The Pipestone Township Board met January 8, 2007 at the Township Hall at 8:00pm. The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board members present were Hazen Harner, Alan Nimtz, Richard Skibbe, Robert Bishop and Doug Davis. Having ten guests present.

A motion made by Bishop, supported by Skibbe to accept the minutes of the December 11, 2006 Board Meeting as received prior to the meeting. MOTION CARRIED.

Skibbe, having deposits for the month of $28,963.34 filed treasurer’s report as read. Leaving a balance in the general fund of $71,425.11.

Martin Kurtz from the Berrien County Sheriff Department presented a monthly Police Report for Pipestone Township. He discussed the report having twenty-five written complaints, forty-eight tickets issued and four arrests in Pipestone Township.

Mr. Tom Stiles from the Fire Department presented the incident summery report for the month of December. He stated there were seventeen calls, ten in which were in Pipestone Township

Harner reviewed the three returned bids received for a new boiler furnace for the new hall. Motion made by Davis supported by Bishop to accept the bid from Boelcke Heating of $4700.00 for the new furnace. MOTION CARRIED.

Harner explained the need of having the window space reduced on west side of Hall and have more energy efficient windows , than having a header for the trusses to rest on above the windows. Motion made by Davis, supported by Bishop to have Harner put out for Bids for window replacement and a truss system for the new hall. MOTION CARRIED

Nimtz explained of having Building/Electrical inspector as contractual service having Twp to pay Workers comp. Tabled till next meeting to determine cost of workers comp.

Marcy Molcough of Southwest Michigan Planning Commission presented Pipestone Township Master Plan Draft. She explained the procedure for adoption of the Master Plan. Nimtz to set up Township Planning Commission Meeting On February 5, 2007 7:00pm at new Twp Hall for Public review of Master Plan Draft and for the Planning Commission recommendation to Twp Board for distribution of draft to start adoption process.

Motion made by Nimtz, supported by Bishop to renew hardship cases for Doris Parritt on Columbia Ave and Edith Daughtery on Bailey Road. MOTION CARRIED.

Motion made by Skibbe, supported by Davis to extend the collection deadline of property taxes to February 28, 2007 without penalty. MOTION CARRIED

Nimtz stated the Pipestone Township Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 27, 2006 the Planning Commission recommended to adopt the Amendments to the Pipestone Township Zoning Ordinance to be in compliance with the Zoning Enabling Act. The Berrien County Planning Commission held a meeting December 12, 2006. They reviewed and than recommended adopting the amendments to the Township Zoning Ordinance. Motion made by Nimtz, supported by Davis to approve Amendment #2007-1 Amendment to the Pipestone Township Zoning Ordinance 88-1 to incorporate the requirements of Michigan Zoning Enabling Act upon roll call vote, ayes (Harner, Nimtz, Skibbe, Bishop, Davis), Nays (none) MOTION CARRIED

Tom Ferry explained the need of the Tabor road interchange completion for traffic routing through Eau Claire. Ferry to talk with representatives for Road Commission to start addressing Tabor/Pipestone/ Park intersection that traffic from By-pass routing to Dowagiac or M-140 and from surrounding areas to the by-pass will have accessibility

Nimtz explained a need for office help/ clerk assistant to set up part time position. Motion made by Davis, supported by Bishop to establish the position of Secretary/ Office help/ Clerk assistant, ten to fifteen hours a week at $10.00/ hour at clerks discretion. MOTION CARRIED Nimtz to put together a job description for position and publish position in paper

Planning Commission Meeting – February 5, 2007 @7:00pm @ new Twp Hall (7185 Elm Street Eau Claire)

A motion made by Davis, supported by Bishop to approve monthly disbursements totaling $10,455.20 MOTION CARRIED

Lynn Brown-O/C-800.00, Lynn Wittman-Assessor Salary, Mileage, supplies-542.42, Albert Wittman-Deputy Assessor Salary-730.05, Berrien Twp Treasurer-December Fire Bill-5,207.27, Indiana Mich Power-Twp Hall Electric & Street Light-27.70, Trade Lines-Synopsis & Legal Notices-185.64, Midwest Connections-Twp Phone-9.27, AT & T-Twp Phone-68.22, Landfill Mgt-Landfill Passes-247.00, Rapid Print-Business Cards-44.88, SW Michigan Inspectors Assoc-Inspector Training-518.50, BC Treasurer-Drain at Large-2,074.33

All future Board Meeting to be held at new location 7185 Elm Street Eau Claire, previously Grace Lutheran Elementary School.

With no further business to discuss, Supervisor Harner adjourned the meeting at 9:45pm

Submitted by: Alan Nimtz, Pipestone Twp Clerk