City Council Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Grandville City Council was called to order by Mayor James Buck on September 27, 2004 at 7:01 p.m.

The City Clerk called the roll. Present were Council Members Robert DeWitt, Ken Gates, Steve Maas, Carole Pettijohn, Stan Ponstein, Joe Sierawski, and Mayor James Buck. Absent: None

Also attending: Mike Chesher, DPW Director; Tom Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Dan Johnson, Assistant City Manager; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Ken Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dick Meyers, WWTP Superintendent; Dennis Santo, Deputy Police Chief; and Brad Van Zanten, Probation Director.

Rev. Philip Boender, Fellowship Chr. Ref. Church, gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED, to approve the September 27, 2004 agenda as presented.

Motion by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 13, 2004 and approve as presented.

Motion by Council Member Pettijohn, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, that Fiscal Year 2004-2005 bills totaling $330,221.39 presented by the City Manager, be allowed, and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. to receive comments relative to the request from Deppe Mold & Tooling to establish an Industrial Development District at 2814 Franklin. The City Manager reviewed the application indicating they are not a new business to Grandville but have not utilized the tax abatement process. The request is for an abatement on the purchase of $250,000.00 in personal property. The Business Relations Committee has recommended the City act favorably to the request by granting a 6 year abatement. Jeff Deppe from Deppe Mold & Tooling stated he started the business 7 years ago but have been hit hard by overseas competition. Public hearing was closed at 7:17 p.m.

City Manager Krombeen was excused to attend the Grandville Public School Board meeting.

Mayor Buck opened the 7:20 p.m. public hearing to receive comments relative to the IFT Certificate request from Deppe Mold & Tooling. Public hearing was closed at 7:22 p.m.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Motion by Council Member Ponstein and seconded by Council Member Pettijohn, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to approve Resolution No. 2652, establishing Industrial Development District No. 87 for Deppe Mold & Tooling at 2814 Franklin.

Motion by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to approve Resolution No. 2653, approving the issuance of a Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for a term of six (6) years on personal property relative to Industrial Development District No. 87 for Deppe Mold & Tooling, 2814 Franklin.

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

Ray DeWinkle, The Right Place, and Eric Sattler, Trimline Tool appeared before City Council to explain the tool and die recovery zone program recently enacted by State legislation and to ask for approval of a resolution to include Trimline Tool in a recovery zone. Mr. Sattler indicated application must be made to the MEDC by the end of October in order to take advantage of the tax abatement offered through a Tool and Die Recovery Zone. A resolution of support from the local governing unit must be included with the application. The legislation is to expand the Renaissance Zone to tool and die industries limiting it to smaller shops of 50 or fewer employees. In order to qualify for this program a tool and die shop must prove to the MEDC that they are an active member of a coalition of other businesses within the industry. The purpose of participating in a coalition is to share knowledge, technology and resources; and to learn to work together and be more competitive. The State of Michigan would reimburse all the taxes except the local government unit portion. Mike Gill from Digital Tool & Die and Denny Bosch from Future Tool & Die were also in attendance.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Reports: Investments (August)

2. Contract Extension: Alternative Directions 7/01/04 – 6/30/05

3. Contract Amendment: Professional Code Inspections (PCI)

4. Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

a. WWTP: Rebuild Raw Sewage Pump – Hydro-Dynamics, Inc.- $3,500.00

b. DPW: Road Salt – North American Salt Co. - $74,950.00

c. DPW: Liquid Calcium Chloride – Liquid Dustlayer, Inc. - $3,400.00

d. DPW: Ford F-350 Flatbed Dump Truck – Gorno Ford – 25,941.00

e. DPW: Riding Mowers (2) – George Hofacker Equip. Co. - $14,696.00

Brad Van Zanten, Probation Director, requested an extension of the contract with

Alternative Directions for the period of July 1, 2004 thru June 30, 2005.

Motion by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented in the best interest of the City.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Motion by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, concurring with emergency purchases of a mower trailer to be used in the Public Works Department and a file server backup system for City Hall in the best interest of the City.

Deputy Police Chief Santo requested for authorization to join the West MI Criminal Justice Training Consortium for the purpose of providing joint training in police methods and investigative techniques. Motion by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Gates, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, authorizing the signing of the contract to join the West MI Criminal Justice Training Consortium.

Motion by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to adopt Personnel Policies on: (1) Advertising, Interviews and Hiring; (2) Anti-Nepotism; (3) At-Will; and (4) Orientation Period.

Motion by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to recess to executive session at 8:23 p.m. for purposes of discussing collective bargaining.

Returned to regular session at 9:14 p.m.

Motion by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED by a 6-1 roll call vote (Yes: Gates, Maas, Pettijohn, Ponstein, Sierawski, and Buck. No: DeWitt) to ratify the 2004 – 2007 City Employees’ Labor Agreement.

COMMENTS

Comments were made regarding the change to library hours, Denise Versluis’ paintings on display at the library, Kent Trails Extension Dedication on October 7, 2004 at 4:00 p.m., Park and Recreation Master Plan public hearing on October 7, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandville Middle School, WCET station update, election consolidation memo, and thanks were extended to the legislators for their work on changing the date for collection of county property taxes.

Motion by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED, to adjourn at 9:15 p.m.

Mary L. Meines

Grandville City Clerk

Approved by City Council: October 11, 2004

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