Garfield Township Board met July 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Supervisor Korn called the Town Board Meeting to order on July 24, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Garfield Township Hall, 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, Michigan.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call of Board Members
Present: Denise Schmuckal, Lanie McManus, Jeane Blood Law, Steve Duell,
Molly Agostinelli, Dan Walters and Chuck Korn
1. Public Comment (6:01)
None
2. Review and Approval of the Agenda - Conflict of Interest (6:01)
Agostinelli moved and Schmuckal seconded to approve the agenda as presented.
Yeas: Agostinelli, Schmuckal, Duell, Blood Law, Walters, McManus, Korn Nays: None
3. Consent Calendar (6:02)
a. Minutes
July 10, 2018 Regular Meeting (Recommend Approval) July 17, 2018 Study Session Meeting (Recommend Approval)
b. Bills
C. MIT Update (Receive and File)
d. Consideration of Resolution 2018-16-T(c), a resolution to schedule a Public
Hearing on Special Assessment Roll for Eaglehurst Drive for August 14, 2018 (Recommend Approval)
e. Letter requesting the addition of a Community Police Officer for Garfield Township (Recommend Approval)
Board members asked to remove items 3. e., a., and c. to item #4.
Duell moved and Schmuckal seconded to approve the agenda as amended.
Yeas: Duell, Schmuckal, Walters, Agostinelli, Blood Law, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
4. Items removed from the Consent Calendar (6:04)
a. Letter Requesting the addition of a Community Police Office for Garfield Township
Lt. Barsheff explained to Board members that he wrote a letter proposing another CPO in the Township. He provided statistical data and explained that he wants to be more proactive. Another officer would allow restructuring to give officers more community projects and tasks and allow for flexibility in scheduling.
Duell moved and Schmuckal seconded to allow Supervisor Korn to write a letter to the County requesting another CPO for Garfield Township.
Yeas: Duell, Schmuckal, Blood Law, Agostinelli, Walters, McManus, Korn Nays: None
b. Minutes - July 10, 2018
Agostinelli noted that she is not a Vice Chair as written in the minutes, but rather a Trustee.
Schmuckal moved and Agostinelli seconded to adopt the minutes of July 10, 2018 as amended noting that Trustee Agostinelli called the meeting to order.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Agostinelli, Walters, Duell, Blood Law, McManus, Korn Nays: None
C. MTT Update
Financial losses to the Township and to Metro have been added in the last two columns of the report.
Blood Law moved and Duell seconded to Receive and File the MTT Update.
Yeas: Blood Law, Duell, Schmuckal, Walters, Agostinelli, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
5. Correspondence (6:19)
None
6. Reports
a. Construction Report (6:19)
Engineer Jennifer Hodges said that she has a written report included in packets. The water main extension is going well and Heritage Estates is being paved tomorrow. She continues discussion with the City of Traverse City on the new LaFranier tank and is reviewing the Cass Road drainage district. She is busy with several plan reviews and stormwater reviews.
b. Sheriff's Department Report (6:28)
Lt. Barsheff stated that compared to last month, call volumes were down 1.5% but still made up 40% of calls for service in Garfield Township. Active shooter trainings continue to be popular and the new traffic signs and batteries are working well. A sheriff's department crisis negotiator was instrumental in successful outcomes at two different crime scenes this week.
c. GT Metro Fire Report (6:36)
Assistant Chief Steve Apostal said that Metro received a grant for helmets and equipment. Training was completed this week and equipment is being set up just like the City so firefighters can share if needed. All fireworks taxes go to training the fire department. Marine units have been out as have cyclist patrols. There continues to be interest in the Youth Firesetter program.
d. Northflight EMS Report (6:44)
Daryl Case reviewed Northflight activity for June, 2018 and reported 263 total calls in Garfield Township. He stated that the average call time was 6.8 minutes. Northflight should be fully staffed by next week.
e. County Commissioner's Report
No report
Treasurer's Report (6:49) Blood Law reported that she has shifted some funds for a higher rate of return. The Roads fund has been depleted due to projects being paved. The Township may be asked to help finance $386,000 for a new fire truck since Metro is obtaining a $200,000 loan with no interest. Blood Law will look at finances to determine the feasibility of a loan for the remainder.
g. Supervisor's Report (6:53)
There is a new Program Opportunity Zone which includes all C-P Planned Shopping districts in the Township. The program allows investors to avoid capital gains taxes for a period of time thus encouraging growth in those areas. He stated that both the City and the County have approved the Boardman Lake maintenance agreement. He attended a Traverse City tourism exploratory meeting for building an indoor field for sports. He attended the Metro meeting today and the Board was asked to consider East Bay's Resolution to build dorms at Station 9. The Board stated that they are opposed to that idea. The proposed Metro budget is asking the townships for a 2.35 mil contribution.
7. Unfinished Business
a. Public Hearing - Amended and Restated Ordinance No. 18 - Payment in Lieu of Taxes (7:01) Korn said that the township attorney has seen and approved of the amended language and MSHDA also approved the language.
Korn opened the Public Hearing at 7:09pm.
Jim Gromer appreciates all the work that has been done on the PILOT ordinance and offered to answer any questions.
Korn closed the Public Hearing at 7:10pm.
