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RAVENNA TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES – May 18, 2017
The May meeting of the Ravenna Township Board was called to order on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ravenna Township Office by Supervisor Elmer Hoyle. Pledge to the Flag was led by Clerk Penny Sherman. Prayer was led by Supervisor Elmer Hoyle. Members present were: Elmer Hoyle, Supervisor; Sonja Patterson, Treasurer; Penny Sherman, Clerk; and John Bonthuis, Trustee. Trustee Bruce Yonker was absent. Also present were Fire Chief Greg Crowley, Muskegon Central Dispatch Director Shawn Grabinski and 14 residents. Motion by Bonthuis, support by Patterson to approve the Agenda with one addition (Shawn Grabinski). Motion carried. Motion by Patterson, support by Bonthuis to approve the minutes from the April 13, 2017 Township Board Meeting. Motion carried.
Citizens Comments: A resident complained that a MCRC worker was very belligerent with him. Our resident was told to get out of the road and MCRC proceeded to call the police on him. Hoyle has discussed this with MCRC. A resident disagreed with the title that the MCRC has placed on the cost estimate for Judson Road. He states that the title should state Maintenance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Assessor: No report.
Fire Board: Call report: 14 Medicals, 1 P.I., 4 Fires (1 assist to Casnovia and 1 assist to Egelston) and 1 Wires Down. The repair bill in the amount of $21,384.66 for Tanker 1820 was presented. Motion by Sherman, support by Bonthuis to pay the Tanker repair bill out of the Truck CD. Motion carried. 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: 1 Building Permit was issued this month.
Museum/Library: Katie Ames was unable to attend our meeting but sent a report. The report stated that they are helping the Friends of the Library get ready for their big book sale that will be held in July during Dog Daze. Also, Jon Venlet from Modern Woodman Financial would like to host a fundraiser as a kickoff event for the library, matching up to $2500.00. The library would use this money for the junior and teen area. MADL is finishing up the strategic planning process, which will guide the library’s major goals for the next 3-5 years. The final plan proposal should be completed within the next couple of months. MADL is also undergoing a Technology Assessment to help bring MADL up to date in the tech world.
Cemetery: Everything is going fine and starting to get busy with Memorial Day just around the corner. The Ravenna Varsity and JV Softball players completed their Community Service Project by painting the cemetery fence on Wednesday, May 17th and we would like to thank them for their service.
Planning Commission: The Planning Commission met on May 15 and approved 1 Special Use Application to allow a home to be built on a 28.80 acre parcel on Wilson Road. Alternative Energy Ordinances were also discussed.
Zoning Administrator: Everything is going good.
Chamber of Commerce: Monthly Chamber of Commerce luncheon and meeting was held on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. Ravenna FFA President Sydney Linck gave an amazing presentation. Sydney has been elected as the State FFA Secretary for next year. Greg VanWoerkham from Bill Huizenga’s office was also present as was Dawn Johnson from the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
Ravenna Area Historical Society: We are looking into purchasing a computer for the RAHS.
Road Commission: Hoyle attended the MCRC Meeting on Wednesday, May 17th and requested that they increase the amount that they cost share to repair Judson Road.
New Business: Sherman presented the Consumers Energy Company Electric Franchise Ordinance. This Ordinance has to be renewed every 30 years. Motion by Bonthuis, support by Patterson to approve Ordinance 17-01 Consumers Energy Company Electric Franchise Ordinance. Roll call vote taken: Bonthuis-Aye, Sherman-Aye, Patterson-Aye, Hoyle-Aye. Absent-Yonker. Motion Carried. We will hold the Budget Workshop meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. The Public Hearing and Budget Adoption Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Muskegon Central Dispatch Director Shawn Grabinski was present to discuss street addressing. Central Dispatch will now be doing all the street addressing for our Township. Shawn was also here to present to us Smart911. Smart 911 is a free 9-1-1 service that is available to our community. The way that it works is that you create a free and private Safety Profile at www.smart911.com. Your Safety Profile is stored in a secure national database. Your Safety Profile is displayed to 9-1-1 and first responders to improve emergency response to your 9-1-1 call. When registering you would include details and critical care information about each person who lives in your household; Add all landlines, cell phones and VOIP lines used by the members of your household; Enter all addresses that you regularly frequent including home and work; Provide descriptions on any vehicles you have; Designate emergency contacts you want first responders to contact in the event of an emergency; Describe any pets, trained service animals or livestock you have. This service is free to any resident and is very helpful and saves time in the event of an emergency.
Unfinished Business: Judson Road was discussed. Residents want to know if the County agrees to chip in more money that the amount they would have to pay would go down and we assured them this would be the case. Statements were made that the road is not reasonably safe and needs to be repaired and that the County has done a very poor job in maintaining this road. Sherman will contact the attorney to ask if property that is not fronted on Judson Road can be included in the Road assessment.
Treasurer’s Report: Patterson will be setting up a Road Improvement account. Patterson gave a budget update for the Fire Budget. Life Insurance needs to be amended by $254.00. Motion by Patterson, support by Bonthuis to amend the Life Insurance line by $254.00 from the Payroll line. Motion carried. Patterson presented the Treasurer’s report. Motion by Bonthuis, support by Sherman to pay all bills including the presented $721.50 CCS Township bill and the $21,384.66 Jerry’s Welding Fire Department bill and $331.24 West Shore Services Fire Department bill. Motion carried. Motion by Bonthuis, support by Sherman to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.
Other Board Comment: Sherman stated that the Annual Dump Day and Scrap Tire Event was a success. We took in the equivalent of 1062 tires and had excellent workers this year!!! We would like to give a special THANK YOU to the Ravenna Football Players who volunteered their time to help with this event.
Sherman gave a budget update. Legal Fees under Legislative needs to be amended by $753.79 and Operating Supplies under Township Hall needs to be amended by $2,894.81 and Technology Expenses under Township Hall needs to be amended by $4,252.11. Motion by Bonthuis, support by Hoyle to make the following amendments: Legislative-Legal Fees $753.79, Township Hall-Operating Supplies $2,894.81, Township Hall Technology Expenses $4,252.11. Motion carried.
Correspondence: None
Motion by Bonthuis, support by Patterson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Submitted by: Penny Sherman, Clerk
These minutes are considered proposed until approved at the next board meeting.
