DELTA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

March 20, 2007

                                          

                                           Escanaba, Michigan

 

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

 

                                           March 15, 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 March 20, 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, and Ruohomaki.

EXCUSED:  Commissioner Schultz.

          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 Rivard and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the minutes of the March 6, 2007 meeting.  Ayes – 3, Nays – 1. MOTION CARRIED.  Moved by Commissioner Bengry and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2007 Committee of the Whole meeting.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  VI.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

       Moved by Commissioner Bengry and supported by Commissioner Ruohomaki to approve the agenda and add 3 – 2% money requests to the agenda. 

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

                        RIVARD    YES

                        RUOHOMAKI YES

                        ELEGEERT  YES      

         MOTION CARRIED. 

 VII.  PRESENTATATION OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

        A. Received: No written communications were received.    

        B. Forwarded: No written communications were forwarded.

 

  VIII. REPORTS OF STANDING AND STATUTORY SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS

VIII.  REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS.

          Moved by Commissioner Rivard 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

     Joe Knauf, Delcomp/Softek, addressed the Board with his concerns with hiring an in house Information Technician.

 

     Mike Larrabee, Chairman of the Road Commission, addressed the Board concerning the letter received regarding refinancing the Road Commission bonds.

 

     Roger Van Drese, Road Commission Manager, requested a meeting with the Administrator, the Treasurer, the Road Commission financial officer, Thomas Enright and himself. 

 

     PUBLIC HEARING ON ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE

     Hearing opened at 5:22 p.m.

     Sheriff Ballweg made a presentation on the proposed changes to the Animal Control Ordinance fees Article 7, increasing the spay fees for cats by $10.00, for dogs by $15.00, increase the neuter fee for dogs by $5.00, decrease the neuter fee for cats by $5.00, add a viral medication fee of $10.00 for cats, increase the surrender fee from $3.00 to $5.00 and eliminate the euthanasia service.

             

     Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to close the Public Hearing at 5:35 p.m.

 

 X.  COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1.  Committee of the Whole Recommendations 3-13-07.

         1.  County Purchase Policy.

         Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to approve the Purchase Policy as presented.  MOTION CARRIED.

     2.  Information Technician.

         Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to refer to the Computer Committee.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

     3.  Prosecutor’s Requests.

         Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to deny the Prosecutor’s request for a 40 hour employee.   MOTION CARRIED.

 

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

 

2. Administrator’s Report.

        3. Maintenance Director Position.

        Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to refer to the Personnel Committee to review applications for the Maintenance Director position and to look at if the housekeepers are sufficiently staffed.  MOTION CARRIED.

      

       4. 2006 Audit.

       Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to refer the Auditor’s concerns with pension deficits to the Finance Committee of the Whole.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

        Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Rivard 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 Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $ 350,083.87.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          2. Adoption of Animal Control Ordinance.

             Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to adopt the changes to the Animal Control Ordinance as presented by Sheriff Ballweg with the correction of $100 for the kennel inspection under section 511.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          3. Police Protection Agreement with Ford River Township.

          Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to authorize the Agreement for Police Protection between the Sheriff’s Department and Ford River Township.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          4.  Refinancing of Road Commission Bonds.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to authorize Administrator Erickson work with the Road Commission to investigate possible savings in refinancing the Road Commission Bonds.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          5.  Declaration of Head Start Month.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to adopt a resolution proclaiming April 2007 as Head Start Month. MOTION CARRIED.

 

          6.  Proposed Fees by County Clerk.

              a. County Marriage Ceremony Fee.

              Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to accept the Clerk’s recommendation to set the fee for the County Clerk to perform marriage ceremonies at $25 plus mileage to be paid to the County with the Clerk being paid mileage and $25 for marriages performed outside of normal business hours.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

              c. Waiver Fee - 3 day waiting period for marriages.

              Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to accept the Clerk’s recommendation of a $10 waiver fee for waiving the three day waiting period for marriage licenses with an exemption for active military personnel.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          7.  2% Money Requests.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Rivard to approve the request from the Delta County Dive Team   for a 2% money grant application.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded Commissioner Rivard to approve the request from the Family Coordinating Committee for Teaching Family Homes for a 2% money grant application.  MOTION CARRIED.        

 

     Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded Commissioner Rivard to approve the request from the UPCAP Resolution Services “Peacemakers for Kids” anti-bullying program for a 2% money grant application.  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

 XII.  GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

       Peter Mark, resident of Wells Township, addressed his concerns regarding Wells Township zoning. 

       Mike Larrabee, Rapid River, addressed his concerns regarding recent appointments made by the Board.

       Captain Robert Berbohm, Delta County Emergency Management Director, updated the Board on:   The regionalization of Emergency Management – Delta County is part of the region that includes the whole UP – Capt. Berbohm is Vice-Chair of the region and is on the Governor’s Advisory Board; NIMS compliance; Pandemic Flu Town meetings; and the Mutual Aid Guide.

 

       Bill Nelson, former County Commissioner, addressed the Board with concerns regarding Board appointments.

 

XIII. COMMISSIONERS CONCERNS

      Commissioners Rivard:  Because of the outlook for finances, would like a long range plan.

 

      Commissioner Ruohomaki: Committee of the Whole meeting with Board and Department Heads – would have liked to see it informal rather than formal.

 

      Commissioner Bengry:  Board voted 1 year ago to have a 5 year and 10 year plan and weekly memos.

 

      Commissioner Schultz:   None.

      Commissioner Elegeert:  None.

 

XIV.  MEETING SCHEDULE.

      Computer and Personnel Committee of the Whole Tuesday March 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the State Office Building Conference Room.

 

XVI. ADJOURNMENT

      Moved by Commissioner Rivard and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to adjourn at 6:56 p.m.  MOTION CARRIED.

    

Respectfully Submitted,

 

_____________________________   _________________________________

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