Approval of Agenda

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

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

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

            Nays:               None.

Guest – Albert Almy, Ionia County Road Commission

There will be a millage proposal on the ballot in August, 2014 to meet the growing problems they have with the roads in the rural and metropolitan areas.  He served as the deputy supervisor of Orleans Township and was appointed to the Ionia County Road Commission 1-1/2 years ago.  There are 390 miles of primary paved roads in Ionia County.  There are 684 miles of gravel roads.  It would be a $47,500,000 problem.  The primary road system was rated the second worse in the State of Michigan.  65% of the county paved roads are in poor condition.  The revenue source has not been there.  Funds needed to reconstruct a paved, primary road would be $350,000 per mile. An alternative to fixing would be to convert the road to gravel at a cost of $30,000 per mile.  $47,500,000 of work has to be done in the next few years to save the roads.  As the county share, they receive .19 cents gas tax and .15 cents diesel fuel.  Some license plate revenue comes back to them.  They have $4,500,000 per year as a revenue source, which has been stagnant for almost ten years.  They are not optimistic about any increased funding from the State.  $100,000,000 was distributed to road commissions due to the extreme weather conditions.  The county received $294,000 for the added cost from last winter, but it did not cover the costs. 

Some counties have road millages approved by voters.  Townships have approved township millages.  For the road commission, it is the only source of revenue they can ask for.  The county wants to ask for a millage from the voters for money to improve county roads.  The request is for two mills for six years.  The County Commission did approve the request.  It would be applied against taxable value.  It would raise $3,100,000 county wide.  Belding would receive about $165,000 per year.  Anything paid by city residents would stay in the City of Belding.  In six years, if the millage was approved by the voters, all road problems would still not be resolved, but they would begin the process of improving the roads to benefit the residents of the city and county.  He thanked everyone and passed out a copy of his written remarks.   

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Consent Agenda

Public Hearing

Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Jones stated the Rec Board hasn’t met.  The meeting is tentatively rescheduled for May 27.  The skate park project will start on June 9. 

Council Member Feuerstein stated the Planning Commission brought up changes for the Master Plan.  The plan will be changed, approved or amended.  They will talk more about it on the fourth Tuesdays of May and June.

Council Member Scheid stated the Housing Commission is moving forward with repairs on the sprinkler system.  Quite a few units are empty, so if someone is interested, please have them apply.  Some units are for older people and families. 

Council Member Lallo stated he would like to thank everyone for the Community Showcase.  The kitchen and community room at the Belrockton were painted.  The linoleum was replaced, with one-half being paid by the city.  It looks very nice.    

Council Member Jones stated the Good Fellowship Club met there.  They did a good job on the kitchen and community room.  The caterer commented on how nice it was.  The linoleum held up with the dancers.

Council Member Lallo stated the Labor Day Committee would hold a barbeque competition.  They have signed the contract with Melrose Pyrotechnics.  Miss Belding may hold two pageants, according to age.  There is more scholarship money. 

Mayor Gunderson stated the library meeting was last week.  They are going over the handbook to update it and have gotten through two sections.  Regarding Rails to Trails, they started at the M-44 bridge and got all the blacktop done.  They may have a slight standstill as they need concrete crews for the crossings.  There will be a Friends meeting here next Monday at 7 p.m.  The Friends of the Flat River Rail Trail on Facebook have pictures.    

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

A –      Approval of Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Application

Public Comments

Roger Scheid, Fisk Road, stated he acquired the property at 703 Pearl Street last summer.  He got a letter that said it was on a list to be torn down.  Things didn’t work out as planned, financially.  He knows what needs to be done.  He called in a building partner.  He is still working on financing.  He has done fifty plus houses in the last twenty years.  He wants some more time.  He had medical problems.  He has a lot of work this year.  It would not do any good to tear it down.  He would like it to be a nice house.    

Denny Craycraft, 11692 Youngman Road, stated the Memorial Day service would be held on the pad by the wall.  They will march from the American Legion at 10 a.m.  After the ceremony, they will dedicate the WWI names and bricks.  Denny Hall will drop a couple yards of dirt west of the pad for the bricks.  They will try to do the dedication of the monument itself on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend around 5 p.m.  He will get with the Labor Day Committee to discuss that.  The WWI memorial will be a six foot statue of a WWI veteran, lasered in the inside of the monument.  It will be a soldier and gear.  Hugo Fales will be honored, who the American Legion was named after.  He has received $3,700 in six new benches, thanks to the generosity of the businesses in the community.  He was approached by an individual to have a tank.  It is from the Carson City American Legion, a WWII troop carrier with two cannons.  He would like to put it beside the wall on the west side. 

Jack Reeves, 418 E. Ann, ask for cooperation to allow them to work on their properties.  He feels every time they turn around they are tagged.  They get some work done, and then get tagged.  He went through surgeries and it slowed him up for a long time.  He wants them to reconsider letting them move on like they would like to.

Craig Crebessa, 8079 Storey Road, referred to the minutes and the statement by Mr. Brown.  In the documents that were produced and distributed to the community, Ms. Henry offered to draft up the issues from many people in the community.  She used the minutes to compile the documents.  The presenting sponsor for Bike Week for 2015 has pulled from the event.  They may not totally pull.  There are a lot of people involved with the group living in the community.  There are inconsistencies with the community and local government.  The event coordinator will come in or draft a letter.  Regarding the leadership of the board, they are allowing a failing grade for the city manager.  He is disappointed.  He expected more from the local government.  He can’t wrap his head around that.  He would terminate that person.  It is a new standard that they can accept that level of performance with a raise.

City Manager’s Comments

City Manager Mullendore stated a new business, the Horse’s Mouth, has a purchase agreement with the Driftway.  The trail is exciting, people are walking on it and it is awesome.  She thanked Cory for the wonderful article promoting and showcasing it.  The Crawford Street project is starting.  They are having issues with the relocation of Charter.  ATT is moving fiber.  After Crawford Street, they will start with Hall and Washington, with the least disturbance to the school buses.  She thanked Sam, as Thursday is his last day.  He has been a great asset and great to work with.  She stated she would miss him a lot, and thanked him.

Council Comments

Council Member Feuerstein had no comments.

Council Member Scheid wished Sam good luck on his retirement.  Local city councils have the support of the Supreme Court to continue with prayer before the meetings.  Maybe things are turning around a bit.  Everyone can have their own beliefs, but some think only their view is important.  It is a good breath of fresh air.

Council Member Lallo stated the Horse’s Mouth is moving from Carson City.  A post said the offer was accepted for the Driftway.  He welcomed Elvis and Peggy Preston for the Snack Shack. 

Council Member Jones thanked Sam for the years he has been with the city.  The city crew got caught up enough to pick up brush.  The streets are looking nicer with the brush out of the way.

Mayor Gunderson stated he has been working with Sam quite a few years and has known him a long time.  They have been through some budgets and interim city managers, and he has nothing other than praise, as he always had an answer.  He appreciates his time and hopes he enjoys the next chapter in life.  He asked that everyone keep Cyd in their prayers, as she lost her house this past week.  She works for DPW.  This has to be hard on her.

Council Member Lallo stated the city police were involved with another agency and are glad they came back safely from the incident.

Adjournment

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

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

            Nays:               None.

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m.