Lake Linden Village Council
Regular Meeting
November 10th, 2011
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:, Hoffman, Frendewey, Schuldt. Hamlin, Vendlinski and Frohmader.
Approval of Minutes:
A motion was made by Trustee Frendewey and supported by Trustee Schuldt to approve the October 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 Hamlin, supported by Trustee Vendlinski, to approve the agenda. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Public Comments:
Grant Cox, a representative of the Michigan Tech Mini-Baja team was on hand to brief the council on preparations for the event to be held on February 18th, 2012. He said they hoped to grow the number of entrants over the 15 schools and 40 cars from last year. There was a discussion of track layout, spectator area and about how the new ice rink area would play into the scheme. The conversation resulted in a pledge from the council to provide support from the public works department and use of the venue as in previous years, stating that the event was one of the most popular in the village throughout the year.
Bills and Financial Statement:
The bills and financials were introduced. The clerk pointed out that there were several large expenses related to preparing the heavy equipment for the winter months. Trustee Frohmader said he would get a list of priorities as far as repairing and replacing equipment from foreman Ron Schmitt.
Upon review of the attached monthly expenses, Trustee Frendewey supported by Trustee Schuldt made a motion to approve the following totals for payment:
General Fund $28,623.66
Water Fund $10,019.81
Major Streets Fund $ 1,758.92
Local Streets Fund $ 2,570.08
Municipal Streets Fund $ 500.00
Sanitation Fund $ 8,715.29
TOTAL $52,187.76
Poll vote: Yes: Frendewey, Frohmader, Schuldt, Hoffman, Vendlinski, Hamlin and Fisher.
No: None.
Motion carried.
Correspondence/Clerk’s Information:
Clerk Poirier presented a letter he drafted and signed by President Fisher to the Department of Treasury stating the Village’s compliance with Public Act 152. He said the Act placed caps on the amounts municipalities could pay for benefits and, depending on “opt-out” options by the Council, could affect the amounts currently paid for those purposes. Poirier said that the Village was in compliance because all eligible employees were covered under a binding contract, either a collective bargaining agreement or a work contract, signed prior to September 30th. Fisher reiterated the intention to re-open the negotiations for employee cost-share for health coverage after the first contract year which would be ending on June 30th, 2012.
Poirier said at the last meeting the Torch Lake Area Sewage Authority Board had presented a letter in which they sought a cost-share for a sewer service project on Gregory Street they claimed had been complicated by the previous placement of a Village water main. The issue had been tabled in October pending an opinion from the DPW. Poirier said there was no support for the cost-share from foreman Ron Schmitt. The Council unanimously agreed they would not approve the TLASA request for compensation. The Council said in future situations where a cost share was sought the Village should be notified prior to the work being done.
Poirier said the next phase of the Economic Vitality Incentive program, a Village plan for consolidation, was due by the end of the calendar year. He said he would outline some ideas and send them out for comments to the trustees, hopefully compiling them for the December meeting in time for the deadline.
Poirier also introduced a grant program from the Michigan Par-Plan, the village’s insurance carrier, intended to solicit requests that helped municipalities to mitigate risk. He said over the past two years the Council had looked into getting a video surveillance system in place in the park but the available funds were never enough to get an adequate system. He asked the Council to approve his applying for the $7,500 grant. The following resolution was offered:
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the incidents of vandalism have increased in the Lake Linden Village Park over the past few years, and
Whereas, there has been an expansion of services and facilities over the past few years, including a new gazebo and picnic area, new parking lot/ice rink lighting and rental slips at the Village marina, and
Whereas, the law enforcement budget has been strained in trying to maintain an effective and responsive Village Police Department, and
Whereas, the Council has, in recent past, attempted to find enough money in the recreation budget to augment security for this area,
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Village Council authorizes the development and submission of a grant application by the Village Clerk to the Michigan Township Participating Plan Risk Reduction Grant Program and also designates the clerk as grant project manager should the application be successful.
Motion to approve by Trustee Schuldt with support from Trustee Hamlin.
