The Torch Lake Township Board met for its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15. The meeting took place in the comfortable Osceola Township offices instead of the Point Mills quonset hut. All board members except Denise Lepisto attended: she could not make it because of a business meeting in Green Bay.
Progress Report on Reassessment
Assessor Matt Arko set up a visual presentation, projecting images from his computer onto a large screen at the front of the room. He showed everyone attending the meeting how the outlines of the township parcel boundaries look when superimposed over satellite images of the township. The software he demonstrated allows the assessors (and, eventually, everyone else) to view the information in layers, allowing the viewer to obtain visual depictions of all kinds of geographic information over actual images of our township.
Matt showed us how one can zoom in to see roads and buildings, allowing the assessors to find and document the improvements to each parcel. When the information for a parcel is in the system, you can click on the location of that parcel on the map and bring up all the information recorded for that parcel, including photographs of all the buildings taken by the reassessment teams. At the conclusion of the reassessment, citizens will be able to obtain all this information at a nominal cost for viewing on home computers.
The 911 layer, which will show fire numbers and driveways, is still not available (Matt said it should have been turned over last September), but will eventually prove very useful to both the assessors and first responders.
Those of us at the meeting saw examples of the sharp digital photos of homes and outbuildings taken by the reassessment teams that will be available on the computer. We also saw how the software draws building perimeters and calculates the exact square footages enclosed.
So far, the reassessment teams have visited about 1300 of 2100 parcels. At this pace, Matt estimated that the field work will finish in October. Of course considerable office work will still be needed to turn the raw data collected by the teams in the field into a complete reassessment, but the first phase of the effort will be complete.
Assessor Dave Peterson explained that reassessment teams are now working in the Point Mills, Bootjack, and Jacobsville areas, and are just starting around Rabbit Bay. Sadly, one team member had a heart attack and is being replaced.
Supervisor Brian Cadwell talked with Don Bode of the State Tax Commission, and Don expressed great satisfaction with the progress of the TLT reassessment. Don feels that DPM is getting our township's tax records into better shape than any township he knows of. Soon the state will be demanding that all townships shape up, and Torch Lake Township will be ahead of the game, perhaps setting the standard for others.
Deficiencies in Existing Tax Records
During the course of the reassessment, DPM has uncovered many discrepancies in the existing records. Matt estimated that the owners of 7-10% of the parcels on the tax maps are not recorded in township records. Furthermore, many buildings have been found on land previously classified as "vacant."
When the owners of previously untaxed parcels or improvements are identified, they will be billed for up to three years of back taxes. Further back than that, the law allows them to keep the money they have taken from other taxpayers.
Because of the large number of unknown parcel owners, the township is requesting that the state grant extra time to complete the reassessment of those particular parcels. Each of those parcels will require additional time, perhaps considerable time, for research.
Rice Lake Property Unsold
In response to my question about the Rice Lake property, Brian explained that it had not sold even though it is now being advertised at a lower price and as available either as one 200-foot lot or as two 100-foot lots. The agent plans to place a larger ad, emphasizing a "motivated seller."
Hubbell Fire Department Status
Chief Don Beauchamp is back and reported on the status of the HVFD. Fifteen responders received training and state certification on using the Jaws of Life. Boundaries have been established and the responders are on call.
The HVFD has been successful seeking grant money for which no matching funds are required, including grants for special training. The department now has 20 responders, many young, and plans to have a total of 21. Don will provide the roster to the board.
The HVFD has received six 800-mhz radios, but needs twelve more because they have lost the use of their older system (a result of the changes made by Houghton County in the way 911 is supported). The radios cost $1500 each, but the HVFD can get them for $300 each because of an 80% grant. The board authorized the HVFD to spend $3600 from its own budget for those addition radios.
Brian discussed the status of the easement needed to build an addition to the Hubbell Community Center to house the Jaws of Life and the HazMat equipment. It turns out the MDOT holds an easement, but does not actually own the right-of-way in question. MDOT does not even know who really owns the property.
However, MDOT will permit the township to build on its easement, and Brian will have the township's attorney file the documents necessary to allow the building to proceed. The board authorized both the attorney's work and the construction of the addition (in consultation with the building committee). Brian emphasized the need to complete this work before winter.
Water Problems
A public meeting will be scheduled sometime in late September to lay out options for guaranteeing an adequate supply of water for drinking and for fighting fires. Engineer Dick Supina will attend.
Brian reported that the sewer improvement project will be put up for bids soon. Rules have been changed so that people on the public water system can have up to two meters for water used solely for gardening or watering lawns. (That water does not go down the sewer, so is exempt from sewer charges.)
Lake Linden has committed to pay the $39,000 it still owes the LOST water authority. At this point, however, Lake Linden is still working through the problems caused by the recent embezzlement.
Refuse Collection
Clerk Karen Rovano reported the results of the 2007 weight study: Torch Lake - 71%, Schoolcraft - 29%. Future costs will be allocated between the townships on that basis. This result is only slightly different from the 72% - 28% ratio previously in effect.
The board approved Tony Burcar's $4800 bid to repair and (partly) repaint the spare garbage truck. The funds are available because of the increase in the garbage collection fee.
Karen said that Schoolcraft Township did not agree to a 50-50 split of the costs of fixing up the spare garbage truck. When the spare truck is eventually sold, Torch Lake will recover 72% of the sale price, so the Schoolcraft folks figure these repairs should be allocated in the same ratio.
Other Items
A number of other items and issues were discussed and addressed by the board. Among them were the following:
- Because of the state budget crunch, prisoners will no longer be available for public work details.
- Charter Cable is expanding its lineup on September 12, adding more high-definition channels.
- Traffic crossing the lift bridge will be rerouted for about a month starting September 17 to allow for bridge repairs and maintenance.
- After complaints by the township, Houghton County classified two structures as hazardous, one in Hubbell and one on Lower Point Mills Road. The owners will be able to rebut that finding before the hearing officer on August 29.
- Karen Rovano moved that the township adopt a formal investment policy and submitted a sample policy used by other townships. The board approved the investment policy as submitted.
- At the request of the auditor, the township formally approved the budget amounts established for special funds.
- A Tractor Parade will be held on both September 8 and 9 between the Historical Society and the Lake Linden park. The sheriff will provide traffic control.
- The creek storm drains will be cleaned for a cost of about $200.
- At the request of citizens at the meeting, Brian will look into getting traffic lines painted on Upper Point Mills Road past the Dollar Bay bridge, continuing the lines painted on the Osceola Township portion of the road. The big hill there was identified as a particular safety concern.
- The Bootjack FRD auxiliary paid off the balance due on the rescue truck.
- Brian reported that the State Police will retain its presence in Calumet at the same strength. Because of the state budget crunch, however, the location of the headquarters might change. Further, no officers will be replaced when they retire or resign.
Next Board Meeting
The next Torch Lake Township board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, in the Hubbell Community Center.
Lynn Torkelson