Minutes of the Baroda Township Board Meeting

November 16, 2009

The regular meeting of the Baroda Township Board was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Supervisor Jim Brow in the meeting room of the Baroda Township Municipal Building. Those present: Jim Brow, Amy Hemphill, Susan Newcomer, Wendie Shafer, and David Wolf, along with 5 audience members.

LIBRARY REPORT – Dina Riley reported that December will be a little quieter month. There will be a Santa visit, but no date has been set. The teen program is reading the Chronicles of Narnia series.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS Chief Gary Ruhl reported that since the arrest of the person responsible of several burglaries in the Township, things have been relatively quiet. He reported that Brian Adams, the burglar will be sentenced in December and is going to prison due to his past record.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Checking Account Totals:

General Fund – $132,671 Baroda Police Fund – $74,810

Rubbish Fund - $46,142 Fire Maintenance Fund – $76,532

Trust and Agency Fund $291 Fire Equipment Fund – $41,021

Water Fund – $46,986 Baroda-Lake Drug Forfeiture Fund – $1,632

Baroda-Lake Police Fund – $53,103

Susan Newcomer distributed and gave a detailed Treasurers report. She reported a correction to the October report in the General Fund, and made the correction to the October Board minutes.

Susan Newcomer moved, seconded by Amy Hemphill to add Flagstar Bank and United Federal Credit Union to the Township’s list of financial institutions with which we do business. Vote – All Yes Motion Carried.

CLERK’S and PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT – Wendie Shafer reported that the Planning Commission made a ruling to renew the Special Land Use permit for Mark Schutze’s NIMBY Pond races for 2010. She reported that the Planning Commission is holding extra meetings, the next one to be Wednesday Nov.18, 2009, concentrating on working on the Master Plan.

NEW BUSINESS – Wendie Shafer reported on the annual meeting with the Berrien County Road Commission. The Road Commission is scheduled to seal coat Tuttle and Ruggles Roads in the coming year. Jim Brow reported that we have asked for a study to see what it would take to make Keehn Road more passable, especially after heavy rains. A recommendation for the Township to seal coat Miller road was made by the Road Commission. The cost to the Township would be $23,400 for materials. Susan Newcomer would like to schedule a special budget meeting to look at long term needs of the Township. It was decided to schedule the meeting for sometime in January.

Wendie Shafer reported that she had a visit from the owners of Shawnee Mobile Park, Baroda Estates and another person. She said that they want the Township to allow them to opt out of the Rubbish program because they feel they can contract directly with a rubbish hauler for about 40% less than what the Township is charging. They feel they are subsidizing the rest of the Township by paying the rates charged. Discussion showed that requiring the Mobile Home Parks and Apartment buildings to opt. in to the program is still the fairest way to pay for trash pick up in the Township.

Wendie Shafer presented a request from the Village to pay their publication fees involving the adoption of their Rubbish Ordinance and Intergovernmental Agreement. David Wolf moved, seconded by Susan Newcomer to pay the $334.28 publication fee as requested. Vote – All Yes. Motion Carried.

CONSENT AGENDA - Copies of the minutes of the October 26, 2009 Baroda Township Board meeting and Baroda Township Bills for the month were distributed. After discussion, Amy Hemphill moved, seconded by Dave wolf, to approve the Minutes of the last Board meeting as corrected, the Treasurers' Report and the Township Bills.

Vote – All Yes. Motion Carried.

SUPERVISORS COMMENTS – Jim Brow mentioned that the Township office will be

closed Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving.

PUBLIC COMMENT- Mr. Gollnast who lives on Pheasant Run asked if something can be done about the water flooding his yard and running into his crawl space after it rains.

Since his home is in the Village, he was directed to speak with Village President Bob Getz about the matter.

ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by Supervisor Jim Brow at 8:08 p.m.

The next meeting of the Baroda Township Board is Monday, December 21, 2009 in the Baroda Township Municipal Building meeting room at 7:30 p.m.

Submitted by,

Wendie Shafer, Baroda Township Clerk