DELTA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

April 3, 2007

                                          

                                           Escanaba, Michigan

 

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

 

                                           March 29, 2007

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 April 3, 2007, 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, Rivard, 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 Ruohomaki and supported by Commissioner Bengry to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2007 meeting as corrected.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  VI.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

       Moved by Commissioner Bengry and supported by Commissioner Schultz to add item 7. Community Foundation Request to the agenda.  MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

           

 VII.  PRESENTATATION OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

        A. Received: 

           1. CUPPAD Staff Activities.

           2. UPPCO Conference “Planning for the Future.”

           3. Library Contribution continued support request.

           4. Resolution from  Hillsdale County Board.

           5. Resolution from Isabella County Board.

           6. Public Hearing Notice for WE Energies.

           7. Notice from City of Escanaba re: Brownfield Amendment.

            

        B.  Forwarded:

            1. Copy of letter to Dennis DeVany.

 

  VIII. REPORTS OF STANDING AND STATUTORY SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS

1.    Department of Human Services minutes of 1-22-07

2.    Road Commission minutes of 2-5 & 2-19-07

3.    Central Dispatch Authority minutes of 2-7-07

4.    Airport Advisory Board minutes of 2-27-07

5.    Parks Commission minutes of 2-28-07

6.    CAA/HRA minutes of 3-15-07

7.    Concealed Weapons Board minutes of 3-20-07

8.    Pinecrest Board of Trustees minutes of 3-22-07

 

VIII.  REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS.

     1. Township Association minutes of 2-22-07.

        Moved by Commissioner Schultz and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki 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.

                                                   

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

     None.

 

 X.  COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1.  Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole 3-27-07.

        1.  Information Technician.

         Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to hire a full time Information Technician  and authorize the Administrator to proceed with drafting a job description and posting the position with Michigan Works.

  

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

                        RIVARD    NO

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        SCHULTZ   NO

                        ELEGEERT  YES

          MOTION CARRIED.

     

         2.  Maintenance Director.

         Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Rivard that the Board interview the top 3 candidates as determined by the Personnel Committee.

 

         ROLL CALL      BENGRY    YES

                        RIVARD    YES

                        RUOHOMAKI NO

                        SCHULTZ   NO

                        ELEGEERT  NO       

         MOTION FAILED.

 

         Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki that Administrator Erickson accept the candidates recommended by the Personnel Committee and to conduct interviews of those candidates along with candidates determined by the Administrator and to bring back a recommendation to the Board.

 

         ROLL CALL      BENGRY    NO

                        RIVARD    NO

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        SCHULTZ   YES

                        ELEGEERT  YES      

         MOTION CARRIED. 

 

         Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to post a temporary housekeeper position in compliance to the union contract. 

 

         ROLL CALL      BENGRY    YES

                        RIVARD    YES

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        SCHULTZ   YES

                        ELEGEERT  YES      

         MOTION CARRIED.

 

         3.  MERS Response re: Retiree Corrections.

         Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to choose Option 1 – to leave all retirees as is and to make the necessary correction for future retirees.    

4 yays, 1 nay.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

         Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to accept the Committee of the Whole minutes of 3-27-07 and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

 

2. Administrator’s Report.

   3. April Board meetings.

        Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to hold the April 10th Statutory meeting at 1:30 pm at the State Office Building and a Committee of the Whole meeting on April 17th at 1:30 p.m. at the State Office Building.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

   4. Wells Township Zoning.

        Wells Township will hold a hearing on April 18th at 7:00 p.m. to repeal their zoning ordinance.  Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to authorize Administrator Erickson to send a letter to Wells Township explaining the problems that are occurring because of the zoning issue, expressing our willingness to cooperate and asking them to respond.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

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

             

  XI. GENERAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS

 

      A.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS    

 B.  NEW BUSINESS

1.  Payment of Bills.

              Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $816,561.90.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          2.  Business After Hours – Commissioner Rivard.

          Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to be transfer up to $700 from the Community Events fund to the Airport budget and Parks budget to co-sponsor a Business After Hours to showcase the Airport and Parks.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          3.  Forest Service Contract.

          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to authorize the Forest Service Contract as presented.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

 

          4.  Road Commission Membership.

          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to expand the Road Commission to five members from the present three.

 

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    NO

                        RIVARD    YES

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        SCHULTZ   YES

                        ELEGEERT  YES      

         MOTION CARRIED.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry to expand the Road Commission membership at next the general election – November 2008.  Motion failed for lack of support.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to appoint the two additional Road Commissioners to serve until the next general election (November 2008).

 

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

                        RIVARD    YES

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        SCHULTZ   YES

                        ELEGEERT  YES      

         MOTION CARRIED.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to advertise for Road Commissioner applications in the local newspapers with a deadline of April 23rd at 4:00 p.m., the Board to review the applications and appoint the new members at the May 1, 2007 Board meeting.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          5.  Proposed Resolution for Parks Commission.

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to have Administrator Erickson make the revisions recommended by the attorneys and bring back to the Board. MOTION CARRIED.

 

          6.  Out of County Travel to UPACC Meeting.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Schultz to authorize out of county travel to Menominee County for the UPACC meeting in May.   MOTION CARRIED.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to authorize out of county travel to Grand Rapids for the MAC Summer Conference in August.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          7.  Community Foundation Request.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve a letter of support for the Escanaba Handicapped Facilities Community Project to provide greater access to the facilities within Delta County and the City of Escanaba for our handicapped citizens.  MOTION CARRIED.      

 

 XII.  GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

        Kaye Rowlands stated that MERS staff will be at Bay College on April 13 for an AFSCME conference.

        Rory Mattson, Delta County Conservation District, stated a possible opportunity to sell red pine select cut at the Service Center.  Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Rivard for Mr. Mattson to get 3 quotes besides the company from downstate on select cutting red pine at the Service Center.  MOTION CARRIED.

        Mark Nelson, Nelson Construction, voiced his concern with the Wells Zoning issue.

 

XIII. COMMISSIONERS CONCERNS

      Commissioners Rivard:  Would like a MERS presentation.  

 

      Commissioner Ruohomaki: Would like a better understanding of the healthcare and retirement benefits we are asking employees to switch over to.

 

      Commissioner Bengry:  Road Commission bonds progress.  Two requests for Road Commissioner appointees.  Asked the US Senators and Representative to release Mr. Nichols from the Veterans Administration.

 

      Commissioner Schultz:   None.

      Commissioner Elegeert:  None.

 

XIV.  MEETING SCHEDULE.

      The Statutory Meeting of the Board on April 10th at 1:30 p.m. at the State Office Building.

 

      Committee of the Whole April 17th at 1:30 p.m. at the State Office Building.

     

 

XV.   NOTICES.

 

 

XVI. ADJOURNMENT

      

     Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to adjourn at 7:23 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED.

    

Respectfully Submitted,

 

_____________________________   ________________________________

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