APPROVED MINUTES

                                    GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

December 11, 2006

                                   Grosse Ile Township Hall – Merle Solomon Board Room

                                                                 9601 Groh Road

 

 

The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by Township Supervisor Kobiljak.

 

Present: Supervisor Kobiljak, Clerk O’Connor, Treasurer Raithel, Trustees Wojewodzic (arrived at 7:36 p.m.), Will, Forrester, Pociask.

Absent: None 

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

Public Hearing: CDBG Block Grant 2007-2008 Programs

 

Presentations: BASF Environmental Project to Benefit the Detroit River

 

Additions/Deletions to Agenda:

Motion Raithel, second Wojewodzic to add as Action Item # 6, Grosse Ile Community Clock Tower.  All aye.

Motion Raithel, second Wojewodzic to add as Action Item # 7, Purchase of Ambulance/Rescue Boat.  All aye.

 

Motion Pociask, second Forrester, to accept the agenda as amended. All aye. Motion carried.

 

Final Agenda

 

Public Hearing: CDBG Block Grant 2007-2008 Programs

 

Public Comment: Brief comments on non-agenda items; limited to 3 minutes per person

 

Presentations: BASF Environmental Project to Benefit the Detroit River

 

CONSENT AGENDA 06-112:

1.  Minutes of November 13, 2006

2.   Cash Requirements List dated November 13, 2006

3.   Cash Requirements List dated November 29, 2006

4.   Cash Requirements List dated December 11, 2006

5.   Purchase Order Summary dated November 29, 2006

6.   Purchase Order Summary dated December 11, 2006

7.   Authorization to Process Payments through January 8, 2007

 

 

Clerk’s Report

1.  Boar’s Head Announcement

Treasurer’s Report

1. Investment Report – October, 2006

Supervisor’s Report

1. Bridge Update

2. Emergency Response/Evacuation Study Session-Chiefs Barron/Murdock

Township Manager’s Report           

1. Sharkey’s Tavern Lease Amendment

ACTION ITEMS

1. Re-appointments to Board of Review

2. LSL Schematic Designs Proposal for Macomb Street

3. CDBG Grant Application for 2007-2008 Projects

4. Approve 2007 Carnival Contract

5. Traffic Study Request for Proposal – West River Road Ramp

6.  Grosse Ile Community Clock Tower

7.  Purchase of Ambulance/Rescue Boat

 

Discussion Items

Extended Public Comment: Comments limited to 5 minutes per person

Adjourn

 

Regular Meeting

 

Public Hearing: CDBG Block Grant 2007-2008 Programs

 

Recreation Director Tim Rooney outlined the Community Development Block Grant program and the 2007-2008 local programs being submitted to the county for consideration and approval.

 

Community Recreation has relied heavily on the Block Grant Program for the past 20 years.

The county set the amount available for the upcoming year at $70,000.

 

Recreation Director Rooney has submitted a grant application for 2007-2008 programming as follows:

Funding for 2007-2008 Community Development Block Grant Projects

            Senior Staffing and Services                                          $20,000

            Senior Alliance                                                 $  1,750

            Airport/Commerce Park Blight and Clearance   $ 48,250

 

Public comment was received from Gary Jones, Macomb Street, inquiring if Brownfield funds would pay for demolition of the building included in the grant application.  Airfield Manager Derek Thiel and Recreation Director Rooney indicated that all potential avenues are being explored including Brownfield funding.

 

 

Fire Chief Duncan Murdock requested approval to have the Fire Department personnel train on the building before demolition.

 

Motion Treasurer Raithel, second Trustee Pociask to adjourn the Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m..

All aye.  Hearing adjourned.

 

Regular Meeting resumed at 7:45 p.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

1.  W. Clark, Parke Lane, a) status of the new Coney Island restaurant on Macomb, b) Why can toll bridge owner widen a county road? How can Mrs. Dingell comment that the County Bridge is in fine shape? Response:  Island Coney is hoping to open in early January.

2.  Jack Hartley, Meridian Rd., commented that the Bike Path near Ferry Road has been closed since sewer repair work began 2 years ago and wondered when it would be re-opened.

     Response: ManagerReaume replied that completion will be in Spring, 2007 due to County and State permit delays and weather delays.

3.  David Moxlow, asked what the current balance is of the Undesignated Fund Balance and are there any current bills from Butzel Long for toll bridge litigation?  Response: Finance Director Darzniek said there were no further bills from Butzel Long and the Undesignated Fund Balance is approximately $783,000 and urged Mr. Moxlow to call her for the exact amount.

4.  Gary Jones, Macomb Street, Asked for the amount of legal fees being approved and whether there were any property transactions.  Response:  Finance Director Darzniek indicated there were no property transactions and there were legal fees paid to Look, Makowski and Look

      in the amount of $4,281.84 and to Timothy Galligan in the amount of $10,938.69 for representation in the sanitary sewer litigation.

