REGULAR MEETING OF THE WEST BRANCH CITY COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF CITY HALL, 121 NORTH FOURTH STREET, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2003
Mayor Todd Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Todd Thompson, Council Members Gregory Clark, William Ehinger, Kim Ervans, Paul Frechette, Russell Jackson, Chad Lucas
Absent: None
Other officers present: City Manager Patrick McGinnis, Clerk/Treasurer Jane Tennant, Police Chief Rodger Williams, Attorney Edward Crawford
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ken Tuttle, 480 West River Park Dr., was present regarding a property tax issue. He stated he resolved his problem with Mr. Gary DeShano but he is displeased how the City Manager handled the situation. Mr. Tuttle also questioned how the Board of Review tax adjustment for 2001 and 2002 would be handled when asking Mr. DeShano for the additional money. Clerk/Treasurer Tennant explained how Board of Review adjustments are handled. Mr. Tuttle noted that with the adjustment Mr. DeShano’s assessment is lower than his and these are identical structures. Mayor Thompson informed Mr. Tuttle that this issue should be addressed at the March Board of Review. Mayor Thompson asked that Mr. Tuttle give the Council time to review the information and asked Manager McGinnis to get the tax history information to Council.
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Mayor Thompson presented Marsha Boyd, Librarian, with a certificate of appreciation for her ten years of service.
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Marsha Boyd thanked the Council for all their years of support (100 years in 2005) over the years. She introduced the members of the new District Library Board as follows: Doug Brewer, Roberta Beck, Terry Barnhart, Debra Kartes, Lesli Cull-Kloostra, Jerry Wolf, Pat Rohrer, Sue Smith, Francine Hungerford, and Bill Jennings, Jr.
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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY EHINGER, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD DECEMBER 16, 2002.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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MOTION BY JACKSON, SECOND BY FRECHETTE, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES OF THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 12, 2002, WEST BRANCH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BOARD MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 25, 2002, DDA MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 25, 2002, AND THE MEDICAL ARTS CENTER BOARD MEETING HELD DECEMBER 4, 2002.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY EHINGER, TO APPROVE THE BANNER APPLICATION FROM THE RODS AND RELICS CAR CLUB TO PLACE A BANNER ACROSS HOUGHTON AVENUE FROM JULY 21, 2003 THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2003.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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Council Member Clark asked Manager McGinnis to send an invitation to attend the City Council meetings to County Commissioner Bev Scott.
Council Member Clark asked that an invitation be sent to hospital administration requesting their presence at a Council meeting. Hospital Board Member Marsha Boyd reminded Council of the focus group and asked if attendance at a Council meeting would be in addition to the focus group. It was the consensus of the Council to have the Hospital administration attend a Council meeting quarterly to give updates and be available to answer questions.
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Council Member Jackson reported that the new hangar at the Airport is complete and 5 of the 6 bays are rented. He also reported that the final inspection on the new garage is scheduled for this week.
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MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY JACKSON, TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
RESOLUTION #03-01
WHEREAS, the City of West Branch operates and maintains a street system pursuant to all applicable statutory and common laws in the State of Michigan, and
WHEREAS, the City owns Lot 10, Block D of the People’s Second Addition to the City of West Branch, and
WHEREAS, this parcel is used as the easternmost portion of what is commonly known as Annie Street, and
WHEREAS, the City reports the usage of this street surface as part of its Local Street System pursuant to Public Act 51 of 1951, the City removes snow from this property, maintains water distribution lines, sanitary sewer collection lines and storm drain lines underneath this property and places and maintains pavement upon this property.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of West Branch hereby accepts Lot 10, Block D of the People’s Second Addition to the City of West Branch as part of the formal street system in the City of West Branch.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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MOTION BY LUCAS, SECOND BY EHINGER, TO APPROVE THE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,196.86.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY CLARK, TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
RESOLUTION #03-02
WHEREAS, the City of West Branch, County of Ogemaw, Michigan (the "City") is authorized by the provisions of Act 197, Public Acts of Michigan, 1975, as amended ("Act 197"), to create a downtown development authority and a downtown development district; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City by Ordinance No. 154 passed on December 17, 1979 duly established the Downtown Development Authority of the City of West Branch (the "Authority") which exercises its powers within the Downtown District designated by the City Council (the "District"); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the City Council approve the Authority’s Tax Increment Financing and Development Plan (the "Plan") and the amendments thereto (the "Plan Amendments"), for the Development Area described in the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
It is hereby determined that it is necessary to hold a Public Hearing to comply with the provisions of Act 197, and
The City Council shall hold said Public Hearing at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2003, and
Prior to the public hearing to be held by the City Council with respect to the Plan and Plan Amendments, the Authority shall fully inform the taxing jurisdictions levying taxes subject to capture in which any portion of the Development Area described in the Plan and Plan Amendments is located of the fiscal and economic implications of the Plan Amendments, and
Prior to the public hearing to be held by the City Council with respect to the Plan and Plan Amendments, the Authority shall twice cause to be published a notice of the hearing in the Ogemaw County Herald, shall post the notice in at least 20 conspicuous and public places throughout the downtown district and shall mail said notice to all property tax payers in the downtown district.
Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson
No – None
Motion carried
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MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY FRECHETTE, TO ADJOURN AT 7:45 P.M.