July 13, 2009 Council Minutes
VILLAGE OF MATTAWAN
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 13, 2009
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER AT 7:16 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ATTENDANCE
Attendance was taken at ZBA meeting.
4. WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC
5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING BEING RECORDED
6. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
Add new business A. Bloomingdale Communications and move Zoning and Ordinance to Board and Committee reports B.
7. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Markle, support by Bemer to approve the agenda with addition and correction. All
members voted in favor. Motion carried.
8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 22, 2009
Motion by Kucinich, support by Bemer to approve the minutes of June 22, 2009. Six members voted
In favor, McLean abstained. (due to absence) Motion carried.
9. BILLS TO BE APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 23,310.74 FOR JUNE INVOICES AND IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 10,033.61 FOR JULY INVOICES.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick to approve the bills in the amount of $23,310.74 for
June invoices and $10,033.61 for July invoices. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in
favor. Motion carried.
Wedel’s bill for flowers on the hill and park needs to be approved to be paid. The items on invoice were the only purchases for the Village this year. The 2007 was a typing error on Wedel’s invoice process. .
10. LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
Chris Ballingall talked about the gutters as she stated earlier that we did not get any prices on the gutters.
She took it upon herself and called and got some prices for gutters. The price for 20 feet 6 inch gutter with
gutter guards and one 2 story downspout is $355.00. If we wanted a five inch gutter it would cost $285.00.
She thinks we should also hold off on the landscaping because it is the wrong time of the year. She stated that both sides of the building are probably having problems and should get that fixed instead of doing the landscaping.
11. BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. DPW COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 7, 2009
Kucinich reported that the committee talked about the landscaping bids and discussed the bids for pavement parking, the Capital Improvement Plan, the replacement saw and the floor scrubber.
B. ZONING & ORDINANCE
Verbal report will be given by Chair Ashbaugh
Ashbaugh stated that at the Zoning & Ordinance meeting they discussed the Knox Box, Decorative Well, and Solid Waste Disposal Container Ordinances and they are on the agenda tonight.
12. STAFF REPORTS
A. DPW SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – SUPERINTENDENT ANTHONY
Superintendent Anthony reported that he has been turning valves this month. Councilman Kirklin and Anthony attended Southwest Trails Summit last month and thought it was very informative. We would eventually tie in to our proposed trail system from Kalamazoo, Van Buren Counties and Kal Haven Trail.
Due to last moths storms a few tree’s had to be taken down. DPW also did some pothole patching and hot patching. They also painted the graffiti that was on the railroad bridge. Superintendent Anthony stated that he asked the Business Association to plant and maintain the flower box at the roadside park and they agreed. Councilperson Bemer had a problem with that and asked Anthony to have a meeting with Park and Rec. because they had said that they would plant it.
13. OLD BUSINESS
A. LANDSCAPING BIDS FOR VILLAGE HALL
President McLean stated that she also thinks that something should be done for both sides of the Village Hall. It’s doing the same exact thing. Councilperson Bemer also thought that we need a way to maintain it before we spend money on the landscaping and it is to warm to plant now anyhow so we should table the
planting until next spring. We need to take care of the water coming off the roof. Anthony stated that the gutters would not fix the problem in a heavy downpour. Kucinich suggested rain barrels, but Kirklin stated there would be a problem emptying it and with mosquitoes. Anthony stated that DPW could put the French drain in on the west side of the building and see if it works. That way no money has to be invested.
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle to have DPW put French drain in. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
Motion by Markle, support by Kucinich to revisit the bids for landscaping in early March 2010.
Roll call vote taken Six members voted in favor. Bemer voted against. Opposition noted. Motion carried.
Bemer stated the landscaping is not the problem it’s maintaining the weeds.
B. KNOX BOX ORDINANCE 237
The zoning and Ordinance Committee recommends 3-0 that this Ordinance be adopted as written.
Attorney Graham stated that addition to Section 2 sub structure A. should read All new structures as defined below, shall be equipped with a key lock box. (sometimes “Knox Box”)Prior structures would have within one year of effective date of this ordinance.
Motion by Kirklin, support by Spulick to adopt Knox Box ordinance 237 with correction to Section 2 sub structure A. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
C. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL CONTAINERS ORDINANCE
The Zoning and Ordinance Committee recommends 3-0 that this Ordinance be adopted as written.
Motion by Markle, support by Spulick to adopt Ordinance 238 Solid waste Disposal Container. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
D. PRIVATE WATER WELLS ORDINANCE 239
The Zoning and Ordinance Committee recommends 3-0 that this Ordinance be adopted pending discussion
of sub paragraph C&D.
Councilman Spulick questioned the depth that the wells need to be. President McLean stated that was the questions they had with sub paragraph C&D. Going deeper and larger than the four inch. The Planning Commission knew they needed some input from an Engineer but Freed did not attend the meeting.
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle to table Ordinance 239. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Daniel and Mr. Bahnson from Bloomingdale Communications joined the Village meeting to explain to us about their Company. They want to build fiber rings for all schools in the Van Buren County School Systems, and also connecting residence’s to high speed Internet. They do have stimulus money available. What they want from the Village is for the Village to support this project and to send a letter of support.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick to allow Attorney Graham to put the model resolution into form. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
B. RAILROAD BRIDGE PAINTING
Andy Delobel is asking if the Village would buy the paint and roller for the railroad bridge on Glidden and Robinson he would be glad to paint the graffiti that has occurred.
The DPW Department had reported they had painted the graffiti already.
Motion made by Bemer, support by Spulick to send a letter of acknowledgement to Mr. Delobel. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried
C. ADOPT ORDINANCE FOR FEMA FLOODPLAIN PROGRAM
This is part of the program the Council voted to move forward with for floodplain insurance in the Village.
Motion by Bemer, support by Ashbaugh to adopt the Fema Flood Plan. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
D. ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR FEMA FLOODPLAIN PROGRAM
Need to adopt this resolution to go along with the ordinance and the application to the program.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick to adopt the resolution for the FEMA Flood Plan Program. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
E. SET SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING DATE FOR MDOT
MDOT has requested a special meeting with the Council to discuss the bridge over I-94
Motion by Spulick, support by Bemer to hold a special meeting with MDOT Tuesday the 21st at 7:00PM. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
F. BIDS FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS
DPW Committee recommends 3-0 to award the bid for pavement marking to PK Contracting in the amount of $ 9,153.96.
Motion by Markle, support by Spulick to award the bid for pavement marking to PK Contracting in the amount of $9,153.96. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
G. FARTHING PAVING BIDS
There were two bids. One from Wyoming Asphalt Paving for $21,925.00 and from Globe Construction for $31,656.00.
A third bid was received today by Superintendent Anthony for $23,139.96.
Motion by Kucinich, support by Markle to award the bid to Wyoming Asphalt Paving in the amount of $21,925.00. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
H. FLOOR SCRUBBER BIDS
DPW Committee recommends 3-0 to have Superintendent Anthony try and get the price of the scrubber and sweeper down to $6,800, and if not will take out the $188 out of the DPW building maintenance fund.
Motion by Markle, support by Kucinich to purchase the scrubber with the budgeted price of $6,800 and the balance of $188.00 taken from DPW building maintenance fund. Roll call vote taken. Five members voted in favor. Bemer and McLean voted against. Opposition noted. Motion carried.
I. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
DPW Committee recommends 3-0 to have Wightmans complete the Capital Improvement Plan
Bemer asked if any other bids for this were taken. Anthony said no he couldn’t write the scope on it. Attorney Graham stated he could ask the other companies to give a general Capital Improvement Plan description of the work they would do. Kirklin asked if there was a deadline with Wightman. Anthony said no. Bemer personally wants to see another bid to see where we are at.
Motion by Markle, support by Kucinich to have Wightmans complete the Capital Improvement Plan not to exceed $17,000.00. Roll call vote taken. Four members voted in favor. Ashbaugh, Bemer, and McLean voted against. Opposition noted. Motion carried.
J. WATER RELIABILITY STUDY
DPW Committee recommends this item be sent to Finance Committee for review as this item will need a budget adjustment.
Motion by Kucinich, support by Bemer to send the study to Finance Committee for review. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
K. REPLACEMENT OF CUTOFF SAW
DPW Committee recommends 3-0 to purchase a replacement cutoff saw from Steensma’s in the amount of $879.
Motion by Kirklin, support by Spulick to purchase the cutoff saw from Steensma’s for $879.00. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
L. PERMISSION TO USE PARK
The Mattawan Community Church is asking for use of the park on August 1, 2009 for an ice cream social from 6p to 9p.
Motion by Bemer, support by Spulick to let the Mattawan Community Church to use the park for an ice cream social on August 1, 2009. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
M. WIND CONVERSION ORDINANCE
For information only.
15. COMMUNICATIONS
a. MML Legislative Links for June 2, and June 23, 2009
b. Letter from Jerald Everett
(The Police Department is aware of this problem and is trying to work with Amy to get the lots mowed.)
c. Midwest Energy regarding Electric Energy Optimization Surcharges
d. Letter from Van Buren County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
e. Farmers Markets
16. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS
Chris Ballingall stated that even though we don’t have a Manager the Council is doing an outstanding job. She does think we should put a wage freeze on the Village, hold off on new projects and be careful with equipment buying. We need to be conservative.
Jerald Everett’s comment about the conditions of the yards in West Point was that all he hears is that we don’t have the help. He thinks something should be done to clean up. He will take this to the Michigan Mobile Home Commission and then on to the Attorney General.
17. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
18. ADJOURNMENT
