5
ONTONAGON VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT 6:00 PM ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
AT 315 QUARTZ STREET, ONTONAGON
PRESENT: President Waldrop Trustee: E. Marks, M. Mogan, J. Hamm, B. Seid, T. Smydra, and J. Erickson, Village Manager
ABSENT: D. Chastan
CALL TO ORDER:
At 6:00 pm the meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Waldrop.
APPROVE AGENDA:
A motion was made by Hamm, second by Seid, (CARRIED) to approve the Agenda.
ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR: None
APPROVAL OF CONSENT MINUTES OF:
A motion was made by Marks, second by Mogan, and (CARRIED) to approve the minutes of the Village Council meeting of November 14, 2016; the Recreation Commission of November 16, 2016, and the Village Housing Commission of October 10, 2016.
REPORT FROM VILLAGE MANAGER – JOSEPH ERICKSON:
1. Lansing – Our CVTRS information is due December 1st. I will have the information submitted to Treasury by the deadline.
2. Office Water Leak and Damages – Last Wednesday, a leak in the shop restroom toilet caused a flood in the office. The toilet was replaced. The toilet in the office will also be replaced since it is as old as the one the broke and we have had issues with it over the past year also. On Friday another leak happened in the water feed line, causing the office to flood again. That leak has been repaired. No electronic equipment was damaged, but the carpet in the office needs to be replaced. Our insurance carrier was contacted about a claim.
3. Houghton Street Water Leak – On the 17th the Village was notified that the basement of the Borseth Insurance building was flooding. The next day the Village crew exposed the leak by turning valves in the area. The leak popped up in the street and diverted the water from the building. Last Monday the crew made repairs to our line. Our insurance carrier was notified of a potential claim.
4. Marina Property – Last week the Building Committee discussed the MDOT property at the Marina, and instructed me to contact MDOT about the property disposal procedures. A follow up phone call the next day, transferred me to Ms. Vanis, MDOT Property Management Supervisor who asked for information about when this property would have become available to the Village. In a M-64 Bridge file, I found an unsigned resolution where the Village accepted portions of M-64 and M-38 into our Major Street system. The meeting file from September 24th, 2007 had a copy of the signed resolution, the MDOT contract (transferring jurisdiction of the streets) and a copy of a previous contract from 2004 (where the Village agreed to accept the transfer of the old portions of M-64, M-38 and US 45). I e-mailed the resolution and contracts to Ms. Vanis to review. This morning in my e-mail I received the following reply: “ I (Ms. Vanis) reviewed Contract 04-5479 and Contract 2007-0804 and it appears that these contracts approved the transfer of jurisdiction from MDOT to the Village, however, they did not transfer property rights, meaning the property was never deeded from MDOT to the Village. Prior to MDOT releasing any property, we must go through an Engineering Review process. MDOT gives local municipalities the first opportunity to purchase property once it’s been approved for sale. If the Village is interested in obtaining this property from MDOT, please complete the 2nd page of the Excess Property Request Process and form and return it to me.” Does the Council want me to file the request? The Council would still need to make a formal acceptance if offered by MDOT.
A motion was made by Mogan, second by Hamm, (CARRIED) to have the Village Manager file the MDOT Excess Property Request Process for the Marina Property.
5. Reminder: tomorrow night there will be a Land Bank and Brownfield forum at the Community Action building on Spar Street at 6 p.m. Speakers will be Jen Tucker, MDEQ Brownfield Coordinator, Julie Gardner, MEDC Community Assistance Team Specialist, and Amy Bergland, MEDC Business Development Manager. Invites went out to County and Township Officials last week.
6. Meetings Attended – Rec Commission 11/16, Building Committee 11/21
A motion was made by Smydra, second by Seid, (CARRIED) to accept and place on file the Manager’s report.
BUSINESS:
A. VILLAGE HOUSING IN LIEU OF TAXES UPDATE
The Village attorney checked into if the Village Housing PILOT funds can be returned back to them. After a discussion, it was decided to table this matter at this time.
