ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS              Thursday, March 13, 2008

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

Present:  Jerroll Drenth, 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.  Paul Saks, representing the Friends of Clam Lake, spoke on the need for de-icers on Clam Lake.  Lawrence Wolgamott spoke against the Soil Erosion Ordinance.  Public Comment closed at 9:06 a.m.

            It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Dawson the Chairman sign a grant agreement with Coastal Zone Management for Antrim Creek Natural Area ($32,000 grant with $16,000 match from the Endowment Fund).  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Dawson the chairman sign an agreement with Dale Snook for establishing a line of sight wireless connection from the Jail antenna to an antenna on Dale Snook’s hangar at the Antrim County Airport for the purpose of connecting the Airport to the county wireless network, payment to be $20.00 per month, 2008 through 2023.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Allen the Chairman sign a Well Site Release with O.I.L. concerning county property located in Kearney Township, Section 29, off Batchelder Road.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Blackmore, the minutes of February 1, February 14, and March 4, 2008 be approved.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            Patty Niepoth presented the Register of Deeds 2007 Annual Report.

            It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Allen the Register of Deeds 2007 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            Robert Massey gave the Construction Code Enforcement 2007 Annual Report.

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Allen the Construction Code Enforcement 2007 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            Sheridan Rhoads gave the Antrim County Transportation 2007 Annual Report.

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Stanek the Antrim County Transportation 2007 Annual Report be accepted.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Drenth the claims and accounts totaling $255,692.18 be approved and paid.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that Fund #284, Emergency Services Grant Fund, be established for a grant of $30,000 which will be received from Homeland Security and a budget be created for the Fund.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy a Sponson inflatable device for a boat be purchased for $6,000 as budgeted.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Drenth an additional CAD server be purchased for 911 Dispatch at a cost not to exceed $6,500 as budgeted.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford a sign be purchased for the Wetzel Lake area at a cost not to exceed $950.00 and $950.00 be transferred from Contingencies to the Wetzel Lake cost center in the 2008 General Fund budget.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Howelman that carpeting be obtained for an additional apartment at Meadowview Apartments at a cost not to exceed $1,519.00 and the expenditure budget of Fund #298 be increased by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Drenth combination locks be placed on the three back doors (entrances to maintenance, back hall, and delivery) of the Antrim County Building at a cost not to exceed $2,380.00 and the County Building cost center of the 2008 General Fund be increased by that amount.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth,

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

            The Human Services Committee reported the recommendation on the Commission on Aging millage renewal is postponed until April.

            It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Stanek that carpeting for two apartments at Meadowview Apartments at a cost not to exceed $4,104.00 be approved as budgeted.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Drenth, seconded by Dawson the Antrim Creek Natural Area Committee be authorized to contract with someone to prepare the Antrim Creek Natural Area proposal for the Information Arbors project.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            The Chairman appointed Elizabeth Hoffman to the Antrim Creek Natural Area Committee.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Blackmore the appointment of Elizabeth Hoffman to the Antrim Creek Natural Area Committee, term to expire January 1, 2011 be approved.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            Allan Luurtsema, Dr. Thomas Malek, and Jill Murphy gave a presentation on an Economic Advancement Partnership with foreign countries.  They requested an endorsement letter from the Board of Commissioners to the district Congressman and Senators.

            It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson a letter be prepared and sent to Congressman Bart Stupak and Senators Levin and Stabenow endorsing the pursuit of an Economic Advancement Partnership with foreign countries by the Antrim County area.

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

            It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Stanek the charge for reservations at Barnes Park be increased from $5.00 to $10.00 and the revenue of the 2008 General Fund be increased accordingly.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

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

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Howelman the funds be released for the vacant Road Officer position, the anticipated employee to be permanent only if the soon to be appointed Undersheriff does not bump back into the Road Officers Union.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Drenth the funds be released for the vacant position and the soon to be vacant position (due to promotion) in the Probate/Family Court Division.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Howelman the Chairman be authorized to sign an agreement with Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility allowing them to place a server for MBMCF offsite backup in a county facility.  Motion carried all members present voting yes.

            It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Stanek an ad be placed in Michigan Maps at a cost not to exceed $295 and it be noted that Drain Commissioner Mark Stone is an owner of the company producing Michigan Maps.  Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:  Yes – Drenth, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen;  No – None;  Absent – None.

            The Soil Erosion Sedimentation and Stormwater Runoff Control Ordinance was tabled until April.

            The meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.