Public Works Committee

Larry Bargy                               Joseph Allen, Chairman                   Eugene Dawson

Minutes

April 5, 2006

Members present:

Larry Bargy, Joe Allen and Gene Dawson

Members absent:

None

Others present:

Pete Garwood, Jack White, Heidi Lang, Jim Ferguson, Christie Roman were present until the Building department report.

1.        Meeting called to order at 11:00 a.m.

2.        Public Comment

None.

3.        Elk Rapids Dam

Mark Stone, Drain Commissioner joined the meeting with Joe Cultenbach and Glen Dine, from Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP).

The TCLP representatives informed Mr. Stone the regulators at the dam have never been serviced or replaced.  Mr. Stone reviewed the options for servicing the regulators. (See last months minutes).

1.  Do nothing. Take our chances nothing will happen between now and decommissioning in      2014.

2.  Replace the regulators. Would take approximately a long week to complete, according to Mr.      Cultenbach. Getting the new regulators in the building could be a challenge.  The cost will be      $20,000.

3.  Filter the oil, replace some seals and conduct a limited inspection. With this scenario it is hard      to tell what they would find once they open up the regulators. If the inside of the regulators      are in good condition, this option will cost $6,500.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Joe Allen, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve choosing the replacement of the regulator option at $20,000 to be paid out of the Dam Reserve Fund. Yes - Dawson, Allen No - Bargy

Mr. Bargy indicated he would opt for the “do nothing” scenario.

Mr. Stone presented a spreadsheet which illustrated the hydro facility expenditures and revenues for 2005.  The spreadsheet showed the revenues ahead of the expenses by about $25,000, which makes it one of the best years ever.

Mr. Stone indicated he had been approached by a company who was interested in purchasing the power from the hydro facility.  However, the price they were willing to pay was not that different from what we are receiving from TCLP, making it not worth consideration.

4.        Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Joe Meyers, Associate Planner, presented the 2006 draft contract between the County and the Antrim Conservation District for administration of the HHW Days.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve a contract with the Conservation District for administration of the 2006 Household Hazardous Waste Days (attachments).  Motion carried – unanimous.

5.        Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Stormwater Control (SESSC) Ordinance

Charlie Koop, Legal Counsel, reviewed a memorandum he wrote to the Board of Commissioners regarding the draft SESSC ordinance.

6.        Soil Erosion Feasibility Study (attachments)

Mr. Garwood distributed and reviewed the Soil Erosion Feasibility Study.  The study illustrated that it would cost the County less to administer the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control program in house.  However, there may be philosophical reasons to leave the administration with the Conservation District.  The Committee deferred action to a future meeting.

7.        Building Department (attachments)

²      Residential Heating System

The issue is whether the Building department should require sizing calculations for heating system in residential homes.  Mr. Massey informed the Committee that a survey of Construction Code Departments from surrounding counties and the State revealed that none of them are requiring sizing calculations. 

The committee agreed the department should not change their requirements for heating systems.

Mr. Allen left the meeting.

Mr. Massey informed the Committee the part-time irregular plumbing inspector has resigned.

Mr. Massey reviewed his monthly report with the Committee.

Mr. Massey discussed the department policy regarding the need for sealed drawings for fire sprinkler plan review with the Committee. The Committee agreed with how Mr. Massey indicated his office will handle it.

Mr. Massey informed the Committee that a study of the number of building permits in 2005 (622) compared to the average from 1999 to 2004 (1100) indicates a substantial shortfall.  If the number of permits continues to stay low then we need to find other ways to supplement the department’s income.  Many ideas for solving the problem with having more expenditures than revenues in the department were discussed including waiving the rent, waiving the loan to the department, raising commercial plan review fees, and raising inspections fees.  The Committee decided to revisit the issues of waiving the rent and loan later in the year.

Mr. Massey asked the Committee to revisit the plan review charges for commercial structures.  Mr. Massey indicated the way the fee structure is now, the large developments get a break and the small developments get over charged.  To illustrate his point, Mr. Massey reviewed a comparison using the ICC fees for the Hawks Eye Lodge and the Bellaire Review construction projects.  Mr. Massey indicated that with the current system both businesses paid the same fee for plan review even though Hawks Eye is a much larger development with a restaurant, lodging, retail, etc.

Larry Bargy indicated that he has heard some concerns over the possibility of fees for re-review of plans.

Motion by Gene Dawson,  supported by Larry Bargy, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve an increase of the commercial plan review fees based on the ICC recommended fees for Antrim County.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.