Lake Linden Village Council
Regular Meeting
June 10th, 2010
The Lake Linden Village Council met on the above date at the Village Hall at 6:40pm. President Fisher presided. The following Trustees responded to roll call: Hamlin, Hoffman, Frohmader, Frendewey, Aittama and Schuldt.
Approval of Minutes:
A motion was made by Trustee Schuldt and supported by Trustee Frendewey to approve the Mayl regular meeting minutes and public hearing minutes as presented. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Approval of Agenda:
A brief discussion of the agenda resulted in one addition and a motion from Trustee Schuldt and supported by Trustee Frohmader to approve as edited. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Public Comments:
None.
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 Hamlin to approve the bills as presented. Poll Vote: Yes: Aittama, Hamlin, Frohmader, Frendewey, Schuldt, Hoffman and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
Correspondence:
Clerk Poirier read a letter from the Michigan Works that stated the Village would receive two summer youth employees if they got enough applicants for the program.
Clerk Poirier read a letter from resident Steven Stoel regarding his desire to volunteer for the Village to help address issues pertaining to disputed lots and land within the Village. After a brief discussion the Council did not think it was a good idea and declined his request.
Susan Burack from the Houghton County Planning Commission submitted an email requesting that the Village Council provide a couple of people to begin discussing the possibility of a combined zoning plan with Schoolcraft and Torch Lake Townships. She said the Planning Commission had resources and the discussions could prove to be fruitful. After a brief discussion the Council agreed to appoint the Village Zoning committee members Brett Hamlin and Glenn Schuldt to the discussions.
Poirier asked the Council if the current authorized signatures needed to be amended for the bank accounts. He said the clerk, treasurer, President and Pro-tem were currently authorized. The Council saw no reason to change the current names.
Clerk Poirier said that Houghton County equalization had sent the 2010 tax information and the Council had to decide whether or not to hold a public hearing. After a brief discussion it was decided to hold a hearing and that the hearing be held on Thursday, June 24th at 6:30pm.
Committee Reports:
Executive (Chair: Trustee Fisher):
President Fisher brought the Council up to date on the MSHDA grant application process. He said there was a walk-through last week with MSHDA representatives and that everything looked very positive. He said they all but let him know that the grant had been funded and that most of the money would go towards a renovation project above the hardware store. He said this grant, at MSHDA’s suggestion, would be for the development of new units in the downtown area and that the Meneguzzo store fit the bill perfectly as plans had already been drawn up.
President Fisher said that the GLRI grant application submitted by OHM-Hitch needed a few more forms but that the word had been received that the money has been allocated. An extra step of getting the money from the ARRA of 2009 was the next hurdle but it looked very good that the project was a go.
President Fisher explained that a situation had come up after Jude excavated to repair a water main leak on the corner of 9th and Gregory Streets. The leak was very near the site of the former underground tanks at Kiilunen’s Repair Shop and Jude encountered some oily sludge at the bottom of the hole. The DNRE and DEQ were contacted and the three days since had resulted in each agency trying not to make a decision as to how to proceed. Water had been pumped out of the hole into a tanker truck owned by Burcar Construction but now it couldn’t be dumped anywhere until samples of the water had been taken. Fisher said the samples were dropped off by him at the White Water lab in Amasa, MI. today and results would determine where the water could be off-loaded. Also, repairs could take place on the main as soon as the results were received. It was still to be determined how to address the apparent contamination at the site and who would be held ultimately responsible for costs.
Fisher once again explained the ongoing morass regarding the Torch Lake Township Assessor and the property tax situation at Rice Lake. He said that a petition to the Michigan State Tax Tribunal would probably be successful in getting the classification changed from residential to timber-cutover, but that it was unlikely to result in a return to exempt status as in the past. Not only that but to have the case heard by the tax Tribunal at all would mean that the village would have to pay the overdue taxes in the amount of nearly $6,000 with no assurance that we would get it back. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to gather all the information and to hold a special meeting to discuss the issue in greater detail. The meeting would be scheduled after the tax hearing on June 24th.
Poirier relayed Public Works foreman Jude Kalcich’s request for summer help in the Village Park. He said that Fran Bessner, the current crossing guard, had expressed interest in the position. Trustee Frohmader said that the position should be posted, at least locally , so that others could have a chance to apply. After a brief discussion it was decided to post it at the local boards for a week to determine if any candidates would be interested.
Utilities/Services (Chair: Trustee Hamlin):
Clerk Poirier outlined a meeting held with Verizon Governmental Service Rep Lisa Wetton. He said the process was under way to enroll so that the Village could decide on the service when the tower comes on line. He said there was no obligation and the plans could be reviewed for costs once the service was available.
Buildings & Parks(Chair: Trustee Frendewey):
President Fisher stated that a search would begin for funds to renovate the boat launch at the Village Marina. He said because of low water levels the ramp could not accept large boats and needed to be back further and sloped less.
Also, the clerk said he would contact Jason Erva to begin plans for the cabins to be built next spring.
Equipment(Chair: Trustee Frohmader):
Trustee Aittama said he noticed the snow blower behind the building and hoped that repairs to the unit were being made and we would have two working units for the next plowing season.
Streets(Chair: Schuldt):
Clerk Poirier informed the Council of a request from a resident for new sidewalks in front of his lot. He asked if the Village would consider paying the entire portion of the sidewalk since he was improving on the exterior of his home. Sidewalk policy is to have the resident pay the cost of the concrete. After a brief discussion it was decided that the request be denied because it would set a bad precedent for the future and because dozens of residents had already improved their sidewalks under the existing policy.
Public Safety(Chair: Trustee Hoffman):
Chair Allan Hoffman informed the Council that interviews with two candidates had been arranged for this coming Saturday. He hoped to have recommendations for the Council soon..
Clerk Poirier said the updated COPS grant application was in the process of being submitted electronically. The forms needed to be redone by June 16th for this round of funding, which is only open to municipalities that had applications in the last round.
A short discussion took place about the possibility of placing a millage question on the ballot in November. The millage, targeted for police, would be further discussed at eh tax hearing on the 24th.
Zoning Task Force:
No report.
Downtown Development Authority:
President Fisher showed the Council a draft of the placemats he and the Print Shop had been working on. He said they hoped to get them out to the local restaurants and businesses soon.
No report.
Lake Linden Housing Commission
No report.
Youth Council:
No report.
Late Agenda Items:
None.
New Business:
None.
Old Business:
None.
Announcements:
Clerk Poirier informed all present that he had received a phone call a day earlier from Steve Balbierz, a Northern Michigan representative for AT & T. Mr Balbierz informed him that AT & T was in “active negotiations” to obtain lease space on the tower to be erected in Lake Linden. He would give no timetable but said he hoped things would go well and it would not be long.
Adjournment:
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Aittama and supported by Trustee Frendewey. All were in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 7:28pm. There were 5 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]