Township Information, Forms & Ordinances
Homestead Township Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
Homestead Township Hall
11508 Honor Highway
Honor, MI 49640
July 6, 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, and Carol Moore. Absent Matt Miller
Also present: Bob Rosa, Frank Walterhouse, Mark Wareham, Sherry Taylor, Lee Anton, Shannon Purchase, Susan Stain, Doreen Carter, Ed Carter, Todd Warren, Mr and Mrs Tornow, Gloria Walterhouse, Cindra Moore, Devan Depauw, Katrina Smith Calvin Smith
The entire audience participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVE AGENDA : Motion by Rosa to approve the agenda, with the addition of Park Contract, and Caterpillar under New Business, and Park Camping under Old Business. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Motion by Rosa to approve the June 1, 2009 minutes with correction under Foreclosure Property, "the support was made by Demitroff and the Motion carried." Support by Moore with correction. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
May 12 Minutes - The minutes from the May 12, Homestead / Inland Joint Session Meeting were given to the Homestead Twp Board by Inland's Deputy Clerk. Motion by Geetings to approve the May 12 minutes as presented. Support Demitroff. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
June 23 Minutes - Motion by Moore to approve the Special Inland/Homestead Minutes presented to the board. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
REPORTS: - Clerk's: Motion by Rosa to accept the Clerks report as presented. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Treasurer's: Motion by Geetings to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Zoning Admin and Supervisor's Report : Motion by Rosa to accept the Zoning Admin and the Supervisor's Report as presented. Support Geetings. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS : General: Motion by Rosa to pay the General Fund Bills. Support Moore. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Fire Mileage: Motion by Rosa to pay the Fire Department Bills. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Park and Rec : Motion by Geetings to pay the Park and Rec Bills with an exception of the fuel bill, until receipts are presented. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
CORRESPONDENCE : State of MI - Hearing for Cherryland Electric Cooperative, Letter from Lorie and Mark Richmann, Benzie County Road Commission 2 nd Brine Notice, Letter from the Men and Women League, US Department of Interior - Thanks for use of Twp Hall, Benzie Co Bd of Commissioners for Planning Members.
PUBLIC IN PUT: Kevin Taghon - Cinder Road - There is a lack of maintenance on the ball fields and the garbage. The garbage is not picked up every week, or every other week. The bases are not being taken up when the fields are drugged. The bases are expensive, they will be damaged if they get hit when dragging. Also the diamond dust is not falling back into the holes around the bases, after they are dragged. They need to be racked.
PUBLIC IN PUT CLOSED - 7:20
ZONING VIOLATION UPDATE - TORNOW: Upon investigation it appears that the travel trailer on the property is in violation. Motion by Rosa to have Roger Williams draft a letter of violation to the owner's address on record. Support Demitroff. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
PRESIDIUM ENERGY: No Show
CONSERVATION RESEARCH ALLIANCE : No Show
NEW BUSINESS: Park Contract - Cathy Demitroff would like her name removed from the Park Contract, as the contact person. She feels the board was not standing behind the written contract as written. Paragraph 3 on the contract was read. Motion by Geetings to remove the Supervisor, Cathy Demitroff from the Park Maintenance Contract as the contact person, and to appoint Carol Moore as the contact person. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Dogs in the Park : Even thought it is posted, "No Dogs Allowed" in the township park, the board members are fine with dogs there, as long as they are on a leash.
Glass Bottles in the Park: This is hazardous, and people can be hurt. Recommend putting a sign at the entrance of the Park, NO GLASS BOTTLES.
Garbage Pick - Up : There is no time on the Park Maintenance Person's Contract, as to when he will pick up the garbage after the night games. The garbage by the concession stand needs to be pick up daily. The rest of the cans will be empty weekly. It has been recommended that he be there between 10am and 12:00 noon to pick up the garbage.
Batting Cage Machine : The batting cage fence will be completed by tomorrow. The hours of operation will be from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm. Mark will unlock and lock them. If the machines break down, he will be notified.
Park Vandalism: Should the Park Maintenance Person be paid extra for cleaning, or repairing (in this case it was painting the dugout), after someone vandalizes? Although no motion was made, three board member verbalized that they felt he should. The next time a situation arises, it was suggested to bring the situation to the board.
Dugout Urination: If this kind of behavior continues, that team, or person, or people will be asked to leave the park, and not come back.
