CLARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2015 AT 7:00PM

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1 CLARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2015 AT 7:00PM Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance: 7:05PM Roll Call: Present Reid, Rutledge, Sherlund, Carpenter Absent Wellnitz Other Present: Paul Gingras (St. Ignace News), Mike Kasper, Chet Kasper, Julie Smith, Chuck Denoyer. Approval of Agenda Rutledge added a Tri-County Quote to Consent Agenda Rutledge requested to table the DPW furnace purchase Carpenter removed Rec. Park shed improvements Reid added continuing education for DPW to Old Business Reid added Electrical Power Resolution to correspondence Motion: Carpenter made the motion to approve the Agenda as amended. Rutledge supported. All Ayes. Motion carried. Consent Agenda Minutes: General Fund Invoices UTV Headquarters door/window cover for Polaris VFW Store flags and markers for cemetery Total Sewer Fund Invoices Pump Products Myers pump Approval of proposal for Sewer Dept. from Taylor Lumber: Special Events: Music & Arts Dockside Art in the Park Motion: Carpenter made the motion to approve the Consent Agenda with General Fund Invoices in the amount of $ and Sewer Fund Invoices in the amount of $ and approval of the quote from Tri-County Building Center in the amount of $ Rutledge supported. All Ayes. Motion carried.

2 Treasurer Report Carpenter provided her monthly reports and reported our current bank balance for the General Fund at $652, and Sewer Fund at $355, Carpenter provided a financial report on the Marina for the 2014 season. She received a letter of resignation from our Harbor Master, Gail Dreisbach. The Board commended her for 13 years of faithful service. Supervisor Report Sewer so far this year, we have seen limited problems compared to last year. Aeration System Financing Reid is still working on this project. Reid went to Lansing to research some funding possibilities. It appears that we may fall under a program called the Green Project Initiative. We have already met some of the criteria that is required. If this works out, we may be approved for some grant money. Planning Commission Reid attended their last meeting and updated them on the Capital Improvement list and asked for advise and input and also encouraged them to complete their work on updating the Master Plan. Road Committee they recently met and will be coming to the Township Board with their recommendations. Safe Routes To School the sidewalk project along Beach St. will be coming to fruition soon. The architects representing the Township and the school are working on the details. Bob Christians Case the findings of fact have been filed on behalf of both Councils and this case will probably be litigated some time in March. Correspondence DEQ Public Notice Bruce Louma / Breezeswept for bottomlands conveyance. Letter from the Detroit District Regulatory office concerning the Township s request to install additional piers at Hessel Marina. Information from MDOT concerning the Safe Routes To School project. Notice from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission transferring the liquor license to Hessel Ventures, LLC (the culinary school). Electrical Power Resolution Reid offered the following resolution supported by Carpenter. WHEREAS: MISO and FERC does not recognize the electrical connection between the Upper Peninsula (UP) and Lower Peninsula (LP); WHEREAS: the transmission capacity between the UP and the LP is woefully inadequate for generation in the UP; WHEREAS: the Eastern UP is presently a net user of electrical power; WHEREAS: there is a projected 15% shortfall of electrical power in the northern LP by 2016; WHEREAS: there is a concern about the electrical reliability by MISO and FERC in the UP and will be in the LP in the future; WHEREAS: the Eastern UP could be a net provider of electrical power with possible projects of a 320 mega watt natural gas plane in Mackinac County, 35 mega watt wood co-generation

3 plant in Luce County, at least 20 mega watts of wind power in Chippewa County along with other possible projects in the Eastern UP; WHEREAS: these first three projects are already in the planning stage and would produce huge economic development boosts in the Eastern UP; WHEREAS: our energy supplier, Cloverland Electric Cooperative, supports transmission upgrades in the Eastern UP to the LP; WHEREAS: the Governor plans a special address on electrical power in March; WHEREAS: the Township of Clark wants to be part of the electrical power solution for the Eastern UP and the State of Michigan and will work through the Mackinac Economic Alliance and the Eastern UP Regional Planning & Development Commission; BE IT RESOLVED: that Clark Township recommends that all our legislative representatives at the Federal and State level, along with the Governor s office, support a major upgrade of the transmission capability through the Eastern UP, down through the Straits to Gaylord, and strongly urge MISO and FERC to recognize the connection between the UP and LP. Roll Call: Ayes Sherlund, Rutledge, Reid, Carpenter. Absent Wellnitz. Resolution adopted. Committee / Commission Reports Planning Commission - Sherlund reported that they approved a case at their February meeting for a storage bldg. Fire Dept. - Administration Officer submitted his report. It is on file in the Clerk s office. Rutledge also reported that the Fire Dept. is requesting to purchase a multi-gas monitor and pump. Motion: Carpenter made the motion to approve the purchase of a multi-gas monitor. Sherlund supported. Roll Call: Yes Reid, Rutledge, Sherlund, Carpenter. Absent Wellnitz. Motion carried. Harbor Group met and will have numbers coming together and hope to wrap it up very soon and brought back with their presentation. Rutledge requested that information be provided before the presentation so the Board can review it and be ready for questions. Old Business Trash/Recycle Carpenter reported that there was a meeting with Smith Sanitation to review the contract and discuss how operations are going. They were concerned that the Marquette and St. Ignace buy-ins are coming in too low. It was discussed that everyone outside of Clark Township can buy into the program at a flat fee of $ Signs are being made for hours of operation and identification of the various contractor compartments. Changes will be made to the hand-out sheet to include instructions on preparing recycle materials prior to dumping. Motion: Sherlund made the motion that residents outside of Clark Township buy in to the program at $ for a year. Rutledge supported. All Ayes. Motion carried.

