The Torch Lake Township Board met for its monthly meeting at the Jacobsville Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18. All board members attended and many issues important to the township were discussed and decided.

Reassessment Progress Report

Dave Peterson and Matt Arko of DPM Assessing gave an update on the status of Torch Lake Township's mandated reassessment:

• The tax maps finally arrived from TriMedia two weeks ago. (The board authorized the final payment for the maps.)
• The Hubbell reassessment is complete except for one small subdivision. The teams have moved to the Point Mills and Bootjack areas. (By now most of us have seen the orange and yellow motorized carts scooting around our township...)
• Matt estimated that the teams have so far collected data from about 600 of approximately 2,000 parcels.
• As data comes in, a quality controller reviews all of the work submitted by the teams. The quality controller sends the teams back to a parcel if the information is not complete or is otherwise unsatisfactory. When the reassessment kicked off, 30-40% of the parcels needed a return visit, but that figure has dropped to around 10%. (The teams get paid by the parcel, and get nothing until the quality controller approves their work.)
• One of the members of the lowest-performing team has been replaced. The background check on the replacement has been completed.
• The teams have come up to speed quickly on the electronic tablets and laser measuring devices and now use them all the time. In addition to taking accurate measurements of the structures on each parcel, the teams take 8-10 photos of each home.
• Nearly 100% of the folks visited in our township have been cooperating enthusiastically with the reappraisal. The questionaires left at each home are being completed and returned promptly.
• Each week the teams keep finding two or three new structures unrecorded previously. The assessors will follow up on whether the proper building permits were issued and will bill the owners for any property tax due for past years.
• Don Bode (the State Tax Commission's agent in Ishpeming) will be reviewing the progess of the reassessment on Tuesday, July 24. Matt will ask Don to appear at an upcoming Torch Lake Township Board meeting if Don can fit it into his schedule.
• Matt will also look into the cost of burning DVDs containing the new property records. His idea is that citizens could then purchase the DVDs from the township and review the information at home.

Rice Lake Property Unsold

The township has received no offers to purchase the Rice Lake property (200 feet of beautiful lake frontage) for the listed price of $135,000. The asking price has been reduced to $125,000.

Denise Lepisto suggested that the property be divided into two 100-foot lots (or to advertise the parcel as being divisible). The idea is that more people can afford to buy a smaller parcel, potentially speeding up the sale.

Second Installment of $25,000 Approved for Payment to DPM

With the teams and equipment now in the field, DPM needs to maintain cash flow sufficient to pay the ongoing expenses of the reassessment. Because the Rice Lake parcel remains unsold, the board faced the challenge of finding another $25,000 to meet the township's contractual obligations.

After quite of bit of discussion about which township accounts to drain, the board voted 4-1 (with Denise opposed) to take the money from three funds: the Reassessment Fund, the Building Fund, and Designated Savings. Treasurer Diane Zurcher will reduce the first two funds to their minimum balances (to avoid having to close and later reopen those accounts) and will obtain the remainder of the $25,000 from Designated Savings. The plan is to replenish the accounts once the Rice Lake parcel sells.

During the discussion, Denise expressed great concern about the financial situation of the township. Diane agreed that the township is now scraping the bottom of the barrel financially.

Denise asked Clerk Karen Rovano, starting next month, to report to the board each meeting the total expenditures to date vs. the budget amounts for each category.

Fire Protection Authority Charter Amended

Because of the exit of Schoolcraft Township and Lake Linden from the former LOST Fire Protection Authority, the articles of incorporation needed revision to reflect the reality that only Torch Lake and Osceola townships remain. Supervisor Brian Cadwell proposed wording changes that were approved by the board.

Steps to Protect the Delivery of Water

The board continued its review of the options available to ensure a reliable source of water for drinking and water for fighting fires.

Brian explained that the old dams that feed the fire hydrants in Hubbell and Tamarack are in disrepair: The township could be liable for damage caused by failure of the dams. In addition, the 100-year old rusty pipes often leak. It would be advantageous to find another source for water for fighting fires and to turn the dams over to a more appropriate agency.

Coupled with this dam problem is the sudden need to establish a new permanent source of drinking water, given the recent changes to LOST.

Dick Supina explained that grant money can be obtained to assist communities to ensure an adequate water supply. However, when the money becomes available, the township will need to submit a formal application immediately to receive the grant money.

Because of the great detail required, the formal application itself will cost $16,000 dollars to complete. Grant money ($12,000) is also available toward the completion of the application itself, which would therefore require a $4,000 match from the township at the time the application is delivered. Dick estimated that it will take a year to complete the formal application.

Dick recommended that the board authorize Brian to sign the paperwork required to obtain the $12,000 available toward the completion of the formal application. The board voted 4-1 (with Karen opposed) to authorize Brian to proceed.

New Charter Communications Franchise Agreement Decided

Brian explained that every 10 years the franchise agreement with Charter Communications for cable TV services must be renewed. Currently the township receives $1 per year per subscriber (about $460 in total) billed and collected by Charter. This works out to about 8 cents per month per customer.

The current contract is expiring and, under the new laws, the fees must collected on a percentage basis, not on a flat-rate basis. The maximum percentage that the township can charge is 5.0%, which would bring in $13,800 to the township each year.

However, many folks subscribe to satellite services and don't need to pay the franchise fee. Brian felt it would not be fair under these circumstances to subject cable subscribers to a substantial increase in franchise fees, so he moved that the franchise fee for the next ten years be set at 0.2%.

This will bring in about $1.20 per year per cable subscriber, about 10 cents per subscriber per month. The township will receive therefore about $550 per year from Charter. The board agreed unanimously.

Repairing and Repainting the Second Garbage Truck

The board discussed again the repair and (partial) repainting of the old garbage truck. The old truck is used when the new truck is being serviced and also when two trucks are needed during peak periods. Two trucks are also used when pickup weight comparisons are made between Torch Lake and Schoolcraft townships. The ratio of the respective weights (previously measured at 72% Torch Lake / 28% Schoolcraft) determines the cost allocations for the trucks.

The old truck is good mechanically, but requires rust removal, welding, and (on the sides only) repainting. A bid of $4,925 was received to complete all the work required. The board decided to look for less expensive options and to defer a decision until next month.

Denise stated that expenses of this sort should be shared equally by the two townships as they are not related to weight. Karen agreed to make that case to Schoolcraft Township and report back next month.

Building Inspections Requested

Brian formally requested that the Houghton County Building Inspector inspect two buildings that have caused complaints, one in Hubbell and one on Lower Point Mills Road. If the inspector decides that action is necessary, the owners will have an opportunity to challenge the inspector's finding before the hearing officer.

Paving Homestead Road

A homeowner who lives on Homestead Road near Point Mills arranged with the county for the paving of Homestead Road at a cost (to the homeowner) of $70,000. However, the project needed the authorization of the Torch Lake board. After making sure that the township would bear none of the cost of the project, the board approved the paving.

As it does now, Houghton County will plow Homestead Road in winter and maintain it as needed during the summer.

Scrap Metal Cleanup Set for August 7

Keweenaw Scrap Metal will pick up scrap metal and tires starting on August 7. Brian stated that an ad will appear in the July 19 DMG announcing the cleanup.

In the June board meeting, Brian had already explained that the procedure will be different this year:

Curbside pickup will be done everywhere in the township this year, not just in Hubbell. Residents must put everything out by 8:00 a.m. August 7, although not everything will be picked up that day. Keweenaw Scrap Metal will make only one pass by each address, and there is no way to know in advance when any particular location will be picked up.

Residents can leave any scrap metal such as cars, trailers, trucks, washers, refrigerators, freezers, dryers, and car batteries. Keweenaw Scrap Metal will pay $60 for each vehicle scrapped. (Paint a large 'X' on the left front door of any vehicle to be scrapped.)

Tires will also be picked up. If the tires are on rims, the pickup will be free. Otherwise it will cost $1 for each tire.

Here's how to get unmounted tires picked up: Go to the Hubbell Community center and buy a sticker for each tire you want to be picked up. Put the stickers on the tires when you put them out August 7. Tires without stickers will not be picked up.

Garbage, wood, plastic, TVs, computer screens, and fiberglass will not be taken.

Also, Keweenaw Scrap Metal asks that residents leave the scrapped items back from the road (50 feet back, if possible) to discourage passing motorists from stopping to search through the items.

White City Boat Launch Project on Hold

A citizen pointed out the the low lake level now made it the ideal time to work on the boat launch. Brian explained that the project is on hold until the state provides its share of the funding.

Enforcement Problems in Jacobsville

Jacobsville residents twice called the State Police around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 15, to report that a drunken idiot was on the Jacobsville Lighthouse setting off fireworks and creating a disturbance. No officer responded to either call.

Brian said that the State Police have no car on the road after 3:00 a.m.

Other citizens complained about the lack of enforcement at the park. One speaker noted that women have begun using the lighthouse pier for topless sunbathing (only on the warmer days, I presume).

Abandoning the Point Mills Community Center

Please note: The August board meeting has indeed been moved to the Osceola Township offices located at 48545 Main Street, Dollar Bay. The date and time remain as scheduled.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 15 at the Point Mills Community Center.

Diane Zurcher pointed out that the miserable condition of that old quonset hut makes it unsuitable for a public meeting. Brian agreed to talk with Osceola Township officials to determine whether the next board meeting can instead be held in comfort in Dollar Bay.

Lynn Torkelson