Yeas: Schuldt, Hamlin, Frendewey, Frohmader, Vendlinski, Hoffman and Fisher.
Nays: None.
Resolution adopted this 10th day of November, 2011.
Poirier said that a good faith, in-kind match would be favorably received by the grantors and pointed out that $500 had previously been approved by the Council for a video system. It was agreed that the approved amount could be used to prepare the camera sites for connections should funding be awarded and that if the costs were slightly more the Council would see that the installation was completed to get the system up and running.
Poirier introduced a press release and a bulleted list of facts about the USEPA cleanup project beginning at the C & H power plant just south of the village on M-26. He said the project was being conducted by Honeywell and the federal government to clean up the many forms of contamination detected on the property. He said although it was privately owned by the Meneguzzo’s they were not involved in the cleanup and had no say in how it would be conducted. Poirier said the trustees had all the information so if they were asked they could refer people to the proper outlets.
Poirier said he was getting involved in the Christmas Festival this year with Cristy and Sarah Batzel and was hoping the Council would approve a small stipend to help out with event costs. Fisher said he hoped the clerk would ask the DDA, which the clerk then agreed to do.
Committee Reports:
Executive (Chair: Trustee Fisher):
Fisher introduced some data to support the hiring of a 4th part-time DPW worker for the winter months. He gave some financial reasons for the recommendation and Poirier also stated that this was his recommendation as well. He said the 4th person would be a net gain financially for the general fund because of the equipment rentals generated through the winter months. He said the strain would show up in the street funds as they would bear the financial brunt. Fisher and Poirier both reiterated that the nature of the winter operations lent themselves better to a fourth worker as well. Poirier said that another consideration was that retired foreman Jude Kalcich was also the most experienced operator and mechanic of the group and that this would mean a less efficient operation initially until the new crew could gain experience and start working together without Jude. After a brief discussion and several questions regarding what the hours and schedule of a 4th person would look like, a motion was made by Trustee Hamlin and supported by Trustee Frendewey to approve the hiring of a 3-day per week equipment operator in the public works department. Poll vote: Yes; Hamlin, Frendewy, Vendlinski, Frohmader, Schuldt, Hoffman and Fisher. No; None. Motion was carried.
Poirier introduced 2012 renewal rates for the Blue Cross Blue Shield health coverage. He said the options appeared much better than anticipated because of a 20.7% rate reduction over the current rates. He said he would clarify some things with new agent Vincent Babcock, who would come to the December meeting if necessary to explain one of the options for coverage which included co-insurance coverage and a potential exposure of much more than the budget number for BCBS. The decision to continue the coverage could be made at that time.
President Fisher informed the Council that he had met with each member of the public works crew regarding the probationary appointment of Ron Schmitt as foreman. He said he and the guys have seen a change for the positive from Ron since the promotion. He has been engaged, helpful and eager to tackle projects. His attendance, an issue in the recent past, has also been very good. His recommendation, now that the 90-day probationary period was ending, was that Ron Schmitt be appointed to the foreman position for the three-year duration of the collective bargaining agreement. A motion was made by Trustee Hamlin and supported by Trustee Frendewey to support the recommendation and approve the appointment. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Utilities and Services(Chair: Hamlin):
Fisher introduced a spreadsheet outlining the last three years profit & loss statements in the water fund. He said the trend was that, although there had been some small increases in the past year and a half, revenues were not keeping up with expenses, leaving the Village at risk if a major repair problem arose. He introduced a second spreadsheet that outlined details of a 5% rate increase. He said it would net about $8,000 over the course of a year which would peek the revenues above the expenses for now. Trustee Vendlinski asked about the water meter replacement program plans and Fisher said even if the process were started now the funding for such a plan would not come into being for 6-9 months anyway. Poirier said the intention of that program was that in some manner it would be amortized through a separate fee on the bill rather than built into the rate structure. Fisher said that a public hearing to listen to comment on the rate increase would be held before the December meeting on December 8th.
Buildings & Parks(Chair: Trustee Frendewey):
There was a brief discussion regarding the reservation process for reserving sites for the July 4th weekend of 2012. It was decided that there would be options discussed for the December meeting.
Equipment(Chair: Trustee Frohmader):
Fisher and Frohmader said that they would consult with Ron Schmitt about compiling a list of equipment priorities to address when funds were available.
Streets(Chair: Schuldt):
No report.
Public Safety(Chair: Trustee Hoffman):
The police report was read into the record. Several issues about the report were discussed and a motion was made by trustee Hamlin and supported by Trustee Schuldt to approve the report as submitted. All were in favor. Motion was carried.
Zoning/Ordinance Task Force:
Clerk Poirier said he was meeting with the Par Plan insurance representative about complying with several recommendations for their coverage. He said a draft copy of the Employee Handbook would be reviewed prior to the December meeting.
He said that at a meeting with the Village auditor he was presented a new mandatory policy for the Village. Poirier said he would have a draft of a Fund Balance Policy for review.
Downtown Development Authority:
President Fisher introduced Patrick Curtin and Sam Lockwood to address the Council on an exciting new initiative at the E-Center in Lake Linden. Mr. Curtin, a baker who was already using space at the center to bake artisan breads for local markets and restaurants, informed the Council about an effort to expand the current Farmer’s Market into a three or four season venture with those services offered at the facility. A gluten-free bakery was being proposed, along with the possibilities of hydroponics and several options such as leasing baking space, indoor markets year-round, and various others that could grow from this new E-Center “incubator” type facility.
To this end, Fisher explained, a program known as the Farm-to-Food program, funded through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, offered an opportunity to get needed funds for this proposed ventures. The Farm to Food Farmers Market program is designed to promote the local consumption of produce by expanding direct producer-to-consumer opportunities. Fisher said that the impending deadline for the proposal to MEDC, which required municipal sponsorship, meant that he (Fisher) signed the pre-application for submission to formally begin the process.
Now, the Council needed to determine if this project was a viable and worthwhile pursuit so the application process could continue. After a brief discussion, in which the trustees expressed overwhelming and unanimous support, the following resolution was considered.
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the Village Council has expressed its commitment to encouraging and enhancing economic development in the community as indicated in the Strategic Plan (2009-2014), and
Whereas, the opportunity to further this commitment presented itself in a very compressed time frame through a grant opportunity from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Farm To Food Program, and
Whereas, property-owner support, business-owner support and private-source financial support for the project had already been pledged in time to meet the deadline, and
Whereas, the pre-application commitment required no monetary pledge of support, and could ultimately be rescinded by the Council with no financial repercussions,
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Village Council unanimously supports the Village President’s decision to meet the pre-application deadline by signing and releasing the Farm to Food Grant proposal to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for an indoor, 3-season Farmer’s Market and improved and expanded kitchen facilities in the Lake Linden Entrepreneurial Center in the amount of $289,000. The Council also unanimously supports the efforts of the Old School Baking Company and property owner Tim Lyons to attract new businesses to the community through this endeavor.
Motion to approve by Trustee Hamlin with support from Trustee Frendewey.
Yeas: Hamlin, Frendewey, Frohmader, Vendlinski, Schuldt, Hoffman and Fisher.
Nays: None.
Resolution adopted this 10th day of November, 2011.
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Robert A. Poirier, Village Clerk
The Council further pledged to continue to work closely with the private sector to support business enhancement initiatives within the Village of Lake Linden.
No report.
Lake Linden Housing Commission
President Fisher reported that Howard Trevarrow, a commissioner on the housing Board, had recently passed away.
Youth Council (Chair: Vendlinski)
No report.
Late Agenda Items:
None.
New Business:
None.
Old Business:
None.
Announcements:
None.
Adjournment:
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Hoffman and supported by Trustee Schuldt. All were in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm. There were 3 members of the public in attendance.
_____________________________ __________________________
Edward R Fisher, Village President Robert A. Poirier, Village Clerk