5.   Ron Janowski, Groh Road,questions regarding a) City of Trenton buying the County Bridge                          for $1.00 and, b) why  isn’t the sewer contractor responsible for repairs to the bike path near                    Ferry Road, and; c) is the township going to pay taxes to Riverview for the road leading to                         the toll  bridge, and; d) what is going on with the Van Horn Road closure?

      Response: Supervisor Kobiljak stated that there is not further information on the Van Horn                 Road closure and is pending the corporate decision and Riverview taxes would be paid by                       who ever owns the toll bridge.

 

PRESENTATION: 

Mr. Mike DeLacy, Project Manager for the BASF Riverview Remediation Project presented an overview of the ongoing project to prevent groundwater at the site north of the Toll Bridge from entering the Detroit River and surrounding area and maintaining the water table at least one foot below the river. It is expected to cost more than $25 million to complete remediation of the 30-acre site which will be maintained as Green Space and a fish habitat.

 

 

 

 

 

Consent Agenda # 06-112:

The following items will be adopted without discussion; however, at the request of any Board Member or Citizen, items may be removed for Board discussion or explanation.

 

Motion O’Connor, second Forrester, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  All aye.

 

1.   Minutes of November 13, 2006

2.   Cash Requirements List dated November 13, 2006

3.   Cash Requirements List dated November 29, 2006

4.   Cash Requirements List dated December 11, 2006

5.   Purchase Order Summary dated November 29, 2006

6.   Purchase Order Summary dated December 11, 2006

7.   Authorization to Process Payments through January 8, 2007

 

Clerk’s Report:

1. Clerk O’Connor urged members of the community to attend the upcoming holiday performances of the Boar’s Head Festival being held at Sacred Heart Church.  It takes 600 community members to put this presentation together. There are still seats available for three of the six performances and it is a good way to bring in the holiday season.

Treasurer’s Report:

1.  Treasurer Raithel reported that although interest rates slipped a little, interest was still over 5 percent.  For the month of October investments of $18,175,765.60 earned and average of 5.08% for a total interest earned of $117,494.00.

2.  Mr. Raithel reminded residents that the Winter Tax Bills are out and that if they have not received theirs, they should contact his office.

3.  On Wednesday, December 13th there will be a Mock Air Crash/Emergency Response Plan exercise held at the airport.  Airport Manager Derek Thiel asked residents to stay away from the site in order to prevent any type of interference with emergency personnel. 

    

     Grosse Ile resident Donald Schnake has been asked to serve as a citizen observer along with Police and Fire Departments middle management personnel.

Supervisor’s Report

1.  Report on Wayne County Bridge:  The County is in the Plan Review Stage and is working toward February bid deadline with plans continuing for an early April start date.  Should the bid process be delayed until March then the start date will be in late April or early May.

    

     Supervisor Kobiljak urged residents to contact legislators by e-mail or telephone by tomorrow, December 12th, to urge them to vote no on the Cable Franchise Act scheduled for vote on December 12th.  The loss of revenue from the current cable franchise contracts would be in jeopardy if the bill is enacted.

     Additional updates on the following:

     a) Meridian/Church Road intersection- the utility poles are installed and waiting for county installation of the traffic light.

    

 

     b)  Horsemill guard rails- the county will be installing the rails very soon.

     c)  Lighthouse Grant- the township’s application has been approved.  The lighthouse will   receive $27,000 toward remediation.

     d)  Announced a correction to information regarding holiday hours listed in the Supervisor’s

           E- Update.  The township offices will re-open on January 3rd, not January 7th as originally indicated.

     e)  Supervisor Kobiljak responded to a recent article in the local paper about Wayne County offering to sell the County Bridge to Trenton for the sum of one dollar.  Mr. Kobiljak stated that the county never seriously approached the township to buy the bridge and stated that he doubts the county has the right to sell the bridge to anyone since it is the continuation of a county road.  The board questions the under the water condition of the bridge and doesn’t believe the township could afford the annual maintenance costs.

     2.   Mr. Kobiljak reported that the township’s Emergency Response/Evacuation plan was developed initially after the Atofina incident in 2001 when an Ad Hoc Committee was formed and training sessions were developed and conducted.  Police and Fire Department personnel instituted the First Response/Reverse 911 Emergency Notification System and distributed pamphlets to every household to educate residents about the system and the procedures for sheltering in place.

           There is a plan in place to handle bridge outages/closures and a traffic control plan in place for moving traffic off island during the County Bridge closure.  Chief Barron, Chief Murdock and Lieutenant Porcerelli gave a 30 minute presentation of all aspects of the Emergency Plan. 

Township Manager’s Report           

1.   Manager Dale Reaume presented background on a proposed amendment to the current lease agreement for Sharkey’s Tavern at Water’s Edge.  The changes would be a short-term amendment during the Fall and Winter seasons and be considered to ensure the long-term viability of the business which would in turn will benefit the Township. The total estimated short-term cost to the township is $6,000; if the restaurant fails the long term costs would be much greater. Following Board discussion the following motion was made.

      06-113 Motion Pociask, second Forrester, to approve the request to amend the lease based upon the timing of the receipt of the liquor license, the considerable amount of beginning capital improvement by the proprietors prior to opening, and the fact that a full year business cycle has not yet occurred. The details of the lease amendment are as follows:

§         The Base payment and the percentage factor shall be forgiven or exempted for the months of October and November of 2006.  Due to these discussions the tenant has been instructed to hold payment at this time.

§         The Base payment of $2,000 only shall be paid in December, 2006, January, 2007, and February,, 2007.  The percentage factor of 10% of gross revenue shall be forgiven or exempted for these months.

§         The base payment of $2,000 and the percentage factor of 10% of gross revenue shall resume in March, 2007.

§         These items are reviewable annually.

All aye.  Motion carried.

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

1.  06- 114  Motion Forrester, second Wojewodzic, to approve the re-appointments of Richard Nielsen, Shelly Schmidtke, Betty Lick and alternate Bill Mead to the Board of Review for the term of January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.  All aye. Motion carried.

2.  06-115  Motion Raithel, second Pociask, to approve the first phase of the Macomb Street landscape plans with LSL Planning, Inc. which will include schematic designs for Macomb Commons, the Pocket Park and intersection treatments for an amount not to exceed $14,300 with funds coming from DDA account number 2480-101-00-824000.  All aye.  Motion carried.

3.  06-116  Motion Raithel, second Pociask, based on the recommendation of  the Recreation Director, the Township Board grants approval to the Community Recreation Department to seek approval from Wayne County Community Development Division for the following actions:

Funding for 2007-2008 Community Development Block Grant Projects

            Senior Staffing and Services                                          $20,000

            Senior Alliance                                                 $  1,750

            Airport/Commerce Park Blight and Clearance     48,250

All aye. Motion carried.

4.  06-117  Motion O’Connor, second Forrester, to grant approval to the Festival Commission to contract Skerbeck Brothers Shows, Inc. to operate a carnival during IslandFest from the dates of Friday, June 1, 2007 through Sunday, June 3, 2007.  All aye.  Motion carried.

5.  06-118  Motion Will, second Wojewodzic, contingent upon DPS Commission approval to seek proposals for evaluation and recommendation for improvements to the West River Road Ramp to Grosse Ile Parkway.  All aye.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:  Mr. Zelasko, asked that a multiple perspective evaluation be requested from traffic study.  Mr. Jack Delphy, told the Board that he thinks the traffic study done by the Roads Committee with the input of 35 people is adequate and further study isn’t required. Mr. Don Ledbetter, asked if there were any regulations limiting the township from placing signs on county roads.

6.  06-119  Motion Raithel, second Pociask, to approve the northeast corner of Parkway and Meridian Roads as the location for the Grosse Ile Rotary Community Clock Tower.  All aye.  Motion carried.

7.  06-120  Motion Wojewodzic, second Raithel, based on the recommendation of the Grosse Ile Fire Chief, permission to execute purchase of a Rescue Craft, once a decision has been made by the Fire Department Committee and Fire Commission.  All aye.  Motion carried.                         

 

Discussion Items: None

Extended Public Comment:

1.  W. Clarke, reminded people to contact their State Senator to vote no on the Cable Bill that passed the State House of Representatives and is going to the Senate for vote.

2.  Don Schnake, complimented the township for keeping their Emergency Plan current and reminded residents to pay attention to warning sirens if they sound anytime other than a Saturday at noon and to shelter in place and wait for further instructions from emergency personnel.

 

 

 

 

3.  D. Moxlow, asked questions about the cost of maintenance on the toll bridge versus those for the county bridge. Supervisor Kobiljak gave a detailed response which included the age and prior maintenance schedules and repairs of both bridges and the undefined condition of the underwater portions of the county bridge.

Mr. Moxlow stated he is in favor of the clock tower at Parkway and Meridian.

4.  D. Ledbetter, inquired when a study regarding a new bridge would be done and if research was being done on obtaining federal and state funds for such a study.  Mr. Ledbetter also asked if there was any thought on seeking a first right of refusal for properties for sale in Trenton, such as Solutia, to use as a site for the landing point for a new bridge.

 

Supervisor Kobiljak announced the dates of closure for township offices during the holiday season.

 

Motion Raithel, second O’Connor, to adjourn the Regular Meeting. All aye.

Meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ___________________________________

                                                                                                Ute O’Connor. Township Clerk