REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A meeting of the City Council of the City of
Council Member Scheid delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Belding, Jones and Gunderson.
Members Absent: None.
The Mayor called for Guest – Denny Craycraft – Korean Monument
Denny Craycraft stated he was very pleased with the progress of the Korean Monument. A very generous patron paid off the previous monument, so this can be completed by Veteran’s Day. The monument from India is in Grand Rapids now. The monument will be lasared out. He would like to have the bleachers for the service on November 11, 2013 at 5 p.m. The Ionia Community Band will perform. A lot of Korean veterans will be there. The cost of the Korean monument is $7,600. He has paid for one-half now. Meijer gave a generous donation of $1,000. He is working with other foundations and businesses. There is a movement within the community and they are very proud. The brick sales are going very well. He went to five cemeteries around Belding and located WWI Veterans. The next monument will be for WWI. There were 133 WWI veterans from this community. The memorial is still the talk of the town. He gets a lot of phone calls. They received $100 from the Moose in Greenville. He is waiting to hear from the Greenville Community Foundation. By Veteran’s Day, they may have the monument paid for. The monument company will be here for the service. The community didn’t lose any Korean veterans in the 1950-53 conflict. A fallen soldier from Ionia County will have his story on the monument.
Council Member Scheid said may want to put some kind of barrier behind the monuments, as a van went through the area.
A. Approve Agenda
B. Approve Independent Bank Checks 60863 to 60928 in the amount of $86,098.31 and
Approve Chemical Bank Checks 6472 to 6478 in the amount of $14,578.43
C. Approved Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, October 1, 2013
D. Halloween Open House – Temporary Street Closure
E. BHS Band Invitational – Temporary Street Closures
F. Request to endorse GVMC’s Application on behalf of the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance
Mayor Gunderson stated Item XIII – Closed Session - City Manager Performance Evaluation would be removed from the agenda, as Meg is ill.
Council Member Jones made a motion to approve the consent agenda, as amended, supported by Council Member Scheid.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Belding, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Following are the resolutions contained in the Consent Agenda.
D. HALLOWEEN OPEN HOUSE
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-10-66
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE A PORTION OF CONGRESS STREET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE.
WHEREAS, the Belding Fire Department would like to temporarily close Congress Street from Bridge Street to Pleasant Street on Thursday October 31, 2013 from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. for the purpose of hosting their annual Halloween Party and Open House.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan supports the temporary closure of Congress Street.
E. BHS BAND INVITATIONAL – TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-10-67
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF IONIA AND WILSON STREETS AND SUSPENSION OF THE BELDING CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 34, ARTICLE IV – NOISE CONTROL, SECTIONS 34-76 AND 34-77 FOR THE BELDING HIGH SCHOOL BAND COMPETITION.
WHEREAS, the Belding High School is sponsoring a band competition at Rudness Field on Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, a request was received to temporarily close Ionia Street, between Center and Liberty Streets, and Wilson Street, between E. Washington and Center Streets from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. to provide space for the bands and their support vehicles and equipment; and
WHEREAS, a request was received to temporarily suspend Belding Code of Ordinances Section 34, Article IV – Noise Control, Sections 34-76 and 34-77 for the event.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding,
Michigan that the named streets be temporarily closed and the Belding Code of Ordinances for noise control be temporarily suspended for the Belding High School Band Competition on Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
F. REQUEST TO ENDORSE GVMC’S APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE WEST MICHIGAN PROSPERITY ALLIANCE
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-10-68
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN ENDORSING GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL’S APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE WEST MICHIGAN PROSPERITY ALLIANCE
WHEREAS, Governor Snyder and the Michigan Legislature have created the Regional Prosperity Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Prosperity Initiative is intended to foster greater communication and collaboration among organizations involved in economic development, education, work-force development, regional planning and transportation agencies, local and state government, and private companies; and
WHEREAS, the West Michigan Regional Prosperity Initiative will serve a 13 county area which includes over 340 local governments, 5 higher education institutions, 6 Work Force Boards, 3 Metropolitan Planning Organizations, 2 Regional Planning Agencies, 3 Rural Transportation Task Forces, and many Economic Development and non-profit organizations; and
WHEREAS, only the four existing metropolitan planning and regional planning agencies in our 13 county region are qualified to receive funding under the Regional Prosperity Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission and The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission have requested that Grand Valley Metropolitan Council be the sole applicant and fiduciary agency for the grant on behalf of the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan hereby endorses Grand Valley Metropolitan Council’s collaborative application for the Regional Prosperity Initiative on behalf of the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance.
Council Member Jones stated there was no quorum for the Rec Board. They have received one application, a dual for the Planning Commission or Rec Board. If anyone would like to submit their name for the Rec Board position, get it to Kareen or Meg.
Council Member Feuerstein stated there was no Planning Commission meeting.
Council Member Scheid stated the Labor Day committee meeting was coming up. He could not attend the Housing Commission meeting last month.
Council Member Belding stated the Museum Board is selling quilt tickets. The quilt show will be held on November 3. The Children’s Museum is celebrating the one year anniversary. They have had over 2,000 visitors. The Children’s Museum is open the first Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of each month.
Mayor Gunderson stated there were no meetings to report.
There was no unfinished business.
The Mayor called for New Business Item A – WWTF LAGOON NO. 2 BERM MAINTENANCE
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the contract for the WWTF Lagoon No. 2 Berm Maintenance to Dean’s Excavating in the amount of $113,750.00, supported by Council Member Feuerstein.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Belding, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Lynn Mason, 11637 W. Ellis, stated as county commissioner, they are conducting regular business and have developed a budget, although it is with a deficit. They wanted to give staff a deserved raise. They are close to a facilities plan. They will do something with maintenance, where MSU was. They could tear the building down, rebuild or connect to the courthouse. Regarding Rails to Trails, in Smyrna, from Whites Bridge Road to Dumon Road, they will use crushed, packed asphalt in an experiment. She is running for State House. She was in charge of the tractor pull. The Tractor Pull Association picked Belding as the best event of the season. There were so many helping, including the Labor Day team and businesses.
There were no city manager’s comments.
Council Member Feuerstein stated they were getting a lot of streets repaired and fixed. It looks real good.
Council Member Scheid had no comments.
Council Member Belding stated the Chamber of Commerce is moving into the Belrockton. A ribbon cutting and event will be held next Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. It has been a nice collaboration between the Museum, Chamber and City. It is a really nice office. The ribbon cutting for SMASH Park will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. There will also be a tournament that day.
Mayor Gunderson wished Meg well in her recovery. He is looking forward to her first review at the next meeting.
The Mayor called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Belding.
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Belding, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
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Ronald Gunderson, Mayor
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Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk