Helena Township Board Meeting
November 14th, 2013
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance by Supervisor Rick Teague. Present: David Peterson, Bonnie Robbins and Butch Bartz. Absent: Catherine Rice Motion to approve agenda by Robbins with support by Bartz and motion carried.
Conflict of Interest: None
Public Comment: Brian Paige commented on the condition of Paige Road and the large rocks left by the road commission after work was done on Paige Road.
Approval of minutes: Robbins made the motion to approve the minutes with support by Bartz and motion carried.
Treasurers Report: Township:
Beginning balance as of October 31, 2013 $293378.06
Receipts $17,348.09
Disbursements $20,577.67
Bank balance10/31/13 $290,148.48
Motion to approve Treasurers report by Robbins, supported by Teague and motion carried.
Presentation of bills: October 1-31, 2013 – $9,824.90 and November 1-14, 2013 – $10,174.36
Speakers: Joe Hughs representing Wolverine Power presented board with information on the franchise renewal that had expired in 1998. Wolverine Power supplies power to Great Lakes Energy in Helena Township through 1.5 miles of transmission lines and a substation. Robbins made the motion to approve Wolverines Revocable Electric Service Franchise Ordinance with support by Bartz. There were four (4) yes votes, zero no votes, no abstain votes and one absent board member. The Revocable Electric Service Franchise Ordinance # 20131114 was adopted by the Helena Township Board.
Communications: None
Committee reports: Zoning Administrator Molby gave report for October. Peterson requested that Molby document the verbal agreement for the green belt violation with respect to replanting trees.
Planning Commission:
Ambulance authority no report.
Parks and Recreation Committee next meeting is November 19th at 3:00 PM in the government room in the community center.
Roads Committee – Bartz reported the minutes from their committee meeting and acknowledged the need for the further maintenance of Paige Road. Estimates to be obtained by next spring for the maintenance of Paige Road.
Old Business: MTA conference Jan. 28-31, 2014 in Acme Township at the Grand Traverse Resort. Robbins and Teague submitted early registrations to the clerk.
New Business: A back-up generator for the community center was discussed. A bid from Moon Electric was reviewed and the amount of $11,897.74 was approved by the board by consensus. The community center is a designated emergency shelter. The board is going forward with applying for a grant from the Risk Reduction Grant program through the PAR PLAN.
Peterson reported that Consumers Energy is preparing a contract for the area lights and street lights in Helena Township which were reviewed by the clerk.
Peterson presented the board with a resolution adding specific road end public accesses and removing certain road end public accesses for Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancys proposed map of a chain of lakes water trail. Peterson made the motion to approve and adopt this resolution with support from Bartz. Roll call vote was four yes and zero no votes with one absent.
Announcements: None
Additional Public comment: Brian Paige and Terry Cazett both commented on the need for further maintenance of Paige Road. Jim Gurr thanked the veterans for their service.
Motion to pay bills: Bartz motioned with support by Robbins and motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM.
Respectfully submitted, David G. Peterson Jr., Helena Township Clerk