Township Information, Forms & Ordinances
Homestead Township Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
Homestead Township Hall
11508 Honor Highway
Honor, MI 49640
May 4, 2009 at 7:00P.M.
A regular meeting of the Homestead Township Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by Chair, Cathy Demitroff.
Present: Cathy Demitroff, Shelley Rosa, Mary Geetings, Matt Miller and Carol Moore.
Also present: Bob Rosa, Frank Walterhouse, Dan Moore, Todd Warren, Mark Wareham, Cindra Moore, Don Lousignau, Lu Ann Lousignau, John Tornow, Josephine Tornow, Roger Williams, and Edna Beechraft.
The entire audience participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVE AGENDA : Motion by Geetings to approve the agenda, with the addition of meeting information, under Old Business. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Motion by Miller to accept the April 6, 2009 minutes as presented. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
TREASURER'S REPORT : Motion by Miller, support Geetings to accept the Treasurer's Reports as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
CLERK'S REPORT : Motion by Miller, support Rosa 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 Rosa, support Miller to accept the Supervisor's Report as presented. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS :
General Fund - Motion by Rosa, support Miller to pay the General Fund Bills. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Fire Millage - Motion by Rosa, support Miller to pay the Fire Department Bills. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Park and Rec - Motion by Rosa, support Miller to pay the Park and Rec bills. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Benzie County Rd Commission - Notification of cost for brining the dirt roads.
National Day of Prayer
Alan and Diana Davis - Letter opposing the ORV Ordinance.
Benzie County Office of the Treasurer - Foreclosure notice of property in Homestead Twp.
PUBLIC IN PUT - Diane Kaiser - Maple Rd. The letter that was just read regarding the ORV Ordinance sums up my feelings regarding ORV. Tearing up the environment, scaring drivers, speed, and budget constraints are some of my reasons.
ZONING ISSUES - John and Josephine Tornow - We live on Pioneer Rd, and are wondering why zoning issues are not being taken care of. The Zoning Ordinance says 1 home per 5 acres, yet our neighbor has 2 homes on his property, one being a travel trailer, that he has added what looks to be an entrance way. We have spoken with Seager, Neiger, Hogan, and Chuck Clark, from the county, and Cathy and Roger Williams from the Township. We have found out that no permits were pulled through the building department. No one seems to be aware of what they were doing. This occurred in 2008. The last response I received from Dave Neiger at the county, "it what ever happens is now the problem of Homestead Twp." The county and Homestead Twp were both notified in October of 2008.
Motion by Geetings to have Roger Williams to contact an Attorney regarding this matter. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Concession Stand Bids - There were no bids received.
Road Brining - Motion by Rosa to accept the counties estimate to brine the 19.25 miles of dirt roads in Homestead Township, and to brine the roads twice if needed. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Road Repairs - Motion by Rosa to Seal Coat 1.01 mile of West Cinder Rd, at the estimated cost of $61,139.14 with the Township responsible for one half of the cost. Support Moore. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Old Cemetery Books - The Benzonia Historical Society is very interested in our old cemetery books. Motion by Rosa to donate our Cemetery books to the Historical Society, but, if they ever want to dispose of the books, they would notify the township, or return them to the township. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Ranger Training - Our State Troopers want to use our hall to conduct a Ranger Training on May 14 from 8 am until 12:00 noon. Motion by Rosa to allow the State Trooper the use of the township hall at no charge on May 14 for Ranger Training. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Water Resolution - After a lengthy discussion a motion by Rosa to table the Resolution until further questions can be answered. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Hall Tables - It is much cheaper to purchase the tables from Sam's Club, and there is no shipping cost. Motion By Rosa to approve the purchase of 4 - 8ft long tables from Sam's Club. Dan and Carol Moore will purchase the table and the township will reimburse. Support Geetings. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Natural Cemetery - We need more answers to our questions. The main question is: What is the interest in Benzie County? This will be re-visited at another time.
Park and Recreation - Bases - New bases are needed before the first ball game on May 15 th . Motion by Rosa to purchase Bolco bases from Dave Harvey's in Traverse City, for the upper field at the cost of $372.70. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Cement - Bases - Motion by Demitroff to allow Mark Wareham to charge cement at the Honor Building Supply to install the bases. Support Moore. Cathy will contact member in the community to help. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Lawn Mower - The mower is in pieces. It was suggested to get bids to put the mower back into working conditions, however, it will cost the township to get bids. Any parts would need to be purchased from Ferguson. Only lawn mower dealer will warranty the parts. Motion by Rosa to accept the original estimated bid from Fergusons, have the tire repaired and restore the mower to a workable condition. Support Moore. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried..
Pavilion Table - Motion by Demitroff to remove the table from under the Pavilion and move a picnic table in it's place. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Batting Cage - There are 50 to 75 holes in the batting cage net. The batting cage in the past years has brought in revenue of approximately $400.00, according to Mark Wareham, who was quoted from Frank Walterhouse. Motion by Rosa to allow Mark to gather bids for a new net. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Wash Outs - A permanent fix needs to be completed, so the drive on the second ball field does not continue to wash out. Also the dirt along the steps coming down to the ball field washes out and should be properly fixed, so no one hurts themselves. Bob Rosa and Mark Wareham will assess the area, and give recommendations to the clerk, so an ad can be placed in the paper for bids.
Fire Department - 8 runs for the year, 25 for the year. 1 house fire in Honor.
Joint Planning - Joint Planning Meeting on Tuesday, May 12 at Inland Township.
Meeting Information - Carol Moore - I need the information a week before the meeting, so I can review, study and be prepared.
Public Input - Don Lousignau - Brownell Road. Don read a letter he drafted regarding the junk cars and etc, that have accumulated at the house, on the corner of Brownell and Haze Road. Cathy Demitroff has a copy of the letter, and it will be addressed.
Bod Rosa - the cost for covers for the garbage cans at the park runs about $119.00 for a dome cover. Also the Park Committee would like to letter the ball fields. Jeff from A+ auto can get 4 letters made from White Aluminum for the cost of $16.00. The letters will be placed on a post marking the field. Motion by Rosa to approve no more than $20.00 for signs for the ball fields. ABCD - A for the upper field with D being place on the field closed to the building. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Other Business to Come Before the Board:
Junk Ordinance - The Attorney reviewed our same ordinance that was approved in August 2005 and said that it was written for a county, not a township. He was given permission by the supervisor to revise the ordinance to fit the township needs. Motion by Rosa to re- adopt the Homestead Township Junk Ordinance from August 2005 , and publish in the paper. Support Geetings. Ayes - Miller, - Rosa - Demitroff - and Geetings. Nay - Moore. Motion Carried.
Checks for the Park and Rec - The check are, and have been hand written, trying to use up check that had been purchased. Permission from the board to shred the old check and order checks that can be purchased using quick books. Permission granted.
Ball Fields - Coho Festival - Motion by Demitroff to allow Bob Rosa to use the Township Park Ball Fields to sponsor a ball tournament during the Coho Festival. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Motion to Adjourn - Motion by Miller to Adjourn at 9:40. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted
Mary Geetings, Clerk Cathy Demitroff, Supervisor
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