City Council

Watson Township Board Meeting 1895 118th Ave. Allegan, MI 49010 January 4, 2024 Call to Order: 7:01 P.M. Present: Kevin Travis, Tera Davis, Michelle Harris, John Caras and Kelli Morris. Absent: None. Agenda: Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the agenda, Treasurer Davis supported, all in favor, motion carried. Minutes: Supervisor Travis made a motion to approve the minutes from December as presented, Clerk Morris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Davis gave the Treasurer’s report of account balances. Trustee Caras made a motion to approve the report as given, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Bills: Trustee Harris made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $16,681.44, Clerk Morris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Budget Amendments: Supervisor Travis made a motion to change from Republic Services to Arrow Waste for the township’s Residential garbage service, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Supervisor Travis went over budget amendments and made a motion to amend the budget as presented with changes, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. The township budget can be found on the township website. PUBLIC COMMENT: Open- 7:25 P.M. None. Closed 7:26 P.M. REPORTS: A. County Commissioner Report: Gale Dugan gave the board a report from the County Commissioner’s last two meetings, including the retirement of Angelina Jones, Public Health Department quarterly report, and approval of 2024 County Commissioners meeting dates. B. Planning Commission: None. C. Martin Fire Department: Chief Knight attended the meeting and gave the board an oral and written report of fire/ emergency calls over the past month, as well as totals for the year. D. Hopkins Fire Department: Assistant Chief Beilby gave the board a report from the Hopkins Fire Department, including that there is now a certified EMS truck based in the Hopkins station. Supervisor Travis asked about the Gun Lake Tribunal beginning their own fire department. Assistant Chief Bielby explained that it was more about public safety, but the extra assistance is always a good thing. E. WAEMS: EMT Trevor Bielby gave a report for WAEMS. F. Libraries: Reports were emailed. Supervisor read the reports.  G. Sexton: Mark Simpson reported no burials for the month. He also explained that he is getting too old to pour foundations and he is planning to retire by the end of this year. He is currently “grooming” a replacement and when the time comes, he will introduce them to the board and the board can decide on whether they want to appoint that person or choose someone different. H. Code Enforcement: Ordinance Code Enforcement Officer Jim Davis reported nine open cases, two investigations on the new burn ordinance, and ongoing cases. I. Supervisor: Supervisor Travis gave a report on paving projects for the county he received at the annual Allegan County Road Commission meeting. 124th Ave is on that list from 15th Street to the Shelbyville exit (1.2 miles). The township’s cost for that will be $30,000.00. They will also be paving the remainder of 24th Street up to M-89. J. PCI Building: Supervisor Travis gave a report on the annual building permits and homes. K. Rental Report: Trustee Harris gave a report of twenty paid rentals and six complimentary rentals (funeral luncheons and multiple nonprofits). State Representative- Rocelle Smit: Ms. Smit attended the board meeting and gave the board a report on House of Representatives in Lansing. She included that she is currently a member of the Agricultural, Insurance and Elections Committees. Old Business: E. Curbside Service: The board discussed the options for the implementation of becoming a member of the Allegan County Resource Recovery Program with the county’s coordinator Heather. It is decided to send out a postcard to explain the program and provide residents with information to enable them to obtain containers if they wish to participate in the pickup of recyclable materials. The board will also provide information to ensure any resident who wishes to recycle items at the Broken Arrow, can get a card to do so. Heather, the Allegan County Resource Recovery Program coordinator will also assist in the sign up of any residents that wish to email or call her office. Supervisor made a motion to sign the contract #1421-23 Allegan County Recycle Program, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. Trustee Harris read verbiage for proposed post card. Supervisor Travis made a motion to table items A,B, and C on the agenda, Trustee Caras supported, all in favor, motion carried. D. Seven Generations Park Grant: Trustee Caras explains the grant received from the DNR for the Seven Generations Park. Trustee Caras read Resolution #01042024-1 to accept Grant RP23-0091; and made a motion to adopt said resolution, Treasurer Davis supported; roll call vote: Travis-yes; Caras-yes; Davis-yes; Morris-yes. Harris-yes. The supervisor declared the Resolution passed by a vote of 5-yes; 0-no votes. New Business: A. Civic Plus: Trustee Caras made a motion to contract with Civic Plus for an additional ordinance book for “police power” and additional ordinances for the additional amount of $350.00 per year fee in addition to the original cost and allow Trustee Caras to reply to the email, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. B. ACH Payment Options (Huntington Bank): Trustee Caras explains some options to process ACH payments. Trustee Caras makes a motion to forward this information to Treasurer Davis and allow her to communicate w/ Huntington Bank further, Supervisor Travis supported, all in favor, motion carried. C. Cameras: Trustee Caras explains the new cameras and the installation of the new cameras. Trustee Harris made a motion to pay $62.48 to Annex Control LLC for the purchase and installation of two additional cameras, Supervisor Travis supported, all in favor, motion carried. D. Gravel Bids: Supervisor Travis made a motion to do maintenance gravel on the following roads: 1. 23rd St. from 118th Ave. to 122nd Ave. 2. 22nd St. from 122nd Ave. to 124th Ave. 3. 124th Ave. from 22nd St. to 20th St. Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. E. Military Vehicle Display: Supervisor Travis gave the board some information about an idea he would like to explore that would involve the display of a retired Military Vehicle in the place were the recycle containers had sat to assist in transforming the moral of the community and area. Trustee Harris made a motion to allow for the supervisor to explore the options of the static display program from the United States Donations Program (TACOM), Treasurer Davis supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn: Supervisor Travis made a motion to adjourn, Trustee Harris supported, all in favor, motion carried. Adjourn: 9:37PM ___________________________________________________ Kelli Morris