The April 22, 2002 Open Space meeting was called to order by Supervisor Anderson at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Clerk Johansen called the roll with Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar present.
Open Space:
Staff Report – Grant Update: Township Administrator Glas stated she met with Laura Ross at John Noble’s office regarding our grant, and once the DNR signs and returns it they promise 2 million based on fair market value. Regarding Corron, we have up to 12 months to terminate all agricultural, livestock, etc., activities. We agree that in three years the public has access to the site. We will need to put signs up to indicate this to the public. J. Kupar asked how do we protect from erosion when the Corrons leave? N. Anderson stated with a cover crop. We will have to pay someone to plant it.
Resolution to Approve the Open Space Amendment: D. Gillen moved the Board approve the Resolution Adopting the Open Space Plan Amendment 02-1R. R. Manser seconded the motion. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed.
Discussion of 2nd Bond Issuance: Bill Morris stated Dave Phillips will do the presentation. Dave said there will be no decision tonight. Our interest is 4.9 %. Its gone up since then, so our previous strategy was right. Next we see the cash flow of the Township and how the County distributes tax proceeds. We will move the payment cycle from the 15th to the 30th to help the Township cash flow. Is there an allocation between acquisition and development dollars? No, that’s a Town Board policy choice. Just adhere to your plan. Bear in mind, however, that every dollar you spend on development is another dollar you take out of what you have for land acquisition. Five percent of the bond issue can be allocated to working maintenance between now and the year 2020. That’s 95% in capital and 5% in maintenance. George Guerolla of the law firm of Chapman and Cutler stated there is an accounting issue regarding federal tax law. To qualify for the tax exception none of the 95% can be used for maintenance because, if it is, it becomes taxable. Bill Morris stated, so really it should be 4.5% spent for maintenance to be sure. Separate the maintenance budget from the development budget. Mowing the grass is maintenance. Putting in plugs of prairie grass is development. Dave said we need to define maintenance and development with a policy to justify this. Use Corron as a test to develop these policy definitions of what is development and what is maintenance. Bill Morris said, next is your two million grant. We recommend you put all of it aside until all of your bond proceeds are spent, and then decide how much of it can be used to maintain the open space. The Board can move the maintenance fund to acquisition, but not acquisition to maintenance. Also the grant earnings can be maximized because they can be invested for years, instead of 30 days at a time. Ric asked is Ken Alles salary maintenance or development cost? Township Attorney Noble asked can we allocate a percentage to development, and a percentage to maintenance? Ric said we need to resolve this soon because it has important budget implications. Bill Morris said he will allocate the different percentages and get with Julia in the next couple of days to resolve this. Bill added this bond issue will be more work on the Board’s side of the table then on their side of the table. So let the Board set a target date to meet. Neal asked are there any red flags that tell us what to do? Bill said the market is creeping up. Can you have a draft of an ordinance ready for your June meeting? Yes, per Neal. Dave said the next question is which of the four allocations do we choose. The two most likely options are the three year spend down, or the five year spend down. That is choose to have a reasonable expectation that 85% will be spent in three years, or choose to have a reasonable expectation that 85% will be spent in five years. See page six on the Spear Financial letter for the Board’s policy choices. Figure the June 11 meeting, per Neal, to vote on the Ordinance.
Thank-you: R. Manser moved the Board formally thank Neal Anderson and Julia Glas for their work on the Corron grant that got two million dollars for Campton Township’s Open Space program. The motion was seconded by John Kupar and passed unanimously.
Executive Session: D. Gillen moved the Board go into Executive Session to discuss property acquisition and invite Julia Glas, Ken Alles, John Noble, Ed Malek, Mike Tyrill, Al Rottmann, Jerry Johnson, Jack Shouba, Judy Hines, and Steve Holtsford into Executive Session. The motion was seconded by J. Kupar. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Gillen, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. The motion passed at 9:15 p.m.
Supervisor Anderson reconvened the regular meeting at 10:50 p.m. Clerk Johansen called the roll with Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Judy, and Kupar present. Trustee Gillen was absent.
R. Manser moved the Board authorize Supervisor Anderson to negotiate for property 1-6 for a price of up to $27,000 per acre. The motion was seconded by J. Kupar. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. Trustee Gillen was absent. The motion passed. R. Manser moved the Board authorize the negotiator to offer up to $16,500 per acre for purchase, or up to $12,000 per acre for conservation easement, for property 1-2. The motion was seconded by J. Kupar. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. Trustee Gillen was absent. The motion passed. R. Manser moved the Township engage Ed Malek to negotiate a purchase on property 3-13A at a price of $22,500 per acre. The motion was seconded by K. Judy. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. Trustee Gillen was absent. The motion passed.
Adjournment: R. Manser moved to adjourn the meeting. J. Kupar seconded the motion. On a roll call vote Supervisor Anderson and Trustees Manser, Judy, and Kupar voted aye. Trustee Gillen was absent. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 11:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Richard Johansen
Clerk