REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, November 21, 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, November 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego, took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Jeanine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Steele, seconded by Leary to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Leary to open the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Ryan Wilson, Ionia County Economic Alliance (ICEA) Director and William Bennett, owner of C3 CNC, Inc. were in attendance, requesting a tax abatement of 50% for up to 12 years. Wilson and Bennett answered a few questions from members of the public who were present at the meeting, including “Where is the business located?” “What type of business is it?” and “Will it create any jobs in the community?” Bennett advised that he hopes to have 20-25 employees, the property is big enough to allow for expansion as he purchased the lot next door as well. Moved by Steele, seconded by Leary to close the Public Hearing at 7:11 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Jenny Bennett, 1125 Kenwood, commented on the following points of interest:
· The recommendation for reappointment of Mike McCarty to the Rec Board
· Responses to Bennett’s email to the Rec Board and the Clerk from last week that included copies McCarty’s Facebook messages—only acknowledged by one Rec Board member and the City Clerk
· The June 21st Rec Board meeting where two citizens were denied to offer public comments thus violating the Open Meetings Act (OMA)
· The Rec Board’s roll call vote for the recommendation for appointment only being taken on McCarty
· Bennetts prior interest in the Rec Board
Ken Myers, 823 York, commented on the following points of interest:
· City Facebook protocol
· Thanked Davis for allowing Public Comments on the Facebook issue (of allowing comments or not)
· Cited multiple government entities who allow comments of Facebook their Facebook pages
· Facebook questions going unanswered
· Gave statistics that he complied on the City’s Facebook posts since January 4, 2023
· Wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving
Linda White, Bricker Road, commented on the council making decisions and seeing change.
Clinton Hewartson, 5305 Palmer Road, commented on Facebook protocol and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Mike Tefft, 715 Bridge Street, commented on the Rec Board’s appointment process and recusing votes. He additionally commented on the water tower recently being cleaned and looking white again.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary 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 80785 to 80880 in the amount of $442,654.64.
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1490 to 1496 in the amount of $20,271.27.
B. Approve Minutes: City Council regularly scheduled meeting minutes – November 7, 2023.
Gladding inquired about check #80854 in the amount of $17,360 for the Police Department. Stoppels advised that a new furnace was needed as the existing one was from 1969 and it completely failed.
Leary reported that the Library Board went over their public comment policy and adopted it. She also commented on the upcoming Candlelight Reception.
Steele reported on the Rec Board meeting and changes being needed. The Rec Board voted a unanimous “yes” to recommend that their process to fill vacancies to be changed and that City Council is to conduct the interviews and make the appointment.
Gladding reported that the ZBA has not met and the Solid Waste Committee will not meet again until after the first of the year; they are currently in deliberations with Pitsch.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission will meet on November 28th at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum on November 16th. The next meeting date has not been set.
A. Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele, to approve Resolution 2023-11-18, Approving the application of for Request for a 50% tax abatement for William Bennett owner of C3 CNC, Inc. It will not take effect until 2025. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes -all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION APPROVING AN IFT APPLICATION
Resolution Approving Application of C3 CNC, Inc. for Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for a New Facility
WHEREAS, pursuant to P.A. 198 of 1974, M.C.L. 207.551 et seq., after a duly noticed public hearing held on November 21, 2023, this City Council by resolution established C3 CNC, Inc. Industrial Development District; and
WHEREAS, C3 CNC, Inc. has filed an application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate with respect to a new facility to be acquired and installed within the Industrial Development District; and
WHEREAS, before acting on said application, the Belding City Council held a hearing on November 21, 2023, at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, in Belding, Michigan, at 7:00 p.m., at which hearing the applicant, the Assessor and a representative of the affected taxing units were given written notice and were afforded an opportunity to be heard on said application; and
WHEREAS, construction of the facility and installation of new machinery and equipment had not begun earlier than six (6) months before November 21, 2023, the date of acceptance of the application for the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate; and
WHEREAS, completion of the facility is calculated to and will at the time of issuance of the certificate have the reasonable likelihood to retain, create or prevent the loss of employment in the City of Belding; and
WHEREAS, the aggregate SEV of real and personal property exempt from ad valorem taxes within the City of Belding, after granting this certificate, (will/will not) exceed 5% of an amount equal to the sum of the SEV of the unit, plus the SEV of personal and real property thus exempted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the City Council of the City of Belding that:
1. The City Council finds and determines that the granting of the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificates considered together with the aggregate amount of certificates previously granted and currently in force under Act No. 198 of the Public Acts of 1974, shall not have the effect of substantially impeding the operation of City of Belding, or impairing the financial soundness of a taxing unit which levies ad valorem property taxes in the City of Belding.
