Township Board Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2023

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 6, 2023.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jay Fish-Supervisor, Lisa Marinich-Clerk, Krystal Eliason-Treasurer, Robert Janda-Trustee and Keith Erickson-Trustee.
MINUTES APPROVAL: Erickson motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the October 2, 2023 minutes. All in favor, motion passed.
AGENDA APPROVAL: Eliason motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the agenda. All in favor, motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Strohshein asked if the Sawmill Road property was sold and if it was, was it tagged. Fish let her know that the property has been sold and that is all he knows as of now.
-Strohshein let the board know that there is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Baraga County residents that live on the lake or river. FEMA flood insurance is available. Strohshein let the board know that the Planning Commission is done with the FEMA issue.
OLD BUSINESS: Nancy Strohshein let the board know that the Planning commission will be working with their consultant through the winter. She would like to get a Recreation Committee started also. There are several people that marked on the survey that the PC sent out that would be interested in volunteering to be on the Recreation Committee board.
-Marinich will post a notice in the paper for a Zoning Administrator position opening in Arvon Township starting the first of the year.
-Fish let the board know that Tinti finally returned his phone calls. Tinti let Fish know that he has read through everything. Last month the board passed that we retrieve the papers from Tinti and hire a new township attorney. After discussion, Marinich motioned, seconded by Erickson to have Fish drive to Tinti’s office and pick up all the papers concerning the land easement issue. Marinich said she will also like to go. Marinich motioned, seconded by Erickson to get all the papers from Tinti and to pay mileage. All in favor,motion passed.
-K&N Contractors resubmitted their bid with more details. Erickson motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the bid of $47,850.00. All in favor, motion passed.
-Royal Lawn Care was the only bid for the Access site-$1,200.00 and the Skanee Park-$800.00. Janda motioned, seconded by Eliason to approve the bid. All in favor, motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
JAMES FEDIE:
MAIL CALL: Fish received a letter from Thomas and Debra Armstrong that have property on 6 Pack Alley Rd. They want Arvon Township to maintain that road claiming that the township has the machines necessary to maintain this road. The Township is not responsible for maintaining private roads.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Eliason gave the monthly Treasurer’s Report. General Fund-$318,469.96; Ambulance/EMT Fund-$20,562.94; Fire Fund-$303,472.89; Liquor Fund-$922.25; Road Fund-$171,330.46.
Marinich motioned, seconded by Erickson to approve the Treasurer’s Report. All in favor, motion passed.
BILL APPROVAL: Marinich motioned, seconded by Eliason to approve the bills. All in favor, motion passed.
NEXT MEETING DATE: The next meeting date will be December 4, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Fire hall.
ADJOURN: Eliason motioned, seconded by Erickson to adjourn at 7:00 P.M. All in favor, motion passed.
Lisa M. Marinich/Arvon Township Clerk

Township Board Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023

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 October 2, 2023.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jay Fish-Supervisor, Lisa Marinich-Clerk, Krystal Eliason-Treasurer, Robert Janda-Trustee.
MINUTES APPROVAL: Eliason motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the September 11, 2023 minutes. All in favor, motion passed.
AGENDA APPROVAL: Eliason motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the agenda. All in favor, motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Bette Gabe requests that the agenda have 2 public comments, one in the beginning and one at the end.
-Linnea Barron let the township board know that she is retiring from the Planning Commission as of October 1, 2023. The township board decided to leave the members as they are for now. There will be 5 members until spring when Donna Preston returns home from wintering there will be 6 members.
OLD BUSINESS: Marinich motioned, seconded by Eliason to approved Keith Erickson as the replace of Chris Wahmhoff’s position as township trustee. All in favor, motion passed. Erickson will sit on the board October 2, 2023 meeting.
-After discussion, the township board will look for a new township attorney. Fish will drive to Tinti’s office and pick up all the township papers. Fish asks for mileage. Marinich motioned, seconded by Janda to approve looking for a new attorney and mileage reimbursement. All in favor, motion passed.
-K&N Contractors is the only one that bid on the township hall restoration. The bid was $47,850.00. Would take approximately a month to finish and they will start first thing in the spring. After going through the bid, the board decided that the there needs to be more details. Marinich will contact K&N for a more detailed bid. This will be tabled until next months meeting.
-Homestead Graphics quote for 2 Skanee cemetery signs- $50.00 each, one Welcome to Skanee sign- $450.00, one Welcome to Arvon Twp sign-$450.00 and 1 Aura sign-$200.00. Janda motioned, seconded by Eliasion to approve the signs. All in favor, motion passed.
-Strohshein let the board know that flood insurance is based out of Maryland and is expensive for people that have a mortgage. The planning commission will have this issue on their October 11th meeting. The planning commission is also requesting a Recreation Commission.
-Marinich and Eliason let the board know that $60,000.00 was taken out of the General Fund and put into a 15 month 4.9% CD. After discussion, Erickson motioned, seconded by Janda to put another $300,000.00 into a 5 month CD. All in favor, motion passed. Mills was present at the meeting and asked if the board would be willing to put the Road Fund money into a CD since the money won’t be used until 2025. Erickson motioned, seconded by Janda to approve putting the Road Fund money into a higher rate CD. All in favor, motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS: Jim Nankervis will be surveying the Skanee Cemetery. Marinich will contact him to see what he will need.
-Bill Menge let Fish know that the Marquette Twp. Supervisor told him that Marquette County cannot maintain the Mouth of the Huron. Menge is willing to talk to the Marquette Council about Arvon township taking it over.
-Marinich requests keeping the Skanee Township hall open for the winter due to a February 2024 election. There is an exercise group that would also like to see it stay open. Erickson motioned, seconded by Eliason to approve it open for winter. All in favor, motion passed.
-Plowing the access site and township park will be tabled until next months meeting.
JAMES FEDIE: Fedie let the board know he had training. Also the Skanee school will be proposing from 11% to 13% school millage in the up coming election.
MAIL CALL:
TREASURER’S REPORT: Eliason gave the monthly Treasurer’s Report. General Fund-$319,780.37
Ambulance/EMT Fund-$20,768.06 Fire Fund-$304,818.13 Liquor Fund-$1,011.57, Road Fund-$171,330.46.
Erickson motioned, seconded by Janda to approve the Treasurer’s Report. All in favor, motion passed.
BILL APPROVAL: Janda motioned, seconded by Eliason to approve the bills. All in favor, motion passed.
NEXT MEETING DATE: The next meeting date will be November 6, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Fire hall.
ADJOURN: Marinich motioned, seconded by Eliason to adjourn at 7:15 P.M. All in favor, motion passed.
Lisa M. Marinich/Arvon Township Clerk

Planning Commission Work Session September 21, 2023

Call to Order:  6 p.m.

Roll Call:  Nancy Strohschein, Chair; Linnea Barron, Secretary; Joe Bollech, Board of Review, Bob Janda, Township Board Rep; Robert Lindert, Vice Chair; Jay Loman, Board of Review Chair; Donna Preston; Ken Anderson, Zoning Administrator.

Pledge of Allegiance:  Recited

Guests:  Jason McCarthy

Approval of Agenda:  Robert made a motion to accept the agenda, seconded by Bob.  Motion carried.

Approval of minutes of August 17, 2023, work session:  Bob made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Joe.  Motion carried.

Approval of minutes of September 7, 2023, Public Hearing:  Robert made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Bob.  Motion carried.

Agenda:

I. Recreation Plan

  1. The Recreation Plan was unanimously adopted by the township board at the September 11, 2023, board meeting with two small changes.  1.  Change board member’s name Krystal Larson to Krystal Eliason in the acknowledgements.  2.  On page 6, change verbiage for trails from “…rugged terrain and miles of trails.” To “…rugged terrain and miles of ATV-riding opportunities on privately owned forest land.”
  2. Approval from board to have one copy printed in color as our official record kept at the Fire Hall office.
  3. Jason stated he needs for the resolution of the Recreation Plan a copy of the minutes from the board meeting approving the plan and he will add the appendix.

II. Ordinance Update

  1. Jason provided a copy of Article II-Definitions, including new and updated definitions.  Discussion with some changes as follows:  Page 8, use ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) instead of ECHO Housing.  Page 10, High Risk Erosion Area is new.  Page 11, Home Occupations, definition okay, but if changes to neighborhood may need permit.  Page 12, Mining Extraction.  Remove wording “but not including”.  Page 12 and 13, Mobile Home.  Robert suggested removal of skirting information in definitions and utilize it in the ordinance.  Page 13, Native Protection Strip.  Similar to buffer definition.  Remove Native Protection Strip and keep definition on buffer.  Also need definition for greenbelt.  Page 17, Recreational Vehicle (RV).  Remove the quote (It is not a “mobile home.”)   A seasonal home definition is needed.
  2. In the zoning map there is no R1A and R1B, so we are eliminating these districts.
  3. Jason gave us homework for the next work session.  We are to determine where the following definitions would be appropriate:  Duplex; Geodesic Dome; Recreational Structure; Shipping/Cargo Container; Tiny Home.

III.  Next meetings.

  1. Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 6 p.m. – Quarterly Planning Commission Meeting.  Work session planned for the same date right after the quarterly meeting.

Adjourn:  Robert made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Joe.  Motion carried.  Adjournment 7:22 p.m.

Submitted by Linnea Barron, Secretary and Nancy Strohschein, Chair

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