Meeting Minutes for August 1, 2005

OFFICIAL COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 1, 2005

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Harbor Beach was held on Monday,
August 1, 2005 at City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Swartz.

Present: Kleinknecht, Semp, Wood and Mayor Swartz
Finance Officer Youatt

Absent: Schelke and Engineer Bergdolt (both with notice)

Corrections/Additions to Agenda: Water and Sewer Connection Fees was added to the agenda as item # 3 under Old Business.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Semp to approve the minutes of the July 18, 2005 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Semp to approve the minutes of the July 25, 2005
joint Water and Sewer Committee meeting as presented. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

Bills for July 2005 in the amount of $ 220,170.48 were presented to Council. It was moved by Wood, seconded by Semp to approve payment of the bills as presented. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

A bill from Wade-Trim in the amount of $ 630.00 for design engineering for the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project was presented to Council. It was moved by Semp, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of the bill as presented. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

Citizen Comment: A suggestion was made that the City should send a letter to the Coast Guard rejecting ownership of the Lighthouse if the Coast Guard moves forward with solarization of the Lighthouse. Youatt stated that the City has been working with the Harbor Beach Lighthouse Preservation Society regarding the ownership and solarization/restoration of power issues with the Coast Guard and the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Youatt stated the City is optimistic that the power will be restored to the Lighthouse by the Coast Guard and that any position regarding ownership will be made in conjunction with HBLPS officials.

The Chamber of Commerce has been contacted by a group proposing to establish a Heritage Water Trail that would include Harbor Beach. Youatt stated he has attended a meeting regarding this issue and the City is interested in participating.

OLD BUSINESS: Youatt provided an update to Council and the public regarding the Dangerous Building process. City Attorney John Ferris is in the process of sending letters to the four property owners/tenants requesting an inside inspection of their houses. Attorney Ferris recommended the letters be sent prior to going to court to seek a court order for these inspections. Youatt also presented Written Findings of Fact from testimony received at the July 7, 2005 Council meeting.

OFFICIAL COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS PAGE 2
AUGUST 1, 2005

OLD BUSINESS (continued): Council reviewed a proposal from Wade-Trim to provide construction engineering services for the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project at a cost of
$ 7,800.00. It was moved by Wood, seconded by Semp to approve the proposal as submitted.
Motion carried. 4 yeas.

Council discussed the water and sewer connection fees for property owners in Stoneybrook Subdivision who have built houses in the last two to three years and who have not been billed due to administrative problems. The Water and Sewer Committees met on July 25, 2005 and have recommended that these connection fees be billed as soon as possible along with a letter regarding the administrative problems. Youatt also reviewed with Council changes in the site application form to include the water and sewer connection fee permit application forms in order to eliminate communication problems. Council requested specific information regarding which property owners have not paid these connection fees. Youatt also presented information regarding the 2002 water and sewer rate study done by ACI Finance, which stated typical water connection fees from $ 500 to $ 1,500. Youatt stated Council at that time approved the lowest recommended amount of $ 500 in order to encourage development. It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to table this issue until the August 15, 2005 Council meeting. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

NEW BUSINESS: A bid was received from Saginaw Asphalt to resurface the City Hall parking area at a cost of $ 21,849.25. Youatt stated that due to low interest of bidders and bad timing for going out for bid that Council reject the bid and re-advertise for bids for this project in early 2006. It was moved by Semp, seconded by Kleinknecht to reject the bid as submitted and to re-advertise for bids in early 2006. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

Engineer Report: Youatt read the report as submitted.

Finance Officer Report: The meeting with the Coast Guard at the Community House on July 26th was attended by over 100 people from the community. The City will continue to work with U.S.
Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congresswoman Candice Miller regarding this issue. Application for continued liability and property insurance coverage with Meadowbrook Insurance was submitted recently. The annual Our Lady of Lake Huron festival was well attended with no major problems.

Council Reports: The Carriage House Art Fair is coming up on August 14th and 15th. The OLLH
Festival was successful.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m

_________________________
Tom Youatt, City Clerk