REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
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 17, 2018.
Council Member Miller delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Brad Miller, Bruce Meyers, Mike Scheid, Douglas Feehan 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 Feehan.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
Public Comments
None
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Checks 69962 to 70043 in the amount of $111,128.11
Approve Independent Bank – File Approval Confirmations
Approve Independent Bank – ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
- Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, April 3, 2018
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the consent agenda, supported by Council Member Feehan.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Members did not have any reports.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
A. Arbor Day Proclamation
Council Member Scheid moved to bring the proclamation to the floor for discussion, supported by Council Member Feehan.
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 fifteenth year and desires to continue its tree-planting practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ronald Gunderson, Mayor of the City of Belding, do hereby
proclaim April 27, 2018 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.
B. Adoption of Tentative FY 2018/19 Budget
The City Clerk read the preamble to the resolution.
Council Member Scheid moved the passage of the resolution and the motion was supported by Council Member Feehan.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
ADOPTING THE FY 2018/19 TENTATIVE BUDGET.
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the FY 2018/19 Tentative Budget; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Belding's budget ordinance requires that the tentative budget be adopted; and,
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed budget will be set for May 1, 2018.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the FY 2018/19 Tentative Budget is hereby adopted.
The question on the resolution was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
Public Comments
Dave Hodges, Ionia Country Commissioner, stated they heard a presentation by Sam Bernstein, a report on opioids and the crisis in the country. Opioids were designed for cancer patients, pain relief, and those in hospice care. The doctors were told they were not addictive, so they gave them out for other purposes. Illegal opioids are heroin. 467,000 people are addicted and most started with opioid use. 50 counties have joined lawsuits for the increased costs they have incurred. With opioid addiction, crime goes up. The lawsuit is at no cost to the counties. The lawyers get a percentage of it. Ionia County probably will join. Regarding bullet proof vests, they are upgrading 21 vests with an $8,000 grant and will use $9,000 in regular funds. They received a $10,000 grant for three kitten play towers at the animal shelter. The Health Department received a $20,000 grant to fight Hep A and will add hours to deal with it. The 911 telephone system is known as one of the nicest systems in the state. Most of the equipment is seven years old. They will replace all the servers, hardware and will be in compliance. The cost will be covered by the cell phone tax paid each month. The adoption for the millage authority was approved and sent to the tax board. District Court passed their budget. They have moving proposals for the courts moving to the new building. May 19th will be the mural dedication. The ribbon cutting for the court building will be the 18th of May at 3 p.m. Afterwards, there will be a tour of the facility. The Monday before, they will invite all the pastors, priests and ministers of Ionia County for a blessing on the building. They held closed sessions on union negotiations. The Right Door is available for addiction. No one is turned away. He will find out if there are programs on vaping. He stated they need men and women of integrity to serve. They need good people with good common sense. He feels the city council is going in the right direction in Belding.
Jeff Hunter stated they used to have the D.A.R.E. program. He asked why they don’t still have it? The only cost to the program was time for the officer to go to the 5th grade classes. He asked why they couldn’t bring it back? They all know how bad the drug issue is.
City Manager Comments
City Manager Niemela thanked all the staff for their hard work on the budget, especially Becky. She always answered his questions. It was a lot of hard work. He thanked them for all their work.
Council Comments
Council Member Scheid extended thanks to everyone for getting it done. He thanked everyone for showing up. They will talk to Dale about D.A.R.E. and see if that is something that can be done.
Council Member Miller stated the staff does a great job and he thanked everyone for coming out.
Council Members Meyers and Feehan had no comments.
Mayor Gunderson stated everyone did a great job this year. He thanked everyone for coming.
Adjournment
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member
Feehan.
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:17 p.m.
| | Ronald Gunderson, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
