PLATTE TOWNSHIP
11935 FOWLER ROAD
HONOR, MICHIGN 49640
FOURTH QUARTER MEETING
FY 2017-2018
APRIL 3 2018
7 P.M.
Supervisor Solem called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
Supervisor Solem, Clerk Michalak, Treasurer Gottschalk, Trustee Laman and Trustee Wieber were all present.
Public present- Ray Franks, Paula Figura, Ron Gottschalk, Tim Young, Scott and Cathy Vannorwick, Jim and Terry Duntley, Mr. and Mrs. Cicansky , and Bob Schutt
Special guests present- Frank Post, Emergency Management Coordinator for Benzie County
Art Jeannot, County Commissioner for District 2
Clerk Michalak read the minutes from the 3rd qtr. meeting held on January 2, 2018. A motion by Supervisor Solem to accept the minutes as presented. A motion by Treasurer Gottschalk with support by Clerk Michalak; all ayes, motion carried.
FRANK POST, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR BENZIE COUNTY REPORT:
EMC Frank Post spoke on the following items.
He is still working on the generator project grant. The proposal needed to be resubmitted with additional information in order to meet all of the requirements from the State of Michigan for the grant process. Frank is hoping to have the finalization by the end of April.
Smart911. The purpose of Smart911 is to fill the need that fewer landlines have created. Cell phones do not provide exact locations of a caller, only a latitude and longitude, within 600 feet of the caller. Smart911 allows emergency responders to have the information they need to respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency. When a call comes into the emergency center, a screen populates providing the names of the residence, the home address, the work address, next of kin, vehicles owned, household pets and any special instructions you provide that are pertinent in an emergency. The information is provided by you, upon registration with the system, and will assist first responders with the quick location of victims in a crisis. Although privacy and security are also major concerns with citizens, the system is designed so that the information shown on the screen upon receiving your call cannot be copied and disappears as soon as the call is terminated. If you register for this service, you will be contacted after 6 months for updated information. If you do not respond, you will be dropped from the system. To register, go to the website www.smart911.com.
Code Red is another tool that emergency management utilizes to disperse information to citizens regarding any local emergency in their specific geographic location. This system is map-targeted and is able to send calls, texts, voice messages, or emails to citizens living in those affected areas. This system is capable of sending Amber Alerts, public health emergencies, wildfire notifications, criminal activity alerts, evacuation notices, severe weather warnings, etc. You can sign up for this service on the Benzie County website under the Emergency Management Department.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
Commissioner Jeannot brought the township up to date regarding several issues at the county level. Art commented that Frank Post, our county Emergency Coordinator, is a real asset to our community. Half of Mr. Post’s salary is paid by the State of Michigan and the other half is paid by county. EMC Post is accomplishing many good things for the county. Commissioner Jeannot touched on the following items:
٠ A staff member from the 2-3 person Animal Control staff has applied for a
position with the Traverse City Animal Control. This will leave a position open
in Benzie County.
٠ Benzie Senior Resources is participating in two upcoming expos. Benzie
County Chamber of Commerce is holding an expo on April 21st at the
BCHS from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The expo will showcase many Benzie County
businesses and services. The Benzie Bus will be providing free transportation
to and from the event. You can reserve your ride by calling (231)325-3000.
Admission to the expo is free.
The second expo is the Senior Expo on June 8th at the Trinity Lutheran Church
in Frankfort, Michigan, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to this event is also
free. Refreshments will be served in the morning, with a lunch in the afternoon.
These are both offered at no cost. This expo is a chance for the older
population, or their caregivers, to explore some of the available vendors who
provide services specifically for the aging population. Watch your local paper
for further details regarding vendors who will be in attendance.
٠ Townships are finding it difficult to enforce their own local ordinances
regarding fireworks. Platte Township does not have an ordinance governing the
use of fireworks.
٠ The Sheriff’s Office has requested support of a TNT millage renewal. This is a
drug trafficking effort involving multiple counties. The request was tabled until
the language could be modified to reflect this and not just specify the millage as
being solely for Benzie County.
٠ Benzie County Road Commission will be placing a county road millage renewal request on the August ballot.
Commissioner Jeannot stated that he requests that the Road
Commission reinstate matching funds for township roads beginning in 2020,
and that this language be included in the ballot proposal. This reflects the State’s additional funding from the increase in gas tax.
٠ Ballot language for the conservation millage was approved.
٠ A resolution was passed so that grant money could be applied for to help pay
the cost of relocating the Mersgansers on Crystal Lake. This is to mitigate the
swimmer’s itch problem.
٠ The job posting for the Finance/IT Manager is underway. Deadline may have to
be extended to attract additional candidates.
PUBLIC INPUT
Resident Scott Vannorwick has been trying to calculate mills from year to year. Commissioner Jeannot suggests he contacts Tom Longanbach, Benzie County Director of Equalization. The formula used to determine mills is complicated. The Director will be able to answer all resident queries.
COMMUNICATIONS
None
PUBLIC INPUT
Scott Vannorwick would like to continue on with the forest management study. He is still doing research. He has learned that forest management procedures are in the process of being revised. He will attend the July 3 1st quarter meeting with more information. He is in the process of finding interested parties- not only in our township, but in other regions, as well. He suggested trying to get a DNR representative to attend a quarterly meeting. He would like to see the people have a voice about the maintenance of the forests. He wondered if the purpose of the pines was to benefit the township financially, and whether or not the township people could vote on whether they would like another harvest, instead of this decision being left to the board and the Township Forester. The previous couple of cuts were strictly for control of pests. The pines were planted with the purpose of bringing in revenue for the township periodically.
Scott also brought to our attention that the brine used on the township roads, from his research, is not well regulated and is a by-product of drilling operations. The batches of brine are not standard or consistent and can have different components. Even the DEQ does not have the information regarding what the brine consists of. He believes we should know what the brine consists of and have a say before it is applied. Cathy Vannorwick complained that the smell is strongly unpleasant. The concern is that the components in the brine are harmful to our environment and citizens Supervisor Solem stated we need to find out what is in the brine but added that most people will choose to have the brine applied to keep dust down and hold the roadbeds together. Scott Vannorwick challenges the idea that it actually holds gravel and roadbeds together. Clerk Michalak suggests he surveys his neighbors. If the road residents’ reach a consensus that they do not want brine, and since it is not a throughway, the bringing could be stopped on that particular road. An area of 8.78 miles of township roads receive brine every year. It is up to the township to keep these roads in good condition because repair is costly. Scott agrees that a consensus should be reached with his neighbors. Over the past three years, the brine used was a mineral oil brine. Cathy Vannorwick is wondering why the brine used before was replaced with the more offensive brine. Clerk Michalak will put it on the list of items to research.
Tim Young wonders if the township has a Google Docs account. He stated that it would be helpful to have some of these reports e.g. the Road Commission report, on google docs so interested citizens can have access to this information.
REPORTS
WBJPC – Supervisor Solem read aloud the Zoning Administrator, Jason Barnard’s, response to Timothy Young, resident and owner of Food for Thought. The letter addressed the complaint that the usage of his property was out of compliance with the Platte Township zoning ordinance. Whereas, the rentals and land uses predated the enactment of Platte Township zoning ordinances, the usages are found legal as non-conforming use. If the use of the property changes, or if the usage is abandoned for a term of one year, Tim Young will be required to meet the zoning ordinance that was passed on 3/23/10 and became effective on 4/1/2010.
Robin Talsma has been appointed to represent Platte Township on the WBJPC Board.
Clerk Michalak stated that the Platte Township Board would not need to motion to accept the Medical Marihuana ordinance, since there are no designated industrial or commercial areas in Platte Township. If these designations change, we will revisit at the discretion of the WBJPC. If you are a caregiver, you can still grow for your patients on your private property.
