ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS            Thursday, January 12, 2006

            Jack White, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Present:  Robert McLeod, Eugene Dawson, Larry Bargy, Jack White, David Howelman,

              Michael Crawford, Laura Stanek, Bernard Blackmore, Joseph Allen;

Absent:  None. (Bernard Blackmore left the meeting at 10:10 a.m.)

            The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

            The Chairman requested Public Comment.  Ed Martel spoke on the “hidden government”.  He also talked about the health department code and the county’s liability for same.  Kent McNeil requested a written confirmation of the decision on his grievance.  Stuart McKinnon requested that if he took a question of interpretation of code to the Board of Appeals and he was upheld, could the fee be waived or returned.

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Crawford that, in the case a contractor takes a question of definition or interpretation of construction code to the Board of Appeals and the issue is found in the contractor’s favor, the fee for convening the Board of Appeals be refunded to the contractor.    Mr. McLeod requested that the matter be deferred for one month.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the minutes of December 8, 2005 and January 5, 2006 be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            Peter Garwood reported on the Wetzel Lake meeting.  The property is owned by the Department of Natural Resources.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Blackmore the county portion of the Swamp Tax on the property known as the Wetzel Lake property owned by the Department of Natural Resources be waived.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            Discussion on the Wetzel Lake matter continued.  It was decided to wait for recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Parks Committee.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Blackmore the basement floor of the Barnes Park Building currently in construction be covered with enough concrete to raise the floor four inches and foil back insulation be adhered to the perimeter of the area all at a cost of not more than $4,000 and the expenditure budget of Fund #470 be increased by $4,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            The Resolution concerning the Deferred Compensation Plan revisions was deferred until the February meeting.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Allen that Gozling Czubak be contracted to do the County Master Plan at a cost of $18,700.  At the request of Mr. Howelman, the matter was deferred for one month.

            Bernard Blackmore left the meeting at 10:10 a.m.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that an amount not to exceed $7,000 be expended to complete the procedures needed for having the Grand Traverse County iSeries computer be host for the Sheriff FSG LEMS software and the budget be increased by $7,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the Sheriff purchase a snowmobile as budgeted at a cost not exceed $8,000 to be reimbursed 100% by the State.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy, the Sheriff purchase, as budgeted, six (6) portable radio (non scan) for the Jail at a cost not to exceed $3,100 and one (1) portable radio (scannable) for the Jail at a cost not to exceed $565.00.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson the Equalization Director purchase  as budgeted, 2 computers at a cost not to exceed $2,700 and a scanner at a cost not to exceed $200.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None; Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy the County Treasurer purchase, as budgeted, a computer at a cost not to exceed $1,350 and 2 monitors at a cost not to exceed $600.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the Coordinator/Planner purchase, as budgeted, a computer at a cost not to exceed $2,300.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy the claims and accounts totaling $63,635.00 be approved and paid.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent  - Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Probate Court unrepresented employees receive salaries for 2006 as follows:

                        Probate Court Administrator                             $ 48,875         

                                    Stipend                                          2,852

                        Probate Court Reporter/Judicial Secretary        $ 36,398

                                    Stipend                                          3,082

and will receive other changes in benefits as outlined in the agreement.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek the following policy concerning public documents be adopted:  documents or partial documents which are presented to a committee, board, or commission that is subject to the Open Meetings Act can be released to the public.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that the following policy concerning County Ordinances be adopted:            When an Ordinance is presented to the Board of Commissioners for adoption, the vote on the Ordinance not take place until the next monthly meeting.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the new part-time secretary at the Commission on Aging be paid at the first year step in the pay grade for the secretary position (in the General Unit Collective Bargaining Agreement) to be retroactive to January 1, 2006.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Commission on Aging procedures be amended to reduce the number of County Commissioners on the COA Board to one, and the total number of COA Board member’s position continue to be five.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Prosecuting Attorney’s compensation for 2006 be as follows:

                        Prosecuting Attorney                                        $  78,611

                              Stipend                                                           10,858

                              Child support grant (reimb.)                              6,400

Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            The Chairman appointed Bill Chapman as the ACES/firefighter representative and Burt Thompson as the Road Commission representative on the 911 Board. 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the appointment of Bill Chapman, term to expire 01/01/2007, and Burt Thompson, term to expire 01/01/2007, to the 911 Board be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Sheriff hire an additional part-time court officer.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the agreement with Madison National Life for life insurance and short-term disability insurance be renewed for March 1, 2006 to March 1, 2007.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Annuity in Lieu of Health Insurance be increased at 2/3 the rate of the cap for a single subscriber in the General Unit effective immediately.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            The Prosecuting Attorney was requested to look into verifying ownership of seventeen (17) acres at Barnes Park – Eastport.

            Mike Crawford brought up the problem of de-icers on the lakes.  The Prosecuting Attorney will investigate the possibilities of regulation.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Dawson the contractor doing the work on the clock be also authorized to bring the staircase to the clock tower in the 1905 Courthouse up to code.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.         

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by McLeod a structural engineer be hired to give an evaluation of the integrity of the structure of the clock tower and attic of the 1905 Courthouse.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            The Construction Code informational meeting with contractors will be held in February.

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Dawson that one $50.00 soil erosion control fee be waived for any contractor attending the Construction Code information meeting and staying to the end of the meeting.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson that one re-inspection fee be waived for any contractor attending the Construction Code informational meeting and staying to the end of the meeting.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore.

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Howelman the Coordinator/Planner send the letter of support for the Mancelona Sewer Project to the newspapers for publication.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford the Planning Commission Rules for the Transaction of Business be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

ORDINANCE #01-06 BY Laura Stanek, seconded by Eugene Dawson

            Amendment of Antrim County Planning Commission Ordinance

            (See pages     )

Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Allen;

No  - None;

Absent – Blackmore.

ORDINANCE #01-06 DECLARED ADOPTED.

            Gene Dawson read a statement on the responsibilities of elected officials to maintain an upright and honest character in endeavoring to achieve what is right and fair for the most people. 

            The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. to the Call of the Chair.