Helena Township Board Meeting
February 12th, 2015
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance by Supervisor Rick Teague. Present: Catherine Rice, David Peterson, Bonnie Robbins and Butch Bartz was absent. Motion to approve agenda by Robbins with support by Rice and motion carried.
Conflict of Interest: None
Public Comment: Sheriff Dan Bean gave the sheriffs report for years end 2014 and Januarys report, 2015.
Approval of minutes: Motion by Robbins to approve the December 2014 meetings minutes with support by Rice and the motion carried.
Treasurers Report: Township: Beginning balance as of January 1st, 2015 $473,406.17
Receipts $68,489.63
Disbursements $20,066.60
Bank balance 01/31/2015 $521,829.20
Motion to approve the Treasurers report by Teague with support by Robbins and motion carried.
Presentation of bills: January 1-31, 2015 – $12,955.13 and Feb. 2015 $8,719.93
Speakers: Jesse Lane and Michelle MacMaster presented to the board a request to increase the current 1.5 mil special assessment to 3.0 mils. They presented the board with a list of the equipment that needs to be replaced. A letter from attorney Chris Bzdok was presented which allows the township board to approve such an increase without placement on the ballot.
Communications: A letter was received from Parks & Rec committee member Ken Masck concerning the possible purchase of two parcels adjacent to the Coy Mtn. preserve.
Committee Reports:
Zoning – Zoning Administrator Molby gave report for January, 2015.
Planning Commission Robbins reported that the public hearing proceedings for the Walker Shores Site Plan had been completed. There was no Planning Commission meeting in January due to the weather. Februarys meeting there was a review of Helena Townships Master Plan and there was a variance granted by the ZBA. There will be a vote taken on the Walker Shores Site Plan during Marchs PCs meeting.
Ambulance Authority As of April 1st, 2015, the Ambulance Authority will no longer be under the Allied name but the employees will remain the same.
Parks and Recreation Committee Ruth Smith reported that the township was awarded a DNR Recreational Passport Grant for resurfacing the tennis courts. A thank you to Steve Dell for preparing the grant request.
Roads: No updates. Township has not received the latest updated PACER ratings for county roads within Helena Township.
Old Business: None
New Business: Teague appointed Priscilla Miller to the ZBA to replace alternate David Cybulla.
Rice presented the board with the Mancelona School Districts millage collection agreement resolutions for signing. Teague made the motion to approve the millage collection agreements with support by Rice and motion carried.
Teague presented proposal from M&E Plumbing to replace the water fountain in the community center for $1089.00. Rice made the motion to approve M&E Plumbings proposal to replace the water fountain with support by Robbins and the motion carried.
Teague presented the board with a proposal from Arndt Electric to add five exit/emergency lights over the exit doors in the community center and replace the exhaust fans in the mens and womens restrooms in the community center for $3180.00. Rice made the motion to accept Arndts proposal with support by Robbins and the motion carried.
Announcements: None
Additional Public comment: Doug Davis from DeWitt Marine spoke in support of increasing the STLFDs request to increase the millage from 1.5 mils to 3.0 mils.
Motion to pay bills: Teague made the motion to pay the bills with support by Robbins and motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned by call of the Chair at 8:22 PM.
Respectfully submitted, David G. Peterson Jr., Helena Township Clerk_ David G. Peterson Jr.