APPROVED MINUTES

GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

December 10, 2007

Grosse Ile Township Hall – Merle Solomon Board Room

9601 Groh Road

 

 

A Meeting of the Grosse Ile Township Election Commission comprised of Supervisor Kobiljak, Clerk O’Connor and Treasurer Raithel convened at 6:55 p.m. in the Township Board Room just prior to the regular board meeting in open session. The Election Commission met to appoint and approve assistants to the Clerk in running the January 15, 2008 Presidential Primary Election and to appoint the Election Inspectors assigned to the voting precincts.

 

The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Township Supervisor Kobiljak.

 

Present: Supervisor Kobiljak, Clerk O’Connor, Treasurer Raithel, Trustees Wojewodzic, Will, Forrester, Pociask.

Absent: None 

 

Pledge of Allegiance

PRESENTATIONS:

Supervisor Kobiljak announced there would be three presentations this evening prior to the Public Hearing for the 2008 Community Development Block Grant Program and the township business meeting.

1.  Wayne County Bridge Update:  Supervisor Kobiljak introduced Cindy Dingell and Vicki Holland representing Wayne County to provide a construction update and dispel rumors about the bridge construction timeline.

     Ms. Holland and Ms. Dingell indicated that the bridge contractor had not asked for additional days to complete the project and the county is cautiously optimistic depending on the weather for the remainder of the week.  A slide presentation of pictures taken on the afternoon of December 10th showed continual forward progress.

2.  Island Beautification Committee – 2007 Award Presentation: Beautification Committee Chairperson Art Koester congratulated the thirty-seven Macomb Business District recipients of Certificates honoring them for improvements made to their business sites in 2007.

     The five Gold Award Winners for 2007 are:

·        Bishop’s Cottage represented by Katherine Brockmiller

·        Vitale’s Restaurant represented by Maria Vitale-Cusamano

·        Rapunzel’s Tower represented by Tracie Cada

·        Prudential Landmark Properties represented by Susie and Rob Harrison

·        Island Woods Senior Housing represented by Kimberly Mott

3.   Safe Routes to School Grant Proposal: Lynn Iverson representing the grass roots community group, Safe Routes to School (SR2S) organized by Sarah Gilroy, has worked for nine months

 

 

 

to prepare a grant proposal plan to provide safe routes for children to walk to school. The group conducted walking audits, parental surveys, interviews with school officials and sought input from recreational and community groups to develop a safe route that will encourage walking and biking to and from school and is intended to continue to evolve over time.  The plan which requires some sidewalk construction to connect pathways in some areas and will require use of the county right-of-way is now ready to be submitted to the grant provider for consideration.  Further updates will be provided at future board meetings.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  2008 Community Development Block Grant Program

Pursuant to Federal guidelines, Grosse Ile Township announces it’s objectives and possible uses

for projects using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.  Recreation Director

Tim Rooney presented a grant proposal seeking funding from Wayne County Community Development Division for the following 2008-2009 Block Grant Projects:

Senior Staffing and Services                                                      $22,150

Senior Alliance                                                                 1,750

Airport/Commerce Park Blight and Clearance                 41,000

Planning                                                                                        6,100

                                                                                                $71,000

Public Comment or questions from the Board or audience was requested by Supervisor Kobiljak.

No questions or comments were offered.

Motion Raithel, second O’Connor to close the Public Hearing at 7:40 p.m.

All aye.  Motion carried.

 

Additions/Deletions to Agenda:

Motion Raithel, second Pociask to add Action Item 8, Authorization to Sign Consent Judgement.

All aye.

 

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

 

Final Agenda

 

CONSENT AGENDA 07-127:

1.  Minutes of November 13, 2007 Board Meeting

2.  Appointment of Local Board of Canvassers Members

3.  Cash Requirements List dated November 26, 2007

4.  Cash Requirements List dated December 10, 2007

5.  Purchase Order Summary dated November 26, 2007

6.  Purchase Order Summary dated December 10, 2007

7.  Authorization to Process Payments through January 14, 2008

8.  Acceptance of Holiday Event Invitations for Township Board Members

 

 

 

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

1.   Festival Commission Appointments

2.   Approval of 2008 Islandfest Carnival Contract

3.   Approve 2008-2009 CDBG Program Application

4.   Safe Routes to School Application

5.   Grosse Ile Commerce Park/Recreation Area Storm Sewer Evaluation

6.   Grosse Ile Commerce Park/Recreation Area Road Reconstruction

7.   Downtown Development Association Macomb Commons Bid Award

8.   Sign Consent Judgement

 

Clerk’s Report

1. Primary Election Information

Treasurer’s Report

1. Investment Report through October 30, 2007

Supervisor’s Report

1.   Wayne County

2.   Annual Meeting 2008

3.   Project Update

Township Manager’s Report

1. G.I. TV Public Access

2.  Holiday Hours

 

Discussion Items

Extended Public Comment: Comments limited to 5 minutes per person

Adjourn

 

Regular Meeting

 

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.

 

Consent Agenda # 07-127:

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

 

1.  Minutes of November 13, 2007 Board Meeting

2.  Appointment of Local Board of Canvassers Members

3.  Cash Requirements List dated November 26, 2007

4.  Cash Requirements List dated December 10, 2007

5.  Purchase Order Summary dated November 26, 2007

6.  Purchase Order Summary dated December 10, 2007

7.  Authorization to Process Payments through January 14, 2008

8.  Acceptance of Holiday Event Invitations for Township Board Members

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

1.  07- 128  Motion O’Connor, second Will, based on the recommendation of the members of the Festival Commission, the Township Board appoints Amy Longton (9150 Whitall) and Tammy Taylor (20478 Canal Drive) to the Grosse Ile Festival Commission for the terms of December 10, 2007 through August 31, 2010.  Motion carried 7-0.

2.   07-129  Motion O’Connor, second Pociask, to grant approval to the Festival Commission to contract Skerbeck Brothers Shows, Inc. to operate a carnival during IslandFest from the dates of Friday, May 30, 2008 through Sunday, June 1, 2008.  Motion carried 7-0.

3.   07-130  Motion Pociask, second Raithel, based on the recommendation of the Recreation Director and Airfield/Commerce Park Manager, the Township Board grants approval to seek funding from Wayne County Community Development Division for the following 2008-2009 Community Development Block Grant Projects:

                       

                        Senior Staffing and Services                                          22,150

                         Senior Alliance                                                   1,750            

                        Airport/Commerce Park Blight and Clearance   41,000

                        Planning                                                                        6,100

                                                                                                         $71,000

     Motion carried 7-0.

4.   07-131  Motion Will, second Pociask, Whereas, the Township of Grosse Ile has been approached by a grass roots resident initiative to seek grant funding to provide safe routes to school for children by means of walking or biking, and; Whereas, the Township Department of Public Services Commission supports the initiative to seek funding under the Safe Routes to School Program, and; Whereas, the Grosse Ile Township Board of Trustees supports the initiative to seek funding under the Safe Routes to School Program, and; Whereas, Grosse Ile Township, on behalf of the Safe Routes to School committee, is acting as the applicant to seek funding with the State of Michigan Department of Transportation and Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, and; Whereas, the Grosse Ile Township School Board and Staff support the Safe Routes to School Program, and; Whereas, applications are being submitted for signage, parking lot upgrades, and path construction at and near the Meridian Elementary School, Parke Lane Elementary School, and Grosse Ile Middle School campuses, and; Whereas, the estimated eligible cost of improvements sought under the Safe Routes to School Program total approximately $992,671.00, and; Whereas, the estimated non-eligible costs total approximately 10% of the eligible cost, and; Whereas, the Township of Grosse Ile and the Grosse Ile Township Schools will work together to find funding sources for the non-eligible costs, and; NOW, THEREFORE BE  IT RESOLVED, the Grosse Ile Township Board of Trustees supports the submittal of a grant application for the Safe Routes to School Program.  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Grosse Ile Township School Board, Superintendent Dena Dardzinski, and Finance Director Tony Krukowski.

Resolution Adopted 7-0.

 

 

 

 

5.  07-132  Motion Raithel, second Pociask, based upon the November 14, 2007 recommendation by the Grosse Ile Department of Public Services Commission, the Grosse Ile Township Board hereby authorizes funding for televising, cleaning, and engineering of the Grosse Ile Commerce Park Storm Sewer System pertaining to the proposed Grosse Ile Commerce Park Road reconstruction project.  Funding for the above referenced project is to be provided via Drain and Storm System Maintenance account #2600-101-811200, at an estimated cost not to exceed $80,000.  Motion carried 7-0.

6.  07-133  Motion Raithel, second Will, based upon the November 14, 2007 recommendation by the Grosse Ile Department of Public Services, the Grosse Ile Township Board hereby authorizes funding for the Grosse Ile Commerce Park/Recreation Area Road Reconstruction Project via roads Capital Improvement Account # 4010-101-976000.  Approval is based upon an estimated (not to exceed) cost of $1,271.479.50.  Block Grant funding, both secured and anticipated, will be utilized to offset project costs as well as provide contingency funding.

     * To date, secured CDBG funding totals $96,200.00. Anticipated CDBG funding is estimated at $39,010 (2007) and $40,000 (2008).  Motion carried 7-0.

7.  07-134  Motion Raithel, second Pociask, based upon the recommendation of the Downtown Development Authority, to award the bid for the Macomb Commons Landscape Project to B&L Landscaping as the low bidder in the amount of $224,323.50.  Motion carried 7-0.

8.  07-135  Motion Raithel, second Wodjewodzic, to hereby authorize Derek M. Thiel, Airfield/Commerce Park Manager to sign Consent Judgment with Regard to Counts II and IV and Dismissal of Counts I and III without prejudice in the case of Grosse Ile Municipal Airport/Township of Grosse Ile v. Horizon Properties, L.L.C. in the amount of $79,913.91.

     Motion carried 7-0.

 

Clerk’s Report:

1.  Clerk O’Connor provided information on the Presidential Primary and Absentee Voter deadlines.  The Polls will be open on Tuesday, January 15th from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

     Voters unsure of their voting location should contact the Clerk’s Office on or before Election Day.  Clerk O’Connor reminded voters that picture identification is required by law in order to vote.  Voters without picture identification may visit Secretary of State Offices to obtain

      a low cost Michigan Identification Card.  The fee for residents under sixty years of age is $10.00 and free for those over sixty years of age.

2.  Clerk O’Connor announced that due to a recent Michigan Appeals Court ruling governing the distribution of Absent Voter Ballot Application Forms, registered voters may now file a request with the local Clerk’s Office to be included on a list to receive automatic mailing of the Application for Absentee Ballot prior to each election.  A signed Application for Absentee Ballot must be filed by each person wishing to vote by Absentee Ballot prior to every election.

Treasurer’s Report:

1. Treasurer Raithel announced that all Winter Tax Bills have been mailed and the deadline for payment without penalty is Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2008. He also announced that within four weeks arrangements will be in place to allow residents to pay both taxes and water bills through an electronic payment program at an additional service fee.  More information on this payment program is available online or by calling 676-4422, extension 222 or 220.

 

 

Treasurer’s Report:

2. The Investment Report through October 30, 2007 indicates Total Investments of $18,072,039.80 at an Average Rate of 4.6545% with Total Interest Earned of $86,541.36.

Supervisor’s Report

1.  Supervisor Kobiljak reported that an announcement will be made as soon as possible regarding the re-opening of the Wayne County Bridge and urges residents to check grosseile.com and tune into Grosse Ile Radio 1700, their local cable station and watch for posted signs for bridge opening updates.

2.  The Annual Meeting will be held at Township Hall on Saturday, March 15, 2008, beginning with an Open House at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Annual Meeting at 10:00 a.m.; there will be no business meeting held on this date.

3.  Supervisor Kobiljak reports that the West River Road Ramp, Traffic Light and Landscape projects and the Four Corners lane expansion project are all very close to completion and are expected to open on or before the County Bridge re-opens.

Township Manager’s Report           

1.  Manager Reaume reports that Comcast Cable has proposed changes to their channel lineup that would move local access programming to the 900 tier of channels. The 900 tier may not be available to some residents depending on their television and whether they have high definition access.  Comcast will provide HD conversion for an additional monthly fee or residents may purchase a converter box at local retailers. Final HD conversion must be done by February, 2009 when Analog television is discontinued by all broadcasters.

2.  Township Offices will be closed on December 24th and 25th and January 1st and 2nd.

      Regular hours will be maintained on all remaining days.

Discussion Items: None

 

Extended Public Comment:

1.  W. Clark, Parke Lane, thanked Public Services Director Sedlock for the paving improvements at Lakewood and Meridian and thanked Public Services Maintenance for installing necessary signs.

2.  R. Janowski, Groh Road, asked if Wayne County did a comparison of underwater bridge   surfaces during bridge repairs and compared it to the 2005 report. 

     Supervisor Kobiljak said there was an underwater analysis of the bridge and the township has had discussions with the county and asked for the current report to be delivered to the township.

 

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

Meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.

 

                                                                                   

__________________________________

                                                                                                Ute O’Connor. Township Clerk