Middlebury Township Board Minutes Draft Minutes Middlebury Township Board Budget & Regular Meeting Wednesday March 14, 2012 6:30 pm Budget & Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Middlebury Township Hall 7627 W. M-21 Ovid, Michigan 48866 Minutes Clerk Tomasek-Swan called the meeting to order at 6:30pm Call To Order with a Pledge to the Flag and a prayer led by Trustee Paul Dutton. Tomasek-Swan made a motion to have Deputy Supervisor, Michael Herendeen chair the budget and regular meeting due to the absence of Supervisor Anthony Sinicropi. P. Dutton seconded the motion. AYE: ALL NAY: None Carried Members Present: Clerk, Susan Tomasek-Swan, Treasurer, Carolyn Stevens, Trustee, Erin Dutton and Trustee Paul Dutton. Roll Call Absent: Anthony Sinicropi Guest Present: Mike Herendeen, Rich Givens, and Dick Semans None Public Comments 6:35 pm closed 6:35 Presentation of the Budget : The board reviewed the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget. The state revenue income was discussed as a possibly of being estimated on the high end. For expenditures, Vincent Road was discussed for the budget this year or possibly next year. P. Dutton wondered about splitting the cemetery line to reflect Maple Grove Cemetery's expenditures; Tomasek-Swan will look into separating the cemetery chart of account numbers. R. Givens asked if there was going to be a reduction in the tax roll. M. Herendeen confirmed the tax roll will be going down a little. Farm land value seems to be holding the same or increasing slightly, helping our tax roll from declining as much as other townships. A motion was made by E. Dutton to closed budget meeting and reconvene the regular meeting at 7:04 pm. The motion was supported by P. Dutton. Closed 7:02 Aye: All 7:04 Reconvene Nay: None Guest Present: Dick Semans, Rich Givens. Bill Lasher, Gary Kiger, Brent Jones, Bob Dennison Mike Herendeen, and Lynn Bowne None Scheduled Comments Public Comments Bill Lasher asked about our park and recreation representative because there has been no one from Middlebury attending. The park and recreation board needs to have a quorum to vote on motions. Tomasek-Swan will contact the representative and see if she can make the meetings. Opened 7:06 Closed 7:15 Brent Jones from the Shiawassee Economics Partnership Development (SEPD) updated the board on the activities occurring in the county. Mr. Jones spoke about a new business starting in the county. He also wanted to inform the board about an upcoming wind energy meeting in Perry. Moved by P. Dutton, seconded by E. Dutton, to approve the agenda as printed. Motion to Approve Agenda AYE: All NO: none CARRIED AGENDA APPROVED Moved by P. Dutton, seconded by Stevens to approve the minutes as written. Minutes Approved AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by Tomasek-Swan to approve the banking's report as presented. Banking Report Approved AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Moved by P. Dutton and seconded by E. Dutton to pay bills in with Bills Payment Approved checks numbered 3018-3040 and 2 EFTs in an amount of $7087.31 AYE: All NO: none CARRIED Communications MTA meetings were reviewed by the board. Remonunmentation was discussed. Rich Givens expressed the importance of this program to have correct survey landmarks. Stevens made a motion to approve the following road contracts; Mineral Well Brine Agreement, Chip Seal Agreements for Warren and Mason Roads, Gravel Hauling Agreement for Dewey Road. P. Dutton seconded the motion. Unfinished Business AYE:ALL NAY: None Carried New Business Resolution 2012-03, to adopt fiscal year 2012-2013 Budget was offered by Stevens and supported by Tomasek-Swan. Roll Call Vote AYE: Stevens, Tomasek-Swan, E. Dutton, P. Dutton NAY: None Absent: Sinicropi The resolution for payments of meetings was tabled until April's meeting. Road Renewal was discussed. The renewal was referred to Lynn Bowne for review. The "GASB" policy information and a policy resolution will be presented at the April meeting. Mr. Bowne, the township attorney, will send the Clerk another example to draft a correct wording for Middlebury township's needs. Michael Herendeen, Middlebury's OMESA representative presented to the board the proposal of entering into litigation with OMESA to settled the title with Ovid Township. We (Middlebury) have a vested interest in this issue due to there is no clear understanding of how the assets would be divided. If OMESA decides not to continue in the litigation against Ovid township and if we are involved the law suit then the case cannot be dismissed. If it was just OMESA by itself and they dismissed the litigation, the case would be done. Middlebury could continue the case by being a co-plaintiff in the case. The cost involved for Middlebury will be having our attorney representing us. The proceedings cost the township however, the cost of losing the OMESA's deed is higher. Ideally, this should be settled out of court. Be it moved that the township authorizes OMESA (Ovid- Middlebury Emergency Service Authority) to include Middlebury Township in the contemplated legal action to secure clear title to OMESA's property in Ovid township. This includes authorizing the Middlebury township's attorney to enter an appearance in the matter and consult with the OMESA counsel as the litigation proceeds. The motion was offered by Tomasek-Swan and supported by Stevens. Roll Call Vote AYE: Tomasek-Swan, Stevens, P. Dutton, E. Dutton NO: None Absent: Sinicropi Bill Lasher updated the board on the Village of Ovid becoming a city. The boundary commission had rejected the application because some of the petitions were not notarized and the water tower and lagoon are out of the village's boundaries. Mr. Lasher commented the committee will continue to try to make this happen. Final Comments Mr. Dick Semans updated the board on the arrival of the new ambulance. It should arrive in the month of May. Mr. P. Dutton mentioned how professional the OMESA's ambulance crew was when they responded to Mr. Dutton's neighbor for transportation to the hospital. Mr. Semans stated he was happy to hear this and would pass the compliment to the ambulance crew members. Dutton proposed adding some 4x4 wood posts with reflectors at the end of the township's driveway. Bob Dennison advised that due to the hall being located on a highway, they need to have break away posts. Opened 8:22 pm Closed 8:26 pm Minutes prepared by _____________________________________________________ ______ Susan Tomasek-Swan Susan Tomasek-Swan, Middlebury Township Clerk Clerk