June 28, 2010 council meeting minutes
VILLAGE OF MATTAWAN
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 28, 2010
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER @ 7:00 pm
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ATTENDANCE
Present:Kucinich, Kirklin, Bemer, McLean, Markle
Absent: Spulick, Ashbaugh
Motion by Bemer, support by Kirklin to excuse Ashbaugh and Spulick. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
Others present: Attorney Graham, Tim Woodhams, Michael Labus, Craig Suyak, Claudia Spulick and others.
4. WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC
5. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETING BEING RECORDED
6. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
McLean added A- Old business Landscaping Village Hall, also new business C-Parks and D-Cell phones and marijuana
7. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Markle, support by Kirklin, to approve the agenda as amended. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 14, 2010
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle to approve the minutes of June 14, 2010 with corrections. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
9. BILLS TO BE APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 58,776.58
Motion by Kucinich, support by Markle to approve the bills in the amount of $58,776.58. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
10. LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM
There was no public comment.
11. BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 16. 2010 – LIAISON MARKLE
Liaison Markle stated that there was a light agenda so the Planning Commission had a discussion on medical marijuana. The Planning Commission wanted to know if the Attorney could look at the ordinances that are already in force so we could see what we could do. Attorney Graham stated that there are model ordinances we can look at, but we would have to have restrictions because of the laws it cannot be banned in the Village.
Motion by Bemer, support by Markle, to have Attorney Graham look into the marijuana ordinances for the Village. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
12. STAFF REPORTS
A. POLICE REPORT – CHIEF VERHAGE
Chief VerHage stated that there were 91 calls for service for the month of May 2010, and 50 citations given. He also stated that there had been a few burglaries and a home invasion recently in the Village. The police department is working on them and they do have a few leads.
Bemer asked about the fingerprint capabilities the Police Department had. Chief VerHage stated that they do fingerprint and that it depends upon the surface as to whether they can get a fingerprint or not.
B. ENGINEERS REPORT – CRAIG SHUMAKER/TIM WOODHAMS
Tim Woodhams handed out a memo of the projects Fleis and Vandenbrink are working on for the Village. He went over the list and gave an update on what projects need to be done to be finished and an approximate timeline for completion.
13. OLD BUSINESS
A. Landscaping Village Hall
Markle stated that money had been set aside in the budget to landscape and she wants to bid for the landscaping of the Village Hall.
Bemer questioned who was going to take care of it with the DPW so busy and the Park and Rec committee unable to be able to keep it up.
Markle replied that she would weed it herself.
Motion by Markle, support by Kucinich, to bid the landscaping for Village Hall. Roll call vote taken. Bemer voted no. All other members voted in favor. Motion carried.
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA
This is a resolution for Powell’s McGillen’s Crossing for the Chop Shop/East Egg of Mattawan for a re-development area liquor license available from the State of Michigan under the new Public Act 501 of 2006 , Section 521a(1). The State needs this resolution for part of the application. Attorney Graham has prepared the resolution.
Motion was made by Markle, support by Kirklin, to establish the redevelopment project area as presented changing to 521 B not 521A. Not including paragraph 2. Specific to residential area. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
B. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A SPECIFIC APPLICANT AT NEW LOCATION
This resolution is also for the Chop Shop/East Egg of Mattawan which approves a specific applicant
( individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership), at a specific location. This resolution is also part of the redevelopment project area district for the liquor license. Attorney Graham has prepared the resolution.
Motion was made by Markle, support by Bemer, to approve a specific applicant for unit 9, East Egg of Mattawan LLC. The license dedicated to that location. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
C. PARK
Bemer stated that there were a lot of problems that needed fixing in the park. The overgrowth behind the stage, loose panels and green moss growing on the monuments. She also questioned where our property line ended and should this be sent to the Park and Rec committee.
Motion by Markle, support by Bemer, to send this to the Park and Rec committee. Roll call vote taken. All members voted in favor. Motion carried.
D. CELL PHONES AND MARJIUANA
Chris Ballingall stated that the new no texting law will go into effect July 1st. She was wondering why as a Village we couldn’t have a no phone zone as well if it is permissible. She also doesn’t want any one in the residential zone legally selling marijuana.
15. COMMUNICATIONS
a. MML Legislative Link for June 22, 2010
b. Letter from Van Buren County Planning Commission
c. Letter from DNR for Superintendent Anthony passing water license
16. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS
Chris Ballingall stated that she doesn’t understand why a bid has to be sent out for the landscaping. She thinks that it is a waste of time and money. She also wanted to know why the sprinklers were on when it was raining. She stated that there wasn’t a light at the New Village sign and also not on the Veterans monument. She thinks we need to hire someone to maintain the Village.
Bob Linderman from South Haven spoke. He stated that he was a teacher for 48 years and running for the 80th District State Representative. His platform ideas are solving senior concerns, education, jobs and fiscal responsibility, and he would do the best job that he could for Michigan.
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17. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Bemer stated that she has concerns with keeping up the Village hall landscaping and doesn’t want Markle to have to do it, and maybe we do need a manager. She also asked for a list of equipment the Village has.
18. ADJOURNMENT @ 8:25 P.M.
