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, Davis, Meyers, Feehan, and Miller

            Nays:               None

Public Comments

None

Consent Agenda

Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Scheid had nothing to report.

Council Member Davis there has not been a ZBA meeting.

Council Member Meyers said the March 11th Rec Board meeting was cancelled and the next meeting is April 8^th.  The Housing Commission meeting is scheduled for the 21^st, this week.

Council Member Feehan had nothing to report.

Mayor Miller didn’t have anything to report. The Planning Commission meeting for this month has been cancelled, and Library Board is coming up.

Unfinished Business

None

New Business

A.    Ordinance No. 452-A19 – Rezone of 415 Alderman, 421 Alderman and 416 S. Bridge – adoption

The Acting Clerk read the preamble to the ordinance.

Council Member Scheid moved the adoption of the ordinance and the motion was supported by Council Member Feehan.

B.     Ordinance No. 452-A21 – Rezone of 951 Merrick Street – adoption

The Acting Clerk read the preamble to the ordinance.

Council Member Scheid moved the adoption of the ordinance and the motion was supported by Council Member Feehan.

C.    Local Pavement Warranty Program

The Acting 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.

D.    Implement a Local Pavement Warranty Program

The Acting 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.

RESOLUTION NO. 2019-03-12

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN

TO IMPLEMENT A LOCAL PAVEMENT WARRANTY PROGRAM

WHEREAS,   the Michigan Legislature created a requirement (MCL 247.663) as part of the Transportation Funding Package of 2015 that requires each city and village to adopt a Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program that was approved by the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2018; and

WHEREAS,   the City of Belding adopted the Michigan Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program on March 19, 2019; and

WHEREAS,   the City of Belding agrees to consider a local pavement warranty on each project that includes $2 million or more in paving-related items and includes any state or federal funds;

WHEREAS,   the Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program law requires each city and village to report annually on each project that includes $2 million or more in paving-related items and includes any state or federal funds, whether or not a warranty was utilized in the project; and

WHEREAS,   the City of Belding agrees to implement the Michigan Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program consistent with the Guidelines for Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program document that was approved by the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2018; and which City of Belding’s adopted implementation Policy defines the City of Belding’s intent of its pavement warranty program;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that it hereby agrees to implement the Local Agency Pavement Warranty Program and annually report in accordance with the law.

Council Member Scheid asked what the difference is between the two ordinances. City Manager Niemela explained that one is stating that you have a warranty program in place, and the other is the detail of what that actually is.

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

            Ayes:               Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers, Miller, and Feehan

            Nays:               None

Public Comments

Stuart Forth, 215 W. Washington Street, said he wants to be put on the record as he would like the City to address pulling the no parking signs on Washington Street.  He feels they are serving no purpose there. He feels they could be used somewhere else. He said he isn’t here to argue, but this has been an ongoing problem for going on ten years. He then showed a picture board of a house next to his. He said it has been vacant for going on ten years. He said it is run down. Three years ago, City officials were contemplating condemning it. He said it was bought a year ago by someone out of Grand Rapids. They haven’t cut the grass or shoveled snow. He feels it’s another absentee owner. Shingles are blowing off, and you can see through the chimney. He feels it shouldn’t be left that long in neglect.

Dave Hodges, 4833 Flat River Trail, gave a report on his meeting. They had a lawyer for the Drain Commission and dealing with Thornapple Inter-County Drain. They had a resolution that we will have to approve at the next meeting. He talked about the drain that is 60% in Barry County, thirty some percent in Ionia County, and some in Kent County. It was on the news about trout in this drain. So they stopped fishing it, but the landowners along the river are paying more than they should have. For Departmental Reports, they had Central Dispatch. They also had Emergency Management, which is a new committee on which he serves as Chair. They had their first meeting last month which included Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Sheriff, and State Police. He said he was impressed with the comments from a gentleman from the City of Belding. He was a little surprised that that Committee does everything they do on a budget of $35,000 a year, which is grant money. One of the things they hope to do within a year is to put cameras in historical part of the courthouse, where there are not currently any cameras.  He told the Board that when they are doing next year’s budget, he would like to see them take care of the twelve thousand dollars for those cameras, so they can use their money in other ways. They have equipment to buy and they want to buy a command vehicle for situations in which they can work. He also asked the Board to present a list of needs and they will have a work session to go through the list. Then they will present to other departments. They know they have some problems with the jail. They spend about $3,000 a year to just make repairs to jailhouse. They are overcrowded and there is not enough space. Water is coming through the walls at the Sheriff’s Department from showers. He told the Board that he wants approval to allow an independent guy come in and evaluate the situation and tell us what needs to be done.

City Manager Comments

Manager Niemela said that he will attend the Michigan Municipal League conference tomorrow.

Council Member Meyers asked about brush pickup, and Manager Niemela said they should start next week. Some resources may be available to the City due to the emergency created by the weather.  A volunteer group expressed desire to help with brush cleanup. A lot of what they have is not simple brush, but actual downed trees.  They may open brush dump site for citizens on Friday and Saturday.  Council Member Meyers also asked about the possibility of a Zoning Administrator, and Manager Niemela said that only if we can find it in budget. The challenge is recurring expense versus singular expense which is a one-time expense. We have to be able to sustain it for a length of time.

Council Member Davis asked about not having recurring expense, could we do contract services for zoning. Manager Niemela said that’s what we would do. But, if it’s going to be more than a one year thing, that would be the recurring expense whether it’s contract or on staff. The Zoning Administrator position would be a contract position.

Council Comments

Council Member Scheid thanked everyone for coming tonight, and for their comments.

Council Member Davis asked about when the street overlay would start, and Manager Niemela said it is weather related, but the biggest thing is when the blacktop plant gets started up again.  He explained that in this year’s budget, they still have Reed St., and N. State to do.  There will be some to do in the next fiscal year as well. Council Member Davis thanked everyone for attending.

Mayor Miller had an opportunity to reach out to the owners of the house mentioned before by Mr. Forth.  There had been some activity in the summer. But he said the dumpster has disappeared, the OSB is sitting in the driveway with a tarp over it. It has never progressed. It is part of the historic district, and it needs to look at it again. He then thanked everyone for coming.

Adjournment

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

Ayes:               Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers, Feehan and Miller

            Nays:               None

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.