Helena Township Board Meeting
May 10, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Penny Wagner and pledge of allegiance was said. Present: Wagner, Peterson, Gurr, Teague and Rice. Motion to approve agenda with addition of cemetery ordinance by Rice and support by Teague, motion carried.
Conflict of Interest: None
Public Comment: Patty Niepoth, Antrim County’s register of deeds, informed board that an online service has been added to the Antrim County Register of Deeds office this year which will be aimed at protecting homeowners from fraud. “Property fraud alert” can be accessed from the county’s website; www.antrimcounty.org. Niepoth is running for Register of Deeds.
Paul Delange, Historical Society, presented board with a memorandum of understanding for the installation of a gas line and gas fired stove at the Depot Museum. Historical Society requests $500.00 from the township. Gurr made the motion to approve the $500.00 request with support by Teague and motion carried.
Approval of minutes: Rice made motion to approve the minutes with changes and support by Wagner and motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Township beginning balance as April1, 2012 $393,090.35
Receipts $37,431.10
General Fund Disbursements $15,538.54
Cemetery & Bldg. $10,008.23
Ambulance Millage $1,518.12
Total Disbursements $27,064.89
TOTAL BANK BALANCE as of April 30, 2012 $403,456.56
Motion to approve treasurer’s report by Wagner, support by Teague; motion carried.
Presentation of bills: Township: April 26-30, 2012: $6449.65 and May 1-10, 2012: $6094.41
Speakers: Jim Dewey, Paige road resident, addressed the board, with his concern of the process by which the decision is made to decide which roads get paved and maintained in Helena Township. Dewey suggested six possible metrics by which the process for township board deciding which roads get paved and maintained. Dewey has been actively working since 2005 to get Paige road paved (Eastern section). Board explained that process is by traffic count and road condition and PACER rating system from road commission.
Communications: Sheriff Dan Bean gave report. Wagner read letter from Mary Jo Hammerstein concerning wind turbine setbacks and the use of phosphorus fertilizer near lakes or rivers. Wagner will write letter with response. Wagner informed board that there is a meeting about possible grants for community center roof next Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM.
Committee reports: Zoning administrator. Molby gave report. Rice requested that Molby provides the board with a follow up letter after Molby conducts visit to property owners.
Planning Commission: Gurr reported that the Planning Commission identified a few additional small changes in the final draft of the zoning ordinance changes and will be published in the Antrim Review.
Ambulance authority: Teague reported that there is now a 40 year prepaid lease with the ambulance authority and Mancelona Village.
Parks & Recreation: Peterson reported that the garlic mustard (an invasive species) pull (nine people) at Coy Mtn. Preserve resulted in the disposal of over 400 pounds going to the landfill.
Heidi Shaffer, Soil Erosion Officer for Antrim Conservation District, and David Peterson planned and coordinated the garlic mustard pull at Coy Mtn. Preserve. Peterson requested that township board provide the Parks and Recreation Committee with how much money is left in the parks’ budget for 2011-2012. Peterson also requested that the township guarantee that money will be available in the 2012-2013 budget for parks that cannot be used under the general fund.
Peterson informed board that the public restrooms at the Tennis Court Park were still not open.
Rice will put together contract for the opening and cleaning of the public restrooms at the tennis Court Park for Lou Anne Alpers and give approval for the opening of the restrooms.
Old business: Roof replacement bids and repairs of the roof to be discussed in June’s board meeting. No word from road commissioner on Tyler street – open or closed to traffic for parking on township property.
New Business: Peterson informed board that there has not been an increase in the cost of cemetery lots for over ten years. Discussion followed. Wagner made the motion to increase the cost, for Helena Township residents, from $200.00 per cemetery lot to $250.00 per cemetery lot with support by Teague and motion carried. Rice to draft a new cemetery policy for board’s approval at the next township board meeting.
Announcements: Supervisor Wagner informed board of the Helena Township spring cleanup now scheduled for Saturday June 9th at the Depot in Alden from 7:00 A.M. to noon. Rice made the motion to aacept the bid from American Waste with support by Wagner and motion carried. Announcement to be made in Antrim Review by Supervisor Wagner.
Additional Public Comment: None
Motion to pay bills by Wagner, support by Teague, and motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Helena Township Clerk
David G. Peterson Jr.
David G. Peterson Jr.