MIDDLE BRANCH TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Monday January 5, 2009 7:00 p.m.

 

Meeting was opened by Patrick Babcock at the Middle Branch Township Hall at 7:00 p.m.

Board Members present:   Sarah Blackledge, Peggy Hoard, Bev Orvis, Patricia Michell and Patrick Babcock.

Guests Present:  Bob Hoard, Larry Brewer, Don Williams, Ronald Austin and Lynne Austin.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Patrick acknowledged guests.

 

Don Williams discussed propane prices he had obtained for the Township.  Discussion followed and the Township will stay with Holton’s for now and keep checking on prices.  The Board thanked Don for his time.  Don inquired about his name being taken off the Township CD.  Patricia said that he could stop in to the Credit Union in Evart and sign off, or she could have a paper sent to him.

 

Don will check with the County Road Commission to make sure it is legal to block off 14 mile road at the end of M-115 and allow the State to pave the area for the Township parking.

 

Minutes read and approved with one correction.  On page one under new business in read “Don will found” It is corrected to read “Don Found”.

Treasurer’s report read and approved.  Checking $45,266.02, Citizens CD $30206.92, Credit Union CD $10068.80 and savings $10.00 for a total of $85,511.74.

Bev made a motion to pay the bills of checks 4141-4803 payrolls and 4563-4576 AP.  Sarah 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and motion passed.

 

Old Business:

Applicants for the Board of Review for 2009-2010 were reviewed and discussed.  Bev made a motion to only have one alternate on the Board of Review.  Patricia 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed. 

Sarah made a motion to place Rayland Bergey on the Board.  Peggy 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Bev said she felt putting Bob Hoard on the Board of Review would put too much family members in Township positions.  Patrick agreed.

Peggy made a motion for Brian Hoekema to be on the Board of Review.  Patrick 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Patrick makes a motion to have Ronald Austin on the Board of Review.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Bev made a motion for Frank Davis to be the alternate on the Board of Review. Sarah 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peggy will contact the Board of Review people tomorrow and advise them of their position, training date and swear them in.

Patrick made a motion for the Board of Review to attend the Cadillac MTA Board of Review Training on Feb. 11, 2009.

Patrick requested Peggy to call Betty Hanson and Becky Cavanaugh to request their Board of Review Training Manuals be returned.

 

New Business:

Wages & Salaries for April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2020.

Peg made a motion to keep the Supervisors wage at $4,000.00.  Sarah 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Treasurers wage at $8,000.00 plus $1,000.00 for summer tax collection.  Sarah 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Deputy Treasurers wage at $400.00.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Patrick made a motion to keep the Clerk’s wage at $8,000.00.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Deputy Clerk’s wage at &400.00.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Hall Supervisor’s wage at $400.00.  Sarah 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Bev made a motion to keep the Trustee’s wage at $150.00 per Township Meeting.  Patrick 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Election Workers wage at $8.50 per hour.  Bev 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peg made a motion to keep the Hall Cleaning at $9.00 per hour.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

The Board of Review had already been set by vote of $25.00 per hour, for the first hour and 15 minute increments after that.  Their training would be the same as the Township Board’s of $50.00 per half day and $75 per full day.

Peg made a motion to keep the Staff Training, Education, Work Shops and Conferences at $50.00 per half day $75.00 per full day.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Peggy made a motion to keep Mowing at $22.00 per hour, Trimming at $14.00 per hour and Raking/Picking Up at $8.50 per hour.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Bev made a motion to keep the Rubbish Day Workers wage at $8.50 per hour.  Patrick 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Patrick brought it to the Board’s attention that the State Mileage rate is $0.505 now.

 

Peg advised the Board the Census Bureau had sent a form to be filled out for homeless shelters in the Township to be listed.  The Board agreed that Middle Branch Township does not have homeless shelters. Peggy will fill out the form and mail back to the Census Bureau.  She also informed the Board the International Property Maintenance Code book had arrived.

 

Road repairs and funding was discussed.

 

The need for an Ordinance Officer was discussed.  At this time Sheriff Crawford reported to Patrick that his office will enforce the Anti Blight Ordinance at no cost to the Township.  Patrick made a motion to have the County Sheriff’s Office handle Middle Branch Township’s Anti Blight Ordinance.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.  Patrick also informed the Board that MTA said the Sexton could not serve as Ordinance Officer and if a case were to go to court, he would be the one to attend the hearing.

Don Williams presented a bill from Attorney White. Patrick made a motion to pay the bill.  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.  Peg will contact Attorney White’s office for a finished copy of the Dangerous Building Ordinance.  The Ordinance will be placed on the March agenda.

 

Patrick reported that he can not hold an office on the Fire Dept. Board and the Township Board, This topic is tabled until March meeting.

Patrick made a motion to adjourn at 8:24 p.m...  Bev 2nd the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

 

The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 23, 2009 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Hall.  The proposed budget will be presented along with regular township business.  Meeting adjourned.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Peggy Hoard, Clerk Middle Branch Township