Mutual Aid Contract: - Motion by Rosa to adopt the Mutual Aid Contract with Grand Traverse Rural Fire Department. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Zimmerman Road Contract: Motion by Geetings to approve and sign the contract for Seal Coating Zimmerman Road at the cost of $9,500.00. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Cemetery Maps: One bid was submitted from Abonmarche for the cost of $525.00 for Homestead, and $590.00 for Champion Hill. Mary will get at least one more bid.
Tax Rate Request : Motion by Rosa to accept the Tax Rate of 0.9295, and allow the Supervisor and the Clerk to sign. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Tent Worms : Carol Moore was asked by a resident if the Township / County could do anything about the worms? Possible the state will look into it next year.
OLD BUSINESS : Web Site : We need to come up with suggestion as to what we would like to have on the Web Site, and then figure out what kind of budget we have, or will need to maintain the Web page. We could also have a counter put on the web site, to see how many people are actually visiting the site. If there are very few visiting the site, then we would look into cancelling it.
Trash Can : Motion by Rosa to purchase a trash can and cigarette holder from Up Beat for the cost of $370.44 including shipping and handling. Support Demitroff. Roll Call. Demitroff - Yes, Moore - No, Geetings - Yes, and Rosa - Yes. Motion Carried.
Park Report: Mark Wareham - Thanks to Bob and Brian Rosa, for helping me spread all the Diamond Dust. No, the bases are not moved, when the field is dragged, but I will move them from now on. The fence on the batting cages will be completed tomorrow.
Bids for 4ft Fence . 3 bids were submitted. Apple Fence, Perfect Fence and Happy Harry's. Motion by Rosa to accept Apple Fence's 9 gauge of galvanized fence for $704.00 installed. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Fire Dept: 3 Runs for June.
The fire department would like proposed plans to upgrade the Fire Dept., and offices. Plans would be needed if we were to apply for a grant, or any stimulus money.
Joint Planning Commission : July 21 st is the next scheduled meeting for the Planning Commission. Funds need to be transferred into the Joint Planning Account. Motion by Demitroff to write a check for $10,000 from the Planning and Zoning Account / General Fund for the Joint Planning Committee. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Park Camping : Would we allow camping in the park during the Coho Festival Ball Tournament? Shannon Purchase will take responsibility for all staying. Motion by Rosa to allow camping in the Homestead Park upon contingency from the Insurance Company. Shannon Purchase will gather names, get vehicles plates and have signed permits from everyone staying, for August 21 and/or the 22 nd . No camp fires, unless contained in a portable fire pit. Support Demitroff. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
PUBLIC IN PUT: - Doreen Carter - Vice President Women's Softball League . I was not aware of any problems up at the park, and do not know where they are coming from. We clean up the dug outs behind ourselves. Beer is dumped from the bottles, and then the kids pick them up and take them to the concession stand. I will talk to the teams about urinating in the dug outs. The diamond dust was an issue during the very dry hot weather, we need to have it damped as much as we can. Batting Cage - It was not communicate to us that they were not in use. Dogs in the park - People like to bring their dogs into the park, and I have not stepped into any dog poop. We appreciate and enjoy the park on Thursday nights. Thank you .
Mark Wareham - Happy Harry's - I tried that week to keep the diamond dust down, it was so hot and very dry.
Katrina Smith - Indian Hill Rd. - I received an e-mail, the skate boarders are not to use the steps at the hall. What is the likely hood that we can get extra cement when they do the bathrooms, for a base for the skate board ramps to sit on?
The Plans are being finalized, we should have the specs shortly. Figure out what it is that you will need, and we can see into getting extra cement.
Devon Depau - I am a huge supporter of skate boarding. I have done it all my life. Anything I can do to help with the skate park, I will do.
Bob Rosa - Maybe we should consider moving the skate park down by one of these lower ball field? If you walk to the park, and then have to walk up to the hill, maybe on lower ground would be better
Homestead and Inland Township Amendment # 09-01 : - Motion by Rosa to adopt amendment 09-01, and to have the Clerk and Supervisor sign. Support Moore. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
ADJOURN: Motion by Moore, support Rosa to Adjourn. Adjourned at 9:30.
Respectfully submitted
Mary Geetings, Clerk Cathy Demitroff, Supervisor
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