ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Thursday, February 12, 2004

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, Laura Stanek, Bernard Blackmore , Joseph Allen.

Absent: None.

The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek the minutes of January 8, 2004 be approved. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

The Chairman requested Public Comment. There was none.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson that $800 be transferred to the Parks and Recreation for the Parks Forum: $500 from the Forestry Fund and $300 from Special Projects and the budgets of these various funds and cost centers be adjusted accordingly. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson that the Household Hazardous Waste portion of the Resource Recovery Cost Center in the General Fund budget be increased by $5,000 to a total of $15,000. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that $23,629 be transferred from Contingencies to Sheriff in the 2004 General Fund budget to pay for back pay for the Corrections unit of the Union. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that $1,200 be paid from Fund #262

(911 Wireless Fund) for purchase of a new lien computer and the expenditure budget of Fund #262 be increased by that amount. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows:

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

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that, due to there being a larger beginning fund balance for 2004 than anticipated at budget time, the following budget adjustments be approved:

1. add a vehicle for the Sheriff Department 22,000

2. increase the Soil Erosion administration appropriation 10,000

3. increase the appropriation to NLEA 5,000

4. increase the appropriation to the Road Patrol Fund 25,000

5. increase the amount for Abstract Dept. part time employee 7,500

6. eliminate General Fund revenue from Dams Reserve Fund 200,000

7. eliminate General Fund revenue from Antrim Creek Fund 40,000

TOTAL 309,500

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

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod that $6,000 be transferred from the General Fund to Fund #217 (Prosecuting Attorney Legal 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, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford that Fund #235, Barnes Park Grant Fund, be closed and the remaining $703.18 be transferred to Fund #161, Grant Match Reserve 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, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Dawson that the following proposal be placed on the August 3, 2004 Primary Election ballot:

Shall the tax limitation on general ad valorem taxes within Antrim County, Michigan, imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution be increased for said County by up to sixteenth hundredths (.16) mill ($0.16 per

$1,000 of taxable value on all taxable property in the county) for four (4)

years, 2004 through 2007 inclusive, for the general operation of the

Antrim Conservation District? It is estimated that the .16 mill would raise

approximately $217,381 when first levied in 2004.

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

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Crawford that Fund #466 (Capital Projects – Jail Renovation & Acquisition) and Fund #470 (Capital Projects – Buildings & Structures) be combined into Fund #470 and the revenue, Jail inmate room and board, currently being credited to Fund #466 be credited to Fund #470 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, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Bargy that the claims and accounts totaling $89,911.87 be approved and paid. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Allen that the Chairman sign release agreements with Quicksilver Resources for the following described properties:

SE1/4 of the SW1/4 of Section 4, Custer Township

T29N, R7W (Green River West Project – Well D2-4)

and

E1/2 of the E1/2 of the SE1/4 of Section 16, Custer Township

T29N, R7W (Green River West Project – Well C4-16)

and sign a pipeline releases with Quicksilver Resources for the following described properties:

E1/2 of the E1/2 of the SE ¼ of Section 16, Custer Township

T29N, R7W (Green River West Project – Sitting Bull Unit)

And

SE1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 4, Custer Township, T29N, R7W

(Green River West – Sitting Bull Unit)

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

The matter of crediting the revenue from the above noted Quicksilver Resources transactions was referred back to the Lands Committee.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by Blackmore that the Family Independence Agency Annual Report be accepted. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

Theresa Kent, Abstractor, gave the Abstract Department 2003 Annual Report.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the Abstract Department 2003 Annual Report be accepted. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

Gene Dawson, Transportation Committee Chairman, reported that Antrim County Transportation Director, Robert Straw, would be retiring June 10, 2004.

The bids for Airport insurance were presented: ACE Property & Casualty Ins. - $11,740.00; Phoenix Aviation Mgrs. - $15,566.00.

It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Howelman the bid from ACE Property & Casualty Ins. For $11,740 for Airport insurance be accepted. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

RESOLUTION #09-04 by Bernard Blackmore, seconded by Eugene Dawson

WHEREAS, four pending permit applications to drill natural gas wells within the borders of the Jordan Valley Management Area (JVMA) of the Mackinaw State Forest are before the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and

WHEREAS, all previous attempts to drill oil or gas wells on public land within JVMA has been opposed, denied, or withdrawn; and

WHEREAS, under the provisions of DNR’s Forestry Division’s Jordan Valley Management Plan (JVMP), and the Jordan Valley “…shall be developed primarily as a naturalistic area,” and

