CITY COUNCIL
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
BELDING, MI 48809
7:00 PM
A meeting of the
Members present:
Members absent: None
Mayor Meyers noted the following addition to the agenda: Under Item A. of the Consent Calendar, add check #82337, increasing the amount to be approved to $2,161,542.85. Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
A. Scott Hall from Fleis & Vandenbrink gave the monthly WWTP status update. (Handout on file in the Clerk’s Office).
B. Larry Hummel from Fleis & Vandenbrink reported on the status of several road repair projects and two park grant projects.
C. Chief of Police Dion Sower gave a brief update on Code Enforcement
D. City Clerk Janae Ortego reported that she received a $6000 grant from the Institute for Responsive Government which is a non-partisan, non-profit and tax-exempt agency with the IRS. Funds must be exclusively used for the nonpartisan public purpose of planning an operationalizing secure, efficient and accessible election administration in Belding. Local Clerks were notified of the opportunity to apply for this grant and another one, by the State of Michigan Bureau of Elections. Belding did not qualify for the other grant.
Moved by Davis seconded by Leary to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
The Consent Agenda is as follows:
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1588 to 1600 in the amount of $114,647.91
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, September 3, 2024
Davis reported that the Planning Commission is scheduled to meet next Tuesday.
Leary reported that Library Board is scheduled to meet next Monday, and the Museum Board is scheduled to meet next Tuesday.
Steele reported that the Rec Board received grant updates at their meeting.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission is scheduled to meet this Thursday.
A. Moved by Leary, seconded by Davis to approve Resolution No. 2024-09-21, to add Blendon Township to the GVMC (Grand Valley Metropolitan Council). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 42 IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan was held in said City on the 17th day of September, 2024.
WHEREAS, the members of Grand Valley Metropolitan Council ("Metro Council") have by majority vote approved Amendment No. 42 (Addition of Blendon Township) in the Articles of Incorporation of Grand Valley Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, the amendments have now been submitted for approval by the legislative bodies of the local governmental units that belong to Metro Council; and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 42 to add Blendon Township as a Member is as follows:
AMENDMENT NO. 42
To Add Blendon Township as a Member
1. The first paragraph of the Articles of Incorporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
These Articles of Incorporation are adopted and executed by the incorporating units (“Units”), the City of Grand Rapids, the City of Kentwood, the City of East Grand Rapids, the City of Grandville, the City of Rockford, the City of Hudsonville, the City of Cedar Springs, Byron Township, Plainfield Township, Alpine Township, Gaines Township, Kent County, Grand Rapids Township, Algoma Township, City of Coopersville, City of Greenville, City of Ionia, City of Walker, Courtland Township, City of Wayland, Village of Middleville, Tallmadge Township, Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Caledonia Township, Cannon Township, Allendale Township, Cascade Township, Jamestown Township, the City of Wyoming, the City of Lowell, the City of Belding, Ada Township, the Village of Sand Lake, Lowell Township, Nelson Township, the Village of Sparta, and the Village of Caledonia and Blendon Township for the purpose of constituting a Metropolitan Council pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 292 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1989 (the "Act"). and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding has considered Amendment No. 42 in the Articles of Incorporation of Metro Council; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
1. Amendment No. 42 in the Articles of Incorporation of Grand Valley Metropolitan Council is hereby APPROVED.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 17th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024.
Mike Brady, 927 Masonic, commented on the parks, maintenance, weed spraying, safety, playground equipment, brush pickup and special pickups after a storm.
Sue Howe, 54 Belhaven, commented on the Belhaven II parking lot, tennis courts, the trails and erosion and safety.
City Manager Jon Stoppels gave an informational update on the following items topics of interest:
· Leaf pickup will begin the first week of October
· Tree removal
· The new IT Firm is working on a major overhaul of the city’s network system network including services, hardware and software.
· DPW
Gladding commented on the following:
· Attended the MML Conference last week
Davis commented on the following:
· Thanked Brady and Howe for their comments and Fleis & Vandenbrink for their updates.
· Leary commented on the following:
· Attended the MML Conference last week
Steele commented on the following:
· Flags on Memorial Bridge
· The American Legion fixed the flag posts at Demorest Field and the Memorial Bridge so flags can easily raised and lowered. They added a flag to Demorest Field, which did not currently have one
· Flags were lowered on 9-11.
Mayor Meyers commented on the following:
· Thanked Brady and Howe for their comments
· Thanked Fleis & Vandenbrink for their reports
· Affording upkeep
· Advised that the City Manager is responsible for day-to-day operations
Moved by Leary seconded by Davis to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk