Meeting Minutes for February 19, 2008

OFFICIAL COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 19, 2008

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Harbor Beach was held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 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

Absent: None

It was moved by Burkhard, seconded by Goniewicha, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Burkhard, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve minutes of the February 4, 2008 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Citizen Comment: Cindy Goniewicha questioned when the City would begin the process to adopt a new City Charter. Mayor Swartz indicated that as soon as the employment contracts are settled, work will begin on a new Charter.

Jack Kriete suggested the public notice board at City Hall be moved into the foyer area to allow for 24 hour inspection. It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to move the public notice board into the foyer area of City Hall. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Bill Duerr questioned why the minutes of Council meetings were not updated on the City website. Youatt indicated there were recent computer problems which are being addressed and updates will be made as soon as possible on the website.

Mayor Swartz indicated a letter was received which he copied and has made available to the public with other information for tonight’s Council meeting.

OLD BUSINESS: Council discussed proposals from DTE Energy to remove 2 poles and equipment, to bury electric wires underground for the new Sanitary Sewer Retention Basin and to provide an easement for same. Following further discussion, it was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to table these 3 issues until the next Council meeting. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Resolution # 2008-04, “AFSCME Union Employment Agreement,” was presented to Council. The proposed Employment Agreement would run from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010 and includes a 1 ½ % increase for each year of the 3 year Agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2007. The Resolution also authorizes the Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem and City Clerk to execute same on behalf of the City. It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Goniewicha to adopt Resolution # 2008-04 as presented. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

NEW BUSINESS: Ken Rutkowski, Wade-Trim, was present and discussed a request to increase the Repair and Maintenance line item to $ 15,000, an increase of $ 5,000, for the current fiscal year budget. He explained the need for the additional $ 5,000 was to cover calibration of meters and addition of coal in the filtration units as required by DEQ. Following discussion, it was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Wood to approve amending the Repair and Maintenance line item in the Water Fund for the current fiscal year budget by $ 5,000, as requested. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Burkhard to approve the 2008 Harbor Beach Area Fire Department appropriation in the amount of $ 54,422.92, which is calculated based upon a 2006 population census of 1,689 people in the City. If this population is not accurate, the City will make up the difference. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Council reviewed a proposed change order for the Sanitary Sewer Retention Basin project. Youatt explained the request is in regard to relocation of a water line away from the electrical panel in the utility area, as required by Electric Code. Cost for the change order is $ 2,540 for relocation of the water line and $ 1,916 for installation of a sump pump, for a total of $ 4,456. As part of the proposed change order, RCL Construction requested the addition of 10 working days to the contract. It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Goniewicha to approve the change order, without the addition of 10 working days to the contract. Motion carried. 5 yeas.

Engineer Report: Council reviewed the Engineer Report dated February 18, 2008.

Finance Officer Report: Youatt reported the City submitted a revised Basis of Design to DEQ for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Friday, February 22nd. Also reported attending a DEQ meeting regarding the Brownfield program in Lansing last week. Work on the 2008-09 fiscal year budget will begin next month.

Council Reports: Councilmember Goniewicha asked about advertising for the Assessing Services contract. Youatt stated advertisements were placed in both the “Huron Daily Tribune” and the “Harbor Beach Times.”

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

Tom Youatt, City Clerk