ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                 Thursday, May 11, 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.

Absent:  Bernard Blackmore, Joseph Allen.  (Michael Crawford left at 10:30 a.m.)

 

            Pledge of Allegiance

 

            The Chairman requested Public Comment.  Kent McNeil had questions about the Planning Commission’s involvement in the proposed Soil Erosion Ordinance.  Ed Martel commented on the Health Sanitation Code.  Lawrence Wolgamott talked about the Russian Olive bushes which he maintains are invasive and bad for the county and indicated they should be eradicated.  Public Comment closed at 9:10 a.m.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek the Chairman sign the contract with the State of Michigan for Child Support Enforcement which is administered by the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek;  No – None; 

Absent – Blackmore, Allen.

 

            Charles Koop, Prosecuting Attorney, presented some changes to the Soil Erosion and Storm water Runoff Ordinance which are a result of the public meeting in Alden.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the Administration/County Services Committee with the concurrence of the Board Chairman be given authority to hire the GIS Technician for the Equalization Department.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore, Allen.

 

            The Chairman appointed Peter Garwood as delegate and Laura Sexton as alternate to the Municipal Employees Retirement System Annual Meeting. 

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford the appointment of Peter Garwood as delegate and Laura Sexton as alternate to the Municipal Employees Retirement System Annual Meeting be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore, Allen.

 

            The Chairman appointed Sheridan Rhoads as Antrim County Representative to the Land Use & Transportation Coordinating Group.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the appointment of Sheridan Rhoads as Antrim County Representative to the Land Use & Transportation Coordinating Group be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Blackmore, Allen.

 

            The matter of fringe benefits for the Veterans Counselor was tabled indefinitely.

 

            Doug Strange commented on invasive plant species.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson the minutes of April 13, 2006 be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            The Public Hearing on the Soil Erosion and Storm Water Runoff Ordinance opened at 9:30 a.m.

 

            Comments ranging from suggesting some changes to the Ordinance to advocating complete rejection of the Ordinance were heard from Kent McNeil, Lawrence Wolgamott, John Peal, Alan Martel, Harvey Theibert, Donna Theibert, Jim Gurr, Doug Strang, Barb Bradford, Ed Martel, Tom Underhill, Jerry Green, and Nancy Ellison.

 

            Michael Crawford left the meeting at 10:30 a.m.

 

            Heidi Lang and Christy Roman from the Antrim Conservation District commented favorably on the Ordinance and enforcement of the Ordinance.

 

            The Public Hearing closed at 11:05 a.m.

 

            The Board continued discussion of the proposed Soil Erosion and Storm Water Runoff Ordinance.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the Soil Erosion and Storm Water Runoff Ordinance be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration and possible amendments and continued public input.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            John Strehl, Airport Manager presented the Airport 2005 Annual Report.

 

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

 

            Mark Stone gave the Drain Commissioner 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Dawson the Drain Commissioner 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            The Drain Commissioner was requested to work with the Planning Commission on the Soil Erosion and Storm Water Runoff Ordinance.

 

            Terry Johnson, Sheriff, gave the Sheriff, Jail, 911, and Animal Control Annual Reports.

 

            Kip Belcher from the Traverse Narcotics Team gave the 2005 Annual Report for that organization

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the 2005 Annual Reports for the Sheriff, Jail, 911, and Animal Control and the 2005 Annual Report for TNT be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Art Lennox presented the County Surveyor 2005 Annual Report.

 

            It was moved by Bargy, seconded by Dawson the County Surveyor’s 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Patti Lowery gave the Housing 2005 Annual Report.

 

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

 

            Stanley Moore gave the MSU Extension 2005 Annual Report

 

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by McLeod the MSU Extension 2005 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            Kent McNeil had questions on the feasibility study concerning moving the Soil Erosion Department to the County Building from the Soil Conservation District.  He also asked about his FOIA request for the Ordinance.

 

            The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:40 p.m.

 

                                                            P.M.

 

Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the claims and accounts totaling $96,882.82 be approved and paid.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy the Sheriff be authorized to purchase a Jet Boat for Marine patrol for $14,000; the funds to be reimbursed by the state; and $14,000 be transferred from Contingencies to Marine Equipment and the revenue and expenditures of the General Fund be adjusted by this amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod a vehicle be purchased to be used by the Antrim Conservation District, that $20,000 be transferred from the Capital Outlay Reserve Fund to the General Fund for this purpose and the budgets of both Funds be adjusted accordingly.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that, of the $401,347 that can be transferred out of the Revenue Sharing Reserve Fund (Fund #285) in 2006, $50,000 be transferred to the Antrim Conservation District Reserve Fund (Fund #165, and that any funds advanced to the Antrim Conservation District from Fund #165 be reimbursed to Antrim County when grant funds are received; and that a budget be established for Fund #165 and Fund #285 expenditures budget be increased by $50,000.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that, of the $401,347 that can be transferred out of the Revenue Sharing Reserve Fund (Fund #285) in 2006, $351,347 be transferred to the Special Projects Reserve Fund (Fund #182); that a budget be established for Fund #182, and Fund #285 expenditures budget be increased by $351,347.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Howelman the elevator at Meadowview Apartments be reconditioned at a cost not to exceed $45,000 to be paid from the Capital Projects Fund (Fund #470); and the expenditure budget of Fund #470 be adjusted by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that $5,000 be transferred from Capital Outlay Reserve Fund to the General Fund Cost Center Child Support Capital Outlay and the budgets of both Funds be adjusted accordingly.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson the Chairman be authorized to sign the closing papers on the “Gage” property for Grass River; purchase price of $ 499,375 to be reimbursed by grant.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the Administrative Assistant for the Prosecuting Attorney be paid at the one-year rate as she has 22 years experience working in the Prosecutor’s office.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: 

Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the funds for the vacant GIS Technician position in the Equalization Department be released and the hiring process begin.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the Veterans Counselor work an additional 24 hours in the next month and the budget of the Veterans Counselor be increased accordingly.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the funds for the vacant 911 position be released and the hiring process begin.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek;  No – None;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Bargy the following fee schedule for Household Hazardous Waste Day be approved:

                        First 50 lbs.                  Free

                        Over 50 lbs.                 $ 0.50 per lb.

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

 

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Stanek the lease with the Village of Bellaire for the walking path (Kearney Township Section 30 – west side of M-88) be amended increasing the time on the lease to fifty (50) years with no automatic renewal clause eliminating any early termination clause.  Motion carried all members voting yes.

 

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by McLeod the following conditions be placed in an oil and gas lease for Antrim County property in Kearney Township (40 acres in Section 29):  payment to be no less than 1/6th of the royalty and no less than a $100 per acre signing bonus.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman;  No – Stanek;  Absent – Crawford, Blackmore, Allen.

 

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson that no action be taken on replacing the regulators at the Elk Rapids Hydro Facility.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

 

            David Howelman reported on the ACUTE meeting.

 

            The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. to the Call of the Chair.