Helena Township Board Meeting

August 8th, 2013

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance by Supervisor Rick Teague. Present: Catherine Rice, David Peterson, Bonnie Robbins and Butch Bartz. Motion to approve agenda by Bartz with support by Robbins and motion carried.

Conflict of Interest: None

Public Comment: None

Approval of minutes: Robbins made the motion to approve the minutes with spelling correction with support by Rice and motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Township: Beginning balance as of July 1, 2013           $380,304.89

                                                       Receipts                                                             $84,789.38

                                                         Disbursements                                                 $29,842.04

                                                         Bank balance 7/31/13                                       $435,252.23                                                        

Motion to approve Treasurer’s report by Bartz, supported by Robbins and motion carried.

Presentation of bills: July 1-31, 2013 – $16,141.11 and August 1-8, 2013 – $8,338.97                                    

Speakers: None

Communications: Parks and recreation Committee to present the 5 year Master Plan to the township board at the September board meeting.

Committee reports: Zoning Administrator Molby gave report for July.

Robbins reported that the Planning Commission met and discussed future fireworks ordinance would be tabled until the State of Michigan redefines the state statue. The county is pursuing a noise ordinance. No one representing the Walker Shores Development was present. The topic of commercial use of township property to be discussed in next month’s meeting after reviewing appropriate section of the Township zoning ordinance. There is no requirement of regular meeting s for the ZBA and will continue to meet on an as needed basis.

Teague reported that the ambulance authority added an additional crew during the season as a pilot program in order to help meet the calls from the nine townships.

No report from the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Bartz reported that the roads committee met and recommended that the maintenance estimates for North Lake Street (resurfacing) and the repairs for North Cemetery road move forward. 2700 feet of North Lake Street will be resurfaced with an overlay of 2 inches of hot mix eighteen feet in width with shoulder restoration. The Township portion for the resurfacing will be $44,976.00. 5000 feet of North Cemetery road will have Afton stone and the Township portion of the estimated cost will be $95,964.00. There will be approximately $35,000 left in the Road fund for possible repairs to South lake Street upon further review and discussion by the road committee.

Old Business: Jack Findlay reviewed the Veteran’s Memorial project presentation with the board including the memorandum of understanding. Supervisor Teague stated that at a previous board meeting that the township cannot legally expend tax payer dollars for any special interest group project. Any expenditures by the township have to result in a clearly tangible benefit to the residents of the township. Findlay presented the board with a letter from County Forester Mike Meriwether with a recommendation that a tree that is beginning to decline be removed based on its location at the Depot Park Rice made the motion to obtain bids for this tree removal at Depot Park and will accept the low bid on behalf of the township with support by Robbins and the motion carried.

New Business: Road improvements was covered under the roads committee report.

Announcements: None

Additional Public comment: Jim Gurr made comments on managing local government and use of tax payer dollars.

Motion to pay bills: Robbins motioned with support by Bartz and motion carried.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:17 PM.

Respectfully submitted, David G. Peterson Jr., Clerk