Minutes: November 9, 2021 Regular Board Meeting

Presented for approval at the December 14, 2021 Board Meeting

     

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Michelle Meis, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Supervisor’s present includes Stan Iskierka, Branden Mell, John Paitl and Betsy Rising.  Joining via Skype, Treasurer Mary Dillner and Clerk Mary Winter were also present. 

Agenda

 

Motion to approve the agenda by John Paitl, seconded by Stan Iskierka.  Approved.

Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes by Betsy Rising seconded by John Paitl.  Approved.

Treasurer’s Report

John questioned if there was supposed to be a dollar amount on the cash receipts where Mail Box Post was and it was clarified there should not be.

Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report by Betsy Rising, seconded by John Paitl.  Approved.

Bills

Motion to approve paying bills by Betsy Rising seconded, by Stan Iskierka.  Approved. 

Open Forum

None at this time.

Road Maintenance Report

  • Grading is slowing down some, unless there are certain roads in need.   
  • Will get a couple of rounds graded, Basswood where 4 wheelers have torn up the road.
  • The 4 wheelers are also tearing up at the townhall by the shop and out back.
  • 520th and Basswood has deep ruts.  I just scrapped it up and a resident, Bill, came and told me a guy just tore it up again.  We know who is tearing it up yet we need to catch them in the act before the sheriff will address it.  4 wheelers will continue driving down and tearing it up going to 510th and 505th.

Road Maintenance Report con’t

  • Unloaded some culverts.
  • Did some new gravel, finished up 522nd.  Came under the 8500 yards that was allotted.  Should be closed the 8000 yards.
  • We were able to do everything that was on our list of roads to do.
  • Will touch up any roads that are needed before winter.
  • Got Clover Trail really good, 5 passes due to the ruts that it had.  It has held up fairly well.  If we get a good rain Branden believes another pass should be done on Clover Trail again, John agrees.  We put a little heavier clay on this road.
  • A 6 X 6 post was put on the sharp curve on Clover Trail.  This is a road hazard.  A letter was sent to the resident speaking to the hazard this has created.  It will do damage to the snow blow.
  • Across from Branden’s fence a resident put some stones up.  John spoke with Stan about this and showed him pictures.
  • Shorewood – Took a drive through Shorewood residents have started marking the edge of the road with metal post or flexible post so the plow will not go in their yard.  Where it drifts at the bottom of the hill John needs to push snow straight ahead.  These markers must be removed.  A fish house, a car and a pontoon are in the road creating a hazard also.  
  • Stan will talk with the sanitary district and speak of the hazards to have them removed or Nessel township will refuse to plow. 
  • Cartwright – She has people going on her property all the time.  Has asked if we could possibly bank the snow to keep people from flying into her fields.  Snow comes across the field from both directions.  It will blow and drift off this corner and must be checked frequently.    John will, if at all possible, bank the snow.  3 people have already gone through the new fence this summer and cost about $800.00 to fix each time at Cartwright’s expense.  
  • Per our Parking Ordinance 01, for any vehicle hazard that is blocking the road and inhibiting John’s ability to plow snow, John Sutcliffe of Muddy Gap Hollow has the township board’s permission to call Leaf Towing out of Cambridge to have any vehicle towed to remove the hazard.  
  • Mary W. will call Leaf Towing to ensure that Leaf Towing understands Nessel Township Parking Ordinance and will provide the Parking Ordinance to Leaf Towing ensuring they have the ability to remove the hazard.  
  • Michelle reached out to the Sheriff to talk about our parking ordinance.  The Sheriff will reiterate with his deputies the ordinance must be enforced.
  • Mr. Phouvang asked for variances for a family home (a residence) and not a rental.  It is being used as a rental (BRBO).  Renters are parking in the road, per our ordinance they should not be.  
  • 506th will try and put additional gravel where trucks are going off the edge if it doesn’t freeze hard.  
  • John has a sign for Cedarcrest Ave and 500th where the sign was twisted.  Will fix on Monday.
  • John Paitl states there is a white stake south of his property, John will check to see if it is his.
  • A different company who is not Century Link is evaluating the entire county broadband accessibility. 

Committee Reports

  1. Road Committee – 
    • Received a call about Bayside Ave.  Stan told John not to do anything other than put a little gravel in a little hole where a resident has a bobcat and tears the road up. 
    • Concrete slabs across from Branden’s new fence.  These slabs are 26 feet into the road right-a-way.  Stan said a neighbor will talk to the land owner and ask the resident to move the concrete blocks at least 6 or 8 feet.  Stand will also speak with the land owner to move the concrete blocks back.
    • Ordered 2 – 24-foot culverts to have in stock.
    • Have plenty of salts for the winter.  75 tons ordered through the state, not counting what we have here at townhall.
  1. Budget Committee – 
    • John asked about the conditional use permit for Flickabirds since it has been sold.  It was determined that the new owners will be held to the same conditions under the conditional use permit.  
    • Mary D. spoke regarding CTAS.  It is in good shape.  Payroll is not in CTAS yet.  Using CTAS for our budgeting will be a little more challenging and how it is arranged a little differently than what we are use to.
    • Budget meeting for 2022 will be Friday November 26th 8:00 a.m. at townhall in the board room.  
  1. Contract Committee – 
    • No update at this time.
  1. Policy Committee – 
    • No update at this time.
    • We had bounced the idea of putting together a job description for the Treasurer job.  This will be on hold until spring.

Old Business

  1. None at this time.

New Business

  1. Townhall maintenance – Painting and Carpet cleaning/replace – We have $240,000.00 to spend under ARP.  We have received the 1st half and will receive the second half sometime next year.  If we can justify the cost/spend under ARP we can use the funds.  Very little guidance has been given for what the money can be used for.  Changing the carpet could be justified to use the funds based on sanitary/germs.  The board members will each make a wish list of what they see the township needs are for the next board meeting to use the ARP funds.  Mary D. reiterated we must keep an accounting of all expenditures.
  1. Budget 2022 –   See Budget Committee.  Stan mentioned that Belle Isle will need chip and seal and should be added to the budget.  Michelle asked Stan to come to the budget meeting since he has tremendous knowledge of the township.  Stan has agreed to come to the budget meeting.  Mary W. will post 5 days prior to the meeting since we now have a quorum.  In attendance will be Michelle, Stan, John, Mary D. and Mary W.  
  1. Salt Shed – How to justify a salt shed using ARP funds.  This will be reviewed.  The salt shed has already been approved by the residents.  The board agrees that we need to get it done and must proceed and start the process.  The salt shed will be in a new location.  The current shed will not be torn down.   John would like input into the design of the new salt shed.  The pressure of the salt load is at the base and 4 feet up.  John would like to see cement at the bottom of the shed and up the walls approximately 4 feet.  
  1. Cartwright – See Road Maintenance Report.

Motion to adjourn by John Paitl, seconded by Betsy Rising at 8:200 pm.   Approved.