7:30 P.M.
Barber School Meeting Room
I.
Call to Order
President Keller called the meeting to
order at 7:30 p.m.
II.
Pledge of
Allegiance
III.
Roll Call
A.
Present:
Filber, Fischer, Holland, Keller, Palma & VanStrate
B.
Absent:
Hall
IV.
Reports and Statements of Citizens:
Jane Ruiter, Ottawa County Commissioner,
updated the Village Council on current county business.
V. Consent
Agenda
A.
Approved
the payment of the bills in the amount of $66,645.22.
B.
Approved
the payment of the bills in the amount of $41,709.38.
C.
Approved the minutes of the November 15,
2004, regular meeting.
D.
Approved a resolution of support to deploy
a coordinated, countywide wireless broadband network. The Ottawa County
Planning Commission was coordinating the provision of a countywide wireless
broadband network to minimize the proliferation of towers, enhance economic
development and provide video conferencing between the 24 different units of
local government. The attached
resolution was non-binding and was requested to determine conceptual support
from the county’s local governments. If
the county proceeded to coordinate wireless broadband in the county, legal,
technical, operational and administrative answers would be provided prior to
implementation. No public financial
investment was required.
E.
Set a public hearing for January 3, 2005 for renewal of a
nonexclusive 2004 cable television franchise agreement with CC Michigan, d/b/a
Charter Communications.
F.
Set
a special joint meeting with the Village of Spring Lake Planning Commission for
Monday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. (This
meeting was tentatively set two months ago.
This agenda item was intended to formalize this public meeting.)
G.
Approved a resolution to adopt the Greater
Grand Rapids Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and authorized the Village President
and Clerk-Treasurer to execute the resolution. Adoption of this resolution
supported the direction that Ottawa County emergency management program planned
to move toward affiliating with Kent County and the Michigan State Police
Emergency Management Division and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region
V. Adoption of this resolution also
made the Village eligible for hazard mitigation grants to potentially help
finance lift station generators, telemetry and EOC improvements.
On a motion by Fischer, support from
VanStrate, the Village Council approved the Consent Agenda as presented.
Yes: 6 No: 0
VI.
Report
By the Village Clerk
A. Presentation
by BDO Seidman, LLP on the results of the annual financial audit and report for
the year ended June 30, 2004.
Subject: The enormous efforts of Maribeth Lawrence
and staff of BDO Seidman, LLP, made this audit possible. The audit has always been a daunting task for
any financial staff, but given the confluence of the computer system transition
and double-entry procedures, the time involved was doubled this year. Maribeth’s time was often spent in the
evenings and weekends – this extraordinary effort extended for four months. It
simply could have not been done without the dedication of Ms. Lawrence and her
family. As a token of the Village’s
appreciation, I increased Ms. Lawrence’s vacation balance by 40 hours. This change was unsolicited.
The
results were discussed in work session and were further addressed by Mr. Steve
Harvey, Mr. Jason Mitchell and Ms. Maribeth Lawrence.
The
Village Council received the presentation and discussion.
B. Accepted
the annual financial report for the year ended June 30, 2004.
Subject: See above notes.
On
a motion by Fischer, support from Filber, the Village Council accepted the
annual audit.
Yes: 6 No: 0
C. Set
a public hearing for Wednesday, December 29, 2004 regarding the Village
retaining it’s right to conduct it’s regular elections in September of
odd-numbered years under the direction of the Village Clerk.
Subject: The state election laws recently changed to
eliminate the Village having its own election during odd years. The Township was authorized to do so during
the even years instead. The Village
would need to pay a prorated amount of such expenses. The net impact was an overall savings to the Village. The impact to the Village Council was an
automatic additional year of service for those council members up for
re-election in 2005.
Clerk/Treasurer Lawrence presented reasons why staff thought the Village elections should be
consolidated and run by Spring
Lake Township.
On
a motion by Palma, support from Fischer, the Village Council approved the Village retaining the
right to continue conducting
it’s own elections under the direction of the Village Clerk.
Yes: 4 No: 2
(VanStrate, Keller)
On
a motion by Palma, support from Fischer, the Village Council set a public hearing for Wednesday,
December 29, 2004 regarding the
Village retaining it’s right to conduct it’s regular elections in September of odd-numbered years
under the direction of the
Village Clerk.
Yes: 6 No: 0
D. Appointed
Mark Miller to the Historic Conservation District Commission for a three-year
term expiring January 2008.
Subject: Mr. Miller lived at 207 East Savidge and was
interested in serving on the Village Council or the Historic Conservation
Commission. Since no openings existed
on the Village Council, Mr. Miller wanted to be on the Historic Commission in the
meantime.
On
a motion by Holland, support from Filber, the Village Council appointed Mark
Miller to the Historic Conservation District Commission for a three-year term
expiring January 2008.
Yes: 6 No: 0
VII.
Report by the Village Manager
A. Approved
the Village Manager’s participation in a Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance
panel entitled “Government: Ensuring
Diverse Neighborhoods – A Regional Approach” on February 15, 2005.
Subject: This request was made in preparation of
their next summit on racism day set for Tuesday, February 15 at Hope
College. One of the day’s goals was to
investigate the changing demographics, projections for the next few decades,
the benefits of regional collaboration to ensure and value diverse
neighborhoods and the tools for getting there.
On
a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council approved the
Village Manager participating on this one-day conference and panel.
Yes: 6 No: 0
B. Authorized
the Village President and Village Clerk Treasurer to execute a lease agreement
with Ted Dimke Investments, LLC starting January 15, 2005 for an initial
six-month period with possible annual extensions.
Subject: Mr. Dimke worked out lease terms with the
Village Manager. They were substantial
as noted in his letter attached with the exception that:
1. Rent
would begin at $350 per month and increase to $420 at six months, and annually
thereafter, as per inflation for three years.
At the three-year mark, the Village Council retained discretion to
change the rent further if desired.
2. The
common area maintenance fee would be $100 per month (this equated to $3 per
square foot and was customary).
3. Personal
property taxes would be the responsibility of the tenant.
On
a motion by Palma, support from Holland, the Village Council authorized the
Village President and Village Clerk-Treasurer to execute the lease agreement
drafted by the Village Attorney containing the same provisions as discussed
above.
Yes: 6 No: 0
VIII.
Reports
by the Village Council:
No report by the Village Council
was presented.
IX.
Statements of Citizens:
No statements of citizens were presented.
X.
Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate Options and Collective
Bargaining.
On a motion by Fischer, support from
Filber, the Village Council adjourned into
executive session at 8:53 p.m.
Yes: 6 No: 0
Resolved that
the Village Council meet in executive session for reasons permitted by Section
8(C) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.268 (e); MSA 4.1800(18)(e); as
requested by the Village Manager, to confer with legal counsel on matters
permitted by Section (e) of the Open Meetings Act.
On a motion by
Palma, support from Holland, the Village Council arose from executive session
at 9:03 p.m.
Yes: 6 No: 0
On a motion by Palma, support from
Fischer, the Village Council
approved the bicycle path and walkway easement documents with LaFontaine Company for a
not-to-exceed cost of $5000.00.
Yes: 6 No: 0
XI.
Adjournment
On a motion by VanStrate, support from Palma, the Village
Council adjourned at 9:05 pm.
Yes: 6 No: 0
______________________________________________
Daniel Keller,
Village President
_______________________________________________
Maribeth Lawrence,
Village Clerk/Treasurer