Middlebury Township PO Box 622, Ovid, Michigan 48866 Regular Board Minutes Middlebury Township Hall 7627 W M21, Ovid Michigan Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 7:00 pm Call to Order: Supervisor Herendeen called the meeting to order at 7:11 pm with a pledge to the flag and a prayer led by Richard Semans. Board Members Present: Supervisor Michael Herendeen, Clerk Susan Tomasek-Swan, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Gary Kiger and Trustee Richard Givens Guests Present: Six guests were present at the meeting: Diane Dowler, township’s assessor; Greg White, resident; Richard Semans, OMESA representative,; Anthony Sinicropi, Deputy Supervisor; Bob Dennison, Planning Commission representative; and Lynn Givens, Deputy Treasurer. Scheduled Comments: None Public Comments: Opened at 7:12 pm Closed at 7:12pm None Motion to Approve Agenda: Treasurer Stevens made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Trustee Givens seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Motion to Approve Minutes: Treasurer Stevens made a motion to approve the minutes from December 11, 2013 regular meeting. Trustee Givens seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Motion to Approve Bills: Trustee Givens made a motion to approve paying the bills with checks 3479-349 and 2 EFT in an amount of $ 5,839.90. Clerk Tomasek-Swan seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Communications: OMESA- Representative Richard Semans reported the Ovid-Middlebury Emergency service was busy with the ice storm and not many fires last month. Planning – Trustee Givens reported that chairman Doug Krebiehl resigned. The board will need to have a replacement for Mr. Krebiehl. Givens stated the planning board has no one in mind right now. The planning had a quorum but only set dates for 2014 calendar in the December meeting. January will be electing officers. The next planning commission meeting is January 9, 2014. Library -none Maple Grove- Trustee Givens reported the board shifted money from accounts and paid bills. MTA Meeting- Cancelled due to weather Business: Property on McBride-While mailing taxes, Treasurer Stevens discovered the township owns some property on North Mc Bride Rd. It is 2 ½ acres. It appears that someone is using our property. Supervisor Herendeen suggest we find the boundaries and inform individual if they are encroaching on it and possibly sell it. Trustee Givens volunteer to find out the boundaries and investigate who is using the property. Land Rent- Tom Albaugh pays $50.00 to farm our 2 acres surrounding the hall. Treasurer stated the going rate for farm land rent is more than $50.00 per acre. Trustee Givens volunteer to talk to Mr. Albaugh because he knows him. Greg White suggested that the township is added to his farm insurance since we own the land we could be liable. Budget-Clerk asked to have input from board members for the 2014-2015 budget. Road Projects-Trustee Kiger asked who gets the bids for the road projects because he wants to know why the Shiawassee Road Commission (SRC) went with the higher bid for brine. Kiger thought the lowest bid would get the job. Herendeen stated there was a reason the SRC went with the higher bid company. Trustee Kiger stated that he said he was going to protect the tax payer’s dollars. The SCR will be here in February meeting. Website-Supervisor Herendeen suggested that we should administer our webpage. Diane Dowler suggests IT Tight. Clerk will check into and report in February and report back to the board. Cemetery-Trustee Givens approached the topic of Maple Grove Cemetery. He started by stating the amount paid to Maple Grove. By paying this amount the residents receive the resident fee vs. nonresident. Givens stated the cost of Maple Grove will be going up because the acquisition of the 4 acres to mow. Givens reviewed the numbers of income and expenditure. Trustee Givens expressed his opinion of being a good time to leave the authority due to the talk of asking for a millage to support the cemetery and the need the township’s own cemetery needing money. Trustee Givens made the following motion, be it resolved that it is the intent of the Middlebury Township board to withdraw from the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority as soon as practicable. Roll Call Vote; Aye: Kiger, Givens, Stevens, Tomasek-Swan, Herendeen Nay: None Adopted Trustee Givens made a motion to give the township Supervisor the authority to consult with the township’s attorney and submit a notice of withdrawal to the Maple Grove Cemetery Authority if appropriate. The motion was seconded by Treasure Stevens. Ayes: All Nays: None Carried Final Comments: Opened at 9:32 pm Closed at 9:32 pm None Motion to adjourn the meeting: Adjourned at 9:32 pm Without objection the supervisor adjourned the meeting at pm.