City Council Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Grandville City Council was called to order by Mayor James Buck on August 8, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

The City Clerk called the roll. Present were Council Members Robert DeWitt, Ken Gates, Steve Maas, Stan Ponstein, Joe Sierawski, and Mayor James Buck. Absent: Council Member Carole Pettijohn

Also attending: Tom Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Ken Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dick Meyers, WWTP Superintendent; Dennis Santo, Deputy Police Chief; and Vern Snyder Police Chief.

Council Member Maas gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moved by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Gates, to approve the August 8, 2005 agenda as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Moved by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 25, 2005 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Moved by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas, that Fiscal Year 2004-2005 bills totaling $232,715.72 presented by the City Manager, be allowed, and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

Moved by Council Member Sierawski, and seconded by Council Member Maas, that Fiscal Year 2005-2006 bills totaling $404,967.78 presented by the City Manager, be allowed, and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

Communication was received from the Michigan Municipal League regarding designation of voting delegate and an alternate to represent the City of Grandville at the 2005 Michigan Municipal League Annual Meeting on September 21, 2005 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. Moved by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Ponstein, to appoint Mayor Buck as representative to cast the vote for the City of Grandville, and to designate Council Member Pettijohn as alternate representative to the 2005 Michigan Municipal League Annual Meeting. The motion was APPROVED.

Dennis and Mike Gill from Digital Tool & Die, Inc. were in attendance requesting a resolution from the City for a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone for a 15 year term. Dennis Gill indicated the business was formed in 1989, moved to Grandville 10 years ago, and expanded in 2001. Digital Tool & Die, 2606 Sanford Ave., is a sheet metal stamping shop and has 18 employees. They would like to join the Michigan Tooling Coalition but in order for the State to recognize them as a Renaissance Zone the members all need to have 15 year abatements. They feel they will benefit from membership in the coalition because work will be referred between members.

City Manager Krombeen reviewed the process for approval of the Tool & Die resolutions and indicated the local tax is not reimbursed by the State.

Tom VanRee, Legacy Precision Molds, also requested a resolution requesting the State issue a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone to them. He is planning on relocating the business from Wyoming to Grandville. Legacy is a plastic injection shop started in 1995 and has grown to 8 employees. Mr. VanRee feels the advantages of membership in a collaborative outweigh the costs to move the business. He hopes to invest the tax savings from the abatement back into the business. The State will be monitoring the collaboratives. If the City does agree to the abatement, Legacy will need to be operating in the new location by the application deadline of September 12.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

City Manager indicated bids were taken on August 4, 2005 for the Viaduct Street-East Improvement Project, Special Assessment District No. 141. Ten bids were received and low bidder was MyCon Construction in the amount of $448,569.05.

Moved by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Gates, to adopt Resolution No. 2694, a Resolution Directing Preparation of Roll, and Conditional Award of Contract for Viaduct Street-East, Special Assessment District No. 141. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

Moved by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, to adopt Resolution No. 2695, a Resolution Accepting Special Assessment Roll No. 141, and to Fix the Date of the Hearing on the Roll. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote. The public hearing is set for August 22, 2005 at 7:15 p.m.

Moved by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Maas, to approve Resolution No. 2696, a Resolution Requesting a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone for Digital Tool & Die, Inc.; and that Digital file with the City a copy of lease showing their obligation to pay the property taxes. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

Moved by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Gates, to approve Resolution No. 2697, a Resolution Requesting a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone for Legacy Precision Molds; and that Legacy file with the City their obligation to pay the property taxes. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

CONSENT AGENDA

Moved by Council Member Maas, and seconded by Council Member Gates, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented in the best interest of the City including the following items:

1. Reports: EMS/Fire (June), Treasurer’s (July), Police (Quarterly)

2. Minutes: DDA (July 14)

3. Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests

a. Administration: Microsoft Software License Renewals – 2 years
CDW-G - $20,297.89

The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

WWTP Superintendent Meyers presented a request to purchase a high pressure washer. There are safety concerns with the equipment currently being used. Moved by Council Member Ponstein, and seconded by Council Member Maas, to authorize the purchase of a pressure washer for use at the Wastewater Treatment Plant from Great Lakes Cleaning Systems, Inc. in the amount of $2,795.00 in the best interest of the City. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote.

City Manager Krombeen reviewed health insurance renewal options being considered to provide coverage for City employees. Priority’s renewal quotation for the same coverage is approximately 11% higher than our current year’s costs and MERS Premier Health submitted a quote that is 5% higher than the current year’s costs. Staff has met with union group representatives and they have indicated they prefer the MERS choice which would reduce the City’s cost for providing coverage. Priority Health was informed of the lower quotation and they provided a revised quote 2.3% over the current year’s costs. The City Manager is looking for authorization from City Council to make the necessary changes to and execute the necessary documents for the health insurance plan. The health insurance issue was held in abeyance to allow MERS time to provide a revised quote.

Moved by Council Member Gates, and seconded by Council Member Maas to excuse the absence of Council Member Pettijohn. The motion was APPROVED.

COMMENTS

Comments were made regarding the Wilson Ave. bridge over Buck Creek project, Century Center street markings, work on FY 2006-07 budget, $1,000 check for Mayor Buck’s participation in Blue Cross Blue Shield Walking Works program.

Moved by Council Member DeWitt, and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, to adjourn at 8:56 p.m. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

Grandville City Clerk

Approved by City Council: August 22, 2005

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