REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
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, January 16, 2024 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 and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: Jorel Davis
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the absence of Davis per section 4.5f of the City Charter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Scott Hall of Fleis & Vandenbrink reported that the construction is ahead of schedule due to the warm winter we have had so far. They are starting the new electrical service with Consumers Power and are working on underground structures. Hall thanked the DPW for their help with facilitating the construction.
Mayor Meyers opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 p.m. regarding the Board of Review Ordinance #563. This is an amendment to the current ordinance as that is easier than a charter rewrite. The Ordinance was recommended by City Attorney Randy Kraker. Hearing no questions or comments, Mayor Meyers closed the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.
Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele 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 81092 to 81143 in the amount of $561,970.02.
Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications
Approve Mercantile bank Checks 1521 – 1529 in the amount of $167,398.34
B. Approve Minutes: City Council regularly scheduled meeting minutes – January 2, 2024; Closed Session minutes - December 19, 2023
Mayor Meyers noted that the check for $443,000 was for three Dial-A-Ride busses, however the State is reimbursing the City for this expense.
Steele reported that she has was unable to attend the Rec Board meeting, however she advised that they still need another member and that Ron Devereaux is the still Chairperson.
Gladding reported that the ZBA will meet on January 23rd. The Solid Waste Committee was postponed.
Leary reported that neither the Museum Board nor the Library Board have met.
Mayor Meyers advised that the Belding Housing Commission will be meeting this Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
A. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to Adopt Board of Review Ordinance. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All. The Ordinance is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
COUNTY OF IONIA, MICHIGAN
AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE ALTERNATE MEMBERS ON THE BOARD OF REVIEW
THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS:
Section 1: Authorization of alternate members to the City Board of Review. The City Council is authorized to appoint up to two alternate members to the City Board of Review. The alternate members shall serve pursuant to, and consistent with, the terms and conditions set forth in Belding City Charter Section 12.6(b) and state statute MCL 211.28.
Section 2: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be effective ten (10) days days after its publication.
B. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve the bid from Planner’s Environmental for Water Distribution Management Inventory in the amount of $49,556.00. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
C. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to approve alternate start dates for the Board of Review. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN TO ADOPT ALTERNATE START DATES FOR MARCH 2024; JULY 2024 AND DECEMBER 2024 BOARD OF REVIEW.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 16th day of January, 2024.
WHEREAS, the adoption of the alternate Board of Review dates as follows is requested, as required per State Tax Commission guidelines:
For the March Board of Review, second meeting in March, can be held either the Tuesday or the Wednesday following the second Monday in March, 2024
For the July Board of Review, an alternate date during the week of the 3rd Monday in July, 2024
For the December Board of review, an alternate date during the week of the 2nd Monday in December, 2024
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the listed alternate dates for the Board of Review are hereby adopted.
D. Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to approve the Adoption of Poverty Exemption. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All. (The Poverty Exemptions are on file in the Clerk’s Office)
E. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to reappoint the following members to the Board of Review: Doug Lamborne, Marjorie Hansen and John Niemela. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
F. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Leary to appointment Dick Outman as an alternate on the Board of Review. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
G. Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to approve the resolution for Merrick Road Reconstruction. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All. The Resolution is a follows:
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE MERRICK STREET IMPROVEMENTS FROM ASHFIELD STREET TO EAST CITY LIMITS UTILIZING TED (B) FUNDING
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
CONTRACT No. 23-5568, Control Section EDB 62000, Job Number 220388CON by and between the MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the CITY OF BELDING is hereby accepted. The following Official is authorized to sign the said contract: JON STOPPELS, CITY MANAGER
THIS RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024.
H. Moved by Leary, seconded by Steele to adopt the Dial-A-Ride Resolution for PA 51 Funding. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 UNDER PUBLIC ACT 51 OF 1951, AS AMENDED
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 16th day of January, 2024.
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Public Act 51 of 1951, as amended (Act 51), it is necessary for the City of Belding, a Home Rule City established pursuant to Public Act 279 of 1909, as amended, to provide a local transportation program for the state fiscal year of 2025 and, therefore, apply for state financial assistance under provisions of Act 51; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City of Belding to name an official representative for all public transportation matters, who is authorized to provide such information as deemed necessary by the State Transportation Commission or department for its administration of Act 51; and,
WHEREAS, It is necessary to certify that no changes in eligibility documentation have occurred during the past fiscal year; and,
WHEREAS, the performance indicators for this agency have been reviewed and approved by the City of Belding; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding has reviewed and approved the proposed budget with sources of estimated federal funds of $55,018.00; estimated state funds of $123,178.00; estimated local funds of $80,000; estimated fare box revenues of $39,000; estimated other funds of $80,040 totaling $ 378,236 and with total eligible expenses of $305,657 for fiscal year 2025; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding has also reviewed and approved additional funding requests of $129,000 from the Federal 5339 Capital Grant funds for the purchase of scheduling & dispatch software, AVL equipment for the vehicles, replacement of two-way radios, replacement of bus wash system and patch & seal garage bus floors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Belding does hereby make its intentions known to provide public transportation services and to apply for state financial assistance with its annual plan, in accordance with Act 51.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Tammy McCracken is hereby appointed as the Transportation Coordinator for all public transportation matters, and is authorized to provide such information as deemed necessary by the State Transportation Commission or department for its administration of Act 51 for 2025.
THIS RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 16th DAY of JANUARY, 2024
I. Moved by Leary seconded by Gladding to table the matter of establishing Short Term Rental Annual Fees to the next meeting. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
J. Chief of Police Dion Sower gave a Year-End Police Activity Report. (Report on file in the Clerk’s Office)
Stoppels advised council on the following topics of interest:
· The DPW worked 4 nights from 2 a.m. to 12 p.m. trying to keep the roads clean. They are trying to get to the sidewalks, , but had to stop to get back to the roads. Salt is not working at these low temperatures.
· DPW will be purchasing a new snowblower
· There were two equipment breakdowns.
· There was 25.5 inches of snow
· There were no complaints
Leary thanked everyone for attending and thanked the DPW.
Steele commented on CIPs and the future and thanked the City Assessor for the Poverty Guideline Exemptions to help people stay in their homes.
Gladding thanked the DPW, thanked the Chief of Police and Fire Chief for their CIPs and trainings. She thanked everyone for coming.
Mayor Meyers thanked Chief Sower, Fleis & VandenBrink, the City Assessor for his work on the Board of Review. He reminded everyone that he will be at the Depot from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. this Saturday to meet with citizens.
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Leary to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk