Gilmore Township – Benzie Democrats

May 9th, 2023- Gilmore Township Meeting CORRECTIONS

Township Monthly Meetings are held on the
2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the
Community Building in Elberta; 401 1st. Street

Dear Gilmore friends,

We inadvertently made a few misstatements in our report on the most recent meeting of the Gilmore Township Board of Trustees.

While it is true that some township residents oppose the proposed, new affordable housing development, it is not correct to say that “the township opposes the development.” Township officials have not voted on the project, which is still under discussion.

Officials said the township website could, not would be completed within the next few weeks.

Larry Nix has been hired to review Gilmore’s existing master plan and ordinances, not to write new ones.

Gilmore did not file a claim with its insurance company, nor receive a report from the Sheriff’s Department.

We apologize for the misunderstandings and will do better next time.

Respectfully submitted by Jim Dulzo and DeAnne Loll

May 9, 2023 — Gilmore Township Meeting

Township Monthly Meetings are held on the

2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm

Public Input

A proposal was made to hire Carolyn Thayer, (Designs in Bloom) to design an anti-erosion plant scape for the Grace Rd. Beach stairs.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) for a zoning ordinance was presented, to be awarded to Larry Nix of Rockford, at a cost not to exceed $6,200.00. Mr. Nix has previously worked with Antrim county, and has come recommended by them to Gilmore Township. Ms. Spencley stated that the township still has approximately $20,000.00 in ARPA funds that could be directed toward this purpose.

**The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to provide guidelines for the submission of proposals. Proposals must reflect the ability to provide a full range of expertise in all areas required to develop a complete and comprehensive planning & zoning code update.

Approval of April minutes was passed by the committee.

The Clerk/Treasurer’s:

Reported that an audit of the Township’s books is ready.

Shannon Spensley stated that the Township’s new website would be up and running in two week’s time. The Township would like to offer their residents a system to pay property taxes online, and that is being explored.

Old Business

The committee discussed the repair of damaged headstones at the Township’s cemetery. Inventory of what stonework needs to be repaired has been completed, but a report from the insurance agent was never received. In 2014, an inventory of all headstones in the cemetery was completed.

New Business

The committee approved a motion to hire Larry Nix to draft a zoning ordinance, at a cost not to exceed $6,500.00. (Although it was not stated in the meeting, the motivation for the new zoning ordinance arose because the township hopes to block the proposal by Graceland Fruit/Habitat for Humanity to build workforce housing units at the corner of Grace Rd. and Forrester).

Gilmore Township’s tax assessor’s contract was approved to commence 5/1/2023 and terminate 3/31/2024, at a rate of $1,250.00 per month.

Respectfully submitted by Becky Bagnall

ALL TOWNSHIP POSITIONS WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR!!!! We need Dem-friendly folks to run for office. Interested????? Email us at: [email protected]

We are always looking for SUBS when we are away that can go to the Township meeting and do a write up. If interested, drop us a line at: [email protected]

March 8, 2022 at 7 p.m — Gilmore Township Board Meeting

Public Hearing: for the fiscal year 2022/23 budget was opened and proposed budget presented.

There was no public input.

Rebecca Hubers, director of Benzie County Office of Emergency Management, asked for public input regarding updating the county’s hazard mitigation plan. The plan must be updated every five years. Plan approval, by FEMA, makes the county eligible for federal funds in the event of a natural disaster.

Township Treasurer Robin Rommell reported the tax season had been closed out and she had balanced with the county. Due to the numerous December Board of Review changes, Frankfort Elberta Area Schools was overpaid. Rommell sent a bill to have excess funds returned. When funds are returned, Rommell will settle with the township coffers.

Township Clerk Shannon Spencley reported she had been working on the budget with Robin Rommell; gathering information for first ARPA deadline, which is due at the end of April; and working on verbiage for the road upgrades millage.

SALARY RESOLUTION
Motion by Rommell and seconded by Noffsinger to not increase salaries of board members, keeping them at the same rate as previous fiscal year. Motion passed unanimously.

MEETING DATES
Motion by Rommell and seconded by Spencley to schedule November 2022 meeting for November 9, 2022, and approve remaining meeting dates for 2022/2023 fiscal year as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

ROAD MILLAGE
Motion by Rommell and seconded by Holmes to allow township clerk to forward the road upgrades millage resolution to attorney Tim Figura for review. Motion passed unanimously.

BRINING
The Benzie County Road Commission is providing townships a different dust-suppression brine solution for the coming spring/summer season. The Road Commission thinks that the solution–which costs more–will be more effective and lessen the need of another application later on in the season. The first application is offered to the townships at a discount, based on the old brine cost. Motion by Spencley and seconded by Rommell to have the Benzie County Road Commission complete a first application of brine to the roads as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

ASSESSOR
Motion by Rommell and seconded by Spencley to advertise and take applications for the assessor position with the township. Motion passed unanimously.

BUDGET
Motion by Spencley and seconded by Rommell to adopt the Gilmore Township 2022-2023 budget as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

February 8, 2022 — Meeting cancelled.

January 11, 2022 — Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum with several board members reporting COVID-19 exposures/quarantines.

December 14, 2021 — Gilmore Township Board Meeting Highlights

Jessica Carland presented the annual report of Benzie Bus.

Township Board approved “Agreement for Summer Collection of School Property Taxes” on behalf Northwest Education Services – formerly Tbaisd.

The Gilmore Township Board, sitting as the Zoning Board of Appeals, approved a variance to Section 3.14 of a Zoning Code LOT FRONTAGE/DEPTH RATIO, requested by Arthur Hoogstrate of 715 Grace Road. Section 3.14 LOT FRONTAGE/DEPTH RATIO states: “In order to conserve land resources and limit inappropriate crowding of land, all lots created after the effective date of this Ordinance with a lot area of less than forty acres, shall have a lot width or frontage which is equal to or greater than 1/4 the depth of the longest side of said lot.”

Mr. Hoogstrate has a parcel of land that is +/- 22 acres. He is proposing to perform a land division that will create five parcels. Three of the five parcels will not comply with Section 3.14; thus, require a variance. In his petition for a variance, Mr. Hoogstrate stated that the new parcels would be combined with existing adjacent parcels and were not intended for additional development. The variance was granted by a unanimous vote of the board

— in Gilmore Township, Benzie County, Michigan.