REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Council Member Cooper delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Dennis Cooper, Mike Scheid, Douglas Feehan, Tom Jones and Ronald Gunderson
Members Absent: None
Approval of Agenda
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, supported by Council Member Cooper.
Mayor Gunderson asked that Item D of the Consent Agenda be moved to after Approval of the Agenda.
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda, as amended, supported by Council Member Cooper.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Cooper, Scheid, Feehan, Jones and Gunderson
Nays: None
D. Appointment of City Council Member – Douglas Feehan
Council Member Scheid moved the passage of the resolution and the motion was supported by Council Member Cooper.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPOINTING DOUGLAS FEEHAN TO THE BELDING CITY COUNCIL.
WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Belding City Council due to the resignation of Jerome Lallo; and
WHEREAS, interviews have been conducted and Douglas Feehan was selected to fill the vacancy.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the appointment of Douglas Feehan to a seat on the Belding City Council is hereby ratified and confirmed, effective March 21, 2016, with a term expiring in November, 2018.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Cooper, Scheid, Feehan, Jones and Gunderson
Nays: None
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Checks 65873 to 65940 in the amount of $179,014.33
Approve Chemical Bank Checks 6910 to 6917 in the amount of $25,519.92
- Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, March 15, 2016
- Approve Minutes: Special meeting, March 21, 2016
Council Member Jones made a motion to approve the consent agenda, supported by Council Member Cooper.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Cooper, Scheid, Feehan, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Member Jones stated Planning Commission was held last week. There were two public hearings. One was on the property at 1510 W. State, and he had to step out. That was conditionally passed.
Council Member Cooper stated there was no Rec Board meeting.
Council Member Scheid stated Housing Commission would be on April 21.
Council Member Feehan stated the Museum and Labor Day meetings were cancelled.
Mayor Gunderson stated the library is having story time on April 6 at 10 a.m. Lego Club is Saturday at 10 a.m. Movie night is Monday, April 11. Next week is Library Week. Story time will be held again on Wednesday at 10 a.m. They are working on the personnel handbook. They approved the bills. The DDA will meet this Thursday at noon at the depot. The city manager will be out until April 11.
Council Member Jones stated the Rec Board is having a Park Planning Workshop on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Belrockton.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
A. Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Gunderson read the Arbor Day Proclamation.
WHEREAS, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees; and
WHEREAS, this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world; and
WHEREAS, trees reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife, and
WHEREAS, trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products; and
WHEREAS, trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, and
WHEREAS, trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal; and
WHEREAS, the City of Belding has been recognized as a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation for the thirteenth year and desires to continue its tree-planting practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ronald Gunderson, Mayor of the City of Belding, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2016 as Arbor Day in the City of Belding, and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and
FURTHER, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.
Public Comments
Kyle Butler, 710 Tillies Ave., Portland stated he has been appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Ionia County. He went through the application and interview process and was elected until December 31st of this year. He intends to run in the Primary Election on August 2. He became the Ionia County Assistant Prosecutor in 2007. He graduated from Michigan State in 2006 and passed the Bar Exam the first time. He had three internships. The first was on a volunteer basis for the City of Flint where he worked on criminal cases. He then interned at the Ingham County prosecutor’s office. The last internship was paid with Cheboygan County. He decided he wanted to work in a smaller county in the prosecutor’s office. He has a lot of positive relationships. They moved to Portland and established roots. His wife is a high school teacher in Lansing. They have two children. They plan to stay here and help Ionia County flourish and grow and bring justice to those who violate the law. He is seeking signatures on his nominating petitions for the August Primary.
Linda Sower, 8015 Ingalls Rd., is the clerk of Otisco Township. The sign was moved for Otisco Township. It still has not been moved back. They own the south side of Flat River Trail. She asked what the yellow triangle sign means coming out of Belding that says 55 mph zone ahead with a black arrow pointing? The Chief of Police said they could start to accelerate to 55 mph at that point.
Mayor Gunderson stated she should talk to City Manager Bruce Brown as he is running the city.
Ms. Sower stated she got no reply from Bruce Brown.
Mayor Gunderson asked if she was representing the township?
Ms. Sower stated she was not representing the township.
Mayor Gunderson stated he would be happy to sit in on a meeting.
Council Member Jones stated Bruce has been gone for 2-1/2 weeks. She should talk to him after Monday.
Dale Kremsreiter, 120 Kiddville, asked why did Marci Cooper give him a notice for 5 days? He talked to those idiots down there and just got blowed up. His neighbor has brush out and they did not get a citation. His house will be up for sale.
Mayor Gunderson stated she is doing ticketing for that. He should go to Bruce Brown on that. The information was in the newsletters.
Howard Uiterdyk, 8015 Ingalls, asked if he could have a copy of the traffic study that was done before changing S. Bridge Street? The newspapers stated the speed limit change was for the upcoming construction project, but he was told it would be closed completely during construction.
Mayor Gunderson stated they would be tearing the road out and tying in infrastructure. They had a meeting and took input, and that was taken into consideration for changing the speed limits.
Council Member Jones stated he or the police chief would have it.
City Manager Comments
There were no city manager comments.
Council Comments
Council Member Cooper thanked everyone for being here. He talked to Bruce about the township sign and he said it was something with the county, but she should double check with him. Regarding the sidewalk issue they touched on five to six months ago, they can readdress it and move forward.
Council Member Scheid had no comments.
Council Member Feehan stated he was thankful for the opportunity to sit on the board and is looking forward to his term.
Council Member Jones thanked everyone for being here and expressing concerns for the city and township. They need to work together to get things done. The city charter calls for the city manager to run the affairs on a daily basis and be in charge of staff. Council gives the city manager direction through the charter and laws. If people can’t work through the department heads or city manager to get a fair and equitable solution to issues, that is what council is here for, to hear problems. Council, on a personal basis, works through the city manager to get it rectified. They try to do what is best for the city and townships. If issues go to the city manager for a meeting, contact one of them if they wish someone to be there to listen. Keep them informed of issues and they will do their best to rectify them. The city manager is responsible for coming up with a fair and equitable solution.
Mayor Gunderson congratulated Kyle and Doug on their positions. He thanked everyone for coming. They will work to resolve these issues.
Adjournment
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Cooper.
Ayes: Council Members Cooper, Scheid, Feehan, Jones and Gunderson
Nays: None
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
| | Ronald Gunderson, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
