Township Information, Forms & Ordinances
Homestead Township Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
Homestead Township Hall
11508 Honor Highway
Honor, MI 49640
August 6, 2007 at 7:00P.M.
Present: Cathy Demitroff, Mary Geetings, Shelley Rosa, Matt Miller and Zelda Gray
Also present: Frank Walterhouse, Roger Hibbard, Tracy Morse , Roger and Cindy Chorley and
The entire audience participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVE AGENDA: Agenda approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Rosa to accept the July 2nd minutes with correction of the date. Support Gray. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
TREASURER=S REPORT: Motion by Gray to accept the Treasurer=s Report as presented. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
CLERK=S REPORT: Motion by Gray, to accept the Clerk=s Reports as presented. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: General Fund - Motion by Rosa to pay all the General Fund Bills. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Fire Millage - Motion by Rosa to pay all the Fire Millage Bills. Support Gray. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Park and Rec Bills: Motion by Rosa to pay all the Park and Rec Bills. Support Miller. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
CORRESPONDENCES: Public Notice Village of Honor Wastewater Treatment Plant.
PUBLIC IN-PUT - Trisha Morse had questions regarding her property on Ryan Rd. She was referred to the County and Craig Segar. She has called Mr. Segar, but he has not returned her calls.
PUBLIC IN-PUT: Closed
OLD BUSINESS:
Cemetery Signs: Signs for both cemeteries are ready to be installed. Motion by Rosa to give approval to Cathy Demitroff to submit an application for permits to install the signs. Support Gray. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
Joint Planning: Gray submitted Exhibit A: A requisition to approve payment for goods services and per diem member fees, to be approved by the board. (See attachment) Motion by Rosa to approve Exhibit A=s verbiage to be added / amended to the Joint Planning Agreement. Support Geetings. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
An invoice for Williams Consulting Services was submitted for payment from the Joint Planning Committee. Motion by Gray to pay Williams Consulting Services the partial payment from his contract in the amount of $1,549.35. Roll Call. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
The Joint Planning Dept will be holding an Open House at both Inland and Homestead Twp.
Homestead August 28, 2007 and Inland Twp, August 29, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 runs this month, 44 runs for the year.
The fire department would like to build a parking lot on the south/east side of the fire garage. Motion by Gray to allow Frank to investigate the cost for the Fire Department Parking Lot. Support Rosa. All Ayes. Motion Carried.
RECREATION PARK: History on the park lease from 1982 was distributed to the board.
The Budget for the Park for 2007 was distributed to the board, along with 3 bills that he was questioned on by the Treasurer last month.
Frank expressed his feelings to the board about his relationship with the Treasurer. He feels he and the Treasurer have never gotten along in the twenty years they have worked together and feels he is being attacked at these open meetings all the time. Last month broke the camels back as far as he is concerned. It was nasty. What does the board want me to do? He feels as the Manager of the Twp Park he should be able to make decisions about the improvements, but continually is questioned by the Treasurer.
Shelley (Treasurer). As a Treasurer and a board member it is her job as a representative of the tax payers to questions all bills. She feels the communication from Frank as a manger to the board is weak. There are bills submitted for approval without the board=s prior knowledge. She feels we need a plan; that the park should be generating some revenue. It is not personal. She would like to see better communication, and is sorry that Frank feels this is personal.
Discussion continued.
It was suggested to try once again to form a committee for the park. An add will be placed in the paper. Cathy Demitroff has offered to sit on the Park board with Frank along with whom ever they may receive from the add in the paper. This would take place in the fall and winter months.
Frank has been seen using the Park Tractor and mowers at his home.
He distributed to the board minutes from when the John Deere Tractor was purchased. He paid for the tractor, but the purchase was run thru the books of the Twp Park.
Frank states from 1982 through 1997 he used his personal mower from home to cut the grass at the park. The township bought a new mower for the park in 1997 and another new one in 2002. Yes, he is guilty of using the township tractor for his personal use.
This will be tabled until next month. Need to talk with the insurance company concerning liability.
Park Improvements. The hill leading down to the concession stand is in terrible shape. Motion by Gray to approve $1,400 for gravel and black dirt to be brought in by Honor Excavation to fix the hill. Support Miller. Roll Call. Miller yes - Gray yes - Rosa Abstain - Geetings yes - Demitroff yes. Motion Carried.
The wash outs along the main road leading up to the ball fields is terrible and needs immediate attention. Motion by Gray to allow Frank to investigate and seek bids to improve the road washouts. Support Miller. All Ayes. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
MTA Meeting : A meeting was held July 18 at Lake Twp. It was well represented by the townships. It was decided that the MTA board members would meet with the county commissioners to discuss numerous issues. That meeting will take place August 14, 7:00 p.m at the Benzonia Twp Hall. Cathy stated that it is an open meeting, but it was not sure if Public In-Put would be allowed.
PUBLIC INPUT :- None
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Geetings, Clerk
Cathy Demitroff, Supervisor
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