A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, January 8, 2001, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

Roll call: Mayor Cram, Councilors Hendrickson, Benda, Lind and Nylund.

Also Present: City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

Mayor Cram opened the meeting by leading all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of December 11, 2000 as written.

Motion carried.

After some discussion on the lack of success in the recruitment of citizens to serve on the planning commission, Clerk Olson was instructed to place an ad for said commission in the local papers.

Maureen Elson, representing the Crystal Falls Contemporary Center, advised the Council of activities underway and extended an invitation to the Grand Opening/Annual Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2001.

Norm Mika advised the Council that he now felt his decision to scale-down his activities with economic development for the City was a mistake. However, he was aware that the City’s budget would not allow him to continue at his current pace. Mayor Cram thanked him for his efforts to date and suggested Mr. Mika cease activities for a two-month period after which the Council would review his position with the City.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to approve expenditures in the amount of $896.62, payable to John Skewes, for the City Hall lighting project with said funds to be drawn from the DDA budget.

Motion carried.

Brian Rose requested an easement from the City to cross the 40 acre parcel recently purchased from the State of Michigan in order that he may have guaranteed ingress and egress to his property located to the north. Attorney Lawrence suggested Mr. Rose seek easement from Mr. Ross along the "railroad grade" and perhaps make that a condition when selling property to Mr. Ross. Mr. Lawrence noted that he didn’t want the City to become the police in a neighbor dispute over property access. Mayor Cram assured Mr. Rose the City would consider his interest at the time a lease is finalized with Mr. Ross.

Mayor Cram asked Mike Ferguson about applications for the vacancies that now existed on the Downtown Development Authority. Mr. Ferguson replied he had received none. No appointments were made at this meeting.

Dave Sherby presented the proposed "Industrial Park Sign" for the West entrance to the park. The Industrial Park Committee had met and recommended the sign measuring 8’ x 12, however, due to last minute changes in the design, Mr. Sherby did not have a price on the sign. The matter was tabled and will be discussed at the next regular meeting of the Council.

Mayor Cram welcomed two West Iron County High School students to the Council meeting, Rose Skovera and Jessica Sherwood.

Councilor Hendrickson gave a dissertation on the golf course rates and why she felt the abolishment of the local/non-local membership rates was a mistake. Councilor Hendrickson, supported by Councilor Benda, moved to rescind the motion of December 11, 2000 that set the 2001 Golf Season Rates.

Ayes: Councilors Hendrickson & Benda

Nays: Mayor Cram, Councilors Nylund and Lind

Motion defeated.

Manager Nordeman advised the Council of a request from the Village of Alpha to plow their streets in a snow emergency. Manager Nordeman was directed to research the request further before consideration by the Council.

Mayor Cram set a special meeting date of Monday, January 22, 2001, 4:30 PM, for a review of the 1999-2000 fiscal year audit.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Benda, moved to approve the following addition to the personnel policy Section IV – Overtime Payment Policies: "Police officers may acquire up to eight (8) hours per cycle straight time for non-mandatory training, non-mandatory patrol, etc. per pre-approval by the Chief of Police."

Motion carried.

Councilor Lind, supported by Mayor Cram, moved to increase the fee for the installation of additional cable hookups in a building to be $30.00 (was $15.00).

Motion carried.

Councilor Hendrickson, supported by Councilor Benda, moved to approve the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $206,096.02 for the month of December 2000, and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram supported by Councilor Lind, moved to accept the following reports for the month of December 2000:

Police Chief’s report indicating 101 complaints, 9 of which were closed by arrest and 2,802 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 3 fire calls; spending approximately 97 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 1 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of departmental activities.

Public Works foreman’s report on departmental activities.

Motion carried.

Manager Nordeman advised the Council of the recommendation of auditor Scott Kenney that the City set up a separate "Perpetual Care Fund" for Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. No action was taken pending clarification by Mr. Kenney at the audit review meeting.

Councilor Lind asked about the possibility of improvements at the Ski Hill. The West Iron County students in attendance offered that they found a towrope easier for a snowboarder to use than a "T" bar.

Mayor Cram acknowledged receipt of the annual report from the Crystal Theatre and encouraged the Contemporary Center and Museum boards to submit the same in a timely manner. He noted the annual support from the City of Crystal Falls would be released upon receipt of said reports.