A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, October 11, 2004, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

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

Also Present: City Attorney, City Clerk/Treasurer, and a contingent of citizens.

Absent: City Manager.

Sergeant First Class Marcel Fraser led all present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 13, 2004 as written.

Motion carried.

Curt Spears of Great American Disposal (GAD) presented a proposal for a recycling program for the City.

Councilor Benda seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to enter into a 36-month contract with Great American Disposal for curbside garbage pickup and a recycling program effective October 1, 2004.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Sergeant First Class Marcel Fraser presented the City Council with a plaque designed by him, to show his and his family’s appreciation for the City’s support during his deployment to Iraq. Fraser also presented a letter of thanks and a gold coin designed by his unit to each of the Councilors and Police Chief Bicigo. Fraser, an employee of the City with the Police Department, was deployed to Iraq in February 2003 and has been on military leave since.

At 5:00 p.m. Mayor Hendrickson recessed the regular meeting to conduct the scheduled Public Hearing for the repeal of Ordinance No. 2.05 (Pit Bull Ordinance), amendment to Ordinance No. 2.06 (Vicious Dog Ordinance), and amendment to Ordinance 3.02 (Parking Ordinance).

Mayor Hendrickson called for public comment on each of the noted ordinances, there were none.

Mayor Hendrickson called for Council comment on each of the noted ordinances, there were none.

Mayor Hendrickson adjourned the Public Hearing at 5:03 p.m.

Regular session reconvened at 5:03 p.m.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Benda moved to repeal Ordinance No. 2.05, an Ordinance Relating to Pit Bull Terriers (No person shall possess, own, keep, or harbor a pit bull terrier within the municipal limits of the City of Crystal Falls …).

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Benda, Koszyk, Valesano, and Thrasher. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Benda moved to amend Ordinance No. 2.06, an Ordinance Relating to the Regulation of Vicious Dogs to change "Vicious Dogs" to read "Vicious Animals".

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Koszyk, Valesano, Thrasher, and Benda. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Benda moved to amend Ordinance No. 3.02, Section 7 (B)(1)(2)(3) and (C), an Ordinance to Regulate Parking, and in particular said Section 7 regulates School Parking.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Valesano, Thrasher, Benda, and Koszyk. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

(Said Ordinance amendments will be published in accordance with City Charter requirements and become effective November 10, 2004.)

Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering reported on the completion of the application to Rural Development for the Water Project and asked that Mayor Hendrickson sign said application.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to submit Charles Nordeman and Wendy Thrasher as their nominees for appointment to the Iron County Community Hospital Board.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano. Nays: None

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to pay Marcel Fraser for two (2) years longevity pay in the amount of $1,000.00.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Benda, Koszyk, Valesano & Thrasher. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher questioned the current Iron County Community Hospital by-laws, noting that the original Hospital Transfer agreement addresses the appointment of board members and allows for elected officials to sit on the board and the new by-laws eliminate that eligibility. Attorney Lawrence was directed to look into this matter.

Councilor Benda seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to invest an additional $4,691.00 with the Upper Peninsula Public Power Agency, bringing the City’s total UPPPA investment to $115,375.00.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to increase the election inspector hourly rate of pay to $7.75 ($1.00 increase).

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Benda, Koszyk, Valesano, and Thrasher. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Benda moved to increase the election chairperson hourly rate of pay to $8.00 ($1.00 increase).

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Koszyk, Valesano, Thrasher, and Benda. Nays: None

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Thrasher moved to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of entering into a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for said construction, improvement, and/or maintenance of said highways for the period commencing October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2009,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Council for the City of Crystal Falls hereby approves said contract and designates its City Manager, Charles C. Nordeman, as the official authorized to sign the contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Resolution Adopted.

Mayor Hendrickson updated the Council on the sidewalk replacement along the South side of Crystal Avenue. Councilor Benda asked why this project had not been put out on bids. Mayor Hendrickson advised that the City Manager would need to respond to that question at a future meeting.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Mayor Hendrickson moved to send a letter to the Iron County Economic Development Corporation expressing this Council’s disgust with the handling of the marketing of the Crystal Manor Building, and further, to recommend that the new coordinator be acclimated to all of Iron County.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson announced the scheduling of a Special Meeting/Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The purpose of this special meeting will be to take public comment regarding the City’s option to purchase the hospital building located at 212 South 3^rd Street in Crystal Falls.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Mayor Hendrickson, moved to send a letter to the Iron County Community Hospital Board of Directors indicating that the date of November 1, 2004 as a deadline for a decision regarding the possibility of the City reacquiring the Crystal Falls hospital facility is unrealistic, and further, the City Council requests copies of any engineering or architectural studies conducted on the hospital building, including all and any deficiencies of said building, to be forwarded to the City Council for examination prior to October 20, 2004, the date of a special meeting/public hearing scheduled to be held on this matter.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano. Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Benda moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $331,611.38 for the month of September 2004 are approved and the City Clerk is instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Benda, Koszyk, and Valesano.

Nays: None.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Koszyk, moved to accept the following reports for the month of September 2004:

Police Chief’s report indicating 140 complaints, 7 of which were closed by arrest and 2,342 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 1 fire calls; spending approximately 11 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 2 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of department activities.

Public Work foreman’s report on department activities.

Motion carried.

Clerk Olson inquired as to the Council’s response to the request for a donation from "Gifts from Santa", a program of the Iron County Golden K Club. Clerk Olson was directed to send a reply indicating that the City will no longer participate in donating to these types of activities with City funds.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:57 p.m.