Approved Minutes
of the
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
Grosse Ile Township
Hall- Township Hall Boardroom-
Present: Supervisor Kobiljak, Clerk O’Connor, Treasurer Raithel, Trustees Wojewodzic,
Will and Forrester. Trustee Pociask was excused due to business travel.
Supervisor Kobiljak opened the Annual Meeting at
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Treasurer Raithel, second by Trustee Will, to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order as the official bylaws of parliamentary law under which all township boards, commissions, and committees shall operate. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion by Clerk O’Connor, second Treasurer Raithel, to approve the Minutes of the
Introductions:
Supervisor Kobiljak introduced the members of the Township Board; Clerk Ute O’Connor, Treasurer John Raithel, Trustees Leroy Wojewodzic, Rodger M. Will, and Jeffrey Forrester.
Supervisor Kobiljak acknowledged Trustee Walter Pociask who is out of town on business.
The Supervisor introduced Township Manager Dale Reaume and asked him to introduce the Department Managers and Consultants. Mr. Kobiljak thanked all township staff members and managers.
Each Board Member was offered the opportunity to speak about the Commissions and Committees they serve as liaison.
Trustee Jeffrey Forrester thanked the members of the Cable Commission and Cable Administrator, Ted Fournier for their service throughout the year. Mr. Forrester, reported that the State Franchise Fees for Cable remain unsettled and the cable department is working closely with the school district to promote their school funding proposals as well as their sport and cultural events throughout the year. The cable staff has also converted recordings from VHS format to DVD format and is donating selected DVD’s to the Historical Society.
Trustee Rodger M. Will thanked Department of Public Services Commissioners and Staff for their efforts throughout the fiscal year in the management of trash, sewer, water, roads and drainage.
Mr. Will also serves on the Planning Commission and thanked Chairman John Schweichart and the Commissioners for their work in controlling growth on the island and insuring that Zoning Ordinances are upheld.
Trustee Dr. Leroy Wojewodzic, remarked that it is his honor to serve on both the Police and Fire Commissions and feels that Grosse Ile has the best departments in the state due to the people heading up the departments and their highly trained staffs the very supportive township residents. Trustee Wojewodzic asked the Police Chief to speak about the events occurring during 2006-2007. Chief Barron highlighted the following events:
·
Hired Officer
Eric Vazquez
·
Retirement
of Detective Sgt. G. Mark Faistenhammer
·
Planning for
·
Grant for a
electronic fingerprinter
·
Explorer Scout
program
·
Successful Millage Renewal to continue department operations
Fire Chief Duncan Murdock thanked
the Board and Staff for their support and reported that the Fire Department has
added a new transport boat, a new truck and new technology during this fiscal
year and stated that he is proud of the many good things accomplished and
expects the coming year to be equally good.
Clerk Ute O’Connor thanked the members who serve the community on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the staff who provide support and research for them. The work of the ZBA is not always an easy assignment and the members work diligently on the ZBA and in conjunction with the Planning Commission on Ordinance review.
Clerk O’Connor also thanked the members of the Festival Commission and Islandfest Committee who work year around to plan and organize Islandfest for the community. Islandfest promises to offer areas of interest for all ages and for islanders and visitors as well. Mrs. O’Connor thanked Recreation Director Tim Rooney and his staff and the Public Safety and Public Services and Airport staffs and the DPS Director, Barry Sedlock and Airport Manager Derek Thiel for their many hours of support and hard work.
On behalf of Trustee Walter Pociask, Clerk O’Connor thanked
members of the Water’s Edge/Recreation Commission and Community Recreation
Director Tim Rooney and Chairperson Walter Kacher for providing programs and
facility improvements at both Water’s Edge and the Centennial Farm
locations. The big focus for the coming
year will be on
Praise was given to the Water’s Edge/Recreation Staff consisting of Annette Lessenberry, Kathy Nachtrab, Brian Payette, Susan Pociask and Gary and Mark Tissot.
Treasurer John Raithel commented that he is pleased to note that there are 100 people who volunteer to serve on various committees and commissions in order to improve this community.
The Airport Commerce Park Commission is just one of the commissions of dedicated volunteers
that looks at running the airport and commerce park as a business. Mr. Raithel thanked all the members of the Airport Commerce Park Commission.
The Committee NAS (Naval Air Station) Grosse Ile Memorial is a fun committee that works to raise money to help beautify and maintain the Naval Air Station.
