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The
Genoa Township Board
Regular Meeting and Public Hearing
March 1, 2004
AGENDA
Consent Agenda:
1. Payment of Bills.
2. Approval of Minutes: February 16, 2004.
3. Request for approval of the 2004 summer tax collection agreement with
Howell Public Schools.
4. Consideration of a contract amendment with Tetra Tech for engineering
services associated with the recreational grant application.
5. Request for approval to remove special assessments from the winter
tax roll for the following parcels: Tax Identification Nos.
11-03-303-009, 11-303-005 in the amount of $85.00 each.
Action Items for Discussion:
1. 1st Public Hearing on the Baetcke Lake aquatic weed/lake control
petition.
A. Call to property owners.
B. Call to the public
C. Request for approval of Resolution No. 2 (approving the project
detail and directing the preparation of the special assessment roll).
D. Request for approval of Resolution No. 3 (scheduling the second
public hearing on the special assessment roll)
2. Consideration of a request to rezone from AG (agricultural) to RPUD
(residential Planned Unit Development) and grant approval of the Site
Plan, impact assessment, conceptual PUD plan, and PUD agreement as
related to a 191 acre parcel (Preserve of Genoa) located south of
Brighton Road and east of Chilson Road, Section 33 & 34, petitioned by
Crescendo Homes as discussed by the
Planning Commission
on 01/26/04.
A. Disposition of request to rezone.
B. Disposition of conceptual PUD plan.
C. Disposition of PUD agreement.
D. Disposition of impact assessment.
Adjournment.
GENOA TOWNSHIP
Regular Meeting
March 1, 2004
MINUTES
Supervisor McCririe called the public hearing and 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 50 persons in the audience.
Moved by Skolarus, supported by Mortensen, to approve the Agenda with
the tabling of petition No. 1 for Baetcke Lake (at the petitioner’s
request). Further, allowing a call to the public to allow residents who
were present to voice their comments and concerns.
A call to the public was made with no response.
Consent Agenda:
1. Request for approval of the 2004 summer tax collection agreement with
Howell Public Schools.
2. Consideration of a contract amendment with Tetra Tech for engineering
services associated with the recreational grant application.
Moved by Smith, 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.
A call to property owners and the public was made with the following
response:
Bill Rocheleau – Our ground water needs to be protected and preserved.
Ground water should not be used for the pleasure of 24 units in our
township it should be used to sustain life in the home. This board
represents the entire community, not just 24 homeowners. Paul Carte –
How many homes are in the district? McCririe – 24 directly on the lake.
Kelly Ernce (Argenta) – What part of due diligence has been done with
regard to the local health standard and the D.E.Q. A project of this
magnitude could have a large effect on other properties besides Baetcke
Lake. I cannot support this and I speak for the entire White Pines
subdivision. McCririe – The Baetcke Association petitioned the board to
provide the funding. They will have to apply to the D.E.Q. for
permitting and also tests by the Health Dept. The township does not
approve or deny permits. Our request is related only to the financing.
We then set the public hearing and contact all properties within 300
feet of the proposed request.
Michael Suciu – (Sunrise) – I am sympathetic and I don’t have a problem
with them buying water and trucking it in. Mary Ann Gardella – The
Health Dept. has said that this is not in the best interests of Baetcke
Lake. There are too many unknowns and they have not as yet been asked
for a permit. The D.E.Q. said that this is a new phenomenon and could
impact wells, streams, etc. When Triangle Lake first allowed an
augmentation well this area was not as densely populated as it is today.
If we lose our water, everyone will come after you. We are in a cycle
and we need to be patient. It is not wise to okay this project.
Mike Olebeck - The D.N.R. publishes a document about defining the legal
lake level. McCririe – A study is proposed to drill an initial
augmentation well to determine the impact to this area. Baetcke Lake
could apply to the Drain Commissioner’s Office with this request. Kelly
Price – My property abuts Little Baetcke Lake. I have no privileges to
the lake; however, my property would be adversely effected should you
allow this. The value of my home would go down and I would be ready to
sue. This is a self-motivated request.
Ron – This project should come to an end now. Why would they ask for a
table to the next meeting? McCririe – It is not unusual to ask to table
a project to acquire more information. Sue Ann Lloyd - If the township
supports this project, do you have any legal responsibility should our
wells dry up? Jim Pratt (Argenta) – If you don’t fund it does this board
have the right to stop the project? McCririe – No. We can only address
our concerns to the D.E.Q. or Health Dept. just as you can.
Geoff Keeney – The ground water is public domain. How will you protect
yourself from the risk of wells failing in that area? David Peecook
(White Pines) Water levels are low and contain more iron. It is logical
that this much water being diverted will have a negative impact on
everyone. Jack Wells (Old Hickory) – Why would you want to finance this
project? Joe Nagy (White Pines) – Would you support other lake in the
township that petitioned with this same request? McCririe – I will make
my position known after everyone is heard.
McCririe – the Township’s legal responsibility only includes the
funding. This is not a precedent setting course of action. Mother nature
should take its course. This is not a unique situation and I do not know
that we want to get into this. I will not vote in favor of this request.
Hunt – I cannot support this project. It is not in the best interest of
our residents. Todd Smith – I will not support this project unless I
felt that it would not impact other residents. Jean Ledford – We would
be opening Pandora’s box if we allowed this to go forward. I need to
protect the health and welfare of all our residents.
Skolarus – This board established a committee to study this request and
discuss alternate proposals with the Baetcke Lake Association. Baetcke
Lake asked that this request tonight be tabled. It was my understanding
that we would make the call to the public but not make any formal
decision. Now it appears that four members are voting no and they do not
even have the alternate proposal before them. Baetcke Lake asked to
table and I granted that request - as I have been able to do for 19
year. We should at least wait and hear from them before making a
decision.
Combs – They were granted a tabling to this meeting when the full board
would be present. I am not prepared to table again. I would rather see
300 new homes than pumping into a bathtub for 24 homeowners. Mortensen –
I will listen to the petitioners. I have not made a decision as yet.
McCririe – There is no harm in listening to additional information.
Moved by Smith, supported by Mortensen, to allow a final table until the
03/15/04 meeting of the board, allowing a presentation with no
additional discussion. The motion carried as follows: Ayes – Ledford,
Smith, Hunt, Mortensen, Skolarus and McCririe. Nay – Combs.
2. Consideration of a request to rezone from AG (agricultural) to
RPUD (residential Planned Unit Development) and grant approval of the
Site Plan, impact assessment, conceptual PUD plan, and PUD agreement as
related to a 191 acre parcel (Preserve of Genoa) located south of
Brighton Road and east of Chilson Road, Section 33 & 34, petitioned by
Crescendo Homes as discussed by the
Planning Commission
on 01/26/04.
Moved by Skolarus, supported by Mortensen, to remand this request to the
Planning Commission for clarification with a return to this board on the
15th. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Payment of Bills.
Moved by Mortensen, supported by Ledford, to approve for payment
vouchers totaling $952,718.18. The motion carried unanimously.
4. Approval of the Minutes: February 16, 2004.
Moved by Ledford, supported by Mortensen, to approve the Minutes,
correcting typographical errors. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Request for approval to remove special assessments from the winter
tax roll for the following parcels: Tax Identification Nos.
11-03-303-009, 11-03-303-005, 11-11-304-009 and 11-11-304-008 in the
amount of $85.00 each.
Moved by Skolarus, supported by Combs, to remove the aforementioned
assessments from the parcels as described. The motion carried
unanimously.
The regular meeting and public hearing of the Genoa Township Board was
adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Paulette A. Skolarus
Genoa Township Clerk
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