Approval of Agenda

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

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

            Ayes:               Council Members Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

Interview – Robert Brown

1.                  Please tell us about yourself and briefly explain your reasons for wishing to serve on the Belding City Council.

He has been a lifelong resident and is involved with the community.  He is the Chairman of the Friends of the Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trail.  He has attended council meetings for four years, as well as the Rec Board. He could bring a different perspective, being younger, from a different network. 

2.                  Please tell us about any previous civic or service club involvement.

He is chairman of the Friends of the Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trail and was with  National Disaster Response out of California for hurricanes and tsunamis.  He was on an advisory school board in Alaska and California.

3.                  What do you feel are some of Belding’s strengths and weaknesses?  If appointed, what could you do to promote those strengths and change some of the weaknesses?

A strength is the resilience to bounce back.  There are a lot of recreational opportunities.  They can grow with the codes, marketing and infrastructure.  He has no agenda as it is a temporary position. 

4.                  What goals and objectives would you seek to achieve if you are appointed?

In the short term, he would help inform the populous on what the council does.  He would be a liaison to help communicate between the council and citizens. 

5.                  What is your vision for the City of Belding in five years?

His vision would be to stabilize the community and attract business.  Home ownership would be more affordable, rentals would be structured differently for safety.  There would be more collaboration between the Friends, Arts Club, Schools, etc.

6.                  Please tell us about your greatest strengths and weaknesses.

A strength is the ability to communicate.  He works with several communities and teaches FOIA and OMA.  He uses Facebook and Twitter.  He has a political science degree in public communications.

A weakness is too many projects, which is a burden. 

7.                  Do you have any scheduling conflicts with attending council meetings on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month?  Would you be available to attend other board meetings as a liaison, as well as community activities?

Monday nights are a struggle as he is chairman of the Friends of the Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trail, but that is the only conflict.

8.                  Would you be willing to be considered for appointment to any other boards or

commissions of the city if you are not appointed to the city council?

He would apply for a Library seat.

9.                  Is there anything you would like to add to our discussion or do you have questions for us?

He understands the job is not always easy.  They will want someone who will communicate if there is a different opinion.  He would talk civilly and work through it.  Council needs to have someone to respect, even if they disagree. 

Council Member Feehan stated he mentioned short term, and asked if he would run in November? 

Mr. Brown stated he would check with Tom to see if he was running.

Council Members Scheid, Jones and Gunderson had no questions.

Interview – Dale DeKorte

1.                  Please tell us about yourself and briefly explain your reasons for wishing to serve on the Belding City Council.

He attended Grand Rapids Christian School, and received his associate degree from GRCC.  He worked for Ionia Public Safety, Gus Macker, Manton, back to Ionia and has been with the Kent County Sheriff Department since 1997.  He was a patrol officer and handles the arson dog.  He lives on W. Ellis and likes to preserve the property as the old Ranney farm.  He is working on the property.  He wants to help Belding continue to grow.  He is here for the long haul for our community.  He wants to be a part of it.  His wife is Vice President of United Way.  He wants to be involved in local government. 

2.                  Please tell us about any previous civic or service club involvement.

He was a part of the United Way Annual Funding Disbursements Group.  They rank groups for funding.  They use community input to fund the programs.  As a part of his job, he does a lot of education for children with the arson dog.  He explains the dangers of fire.  He has not had an opportunity for civic involvement.  It took a long time to have a day shift spot.  Now he can branch out and be involved.  He works 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. so he would be able to attend meetings

3.                  What do you feel are some of Belding’s strengths and weaknesses?  If appointed, what could you do to promote those strengths and change some of the weaknesses?

Strengths would be a great, tight knit community, where everyone knows what is going on, for better or worse.  There is an open opportunity for business to come to the community which would mean more employment for residents.  A lot commute to Ionia, Greenville and Grand Rapids.  With an office park they could bring in development for employment for the community.  They have Belding Tank and Extruded Aluminum, but could bring more to the  community.  He likes the size of the community and talking to neighbors.

For weaknesses, they could use more industry and employment.

4.                  What goals and objectives would you seek to achieve if you are appointed?

His main goal would be to help run the local government, be financially responsible to the  taxpayers and  provide the best service available through tax monies for development of the community.

5.                  What is your vision for the City of Belding in five years?

Keep going in the direction they are going.  New businesses are showing up.  Money is coming back to the community, homes are being purchased, flipped or renovated.  Redevelop the community.  See the city continue to grow.  Try to reach out to new business to bring tax base to Belding, from small restaurants to small manufacturing.  Reach out with available tax breaks to get them here and employ members of the community.

6.                  Please tell us about your greatest strengths and weaknesses.

His strength is his determination to get things done.  He did a ride along with police officers.  Once he knew, he pushed computers aside and knew he wanted criminal justice.  He had a job four months after graduation.  Only 4 out of the 15 got jobs.  He builds himself through determination.  He is an instructor at the Kent County Sheriff Department.  He has experience in canine, EMT and firefighter.  If asked, he has done it.  If serving on council, he will make it the best it can be.

7.                  Do you have any scheduling conflicts with attending council meetings on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month?  Would you be available to attend other board meetings as a liaison, as well as community activities?

He is willing to attend all functions.  There are no conflicts to prohibit those.  With accelerant canine, that can be scheduled at different times, as the investigators understand.

8.                  Would you be willing to be considered for appointment to any other boards or

commissions of the city if you are not appointed to the city council?

Absolutely.  The city council is the top spot and when the opening came up, he wanted to help the community and felt he should put his name in, interview and be selected.  He hoped more would have stepped up.  It is a large responsibility.  He has a thick skin and can deal with that.  He would assist on boards for learning the perspective on the community and how it functions.

9.                  Is there anything you would like to add to our discussion or do you have questions for us?

Regarding a weakness, he is passionate about things, but can see both sides.  With United Way, if he feels funds should go toward a group he will voice why.  He doesn’t fly off the handle.  That has consequences.  Everything has a purpose. 

Council Members had no further questions.

Interview – Bruce Meyers

1.                  Please tell us about yourself and briefly explain your reasons for wishing to serve on the Belding City Council.

He has lived in the Belding area for forty years, inside the city for almost six years, he is interested in all types of government, he wanted to give something back, and his children are a little older so he has more free time

2.                  Please tell us about any previous civic or service club involvement.

He has worked at Amway for 22 years, and every year they we pick a non-profit to go out and work and volunteer for.  He has headed it up for the division for the last seven years.  They are a skilled trade group and the non-profits don’t get a lot of volunteers for that, so they can use it.  They did work at Camp O’Malley in Alto.  There were over 115 participants with 10-12 teams.  

3.                  What do you feel are some of Belding’s strengths and weaknesses?  If appointed, what could you do to promote those strengths and change some of the weaknesses?

A strength is the people within Belding.  A lot of people like to be involved but don’t always have the time.

A weakness is they should find ways to include more people to be involved.  Try to get out to the people.  A lot are not good with computers.  Email is not always the best way.  Be more of a community that reaches out and helps citizens more.  The inclusion part is the biggest thing.

4.                  What goals and objectives would you seek to achieve if you are appointed?

Work with the people and business in Belding.  With the new green space, it is nice to see things go in those spaces.  He has no set agenda.  He would work on city business and include as many people as they can.

5.                  What is your vision for the City of Belding in five years?

For people to be closer.  He walks every night around the neighborhood.  He knows a lot of neighbors but they haven’t spoken a lot.  A small town needs and thrives on the closeness of the people within it.  That is something to work on.  Get people involved with each other.

6.                  Please tell us about your greatest strengths and weaknesses.

His strength is leadership.  Since working at Amway he has overseen over 30 skilled tradesman, which is the most technical position in their group, and he brings people together.  Skilled trades persons are independent, so to bring them closer is a skill in itself.

His weakness is public speaking and presentations.  He has done more in his management roles, but he was not used to it as an hourly guy at Amway or on the farm. 

7.                  Do you have any scheduling conflicts with attending council meetings on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month?  Would you be available to attend other board meetings as a liaison, as well as community activities?

Yes, he would be available if he had the position.  That would show he is very dedicated and that it was very important to him. 

8.                  Would you be willing to be considered for appointment to any other boards or

commissions of the city if you are not appointed to the city council?

It would depend on the board, but if he could give something to that, he would be open to that.

9.                  Is there anything you would like to add to our discussion or do you have questions for us?

He thanked them for taking the time.  It is something that excites him and he would look forward to doing. 

Council Member Scheid asked if he had to go to Washington, and California?

Mr. Meyers indicated it is the same type of work and they have group leaders, but not specialized equipment or staff.  The techs go out three to four times a year. 

Interview – Brad Miller

1.                  Please tell us about yourself and briefly explain your reasons for wishing to serve on the Belding City Council.

He has a beautiful wife and lives at 204 Pearl St.  Their three daughters graduated from BHS, he does gardening, plays a banjo in a Blue Grass band, he has been on the Miranda show on TV, he has lots of hobbies, he likes exploring lots of things, he makes maple syrup, he learned welding on his own.  He would like to have the opportunity to add something to the city.  It would be good for him to serve and help out.  He has the tendency to care.  He has worked for Meijer for 29 years.

2.                  Please tell us about any previous civic or service club involvement.

He is currently on the Historic Commission.  He was on once before for the Electrolux project.  He was part of an LPGA event at Blythefield Country Club with the food and setting up, as a part of Simply Give.  When in Benton Harbor, he was a United Way Chair and was on numerous committees through work.   

3.                  What do you feel are some of Belding’s strengths and weaknesses?  If appointed, what could you do to promote those strengths and change some of the weaknesses?

Strengths are the people.  It is a great community to live and raise a family, there are a lot of opportunities, it is a hidden gem, and with location it is on the border of a boom town.  It is on the verge of having something exciting happen here.

