Berrien Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at the township hall at 7:00 p.m.Supervisor Paul Bixby called the meeting to order and opened with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call:Supervisor Paul Bixby, Treasurer Paul Sprung, Trustees Kevin Klug, Ross Rogien, Harold Bishop, Julie Burke and Clerk Mary Jane Dean.
Also present: Fire Chief Tom Stiles, Medic I Rep. Jason Russell and one resident.
Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to approve the agenda with the additions of Medic I monthly report and Conrad Andrews tree under new business.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Medic I responded to 186 calls for the month of January.Breakdown: 20 ALS, 8 BLS, 20 transfers, 12 no transport and 126 wheel chair transports mainly patients from Lakeland going for dialysis.
Kevin Klug made a motion seconded by Paul Sprung to approve the January 12, 2010 minutes.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Treasurer Paul Sprung explained at the January meeting the bill from Dr. Bell had been removed from the bills to get clarification.After the Annual Joint Fire meeting on January, 19, 2010 the Board discussed the bill and approved to release the check in the amount $9,651.54 for payment, the amount is included in this months bills.Ross Rogien made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to approve the township bills in the amount of $33,236.74 for payment.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Julie Burke made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to approve the fire bills in the amount of $8,772.25 with the township share of $5,666.87 for payment.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Township Roads update:No report yet from the borings on Painter School Rd.At the January meeting Ross Rogien, Kevin Klug, Julius Grau and Harold Bishop names were suggested to be appointed to the Township road committee.Mary Jane Dean made a motion seconded by Paul Sprung to approve the suggested names and recommended by the Supervisor to be appointed to the road committee.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Hall update:Dr. Stan Bell reported on the revised set of drawings he brought that included specifications in the bidding procedure and for staying in the hall during construction.Bidders will be required to attend a bidding meeting.He requires a deposit for any drawings which will be picked up at his office.He keeps a bidder log.He doesn’t think there are any grants that would apply to the Township.He will contact Pipestone Township Building Inspector Cal Bennett to do the Plan Review.Ross Rogien made a motion seconded by Mary Jane Dean to approve the invoice in the amount of $5,495.90 to Dr. Bell for payment.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Tree removal – Treasurer Sprung prepared a draft for dead trees in road right-of-way.In the second sentence first paragraph the word and should be deleted.We need clarification on the cost for cutting a tree down and the removal of the wood is there a difference in price.Kevin Klug made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to accept the proposed Township Removal of Dead Trees in Road Right-of-Way Policy as amended.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Lawn Maintenance – Treasurer Sprung also prepared a draft for Subdivision, PUD, and Site Condominium Lawn Policy.After discussion Paul will reword item #3 for next meeting.
BerrienCounty Sheriff Report – Lt. Kurtz presented the monthly report for December.There were 51 complaints, 11 tickets were issued and 8 arrests were made in the township.The County had 1374 complaints, 306 tickets were issued and 185 arrests were made.
Civil Infraction- The procedure that will be taken once an ordinance violation complaint has been received was given again to the Board which was taken from the civil infraction manual.
Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Mary Jane Dean to regretfully accept the resignation of Cathie Tanner from the Greater Berrien Springs Recreation Board as the Township representative.Cathie was appointed in June 2005.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Mary Jane Dean made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to approve the subsidy of $29,181.00 (the same since 2004) with Medic I.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
March meeting dates need to be changed as Treasurer Sprung will be out of town.Ross Rogien made a motion seconded by Paul Bixby to change the March 9th meeting to March 16th which is the Budget Hearing and the March 23rd meeting to March 30th which is the fiscal year end meeting.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Budget workshop will be held on February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. The Board will also meet with the Planning Commission on February 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Harold Bishop was given a letter from Mr. Conrad Andrews on February 5, 2010 which a copy was given to each Board member in their meeting packets.Mr. Andrews would like the Board to cut down a tulip tree in the road right-of-way in front of his home on the corner of Painter School Rd. and Smith Rd.Previously in May 2008 the Board had looked at the tree and determined that it looked healthy for an old tree. Every branch was leafing out. The Berrien County Road Commission and Board members will revisit the tree this spring to see if the condition has deteriorated.
Fire Report – The Dept. had 24 calls with a total cost of $2,032.00 for January.
Planning Commission – Will be finalizing the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance at their next meeting and discussing special land use.
Building Inspector Jim Hoover had no building permits for the month of January.Electrical Inspector had issued (2) permits for a fee of $116.00.
Township Hall & Grounds – Mary Jane Dean made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to amend the cost center of Township Hall & Grounds to $40,300.00 an increase of $14,000.00 for the designing and engineering of the addition to hall. All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
Financial Statement for the month of January had income at $126,741.21 and expenses at $31,694.71.
Ross Rogien made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m.All ayes, none opposed.MOTION CARRIED.
