REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Pere Marquette Depot
100 Depot Street
7:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Belding City Council was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, Belding, MI 48809, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led with the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego, took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Jeannine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Mayor Meyers noted the following additions to the agenda: Add Special Guest David Hodges, District 1 County Commissioner prior to the first Public Comment and under New Business change Item E. to Arbor Day Proclamation and make Item F. Continue Budget Workshop. Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
District 1 County Commissioner David Hodges gave updates on the following topics of interest:
· Annual Equalization report
· Radios for Fire Departments
· State mandates regarding Indigent Defense
· Raising Prosecutor pay to equal the Public Defender salary
· Pitsch Landfill
· Change in County Commission Board Members
· Hodges serving his 5th year as Chair to the County Board of Commissioners
Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Consent Agenda is as follows:
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 79700 to 79767 in the amount of $78,162.83
Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications – (4)
B. Approve Minutes:
City Council regularly scheduled meeting – April 4, 2023
Steele reported that the Rec Board discussed the new Special Events / Park Use form. Changes were proposed. No action was taken at this time. The proposed changes will be reviewed at a later date. Steele commented on the professional look of the proposed forms. Plans for a Children’s Week at the Park, as presented by Mike Brady, continues to gain momentum. Rec Board members suggested other Rec Programs that may be of interest.
Gladding reported that the ZBA met. Linda Nieman was interviewed and a recommendation for her appointment to the ZBA is on the agenda later this evening for City Council to approve her appointment to the ZBA. Election of Officers to the ZBA was tabled until a determination is made regarding Nieman’s appointment
Leary reported that neither the Library Board nor the Museum Board have met.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission will meet next week on April 25th.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission will be meeting on May 11th at 6:15 p.m.
A. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the Special Event Application for Girl Scout Troop 4304 to hold a 5K Color Run on July 22nd. A synopsis of the agreed-upon plan is to be submitted to City Council prior to the event. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the contract with Bendzinski & Co., Re: WWTP SRF Project 5830-01, to assist the City with bond funding for the new wastewater treatment plant and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the contract. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
C. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve the appointment of Linda Nieman to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
D. Moved by Leary, supported by Gladding to authorize Fleis & Vandenbrink to make application for Category F funding for Bridge Street from State Route M-44 to Ellis Street project for completion in 2025. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR CATEGORY F FUNDING FOR BRIDGE STREET FROM STATE ROUTE M-44 TO ELLIS STREET.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan was held in said City on the 18th day of April, 2023.
WHEREAS, the Michigan State Legislature and the Michigan Department of Transportation have appropriated funds for the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) to for transportation projects that: Improve access to the state all-season system; Improve safety and all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic; and are coordinated with the secondary all-season system (TEDF Category D) or provide all-season routes within an urban area, and
WHEREAS, Bridge Street from State Route M-44 to Ellis Street is deteriorated and in need of improvements matching the goals of the TEDF program,
WHEREAS, the Council supports the application requesting Category F funding for this project,
WHEREAS, the Council certifies that the City has the financial ability to provide the required matching funds for the project if awarded.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Belding hereby approve the filing of an application with the Michigan Department of Transportation requesting funds through its TEDF Category F Grant Program for improvements to Bridge Street from State Route M-44 to Ellis Steet.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL, 2023.
E. Mayor Meyers made the following proclamation:
Arbor Day Proclamation
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 twentieth year and desires to continue its tree-planting practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bruce Meyers, Mayor of the City of Belding, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2023 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.
F. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to continue discussion on the 2023/24 Proposed Budget. Budget discussions resumed with the Major Street Fund (202). The Treasurer distributed a change to the General Fund adding $40,000 to Dial-A-Ride. The funds to cover that change were taken from the Park budget. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to tentatively approve the proposed 2023/24 budget. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mike Tefft, 7155 Bridge Street, commented on Music in the Park, observed holidays for City Administrative Offices and four-day 10 hour day work weeks.
Jim Mason, 210 S Broas, commented on behalf of Friends of the Library, noting their first fundraiser of the year starts tomorrow.
Stoppels commented on the following topics of interest:
· The most recent newsletter just went out; good comments are received daily
· A survey is included in the newsletter as we had a great response last time
· Dial-A-Ride returned to the Depot this week
· Commended Mary Brown and Jane Forth for getting the Depot cleaned and ready for reopening.
· The Planning Commission is working on 3 ordinances; two are with the City Attorney for review
Stoppels commented on Tefft’s Public Comment regarding Music in the Park.
Steele thanked everyone for their work on the budget.
Leary commented on water/sewer rates. Many people pay far more for those services.
Davis thanked Nieman for her interest in the ZBA, thanked everyone for coming, thanked Becky and Staff for their work on the budget, thanked Fleis & Vandenbrink and Stoppels for their work on the WWTP and advised that the only way to offset the cost is by increasing the rates.
Mayor Meyers thanked Neiman for her interest on the ZBA, Tefft and Mason for their public comments, Becky and Jon for their work on the budget. Stoppels briefly advised that he reached out to Representative Pat Outman to see about more assistance. Meyers continued; we are lucky to get the grant that we did. The State mandated the projects; no one did anything wrong. The city will continue to seek grants and funding opportunities. He thanked Jon for all his work since he has been here and his focus on priorities. He thanked Hodges for the County update and thanked council for their help on the budget.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes- all.
_________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk