was slurry sealed.  Dehumidifiers were delivered for the five pump stations.

Township Offices will be closed on Monday, October 8, 2007 for Columbus Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP BOARD MINUTES

October 5, 2007 – Page 5

 

Trustee  E. Sue Terhune:  Update on the 24th of September Workshop Meeting.  Result from this meeting made contact with Christine Maxwell, Community Program Specialists in the USDA Rural Development Department.  Questioning her about grants and low interest loans for the water districts coming up.  2000 Census to see what the Township’s median wage in this Township and happen to be $2,000 higher than the allowed $47,000. 

Next census won’t be until 2010.  Will be looking into this further and see what other things that are available.  Single Family Housing Program allows individual grants to people who are 62 years of age or older and low-income bracket to improve or modernize their home to make it safe and sanitary at a 1% interest rate.  Grant of $7,500 would be available for improvements to your home i.e. roof replacement, water hook-up, closing down of wells, anything for a safety factor.  Learning about this and will try to arrange for a speaker to come in and talk to us.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Motion by Trustee Terhune, supported by Treasurer Courtney to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.  Ayes:  All.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  None.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

DAWN M. BROWN, DEPUTY CLERK                    THOMAS RAYMOND

COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP                                SUPERVISOR

                                                                                    COTTRELLVILLE TOWNSHIP