January 12, 2009 Minutes
VILLAGE OF MATTAWAN
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 12, 2009
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ATTENDANCE
Present: Kucinich, Kirklin, Bemer, McLean, Markle, Spulick, Ashbaugh
Others present: Attorney Graham, Superintendent Anthony, Karl Freed & Craig Schumaker of Fleis, Ruth Goheen and others.
4. WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC
5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING BEING RECORDED
6. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Item D was added to new business, retention of legal services.
7. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Kucinich, support by Bemer, to approve the agenda with the addition. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
President McLean stated there were two special guests in the audience. Edith Boyle and Arlyene Cox. The old park sign, which Arlyene’s son Jerry Cox has refurbished was dedicated to Edith and Arlyene for all the hard work they did in the park. The sign will hang in Village Hall.
8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 22, 2008
Motion by Bemer, support by Kucinich, to approve the minutes of December 22, 2008 as printed. All members voted in favor.
9. BILLS TO BE APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,111.32
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to pay the bills in the amount of $46,111.32. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
10. LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no limited public comment.
11. BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
There were no board or committee reports.
12. STAFF REPORTS
A. DPW SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT – SUPERINTENDENT ANTHONY
Superintendent Anthony reported the department has replaced a guardrail on McGillen, patching pot holes, and plowing snow. Anthony stated they just replaced one of the carbide blades that lasted all last winter and part of this winter. He was very pleased with the carbide blades. The department put in about 15 hours over last week-end with all the snow. He praised Adams and Stenger for all their efforts with the snow plowing.
Anthony met with Craig Schumaker of Fleis on potential projects for the stimulus package.
Bemer asked about the potted trees in the park and could they possibly put them up along 25th Street to help hide the lift station and treatment plant. Anthony replied probably not as we need a clear view of those buildings for security reasons. Anthony stated they would probably plant the trees where other trees had been removed.
Bemer complemented Superintendent Anthony and his workers for the great job of plowing snow in the Village.
13. OLD BUSINESS
A. BOVEN WATER/SEWER CONCERNS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT
Please see enclosed e-mail and letter addressing Mr. Boven’s concerns.
After some discussion it was decided not to offer a bond for the water/sewer to Mr. Boven and the water/sewer would not be extended by the Village, Mr. Boven would have to hook up on the south end of his property. Boven had made reference to the Glidden project, however, President McLean stated that was a whole different situation, as there was not water or sewer down Glidden where there is water/sewer available for Mr. Boven on his property, it is just not where he wants to hook up to it.
Markle and McLean both stated it was not a good risk for the Village to take at this time.
Motion by Markle, support by Spulick, to decline the request from Mr. Boven to bond the water and sewer and not to extend the water/sewer as he did have access to it on his property. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
B. STIMULUS PACKAGE PROJECTS
Craig Schumaker of Fleis & Vandenbrink passed out a list of possibilities for the stimulus package. There was discussion on going green and Schumaker stated that would probably be a priority for the package. Some other possible projects were added to the list and it was decided to hold a Council and Planning Commission workshop on January 19, 2009 at 6:30 PM.
Motion by Bemer, support by Kirklin, to hold a workshop on Monday January 19th with the Planning Commission to discuss and pick a project for the stimulus package. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
C. PLANNING COMMISSION TRAINING
The tentative dates will be February 19, March 9, or March 19th. MAP will contact the instructors in this area and they will pick one of the above dates and let me know. The cost is $800 for the 5 hour training and $25 per person which covers all materials and booklets for the class that you will take with you. The time of the class will be from 12 Noon to 5 PM. These days are all Thursdays.
They do some evening classes but prefer the day classes if possible. They also will do Saturday training, but again prefer a weekday.
Letters will be sent out to other Municipalities to see how many would like to participate in this training to help defray cost.
Karl Freed of Fleis sent an e-mail regarding the 5 hour training session that will be held in Lawrence on February 25th. Clerk Goheen will call Lawrence and get further information.
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR MICHIGAN MOTOR VEHICLE CODE AND UNIFORM TRAFFIC CODE
This is done every January of each new year.
Motion by Kucinich, support by Markle, to adopt the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic code resolution as printed. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
B. SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF FEBRUAY 9, 2009 TO ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR POLICE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ON REAL PROPERTY ONLY
Public notice will be published two weeks prior to the public hearing. See enclosed public hearing notice.
Motion by Markle, support by Bemer, to set the public hearing date of February 9, 2009 to adopt the resolution for the police special assessment. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
C. CONCORD AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION AND EXTENDING SEWER
Mike McLain of Concord Avenue has Village water but sewer does not extend that far. His septic tank is failing and he asking if there is a possibility of extending sewer on Concord. Please see e-mail enclosed.
Mr. McLain explained his problem with his septic system. He was wondering when and if the Village had any plans to extend sewer down Concord Avenue. His septic is in bad shape and he was looking for a time line. Should he wait and keep pumping it or should he spend the money to put in a new system. Freed explained that even if the Village does do the extension it will take at least several months to finalize all the permits and applications with the DEQ etc. It was suggested that he come to the workshop on Monday to see if this project is something the Village will undertake and then he might have a better time line or be able to make a decision as to what is best for him.
D. RETENTION OF LEGAL SERVICES
Attorney Graham stated he is leaving the firm of Howard and Howard and going out on his own. By law he must let all his clients know his intentions and they can choose to stay with Howard and Howard, or transfer files to him or seek other legal services. His new office is Scott Graham PLLC and is located on Centre Street. Attorney Graham stated the rates would stay the same and actually they have come down from when he first started working with the Village.
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to transfer all files to Scott Graham PLLC and give Clerk Goheen the authority to send a letter of request to Howard and Howard for file transfers if needed. Roll call vote. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
15. COMMUNICATIONS
a. Traffic Study Report
16. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS
Chris Ballingall of 52879 25th Street stated for years the Village has talked about putting in curb and gutters and it never gets done. She would like to see this as a priority for Main and McGillen toward the school. Ballingall stated since the recent fire in East Point she would like to see something mentioned in the January newsletter about residents keeping the fire hydrants cleared to help out the fire department when there is a fire.
17. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
There were no comments from the Council.
18. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 8:06 PM.
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