REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, September 5, 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, September 5, 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 Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding 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 80344 to 80484 in the amount of $346,745.85
Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1446 to 1456 in the amount of $3,522,044.44
B. Approve Minutes:
City Council regularly scheduled meeting minutes – August 15, 2023
Closed Session minutes - August 15, 2023
Gladding reported that the ZBA approved a three-year allowance for an applicant to build a garage.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission reviewed the current Master Plan and discussed either an update or a rewrite. The current Master Plan has been submitted to Williams & Works for review and recommendations.
Leary reported that the Museum Board met on August 22nd. The advised on the following areas of interest:
· Two paranormal experts would like to study the museum.
· Museum Board is considering joining the Belding Chamber of Commerce
· Susie Finkbeiner of the Grand Rapids Chicks may be a featured as a future speaker
Additionally, Leary met with the Library Board on August 28th and advised of a guest speaker.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission did not meet in August. Their next regularly scheduled meeting is set for September 21st at 6:15 p.m.
A. Bridge Street Speed Study and Speed Limit Recommendation: Chief Dion Sower recently completed a speed study on Bridge Street in the south end of town. The study was done as a result of citizen concerns regarding the limited speed limit in that area. Chief Sower presented the results of his study (on file in the Clerk’s Office) and recommended to establish an appropriate speed limit on that section of the roadway. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Resolution #2023-09-17 and Traffic Control Order (TCO) # 2023-01. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER #2023-01, BASED UPON A SPEED STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER OF THE CITY OF BELDING
WHEREAS, Police Chief Dion Sower, Traffic Engineer for the City of Belding, has completed a Speed Study of S. Bridge Street from South Street south to Flat River Trail on June 29, 2023 and July 20, 2023 ; and
WHEREAS the results of the Speed Study have determined that changes to speed limits and signage on the city streets referenced below are warranted; and,
WHEREAS, Police Chief Dion Sower, Traffic Engineer for the City of Belding, Requests the approval of Traffic Control Order #2023-01 implementing the following:
WHEREAS, Raising the speed limit on S. Bridge Street between South Street and Flat River Trail; and,
WHEREAS, Install a street sign post with a 40 mph Speed Limit sign on the west side of S. Bridge Street, 115 feet north of Thurman Street; and,
WHEREAS, Remove both the street sign post and the 25 mph Speed Limit sign on the west side of S. Bridge Street, south of Thurman Street; and,
WHEREAS, Remove the 35 mph Speed Limit sign on the west side of S. Bridge Street, north of the south River Ridge Cemetery drive, and replace with a 40 mph Speed Limit sign; and,
WHEREAS, Remove the advisory Reduce Speed 35 Ahead sign on the east side of Zahm Road, north of Ostrum Road, and replace with an advisory Reduce Speed 40 Ahead sign; and,
WHEREAS, Remove the 35 mph Speed Limit sign on the east side of Zahm Road at Flat River Trail and replace with a 40 mph Speed Limit sign; and,
WHEREAS, Install a street sign post and an advisory Reduce Speed 25 Ahead sign on the east side of S. Bridge Street, 630 feet south of South Street; and,
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Belding shall approve a traffic order to make it a permanent addition to the traffic control orders of the city; and,
WHEREAS, Traffic Control Order #2023-01 will become effective immediately upon approval of the City Council of the City of Belding; and,
WHEREAS, Traffic Control Order #2023-01 will remain in effect until further order of the City Council of the City of Belding; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan, that pursuant to Section 82.26 of Chapter 82 of the Code of the City of Belding, Traffic Control Order #0023-01 is hereby approved, effective immediately and until further action of the City Council of the City of Belding.
RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.
Traffic Control # 2023-01 is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
B. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary, to give the first reading to Ordinance 561 with regards to issuing bonds for the new wastewater treatment plant.
C. Consider Utility Easement for new Wastewater Treatment Plant: In order to provide adequate electrical power to the new wastewater treatment plant, Consumers Energy will need to bring in a larger electrical service with the city granting an easement across city owned property. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to authorize staff to execute an easement on city owned property for the purpose of bringing a larger electrical service to the new wastewater treatment plant. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
D. Belding Title VI Plan Revision: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that organizations (such as our Dial-A-Ride) that use federal funding, must adopt a Title VI plan regarding program users and their rights against discrimination. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the Title VI Plan Revision as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. (A copy of the Title VI Plan Revision is on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
E. Consider Purchase of new Leaf Vacuum: The city has a long-term practice of picking up Fall leaves from its residents. In recent years we have used a loader and dump truck to collect the leaves. This has proven to be a slow process that can cause damage to lawns and the road surface. Recently an older leaf vacuum was repaired and will be utilized this Fall. Additionally, the city is requesting to purchase a newer vacuum that is self-contained and will help to speed up the collection process. We have the unique opportunity to purchase this new equipment on a seven-year plan at just 4.98% interest. The cost would be $17,398 per year for seven years. It is estimated that this piece of equipment would have a useable life in the 10–15-year range or longer if properly maintained.
Moved Steele, seconded by Gladding to authorize staff to purchase a new leaf vacuum from Brown Equipment Company. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Sam Mason, 516 W. Main Street, commented on the new leaf vacuum purchase. He additionally commented that a workman’s comp claim would cost more than what the city is projected to spend on the new leaf vacuum.
Stoppels advised council on the following topics of interest:
· A successful Labor Day event
· Music in the Park hosted 14 bands. Zero city tax dollars were used.
· The leak at Belhaven I was discovered to be coming in for a different direction that originally thought. This discovery means that the repairs can be done by the DPW and will cost a few hundred dollars versus the thousands of dollars originally anticipated.
· With the recent passage of the two new Ordinances, the city has received an application for a Marihuana Dispensary and a Bed & Breakfast.
· The Master Plan that was reviewed by both the Planning Commission and Williams & Works appears to most appropriately be rewritten. Williams & Works estimates the cost to be about $50,000 and will take 2 years to complete. Stoppels will look into budgeting for this item appropriately after the first of the year.
Gladding commented on Labor Day and Music in the Park. She thanked the DPW, Fire Department and Police Department and many people in the community for their help with Labor Day. She thanked Ortego for her work on Music in the Park.
Davis thanked the Labor Day Committee, Chief Sower for the speed study, Stoppels and Ortego for Music in the Park and many other activities. He additionally thanked everyone for coming.
Leary commented on Zippy Days and Music in the Park being important events to connect the community. She thanked the Labor Day Committee.
Steele thanked Gladding and the Labor Day Committee and commented on Music in the Park. She also commented on the Board and Commission training that were held last week.
Gladding thanked Stoppels for the training.
Mayor Meyers thanked everyone for Labor Day and Steele for the Pet Show. He thanked Stoppels and Ortego for Music in the Park. He thanked Stoppels for the Belhaven I water issue and noted Saron Carlson’s (Housing Commission Director) appreciation towards the city. He commented on the training being very informative an about rewriting the master plan. He stated that the city is accomplishing a lot. He also thanked Chief Sower for the speed study.
Stoppels further commented on the police and fire departments working 24/7 and being taken for granted. He appreciates their efforts.
Mayor Meyers called for a five-minute recess at 7:44 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding go back on the record and move into closed session per MCL 15.268(d) at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to move out of Closed Session and return to Open Session at 8:34 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk