Ravenna Township

RAVENNA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES

July 13, 2017

The July meeting of the Ravenna Township Board was called to order on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ravenna Township Hall by Supervisor Elmer Hoyle. Pledge to the Flag was led by Trustee Bruce Yonker. Prayer was led by Clerk Penny Sherman.  Members present were:  Elmer Hoyle, Supervisor; Sonja Patterson, Treasurer; Penny Sherman, Clerk; Bruce Yonker, Trustee and John Bonthuis, Trustee.  Also present was Fire Chief Greg Crowley, Drain Commissioner Brenda Moore and 1 resident.  Motion by Patterson, support by Bonthuis to approve the Minutes from the June 22, 2017 Public Hearing and Special Meeting.  Motion carried.  Motion by Yonker, support by Patterson to approve the Agenda.  Motion carried.

Citizens Comments: None.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Assessor: July Board of Review will be held on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.  This Board of Review is for Errors and Omissions.

Fire Board:  Call report:  7 Medicals and 2 Fires (1 assist to Casnovia).   The Ravenna Area Fire Department will be holding a Pig Roast at Dog Daze on Friday, July 14, 2017 from 5:30p.m.-9:00p.m. or until they run out.  The furnace and air conditioner in the offices at the Fire Department is not working properly.   Jerry Klein will be coming to repair it.  The siren is being repaired by Hall Electric.  Ravenna Motor Park has asked to have the Ravenna Fire Department on stand-by for their racing events.  They will pay the Fire Department directly for their services.  People interested in a burn permit may go the web site: www.dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits.   Address signs are available to purchase for $20.00, if anyone is interested they should call the Township Hall at 231-853-6205.

Building Inspector: Four permits were issued: 1 Building and 3 Mechanical.  The 10% reimbursement check from MTS was $75.00 this month.

Museum/Library: Everything is going well.  The Friends of the Library have begun serving “Mary’s Sack Lunch” every day for anyone needing a lunch.  Please register at the Library for the lunches.  July 28^th the Library will be holding a live game of Clue.

Cemetery:  Everything is going fine at the Cemetery.  A proposal to resurface the Cemetery drive at a price of $10,162.00 was received.  Motion by Bonthuis, support by Sherman to hire Bob’s Asphalt Paving to place 2” over the existing asphalt in 2 areas (21 x 51 and 10 x 682) for an amount of $10,162.00.  Motion carried.  The work will be done in mid-August.

Planning Commission:  The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing and Meeting on Monday, July 17, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Zoning Administrator:  Everything is going fine.

Chamber of Commerce:  The Chamber of Commerce will resume meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2017.  The August meeting will be held at the Ravenna Township Office.

Ravenna Area Historical Society:  Everything is going fine.

Road Commission: Brining was missed on 2 local roads (a portion of Cline Rd and Bowen Rd) by Michigan Chloride Sales. Michigan Chloride Sales will be contacted.

New Business: Drain Commissioner Brenda Moore was present to discuss Washburn Drain.  The Drain Commissioner can legally spend $5,000.00 per mile in each drain district without notifying the local municipality.  Commissioner Moore has come to the Township to ask us to allow her to go above the State allotted $5,000.00 per mile to complete her work on this drain.  After discussion, and due to the fact that we allowed an overage of expenditure on this drain in August of 2015, the Township Board denied her request to charge the residents involved in the Washburn Drain any more money than what is allowed by the State.  The amount allowed by the State cannot be regulated by the local municipalities.  A Resolution To Adopt Township Policy On Reimbursement Of Zoning Review Expenses & To Require Zoning Escrow Accounts For Such Purposes was discussed.  Motion by Yonker, support by Patterson to approved Resolution 17-03:  A Resolution To Adopt Township Policy On Reimbursement Of Zoning Review Expenses & To Require Zoning Escrow Accounts For Such Purposes.  Motion carried.  Resolution 17-03 will take effect August 1, 2017.  Medical Marijuana was discussed.  Sherman will contact the Township Attorney to see what steps need to be taken to be in compliance with the State guidelines.  Motion by Sherman, support by Patterson to approve Ravenna Township using the following:  Choice One Bank for tax collection;  Mika Meyers Law Firm; Audit firm of Brickley DeLong; Lake Michigan Credit Union; Choice One Bank; Fifth Third Bank; and West Michigan Burial Vault Company.  Motion carried.  Employee pay rates are:  Administrative Assistant $15.50 per hour, Cemetery and Maintenance employee $11.00 per hour, Cemetery Maintenance Assistant $8.90 per hour.  Motion by Patterson, support by Sherman to approve the office being closed for the following holidays:  New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  Motion carried.

Unfinished Business:  None.

Treasurer’s Report: Patterson presented the Treasurer’s report.  Motion by Yonker, support by Sherman to pay bills and accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Motion carried.

Public Comment: A resident has been contacted regarding leasing their property for a Solar Energy farm.

Correspondence: A thank you was received from Jon Bumstead for allowing him to speak at our June Board Meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

– Submitted by: Penny Sherman, Clerk

These minutes are considered proposed until approved at the next board meeting.