AGENDA  and DRAFT MINUTES                     

                            Thursday, August 27, 2009

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Members Present/ Members Absent

Call to the Public

1.      Approval of Agenda  

2.   Consent Agenda

All items listed are considered to be routine by the Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member or Citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

a.)    Approval of August 13, 2009 Special Meeting Minutes

b.)    Approval of August 13, 2009 Public Hearing Minutes

c.)    Approval of August 13, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes

d.)    Investments

e.)    Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Invoice ($7,993.44)

f.)    Advanced Underground Invoice ($14,762.50)

3.      Loves Creek/Sesame Drive

4.      Darakjian

5.      Vines Road

6.      Marion Township Roads

7.      Parker High

8.      Cell Tower Tree Settlement

9.      Marion Retail Center

10.  Copperfield Unit

11.  General Ground Maintenance

12.  Marion Township Park #2

Correspondence/ Updates

Call to the Public

Adjournment

                                           DRAFT MINUTES 

MEMBERS PRESENT:               Bob Hanvey, Paula Wyckoff , Dan Lowe, Scott Lloyd, Les Andersen , Travis Hodge, and Tammy Beal

MEMBERS ABSENT:                 None

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CALL TO ORDER

Bob Hanvey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  

PLEDGE TO FLAG

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

The board members introduced themselves. 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

None.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Dan Lowe asked to have the invoice from Advanced Underground moved from the consent agenda to item #13.  Les Andersen motioned to approve the agenda as amended.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

CONSENT AGENDA

Tammy Beal motioned to approve the consent agenda as amended.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Roll call vote:  Lowe, Lloyd, Beal, Hanvey, Wyckoff , Andersen, Hodge—all yes.  Motion carried 7-0.

LOVE’S CREEK/SESAME DRIVE

Bob Hanvey said only two letters opposing the SAD have been received.  Two public hearings will be held on September 10; two letters have been sent to owners and information will be published twice in the newspaper.  Scott Lloyd said he would abstain from discussion because he’s a property owner. 

Tammy Beal motioned to adopt a resolution scheduling a hearing on the creation of Love’s Creek/Sesame Drive road maintenance special assessment district, as provided in the packet.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Roll call vote:  Wyckoff —yes; Hodge—yes; Hanvey—yes; Lloyd—abstain; Beal—yes; Andersen—yes; Lowe—yes.  Resolution passed 6-0 (1 abstention.)

Tammy Beal motioned to adopt a resolution scheduling a hearing on assessment roll for Love’s Creek/Sesame Drive road maintenance special assessment district, as provided in the packet.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Roll call vote:  Beal—yes; Andersen—yes; Hodge—yes; Wyckoff —yes; Lowe—yes; Hanvey—yes; Lloyd—abstain.  Resolution passed 6-0 (1 abstention.)

DARAKJIAN

Bob Hanvey updated the board members on this item.  Dan Lowe said that he and Scott Lloyd visited the 12-acre parcel and it is not swamp.  He feels it’s more valuable than the 2-acre parcel.

VINES ROAD

Dave Blackmar, 4989 Vines Road , was present to discuss this situation.  He previously sent an email to the board members describing the problem and possible solutions.  He passed out a revised estimate of $2,192.  Dan Lowe said he talked with Ken Recker from the Livingston County Drain Commissioner’s office.  Bob Hanvey said the township could possibly justify spending township money on private property because it impacts Vines Road .  Dan Lowe said that Ken Recker thought this area eventually discharges into Cedar Lake .  Mr. Hanvey said possibly the project could be funded by an SAD through Public Act 188, which the township could contribute to—he will follow up with the Drain Commission on this (AI #1.)  Mr. Blackmar said Tim Johnson from the LCRC said a similar situation was corrected in Putnam Township recently.  Les Andersen motioned to postpone this item for additional information.  Scott Lloyd seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

TOWNSHIP ROADS

Bob Hanvey said he hasn’t heard anything from the road commission about County Farm Road .

PARKER HIGH

Bob Hanvey reported that he is a member of the marketing committee and the first meeting was held.  There is an email address, parkermarketing@howellschools.com, for those who wish to make comments or suggestions.

CELL TOWER TREE SETTLEMENT

A revised agreement was received from the attorneys on 8/26/09 and will be included in the next board packet.  There is more specific language regarding screening.

MARION RETAIL CENTER

Bob Hanvey reported the flow is back down to the baseline, and work needs to be done on the billing amount.

COPPERFIELD UNIT

Bob Hanvey said the MHOG board will still pursue this property with the bank—no action required at this time.

GENERAL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

Information from other communities and how they handle grounds maintenance is included in the packet.  John Lowe said he will have information for the next meeting.  Tammy Beal said the fence at Harger Cemetery is done, and Mr. Brown has volunteered to do the fence at Lakeside Cemetery .  The materials are still on sale and it would cost approximately $700.  Les Andersen motioned to approve funding for the Lakeside Cemetery fence.  Travis Hodge seconded.  Roll call vote:  Hanvey, Lowe, Wyckoff , Beal, Lloyd, Hodge, Andersen—all yes.  Motion carried 7-0.

TOWNSHIP PARK #2

John Lowe presented the board members with information on a gazebo from Amish Country Gazebos.  This gazebo is vinyl as opposed to powder coated.  The gazebo would also be available four weeks sooner.  Tammy Beal motioned to select the 24’ octagon gazebo from Amish Country Gazebos for $16,500, and an additional $5,000 for permits, electrical, and concrete.  Paula Wyckoff seconded.  Roll call vote:  Hodge—yes; Beal—yes; Andersen—no; Lowe—yes; Hanvey—yes; Lloyd—yes; Wyckoff —yes.  Motion carried 6-1.

ADVANCED UNDERGROUND INVOICE

Dan Lowe said he and Scott Lloyd looked at the manhole covers and ½ of them haven’t been opened.  D-19 to the concrete bridge has been jetted out, but still ½ full of sand, and north of the bridge hasn’t been touched.  Dan Lowe will contact Dan from Advanced Underground to discuss and report at the next meeting (AI #2.)  Les Andersen motioned to postpone payment of the invoice until more information is received.  Travis Hodge seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.

CORRESPONDENCE/UPDATES

A letter that was recently sent to approximately 600 residents regarding sump pumps and water softeners is included in the packet.  The township has received 12-15 responses.  Dan Lowe said they need to be disconnected.  They could be dye tested to see where they’re discharging.

Bob Hanvey said he checked on the exit to Peavy Road from The Meadows.  This exit is for emergency purposes only and should be kept locked.

Bob Hanvey said the brief Chestnut filed was done in a deficient manner and they have 14 days to correct.

Mr. Hanvey reported that the offer made to Highland was rejected.  The board was not interested in further negotiations, and will have to wait for the court’s decision.

The website has now had over 100,000 hits.  The website also has a new feature, Lost and Found.

Les Andersen said he attended the Livingston MTA chapter meeting.  There was discussion about legislation that would help reduce the damage to townships from developers abandoning projects funded by special assessments.

Bill Rogers, State Representative, will be at the Lil’ Chef in Brighton from 8:00-10:00 am on Friday, August 28.

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

Karen Leitch from Mitch Harris was present to ask that the hold on land use permits be lifted.  The concrete is in place for the sidewalks.  Bob Hanvey said the trees in the playground area would eventually block the view, and the residents don’t want trees to screen the playground.  Dan Lowe motioned to allow land use permits to be issued without the trees being planted.  Les Andersen seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.  Ms. Leitch said she sent a letter on August 20, which will be included in the next board packet.

A resident asked about a possible street light at the Peavy/Mason intersection.  Mr. Hanvey said that’s M-155, a state highway, and MDOT has jurisdiction.

ADJOURNMENT

Tammy Beal motioned to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.   Scott Lloyd seconded.  Motion carried 7-0.