DRAFT

A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, July 10, 2006, at 5:00 P.M. Central Time.

Roll Call: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Thrasher, Stachowicz, and Valesano.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Nordeman, City Attorney Lawrence, City Clerk/Treasurer Olson, and several citizens.

Mayor Hendrickson led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Valesano moved that the minutes of the regular meeting and the Zoning Board meeting of June 12, 2006 and the special meetings of June 21, 2006 and June 26, 2006 be approved as written. Motion carried.

Police Chief Robert Sherwin approached the Council concerning an application for a snowmobile law enforcement program grant. Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the application for a Snowmobile Law Enforcement Program Grant for the upcoming year.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson announced a Special Meeting of the City Council scheduled for Monday, July 17, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with the downtown business owners, the DDA, MDOT, and the water, sewer, and Streetscape project engineers concerning the control of traffic on Superior Avenue during the proposed construction in 2007. Mayor Hendrickson directed Clerk/Treasurer Olson to post the special meeting.

Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering updated the Council on matters concerning the water project. He briefly went over some of the pros and cons of closing Superior Avenue during the 2007 construction. He also announced that the Township/City water agreement should be complete soon.

Manager Nordeman reported little progress on the reuse of the Crystal Manor.

The heating system for the public works garage was discussed with action postponed pending additional information.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Mayor Hendrickson moved to adopt the following resolution regarding the city’s investment policy:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Crystal Falls City Council wishes to diversify and invest a portion of the reserve funds currently held by the City of Crystal Falls into a qualified financial institution, and 

WHEREAS the City Treasurer, custodian of the City’s funds, has researched and identified qualified financial institutions per the City of Crystal Falls Investment Policy, and 

WHEREAS the City Treasurer has discovered institutions offering a greater return on the investments than those currently being realized, 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby designates the Macomb Community Bank and the Fifth Third Bank of Northern Michigan as alternate depositories for investments of City of Crystal Falls funds in addition to those which are already designated.

Resolution adopted.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the payment of $288.32 to the Runkle Lake Association for the Eurasian Milfoil signage at the Runkle Lake Park boat landing.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Stachowicz moved to advertise the 1999 Ford Explorer, formerly used as a police patrol vehicle, for sale with the minimum bid set at $4000.00. Sealed bids will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2006 and will be opened for consideration at the Council meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on that same day.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson set the annual budget hearing to be held on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. and directed the Clerk to post and publish the notice as such.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Stachowicz moved to adopt the following:

CITY OF CRYSTAL FALLS

RESOLUTION 

WHEREAS, the Council for the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of extending congratulations and a thanks to employees who have spent their working years as public servants with the City of Crystal Falls, and

WHEREAS, Dennis "Ladder" Fabbri, beginning as a member of the Crystal Falls Public Works Department in 1975 and then through his promotion to Assistant Public Works Foreman in 1986 and then to Public Works Foreman in 1993 has done just that, and

WHEREAS, in addition to working for the City "Ladder" served many years as a volunteer fireman in the Crystal Falls community, and 

WHEREAS, "Ladder" has given 31 years of his life as a public servant in the City of Crystal Falls as of his retirement on July 1, 2006,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby recognizes Dennis for his dedication and wholeheartedly congratulates and thanks him for his years of service during which he was truly a shining example of the City’s slogan "City of Community Pride". 

CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU DENNIS! 

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Thrasher moved to adopt the following:

CITY OF CRYSTAL FALLS

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Council for the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of extending congratulations and a thanks to employees who have spent their working years as public servants with the City of Crystal Falls, and

WHEREAS, Dennis "Mitch" Mitchell, who first began as a lineman with the Crystal Falls Electric Department in 1971 has done just that, and 

WHEREAS, in addition to working for the City "Mitch" served many years as a volunteer fireman with the Crystal Falls Fire Department, and 

WHEREAS, "Mitch" has given 35 years of his life as a public servant in the City of Crystal Falls as of his retirement on July 1, 2006, 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby recognizes Mitch for his dedication and wholeheartedly congratulates and thanks him for his years of service during which he was truly a shining example of the City’s slogan "City of Community Pride".

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to adopt the following:

WHEREAS, the Council for the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of extending congratulations and a thanks to employees who have spent their working years as public servants with the City of Crystal Falls, and 

WHEREAS, Ted Reinke, beginning as a laborer in the Crystal Falls Public Works Department in 1978 and then through his promotion to Assistant Public Works Foreman in 1998 has done just that, and 

WHEREAS, Ted has given 28 years and 2 months of his life as a public servant in the City of Crystal Falls as of his retirement on July 1, 2006,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby recognizes Ted for his dedication and wholeheartedly congratulates and thanks him for his years of service during which he was truly a shining example of the City’s slogan "City of Community Pride".

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Stachowicz moved to adopt the following:

WHEREAS, the Council for the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of extending congratulations and a thanks to employees who have spent their working years as public servants with the City of Crystal Falls, and 

WHEREAS, Mike "Smokey" Smokevitch, first began as a Power Plant Operator with the Electric Department in 1981, and then through his promotion to Power Plant Chief in 1993 has done just that, and 

WHEREAS, "Smokey" has given 25 years of his life as a public servant in the City of Crystal Falls as of his retirement on July 1, 2006,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby recognizes Mike’s dedication and wholeheartedly congratulates and thanks him for his years of service during which he was truly a shining example of the City’s slogan "City of Community Pride".

 CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU MIKE!

Resolution adopted.

The increasing HBO rate was discussed with no action taken by the Council at this time.

Chief Electrician David Graff voiced the concerns of the Electric Advisory Comm. regarding WE Energies formula rate development.

Councilor Stachowicz seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve contracting with Lebakken Consulting, LLC to analyze WE Energies formula rate and make comparisons with rates charged to other WE Energies customers to be sure the City is treated fairly. The cost of this consulting service will not exceed $8,000.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Valesano, Stachowicz, and Heikkinen.

Nays: Councilor Thrasher.

Motion carried.

Chief Electrician David Graff also asked the Council for direction regarding electric meters. Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to direct Chief Electrician David Graff to proceed with the development of a plan to implement the installation of automated electric meters.

Motion carried.

Other items noted by David Graff for future action of the City Council were electric department wage adjustments, electric outage coverage, customer payment policy for construction and installations, and a rate adjustment ordinance. Mayor Hendrickson requested a copy of the Electric Advisory Committee meetings be distributed to the City Council.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to direct Attorney Lawrence to draft a letter to Kris Luckey of 805 Runkle Lake Road advising her to remove the buildings she erected on City property within 90 days.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to extend the meeting beyond the scheduled adjournment time of 7:00 p.m.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Mayor Hendrickson moved to approve the allocation of $200.00 to be used in the search for the owner of the property on which the City’s Cable TV equipment is located.

Motion carried.

A discussion regarding the re-hiring of retired employees ensued with no official action taken by the Council.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Thrasher moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $355,399.33 for the month of June 2006 be approved, and the City Clerk is instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to accept the following reports for the month of June 2006:

Police Chief’s report indicating 244 complaints, 17 of which were closed by arrest and 3,028 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 6 fire calls; spending approximately 108 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.

City Treasurer’s report on the monthly revenues.

Motion carried.

A "Thank You" note for the City’s annual contribution was received from the Harbour House Museum Board.

Meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.