DELTA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

 

                                           January 18, 2005

                                           Escanaba, Michigan

 

     A Regular meeting of the Delta County Board of Commissioners was held this date, pursuant to the following call:

 

                                           January 13, 2005

The Honorable Members of the Delta             

County Board of Commissioners

 

Dear Commissioners:

     A Regular Meeting of the Delta County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday January 18, 2005, at 5:15 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Delta County Courthouse.

 

                                           Sincerely yours,

                                           Nancy J. Kolich

                                           Delta County Clerk

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:  Commissioners Bengry, Elegeert, Nelson, Ruohomaki and Schultz.

ABSENT:   None.

          The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. in the Delta County Circuit Courtroom by Delta County Clerk, Nancy Kolich.

         

   V.     APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING       

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2005.  MOTION CARRIED.

           

   VI.   PRESENTATATION OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

         A.  Received:  No written communications were received.      

         B.  Forwarded: No written communications were forwarded.

 

VII.      REPORTS OF STANDING AND STATUTORY SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and supported by Commissioner Nelson that the Communications and Reports of Standing and Statutory Committees and the Reports of Special Committees and Others be received and placed on file.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

        Paul Neumeier addressed the Board with his concerns with the dismissal of the Road Commission Manager, Mark Desotell.

 

X.   COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Building and Grounds Committee.

    

2.   Finance Committee.

   a.  Minutes of 1-10-05.

   1.  Bills and Payroll.

   2.  Data Mailer Tax Bill System.

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the purchase of a laser printer for the Equalization Department in the of $2,895.00 from the Computer Implementation and Equipment line items.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

   3.  Sheriff’s Department Service Contract.

   Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the Jail Food Service Contract with a 3% increase.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

   4.  Recommendations from Personnel Committee.

   Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the level 12 increases for the Airport employees with  90 day retro pay.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

        7.  Ren Zone.

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve payment of $2808 to the City of Escanaba.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

        2.  Airport Loan.

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to approve a short term loan to the Airport for $30,000 from the Tax Revolving Fund to purchase a refurbished fuel truck to be repaid in 24 months.

 

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to receive the minutes and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

3. Personnel Committee. 

        a. 1-11-05.

        2.  Lump Sum Retirement Request.

 

   Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve a one time lump sum payment retirement request from  a Sheriff’s Deputy.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

   3.  Equalization Department 40 hour work week request.

   Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to approve 40 hour work week for the Equalization Department for an additional 90 days expiring on 4-20-05.  MOTION CARRIED.

       

        Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to receive the minutes and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED.     

4.   Administrator’s Report. 

       1.  Ren Zone:

       We have received the appraisals for the Ren-zone properties.  Rory Mattson is completing the environmental reviews.  Once he’s done we will have all of the information to submit to FAA for the land releases.   The Administrator, Joseph Erickson, also met with reps from Wells Fargo Bank.  They were informed about the progress at the ren zone.  They were asked about any limitations or restrictions banks may have on lending money for development on leased lands.  They don’t foresee any particular concerns as long as the lease term is at least the same as the lending note.

 

  2.  Early Out Retirements:

  Twelve employees currently have more than 25 years of service.  The typical incentive for a County to offer an early retirement option is to reduce staff and/or realign positions and departments, resulting in an overall savings.  An analysis of the savings can be made and evaluate whether the early retirement is a viable option to achieve this goal.  A letter will be sent to the twelve employees to determine the interest in early retirement.  If there is enough interest, actuarials will be done for each unit that has an interest, at $400 for each actuarial.  

 

 

 

 

 3.  Emergency Management:

 The ID Card system has arrived.  The Administrator will be working with Captain Berbohm on getting it set up.  The first cards will be issued to law enforcement and fire departments.

 

4.  The Administrator has been working on pending negotiation and with the Personnel Committee on revising the rules and procedures.

 

5.  Shortfalls in the State Budget:

 

The Administrator just received information on the projected shortfalls in the State Budget for 2005 is $400 million dollars and for 2006 it is $600 million dollars.

             

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and supported by Commissioner Nelson to receive the Administrator’s report and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED.

    

6.        Computer Committee.

    

   X. GENERAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS

 

      A.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

          1.  Board appointments to various committees.

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to reappoint Michael Falcon to the Airport and Parks Board.  MOTION CARRIED.

                  

 B.  NEW BUSINESS

1.  Payment of Bills.

          None.

         

          2.  Ratification of Magistrate Appointment.

          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to ratify the appointment of Mark Hager as Magistrate of the 94th District Court.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

         

 

 

 

3.  Planning Commission Case 27-04-PC.

          Case 27-04-PC, Joe Pascoe, Wells Township.  Moved by Commissioner Schultz and supported by Commissioner Nelson to approve the request to rezone from Residential 1    to Commercial 3 as recommended by the Planning Commission.

 

ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

NELSON    YES

RUOHOMAKI YES

SCHULTZ   YES

ELEGEERT YES

         MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

  XI.  GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

       Paul Neumeier addressed the Board regarding the Equalization 40 hour week.

 

 XII.  COMMISSIONERS CONCERNS

 

 XIV.  ADJOURNMENT

 

     Moved by Commissioner Nelson and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki to adjourn at 5:57 p.m. 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

_____________________________  _________________________________

Nancy J. Kolich, County Clerk       Thomas Elegeert, Board Chairperson