WHEREAS, the Plan further states, “the development and extraction of mineral deposits within the Jordan Valley is not in keeping with the goals set forth herein or the intent of the Wild and Scenic River designation of the Jordan River. It shall be the policy of the DNR not to permit exploration for or extraction of any surface minerals within the Jordan Valley,” and

WHEREAS, the Antrim County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution, Resolution #29, dated December 12, 1996, that oil and gas production in the Jordan Valley “will have both long and short-term detrimental ecological, recreational, and economic consequences to the Jordan River Valley and to Antrim County, and also interfere with the use and enjoyment of the area by the public…”, and

WHEREAS, the Antrim County Board of Commissioners in the same Resolution #29 of December 12, 1996, recognized the “the ecological, recreational, and economic value of the Jordan Valley and the concerns of the people of Antrim County, and opposed any attempt to drill on state owned surface lands within the JVMA”; and

WHEREAS, the Antrim County Board of Commissioners and various local groups such as the Friends of the Jordan (FOJ) while opposing attempts to drill on public lands within the JVMA, recognize that the State of Michigan owns vast mineral holdings outside sensitive protected areas that can be traded, thereby protecting the rights of mineral owners and preserving the integrity of both the JVMA and the JVMP;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Antrim County Board of Commissioners hereby supports the position of the Friends of the Jordan on arriving at a sensible compromise in terms of balancing mineral rights within the JVMA and the need to protect the integrity of JVMA and JVMP, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Antrim County Board of Commissioners urges the State of Michigan to first evaluate drilling applications within public lands of JVMA based on standard criteria of property law, environmental impact, and economic viability; and if the application meets these requirements, to negotiate an equitable trade with mineral owners using the State’s vast mineral holdings outside the sensitive protected areas of JVMA and others, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be sent to the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Governor, State Representative, State Senators, the Michigan Association of Counties, and all other Michigan Counties.

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

No - None;

Absent – None.

RESOLUTION #09-04 DECLARED ADOPTED.

The Chairman appointed Charles (Mike) Huntly to the Tax Allocation Board.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson that appointment of Charles Huntly to the Tax Allocation Board be approved. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the hiring freeze be lifted and the procedures be started for employment of a new Director for Antrim County Transportation. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

The Chairman made the following appointments:

Jerry Hubbell Veterans Affairs Committee

Marshall Wright Board of Public Works

Michael Meriwether Parks & Recreation Commission

Allen Pecar Parks & Recreation Commission

Laura Sexton Housing Commission

Paul Trumble E-911 Board

Carl Veenstra Antrim Creek Commission

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the above named appointments be approved. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that members of the Board of Commissioners salaries be increased as follows: 2.5% beginning January 1, 2005, 2.5 % beginning July 1, 2005, 2.5% beginning January 1, 2006, and 2.5% beginning July 1, 2006. At the request of Mr. Bargy, the matter was tabled until April.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Howelman the mileage rate be increased from $.34/mi to $.35/mi effective January 1, 2005. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that part time building inspectors continue to receive $1.50 per hour more at each step of the scale in the bargaining union contract, because they do not get benefits. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford the bid policy be waived and the county contract with Carl Goeman to be the Solution Area Planner (SAP) for the fifteen month grant period; grant amount to be $25,000. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek that the county contract with Madison National Life for the county’s short-term disability and life insurance coverage for two years, contingent on negotiation of a $95.00 per month reduction in the premium, coverage to start as soon as possible after negotiations are complete. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that Alvin McShane be hired as Plumbing Inspector and in the event Mr. McShane does not take the job, Jason Wright be considered 2^nd and Arlo Baker third. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek the Sheriff hire a part-time (24 hours a week,) court officer at $13.00 per hour. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Stanek that the union grievance involving the County Clerk’s office be denied. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

The matter of survey at the Six-Mile Lake property was referred back to the Lands Committee.

It was moved by Allen, seconded by Stanek the Chairman be authorized to sign the Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Contract with Antrim Conservation District as amended. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

It was moved by Howelman, seconded by Stanek the Chairman sign an Affiliation Agreement between Commission on Aging and the University of Michigan for nursing education services. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Allen that the following additions to the Animal Shelter construction be approved:

glass in door to kennel room 167.00

washable material on walls around animal tub 250.00

additional coat of glossy paint in various rooms 600.00

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

It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Bargy the Chairman sign the State Homeland Security Grant Program Part II Training Grant Agreement giving Antrim County $30,532.51 with no cost to the county. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes – McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Crawford, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No – None; Absent – None.

There was some discussion on introduced legislation involving de-icers.

It was decided the November meeting would be Friday, November 12, 2004 at the regular time.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. to the Call of the Chair.