Public Works Committee

Larry Bargy                               Joseph Allen, Chairman                   Eugene Dawson

Minutes

February 1, 2006

Members present:

Joe Allen, Larry Bargy and Gene Dawson

Members absent:

None

Others present:

Pete Garwood and Jack White

1.        Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m.

2.        Drain Commissioner

Mark Stone, Drain Commissioner, indicated he would like to drop his membership with the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners (MACDC) and get a membership with the Michigan Independent Power Producers Association (MIPPA). The Committee felt it was a good move if Mr. Stone has the dollars in his budget.  Mr. Stone indicated that he does.

Mr. Stone informed the Committee that the voltage regulators that are hooked up to the Hydro dam are quite old and, according to Traverse City Light and Power, if they ever need to have parts replaced they likely would not be able to find parts.  Traverse City Light and Power proposed two options for Mr. Stone and the Committee to consider.

Two options:

Option 1: Filter the oil and provide limited inspection.

Cost:  $6,500

Option 2: Replace the regulators with reconditioned regulators.

Cost:  $19,722

The Committee agreed that the Board of Commissioners should hold off on approving replacement or maintenance of the current regulators while we get more information.

3.        Solid Waste Advisory Committee Mileage Reimbursement

Joe Meyers, Associate Planner, joined the meeting.  Mr. Meyers informed the Committee that the Solid Waste and Recycling Council has requested that Leonard Klein (a member of the Solid Waste & Recycling Council) be allowed to attend the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meetings at the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and receive reimbursement for mileage.

Motion by Gene Dawson,  supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve that Leonard Klein (a member of the Solid Waste and Recycling Council) be allowed to attend the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meetings at the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and receive reimbursement for mileage.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.        Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC)

Contract

Janet Person, Director of the Antrim Conservation District (ACD), joined the meeting.  The Committee reviewed and discussed the draft contract, between the County and the ACD, for administering the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006.

Ms. Person questioned the intent of Section 2.2.8.  Mr. Garwood indicated that the section referred to the review of the program the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducts periodically.  Under the section the ACD must notify the County of the results and implement any requirements ordered by the DEQ as a result of the review.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve the contract between Antrim County and ACD for the administration of the SESC program, at a cost of $73,000 for the year 2006.  Motion carried – unanimous.

SESC Fees

Ms. Person indicated that the County should consider increasing the fee for excessive repeat visits and engineering review fees.  A recommendation will be formulated and the issue will be added to the next month’s agenda.

Contractor Workshop on Building Codes and the Soil Erosion Control Statute (attachment)

Bob Massey, Building Official, joined the meeting.  Ms. Person and Mr. Massey outlined the agenda for the Contractor Workshop on Building Codes and the Soil Erosion Control Statute. 

Mr. Massey expressed his disappointment with the Board of Commissioner's action to give contractors a free re-inspection fee.  He felt it will encourage the contractors to call for an inspection when they are not ready, knowing it will not cost them anything if the inspector has to come back.  He was also concerned it would adversely affect the revenue side of an already strained budget.  The Committee assured Mr. Massey they will request his presence and input in the future when issues (requiring action) regarding the Construction Code department come up at the Board of Commissioner’s meeting.

5.        Construction Code Department Update

Mr. Massey provided a report on the previous month's activity (attachments).

Laptop Computer

Mr. Massey requested a new laptop computer for Mike McPherson, the new building inspector, at a cost of $1,487.00.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend to the Finance Committee and the Board of Commissioners approve the purchase of a new laptop computer for the new building inspector at a cost of $1,487.00, out of the Building Department budget.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Irregular Part-time Clerk Position

Mr. Massey requested the part-time clerical position in the office be increased to a regular full-time position.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Administration Committee and the Board of Commissioners approve making the irregular part-time clerical position a regular full-time position.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Mileage Reimbursement (attachments)

Mr. Massey requested an increase in the mileage reimbursement rate.  The Committee indicated to Mr. Massey that this issue will be handled by the Administration and County Services Committee.

Firewall Issues

Mr. Massey indicated that since the firewall went up on the County computer network the programmer from his software company cannot access his departmental computers through the internet.  Mr. Garwood and Mr. Massey will bring this concern up to the Bellaire Computer Center and the Administration and County Services Committee.

Rental Complaints

Mr. Massey indicated there is no department in the County that handles complaints about rental homes.  The Committee agreed that this issue is not a responsibility of the building department.

LP Tanks

Currently, the Building Department is requiring that when an LP tank is set in the winter they must dig a trench and bury the pipe. In the past they allowed the pipe to be laid on the top of the ground during the winter months (on a temporary basis). The Building Department would then spend the next spring and summer trying to track the companies down to have them bury it safely. The Committee agreed with the new policy.

The Committee reviewed a complaint from Derrer Oil that the fee for setting an LP tank in Antrim County is $89 and in surrounding counties the fee is $50.  Derrer Oil also complained about having to bury the pipes in the winter when a LP tank is set.  Mr. Massey explained that the application fee ($30 initially, $31.50 after adding the 5% approved by the Board of Commissioners) is what makes the permit more expensive.  After some discussion, the Committee agreed that the permits for setting an LP tank, as well as the permit for setting an electrical service pole, are very minor in nature and should be exempt from the application fee.

Motion by Larry Bargy, supported by Gene Dawson, to support the Building Department's policy to require the pipe from a tank larger than 200 lbs. be buried year round including the winter months.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve not charging the “application fee” for an LP tank permit and an electrical service pole permit which will reduce the current permit fees to $52.00 and $42.00 respectively.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Waiving of Fee for Interpretation to the Board of Appeals

After extensive discussion on the issue the Committee decided to take no action on this issue.

Meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.