June 22, 2009 Council Minutes
VILLAGE OF MATTAWAN
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 22, 2009
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ATTENDANCE
Present: Ashbaugh, Bemer, Kirklin, Kucinich, Markle, and Spulick.
Absent: Terri McLean
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to excuse Terri McLean. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
Others Present: Joe Alexander, Chris Ballingall, Dave Ballinger, Karl Freed, Claudia Spulick
4. WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC
5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING BEING RECORDED
6. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
Add new business E. Set public hearing for McGillen’s crossing July 13th.
7. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Markle, support by Spulick, to approve the agenda with the addition .All members voted
in favor. Motion carried.
8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 8, 2009
Motion by Ashbaugh, support by Kirklin, to approve the minutes of June 8, 2009. Four members
voted in favor. Markle and Bemer abstained. Motion carried.
9. BILLS TO BE APPROVED N THE AMOUNT OF $ 64,874.51
Bemer questioned payment of a bill to Wedel’s Nursery in the amount of $603.31 for flowers for the hill in
the park. She also questioned about the bill having the dates May 24, 2007 to May 20, 2009. Discussion was held and a decision was made to hold the payment for further review.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick, to approve the bills in the amount of $64,271.20. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
10. LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
There was no public comment.
11. BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. DPW COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 18, 2009 – CHAIR KUCINICH
Kucinich reported that the committee talked about the landscaping bid and discussed a new garage door for the old salt barn for the sum of $9976.00. The committee decided not to proceed at this time.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 17, 2009 – ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SPULICK
Spulick stated that the Planning Commission approved the site plan for Phase 1 & 2 for McGillen’s Crossing subject to the conditions that had to be met per Karl Freed’s memo.
(Liaison Markle was excused from the meeting)
12. STAFF REPORTS
A. POLICE REPORT – CHIEF VERHAGE
Chief VerHage reported that during the month of May there were 103 calls for service and 44 citations with 50 charges. He stated that the Neighborhood watch has had 2 meetings so far and has received a few more calls. The meetings are held on the third Monday of the month. Bemer questioned the Chief about blight at West Point and who was responsible for it. The Chief said he will check into it. The park used to take care of it but it is now down to only one handyman.
13. OLD BUSINESS
A. NORTH MAIN STREET CORRIDOR FROM FRONT TO FRENCH
Karl Freed stated he remembered a discussion several months ago about the N. Main Street corridor from Front to French Road. He has contacted the MEDC about some grant funds with the LDFA and DDA paying the local match, he was told that we might get 15K to 20K, which we would need to match with the like amounts from each entity. Karl is wondering if Council wants to pursue this or if this is even a viable idea at this time.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick, to send this to DDA and LDFA to see if they still are interested in doing this. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
Per Accountant Dan Veldhuizen we need to make the following budget adjustments before the audit and the fiscal year ends on July 1, 2009. These accounts are all over budget and need to be adjusted to balance before we complete the audit.
1. 101-191 Elections for $460.00
2. 202-478 Major Street Winter for $6,400.00
3. 203-478 Local Street Winter for $1,300.00
4. 203-480 Local Street Traffic Signs for $ 9.00
Motion by Markle, support by Bemer to make a budget adjustment before the fiscal year ends. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
B. BUDGETED ITEMS FOR COMING FISCAL YEAR
Please see Superintendent Anthony’s memo.
Superintendent Anthony stated that these were three budgeted engineering projects for the next year. What he wanted to know was how the Council wants to proceed with them. He gave his recommendation to use Fleis and Vandenbrink for two of them and Whitman and Associates for the other. The purchasing ordinance allows for approving the contracts without the bidding process taking place.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick, to send to DPW for additional fact finding. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
C. ANNUAL COMPUTER PROGRAM UPDATES
Please see Superintendent Anthony’s memo
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to purchase the Software Program for a five year subscription $3357.60, and to pay it in this year’s budget. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
D. MAIN STREET BRIDGE INSPECTION & REHABILITATION
Please see Superintendent Anthony’s memo
Superintendent Anthony requested the Council approve the design phase of the Local Bridge Program Rehabilitation Improvement Project. The cost is $9950.00, and it has been budgeted.
Motion by Markle, support by Spulick, to approve the design phase in the amount of $9950.00 for the Main Street (railroad) Bridge. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
E. PUBLIC HEARING DATE
Public hearing date set for July 13, 2009 for a variance for McGillen’s Crossing.
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to set a public hearing date of July 13th 2009 for a variance for McGillen’s Crossing. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
15. COMMUNICATIONS
a. MML Legislative Link for June 9, and June 16, 2009
b. Memo for Ruth Goheen regarding vacation
c. Letter from Tom DeBoer
d. Letter from Lori Anthony regarding Citizen of the Year Award.
e. Neighborhood Watch
f. Thank you letter to Chief VerHage
g. Southwest Michigan Trails Summit
h. MPI Wind Turbine Presentation
(MPI would like to invite the Council to this meeting)
16. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS
Chris Ballingall stated she attended her first neighborhood watch. She was disappointed that East Point was only made up of Council members, but the South side didn’t have any. She said it was very informative. She also asked about getting flags for Main Street and just keeping them up from Memorial Day until July 4th. That way the wear and tear wouldn’t be so bad.
Tom Anthony stated there was a Southwest Michigan Trail Summit June 25th from 6-8:30 at the Kalamazoo County fair grounds about a nine county trail system they’re working on. Superintendent Anthony will attend.
Joe Alexander stated that the gravel and asphalt will be going in next week and to thank Karl Freed and his team for all his hard work.
17. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Spulick made a motion support by Bemer, to enter the thank you note the Chief received into his personal file.
Kucinich stated that Tom Anthony was voted citizen of the year and a letter of recommendation from Jim Wheeldryer to be put into his personal file. Motion by Markle, support by Bemer. All members voted in favor.
Bemer asked about a date set for installation of the handrail. Superintendent Anthony will be looking into that. He also stated that there is going to be a MDOT meeting to discuss plans for the bridge (I-94) sometime in July with the Council. The meeting will be made on an off Council night.
Bemer asked what the status for the wall on Main Street was. Anthony stated we were not liable for it. It is the resident’s property. Bemer stated she will do a background check on it. Anthony said he will check with the Boy and Girl Scouts and see if they are interested in maintaining it. Bemer asked Anthony to wait until Thursday so she can look into it.
18. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:55PM.
