Approval of Agenda

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

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

            Ayes:               Council Members Miller, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Consent Agenda

Reports by Council Liaisons

There were no council liaison reports.    

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

There was no new business.

Public Comments

Denny Craycraft thanked the council for all their cooperation for the Memorial Day service.  He stated he had an apology to make, as it was 90 degree weather and there was a cross up between the VFW and American Legion with the services and dedication of the wall.  There was a gap between the services.  The number of people was impressive.  They have made a little progress since Memorial Day, with installing a crown on top of the wall, the bottom is painted and he got the bricks.  He got the stones from a box store.  People are coming up with walkers and wheel chairs.  He would like a walkway around the Vietnam wall to go to the back of the wall.  The footings were supposed to be in by now.  He will plan on having it all done by Labor Day.  He has three more pillars to put up.  Those pillars are for Greenville guys.  The Greenville Foundation donated $20,000 to the wall and they used some of those funds to purchase two of the pillars. A local business purchased a pillar.  Those will be dedicated on the Labor Day weekend sometime.  Natures Needs will reseed the whole area.  He may need clean dirt put down for the bricks, as the sand used was not solid.  He will start real soon.  There was a gentleman from Rockford who had a brother with his name on the wall, and he was beside himself.  He wanted to know where the field cross would be.  He inquired about the cost, which would be $5,000 to $6,000, and he said he would buy it.  There was a family from Cheboygan with a person’s name on the wall.  They may have a fundraiser up there.  He has $45,000 out of $300,000 to raise.  He has two or three good fundraisers coming up.  They have some money in the bank.  There will be a light on the back of the wall. 

David Hodges, Ionia County Commissioner, stated regarding Brownfields, there was a site assessment grant application of $27,000 through DTE for the old gas station by Ellis School, which the school will use as a parking lot area.  There was a Health Department provider agreement.  They will use a third party service that can bill Medicare and take a small percentage. It will provide services for seniors at a low cost.  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services received a $90,000 grant for emergency preparedness coordination.  Central Dispatch has a use agreement for the conference room, and Weight Watchers wants to rent it for $100 per week.  There was an Agency on Aging contract amendment for a $25,250 grant to buy equipment which will replace the refrigerator freezer at the Commission on Aging.  The Sheriff Department had a request to fill two positions.  There was a retainer agreement regarding the opioid litigation.  It costs counties and cities a lot of money to take care of those folks, so it is a law suit against the companies that sold the drugs and said patients could get off them.  The county received a clean audit report.  The pension fund that the commission is responsible for is funded at over 90%, so that is good.  The Circuit Court in the original courthouse will be done in a week. They are going to remove the furniture that they are not pleased with and get American made from Saginaw.

City Manager Comments

City Manager Niemela stated he met last Friday with DEQ on the Kenwood well and the desire of the Housing Commission to have property transferred to them for the program.  The will develop do’s and dont’s for the agreement for a 200 foot circle around the well property.  Council can use that agreement as a decision making document.  The city must retain part of the Woodhaven property within the 200 ft. circle.  There is the option for a long term lease or easement.  With DEQ, they talked about the whole water system and moving forward with that project.  The document will have to be signed off by the DEQ. 

Tomorrow night at the Bel, Bradley Ratliff will talk about medical marijuana.  His project is to build a grow facility and get licensed by the State of Michigan. The council asked him to gather public input and to focus on the medical marijuana act and how it impacts his project.  It will be held at 6:30 p.m.at the Belrockton.  Mr. Ratliff will be there, as well as his attorney.  It is not an organized city council meeting, as his meeting is to gather information.

Regarding the county wide millage, there would be a 1 mill levy in the City of Belding for roads. All taxes levied in the city would stay in the city if there are no county roads in the city, which there are not.  That would mean $90,000 a year for the city.  The County Road Commission has said what they will use their dollars for.  The city can provide a list, too.  $90,000 would be a big help for road improvements.  They hope to put it into the local street system.  The city does not have a revenue stream for local street improvements.  It would be used just for road purposes, and would not be used for water and sewer improvements included in road projects.  

He will be out of the office next week, but will be available.    

Council Comments

Council Member Scheid thanked everyone for coming.

Council Member Feehan stated they should check with the police chief, as there were complaints about the lack of handicap parking during the Macker weekend.  Additional spaces may be needed. 

Council Member Miller thanked everyone for coming.

Mayor Gunderson thanked everyone for coming. 

Adjournment

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

Ayes:               Council Members Miller, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m.