A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, December 8, 2003, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

Roll call: Mayor Sabo, Councilors Hendrickson, Koszyk, Thrasher, and Benda.

Also Present: City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and various citizens of the community.

Mayor Sabo led all present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the regular meeting of November 10, 2003 were approved as written with a correction to the adjournment time.

Revisions to the agenda were made to include the Master Plan Public Hearing and a report from Iron County Community Hospitals on the new clinic project.

At 4:36 p.m. Mayor Sabo moved the meeting into a Public Hearing for the consideration of proposed Ordinance 2.21 to regulate the use of ORV’s on the streets of the City. There was no public comment regarding the ordinance. Councilor Thrasher summarized the ordinance for the Council. The public hearing was adjourned at 4:39 p.m.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Benda moved to adopt Ordinance 2.21 as follows:

ORDINANCE NO. 2.21

AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE USE AND OPERATION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICHLES (ORV’S) WITHIN THE CITY OF CRYSTAL FALLS, IRON COUNTY, STATE OF MICHIGAN

THE CITY OF CRYSTAL FALLS ORDAINS:

This ordinance hereby includes and incorporates by reference the entirety of Part 811 of Act 451 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1994, as amended, to provide for the regulation and registration of Off-Road Vehicles. It is the intention of this Ordinance to permit those actions that are permissible under State law and prohibit those actions that are not permissible under State law as pertains to ORV’S.

ORV’S shall not be operated upon any City owned property including, but not limited to, streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, cemeteries, golf courses or pedestrian trails unless hereinafter provided.

ORV’S for the purpose of obtaining access to recognized off-road trails, and for the operator to purchase retail goods and services in conjunction with the legal operation of an ORV, may, by the most direct route available, utilize the public alleys and streets located in the City of Crystal Falls and in so doing, travel in the most direct perpendicular manner available. (Ref. Section 324.81131, Act 451 of 1994)

ORV’S shall be brought to a complete stop before crossing an alley or street, and shall yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.

ORV’S shall utilize the outermost five- (5) feet of the alley or street, and shall travel in single file, with the flow of traffic.

ORV’S shall utilize the alleys or recreation trails in areas of the City where alleys or recreation trails parallel adjacent streets. ORV’S utilizing streets that parallel adjacent alleys or recreation trails shall be deemed in violation of this ordinance.

ORV’S shall have, in good working condition and in constant use, a muffler that is in compliance with all the provisions of MCL 324.81133 and the various subsections thereof, as amended, as well as all other statutes, rules, regulations and ordinances applicable to ORV operation.

Any person violating this ordinance shall be deemed to have committed a civil infraction, subject to the payment of civil fines of $50.00 plus costs, for the first violation.

Any repeated offense shall be subject to increased fines, as follows:

First repeated offense shall be no less than $150.00 plus costs.

A fine for any second repeated offense or any subsequent repeated offense shall be no less than $250.00 plus costs.

Paul Gurgle, representing the Iron County Community Hospital, gave a brief report on the progress of the new facility planned for the corner of U.S. 2/141 and Bristol Mine Road.

Mayor Sabo seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to accept Ken West’s resignation from the Downtown Development Authority.

Motion carried.

Mayor Sabo seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to re-appoint Michael Ferguson to another term on the Downtown Development Authority (said term will expire November 30, 2007).

Motion carried.

Councilor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Benda moved to approve an invoice for Downtown Development Authority services in the amount of $50.00 payable to Lorraine Wirtanen.

Motion carried.

Manager Nordeman noted that Gove Associates would be present at the January Council meeting to give a report on the Downtown Marketing Study.

Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering updated the Council on the ongoing search for a new water source for the City.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to accept a bid from Lortie Plumbing & Heating in the amount of $6,800.00 for radiant heaters for the mechanic and electric garages.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to increase the basic cable TV rates to $15.00/month for City and $15.50/month for Township residents, to add MTV, CMT, and Lifetime to the channel lineup. Further, to not add the GAC channel as moved at the previous meeting of the Council.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to approve the 2003 Christmas Bonus list as presented with $50.00 to full time and $25.00 to part time employees.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to set the 2004 Golf Course rates as follows:

MEMBERSHIPS: LOCAL NON-LOCAL*

Husband & wife $450.00 $460.00

Single $285.00 $295.00

College Student (18-23 yrs old) $120.00 $130.00

High School Student $ 75.00 $ 85.00

Student, 8th Grade & Under $ 50.00 $ 60.00

GREEN FEES:

9 Holes $ 15.00

18 Holes or All Day $ 20.00

GREEN FEES (14 & UNDER W/PARENT):

9 Holes $10.00

18 Holes $15.00

10-PLAY CARD $120.00

(may be used at any time)

(respecting Men's & Women's days)

SENIOR CITIZENS: (MONDAY'S ONLY)

9 Holes $ 13.00

18 Holes $ 17.00

GOLF CART STORAGE:

Electric Cart $130.00

Gas Cart $115.00

Trail Fee, Yearly $ 50.00

Trail Fee, Daily $ 10.00

GOLF CART RENTAL FEES:

9 Holes $ 15.00

18 Holes $ 20.00

*Non-local is any person not residing in the City limits of Crystal Falls.

**It is understood that for the purposes of these rates, "Holidays" include the Friday of Bass Festival and the Humongus Fungus Fest.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to approve the transfer of City funds in the amount of $101,162.00 for the Upper Peninsula Public Power Association (UPPPA) contribution.

Motion carried.

Councilor Benda seconded by Councilor Thrasher moved to proceed with the cutting down of seven cottonwood trees from the Harbour House Museum grounds at a cost of $2,800.00, with the work done by Superior Tree Service, Inc. of Wakefield, MI.

Ayes: Mayor Sabo, Councilors Hendrickson, Thrasher & Benda.

Nays: Councilor Koszyk.

Motion carried.

A proposal from TRICO Opportunities of Iron County for maintenance at the Riverwalk was discussed and postponed pending research into alternative ways to maintain this area.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to increase the electric utility rates by ½ cent per kilowatt-hour across the board effective with the billing sent out on December 31, 2003.

Motion carried.

Mayor Sabo directed Clerk Olson to advise the employees and retirees that revisions to the personnel policy will be considered at the next meeting of the City Council.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to extend the meeting beyond the 6:30 deadline for adjournment.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk recommended that the Planning Commission set the Public Hearing date for the City of Crystal Falls Master Plan to coincide with the next City Council meeting on January 12, 2004.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $282,426.37 for the month of November 2003 be approved and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda, moved to accept the following reports for the month of November 2003:

Police Chief’s report indicating 92 complaints, 6 of which were closed by arrest and 2,806 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 2 fire calls; spending approximately 43.5 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 1 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of department activities.

Public Work foreman’s report on department activities.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to extend the meeting beyond the 6:30 adjournment time.

Motion carried.

Attorney Geoffrey Lawrence reported that a response to the complaint filed by the City Retirees, re: Barbara A. Benda, et al. V City of Crystal Falls, Case No. 03-2529-CZ has been filed with the Iron County Courts.

There being no further business to come before the Council, meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.