Meeting Minutes for July 16, 2007

OFFICIAL COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
JULY 16, 2007

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Harbor Beach was held on Monday, July 16, 2007 at City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m. by Mayor Swartz.

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

Also Present: Department Heads Cregeur, Schock, Wruble, Harder and Rutkowski (Wade-Trim)

Absent: Burkhard and DPW Foreman Shedd (both with notice)

Corrections/Additions to Agenda: It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Goniewicha to approve the agenda with the addition of Citizens Comments. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Goniewicha, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve minutes of the July 2, 2007 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of a bill from JJR in the amount of $ 69.96 for copies of the Waterfront Plan. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Goniewicha, seconded by Wood to approve payment of a bill from Wade-Trim in the amount of $ 498.67 for survey work for Davidson Park. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of a bill from Wade-Trim in the amount of $ 12,196.60 for operation and maintenance of the Water Treatment Plant for June 2007. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve payment of a bill from Wade-Trim in the amount of $ 1,447.37 for IPP Management assistance. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Goniewicha to approve payment of Pay Certificate # 1 to RCL Construction in the amount of $ 40,455.00 for the Sanitary Sewer Retention Basin (SRF) project. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

Mayor Swartz presented framed copies of Resolutions of Tribute and retirement gifts to former Water Plant Superintendent Aaron Miller and former Water Plant Operator Ron Badgley.

Department Head Reports: Recreation Director Wruble reported on successful completion of the dredging project at the Marina, which was done by the Army Corps of Engineers. 56 of the 72 concrete barriers for reducing silt infiltration have been constructed. About the same number of seasonal campers are at North Park this year (approximately 90). Transient camping has been good, especially on weekends. The creek embankment repair project was completed this spring. One restroom/shower building at North Park has been painted. Horseshoe pits and a drinking fountain will be installed this summer at North Park. Netting has been installed on top of the fences at Bruce Johnson ball fields. The tennis court and basketball court project at Davidson Park will be completed soon with the fencing almost done and the painting and striping to be done soon. The fence poles needed 16 yards of cement. A grand opening of the Huron Water Trail was held this spring at Bathing Beach Park with many people attending. The summer recreation program has started with good attendance. The Maritime Festival was successful and well attended.

Police Chief Schock reported that there were no complaints related to the Maritime Festival this year. As recommended by the Police Committee, Kevin Knoblock has been hired as a part-time police officer. Bullet resistant vests have been purchased through a federal grant. The Dodge Charger is in service.

Wastewater Plant Superintendent Cregeur reported there have been no weather related events this summer. About 492,000 gallons of sludge was removed and land applied. The D.O. probes (dissolved oxygen) were replaced in the north oxidation ditch. Also, the return flow meter was replaced. Variable speed rotors will need replacing soon. Dow AgroSciences has slowed down for maintenance. They have started ramping up their new bio-reactor which will generate more solids.

DPW Foreman Shedd provided Council with a written report, which Finance Officer Youatt reviewed. Work performed by the DPW crew included mowing grass, flushing hydrants, reading water meters, repairing storm sewer on Ferris Street, repairing water mains on Fourth Street and
Lytle Avenue, cleaning sewers, cutting down ash trees at North Park, seal coating pavers downtown, putting banners up and sweeping all City streets.

Water Plant Supervisor Ken Rutkowski and Lead Operator Neal Harder from Wade-Trim were present and explained their work experience to Council. Mr. Harder has an F-2 license, which is required by DEQ. The transition has gone well at the Water Plant and Lloyd Kramer has provided much assistance. A letter was received from DEQ regarding recommendations related to the Water Plant, which Wade-Trim is following up on. Communication is good with DEQ regarding the transition and all is going well.

Citizen Comment: Bill Duerr stated the grass needs cutting on the property behind the Anchorage Restaurant. Youatt stated he will report it to DPW Foreman Shedd.

Rae Me Szudzik, Chamber of Commerce, asked Council if they would waive the garage sale permit fee of $ 5.00 for the Huron Shore Garage Sale event on August 10, 11 and 12. Garage sales will be held from New Baltimore to Bay City. It was moved by Kleinknecht, seconded by Wood to waive the permit fee for this weekend, only, contingent upon receiving a written request from the Chamber. Motion carried. 4 yeas.

NEW BUSINESS: Council discussed the proposed purchase of a 2007 Holder C9.88 Municipal Tractor for the DPW Department. Youatt stated that the 1986 Holder needed replacement and explained the variety of work the machine could perform, from cutting grass, loading snow and plowing sidewalks. Youatt was asked if the attachments would fit on the new unit and Youatt stated he thought they would. Council discussed the trade-in amount of $ 2,000 and questioned if it was too low. Youatt stated the market for a 20 year old commercial unit would be limited. Following further discussion, it was moved by Wood, seconded by Kleinknecht to approve the purchase of a new Holder from Bell Equipment, Lake Orion, Michigan, as presented, at a cost of $ 84,600 with trade in of the 1986 Holder C500. Motion defeated. 2 yeas (Kleinknecht and Wood). 2 nays (Goniewicha and Mayor Swartz). Council recommended Youatt advertise for bid sale of the old Holder in local newspapers and also to contact the dealer to see if the price could be reduced.

OLD BUSINESS: None

Engineer Report: Wade-Trim Engineer Cory Davis was present and discussed the status of the Sanitary Sewer Retention Basin project with Council. Shop drawings have been submitted by RCL for approval. Consumers Energy has relocated the gas main. RCL will begin construction with installation of the new sanitary sewer main from the pump station north to the new basin site.

Finance Officer Report: A Police Union negotiation meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 19. The Committee suggested a 4:00 p.m. meeting time. The Maritime Festival was very successful with very good attendance this year.

Council Reports: Mayor Swartz thanked Mayor Pro-Tem Kleinknecht for all his work on the Maritime Festival. Mayor Pro-Tem Kleinknecht provided Council and the public with a recap of the Festival this year. Mayor Swartz asked Finance Officer Youatt about the streetlights in Stoneybrook Subdivision. Youatt stated he was reviewing the contract.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:08 p.m.

Tom Youatt, City Clerk