2. The application from C3 CNC, Inc. for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, with respect to a New Facility on the following described parcel of real property situated within the Industrial Development District, to wit:
Parcel ID: 401-090-000-010-00 described as The South 30 feet of Lot 2 and all of Lots 3, 4, & 5, Belding & Ellis’ Addition to the Village (now City) of Belding, Ionia County, Michigan, according to the recorded plat thereof. And Lots 30 & 31, Belding & Ellis’ Addition to the Village (Now City) of Belding, Ionia County
be and the same is hereby approved.
1. The Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate when issued shall be and remain in force for a period of 12 years after completion.
RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.
B. Facebook Protocol – A lengthy discussion of the pros and cons of allowing the public to comment on City Facebook posts, consideration of the current laws and the public’s comments took place. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding, to limit the public comments on the City Hall ran social media sites. Motion failed 2-3 by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Steele and Gladding
Nays: Leary, Davis and Mayor Meyers
Mayor Meyers noted that the people spoke here tonight and they want to comment. Mayor Meyers further noted that it is a privilege and not a means to attack or demean people.
The City Clerk clarified that although comments may be made on the City’s Facebook posts that the city employees will not be responding to comments or questions on our Facebook page.
Mayor Meyers stated that no comments or questions will be answered on our Facebook page as we do not have the staff to do so.
A. WWTP Progress Report – Scott Hall from Flies & Vandenbrink gave an update on the WWTP. Points of interest are as follows:
· Groundbreaking ceremony has taken place
· Underground piping has started
· Concrete tanks will be installed in the spring
· Work will continue through the winter, however they must pay attention to frozen soil
· There have been three different attempts to remove sludge; they will try again in the spring--if that attempt fails then they may have to be move that task to the end of the project
Davis inquired as to why the sludge removal is so difficult. Hall advised that because of the piping and valves not sealing anymore that water seeps through the berms.
Mayor Meyers advised that himself along with two former mayors, Ron Gunderson and Brad Miller, were present at the groundbreaking event.
B. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to appoint Mike McCarty to the Rec Board, upon their recommendation. Motion carried 3-2 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Davis, Leary and Mayor Meyers
Nays: Gladding and Steele
C. Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to approve the contract with Fleis & Vandenbrink for Lead Line Replacement Services. (On file in the Clerk’s Office). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
D. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the City’s Special Event Application for the 9th Annual Belding City Christmas Tree Lighting event scheduled for Friday, December 8th at 6:30 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mike Tefft, commented on the City Council’s decision to reappoint Mike McCarty to the Rec Board.
Bob Brown commented on the Rec Board appointment.
Jenny Bennett commented on the Rec Board appointment. She further commented on allowing comments to be made on the City’s Facebook page. She advised that citizens need to be accountable for what they post and to think about it before doing so. It is unreasonable to expect the Clerk (Janae) or the City Manager (Jon) to respond to Facebook comments as it would be a full-time job. She also commented on the lack of emails, specifically city council members, being on the website.
Clinton Hewartson commented on the decision to allow comments on the City Facebook page. He thanked Davis, Leary and Mayor Meyers.
Ken Myers commented on allowing the public to comment on the City Facebook page. He thanked Gladding and Steele for their efforts with the tree lighting event. He thanked Stoppels for getting the water tower washed. He inquired about the wastewater treatment plant cost increase. Mayor Meyers advised Myers that the city continues to exhaust all efforts in seeking funding and grants to assist with the cost.
Stoppels advised council on the following topics of interest:
· He has prepared a report updating the council on what has been accomplished from the goal setting session back in January, along with a list of projects that he is working on.
· Leaf collection is approximately 30% completed
· Video cameras- the electrical work has been completed--we are waiting on cameras. It is a supply and demand issue.
Gladding thanked Ryan Wilson and William Bennett for the IFT Application. She additionally commented on “commenting.”
Davis thanked Ryan Wilson and William Bennett for the IFT Application, and thanked everyone who spoke during each Public Comment period. He appreciated the update on the wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, he commented on Facebook comments.
Leary stated that the water tower looks great! She commented on the Rec Board appointment and appreciated everyone’s comments. She wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Mayor Meyers commented on the video cameras and again thanked the BACF and the DDA for their generous donations. He thanked Gladding and Steele for the upcoming Tree Lighting Ceremony, thanked Elaine Vennema from Fleis and Vandenbrink for her report on the WWTP and commented on the cleaning of the water tower. He noted that he understands Tefft’s frustrations regarding the Rec Board’s reappointment process. He advised that another seat will become vacant on the Rec Board in December and thanked everyone who spoke this evening.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk