JAMESTOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING
August 16, 2010 7:00 p.m.
08-16-01 The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Miedema at 7:00 p.m.
08-16-02 Opening prayer was given by Tim Tacoma.
08-16-03 Members present: Gary Boverhof, Scott Brouwer, Dan Jensen, Jim Miedema, Ruth Pruis, Norma Shaarda and Tim Tacoma. Absent: None.
08-16-04 Motion by Shaarda seconded by Boverhof to approve the agenda as presented. Carried.
08-16-05 The minutes of the July 19, 2010 were approved as presented.
08-16-06 Public Comment: Arlan Meekhof, Republican Candidate for State Senate introduced himself and asked for support from the board and public.
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Ben Miller, who lives in the Jamesfield development requested that the
Township adopt a burning ban ordinance.
Glenn Hop, 24th Ave. inquired how Metro Health got a permit to build so near
the street on 32nd Ave. and protested the lack of maintenance of the premises.
He suggested that it shows a lack of respect for the Township and its
residents and requested that the plans be reviewed to see what was agreed
upon regarding landscaping. He also cited the empty lot that is in the village
of Jamestown for not being mowed and allowed to grow into tall weeds. The
Supervisor said he would take care of the problem.
Tim Tacoma reported on the matter of permits he has pulled in the past year and the fact that the Supervisor requests that he be cited for violations where none have occurred. He feels harassed by the supervisor for voting in opposition to some of the Supervisor’s motions. (Letter attached.)
08-16-07 Motion by Shaarda seconded by Jensen to approve the consent agenda. Carried.
08-16-08 Deputy Flick gave a report on department activity in Jamestown Township for the past six months. She also talked about a Safety First Community Event she is organizing for Township residents on Saturday, September 11 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 2554 Riley St. (Jamestown Reformed Church parking lot). She encourages everyone to attend, learn about safety measures, enjoy fellowship, food and drinks and have a good time.
08-16-09 Motion by Shaarda seconded by Boverhof to open the Public Hearing for Ordinance #10-001 – Jamestown Charter Township Fire Department Ordinance. Carried.
08-16-10 Comments from the audience: George Landheer referred to Article 2 and protested that the Ordinance authorizes the board to use Township General Funds for the Fire Department. He asked how this is beneficial to the taxpayer. He also felt the Ordinance gave too much power to the Fire Chief. Gary Landheer also referred to Article 2. He was concerned it authorizes the Town Board to construct buildings by pulling an “end run” around the voters. He protested the Liaison Committee being comprised of two township board members and one citizen at large. Damon Noteboom also requested more citizens and Jim Ondersma requested a odd number serve on the committee.
08-16-11 Motion by Jensen seconded by Boverhof to close the public hearing. Carried. Shaarda made the motion that Article 6 be amended to have two board members and three citizens at large on the liason committee. She also requested that Article 7 be amended to say that the liaison committee members be given a copy of the alleged violation. This motion was not seconded. Pruis requested that the authority to use general funds be taken out of the Ordinance because every department should stay within their own budget.
08-16-12 Motion by Shaarda seconded by Boverhof to accept the resignation of Jim Nyenhuis from the Fire Department with a thank you from the board and community for his almost 20 years of service. A member of the audience requested that the letter be read. Supervisor Miedema declined but supplied him with a copy of the letter. Carried. (Copy attached.)
08-16-13 Miedema made the motion to amend the purchasing policy adopted in March 2010 to exclude professional services. Motion seconded by Shaarda. Miedema stated that we can not get consistently good service for professional services if we bid them out, especially engineers. He stated that Prien and Newhof has done a wonderful job for us over the years and named three other engineering companies that did inferior work or overcharged. Tacoma protested that it is in the Township’s best interest to bid out services so that we get the best price for the best service. He stated that we limit ourselves by not bidding out for professional services. “How do we know we are getting the best job for the best price?” Tacoma also stated that getting professional service bids from several companies can be enlightening to board members because viewing bids from different companies could provide the board with more innovative solutions to consider. Shaarda said if we bid out professional services, then we could be bidding out building inspector, lawn care, planning and zoning etc. every year. Pruis pointed out that we spent six months writing the policy and had it reviewed twice by the auditors and also by the MTA. Why change it after only a few months just because someone does not like what it says? A policy is worthless if we change it every time we don’t like something. Roll call vote: Carried. Yes: Shaarda, Miedema, Jensen and Boverhof. No: Brouwer, Pruis, Tacoma.
08-16-14 Motion by Miedema seconded by Shaarda to appoint Kyle De Haan as an alternate to the Planning Commission. Carried.
08-16-15 Motion by Brouwer to support the Ottawa County Economic Development Office in the amount of $1,000 per year. Motion not seconded.
08-16-16 Motion by Jensen seconded by Boverhof to continue support of the Ottawa County Economic Development Office in the amount of $1,540 for the next year. Roll call vote. Carried. Yes: Boverhof, Miedema, Jensen, Shaarda, Tacoma and Pruis. No: Brouwer.
08-16-17 Motion by Miedema seconded by Jensen to present the bills. Carried.
08-16-18 Motion by Shaarda seconded by Brouwer to pay the bills in the amount of $117,914.74, and salaries in the amount of $63,912.48. Carried.
08-16-19 Hearing no objections, the meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
Ruth Pruis
Jamestown Township Clerk
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