Weaknesses are blight, infrastructure, attracting retail to the city, and having some industry to get tax base.  There is a huge opportunity with what is happening in retail in Greenville and the restaurants.  It has to gravitate to this area, it will migrate in, it would increase property values, get infrastructure into the community and bring new individuals to the community to bring dollars in.

4.                  What goals and objectives would you seek to achieve if you are appointed?

His goal would be to understand where they are currently at, read what they are working on from notes and have an overall understanding of how the committee can make an effect on the city to make forward progress.  His objective would be much the same.  With the short term of assignment he would see the fit with council and look at the long term fit to move forward. 

5.                  What is your vision for the City of Belding in five years?

There is a huge opportunity for the city and where it can go.  Plans without actions are only dreams.  With the historic buildings and State land, see how to attract the right businesses and infrastructure to be successful.  Their companies work on what the next generation is looking for and what is attractive to them.  He drives down M-44 and sees additional retail.  He would like to see manufacturing to support the tax base, to take care of blight and have road improvement.  Behind those dreams is a lot of work.  He asked what does it take to get in the Grand Rapids boom? He would like younger individuals moving in.  He would like to see infrastructure and road improvements and the blight gone.  The parks are beautiful.

6.                  Please tell us about your greatest strengths and weaknesses.

His strength is the ability to think outside the box.  He would bring a different perspective.  He is a very creative person and works well with a group.  He would go in favor of what is right.  He has strong family values and work ethic.  He has a strong desire to understand.  He would dive deep into the issues to understand them. 

7.                  Do you have any scheduling conflicts with attending council meetings on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month?  Would you be available to attend other board meetings as a liaison, as well as community activities?

He may have an occasional issue, as his father is 85 and lives in Battle Creek.  With all good intentions, he would try to make all meetings.  And he would like to be a liaison, possibly to the Historic Commission. 

8.                  Would you be willing to be considered for appointment to any other boards or

commissions of the city if you are not appointed to the city council?

He enjoys the Historic Commission.

9.                  Is there anything you would like to add to our discussion or do you have questions for us?

He has been here a couple times in the past and wonders who is the right individual?  He wants to understand that.  Are they truly looking for growth or the status quo?  Do they want to grow the city themselves, do they have aspirations to make it better, have more retail and manufacturing, or just patch roads?  He can possibly not be the right person.  He may seem pompous and out there a bit.  He is a dreamer and a realist.

Council Member Scheid state he has the qualities they are looking for.  It is his third time now.  There has been only one person at the meetings consistently that is running for the seat.  Brad is on the Historic Commission.  He would be a good decision for council. 

Council Member Jones stated it has been a 2-2 vote, with the luck of the draw.  He stated Brad wants to see the city grow.  Taxes are high because of no retail or industry or business.  That gives relief to individuals.  They need road, sidewalk and pathway improvements and need to grow with retail and industry.  They should encourage them to come to Belding.  They need to grow.  That would bring residential growth and bring housing prices up as demand grows.

Council Member Feehan stated they are all looking for the same thing, someplace nice to live. 

Mayor Gunderston stated working on the Historic District level he would be an asset.  His thoughts about Belding growing, that is the positive and they have all tried.  They have had fires to put out along the way.  With Bruce, they have the leadership and they don’t have to worry about the things he takes care of.  He has been on his side.    

Council Member Scheid stated they want better opportunities for the residents. 

New Business

A.    Consider appointment of city council member

Council Member Scheid made a motion to bring the consideration of the appointment of a city council member to the floor for discussion, supported by Council Member Feehan.

Council Member Scheid stated they all interviewed well, and he is thankful for everyone.

Council Member Jones stated he is glad they had four gentlemen apply for the position and they  all interviewed great.

Council Member Feehan stated he had nothing.

Mayor Gunderson thanked everyone for taking the time to apply for the position and showing interest in local government.  He greatly appreciates the commitment.  All four are great in what they are looking for.

Council Member Feehan voted for Robert Brown.

Council Member Scheid voted for Robert Brown.

Council Member Jones voted for Brad Miller.

Mayor Gunderson voted for Brad Miller.

Council Member Scheid stated he would change his vote to Brad Miller.  He voted for Robert because he is always here and is young.  Brad has been a trooper.

Council Member Feehan stated he would make no change in his vote. 

Council Member Jones stated he would stay with his vote. 

Mayor Gunderson stated he would stay with his vote. 

Council Member Feehan stated if they want, petitions can be taken out for the open seat and he would encourage everyone to do that. 

Council Member Scheid stated please feel free to put the name in the hat.  It was Brad’s third attempt.

Council Comments

Council Members Feehan and Scheid had no comments. 

Council Member Jones thanked everyone for putting their hat in the ring.  They all have good qualifications and outlook for Belding.  Brad’s spot, as well as his will be up in November.  He has not decided about running.  The house is for sale, but if they don’t sell, they would stay in town a while.  He appreciates all the input and advice they gave them.  They all have Belding at heart.

Mayor Gunderson thanked them all for taking the time and following through. 

Adjournment

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

Ayes:               Council Members Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.