Nov 13, 2006

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A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, November 13, 2006, at 5:00 P.M. Central Time.

Roll Call: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Bicigo, and Valesano.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Nordeman, and City Clerk/Treasurer Olson. (Attorney Lawrence was not in attendance.)

In attendance in the audience were: Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering, Lynn Perry, Mark Simeoni, Larry Bicigo, John Moon, Marilyn Moon, Tom Stachowicz, Dick Hendrickson, Kelly Stankewicz, Marlene Bicigo, Geri Trzeciak, and Walter Trzeciak.

Mayor Hendrickson led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Hendrickson welcomed the two new members, Jack Bicigo and Mike Smokevitch, to the City Council.

Clerk/Treasurer Dorothea Olson administered the Oaths of Office to Mayor Hendrickson and Councilors Bicigo and Smokevitch.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to accept the Iron County Board of Canvassers Certificate of Determination of the General Election held on November 7, 2006 which showed that Janet A. Hendrickson was elected to the Office of Mayor for a four (4) year term, Jack Bicigo was elected to the Office of Councilor for a four (4) year term, and Michael L. Smokevitch was elected to the Office of Councilor for a four (4) year term.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson opted to postpone the appointments of Council members to committees and boards until the December meeting.

Councilor Bicigo seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to set the date and time of the regular meetings of the City Council to be the 2nd Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to retain the current depositories for City funds (First National Bank of Crystal Falls, Fifth Third Bank Northern Michigan, and the American Transmission Company).

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to adopt the Council Rules as presented.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson signed a "Conflict of Interest Declaration" with no conflicts identified.

Councilor Bicigo signed a "Conflict of Interest Declaration" declaring his conflicts as: City Mechanic Larry Bicigo (brother) and issues regarding retirees (himself and his father – Emil Bicigo).

Councilor Valesano signed a "Conflict of Interest Declaration" declaring his conflict as: Public Works employee Gerard Valesano (brother).

Councilor Smokevitch signed a "Conflict of Interest Declaration" declaring his conflicts as: issues regarding retirees (himself and his father – Joseph Smokevitch).

Councilor Heikkinen signed a "Conflict of Interest Declaration" declaring her conflicts as: issues regarding a certain group of retirees (Ed Payne – brother).

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to adopt the following resolutions:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Scott Thrasher has served the citizenry of the City of Crystal Falls as a Councilor for a period of four years, and

WHEREAS, his dedication to the people while serving as a Council representative on the Golf Course Advisory Committee and the Crystal Falls Planning Commission, and on the Crystella Ski Hill, CATV System, and Employee Negotiations Committees, and his commitment to various other projects that have further improved the way of life in the Crystal Falls community,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby expresses its thanks to "Scott" for giving of his personal time and energy for the betterment of the City of Crystal Falls while serving as a fellow City Councilor.

And

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Jack Stachowicz has served the citizenry of the City of Crystal Falls as a Councilor for a term of two years, and

WHEREAS, his dedication to the people while serving as Council representative on the Crystal Falls Harbour House Museum Board, as Council liaison, and on the Industrial Park, Runkle Lake Park and Lincoln Park Committees, and his commitment to various other projects that have further improved the way of life in the Crystal Falls community,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby expresses its thanks to "Jack" for giving of his personal time and energy for the betterment of the City of Crystal Falls while serving as a fellow City Councilor.

Resolutions Adopted.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Valesano moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of October 9, 2006 and the special meetings of October 10, 2006, October 24, 2006, and November 2, 2006 be approved as written. Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to appoint Julie Harp to another four (4) year term on the Downtown Development Authority with said term to expire November 30, 2010.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to set up a committee to review the Wage and Compensation Study and return to the City Council with recommendations regarding implementation of said study. Said committee will be comprised of Mayor Hendrickson, Councilor Smokevitch (with Councilor Heikkinen as an alternate), City Manager Nordeman, City Clerk/Treasurer Olson, and two (2) City Employee representatives (selected by the City Employees Organization).

Motion carried.

Jeff Sjoquist updated the Council regarding the water project and requested a committee be formed to examine the possibility of use of electric meter reading equipment. He noted that if it is the intention of the City to update the electric meters for automated reading equipment the same equipment could be utilized for both the water and electric meters, however, it is more expensive than what is needed to read just the water meters.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to form a committee consisting of Councilors Smokevitch and Valesano (with Mayor Hendrickson as an alternate) and Manager Nordeman, Chief Electrician David Graff, Public Works Foreman Kelly Stankewicz, and a representative from Coleman Engineering to review and bring back a recommendation to the City Council regarding the meter reading equipment.

Motion carried.

The CATV survey regarding HBO was discussed; however, action was postponed to a future meeting.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to contract with Teck Solutions of Iron Mountain for a laptop computer for use by the Public Works Foreman in the amount of $1,765.00.

Ayes: Councilors Valesano and Heikkinen.

Nays: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Smokevitch and Bicigo.

Motion failed.

Councilor Bicigo seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to contract with Office Planning Group of Iron Mountain for a laptop computer for use by the Public Works Foreman in the amount of $1,749.97.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to appoint Constance Sherry to the remainder of a term on the Planning Commission (said term will expire April 2007).

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve CoVantage Credit Union as the new depository for the City’s contributions to employee’s Health Savings Accounts beginning January 1, 2007.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Valesano. Nays: None. Abstain: Councilor Bicigo.

Motion carried.

Manager Nordeman presented a listing of "unusual expenditures" that have affected the City’s cash flow.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to authorize the City Manager and Clerk/Treasurer to enter into a short term borrowing arrangement with First National Bank of Crystal Falls at the following terms: $200,000.00 at 4.4% interest for up to 90 days with an approximate interest cost of $2,169.00.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $560,634.52 for the month of October 2006 be approved, and the City Clerk is instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

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

Police Chief’s report indicating 232 complaints, 5 of which were closed by arrest and 2,371 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 3 fire calls; spending approximately 29 man-hours fighting fires; and holding no practice and training sessions.

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.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to adjourn this meeting of the City Council.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.