The Torch Lake Township Board met for its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. The meeting was held at the Bootjack Fire Hall. All board members were present.

New Website

You can now visit the new Torch Lake Township website. It lists township events and locations and offers free downloads of public documents. The new site also has a News and Views section for township officials to provide timely information to citizens.

Little content is ready now, but the new site should prove to be a useful resource as time goes on. If you want to make suggestions to Supervisor Brian Cadwell, you can click his name on the Home page to send him an email.

Interest Rate Improvements

Treasurer Diane Zurcher has continued to work on finding the best available interest rates for the township's deposits. She plans to improve the rates received on the garbage fund (now only 0.5%) by converting the checking funds into a sweep account. Diane included the current interest rates on this month's treasurer's report and plans to continue that practice.

Tax bills will go out the first week in July.

July 4 Garbage Pickup Rescheduled

For township residents with a Friday garbage pickup, the new date for pickup will be Thursday, July 3. The township will also advertise this change in the Daily Mining Gazette.

Clerk Karen Rovano submitted a copy of the proposed refuse collection work agreement to the township attorney for review, but she has yet to receive a response.

Roads

A meeting for citizens of Hubbell and Tamarack City will be held at the Hubbell Community Center on Monday, June 23, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss improvements to M-26 and the sidewalks. The highway department plans to do the work in 2011, with bidding to be done in 2010.

Brian attended a roads financing workship in Marquette. Michigan's budget problems are creating difficulties maintaining the existing road system, let alone improving it. Marquette is going back to gravel on some of its paved roads to save money.

The current cost for replacing pavement is $300,000 per mile. Resurfacing is $150,000 per mile. Converting back to gravel costs $50,000 per mile. Furthermore, gravel roads can be repaired by sending out a grader.

Brian received word that the state will probably not raise the revenue sharing amount this year. The state legislature is in the final stages of the budget process.

Brian said that some townships establish a special millage rate to build funds to assist the county to pay for road work in their township. In view of the current financial problems, the board might put a proposal on the ballot to do that for Torch Lake. The voters would weigh the millage against the value of the road work.

Reassessment Status

Matt Arko reported that office work is continuing, and the resulting cards will be mailed with the December tax bills.

The Board of Review will next meet on July 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Fire Departments

The Hubbell Fire Department was approved for a $37,000 equipment grant.

Bootjack Fire Chief Dan Sarazin reported that a key dry hydrant, especially important during the winter months, needs replacement. By using volunteer labor and doing the work when equipment is available, the cost can be held to about $800. The board authorized funds for this purpose not to exceed $1000.

Point Mills Community Building

This month Brian learned that the township does not actually own the quonset hut that we've used in the past for elections and township meetings. It is actually owned by the Community Club of Point Mills, and Brian saw a deed to that effect. He verified the ownership with the Register of Deeds.

The township has stopped paying for utilities and insurance on the building.

The township owns eight lots on 4th Street that could serve as the location for a new community center for Point Mills.

New Bootjack Fire Station

Dan Sarazin reported that UP Engineering has taken boring samples and that the preliminary results look good. He is awaiting the final report. Permits are being obtained to start clearing the new lot, which could start in June.

Dan also presented a site plan which illustrated the need for a property swap to fix up the current boundaries. The land on the other side of the drainage ditch to the south of the current building is not needed, and will be deeded back to the property owner. In exchange, land behind the current building, some of it occupied by fire department tanks and equipment, will be deeded to the township.

The board voted to approve the swap in principle. Final approval requires drawing up the proper legal papers.

Other Items

• The Parks Committee will meet to consider updates to the recreation plan.
• Road and sewer work is progressing (as most residents will have noted).
• The board approved a contribution to the fire fighters' tournament in Baraga.
• John Partenen will consider holding property tax classes in the township when he can free up the time.

Public Comment

Lawrence Jukuri confronted the board with documentation concerning the timing of property tax updates on one of the parcels he owns. He said that Matt Arko and Brian had last month incorrectly attributed the work to John Botto, when it was actually done after Mr. Botto's tenure.

Brian did not recall the exchange, but told Mr. Jukuri that no disrespect was intended by the board in any event.

Next Board Meeting

The next Torch Lake Township board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. It will take place at the Jacobsville Community Building.

Lynn Torkelson