Board of Trustees Meeting on February 2, 2004

MINUTES

Supervisor McCririe called the regular meeting of the Genoa Township Board to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was then said. The following board members were present constituting a quorum for the transaction of business: Gary McCririe, Paulette Skolarus, Robin Hunt, Todd Smith, Anthony Combs, Jim Mortensen and Jean Ledford. Also present were Township Manager Michael Archinal, Township Attorney Rick Heikkinen and approximately 25 persons in the audience.

Moved by Ledford, supported by Hunt, to approve the Agenda with the tabling of item No. 2 concerning the Grand River Sewer project. The motion carried unanimously.

A call to the public was made with no response.

Consent Agenda:

1. Payment of Bills.

2. Approval of Minutes: January 20, 2003.

3. Request for approval to change the winter tax roll for properties identified as follows: 11-36-203-152 - refuse - $80.80 as requested by Hunt.

4. Request for approval to purchase voting equipment related to the addition of four new precincts with costs not to exceed $2,000.00 (as recommended by the Administrative Committee).

5. Consideration of a request from the Drain Commissioner to support a drain project north of Lake Chemung at a cost of $1,250.00.

Moved by Hunt, supported by Ledford, to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Action Items for Discussion:

1. 1st Public Hearing on the Baetcke Lake aquatic weed/lake control petition.

Mark Sweatman - The project will be initiated in three phases. Phase 1 will consist of a review of existing regional and site-specific hydro geologic data, specifically, well logs for the area. Phase 2 will consist of the installation of an observation well at a selected site and the performance of a long-term aquifer test to determine suitability. Phase 3 will consist of the installation of pumping and control systems within the irrigation well at the selected site.

Sweatman - Baetcke Lake is considered to be a "kettle lake". No surface water flows in or out of the lake. Our target is to drill below the clay deposit - approximately 150-feet- to reach a ground water source for the project. The well we are proposing is 8" and should generate between 200 and 300 gallons a minute. Typically a residential well 4" to 5" generates 20 gallons a minute. This flow would be equivalent to 15 houses.

A call to property owners was made with the following response: Glen Waggoner - I am not opposed to this special assessment district but am concerned that two property owners who own more than one parcel are not paying their fair share - reference was made to Milne and Peterson. I suggest that an impartial board correct this mismanagement. Skolarus - The petition specifically designated a special assessment to each benefited property owner and the district was established based upon the language in the petition.

Fran Rocheleau - I did not sign the petition. There is a real possibility that our well could be effected in three or four years. If our well is dry we will have no recourse.

A call to the public was made with the following response: Mark Lunau - How does this effect the ground water of residents southeast of this site? McCririe - A hydro geologic study will be made to determine any effect upon neighboring properties. Robert Murray - I am not opposed to people spending their own money, however, I have a well and don't want to see a negative impact. The board should see the results of that study and then determine if they want to go forward. The D.E.Q. and the drain commissioner's office are opposed to this project. Margaret Kearney - I live in Prairie View and am concerned with our well. Bill Wennetta - I am here representing the Tri-Lakes Association and want to know where the well will be located. McCririe - The augmentation will be located on a parcel owned by Mr. Herbst. Bette Swift - Mr. Murray was supervisor when the City of Brighton well went in - was there an assessment done? McCririe - Yes. Swift - How about when the Mt. Brighton Golf course was constructed - was there a hydro-geo study done? McCririe - Yes, an extensive study was done.

Sweatman - Fonda Lake has an augmented well - since 1960. Kalamazoo is another example. The city of Brighton well is 110' to 120' in depth. Norbert Sikora - I live on Summerhill and am concerned with my well. There is another 150 acres of land to be developed in this area in the next few years. What is the long-term view? McCririe - The hydro-geo study will show that impact.

McCririe - What is causing the low water levels in Baetcke Lake? Sweatman - The question of the watershed has not been looked at anywhere in Michigan. The cost would be in the multiple millions. The person with the biggest concern is the Rocheleau's. McCririe - Will the study show if you are recycling water? Sweatman - Yes. Mortensen - I believe the resolution should include the phases as discussed in Mr. Sweatman's letter of 09/24/03. Our township engineers may want to review the study. Ledford - I remember that Ms. Peterson said that the lake was fed by natural springs. Sweatman - As the water table drops, so does the pressure on the natural springs and they no longer generate. Springs are shallow and fed by under ground streams. Peterson - The lake is down approximately 40 inches.

Hunt - This petition and district is established at $100,000.00. The properties will immediately be liened for that amount of money. Heikkinen - We can terminate the district at such time as it is determined that the project is not viable.

Moved by Ledford, supported by Mortensen, to adjourn the public hearing to the next regular meeting of the board. All property owners will be notified accordingly. The resolutions will include language describing the three phases. Further, a review by the board will be held after the completion of the hydro-geologic study. The motion carried unanimously. The board took no further action with regard to this petition.

2. Request for approval to initiate a project known as the Grand River Sewer Improvement Project (Resolution No. 1).

Tabled to the next regular meeting of the board.

3. Request for approval to purchase projection equipment for the boardroom, as recommended by the Administrative Committee.

Moved by Mortensen, supported by Combs, to approve the purchase of the projection equipment at a cost not to exceed $20,000.00. The motion carried unanimously.

4. Discussion of the hourly fee schedule for professional planning services.

Moved by Hunt, supported by Mortensen, to approve the fee schedule requested by Langworthy, Strader & LeBlanc in their correspondence dated 12/29/03. The motion carried unanimously.

5. Request for approval of the Zoning Ordinance Text, petitioned by Genoa Township as approved by the Planning Commission 12/22/03.

Moved by Skolarus, supported by Hunt, to approve the Zoning Ordinance Text with the changes to Section 1 - k as follows: …Churches, temples and similar places of worship (in Country Estate District only). An accessory use, such as child/day care center, senior center, recreational center or cemetery, may be permitted if access is from a paved public road. The motion carried unanimously.

6. Request for approval to add Mr. Koons to the Lake Edgewood West Sewer Assessment according to the memo dated 01/30/04 from Hunt.

Moved by Skolarus, supported by Mortensen, to add Mr. Koons to the Lake Edgewood West Sewer assessment with $5,100.01 paid up front and the balance to be levied annually on the winter tax roll over the remaining 16 years of the district. The motion carried unanimously.

The regular meeting of the Genoa Township Board was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Paulette A. Skolarus
Genoa Township Clerk

(PA 02/11/04)