ANTRIM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Thursday, September 11, 2003

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.

The Chairman called for Public Comment. Ed Martel spoke on wetlands issues. Russ Blasdall spoke about the shooting range and suggested county property on Simpson Rd. as a proposed site. This was referred to the Lands Committee and Parks and Recreation Commission.

Ray Ludwa commented that all dissenters were not extremists and commended the Chairman for limiting public comments to three minutes. Janet Person announced the Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Public Comment closed at 9:20 a.m.

Nathan Graham, a Boy Scout who is working on his Eagle Scout badge, reported that he had marked trails and placed picnic tables at Mohrmann Park as part of his badge work. He was thanked and commended for his work.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Dawson the minutes of July 22, 2003 and August 14, 2003 be approved as corrected. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the rates paid to jurors for the Circuit, District, and Probate Courts be established at $25.00 for ½ day and $50.00 for a whole day effective January 1, 2004. Motion carried by a yea and nay vote as follows: Yes - McLeod, Dawson, Bargy, White, Howelman, Stanek, Blackmore, Allen; No - Crawford; Absent - None.

It was moved by Stanek, seconded by McLeod the Chairman be authorized to sign a contract for accounting services with Maximus at a cost of $9,500 for 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 McLeod the claims and accounts totaling $72,571.15 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.

The Chairman appointed Al Luurtsema to the Planning Commission.

It was moved by McLeod, seconded by Crawford that the appointment of Allen Luurtsema to the Planning Commission, term to expire 7/1/2005, 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 the following wage increases for Probate Court employees be approved:

Court Administrator 4% effect. 01/01/2004 1.5% effect. 07/01/2004

Court Reporter 2003 salary plus the stipend with 4% effect. 01/01/2004

And 3% effect. 07/01/2004.

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 McLeod, seconded by Howelman that a hiring freeze be implemented effective immediately and remain effective through the budget year, 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 McLeod, seconded by Crawford that the new PPO “WRAP” health insurance plan which includes implementing a Community Blue 12 with a $10/$40 prescription and a $10 office visit be adopted and that the proposal from Michigan Employee Benefit Services (MEBS) to be third party administrator be accepted, all to be effective January 1, 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 McLeod, seconded by Crawford that the two union contracts between Antrim County and Police Officers Association of Michigan for Correction Officers, Cooks, and Clerical; and Deputies and Dispatchers be ratified and the Chairman be authorized to sign. 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 Clerk read a letter from Janet Killian urging the Commissioners to retain the Elk Rapids Day Park in county ownership.

Gary Knapp of the Mancelona Water & Sewer Authority Board and Brett Gourdie from Gourdie Fraser Associates gave a presentation on the plume and its relationship to the water and sewer project. Tom Persons from Dura also spoke on that subject.

John Ferguson, Helena Township Supervisor and DDA member presented information regarding Helena Township Downtown Development Authority and Tax Increment Financing for the project.

RESOLUTION #25-03 by Robert McLeod, seconded by Eugene Dawson

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Antrim County exempt itself from the Helena Township Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Financing until further information is obtained.

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

No - None;

Absent - None.

RESOLUTION #25-03 DECLARED ADOPTED.

Lon Bargy, Milton Township Supervisor, introduced Scott Everett from the American Farmland Trust who gave a presentation on Farmland Preservation. He indicated that a joint meeting with Grand Traverse County would be necessary for Ordinance passage.

It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Dawson that Todd’s Tree Service remove two maple trees from the Courthouse lawn at a cost of $1,660. 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 Crawford, seconded by Dawson that the quote from Bob Pecar for $1,245 for installing phone/data cable at the Animal Shelter be accepted and the Capital Projects expense budget for the Animal Shelter be increased by $1,245. 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 that the Chairman sign that he has reviewed the Agreement between Michigan Family Independence Agency and Lutheran Child and Family Services of Michigan for services regarding care for individuals under the Child Care Fund. 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 Blackmore that the Chairman sign agreements with the following independent contractors under the Child Care Fund: Jay Gould, Charlene Cooper, Sharon Bailey, Rose Harvey, Gerard Schwind, Mary DeEtt Hoose, and Katherine Gould. 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 Dawson that the Department of Environmental Quality be given access to county property to perform water quality testing related to the contaminated plumes. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

The County Clerk announced the recommendations made by the Republican Party and Democrat Party for appointments to the Board of Canvassars. The Board members voted on the recommended individuals by secret ballot.

As a result of the balloting, the Chairman appointed Olga Mills as the Democrat member and Patricia Jones-Colvin as the Republican member of the Board of Canvassars.

It was moved by Blackmore, seconded by Stanek that the appointment of Olga Mills and Patricia Jones-Colvin to the Board of Canvassars, terms to expire October 31, 2007 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 Stanek that the following budget adjustments be approved:

Increase Decrease

GENERAL FUND

Revenue

From Licenses & Permits 15,000

From Other Agencies 500

From Current Services 23,950

From Other Sources 2,500

Expenditures

Fringe benefits

FICA 20,000

Retirement 25,000

GRANT MATCH RESERVE FUND

Revenue - refund - Airport grant 3,600

AIRPORT GRANT MATCH FUND

Expenditures - ‘99 expense 6,100

GRASS RIVER FUND

Revenue - from G.R. Inc. 500

ANIMAL CONTROL DONATIONS FUND

Revenue - Interest 100

BARNES PARK GRANT

Expenditures - project 51,200

GIS IMPLEMENTATION FUND

Revenue - GIS copies 3,000

MASTER PLAN GRANT FUND

Expenditures 2,600

EMS PLAN GRANT

Revenue 5,000

Expenditures 5,000

SHERIFF - FINGERPRINT GRANT

Revenue - from other agencies 5,000

Expenditures - equip. maint. 4,000

HOUSING - PROJECT INCOME FUND

Revenue - debt payments 20,000

Expenditures - projects 55,000

MICHIGAN JUSTICE TRAINING FUND

Expenditures 2,000

HOUSING - HOME PROJECTS

Expenditures - projects 30,000

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 the matter of the agreement between ACUTE and the Antrim County Board of Commissioners be tabled. Motion carried all members present voting yes.

It was moved by Dawson, seconded by Howelman that at the Airport the monthly rent for a single engine aircraft be increased to $85.00/month and for a twin engine aircraft be increased to $160.00/month. 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 meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. to the Call of the Chair.

____________________________ _______________________________

Laura Sexton, County Clerk Jack White, Chairman