Township Board Minutes

MINUTES
CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
7:00 PM

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Julien, Clerk Goodyke, Treasurer Carpenter, Trustees Beahan, Currier, Koessel and Parrish.
Absent: None
Others Present: Manager Cravens, Assessor Richard E. Cleveland, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Planning Director Petersen, Planner Deem, Engineer Brian Vilmont and those listed on Supplement #1.

Article 2. Supervisor Julien led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Article 3. The revised agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke. The motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 2/7/05.
2. National Issues Forums (NIF) Minutes of 2/3/05.
3. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 2/8/05.
b. Receive and File Communications
1. Kent County Sheriff Department/East Precinct Year End Report for 2004.
2. Building Department Month End Report for February, 2005.
3. Fire Department Month End Report for February 2005.
c. Approval of Township Board Minutes
1. Regular Meeting Minutes 2/23/05.
The Consent Agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Parrish and supported by Treasurer Carpenter. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Public Utilities Financial Reports for February, 2005.
Motion to approve the Public Utilities Financial Reports for February, 2005 was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Parrish. Motion carried.
b. Consider Approval of General/Special Funds Financial Reports for February, 2005.
Motion to approve the General/Special Funds Financial Reports for February, 2005 was made by Trustee Currier and supported by Trustee Parrish. Motion carried.
c. Consider Approval of Bills, Transfers, and Payroll for February, 2005.
Motion to approve the Bills, Transfers, and Payroll for February, 2005 was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke. Motion carried.

Article 6. Public Actions
a. Public Hearing - IFT District and Exemption Certificate for Personal Property only for Emerald Graphics Corporation.
Assessor Cleveland reviewed the application for an abatement for a New Industrial Facility Exemption Certifiacte for Personal Property only to be located at 3500 Raleigh Avenue S.E. in the amount of $2,565,000.00. It is projected with the new IFT that 125 new jobs will be created within two years of the project completion. Assessor Cleveland recommended the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate be granted for a period of 6 years, in accordance with the Cascade Township IFT guidelines.
Mark Kennedy from Emerald Graphics Corporation was present. Mr. Kennedy did an overview of the company stating the following:
· The project is with Lack Industries
· The facility has two paint lines
· The company will make major investments into the facility (approx. 2 million)
· The company deals in the appliance and automotive industry
· Most products are shipped within the United States.
Treasurer Carpenter asked if Emerald Graphics was leasing the building? Mr. Kennedy responded that they were leasing the building for five years with an option to buy the building.
Supervisor Julien reviewed the Township's policy of approving tax abatements for companies that are new to Cascade. A tax abatement can be approved up to twelve years. With a new company moving into Cascade, the policy is to approve only up to six years.
Ray DeWinkle from the Right Place Program spoke on behalf of Emerald Graphics.
Motion by Trustee Beahan and supported by Clerk Goodyke to reconvene in regular session. Motion carried.

Article 7. Public Comments (None)

Article 8. Unfinished Business (None)

Article 9. New Business
019-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution for IFT District and Exemption Certificate for Emerald Graphics Corporation.
Discussion included a question from Trustee Koessel regarding specific criteria the Township required. Supervisor Julien did a quick synopsis of the criteria required. Assessor Cleveland stated he would provide the Board with a copy of the criteria.
Clerk Goodyke supported by Treasurer Carpenter moved to approve the Resolution for IFT District and Exemption Certificate for Emerald Graphics Corporation. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

020-2005 Consider Approval of Budget Resolution to Amend the 2005 Library Learning Center Construction Fund Budget.
Manager Cravens reviewed the Amendment regarding the Library Budget. Trustee Currier inquired about the allocation of the Library Fund to the Construction Fund. Manager Cravens stated putting this into a construction fund calls for more scrutiny from the Board.
Supervisor Julien reviewed the Budget line items.
Trustee Koessel supported by Clerk Goodyke moved to approve the Budget Resolution to Amend the 2005 Library Learning Center Construction Fund Budget. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

021-2005 Presentation of Airport Master Plan
Roy Hawkins from the Gerald R. Ford Airport was present to present their new Master Plan. Mr. Hawkins reviewed their Goals and Objectives, Master Plan issues, forecasting for the future, facility requirements for the next 20 years and a project summary. Discussion followed.

022-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution for Charitable Gaming License for Downs Syndrome Association of West Michigan.
Trustee Koessel supported by Trustee Beahan moved to approve the Resolution for a Charitable Gaming License for Downs Syndrome Association of West Michigan. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

023-2005 Sidewalk Agreements along 28th St.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the issue of sidewalks on 28th St. in a memo addressed to the Township Board. The memo addressed the list of construction agreements the Township currently has. Many of these agreements require that the property owner construct the sidewalk at their expense, within 12 months after being notified by the township and must be build according to the township standards and specifications.
There also were two other projects that have included sidewalks as part of their project but are not typical construction agreements. The DDA has included in their plans to construct sidewalk along both sides of 28th Street under the following schedule:
Thornhills to Charlevoix 2008
Charlevoix to I-96 2011
I-96 to Patterson Ave. 2020
By getting these construction agreements some of the sidewalk segments may be able to be done quicker than the DDA schedule. Discussion followed. Several Board members had concerns with the Townships standards regarding sidewalks and if we should consider sidewalks within our residential districts.

024-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution for Establishing a New Polling Place for Precinct 3 to replace Forest Hills Presbyterian Church with Cascade Library Program Room.
Clerk Goodyke reviewed the change of the Precinct location for Precinct
#3 from the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church to the Cascade Library
Program Room at 2870 Jacksmith, S.E. Trustee Koessel supported by
Trustee Carpenter to approve the new location for Precinct #3 to the
Cascade Library Room. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

025-2005 Approval of Appointments to Election Commission
Clerk Goodyke supported by Trustee Parrish to approve the appointment
of Trustee Beahan and Trustee Koessel to serve on the Election
Commission along with Clerk Goodyke. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 10. Discussion with Various Township Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees regarding Common Goals and Issues.
a. Memo from Planning Director, Steve Peterson re: Issues for Possible Discussion.
Some issues discussed between the Board, Planning Commission, Zoning
Board, Library Advisory Board, Parks Committee and DDA were as follows:
· Utilities
· Water Quality
· Sidewalks
· Term Limits
· Review of 2005 DDA Projects
· Proposed Library Addition
· Stormwater issues at the Park

Supervisor Julien stated that a joint meeting would be held again in six months. Supervisor Julien thanked all the Boards, Commissions and Committees for their participation.

Article 11. Managers Comments (None)

Article 12. Board Member Comments (None)

Article 13. Adjournment
Motion by Trustee Parrish and supported by Trustee Koessel to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned 10:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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