City Council Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Grandville City Council was called to order by Mayor James Buck on June 26, 2006 at 7:01 p.m. 

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

Also attending:  Tom Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Dan Johnson, Assistant City Manager; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Ken Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dennis Santo, Deputy Police Chief; and Harvey Veldhouse, Fire Chief. 

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

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to approve the June 26, 2006 agenda as presented. The motion was APPROVED. 

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Sierawski, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 12, 2006 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED. 

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, that Fiscal Year 2005-2006 bills totaling $788,035.49 presented by the City Manager, be allowed and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was APPROVED unanimously by roll call vote. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Max Lautenschleger introduced the new Director of the Grandville Senior Center, Judi DeMink.

Bill Byl, a Republican candidate for Kent County Drain Commissioner, addressed City Council.

A presentation was made by Marco Cuellar, one of three partners in the El Burrito restaurants.  They would like to open a restaurant in the Daane’s Development at 44^th and Ivanrest.  He indicated El Burrito is a family restaurant and has been in business for 12 years.  There are 15 locations in Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.  Trent Taylor, attorney for the Daane’s Development, indicated El Burrito will be leasing the property from Daane’s.  Attorney Ray Schultz from Kreis Enderle was in attendance and spoke in support of their clients, the El Burrito partners. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:16 pm to receive comments regarding the IFT Certificate application from Auto Cast, Inc., 4565 Spartan Ind. Dr.  City Manager Krombeen indicated the applicant will be adding $1.2 M in die cast machines and robotic equipment at their facility.  Auto Cast manufactures mainly for the automotive industry and employ approximately 100 people.  The Business Relations Committee considered the request and have recommended (by a 2-1 vote)12 years for the personal property certificate.  As Council Rep on the BRC Mr. Gelderloos indicated he voted against the recommendation because in the past Council has granted 6 years on personal property abatements and was not comfortable recommending the full 12 years on the initial application.  Carl Homrich from Auto Cast asked Council to approve the certificate for 12 years.  City Council discussed the history of the length of abatements.  John Szot from Enterprise Tool & Die stated they were granted a 6 year abatement in 2004.  The hearing was closed at 7:32 pm. 

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:32 pm to receive comments relative to establishing a new Industrial Development District for Bil-Mac Corp., 2995 44th St.  City Manager Krombeen reviewed the request from Bil-Mac Corp. indicating they have received site plan approval for a 10,300 sq. ft. expansion to the north of the existing building.  They are requesting an IFT Certificate on $500,000 personal property and $450,000 real property.  Bil-Mac is an automotive supplier and are looking to add approximately 10 employees as a result of the expansion.  The BRC did recommend by a 2-1 vote approval of the district and 12 years on the certificate for both real and personal property.  Richard Applebee, Operations Manager from Bil-Mac, asked Council for approval of the 12 years on the certificate.  The hearing was closed at 7:43 pm. 

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:43 pm to receive comments relative to the request from Bil-Mac for the IFT Certificate.  Discussion by the City Council regarding the appropriate length of tax abatements on personal property.  Ray DeWinkle from The Right Place encouraged City Council to consider the condition of the economy in granting abatements.  The hearing was closed at 7:55 pm. 

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to remove from the table Zoning Ordinance No. 204-BV.  The motion was APPROVED. 

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to adopt Zoning Ordinance No. 204-BV, amending Ordinance No. 204-AS, modifying the Parkway Place PUD.    The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote. 

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Ponstein, to approve Resolution No. 2742, issuing an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate relative to Industrial Development District Nos. 33 and 58, fourth request for Auto Cast, Inc. for 12 years on personal property.  The motion was APPROVED by a 4-3 roll call vote (Yes:  Maas, Pettijohn, Ponstein, and Buck.  No:  Gates, Gelderloos, and Sierawski.) 

Motion made by Council Member Ponstein, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to approve Resolution No. 2743, establishing Industrial Development District No. 90 to Bil-Mac Corporation.  The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote. 

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Ponstein, to approve Resolution No. 2744, issuing an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate relative to Industrial Development District No. 90 for Bil-Mac Corporation for 12 years on both real and personal property.  The motion was APPROVED by a 5-2 roll call vote (Yes:  Gates, Maas, Pettijohn, Ponstein, and Buck.  No:  Gelderloos and Sierawski.) 

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to approve Resolution No. 2745, amending the Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget.  The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote. 

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to approve Resolution No. 2746, adopting the Greater Grand Rapids Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.  The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote. 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to approve items on the Consent Agenda as presented in the best interest of the City.  Consent Agenda included:  

1.      Reports:     Investments (May)

2.      Minutes:     Historical Commission (May 15)

Park & Recreation (May 18)

Planning Commission (June 7)

3.      Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

      a.   DPW:  Well Abandonment

Raymer Company, Inc. - $3,495.00 

The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote. 

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS OR PETITIONS

City Manager Krombeen explained the Tool & Die Recovery Zone process which the State created a few years ago. If a tool and die business qualifies under the Act they may request that status from the local government and will exempt the company from almost all taxes for a term determined by Council.  Some of the taxing entities are reimbursed but the local government is not.  The purpose of this Act is to make tool and die shops more competitive and to help them survive and prosper.  Enterprise Tool and Die did not qualify under the initial legislation because they employ more than 50 people.  Last December legislation increased the employee requirement to less than 75 which allowed Enterprise Tool and Die to qualify.  Representatives from Enterprise Tool & Die, John Szot and Bob Johnson, and Ray DeWinkle from The Right Place made a presentation and answered questions relative to their request for a Tool & Die Recovery Zone.  They must submit an application to the State by August 31, 2006.  Council directed staff to prepare a support resolution for consideration at the July 10, 2006 meeting. 

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Assistant City Manager Johnson reviewed the residential construction issue at 4352 Redstone Ct.  This matter was brought to Council at the June 12, 2006 meeting by a neighbor. The new house is under construction but no construction has taken place in approximately 7 months.  The project started approximately 3 years ago and recently the building permit was voided.  Staff has been looking at what enforcement ability the City has to force completion of the house.  The City Attorney suggested adopting an ordinance to protect against this type of situation in the future but this will not solve the current Redstone issue.  Discussion by City Council regarding resolution of the situation including possible litigation. 

The following residents addressed the City Council:

-        Ken Landis, 4353 Redstone Ct. asked for a quick resolution to the situation.  He feels it is beneficial to the neighborhood. 

-        Marlene Basinger, 4356 Redstone Ct., submitted a letter from Timothy Lynch, 4348 Redstone Ct.

Motion by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to instruct staff to proceed with the creation of an ordinance and take steps to correct problems that exist at the present time at 4352 Redstone Ct. including litigation.  The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

COMMENTS

Comments were made regarding:

·        Assistant City Manager Johnson is leaving to take another position – gratitude was extended to him for his six years of employment with the City of Grandville

·        4^th of July Celebration

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to adjourn at 9:21 p.m.  The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

Grandville City Clerk