VILLAGE OF ARMADA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015
7:00PM
President Wolak called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All rose for Pledge of Allegiance. Present at roll call: Stirrett, Clark, Coenen, Wolak, Ballard, and Cooper. Absent: Awdey. Also present: Clerk Poulos, Treasurer Adair, Edward Serwatowski, Ben Delecke, Vicki Ezzo, Mark Ezzo, Dean Downing, Ron Rademacher, and Casey Collings.
AGENDA, APPROVAL OF
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Ballard, to approve agenda as presented.
All Ayes CARRIED
CITIZEN COMMENT
None.
COUNCIL COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATIONS
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
- Treasurer Adair presented Council with her December, 2014, Treasurer’s Report.
- F & V provided Council with the November and December, 2014, Operations Reports. Sewer Commissioner Stirrett stated that the November report included one call out and they found a 1 ½â€Â PVC coupling was lodged in pump #1. The pumps were serviced and are running fine. He stated that the December report includes an incident report regarding the 12â€Â of fat which had to be cleaned out and will be billed to thebusiness owner responsible. Metro Environmental Services have submitted their first bill and he needs to verify if the second bill has arrived. He also stated that the water bill for the grit room was high and the Village office had the meter re-read which prompted an investigation into why it was so high. They found a broken copper pipe, which has been repaired. He also informed Council that there were high flows during the month.
- Street Administrator Ballard introduced Casey Collings from Great Lakes Engineering to update Council on the Prospect/Tietz Street Bridge Project. Collings provided Council with cost estimates and some photos (on file) of options for the Tietz Street culvert. He explained that in 2012 the Village applied for and received funding in the amount of $297,000.00 for the Prospect Street super structure replacement and the Bridge Council did not fund the whole cost of the Tietz Street culvert but they did put an additional line item in for $47,000.00 to maintain traffic during construction of the Prospect Street bridge. The current estimate is considerably lower than originally estimated and MDOT allows for a 20% overage as projects are estimated three years ahead of time and costs usually increase. Using the overage amount and the 20% overage allowed brings the amount funded to $409,200.00 of which 5% is Village responsibility and 95% is funded by MDOT. He stated that he has discussed with MDOT the possibility of using the overage to fund the Tietz Street culvert and he was approved to do so. He stated that plans are ready to be submitted for an April letting so the project can proceed this summer. He continued to explain that the MDEQ flagged two issues with the permit. One issue was the size of the culvert and are requiring that a larger one is used and the other issue is that a threatened or endangered species of muscle, the Slipper Shell Muscle, may be in the area so they are requiring that the Village have an environmental study done by a Biologist to verify if this species is present. If they are present, the Village would be required to relocate them and the grant does not pay for this, the costs fall to the Village and are estimated to be $2,500.00 for the study and up to $5,000.00 for relocation. Collings also asked Council’s opinion of the material to be used for the culvert. He explained the cost and life expectancy difference between using aluminum or steel box or concrete. Trustee Cooper favors using concrete and after a fairly lengthy discussion, Council consensus was to use aluminum or steel box. Collings stated that even with these issues, the project should only run up to two weeks longer than initially projected and should start mid-June. He will also contact the Michigan State Extension to send a formal proposal for Council’s approval to begin the environmental study in the beginning of June.
- The Council received the 2014 Year in Review from the Planning Commission and also their 2015 Agenda, which Coenen encourages Council to read.
- The Planning Commission submitted their December 1, 2014, meeting minutes.
1. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Ballard, seconded by Clark, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
- Approval of RCM Minutes of 1/12/15 approved as presented.
- Payment of Bills totaling $10,897.56 approved for payment as follows:
1. General Fund $ 8,741.77
2. Water Fund $ 795.00
3. Sewer Plant Fund $ 406.54
4. Sewer System Fund $ 0 5. Major Street Fund $ 954.25
6. Local Street Fund $ 0
7. Municipal Street Fund $ 0___
Total $ 10,897.56
- To Approve an Agreement for Water Billing for 23087 Main Street approved the Agreement for Water Billing for 23087 Main Street and authorize the President and Clerk to sign it on behalf of the Village.
Ayes: Ballard, Clark, Cooper, Wolak, Stirrett
Nays: None
Abstain: Coenen (Minutes only)
Absent: Awdey CARRIED
2. OLD BUSINESS
None.
3. NEW BUSINESS
A. MICHIGAN BACKROADS/TERRIFIC TOWNS MEMBERSHIP
The Clerk explained that in 2011, the Village, DDA, and Township entered into a three year agreement with michiganwebs.net, a travel Michigan website that promoted the Village, Township, and area businesses. The agreement is now expired and Ron Rademacher, the creator of the website, was present to ask the Village to continue with the agreement. After a lengthy presentation and Council discussion, it was suggested that the Armada Business Association and the Armada Area Chamber of Commerce would be a more logical avenue to pursue as the website more benefits the businesses than the taxpayers.
B. BUSINESS USE OF VILLAGE PARKING LOT FOR DELIVERIES
Planning Commission Chairman Ben Delecke brought this item before Council for discussion before going to a Planning Commission Public Hearing. If the Council will not allow the use of the Village parking lot, there would be no reason to hold a Public Hearing as it is costly for the applicant. He allowed Dean Downing, the owner of a business which is hoping to relocate to 74130 Church Street, to speak to the Council regarding his needs. This business will require the use of the Village parking lot for deliveries and pick up of materials and will need Council’s approval to do so. It was explained that the parking lot is already being used by garbage trucks to access the downtown businesses dumpsters and that the small semi-trucks that will be servicing his business are lighter than the garbage trucks. After a very lengthy discussion, Council agreed that this should not be entered into without a very clear written agreement between the Village and Mr. Downing. This will be discussed with the Village Attorney as to how the agreement will need to be written, if he still feels one is necessary.
C. PLANNING COMMISSION BUDGET FOR ZONING AMENDMENTS
Planning Commission Liaison Coenen asked Council to consider allocating funds in the 2015 budget to the Planning Commission to hold a Public Hearing to consider amending the ordinance, which states a limit of 1000 feet between where alcohol can be sold and schools, churches, or other businesses that sell, to allow beer/wine and liquor sales within 1,000 feet. Due to the size of the Village, this greatly limits the sale of beer/wine and liquor. Coenen’s reason for discussing this with Council is the Planning Commission has several amendments to ordinances and Planning Commission Chairman Delecke planned on bringing all of the amendments to one Public Hearing and to amend this ordinance would require a separate Public Hearing which is estimated to cost between $500.00 and $750.00. Coenen stated that he would like to hold a separate Public Hearing for this amendment as the new Party Store would like to have beer and wine sales but cannot under this current ordinance.
MOTION by Cooper, seconded by Ballard, to authorize the Planning Commission Chairman to proceed with the Planner to amend the definition of Package Liquor Store per McKenna Project #20410.
All Ayes CARRIED
UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS
A. Village Parking Lot
CITIZENS COMMENTS
None.
COUNCIL COMMENTS/COMMUNITY EVENTS
Trustee Stirrett asked Council if the Village had ever considered a Village Manager to assist with larger projects. As the Village has several large projects happening this year and Commissioners are elected officials and possibly not the most qualified to manage these projects, it may be beneficial to consider one. Council stated that they have, for many years, discussed this possibility but the cost is more than the Village can afford.
The Armada High School Talent Show is on January 28 at the High School at 7:00.
No further business.
MOTION by Ballard, seconded by Cooper, to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 pm.
All Ayes CARRIED
Minutes submitted by:
Michelle Poulos
Armada Village Clerk