CITY COUNCIL
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
BELDING, MI 48809
7:00 PM
A meeting of the
Members present:
Members absent: None
Under the Consent Agenda, Mayor Meyers added Item C. Fire Department Request for Check to Purchase New Truck. Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Moved by Davis seconded by Leary to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
The Consent Agenda is as follows:
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1579 to 1582 in the amount of $2,445,617.31
Approve ACH Transactions
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, July 30, 2024
City Council Closed Session meeting – July 30, 2024
C. Request for Check to Purchase New Truck for Fire Department (Ford 1-Ton Pick-up truck, in current CIP and in approved Budget)
Gladding reported on the ZBA meeting. Two variances were approved, both for pole barns. This ordinance is currently under review by the Planning Commission.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission is scheduled to meet next Tuesday.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission is scheduled to meet on August 22 at 6:15 p.m.
A. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve Good Neighbor Awards for Stacy Moore, Executive Director of Ionia County Habitat for Humanity along with several students from around the United States involved in a Youth Group program which volunteered to beautify the downtown early this summer. (List of Students on file in the Clerk’s Office). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. Corey Turner from Fleis & Vandenbrink gave a status update on the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (report on file in the Clerk’s Office) as well as an update regarding the sludge removal.
C. Elaine Venema from Fleis & Vandenbrink gave a status update on the Lead Line Replacement program.
D. Chief of Police Dion Sower reported on Code Enforcement in July. (Report on file in the Clerk’s Office).
E. Sower presented a potential Golf Cart Ordinance to the Council members. (Proposed Ordinance on file in the Clerk’s Office). Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to recommend that the Planning Commission review the proposed Golf Cart Ordinance. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
F. Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to grant the Labor Day Committee permission to apply for a Charitable Gaming License. Resolution adopted 5-0 by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-08-20
LOCAL GOVERNING BODY RESOLUTION FOR CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSES
(Required by MCL 432.103a(i)(ii))
At a regular meeting of the Belding City Council called to Order by Mayor Bruce Meyers on August 20, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. the following Resolution was offered:
Moved by Council Member Leary and supported by Council Member Davis that the request from the Belding Labor Day Committee of the City of Belding, Ionia County, asking that they be recognized as a non-profit organization operating in the community for the purpose of obtaining charitable gaming licenses, be considered for approval.
This Resolution is hereby adopted.
Mike Brady commented on his voting experience at the Belrockton at the Primary Election. Brady advised that he was pleasantly surprised; the poll workers were gracious, additional ADA accessibility was in place, signage was simple enough for both his grandchildren (7 & 11 years old) to follow and the flow was better than before. Brady thanked Ortego for her efforts.
Bernita Taylor inquired about the golf-cart ordinance. Mayor Meyers explained the process to her, advising her that the next step is for the Planning Commission to review it.
Kathy North commented on the condemned house next to her and reported that skunks are coming out of the house. She commented that she has been dealing with this issue for four years.
City Manager Jon Stoppels gave an informational update on the following items topics of interest:
· The city continues to look into remedies for the goose problem at Water Street Park
· MML will be conducting both individual and group staff training for conflict resolution and customer service.
· DPW inventorying equipment
· The city continues to work with ICEA
· Labor Day preparations
Gladding commented on the following:
· Labor Day
Davis commented on the following:
· The city received a $66,000 grant for a dog park.
· Thanked Corey and Elaine from Fleis & Vandenbrink and Chief Sower for their reports.
· Thanked Brady for his comment and thanked Ortego.
Leary commented on the following:
· Thanked Fleis & Vandenbrink and the Habitat for Humanity Group
· Dog Park
Mayor Meyers commented on the following:
· Thanked North for her comment and briefly advised her of the process for condemnation
· Thanked Brady for his comment
· Thanked DPW
· Thanked Ortego for Music by the River
· Golf Cart Ordinance
· Saturday monthly meetings with the mayor
· Thanked council members for all of the work
Steele commented on the following:
· Labor Day Pet Show, raffle, tractor show, FFA
· Agreed with Brady in regards to voting and disabilities
Clerk Ortego inquired with Mayor Meyers if she could make a few quick comments. Mayor Meyers obliged. Ortego commented on the following:
· This Thursday will be the last Music by the River of the season
· The voter turnout in Belding for the Primary Election was only 13% (572 voters) as opposed to the February Presidential Primary being 20% (862 voters)
· Reported that Election Day went very well; Ortego worked in the polls the majority of the day
· Ortego worked one day of the early voting in Ionia (Friday, August 2nd), which was the day with the largest voter turn-out, being only 30 voters
Moved by Steele seconded by Leary to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk