REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, March 21, 2023
BELROCKTON
108 HANOVER STREET
7:00 P.M.
A meeting of the Belding City Council was convened in open and public session at the Belrockton, 108 Hanover Street, Belding, MI 48809, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 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: Jeannine Leary, Bonita Steele, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: Shelley Gladding
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to excuse the absence of Gladding per section 4.5f of the City Charter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 79581 to 79642 in the amount of $216,364.90
Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications – (4)
B. Approve Minutes: City Council regularly scheduled meeting – March 7, 2023
Steele distributed a handout from the Rec Board meeting regarding a 10-day summer program for ages 5-12 proposed by Mike Brady. No funds will come from the budget. The Chief of Police and Fire Chief will participate.
Davis reported that the planning commission will meet on Tuesday, March 28th.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. The next meeting is scheduled for May 11 at 6:15 p.m.
A. Scott Hall of Fleis & Vandenbrink did a Powerpoint presentation updating council on the status of the WWTP Design. (The hard copy of the presentation is on file in the Clerk’s Office).
B. Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to approve the bid from Highway Maintenance and Construction Company in the amount of $182,912.00 for the 2023 Road Improvement Program. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
C. Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to authorize the Belding Fire Department to conduct a controlled burn at the city’s brush and leaf collection site. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Davis and Meyers
Nays: Steele
Absent: Gladding
D. Fire Chief Tim Lubitz provided details of Belding Fire Department’s assistance and mutual aid with the industrial fire at the Dicastal facility in Greenville over the weekend. Lubitz also advised that the repairs to the Pere Marquette Depot should be completed tomorrow. Additionally, he reported that the Ionia County Board of Commissioners approved the 800mh radio project today. This has been in discussion for over three years.
Sam Mason, 516 W. May Street, commented on the services Belding Fire Department provided to the City of Greenville regarding the industrial fire at Dicastal.
Stoppels commented on the following topics of interest:
· DPW purchased a new truck last week
· Pothole season has started
· DPW is prepping mowers
· Planning upgrades at the baseball fields
· Seeking bids for weed control
· Looking at code enforcement options
· Clerk is working on the Spring newsletter which will contain an article regarding the water and sewer rate increase and a trash pick-up survey
Davis thanked Fleis & Vandenbrink, Chief Lubitz and everyone who was in attendance.
Leary commented that she attended Donuts and Coffee last week with the Chamber of Commerce. Collaboration was discussed.
Mayor Meyers thanked Mike Brady for his work on the Summer Park Program, thanked Fleis & Vandenbrink and Chief Lubitz for their updates and sent best wishes to Council Member Gladding.
The Chair called for a brief recess at 8:29 p.m. to enter into closed session per MCL 15.268(d).
Back on the record at 8:34 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to enter into Closed Session at 8:34 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to return to open session at 9:32 p.m.
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to authorize the City Manager and Mayor to negotiate the purchase price of the real estate discussed in closed session on the terms and conditions discussed in closed session. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
Council further directed Stoppels to set up a meeting with Progressive A&E.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Davis to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Leary, Steele, Davis and Meyers
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk