City Council Minutes

March 16, 2010

The Regular Meeting of the Saint Louis City Council was called to order by Mayor Joe Scholtz, on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 a.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Council Members Present: Mayor Joe Scholtz, Melissa A. Allen, Jerry Church, James C. Kelly,

William E. Shrum

Council Members Absent: None

City Manager: Robert F. McConkie

City Clerk/Treasurer: Nancy L. Roehrs

Others in Attendance:

Tracy Ross School Board Member

Phil Hansen DDA Director

Kurt Giles Utilities Director

Rich Ramereiz Police Sergeant

Sue Wellington

R.L. Green

Council Member Allen led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Minutes.

Moved by Allen, supported by Shrum, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 2, 2010. All ayes carried the motion.

Claims & Accounts.

City Council discussed the Claims & Accounts.

Moved by Shrum, supported by Church, to approve the Claims & Accounts, in the amount of $295,017.90. All ayes carried the motion.

Monthly Reports.

City Council discussed the February 2010 Monthly Reports.

Moved by Allen, supported by Shrum, to receive and place on file the February 2010 Monthly Reports. All ayes carried the motion.

Public Comments.

Mr. Green stated that he had a meeting with City Manager McConkie last week and discussed some city issues.

Communications.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council place on file communications from the City of Alma, the Michigan Public Service Commission and Energy Smart Program Report.

Moved by Kelly, supported by Allen, to approve to receive and place on file the communications from the City of Alma, the Michigan Public Service Commission and Energy Smart Program Report. All ayes carried the motion.

New Business.

Confirm Verbal Approval of Transferred Property & Payment of Delinquent Property Tax.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council confirm verbal approval to accept property donated by Burton and Shirley Alspaugh for the properties located at 504 W. Prospect Street and 511 Sharon Street. and to authorize payment in the amount of $15,008.58 for the delinquent property tax for the donated properties to the Gratiot County Treasurer.

Moved by Church, supported by Kelly, to confirm verbal approval to accept property donated by Burton and Shirley Alspaugh for the properties located at 504 W. Prospect Street and 511 Sharon Street and to authorize payment in the amount of $15,008.58 for the delinquent property tax for the donated properties to the Gratiot County Treasurer. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Request from American Legion Post 256.

City Manager McConkie stated that American Legion Post 256 submitted a request for permission to distribute for donations to the public the American Legion Veteran Poppies on May 20, 21, and 22, 2010.

Moved by Shrum, supported by Kelly, to approve authorization for American Legion Post 256 to distribute for donations to the public the American Legion Veteran Poppies on May 20, 21, and 22, 2010. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Bar Screen Pump Repair Costs.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council approve the repair costs for the Bar Screen Pump by Jett Pump & Valve, L.L.C. in the amount of $10,422.00 to be reimbursed by the State of Michigan.

Moved by Shrum, supported by Allen, to approve the repair costs for the Bar Screen Pump by Jett Pump & Valve, L.L.C. in the amount of $10,422.00 to be reimbursed by the State of Michigan. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Annual Lawn Mower Trade-In.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council approve the Purchase of 3 Zero Turn Mowers and the Trade-In of 3 Zero Turn Mowers from Bader & Sons Company through the Annual Mower Replacement Program in the amount of $6,000.00.

Moved by Allen, supported by Shrum, to approve the Purchase of 3 Zero Turn Mowers and the Trade-In of 3 Zero Turn Mowers from Bader & Sons Company through the Annual Mower Replacement Program in the amount of $6,000.00. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Election Laptop Grant & Authorization to Execute.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council approve the Grant Agreement between the City of Saint Louis and the State of Michigan for the City of Saint Louis to receive two laptop computers with accessories purchased through the Help America Vote Act for the use of electronic poll books at all elections held in the city.

Moved by Church, supported by Kelly, to approve the Grant Agreement between the City of Saint Louis and the State of Michigan for the City of Saint Louis to receive two laptop computers with accessories purchased through the Help America Vote Act for the use of electronic poll books at all elections held in the city and to authorize the City Clerk to sign the Grant Agreement on behalf of the City of Saint Louis. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Payment to United Kiser L.L.C. – Hydro Rebuild.

City Manager McConkie requested approval for Payment Certificate No. 4 to United Kiser, L.L.C. for Hydro Electric Rebuild of Generator No. 6 in the amount of $68,581.71.

Moved by Kelly, supported by Shrum, to approve Payment Certificate No. 4 to United Kiser, L.L.C. for Hydro Electric Rebuild of Generator No. 6 in the amount of $68,581.71. All ayes carried the motion.

Discussion on the Bethany Township 425 Agreement.

City Manager McConkie stated that he received a letter of proposal from Bethany Township regarding a 425 Agreement with the City of Saint Louis on a portion of the Wesner property located at the east edge of the city limits on the south side of M-46 in Bethany Township.

City Manager McConkie stated that he is in the process of working with the City Attorney to prepare another language draft for a 425 Agreement. The proposal from Bethany Township was received on Friday and the

attorney was away until Monday afternoon which did not allow enough time to prepare revised language for this meeting.

Moved by Church, supported by Shrum, to receive and place on file the communication from Bethany Township regarding a 425 Agreement. All ayes carried the motion.

Approve Resolution 2010-05 E. Tyrell Street Abandonment Clarification.

City Manager McConkie stated that in 1947 the City Council at that time adopted a resolution to abandon a portion of East Tyrell Street from Euclid Street east to the corporate limits. The action of the City Council is being misinterpreted by the title company and they believe the whole street was abandoned. The intent of the City Council and the petition filed by the residents was to have one rod on each side of Tyrell Street which was 82.5 feet wide abandoned leaving 24.7 feet from the center of the road on each side of the side for a total width of the street at 49.5 feet.

City Manager McConkie requested that the City Council adopt Resolution 2010-05 to clarify what the intent of the City Council was in 1947.

Council Member Allen stated that there was an error in the third paragraph of the resolution. The third line states 29.75 feet and sixth paragraph states 24.75 feet. The correct amount would be 24.75 if the total width of the street is 49.5 feet.

Council Member Allen stated that she would like to review the resolution that was adopted by the City Council in 1947 along with the supporting documents for better clarification on the City Council's intent.

The consensus of the City Council was to have Resolution 2010-05 corrected and to review the City documents on the intent of the City Council in 1947. The matter will placed on the next meeting's agenda.

City Manager's Report. None

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report. None

Police Chief's Report. None

City Council Comments.

Council Member Church stated that at the School Board Meeting last night it was discussed that the school would be going out to bids for a new copier and wanted to know if the city and school went together could get a better price on a copier.

City Clerk/Treasure Roehrs stated that the City has two more years before the current copier lease expires.

Council Member Shrum wanted to know if anything could be done about the bus that is parked by church on S. Main Street.

Sgt. Ramereiz stated that the police have checked on the bus and it is a licensed recreational vehicle and it is operable.

Council Member Shrum wanted to know if something is going to be done about the trailers parked behind the furniture store on N. Mill Street.

City Manger McConkie stated that he would discuss the matter with Sgt. Ramereiz.

Council Member Church stated he was contacted by members of the cemetery committee and they wanted to know when they were going to meet because they have not met.

City Manager McConkie stated that when the cemetery rules and procedures are done they will meet.

Council Member Church wanted to know when the Compensation Committee was going to be meeting to review the City Council's compensation.

City Manager McConkie stated that the Compensation Committee can only meet in odd years and they will be meeting in 2011.

Council Member Church wanted to know if the alley behind the Sunshine and furniture stores was owned by the city.

City Manager McConkie stated that the alley is privately owned.

Mayor Scholtz wanted to know if the City installed the signs behind the Laundromat reserving parking for their customers.

Sgt. Ramereiz stated that the owner put the signs up for his customers so they have a place to load and unload their laundry.

Mayor Scholtz stated that he was a Board of Review member for the first time as mayor.

Mayor Scholtz thanked the City Manager and DPW for taking the tree down on Delaware Street and for repairing the pot hole.

Council Member Shrum stated that there is an inoperable vehicle that is covered with a canvas at the corner of East and Tyrell Streets.

Sgt. Ramereiz stated that he would check on the vehicle but the vehicle being covered does not mean it is inoperable because some people store their vehicles for the winter by covering them up with canvas.

Mayor Scholtz stated that he is going to the Nikkari Elementary School today to discuss the duties and responsibilities of the City Council.

Mayor Scholtz stated that he will not be at the next meeting because he will be having surgery.

Comments. None

Moved by Shrum, supported by Allen, to approve to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 a.m. All ayes carried the motion.

Nancy L. Roehrs

City Clerk