City Council

Watson Township Board Meeting 1895 118th Ave. Allegan, MI 49010 December 1, 2022 Called to order: 7:00 P.M. Present: Kevin Travis, Stephanie Caulder, John Caras, Michelle Harris, and Kelli Morris. Absent: None. Agenda: Trustee Harris made a motion to add “a new land line phone” to new business, Treasurer Caulder supported, all in favor, motion carried. Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the agenda, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried Minutes: Treasurer Caulder made a motion to approve township minutes from November 3,2022 as amended, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Bills: Treasurer Caulder made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $20,891.59; Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Caulder read the Treasurer’s report. Clerk Morris made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. REPORTS: A. Planning Commission: No Meeting. B. Martin Fire Department: Chief Knight attended and gave the board a written and oral report for the month including calls, Halloween open house, fire truck inspections, one new member starting the academy and silent bids being accepted on a set of fire truck tires that have been replaced. C. Hopkins Fire Department: Captain Bielby gave a report including grants they are still hoping to receive, and to please be aware that CO2 season is upon us again. D. Libraries: Supervisor read a report submitted by the Hopkins Library. E. Sexton: Mark Simpson reported one burial this month. F. Code Enforcement: Officer Stuart reported that the barn has been taken down at 1948 118th Ave. He also reported being called back out to 2371 122nd Ave. to investigate an item being brought back on that property. G. Supervisor: No formal report this month. H. County Commissioner: Gale Dugan reported several commissioner meetings including the Road Commission annual report, the investment authorization report, renewed capital projects, tax levy presentation, approved employee stipend, awarding a Broadband Infrastructure contract, and an approved commissioner compensation package (Mr. Dugan voted against that package based on the timing and that it was done before the election). The commissioners also passed a resolution of Thanks to Scott Corbin for 26  years of service. Lastly, the County will hold a resurfacing meeting that will include Watson Township on Jan. 3, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENT: Open‐ 7:20 P.M. Teresa Zellars of Gorden Funeral Services would like to address the board concerning an issue with a Burial plot. The supervisor makes a motion to add Gorden Funeral Home under “old” business “b”, Trustee Harris supports, all in favor, motion carried. Public Comment Closed 7:21 P.M. Old Business: A. Cemetery Fee Resolution: The board discussed the current cemetery fee schedule and the possibility of adding a fee for “grave markers” at the time of burial (in order to extinguish any discrepancies going forward concerning burial sites). Cemetery Sexton Simpson explained the option of placing a 2” PVC capped pipe in with the plot number engraved on the top. There is discussion on this and the best possible way to mark the plots. The sexton spends some time explaining the layout and the marking of the cemeteries. Supervisor Travis makes a motion to adopt Resolution #12012022‐1 to change the fee structure for Watson Township Cemeteries to $250 for infant burials, $100 for monument moves, $0.75/ Square inch for Foundations, with all others remaining the same; Trustee Caras supported, roll call vote: Harris‐yes; Morris‐yes; Caras‐yes; Caulder‐yes; and Travis‐ yes. The supervisor declared the resolution passed by a vote of 5 yes and 0 no votes. Teresa Zellars of Gorden Funeral Residence addressed the board and discussed a discrepancy in records for a burial site in Miner Cemetery. The Affidavit of Ronnie Ewing was read which included the burial sites of Earl and Lillian Berens that according to Gorden Funeral Residence records should be located in Lot 121, Section E, graves 3 and 4. The affidavit goes on to swear to an investigation that proves there are no vaults under the place where the current foundation was placed. Therefore, it is requested the foundation and headstone be placed in the location mentioned above, and that records be changed to reflect this. There is discussion between the board and the funeral home representatives on this subject. Clerk Morris agrees to amend the current records to reflect what is stated in the affidavit from Ronnie Ewing. Treasure Caulder made a motion to accept the affidavit from Ronnie Ewing, Trustee Harris supports, all in favor, motion carried. New Business: A. Board of Review Appointments: Supervisor Travis made a motion to appoint Jack Eveland, Rod Zeinstra, and Brad Stoker to the Watson Township Board of Review for a 2‐year term beginning January 2023, Clerk Morris supported, all in favor, motion carried. B. Planning Commission Appointments: Supervisor Travis made a motion to re‐appoint Jay Roberts‐Eveland and appoint new member Brad Stoker to the Planning Commission for a 3‐year term beginning February 2023, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. C. Construction Board of Appeals Appointments: Supervisor Travis made a motion to re‐appoint Scott Southwick (Electrical); Daniel Boniface (Mechanical); James Kelsey (Plumbing); and David VanLiere (Builder), for a 3 year term beginning January 2023; Treasurer Caulder supported, all in favor, motion carried. D. New Landline Phone & Answering Machine: Supervisor Travis made a motion to authorize Trustee Harris to purchase a new landline phone/answer system for the office, Clerk Morris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn:  Trustee Caras made a motion to adjourn, Treasurer Caulder supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn: 8:18 PM _______>> Signed <<_________________________________ Kelli Morris