City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of January 12, 2009 was called to order by Mayor James Buck at 6:05 pm.

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

Also attending:  Tammy Aue, Treasurer/Finance Director; Matthew Butts, Assistant City Manager; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Kenneth Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dennis Santo, Police Chief; Dan Steere, Deputy Police Chief; and Todd Wibright, CWP Superintendent.

Rev. Todd Kinde, Grace Bible Church, 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 January 12, 2009 agenda as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Meringa, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of  December 22, 2008 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, that Fiscal Year 2008-2009 bills totaling $216,267.90 as presented by the City Manager, be allowed and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

INTERVIEW OF CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL

Four City Council finalist candidates - Robert Blitchok, Jeff Kremers, Robert Poll, and Dick Richards, Jr. – were interviewed.  Mayor Buck served as moderator and each candidate was asked questions by the City Council.  Final action will be taken at the January 26, 2009 meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Amanda Schelling, Chair of the Special Olympics Steering Committee, made a presentation re: the Special Olympic Basketball Tournament in Grandville March 27-29, 2009.

Steve Kauffman, 3654 Ivanrest, stated he originally thought the City may have violated the Open Meetings Act at the December 22, 2008 meeting during the process used in selecting four candidates to interview for the City Council vacancy.  After communicating with the City Manager and City Attorney he agrees that there was no Open Meeting Act violation but he suggested more transparency in the process and that the published summary of City Council minutes include the city’s website address so that interested persons can view the full minutes of any City Council meeting once they are approved and posted.  Mr. Kauffman also suggested the City consider the Dill property on Ivanrest Avenue for a wildlife sanctuary.  The City Manager replied that the Dill property is specifically referenced in the City’s Park & Recreation Master Plan.

Stan Ponstein, newly elected Kent County Commissioner representing Grandville and portions of Wyoming, gave a report of activities by the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

1.   Reports:  Fire/EMS (December), Treasurer’s (December)

2.   Minutes: Downtown Development Authority (December 10)

3.   Resolution No. 2871:  Collection of Summer Taxes – Grandville Public Schools

4.   Resolution No. 2872:  Collection of Summer Taxes – Wyoming Public Schools

5.   Resolution No. 2873:  Collection of Summer Taxes – Kent Intermediate School District

6.   Resolution No. 2874:  Collection of Summer Taxes – Grand Rapids Community College

7.   Resolution No. 2875:  Establish Grandville Board of Review 2009 Meeting Dates

8.   Resolution No. 2876:  Establishing 2009 Poverty Exemption Guidelines

9.   Authorization:   Waiver and Consent – 2003 Personal Property Taxes

10.   Proclamation:   Marv Hiddema – Retiring Kent County Commissioner

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

·         Thank you to each of the City Council candidates

·         Thank you to DPW for keeping the streets plowed

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Gelderloos, supported by Council Member Meringa, to adjourn at 8:25 pm. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

City Clerk

Approved by City Council: January 26, 2009