About a dozen Bingham Township residents in attendance at the township's Annual Meeting on Saturday morning agreed with their township board that elected officials should receive no pay raises this year.

On a voice vote, township voters at the meeting unanimously supported salary resolutions adopted last month by the board.

The township supervisor will continue to receive an annual salary of $15,000; the treasurer, $23,048; the clerk, $22,341; and the two trustees, $1,558 each.

During an annual budget hearing, also conducted Saturday morning, township residents and the board reviewed a proposed $797,703 spending plan for fiscal 2008-09, based on estimated revenues of $785,253.

Supervisor Ross Ard said the board was “comfortable” spending $12,450 more than they expected to take in because of a “very comfortable” fund balance of $420,352.

The largest part of the township’s overall budget pays for facilities and services from the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Authority. Township revenues without those coming from millages to support fire and rescue total just $314,200; and total expenses without fire and rescue are $326,650.

A “Truth in Taxation” hearing also conducted on Saturday morning indicated that Bingham Township expected to collect a township operational millage of 0.5-mill in the fiscal year beginning July 1, to bring in the $314,200 for township operations. Voters had previously authorized additional millages to support fire and rescue – 2.3 mills for operations and 4.741 mills for the new fire hall, bringing total revenues to $785,253.

A motion by Ard to adopt the township’s “General Appropriations Act” was supported by treasurer Sandra Grant and carried in a 4-0 vote of the board, with trustee Steve Voisin absent.

Ard reported that a $3,100 project to install a new culvert and widen an entrance to the Bingham Township Hall parking lot off Bingham Road (County Road 618) had recently been completed. He added that he was still working on a new contract under which Suttons Bay Township provides zoning and planning services to Bingham and the Village of Suttons Bay. Neighboring Suttons Bay Township is currently searching for a new planner to replace Rochelle Rollenhagen, Ard explained.

Township zoning administrator Steve Patmore presented a report indicating that the number of land use permits he had issued so far this year was down substantially due to a sluggish economy. Patmore said he had issued only 36 permits this year compared to 62 by the same time last year.

Township trustee Mary Bush, who serves on the township’s Parks and Recreation Committee, reported that a consulting firm was helping the committee finalize plans to improve the township’s Boughey and Hendryx parks on the West Grand Traverse Bay waterfront through a Coastal Zone Management grant. She added that the township planned to apply for additional grant funding that may allow the township to purchase land adjacent to Boughey Park so the park can be expanded.

Township clerk Peggy Core also presented a report at the meeting and indicated that she “looks forward to continuing to serve as clerk.”

Each of the five township board members is up for re-election to four-year terms in November. Only Voisin has indicated he does not plan to run for re-election.

Township resident Marita Somero has indicated she will run for Voisin’s vacant seat in the Aug. 5 Primary and the Nov. 4 General Election. So far, all candidates for seats on the Bingham Township Board are running unopposed.

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Board adopts budget plan

Having met just two days before at the township’s Annual Meeting, the Bingham Township Board took a scant 20 minutes Monday evening to conduct its regular monthly meeting.

The board voted 5-0 on Monday to adopt the budget that was the subject of a public hearing on Saturday morning. (See accompanying story and chart above).

In other business at this week’s meeting, the Bingham Township Board:

• Approved an updated Hazardous Materials Response contract with the Traverse City Fire Department. The annual cost of the contract increased from $300 to $395.

• Approved a $2,265 contract with Clarke Excavating to complete road work in a township cemetery. Clerk Peggy Core reported that Clarke’s was the only bid received although several other contractors were asked to bid.

• Authorized township supervisor Ross Ard and treasurer Sandra Grant to attend a two-day class in August to learn more about a computer software program used to create budgets. The class will cost $128 for each participant.

• Learned that the township’s Planning Commission has recommended approval of new zoning ordinance language outlining requirements for “agri-tourism” in the township.

According to trustee Mary Bush, who represents the township board on the commission, the board will be asked to consider adopting the proposed zoning ordinance amendment at its July 21 meeting following a review by county planners and a township attorney.