Township Information, Forms & Ordinances

Homestead Township Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
Homestead Township Hall
11508 Honor Highway
Honor, MI 49640
March 2, 2009 at 7:00P.M.

A regular meeting of the Homestead Township Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by Mary Geetings.

Present: Shelley Rosa, Mary Geetings, Matt Miller and Carol Moore.

Also present: Bob Rosa, Frank Walterhouse, Edna Beechraft, Dan Moore, Bill Hutchins, Dennis Rodzik, Katrina Smith, Roger Hubbell, Eric Fernelius, Bill Sholten and Craig Johnson.

The entire audience participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Miller to appoint Shelley Rosa as Acting Chair for the meeting in Cathy Demitroff's absence. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

APPROVE AGENDA : Motion by Geetings to approve the agenda, with the addition of approval of the February 16 minutes, under “ Approval of Minutes”. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Motion by Miller to accept the February 2, 2009 minutes as presented. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Miller to approve the February 16th workshop minutes. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

TREASURER'S REPORT : A 3 cent error was discovered on the February 2, Treasurer's Report, so a new report was distributed. Motion by Miller, support Moore to accept the Treasurer's Reports as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

CLERK'S REPORT : Motion by Miller, support Moore to accept the Clerk's Reports as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried.ZONING REPORT- Motion by Rosa, support Miller to accept the Zoning Administrator's Report as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried .

SUPERVISOR'S REPORT: Motion by Miller, support Moore to accept the Supervisor's Report as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

APPROVAL OF BILLS :

General Fund - Motion by Miller, support Moore to pay the General Fund Bills. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Fire Millage - Motion by Moore, support Miller to pay the Fire Department Bills. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

CORRESPONDENCE: Assessment Notice for the House / Rental was passed to the board for review.

PUBLIC IN-PUT: Dennis Rodzik - This Township board continues to carry a high surplus. I have brought this subject up for the last 3 months, and this board has not taken or shown any action. I want this board to make a decision, or take a vote tonight, if not I will take further action.

Katrina Smith - Indian Hill Rd - The Skate Park Committee now calls themselves “ Friends of the Skate Park”, and would like to hold a Twilight Party at the Twp Hall on April 3, 2009. Motion by Miller to allow the Friends of the Skate Park the use of the twp hall on April 3, 2009. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Edna Beecraft - I have received a draft of the Park Person Position, and feel this should be contracted out. The Park does not have all the equipment needed to maintain the park. We also should have volunteer come and help care for the park. I also am astounded at the amount of water that sits on the ball field. If the Batting cage is a problem, remove it.

Public In Put Closed

SNOWMOBILE ENFORCEMENT - Bill Sholten, Undersheriff for Benzie County - reviewed with the board the Snowmobile Patrol Agreement, that the county is asking Homestead Township to participate in. Funds have been cut by the State by 20%. This is not a donation, this is a contract between the Sheriff's Department / County, and Homestead Twp. Motion by Geetings to enter into an agreement with the Benzie County Sheriff's Department for $300.00 (Three Hundred Dollars), for snowmobile patrol. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

EMS ANNUAL REPORT - Craig Johnson, Director of EMS Benzie County distributed and explained the annual report to the board. He also informed the board of current changes, past changes and future changes.

NEW BUSINESS:

Cemetery Sexton Contract - The current contract expired on May 7, 2009 . Eric Fernelius, our current Sexton presented to the board a wage review and proposal for a wage increase.

Motion by Miller to renew a contract with Eric Fernelius for 4 year. May 7, 2009 through May 7, 2013. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Miller to approve the rate increase presented by Eric. Increase Full Burial $400.00, Child $250.00, Baby $250.00 and Ashes $150.00. Support Moore. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Clean-Up Day - Shari Taylor compiled the information she had collected from a survey she had sent out regarding each township's clean up day. A contract has been signed this year, but this information will be helpful for next year.

Bank Depository - Motion by Miller to use the HSB as the Bank Depository for the 2009/2010 year. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Monthly Meetings - Motion by Rosa to hold the Homestead Township Board Meeting the first Monday on the month, unless the Monday fall on a Holiday, then the meeting will take place on the first Tuesday of the Month. The meeting dates will be posted in the paper. Support Geetings. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Robert Rules - Motion by Rosa, to conduct the Homestead Township Board meetings by Robert Rules. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Truth and Taxation - Motion by Miller to follow the Truth and Taxation for Township as follow. “The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing.” Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

OLD BUSINESS - Adoption of Budgets :

Motion by Rosa to approve the Homestead Township Budget presented to this board. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried

Motion by Geetings to approve the Fire Improvement Fund of $46,825.93. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion By Miller to approve the Park and Recreation Budget presented to this board. Support Moore. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Rosa to approve the park and Recreation Equipment Fund for $11,637.54. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Rosa to approve the Fire Millage Budget presented to this board. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Park and Recreation Position - The board reviewed the Job Description and the Ad for the Record Patriot regarding the Park Maintenance Position. Recommendation were inputted.

Motion by Rosa to approve the Ad presented to the board for the Park Maintenance Position to be placed in the record patriot, March 18 and March 25. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Miller to approve the Job Description for the Park Maintenance Position. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Fire Department - 1 run for February - 9 total runs for the year. Inland has contracted with us for full fire coverage for 1 year. We will work with them and their crew.

Joint Planning - The Mass Gathering needs to be approved by the Township's. Roger Hubbell will get copies to the Clerk to be distributed to the board.

PUBLIC IN-PUT - Shari Taylor - Cinder Road - I will contact and work with other township's that have clean up day, and see if we can coordinate with one company and maybe do a County Clean up day, to help bring down the cost.

Bill Hutchins - Will the board be re-voting on the funding for the CERT Program?

Motion by Geetings to resigned the motion made at the February meeting allowing $1,500.00 for training for the CERT program to homestead township resident. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Motion by Geetings to allow $1,500 to be allocated to the CERT Program for equipment cost. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.

Roger Hubbell - ZBA will be attending a training session, and they have a Public Hearing on March 24.

Bob Rosa - Rosa's excavating will offer to pack down material in the Dumpster for $50.00 a time, if we so choose to go with the 30Yard container.

Edna Beechraft - Mr. Rodzik wants up to refund money to the tax payers, but what does our fire Dept do, when we lose Inland Township.

Rodzik - We have a mileage to cover the Fire Department. Did we need that mileage when the township has such a high surplus. I am asking the board why are they carrying such a high surplus? We have such a high surplus, yet we have record home foreclosures.

Any Other Business to Come Before the Board - Shelley distributed to the board ORV Ordinance and draft minutes from the meeting last week. This will need to be addressed at next months meeting.

Frank Walterhouse - There are at least six, eight foot tables, that should be replaced in the hall. The township hall could use some updating.

Adjourn : Motion by Miller to Adjourn. Support Moore. Meeting Adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Mary Geetings, Clerk Shelley Rosa - Acting Chair - March 3 rd Meeting