ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                Thursday, April 13, 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.

 

            Pledge of Allegiance

 

            The Chairman requested Public Comment.  Alan Martel gave objections to the proposed Soil Erosion Ordinance.  Kent McNeil also gave objections to the proposed Soil Erosion Ordinance.  Ed Martel commented on zoning in regard to platted lots.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the minutes of March 9, 2006 be approved as corrected.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Charles Koop reported on the drilling under the road at the Airport to run a single pipeline for oil and gas.  The matter was tabled until the Transportation Committee report.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Howelman the claims and accounts totaling $89,167.99 be approved and paid.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the Equalization Director purchase one office chair for $448.50 and purchase of a second chair be held over to the 2007 budget, and $450.00 be transferred from Contingencies to Capital Outlay (Equalization) in the 2006 General Fund budget.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that bids for the Abstract/Equalization remodeling project in the 1978 County Building be awarded as follows:

                        UBU, Inc.                    General Construction                    $      4,298.00

                        Moon Electric               Electrical work only                              6,400.00

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

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford that J&W Construction Co. be paid a final payment of $8,874.17 for the remaining work on the 1905 Courthouse clock tower to be paid from Fund #470, Capital Projects Fund, and the expenditure budget of Fund #470 be increased by $8,875.00.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that, in the bid policy, the bid threshold for formal sealed bidding process be raised from $2,500 to $5,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that payment of $1,619.00 to a court psychiatrist be approved and $1,619 be transferred from Contingencies to Special Projects for this purpose.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the Assistant Prosecutor be paid $125.00 if he is called out on a weekend not to exceed a yearly total of $3,000 and $3,000 be transferred from Contingencies to Prosecuting Attorney in the 2006 General Fund budget.  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 Chairman appointed Peter Garwood as representative and Joseph Meyers as alternate to the Planner Review and Advisory Committee of the Council of Governments.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Blackmore the appointments of Peter Garwood as representative and Joseph Myers as alternate to the Planner Review and Advisory Committee of the Council of Governments be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson that information in the Equalization Department be released to the company preparing the 4-H Plat Book.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek that the employee in the position of Veterans Counselor is no longer eligible for health or retirement benefits but continues to have the other employee benefits.  At the request of Commissioner Howelman, action was deferred until the May meeting.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek the amendment to the Service Agreement with Chain of Lakes Internet, Inc. be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the concept of sharing a Housing Director with Kalkaska County, if approached by Kalkaska County, be approved as long as Antrim County is the county of record for the arrangement and Kalkaska County pay a reasonable share of the expenses (wages, fringes, and other miscellaneous administrative expenses).  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that requesting the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments to act as staff for the bi-county farmland preservation program be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Bargy, White, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – McLeod, Dawson, Howelman, Crawford;  Absent – None.

 

            Peter Garwood introduced Deborah Peters, the new Veterans Counselor.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Barnes Park employees with the exception of the Park Director, receive a 3.1% wage increase for the 2006 season.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek an ad on the inside cover in the new 4-H Plat Book be purchased for $1,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the mileage rate be increased to $0.45 per mile.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – Stanek;  Absent – None.

 

RESOLUTION #14-06 by Robert McLeod, seconded by Michael Crawford

 

            WHEREAS, the 13th Circuit Court Community Corrections Advisory Board was formed in 1993 with broad representation from the criminal justice community and the three counties which comprise the region to implement services for alternatives to jailing; and,

 

            WHEREAS, Grant funds have been received and are available to continue Community Corrections services, which have served to reduce the region’s prison commitment rate, increase the utilization of jails, and provide treatment for offenders to reduce recidivism; and,

 

            WHEREAS, the 13th Circuit Court Community Corrections Advisory Board has recommended approval of the FY 2007 grant application to the Office of Community Corrections for the 13th Circuit Court Community Corrections Program & Services in the amount of $180,710 and the submittal of the FY 2007 grant for Probation Residential Services in the amount of $138,700; and,

 

            WHEREAS, approval of the Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Antrim County Boards of Commissioners, is necessary for the grant submittal.

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, that submittal of the FY 2007 grant application to the Office of Community Corrections for the 13th Circuit Court Community Corrections Program and the FY 2007 grant application for Probation Residential Services is hereby approved by the Antrim County Board of Commissioners.

 

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

No  - None;

Absent – None.

 

RESOLUTION #14-06 DECLARED ADOPTED.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Blackmore the mediation settlement with the Antrim County Probate Court Union be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            Charles Koop, Prosecuting Attorney, gave the Prosecutor’s 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the Prosecuting Attorney’s 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Sheridan Rhoads, Director, presented the Antrim County Transportation 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Allen the Antrim County Transportation 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Patty Niepoth, Register of Deeds, gave that department’s 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Dawson the Register of Deeds’ 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Blair Coutant, Manager, gave the Meadowview Apartments 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Allen the Meadowview Apartments 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Dawson the Chairman be authorized to sign a non-developmental mineral rights lease with OIL Energy for area over the railroad grade at Grass River Natural Area for 1/6 of the proceeds pending approval of Mike Meriwether, Forester, and Charles Koop, Prosecuting Attorney.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson a policy be established that, when entering into an oil/gas lease, the form be similar to or the same as those entered into by the State of Michigan.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            It was moved by Bargy, seconded by Howelman the Chairman be authorized to sign a Homeland Security Grant agreement for $22,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Allen the Chairman be authorized to sign a lease with SRW for 2 well sites and 1 transmission line at the Antrim County Airport,  pending favorable review by the Prosecuting Attorney, and the resulting $24,000 compensation be earmarked for purchase of a tug for the Airport from Lektro for $23,826.00.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – Stanek;  Absent – None.

 

            Judge Norman Hayes and William Hefferan presented the Probate Court and Family Division of the Circuit 2005 Annual Reports.

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Dawson the Probate Court and Family Division of the Circuit Court 2005 Annual Reports be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Laura Sexton, County Clerk, gave that department’s 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by McLeod the County Clerk’s 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Robert Englebrecht, Director, gave the Equalization Report.

                                    (See pages )

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the 2005 Equalization Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Ed Martel commented on the gas wells and the easement at the Airport.  He also commented on the proposed Health code and maintained it was based on controlling growth.

 

            The matter of replacement of regulators at the Elk Rapids Dam was tabled until the May meeting.

 

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Dawson the Chairman be authorized to sign a contract with the Antrim Conservation District for administration of the Household Hazardous Waste Days.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Dawson the increase in commercial plan review fees based on ICC recommended fees be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

 

            Peter Garwood was requested to write a letter to Janet Person thanking her for all her help with various Antrim County projects over the years. 

 

            There was discussion on the proposed annexation of the Meadowbrook property to the Village of Bellaire.

 

            The Chairman appointed the Administration Committee as an ad hoc committee to meet with the Antrim Conservation District about funding possibilities including voted millage and appropriations.

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Dawson the appointment of the Administration Committee as an ad hoc committee to meet with the Antrim Conservation District be approved.  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 meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.