ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS      Thursday, September 14, 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, Bernard Blackmore, Joseph Allen.

Absent:   Laura Stanek

            Pledge of Allegiance

            The Chairman requested Public Comment.  Ed Martel commented on the proposed Health Code.  Public Comment closed at 9:07 a.m.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the minutes of August 10, 2006 and August 18, 2006 be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            Peter Garwood read a communication from Conrad Friedemann regarding creation of an area to honor esteemed and deserving county officials.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the claims and accounts totaling $163,325.35 be approved and paid.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Bargy that $1,500 be added to the Window ’98 Replacement Project budget.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the “old” generator be moved to the Road Commission in Mancelona to be set up as a back-up 911 center and the costs be paid from 911 funds.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the “Skinner” property be purchased from Grass River Natural Area Inc. for the Grass River Natural Area at a cost of $49,000 to be paid from the Forestry Fund.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            Mr. McLeod from the Computer Committee reported that of the five proposals submitted Trimble Consulting and Plante and Moran had submitted proposals that would receive further consideration for the Technology Implementation Plan.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that Fund #218, Information Technology Transition Fund, be created and up to $28,000 be transferred to that fund from the General Fund 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, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            Mr. McLeod also reported that Huntington Bank (safe deposit box) had been selected to store computer back-ups.

            The Chairman appointed Jake Veenstra to the Antrim Creek Natural Area Commission.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the appointment of Jake Veenstra to the Antrim Creek Natural Area Commission be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the annual enrollment date for VSP vision plan be changed to October 1 and a transfer to VSP IV plan be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the annual enrollment date for all Delta Dental plans be changed from January 1 to October 1.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It as moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the funds be released and employment procedures be implemented to fill the 2 vacant dispatcher positions.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that Valerie Craft be granted an annual stipend of $1,000 effective October 1, 2006 for her work as the web site manager and for the provision of technological services and if, at some time, the provision of these duties are assigned to a different department or contracted out, the stipend will be eliminated.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – Bargy, White;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the following policy be adopted:  No member of the Board of Commissioner shall pay a monthly health insurance cost share (payroll deduction) that exceeds the monthly salary of the individual involved, provided the individual elects to enroll in the county health insurance plan with the lowest premium rate.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the per diem for members of the Board of Commissioners and for members of any county boards whose amount for per diem is tied by statute to that of the Board of Commissioners set at $55 for ½ day and $75 for a full day effective January 1, 2007.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Dawson the bid for re-roofing Meadowview Apartments be awarded to Great Lakes Roofing for $39,670 and the expenditures budget of Fund #470, Capital Projects Fund, be increased by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Blackmore, Allen;  No – Crawford;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Dawson that the budgeted amount for Meadowview exterior work be increased not to exceed $162,000.   Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Bargy carpeting be purchased from KISS Carpeting in Mancelona for the newly remodeled Equalization Department at a cost of $2,461 and the expenditures budget for Fund #470, Capital Projects Fund, be increased by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Dawson a new gate be purchased for and installed in the Equalization office at a cost not to exceed $3,900 and the expenditures budget for Fund #470, Capital Projects Fund, be increased by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

RESOLUTION #21-06 by Michael Crawford, seconded by Robert McLeod

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE APPLICATION FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND (MNRTF) TO ACQUIRE PARK LANDS FOR INCLUSION IN THE GRASS RIVER NATURAL AREA. ($2,025,000)

            WHEREAS, the Antrim County Board of Commissioners adopted the Antrim County Comprehensive Recreation plan on February 10, 2005, and

            WHEREAS, acquisitions named in the Comprehensive Recreation Plan and in the Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Application are necessary for protection of the environment and to provide for the recreation needs of the public, and

            WHEREAS, new parcels have become available since the initial application for Trust Fund monies, and

            WHEREAS, due to budgetary constraints, the County of Antrim does not currently have the ability to finance these acquisitions without additional funding,

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Antrim County Board of Commissioners authorizes a grant application for funding through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund program for the above mentioned acquisitions at the Grass River Natural Area, in Forest Home and Custer Townships, and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Antrim County Board of Commissioners agrees to accept the grant if awarded, and will provide a local match of twenty-five (25%) as required.

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

No  - None;

Absent – Stanek.

RESOLUTION #21-06 ADOPTED.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by McLeod the signage standard shown in the sign for Antrim Creek Natural Area be adopted as the signage standard for all signs at Antrim County parks and other county-owned recreation areas.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            The Sheriff and vendors for the Sheriff Department gave a presentation on the 800 Mghz radio systems for law enforcement.

            It was moved by Allen, seconded by Dawson the complaint form as recommended by the Public Works Committee be adopted for the Antrim County Conservation District for the Soil Erosion Control program.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by McLeod the Chairman be authorized to sign airport hangar leases as they come due.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was announced that John Strehl, Antrim County Airport Manager, had been named Manager of the Year by the Airport Managers Association.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Blackmore the Board retire to Closed Session to discuss labor negotiation.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            The Board went into Closed Session at 11:55 a.m. and returned to Open Session at 12:25 p.m.

            It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Allen that Priority Health Insurance be offered to members of bargaining units other than those who are in bargaining units whose contracts expire December 31, 2006,  to the unrepresented county employees, and to the members of the Board of Commissioners, the full premium cost for one year to be paid by the County.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – Stanek.

            The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m. to the Call of the Chair.