Meeting was called to order at the
Empire Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. by
President Carpenter. Present were
members Diller, Payment, Gray, Sterling,
Michener, Baja. Absent: None. After
the pledge of allegiance a motion was
made by Baja and supported by
Michener to approve the consent agenda
including the minutes of the 11-27-
07 regular meeting and the bills in the
amount of 18,031.63. All ayes.
Changes/Additions to Agenda: Add
under new business letter from Michigan
Township Plan.
Presentation: Presentations: Mark
Hurley from Gosling Czubak thanked
the Village and everybody for working
with them and presented a box of
chocolate in appreciation. Steve Lewis
resident of Lake Michigan Drive sent a
letter to the village addressing Ordinance
#108 banning archery. He is a resident
that target shoots with bow and arrows
in his yard and asked why the shooting
of arrows was added to the Ordinance?
Was there a complaint, a case of property
damage or a case of personal
injury? President Carpenter stated that
the Ordinance Committee has been
meeting and updating all old Ordinances.
Diller stated that the committee had
talked about everything that could be a
potential threat and tried to come up
with something that was inclusive for
the Village. Greg Julian, resident of
Maple City, Leelanau County Planning
Commission chairman, Parks and
Recreations Commissioner, a volunteer
DNR outdoor recreational instructor of
fire arms and archery safety, asked how
this Ordinance has already passed
without looking at enforcement and
attorney review.
Public Comment on Agenda Items:
none
Communications: 1) Letter from
Josephine Conley re donation to Park
Fund in honor of Bonnie Nescot and
Tim Barr. 2.) Letter from Bankruptcy
Court. 3.) Letter from Dennis, Gartland
and Neirgarth request for 3rd year proposals.
Motion Baja and supported by
Michener to retain services of Dennis,
Gartland and Neirgarth to perform the
audit of the fiscal year ending February
29, 2008. All Ayes.
Zoning Administrator Hal Pendleton
stated that he did not prepare a written
report since the only item is the public
hearing for Quercus Alba.
Planning Commission: Karen Baja
reported that there is a Public Hearing
scheduled for January 8, 2008 at 8:00
pm at the Town Hall. A joint meeting is
scheduled for the first Tuesday in
February at the Town Hall at 7:00 pm.
Planning Commission did approve storage
building for Fred Salisbury on Fisher
Street with conditions that there be vine
planted on fence line and low light.
Ordinance: Susan Michener stated
that everyone should have received a
proposed copy of Ordinance #111 to
amend sections 1 and 2 of Ordinance
#97 to add stagnant ware as a defini-
tion and as a nuisance. President
Carpenter asked before we get into this
Ordinance we go back to the archery
issue and she would like to ask each
council member if they feel this should
go back to Ordinance Committee for
review, the council feels it should go
back to committee for further review.
President Carpenter asked why this is
being added and Michener explained
that it was part of Ordinance # 30 and it
should be added to Ordinance #97
before being rescinded. Michener
asked for councils input on whether or
not we will hire an enforcement officer.
After lengthy discussion Ordinance
Committee will work on a possible rec-
ommendation of an enforcement officer
for the January meeting.
Street Administrator Karen Baja
reported that she has scheduled an
information meeting of the Street
Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008
at 6:30 p.m. in the Fire Hall on the M-22
project. Martin Graf is still working on
final plans. Baja also reported that the
Road Commission meeting is scheduled
for 10:00 am January 2, 2008 at
the Suttons Bay Garage. Baja stated
that we are all set with the New
Neighborhood roads and we are all
legal and moving forward. President
Carpenter stated that she has not
signed off and is waiting for bond letter.
Zoyhofski asked if the streetlights were
included when we took over the streets
in the New Neighborhood. Baja stated
that it did include the streetlights, sidewalks,
right-of-way and streets in Phase
one and two. Zoyhofski stated that we
get only one street light bill and it may
include all of the New Neighborhood,
she will have to figure out how many are
for Phase 1 and 2. Joint meeting has
been scheduled for February 5, 2008 at
7:00 pm at the Town Hall. President
Carpenter stated that the MDOT meeting
of November 7, 2007 minutes are
available for review in the Villiage Office.
Sterling asked if President Carpenter
had a chance to talk to Christine
Stapleton about lots 36 and 42.
President Carpenter stated that she
had talked to Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs.
Stapleton stated she would remove it
and that it was a miscommunication.
Survey: President Carpenter asked
trustees to consider survey results
when considering budget issue, as to
whether or not to set money aside.
Audit Review: Pat Zoyhofski stated
that everyone has received a copy of
the audit and she can answer some
question or if council would like some-
one to come from auditing firm to
explain. After lengthy discussion
President Carpenter and council members
felt more comfortable with
Zoyhofski explanation.
Budget Assignments: Council,
Election & Clerk- Pat Zoyhofski,
Treasurer-Jennifer Williams, Street lighting-
Pat Zoyhofski, Park-Linda Payment,
Water-Nat Gray, Streets, Sidewalks &
Equipment-Karen Baja, Planning-Karen
Baja, Administration and Liquor Fund
David Diller and Lanny Sterling. Darlene
Friend asked about the Liquor Fund.
Pat Zoyhofski will look into this matter.
The clerk will prepare the worksheets
for the budget work session in January
and get them to the council members
early in January. If anyone needs help
preparing his or her portion of the budget
the clerk will be happy to give assistance.
Michigan Township Participating
Plan Letter: Linda Payment stated that
everyone has received a copy of this
letter from our insurance company and
they made some recommendations to
the Village. She would like to discuss
these recommendations further at the
January meeting.
Public comment: Maryann Chapman
re sidewalk too close to her house with
M-22 project and village needs easement
signed. This is the reason for the
sketches from Robert Foulkes to move
sidewalk. Karen Baja stated that the
sidewalk was already being moved
away from their house.
All business being concluded the
meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Above minutes are condensed and may
be seen in their entirety at the Village
Office.

Darlene Friend Deputy Clerk