| Grant Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan www.granttwp.com |
| October, 2008 Grant Township Board Meeting Minutes October 14, 2008 |
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Agenda was presented with a motion by Vallance to accept the agenda. Seconded by K.A. Hart. Carried. Minutes were reviewed for Sept. 9, 2008 with a change of spelling Clerk to K.M. Hart. Motion by K.A. Hart to approve the minutes. Seconded by Vallance. Carried. Treasurers Report: IMMA $29,811.07. GF $14.92. CD $151,666.85. Total Worth $181,492.84. Motion by Hempenstall to accept the report. Seconded by K.A. Hart. Carried. Speakers: Leonard Page, County Commissioners Report of Commissioners Meeting: 1. Video cameras installed on regional ride buses @ $26,000 with $4,000 paid by county and a grant to pay balance. 2. Aloha Township will get 3 recycling bins at hall with around $4,600 to set up for recycling. 3. Zoning change of pole barn for storage and workshop. If not adjoining property was not as the county ordinance reads but will be changed to meet the needs of the County. 4. Benefit of $100 increase for all elected officials. $30.00 per meeting (per diem) gas mileage and no changes in health insurance. 5. Broadband internet with 13 counties and in need of a full time coordinator. May get grant money from agriculture program. Dial up not good enough. Diane Gandolfi, assessor has concerns on illegal lot splits. She clearly states and does what Equalization wants. She read a letter from Equalization Dept. She doesn't record a split without legal description and application. Assessor felt there is some misunderstanding between her and the Supervisor and would like this problem resolved. Discussion of Board of Review questioning the lowering of a parcel in 2007 by a person's request, and should all other surrounding property be lowered without requesting by property owners. Discussion of Board of Review members and the 2007 load of property appeals. Discussion of informal splits without application. An approval can be given without legal description with a verbal opinion. The Township Board will make a policy on land splits: THE POLICY ON LAND SPLITS: Land splits can be given an opinion if splits will qualify for a legal split without a formal application. A drawing of the split can be submitted to the supervisor and Assessor with the intention if qualified for a split. Splits will not be recorded till an application is approved. Land splits applications must be filed with a description to be approved by the Supervisor and Assessor and Board approval. After application this will be filed with the Equalization Dept. Discussion of Povery exemptions at July Board of Review with some documentation needed as guidelines to qualify for the exemption. THE POLICY FOR POVERTY EXEMPTIONS: To qualify must have all paperwork for the March Board of Review, such as SS check copies; bank statements; etc. The Township Board gave approval of Land Splits Policy and Poverty Exemption Policy. CORRESPONDENCE: Library Minutes - read and filed. CCRC Minutes - read and board questioned the Sept. 11 CCRC minutes with a statement from Mike Donovan stating attending the Grant Township meeting. Everyone there but one had the misconception that property taxes go toward the roads. The Township Board questioned this remark and understanding why this was said. Strawflower Lane private road agreement from the CCRC was presented. Motion by K.M. Hart that the agreement be signed with a check accepted from residents of $944.09. Seconded by Vallance. Carried. The Board questioned Strawflower Lane residents if they contacted the CCRC on the amount charges. No information on this matter. Discussion of recycling with Benton Twp. Hempenstall felt Benton wasn't interested in Grant joining them for recycling, but would help our township set up our own bins and gave information on maintaining them. To join with them, the set up of an area was in progress and Grant would have to share expenses. After discussion, K.A. Hart felt the township residents that want to recycle would pay the $36.00 to the county and the township would reimburse them the $12.00 over the $24.00 charge that would have been on the taxes. This should be tried for a year to see the number of residents interested in the program. Recycling bins at the hall would cost $15,000 to set up and $1,000 hauling fee. Questioned the monitoring of bins for misuse. Motion by K.A. Hart for one year in Grant Township that residents wanting recycling pay $36.00 to county from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2009. The township would reimburse $12.00 to residents when turning in receipt. Seconded by Hempenstall. Carried. November election for Presidential,County and Township offices. Absent ballots are still available. Sandy Bailey questioned the living in campers or trailers that are not permanent on the property lots that have a household that is lived in. Does zoning have a policy. A Land Split from Ray Zollner was reviewed with approval given by Diane, Assessor and Wooden, Supervisor. Board approval with a letter sent to Zollner and filed with clerk. Motion by K.A. Hart to pay bills #5881 to #5905 in the amount of $19,799.56. Seconded by Hempenstall. Carried. Motion by Hempenstall to adjourne at 9:00 P.M. Seconded by K.M. Hart. Carried. Respectfully, Kathleen Hart Grant Township Clerk |