4 Michigan Rural Water Association Conference Jim and Tony are required to attend this conference. They will be at the conference Tuesday Friday in Traverse City. Motion: Rutledge made the motion to authorize the 2 sewer employees to attend the conference. Sherlund supported. All Ayes. Motion carried. New Business Bottomlands Conveyance / Hessel Marina Carpenter is requesting for approval to order a survey from Jeff Davis for about $ This is required to get the permit for the bottomlands conveyance. Jeff is on vacation, but we need to get the paperwork started, so we will approve the resolution and add the survey when Jeff returns. Motion: Carpenter made the motion to approve Jeff Davis ordering the bottomlands survey for Hessel Marina. Sherlund supported. All Ayes. Motion carried. Resolution: Carpenter offered the following resolution supported by Sherlund. WHEREAS: a conveyance for bottomlands has been applied for to the State of Michigan by Clark Township, as owner. UPON FULL CONSIDERATION of the application for a conveyance of Great Lakes bottomlands surrounding piers, pursuant to an application made by the State of Michigan to Clark Township, as owner, of the following described real estate: (on file in the Clerk s office). IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that Clark Township does approve the conveyance of Great Lakes bottomlands by the State of Michigan to Clark Township. The Great Lakes bottomlands to be conveyed are more fully described on the Certificate of Survey. (on file in the Clerk s office) Roll Call: Ayes Sherlund, Rutledge, Reid, Carpenter. Absent Wellnitz Resolution adopted. Reservation System This is an agreement made with the State for 3 years. The State will provide a computer. There have been many pros and cons concerning this system. It will put us on the map but we need to commit for the next 3 years. All the revenue goes into that system and the State then reimburses the Township. We will not be able to oversee the program from here at the Township office, but we can access information at the Marina on their computer. We will need to comply with rules set by the State. Some of our freedoms will be taken away and the local control we have had in the past, however, there are many positive features to this program. One of the stipulations will be that we cannot allow commercial use of the harbor. Motion: Reid made the motion to sign on and execute the agreement for the reservation system. Sherlund supported. All Ayes. Motion carried.

5 Snows Heritage Park Discussion followed concerning the plans for improvement. Tennis courts and fencing will be completed in the Spring. Parking should be developed before June and ready for the Aldo Leopold celebration. Plans are being prepared for the playground area as well. We have received word that all the wood chips will be donated. Carpenter is requesting to move $20, out of Fund 208 to move forward with plans. Carpenter will keep the Board informed as we go along. Motion: Reid made the motion to approve up to $20, out of Fund 208 to move forward on upcoming projects. Rutledge supported. Roll Call: Yes Rutledge, Reid, Carpenter, Sherlund. Motion carried. New Position: Marina Manager / Outdoor Rec. Facility Caretaker Carpenter provided a job description to the Board for this position along with wording for an advertisement for the St. Ignace Newspaper and the Sault Evening News. Along with the job of the management of the Hessel Marina, this position would also cover overseeing the care of the Hessel Beach, Snows Heritage Park, possibly the public restrooms at the Fire/Amb Hall, Cedarville Downtown Park and the Cedarville launch area. Carpenter stressed that the most important part is the Marina Manager. This is a seasonal position May through October. Carpenter suggested starting this position possibly at $12.00 per hour. No action was taken at this time concerning setting the wages. Road Agreement / Swede Rd. Reid informed the Board that we have qualified for some Federal Aid funds for this road project at the far eastern end of Swede Rd. to do a culvert replacement and work in the ditches to help with the annual flooding of that area. The total cost of the project is $94,000.00, however, the Township will only be required to cover 10% (9,400.00) of the project. Motion: Sherlund made the motion to approve the road agreement for Swede Rd. Carpenter supported. Roll Call: Yes Reid, Carpenter, Sherlund, Rutledge. Motion carried. Public Comment Mike Kasper reported that a Fire Protection and Safety Grant with a 5% match will be available soon. This money is used to work with the kids in our area with projects like Smokey Bear, coloring and educational materials and also some training on fire prevention. The Fire Department would like to proceed and pursue this grant to request $20,000. Mike agreed to keep the Board informed. The Township Board gave their blessing to pursue it. Adjournment: 8:35 PM Motion: Sherlund made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Rutledge supported. All Ayes. Motion carried.