Regular Meeting of the Township Board
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Cleveland Township Hall
Supervisor Stein called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present on roll call were Bill
Olsen, Tim Stein, Jan Nowak and Taryn Anderson. Absent Dan Klimaszewski. Present from the public were Eric Carlson, Bruce Buchan, Ruth Shaffran and Bob Fox.
Motion by Bill Olsen and seconded by Taryn Anderson to approve February 10,
2015 regular meeting minutes. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Supervisor’s Report –
None
Clerk Report – None
Treasurer’s Report –
Revenue
Disbursements
$ 42,611.67
$ 8,115.60
Bank Balance $273,993.43
Motion by Bill Olsen and seconded by Tim Stein to accept Treasurer’s report as presented. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Planning Commission Report – The Planning Commission did meet on March 4.
They will be documenting and the recording secretary will be putting together the errors and omissions and the updated zoning ordinance hopefully later this month.
Zoning Administrator’s Report –
No land use permits were issued. There is a new business that is looking at property on Stachnik Road.
Zoning Board of Appeals Report – None
Maintenance Report – Bob stated that there were a couple issues with the hall. No water pressure. Called B& Z and found that the pump in well was bad. Pulled the pump - been in 30 years plus. Put new pump in then found out that the pipe was froze. A
Contractor came and dug the pipe out and thawed it out. While they were doing that

there was no heat in the hall. That it was not due to no fuel oil but the furnace had stopped working. Bob’s Furnace could find nothing wrong and it is now working.
Assessor Report – Began Board of Review yesterday and reviewed eight petitions. Final day of Board of Review is tomorrow.
Old Business – Tim received the draft preliminary engineering report of the potential replacement of the culverts For Little Traverse Lake Road and County Road 669. He hasn't had a chance to go through it in detail yet but wanted to call the Board's attention to it. After Gosling Czubak did their studies that there are four options to mitigate/eliminate the high water occurrence. Those alternatives would entail a precast three sided culvert 20' span or a 30' span. Due to the cost difference it would be better to look at the 30’ span. Tim will cover this at our annual meeting. The cost for the replacing the Little Traverse Lake Road culvert the cost would be about $406,000 and to replace the culver at County Road 669 the cost would be about $411,000. If the culverts were replaced a dam would have to be put in to divert the water stream and it would cause road closures.
The township facilitating the report in no means obligates the township to provide the funding for these structures. Tim will turn the report over to the Little Traverse Lake
Association and the Leelanau County Road Commission. Bill asked who checks into the grants for the culvert work. Tim stated it could be the township, the Little Traverse Lake
Association or the County.
New Business –
Tim reviewed the Truth-in-Taxation Resolution for 2015. The total millage rate of
1.3254 mills (township operational millage of .5754 mills and fire and emergency service millage of .7500) and 1% Property Tax Administration Fee shall be levied upon property located with the Township. This resolution will allow the Board to use the stated millage rates in formulating the 2015/2016 budget for presentation at the March 21 Budget
Hearing. Tim asked that the Board consider a motion to adopt the Truth-in-Taxation
Resolution.
Motion by Bill Olsen to adopt the Truth-in Taxation Resolution allowing the Board to use the stated millage rates in formulating our 2015/2016 budget and seconded
Jan Nowak. Motion passed with 4 ayes, 0 nays 1 absent.

Consider approval for Clerk and Treasurer to make adjustments to balance accounts in the 2014/2015 General Fund Budget.
Motion by Bill Olsen for approval of Clerk and Treasurer making adjustments to balance accounts in the 2014/2015 General Fund Budget, seconded by Jan Nowak.
Motion passed on a voice vote.
Review proposed agenda for Annual Meeting and Proposed Budget for 2015/2016
Annual Budget Review - March 21, 2015. Taxable value, state share revenue have gone up and also our fire and emergency services millage went up. But even with the increased millage it will not cover the total cost of fire and emergency services.
Motion by Bill Olsen to support approval of proposed agenda and proposed budget for annual budget review on March 21, 2015 second by Taryn Anderson. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Tim stated that he just received the Fire/Rescue Protection Agreement from Solon and
Centerville Townships for a one-year contract. The cost is $90,000.00, an additional
$300 for each and every fire alarm answered and serviced and $100 for each hour thereafter.
Motion by Bill Olsen to approve the one-year Fire/Rescue Protection Agreement with Solon/Centerville and seconded by Jan Nowak. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Motion by Tim Stein for payment of the bills and seconded by Bill Olsen. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Correspondence –
Tim received a letter from Gwenne Allgaier on March 1, 2015 directed to himself and the members of the Board of Review. She asks that the letter be read at the meeting.
“At the February Township Meeting I mentioned that the Cleveland Township Board of
Review has the worst rate of approving homeowner’s property tax review submissions in our County. Mr. Stein, you responded with the statement that that was because our assessor is so accurate.

I reviewed the property tax appeal approval rate for Centerville and Leland Townships – which Ms. Krombeen also assesses. In 2014, Leland Township approved 22% (7) of the
32 appeals received. Centerville approved 57% (4) of the 7 appeals received/processed.
Cleveland Township approved 4% (1) of the 24 appeals presented.
FYI, the County average for changes by the Review Boards of appeals submitted is 54%.
The numbers speak for themselves. I would hope that our Review Board process is looked at for improvements in true public service and respect for our residents.”
Public forum – public comment was held
Bob Fox asked if our assessor is audited by the State of Michigan. Tim stated that yes she is. Bob then went on to say that you would think that the State of Michigan would catch any errors made. Tim stated that the township is audited by the State of Michigan and that it is also the Supervisor’s responsibility to overlook the tax cards..
Motion by Taryn Anderson and seconded by Bill Olsen to adjourn meeting at 7:47 pm. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Jan Nowak, Clerk
Approved by Tim Stein, Supervisor