Treasurer Raithel asked Airfield/Commerce Park Manager Derek Thiel, to give a presentation of the years accomplishments. Mr. Thiel highlighted the following items:
· Universal Lease Plan
· Lease renewals
·
· Development of Airport Master Plan
· $300,000 in grant funding obtained for Round Island Avigation and re-opening of Runway 4-22 for night flights
·
· Tree Planting Grants
Mr. Thiel thanked the Airport Secretary, Caryn Johnson and the Airport Maintenance staff Rodney Eastom and Jim Ferrell.
Treasurer Raithel thanked Derek & congratulated him for his fine work.
Trustee Will noted and thanked members of all the other committees giving their time and effort to serve Grosse Ile.
Clerk’s State of
the Office:
Clerk O’Connor stated that it is amazing how fast the nine years she has served on the township board have gone by and that throughout the nine years she has worked with seven professionals with varied expertise and found that there is not a lot of need for public debate on most subjects since they are all about the business of doing what is needed in the best interest of the community.
The Board has faced some profound challenges and they have been diligent in making difficult decisions to protect this community which often required members of the board to put their own lives on hold.
Clerk O’Connor thanked Clerk’s Office Manager/Deputy Clerk Sharon Gray and part-time staff members Gayle Haeger and Bryan Friel for taking care of the day-to-day concerns of the Clerk’s Office. The biggest function of the office is conducting elections and keeping up with voting technology and election law changes. Mrs. O’Connor thanked all the Election Inspectors that volunteer to help with the election day process for three elections this year and the members of the Board of Canvassers, Timothy O’Donnell, Peg Bailey, Denise Lenhart and Michele Babcock for their diligence to verify and certify local election results.
During fiscal year 2006-2007 the Clerk’s Office processed 227 passports bringing in $6,800 in revenue to the General Fund.
Treasurer’s Office
Report:
Treasurer Raithel reported that the 2006-2007 fiscal year was another successful year in the treasurer’s office. Although the Deputy Treasurer position was unoccupied from May through August, 2006, other staff diligently upheld the essential duties of the position. In September, 2006 a new employee, Annette Wurtsmith, was hired to fill the position.
There have been technology advancements this year that now allow internet access to tax and assessing information through BS&A software which allows residents, title & mortgage companies, CPA’s and realtors to access information from the convenience of home or office.
Twenty-five million dollars of tax collections were
processed and timely distributions were made to the county and school district.
The tax rolls were balanced and delivered to
Treasurer Raithel announced that
the Grosse Ile Investment Policy is now certified by the Association of Public
Treasurers of the
Each year the Treasurer’s Office strives to sustain the Mission Statement of the Treasurer’s Office:
· Efficiently collecting and distributing tax revenues due to the township and other taxing units
· Collecting and processing other township revenues
· Investing idle township funds
· Serve the public in the most efficient and courteous manner
Treasurer Raithel thanked his staff, Barbara McMahon and Annette Wurtsmith for the quality of service they offer and their commitment to excellence and thanked other staff members for their help in the absence of the Deputy Treasurer staffing and on a day-to-day basis throughout the year.
State of the
Township- Report from the Township Supervisor:
Supervisor Kobiljak informed residents that his State of the Township Report will be emailed and published this week and provided a synopsis of the report:
“It’s been a big year”.
·
Continued restructuring of the
· Re-energized the Downtown Development Authority to aid existing business and expand new and renovated businesses
· Streamlined operations at the Water’s Edge Golf & Country Club
· Worked creatively with the Water’s Edge restaurateur
· Turned the Water’s Edge Pool into a public pool
·
Renovations to the
·
Worked with
· Devised and updated the Township Emergency Preparation Plan
· Improved sewer system
· Continuing Open Space Program
· Continued a wide array of recreational programs for the community
Supervisor Kobiljak thanked Township Manager Dale Reaume, Carol Knopp and the entire staff for their diligent professionalism throughout the past year.
Township Manager’s
Report:
Township Manager Dale Reaume focused on goals for 2007. He indicated the township would continue to be fiscally responsible and pro-active.
It has been an exciting and challenging year during which
the township adopted a balanced budget, and saw the State of
In the upcoming year, the plan includes a successful implementation of the Township’s Emergency Plan, continual evaluation of township finances, completion of the Sanitary Sewer Project and holding regular briefings with all township officials.
Clerk O’Connor commented that Mr. Reaume has steered the staff and township board through some difficult times and has been honest and fair to staff and board members alike.
Supervisor Kobiljak opened the floor for Public Comment.
Public Comment:
1. Peg Bailey,
2.
3. A resident announced that the
Motion Treasurer Raithel,
second Trustee Wojewodzic to adjourn the Annual
Meeting of the
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Ute O’Connor, Township Clerk