Schmuckal moved and Agostinelli seconded to adopt Amended and Restated Ordinance No. 18 - Payment in Lieu of Taxes to be effective the day after publication.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Agostinelli, Walters, Duell, Blood Law, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
b. Special Assessment Policy (7:10)
Board members addressed a couple small typos for correction.
Agostinelli moved and Duell seconded to adopt the Special Assessment Policy as corrected for typos.
Yeas: Agostinelli, Duell, Walters, McManus, Schmuckal, Blood Law, Korn
Nays: None
c. Public Hearing PD 2018-76 Public Hearing - An Ordinance to
designate an enforcing agency to discharge the responsibility of the Charter Township of Garfield located in Grand Traverse County, and to designate regulated flood hazard areas under the provisions of the State Construction Code Act, Act No. 230 of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended. (7:14) Korn said adoption of this ordinance is not mandatory, but it does benefit the public.
He opened the Public Hearing at 7:17pm and seeing no one wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing.
Schmuckal moved and Blood Law seconded THAT the Board direct staff to prepare a resolution for the adoption of Ordinance #72 at our next regularly scheduled meeting.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Blood Law, Duell, McManus, Walters, Agostinelli
Nays: None
8. New Business
a. Consideration of Tower Space Lease Agreement between Charter Township of Garfield and the Grand Traverse County Road Commission (7:17) Korn stated that this agreement was for $1 per year. It is a minimal amount of space on the tower and it provides a good service to residents.
Schmuckal moved and Duell seconded to give authority to Supervisor Korn to sign the Tower Space Lease Agreement between Charter Township of Garfield and the Grand Traverse County Road Commission.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Duell, McManus, Walters, Blood Law, Agostinelli, Korn
Nays: None
b. Consideration of Resolution 2018-21-T, a resolution to enter into a contract with Consumers Energy Company of Jackson, Michigan for furnishing
lighting service for General Service Unmetered Lighting Rate GUL, Standard High Intensity Discharge within the Township of Garfield for 1 year and thereafter from year to year, in accordance with the terms of the contract heretofor submitted to and considered by this Board. (7:19) A light audit was completed by Consumers and the township had been charged for some non-existent lights. The Township is being charged less now after the adjustment. Consumers is replacing mercury vapor lighting with high pressure sodium or LED.
Schmuckal moved and Blood Law seconded to adopt Resolution 2018-21-T, a resolution to enter into a contract with Consumers Energy Company of Jackson, Michigan for furnishing lighting service for General Service Unmetered Lighting Rate GUL, Standard High Intensity Discharge within the Township of Garfield for 1 year and thereafter from year to year, in accordance with the terms of the contract hereto for submitted to and considered by this Board
Yeas: Schmuckal, Blood Law, Walters, Agostinelli, Duell, McManus, Korn
Nays: None
c. Consideration of Resolution 2018-22-T, a resolution to enter into a contract with Consumers Energy Company of Jackson, Michigan for furnishing lighting service for General Unmetered Experimental Lighting Rate GU-XL within the Township of Garfield for 1 year and thereafter from year to year, in accordance with the terms of the contract heretofor submitted to and considered by this Board. (7:29)
Schmuckal moved and Blood Law seconded to adopt Resolution 2018-22-T, a resolution to enter into a contract with Consumers Energy Company of Jackson, Michigan for furnishing lighting service for General Unmetered Experimental Lighting Rate GU-XL within the Township of Garfield for 1 year and thereafter from year to year, in accordance with the terms of the contract heretofor submitted to and considered by this Board
Yeas: Schmuckal, Blood Law, Duell, McManus, Walters, Agostinelli, Korn
Nays: None
d. Consideration of Resolution 2018-23-T, a resolution to authorize Consumers Energy Company to make changes in the lighting services as provided in the Standard Lighting Contract between the Company and the Township of Garfield dated 3/1/2017, in accordance with the Authorization for Change in Standard Lighting Contract dated _ , heretofor submitted to and considered by this Board. (7:30)
Schmuckal moved and Blood Law seconded to adopt Resolution 2018-23-T, a resolution to authorize Consumers Energy Company to make changes in the lighting services as provided in the Standard Lighting Contract between the Company and the Township of Garfield dated 3/1/2017, in accordance with the Authorization for Change in Standard Lighting Contract dated July 24, 2018, heretofor submitted to and considered by this Board.
Yeas: Schmuckal, Blood Law, McManus, Agostinelli, Duell, Walters, Korn
Nays: None
e. Discussion regarding the Board to have a copy of all attorney's opinions for any long term contracts entered into on behalf of the Township. (7:30) Board members asked Korn to provide a short opinion from an attorney to inform Board members that an item was reviewed as it pertains to long term contracts.
9. Public Comment (7:38)
Alisa Korn commented that she is on the Board of Directors for Families against Narcotics and she informed the board about what the organization is about.
Jennifer Hodges commented on the turn lane on Cass Road and said that it goes to the creek. She also said that the Windy Hills project will be a mixed use tribal project.
10. Other Business (7:43)
Walters asked about the status of the video/audio equipment.
Duell commented on the condition of the carpeting throughout the township hall.
The building committee will meet soon on both matters.
Blood Law commented on the parking situation for some meetings and that the parking lot needs to be monitored to make sure the parking lot will not be full and not able to serve the constituents.
11. Adjournment
Korn moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:53pm
For complete details, please visit; http://www.garfield-twp.com/downloads/72418_tb_minutes.pdf