Meeting Minutes for August 6, 2007

OFFICIAL COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 6, 2007

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Harbor Beach was held on Monday,
August 6, 2007 at City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Swartz.

Present: Burkhard, Goniewicha, Kleinknecht, Wood and Mayor Swartz
Finance Officer Youatt, DPW Foreman Shedd and Zoning Administrator Lermont

Absent: None

Corrections/Additions to Agenda: It was moved, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve the minutes of the July 16, 2007 Council meeting with the addition of a moment of silence for former State Representative Tom Meyer at the beginning of the meeting. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Wood to approve the minutes of the July 2, 2007 Police Committee meeting as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Goniewicha to approve the minutes of the July 19, 2007 Negotiating Committee meeting as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Bills for July 2007 in the amount of $ 329,111.31 were presented to Council. It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of the bills as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Wade-Trim bills for SRF construction engineering for $13,146.23 and SRF design engineering for $ 81,000 were presented to Council. Also, a bill from Dickinson-Wright for bond counsel for the SRF Loan for $ 24,300 was presented to Council. It was moved by Burkhard, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of the bills as presented. Youatt stated that request for disbursement was made to DEQ for the Wade-Trim design engineering bill and for the Dickinson-Wright bond counsel bill and both were approved. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Pay Certificate #2 to RCL Construction in the amount of $ 191,427.00 for the Sanitary Sewer Retention Basin (SRF) project was presented to Council. It was moved by Goniewicha, seconded by Kleinknect to approve payment of the bill as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Citizen Comment: Bill Duerr inquired about the Maritime Festival revenue and expenses. A final accounting will be available by end of month as bills and revenue are still coming in.

Jack Kriete questioned the donation of a public address/sound system to the City from the Maritime Festival Committee. Councilmember Kleinknecht stated the funds for the purchase were from the raffle, which is a separate fund from the Maritime Festival account.

Lee Elliott questioned the operation and maintenance agreement with Wade-Trim. Mayor Swartz explained the process for filling vacancies created by the retirement of Water Plant Superintendent Aaron Miller and Water Plant Operator Ron Badgley and DEQ requirements for a licensed Superintendent. Youatt stated the City would be subject to major fines from DEQ for not having a properly licensed Superintendent.

Chris Diehl asked about maintenance of the streetlights in Stoneybrook Subdivision. Youatt asked if there were any special assessments for maintenance of streetlights. Mr. Diehl stated there were none. Youatt stated the City would maintain the streetlights.

Mayor Swartz reviewed Citizen Thoughts and Feelings form numbers 48, 49 and 52 submitted by Wendell Koehn. Number 48 thanked the DPW crew for cleaning out catch basins and the Police Department for their work at the Maritime and OLLH Festivals. Number 49 questioned how the City and Zoning Administrator handle dangerous and blighted buildings. Number 52 was in regard to how the Finance officer perceived the progressiveness of City Council.

Bill Duerr inquired about odor issues in the City. Mayor Swartz read a letter received recently from Detroit Edison regarding how they are in compliance with DEQ regulations on air quality and air emissions. Also, that Sensient Flavors provided a similar letter last fall and Dow AgroSciences will be providing a letter as well.

OLD BUSINESS: Council reviewed a bid received from Mike Smalley for purchase of the 1986 Holder in the amount of $ 2,895.00. No other bids were received. It was moved by Burkhard, seconded by Goniewicha to approve sale of the 1986 Holder to Mike Smalley, “as is,” for $ 2,895.00, as bid. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve purchase of a 2007 C9.88 Holder Municipal Tractor from Bell Equipment Company, Lake Orion, Michigan, for $ 85,600.00. DPW Foreman Shedd answered questions regarding the Holder tractor. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

NEW BUSINESS: Council reviewed a recommendation received from the Planning Commission to amend Section 1808, Line 2 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow parking of a camper in the owners driveway for a period of 72 hours once over 30 days. Zoning Administrator Lermont answered questions from Council. Youatt stated the Zoning Administrator Lermont uses good judgment in enforcing the current section of the Zoning Ordinance and recommended leaving the ordinance as is. Following discussion, it was moved by Wood, seconded by Burkhard to leave the ordinance as is. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Zoning Administrator Lermont reviewed a request from the Planning Commission to have Council approve appointment of an ad-hoc Committee to research a proposed International Property Maintenance Code. Mr. Lermont explained the benefits of approving the Code or even a part of it. Mayor Swartz will review persons interested in serving on a Committee and will report back at the next Council meeting.

Engineer Report: Youatt reviewed the Engineer Report dated August 6, 2007 as submitted by Cory Davis and Dave Bergdolt, Wade-Trim. There was discussion regarding the delay in relocation of overhead electric lines at the sewer retention basin site, which Youatt reported was being resolved.

Finance Officer Report: Reported receipt of a letter from Rae Marie Szudzik requesting waiving the fee for garage sale permits for August 10th through August 12th to have the City participate in the Thumb Antique Yard Sale. Meetings have been held regarding a possible new provider of health insurance and will continue to work on cost reductions. The City auditors, Nietzke and Faupel, PC CPA, will start the City’s fiscal year audit next week. Forms have been submitted to the City’s liability and property insurance firm, Meadowbrook Insurance, to obtain a new policy, which would start August 15th. The City received an additional $ 5,000.00 donation from the Harbor Beach Athletic Association for the Davidson Park tennis and basketball court project. Youatt reported he will be on vacation the remainder of the week.

Council Reports: Noted Nick Roggenbuck passed the test for his first wastewater license. Reported some dogs were on the bike/pedestrian path without a leash. Parks and Recreation Department will hold a sale of unused items this weekend. A letter of thanks and appreciation was received from the Tip of the Thumb Water Trail group for the event held on May 19th and 20th. Mayor Swartz reported on attending the annual Harbor Beach Resort meeting and presenting a Proclamation to the Association congratulating them on the completion of construction of their new clubhouse facility.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

Tom Youatt, City Clerk