Township Board Meeting Minutes November 2022

Skanee Townhall

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER:  Supervisor Jay Fish called the Regular Board meeting to order at 6:00 P.M at the Arvon Township Fire hall on November 7, 2022.

ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jay Fish-Supervisor, Krystal Eliason-Treasurer, Lisa Marinich-Clerk,      Robert Janda-Trustee, Chris Wahmhoff-Trustee. 

MINUTES APPROVAL:  Eliason motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the October 3, 2022 minutes.  All in favor, motion passed.

AGENDA APPROVAL:  Fish requests “Ken Anderson” and “Chip LeClaire” under “New Business.”  Keith Erickson requests “Military markers” under “New Business”.  Janda motioned seconded by Eliason to approve the agenda with the three additions.  All in favor, motion passed

PUBLIC COMMENT:   Nancy Strohshein asked the board about purchasing a Zoom account for the Planning Commission board.  The new member that was appointed last month, winters down south and won’t be able to attend the winter meetings.  The board did not think that is acceptable anymore for board members to zoom.  Strohshein will look into it for next month’s meeting.

-James Soli let the board know that the EMT/Fire Dept. radios have not been updated yet.

OLD BUSINESS: Land division will be tabled until next month’s meeting.

-Fish was contacted by Glen Anderson of the Western U.P. Health Department.  Anderson let Fish know that the Sawmill property owners are applying for a remote cabin/vaulted privy (300 gallon tank) and a hand pump for their water source.  Prior talking to Anderson, Fish was contacted by township residents, letting him know that if the Sawmill property owners get away with this kind of system, they will sue the township, expressing how they had to follow the state requirements of a raised mound system with all its costs, then so should everyone.  All the citizens that were present at the meeting also said that the remote cabin/vaulted privy and hand pump should be denied, even a 1000 gallon tank.  One explained how wet and swampy that particular parcel of land is on Sawmill Rd.  Fish explained that the board is not trying to be unwelcoming, we are just following the laws and rules.  Fish asked for approval from the board to allow the Sawmill Rd property owners to apply for a remote cabin/vaulted privy and a hand pump water source.  Motion denied by all board members.  All in favor, motioned passed. 

-Fish, Janda and Wahmhoff are going to plan a day to go to the Skanee Cemetery and find all the pegs that Swanson put in.  Also, the township should hire out an Imaging company to find exactly where the sailors are buried.  This will be tabled until next month’s meeting.

-Building contractors let Fish know that the State Electrical inspector is not responding to their calls.  Fish talked to Phil Rowe about the job.  Rowe is interested in it but will have to follow up on some extra training for the State.  Marinich will put an ad in the paper for an Electrical Inspector position for Arvon Township.

NEW BUSINESS: Keith Erickson is requesting more military markers.  Also new letters and glass for the monument in front of the township hall. The fire hall flagpole also needs to be replaced.  Marinich motioned, seconded by Eliason to approve Erickson’s requests and flagpole.  All in favor, motion passed.  Marinich will purchase all requests.

-Ken Anderson has been dealing with health issues and is stepping down from the Arvon Township Building inspector/Zoning administrator.  Anderson recommends Nathan Davis to replace him.  When Anderson is feeling better, he is willing to help the new replacement.  He also recommended keeping Schneider on as the alternate.  Davis will have to take the state level training.  Marinich will put an ad in the paper for a Building inspector/Zoning Administrator position for Arvon Township.

-Chip LeClaire was at the meeting asking the board what procedures he would have to go through to open a five site campground on his land towards the Mouth of the Huron.  This will be tabled until next month’s meeting.

FEDIE:

MAIL CALL: 

TREASURERS REPORT:  Eliason gave the Treasurer’s Report.  General Fund-$348,893.11 Ambulance/EMT Fund-$22,658.06, Fire Fund-$279,340.24, Liquor Fund-$755.22, Road Fund-$120,035.16. Marinich motioned, seconded by Wahmhoff to approve the Treasurer’s report.  All in favor, motion passed. 

BILL APPROVAL:  Eliason motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the bills.  All in favor, motion passed.

NEXT MEETING DATE:  The next meeting date will be December 5, 2022.

ADJOURN:   Eliason motioned, seconded by Wahmhoff to adjourn at 7:20 P.M.  All in favor, motion passed.

Lisa M. Marinich/Arvon Township Clerk

Planning & Zoning Qtrly Meeting October 19, 2022

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Call to Order:  6:00 PM

Roll Call:  Nancy Strohschein, Chairperson; Bob Janda, Township Board Representative; Robert Lindert, Trustee; Joe Bollech, Trustee; Jay Loman, Zoning Board of Appeals Representative/Trustee; Donna Preston, Trustee; Linnea Barron, Secretary.  Ken Anderson, Zoning Administrator, absent:  Illness.

Recognition of visitors:  Bette Gabe

Pledge of Allegiance:  Recited

Comments on agenda:  Nancy introduced and welcomed our new member, Donna Preston.  Now our board is at the recommended seven (7) members.  Nancy announced that the Township Board did approve contracting with Jason McCarthy of Northwoods Zoning and Planning from Marquette to assist us with our Recreation Plan (Land Use Plan) and update our Ordinance.  We discussed and agreed to start with the Recreation Plan first and then work on the Ordinance.  This work will begin next month with probably twice monthly meetings with the goal of finishing in March 2023 to take advantage of applying for grants by April.

Approval of agenda:  Jay made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Bob.  Motion carried.

Approval of minutes from quarterly meeting, July 13, 2022:  Jay made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Bob.  Motion carried.

Public Comments:  Bette stated that we were doing a good job, and there is a lot of work ahead.

Chairman Comments:  Our new member, Donna, will be leaving for part of the winter when we will be working on the Recreation Plan.  However, we will use Zoom with our meetings so Donna can participate.  The use of Zoom may be necessary if there is inclement weather.

Old Business:

  1.  Planning commission comments/concerns:  None.
  2. Bob Janda:  Report from Township Board Rep:  None.
  3. Jay Loman:  Report of Zoning Board of Appeals Rep:  None.
  4. Update on Master Plan:  The final copy is on the website and we will request printed copies for all our board members and the Township Board members.
  5. Flood Insurance:  Nancy had forwarded copies of letters to former township supervisor James Soli, John Preston, and present supervisor Jay Fish from FEMA, and Linda Keohane received a letter from the DEQ, regarding the purchase of flood insurance.  According to this communication we have been approved for purchasing of this flood insurance, but further investigation indicated that this was not available in Baraga County.  Ken had previously supplied information from Eagle Harbor that is in their ordinance about flood plains, floodways, and even how to build structures in these areas.  First we need a map of the flood plain area in our area; second, wait on news release with CCO (public meeting); third, check with Jason if he has information on flood insurance, and fourth, ask Jay Fish if he has received any more documents.
  6. Dark Skies Initiative:  Robert will have more information later, but felt we could already start with small changes regarding the lighting in the township, i.e., school, streetlights, avoid large LED signs, etc.

New Business:

  1.  Jason McCarthy will be assisting us with our Recreation Plan and updating the township Ordinance.  Jason sent copies via email of our current rec plan, which is seriously outdated.  We will start work on this on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 6 p.m.  We are to review the old rec plan page for page.  Maps need to be updated.  We will push to finish and have this approved by March 2023.  Not sure of deadline for grant requests, could be April 1.  We will work remotely with Donna and possibly Jason.
  2. Zoning Ordinance:  Linnea will provide a “clean” copy of the Ordinance to Nancy and Jason by November 1, 2022.  This will have all the approved updated material.  She will use a thumb drive as this is a large document.  In our discussion it was felt that definitions are an important portion of this document.  We will see what definitions Jason feels are necessary as well.  The work on this will begin when the rec plan is completed.
  3. Review fee schedule.  Ken was unable to attend but our feel schedule has not been updated in a long time.  Ken had a sample from Ovid Township that he sent.  We will table this for another meeting along with the short term rentals.

Next Quarterly Meeting:  January 11, 2023, at the fire hall at 6:00 PM

Adjourn:  Jay made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Bob.  Motion carried.  Adjournment at 7:13 PM

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