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St. Ignace City Council Meeting Minutes Council Proceedings (Official) The regular meeting of the St. Ignace City Council was held on Monday, October 1, 2007 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Mayor Grondin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Gustafson gave the invocation. Present: Councilmember Della- Moretta, Fullerton, Gustafson, LaLonde, Tamlyn-Massaway, Wyse, Mayor Grondin. Absent: None. Staff Present: Eric Dodson, City Manager, Prentiss M. Brown, Jr., City Attorney; Renee' Vonderwerth, City Clerk; Eugene Elmer, Assessor/ Treasurer; Les Therrian, Superintendent of Utilities; Tim Matelski, Chief of Police; Paul Sved, Bldg. Insp; Erica Mattson, Recreation Dept. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 17, 2007 were approved as presented. Additions to the Agenda: 10. Councilmember Gustafson - Ski Hill Pump. 1. WATER TOWER REPORT: City Manager Dodson informed Council that Pittsburg Tank is scheduled to be back on site to complete the punch list, provided by Dixon Engineering, to comply with the specs mandated to fix the tower. Les Therrian stated that the final payment wouldn't be made until the City accepts the tower and the expenses incurred by the City will be negotiated before final payment is made. 2. BUS STATION REPORT: City Manager Dodson informed Council that MDOT indicated the bus station project is scheduled to continue on October 1, 2007, however now it will depend on the 30-day extension issued by the State of Michigan regarding the budget. 3. TENNIS COURT COMMITTEE REPORT: City Manager Dodson reported that the Tennis Committee met on September 25th to discuss grant writing, fund raising and cost of the project, adding that the City Engineer compiled a real cost estimate of $59,000 for total replacement. Mayor Grondin stated that it is the consensus of the committee that all the funds will be obtained through fund raising and grants to complete the project. 4. BUDGET UPDATE - SET WORK SESSION: City Manager Dodson requested Council to set a date for the budget work session, suggesting the end of October. It was moved by Councilmember Wyse, seconded by Councilmember LaLonde to set a budget work session for Monday, November 5th at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 5. CABLE TELEVISION COMMITTEE REPORT: City Manager Dodson informed Council that the public message channel is down due to an outdated computer system. He stated that the Cable Committee met with Don Gladwell from Charter Communication to discuss a couple of options for purchasing a new system, adding that Charter is willing to loan the city a unit for up to 6 months. At this time, Councilmember Gustafson informed Council that the loaner is here. City Manager Dodson stated that a new system could cost anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000 and the committee's recommendation is to seek quotes and consider funding a new system through community support or applying a charge on the cable bill, up to .20/month, to pay for the system over three years. In addition, it was the consensus of the committee to find out what system would be fitting for the community, and once the actual costs are known, decide on the best way to fund it. 6. CHIEF DOCK GRANT AND RESOLUTION: RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT MNRTF GRANT APPLICATION "CHIEF WAWATAM PARK DEVELOPMENT" The following Resolution was offered for adoption by Councilmember Gustafson, and supported by Councilmember Wyse: WHEREAS, the City of St. Ignace owns the Chief Wawatam Dock property, which is undeveloped except for a newly constructed boardwalk along its northern shoreline, and the undeveloped portion of this property is in need of a connecting bricklike concrete walkway, aesthetic fencing, interpretive signage, children's educational areas, sod, landscaping, sprinklers, lighting and park amenities and the addition of a fishing platform on the southern shore of the dock in order promote public fishing and public recreational activities on our downtown waterfront, and WHEREAS, total project cost is estimated at $210,000, 64% ($134,000) of which has been applied for through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant program, 36% ($76,000) of which would be funded through local match and will include $5,000 from the City general fund and $5,000 in City force labor; $23,000 from the Downtown Development Authority; $10,000 from Mackinac County; $5,000 from the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club; $3,000 from the St. Ignace Lions Club; and $25,000 through a MDEQ Coastal Management Grant (email approval by the MDEQ on 9/26/07), and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on March 5, 2007 for the purpose of receiving public comments on the submission of said grant application for the development of this city owned public waterfront area and no negative comments were heard at said meeting, and WHEREAS, the City of St. Ignace pledges to undertake said development if requested grant monies are awarded through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and will match any other grant monies applied for if not awarded. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of St. Ignace does hereby support its Downtown Development Authority to increase its contribution toward this project as part of the local match toward the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for the purpose of obtaining funding toward the development of Chief Wawatam Park Development. Roll Call Vote: Yes: Councilmember Fullerton, Gustafson, LaLonde, Tamlyn- Massaway, Wyse, Mayor Grondin, Councilmember Della-Moretta. No: None. Absent: None. Resolution declared Adopted. 7. MOTOR VESSEL ARTHUR K. ATKINSON REQUEST: City Manager Dodson reviewed with Council the request submitted from Scotlund Stivers to dock the Arthur K. Atkinson, a railroad car ferry, at Dock #3 for the purpose of collection and transporting baled scrap tires to Wisconsin. After considerable discussion, it was moved by Councilmember LaLonde, seconded by Councilmember Wyse not to consider any further requests until the vessel is deemed sea worthy by the Coast Guard. Motion carried unanimously. 8. STARLINE PROPERTY PURCHASE UPDATE: City Manager Dodson informed Council that a request for bid proposals has been published and will be opened by the Real Estate Committee on October 11th. After a lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of Council to proceed with the appraisal in order to have adequate information for preparing ballot language. 9. MML CONFERENCE REPORT: City Manager Dodson stated that Mayor Grondin, Councilmember LaLonde and he attended the MML Conference in Traverse City and updated Council on some of the issues covered. 10. COUNCILMEMBER GUSTAFSON- SKI HILL PUMP: Councilmember Gustafson stated that the Ski Hill Committee will be meeting in the near future and requested Council's authorization to purchase the pump that was budgeted for in 2007. It was moved by Councilmember Fullerton, seconded by Councilmember Wyse to authorize the Ski Hill Committee to proceed with the purchase of the pump. Motion carried unanimously. Consideration of Bills: There were no considerations on the bills.
Public Comment: Barb Ryerse voiced her concern regarding the City Charter violation issue, and wanted to know if it was true that it was a violation, why the money is not being replaced, and why the City Council is not being accountable for the City Charter. After considerable discussion, it was the consensus of Council that an intern is not an employee, therefore, the City Charter was not violated. |
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