MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GEORGETOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD MARCH 28, 2005, 7:30 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Bill Holland.

 

Prayer for guidance by Bill Holland.

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Roll Call

Present:            Bill Holland, R. J. Poel, Del South, Richard VanderKlok, Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk

 

Absent: Daniel Carlton-with notice

 

#050328-01 - Approval of minutes of regular board meeting held on March 14, 2005

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the minutes of March 14, 2005, as submitted

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-02 - Agenda for March 28, 2005

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to approve the agenda for March 28, 2005, as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-03 - Communications, letters and reports: Received for information, to be filed:

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Dale Mohr, to receive the following letters, reports and communications to be filed:

 

A.     Letter from David Wieringa requesting the Township to rezone his property.

B.     Sheriff Department Report for February 2005

C.     Planning Commission minutes of March 16, 2005

D.     Planner’s Comments for March 2005

E.      Planning Commission agenda for March 30, 2005

F.      Library Report for February 2005

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-04 - Special Use Permit (SUP0502) Visual Workplace LLC, 2668 Edward St.

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve Special Use Permit (SUP0502) to have a warehouse under Sec. 15.3(I) and a commercial enterprise producing merchandise on the premises under Sec. 15.3(G), on a parcel of land described as P.P.# 70-14-21-472-004, located at 2668 Edward St., in a (CS) Community Service Commercial district, with the condition that the applicant submits a written statement that the operational activities will involve material warehousing exclusively and not warehousing with retail sales.

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Planning Commission 

                                    The applicant has submitted the letter as stipulated

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-05 - Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 2005-02 Disorderly Persons

Ordinance

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to introduce and read for the first time Ordinance No. 2005-02, Disorderly Persons Ordinance, as follows:

 

ORDINANCE NO. 2005-02

Disorderly Persons Ordinance

 

An ordinance to define and prohibit disorderly conduct within Georgetown Charter Township, Ottawa County, Michigan to prescribe penalties for the violation thereof,

 

The Charter Township of Georgetown ordains that Chapter 38 of the Code of Ordinances is amended as follows:

 

Name.

 

This ordinance shall be known and cited as the Georgetown Charter Township Disorderly Conduct Ordinance.

 

Disorderly Definitions.

 

No person shall conduct himself or herself in a disorderly manner in the Charter Township of Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan.  For the purpose of this ordinance, a person conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner when he or she does any act or engages in any practice hereinafter listed, or aids and abets any person who does any such act or engages in any such practice hereinafter listed;

 

Add Sec. 38-6 to ARTICLE I as follows:

Sec. 38-6.  Fireworks.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to discharge, offer for sale, or possess any fireworks except of the type and under the conditions permitted by state law.

 

Add Sec. 38-27 to ARTICLE II as follows:

ARTICLE II.  OFFENSES AFFECTING GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS

Sec. 38-27.  Township premises.

It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter within the township or to remain on the premises of any Township Building, or any lands or properties owned by the Township, unless such person is present for the purpose of conducting business with Township officials or attending, participating in or observing any hearing or meeting or recreational gathering held in such Township buildings or property.

 

Amend Sec. 38-71 as follows:

Sec. 38-71.  Breach of peace.

(a)        Any person who shall make or assist in making any noise, disturbance, trouble, or

improper diversion, or any rout or riot, by which the peace and good order of the township is disturbed, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

(b)        Any person who shall permit or allow any loud noises, electrical, mechanical,

human or animal in origin, to be emitted from any place occupied or controlled by him/her so as to disturb unnecessarily and without reasonable cause the quiet, comfort, or repose of any person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

Amend Sec. 38-72 as follows:

Sec. 38-72.  Creation of noise.

Loud noise is defined as a sound which is disagreeable or loud, destroying the peace and tranquility of any person or persons within the surrounding neighborhood.

 

It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to:

(1)        Create any loud noises by the erection, including excavation therefore, demolition,

alteration, maintenance or repair of any property or the excavation of any streets or highways at any time, except between the hours of 7:00 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 9:00 p.m., except as may be necessary for emergency construction operations or repairs, or as may be necessary as determined by a two-thirds majority vote of the full board for essential services.

(2)        Create or allow any loud noises by the use of machinery, including motor vehicles or

motor equipment, manufacturing or industrial processes of any kind, at a place so as to reasonably disturb the peace and quiet, or comfort or repose of any person in a residential home or unit between the hours of 11:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., provided such noise continues for a period of three minutes or more, or, if of shorter duration, is intermittent so that the noise occurs at least three times within a one-hour period.

(3)        Gun or race the engine of any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle or motor driven

cycle or boat or snowmobile, or run or operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle or motor driven cycle or snowmobile without a muffler in good working order (one which in constant operation prevents excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke); a person shall not remove, destroy, or damage any of the baffles contained in the muffler, nor shall a person use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device upon a motorcycle, motor driven cycle or any motor vehicle or snowmobile at any place within the Township;

(4)        Operations or activities which cause or create measurable noise levels exceeding the

maximum sound intensity levels measured in decibels as prescribed in this section, as measured at or within five feet of any home or residential unit, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.:

a.         Pre-1960 octave, American Standards Association, Z24.

 

Octave Band

Cycles Per Second                   Decibels

00 to    74                                70

75 to   149                               62

150 to   299                             56

300 to   599                             49

600 to 1,199                            44

1,200 to 2,399                         39

2,400 to 4,799                         33

4,800 and above                      31

 

b.         Post-1960 preferred frequencies.

 

Cycles Per Second                   Decibels

31.5                                         72

63                                            68

125                                          62

250                                          57

500                                          50

1,000                                       46

2,000                                       39

4,000                                       32

8,000                                       28

 

Amend Sec. 38-73 as follows:

Sec. 38-73.  Tumultuous conduct.

No person shall disturb, incite or aid in disturbing the public peace by loud, violent, tumultuous, offensive or obstreperous conduct, or party or shall make or participate in making any improper noise or disturbance, riot or breach of the peace, or shall engage in any illegal or improper act. No person shall knowingly permit any such conduct upon any premises owned or possessed by him or under his control.

 

Amend Sec. 38-74 as follows:

Sec. 38-74.  Disturbing worship or any other assembly.

It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb or disquiet any congregation or assembly met for religious worship or any other assembly gathered for lawful purposes by making any noise or making any profane discourse or engaging in any indecent behavior in or near the place of worship as to disturb the solemnity of the meeting.

 

Amend Sec. 38-75 as follows:

Sec. 38-75.  Loitering.

(b)        It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to loiter, loaf, wander, stand or

remain idle either alone or in consort with others in a public place in such manner so as to:

 

(4)        Collect or stand in crowds for illegal or mischievous purposes in any public place.

 

Sec. 38-78 is added under ARTICLE IV.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE

 

Sec. 38-78.  Social gathering or party.

(a)        It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to use any premises or suffer any

premises under his/her or its control to be used so as to destroy the peace and tranquility of any person or persons within the surrounding neighborhood.  This includes, but is not limited to, any person who is the owner, occupant, tenant or has any other possessory interest or premises in the Township, who either sponsors, conducts, hosts, invites, suffers, permits, continues, or allows to continue a social gathering or party which is, or during the course thereof becomes, a nuisance party as defined in subparagraph (b) below.

 

(b)        It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to sponsor, conduct, host, invite,

suffer, permit, continue or allows to continue a nuisance party, as hereinafter defined.  For the purpose of this subsection, the term “nuisance party” means a social gathering or party which is conducted on premises in the Township and which, by reason of the conduct of those persons in attendance, results in any one or more of the following occurrences or conditions:

 

1.      Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public or public drunkenness as to cause a public disturbance;

 

2.      Public urination or defecation;

 

3.      The unlawful sale or furnishing to minors or consumption by minors of alcoholic beverages;

 

4.      The unlawful deposit of trash or litter on public or private property that belongs to others;

 

5.      The destruction of public or private property;

 

6.      The generation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic or parking of motor vehicles which obstruct the free flow of residential traffic or interferes with the ability to render emergency services;

 

7.      Excessive, unnecessary or unusually load noise which disturbs the comfort and quiet repose of the neighborhood;

 

8.      Public disturbances, brawls, fights or quarrels;

 

9.      Assembly of persons in excess of limits imposed by conditions, rules or requirements of lease or occupancy agreement;

 

10.  Any similar conduct which annoys, injures, or endangers the safety, health, comfort, or repose of the neighboring residents;

 

11.  Any conduct which results in indecent or obscene conduct, or immoral exhibition or indecent exposure by persons at the social gathering.

 

 

Add Sec. 38-79 under ARTICLE IV, as follows:

Sec. 38-79.  Telephone use.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to, by the use or means of telephone perform any of the following:

 

a.                   Disturb the peace, quiet, or privacy of any other person or family by repeated calls

intended to harass or annoy the person or family to whom the calls are made;

b.                  Use obscene or offensive language, or suggest any lewd or lascivious act;

c.                   Attempt to extort money or anything of value from any persons;

d.                  Threaten any physical violence or harm to any person;

e.                   Repeatedly and continuously ring the telephone of any person with intent to disturb or harass such person;

f.                    Knowingly and intentionally make false report of a crime, fire, traffic crash, or medical emergency;

 

Add Sec. 38-80 under ARTICLE IV.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE, as follows:

Sec. 38-80.  Trash and garbage pickup.

(a)                It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to conduct commercial and/or residential trash or garbage pickup between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(b)               It shall be unlawful for any employee or owner of a company (including a supervisor or manager) to either knowingly or unknowingly allow an employee of the company to violate the provisions of Sec. 38-80 (a).

 

Amend Sec. 38-102 as follows:

Sec. 38-102.  Indecent exposure.

a.         It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to knowingly make any open or

indecent exposure of his person or of the person of another.

 

Amend Sec. 38-104 in ARTILCE V as follows:

ARTICLE V.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC MORALS

Sec. 38-104.  Fortunes or speculation games.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to tell or pretend to tell fortunes for hire, gain, reward or profit whether by means of cards, token trances, inspection of the hands or skull, mind reading, consulting the movements of the heavenly bodies, or otherwise; or for hire, gain reward or profit pretend to enable another to recover lost or stolen property, pretend to give success in any business enterprise, speculation or game of chance, or by improper means induce any person to dispose of property in favor of another;

 

Add Sec. 38-127 in ARTICLE VI as follows:

ARTICLE VI.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY

Sec. 38-127.  Threatening communications.

(a)        It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to verbally or by delivery

of a written or electronic communication, threaten any physical violence or harm to any person or any member of such person’s family.

(b)        It shall be unlawful for any person within the township to deliver or cause to be

delivered any letter, postal card, electronic writing or other object containing obscene language or containing any words, letters, or marks with the intent to frighten, intimidate, or cause annoyance to any other person and/or with the intent to extort or gain money or property of any description belonging to another.

 

Invalid Clauses.

 

Should any section, clause or provision of this ordinance be declared by the courts to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any part thereof, other than the parts so declared to be invalid.

 

Violations and Penalties.

 

Any person violating any provision of this ordinance upon conviction thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).  And cost of prosecution or by imprisonment in Ottawa County Jail for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.

 

Pending Proceedings.  All proceedings pending and all rights and liabilities existing at the time this ordinance takes effect are saved and may be consummated or continued according to the law in force when they were commenced.  No prosecution initiated prior to the effective date of this ordinance or initiated after the effective date of this ordinance for an offense committed prior to the effective date shall be affected by this ordinance.

 

Effective Date.  This ordinance shall become effect on the thirtieth day after publication after adoption.  This ordinance was read for the first time on March 28, 2005, published on             , read for the second time and adopted by the Georgetown Charter Township Board on                  , published for the second time on                     , and effective thirty days from publication on  

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-06 - Road Commission Project Estimate to Resurface Streets

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Del South, to approve the Road Commission Project Estimate for resurfacing Township streets for the amount of $707,252.00

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Utilities/Facilities Committee

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-07 - Township Cross Connection Program

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the Cross Connection Program from the Public Utilities Dept.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-08 - Final Preliminary Plat of Boulder Ridge

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to grant final preliminary plat approval (construction) for Boulder Ridge, Part of the SE ¼ of Section 8, T6N, R13W, Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan

 

            Note:                Application, Ottawa County Road and Drain approvals, signed street light

petition, signed sidewalk compliance letter, and signed building permit letter are on file in the office.  Lot inspection fee has been paid.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-09 - Final Preliminary Plat of Lowing Woods No. 1 and No. 2

 

Moved by Stanley Sterk, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to grant final preliminary plat approval (construction) for Lowing Woods No. 1 and No.2, Part of the NW ¼ of Section 9, T6N, R13W, Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan

 

            Note:                Application, Ottawa County Road and Drain approvals, signed street light

petition, signed sidewalk compliance letter, and signed building permit letter are on file in the office.  Lot inspection fee has been paid.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-10 - Final Preliminary Plat of Unity Timbers

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to grant final preliminary plat approval (construction) for Unity Timbers, Part of the SE ¼ of Section 31, T6N, R13W, Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan

 

            Note:                Application, Ottawa County Road and Drain approvals, signed street light

petition, signed sidewalk compliance letter, and signed building permit letter are on file in the office.  Lot inspection fee has been paid.  As stipulated in the preliminary approval, a de-watering plan was submitted.

 

It was also noted that the additional road right-of-way had been given to the Township.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-11 - Policy 2005-01 Township Board Rules

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve Policy 2005-01 Township Board Rules, as presented

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to remove the annotations.

 

MOTION FOR AMENDMENT CARRIED.

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Utilities/Facilities Committee

 

            MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED.

 

#050328-12 - Policy 2005-02 Township Board Conduct of Public Meetings

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve Policy 2005-02 Township Board Conduct of Public Meetings as presented.

 

Moved by Dale Mohr, seconded by Stanley Sterk, to remove the annotations and to change the word in Exhibit A, number 4 from “of” to “by.”

 

There was discussion about eliminating the departmental monthly reports and implementing department presentations twice a year.  The idea was referred to the committee.

 

MOTION FOR AMENDMENT CARRIED.

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Utilities/Facilities Committee

 

            MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED.

 

 

 

 

#050328-13 - Appointments/Promotions of Firefighters

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve the following promotions in the Fire Department: Captain Doug Poolman to Deputy Chief, Lieutenant Tim Mc Intyre to Captain at Station One,  Al Feenstra from Firefighter to Lieutenant at Station One., Ryan Tibbets from Firefighter to Lieutenant at Station Two, Dan Grzegorski from firefighter to Lieutenant at Station Three, Lieutenant Steven De Windt to the Safety Officer

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Services Committee

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

Dan Hamming gave a presentation for the newly promoted firefighters.

 

#050328-14 - Number of Voting Precincts Increased

                            

RESOLUTION

 

At a regular meeting of the Georgetown Charter Township Board of Trustees of Georgetown Charter Township, County of Ottawa County, State of Michigan, was held at the Georgetown Charter Township Hall on the day of March 28, 2005

 

Present: Bill Holland, R. J. Poel, Del South, Richard VanderKlok, Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk

Absent:  Daniel Carlton

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve the following resolution:

 

WHEREAS, election laws mandate that any voting precinct reaching 2,999 registered voters must be divided and

 

WHEREAS, Precincts 1,8,3,12,&13 will soon reach 2,999 registered voters, and

 

WHEREAS, the Georgetown Charter Township has and does continue to experience tremendous development with as increase in population,

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the current seventeen (17) voting precincts in the Georgetown Charter Township be divided into twenty (20) precincts and voting locations as indicated in the attached Precinct Map.

 

BE  IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Director of Elections for Ottawa Count and the State Qualified Voter File.

 

AYES:  Bill Holland, R. J. Poel, Del South, Richard VanderKlok, Dale Mohr, Stanley Sterk

Absent:  Daniel Carlton

NAYS:  none

 

                                                                                                                                   

R. J. Poel, Chair                       Del South                                 Richard VanderKlok

 

MOTION CARRIED AND RESOLUTON ADOPTED.

 

#050328-15 - Approve Three Additional Precinct Locations

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve 3 additional voting precinct locations to comply with State requirements: Georgetown Bible Church, Youth Building, 4114 Baldwin St, Precinct No. 18; Home Front Church, 6265, 8th Ave, Precinct, No. 19; and Jenison Christian Church, 7003, 28th Ave., Precinct No. 20

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Election Commission.

 

            Attachment:      2005 Elections Polling Locations

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-16 - Seek bids for Paving at Cemetery

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Del South, to authorize the seeking of sealed bids for repaving the North Section of the cemetery on 28th Ave, Georgetown Township.  Sealed Bids due Thursday April 21, 2005.  Rod Deemter, Parks Director to prepare bid sheet.

 

            Note:                As recommended by the Services Committee

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-17 - Visual Presentation System-Equipment for the Meeting Room

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve the purchase of the Visual Presentation System from AVI Systems for an amount not to exceed $5,500, and to amend the budget from fund balance

 

            Attachment:      Proposal

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-18 – Public Comment

 

Margaret Bower, 2369 Oak Hollow Dr., asked the Board to consider a cat control ordinance and to review the City of Wyoming’s cat ordinance.  She said that she would like to see cats leased and licensed.  She said that she has a bird-feeding station and neighbors’ cats have caused problems.

 

David Wieringa, 5565 40th Ave., said that he was the one who had submitted the letter in the Board packets requesting that the Board rezone his property from Industrial to residential.  He asked what the board had decided and was told by the supervisor that the board would consider the request concurrently with a submitted application for a rezoning so that they could be advertised together to save money for the Township.

 

Victor Good, 1564 Honeybrook Dr., said that “Child Watch” signs had been damaged and needed replacement.  He said that a street light was at an angle.  He said that there was a problem with people putting signs on the corner of his property without permission and asked that a “Do Not Litter” sign be placed on the stop sign.

 

Bill Ward, Sergeant Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department, said that he would bring a cat ordinance to the committee.

 

#050328-19 - Reports from Standing Committees

 

            Water/Sewer Committee Minutes of 3-14-05 were presented.

 

Services Committee Minutes of 3-21-05 were presented.

 

R. J. Poel said that the members of the Election Commission had to sign the resolution for the additional precincts and that the permit had been renewed for the mailing which would save the Township approximately $2,500.

 

#050328-20 - Monthly Bills

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to approve payment of bills in the amount of $685,804.37.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050328-21 - Meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

 

 

                                               

William Holland, Supervisor

 

                                               

R. J. Poel, Clerk