MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF TAWAS CITY COUNCIL

February 17, 2009

Mayor Walters called the regular meeting of the Tawas City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Tawas Community Center.

Council Members Present:            Brent Babcock, Sandra Brugger, Dave Dickman, Kane Kelly, Dave Schantz, Tim Stonehouse, Duane Walters

Council Members Absent:            None  

Others Present:                       City Manager Mark Moers, City Clerk Michelle Westcott

Mayor Walters offered the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a moment of meditation.

Dickman moved, Brugger seconded, CARRIED, to accept the agenda of the February 17, 2009 regular council meeting as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock.  No - None.

Schantz moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2009 regular meeting as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger.  No - None. 

Stonehouse moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to approve the Claim Sheet 021709 as presented.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman.  No - None.

Brugger moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to approve the Tawas Hardware bill for $153.42.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Schantz, Stonehouse, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly.  Abstain - Walters.

City Manager Moers updated the Council on the Downtown Redevelopment Project and Fire Station expansion.

City Manager Moers reported Mrs. Moffatt from the East Tawas Assembly of God has contacted him about changing the date for the fundraiser at Gateway Park.

City Manager Moers reported that the City's policy when water is lost due to a water meter break or a customer owned water line break, is to have the customer pay for sewer charges when the water did not enter the sewer system. A resolution was drafted to allow a process for sewer fees to be waived, when proof is submitted that the water never entered the sewer system. Dickman moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to adopt a resolution to waive the sewer charges upon investigation of customers with water loss that occurred due to a customers owned water line break or water meter break where the water never entered the sewer system (SBM 1132).  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz.  No - None.

City Manager Moers reported in the past the City has not allowed residents to have their sewer charges waived for outside use of water (for example watering lawns, washing vehicles, etc.).  This will require a second water meter to be installed by the requirements set by City.  Brugger moved, Schantz seconded, CARRIED, to adopt a resolution to allow the installation of a second water meter for outside use for the purpose of waiving sewer charges normally billed to customers in accordance with the installation requirements (SBM 1133).  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse.  No - None.

City Manager Moers received a request to adopt a resolution of support from Corsair Trail Council for grant application to receive trail-grooming equipment.  Stonehouse moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to adopt the resolution to support the Corsair Trail Council grant request for trail grooming equipment (SBM 1134).  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters.  No - None.

City Manager Moers presented a list of programs to upgrade the remaining software programs to BS&A.  This will allow the interface of all the programs for reporting. Brugger moved, Schantz seconded, CARRIED, to purchase the upgrade of the general ledger, accounts payable, utility billing, payroll and cash receipting programs with BS&A for an estimated cost of $19,025.00 with the payment deferred over two fiscal years.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock.  No - None.  

City Manager Moers reported he received two letters of interest for the Board of Review opening.   Mayor Walters recommended Laura Turner be appointed to the board and Gail Palmer as an alternate board member.   Babcock moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to appoint Laura Turner to the board of review for a three-year term and Gail Palmer as an alternate.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger.  No - None.

City Manager Moers reported he received letters from Barry Mitchell and Peg Olsen requesting to be considered for another term on the Downtown Development Authority.  The Mayor recommends that they be appointed to another term.  Schantz moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to appoint Barry Mitchell and Peg Olsen to the Downtown Development Authority for another four-year term.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman.  No - None 

Dickman moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to adopt the resolution for the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget amendments as prepared by the treasurer (SBM 1135).  ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly.  No - None.

City Manager Moers presented an estimate of $3,495.00 to replace the three steel entry doors at the DPW garage including installation. The doors are rusted out and are beyond repair.  Schantz moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to purchase and install three steel entry doors for the DPW garage in the amount of $3,495.00.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz.  No - None.

Brugger moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to adopt a resolution to approve opening a savings account with Northland Area Federal Credit Union for the purpose of depositing money into a certificate of deposit (CD).  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse.  No - None.

City Manager Moers reported he met with the Veterans Memorial Committee and the next phase is to start a preliminary design so a cost estimate of the project can be derived.  This process will require a site survey and some conceptual CAD work.  Riggs cost to survey would be approximately $1,200.00 and Russo Engineering cost associated with a conceptual drawing would be approximately $500.00.  Recommendation is for the City to incur these costs to keep the project moving forward.  Dickman moved, Schantz seconded, CARRIED, to continue moving forward with Veterans Memorial Project and approve the expenditures up to $1,700.00 for a survey with Riggs Surveying and conceptual CAD work with Russo Engineering.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters.  No - None.

Councilmember Brugger reported she attended meetings to look at taking a regional planning approach for a design study of US-23.  The Florida based design company Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc. propose a total fee $26,500.00 to be shared by the participating entities.  Tawas City portion would be approximately $2,600.00 to $3,800.00 to contribute toward a concept for the City to move forward in the future.  The Councilmembers would like more information on the project before approving the expenditure. Mayor Walters stated to spend the cities money they need concrete proof that it will help the city.

Mayor Walters stated he would be absent at the next Council meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Tawas City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in the Tawas City Community Center.

Dickman moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m.  ROLL CALL VOTE:  Yes - Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock.  No - None.

Michelle M. Westcott, City Clerk