City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

March 14, 2011

 

 

1.       Regular meeting called to order by Mayor May at 7:00 PM.

 

2.       Present at roll call were members: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

 

          City staff and appointees present: Mansfield, Emery, Sarver, Caris, Girrbach, Hart, Holzwarth, and Crystal Morgan in place of Fekkes.

         

3.       Pledge to the flag.

 

4.       Approval of the agenda.

         

          Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to add Item 8.A., Jim Brown, BIRCH Chair, and Item 8.F., Walter Dimmick request for access for monitoring well installation and sampling, and to approve the Agenda as amended.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

         

5.       Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of February 28, 2011.

 

          Motion by Tubbs, with support by Wood, to approve the minutes as presented.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

6.       Proclamations: (None).

 

7.       Public Hearings: (None).

 

8.       Formal presentations and requests:

 

          A.       Jim Brown, BIRCH Chair.

 

Mr. Brown appreciated the positive relationship between BIRCH and the City for over forty (40) years.  He stated that townships are facing budget issues too.  He wants to work together for a positive future.  He discussed the fire millage levied in three (3) of the BIRCH member townships being stretched to the limit.  Taxable value is catching up to SEV and SEV is declining in many areas.  He suggested that manpower is probably the only place to adjust fire cost.  He concluded that the fire service must be best we can afford.

 

B.                 Request from Bill Rohr, Vice President of Human Resources at Flexfab, LLC, and Allison Troyer Wiswell, Holtyn & Associates, to hold the 4th annual Flexfab 5k Run/Walk.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to approve request under direction of City staff.

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

C.       Request from Ron Martin, The Fishing Instructor, to allow 5th grade classes to fish in Fish Hatchery Park.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to approve request under direction of City staff.

 

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

          D.       Request from Mark Brisboe, President South Central Michigan Youth Baseball, to use the

                   ball field at Fish Hatchery Park.

 

Motion by Tubbs, with support by Wood, to approve under direction of City staff.

 

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

          E.       Request from Ryan Rose, Program Director for YMCA, to use various parks and facilities

                   for summer programs.

 

Motion by Campbell, with support by Tubbs, to approve request under direction of City staff.

 

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

          F.       Request from Walters Dimmick for access for monitoring well installation and sampling.

 

                   Mansfield discussed the written request.

 

                   Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to approve request under direction of City staff.

         

                   Ayes:            Bowers, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

                   Nays:            Campbell.

                   Absent:         None.

                   Motion carried.

 

9.       Recommendations from other Boards: (None).

 

10.     Ordinances:

 

Second reading and consider adoption of Ordinance No. 465 regarding fund raising events by

non-profit organizations in City parks.

 

Motion by Tossava, with support by Depue, to adopt Ordinance No. 465 as presented.

 

Ayes:            Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            Bowers and McNabb-Stange.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

11.     Resolutions: (None).

 

12.     Appointments: (None).

 

13.     Bids, Contracts, Agreements, and Sales:

 

A.       Consider award of bid to Williams & Works for Michigan Avenue Bridge Design and Construction Engineering Services in the amount not to exceed $155,233.00 as recommended by Director of Public Services Tim Girrbach.

 

          Girrbach discussed bid and additional optional services.

 

Motion by Campbell, with support by McNabb-Stange, to award bid as presented.

 

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

B.       Consider award of bid to Vanessa Jansen for sale of a 1996 Lincoln Limousine in the amount of $3,271.00 as recommended.

 

          Motion by Campbell, with support by Tossava, to award bid as recommended.

 

          Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

C.       Consider approval and authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to sign an agreement to

          extend the term of a rental agreement with the Thornapple Arts Council.

 

          Motion by Campbell, with support by Tossava, to approve and authorize the Mayor and

          Clerk to sign the agreement as presented.

 

          Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

14.     Consent items without individual discussion:

 

          A.       Invoices:

                             Hometown Tree Service - $5,395.00

                             MDOT - $5,143.27 (S. Jefferson St. project)

                             Morton Salt - $12,652.21

                             SME Inc. - $16,105.62 (Community Development)

                             Morton Salt - $6,721.99

                             MML Workers’ Compensation Fund - $9,458.00

          B.       Minutes of the Barry County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting

                   of March 1, 2011.

          C.       Correspondences regarding firefighter cuts.

          D.       Minutes of the Cable Access meeting of February 21, 2011.

          E.       Minutes of the LDFA meeting of February 16, 2011.

          F.       Minutes of the DDA meeting of February 17, 2011.

          G.       Green Gables Haven statistics for month ending February 2011.

          H.       Minutes of the Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting of March 8, 2011.

          I.       Communication regarding March 16, 2011 LDFA meeting.

          J.       Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of March 7, 2011.

 

          Bowers asked about final bill on South Jefferson Street project.  Emery responded.

 

          Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Wood, to receive items 14.A. through 14.J. inclusive and place on file.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

15.     City Manager's report:

 

          A.       Director of Public Services Tim Girrbach gave his monthly report.

         

                   Tossava asked about blocked sewer and burned house on East Clinton.

 

          B.       Fire Chief Roger Caris gave his monthly report.

 

C.                 Library Administrator Evelyn Holzwarth gave her monthly report.

           

16.     City Attorney's Report: (None).

 

17.     Legislative Director's Report:

 

Wood attended Legislative Coffee regarding budget, medical marijuana, and PA 312.

 

18.     Open Public Discussion from the Floor: (None).

 

19.     Mayor and Council comment:

 

May, Hart, Mansfield, Tubbs, and McNabb-Stange attended WMU’s student presentation of ideas for improving downtown Hastings.

 

20.     Consider Closed Session as permitted by PA 267 of 1976, Section 15.268-8(c) for strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Jasperse, to enter into closed session at 7:55 PM as permitted.

 

Ayes:            Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

Return to open session at 8:23 PM.

 

21.     Motion by Wood, to adjourn at 8:23 PM.

 

22.     Read and Approved:

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

          Robert L. May, Mayor                                                Thomas E. Emery, City Clerk