City Council

Watson Township Board Meeting 1895 118th Ave. Allegan, MI 49010 June 8, 2023 Present: Kevin Travis, Tera Davis, John Caras and Kelli Morris. Absent: Michelle Harris Agenda: Clerk Morris made a motion to approve the agenda, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Minutes: Clerk Morris made a motion to approve the minutes from May, Treasurer Davis supported, all in favor, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Davis gave the Treasurer’s report of account balances. Clerk Morris made a motion to approve the report as given, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Bills: Trustee Caras made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $14,713.71, Treasurer Davis supported, all in favor, motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: Open- 7:05 P.M. None. Closed 7:05 P.M. REPORTS: A. Planning Commission: Draft verbiage has been written up for the “Container” addition to the zoning ordinance and will appear as an additional bullet in the existing ordinance. The commission is also looking at combining the master plan and the parks plan and printing approximately 25 copies for use by members and where needed. Treasurer Davis made a motion to authorize this printing and binding up to the amount of $500.00, Supervisor Travis supports, all in favor, motion carried. There will be no meeting in July for the planning commission. B. Martin Fire Department: Martin Fire Department gave the board a written and oral report for the month. C. Libraries: Reports were emailed. D. Sexton: Mark Simpson reported that the fence is repaired at Hicks Cemetery, and the Berens stone is in place at the Miner Cemetery. There is some brush to move, and the shed is in disrepair at the Miner Cemetery. The board and sexton discuss the shed and its function currently and in the past. Supervisor Travis made a motion to authorize the sexton to contract or himself to remove the shed at Miner Cemetery, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. E. Code Enforcement: Ordinance Code Enforcement Officer Jim Davis gave the board a written and oral report of current cases in the township. Currently there are eight open cases, with two working toward compliance.  F. County Commissioner: Commissioner Dugan gave the report of the month’s commissioner meetings to the board. His report included details of the Federal government implementing new laws to “reclaim” the ARPA funds that have not been utilized. The commission was presented with a presentation of home flats at the previous Rock Tenn location in Otsego, MI. County Commissioners will now be offered “mileage reimbursement” for attending township meetings. Sherriff Baker gave the Commissioners a report from the Sherriff’s office. The Allegan County offices floor plan was presented and discussed. They had a retirement recognition for Judge Kengis. Supervisor Travis asked Commissioner Dugan about the possibility of getting some “permanent” signage for the Watson Area in relation to the annual “Dirty Donut Race”. G. Supervisor: Supervisor Travis reported that the NorthStar case will be heard in the Michigan Court of Appeals on July 7th at 10 A.M. He also reported that the “Dirty Donut” bike race which Watson Township one of the hosts is now the second largest bike race in Michigan. Old Business: None. New Business: A. Burnham and Flower Insurance Renewal: Supervisor Travis made a motion to renew the current insurance policy at not more than 15% above the last rate of $6,046.00, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. B. Agent for park, DEQ/LARA, Landfill 1: Supervisor Travis made a motion to give authority to Jay Roberts-Eveland and John Caras to communicate w external 3rd party entities on the board’s behalf, about the township landfill and/or the park; with caveat that the information will be brought to the township board for any decisions; Treasurer Davis supported, all in favor, motion carried. C. Parks Committee: Trustee Caras shares the idea of forming a Parks Committee that would possibly consist of 5 people with two of them being himself and the other Jay Roberts- Eveland. Trustee Caras will gather more information on the subject and the process of forming such a committee. Supervisor Travis made a motion to move $6,000.00 from General Fund Budget Reserves (and the additional $2,000.00 from the Allegan County Community Foundation Grant) to be used to create a walking path at the township park, with the work to be performed by Chris Patchek, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn: Supervisor Travis made a motion to adjourn, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn: 7:57PM ___________________________________________________ Kelli Morris