Township Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
7:00 P.M.

Article 1. Trustee Beahan called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Present: Trustees Beahan, Goldberg, Fox, Koessel, Treasurer Carpenter.
Absent and Excused: Supervisor Julien and Clerk Goodyke.
Also Present: Township Manager Cousins, Deputy Clerk Biegalle and those listed on Supplement #1.

Article 2. Trustee Beahan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Article 3. The Agenda was revised to include the following:
" Article 9. 023-2008 Consider Approval of Cleaning Bids Received for the Township Office, Library and Wisner Center.
" Article 9. 024-2008 Consider Approval of Bid for 2008 Gypsy Moth Spraying Program for Aquatic Consulting Services.
" Managers Comments - Manus Property (30th & Buttrick)
Motion to approve the revised agenda was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox. Motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 02/13/08.
2. Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 01/07/2008.
3. Regular Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes of 12/11/2007.
4. Kent County Road Commission Meeting Minutes of 01/22/08.
b. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Fire Department Report - re: January 2008 Month End Report
2. GO!Bus Report - re: October - December 2007 Operating Summary Report/Financial Summary Report.
3. Treasurer's Department Bank Balances for October/November, 2007. (will be distributed at meeting)
c. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter from Department of Environmental Quality - re: Saddleback Sewer.
2. Update from the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Kent - re: Winter Update
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Motion carried.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Pay Application #5 for the Sanitary Sewer and Watermain in Burton Street for the period ending January 31, 2008.
Manager Cousins reviewed the Pay Application #5 in the amount of $73,689.46. Trustee Koessel asked if the total cost was going to be around $300,000.00. Manager Cousins stated that it would be slightly higher because of some additional requirements from the Road Commission that the Board had accepted.
Motion was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Fox to approve Pay Application #5 in the amount of $73,689.46 to Nagel Construction. Motion carried.

Article 6. Public Actions (None)

Article 7. Public Comments
Linda Steil of 4828 Greenhill Ct. was present to inform the Board of her campaign for State Representative of the 72nd District.

Article 8. Unfinished Business
018-2008 Consider Video Service Local Franchise Agreement for AT&T Michigan.
John Swartz from AT&T was present to clarify some issues from the Board. Concerns from the Board included the size and location of the "equipment" being proposed. Mr. Swartz stated the equipment would be placed in one of two places; private easements or the public utility right of way. Trustee Goldberg questioned whether or not AT&T would work with the homeowners on the placement of the equipment. Mr. Swartz stated that AT&T would definitely work with the homeowners. Mr. Swartz shared some pictures/examples of the equipment that could potentially be installed. Discussion followed.
Jessica Wood from Law, Weathers was present to inform the Board of the legal aspects of the application from AT&T. Ms. Wood reviewed a document called the Metro Act Permit (which was inherited by AT&T). This permit does give the Township some control on the location of these boxes/equipment. Ms. Wood is recommending that the Township fill out the permit in a specific way, that we are asking for five percent franchise fees (which is the maximum permitted by law). Ms. Wood is also recommending that we fill out the PEG Fee section that we request a 1.5 percent payment from AT&T. Discussion followed.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the permit before March 5th and send the Ordinance that was drafted by Law, Weathers to the Planning Commission to take a look at and make a recommendation to the Board.

Article 9. New Business
022-2008 Consider Approval of Fourth of July Street Fair Contract for Rides and Amusements.
Trustee Koessel inquired on how much Funny Business charged last year. Steve Korhorn was present to inform the Board that there is a slight increase from last year, due to an increase in insurances.
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Fourth of July Streetfair Contract with Funny Business in the amount of $43,200, with one-half being paid up-front. Motion carried.

023-2008 Consider Approval of Cleaning Bids Received for the Township Office, Library and Wisner Center.
Manager Cousins reviewed the bids received and recommended the bid for the cleaning of the Township Office, Library and the Wisner Center be awarded to Enviro-Clean in the amount of $2,691/month. Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the cleaning bids for the Township Office, Library and the Wisner Center to Enviro-Clean in the bid amount of $2,691/month. Motion carried.

024-2008 Consider Approval of Bid for 2008 Gypsy Moth Spraying Program for Aquatic Consulting Services.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the bid for the 2008 Gypsy Motion Spraying Program to Aquatic Consulting Services in the amount of $30.00/acre for a total of 452 acres. Motion carried.

Article 10. Manager's Comments
a. Manus Property (30th & Buttrick)
Manager Cousins relayed that this item has been discussed very briefly at a previous meeting and the matter was sent informally to the Parks Committee. Members of the Parks Committee are very interested in the Township obtaining the above-mentioned property for possible use as a mini-park or a weigh station for the pathways. Discussion followed.
Board members stated that they needed a better understanding of the rationale and the cost before they were asked to make a decision on acquiring this property.
Additional comments included the following:
" An ad had been put in the Grand Rapids Press as instructed by the Board for the sale of the 2005 Jeep Cherokee. Two bids have been received in the amounts of $11,000 and $14,500. Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox to authorize the Manager to dispose of the Jeep for the offer of $14,500. Motion carried.
" Needs to request a meeting of the Utility sub-committee regarding the Township's involvement in extension of Water and Sewer into the Tassell property on East Burton St.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Treasurer Carpenter offered the following comments:
" Submitted a memo to the Board stating that she has decided not to seek re-election for the Township Treasurer's position. She also stated that she would like to retire at the end of May, 2008. Treasurer Carpenter asked the Board to receive and accept her resignation as of May 29, 2008. Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox to receive and accept the resignation of Township Treasurer Carpenter effective May 29, 2008. Motion carried.
" Last two days to pay taxes at the Township are Thursday and Friday of this week.
" Dog licenses are due March 1, 2008. Business as usual.
Trustee Koessel offered the following comments:
" Thanked Treasurer Carpenter for all her years of service to Cascade.
Trustee Fox offered the following comments:
" Also thanked Treasurer Carpenter for all her years of service to Cascade.
Trustee Goldberg offered the following comments:
" Expressed same sentiments as previous Trustees regarding the resignation of Treasurer Carpenter.
Trustee Beahan offered the following comments:
" Offered the best to Treasurer Carpenter on her retirement.

Article 12. Adjournment
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Fox to adjourn. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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