REGULAR MEETING OF THE WEST BRANCH CITY COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF CITY HALL, 121 NORTH FOURTH STREET, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 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, and Attorney Christine Juarez

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

John Hull received a certificate of appreciation for his 5 years of service to the City.

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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY LUCAS, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AND SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD MARCH 17, 2003.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY JACKSON, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES OF THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 19, 2003, THE DDA MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 24, 2003, AND THE MARCH POLICE REPORT.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY ERVANS, TO APPROVE THE PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS REQUEST FROM THE OGEMAW HEIGHTS AND SURLINE BANDS TO SELL CHEESE AND SAUSAGE ON AUGUST 27, 2003.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY JACKSON, TO APPROVE THE PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS REQUEST FROM THE SURLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL 7TH GRADE TO SELL CANDY THROUGH APRIL 11, 2003.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY CLARK, SECOND BY FRECHETTE, TO APPROVE THE PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS APPLICATION FROM BOY SCOUT PACK 2971 AND TROOP 971 TO PICK UP FOOD BAGS ON THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 12, 2003.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY LUCAS, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO APPROVE THE BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $82, 005.10.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY FRECHETTE, SECOND BY EHINGER, TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:

RESOLUTION 03-07

 

Resolution to adopt Capital Assets & Depreciation Policy

WHEREAS, the City of West Branch wishes to comply with GASB Statement #34 for financial reporting, and

WHEREAS, the first step is to establish a Capital Assets & Depreciation Policy, and

WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2003 the City of West Branch will capitalize all individual assets that cost $5,000.00 or more and that have an estimated useful life of 5 years or more, and

WHEREAS, individual assets that cost less than $5,000.00, but that operate as a part of a network system will be capitalized in the aggregate, using the group method, if the estimated average useful life of the individual asset is 5 years or more. (A network is determined to be where individual components valued under $5,000.00 but are interdependent and the overriding value to the City is on the entire network and not the individual asset. The City currently has one network system which is the computer system), and

WHEREAS, after reviewing the various methods of calculating the depreciation of our assets it is recommended to use the "Straight-line Method" whereby the asset is written off evenly over the useful life of the asset, and the same amount of the depreciation is taken each year and,

WHEREAS, the City hereby establishes the depreciable life, in years, of its asset types as follows:

Non-infrastructure

Furniture, Office Equipment Desks, tables, chairs 5 years

Computer Hardware Monitor, CPU, Printer 5 years

Telephone Equipment 10 years

Motor Vehicles Cars & light trucks 5 years

Buildings – Temporary T-buildings, other portable 25 years

Buildings 40 years

HVAC Systems Air-conditioning 20 years

Heating, ventilation system 20 years

Roofing 20 years

Carpet Replacement 7 years

Electrical/Plumbing 30 years

Kitchen Equipment Appliances 12 years

Heavy Construction Equipment Backhoes, trucks, dozers,

front-end loaders, large tractors 5-10 years

Engineering, Scientific Equip. Lab equipment 10 years

Police Special Equipment 10 years

Traffic Control Equipment Spotlights 10 years

Radio, Communications Equipment Mobile, portable radios 10 years

Outdoor Equipment Playground equipment 20 years

Custodial Equipment Floor scrubber, vacuums 12 years

Grounds Equipment Mowers, tractors & attachments 15 years

Land Improvements – Structure Parking lots, sidewalks,

bus ramp, fencing, rivertrails

flagpole 20 years

Land Improvements – Ground Work Park landscaping, ball fields 30 years

Land No depreciation

Sewerage Treatment Plants 25 years

Infrastructure

Easements No depreciation

Drainage Systems 25 years

Water Systems 25 years

Sewerage Disposal Works System 25 years

Roads

Paved 40 years

Asphalt – urban 20 years

Non-paved 50 years

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOVLED, that the West Branch City Council hereby adopts the above resolution in its entirety.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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Council reviewed the hearing officers report on the residence at 356 N. Second St.

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Manager McGinnis asked that Council prohibit parking on the east and west sides of Thomas Street. Police Chief Williams stated this currently is a hazardous situation for pedestrian traffic.

MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY JACKSON, TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER:

TRAFFICE CONTROL ORDER 03-01

PARKING IS PROHIBITED ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THOMAS STREET.

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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Clerk/Treasurer Tennant asked that Council approve her request not to issue dog licenses starting in 2003. She stated that since the County Treasurer has gone to a new system of collection sales are down. Council Members noted that with being so close to the County Building they would not have a problem with the City not issuing dog licenses.

MOTION BY LUCAS, SECOND BY JACKSON, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FROM CLERK/TREASURER TENNANT NOT TO ISSUE DOG LICENSES STARTING IN 2003.

Yes- Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY FRECHETTE, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE #03-04 ENTITLED, "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 152.021 OF THE CITY OF WEST BRANCH CODE OF ORDINANCES (SECTION 301 OF ORDINANCE 102) ENTITLED ‘CHAPTER 152: ZONING CODE’".

Yes – Clark, Ehinger, Ervans, Frechette, Jackson, Lucas, Thompson

No – None

Motion carried

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Manager McGinnis noted that the Chamber of Commerce was requesting that antique cars and tractors be parked along Houghton Ave. on July 4. Council asked Manager McGinnis to check with the merchants to see if they support this request.

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Council reviewed the request to relieve the water/sewer charges at 251 N. Burgess St. Council asked that Attorney Juarez send a letter requesting payment from the previous tenants.

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Council Member Lucas commented on the newly painted patrol car with the "Smiley" logo.

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Mayor Thompson commended the DPW for a job well done in placing a United States flag on the Smiley water tower.

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MOTION BY FOLTZ, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO ADJOURN AT 7:23 P.M.