Lake Linden Village Council
Regular Meeting
And Budget Hearing
February 11th, 2010
The Lake Linden Village Council met on the above date at the Village Hall at 6:30pm. President Fisher presided. The following Trustees responded to roll call: Hamlin, Aittama, Frendewey, Frohmader, Schuldt and Hoffman.
Approval of Minutes:
A motion was made by Trustee Frendewey and supported by Trustee Hamlin to approve the November regular meeting minutes as presented. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Approval of Agenda:
A brief discussion of the agenda resulted in a motion from Trustee Schuldt and supported by Trustee Frendewey to approve as submitted. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Public Comments:
Trustee Hamlin gave a brief update on the mini-baja event scheduled for February 20th. Advertising efforts were stressed and he said 40 cars were expected.
Bills and Financial Statement:
The bills and financials were introduced. After a brief discussion a motion was made by Trustee Aittama and supported by Trustee Schuldt to approve the bills as presented. Poll Vote: Yes: Aittama, Schuldt, Frendewey, Hamlin, Hoffman, Frohmader and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
Clerk Poirier introduced the budgets for 2010-11 fiscal year. President Fisher explained he had gone over them in detail with the clerk and treasurer and explained some of the reasoning behind the numbers. A summary budget was also submitted for approval in a format accepted b the state. The general fund budget was balanced and President Fisher said the Council would have to stay very focused on elective spending for this year.
Clerk Poirier said the sanitation and water fund budgets were balanced. Sanitation had a good year and a surplus moving into this fiscal year. The water fund, while balanced, did not have any extra funds for upcoming perspective grant projects. President Fisher said that water rates were going to be discussed later under committee reports. The clerk said the street funds were balanced and solvent and revenues from the state were tenuous for the near future but currently had enough money to provide maintenance and possibly fund a few small projects that could arise during grant work in the upcoming year.
After a few more comments and questions a motion was made by Trustee Aittama and supported by Trustee Frendewey to approve the budgets as presented. Poll vote: Yes; Aittama, Frendewey, Frohmader, Hoffman, Schuldt, Hamlin and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
Correspondence:
Clerk Poirier read an ad solicitation from the LLHHS yearbook staff. After a brief discussion a motion was made by Trustee Hoffman and supported by Trustee Frohmader to approve a quarter-page ad for $65. Poll vote: Yes; Hoffman, Frohmader, Schuldt, Hamlin, Frendewey, Aittama and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
Clerk Poirier introduced a notice of intent comments form from WUPPDR regarding the new proposed transfer station project. He said that comments could be submitted regarding the project and the village could comment about the possibility of keeping or upgrading the recycling aspect of the new station. The Council endorsed submitting this comment.
The clerk said he had additional information regarding the fluoridation of the Village water system. There was a discussion about whether or not to apply but after several comments a decision on the application was tabled and no further action was taken.
Committee Reports:
Executive (Chair: Trustee Fisher):
President Fisher gave an update on the MSHDA grant. He said the Village did not get funded in the winter round of funding but said Ray Gerhart of Northern Consultants was optimistic that the Village could get a grant in the spring, albeit for around $150,000 instead of the $350,000 initially sought. He said he would be working with Mr. Gerhart to get that accomplished.
President Fisher informed the Council that Dick Supina informed him about an opportunity to apply for an Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement grant through the MEDC. He said the goal would be to install water lines and hydrants in the Sibilsky II plat and other areas as a continuation of the effort to improve services. The water lines outlined would provide much needed connections to dead-end lines and improve existing water flows. The hydrants would be installed at locations throughout the Village to enhance fire protection service in underserved areas. He said the details were specified in the proposal drafted by Traverse Engineering and the total project cost was $232,500,. After a brief discussion a motion was made by Trustee Aittama and supported by Trustee Hamlin to approve the application for the ICE grant through the MEDC. Poll vote: Yes; Aittama, Hamlin, Hoffman, Frohmader, Frendewey, Schuldt and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
President Fisher informed the Council that the application for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant as approved at the last meeting had been submitted. The total was $243,000 and would pay for the paving of two parking lots and substantial remediation around the shoreline in the park near the outlet from the storm sewer system on the south end of the village.
President Fisher said we had not yet come up with a number for the Americana grant application for this year. He said discussions about restoring the woodwork on the interior of the village hall had been going on but a final determination had not yet been made.
President Fisher informed the Council that the Youth Council had met and he had been in email contact with the group. They were still seeking two more members to fill out the roster but the first project would be to contact cell phone company officials to…
…lease space on the new tower being constructed in the spring on Gregoire Rd. just outside of town. Clerk Poirier said a company called Central States Tower had staked out land purchased last year. He said Brian Meier, the company rep, had informed him that the tower would hopefully be completed in late spring. Mr Meier said that Verizon Wireless was the only company to sign for space at this point but typically a direct competitor like AT & T would want to sign a lease agreement as well. President Fisher said the students would direct a media campaign geared towards attracting AT & T to lease space on the new tower.
President Fisher said that the committees could be revisited if someone wanted new appointments. He said that trustees could request new assignments until the March meeting when they could be reviewed.
Utilities/Services (Chair: Trustee Hamlin):
President Fisher introduced a spreadsheet detailing a proposed rate increase for Village water. He said the approximately 4% increase would give the village an additional $6,400 per year. After a brief discussion there was no action taken but the review would continue for the March meeting.
President Fisher said he had received the requested reports from the North Houghton County Sewage Authority for their proposed project and he and Jim A. would begin looking them over. He said the point was that if their plan was to put in a storage facility for storing flows then it should be large enough to store all the flows.
Buildings & Parks(Chair: Trustee Frendewey):
Clerk Poirier said he had spoken to Jason Erva, the drafting and building construction teacher at the school about the cabin project in the campground. He said Mr. Erva was excited about the project but thought a full year would be a better idea as he could use the project as a centerpiece for a lesson plan. The Council agreed and Poirier said he would arrange the details with Mr. Erva and amend plans for a spring of 2011 construction.
Equipment(Chair: Trustee Frohmader):
Trustee Aittama stated that he thought the money to repair the snow blower should be expended as soon as possible. He said it was originally purchased to replace the one being utilized but had not yet been restored to working condition.
Streets(Chair: Schuldt):
No report.
Public Safety(Chair: Trustee Hoffman):
Fire Chief Ron Parker was on hand to give the fire report to the Council. He said there were 46 calls in 2009 but only one thus far in 2010. He said the 4th of July activities would be moved up one day because of the holiday falling on a Sunday. He also said one member of the department had resigned and one member, Jared Hendrickson, had applied for membership. Chief Parker said that Chris Lajimodiere, a long-time Village employee and fire department former member had also agreed to act as a sub on the department since there were very few members who worked in town during some weekdays and coverage was very thin. After a brief discussion a motion was made by Trustee Schuldt and supported by trustee Frendewey to appoint Mr. Hendrickson and Mr. Lajimodiere to the respective positions. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Zoning Task Force:
Clerk Poirier said after addressing many of the fiscal policies over the past six months he was beginning work on an Employee Handbook to outline policies and issues for current and perspective employees. He said no handbook currently existed and such policies needed to be drafted into written form.
Downtown Development Authority:
President Fisher explained and introduced a Resolution to amend the DDA district to the Village Council. He explained the background and reasons for the expansion, to include businesses along 9th Street that had been omitted because of the streetscape bond issues. The resolution introduces reads as follows:
RESOLUTION OF INTENT FOR CONTINUATION OF THE LAKE LINDEN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND TO FURTHER AMEND DOWNTOWN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
WHEREAS, Act 197 of the Public Acts of 1975, as amended, entitled Downtown Development Authority, provides that when the governing body of a city, village or township determines that it is necessary for the best interest of the public to halt property value deterioration and increase property tax valuation where possible in its downtown development district, to eliminate the causes of that deterioration, and to promote economic growth; and,
WHEREAS, the Village Council of the Village of Lake Linden has recognized the foregoing problems in its downtown business district, and adopted an ordinance on December 14, 1989, creating a downtown development district and tax increment financing plan, and an amended ordinance on May 11, 1995 continuing the Downtown Development Authority and providing for amended downtown district boundaries and tax increment financing plan; and an amended ordinance on May 8, 2003 continuing the Downtown Development Authority and providing for amended downtown district boundaries and tax increment financing plan and an amended ordinance on March 14, 2006 continuing the Downtown Development Authority and providing for amended downtown district boundaries and tax increment financing plan, and
WHEREAS, Act 197 of the Public Acts of 1975, as amended, provides Downtown Development Authorities with powers and duties to correct and prevent deterioration in business districts and to promote the economic growth of the business district; and,
WHEREAS, the Village of Lake Linden created a Downtown Development Authority with district boundaries, to which the Village Council desires to expand to prevent any further deterioration of property values and to increase property tax values where possible in an expanded downtown business district; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village Council of the Village of Lake Linden hereby declares its intent to continue the Downtown Development Authority pursuant to Act 197 of Public Acts of 1975, as amended; and
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Public Hearing be held on the further expansion of the District boundaries for the downtown district to be held on ________, _________, 2010, at _________ in the evening, at the Village of Lake Linden Hall; and,
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that Notice of Public Hearing shall be provided in accordance with Act 197 of Public Acts of 1975, as amended; and,
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the amended boundary description for the downtown district shall be as set forth on Exhibits 1 and 2 attached; and,
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the Township of Schoolcraft, Township of Torch Lake, Lake Linden-Hubbell School Board, and the Houghton County Board of Commissioners; and,
It is moved by Trustee Hamlin, and seconded by Trustee Schuldt, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.
POLL VOTE: Yes 7 ; No 0; Absent 0.
This Resolution was declared adopted this 11th day of February, 2010.
VILLAGE OF LAKE LINDEN
________________________________________
Robert Poirier, Village Clerk
ATTEST:
________________________________________
Edward R. Fisher, Village President
No report.
Lake Linden Housing Commission
No report.
Late Agenda Items:
None.
New Business:
Clerk Poirier again brought up the idea of holding an annual meeting on the last Thursday in February. He said it was a good opportunity to gather all Village representatives and to conduct the business of appointments, designations and budgets. After a brief discussion it was tabled and no action was taken.
Old Business:
None.
Closed Session: A motion was made by Trustee Frendewey and supported by Trustee Schuldt to enter into closed session to discuss employee issues. Six were in favor with Trustee Aittama opposed. Motion was carried.
Announcements:
None
Adjournment:
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Hamlin and supported by Trustee Frohmader. All were in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm. There were 4 members of the public in attendance.
_____________________________ __________________________
Edward R Fisher, President Robert A. Poirier, Village Clerk
[Posted on the website of the Village of Lake Linden]