Approval of Agenda

Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, 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, Jones and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

Interview – Douglas Feehan

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

Mr. Feehan stated he had been employed with the city for 29 years in the Fire Department and on council for two years.  He would like to get back into being involved with the operations of the city.  With being retired, he has a lot more time to do things.    

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

He has none the last few years.  He was working part-time driving school bus.  He has not had the opportunity to get involved with any organization. 

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 – in the last years the city has come more together.  There are better organizations.  Groups are working together better.

Weaknesses – the city has lost a lot of businesses.  He would like to see that come back in.  Work toward bringing them back it.  Get citizens involved in the community.

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

It has been since 2002 that he was on council.  He would like to take time to see what is going on.  He would get involved with things council is already involved with. 

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

Have more business in the community.  Some code enforcement changed.  A lot of blight is collecting.  He would work with the city to get that taken care of.  For DPW, there are a lot of streets that are in bad shape.  He would promote getting those repaired and work on that. 

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

Strength – length of time he was involved with the City of Belding as an employee and on council.  He hopes to use that toward the opportunity here.

Weakness – getting up to give a long speech

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?

No, he is looking forward to doing things.

Yes, he is looking forward to it.  Even if he doesn’t get on council, he would like to be involved in organizations.  

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?

Yes.

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

He stated he had no questions, just wanted to know how long of a term.  He is just looking forward to getting involved with the city.

Interview – Brad Miller

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

Mr. Miller stated he lives at 204 Pearl Street.   He lived on Heritage Hill in Grand Rapids, but got into trouble with the local neighbors.  He wanted a better place to raise the children.  They looked extensively.  205 Pearl had been sold, but was back on the market and they purchased it.  They had a land contract which they paid off in a couple of months.  They fell in love with the town.  They have three children.  He has worked for Meijer for 29 years.  He was transferred to Indianapolis and built a house.  They were gone five years and it was a great experience.  They came back to 204 Pearl.  They purchased the house and have lived there since 2000.  Their three daughters graduated from BHS.  They have gone to college and have jobs.  The youngest is a student at Grand Valley.  He has worked in operations, in the office, merchandising area and is a buyer with $186 M on his desk.  There is a certain gem in Belding.  He likes to look through rose colored glasses for opportunities, and thinks it could be better.  He can be out fishing or hunting in a couple of minutes.  He loves the state land and river.  He likes the city, people and small town feel.  He wants to help improve the community.

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

He has done all types of committee work, and thinks it is what the individual brings to the community and process.  He served on the Historic Commission when they were looking at the Electrolux plant.  He brought more to the table by not having all that experience.  In his world they need results in a timely fashion and they always want to improve.  He has served with the United Way Council, the curriculum committee at GRCC and Ferris.  He is currently serving on the Historic Commission.   

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?

Strength – the location, the people, the location that is close enough to Grand Rapids to attract people from there and Lansing.  The people are honest, work hard, and are friends and neighbors.

Weakness – the city needs to be improved, as less than 10% have college degrees and the high school graduation rate is 80%, 20% live below the poverty level and they are taxed higher than anywhere in the county and Greenville. There is the opportunity to change and attract individuals.  He truly believes in how to bring actions to dreams.  He would like additional retail and manufacturing to build up the population base and tax base.  There are a lot of opportunities here to go after. 

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

The goal would be to move Belding in the right direction and figure out how he could leave it better than when he got here.  Taking something here, figure out how did they get there, the process and heritage, and make it a better place so the people here after him want to come and live here, a better place to live.

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

Have double the amount of industry.  Develop a retail base that supports the needs of the community.  Grow the community.  Have improved roads, sidewalks, trails and parks.  Belding again becomes a destination, not a suitcase community.

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

Strength – creativity.  At Meijer they do personality assessments, and they work on identifying strengths and they work on weaknesses.  He looks at things differently.  That is somewhat of a weakness as others don’t know where you are going.  He speaks the truth and is not emotional in making decision, as it is based on facts.  He researches things, comes to a solution and finds a better way to do it.  He is a jack of all trades and he seeks new things to get knowledge. 

Weakness – he come across as flighty.  He seems all over the place.  Plans without actions are dreams.  He must execute something and make change.  The way he is perceived is a weakness.

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 may have some scheduling conflicts.

Yes, he would be available to attend other board meetings as a liaison, as well as community activities.

He would put the appropriate time in.  It would be a huge time commitment.  He would make the time for it.

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 like to be on the Historic Commission if not appointed.

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

Mr. Miller asked where does the city stand in regards to cooperation, getting things accomplished, and making change?  What are their thoughts on making Belding better?  Is the city functioning on all cylinders?  What could they do to make process better? 

Council Member Scheid stated they had splinters but are working on it.  They are taking care of blight in town.  There will be a new street south of M-44.  There will be an extension to the Silk City Nature Trail that is in the works.  They are working hard to get things straightened around.  Blight is slowing gaining ground.  Bruce is making changes to the way things are handled at city hall.  Things are happening and they are showing drastic improvements.

Council Member Cooper stated they have a lot of dialogue and discussion and no action on it.  That needs to change.  It holds the community back.  It is better, but there are internal issues to fix.  They are moving forward.

Council Member Jones stated overall there is an excellent staff at city hall, DPW and fire.  With the issues they had in the last two years, there were problems with the city and dissent with the community.  With the new city manager, they are given a lot better direction.  He has much experience.  He has a big rolodex, and if he has a problem he knows who to get ahold of.  The city council has been working well together the last six months or longer.  There are some issues to be resolved.  A lot has to do with funding and how to finance it.  The Rec Board is working on a part-time Recreation Coordinator.  That should help a lot for direction.  They approved a company to look at Riverside Park and Electrolux property for site development so they have the right direction to go.  Get a professional for guidance and direction.  That will give them a good plan.  Bruce knows people, and city got a good buy on the deal with the consultants.  He has made great headway.  Things that have been languishing, such as Electrolux and the road south of town, and things are now getting done and moving well.  They are hitting on all eight cylinders.  There is a miss here and there but they are going in the right direction.

Mayor Gunderson stated they have some setbacks because they are landlocked.  Everyone wants more industry but where do they put them?  He has worked with the city managers to acquire property for industry for the area.  It is not big enough or there is not room to expand.  They have put out a lot of fires.  They are moving forward.  The negative in town could turn around to positive to move forward faster.  He asked if they had done their job as council members?  They have done what they are here to do.  The outcome is because of money, or businesses that want to come in.  If they had their way, they would like more Commons.  This is a great town or he would not have run the last time.  It needs that niche to put everything together.  With Bruce they are moving forward on projects.  They are moving ahead, there are things to improve it, but they are tied with money and the budget, to be fair and consistent with employees and residents.

Mr. Miller asked what they were looking for in a city council member, the ideal candidate?

Council Member Scheid stated there was no perfect candidate for the position.  They want someone to come in and want to help move things forward.  Get things to gel and happen.  Get some ideas and something to work on.  Work together to try to make people that live here like living here in town, because it is a nice town.  Make the town where they want to live.  It takes  more than council and city staff.  It takes the whole community.  It is always a work in progress.

Council Member Cooper stated they wanted someone with a business perspective that understands the city.  How things happen in the city profoundly affect businesses in the city.  Sometimes they lose sight of that.    

Council Member Jones stated they want someone that does not have a grudge.  They want a team player.  If they vote opposite, he will respect their own thoughts.  What we feel as an individual is second to what is best for the city.   After vote, they should be a team player.  It is their  decision on how to vote.  They should make decisions themselves.  He wants a council member to respect city staff.  Bruce or the city manager is the ultimate personnel person for the city, not a council member to go in and tell them what to do.  Council may make suggestions to the city manager, but a city council person cannot do that.  They have no right to tell staff they are doing something wrong.  Talk to the city manager.  The only power council has is as a council, otherwise he is just resident Tom Jones.

Mayor Gunderston stated they would look into things, do their homework, be prepared with the information handed out.  Have an open mind to listen to people.  The public has the right to comment.  He wants council to listen as well as rely on what they have looked up.  All city residents should be taken into consideration.

Council Member Cooper stated regarding education in the city, he said less than 10% have a college education. 

Mr. Miller stated that does not make a difference in the world, but you can use it as a barometer of the health of the community, in addition to household income, amount of blight and tax base.  You can tell how healthy the community is and where improvement is needed.  24% having a college education is the average for communities on education.  A lot of people can be at different education levels.  Look at the population base.  It is interesting to note the amount of  property taxes compared to Greenville.  Belding has one of the highest property taxes.  Businesses would note it is higher than in another community.  Business would look for goods and services, how the city could help them.  He asked how do they go about marketing to attract individuals?  Attract more people that want to be here.  Belding is behind the state level in high school education.  He works with people that are a lot smarter than him that never went to college.

Council Member Cooper asked if he had annual training through Meijer?

Mr. Miller stated he went to college and graduated.  He was on the Dean’s List at Western.  He has two associates degrees from Ferris in behavioral arts and restaurant. He has a bachelors degree in business administration.  He had a bunch of college classes after that.  He has had leadership effectiveness training, and 500 level master’s degree programs.  He realizes that is just a starting point in learning.  They all learn every day.    

Mayor Gunderson stated with council, there will be a lot of changes here.  A lot of staff is retiring.  The city manager is done effective August of next year.  It is his choice and that of council if that happens.  There are things coming up.  There is a lot of staff retiring and that is up to the city manager.  The city budget is a living document.  People retire and go elsewhere. There is never a dull moment.

Mr. Miller stated everyone evolves, they change every year.  He deals with transition and new ideas every day.  The key is to survive through all that.

New Business

1. 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 Cooper.

Council Member Jones had no comments.

Council Member Cooper thanked Doug and Brad and stated he really appreciated them.

Council Member Scheid had no comments.

Mayor Gunderson thanked them for their time tonight and applications.

The following vote was recorded:

Council Member Cooper voted for Doug Feehan.

Council Member Scheid voted for Doug Feehan.

Mayor Gunderson voted for Brad Miller.

Council Member Jones voted for Brad Miller.

Mayor Gunderson asked if any council member wished to change their vote?

Council Member Jones stated they were two excellent candidates and they couldn’t go wrong with either of them, but he would vote for Brad.  He has more fresh ideas, he likes is viewpoint on business and he is a business man with the history.  Either one is excellent.   

Council Member Cooper stated he would stay with his vote.

Mayor Gunderson stated he would stay with his vote, as he has been working with Brad on the Historic District Commission as liaison to that board.  When he came around last time he thought he would be a good candidate.

Council Member Scheid stated he would be comfortable with either one.  He stated he would stick with Feehan.  He would be happy with either one of them. 

The name of Douglas Feehan was pulled from a cup to fill the vacancy. 

Douglas Feehan was selected to fill the vacancy with the resolution of appointment taking place on April 5, 2016.

Council Comments

Council Member Cooper extended thanks to both candidates.  He stated he would encourage Brad to run for council, as he is very worthy.

Council Member Scheid extended thanks to both and stated he appreciated them being here. 

Council Member Jones thanked both for their interest in the position.  He thought there would be more running.  There will be a clock tower meeting on March 30.  Tomorrow night there will be a training session for the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and city council.  He would like to learn more about how decisions are made on the Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission meeting is on March 29.  He thanked the two gentlemen for wanting to be on city council.

Mayor Gunderson stated it would be rather harsh to end up in drawing a name out of a cup twice, but it will save Brad in some way.  He thanked them both for applying.     

Adjournment

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

Ayes:               Council Members Cooper, Scheid, Jones and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.