Mayor Walters called the regular meeting of the Tawas City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Tawas City Hall.
Council Members Present: Brent Babcock, Sandra Brugger, Dave Dickman, Kane Kelly, Dave Schantz, Tim Stonehouse, and 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 April 20, 2009 regular council meeting. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock. No - None.
Stonehouse moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2009 regular meeting and April 15, 2009 special workshop meeting as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger. No - None.
Stonehouse moved, Schantz seconded, CARRIED, to approve the Claim Sheet 042009 as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman. No - None.
City Manager Moers updated the Council on the Downtown Redevelopment Project and the Fire Station Expansion.
City Manager Moers reported it would cost $1,510.00 from Russo Engineering to design two boat launch's at Gateway Park.
City Manager Moers stated the City received a letter from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) commending the City for replacing approximately one mile of undersized watermain in the past three years.
Bill and Denise Willis of 202 North Street presented the City with three framed photos for the New City Hall. Mayor Walters and the Council graciously thanked them for the framed photos.
City Manager Moers presented a water project to replace the 2" watermain on Mathews Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue with an 8" watermain. The city has obtained the DEQ permits for the project. Babcock moved, Dickman seconded, CARRIED, to approve the addendum of the fire station contract to replace the 2" watermain on Mathews Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue with an 8" for $43,817.00 to be paid from the water fund. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly. No - None.
City Manager Moers presented the Tawas Police Authority budget for discussion and review to the Council. The budget cost has decreased by $100,034.00 for 2009-2010 with a total budget amount of $469,930.00. Brugger moved, Schantz seconded, CARRIED, to approve the recommendation of the Tawas Police Authority 2009-2010 budget for $469,930.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz. No - None.
City Manager Moers reported East Tawas Assembly of God requested the use of Gateway Park for Saturday August 29, 2009 instead of the original date in April for a Big Truck Show to fundraise for the Halloween Big Top Carnival. The Council was concerned about construction of the fishing pier during the event. They requested Nancy Moffat to attend the next meeting to answer the Council questions.
City Manager Moers reported the City Treasurer has requested to open a bank account for donations collected to support the Michigan Walleye Tour August 13th through 15th. Brugger moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to adopt the resolution to open a bank account to deposit donations for the Michigan Walleye Tour (SBM 1140). ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz. No - None.
City Manager Moers reported the treasurer has requested to transfer $16,732.73 from the DDA fund to the General Fund. The amount was previously contributed to the DDA Fund from the General Fund to cover miscellaneous expenses, when the DDA was inactive. This transfer will allow the DDA fund balance to start with the 2008 tax collected from the Tax Increment Financing Authority (TIFA) that was amended and restated on April 7, 2008. Schantz moved, Kelly seconded, CARRIED, to adopt the resolution to approve the Treasurer to transfer $16,732.73 to the General Fund from the DDA Fund (SBM 1141). ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Babcock, Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters. No - None.
Councilmember Brugger and Chief Ferguson from the Park Board presented the concept to divide the basketball court behind the Tawas City Library to accommodate a basketball court, field hockey, and a skateboard park. This will give the kids a place to roller skate and skateboard other than on the sidewalks and parking lots. Councilmember Kelly stated Steve Morrish has two skateboard ramps that could possibly be donated to the park. Councilmember Brugger requested expenditures not to exceed $9,000.00 to build the skateboard park. The expenditure will be funded from the sale of timbering the forty acres the City owns on Whittemore/Oates Road. Babcock moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to approve expenditures not to exceed $9,000.00 to divide the basketball court to include field hockey and a skateboard park. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Brugger, Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock. No - None.
Naomie Stonehouse from the Park Board requested the use of the Tawas City Park on June 27, 2009 to have a community rummage sale. The cost will be $10.00 per space with the proceeds to benefit the Veteran Memorial Park. Brugger moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to approve the Park Board to proceed forward with the plans for the Community Rummage Sale at the Tawas City Park. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Dickman, Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger. No - None.
Terra Western from the Tawas City Friends of the Library updated the Council on the 2008-2009 Annual report.
Councilmember Babcock stated due to lack of participation for a community garden, he will refer interested parties to Stephanie Wentworth with the Farmers Market.
Councilmember Dickman stated Tawas City is not sponsoring the Michigan Walleye Tournament.
Councilmember Schantz complemented the Park Board for the good idea of the skateboard park.
The next regular meeting of the Tawas City Council is scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the Tawas City Hall.
Dickman moved, Stonehouse seconded, CARRIED, to adjourn the meeting at 8:38 p.m. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yes - Kelly, Schantz, Stonehouse, Walters, Babcock, Brugger, Dickman. No - None.
Michelle M. Westcott, City Clerk