A motion was made by Smydra, second by Hamm, (CARRIED) to send a copy of the memo prepared by councilmen Smydra to the Village Housing Commission President Pam Coey, the other members of the Housing Commission, and to Housing Commission Executive Director, Sally Jarvey.
B. MAUREEN GUZEK – PURE MICHIGAN SIGNAGE
Maureen Guzek has requested the Village place “Pure Michigan” tourist oriented directional signs for the Marina and RV Park. The costs of the signs are $400 - $1000 each to manufacture, plus a $360 per year fee. Two signs are required (one in each direction. Total cost for the signs would be $800 for just the signs and $720 for the annual fee. Based on the eligibility criteria, the Marina may not qualify since most of the income is not derived from tourist or visitors but from seasonal slip holders and annual launch permits. The RV Park may qualify. Maureen Guzek also presented paperwork on her behalf and stated the business on the sign will be responsible for the annual fee so if the Marina was included it would be divided in half.
A motion was made by Smydra, second by Mogan, (CARRIED) to refer the Pure Michigan signage to the Planning Commission.
C. BID AWARD RECREATION LIGHT INSTALLATION
Bids were opened on November 21, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. for the installation of the new lighting fixtures at the Recreation building. The bids received were:
Northland Electric –White Pine – Bid: $13,575 Option 1 - $1,800
Keweenaw Power & Lite – Calumet Bid: $18,585 Option 1 $1,975
The new lights arrived last week and are stored on site.
The bids are being reviewed by GEI, our project engineers.
A motion was made by Mogan, second by Seid, (CARRIED) to award the Recreation Building Lighting Installation Project to Northland Electric of White Pine for $13,575 and Option 1 for $1,800.00 after the project engineer from GEI approves of the installation requirements.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: All present at the meeting
Nays: None
ABSENT: None
D. NO LOSS TIME PAY
The Village again experienced no loss time due to on the job injuries, per Article 27 of the contract a safety bonus of $150 is due each DPW and Water Dept. employee. In the past the non-union employees (office staff) also received this bonus
A motion was made by Marks, second by Seid, (CARRIED) to approve the 2016 No Loss Time Pay to the Village employees including the office staff.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: All present at the meeting
Nays: None
ABSENT: None
E. CHRISTMAS BONUS
A motion was made by Smydra, second by Hamm, (CARRIED) approve the 2016 Christmas Bonus gift card from Pat’s Foods for the Village employees including the Harbormasters. The council officials forego their bonus and supported to continue as last year for the amount of $50.00 for each employee.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: All present at the meeting
Nays: None
ABSENT: None
F. MID AMERICAN SNOW & TERRAIN EXPERT RACES – JAN 7, 2017
The Village Recreation Commission recommend the Village Council approve the Mid- American Snow & Terrain Expert Races event on the JK Paul Street right-of-way on Saturday, January 7, 2017. The Commission further recommends the Village make the porta-johns available and that the event be posted on the Community Events sign.
.
A motion was made by Marks, second by Mogan, (CARRIED) to approve the Mid- American Snow & Terrain Expert Races event on the JK Paul Street right-of-way on Saturday, January 7, 2017, and make the porta-johns available and that the event be posted on the Community Events sign. The Village will be names as insured party.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: All present at the meeting
Nays: None
ABSENT: None
OTHER BUSINESS:
Bill Johnson read a letter of his consent of the Village government. He stated he was asked to leave the last Village Council meeting and he felt he was slandered by a councilman and the president. He asked for a public apology and indicated that he would drop the matter if he received the apologies. Both councilmen Seid and President Waldrop apologized for their comments. Mr. Johnson accepted their apologies.
Councilman Smydra stated that on the agenda under “Other Business” should be changed to “Other Council Business”. If an individual does not request in writing to be on the agenda then their comments will be allowed under the agenda “Items from the floor”. This change will be made on future agendas.
ADJOURN:
At 6:45 p.m. a motion was made by Marks, second by Mogan, (CARRIED) to adjourn the meeting.
______
Marcia Aho-Black - Village Clerk Date approved