Middlebury Township PO Box 622, Ovid, Michigan 48866 Budget Meeting Middlebury Township Hall 7627 W M21, Ovid Michigan Wednesday, March 08, 2017 at 6:30 pm Budget Meeting: Call to Order: Supervisor Herendeen called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm with a pledge to the flag and a prayer led by Richard Semans. Board Members Present: Supervisor Michael Herendeen, Clerk Rose Brown, Treasurer Carolyn Stevens, Trustee Gary Kiger and Trustee Richard Semans Guests Present: Eight guests were present. Among the guest were Arlene Pesik, Michael Bruff (District 1 County Commissioner), Carl Chalker, Jan Parker, Karl Hacker, Paul Dutton, Mike and Diane Dowler (Township Assessor). Scheduled Comments: Michael Bruff (County Commissioner) presented a memo regarding the Wind Turbine Energy Work Plan. On every 4th Wednesday of each month started in January thru July the Planning Commission will review each of the provisions for height, noise, shadow flicker, setbacks and decommissioning. The August meeting is intended to provide the Planning Commission and the general public with a complete recommended revision of Section 4.3.76. In October and he handed out his business card to the board and anyone else that was present at the meeting. Public Comments: Opened at 7:11 pm Closed at 7:23pm Paul Dutton shared his concerns regarding Krouse Road and Warren Road needing repairs. The board advised him that Krouse Road is up for repair this year. Warren Road needs the lines repainted do to people driving down the center of the road. It was also shared with the board that the Argus Press reported that Middlebury Township is #12 out of 16 townships on the mineral brine & gradall schedules. These numbers are judged on only 3 miles of Carland Road our township has over 42 miles of roads. Next year the township more than likely will be #1. Residence shared their concerns regarding needing more deer crossing signs on M-21. Unfortunately the DNR are the ones in charge of these signs, we have no control. Motion to Approve Agenda: Treasurer Stevens made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Trustee Semans seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Motion to Approve Minutes: Treasurer Stevens made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Clerk Brown seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Motion to Pay Bills: Trustee Semans made a motion to pay bills in an amount of $7,598.05 with 4 eft and checks numbered 4130-4143. This was supported by Treasurer Stevens. Yes: All Nay: None Carried Communications: Park and Recreations: Start back up in March, nothing to report. Library: Meeting was held today at the same time as our regular board meeting. No update at this time. MTA Meeting: Supervisor Herendeen reported that Middlebury Township hosted the MTA meeting at Caledonia Hall. They talked about weight restrictions on roads, electronic recycling will be available this year sometime and tire recycling will be available on July 29th with a small charge of $2.00. The next MTA meeting will be on March 7th at 7:00 hosted by Burns Township at Caledonia Township Hall. OMESA: The OMESA board has been reformed and there are 2 people from Ovid City, Ovid Township and Middlebury Township who sit on the board make it 6 board members. They are working on some issues currently and are in need of a new fire truck which will cost around $160,000 but plans to sell the old truck will help offset the new truck costs. Assessor: Diana Dowler reported on the upcoming meetings for Board of Review which will be posted in the Argus Press. The Organizational Meeting is on Tuesday, March 7 at 10:00 am location Middlebury Township Hall. The Assessment Appeal Meetings will also be held at Middlebury Township Hall on Monday, March 13 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and Tuesday, March 14 at 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm. These meetings are for anyone that has questions or protests for the 2017 assessments. Residents may protect by letter if received by March 9. Call Diane Dowler (Assessor) at 1-810-635-9596. She also shared with the board hall designs for Antrim Township & New Haven Township. There were some concerns from residents that their taxes are going to increase to help pay for the new hall Middlebury is talking about building in the near future. The board insured the residents that the funds for the new hall will not come from increasing taxes, the township has enough funds in the account and CDs to cover these costs. NO increase in taxes! Diana mentioned that the State Tax Commission (STC) has contracted with Tax management Associates (TMA) to conduct an Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements (AMAR) for those local units that have not yet been reviewed. Our county has been selected for the 2016 audit. TMA will be conducting a record card inspections on a sample of properties within our assessing unit. This audit is to verify that the records used by the assessor match what is physically located at the property. They will not be required to enter the residence this is just and exterior measurement. Once they are done with their audit they will write up a letter with their recommendations. Then a follow up letter will be prepared to thank them and communicate what our processes are to fix any issues they find. Business: 1.) OMESA Update on (Building Rent/Lease): Supervisor Herendeen and Bill Lasher had a meeting set up to discuss but it was canceled. 2.) MTA Annual Conference (April 10th-13th) Lansing, MI: The annual meeting was discussed by the board and is located in Lansing this year. The early bird deadline is March 14. This is tabled until March Meeting. 3.) Budget Review 2017-18: Clerk Brown shared a draft version of the budget to the board and will send the electronic version of the budget to board members to review and update with any changes for the Budget meeting which will be held on Wednesday March 8th at 6:30. 4.) Motion to appropriate $600.00 to Recycling Center (2017-18 Budget): Residents questioned if the township knows about these services. It was noted by Treasurer Stevens that is states it on their tax letter that this service is available to Middlebury Township residence. It is also on our website as well. Treasurer Stevens made a motion to appropriate $600.00 to the Recycling Center in the budget year 2017-2018. Trustee Semans seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried 5.) Motion to appropriate $1,000.00 to Park & Rec. Youth Activities (2017-18 Budget): Treasurer Stevens made a motion to appropriate $1,000 to Park & Rec. Youth Activities for the budget year 2017-2018. Clerk Brown seconded the motion. Yes: All Nay: None Carried 6.) Robinson Burial Approval: There was a deep discussion by the board in regards to how to handle a situation where a family member wanting burial rights to a lot in the cemetery that they did not purchase. After much discussion it comes down to they need to find the owner of the lot and get permission in writing for our records giving them approval to bury someone in the lot. Final Comments: Opened at 8:16 pm Closed at 8:29pm Commissioner Mike stated that the Community Mental Health has a free recycling center for the public. He also mentioned he was going on a tour of the 911 dispatch on Monday to see the new building which is not completed yet. Correction was made to the OMESA meeting to February 28TH. These meetings will be held on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Supervisor Herendeen reviewed the other dates. Motion to adjourn the meeting: Adjourned at 8:29 pm Without objection, the supervisor adjourned the meeting at 8:29 pm. X Rose Brown Middlebury Township Clerk