Monday, March 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Propose 2009-2010 Budget &
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, Rayland Bergey,
and Ronald Austin.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Patrick acknowledged guests.
Bob Hoard asked permission from the Board to remove the fence on the
West side of the hall. He stated it
would take about 1 ˝ hours to complete.
He also discussed filling in the ruts made by the road crew on the West
lawn, moving gravel to make a thick walkway from the side door of the hall to
the parking lot, as people are using the lawn as a pathway now, which is mud. Bob also asked if he could move the parking
lot gravel to the cemeteries roads. Much
discussion followed. Bev made a motion
to have Bob Hoard remove the fence on the West side of the Hall. Patrick 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed. The gravel issues were tabled. Peggy will contact MDOT to obtain a time
frame for the parking lot work to begin.
When that takes place Bob can move the gravels.
Ray Bergey discussed the Middle Branch
Township Hardship (Poverty) Exemption Policy.
It was noted that the Board of Review would determine each case
individually and, if there is a dispute, the Township Supervisor would make
final decisions.
Ron Austin had nothing he wished to bring up and noted he was attending
to be informed of the township business.
Treasurers Report: $93,869.92
total with $40,000.00 in CD’s, $10.00 in Credit Union Savings and $53,859.92 in
checking.
Bills to be paid: Bev made a
motion to pay the bills AP checks 4575-4603 and PR checks 4802-4814. Sarah 2nd the motion. All were in favor and motion passed.
Bev made a motion to table the Dangerous Building Ordinance until Peggy
finds out if the county building inspector would examine the building and what
the cost to the township would be. Sarah
2nd the motion. All were in
favor and motion carried.
Peggy made a resolution to accept the township supervisor, Patrick
Babcock, holding the position of Township Supervisor and serving on the Marion
Fire Board and Firefighter. Bev 2nd
the motion. All were in favor and
resolution passed.
Peggy reported to the Board that Betty Hanson said she threw away her
Board of Review training manual from last year.
Becky Cavanaugh reported she would drop off her book to Rayland Bergey, but has not done so to date. Peggy will check with Becky again.
The un-chosen, paid for cemetery lots was discussed. Patrick made a motion that when lot/lots are
purchased, they must be chosen at that time.
Peggy 2nd the motion.
All were in favor and motion passed.
Peggy was instructed to write Donald and Meretta
Williams a letter stating thy need to choose their 10 lots by April 15, 2009 or
the
Patrick discussed the burned house on M-66 and M-61. It is still being investigated. Patrick will check with the investigator for
the progress that is being made and try to obtain a finish date.
The Ag maps were discussed. Peggy
noted she had not obtained a bill for them.
Rayland Bergy noted that the Board of Review
had not received Ag maps from Don Williams. Discussion followed. Both Rayland Bergey
and Ron Austin said one Ag map of
Rayland Bergey, Ronald Austin and Patrick
Babcock all reported on a terrific Board of Review Training through MTA at McGuires.
The Proposed Budget for 2009-2010 was examined, discussed and
revised. Patrick made a motion to accept
the revised 2009-2010 township budget.
Bev 2nd the motion.
All were in favor and the motion passed.
It was noted that our audit is June 11, 1009, this date is not
correct. The audit is on Thursday May 14
and possibly 15.
Peggy clarified that in the minutes of Jan. 5, 2008 the Board determined
that any time over three hours would be considered a full day. The Board had set all employees training days
to $50.00 per half day and $75.00 for over three hours to be a full day. Peggy
noted that the current rate of mileage is $0.55 per mile.
It was discussed that Mark Watkins from the Emergency Management was
updating is emergency information/directory book and requested that Middle
Branch Township adopt a resolution that in an emergency how many people the
hall could hold, sleeping room, eating room, bathrooms, kitchen facilities,
etc. Peggy made a resolution that Middle
Branch Township Hall could be used in an emergency for cots to be set up for at
least 50 people or eating space for at least 100 people, that three bathrooms
would be available as well as kitchen facilities available. Patrick 2nd
the motion. All were in favor and the
resolution passed. Peggy will e-mail the
minutes to Mark Watkins on Tuesday.
Peggy asked the Board’s permission to pay Net One internet
service for one year, as paying by the year saves money. It was agreed to pay a year. Peggy mentioned the township was paying
Burnham & Flower Insurance for the obsolete camera, software and disc
equipment. Bev made a motion to drop
the coverage on the obsolete equipment.
Patrick 2nd the motion.
All were in favor and the motion passed.
Peggy displayed an ad the Marion Press was offering to everyone in the
area. The Board agreed that we did not
need the ad, as we do not have the need to advertise outside of the township.
Poverty Guidelines were discussed and it was noted that we had already
adopted the policy and the Federal Guidelines.
Bev brought it to the Boards attention that the surveyors had used
wooden stakes to mark out the three township properties. The wood could easily break and should be
replaced with metal. Discussion
followed. Sarah made a motion to have Bob Hoard take the metal stakes from the
West side of the hall and install one in the four corners of all three surveyed
township properties. and paint the top three inches
with a florescence paint. Bev 2nd
the motion. All were in favor and the
motion carried.
Peggy brought up the MAMC cemetery conference this summer. She said it would be centered on how to lay
out new cemetery land and the options for various plans. She asked the Board to help cover the cost
for her and Bob to attend. Bev made a
motion to send Bob and Peggy Hoard to the MAMC conference this year. Patrick 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Peggy asked about paying the Marion Public Library. All information had not yet been gathered
about their budget, donations, traffic fine monies and benefits. The money to be
paid would be out of the 2008-2009 township budget
that should be paid by March 31, 2009. Bev made a motion to pay the Library the
requested $858.00. Patrick 2nd
the motion. All were in favor and the
motion passed. It was noted that the
above information would need to be obtained to determine what about would be
paid to the Library for the next year.
It was noted that regular mail and postcards are going up $0.02 each
next month.
Peggy asked who would be able to attend the Spring MTA conference held in
McGuire’s at Cadillac on June 1, 2009.
Patrick has to work. Bev, Sarah,
Patricia and Peggy will be able to attend.
Peggy will send a check to MTA right away to obtain the early bird rate.
The next regular meeting will be held on
Monday, May 11, 2009 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Hall. Patrick adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Peggy Hoard,