Monday September 8, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Meeting was opened by Don Williams at the Middle Branch
Township Hall at 7:10 p.m.
Board Members present:
Sarah Blackledge, Peggy Hoard, Bev Orvis,
Patricia Michell and Don Williams.
Guests Present:
Lynne Austin-Deputy Treasurer, Bob Hoard-Grounds Keeper & Assistant
Sexton, Brian & Vickie Cushman-Middle Branch Township Assessors, Patrick
Babcock-Elected Township Supervisor to resume office Nov. 20, 2008 and
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Don acknowledged guests.
Bob Hoard reported
that most of the fence around cemetery II had been removed and all the numbers
have been installed at both cemeteries.
No other numbers will be required for cemeteries I and II.
Brian and Vickie
Cushman presented a contract for 4 years to match the term of office of the
Board. It was questioned why the Board
did not seek more than one bid for assessing.
Don reported that the Board is not required to obtain bids on assessing. Much discussion followed. Bev made a motion to accept the 4 year
contract with Cushman’s. Don 2nd
the motion. All were in favor and the
motion passed. More discussion followed
on how more that one bid should be looked at for assessing.
Pat Babcock
introduced himself as the elected supervisor coming on board Nov. 20, 2008 and
stated he was here to observe and learn.
He was welcomed by all.
Minutes were read and approved with two corrections. Lynne Austin was also present at the
cemetery, and the statement that Bob Hoard would Bush hog the cemetery property
for $22.00 per hour was to be removed.
Don stated that he
had bush hogged the cemetery property and the Board could or could not pay
him. He also said the Jeff Chamberlain
said the Board told him they would put up a fence along his back property line
to separate his land from the cemetery land.
Discussion followed. The Board
agreed that they had not agreed to put up a fence and that Mr. Chamberlain
could put up his own fence if he wanted one installed. It was noted that the Board had agreed to
plant a row of pine trees along the West property line, and had done so.
Treasurer reported we have $85,270.88
Bev made a motion to pay checks 448-4517 and 4098-4117.
Sarah 2nd the motion. All
were in favor and motion passed.
Old Business:
Attorney James
White wants to meet with the Board in October to discuss zoning, blight, and
noise & cemetery officer. Several
dates were chosen, October 6, 13 or 20 at 7:00 p.m. and Don will talk with
Attorney White to pick one date. Don
will let Peggy know and she will advise all others including the public and Pat
Babcock.
Don mentioned
Dart Oil being sold to Holton’s in Evart.
He said Dart owns the tank at the township, but sold us propane at a
private owned rate. He will check with
Holton’s to obtain their costs and options.
Choosing burial
sites was requested. Sarah stated she
would sell hers back to the Township.
The original purchase price was $20.00 and Peggy will type a check for
Sarah. Don made no comment on his 10
sites, nor chose them.
Bob Hoard asked if
the County has an ordinance against blight.
Don said they do but they don’t have anyone to enforce it.
The Marion Public
Library Contract was brought up. Pat had
forgotten to check on this but will do so before the next meeting.
Removal of the
trees on the fence line of cemetery II was brought up. Bob Hoard said Pat Woodard and his brother
wanted the trees to burn and said they would cut them and clean up the debris.
The bush hogging
of the new cemetery property was addressed.
Don said he had bush hogged it. He
stated he had rented a 13 food wide bush hog and the rental and fuel came to
$180.00. It was noted that the issue of
bush hogging had been tabled at the last meeting and no approval had been
issued.
New Business:
August Primary
was addressed. Don was congratulated on
his 6 year Board of Road Commission, Pat Babcock congratulated on Township
Supervisor.
Don asked Peggy to
type a resolution on the Board not wanting 15 mile closed between M-66 and
M-115. She will give a copy to Don, Pat
Babcock and each Board member along with the copy to Don for the Road
Commission.
It was asked if
there was any discussion of the blacktopping of the Township parking lot. None had been heard of. Don mentioned that the Road Commission
contract is up 3-31-09 and hopefully the new Board will have an influence on
the contract.
Supervisors
equipment was discussed. Don asked Peggy
to check with Meretta on what they had at the house
that belongs to the township.
Bev asked the
Board if they would approve paying her $25.53for material and for curtain rods
for the main windows at the Township Hall.
She said she would volunteer her time to make valances for the
windows. Don made the motion we pay Bev
for materials and rods for the valances for the Hall windows. Peggy 2nd the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Peggy displayed a
letter from AT&T regarding an extension to the existing Metro Act Right of
Way that would extend the contract to 12/31/2010; Don asked if any money was
involved. Peggy stated that she did not
know what the previous contract was. She
will check on the details. If there is
no money involved the Board told her to sign the copies and mail them out.
Peggy asked if
anyone was attending the free OEA meeting at the Marion Village Hall on
September 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. It is
the new Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Program grant for the
process of improving the
Peggy informed the
board that she can now obtain election e-mail on the computer for free.
Don mentioned that
Barb Thomas would not be on the Board of Review after December 2008. Discussion followed. Peggy will put an ad in the Marion Press for
applications for the Board of Review positions.
The positions would take effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Don mentioned that
there were several Walnut trees at the new Township cemetery property and asked
the Board if we could give them to anyone who wanted to dig them up. The Board agreed and said the person taking
the trees would also have to fill in the hole.
Next meeting will b a special meeting in October with
Attorney White and the next regular meeting will be held on Monday, November
10th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Hall.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Peggy Hoard,