Approval of Agenda

Council Member Jones made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, supported by Council Member Scheid.

The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:

The Mayor called for Public Comments.

There were no public comments.

The Mayor called for the Consent Agenda.

The Mayor called for Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Scheid stated he had no report.  The Housing Commission will be having a meeting on Thursday night.  They have fire suppression problems again.

Council Member Lallo stated the Museum Board was holding a planning session on January 18.  The museum will be open every Sunday in January and February.  He was invited to the Labor Day Celebration Committee holiday get together.  The festival next year will be bigger and better.  They have a one year contract with Maple Leaf Amusement out of Breckenridge. 

Council Member Jones stated he attended the meeting when the clock tower committee met on December 5 with Brandon Satterlee, Glen Moore, Debra Johnson Wood and Jon Bunce.  They will form a 501(c)3.  They would like to have preliminary drawings done.  They are working on a timeline and mission statement for the group.  The next meeting will be held in January.  The Rec Board met on December 9^th and discussed Demorest Field use and the Main Street Bank Stabilization project.  Meg will talk to the engineers regarding the questions they have.  Evergreen Skate Parks will be doing the skatepark.  Four or five holes have been laid out at SMASH park.  He welcomed Scott Gladding to the Rec Board.  They had discussed weapon discharge signs for the park.  Rails to Trails will start construction in April on the area in town.  The bridges will be safe with the railings.  He expressed grave concerns about Wells Street, as they will direct people to walk down across the Flat River bridge and they have to cross M-44.  There is no place to cross, and then they will have to walk in the street on either side.  They could put in a sidewalk from Wells Street or a sidewalk on the north side.  Easements would be needed on the north side of the bridge.  It is a steep hill, but they could create a trail going up the hill on that side.  They will need to know how to get people across M-44. 

Mayor Gunderson stated they would try to make it accessible.  They thought of a switch back on the north side, or another sidewalk near Cleveland Street by Joes.

Council Member Jones stated they really need to think of what they are going to do.   

Council Member Feuerstein stated that should have been thought of a long time ago.  They have pathways that don’t go anywhere.  They settled the deal on the Commons.  Businesses will be opened.  The Planning Commission handled it and the rest will be handled at city hall.   

Mayor Gunderson stated the Library Board held a special meeting to wrap up the year.  They want to go to a seven member board, and the by–laws will be reviewed.  The Candlelight Reception was well attended.  He attended an authority board meeting for Rails to Trails, and hopefully the budget will be approved soon.  A ZBA meeting is coming up in January. 

The Mayor called for Public Comments

Denny Craycraft, 11692 Youngman Rd., stated he had three phone calls this week from elderly citizens that want to visit the wall.  There was too much snow.  He asked who would shovel the pad?  He took care of the grass and sod all last summer.  One of the board members shoveled twice this week. 

Mayor Gunderson stated he and Jerry would deal with the snow this year. 

Mr. Craycraft stated the Korean monument had been paid off.  He dropped off 27 more brick orders and those will be placed in the spring.  There will be a WWI monument.  There are a lot of good ideas on the Vietnam monument.  Belding lost five and Greenville lost seven in the war.  He showed some drawings and stated it would be costly.  He is trying to get businesses to sponsor a tower, which are $3,500 each.  Each tower would have the picture of one of those killed in the war with their story below.  It will be awesome.  He owns two houses on Ann St.  He asked about the warning notices he received for shoveling. 

City Manager Mullendore stated they got a little overzealous.  It should be issued 24 hours after the snowfall.  She talked to the chief. 

Mr. Craycraft stated his neighbors did not get warnings, and he is the one that shoveled.  He has spent time at the library researching WWI and it has been very interesting.  He is up to August, 1918.  He thanked the library staff for guiding him through the process and answering questions.

Ellesha Brown, R.E. Furniture at 440 Covered Village Mall, stated there is stagnation and a lack of promotion of local business.  Council should evaluate and determine what helps small businesses grow.  The city does not follow through.  The Beckett and Rader plan listed numerous suggestions.  Some were addressed, but most were ignored.  The concerts should be held in the downtown parking lot.  There should be signage from M-44 directing traffic toward downtown.  She read a bulleted list of suggested promotions in the report.  The DDA has not been successful in their mission and is lacking in guidance and resources.  They should go back and address the report from Beckett and Rader and implement suggestions.  They should put resources into the DDA. 

Mayor Gunderson stated Meg is revisiting the issue and putting the DDA by-laws in place.

Shelley Gladding, 1021 Pleasant, stated it has come to her knowledge that the Planning Commission wanted to dig into the sidewalk issue.  The Planning Commission cannot do it, as it is in the charter.  They should take the sidewalk situation on head on and decide what to do with it in the new year.

The Mayor called for City Manager’s Comments

City Manager Mullendore stated two of the four projects to be started this spring were let.  The Hall, Washington and Crawford Streets bids were 12% under the engineer estimate.  MDOT will award the contract to Jackson Merkey Contractors.  Rails to Trails was let and the bid was under the engineer estimate by 18%.  The Silk City Nature Trail (Main Street Bank Stabilization project) has not been let nor has the Main Street bridge.  They are working on an easement.  It will be audited as a federal project that required right of way acquisition.  It will be $1,100 to have Williams & Works undertake that.  The Main Street bridge project will start late April or early May. 

Chuck Robinson retired on December 4 and there were eleven applicants for the DPW position.  Four will be asked to interview on January 9.  She congratulated Scott on his appointment to the Rec Board.  If someone got cited for snow removal, she apologized.  They want to make sure passage is safe for children and the older population.  Snow must be cleared within 24 hours from the last accumulation.  If you don’t clear, you will get a warning notice by mail.  The State of Michigan indemnifies the local government.  The property owner is liable for sidewalks.  Newsletters will go out, in lieu of a calendar.  The quarterly newsletter will have monthly calendars with important dates noted.  They will see what the feedback is on this.  She would encourage council to talk about themselves in one of the newsletters.  She hopes everyone has a wonderful Christmas and great and safe New Year. 

The Mayor called for Council Comments

Council Member Lallo stated he attended Home for the Holidays and felt it was very well attended.  He applauded the chamber, school and businesses that came together.  He enjoyed it.  He drove around town and looked at lights, and he appreciates all the lights around town.  He wished good luck to everyone in the mega millions.  He said have happy holidays, be safe and he would see them next year.

Council Member Jones stated the bike path along M-44 is taken care of with the sweeper.  Last year they did the stretch in front of the phone company and trailer park.  He doesn’t know if they have changed the policy or if there is a new guy doing that.  If they are not doing it, they should notify Bell and Wellington to maintain it.  At the corner of Orchard and M-44, there is nothing to go to when crossing the street, except the snow bank. 

Council Member Scheid stated they signed an agreement with some homes for snow removal on the sidewalk, but they did the whole thing so it was done with. 

City Manager Mullendore stated the owner must be residing there.  The agreements were signed to acquire easement for the sidewalk installation, and were to stay with the owner.  When the owner changed, that would be gone.  The city is not to benefit only a few.  Otherwise, the city should clean all the sidewalks in the city.  They cannot provide a benefit to someone unless they all get it.

Council Member Jones stated he appreciates all that participate with lights and decorations.  It is very nice by the middle school, Fifth or Sixth Streets off Orchard, and Water Street.  He asked everyone to get out and about to see around town.  In a survey some time ago, he asked why are they looking at small business in the downtown, instead of all over town?  They need to do something for businesses all over town, and hopefully they can work on it and get more businesses in town.

Council Member Feuerstein stated there is a difference between a walkway and sidewalk.  The property owner should take care of the sidewalk.  With the 24 hr. snowfall period, it could turn into a whole week or more.

City Manager Mullendore stated a warning should not be written until there is 24 hours with no snowfall.  Common sense would say you would want to keep on top of it.  The ordinance could be amended. 

Council Member Feuerstein stated they have addressed the issue of sidewalks.  People at city hall do not read the ordinance or code.  Some raise hell and don’t want to put them in.  They have tried to address it. 

Council Member Scheid thanked the Browns for putting a business in the mall.  The city should send out a letter, thanking them for investing in a business in town.  The DDA does capture tax monies. 

City Manager Mullendore stated the DDA has a negative capture.  That is why it is being restructured.  To correct the negative capture, the Electrolux property has to be removed, to get a positive capture. 

Mayor Gunderson stated Williams & Works was hired to do the restructuring.   

City Manager Mullendore stated the DDA would understand their role and mission so it can prosper.  It will take time to see the capture.   

Council Member Feuerstein stated the DDA can take out loans.

City Manager Mullendore stated the DDA must have a dedicated revenue stream to pay a loan back.  They can levy 2 mills to hire staff.    They can apply for grants, but must have matching funds.  When the DDA is capturing revenue, they can work on that.  They could bond for a big project.  Projects must be named in the development plan, which the state approves. 

Council Member Feuerstein stated if the city loans money, they do pay it back.

City Manager Mullendore stated they do if there is a promissory note.

Mayor Gunderson extended congratulations to Scott.  He thanked the Browns for bringing their business to the mall.  He thanked council and the residents for their commitment to the city.  He said it has been an interesting year.  He thanked council for doing what they do and for their commitment.  Hopefully, next year, they can be a better council and city.  He asked everyone to be safe during the holidays and have a Merry Christmas.  He said he would see everyone next year.

The Mayor called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Lallo.

Ayes:               Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.

Nays:               None.

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m.

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Ronald Gunderson, Mayor

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Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk