BERRIEN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

JANUARY 27, 2009 MINUTES

Berrien Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the township hall.  Supervisor Paul Bixby called the meeting to order and opened with the pledge to the flag.  The first meeting of the month had been cancelled because of bad weather.

Roll call:  Supervisor Paul Bixby, Treasurer Paul Sprung, Trustees Kevin Klug, Ross Rogien, Harold Bishop, Julie Burke and Clerk Mary Jane Dean were present.

Also present were:  Fire Chief Tom Stiles, District 8 Berrien County Board of Commissioners Bryan Bixby, Emergency Management Rep. Julius Grau and (2) reporters.

Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to approve the agenda as written.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.  

Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to approve the December 9, 2008 minutes as presented.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

Ross Rogien made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to approve the township bills in the amount of $33,138.01 for payment.  All ayes. None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

Berrien County Sheriff report had 68 complaints, 11 tickets were issued and 6 arrests were made in the Township for the month of November.  County wide the calls were 500 short compared to 2007.

Julie Burke made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to pay the fire bills in the amount of $14,840.63 with the Township share of $9,587.05.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.           

The Fire Dept. responded to 333 calls in 2008 compared to 211 in 2000.  The newly adopted budget for 2009-10 is $213,560.00 which is $2,700.00 less than last year.  The last 5 years the Dept. expenses have been under budget.  It was discussed at the Joint Annual meeting about putting the remaining funds in the year end budget in a fund for new fire trucks.  Each Township Board was to discuss this possibility.  This might be an incentive of not spending all the budgeted funds.  The amount would be based on Township percentage rate.  Julie Burke made a motion seconded by Ross Rogien starting with 2008-09 fiscal year we start setting aside the excess that the Dept. has left in their budget to be put in a fund for new fire trucks using our percentage rate not to exceed $25,000.00 per year.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

There were (2) burials and (1) grave sold since last meeting.

Julius Grau reported because of shortage of funds the County Emergency Management organization it has become a member of a nine County organization.  An exercise like was held at the fair grounds will be a table top exercise as the County only has $15,000.00.  He then reported on the Coast Guard ice training.  Our Fire Dept. also has had ice training.  March 5, 2009 there will be a weather spotting workshop at 6:00 p.m. at Lake Charter Township.

Ross Rogien reported that the Board needs to decide what attorney will review the updated Zoning Ordinance before the public hearing.  It was decided to make copies for both the PC and Board before and after being sent to the attorney.

Building inspector Jim Hoover issued (3) permits which included (1) demolition permit for an estimated amount of $32,500.00 for December.  Electrical Inspector Ken Simpson issued (7) electrical permits for a fee of $1,416.00 for December.

The Township Finance committee will meet this Thursday to begin working on the 2009-10 budget.  Treasurer Sprung reported Township currently shows income of $347,205.81 and expenses of $450,014.47 with a deficit of $102,808.66 due mostly by the purchase of the new fire truck.  He met with the Berrien County Road Commission and they accepted our proposal for the reconstruction of Deans Hill Rd. which includes repaying the interest over the next five years.  The average interest rate of this $250,000.00 note will be around 4% and will generate about $18,750.00 more than was originally introduced by the BCRC with 3%.  Julie Burke made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to approve the 3rd. Qtr. Financial report.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

The Board received a notice of a hearing for the abandonment of the section of Hochberger Rd. that was reconstructed in 2008.  Supervisor is to sign the form that the Township has no objections to this abandonment of the old section of the road and send back.

A proposal was received for (2) custom built computer systems (no monitors) from Communicating Technologies LLC. This is the same person that has done the networking of the computer system already.  The old computers will not work with Pro 2009 Quickbooks software. Kevin Klug made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to purchase the custom built computer systems and authorized Paul Sprung to negotiate to see if more memory and hard drive could be increased for an amount not to exceed $1,200.00.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.             

Julie Burke made a motion seconded by Paul Sprung to accept the lowest bid from Stephenson Land Surveying to conduct the survey for the two parcels the Township purchased in 2008 located on Deans Hill Rd. parcel #11-04-0016-0004-16-2 and # 11-04-0016-0004-15-4 Huckleberry Rd. All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

The tree on Chapel Rd. that was in the cemetery has been removed and also the cluster.  The tree that was discussed previously on Painter School Rd. has also been removed.

Previously the Board requested copies of annual reports, proof of insurance and a signed contract from Eau Claire Youth Baseball and Softball Association.  All information requested was supplied.  Berrien Township has donated $1,600.00 since 1995 to the program.  Pipestone Township has donated $700.00 per year with 57 participating in 2008 that would be $12.28 per child.  Berrien Township had 19 participating. Kevin Klug made a motion seconded by Harold Bishop to subsidize the Eau Claire Youth Baseball and Softball Association in the amount of $250.00 for 2008 and until the participation increases.  Six yes votes. One no vote. MOTION CARRIED. 

Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Paul Bixby that (5) attend the Board of Review workshop to be held on February 2, 2009 at Lawrence.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Mary Jane Dean to authorize the Supervisor to obtain bids for the clean up for the 1 acre that the Township purchased in 2008 located on the corner of Deans Hill Rd. and Huckleberry Rd.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

Paul Sprung reported that Medic I director Jack Fisher will attend the March meeting to give response time in Berrien Township compared to other municipalities.  There is a $250.00 discount for a resident using Medic I if they reside in a municipality that is a -member of Medic I. 

Previously it was decided to hire Teri Jenks as the new recording secretary for Planning Commission meetings but no wages were decided.  Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Julie Burke to pay $40.00 per meeting for the new Planning Commission recording secretary.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.

Berrien County Board of Commissioner Rep. Bryan Bixby reported to the Board on what was happening at the County level.  Rumor is that there is a possible closing of South County Building. 

Bryan stated with budgets being so tight everything will be looked at to see what cuts can be made. Grant money was received for radio updates.  Animal Control building is being reviewed.  Gun range in Coloma which was shut down because of Noise Ordinance is being checked into. Bryan is also the Township Rep. on the Greater Berrien Springs Recreation. The Township subsidy to the program will be $25,000.00.  Dan Bartz has agreed to stay as Director but restructuring of the director duties will be done. Assistant directors will be approved for the different positions.

Paul Sprung made a motion seconded by Kevin Klug to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.  All ayes.  None opposed.  MOTION CARRIED.