Benzie County Road Commission- Brining will be starting in early June. Platte Township usually authorizes two brines. Clerk Michalak spoke about the motion to authorize two brines during the course of 2018. Commissioner Jeannot clarifies that the motion only allows the board to negotiate a contract with the county. Once Supervisor Solem receives the packet from the road commission, he’ll contact Scott Vannorwick so he can come to the township hall to view it. The material safety data sheet will also be obtained from the contractor. Supervisor Solem entertained a motion to accept the brine agreement. A motion by Clerk Michalak and supported by Treasurer Gottschalk. All ayes, motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Forester Contract- The contract for the timber harvest in the Township Pines was submitted
by our Township Forester, Paul Gerhart. Treasurer Gottschalk made a motion to accept the
contract, with support by Trustee Laman. All ayes, motion carried.
2. Labor Law Posters- Clerk Michalak states that current posters are about 15 years old
and that she will be purchasing new posters. The State of Michigan requires that these
notices be posted. The updated posters will be purchased for $39.00.
3. Assessor Contract Renewal- Platte Township will enter into a three year contract with
Michigan Assessing Service, Inc. A motion is made by Trustee Laman and supported by
Supervisor Solem. All ayes, motion passed.
4. CD Investments- Treasurer Gottschalk has invested some of the carry-over township
funds in CDs. She has made an effort to keep this money in local banks, but the return is
small that she is moving all but one, to First National Bank in Traverse City. National Bank,
Commissioner Jeannot states that at the county level, they are looking at where to invest
their money. Unfortunately, Platte Township is not the only entity that will be moving its
investments away from local banking institutions.
Trustee Laman inquired about the quarterly submittal of a cash flow statement, showing
monthly balances. Treasurer Gottschalk said that this will begin the first quarter of the
new fiscal year.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Notary- Clerk Michalak has filed an application and will be receiving her certification soon.
She will notarize documents for township residents at a nominal cost. Non-residents will pay
a higher fee.
2. Hall Improvements- Clerk Michalak spoke about the increasing use of the hall and the plan
to continue renovating. Next on the list of improvements is finishing the exterior. This will
be the year to obtain all estimates so at the next budget meeting, in February 2019, the board
is ready to move on a decision. When arriving at the hall, prior to this evening’s meeting, the
lights in the hall were not working. John Bennett, a township resident and licensed
electrician, was able to come to the hall and get everything working. The electrical panel will
be moved to inside of utility room when the generator is installed. Additional electrical work
may need to be performed.
Trustee Laman reported the results of the exterior paint test. The paint is lead free.
Ron Gottschalk suggests that any contractor providing a quote, has his own license and
insurance, and is not using another contractor’s. This would eliminate a third party if a
problem arises.
BOARD ROUNDTABLE – Items of concern on or off agenda
Trustee Laman inquired as to when we must submit for our township operating millage. The form will be filled out in June and submitted to equalization in September. The millage amount, at the Headlee rate, was decided on at the budget meeting in February, 2018.
Treasurer Gottschalk received a notice that the tax software she has been using for producing property taxes is obsolete as of March 31, 2018. She received a quote to switch to the same software that the assessor is using. This would be a cost of $2,755.00 with a $500.00 annual software support fee. The eight-year old laptop is operating from a system that is no longer supported and she cannot upgrade the tax software on this device. The township needs to act quickly so the summer taxes can be generated. Trustee Laman motions to authorize $5,000.00 to purchase a new computer, tax software and tax software support. This motion is supported by Supervisor Solem. All ayes, motion carried.
CLERK’S OPERATING STATEMENT- Clerk Michalak read the Clerk’s Operating Statement budgeted through March 31, 2018. A motion was made by Supervisor Solem and supported by Trustee Laman to accept the operating statement. All ayes, motion carried.
TREASURER’S OPERATING STATEMENT- Treasurer Gottschalk read the Treasurer’s Operating Statement for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2017-2018. Clerk Michalak motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Operating Statement, with Supervisor Solem supporting. All ayes, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
Trustee Laman motioned to accept the current bills and Supervisor Solem supported the motion. All ayes, motion carried.
PUBLIC INPUT- none
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Laman made a motion to adjourn, with Trustee Wieber supporting at 8:50 p.m. All ayes, motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Franks, Deputy Clerk