REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 3, 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, October 3, 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, Jeannine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to open the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m. The purpose for the Public Hearing is to hear comments regarding Ordinance #562 to establish new voter precinct boundaries in the City of Belding effective January 1, 2024.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego advised that the City of Belding Election Commission has already approved this change and it is their lawful responsibility. The Ordinance is a formality as noted in the city charter.
Clinton Hewartson inquired if the city is going from three precincts to one.
Mayor Meyers clarified that the city will be going from 3 precincts to two.
Hearing no further questions or comments, Mayor Meyers closed the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis 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 80565 to 80633 in the amount of $214,954.45.
Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1471 to 1476 in the amount of $54,210.89.
B. Approve Minutes:
City Council regularly scheduled meeting minutes – September 19, 2023
Mayor Meyers noted that $50,000 of the amount included in approving the Independent Bank checks was for our portion of the Ellis Street Reconstruction.
Leary reported that the Friends of the Library had a book sale. They made over $900. They have donated $4,000 to the library this year. The Candlelight Reception is their next upcoming event.
The Museum Board met on September 26th. Susie Finkbeiner will be giving a presentation about women’s softball leagues in the 1940’s and 50’s.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission met on September 26th. They reviewed a Site Plan for HOG Cannabis to open a dispensary. They have satisfied our new ordinance above and beyond. They have applied to be a dispensary through the State of Michigan.
Gladding reported that the ZBA will be meeting next Tuesday.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission met on September 21st. They reviewed routine reports, approved bills, reviewed they year-end budget and the status of door installations. The drainage issue at 32 Belhaven has been rectified. He further commented on the Housing Director’s credentials.
A. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to give the second reading to Ordinance #562. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve Ordinance #562 and direct the clerk to publish the Ordinance. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Ordinance is as follows:
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH NEW VOTER PRECINCT BOUNDARY LINES
THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS:
Section 1: Establishing new voter precinct boundary lines. Pursuant to the recommendation of the Belding Election Commission, the City divides the City into two voter precincts. Precinct 1 shall be that part of the City west of the center line of Bridge Street to the west City limits. Precinct 2 shall be that part of the City east of the center line of Bridge Street to the east City limits.
Section 2: Effective Date of New Voter Precincts. The establishment of these voter precincts shall be effective as of January 1, 2024.
Section 3: Direction to City Clerk. The City Clerk is directed to notify the State of Michigan, the Ionia County Clerk and affected voters of this change as described by law.
Section 4: Conflicting Ordinances and Resolutions. Any ordinance or resolution in conflict with this ordinance is hereby repealed.
Section 5: Effective Date of this Ordinance. This ordinance will become effective 10 days after publication.
B. City Manager Jon Stoppels requested a budget amendment in the amount of $10,000 to remove dead, dying and diseased trees from the cemetery. This amount will get rid of the majority of the problematic trees and he will develop a comprehensive plan and budget next year to finish the project. The next steps will be to paint the mausoleum and clean out shrubs. Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to approve the budget amendment allocating $10,000 from the general fund for the purpose of removing and trimming trees in the city’s cemeteries. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
C. Moved by Steele, seconded by Davis to approve a proposal with TKS Security in the amount of $19,995 for the installation of security cameras in Central Riverside and Veteran’s Park, approval to include monthly service fees for maintenance and monitoring. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to approve $4,240 for electrical installation in Central Riverside and Veteran’s Park by G & D Electric. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Stoppels advised council on the following topics of interest:
· The closing has taken place on the new City Hall building.
· Staff toured the building yesterday and offered ideas and provided input. Stoppels is currently working on a list. The police department noted that the size and set-up is conducive to the police department.
· Elections and city council may be on the second floor eventually
· The DPW working on replacing valves, found water mains that are not in the records that are 50-60 years old; former staff were not aware of them either. Records were made, documenting with measurements and pictures for future reference.
· The water drainage issue at Belhaven I was resolved.
· Stoppels will get quotes to clean the water towers. The water quality is not affected in doing so, it is just good PR.
Steele commented on the new City Hall building, and thanked the DDA and the Belding Area Community Fund for their donations for the security cameras. She also thanked Mark and Kathy Kohn for rehabbing the pickleball courts.
Leary commented on the cemetery tree removal.
Davis thanked Stoppels for the cemetery rehab and commented on the cameras for the parks. He thanked everyone for coming.
Gladding thanked the DDA and the Belding Area Community Fund for their help with the cameras. She commented on growing pains and change being hard. She thanked everyone for coming.
Mayor Meyers thanked the DDA and the Belding Area Community Fund, the Friends of the Library, Stoppels and City Staff.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk