FINANCE COMMITTEE

Laura Stanek, Chairman                       Larry Bargy                                          Robert McLeod

                                                         Monday, March 06, 2006

The meeting came to order at 9:00 a.m. in the County Clerk’s office.

Present:            Laura Stanek, Larry Bargy, Robert McLeod

Absent: None

Also present:    Laura Sexton, Jack White

1.         It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Bargy the claims and accounts totaling $69,571.48 be approved and recommended for payment.  All voted yes.

Marna Robertson and Blair Coutant from Meadowbrook presented a year-end report for both Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility and Meadowview Apartments.  They also explained the reasons why they are seeking to put a millage request for 1 mill on the ballot in August, 2006.

2.                     It was moved by Bargy, seconded by Stanek it be recommended to the Board of Commissioners the following millage proposal be placed on the ballot on Tuesday, August 8, 2006:

 Shall the tax limitation on general ad valorem taxes with Antrim County, imposed

            under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, be increased for said County

            by up to 1.00 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value upon real and tangible personal

            property) for a period of four (4) years, from 2007 through 2010, both inclusive, for

            the purpose of providing funds to continue the operation of Antrim County Meadow

            Brook Medical Care Facility; and, shall the County levy such increase in millage for

            said purpose, thereby, raising in the first year an estimated $1,676,136.0?

Motion carried: Yes – Bargy, Stanek;    No – McLeod.

            Sherry Comben, Janet Person, and Peter Garwood.                  Ms. Comben presented information on the Bellaire Village DDA and the question as to whether it was legally dissolved or not.  It was suggested the matter be referred to legal counsel – Charles Koop.

            Janet Person talked about the $3,500 paid for logs for the Barnes Park office building and whether reimbursement for this expense could be obtained from the grant funding.  Peter Garwood was requested to write a letter to the grant administration and inquire about the possibility of being reimbursed.

            Peter Garwood presented a proposal for his 2006 budgeted capital outlay request.

3.                  It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Bargy it be recommended to the Board

of Commissioners, the Coordinator/Planner purchase 2 works stations for $9,840.65 as budgeted.  All voted yes.

            Joe Meyers and Linda Gallagher presented information about the Petoskey Stone Festival to be held at Barnes Park during Memorial Day Weekend and requested $2,000 for preliminary expenses.

4.                  It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Bargy it be recommended to the Board

of Commissioners that $2,000 be transferred from Contingencies to Parks and Recreation cost center in the 2006 General Fund budget for preliminary expenses related to the Petoskey Stone Festival.  All voted yes.

            Mark Randolph from Grass River Natural Area Inc. requested that all gas and oil revenues from properties located in the Grass River Natural Area be deposited into the Grass River Fund.  The matter was tabled until such time as revenues are received.

            Patty Niepoth, Register of Deeds, requested that as many as possible contact their State Representatives to oppose H.B. 5124 which advocates lowering fees collected by the Register of Deeds.  She reported she would be attending a meeting on this subject.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.